Awhile later, Kellie was curled up against Jason under the covers. Kellie traced her fingers along Jason's chest while he played with her hair.
"What time is Olivia bringing the kids home?" Kellie asked. Her hands working their way from Jason's chest to his abs.
"You might be playing with fire," Jason said.
"Is that a challenge?" Kellie asked.
"I know better than to challenge you," Jason said, kissing Kellie, "It depends on how much you want to chance the kids or Olivia catching us."
"Later then," Kellie said.
"Whatever you want," Jason smiled.
They laid there in silence for a few more moments.
"Thank you for being you," Kellie said, "And making coming home feel normal. Do you have any idea how much I love that about you?"
"I'm pretty sure you just gave me a pretty good idea," Jason said, causing Kellie to blush, "Besides I think you're the one that makes it easy. I know you could have reacted a lot of different ways. I love the fact that you just want things to be normal right now and that you're letting yourself have that."
"There's a still hurricane of emotions raging inside me," Kellie said, "I'm going to have deal with one way or another."
"You will," Jason said, "It doesn't mean that you can't enjoy thing either. In the meantime, we probably should get dressed before the kids get home."
Kellie was in the living room when Olivia and the kids came over. The boys came running through the door to hug Kellie. Alyssa was a little more hesitant.
"Come here," Kellie said, when she realized Alyssa was holding back.
Alyssa got on Kellie's lap and curled up against her. Olivia had brought dinner and went in the kitchen to heat it up.
Jamie and Jared told Kellie about everything they'd missed while she was gone from being late for school one day to the new tricks Jake had taught Annabelle.
"Can we get a dog, Mom?" Jared asked.
"I want a kitty!" Alyssa said.
"We could train him to be like a police dog," Jamie said, "Except he could help guard you or be your back up."
"You and Dad wouldn't let us get a dog in California because we didn't have a big enough backyard where he could run around. We have a huge backyard here."
"If the boys get a dog, I want a kitty," Alyssa said.
The kids chattered simultaneously to convince Kellie they should get pets.
"Pet ownership is really big responsibility and a really big decision," Kellie said when they finally quieted down, "It's not a decision that is going to be made tonight."
The kids groaned.
"Spencer's idea of asking right when you got home didn't work," Jamie said as Olivia came into the room.
"When did Spencer start giving you ideas?" Kellie asked.
"That was the only one," Jared said a little too quickly causing Kellie to raise her eyebrow.
"Boys, you might as well fess up to your mother about trying to visit Alyssa in the hospital," Olivia said.
"We were hoping everyone would just forget about that," Jamie said.
Olivia raised her eyebrow.
"Alright," Jared said, "We borrowed Oscar's clothes and tried to get Spencer to sneak us out to the hospital to see Alyssa."
"We will definitely be discussing that," Kellie said, "But it can wait until tomorrow."
"Could we discuss getting a dog too?" Jared asked, "And a cat for Alyssa."
"No," Kellie said, causing the kids protest, "Hold on, there just won't be any discussion until Jason and I talk about it first."
"Will our pets need their own guards?" Alyssa asked.
"No, silly," Jamie said, "Pets don't need guards. Annabelle doesn't have a guard even though Jake does."
"Don't call me names," Alyssa said, "Stupid head." She stuck her tongue out at Jamie.
"None of that, both of you," Kellie said.
"The casserole shouldn't take long to heat up," Olivia said, "You all should go wash your hands before dinner."
Olivia gave them a look before they could protest and the kids went to get ready for dinner.
When Kellie stood up, Olivia hugged her, "I can't believe both you and Dante made it home on the same day. Do you any idea how much worry you two put me through?"
"I'm sure I can imagine," Kellie said.
"Have you heard from Dante yet?" Olivia askd.
"Actually I saw him at the airport," Kellie said, "Our flights landed within 30 minutes of each other."
"Is he okay?" Olivia asked.
"I think so," Kellie said.
"What do you mean think so?" Olivia asked.
"Something seemed off about him," Kellie said, "I just couldn't tell you why."
"He probably just needs time to adjust and be home with his family," Olivia said.
"I hope so," Kellie said.
"How is your stowaway," Olivia said, "You cannot believe how happy I am that…"
Olivia trailed off as the kids had come back in the room.
"Healthy," Kellie said.
"Good," Olivia said, "I will leave you to have dinner with Jason and the kids. I am going to go see your brother. Call me Saturday and we'll catch up. I don't want to hear about any more crazy stunts like jumping across ledges or balconies and boats."
"I'll try not to," Kellie replied, stifling a laugh.
"Don't you laugh at me, young lady," Olivia said as she turned to leave.
"I think Mom's in trouble with Nana Olivia," Jared whispered.
"Jason," Olivia said, "Thank you for bringing our girl home."
In the middle of dinner, Jamie asked, "Did the doctors figure out why you've been sick?"
"Yeah, you don't seem so sick like you did before you…..left," Jared said, "Did they make you better. Are you going to be okay?"
"I am perfectly healthy," Kellie said, "The doctors gave me medicine so I wouldn't be so sick."
"That's good," Jared said, "But what were you sick with like the flu or something."
"Nothing like that," Kellie said, "I'm not sick with any illness or anything like that."
Kellie looked at Jason across the table and took a deep breath, "Do you remember our neighbor in California and how she had a baby? Before the baby was born, he grew in her tummy."
"And she got really big," Jamie said, "But what does that have to do with you being sick?"
"Because babies make moms sick like mom's been,"Jared said, "which means Mom's having a baby I think."
"Yes, that's right, Jared," Kellie said, "Soon you'll have another brother or sister."
"Where is the baby?" Alyssa asked, looking slightly unhappy.
"Inside me," Kellie said, "The baby has to grow in there until he or she is big enough to live out here with us."
"Does the baby have a daddy?" Alyssa asked, "Or did Dad give you a baby from heaven?"
Jamie and Jared looked at each other confused.
"I don't think dead people can make babies," Jared said.
"They can't," Jamie said, "Uncle Jason's the baby's dad."
"How do you know?" Alyssa asked.
"He's married to mom," Jamie said, "and married people and couples make babies, duh."
"That's right," Jason said, "I am the baby's dad."
"Oh," Alyssa said, quietly, and went back to eating her dinner.
The boys filled the space by talking about baseball. It went silent again.
"How are babies made?" Alyssa asked.