"What about this one, Aubrey? Its purple," Charlotte told her, hoping she would give her opinion. The child was so quiet and that left Charlotte always guessing how she felt or what she wanted. "Honey, I need you to use your words. These clothes are for school and I want you to like what you wear."

Aubrey looked at the shirt. There were too many choices and she didn't get to pick her clothes usually. This was so overwhelming.

She looked at the rack of shirts and just picked one. Red. Then she handed it to Charlotte, hoping that meant they could go back to the house.

"Ok. That's a start. We need at least four more shirts, two pairs of Jeans, socks, underwear, a coat, boots, and mittens."

The words made Aubrey's head spin. "Can you just pick?" she asked quietly.

Aubrey sat down in a chair that was next to them and stared at her hands.

Charlotte tried to see things from Aubrey's perspective. Likely she had never gone to the store and picked out clothes for herself. It was probably very overwhelming. "Sure, sweetie."

Aubrey stayed quiet while trying on boots and picking her coat and mittens. Charlotte just did her best.

"Let's go get lunch, Aubrey. Are you hungry?"

Aubrey shrugged. "I guess."

Charlotte found a bench in the middle of the mall and sat down, patting the seat next to her. "Aubrey, can I ask you something?" Aubrey looked up at her and nodded. "Why are you being so quiet?"

"My Daddy said that I talk too much and grownups aren't interested in what I have to say. He told me it's better not to talk."

"Well, you know what? That was your Daddy's rule but it's certainly not mine or Bill's. We want to know what you think. For example, did you really like that red shirt you picked out?" Aubrey looked up at her, unsure. "You can tell me. Remember, I want to know what you think."

"No. I don't like red. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, sweetie. We will just go return it. Did you like the other things I picked out?"

"Some of them."

"Ok, let's go out to the car and look through everything. That way I'll know what you like and don't. Then we can go get something to eat. Deal?"

"Yeah. I'm hungry."

"So am I! What is your favorite thing ever to eat?"

…..

That night after the kids were in bed, Elizabeth found Jack in the living room, staring at the fire, in the dark.

"Honey?"

"Yeah."

She sat down next to him on the couch. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." She touched his cheek, knowing he was missing his dad and Harv.

"I'm so sorry about Harv. Maybe I should have gone out with him or something."

"Its not your fault. He was old. It was time."

"Want me to cheer you up?"

"You can try."

She stood and took his hand, turning off lights as they left the kitchen and walked up the stairs.

"Babe, where are we going?" he whispered.

"You'll see." As soon as she shut the door behind them she lit a candle on the dresser and carried it into the bathroom. Then she locked the door and turned off the light.

She reached down and turned the hot water on in the tub. Next she poured in the vanilla bubble bath.

"Babe, I took a shower this morning."

"Not with me." She pulled her sweatshirt over her head, revealing a silky black tank top that hugged her gorgeous body perfectly.

"Good grief." He watched her take off his sweatpants, that she wore so well, revealing matching black, silky, lacy underwear. "My new favorites."

"Are you feeling a little more cheery?" she flirted, slipping under the bubbles a moment later.

"Uh yeah. Feeling good."

"Good. Join me, cowboy."

Instead of slipping in behind her, she told him to sit and lean on her for a change. She embraced him, kissed his temple and then his neck, tickled him with her fingertips, pampered him for a change. She wanted him to know that he was loved and cherished and appreciated.

….

The next morning…

Grace was feeling adventurous on their last day in Montana. She decided breakfast was something she would tackle. Fin was in her highchair babbling and eating eggs and bananas so she hadn't even heard Will come up behind her.

"Morning, my love," he whispered as he kissed her neck.

"Oh goodness. Will, there is a child in the room."

Will turned her around and smiled. "Pretty sure Fin has seen her share of affection. Ever met her parents?"

"You may have a poi…" His lips stopped her from saying anything resembling words for the next few moments. "Holy moly," she mumbled, trying to recover. "What was that for?"

"Because you look beautiful this morning." Grace blushed.

"Nonsense."

"And because there is a bit of mistletoe right up there." He pointed above her head.

Grace looked up. "Did you put that there?"

"Nope, but I'm pretty sure it was strategic on someone's part. Wouldn't surprise me if it's still hanging there next time we visit."

Grace put a large pile of eggs in a bowl and turned around. "Will, come here." He walked closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him this time.

"Ahem," Jack said with a laugh when his in-laws stepped apart. "I see you're making good use of the mistletoe."

"Couldn't help myself," Will told him with a smirk. "She's always this beautiful in the morning."

"Will, really!" Grace said, her face getting redder. "I made eggs, Jack. Help yourself."

"Thanks, Mom."

"And you behave," she told William, "or you don't get any."

"Yes, dear," he said with a smirk.

"Good morning, everyone," Elizabeth said carrying Joey into the kitchen and putting him in his highchair.

Jack walked by, kissed Elizabeth good morning and sat down to give Joey some food. "Hey, bud. Hungry?" He nodded and smiled. Jack put some eggs in front of him and then took a bite of his own meal.

"What's everyone doing today?" Elizabeth asked as she nursed a cup of coffee.

"Your father and I are headed to Julie and Mike's to see the girls," Grace told them. "What about you, Beth?"

"I have laundry and grocery shopping to tackle before anything else."

"I'll help," Jack suggested, a sparkle in his eye.

"Maybe with the grocery shopping. You could take Finny."

"You don't want help with the laundry?"

"Your kind of help usually is just distracting me and….nevermind." She turned red and stood to make herself some toast. The last time he "helped" with laundry, he ended up insisting the clothes she had on needed to be washed too leaving her way underdressed for the chore. Not that she was really complaining.

"Ok, I'll take Fin shopping. Do you have a list?"

"Not yet. I'll text it to you."

…..

Aubrey wandered into the kitchen and stood and watched Bill. He was humming, a towel over his shoulder, and an apron around his waist. He seemed like a happy man.

He turned and saw her. "Hi, sweetie. Wanna help me make breakfast?"

"I can't cook."

"Because you don't know how. I can teach you."

"Its dangerous." Her daddy had told her that so she never went in the kitchen.

"It can be, but as long as you have a grown up in here with you, it will be fine." He held out his hand and she took it. "Do you like pancakes?" He lifted her on the counter and handed her a bowl with something gooey in it. Then he gave her a big spoon.

"I don't know."

He poured in chocolate chips and her eyes got big. "Trust me, girls like chocolate, especially Charlotte. Ok, now if you stir, I can heat up the pan."

She watched him work a bit more, still humming, a smile on his face. "Pop?"

"Yes, baby doll?"

"Thank you for letting me live here."

He stopped and kissed her forehead. "You're welcome. I'm really glad you are." He was. The fact she called him Pop warmed his heart.

"Good morning," Charlotte greeted.

"Morning, dear," Bill said, kissing her cheek.

Charlotte walked over and looked in Aubrey's bowl. "Is that chocolate I see?"

"Yes. Pop said it's your favorite."

"Well, Pop is right. But it also needs whipped cream and maple syrup."

"And bacon?" Aubrey said, excited for more of the salty meat she had eaten the last few days.

"Absolutely."

"Can we eat by the fire again?"

"Yep! And then I have a surprise," Bill said, a sparkle in his eyes.

….

An hour later, Charlotte, Bill, and Aubrey went to the local pet shelter.

"Why are they all in jail?" Aubrey asked as they wandered between cages.

"This keeps them separated from the other ones and safe so they don't get lost," Charlotte told her.

"Oh. They look sad," she said quietly, looking at a black puppy staring up at her.

"They need families."

"Like I did?"

"Yes."

"Why are we here?"

Bill knelt in front of her and looked in her eyes. "I was thinking maybe you'd like someone to take care of."

"I can have a puppy?"

"I was thinking maybe a kitten."

"Can I have two? I don't want it to get lonely while I'm in school."

"Two?" Bill smiled up at Charlotte. She knew he would cave. "Ok, let's get two."

"Yay!" Aubrey said, more excited than they had ever seen her.

They went into a room where a bunch of kittens were climbing all over the cat trees and tunnels around the room. There had to be at least eight or ten. "How will you choose?"

Aubrey looked down and found a orange one winding around her ankles. "I like this one." She picked it up and petted it.

"That's Mango," a voice told them from the doorway. "She's about 4 months old."

"Are they all spayed or neutered?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes, ma'am," the young woman confirmed. "They also have been tested for heartworm, feline leukemia, and have had their shots." The woman knelt down and smiled at Aubrey. "And, today is buy one kitten and get one free."

"Pop?"

"Yes, baby doll. You can get two," he confirmed again.

The kitten had snuggled into Aubrey's arms and was sleeping.

Charlotte picked up a gray striped kitten and laughed as it tried to eat her hair. "I like this one, Aubrey. What do you think?"

"Ok." Aubrey smiled at Charlotte. "What's that one's name?"

"Luna. She's a little older, about six months."

So, an hour later, Charlotte, Bill, Aubrey, Mango, and Luna were on their way to the pet store to get supplies.

Charlotte and Aubrey ran in and bought a litter box, cat litter, cat food, two food/water bowls, some toys, and a cat tree.

The cat tree was pushed out in a separate cart than the rest of the supplies because it was so large and then put in the bed of the truck.

Then they went home. Aubrey couldn't believe she had a home with two really nice people and two kittens in all of three days.

"Charlotte?"

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"When do I start school?"

"January 2nd. That's in six days."

"Ok. Are you gonna take me to my classroom?"

"Actually Pop is. He works there."

"He does?"

"Yep, I'm the principal," Bill told her.

"Oh."

"Do you want me to come too?" Charlotte asked her.

"Yeah."

"Ok, I will."

…..

Grace and William arrived at Mike and Julie's around lunch time.

They rang the bell and waited. After a few moments, Julie opened the door. "Mom, Dad? Oh, come in."

"Honey, are you sick?" Grace asked. Julie looked pale, almost green, and she was still in her bathrobe.

"Kinda. This wasn't how we wanted to tell you but I'm pregnant. Morning sickness hasn't been too bad until today."

Julie held up one finger and dashed down the hall, her hand over her mouth.

Grace smiled at Will. "Wow."

Two naked, redheaded, almost eleven month olds crawled into the room.

"Girls. Give Daddy a break, please?" Mike asked following them into the room.

"Need some help?" William asked with a laugh.

"I would appreciate that, yes."

William scooped up Claire, he was pretty sure it was, in his arms. "Gotcha," he said, kissing her rosy cheek.

Mike grabbed Kendall and expertly put a diaper on her. Grace took the other diaper and helped Will with Claire.

"What do you want them to wear?"

"There are sleepers in their nursery. Yellow for Claire, pink for Kendall."

"Ok, but is this Claire?" Grace asked.

"Nope, that's Kendall."

"Shoot. We need to visit more often." She took Kendall into the nursery and put her in the pink sleeper.

A few minutes later, bibs on, both girls were in their highchairs drinking bottles.

Julie walked out in sweats this time, her hair pulled back. "Sorry about that."

"Its ok. Do you need anything?" Grace wondered.

"No. I'm ok."

Mike walked over. "Since Julie's sick and you are both here, would you mind if I went to the store? We are out of almost everything."

"Of course. We will watch the girls."

"Thank you."

Julie got up and handed him a very organized accordion file. "Here's the coupon folder."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too."

He kissed her forehead and then the top of the girls heads. "Bye, girls. Be good for Grandma and Grandpa."