Glow
"Tyler's finally down," Sam said, yawning as she came into the living room, where Freddie was busily trying to scrub a large stain out of the white carpet. "For a three-year old, he has a lot of energy."
"No kidding," Freddie said, shaking his head.
"What happened here?" Sam asked.
"Ashton spilled her grape juice when her and Emma were playing cowboy ballerina," Freddie sighed. "Isn't it their bedtime now?"
"Not for another half-hour," Sam said heavily. "We moved it back last week when they turned seven, remember? Because they were getting more mature."
"Well that was dumb of us," Freddie said, giving up on the carpet. "And we're just going to have to live with a big, purple splotch in the middle of our living room."
"Whatever, we'll throw a rug over it or something," Sam sighed as the couple collapsed onto the couch next to each other. "By the way, I don't know if I told you or not, but we're going to be watching Clarissa next weekend."
"Why? Where are Carly and Andy going?" Freddie frowned.
"Florida," Sam said. "They want a romantic getaway. They said they haven't had much time to themselves with Clarissa lately."
"She's one kid," Freddie said. "They should try living here with four."
"Seriously," Sam chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't know when the last time we had a romantic weekend was."
"I don't even know when the last time we had a romantic night was," Freddie said heavily.
"Yeah…it has been awhile since we've done anything remotely romantic," Sam said slowly.
"You're telling me," Freddie said.
"Well, let's fix that," Sam said, sitting up and staring into her husband's eyes.
"What? You want to go away for the weekend?" Freddie frowned.
"No, I'm not delusional," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "I know finding someone willing to take on four extra kids for a weekend would be impossible. But we can have one romantic night. Tonight, it's just gonna be you and me upstairs, making up for a lot of lost time."
"Whoa, you're really serious, aren't you?" Freddie grinned.
"Dude, it's been, what, almost four weeks since we've had sex," Sam said. "That's the longest we've ever gone without doing something. We owe ourselves this."
"Hey, I'm not complaining," Freddie said. "I'm totally down. But are we going to be able to do anything? I mean there's four kids running around here. Usually by the time we get everybody handled, we're both so exhausted."
"Well Tyler's already in bed, and the twins will be too soon," Sam reasoned. "And Jason usually goes in his room to play video games around nine and winds up passing out around ten. We just have to wait until then."
"Okay…" Freddie said slowly. "I doubt it will be that simple, though. You know our kids; I'm sure something will come up."
"Will you stop being such a downer?" Sam said. "It's really bringing the mood-"
"Mom, dad, I need help," Jason said, coming into the living room.
"With what?" Freddie asked.
"My school project," Jason replied. "I have to make a diorama of the Boston Tea Party out of a shoebox."
"Okay," Sam said. "Well, I guess your dad can help do research for a little bit and I can help you start on the artsy stuff."
"Start?" Jason frowned. "I have to finish. It's due tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?" Freddie exclaimed. "Jason! Why didn't you start on this sooner?"
"I-I got busy," Jason mumbled.
"Yeah, real busy playing Zombie Hunt IX," Sam scoffed.
"Are you guys going to help me or not?" Jason asked.
Sam and Freddie exchanged glances.
"Yes, we'll help you," Freddie sighed. "But this is the last time you leave your homework go to the last minute, Jason. Next time you do this your mom and I aren't going to help you out."
"Awesome, thanks!" Jason said, relieved.
"Just go set your stuff up in the kitchen and we'll be in soon," Sam said.
"And there you go," Freddie said as Jason hurried out. "That's what I was talking about."
"Okay, we can still make this work," Sam said. "How long can it take to do a diorama? We'll just do the whole thing ourselves."
"Sam!"
"Oh do you want to worry about him learning about some people who threw tea into the water, or do you want this night?" Sam hissed.
"Um…fine!" Freddie said. "We'll rush through the project. But just know that I do not feel good about this!"
"That's okay," Sam grinned. "Because later I'll make you feel real-"
"Mommy! Daddy!" Emma said, running into the room. "Ashton's throwing up!"
"She's what?" Sam frowned.
"Puking!" Emma announced. "She threw up on her doll house."
"Aw jeez," Sam moaned.
"Well…which would you like?" Freddie asked. "The vomit or the American history homework?"
"Pfft, I'll take puke over homework any day," Sam said, getting to her feet. "Alright, we-we can still do this."
"Definitely," Freddie nodded. "Let's split up and meet back in the bedroom."
"Got it," Sam said. "Alright, Em. Take me to the puke."
…..
"That," Freddie said later that evening as he dragged his feet upstairs to his and Sam's bedroom. "Was the most frustrating three hours of my life. Since when did a fifth grade project require so much work? Do you know how many clay tea barrels I had to make? A lot, Sam. A lot."
"Well do you know how long it took to get Ashton cleaned up?" Sam said. "Forever! That kid got vomit all over herself. Apparently she got into my secret stash of chocolates after dinner. And then, once I finally got her cleaned up, Emma threw up on the doll house I had just scrubbed because she was also stuffed from my chocolates!"
"But hey, the kids are all finally asleep," Freddie smiled, laying down on the couple's bed. "Jason passed out after he finished the project."
"And the girls are both down too," Sam grinned. "Which means…"
"We have the rest of the night to ourselves," Freddie said as Sam stepped over to the bed and crawled up on his lap. "Finally…"
"Let's hope you still remember what to do," Sam said as she began kissing his neck.
"Baby, I will never forget how to do this," Freddie said, running his hands down her sides. "Never, ever, ever-"
"Mommy!"
Sam and Freddie quickly pulled away as their closed door swung open and three-year old Tyler came running into the room, tears streaming down his face.
"Tyler, sweetie, what happened?" Sam asked, concerned, as she scooped the toddler up.
"I had a bad dream!" Tyler cried. "There was a monster and-and he chaseded me, and-and he took Mr. Tickles, and-and-"
"Shh, Ty, it's okay," Sam said, stroking his dark hair. "It's not real."
"Yeah, Tyler, it's like you said, it was just a bad dream," Freddie said. "There's no monster chasing you. And look, Mr. Tickles is safe here with you."
He held up the teddy bear the child had brought in with him.
"But the monster was scary," Tyler pouted.
"Come on, you know monsters aren't real," Sam smiled, kissing the top of his head. "Now why don't you go back to bed and-"
"No!" Tyler wailed. "That's where the monster was in my dream! I don't want to go back in there! He'll get me! And Mr. Tickles." He clutched his teddy bear tightly to his chest.
"But Tyler, we just told you, your nightmares aren't real," Freddie said. "And neither are monsters. Nothing's going to chase you in your room."
"I'm scared," Tyler said firmly.
"Sweetie, you need to sleep," Sam said gently.
"I'll sleep here!" Tyler said, crawling underneath Sam and Freddie's sheets. "With you guys! It's a sleepover!"
"Um…" Freddie said, looking at Sam. "Tyler, you-you can't-"
"Baby, he's just gonna throw a tantrum if we force him into his own bed," Sam sighed. "Let him sleep here."
"What? But what about-"
"Just leave him until he falls back asleep," Sam whispered. "Then you carry him back to his room and we'll pick up where we left off, okay?"
"Fine," Freddie conceded reluctantly. "Let's just hope he falls asleep soon."
…..
The next morning Sam groggily opened her eyes. She slowly sat up and looked over at the other side of the bed where her husband was waking up as well.
"What time is it?" Freddie yawned.
Sam glanced at the clock on her bedside table. "Seven in the morning."
"You mean-"
"Yup," Sam sighed. "We fell asleep before we could have our night of romance."
"You've got to be kidding me," Freddie moaned, falling back on his pillows.
"Tyler must've already woke up and went back to his room," Sam commented, looking at the empty spot where their son had spent the night.
"Kid really knows how to kill the moment," Freddie sighed.
"Yup," Sam mumbled. "Although…it sounds pretty quiet. Maybe everybody else is still asleep…"
"Think we can?" Freddie grinned, waking right up.
"We'd have to be quick," Sam nodded. "And quiet."
"Done and done," Freddie said, putting his arms around his wife. "Let's-"
"Mom! Dad!" the couple suddenly heard Jason yell. "Tyler ruined my diorama! He got Clay-Dough all over it!"
Sam and Freddie both let out long groans.
"So we'll pick this up when the kids all move out then," Freddie said, kicking back the covers and getting to his feet.
"Guess so…" Sam nodded.
…..
"Alright, so who wants garlic bread with their meatballs?" Freddie asked later that evening as he served dinner to the four kids.
"Me!" everybody cried out at once.
"Shouldn't have even asked," Freddie chuckled to himself as he handed out bread to the children.
Just then the back door opened and Sam and Carly walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, hey Carls," Freddie said. "I didn't know you were coming over. Want me to get you a plate of-"
"Carly's going to babysit for us tonight," Sam said, quickly cutting him off. "Right, Carly?"
"Yeah, I figured since you're helping me out this weekend, I'd help you out tonight," Carly smiled.
"But what do we need a babysitter for?" Freddie asked dumbly. "Did we have plans tonight, Sam?"
"We have unfinished plans from last night that we need to attend to," Sam said, taking his hand and dragging him away from the stove.
"You mean-" Freddie started.
"I booked us a room at the Blue Roof," Sam whispered in his ear. "Where there will be no interruptions."
"Oh…" Freddie grinned, catching on. "I like the sound of that."
"Where are you guys going?" Jason asked his parents.
"Can we come too?" Ashton asked.
"Absolutely not," Freddie said. "Tonight is finally going to be about me and mommy."
