Mumma cat and all four warm, breathing kittens fast asleep in the closet while Poppy, Livy, and Pete all slept snug in their respective beds, Elsie and Charles had retreated to the privacy of their bedroom, he securely turning the key in the lock as she changed into her dressing gown before beginning to pin her hair up in preparation to apply her nightly moisturizer.

"Listen to that."

Elsie looked up at her husband's reflection in her vanity's mirror, an amused, but inquisitive look on her face. "Listen to what?"

"Sleeping children and sleeping kittens. Ahhh…" Charles sighed before he began to softly sing, "Silent night, holy night…"

Elsie giggled, turning to look at him. "What has gotten into you? I've never seen you so silly."

"Mmmm…" he sighed as he leaned down and kissed her neck. "I love it when you pin your hair up like that."

Letting her head lean to the side, her eyes were closed as he kissed his way towards her ear. "I'll wear it up more often if it inspires this sort of attention."

"The door is locked."

"Is it now?"

He slipped his hands over her shoulders and onto her satin covered breasts as he continued to nuzzle her ear. "Mm-hm...and I have a surprise for you."

She shot him a sly smile as she felt his arousal brush her shoulder blade. "I think I feel your surprise."

"That's not what I mean. Wait here. I'll be right back," he promised before giving her ear lobe a quick nip before backing away and withdrawing to the master bath.

"Don't be too long," she called as the door closed.

Rising from the vanity, she opened a nearby bureau drawer from which she began to pull out a flannel gown, but paused briefly before hastily putting it away and opening the drawer above from which she drew a navy silk negligee she had bought for their first anniversary after the girls were born. The memory of the part the nightie had played in her becoming pregnant with Pete brought a grin to her face and she soon slipped off her dressing gown and let the smooth blue fabric float over her torso.

Pulling back the covers of their bed she felt a sudden giddiness; a combination of the sensation of the fabric against her skin as she moved and the anticipation of what she and Charles were finally going to get to do. Slipping onto her stomach, she pushed up her barely covered bum and lifted her chin to show off her cleavage in an effort to most effectively display the two parts of her anatomy of which she knew her husband was particularly fond. Ankles crossed and a flirtatious smile on her face, she felt a tightening deep in her center as the door slowly opened.

"Hello-"

Whatever else she was about to say flew out of her mind as she took in the sight of her towering husband wearing nothing but a child's cowboy hat on his head and another which he had strategically balanced and positioned on his fully erect member.

"I figured if one hat turned you on, then two hats…"

"Charles!" she threw her hand over her mouth as she began to shake with laughter. Collapsing against the mattress, she soon found she couldn't breathe and tears streamed down her face. "I can't…I…I can't…" She couldn't finish her thought as she curled into a quivering, hysterical ball in the middle of the bed.

"Shhh! Shhh!" Charles playfully chided as he pulled both hats from his body and placed them on either of the bed's foot posts. "Honey, you're going to wake up Pete."

Her face was buried in her hands as he sat on the bed and pulled her against him.

"I knew you would laugh, but…"

"Charles Ernest Carson, that is the funniest, silliest thing you have ever done." She took his cheeks in her hands and continued to laugh as she kissed as much of his face as possible.

"Mmmm…" His lips found hers and her laughter subsided as they began to kiss more deeply, his hands slipping over the delicious silk covering her back until he was cupping her bottom which led to his pulling her onto his lap.

Her legs wrapped around his waist, they relaxed into long, slow kisses while their hands explored and caressed one another's shoulders, chests, and sides. He eventually slipped a hand between her legs and she was soon leaning back, gasping in pleasure as his fingers dipped and stroked her warm, moist center.

"Sweetheart," she sighed, her fingers climbing up the back of his neck and into his thick hair. "Uhhhh…" she moaned as he hit her most sensitive spot. "We need to…we need to…"

He spoke in tangents as he carefully pushed her up and off his lap in an effort to get her in a completely new position. "Will you turn around…and I'll…wrap…all the way around…"

She immediately understood what he was requesting and was soon on her knees, her legs spread wide as she let her weight settle forward so that the side of her face rested against her arms beneath her.

He pushed the light navy fabric which easily slid down to her shoulders, baring her lovely bottom and the lightly freckled soft, pale skin of her back. Gently brushing his hands along her sides, he kissed his way up from her tailbone and along her spine until he reached her neck and worked the negligee over her head so that it rested in a pile over her hands.

His worship of her body through kisses and touches never ceased as he gently lifted and manipulated her position until he found the perfect angle allowing their bodies to fully meet in a motion that started as a slow, gentle rocking, but soon became deep and rhythmic pounding as his thighs met her bottom with a percussive slap.

Elsie had just pressed her face into the mattress in an effort to stifle a moan when Charles abruptly stopped thrusting, his hands grabbing her hips to still her movement as he forced them to freeze in their awkward position.

"What-"

Charles hissed a quick "Shhh!" and then she heard it.

"…me a cake as fast as you…Why did you stop pat-a-cake?" Livy's little voice called from the other side of the door as she twisted the unyielding doorknob. "The door won't open, Mumma."

"Christ almighty…" Elsie whispered, flinching from the feel of Charles abruptly withdrawing from her.

He had a look of panic on his face as he jumped off the bed.

"Here." She threw him his dressing gown from the end of the bed and pointed across the room. "Go in the loo, honey," she urged as she got to her feet, shaking the nightie off her wrist before quickly retrieving and pulling over her head the flannel gown she had rejected earlier.

Waiting until she heard the bathroom door lock, she ran a hand through her hair and paused to catch her breath and gather herself before turning the key and opening their bedroom door.

"Girls, you're going to wake Pete. It's very late. Why aren't you asleep?"

Livy looked up, confused at her mother's flushed face and disheveled hair, "Why were you playing pat-a-cake with Daddy?"

"We…we weren't playing…it was the…" She struggled to fabricate a reason for the slapping sound the girls had heard. "Daddy was trying but…it doesn't matter. Why are you girls up?"

Poppy gave her shoulders a little shimmy as she explained, "It's too cold in our room."

Elsie let out a deep sigh, certain the small, ancient stove they had been relying on to warm the girls' bedroom all autumn had finally stopped working.

"I'm sorry, my sweethearts." She bent down and pulled them to her, quickly giving their little arms a quick rub. "Alright. The sitting room should still be warm from the fire. Don't get too close, but go warm up your tootsies and tushies while I get some blankets to make up the sofa in the living room." Elsie sent them off with a smile and gentle pat on their bottoms before moving to the bathroom where she gently rapped three times on the door.

Charles opened it a crack, his face wearing a mournful countenance very similar to her own.

"The stove quit upstairs and the girls will have to sleep on the sofa."

"I'll get the blankets…"

She shook her head, "You go to sleep. It's late and you've school tomorrow. Goodness knows how long it will take to get them down."

He sighed and nodded his head.

"Well, we almost got there…"

A moan escaped his lips. "Painfully close."

She gave him a sympathetic smile before turning towards the door, but was stopped at the end of the bed as he took her hand.

"I love you and eventually we will get there."

Her smile turned impish as she stepped closer to him, letting go of his hand to cup his chin as she gently pulled his face towards hers. Planting a kiss on his mouth she playfully shoved one of the small cowboy hats onto his head before leaning back with a chuckle. "At least the getting there is fun."

"You think she's alright?"

Elsie was crouched in the doorway of the closet trying to get a look at all four kittens, but found only three tucked up against their mother nursing as Charles was pulling on his overcoat and gathering his things on his way out to the car for his morning commute.

"I don't see her." She moved to her knees and gently scratched the new mother's head with one hand as she reached behind the cat in search of the small white kitten who was not among her happily eating brothers and sisters. "Oh, thank goodness…" She pulled the warm, but trembling animal from the corner of the closet. "She's alive, but I don't think she knows how to latch on." Elsie placed Hope next to her siblings, but the kitten made no attempt to seek sustenance. "If she doesn't eat, honey…"

Charles set his satchel next to the door and gave her shoulder a tender pat. "I'll be right back."

Returning a few minutes later he found Elsie at the kitchen table where the children were eating porridge and watching intently as their mother let drops of fresh milk drip from the tip of her index finger into the tiny kitten's mouth.

"Let's try this."

Charles quickly ran a bit of soap and water through a small dropper they had been given when one of the children had needed ear drops. Squeezing the bulb, he soon had the implement filled.

"Oh, Charles, that's perfect. Thank you!" Elsie cooed as the tiny animal began to guzzle the gentle flow of milk she offered her. "I'm afraid you'll have to do this while we are in London."

"I don't mind, and I thought I'd offer Andy a few bob to drop by during the day to check on them and let out Barley. He can give her a feeding then, too, and I am sure Bill or Beryl will check in during the day, as well."

"Thank you. That makes me feel a little less guilty about abandoning you," she teased as she lifted her face for a goodbye kiss which she quickly received.

Having also kissed each of his children's porridge ringed mouths, a chorus of "Love you" and "Bye, Daddy" followed him out the door as he met Bill and Beryl coming up the path.

"How is the little one?" Bill quickly asked.

"Being spoiled by my wife and adored by my children," he offered. "They are all doing well. I am going to ask Andy to check on them during the day while Elsie and the children are in London, but if you have a moment here and there and don't mind looking in…"

Both the farmer and the little cook nodded their heads as Beryl offered, "Of course, of course."

"Thank you."

He was almost inside the car when Bill called out, "Are you sure you don't want me to just box them all up and take them to mine?"

Charles' stomach gave a little lurch as his friend mentioned taking the kittens. He had spent the early hours of the morning contemplating an idea, and following his gut, he quickly countered, "I haven't talked to Elsie, yet, but if it is alright with you, I think…" He let out a deep sigh and smiled as he asked, "When they get big enough and are weaned I wondered if you would let us keep the kittens here?"

"All of them?" Bill asked with surprised.

"Well, I already know there is no way Elsie or the children would ever be able to give up Hope, but one kitten shared between them all...and if we let each of the children keep one, that leaves one kitten not being chosen which I know would break Elsie's heart and she'll give me that look of hers. You know the one, Beryl."

"Very well," she admitted with a grin.

"So under the circumstances, I don't know that there is any other choice, although, I understand if you need them in the barn," Charles quickly added.

The farmer quickly reassured him, "Mumma cat does all the mousing I need and the thought of being the one who makes those three babies give up their kittens is more than I can bear. If you are willing to take them on, they're yours, Charles."

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Bill." He climbed back into the car, but jumped out, just catching the couple before they opened the cottage door. "Oh, but please don't tell Elsie yet. I want to talk to her about it before mentioning it to the children. She may think I've lost my mind."

Bill and Beryl both gave him a warm smile and nodded before wishing him a good day.

The car pulling out of the driveway, Bill leaned over to Beryl, "Have you ever seen a man more in love with his children and his wife?"

She shook her head. "They don't make them sweeter, I'll tell you that much."

Much to Elsie's relief both Beryl and Bill were thrilled to be represented in the farm story.

"You really, really don't think Violet will be resentful about the goose?" Elsie asked Beryl as they shared a cup of tea while standing at the French doors of the master bedroom while they watched Bill and the children playing with Barley and the goats in the meadow.

"I really don't. She's a silly character, but in an endearing way," Beryl assured her. "I think she'll be thrilled and so will everyone else."

"I hope you're right," Elsie replied with a sigh. "I hope Mr. Pettigrew likes it or all this time and effort will have been for nothing."

"He's mad if he doesn't want to publish it, Elsie. And even if he doesn't, it won't be for nothing. It will be special to all of us. Especially the children," she added. "The first thing Pete did when you laid out the pictures was to point at the little black kitten and say, 'I'm Pee Wee!"

She couldn't help but smile at her friends kind words. "I feel good about the new Barley and the Sweet Peas installment, but I would really like to branch out and make this a series if Mr. Pettigrew thinks it will sell."

"In my very humble opinion, you've nothing to worry about."

They watched Bill and the children toss a small ball for Barley and the goats to chase for a few moments before Elsie surprised both herself and Beryl by announcing, "Charles wants another baby."

A squeak escaped the little ginger woman, but she immediately threw her hand over her mouth before quietly asking, "Is that something you want, as well?"

Elsie's eyes glistened as she whispered, "More than anything."

"Oh, chicken!" The little cook threw her arms around her friend. "I am so excited!"

"Well don't start knitting any new booties yet."

"You're going to wait?"

Elsie shook her head adamantly. "No. We don't want to wait, but the universe or our at least our children seem to be conspiring against us."

"So you haven't been…exposed?"

"We've come close, but no."

Beryl suddenly broke into a giggle. "The girls walked in on you didn't they?"

"Twice," Elsie confirmed, but then corrected herself. "Well, one walk in yesterday morning and then last night the door was locked, but…"

"That's why Livy asked me if Gran Bill and I ever lock the door and play pat-a-cake!"

Her cheeks pink, Elsie nodded. "She didn't?!"

"She most definitely did."

"Oh, God. Please don't tell Charles. I have never seen his face so red. I thought he was going to have a coronary and your teasing might just push him over the edge."

Beryl continued to laugh as the thought of the two little girls having such an effect on their father. "It will take every ounce of control I have, but I won't give poor old Dad too hard a time."

"Thank you."

The women had turned their attention back to the frolicking in the meadow when Beryl suddenly reached out and took Elsie's hand. "If someone would have told you five years ago that you would be standing in your very own lovely cottage watching your three beautiful children play while talking about your wonderful husband and the possibility of a fourth baby, would you have believed them?"

"Not in a million years." Elsie admitted.

"No one deserves this happiness more than you, chicken. No one."

Having been shown "The Little Farm Book" as it was now becoming known, as Charles predicted both Phyllis and JoMo were more than happy to be included, JoMo even becoming choked up when they reached the page where "Momo" the billy played a part in rescuing the kittens.

"The book is so lovely, Elsie, but thank you especially for writing Joe as a bit of a hero." Standing next to Elsie at the sink as they washed dinner dishes, Phyllis glanced over her shoulder to the table where Charles and the girls were playing I Spy while a brightly smiling JoMo bounced a giggling Pete on his knee. "He needed a boost."

"Oh?"

It's…it's been a rough week."

Elsie waited for her friend to go on, but at the sight of Phyllis' face beginning to crumble, she quickly wrapped an arm around the woman's waist and quietly ushered her out of the kitchen and towards the back door.

"Grab your coat and we'll take a walk."

As Phyllis pulled on her coat, Elsie ducked back into the kitchen and pulled a torch from a nearby drawer. "Phyll and I are going to take a quick walk to the studio. Help yourself to some of that cake and there's coffee on the stove, honey."

Charles gave her a curious look but was only met with a warm smile before she disappeared around the doorjamb.

Linking her arm with Phyllis', Elsie waited for her friend to speak first as the two made their way over the gravel path that led to the converted barn.

"I was worried tonight would be hard on him, but being with the children seems to have brought a bit of light back into his eyes."

"Why were you worried?"

"He loves you all so much. Absolutely adores the children, I mean we both do, but Charles…Joe wants so much to be like him, to impress him, to earn his approval. He works so hard, tries so hard because there is no one on this earth whom he looks up to more and being a good father like Charles, well he has wanted that for so long…"

"What is it? What's going on?"

"He'll never get to be that."

"A good father?"

"Any kind of father at all. He's sterile."

"Oh, Phyllis."

The women had reached the barn, but Elsie made no move to unlock the door as Phyllis leaned against the wall. "Since we found out, he's not himself. He has always struggled with self-doubt, but now any bit of confidence he had has disappeared since Richard confirmed it last week."

"Poor man, but it's not as though he did anything wrong, Phyllis."

"No. I did."

Elsie glanced over at her friend unsure whether or not to encourage her to say what she was holding back.

"You know about my brush with the law when I was very young. Well the man…not only did he convince me to steal, he also persuaded me to give up a child."

"I never…oh, love." Reaching over Elsie took the trembling woman's hand. "I had no idea."

"I was young and he was much older and when I was nicked, he headed for the hills so who knows what kind of life the child would have had. I felt there was no other choice at the time. I used to drive myself close to madness wondering what would have happened if I would have kept it; what kind of mother I would be and what my child would look like and sound like, but after all these years, I have done my best to come to terms with in order to live my life. Do I regret it? Sometimes. Do I think it was the wrong choice? Ask me from day to day and you'll get a different answer. All I know for sure is that I can't change it."

Elsie pulled a handkerchief from her coat pocket and handed it to Phyllis before leaning next to her against the barn and letting her head gently rest on the woman's shoulder.

"When we failed to get pregnant in those first few months of our marriage I thought perhaps the procedure had rendered me unable to carry a child, but Richard referred me to a fertility specialist who said I was perfectly fit to conceive. I knew then that it was Joe, but I never let on until we found out for sure last week. You don't know how much I wish it were me because then I could take the responsibility…"

"This isn't some punishment you deserve to suffer, Phyllis. You or Joe. It is unjust no matter whose biology is involved. Both of you are the most decent, loving, and kind people and you certainly don't deserve this. If I hadn't escaped from Tupton and had ended up pregnant, I can't say for certain what I would have done and I don't think it is right for anyone to cast judgement when they've not stood in someone else's shoes. This is not a punishment, but just a very sad and unfair chance of nature." She pulled the now fully sobbing woman into her arms. "I am so, so sorry."

"Please don't tell Charles. About any of it. If Joe wants to tell him about the infertility, that is his choice, but he doesn't know about the pregnancy and I don't know how he would take it. I don't want him hurting any more than he already is and if for some reason Charles let it slip…"

Elsie nodded her head. "I won't. Not a word." She waited a moment before speaking. "I know this is a new…reality, but have you considered alternatives."

"You mean adoption?"

Elsie nodded.

"Perhaps we will discuss it in the future, but for now I think he just needs to time to come to terms with it."

"If there is anything I can do…"

"Just continue to be my friend. That is all I need."

Elsie pulled her friend back into an embrace. "Always."

Charles glanced out the window for any sign of Elsie and Phyllis returning, but saw no sign of the women.

"Coffee, JoMo?"

The man looked up from the game of peek-a-boo he was playing with Peter and nodded. "Lovely, thanks."

Two cups poured, Charles turned just in time to see Peter lean his head against JoMo's chest as his chubby little hands affectionately gripped the man's shirt.

"You love your JoMo, don't you, baby bird?"

He was almost to the table when Joe suddenly took a hitched breath, his eyes filling with tears.

"Joe?"

"Sorry," the smaller man reached up and wiped his eyes, an apologetic smile on his face as he gently rocked the toddler. "Silly old fool."

"Not at all." Charles placed one hand on his friend's shoulder as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket which he offered as he asked, "Do you want to talk?"

JoMo glanced up at the concerned face looking up at him as he accepted the handkerchief. "No. Thanks, but not now. Maybe another time. It's late."

"You know you can tell me anything."

Joseph nodded then gave the toddler's head a kiss before offering him to his father. "I'll get Phyllis so we can get out of your hair."

"You're not in our…the coffee…" Charles halted for a moment, bewildered by his friend's behavior. "Joe, I wish you'd…"

"It's nothing, Charles. Thank you for the lovely dinner." He reached out and ran a gentle finger over the little one's cheek. "Bye-bye, baby bird."

Pete stretched his arms out towards the man which inspired a fresh round of tears.

"Night-night, lad." He gave the child a quick hug before turning away to wipe his cheeks.

"Girls, come give Uncle JoMo goodbye kisses." Charles called out as he gently patted his friend's back.

The girls' arrival in the kitchen coincided with the return of Elsie and Phyllis from outside.

"Did you all have cake and…" Elsie stopped short as she took in the sight of a recovering JoMo.

"I think we are cutting into bath time, Phylly," the emotional man managed to say as he reached down and gave each of the twins a kiss on the crown of her head.

Elsie avoided her husband's concerned look as she quickly gave JoMo a hug. "Thank you for coming over. You know we love spending time with you."

"Thank you for…the book."

Elsie pulled him back into an embrace so he could turn his head away from the rest of the room as he continued to cry. "My pleasure. You're always a hero to me, love." She squeezed tighter as she felt him take a staggered breath. "We love you so much," she whispered.

Having kissed each of the children's cheeks, Phyllis quickly retrieved her husband's coat and ushered him towards the door as she called out, "Have a safe trip to London. Give everyone a kiss from us."

Watching until their car pulled out of the drive, Elsie locked the door before returning to the kitchen to find the rest of her family quite confused and concerned.

"Why was Uncle JoMo crying," Poppy asked, looking back and forth between her mother and father.

"I know he's a delicate fellow, but…"

Unsure how to answer, Elsie reached down and took each of the girls' hands as she led them down the corridor towards the master bedroom. "I think Uncle JoMo just loves us all so much and knows how much we love him that it made him so happy he couldn't help but cry."

"Being happy can make you cry? Even big boys like Uncle JoMo?" Livy asked as they made their way into the master bath.

"Oh definitely." Elsie moved to her knees and turned on the taps to fill the bath before beginning to help the girls pull off their dresses.

Poppy added, "Even Daddy?"

All three girls looked up at Charles who was pulling Peter's jumper over his head from where he had perched the little boy on the counter.

"Even Daddy." He assured them. "I cried when each of you were born and I cried when Mumma and I got married. The happiest times of my life."

This explanation seemed to pacify the children's concern and the three were soon splashing and giggling in the tub.

Charles, however, remained concerned.

"Did Phyllis say anything on your walk?"

Elsie didn't look up at him, but focused on pouring a small pitcher of water over the back of Livy's hair as she answered, "She said how touched she knew JoMo was to be one of the heroes in the book."

"And that's it?"

She gently rubbed a small amount of shampoo into the little one's hair as she contemplated how best to answer. "They just can't…can't seem to get pregnant and I think it is weighing on them, but Phyllis wants to keep it private so best not say anything to JoMo, and I think we shouldn't mention that we are trying."

"Ah." Charles nodded. "Poor chap. He'll be a wonderful father when they do finally have a baby."

Elsie gave him a quick smile and nod before returning her attention back to shampooing the children's hair although a small wave of guilt swam through her stomach at the thought of what she was keeping from her husband.

From the laughter Elsie could hear coming from the direction of the kitchen, she was assured Daisy and Andy were quite pleased by their depictions in The Little Farm Book.

"The ears! I love the ears!"

Pete on his hip and the girls in his wake, Charles entered the morning sun filled master bedroom with a smile as they all heard Daisy's amused cries. "Two more rousing approvals, Mrs. Carson."

"Sounds like it." She glanced down at her watch. "You have to get going, honey. You'll be late."

Her heart clenched as she watched her husband's smile fall.

Lowering himself to the ground, he pulled all three children to him. "I am going to miss you very, very much, but I know you are going to have so much fun in London with Mumma and Daisy and Uncle Robert and Mary and Aunt Izzy.

Poppy's bottom lip began to curl into a pout as she put her arms around her daddy's neck, "I want you to go with us."

"Oh, sweet pea, I wish I could, but you'll be back before you know it and you'll get to tell me about all the fun you have had." He patted his eldest daughter's back as the other two children began to cry. "Now, now. None of that. Come on, stiff upper lips," he choked out, not only for the children, but for himself. "Now," he cleared his throat before continuing, "how are we are going to behave in London?"

Poppy wiped her eyes with her fists, her bottom lip still pushed out as she answered, "Like well-behaved young ladies and gentlemen."

"That's right."

"Please and thank you and elbows off the table, Mabel!" Livy rattled off with a small smile.

"No hit, no bite, no push!" Peter added as he looked up at his father's face for approval.

"Very, very good."

"Caring is sharing and sharing is loving and loving is caring." Poppy whispered softly, still nursing the sting of knowing she would be away from her father for the next two days.

"That's right, my sweetheart, that's right." Charles kissed her forehead before wrapping his arms around all three children. "Mmmm…" he groaned as he gave them a squeeze. "Hold hands at the station and mind Mumma and Daisy, alright?"

The trio gave him a dutiful nod although their faces were still colored with sadness.

"Oh, and I happen to know you have a surprise waiting for you in London. Something that will make you very, very happy."

Poppy reached over and took both of her siblings' hands as she conjured a brave face. "Love you, Daddy."

"Love you, sweet peas."

From her place at the bed Elsie wiped away smattering of tears as she pushed down the closures on the large suitcase that held all of their clothes and toiletries while she waited for each of the children to get a final kiss from their father.

"Alright, run to the kitchen and Mumma and I will be there in a minute."

Charles moved to the doorway and watched his children until they disappeared around the entry into the kitchen.

"It's two days, sweetheart." Elsie announced as she pulled the case from the bed.

"Let me have that, honey." He crossed to the bed and noting her damp eyes, asked, "And are you saying that for you or for me?"

"Both, but maybe a little more for me than you."

"Worried about the crowds at the station?"

She shook her head. "No. Isobel is meeting us on the platform so she, Daisy, and I will each only have one child to keep up with. I know it will be fine."

She stepped out into the corridor only to feel Charles' hand on her arm as he reached to gently pull her back into the bedroom.

"Say the word and I'll call in sick and go with you."

Her arms wrapping around his neck, she lifted onto her tiptoes and leaned her body against his. "You've young minds to mold, Professor Carson. Besides, I am giving two readings and have a business dinner with a man I know you particularly dislike, and the children have all sorts of adults waiting to adore them, not to mention a nursery full of every toy imaginable with which to play so you'd see very little of any of us anyway."

"But we'll both have to sleep alone."

Giving him a deep, lingering kiss, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears as she leaned her head back to look at him. "Just let that tide you over and I'll call you tonight and we can talk about all the baby making we will do when I get home."

"Excellent. Something to look forward to."

She began to step back, but he held her fast as he let his eyes trace over every inch of her face.

"You're already late, sweetheart."

"Just a moment. I want to remember every freckle and every eye lash."

"My silly man," she chuckled before adding, "I love you."

"Love you more." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Her mouth was over his heart as she whispered a tearful, "Impossibility."