Hey! This was prompted by aimo08—a spin-off of chapter 111: Yes!

Enjoy!

Jerome quietly shut the door behind him. He hung up his coat and headed for the kitchen, making sure to keep from making a single noise. The house was quiet…too quiet, and it made Jerome extra cautious. He didn't want to be caught before he had a chance to even get a glass of water. But Jerome failed at being quiet—he forgot the single creaking floorboard in the kitchen, and his weight made the wooden strain; a groan coming from the wood. He sighed, hearing the rumbling noise from upstairs, on its way down the stairs in a stampede of three.

"Daddy!" the children cried, running after him.

He sunk to the ground and chuckled. "Oh my, gosh, I'm being attacked! Please! Someone help me!"

The three laughed at him and after hugs and kisses, Hannah, Matt and Jeremy ran off to continue whatever they had been doing. The last of the kids, obviously the youngest, considering it had taken so long for her to come down to see her father, appeared in the kitchen and jumped into his lap.

"Daddy, I missed you!" 5 year old Jasmine exclaimed, her small arms wound around his neck and her black hair fell into her face.

"I missed you too, sweetheart, but…" he brushed her hair to the side. "I want to see those gorgeous eyes of yours."

She grinned up at him and he lifted her with him as he stood. He set her down on the counter and grabbed the cookie jar, sitting next to her and putting the jar between them. They both reached in and pulled out a homemade chocolate chip cookie. They each took a bite and laughed quietly.

"Jerome?" Mara called from the second floor.

Jerome looked behind him even though his wife wasn't there, but he knew she was on her way down. He jumped off the counter and grabbed his daughter and the cookie jar, hurrying out of the kitchen and into the laundry room. He sat her on top of the dryer and he sat on the washer, and they continued their snack.

After their fourth cookie, Mara opened the door and raised a delicate eyebrow at her husband and daughter. "Jerome Clarke, what are you doing?"

"Doing the laundry…" he said lamely.

"With the cookie jar," she asked.

"It's hard work. We need sustenance." He replied.

"Give me that." She sighed, taking the cookie jar away from them. "No more cookies for you!"

"Aw, mommy," Jasmine pouted.

"Yeah, mommy," Jerome copied Jasmine's pout.

Mara's stern expression faltered for a moment, but she shook her head and turned, leaving the room. Jerome shrugged.

"Worth a shot, huh, babe?" he helped her off the machine and she held his hand as they walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah, maybe next time." She said, determination sparking in her brown eyes.

He grinned and pecked her forehead, watching her run off to find her older siblings. He spun around to look at his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Can you forgive me?" he murmured into her neck.

Mara sighed. "I forgive you, just please don't snack on cookies before dinner. And don't allow Jasmine to either. She thinks it's okay to sneak around. And I don't like that you sneak around; you act as if I'll punish you somehow." She commented, twisting in his embrace.

He looked down at her and shrugged. "I might get banned from Mara kisses."

"Would it really be that horrible if I didn't kiss you?"

"That'd be a tragedy." He said seriously. "I practically live for your kisses."

Mara let out a breathy laugh and shook her head in amusement. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. She turned to the counter again. "Come on, help me with dinner."

"As you wish, darling." He breathed into her ear.

Review?

Hannah: Thank you! xx

Cherry: Yes, yes, I know I'm awesome. ;P Thanks, glad you liked it!

Cruzquadalupe6: Well, here's some Jara for ya! Thank you for reviewing! :)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -John 10:10

-Rachel