Priorities

While the children watched television later that evening Tony moved methodically through their closets, inventorying clothing and outfits already purchased for the school term. The contents seemed meager all of a sudden. Had he done well enough? Did they need more items? How quickly would they outgrow their shoes?

His brow furrowed as he recalled a childhood scene with his father and abuela speculating about his own growth.

A shrill yelp interrupted his thoughts and he carefully closed the closet door before returning to the den to investigate the source. He discovered a very unhappy Vivienne lying on the den floor, one small foot kicking angrily at the ottoman on which Ethan sat.

She had plastered a scowl across her face and her little brows crinkled with outrage.

For good measure, she babbled angrily, punctuating each kick with a commentary and omnipresent fingers dangling from her lips.

"Stop, now," Ethan ordered her, evidently annoyed. He accompanied his words by physically leaning down to push her feet out of the way. Apparently he had unsuccessfully tried that response earlier, because he added, "and don't yell 'cause I moved your feet!"

She accepted the directive with intensified outrage and switched to kicking with both feet before Tony intervened and plucked her into his arms.

Not ready to gibe up the fight she squirmed with such force that he almost dropped her. "Hey! Cut that out, young lady. We don't yell around here and we absolutely do not kick."

She kicked into his ribs, and a breath exploded from him. For his own personal safety he used one hand to restrain her feet against his chest. "Vivienne!"

Narrowing his eyes suspiciously he tilted his head towards Ethan and pointed to the ottoman. "What set that…"

Sputtering angrily the boy responded, "What? You just want to accuse me and I didn't even do anything! She got mad and started kicking me!"

"Hey, take care of that tone of voice, Young Man," Tony responded with a snap. "All I wanted from you was the explanation of why she staged a meltdown."

Levi sat up hurriedly and waved his hand enthusiastically. "Let me give the sit rep, Daddy! I've got the goods."

Unable to hide a grin at the speed and ease at which Levi had adopted and imitated several of his own expressions, he nevertheless deferred to the older boy. "No, I asked Ethan first, and I would like for Ethan to respond."

Frowning, Levi settled on his stomach, propped his chin on his crossed arms, and resumed his television viewing.

Tony turned expectantly and settled Vivienne on his hip. She chattered angrily in his ear, straining to wrap one arm over Tony's head as she did so.

"I had already been sitting here when she came in the room," Ethan clarified. "She started trying to push me off, then really got mad when I turned my back to her. I told her I got here first."

"I understand now," Tony confirmed, backing out of the den, "and I will take care of it. You three enjoy the show."

Taking Viv with him, he grabbed a book out of her room and then moved to his and propped her against the pillows on his bed. She quieted within moments, just as he had anticipated. Kissing her on the forehead he commanded, "Honey, read to me a few minutes while I rearrange some of those boxes in my closet. Keep me entertained while I carve out storage room from an overburdened shelf on the brink of wood splitting collapse."

Listening to her babble enthusiastically and confidently as he worked, he continued his musings from earlier in the afternoon and began to speculate upon his- and their- future. How could he possibly walk out the door when the assignment ended and they no longer needed witness protection? He had bonded with these children so tightly in two weeks that every waking moment now was consumed with thoughts of them.

A hand grabbed his leg as he slid several hangers to one side of the clothes rail, and peeping into the dim space he discovered Ava.

"Hey Sugar Baby," he greeted, grinning at her puzzled expression. "What's up, little pup?"

She frowned. "Daddy, what if I don't like school and get afraid?"

Turning loose of the hanging clothes, Tony ducked out of the closet and rubbed his hand across Ava's cheek. "Listen here, Honey, I promise that you will have a fantastic time when you get there, and I can also promise that never would I leave you all to yourself or if I had any doubt that my girl would be scared. Everyone gets a little nervous before school starts."

Glancing at the bed he discovered Vivienne had fallen asleep nestled between his pillows, her book lying underneath one rosy cheek and her fingers dangling from her lips.

"Sit here," Tony directed, swinging Ava onto the bed, "and while I finish working you can talk to me about what has you so concerned." As he directed Ava he maneuvered Vivienne under the covers and placed her book on his nightstand.

Ava followed suit, sliding between the sheets and propping herself against the headboard. She smiled contentedly.

Tony kissed her forehead and grinned, "Ok, sock it to me, Baby-"

That tickled her.

For the next few minutes he tackled her genuine worries over the teacher, the classroom rules, naptime, the school lunches, and whether she could come home if her tummy hurt.

Levi joined them as she concluded, climbing on the bed and stretching out across the foot. Uncharacteristically he stayed silent until she finished, but then offered simply, "Remember that Ethan and I will be there and we'll take care of you at school, Ava."

Tony rubbed his mouth. "You are my main man, Levi. I am so proud of you and to tell you the truth, I can relax now knowing that you and Ethan will have Ava's back for me when I'm at work. Thank you."

Levi tilted his head and rewarded Tony with a sweet smile which showcased his dimples.

The kids fell silent but Tony continued to work. Checking a few minutes later he smiled at the scene. Levi had fallen asleep where he lay, while Ava had snuggled up to Viv before dozing.

Ethan appeared, struggling to hold Elijah astride his hip.

Tony saw the younger boy had traces of tears on his face. Ethan fell against the bed and pushed Elijah onto the mattress, then climbed up to sit beside him. The toddler held his arms out to Tony.

"He wanted you," Ethan explained simply.

"He did? Well, what's the matter, Big Boy?" Tony brushed back the toddler's bangs and cupped his small chin in his hand. "Did you get hurt?"

Elijah nodded emphatically and his lip wobbled.

"Where?"

Holding up his left foot Elijah pointed, "the little piggy that said wee wee all the way home got the boo boo."

"Aah, well, I'll just kiss it and make it all better, and then the piggy that got roast beef will be jealous." Tony kissed the injured toe and then leaned down to tickle the little stomach. Laughing delightedly, Elijah rolled back and forth and Tony had to hold out a restraining hand to keep him from rolling into the sleeping Levi.

Ethan crawled up to the top of the bed and found a free spot under the covers not commandeered by the girls. Cushioning his head in his crossed arms, he sank into the pillow and regarded Tony speculatively. "Did you like fourth grade? When you were a kid, I mean, I know you said you got scared about the locker."

"One of my favorites, though," Tony shared. "The schoolwork didn't swamp me and I had the opportunity to join some extra curricular activities. I chained myself as boyfriend to a string of cute little pigtailed femme fatales…"

Ethan burst into genuine laughter, but hurriedly clamped his hand over his mouth as Levi turned over in his sleep.

Elijah got onto all fours and crawled across the comforter to snuggle beside Ethan.

Winking and pointing at the small body curled at the foot of the bed, Tony waited for Levi to settle before sliding him carefully to the top with the others.

"Finish the story about fourth grade and the girls," Ethan prodded. As an afterthought he interjected, "please, I mean."

This Ethan without an attitude and uniquely pleasant warmed Tony, and a glance around the room assured him that nothing really pressing remained which should monopolize his attention. He raised an eyebrow and regarded the eager expression awaiting his response. "Now at home, though, I had it in my head that I was grown since I was at the top of the elementary school heap. So I managed to bring a lot of trouble down on my head, even managed to get spanked a couple of times that school year."

Ethan's interest piqued and his eyes widened appreciatively, "Like what happened?" He squirmed into a more comfortable position, shifting Elijah.

Tony grinned. "My, oh my, you shine as my attentive audience! Where do I begin the tale of Tony who thought he was grown in first grade?"

Quite some time later Ethan finally asked his last question about Tony's memoir, barely able to get it out because he could not keep his eyes open. Tony watched as he slipped into dreamland.

The Daddy stood tiredly and stretched languidly, then moved from one side of his bed to the other, pulled up the blankets and quietly left kisses on the tops of five little heads.

All five children slept innocently, blissfully confident that they stayed protected on his watch.