AN/ Back from holidays! While I was away Lizzie's alter ego, Patches, was living in our trailer with us and kept me working on the story. I didn't surprise most of you, obviously, but I believe there is joy in finding things you expect...

I'm going to try to upload a pic of the queen of my house into that new photo part of my profile. I figure she needs to be adored by more than the four of us and a dog.

"So, you finally agreed to have sex with my brother! Maybe he won't be such a lunk-head anymore."

Jordan smiled in pleasure at Cal's voice. "Yeah, but I had to get a wedding ring first."

"Smart move. With Woods, old-fashioned stuff like that really butters him up. I'll give you a few tips sometime when he's not right there listening."

Jordan smirked at Woody. "Now that would be helpful." A hint of fear entered Woody's face.

She could hear the honest pleasure in his voice as Cal continued. "So when do I get to buy my new sister a drink?"

Jordan gazed at her husband while listening to Cal. Suddenly she had a husband and a brother. Well, she thought, a brother who wasn't… whatever the hell James was. "We probably won't be able to avoid a party once everyone believes us. I'll make sure Lily has your number."

"Thanks. I'm gonna let you go, you two have lots of sex to catch up on. If that idiot does something really stupid, gimme a call and I'll beat him up for ya!"

"I'll remember that. Talk to you soon." Jordan handed the phone back to Woody, who had a dry look on his face. "OK, what'd you tell her?" He covered his eyes, but the smirk remained on his lips. "We'll just see about that! Cal? When you come, bring gifts. Got it? – OK. Bye!"

Jordan took Woody's hand. "See, that wasn't so bad. You two have something I never had. You have to cherish that."

"And you have something to cherish that I don't have. Call Max." Woody looked directly at her and slid the phone back over to her.

Jordan looked down. She sighed, saying "When did you get all well-adjusted?" He smirked back at her while she dialed.

"Hey, Dad."

"What, is the world going to end? Jordan Cavanaugh calling her father twice in one year? It's a miracle!"

"I love you, too. The world is not going to end, and no, hell didn't freeze over." Her tone of voice became serious. "I just wanted to tell you that… um… Woody…"

"Did that boy finally propose to you? Because it's high time he stepped up and…"

"No, he didn't propose. I did. Yesterday"

Once again that morning, silence filled the receiver.

Jordan took a deep breath. "And we got married this morning at city hall. He – well, he thought I should – you know – tell you about it…"

"Jordan. Long brown hair, doctor, snoopy kid, that Jordan, right?"

"Come on, Dad, no one else believed us except Cal. Why won't anyone accept that I am capable of making a commitment? I mean, I… well, I…"

Jordan's voice trailed off as it hit her. She'd quit every job she'd held, even the one she currently held. She'd used men for physical relationships but ran like hell the moment they got that look in their eyes. Girlfriends were practically non-existent in her life. She avoided her father.

"You still there?" Max patiently waited for her to come to terms with this particular shock.

"Uh, yeah, I'm… I'm still here."

"Now you listen to me, young lady, I never once said you weren't capable of a commitment. It's just nice to know you finally figured it out for yourself. You and Woody, you two have something special. When you're with him, sometimes, your eyes remind me of my little girl before all the trouble, or… Or your mother before… well, you know."

Max paused for a moment. Jordan thought she heard a small catch in his breath.

He managed to continue. "And he makes you call your father. That's a very good trait in a husband, I definitely approve."

"Dad?"

"Yes, Honey?"

"Thanks. You know I love you, right?" Jordan didn't even try to conceal the tears on her cheeks.

"I know, sweetheart. Look, I want to see you two. I've got some business I have to take care of, but I'll be down in a couple of weeks. I'll call, alright?"

"OK, Dad. I don't know where we're going to live yet, but we'll have a guest room."

Woody's eyes held her through the whole conversation. He knew it wasn't easy for her to reach out to her father, and he was proud of her. When she mentioned a guest room, he nodded. He had no idea where they'd live, but if his bride wanted a guestroom, they'd get one.

"Bye, Dad. Love you."

Jordan closed the phone and set it very deliberately on the table. "Well, it seems there are two people out there who don't think we're a couple of teenagers making crank calls."

"The most important people. We've got to make sure we don't give up on them, ever, I mean, neither of us has anyone besides… well we have each other now, too…"

"Family." Jordan squeezed his hand. "We both gotta try harder, there. Especially if we… you know, ever… decide to expand. The family."

A huge grin filled Woody's face and his dimples reminded her of the farm boy she met so long ago. "Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?"

"Yes, Woody. I think we should…" As her voice faded one more time, one eyebrow raised a bit. "Breed cats, 'cause Lizzie has sure helped me cut through the crap. I can see it now; 'Kittens with curative powers of emotional healing, dewormed and litter trained.' We could charge hundreds of dollars!"

"Kittens."

"Kittens! Why, what did you think?" Jordan's eyes sparkled as her hand cupped his cheek and gently stroked his skin. His face leaned into her fingers.

He caught that hand and slowly kissed her palm before he murmured in a low voice. "I think, Mrs. Hoyt, we need to go home and discuss this further – that is if Lizzie will let us use the bed."

She made deep eye contact that increased the tension. "We've been waiting way too long for that discussion."

They stretched across the table and met for yet another kiss.