Emily and Ethan get a taste of what kids are like.

Little Children

The next morning Ethan awoke to a freezing cold room and a warm woman in his arms. He kissed Emily's head and then slid out from beneth the covers. It was cold enough to shrivel things and almost make him jump back under the warm covers. He quickly pulled on his heaviest long underwear and wool socks before grabbing up his work clothes from the chair in the room, then he went out to the kitchen to stoke the stove. After adding some kindling and getting the fire going again he pulled up a chair warmed his hands. He should have got up during the night and kept the fire going instead of doing all the other things he had decided were more important last night.

Emily awoke shortly after that to find that Ethan was gone. She didn't even hear him moving around out in the kitchen. After getting up and quickly washing and dressing she went out into the kitchen to find a nice fire going. She looked out the window and saw that it had snowed again during the night and that Ethan had broken a path to the barn. She began preparing breakfast and had her back turned when Ethan came back in. "Whoo. It's really cold out there." he said. "I bet no more than ten above if it's even that."

"I can tell." Emily said. "Your cheeks look like someones been pinching them. Do you think Oliver will be able to bring my things out today with his wagon?"

"Nope." Ethan said, removing his coat and running his hands down Emily's sides before kissing her and pressing his cold nose against her neck. "Not unless he has a sled."

"I don't think he does. Can we use yours?"

"I don't see why not. I have to wax the runners on it first and we have to wait for the kids to show up."

"Oh goodness, I forgot that they were coming today." Emily said, taking the eggs out of the frying pan and putting them on a plate.

"Yeah, kind of ends the honeymoon doesn't it." Ethan said, a sour look on his face. "I'm sorry darlin'."

Emily brought the plate to the table and looked at him sweetly, "I'm sure you'll make it up to me."

That thought brought a smile to Ethan's face and he dug into his breakfast. He and Emily were just finishing up when his parents and siblings arrived, the kids bursting through the door letting in a lot of cold air.

Katie was the first to say anything, coming right up to Ethan and pulling her small body up to her full height. "Etan, Ma sayed that you and Emwilly gotted married."

Ethan picked his little sister up and set her on his knee, "Yes sweet pea, Emily and I got married."

"Why didn't you invite me?" the little girl asked, a hurt look on her face.

"Well, Katie," Ethan said, unsure how to explain to a five year old why he had gotten married and not told anyone.

Emily interjected then, "Katie, sweetie, Ethan and I wanted to get married very badly and we had the opportunity to do so. It isn't because we don't love you."

"Oh. That's good." The little girl said, hugging her brother's neck and seeming to accept the explanation.

"Good morning." Elliot said, coming in with the kids few things that they would need for their week long stay with his oldest son.

"Morning Pa. Where's Ma?" Ethan asked, looking to see if his mother was behind him.

"In the sled. She said she didn't feel any reason to get out." Elliot said.

Ethan went to the door, looked out and waved at his mother. "Ok. Well do you want me to bring your buggy into town if this snow happens to melt?"

"No. I'll just rent something at the livery."

"Alright. Well have a good trip Pa. Tell Ma to have fun too."

"You kids have a good time too." Elliot said, patting his son on the shoulder and then telling his other children goodbye as well.

That afternoon after feeding the kids and Ethan a lunch of stew Emily made the decision that she was sure that she didn't want to have children right away. She also sincerely hoped that she and Ethan didn't have twins. Goodness those two boys were like little whirlwinds. She was washing dishes when Katie came in from the sitting room where she had been playing. The boys, thank goodness had went out with Ethan to the barn for a while. "Emily." The little girl said, in a voice that sounded almost weak.

"Yes sweetheart?" Emily said, without turning.

"I don't feel good Emily."

Emily turned around at that and looked at Katie. The little girl was pale skinned when Emily touched her cheek it was cool and clammy. "Where don't you feel good sweetie?" she asked.

"My tummy hurts, Emily." Katie said, holding her stomach.

"Ok, well let's go lay down why don't we? You can lay on Ethan and I's bed. How does that sound?" Emily said, taking Katie by the hand and leading her to her bedroom. Once there she lifted her onto the bed and had her lay down. Then she took her shoes off and covered her with a blanket. "You need to try and go to sleep for a while ok, sweetie. If you need me just call ok."

The little girl only nodded as her eyes drifted shut. Emily pressed a kiss to her head and then went back to the kitchen where she was working on their supper. She worked for almost two hours before she heard Katie call out to her.

"Emily!" Katie cried.

Emily rushed into the room to find Katie standing near the chamber pot in the corner, smelly vomit covering the front of her dress. "Oh Katie. Are you ok sweetie?"

"No. I got my dress dirty." The little girl said and then began to cry.

"It's ok, honey. Let's get your dirty dress off and you into your nightgown ok?" Emily said. She went back out to get Katie's bag and found her night gown and then she went back into her bedroom. Katie had stopped crying and was now just standing there looking down at her soiled dress sobbing.

Emily began to help her change and was just about finished when Ethan and the boys came in. "Em!" he called from the front door.

"I'm in the bedroom Ethan. I'll be right there."

"Oh." Ethan said. He kicked off his boots and walked towards the bedroom to find Emily working on cleaning up Katie. "What happened darlin'?" he asked.

"Katie wasn't feeling well this afternoon so I had her lay down and I was working on supper in the kitchen and she must have gotten up and got sick all over the front of her self."

"Oh." Ethan said. "Katie, how do you feel now?" he asked the now cleaned up and changed little girl.

"Bad."

"Where do you feel bad at?"

"In my tummy."

"Oh. Well come here." Ethan said, squatting down and taking his sister in his arms. "I'll read you a story and we'll try to get you back to sleep for a while ok."

Katie laid her head against Ethan's shoulder and Ethan turned towards Emily. "Good job taking care of her Mrs. Stabler." He said before kissing her lips.

Emily just gave him a half hearted smile, she was definitely not read for motherhood.

Ethan took Katie and got her to go back to sleep and then laid her on the sofa in the sitting room. After that he told the boys to sit down and get their studies out. He had decided that being a parent wasn't so hard and wondered what Emily would think about having kids right away. He had always enjoyed being a big brother and he also enjoyed playing with Oliver and Louise's little Jesse. He would have to ask her later what she would think about them starting a family right away. Later.

I know a crappy ending but I didn't want it to go on for ever. This was not the way I intended for this chapter to go but it took on a life of it's own and so this what you get. Thank you for reading!