*peeking around corner* Er, hi everyone *ducks glares* I know it's been a long time, but school and RL have been killer. The good news is I've graduated now. This part is short, but I have to stop here. I've got a poll up on my profile page about how you want the end of the story to go. So please, review, vote, something to tell what you would prefer.

Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and encouraged me to continue the story,

Knoteach

Part 6

Come Saturday morning, Chris got the boys and Buck up bright and early without giving them an explanation past an admonition that there was much to do.

Chris in particular had to grin as the three bleary-eyed boys trudged into the kitchen for breakfast. He almost burst into laughter when Buck arrived a few moments later with exactly the same expression on his face, though without the grumbling since he knew why they had been rousted out of bed at six a.m. on a Saturday. Chris had seen Buck in his pre-caffeinated state many times, but seeing the four identical expressions, complete with cowlicks sticking out at odd angles all over their heads, was too adorable for words.

"What possible reason could there be for our abandonment of our beds at this ungodly hour?" Ezra groused after he finished eating, glaring at his foster father's grinning countenance with a jaundiced eye.

Chris squashed the urge to chuckle at Ezra's expression, "Buck and I thought you guys might like to get out of the house for a few hours and relax for a while. If you'd rather stay here, like we did last week, and the week before, and the…" Chris explained, enjoying the looks of interest and excitement that were growing on the boys' faces.

"Oh, boy!" JD perked up immediately at the idea of an outing. Predictably he started bouncing in his seat as he asked, "Where are we goin'?"

"Well, we were thinkin' you guys might like to go to the carnival down at the South Fair Grounds. They open up at eight, so we need to get the morning chores done and …" Chris broke off as Vin grabbed Buck's hand and started dragging him out the back door toward the barn.

"C'mon, Buck!" Vin demanded, as the slight built fourteen year old pulled the tall man along. "Sooner we start, sooner we're done!"

Chris smirked at the indulgent expression on the big demolition man's face as Vin and Buck headed out to feed the horses. Turning to JD and Ezra, Chris finished, "Guess that leaves us to get some lunch together to go with us?"

"'Kay," JD chirped as he hopped off his seat, "I'll get the basket!" And with that announcement, JD disappeared into the garage in search of the huge basket they used for team picnics.

Chris shook his head and exchanged a grin with the other remaining occupant of the kitchen. It was impossible not to grin at the seven-year-old's enthusiasm. Seeing the grin on Ezra's face fade into uncertainty, Chris rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Nothing's going to happen, Ezra. All of us are going to be there. Buck, Me, Josiah, Nathan, even Raine is coming."

Chris watched the play of emotions across Ezra's face. It was obvious that Ezra wanted to believe him, but his fears and history with Maude weren't letting him. Silently, Chris drew Ezra into his arms and held him close. Ezra stiffened slightly at first, like always, but after a few seconds he relaxed into the embrace and hugged him back.

"It will be fine, Ezra. We can't let her keep us prisoner to fear. It's time to show her that we aren't afraid of her," Chris whispered. When he felt Ezra nod against his neck, Chris momentarily tightened his hold then released Ezra. Seeing JD coming back into the kitchen, dragging the large, wheeled wicker basket, Chris commented, "Well then, let's get some lunch gathered. We're going to have eight hungry mouths to feed."

(A/N: I've actually seen a basket like this in a store. They called it a "little-leaguer." I think the idea was that you could pack enough food for the entire little league team, but I thought it would work for our boys too. Looks more like a wicker trunk on wheels, than a basket.)

Ezra smirked slightly as he commented, "Perhaps we should consider packing another set of provisions for those of our troupe who will, no doubt, be ravenous before we even manage to board our respective modes of transport to our anticipated excursion. It has been proven that increased activity will lead to an increased appetite. "

Chris just managed to smother his laughter at this suggestion, but JD's next comment aborted the effort and he laughed long and loud.

"Yeah, We'll use Vin's lunch box, and Buck can use mine!" JD offered, smiling in happiness.

Chris nodded as he tried to get his laughter under control, waving JD off to get the two lunch boxes.

For the next thirty minutes, Chris, Ezra, and JD packed a huge picnic feast for their 'excursion,' as Ezra insisted on calling the trip to the carnival. When Buck and Vin entered the house after finishing chores, they were quickly shuffled up stairs to wash and change clothes, while Ezra and JD slipped up stairs to change clothes and finish preparing for the day. Within another ten minutes, all five were ready to head to the cars and Josiah, Nathan, and Raine had arrived. By common consent, they decided to use Josiah's Suburban, since it was the only one of their vehicles that was large enough to fit all eight of them.

"What are those for?" Josiah asked, when he saw Chris carrying JD and Vin's lunch box while Ezra wheeled out the food basket.

Chris didn't have to answer as Buck and Vin's stomachs chose that moment to give a loud growl. Smirking, Chris handed the respective boxes to their intended recipients. "Ezra figured since Buck and Vin handled the morning chores, and knowing Buck's famed metabolism, they might need something to tide them over until lunch."

Buck and Vin both grinned at Chris, and thanked Ezra, who shrugged, but hid a small smile of pleasure.

Josiah and Nathan chuckled, knowing Chris was exactly right; both Buck and Vin had the type of metabolism that models longed for. They could eat practically anything, and everything, they wanted and wouldn't gain an ounce of fat.

"Just watch it, Buck," Nathan warned as he helped his snickering wife into Josiah's truck. "When you hit middle age, you metabolism starts slowing down."

"Ah, but ol' Buck, ain't anywhere near that old," Buck shot back, smiling and puffing out his chest in pride.

"Indeed? Hate to break it to you, Buck, but middle age starts at 40, and since you turned 34 last year…" Raine said, intentionally using a lecturing tone, while grinning at the put out expression on Buck's face. "On the other hand, if one were to go by the old adage that one is only as old as you feel, I'd have to agree with you." Buck brightened momentarily, then Raine gave the punch line. "Because I'd swear you never got passed the stage of being all stomach and hormones." The occupants of the truck broke up laughing at the mock-affronted expression on Buck's face, but Buck couldn't hold it and grinned as he dug through the contents of his lunch box.

Josiah grinned as he started the truck down Chris' long driveway and started toward the carnival. It was good to have the whole family together to relax and enjoy a day without having to worry about who might be around the corner. He really didn't think Maude would be stupid enough to try something in broad daylight with all of them surrounding the boys in public.