Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. I only the own the situation in which I have put them in.

Perry's eyelids fluttered as he saw sunlight filter through his lids. Taking a deep breath he rolled over to look at Della who had her back to him. He smiled at her as he did every morning, happy with the fact that she was the first thing he saw every day, and he was the first thing she saw in return. He looked over at the alarm clock that was on her side of the bed which read seven o'clock. Gently he laid his head on her shoulder which caused her to stir. She lifted her head slightly to see what the weight was on her arm when she saw Perry and smiled that adorable smile he loved so much. She rolled over on her back so that she could see him properly as she whispered, "Good morning, Counselor."

"Good morning, Darling," Perry whispered back as he leaned in and kissed her. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm just fine," she yawned as she buried her face in his chest, "and you?"

"Great that I have you beside me," Perry answered, resting his head on top of hers.

Della laughed a throaty laugh as she snuggled in closer. She loved to hear the beat of his heart for he had once told her that it beat only for her. She loved the fact that he always knew what to say and when to say it. She was just about to go back to sleep when she heard a creaking sound on the other side of the room. She sat bolt upright making Perry rise with her since he had been on top. A little startled at her sudden action, Perry asked, "What is it?"

"Didn't you hear that," Della asked, looking towards their bedroom door which she saw was slightly ajar. She then heard a rustling on Perry's side of the bed and put it all together like a good detective would and said playfully, "I think we have company, Perry."

Just then two bodies leapt up from off the floor and onto Perry who caught the two fully awake children. Della watched in affection as her husband and grandchildren wrestled in the bed. However, she was careful to remain out of the rough housing as she tried to get out of bed and to the bathroom to get ready, but not without dodging a pillow first.

Ten minutes later Perry was huffing and puffing with the Eli beside him on Della's side of the bed as Brooke was roosted on top of him. Brooke was giggling so Perry sat up on his elbows and asked trying to be tough, "What are you laughing at?"

"You, Pappy," Brooke answered without hesitation. She then slid off of him and took a place beside Eli who was also smiling, but his was a smile of triumph. He crossed his arms as he said to Perry, "That's the second time I've beaten you, Pop. I'm the man!"

"That certainly is the second time you've beaten me," Perry admitted as Della came out of the bathroom with her robe on, smiling at him. "But I don't know about you being 'the man' just yet."

Eli looked as though he was going to pounce Perry again as Della moved quickly to grab him before he could do so and suggested, "Why don't we give Pop a chance to get ready while we go down stairs and start fixing breakfast, huh?"

Eli looked up at Della then back at Perry as he said reluctantly, "Alright, Grams, but me and Pop are definitely going another round!"

Perry laughed at his grandson's eagerness and said, "Count on it!"

Eli seemed satisfied with that response, and allowed Della to steer him out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen. Brooke was still sitting on the bed with Perry when after a moment he asked, "Aren't you going to go with Mimi and Eli to help with breakfast?"

Brooke shook her head defiantly as she explained, "I want to stay here with you, can I?"

Perry grinned as he properly hugged her good morning and replied gently, "Of course you can, Bunny. Just sit right here and I'll be right back."

With that, Perry hoisted himself up off the bed and limped to the bathroom and closed the door. There he used the toilet, applied some deodorant, washed his face a little, and trimmed a little on his beard. Twenty minutes later he came out with his robe and was tying it when he noticed the look on Brooke's face, a look of discomfort. Perry walked back over to the bed and asked concerned, "Bunny, is something wrong?"

Brooke nodded as she answered, "My tummy itches where that spider bit me. I can't scratch it though 'cause Mommy says I shouldn't scratch bites like that 'cause they'll get sore."

"Well, your mommy is right," Perry agreed and reaching towards the little girl's nightgown asked, "Can I see your bite, please?"

Brooke nodded and Perry lifted up her nightgown to examine it. His brow furrowed as he surveyed the bite, it looked like nothing more than a mosquito bite, and it was obvious she was uncomfortable. Again Perry lifted himself off the bed and back into the bathroom where he came out two minutes later with a cotton ball, peroxide, itch cream, and a Band-AID. He sat all the stuff down on the bed between them and chuckled as he watched the little girl eyeing it suspiciously. He took her hand for a minute as he explained, "Relax, Bunny, this isn't going to hurt. I'm just going to clean it, put some anti-itch on it, and cover it up. We'll do this again later this afternoon and see if it looks and feels any better."

Brooke smiled a small smile and nodded as Perry set about his work. She only cried out a little once when Perry had put the peroxide on and it had stung somewhat. Five minutes later he was all done, and Brooke seemed to feel better. She crawled over to her grandfather and said, "Thank you, Pappy, I feel better."

"You're welcome, sweet heart," Perry said, pulling her into a big bear hug. "That's why I'm here is to make you feel better."

Perry then picked her up and together they went downstairs to investigate what the delicious aroma was coming from the kitchen.

DGP

When Perry entered the kitchen carrying Brooke, he saw Della standing in front of the oven watching something inside bake, while Eli sat at the bar with his arms folded and wearing a pouty face. Perry walked over to the bar area and sat Brooke down on a stool, and then put a hand on Eli's shoulder and asked, "What happened, Whirlwind?"

Eli turned his head as Della answered with her eyes still on whatever was in the oven, "I made him sit there since he can't keep his hands to himself and obey me. He almost got burnt on the oven."

Perry stared sternly down at Eli who fidgeted a little as Perry asked, "Is this true, young man?"

Without making eye contact Eli slowly nodded his head. Perry sighed as he asked the boy, "What am I going to do with you, Whirlwind?"

Eli did not say a word as Perry reasoned, "Well, I guess that means we won't go to the zoo today then."

At once Eli's head jerked up as Brooke asked excitedly, "We're going to the zoo, Pappy?"

Perry looked sadly over at Brooke and answered, "No, Bunny, not if Whirlwind can't keep his hands to himself and obey. That kind of behavior doesn't deserve to go to the zoo."

Brooke hung her head in disappointment as Eli said pleading, "I'll be good, Pop, I promise! I won't touch anything and I'll do everything you and Grams tell me to do, honest I will!"

Perry considered him for a moment. He then looked to Della for some support and sensing his need she said, "Alright, Eli, but if you so much as disobey us once we are going to leave, and you aren't going to make a fuss about it, understand?"

Eli nodded enthusiastically and said, "I understand, Grams!"

Perry and Della swapped glances again and Perry agreed, "Alright, then today I guess we're going to the zoo!"

At the same time both Eli and Brooke shouted, "Woo hoo!"

Perry and Della smiled at each other, and then the oven dinged. Della swung around, opened the door with an oven mitt, and then reached into the oven and drew out a batch of huge cinnamon rolls. Perry perched himself beside Brooke as Della served them and said, "Darling, you are wonderful!"

DGP

After cinnamon rolls, headaches, anxiety, arguments, and an occasional break down, Perry and Della finally got the kids together to go to the zoo that afternoon. Della had just set up Brooke's car seat when Perry came out the door and hollered at her, "Honey, where is Eli's right shoe at? I can't seem to find it anywhere!"

"Oh, Perry," Della sighed, hurrying back up to the house to help him search. After five minutes, they found it shoved up underneath the couch amongst other things they did not have the courage to touch. Once the children were dressed and Della had her supplies of money, sun block, bottled water, snacks, hats, and other random things, they were ready to leave. Della led Eli out to the car to get him buckled in and calmed down, while Perry strapped Brooke into her car seat. Once the children were fastened down, Perry and Della got themselves in the car and buckled in. As quick as he could, Perry started the engine and drove out of the driveway onto the main street.

Once they were about five minutes from home, Perry and Della both sighed in relief as they realized they accomplished a major feat: Getting out of the house! When they had had their moment of victory, Perry put his hand on Della's leg and squeezed it, and if the kids had not been in the car she would have moaned. Perry seemed to sense this for he chuckled and smiled at her. She took his hand in hers and said quietly to him, "Today is going to be a great day."