"Don't grow to much"
"Troy!" he looked up from the boys.
"What?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
"You better not tell them to stop eating their vegetables!" she warned as she held a sad looking Ella in her arms.
"Boys eat your vegetables and listen to your mom, what she says goes, got it?!' they all nodded 'that's my boys, now give me a hug"
"Bye Tay, I'll see you on Friday' he said kissing her lips 'bye princess" he went on to kissing Ella goodbye.
"No bye' she cried 'daddy no go" she cried hitting Taylor's chest.
"Ella you don't hit mommy!' Troy said sternly taking Ella out of Taylor's arms and holding her close 'and I promise I will be home on Friday to tuck you in okay?' her cries got softer 'come on give me a kiss I will have to survive without a goodnight kiss for ever' Ella puckered her lips and kissed him 'that's for tonight, how about tomorrow' she kissed him again 'Tuesday…Wednesday…Thursday' he said between kisses 'thank you princess" he set her down by the boys before enveloping Taylor in a tight embrace and kissing her passionately.
"I love you" she whispered against his lips.
"I love you too. Don't let them stay up to late and make them eat their vegetables"
"I'll make them eat their vegetables right after they finish their pie and ice-cream' she said and he chuckled 'I'll miss you" she leaned closer to him.
"I'll miss you more and call if anything happens, day or night, I'll be on the first plane back"
"We will" they kissed once more before Troy got into the cab and waved as the cab moved down the street.
-----
"Mom when is dad gonna be home?" Micheal asked as he helped Taylor set the table.
"He said he would be home by dinner, why do you ask?"
"Just wondering" he replied as he finished setting the plates and walked out to the living room.
"I'm telling you Gabi, its okay, she knows we're coming" Chad said walking in to the kitchen through the back door.
"And I'm telling you it's not!" Gabi said coming in behind him with their son, Chad. Jr, in her arms giggling at his dad who turned around and gave Gabi a look.
"Of course it's okay for us to stop by, we're their best friends they want us here"
"I still say they don't. Troy's coming home today…"
"Exactly Troy's coming home today and I bet he would like to see his friends"
"What I was going to say before you interrupted me was I think he would like to spend some time with his family before seeing us"
"Are you two done or should I com back later" Taylor asked as she made her presence known to the couple.
"We're done" Gabi said setting Chad. Jr down and he ran as fast as his little legs could carry him into the living room where the Bolton kids were all sitting watching a movie 'Finding Nemo' until dinner was ready.
"Should you really have six unsupervised kids in one room" Chad asked peeking into the living room seeing what movie they were watching.
"There'll be seven kids in there once you join them" Gabi said as Chad's face lit up.
"Thank you honey!" he kissed her and practically ran in to the living room and lifted Chad. Jr onto his lap and rested an arm around Ella who leaned against him.
"Do you need help with anything?"
"You don't have to help me Gabi, I've got everything under control" Taylor said turning back to her sauce.
"Please, let me do something, if you don't I'm gonna grow bored waiting for that movie to be over and I'll start rearranging your books and clothes so you don't know what's where!"
"Gabi calm down, you can make the salad. Jeesh living with Chad has made you crazy"
"Like I didn't already know that" she said getting the lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber out of the fridge.
"Hello, is anyone home?"
"In the kitchen!" Taylor yelled out. A loud thud could be heard out in the hall and just a few seconds later Taylor was lifted of the floor and spun around in a small circle.
"I missed you so much" Troy said finally setting her down and cupped her face with both his hands before kissing her.
"I missed you too' she kissed him once more 'did you see the kids?"
"Nope, where are they?"
"Watching Chad's favourite movie" Gabi said cutting up the tomatoes.
"Finding Nemo huh?' Troy asked with a smirk 'guess they won't notice I'm back for a while"
"No, they won't" Taylor smiled before untangling herself from Troy's arms and returned her attention to the sauce.
"Hey Gabs, how's my little sis doin?" Troy asked draping an arm over her shoulder.
"I would be doing good if my husband acted like he was 27 not 7"
"You knew he was a kid when you married him"
"I know" she sighed and dumped the tomatoes in the salad bowl and moved on to cutting the cucumber.
"Mom! Is dinner ready yet?!" Mike yelled from the other room.
"It'll be done in a minute!"
"Is dad home yet?" Dave asked.
"Why don't you come and see for yourself" Troy yelled back and instantly a herd of feet could be heard moving towards the kitchen.
"Dad!" all four boys yelled when they saw him and ran into him causing him to fall back. They were all lying in a pile on the floor hugging when Chad came into the kitchen with both Chad. Jr and Ella in his arms.
"Daddy!" she yelled and wiggled to get out of Chad's arms. As soon as she did she ran as fast as her chubby little legs could carry her to Troy who was waiting with his arms wide open for his little girl.
"My little princess, I missed you so much, yes I did, yes I did' he said rubbing his nose against hers in a playful manner 'can I get a kiss" he asked puckering his lips. Ella gave him a big wet one before snuggling closer to Troy who held her tight.
"Come on guys dinners almost ready and you haven't cleaned up yet' no one moved 'if you don't wash your hands you don't get dinner" the boys all ran towards the downstairs bathroom.
"I was here first!"
"No, you weren't! We were!" James told Mike as he pointed towards himself and Samuel.
"You're lying!"
"Boys, get in line tallest first, shortest next" the boys all grumbled except for Mike who got to go first.
"Done" he pronounced and moved out of the bathroom. All boys washed their hands, Samuel and James with the help of Troy since they couldn't reach and needed him to hold them up.
"Come on princess, your turn" Troy said lifting Ella up and helped her with the soap and rinsing her hands of. Once they were done Troy set her down on the floor again and took her hand trying to lead her out of the bathroom but she wouldn't budge.
"Come on princess, dinners ready"
"Daddy no ready" she said and Troy bent down to her level.
"Oh yes daddy is ready for dinner, daddy's really hungry princess"
"Daddy no was hans" she said shaking her finger at him. Troy sighed and washed his hands before he took a smiling Ella's hand and walked back to the dining room where the rest of the family was sitting and waiting for the two of them.
"What took you two so long" Taylor asked as Troy put Ella in her high chair.
"Daddy no was hans" Taylor smiled at her daughter as Troy sat down in his seat and put on Ella's bib.
"Daddy tried to cheat huh?' Ella nodded her head as Troy gave Taylor a look 'then daddy gets no dessert tonight" Taylor smirked as Troy's jaw dropped.