A/N: Mmkay so this chapter is a little bit longer, I have trouble containing my self. Serious drama ensues! Oh and I'd just like to express my appreciation to all who've been reviewing, especially MsSofiaCabot and 7seven7. You guys are awesome! And special thanks to Astrx09 for some great motivational words! Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Elliot went to the front door not knowing who in the hell would be on the other side of it. He wrenched it open irritably and at first didn't see anyone there. Then something wrapped itself around his legs.

He looked down to see his 3 year-old son Eli clinging to his shins. Then came the shrill shriek of Elliot ex-wife as she stomped heavily down the hall. "Eli, I told you to wait for mommy!"

She appeared in the doorway a moment later wearing an overcoat and looking extremely annoyed.

"Hello Elliot," she said taking in his appearance distastefully, "I see you're up early."

"Kathy what are you doing here? It's not my weekend with him," Elliot replied evenly.

"Yes it is. It's going to be your weekend for a long time," she replied, avoiding his gaze, "I need you to take him for a while." She did not make a move to enter the apartment.

"What? What the hell does that mean Kathy!" Elliot was trying really hard no to shout but it was becoming difficult.

"Look, I met this guy and, well, he's not into kids, "she explained, "I just thought—"

"YOU JUST THOUGHT YOU COULD ABANDON YOUR OWN SON FOR SOME DAMN FLING!" Elliot was now shouting.

Kathy was used to this. She no longer flinched at his yelling. She drew herself up to her full height and looked him dead in the eyes. "I have been raising your kids since I was 19 years old Elliot! It's your turn now, I'm done! I found someone who loves me the way you never did and he doesn't want kids…and you know what, neither do I! I can't be 'mommy' anymore! I deserve to live my own life!"

Elliot couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How can you say that? THEY'RE YOUR KIDS TOO KATHY!"

"YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW THAT, YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW THAT! I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE TAKING CARE OF MY KIDS, GOING TO EVERY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND DANCE RECITAL AND SOCCER GAME THEY EVER HAD! I JUST CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE!" Kathy was shouting now too, and getting angrier by the minute.

"KATHY YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE HIM HERE AND WALK OUT OF HIS LIFE! WHAT ABOUT HIM? HOW DO YOU THINK HE'S GONNA FEEL WHEN HIS MOMMY'S GONE!" Elliot was livid.

Kathy paused and then looked around him at the person who was now standing behind him holding her son. Her lip quivered for a moment before she looked back at Elliot. "Well, it looks like he's gonna have a new one" she said.

Elliot was confused, he looked down and realized Eli was no longer attached to him. Kathy gestured behind him and he whipped around to see the little boy crying and cuddled into Alex's arms. She was rocking him gently and when she saw Elliot and Kathy notice her she looked at them with fire in her own eyes.

"You two are scaring him," she said in a low voice, "stop it or take it outside." She shifted Eli in her arms and then walked with him into the bedroom, closing the door with a snap.

Elliot was slightly ashamed of himself and turned back around to face Kathy, who looked like she wanted to cry.

"You gave her the ring?" she asked tearfully.

Elliot was stunned, he didn't know she even knew the ring existed. He didn't say anything.

"Yeah, I know about the ring, "Kathy continued, "I've known about it for a long time. Your mother told me about it after our 10th wedding anniversary."

"Kathy-" Elliot started, not knowing how to explain this to her. He hadn't meant for her to find out like this.

"No, it's ok Elliot, I always knew I wasn't 'the one great love of your life'. I'm glad you finally found her. You know, it's funny, I always thought it would be Olivia. Well, I-I think I've found mine too. Now…I have a plane to catch. Take care of your son." And with that she turned and hurried back down the hallway, never looking back.

Elliot watched her go in silence and then slowly closed the door. He leaned his back up against it and took some deep breaths.

After he had sufficiently calmed down he walked toward the bedroom and opened the door slowly. Alex was sitting on the bed with Eli in her lap. He was sucking his thumb and looking up at Alex as she sang him a song.

Elliot smiled. She looked like such a natural. "Knock knock," he said, rapping the door frame with his knuckles.

Alex looked up and smiled at him, "Hey, is she-" "She's gone" Elliot said walking over and kneeling down in front of them. Alex nodded and looked back down at Eli. Elliot reached out to stroke his pudgy little arm and he recoiled into Alex.

Elliot frowned. He really had scared him. "Hey champ," he said softly, "Daddy didn't mean to scare you."

"Dada yell at mama" squeaked the toddler. His little face was crumpled into a scowl.

"I know buddy, and I'm sorry about that, me and your mom…well, it's not going to happen anymore ok?" Elliot said.

"Mama go bye bye?" he asked sadly. He knew exactly what had happened. Elliot's heart ached for him.

"Yeah little man, mama had to go away for a while," Elliot said getting up to sit next to them. "But's it's ok because you get to stay here with Daddy. Isn't that great?"

Eli's face softened a bit, then he looked up at Alex again and gripped the front of her shirt. "Lex go bye bye?" he asked. Eli had always liked Alex. Elliot had moved out of the house a couple months before the divorce and the three of them had spent a lot of weekends together.

Alex smiled and kissed the little boy on the forehead. "No, baby, Lex is gonna stay right here with you and daddy, is that ok?" she told him.

Eli laid his head on her shoulder and wrapped his little arms around her neck. Elliot rubbed his back, touched by how much he was already attached to her.

"Hey", he said brightening up, "how 'bout we have some cinnamon buns?"

Eli's head popped up immediately and he smiled really big, "Yummy!" he cried happily. Alex and Elliot both laughed and Alex scooped Eli up and carried him on her hip into the kitchen, followed by Elliot.

Meanwhile…

Chester came down the stairs to find his wife whisking vigorously. The bottom stair was creaky and Chester hit it heavily causing Casey to jump. "Jeez, Chester," she said glaring at him.

"Sorry!" he said, "I didn't mean to scare ya babe." He walked toward her as she continued to whisk. He stopped inches in front of her, watching her concentrating on pouring the pancake batter on their electric griddle in perfect circles.

"Casey, are you ok?" he asked. She didn't answer. "Casey," he pressed, putting a hand on her shoulder. She jumped again. "I'm fine Chester," she said, "Just…don't touch me right now ok?."

Chester took a few steps back and leaned up against the counter that was opposite the stove. He crossed his arms and watched her as she kept cooking. She stayed with her back to him as she finished the pancakes and piled them up very neatly on a plate. He heard her sniff and then she put down the spatula and wiped her eyes with the backs of her wrists.

"Baby?" Chester said, he was growing concerned.

Suddenly she turned and rushed towards him wrapping her arms around his waist. He waited a moment before returning the hug. She flinched again when he touched her but she didn't let him go.

"It's ok sweetie, I'm right here," Chester said soothingly. He didn't really know what to say to comfort her; he had no idea what she was so upset about.

"Honey, I-", he was interrupted by her kissing him full on the mouth. Chester was taken aback but decided to go with it. He kissed her back gently, not wanting to push her farther than she wanted to go.

He started to taste her tears but she didn't stop and neither did he. She kissed him harder, pulling his head down closer to her. He opened his mouth a little and she dove in, her arms when around his neck tightly, almost too tight; his slid lightly around her waist.

Chester's mind was racing. What the hell is this all about? What's the matter with her? What am I supposed to do? What does she want me to do? Ouch.

She bit his bottom lip, probably harder than she meant to. She quickly pulled back and looked in his eyes with hers still swimming. "I'm sorry," she said, it came out as more of a whimper.

Chester wiped the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs. "Baby, it's ok, but please tell me what is bothering you so much? Is it me?"

She looked horrified, "No! No, I'm not upset with you I just…I just love you a lot, and I wanted you to know that." Her face softened as he smiled at her and she gave him a small smile back.

"I do know that, sweetie, I do," he said, "And I love you too, so much. And I love our quints. And I love our house with its creaky floorboards…" She gave a little chuckle and then laid her head back on his chest.

All the sudden Casey started to feel hot and dizzy. She closed her eyes and held onto him tighter. Chester knowingly touched the back of his hand to the side of her face; he could feel the heat coming off of her. He then picked her up and carried her around the kitchen island to the family room where he set her down on the sofa.

As soon as he let her go she winced and rubbed her belly. Chester looked at her with his worry-face on. "Are you ok, sweetie?" he asked.

She nodded in reply, "Yeah, I'm fine, I think I'm just cramping a little bit, the doctor said that would happen."

"The doctor also said for you to keep relaxed and not to be on your feet for more than 15 minutes at a time. Which is probably the reason why you're cramping," he said, "So no more meltdowns babe; you have to try to stay calm, agreed?"

"Agreed. Now how about you bring me some of those pancakes that I slaved over?" Casey said, "Ooh and a diet coke."

Chester raised an eyebrow, "You want a diet coke, with your pancakes?" he asked.

Casey nodded vigorously. Chester shrugged. Cravings. "Oh and I wouldn't call adding water to instant pancake mix, slaving."He called from the kitchen.

"Hey I whisked!" she retorted indignantly.

Chester came back around with her breakfast a minute later. "Yes, yes you did" he said. He kissed her again before handing her the plate of pancakes, which she began to devour greedily. "Hey do we have any peanut butter?" she asked coming up for air.

"Umm, yes," Chester replied, "You want-" Casey nodded vigorously again. "Oookay." Chester said. As he got up to head back to the kitchen, their house phone rang.

Chester picked it up. "Hello?" "Oh, hi Evelyn." Casey sat up to look at him over the back of the sofa. He motioned to her that it was ok.

"She's good, we're just having breakfast…Um, sure that would be nice…Even better…Ok, see you then…Take care." Chester hung up and went back over to the sofa.

"What did you do?" Casey questioned as she popped the top on her diet Coke. Chester shrugged. "Your parents are coming over for dinner."

"You didn't have to agree to that you know."

"They're your parents, Case, they can't hate me forever."

"You don't know my parents very well."

"Well I should, they're going to be grandparents soon and they're going to want to be around a lot once the babies are born. We have to get along somehow."

"I guess you're right," Casey admitted, "But I have a feeling you're gonna regret this."

"Hey there is an upside, your mom's going to bring over a lasagna!"

Casey's face lit up. "That is an upside! My mom makes the best lasagna!" She was getting hungry just thinking about it.

She looked at Chester expectantly. "My peanut butter?"

"Right!" Chester said. Casey chuckled again as he sprang up and raced back to the kitchen.

Ok, so I know this is ending a little awkwardly but I needed to cut it off there. Hmm...So what do we think? Did I lie at the end of chapter 4? p.s. Olivia will show back up next update! p.p.s Feel free to start speculating as to what is up with the moody Mrs. Lake (I know some of you already have!) xoxo