Amelia POV

My sleep was interrupted by a large banging on our front door. Heart palpitations vibrated my chest. It was only 5:20 A.M., so who would be knocking like that? I patted Owen's face until he woke up.

"What the hell?"

"Someone is pounding on the door. Go see who it is, please."

"If we don't answer it, they'll go away. Just go back to sleep babe."

I sighed deeply and was trying my best to not get annoyed with him. I pulled away from his close hold on me and grabbed my robe off the hook on the back of our door.

"Amelia, where are you going?"

"The pounding hasn't stopped. I'll go answer it since you're apparently too busy to."

After I put my robe on and started to make my way down the stairs, I could hear Owen getting up and starting to follow behind me.

"I'll get it, Mia. For all we know it could be some psychopath. I don't want my pregnant wife to answer the door."

I shook my head and stifled a frustrated chuckle.

"I told you to get it already."

I stood half way down the stairs and watched Owen carefully look through the peephole then hurry to open the door.

"Derek, what the fuck?"

"I tried calling and texting both of you numerous times! Pack your bags, you two are going to Santa Barbara with me, Mere, and the kids for the weekend."

I hurried down the stairs.

"What are you talking about?"

"I asked Dr. Bailey about Owen and I getting the weekend off since you and Mere have it off. Zola and Bailey have Monday off of school so that's the day we'll come back. You have less than 30 minutes to pack. All you need is some swimsuits, a few pairs of shorts, some shirts, and maybe one nice outfit. The kids are waiting in the car with Meredith. Our flight leaves in 3.5 hours and the airport is 30 minutes away."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"We are being spontaneous and want you to join us. Don't be sticks in the mud."

My eyes met with Owen's and before we knew it, we were loaded into their car with our suitcases in the back and headed to California.

Owen POV

By the time we touched down at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, I was the only one from our family awake on the plane minus baby Ellie who screamed bloody murder unless she was sitting on Amelia's lap. Ellis definitely favored Amelia and while Amelia really loves all three of them, her bond is strongest with Ellis.

Amelia was so beautiful as she slept with Ellis laying rather content in her lap. I bent over and gave my wife a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Love, we are here. Time to wake up."

She started to stir softly as did Derek and Meredith from all of the commotion of everyone gathering their belongings and starting to get off the plane. Amelia smiled as she opened her eyes and saw me.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep... What were we talking about?"

"Our departments' budgets so I don't blame you for falling asleep. Little Ellie here decided to keep Uncle Owen company and not sleep at all through our 2.5 hour flight. She never cried once you started holding her so I'm not complaining."

She transfer the now sleepy baby from her lap to my arms so she could stand up and stretch.

"Derek, I'm surprised you fell asleep. You were wide awake banging on our door this morning."

He smiled at his little sister. It was nice to have him around after all that time he spent in D.C.

"Well someone had to get three kids up and ready while Mere tried to sleep as long as she could. I earned my nap."

We made our way off the plane and to our fashionable rental car - a minivan that could seat 8. Ellis was already asleep by the time we got her strapped into her car seat and her brother and sister started talking nonstop. Amelia and I sat in the middle while Derek drove and Meredith rode shot gun.

"Should we go straight to the grocery store or would you rather us drop you and the kids off at the beach house first? They told me they just can't wait for alone time with their aunt and uncle."

Amelia scoffed at Meredith and took my hand into hers.

"I think it's more of their mommy and daddy wanting some alone time but you can drop us off with them. Ellie deserves a good nap and Owen can take the kids on a walk to find seashells and sea glass."

Both kids cheered in the back but not loud enough to wake the baby.

"Yeah Uncle Owen! We wanna go on a walk with you!"

Leave it to Amelia to volunteer me to do things on our vacation... It was really okay, I'd rather do that than have to work. Vacations for us, especially all of us together, was incredibly rare.

"Beach walk for seashells and sea glass it is then... Aunt Amelia gets to start unpacking if she's staying in with baby Ellie though."

Amelia squeezed my hand and playfully squinted her eyes at me.

"Sure, I'd love to do that."

Once I returned to the beach house with Bailey and Zola carrying their buckets of shells and sea glass, Amelia was in the kitchen helping Derek and Meredith put away all of the groceries they got for this weekend.

"Zozo, show your mommy that really cool shell we found."

She ran over to Meredith and pulled out this empty hermit crab shell that was red and brown with what looked to be bluish specks on it.

"Mommy, I found this right after Bailey found half of a sand dollar. Bailey thinks it's really money but I tried to tell him it wasn't. Uncle Owen tried but Bailey got upset so Uncle O said to leave it alone and if Bailey wants to pretend then to let him."

Meredith and Amelia both laughed while Derek picked Bailey and his half sand dollar up.

"Buddy, sand dollars are mermaids' money. Don't worry."

He rustled his hair and set him back down.

"Kids, go play in the game room. We are going to order pizza for lunch and Amy had the idea of going to the pier for dinner tonight so that is what we will do."

That sounded great to me.

Once everything was put away and Meredith and Derek were back to kid duty, Amelia and I snuck away to relax in the hammock together. It was very warm out but the ocean breeze kept it comfortable.

"I will say... if they want to come banging on our door to take us on vacation more often, I won't be mad."

Amelia laughed her famous laugh that turned my heart to goo.

"You didn't even want to answer the door until I got up to do it. Your grumpy butt should've stayed in bed and I would've come."

I took the opportunity of her talking to steal a deep kiss from her. It was so satisfying watching her get all flustered.

"I didn't want to have to deal with it, that's all. You would've missed me too much, admit it."

She laughed again and shook her head.

"Nope, not gonna admit it. Although I would have to miss out on beach sex which I'm certainly looking forward too."

"Of course you are. You can't resist me."

She shoved me playfully which made the hammock rattle some.

"You are full of yourself there, Hunt."

"I'm a confident guy... If I'm not mistaken, you have said all of this about me and then some. You're the perverted one."

"You aren't wrong. You're equally as perverted though. That's why we go together so well. Don't think I'm not gonna fulfill your beach sex craving. I promise I'll be able to make all of Santa Barbara hear you."

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"I'll hold you to that promise."

"It wouldn't be you if you didn't. I love you Amelia..."

"I love you too."

"And I love our baby Ruby... This time next year, she will be with us."

"Eating the sand like most babies. She loves you too by the way... She already knows your voice, I swear."

Amelia put her head on my chest and we laid there contently enjoying the California heat and soothing ocean breeze. This vacation was gonna be great.