Aliceinwhumperland's whump word(s) of the day: "You can't keep this up, you know that right?"

Lucy's hand smoothed over the growing bump. She was showing nicely, and soon she'd have to stop going to the office to work while Gordon was in Kindergarten. The current baby of the family was still undecided whether he wanted to be a big brother or not, and he didn't seem swayed by Scott's enthusiasm or John and Virgil's indifference.

Tonight she'd made Jeff's favourite meal. BBQ ribs à la Kansas style – God forbid she get that bit wrong – with coleslaw, potato salad and sweet iced tea. She'd fed the boys and shipped them off to their Grandparents for the night.

This was a serious conversation and she needed all her wits about her, and as much as she adored her boys and could trust them to behave and leave her and Jeff to it, it just made more sense to not put that temptation in their way. Gordon especially would want his father's attention – the boy had won a prize swimming and couldn't wait to show Jeff.

She sighed.

Lucy loved her man with her everything, but he sometimes (most of the time) had a one-track mind and while she had known this before they married and had children, she was becoming concerned.

Jeff was missing so much of his boys lives as they grew up. Scott would be a teenager just after this little one was born, and she'd estimated Jeff had missed almost half of his life being in space. Hell, he'd missed Virgil's birth and first few months completely!

Patting her belly and smiling, she steeled herself. This was a conversation they had had many times. Jeff knew he was missing them and often agonised over it, and Lucy had always reassured him that the boys loved him and understood, but this time it felt right. Plus he was in between missions at the moment, if she left it much longer he'd be off again…

Arms encircled her, hands gently resting on the bump, and Lucy jumped. She'd been so wrapped up in thought she hadn't heard the door open or Jeff come in.

She leaned back against him and he kissed the crown of her hair. And sniffed the air appreciatively.

'Mmm, that smells delicious! What's the occasion? And where are the boys?'

'The boys are with your mother for the night.'

'Oooh, a night to ourselves!'

He spun her around gently and waggled his eyebrows suggestively, making her laugh. In turn Lucy playfully slapped his arm.

'Behave yourself. It's talk like that that led to this!'

Hands patted her belly again and Jeff pulled her in for a proper kiss. He still left her slightly breathless even after all these years and four and a half children, and she still made his knees weak.

'Talk first, then we can enjoy the feast I can smell. That way I can do all your hard work justice.'

'Ok, let's sit down.'

'Oh, that kind of talk.'

She flashed him a bright smile as they sat opposite each other, reaching across the table to hold hands.

'Jeff, I know I have always supported your trips to Alpha Base and the important things you do. I – I think, though, it's time for you to consider stopping. You can't keep this up, you know that, right? You're missing so much of our boys' lives. And I want our baby to know his father.'

Jeff looked at his wife. She was biting her lip in worry over this conversation, and truth be told it was long overdue. He'd thought about giving up when they had conceived Gordon, but an important mission had come up and Lucy had said, no – had insisted – he go. And so he had.

Sometimes they were scarily in synch with their thinking. Sometimes Jeff wondered if Scott and Virgil's mind-reading powers came from him and his wife.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a letter, placing it in Lucy's hand. She looked at him, a frown on her face as she opened and read it.

It didn't take long for the frown to turn into a smile, and sparking eyes regarded him for a second before Lucy flew around the table and into his arms.

'You already resigned?'

'We already talked about me leaving NASA when Gordon was born, now seems the best time. There's a mission coming up so I figured it had to be now.'

They sat at the kitchen table, Lucy in Jeff's lap and hands cradling their baby bump. Jeff kissed her shoulder and she snuggled in closer.

'I promise this one will grow up with both parents present.'

'We'd like that, Jeff.'