"Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Can we go to the beach?" Lindsay asked.
Stella smiled down at her. She picked Lindsay up and gave her a kiss.
"I guess we could. Daddy and I both have the day off. Why don't you go and tell Daddy about it, and I'll get our swim suits and towels?"
Lindsay giggled but complied, running down the hall and calling for Mac. Stella stood up and huffed. On the floor in front of her were Adam and Jenny, fighting over the same toy. Jenny was hiccupping, small bouts of crying escaping her lips.
"Come on, you two don't fight." She said.
She took the toy from them and put it away, smiling gently.
"If you can't share, neither one of you get it." She told them.
Adam and Jess both looked at their Mommy then looked at each other. Adam started giggling, waving his arms in the air. This provoked Jess to do the same thing, and Stella couldn't contain her own laughter. The two swung from one mood right into another, which meant not much fussing over anything. They were normally very happy babies.
"Stella? Are we going to the beach?" Mac asked, walking in.
"I thought so. We should call Sid and Darla, and get them to meet us. That way, someone will be able to take care of those two." Stella said.
Mac smiled, and bent over to pick up Adam, giving Stella a kiss on the way back up.
"Sounds good. But, we'd better work on getting the kids ready now."
*
And hour later, Mac and Stella had wormed their kids into their swimming clothes, and doused them in sunscreen. It hadn't taken nearly as long to get them into the van, or to drive down to the beach. They pulled up beside Sid's unavoidable red-hot Ford Focus.
"Yay! I love the beach!" Aiden giggled, undoing her booster seat and helping Lindsay with hers.
"I don't see what the big deal is." Don muttered.
"Come on, Donnie, it's the beach! It's fun!" Sheldon exclaimed.
"You don't burn when you go to the beach." Don said.
"But Donnie, there's ice cream, and hot dogs and sand! You have to love sand at least, especially when it gets in your swim trunks and then Daddy has to give you an extra long bath." Danny smiled.
Mac opened the sliding door helping Lindsay and Aiden down.
"Stay with your mother, or Gampa and Gamma." He said.
"Yup!" Aiden called, running around the front of the van to jump into Sid's arms.
"I brought my bucket!" He heard her exclaim.
Mac smiled, and climbed in the back to unhook Adam and Jess from their car seats. Stella came to the door, ready to grab one or both of the babies.
"Mom, did we bring my scuba stuff?" Sheldon asked.
"It's in the back. Why don't you and don go and get it okay?" She said.
Sheldon nodded and opened the other sliding door, he and Don running around to open the back. Darla went to help them and Mac passed Adam and Jess to Stella.
"Here you go." Mac said with a grin.
"Thanks, Mac. Darla, do you want to take one of them?" She asked.
"I'd love to! Come to Gamma, Jessica. We're going to have lots of fun today." She grinned, taking Jess from Stella.
"Um, Daddy? Can I get out now too?" Danny asked.
Mac smiled.
"I don't know…" He teased.
Danny pouted, using his best puppy-dog face. Mac broke into a smile and helped Danny out of his booster seat, and before long the family was trudging through the sand towards the beach.
"I want to build a sand castle!" Sheldon said.
"Can I help?" Don asked.
"I guess so. But I'm the construction man, so you have to do as I say."
Sid laughed, running his fingers through Don's hair.
"You're going to need a haircut soon, Don." He said.
"Nuh-uh I like it this way just fine. Besides, I'm gonna break the record for longest hair on a twelve year-old." He smiled up at Sid.
"Okay then."
They found a spot on the beach close to the water and spread the blanket down. Stella and Darla set up the kiddy tent to put Adam and Jess in so they wouldn't burn.
"Mommy let's go swim!" Lindsay said.
"Okay sweetie. Take off your shirt and we'll put it in the bag." Stella said.
Lindsay wiggled her way out of the shirt and gave it to Stella, waiting for her and Aiden to do the same thing.
"Let's go!" Aiden said, grabbing her Mom's hand.
Mac watched Stella get pulled down towards the beach, and then turned to look at Sheldon and Don, setting up the perimeters for their castle. Then it dawned on him… where was Danny?
He turned around and saw Danny, sitting with his back to Mac.
"What're you doing, Danny?"
Danny turned and smiled at Mac.
"I'm putting sand in my bathing suit." He said with a grin.
"Don't do that." Mac scolded.
Danny scowled.
'Why not? It feels good."
Mac bit back a laugh, and sat in the sand net to Danny.
"It might feel good now, but it's not going to feel good when it gets all wet." Mac pointed out.
"Who said I'm gonna get wet?" Danny smiled.
"Aren't you going to go swimming?" Mac asked.
Danny thought for a second. He stood up and started shaking the sand out of his shorts, his hands going down the front to pull the suit away from him. Mac was amazed at how much sand had fallen out of his bathing suit. He shook his head.
"You want to go swim now, baby boy?" Mac asked.
"What about them?" He asked, pointing at his brothers.
"They're building a sand castle. Besides, Gampa and Gamma are here if they need help." Mac said.
Danny's face broke into a grin.
"Okay Daddy. Help me take this off please?" He raised his hands above his head.
Mac smiled and helped Danny out of his t-shirt, before taking his glasses and placing them in the glasses case.
"Don't forget your shirt, Daddy. Mommy didn't pack a spare in case this one gets wet." Danny said.
"Alright, Danny." Mac said.
He took off his own shirt, fixing his sunglasses. He held his hand out to Danny, who took it, and pulled him towards the beach. They passed Sid and Darla cooing over the babies, and Danny yelled out to them,
"I'm going swimming!"
"Maybe you'll catch a fish!" Sid called back.
Danny looked up at Mac.
"Are there fish in there?" He asked.
"Probably, but not close to where we'll be swimming." Mac said.
Danny nodded, and before long they were at the water. It lapped at their feet and Danny shrieked.
"It's cold!" He yelped.
"Of course it is, it's the ocean." Mac explained.
Another wave was coming towards them, and Danny watched it, stomping his feet impatiently. Mac walked closer to the water. The waves were breaking on their legs now, and Danny's teeth were chattering.
"D-d-d-d-daddy." Danny said.
"Yes, baby boy?" Mac asked.
He looked down at Danny, who was holding his hands up to Mac, and watching the waves coming towards them.
"Quick Daddy! Another one's coming!" He exclaimed.
Mac picked Danny up just as the wave crashed, and held his son close.
"Too cold?" He asked.
"Mommy says I just have to get used to it." Danny said, teeth still chattering.
Mac chuckled and held Danny closer yet, walking out to where Stella was with Aiden and Lindsay.
"Hey there." Stella smiled, leaning in to give Mac a kiss. Mac smiled, kissing her back a second time. Stella looked down at the boy trying to burrow into Mac.
"Are you cold, Danny?" She asked.
Danny shook his head no, and Aiden came splashing towards them.
"Danny! Danny come play in the water! Look, I found mermaid's hair!" She said, holding up a long piece of seaweed.
Danny looked down at her, then across at his Mom and Lindsay.
"Is it real Mermaid's hair?" He asked her.
"I don't know… maybe we should find some, and then Mommy and Daddy can run tests and tell us if it is." Lindsay suggested.
Danny nodded. And looked over at Mac.
"Can I get down? Aiden found Mermaid's hair." Danny said.
"She did? Well, I guess you'll just have to go and check it out for yourself." Mac said.
He put Danny down and watched him struggle to make his way towards Aiden, who was holding the seaweed out to him with a huge grin on her face. He smiled. The water wasn't that deep on them, but Danny was walking on tiptoes, trying to keep himself as much out of the water as he possibly could.
"What do you say, Lindsay? Do you want to go look at the Mermaid hair?" Stella asked her.
"No… I want to go swimming with Daddy." She smiled.
Stella passed Lindsay over to Mac and smiled.
"I'll go and make sure they don't try to eat the stuff." She said.
Mac smiled, and bounced Lindsay on his hip.
"Should we go deeper?" He asked.
The water was just past his knees.
"Okay Daddy." She said.
They moved out further so the water was a waist level on Mac, and he swung himself around in wide circles, dipping down so Lindsay was getting wet too. She was laughing and so was he.
"Daddy! Daddy the Mermaid's hair is attacking me!" He heard Danny screaming.
He turned around and saw Danny running towards Stella, looking back at the seaweed that was attached to his foot.
"Don't worry Danny! Mommy's got you." He called back.
"Danny's afraid of everything." Lindsay said.
Mac looked at her.
"He's not afraid of everything."
"Yes he is. He's afraid of bees, and cats, and the bears and monkeys in the zoo, and spiders, and loud noises and Mermaid's hair." Lindsay said, listing off the things on her fingers.
Mac chuckled.
"Well, maybe he's afraid of a few things. But he's not afraid of-"
"And fish! Daddy, Danny's afraid of fish too!" She interrupted him.
Mac laughed, kissing her forehead.
"Maybe you're right. But don't tell Danny I agreed with you okay?" He said.
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because Danny will be upset." He explained.
Lindsay nodded.
"I think I'm going to go and lie down with Adam and Jess. I'm tired." She said.
"Okay."
Mac walked her back to dry land, letting her down and watching her run up to their blanket. Sid pulled out her fuzzy pink towel and wrapped her in it, pulling her down to sit with him. He smiled.
"Full speed ahead!" Sheldon yelled.
He turned just in time to see Sheldon and Don running towards him full speed. They both had grins on their faces, and they jumped on Mac when they got close enough.
"Gotcha!" Don smiled, wrapping his arms around Mac's legs.
Sheldon laughed, attacking Mac's middle. Mac smiled down at them, and ran a hand through each of their hair.
"And what are you guys pretending to be?" He asked.
"We're pirates!" Sheldon said.
"And you're our victim! Arrr!" Don growled.
Mac pretended to fight against them, letting himself be led towards their castle.
"Hit the deck, victim!" Sheldon scowled.
Mac sat down on the sand. Don pushed him down onto his back, and he felt something digging into his spine.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Buried treasure… a rock's the best we could do. But you're going to protect it!" Don smiled.
"Oh I am?" He said.
"Yup. You're going to guard the treasure, and Gamma is going to take us swimming." Sheldon said.
"And if I refuse?"
Don looked at Sheldon, and they both lunged at Mac, attacking him once again. Don sat on his chest and pointed at him with his finger a scowl on his face.
"You will protect this treasure or my name isn't Captain Jack Sparrow!" He proclaimed.
"Hey! I'm Captain Jack!" Sheldon whined.
"Nuh-uh I called him first." Don said.
"Daddy I want to be Captain Jack." Sheldon pouted.
'"Why can't you both be Captain Jack?" Mac suggested.
"No! There's only one real Captain Jack and I'm him!" Don said, folding his arms over his chest.
Sheldon sighed.
"Who am I then?"
"Blue beard." Don said.
Mac laughed.
"Where have you heard of blue beard?" He asked.
"Discovery channel." Don shrugged.
*
"Okay, you girls behave yourselves, and you too Sheldon." Stella said.
"We will Mom, don't worry." Sheldon smiled.
She leaned forward and gave each on a kiss before closing the door. She leaned down to look at Sid through the window.
"Thanks for taking them in such short notice." She smiled.
"It's not a problem. Good thing we've got some of their spare clothes at our house." He smiled.
"Try not to keep them up late like last time?" She said.
"Don't worry about it, Stella. I'll make sure they go to bed when they're supposed to." Darla said.
"Thanks again. See you guys tomorrow! I love you!"
"Love you too!" They called to her.
Stella stood back and watched the car pull away from the beach, leaving her with the twins, Danny, Don and Mac.
"Come on, Danny we've got to go." Mac said.
"I don't want to!" He cried.
Mac sighed.
"We've got to go home now, baby boy. It's getting late and you need a bath." He said.
Danny stuck his tongue out at Mac and ran back towards the beach.
"Daniel Thomas Taylor you get your sorry butt back here right now or you'll be grounded!" He shouted.
Stella giggled, and Mac shot her a look.
"What? It's cute." She said.
"Yeah, you won't be saying that when it's you chasing him down the beach next time." He mumbled.
She watched Mac take off after Danny, catching up to him quickly and scooping him up. She could hear Danny sobbing loudly, and kicking at Mac. She sighed. Turning back to the van, she looked at the twins, who were asleep in their car seats.
"Everything ready to go, Don?" She asked.
She went around to the back of the van, seeing that Don had managed to get all their things piled neatly into the back.
"Yup, everything's good to go, Mom." He smiled.
Stella closed the trunk, and followed Don back around to the side of the van where he climbed in, and looked over at Mac and Danny, who were slowly and noisily making their way towards them.
"Why is Danny crying?" He asked.
"He doesn't want to leave." Stella said.
Don shook his head, and got in.
"I hate you I hate you I hate you!" Danny screamed.
"I know, I'm just a great big meany aren't I?" Mac commented.
He huffed, and got Danny into his booster seat.
"Danny… Danny, damn it stop squirming!" He cursed.
Danny's eyes went wide, and he stopped his moving. Mac looked at him and sighed. His eyes were big and quickly dampening, and his bottom lip was quivering. He tipped his head back and let out a huge sobbing howl. Mac sighed, and looked over at Stella, who was laughing.
"Danny, I'm sorry. Shh… look, come here." Mac said.
He picked Danny up in his arms and moved away from the van, not wanting to wake up his sleeping babies. Danny stayed stiff as a board in Mac's arms, and no amount of back rubbing was making him calm down. Stella clocked her tongue and walked over, holding her arms out.
"He's over tired. Come here, baby. Come see Mommy." She cooed.
Danny launched himself into Stella's arms, immediately curling into her touch and calming down to sniffles and hiccups. She smiled at Mac over Danny's shoulder and reached out to take his hand. He gave her a half smile, before moving around to the other side of the van and climbing into the drivers seat.
"Okay now Danny?" She asked gently.
She felt Danny nod against her shoulder, and she moved to put him into his booster seat.
The drive home was short, and both don and Danny had fallen asleep by the time they got home. Mac left Stella to grab up Danny, and he shook Don gently awake.
"Are we home?" He asked sleepily.
"We are. Come on, I need your help with the bags." He said.
Don got out and grabbed some of the bags, and Mac took the twins. They made it upstairs in one trip this time, instead of two, and had gotten everyone settled into bed. Stella said her final goodnights to the boys, and went in search of Mac. She found him on the front porch, sitting on the steps. She sat beside him and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"It hurt." He said.
"Danny didn't mean it."
"I know, but it hurt me. Danny and I are really close and… and it just hurt." He admitted.
Stella sighed and linked her arm around Mac's.
"I think it's mainly because of his name, you know? I mean, I… I loved Danny so much, and it still hurts me to think about it." Mac finished.
"I know Mac. But I know Danny's up there looking down and smiling at the beautiful family we've created. He's happy for us… for you." Stella said.
Mac looked at her, a small amount of tears building in his eyes. He leaned forward and gave her a passionate kiss, holding her closer.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you too… but Mac I think we've got to cut back on the love-making until one or both of us get fixed. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking seven kids are enough." She laughed.
Mac chuckled, but nodded.
"I think you're right. This family is perfect as it is." He said.
They looked back out at the sky, and Stella started laughing silently.
"What?" He asked, smiling.
"We are going to have waaay too many grand-kids." She laughed.
"You're thinking of grand-kids already? Stel, our oldest is only twelve."
"I know, but I mean, if each of them have two kids… that's fourteen already. We're gonna need a bigger boat." She snickered.
Mac laughed, kissing the top of her head.
"Mmhmm… and I can't wait."
END