Chapter 2

Alyssa was still reeling from last night as she tried to get breakfast on the table for the kids.

Another baby? That's what Kelly had said last night...he wanted another baby.

It's not that she didn't love kids...she came from a big, crazy Italian family. She had five older brothers...fifteen nieces and nephews and a sixteenth to arrive any day now. She even had two great-nieces and a great-nephew!

Another baby? She was forty-two years old. She didn't know if she could go through it all again. The two a.m. feedings, diapers...potty training.

But Kelly said he felt like he'd missed Maggie's whole second year. He wasn't even awake for her birthday! The firehouse family had made the party while he was still in the hospital! And after that, he couldn't hold her...he couldn't play with her. He missed her swimming lessons and her first ballet class. Now she was in pre-school...and sleeping in a big girl bed. And she said she wasn't his Baby Girl anymore.

Alyssa tried to console him. But that last part...Maggie saying she wasn't a baby anymore had hit him right in the gut.

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The twins came trampling down the stairs like a herd of elephants.

Neither boy...but most especially Andy...ever walked.

They came tumbling into the kitchen and Lyssa turned to them.

"I thought the house was coming down around me!" she said.

"But Mom...we're starving!" Andy protested.

"How can you be starving...Andrew Michael? When you helped yourself to a little snack at one in the morning?"

"Busted!" Jesse laughed.

"How'd you know?" Andy asked.

"We come back to that 'never walking' thing..." Alyssa told him. "If you want to be sneaky...first you better learn to be quiet!"

Andy hung his head and slumped into his chair at the kitchen table.

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Kelly came down the stairs.

He had to be at work in about forty-five minutes. Just enough time for a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, but he wasn't hungry.

Last night he'd bared his soul to Alyssa...and he'd honestly expected her to agree right away that they should try and have another child. But she hadn't. Instead she tried to placate him...tell him he hadn't missed Maggie's entire babyhood...when she knew damn well he had! He was in a fucking coma for her birthday, for Christ's sake! He hadn't even realized her birthday had past till three weeks later!

Alyssa hadn't said 'no' to the idea...but she hadn't said 'yes' either.

He knew he'd never get that time back...he knew it in his head, at least. But he couldn't help the way he was feeling.

Alyssa turned to see him standing there beside the coffee maker. She could see the hurt in his eyes...she could see the walls he'd put up around himself. The last thing she wanted to do was cause him more hurt. God knew he'd been through enough to last a lifetime.

She crossed the room and gently laid her hand on his arm.

"Kelly..." she whispered.

Slowly, his eyes met hers...and he hesitated for just a moment before he allowed his wife to slide her arms around him.

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Andy and Jesse looked at one another, puzzled...and a little bit concerned.

Were Mom and Dad in a fight? Did something bad happen?

Even at the age of ten...they were able to sense a disturbance in the force.

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"I gotta go..." Kelly said.

Lyssa reluctantly let go and took a step back. She hated the idea of him leaving when they had unfinished business.

Kelly made the rounds...hugging the kids...telling him he loved them...and then he stopped in front of Alyssa. He leaned down and gave her a little kiss.

"I'll see you tomorrow." he told her, before he grabbed his bag and headed out the back door.