Author's note: Thank you all for reading and for all the love you've shown both here and one Tumblr. I was smacked in the head with the answer to this that I was struggling with. I hope to introduce that in the next couple chapters. So keep your eyes out for that.

Please feel free to review and let me know what you think.

Happy reading?

Chapter Two

"You're due for a vacation." Rose said as they picked up the last of the mats.

Eddie chuckled. "We all are. Doesn't look like we getting one, though, does it? Jill and I have all the kids today. I don't know why I agreed to have all of them at once."

Rose pointed and laughed. "You are so whipped. She says jump and you do it."

"It's because she's a beautiful woman. All she has to do is look at me and I jump." He shrugged and leaned against a wall. "And Andrea's a big help when it comes to the younger ones. Chris on occasion."

"Reggie is going through the terrible twos, if you didn't notice." His friend pointed out.

He laughed. "I did. She threw a massive fit the last time we were there for supper because her peas were in the gravy. I'm a guardian. I got this."

She shook her head. "Just keep your patience. I let Dimitri deal with her when we have them. She loves him more anyway."

"I'll keep that in mind." He said as they walked toward the front door.

"So when are you getting them?"

"Andrea and Chris are going over right after school and I am heading over to get the other three right now."

"Then you should probably hit the showers now and save your wife having to deal with all five at once."

"True." He turned around and waved. "See you later."

"Eddie!" Reggie screamed as soon as she saw him. She ran over and lifted her arms up. "Pick me up?"

He lifted her up and raised her high into the air, making her squeal in delight.

Nicole ran over and attacked him around the knees. "You came!"

"Of course." He laughed and picked her up. He kissed her cheek. "How's my Nikki?"

She made a face. "Please don't call me that."

"As particular as usual." Christian came over with a suitcase. "I think all their things are in here. Andrea insisted on packing her own bag and bringing it to school with her. So if something is missing, it's her fault. If something's missing here, it's mine."

Eddie laughed and put the girls down. "Where's Sasha?"

"Pretending she's fifteen instead of just five. She's locked herself in her room and is refusing to leave it. Lissa's trying to coax her out." He turned to his daughters. "Go check on Mommy's progress." They ran out of the room.

"I know you want them all to come with us so you can have that long-awaited night alone. Should we count down to the big Baby Number Six announcement?"

Christian laughed. "You never know. We both always said we wanted a houseful. And we have plenty of house."

Eddie laughed along with him. "And there's also the whole business with needing more Dragomirs."

"That too. But it's definitely not as important."

Lissa came in with Sasha and Nicole on either hand. Reggie ran forward and launched himself at Eddie once again.

"Go now?" She asked.

Eddie ruffled her short blonde hair. "I think so. Say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy."

"Bye!" She waved and ran for the door.

The twins took a bit longer, hugging and kissing them. Eddie took the suitcase from Christian and took firm hold of Reggie's hand. He let the twins lead the way out of the building and over a few blocks to the apartment building where he and Jill lived. They fought over who would push the buzzer.

"Nicole, push the buzzer for the door. Sasha will push the elevator button." Eddie said.

"And me?" Reggie looked up.

"You get to push the button for the floor inside the elevator." He squeezed her hand.

Nicole ran forward as they approached the building. "It's this one, right?" she asked, pointing to the top one out of her reach.

"Yep." He put the suitcase down and wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her off her feet.

"I can't reach it, Uncle Eddie." She complained as she stretched her arm out as far as it would go.

He released Reggie's hand. "Stay put, Regina." He warned as he lifted her older sister higher.

"Castile-Dragomir residence." Chris called through the intercom.

"Let us in." The twins said in unison.

"Why should I?" Their brother returned.

"Come up." Jill called as the buzzer sounded to signal the door unlocking.

The girls all ran in ahead of Eddie, clamoring to get to the elevator. Sasha pushed the button. Reggie danced anxiously as they waited.

She looked up at Eddie. "Got to potty." She announced.

Eddie stammered, "Um, well, Reg, you're gonna have to wait just a little bit longer."

She nodded, but looked uncomfortable. The doors opened and she hurried in. Eddie lifted her to push the button for the penthouse and they started their ascent. Reggie steadily looked more and more uncomfortable.

"Just a little bit longer." He soothed. "This is a first." He said to himself.

As soon as the doors opened, she bolted from the elevator and ran across the hall. She pounded on the door until it opened and then ran into the apartment.

"Clear the way. Kid's gotta pee." He called as he and the twins walked in at a more leisurely pace. He put the suitcase down and turned to Chris. "Hey, how was school?"

He shrugged and sat down on the couch, where it appeared he had already made himself at home. He picked up the video game controller and unpaused his game.

"Hey, babe." Jill called from the kitchen.

The twins hurried in. "What are you doing?" they asked in unison

"It's creepy that you do that." Andrea commented.

"Trying to figure out what kind of cookies we want to make." Their aunt explained. She accepted a kiss from Eddie and then flipped through another cook book.

"Can't go wrong with chocolate chip or sugar." He said as he wandered into the living room. "Hey, Chris, mind if I join?"

"Andrea wanted to try a new recipe." She said.

"Nothing too crazy." He warned.

The men started on the game. Reggie emerged and climbed up between them.

"Me too?" She asked.

"Not right now." Chris said.

"Here, you can help me." Eddie pulled her onto his lap.

She rested her hands on top of his and watched the screen intently.

"About to start cookies. Anyone in there want to help?" Jill called.

"Nope, I'm good." Chris said, taking down some of Eddie's men.

"I good, too." Reggie said.

"I'm with them, babe." Eddie said, pressing intently on the buttons of his controller. He growled.

She laughed. "Okay, then."

After a while, the pair started hurling insults at one another. Reggie joined in. When Eddie stomped Chris, the boy threw his controller down and mumbled, "Douche move."

Reggie repeated it.

"Let's not say those words, Reggie." Eddie said. "And don't be a sore loser, Chris. It's just a game and you played very well." He ruffled the boy's hair. "Let's take a break and check on the cookies. I'll order the pizza."

They walked into the kitchen where the first batch of cookies were leaving the oven. Reggie held onto Eddie's hand.

"What kind of cookies did you decide on?"

"They're called snickerdoodles." Andrea announced.

Chris snorted at the name, but accepted a cookie anyway. He nodded appreciatively.

Eddie sat on a bar stool and pulled Reggie onto his lap. He handed her a cookie and then took one of his own.

"Yummy!" the little girl announced.

Eddie chuckled and kissed her cheek. "You guys did a very good job. So are we going to fill up on cookies and all the other junk Jill got today or do we want pizza, too?"

"Pizza!" All the older kids said.

Reggie said sheepishly, "Cookies."

Eddie laughed and kissed her again. "We'll have more cookies while we wait. What toppings?"

"Meat lovers." Chris said.

The twins requested, "Pepperoni."

"Veggie!" Jill and Andrea said in eerie unison like the twins.

"And what about you, my little shadow?" He asked, tickling the little girl on his lap. "Pepperoni? Cheese? Veggie?"

"Peppin-ronies." She said around her giggles.

"Sounds good." He lifted her off his lap and headed out of the room to make the call. Reggie followed close on his heels. He ruffled her hair and ordered the pizza.

They returned to the others, Reggie on Eddie's hip. They sat around and ate cookies.

The kids all talked over each other. The twins giggled as Andrea attempted to tell everyone about the boy she liked who didn't like her back.

Eddie groaned. "You're ten. Boys should still be icky."

"But they're not." She protested, a dreamy look in her eyes. "They're the greatest thing ever put on this earth." Her look turned sour. "Except for little brothers. Those are icky."

Chris stuck his tongue out at her. She stuck her tongue out at him.

This caused the twins to break out into great peals of laughter. Reggie turned her big blue eyes to Eddie with a questioning expression.

"Big sisters and brothers are kind of silly, huh?" He asked her softly.

She nodded.

The front door buzzed.

"I'll get it!" They all called and ran for the door.

Chris got there first. "Castile-Dragomir residence." He said very respectfully.

"Pizza delivery."

"Come on up. The penthouse." Chris said haughtily.

"I pay?" Reggie asked from Eddie's side.

He looked down at her and smiled. "Sure." He pulled his wallet out and took out some money and handed it to her.

She took it and walked to stand in front of the door and wait.

Andrea went back into the kitchen to help Jill get plates and drinks ready.

There was a knock on the door and Reggie hurried forward to open it. "Here." She held out the money.

The man with the pizza smiled down at her indulgently. Eddie took the pizzas from him and handed them to the twins to carry into the dining room.

"Thank you, little lady." He said when his hands were finally free to take the money from her outstretched hand.

Eddie leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Keep the change." She announced happily.

"Thanks." He saluted them and then went on his way.

The kids all talked over each other once more as they ate. Eddie had trouble keeping track of the many threads of conversation. He looked to Reggie who was sitting very close to him solemnly eating her pizza.

She smiled.

He reached over and ruffled her hair.

Jill kissed his cheek and whispered, "I think I have competition."

Eddie turned his head and smiled, "Never." He brushed his lips across hers.

"Ewwwww!" The twins said just before they broke into giggles.

Chris gagged and returned to his pizza.

Andrea and Reggie just smiled.

Eddie kissed his wife hard and then sat back and winked as Reggie started giggling belatedly.