When Cal pulled into the garage and cut the engine he heard Lewis release his own seatbelt behind him and pop his car door open. Cal turned his head to see Owen was asleep on the other side of the car, his head lolled back against the seat to one side. His hand was still gripped around his juice box but it was loose and the beverage was tilted at an extreme angle. Lewis had already gone inside so Cal got out and went around to Owen's side, carefully opening the door even though the slam of his big brother exiting the vehicle hadn't roused him. Cal took the juice box and put it on the roof of the car, then leaned back in to unclip Owen's belt and slowly manoeuvre him out of it. The boy stirred as Cal tucked hands beneath to lift him. The kid was getting heavy; he was five.

"Shh, it's all right buddy, we're home," Cal murmured to him, adjusting him in his arms to get a less awkward grip. "I'm gonna take you to bed ok? Go back to sleep." Owen turned his head into his father's chest and Cal turned to go inside, taking careful steps because he couldn't see his feet and there were stairs. Gillian met him in the hallway, her face a mix of sympathy and 'awww'. "Your dinna's in the car," Cal told her. Fast food burgers for the boys so they could eat straight away. Thai for the adults.

"Thanks," Gillian whispered, smoothing Owen's hair.

Cal went upstairs and put Owen down carefully on his bed. He wasn't back to sleep yet but he kept his eyes closed and frowned against the cold of his sheets. Cal pulled his shoes off and helped him in, tucking the blanket around him again. Owen turned over so his back was to the room and Cal watched him drop like a stone back into slumber. He went and pulled the bedroom curtains closed, kicked a plastic toy on his way out that clattered loudly into another plastic toy, and cursed gently under his breath. He left the door open a little before heading downstairs again.

Gillian had set their dinner up on the table, two plates, chopsticks, and the boxes of Thai open for him. She had already started and when he approached she raised eyebrows in silent question: is Owen asleep? Cal nodded and sat. Lewis was, Cal looked around surprised. Where was Lewis? Gillian indicated the breakfast bar and when Cal turned he could see the ten-year-old crouched behind the bar stools, where he had a hut, or fort, or something going on. He had a game set up and was rearranging army figurines for some sort of siege. Cal turned again in his seat. Gillian was serving up rice for him.

"Did you have a good day then?" Cal asked, reaching for another box.

"Uh huh," Gillian agreed. Between them they piled a plate for him.

"Oh wait, the surprise?" Cal lifted gleeful eyes to her.

Gillian gave him a smile. "It's still going to have to wait."

"Aw come on," Cal complained softly, breaking the join on his throw away chopsticks.

"It's not for small eyes," Gillian tried.

Cal felt his heart beat a little funny. He positioned the small lengths of wood against his finger and thumb. "It's naughty isn't it?" He asked even quieter. Gillian shook her head, then gave a shrug, her mouth full. Cal gave a little groan and started his own meal.

After dinner Lewis followed his mother around to tell her all about the air show. He simulated the display of the Naval air forces and described the other planes they had seen. Cal lay himself down on the two-seater couch, opposite his wife and son, and listened to Lewis's excited tone of voice. He started to drift, his stomach full, his body warm, content and peaceful.

"Dad?"

"Hm?" He pried his eyes open.

Lewis was leaning over him. "It's time for you to go to bed." He gave an amused smile as he rested his head against his palm.

"Is it now?" Cal responded, sitting up a little.

Gillian was standing nearby. "Come on," she coaxed. "Come to bed honey."

Cal sat up a little further. Lewis was in his pyjamas. Cal swung his legs over the end of the couch and got up. He and Lewis had goodnight hugs and then Gillian took him up to bed while Cal put the lights out and made sure the door was locked and the house secure. He brushed his teeth and got into bed himself, still feeling half asleep as he moved around. Whatever naughtiness Gillian had planned to tease him with might just have to wait for the morning. Or perhaps tomorrow night.

"Owen's still out of it," Gillian announced as she came into their room. She turned to click the bedroom door closed.

Cal opened his eyes again to watch her cross to the bathroom. "He faded pretty fast toward the end."

Gillian put the bathroom light on and disappeared. When she came back she had her toothbrush in hand. "It was a long day."

"Lots of walkin' around," Cal added as Gillian stuck the brush in her mouth. "He had a lot of fun though."

"So did Lew, by the sound of it," her words were garbled around toothpaste. She disappeared again. Cal heard the water run in the sink and then she was back, putting the light out.

"What did you get up to today then?" Cal prompted.

Gillian gave him a smile from her dresser where she was taking her clothes off. She turned her back on him and reached into a drawer for a clean shirt to sleep in while she talked. The expanse of her skin was smooth and Cal watched attentively. She turned as she was pulling the clothing down and he could see her flat stomach before it disappeared under baby pink.

"I went to get my hair coloured," she finished.

"Fail," Cal responded with a slight wince. He hadn't noticed. "Sorry. It's nice."

Gillian gave him a smirk as she climbed onto the mattress, leaning forward towards him to shift the blankets out of the way. "I'll let you off that one because you're tired." Cal lifted a hand to draw her in for a kiss and she complied, but it was quick. She sat next to him on the mattress, the blankets around her thighs. "And I had a friend over for coffee. Then I went shopping."

"Sounds like a good day," Cal turned on to his side towards her.

"I have something to show you."

"Oh Gill, I'm kinda tired now."

"Yeah not that," she responded. "Something else. But you have to open your eyes for it."

Cal did so and looked up at her and she had this look on her face that was proud of herself and gleeful. He could see her hair had been cut too, it was just that little bit shorter, and she tended to streak blonde highlights through the strands now too because it lessened the impact of the grey. Gillian lifted the edge of her shirt and pulled down her underwear to show him a picture. On her skin.

"Is that a tattoo!" Cal felt his heart spike in surprise. He shoved himself up on an elbow and brought his right hand in to push her back a bit so he could see in the light properly.

"Yeah. It's a fairy," Gillian surmised, leaning back on her right elbow to let him look.

"Why'd you?" Cal started, pulling her underwear further to get a look at it. The entire thing was royal blue, which stood out fantastically against her pale skin. The wings showed veins and were shaped like a butterfly's and the body was on its side, in profile, an arm thrown back, one leg bent and balanced as if the fairy was flying over her hip. It was the size of an apple.

"I thought it was cute."

Cal looked up at her again. "I meant, why'd you all of a sudden get one? And not tell me? I would've come with you."

Gillian gave a shrug. "I know but I just kind of decided yesterday."

"Sneaky," Cal responded and shifted further up to give her a kiss.

"Do you like it?" She murmured against his mouth.

"It's a cute image and it's sexy as hell on you," he growled.

Gillian gave a pleased laugh. Her hand came to his jaw, smoothing against the roughness there as he kissed her again, slowly and warmly. "I'm glad."

Cal shifted back and grinned, to show he was pleased and then lifted her shirt to study it again. The top of the wings and the head of the little fey creature were visible above the line of her underwear. He was going to spend so much time looking for or it or noticing it... it was going to drive him wild. And oh in the morning he was going to see her naked in the shower...

"Don't think I'm gonna be able to sleep now," Cal muttered, lying back against his pillow. Gillian gave another light laugh and shifted down so she was lying against him. She gave a slight wince and moved a little, adjusting her weight on her hip and then put an arm over his chest, hugging him. "Did it hurt?"

"Yes of course."

"I would've held your hand."

"I liked going by myself."

"Yeah," Cal agreed because sometimes it was just nice to have some alone time, without the boys and even without Gillian there. He closed his eyes again. "Very sexy," he reiterated.

"The tattoo?"

"Yes. And you. In general. New hair cut and all."

"Oh you noticed, how sweet," Gillian responded dryly.

Cal chuckled. "Fallin' asleep. Sorry luv."

"That's ok. You've had a big day."

"Naughty things tomorrow."

"Definitely," Gillian agreed.