A/N: Thank yous for the reviews and have an excellent Christmas/festive holiday of your religious denomination etc that you celebrate!.. little warning I edited this late and my brain was wonky so firgive the tiny mistakes I missed and as always ENJOY!

"Alicia, I didn't know you were carrying a weapon again?" Taylor mused when he came home to find Alicia and Kate settling the twins into the crib they had pulled out of the bedroom into the living area. He noticed that Alicia had a sonic pistol strapped to her thigh. He had to admit it was incredibly hot for him to see her wearing a gun and soon dismissed the salacious thoughts in his head as Kate was in the room so he couldn't take advantage of the situation without making Kate uncomfortable.

"I'll be taking that with me" Kate said as more of a reminder to herself than Alicia but also making it known that it was Kate's gun not that Taylor didn't already know.

"Yeah I heard you shot a bug before lunch" Taylor said making conversation as he put on the kettle in the kitchen.

"It survived" Kate told him. She lack the empathy to really care if the bug was alive or dead but Maddy had well and truly made up for it as she had made enough fuss for both of them to take it to Malcolm which was where she had been slapped with yet another fine from Guzman. Everyone found amusing even Malcolm who assured her that they would survive numerous fines before they had to start worrying about money. But he did say he'd prefer to spend the money on more frivolous things like furniture and clothing for their kid since they hadn't bought anything but a crib that Carter was still making.

"Unlike the vase" Taylor said keeping his tone light as he mocked her for having a twitchy trigger finger. Kate rolled her eyes as it wasn't the first time she had heard that joke a million times before.

"Would you two like some tea?" he asked them, changing the topic.

"Sure" Kate said, she really wanted to go home and take a long nap before dinner but she was afraid to be in her house alone. It had taken a few nights to settle down and actually sleep through the night instead of waking to every noise but then Malcolm was there at night so she wasn't alone.

Alicia unstrapped the gun from her thigh and placed it on the dining table as she took Taylor's usual seat as Kate took hers on the opposite side.

"How was lunch?" he asked them as he set up the cups and made the tea bringing to the table before going back to the kitchen area to make coffee for himself.

"It was good" Alicia said as Taylor sat down next to her. She shot Kate a glower look as Kate was sitting looking at them with a slightly amused expression like she was expecting something to happen.

"What?" Taylor asked as he didn't miss the look between the women.

"Nothing, Kate is just being annoying" Alicia said with sigh.

"I'm just sitting here, innocently waiting for the tea cool down" Kate said in a mockingly innocent manner while Alicia narrowed her eyes at Kate before turning her attention to Taylor.

"How was work?" she asked him.

"Work" he answered which really meant he wasn't going to talk about it with Kate in the room.

"Whoa don't be verbose about it" Kate murmured sarcastically as her comm. unit buzzed. She gave an apologetic smile as she pulled it out of her pocket and read the message.

"Everything alright?" Alicia asked as Kate wore a puzzled expression.

"Yeah, Evan is asking if I can pick up the kids and look after them at his place as he's working late tonight" Kate said as she typed back a reply saying it was fine. She hit the send button and looked at the time noting that Olivia would be finished at day care in 15 minutes.

"I assume Malcolm will be helping you" Taylor said.

"No he's working late something to do with end of month reports. He told me over breakfast this morning. Why?" Kate asked Taylor as she pocketed her comm. unit and looked at him.

"You should bring the kids over here for dinner" Taylor said Alicia nearly choked on her tea in surprise as it was the first time he had offered to host Evan's kids and sounded like he wanted to see the kids not as a social obligation. Kate smiled as she hadn't missed Alicia's reaction.

"I can handle two ankle biters and anyway you guys probably want your own space" Kate said with an amused face as she really wanted Alicia and Taylor to have some 'alone' time to see if Alicia would give into Taylor and his rusty 'seduction' skills.

"Maybe you can but I haven't spent enough time with my neice and nephew. I'd like it if you and the kids stayed for dinner" Alicia said.

"Oo playing the family card. Good one" Kate replied as if she commentating on a game show.

"I'm cooking a roast so you might as well bring them here as it will save you the hassle of cooking" Taylor added as he realised he was winning brownie points with his suggestion. Not that he did it to win ground with Alicia, well not entirely. He had decided it was time he united the family properly and tried to have some kind of relationship with Evan and his kids so they could come to trust him for support as they did Alicia.

"Ok" Kate said not bothering to put up a fight she always too tired to put up much of a fight to begin with.

"That was a quick surrender. I was also going to tell you we have sorbet" Alicia said.

"I'm too tired to fight about not coming to dinner but when you have mango sorbet smeared on your arm and the tables don't go complaining to me" Kate told them.

Alicia held Ella in her arms as the baby decided to kick up a fuss and the only way to keep her quiet was to walk and bounce her around the room. Ava was out like a light but then she had been walked around by Taylor earlier.

Alicia watched Taylor and Sean talk avidly about dinosaurs at the dining while Kate was on the lounge with Olivia both struggling to keep their eyes open as Kate was probably telling Olivia the story she had been begging her to do all afternoon. It was unreal to her to think she'd have such a scene before her but it was a nice one.

She walked over to the table and smiled at Taylor as he flicked his eyes up to meet her for a second before he turned his attention back to Sean who was still talking about what he was learning in school about the jungle outside the gates.

"You're a bright kid if you're learning all that" Taylor said in an interested manner as Sean talked nonstop about school and everything he had learned.

Alicia mused how much of an effort Taylor was putting in with the kids this time than he had the last time. He had laughed when Olivia called him 'Santa', it probably didn't help that Olivia had forgotten the first time she had met Taylor and his white beard just stirred up memories of Santa. It took Kate and Alicia a while to get the little girl to understand that Taylor was not Santa but her Uncle who is called 'Taylor' which still needed work as Olivia called him 'Tater'.

He made a genuine effort and she truly appreciated it, she kept moving on her feet leaving the boys to their discussion and walked over to Kate and Olivia were sitting. She saw Olivia had fallen to sleep while Kate was staring into nowhere still talking.

Alicia tapped Kate's foot to get her attention and Kate looked up at her with a drowsy expression.

"She's asleep" Alicia said in a low voice, Kate looked down to her side at Olivia who was indeed asleep. "You don't look far behind her yourself" Alicia added.

"Yeah, what's the time?" Kate asked.

"8pm" Alicia informed her.

"Fair enough" Kate said with a yawn as she slowly moved Olivia without waking her, so she was lying comfortably on the lounge. She stood up and stretched her arms above her head. "I think it's time I got these two to their own beds" Kate said.

"We can put them in the guest room and you can sleep on the couch" Alicia told her.

"Evan's house a couple doors down not a two hour drive" Kate told Alicia with an amused smile.

"What's this?" Taylor asked as Sean had disappeared, Alicia assumed the bathroom as Taylor got up from the table and moved to stand beside Alicia.

"I'm thinking of taking the kids back to Evan's house getting them settled for the night" Kate said.

"I think they should stay here until Evan comes home" Alicia said to Taylor who gave a nod in agreement to Alicia's statement.

"Are you worried about me?" Kate asked.

"Yes but for you and the kids being alone. Here we have extra security, locked doors and guards" Alicia told her honestly she looked to Taylor to back her up.

"There's no harm in you three staying here until Evan and Malcolm finish up" Taylor offered.

"Guys I appreciate the concern but I'll be fine, the kids will be fine. Evan isn't a target-"

"But you are" Alicia said cutting her off. Kate looked at her with a look that said 'that was a low blow' and opened her mouth to say something when Taylor spoke up.

"Ok Compromise. I'll go the house get some of the kids gear. You and the kids will stay here. The kids can have the two single beds in the guest room and I'll take the couch. No arguments" Taylor told them as he really didn't want to listen to them argue.

"You know a compromise is where the two parties both come to an agreement after both sides make concessions and I'll take the couch. I know what you two have been doing in that bed" Kate informed him.

"Fine, I'll be back in ten" Taylor said he tapped Sean on the shoulder and asked if the boy would help him grab some gear as he and sister were sleeping over. Sean smiled as he nodded and the two left the house.

"Do you need a hand getting the beds ready?" Kate asked Alicia as she couldn't believe how freakishly prepared Alicia and Taylor were for the twins in having single beds ready on hand for when the twins were older.

"No, Taylor and I made up the beds when you went to pick up Olivia. So you can relax" Alicia told her with a smug manner as she had won the argument.

"Apparently you two made up more than just the beds in the half hour I was gone. I'm glad I didn't take the bed" Kate commented Alicia smacked her arm.

"We didn't do that. We talked and anyway why were you so long in picking her up?" Alicia asked as Kate had been gone for over half an hour.

Taylor and Alicia had agreed that Kate and the kids would stay over and for that to happen they would have to be a united front. It had been an interesting negotiation of power as Taylor usually laid down the law while everyone including Alicia capitulated. Not this time or in their house as they renegotiated. It made the anger she felt lessen as she felt Taylor was giving her some control of her life back.

"Olivia woke up from nap time with a bad case of terrible twos and decided to continue with her bad behaviour so she was put in the naughty corner until I picked her up. I can't believe after a century there's still a naughty corner." Kate said as she pulled out her comm. unit to update Evan and Malcolm of the changes.

"Apparently Kate and the kids are staying at Taylor's" Malcolm remarked as he wrote a reply to Kate. He really loved that he had a wife even one who could be incredibly crass at times. He was amazed at how possessive he was becoming of her in the last few weeks but he also like belonging to someone and having the commitment of 'until death do we part'.

"Ok, can I ask you a question?" Evan asked.

"Sure" Malcolm said as pressed the send button on his message.

"Does it bother you that we are treating Lucas like he's an agoraphobic colleague than a prisoner?" Evan asked. He had visited Lucas a couple of times and every time Evan felt like he wanted to be sick to his stomach as Lucas liked to deviate to topics of conversation about Kate and his time during the occupation with his sister. What Lucas had said to him this morning nearly made him lose his cool demeanour and make him want to punch the man. Some how he managed to control himself and made a mental note to talk to Alicia as he couldn't keep what he was hearing to himself. He also knew if he could finish the project sooner and that way he would lower the number of visits he'd have to make with Lucas. Hence why he wanted to finish the section he was on tonight so he could talk to Alicia in the morning.

"Immensely but we need him to finish the calculations as I would rather we tether the fracture and close it than deal with the alternative. Why do you ask?" Malcolm asked him.

"Just that you don't act like it bothers you" Evan said as he wanted to know he wasn't the only one hating the fact they had to work with Lucas. Malcolm looked down at the circuitry board he was working on and gave a shrug.

"I have more important things to be concerned about than Lucas Taylor. I also know he likes to play mind games so everything he says shouldn't be taken at face value" Malcolm said. He hadn't had the pleasure of Lucas's pleasure but he had asked Taylor about it when they exercised in the morning.

"Something you wrote?" Evan asked referring to Malcolm's journals.

"No, something Taylor and Kate told me on separate occasions recently" Malcolm said.

"Kate talked to you about Lucas" Evan said surprised.

"Briefly and I won't go into detail with you but yes we have discussed it" Malcolm said carefully as he didn't want Evan to think Malcolm would talk to him about Kate's experiences with Lucas. The only reason Kate had opened up was that he asked her in reference to their shared history and wanting to understand why she felt she wasn't handling herself well in the last few weeks. She had been reticent but had opened up about it but only briefly.

"Taylor told me she didn't talk about it with anyone. Not even with him and he told me to never bring it up with her" Evan remarked as he was sure Taylor knew everybody's business.

"I wouldn't if I were you especially in her current state" Malcolm said as he really didn't want Kate being upset when it wasn't necessary.

"She isn't exactly coping well is she?" Evan asked.

"No she isn't but then it's an adjustment period for her and for me. Luckily it's easier for me as I'm not coping with an amnesiac husband, a killer on my back or being pregnant that is all kinds of dramas on it's own." Malcolm said casually as if they were talking about something innocuous as the weather.

"It's been over two months. I thought she was trained to adapt quickly and not be bothered by any of this" Evan said.

"Rome wasn't built in a day." Malcolm said throwing out a platitude as he really didn't want to discuss Kate with Evan when he had already spoken with taylor who was far more forgiving and understanding about Kate and her issues that he offered Malcolm insight so he could support Kate instead of saying the wrong thing and being insensitive.

"But Kate toppled 2150 in less than 72 hours" Evan quipped.

"It's easier to destroy something than it is to build and maintain. Why are we arguing this?" Malcolm asked looking up from his work to Evan.

"We're not arguing. I just find Kate is so straight forward yet hard to understand" Evan said.

"Welcome to my world" Malcolm said with amused smile.

Alicia watched Taylor as he closed the doors to their bedroom and walked to the nightstand in nothing but his pyjama pants and a clean black t-shirt. He never wore clothing to bed but considering he couldn't wander the hallways buck naked with Kate and Evan's kids he wore them so he could shower and wander the house double checking all the windows and doors were secure for Kate's sake as he had taken her gun from her and left it in the kitchen drawer before he changed his mind and brought it into the bedroom. That way if Kate was going to pull a swifty and take the gun she have to come into their bedroom.

Alicia got off the bed and moved toward him as he stood with his back to the room as he placed Kate's gun in the dresser drawer and then pulled off his t-shirt. She placed her hands on his back and he stilled for a moment before relaxing. She moved her hands slowly round from the back to front as she closed the space between them and placed a kissed on his spine.

"Thank you" she said in a low voice as she embraced him from behind and laid her head on his back just holding him to her.

"For what?" he asked in a low voice as he folded the shirt up and placed it on the dresser. They would have spoken at normal level but Kate had super hearing powers and was currently passed out on the lounge in the living room.

"For being good with the kids and patient with Kate" Alicia said, she silently mused at how her best friend sometimes doubled as a troublesome pregnant third child who Taylor and Alicia had to parent and supervise.

"They are family" he said as he turned in her arms to face her. "I wasn't exactly on my best behaviour last time Sean and Olivia were here. I decided to rectify that. Though Olivia and I didn't get much bonding time" he said with amused smile as Olivia had been more interested in Kate and Alicia than him.

"Olivia is quite attached to anyone who will read her a good story" Alicia told him as she had been the one who bathed and changed the girl for bed. She had also read Olivia the same story she loved to hear over and over again until she fell asleep. All the while Taylor, Kate and Sean played checked the locks on the windows and doors. Sean thought it was a great game while Taylor thought it unnecessary but did it for Kate's peace of mind.

"I'll keep that in mind next time" Taylor said as he looked down at Alicia, he had been putting on a good effort and to finally have her holding him and looking at him like he wasn't public enemy number one was all worth it.

"You know you'll have to keep your pants on" she told him in a matter factorial manner.

"Why?" he asked.

"Cause we have guests" Alicia told him as her eyes darted to the door he had closed.

"We slept naked with Kate in the house all the time" Taylor reminded her and he saw the flicker of desire start in her eyes as he knew she was thinking about them being naked and everything that entailed.

"Kate is a woman in her later 20's who has seen a few naked men and women her time. She doesn't ask questions and she also understands boundaries unlike Olivia and Sean" Alicia told him.

"You going to make this rule when our girls are all grown up?" He asked as he ran his hands up her back to cup her face and neck. He liked her hair when it was out loose around her shoulders as it was in that moment.

"It's not a rule but maybe something to keep in mind as kids sometimes like to climb into bed with their parents without asking permission" Alicia told him with a smile as she would enjoy watching him give their kids the 'sex' talk and why he didn't have the same anatomy as Alicia did. The same anatomy that was making itself be known that it wanted some attention.

"Not in this house, our bed is our space" Taylor told her before he captured her lips in a slow and languid kiss. He kissed like he had all the time in the world as he stuck to his 'taking things slow' plan. It was working so far even if he needed more cold showers and exercised to work off the sexual frustration he felt.

Alicia leaned into the kiss relishing the intimacy of the kiss as she opened herself up to him and deepened the kiss sliding her tongue into his mouth. Taylor groaned in pleasure as he moved a hand down to her lower back pulling her body flush against his.

"The pants stay on and be quiet the twins and Kate are sleeping" Alicia murmured when she pulled her mouth away from his and moved towards the bed as she'd rather be making out like a teenager lying down than standing up especially with a bed only a couple of steps away.

"You're no fun" Taylor said playfully in a low voice as he watched her with a hungry look.

"I'm challenging and you love it. Now shut up and kiss me" Alicia told him.

"Ok, I'm calling it" Malcolm said as he couldn't focus his eyes any longer to continue soldering circuitry boards. He stood up and stretched his arms above his head with a sigh as his muscles were sore from holding uncomfortable position hunched over the lab table for long hours.

Evan gave a nod as he agreed it was time to quit for the night as it was nearly 11pm. He wondered If Alicia and Taylor would mind keeping the kids overnight to save disturbing their sleep. Well he knew Alicia wouldn't mind Taylor was the swing vote.

"Sounds good to me" Evan said as he started cleaning up the table so when he came back in 8 hours it would be clean and ready for more work. Malcolm pulled out his comm. and quickly typed a message to Kate before he helped Evan clean up the table.

Alicia had truly missed the intimacy she was experiencing in the innocence of their current setting. They were still fully clothed and were lying on the bed with her on her back and her legs wrapped loosely around his hips, hungrily kissing one another, they kept their hands in relatively safe zones. It didn't help that they were both completely and fiercely turned on but Taylor wasn't taking it further and Alicia didn't want to in case Malcolm or Evan showed up. She did not need her brother catching her inflagrante even if it was with her husband.

"You sure about the pants staying on?" Taylor asked Alicia as he broke the kiss and looked down at her, she smiled with a lazy satisfied smile.

"Maybe I'm enjoying myself" she drawled in a husky voice as she rolled her hips making him drop his head and stifle a groan into the curve of her neck. He lifted his head and was about to say something about killing him when a knock sounded at the door. "And that's probably my brother and Malcolm"

"Talk about ruining a good time" Taylor grumbled Alicia shot him a look "Excuse me if the last people I want to think about with an erection is your brother and Malcolm" he told her, she gave a chuckle and smiled.

"That does comfort me, I'll get the door while you cool down" Alicia said as she motioned for him to move, he obliged and rolled to his side and watched her get up and straighten her clothing before leaving the room to allow him sometime to cool down but in his current state it was going to take more than a cold shower.

Alicia opened the door to Malcolm and Evan who looked completely exhausted. "Hey guys come on in. Can I offer you some coffee?" she asked as she welcomed them into the house and closed the door behind them.

"Thank you for the offer but I think I'll just take my wife go home, where is Kate?" he asked as he had expected to see her up and waiting for him but then it made sense that as to why she hadn't answered his last message.

"She's asleep on the lounge" Alicia said as she gestured to lounge where Kate was currently lying face down on fast asleep. She was amazed at how Malcolm could not spot his wife in plain view but then the man looked ready to fall into a heap so she forgave him.

"I will take that coffee" Evan said to Alicia.

"Ok" Alicia said as she went to the kitchen and made the coffee. Evan took a seat at the dining table and gave an exhausted sigh as he watched Malcolm move to the lounge and knelt down in front of Kate. He felt an ache inside of him as he missed his wife the times they used to share and turned his attention back to Alicia.

"So I hope the kids weren't too much" Evan said making conversation with his sister to distract himself.

"No they were fine." Alicia said Evan watched his sister and noticed for the first time in the last few weeks she was looking happy. Genuinely happy, obviously Taylor had gotten back into Alicia's good graces again. Not that Evan minded as he'd prefer his sister to be happy than miserable even if it was with Taylor.

"Oh good, I was worried about Olivia I can't seem to get her into line at the moment" Evan said admitting he wasn't the perfect parent as he was forever struggling to keep a balance between work and the kids. It just reminded him of how he missed having his wife around seeing his sister with the twins and Kate and Malcolm in their honeymoon phase. He wasn't ready to start dating but it didn't change the fact he felt the ache.

"Two year olds are supposed to be difficult and besides a fascination in wanting to hear the same story over and over. She was good, though apparently she got another warning at Day care" Alicia said throwing him a smile as she found it amusing.

"Maybe I'll take tomorrow off and give day care a break from her" Evan said rubbing a hand over his face.

"Aren't you really close to finishing the repairs?" Alicia asked.

"I've been working pretty hard so I think I could swing a day off" Evan said though he really wanted it finished so he wouldn't have to deal with Lucas.

"Look Kate is off duty and I'm at home we can take her for a couple of days a week. That way she isn't constantly in the naughty corner as I really don't think it's working for her" Alicia told him.

"I know, I find 1-2-3 magic works… well it worked with Sean and I'm still installing it into her"

"Installing" Alicia said

"Yeah I can't think of a better way of saying it. By the way is it ok if the kids stay over. I don't want to disturb them"

"Sure, you don't need to ask you and the kids are always welcome" Alicia asssured him.