NYLON ~ 56 ~ IT DOESN'T MATTER

JT sat cross-legged on the floor crashing his trucks into different monuments made of Legos. Next to him Ben and Ali did their best to play with toys they had outgrown years ago. Meanwhile, Hanna kept an eye on them from the kitchen as she prepared three sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

"Okay guys," she said sweetly. "Time for lunch."

The three hungry children rushed to the table and Hanna strapped JT into his high chair.

"Why does he sit there?" Ali asked pointedly.

"What do you mean?" Hanna passed out their plates and loaded them with sliced apples and grapes.

"He sits there in a tall chair," Ali explained.

"Oh," Hanna laughed. "Because JT is younger than you. He needs extra safety. You used to sit in one too."

"I don't remember," Ali replied.

"That's because you were little," Hanna explained.

"What about me?" Ben piped in. "Did I sit there?"

"You probably did too," Hanna smiled.

"Hanna," Ali chimed in exhibiting the childlike curiosity that she had read about in her parenting books. "How come Ben's my brother but we have different moms?"

"Well," Hanna explained, "both of your moms wanted kids so they had you guys. Then a few years later they fell in love and wanted to have a family together, so now you're a bigger family. Isn't that great?"

"Yeah," Ben replied. "I like having Ali as my sister. Do you have a sister?"

"I always wanted one," Hanna smiled. "I don't, not really, I mean, I guess my dad adopted Katie so she's technically my sister but we never...you know what, it doesn't matter..."

"Huh?" she had managed to confuse Ben more.

"Basically," Hanna said, "I don't have a sister, but Ali's mom is kind of like a sister."

"Does JT have a sister?" Ben asked.

"Nope," Hanna replied looking over at her little boy who was devouring grapes.

"Why not?" Ben asked. "Doesn't he want a sister?"

"Wonta sidder!" JT squealed.

"Now you start talking?" Hanna rolled her eyes at him but then turned to Ben. "I don't know. Maybe we'll ask him when he's older."

Then Hanna heard the front door open. Caleb stepped into the kitchen and placed his briefcase on the table.

"Dada!" JT raised his arms.

"Finish your food buddy," Caleb told him. Then he saw their young guests. "Hey guys!"

"Hi Caleb," they chorused.

"Do you know why JT doesn't have a sister?" Ben asked him as Hanna rolled her eyes.

"Well," Caleb turned to Hanna for a sign. She just shrugged. "I'm not sure I know the answer to that."

"How come?" Ali continued the interrogation. "Is it 'cause you're a dad? My mom says we don't need dads."

"How did you handle this all day?" Caleb asked Hanna.

"Every twenty minutes they get distracted," Hanna explained. "Just wait until I bring out dessert."

"Dessert!" Ben banged his fists on the table.

"You guys want dessert?" Hanna asked.

"Yeah!" they squealed. She laughed and stood up to pour three bowls of ice cream which she brought back to the table.

"One for you," she handed it to Ben and then another to Alison. "And you...and this one's for me."

"Ous queem," JT reached for some.

"Finish that," Hanna pointed at two apple slices. JT instantly put them in his mouth as Ali and Ben dug into their ice cream.

"Where's mine?" Caleb teased.

"Well," Hanna told him, "you didn't eat your vegetables."

"Mama!" JT proudly held up his empty plate.

"Okay," she scooped up a small spoonful and fed it to JT. "Just a little."

"More!" Ben showed Hanna his empty bowl.

"I don't think so," Hanna replied. "I don't want you all hyped up on sugar when your moms come.

"Sugar!" Ali squealed.

"Nope," Hanna sighed.

"Hey guys," Caleb stood up, "why don't we get cleaned up and watch a movie?"

"Okay!" they ran to the bathroom nearly knocking each other off the stool to clean their hands while Hanna helped JT out of his high chair when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get him," Caleb offered grabbing JT with one hand while he cleared the table with the other.

"Thanks," Hanna got the door.

"Hey," Emily gave her friend a hug. "Thanks for watching them."

"How did it go?" Hanna asked.

"Good," Emily replied. "We've got the paperwork taken care of and I should be able to adopt Ben by the end of the week."

"That's great," Hanna smiled.

"There's something I need to ask you," Emily said.

"What?" Hanna was curious.

"Can I name you as their legal guardian?" Emily asked. "I mean, I don't expect anything, but if something were to happen to both Kristen and I."

"What about Aria?" Hanna asked.

"She's got two kids of her own," Emily explained, "and their place is already cramped. Plus, the kids love you and JT."

"How about Spencer?" Hanna offered. "You and Toby are best friends."

"I couldn't do that to her," Emily replied. "Not if she can't have her own children."

"Okay," Hanna smiled. "Of course."

"Thanks!" Emily hugged her. "Now where are my little munchkins?"

"Caleb took them into the den to watch movies, I think," Hanna replied.

She showed Emily to the dark room where an animated flick was flashing on the screen. Hanna tapped lightly on the door.

"Mom!" Ali jumped off her seat and into Emily's arms with Ben following closely behind.

"Say by to Hanna," Emily urged them.

"Bye bye," Ben hugged her leg.

"Bye Hanna," Ali smiled as Hanna bent down to their level.

"Bye guys," Hanna hugged them both. "Be good, okay?"

"Okay!" they replied in unison as they followed Emily to the door.

"So," Hanna peaked her head into the room, "are you guys gonna finish this up?"

"You can watch with us," Caleb offered.

Hanna smiled and took a seat next to him. JT rubbed his eyes and crawled into his mother's lap. Hanna smiled and placed an arm around him to keep him steady while they watched the movie. She could tell JT was getting sleepy and finally his head fell back against her chest. Then she felt Caleb's finger's intertwine with hers. She smiled and looked over only to find him asleep as well.

Oops! Did I accidentally update twice in one day? I hope you liked it and I'm offering a special surprise in honor of my recent writing binge. Ten reviews by the end of the day and I put up a third chapter. Can we do that? Thanks for reading!