I pull the door to the twins room mostly shut behind me and can't help but wonder how long it'll be before we need to put them in separate rooms. I know they're only two and have years to go before modesty and privacy is an issue, but there might come a point where it just makes more sense for the boys to room together and for Erica to have her own space.

Of course, when they're older, they'll all need their separate rooms anyway—we're going to need a bigger house. Maybe we'll get lucky; maybe Jack and William will like bunking together and it won't be much of an issue.

I don't even want to imagine what this place would be like if we happen to get another one. It'll be like a madhouse.

I grin to myself, even though the thought of having four kids is daunting; I love my little rugrats and if any more of them come along, well…I think it'd be great.

Loud, crazy, insane, messy, and incredibly hard work, but great.

For now, though, I'm perfectly content with our three. They more than keep us on our toes.

I push William's door open just a touch and pause, listening to him snore ever so slightly for just a few moments before I move onto our bedroom. I see steam seeping out of our bathroom and grin, pulling my shirt over my head. I grab the baby monitors and turn them up, putting them on our bureau next to the doorway.

As I creep into the bathroom, I see Chandler sprawled out in our big tub, his eyes closed in bliss. He still doesn't like to admit to being a bath person, but I'm much more likely to find him taking a soak now than just a few years ago.

"You can keep staring, or you could join me," he says suddenly, his eyes never opening, and my grin widens—of course he knows I'm here. I pop open the button of my jeans and slide them down my hips, his eyes finally cracking open as I step out of my panties, my bra following moments later. He smiles at me lazily, appreciatively, and even though we've been together for all these years, his gaze still has the ability to make me blush.

He sits up a little straighter and holds out a hand for me, helping me step over the edge of the tub. I settle against him, his arms wrapping around me, and as one, we sigh contentedly. When we were house hunting, one of the things we both knew we wanted was a big bathtub. It seems almost silly, but we figured if we were going to spend the money on a home, we should get our dream home. And part of my dream includes being able to lose myself in my husband's arms while relaxing in a hot bath.

He's gotten pretty good at this over the years, too. He's become quite the master at getting the water to the point where it's almost painful, and adding just the right amount of bubbles so that we can feel like we're in a cheesy soap opera.

I close my eyes as he kisses my neck, his lips moving gently across my skin. Aside from the vaguely sexual element of being a tub together, the moment itself is peaceful and relaxed, filled with light touches and caresses, gentle kisses and whispered endearments. Our fingers twine together as we unwind, content in knowing that our kids are happy, healthy, and at the moment, want for nothing.

"You were very brave today," he whispers into my ear, and I duck away from him as his breath sends shivers racing across my body.

"They don't make it easy," I answer, tightening my arms around his just a little.

"I think that's the best and the worst thing about kids," he says. "They're fearless."

"It's just their neurotic parents that instill the fear into them."

"Like I said, though, you were brave today. You didn't let the kids see that you were scared and that probably helped them more than anything."

"Still…it doesn't mean I have to like my babies just jumping into the water like that."

After taking them all to the beach over the Fourth, we decided it was probably time for the twins to learn how to swim, or at least start with the basics. But, being all of two years old, they literally dove right in, confident that Mommy and Daddy would catch them.

They really are fearless.

We didn't sign them up for official swimming lessons—that seemed far too suburban yuppy, even for us. Instead, we brought them over to Leta's house so they could all play with her kids and play in the pool. It turns out that Leta and Derek were both lifeguards at some point during their teenage years, and both of them have kept up with their CPR certifications, which Leta said only felt sensible if she were going to have a pool in her backyard. It certainly put my mind at ease knowing she's more than adequately trained to save someone's life. It also made me realize how woefully unprepared I am to do the same.

Something I plan to remedy as soon as the spare time presents itself.

Naturally, though, I made Jack and Erica wear water wings at first, and they really got the biggest kick out of being able to bob around in the water like little corks. William was in a full-on life vest and inner tube most of the time. It didn't bother him, though. He screeched and kicked and splashed water everywhere, and blew bubbles at his brother and sister when they tried to paddle over to him.

When I was finally brave enough to let the twins try it without the floaties, Erica tried to paddle as hard as she could while Chandler supported her, bound and determined to master this skill in about a minute. Jack was a little more cautious at first, holding onto my arm with one hand as he tried to tread water with the other. But Erica's laughter and constant beckoning of, "Swim, Jack!" got him to relax and start having more fun, making big splashes as he kicked, both having the time of their lives.

Of course, it sounded more like, "Sim, Jack!" but the idea was the same in the end.

Neither of them quite managed to get the hang of actually swimming, but I think they're well on their way. It doesn't hurt that Leta's kids are waterbabies, and all of mine were eager to keep up. Each and every time Jack or Erica ducked under water, I had a panic attack. I know that instinctively, kids hold their breath for that sort of thing—even William did it when we took him out of his safety gear. Though truthfully, it was Chandler who did that. I didn't want to do it myself, but I wasn't going to stop him, and I certainly wasn't going to let my own worries stop the kids from having a good time.

Their favorite part turned out to be jumping off the edge of the pool and into our arms, though that seemed to be universal with all the kids. Even William.

That scared the hell out of me.

Leta's oldest taught the littler ones his swimming pose—knees bent, folded at the waist, arms back—and would then go flying off into the water. Our twins thought it was spectacular and wound posing and jumping simultaneously half the time.

Must be a twin thing.

Then William toddled over to the edge with Chandler's help, and Jack did the pose; William followed suit and then flung himself at me.

I have never been so scared in my entire life.

Or so proud, honestly.

It was horrifying to watch, but he was so brave and the look on his face was priceless.

"I think the hardest part is going to be getting them to understand that they can only do that when Mommy and Daddy are around," Chandler concedes.

"True, but that's the hardest part with anything we teach them."

"They're all a bunch of daredevils and I think we should send them off to live with the carnies."

I snort ungracefully, turning my head to stare at his profile. "Carnies? Really?"

"All right, so maybe carnie-folk is a bit too extreme. They'd certainly fit right in at the circus, though."

"Are you calling my children clowns?"

"If the giant, floppy shoes fit…"

I pinch his side and he twists away from me, bubbles flying up in our faces. He grabs my wrists, wrapping me up in his arms, pinning my hands against my sides. I push against him a little, put up a show of trying to break free, but I don't give it much effort. It's better for morale if I let him win a few once in a while, and really, being wrapped up against him tight is not the worst of fates.

He kisses my temple and sighs. "You were very brave today," he repeats. "I know it's not easy for you, watching our babies start to grow up and become more independent and seeing them try new things." My eyes fill with tears at the thought of it, but I blink them back.

"Today was a good day," I answer softly. "We all had fun."

"Yes, we did," he agrees. "And that's the important part, isn't it?"

"And I know that if they start swimming now, they won't be afraid of it later on. And it's fun for them."

"Derek and Leta's house is safe," he says gently. "We know that nothing will happen to them there, right?"

I lean my head back against his shoulder, staring at the ceiling. "How are you so grown up about all of this?"

"I have no idea," he answers honestly. "It's hard for me to watch, too. But then Jack says, 'love you,' in his silly little voice, or Erica tries to rock the baby, or William calls you 'Mommy' first…and I know all those hard spots watching them get older are worth it because our kids are amazing people."

"They really are incredible," I agree, smiling just at the thought of them.

"They are. They're smart and they're funny and they're happy. The learn all the time and they teach each other new things—hell, they teach me something new every day. I love them being little, but they're so much fun as they grow up, too. I'm so excited about watching them become tiny little individuals."

"You'll take it all back when Erica's old enough to be hormonal," I tease and he shudders behind me.

"Don't even mention that."

"It's all going by so fast," I whisper. "It doesn't feel like any of them should be old enough to walk or talk yet, but Jack and Erica are holding longer and longer conversations every day. Their words are constantly becoming clearer and the things they understand know no bounds. It's absolutely astounding."

"And William," Chandler adds. "Mr. Big Shot. Mr. I-have-to-do-everything-my-big-brother-and-sister-do. He's such a funny little guy. He has no business talking yet either, in my book but still…"

"Their little voices are the sweetest sounds in the world," I agree.

"We just have to take it one day at a time," he answers. "I don't want to get caught up in planning their lives or worrying about what they'll do tomorrow. I want to take today and appreciate how amazing it was. Tomorrow will take care of itself."

I sniffle a little and turn my head, kissing his bicep. "You sound like a fortune cookie."

He bursts out laughing, his body shaking with laughter. "Confucius say 'Man who go through turnstile sideways is going to Bangkok'."

I groan, sliding down nearly underwater as I roll my eyes. "I take it back; you don't sound like a fortune cookie."

"Do not mistake temptation for opportunity," he says wisely.

"In bed," I finish for him, and he wiggles against me playfully.

"The world may be your oyster, but that doesn't mean you'll get its pearl."

"In bed."

He chuckles, pausing to come up with more. "The greatest danger could be your stupidity."

"In bed," I tell him, and he winces in mock pain.

"Umm…"

"How about, 'Flattery will get you far tonight'?" I whisper suggestively.

"Ooo. In bed?"

I say nothing; instead, I just lean up to him, pressing my lips against his.

Maybe in bed. If we get that far.