A/N: I cheat and fast forward sometimes. But only a little. Also I must be emotional because I just cried while finishing this chapter. Oh if only this was real life.

Lindsay climbed carefully out of bed, not wanting to wake Adam. His arm was wrapped tightly around her and she extracted it as slowly as she could before she stood up and stretched. They had stayed up late the night before watching Scott Pilgrim vs. The World at Adam's request. It was probably their twelfth viewing in the last few months but it amused them every time.

Sliding into her slippers, she made her way into Colton's bedroom, smiling when she saw that he was already awake. He grinned up at her and buried his face in the belly of his sock monkey, giggling as she leaned down cover his cheeks with kisses.

"Good morning honey."

"Mornin' mama."

"Need to go potty?"

"I need snugglin' please."

"You do?"

"Uh-huh," he said with a nod, sitting up and crawling into her lap. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the top of his head, breathing in his sleepy little boy scent.

"The baby in'nere?" he asked, patting her stomach.

"Yeah, it's in there."

"It come to play with me?"

"In a while. It's gotta grow bigger first."

"How big?"

"As big as you were when you were born."

"How big?" he repeated, throwing his arms out in question.

"Do you want to look at your baby pictures?"

"Yeah!"

He scrambled off her lap and ran out into the other room, pulling the scrapbook off the shelf and opening it before Lindsay joined him on the floor.

"Mama and daddy," he said, pointing to the first picture. "Laughin'."

"Yeah, we laugh a lot."

"You pretty mama."

"Thanks buddy."

"Daddy not pretty."

"Daddy's handsome."

"What dis one?" he asked, pointing down at the book again.

"That's one day when we went to the lake with uncle Danny and aunt Austin."

"Where Isa?"

"Isa wasn't born yet. Neither were you. Me and daddy weren't even married yet."

"You have sun-gassers."

"Yeah, those were my favorite sunglasses and Austin won them in a bet."

"Uh-oh. Lookit, mama beautiful!" he said, turning the page and finding their wedding pictures. "You happy."

"That was one of the happiest days of my life."

He smiled and looked at the pictures for a few moments before turning the page.

"Where dis?"

"We took that picture right up there on the couch the day we found out we were going to have you. You were just a teeny tiny baby in my tummy. And daddy and I were so happy we didn't know what to do with ourselves."

"You happy cuz I comin'?"

"Yeah, we were."

"I see pictures of baby Colton."

"Turn a couple more pages."

"Me?" he asked curiously.

"That's you."

"Big monster!"

"No, that's not a monster, that's a machine. You were kind of sick when you were born so you needed machines to help you get better.

"You sad mama?"

"No, I wasn't sad, I was just tired and I didn't feel too good either. But I was happy you were okay. And then you got to come home. And we had Christmas, and you met your grandmas. See, you started growing up into a big boy," she said, flipping through the pages slowly, letting him look at each one.

"The baby be little," he decided, once they had reached the end of the book.

"Do you want another boy like you or a girl like Isa and Sarah?"

"I want a doggie."

"Well that my boy is not going to happen."

"Okay."

"Should we go make some breakfast?"

"I help," he said, standing up from her lap. "Wear 'prin like daddy."

"You want to wear an apron?"

"Like daddy," he clarified, nodding.

"Okay, we'll find one for you."

He grinned and raced into the kitchen while she put the scrapbook back on the shelf.

"What makin'?" he asked, bouncing from foot to foot, giving her an impish grin.

"What's daddy's favorite?"

"Naner and 'tella sanniches," he answered, calling to mind the nutella and banana baked between two slices of French toast.

"Shh, he's still sleeping."

"No I'm not," he said from the door way.

"Hey, get out of here!"

"Outta here!" Colton repeated, running across the kitchen and jumping into his arms.

"Mornin' buddy."

"Mornin' daddy. Cartoons?"

"We'll go watch cartoons. Apparently mama doesn't want us in the kitchen."

"That doesn't mean I don't want you at all," she tossed over her shoulder as they walked out.

"Excuse me?" Adam said, poking his head back into the room.

"Just teasin'."

"On my birthday? AND Father's day? You are a cruel woman, Lindsay Ross. May you be infested with the fleas of a thousand dogs."

"Yeah like that'll up your chances of gettin' some."

"Lady," he started, coming back into the room, having deposited Colton on the couch.

"Yes?"

"You're evil."

She grinned and he wrapped his arms around her, backing them up against the counter and pressing his lips to hers in such a demanding way she almost yelped with surprise. It was still careful and gentle though and she ran her fingers through his hair, tugging him closer.

"Can we save this?" he asked, face flushed and breathing faster.

"We'd better."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"Not possible."

"Sorry, it's the truth."

"I love you more. No ifs ands or buts."

"Except I love you the most."

"Nope. I reject your reality and substitute my own."

"Sorry, not happening."

"You're impossible."

"And irresistible. All the makings of a good cult leader."

"I'll get the tambourines."

She snickered and pushed him away.

"Get outta here so I can provide for you."

"Yes ma'am."

He kissed her once more, then ran his hand over her barely-visible-unless-you-were-looking-for-it-baby-bump.

"Hurry up and cook, kid."

"Be patient. You know what macaroni is like only half cooked."

"You make a good point."

"You would think he'd be tired out of his mind right now," Adam said, looking into the back seat where Colton sat, playing with his goggles and talking to himself. "He just played in the pool for three hours."

"You look like you're tired out of your mind," Lindsay said, reaching over for his hand.

"Yeah, you should be the one driving, you just laid out on a deck chair all afternoon."

"It was hard work, I had to remember when to turn over."

"Remind me to never take you to California."

"That doesn't cancel out Hawaii."

"Oh brother."

"You're going to have a sunburn," she said, noting the pink tinge on the end of his nose.

"Give it three hours, it won't be red anymore."

"In three hours I'm going to touch it and see."

"You do that."

"Colton, you want to take a nap when we get home?" Lindsay asked, turning around and hoping his answer was yes.

"No mama. I play."

"Aren't you tired?"

"I hungry."

"But do you think you could take a nap for a little while?" she asked despite the eyeroll Adam sent her way.

"Nap for the baby. I big."

"But maybe you could just…" she sighed and propped her feet up on the dashboard.

"It's futile babe."

"I was trying for you," she whispered, batting her eyelashes.

"You are… and then… I don't even know."

"Pretty much."

He chuckled and shook his head, while she yawned and ran her hand over her stomach.

"So did we decide?"

"Decide what?"

"Are we finding out this time? Ultrasounds in a few weeks."

"I don't know. What do you want to do?"

"I don't mind either way. You get to pick."

"Then… I want to find out. Maybe let's not tell anyone, but I still want to know."

"Good because I'm dying to find out. Being surprised the first time was fun, but this time I want to know."

"I feel like I've got so far to go."

"You're almost halfway done."

"I know. Thanksgiving seems forever away."

"It does. But you know you get free foot rubs every day until you pop."

"Pregnancy perks for the win."

He chuckled and squeezed her hand, and they drove in silence the last few miles until they arrived home.

"We really need to think about moving," she said once he turned the car off. "We're not going to be able to fit two kids in that bedroom."

"I know. Maybe one of the bigger units will open up in this building so we won't have to go far."

"That would be nice. Guess who decided to take a nap after all."

"How does he get into those positions? I thought the safety restraints were to prevent him from moving that much."

"He's made of play-doh."

"Are we calling paternity into question here?"

"You are really tired."

He smiled and they got out of the car, carrying their son and the wet towels inside.

"I'm going to put him down," Lindsay said as Adam turned the air conditioner on.

"M'kay."

She chuckled, knowing from his response that he was going to go into the bedroom and faceplant into the pillows, not resurfacing for several hours. She went into the Colton's room and tucked him into his bed, slipping the goggles from where he had placed them on his forehead. She settled the blankets around him, then left the room, finding Adam just as she had imagined he would be. Grinning, she slid under the covers and cuddled up to him pressing her lips to his sun warmed skin.

"You awake?"

"Mmm."

She traced her finger over his shoulder then rubbed his neck gently.

"Feels good," he muttered, cracking one eye open to look at her. She grinned and tugged on his arm until he let her slide closer to him, both of them wrapping around each other loosely. He pressed a kiss to her hair and she nuzzled his chest softly before they both yawned.

"Just an hour or two," he said, his words slurring together.

"Or three," she agreed, slipping off into a warm and comfortable sleep.

"Mama."

Lindsay opened one eye and looked at Colton who was standing by the bed, his face tracked with tears.

"What's the matter honey?"

"I go potty."

"Where?"

"In the bed!" he wailed forlornly, rubbing at his eyes.

"Oh buddy don't cry. It was an accident."

"It icky."

"I know. I'm so sorry, I should have woken you up to go potty before I put you down for a nap."

"Not mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. Let's get you in the tub and I'll wash your sheets okay?"

"Okay," he hiccupped, following her into the bathroom. She turned the water on and put some bubbles in while he sniffled and chewed on his finger.

"I'll be right back. Don't get in the tub without me okay?"

"M'kay mama."

He stood sadly against the wall, tugging on the towel that hung on the rack and feeling sorry for himself until she came back.

"I sorry mama," he said once he was settled in the water.

"You don't have to be sorry buddy. It was my mistake."

"But I in charge."

"I know, but sometimes when you're in charge you still need a little help. I fell down on the job. I'm sorry."

"It okay mama."

"Alright. We'll just forget all about it okay?"

"Okay."

"Can I have kisses?"

Grinning he leaned up and kissed her with a loud "mwah!"

"I have kisses?" he asked hopefully. She smiled and obliged holding onto that second in her heart when he still loved her the most.

"Let's wash your hair and then you can get out."

"No gettin' in eyes."

"I won't."

Soon he was clean and dressed and happy his bare feet slapping across the floor as he played with the cats.

"You left me," Adam grumbled crossing his arms as he walked into the room. Lindsay gave him a half smile and reached up to tame his hair.

"Sorry, I had to deal with an accident."

"Oh. I'm hungry, should we order dinner?"

"Nah, I've got a plan. Maybe you should go in the other room and teach Colton how to play Duck Hunt like you've been wanting to do for so long."

"Serious? I thought you said you didn't want him getting in a video game habit this young."

"I didn't but I don't think we can fight it. Go."

"You're the best. Colton, wanna play a game?"

"Game with daddy?"

"Oh yeah. Mama said okay."

"I play!" Colton hollered happily, jumping up and down. Lindsay smiled and abandoned her search through the fridge in favor of leaning against the counter and looking into the other room while Adam set the game up and Colton danced excitedly across the floor.

"Do you want to watch daddy first?"

"No, I do!"

"Alright, here you go bud. Shoot that duck."

"Bam, bam, bam!"

Lindsay giggled as she watched him, totally determined, his tongue sticking out of his mouth and squinting one eye as if he had been doing this all his life.

"Babe, he shoots like you," Adam remarked. "Better aim too, he just beat the first level."

"And that is where I can finally say that he is the perfect combination of us both."

"I don't think I've ever been more proud in my life."

She smiled and watched the boys together, Adam crouching down to help Colton as the levels got more difficult. The gentle way he helped to hold the gun or how he whispered instructions in his ear. Her heart clenched as Adam reached over and put his hand on Colton's shoulder, a steadying and encouraging touch as they bonded over something so simple. Tears sprung to her eyes as she watched, completely overwhelmed. Knowing that she was about to burst into real tears of complete joy, she went into the kitchen and composed herself.

"Honey, can you come here for a second?" she asked after a while.

"Yeah, what's up?"

She turned around from the sink and crossed the room quickly to him, nearly jumping into his waiting arms.

"What's this for?"

"You're amazing. I can't even say."

"Sweetie…"

"You are the best daddy in the whole world and I wish everyone had a daddy like you. I know how lucky we are but today I see that it's more than I thought yesterday. And tomorrow will be more than today."

He smiled and touched their foreheads together gently before cupping her face and kissing her softly. There were no more words needed for the few she had spoke were more valuable standing out in the open like that than bookended with more. They were words she said often in some form or another, but never with so much gratitude laid out for him, as if he had taken the harder path in marrying the woman he loved and raising his own child. But no matter what was said between them, they would always be convinced that they had been blessed exceedingly and abundantly more than either of them had ever hoped or dreamed.