"Hey, how's the fort?"

"It's held down. How's your mom and Hannah?"

"Big babies."

She smirked and shook her head, sliding under the covers. Adam was in Arizona, helping his dad take care of his mom and sister who had been in a car accident and had each broken a leg. They were fine for the most part, but it was a lot for one person to handle, so Adam had taken a few personal days to go out there.

Lindsay was missing him horribly and he'd only been gone for one day so far. He'd left late the night before and waking up without him had started her whole day on the wrong foot. Nothing went right, the boys were cranky and clingy, she'd barely gotten out the door in time for work and she'd forgotten what she was doing at least twelve times in the course of an eight hour shift. Upon arriving home she found Faye frazzled, Colton in time out, and Ben with a teething fever. All the dreams of a hot bath had fallen by the wayside as she had calmed and fed the boys, then spent the next couple hours trying to get Ben's fever down. He'd finally fallen asleep around ten, a few hours after Colton had put himself to bed. Lindsay hated being pulled between the boys and doing bedtime by herself was the worst, but sometimes, it just has to be done.

"You still there?"

"Yeah, just thinking in seventeen different directions. I'm not sure how long my to-do list is exactly, but I think if I rolled it out, it would stop just shy of Buckingham palace."

"I'm sorry I left you in the lurch."

"It's okay. They need you. We'll do okay without you for a few days. But only a few, don't go gettin' none of them bright ideas."

"That's what you get for wakin' up in Vegas…"

"Don't sing Katy Perry to me."

He chuckled and she pulled his pillow under her head, yawning against it before breathing deeply.

"I miss you."

"How much?"

"A lot. I hate sleeping in this bed by myself."

"Maybe we should get bunkbeds for the times we have to be apart."

"You're ridiculous."

"Yeah, but no one else in the world would have it. Therefore, it's very us."

"You think we're more eccentric than we actually are."

"Stop being so mainstream."

"Let me get my glasses."

"Verbal sparring partners forever?"

"Forever."

They were quiet for several minutes, just listening to each other breathe and wishing they were together instead of half a continent apart.

"Colton told me he wants to go to school like Sid the Science Kid," she said on another yawn.

"I'm proud of his geek factor."

"I am too."

"Maybe we should think about preschool."

"No, he's still a baby."

"He's almost four."

"I don't want to send him alone. He'll be scared."

"Linds, you can't coddle him."

"I know I can't. I'm not trying to. I just don't want to send him too early and have him hate it."

"He's our kid, he's not going to hate it."

"Genetics doesn't solve everything."

"You just don't want him being taken care of by anyone else."

"No, I don't."

"You're going to have to get over that. We can't homeschool."

"I know."

"He's your baby. I get that honey. And I don't want to force him if he's not ready, but if he is, I don't want either one of us holding him back."

"I won't. I just need to think about it more."

"Preschool registration ends soon."

"How do you know?"

"I've been looking at places. I thought it doesn't hurt to be prepared."

"You and your internet."

"Yeah well."

She smiled and yawned again, this one bringing tears to her eyes.

"You need to go to sleep."

"But I miss you."

"I miss you too. But you need rest."

"I don't rest when you're not here," she said, reaching over and taking their picture off the nightstand. She loved the way he looked at her, how perfect they were together, how they just looked like they fit.

"You're going to have to."

"Tough love, huh?"

"That's what I do best."

"I know. I love you."

"I love you too. I'll be home before you know it."

"Goodnight."

"Night, babe."

She hung up the phone and replaced the picture on the nightstand before closing her eyes and snuggling down into the blankets.

"Mama!"

Her eyes snapped open and she waited a moment to see if he would call again.

"I said Mama, mama!"

Sighing, she stood up from the bed and went into the boys room. Colton was sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes, his sock monkey clutched in his arms.

"What's the matter?"

"There's monsters under my bed."

"No there's not."

"There is too. Ben said so."

"Ben's sleeping."

"Well…he was scared."

"Buddy, go back to sleep."

"But there's monsters, mama. Daddy need to come and put them in the garbage."

"Daddy puts the monsters in the garbage?"

"Yes."

"Okay, you go back to sleep and I'll put the monsters in the garbage."

"You better get them all. They hide in the back."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, of course mama."

Sighing, she got down on her hands and knees.

"Hey what do you know, all those monsters just up and left. Guess they didn't want to be thrown in the garbage."

"Oh, okay. Goodnight mama."

He laid down and she kissed him gently, making it halfway out the door before Ben woke up.

"Muhmuh."

"Go back to sleep."

"Muh," he whined, looking up at her with big eyes and a frown. She knew the face well, and sighed, picking him up and taking him into the other room. He gave her a mischievous grin while she moved pillows to make this easier. He was almost too heavy to nurse now and she thought he was completely weaned off of night feedings, but apparently he had other plans.

"Da?" he asked, pointing to the other side of the bed and noticing that Adam wasn't in it.

"Daddy went bye for a while. Hurry up and eat so you can go back to sleep."

"Muh."

"Yes, I'm mama, and I am also very, very tired and you are infringing on my sleep little one."

He grinned and sat up in her arms, obviously more interested in playing than nursing. Wrinkling her nose, she laid down and covered them both with the blankets, rubbing his back until he settled down. He took a deep breath and buried his face against her neck, tapping his fingers against her shoulder while she hummed softly. She could feel his warm breath puffing out over her skin and she reached down to stroke his hair softly, hoping to usher him into real sleep.

"Da," he breathed, turning his head in the other direction to see if Adam had mysteriously appeared.

"No daddy yet."

"Da."

"I know, I miss him too. He'll be home soon. Let's go to sleep, okay?"

He scrubbed at his eyes and tried to sit up, but she shushed him and gently pushed his head back down. He grunted in frustration but seemed to resign himself to sleep when she started rubbing his ears. It worked like a charm and it wasn't long before she joined him in dreamland.

"Mama, you can wake up now. It breakfast time, no?"

She cracked an eye open and looked at him, smirking at the expression on his face.

"That depends. What time is it?"

"The clock have a seven. And a five and another number too."

"Did the seven come first?" she groaned, sure she was going to be late.

"Yep!"

"Oh no."

She moved Ben off of her chest and sat up, finding that it was four minutes to eight and she had to be at work in an hour.

"Colton can you do me a huge, gigantic favor?"

"Yep!"

"Can you please go and get dressed and find something for Ben to wear? Don't try and dress him, just find him some clothes. Then go and put four diapers in the diaper bag."

"We goin' somewhere?" he asked as she got out of bed.

"I'm going to work but I'm dropping you off with Austin and Danny first."

"YAY!" he shouted, jumping up and down.

"I know you're excited, but can you help me out and do those things I asked you to?"

"Oh yes mama. I go right now!"

He sped out of the room and she checked to make sure Ben was still out for the count before going into the bathroom. She took a fast shower, not even bothering to dry her hair when she was done, just casually tossing it up into a ponytail. She even forgot make-up as she sped around, trying to get the boys ready.

"I put diapers in the bag. I help you more?"

"Go get some shoes for you and your brother."

"And for you, mama?" he asked, pointing at her socked feet.

"No I'll wear the ones by the door."

He returned a few minutes later with their matching Converse, jamming them onto Ben's feet, despite screaming protests.

"Benny, we gotsa help mama get ready! Now you stop crying and let me put your shoes on!"

Ben wailed as Colton tightened the shoelaces, then tied them in a knot.

"There, mama, I did it."

"Okay, can you do your own but please don't tie them."

"Sure."

She waited until he was done, then crouched down to tie his shoes properly.

"Ready to go now?"

"Yeah," she said, grabbing up the diaper bag and her keys, then lifting Ben from the couch and quieting his angry tears. "Go ahead and open the door but don't run down the hall please."

He nodded and did as he was asked, standing by the wall while she locked the door behind them.

"I push the button in the 'vator?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

The whole thing was all too thrilling for him as he punched the buttons and they made their way down to the car. He jumped from foot to foot having forgotten his missed breakfast. Ben on the other hand was fully aware that he had not eaten yet, and was positive that whimpering would produce him a bowl of oatmeal pronto.

"It okay Ben, Austin can give us breakfast. Or uncle Danny. He brings donuts."

"Danny feeds you donuts for breakfast?"

"Yep. I say they too much sugar and he say it okay 'cuz you eat them all the time."

"He's a fink."

"What's that mean?"

"It means he tattled on me for eating donuts."

"Oh. Mama, is uncle Danny your best friend?"

"Well… not really," she said, buckling both boys into their carseats. "He's more often like my greatest enemy."

"You not like each other?"

"We like each other fine, he just drives me crazy."

"Cuz of pickin' on you?"

"Yeah."

"He is your brother like my other uncles?"

"No. He's my partner at work. He's kind of like a brother I guess. Maybe a pretend one."

"So he my pretend uncle?"

"Uh, sure."

"But wait, how come he an uncle and Austin not an aunt?"

"Um… well she's kind of your aunt the same way he's your uncle, we just don't call her that."

"Why?"

"Because we called her that a long time ago and it was hard for you to say so we just stopped saying it."

"Is Austin your best friend mama?"

"Yes, she's my best friend."

"And daddy?"

"Daddy's my best friend too."

"You could have two?" he asked, shocked and excited.

"Yeah, you can have as many best friends as you want."

"Isa's my best friend. And Sarah. How come Austin call her Sarah Claire?"

"Because that's her name."

"But we call her just Sarah."

"Well that's her name too."

"I not understand, mama."

"Well it's a might too early for this conversation anyway."

"You not sleep much?" he questioned after a moment of contemplation.

"It's hard to sleep without daddy."

"When he's comin' back?"

"Hopefully in a couple days."

"I miss my daddy."

"I know."

"We almost there?"

"Almost."

"We spend the night?"

"Nope, I'll come and pick you up after work."

"Okay."

He fell quiet, staring out the window and she watched him in the rearview mirror, wondering if the sad look on his face was all in her mind.

"Lindsay, no offense, but you look rough."

"Thank you Hawkes."

"Hey, I said no offense. Isn't that supposed to make it okay?"

"You're thinking of bless your heart."

"Well bless your heart you look rough."

She shook her head and sighed.

"Are you alright?"

"I bow at the feet of single mothers."

"Not so easy without Adam, huh?"

"Does he have this many issues when I'm gone?"

"Energy drinks. Lots of them."

"I thought so."

"You'll make it," he said, patting her shoulder.

"Hey can I ask you for a favor?"

"Depends. What is it?"

"Well… Colton's got a yen for going to med-school. In the future of course, right now he's more concerned with pre-school. I was wondering if maybe sometime you wouldn't mind… I don't know, regaling him with doctor stories. He begs to watch those surgeries on TV all the time, maybe you could kid things up for him?"

"Yeah, of course. I could probably even find him a good book. Give him a headstart, you know."

She smiled and nodded.

"He would be over the moon."

"Just let me know sometime."

"I will. Thanks."

He left the room and Jo entered, the grin on her face about as large as it could get before it turned into a belly laugh.

"What?"

"You'll love this."

"What?"

"Seriously Linds, you're gonna die."

"What?"

"Well I heard some scuttlebutt in layout. I don't know where it started. I know no one believes it. And I am just about keeled over from trying to hold back the snorting."

"Jo. What?"

"Okay, this is great. I hear tell that the reason Adam took off to Arizona is because the two of you are separating, because you met some other guy."

"Oh really? When did I have time for that?"

"I didn't hear that part of the story. I just thought you might want to know."

"I'll be sure to let Adam know. He might be mad to be left out of the loop."

"Sometimes I'm glad people are immature. Gives us something to break up the day with."

"Is there anymore to this story? What other debaucheries have I committed?"

"I don't know, but I'll keep an ear out. Seriously, all the people on earth and it ends up being gossip about you."

"I'm not that lame, am I?"

"I guess we'll just have to wait for the rumor mill on that one."

"Indy! Indy!" Isa shouted, hopping across the room and hugging Lindsay's legs. "Colt sleep here tonight? Please?"

"I don't know, honey."

"Please?" she begged. "Mommy said okay."

"Let me think about it."

"Colt, she thinkin'!" Isa reported, running back into the kitchen. Lindsay followed her and found the kids playing with play-doh while Austin made dinner and looked like she had spent the day at the spa.

"Stayin' for dinner?" she asked, looking over at her friend and reading her expression.

"I dunno."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Tired. Irritated. You have five kids today, six if you count Danny, how do you look so dang good right now?"

"This nice quiet playing that's going on? They've been like that all day. No screaming, no yelling, just perfection."

"I hate you."

Austin giggled and took a few plates down from the cupboard.

"Last chance. Danny's mom's recipe and I think I got it right this time," she said with a smile. "You don't want to go home and just have the boys to keep you company."

"I'm tired."

"Linds, stay. I'll feel bad if you go home."

"Okay fine, but I'm doing your dishes."

"Fair trade."

"Where is my other child?"

"Danny took the boys to put them down for a nap and he fell asleep in the rocking chair."

"Please tell me you have a picture of that."

"No, but I do have a picture of after I covered him with a pink blanket."

"You rock."

"I try."

"So wanna hear a story?"

"I dunno, how does it end?"

"It ends with me standin' here telling you a story."

"Inception?"

"No, strutting Leo, that was dreams."

"Well anyway. Go on."

"According to some very horrible crime lab sources who will most likely never achieve anything more than gossip in their little lives, I have not only cheated on Adam, but driven him away, won't let him see the boys and am now pregnant with the child of another man."

"You've had a full day."

"Never more excitement in my life."

"So how did all this come about?"

"Jo heard some rumor and I sent her off to investigate," Lindsay explained as Danny walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and opening the fridge. He reached out for a beer and Austin swatted his hand away, giving him a frown before he pinched her side. She stuck her tongue out and moved to the other side of the kitchen and he followed her with his eyes for a moment before sitting down to play with the kids. Lindsay smiled fondly at their interaction, missing Adam all over again.

"And how are Jo's investigative skills?" Austin asked, turning the stove lower.

"Amazing. It took her ten minutes to figure how where all the hooey came from."

"Do tell."

"Well about a month ago the city hired four undergrads to do work study. They really can't do much, just run things from one place to another, sometimes if things are slow someone will let them touch a microscope. They're in the way, but it's temporary so we deal with it."

"You deal with it," Danny grumbled. "They didn't steal your lunch from the breakroom."

"The one day you don't go out for pizza. I'd like the odds on that in Vegas."

"Can it, Montana."

"Anyway," Austin prompted, rolling her eyes at her husband.

"Anyway, there's this one girl who is totally dingy, complete airhead, not sure how she's survived this long out of the womb, don't know the back end of a cow from a hole in her head."

"Descriptive."

"Thank you. So I guess about two weeks ago I had given her something to run over to Hawkes for testing. It should have taken about fifteen minutes but half an hour later she wasn't back so I went looking for her."

"And she found her chattin' up some guy in the hallway," Danny chuckled.

"She was! So I might have sort of yelled at her a bit."

"A bit? She was shaking!"

"Whatever. Basically she hates me and avoids me like the plague."

"So she's twelve."

"In that respect yes, but in the next… well anyway. She's the one who started the rumor. So I called Adam to tell him about it and he tells me that a few days after I yelled at her, she'd asked him out for coffee. He declined of course and said he was married. She was all batty eyelashes and "your wife wouldn't mind," and he said that even if I didn't mind, he still did and she asked again and he was pretty much grossed out and got out of dodge. I guess before that she hadn't put the two of us together, but the next day I brought the boys by and apparently that spawned even more hatred. I don't know if she's just immature or if she actually thinks she's somehow going to break us up like we're in the eighth grade or something, but I almost think I should be watching my back."

"Wow."

"She walked by me in the hall today and I just stared at her like "Girl, I will cut you.""

Austin and Danny busted into laughter and Lindsay sighed, shaking her head and jumping up to sit on the counter.

"What?"

"Adam's right, you do say funny crap when you're ticked."

"I'm serious. Chick needs to check herself before she wrecks herself."

"Linds, have you been watching Jersey Shore again?"

"No."

"MTV in general?"

"Well yes but that has nothing to do with this conversation and it's your fault anyway."

"I remain proud of that fact."

"You two. Time apart, that is the key," Danny said, molding a baseball mitt out of play-doh.

"Why would we do that? We'd just mind read instead."

"Yeah Danny, don't you know anything?"

He scoffed and shook his head, knowing that the two of them together were more akin to wildfires and mass hysteria than tea parties and shopping trips, and there was no changing that.

"So what's going to happen if you see her tomorrow?"

"I dunno, prolly just give her the stare."

"What stare, Montana?"

"Yeah, show us."

Lindsay gave them the most glaring stare she could come up with and hold for more than three seconds without laughing. Austin and Danny chuckled and both facepalmed, shaking their heads.

"You're good entertainment, that's for sure."

She smirked and gave a shrug, knowing that if she couldn't be home with Adam, she could be happy just being here.