A/N: Someday, I really, really wish to have my own Colton and Ben.

"Our son sounds like a seal when he coughs," Adam noted, rinsing the last of the dinner dishes and handing them to Lindsay to dry.

"I know. He's sounded kind of funky all day but this is irritatingly high pitched," she agreed.

"I'll go check on him. Finish those dishes, missy."

"Whoa, someone's cruisin' for a bruisin'," she retorted.

"I sure hope so," he retorted with a flick of his eyebrow.

She snapped the dishtowel at him and he grinned before going into the other room.

"Hey Ben, you having some upper respiratory issues tonight?"

"He sound like a clown's nose, daddy," Colton mumbled, turning over and pulling his blankets up higher. "Waked me up."

"I know. Go back to sleep."

Colton grunted and was out in a matter of seconds, while Adam busied himself with wiping the snot off of Ben's face.

"Dada."

"Let's go see if mama's got some medicine, okay?"

Ben coughed in response, a high chirping cough that sounded like he'd sucked down some helium.

"Babe, I think we need to call the doctor. He's got a fever."

"We really just can't win can we?" she sighed, taking Ben from him and checking his forehead. "You were just fine when we put you to bed."

He wrinkled his nose and rested against her shoulder, coughing again.

"You know what that sounds like?" Lindsay sighed, patting his back.

"What?"

"Croup."

"That's bad isn't it?"

"It's not bad unless it gets worse."

"That's reassuring," he muttered, gently reaching over to stroke Ben's cheek.

"He'll be okay. Steam helps though, so if you want to find the humidifier, I'll take him in the bathroom and run the shower for a while."

"You're so calm."

"It's not a big deal, honey. It only lasts a couple days and there's hundreds of home remedies. All my nephews had it at some time or another."

"Okay, if you're sure he doesn't need the doctor."

"He doesn't. He's not having stridor, he has color in his cheeks and his fever isn't all that high. He's fine. Stop doing the daddy-worry dance."

"I'm allowed to worry a little."

"I know. Go find that humidifier."

"Alright," he agreed reluctantly. It was hard for him to see his family uncomfortable and he wanted to be able to fix it all.

"Let's go get all the yuckies out, Ben," Lindsay said, taking him into the bathroom. She left her voice light knowing how well he could sense her emotions and how he could get upset if he knew she was. The crying would lead to worse coughing and would exacerbate the illness and they really didn't need that.

She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower as hot as it would go, then closed the curtain and sat on the side of the tub with him, using a cold wet cloth to keep him from getting too warm. He wiped at his nose and grimaced, shaking his head when she tried to grab his now snotty hand to clean it off.

"You're all boy, aren't you bud?"

He sighed and leaned against her chest, sticking his thumb in his mouth and closing his eyes. The steam seemed to be helping, but she knew he could have another attack in the night and would need to sleep in their room just in case.

"Mama," he mumbled around his thumb. "Mama."

"I know you don't feel good, Benjamin. We'll get you better, I promise."

He coughed again and she rubbed his back, knowing that there was not a lot more she could do than what she was already doing.

Soon the hot water ran out and they had to leave the bathroom. He was half asleep and clinging to her so hard she barely had to hold him.

"I put the humidifier in our room. I didn't think we should put him in his own bed tonight."

"You'd be correct."

"I got some water for him, I guess we have to keep him hydrated."

"Oh yeah?"

"I googled."

She smiled and handed Ben to him.

"You go hydrate him and I'll change clothes and then we can go to bed."

He nodded and looked down at his son who was pretty much asleep by now.

"I'm glad mama knows what she's doin'," Adam whispered. "Because I sure as heck would have loaded you in the car and taken you to the emergency room by now. I guess that would have been what we call an overreaction."

Ben sniffled and sighed, sounding and looking very close to normal. Maybe he would be just fine after all.

Lindsay woke several hours later, alone in bed. Adam rarely left the bed in the night so she stood up and stretched, then headed out to the other room. He was standing at the window with Ben, both of them quietly breathing the night air. Adam rocked back and forth gently and Lindsay leaned against the wall watching them. Ben looked so calm and so safe and so tiny in Adam's arms that she had to remind herself he was almost a year old, not a newborn.

"Mama, hi," he croaked, spotting her over Adam's shoulder and reaching his chubby hand out for her.

"Hi baby. Did you get the coughs again?"

"He was going at it pretty good."

"Did I even wake up?"

"Yeah, but I made you go back to sleep. You have to work early."

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah. We tried the steam again but he wasn't really digging it, so I thought the cooler air might help."

"Seems to be working."

"Go back to bed, I've got it under control."

"You sure?"

"Yep, we're good here."

"Okay. Wake me up if you need me."

"I will. Goodnight babe."

"Night."

She kissed them both and went back to bed while they kept vigil by the window.

"Should we watch some TV, Ben? I bet there's something really trashy on. Or cartoons."

Ben gave him a smile and nodded, acknowledging that his dad was talking rather than agreeing with what he was saying. They sat down on the couch and Adam turned the TV on, finding old cartoons to zone out to while Ben wavered on the edge of sleep. He'd often had these quiet times with Colton, just the two of them together. He hadn't had as much opportunity for it with Ben and sometimes he felt like he didn't really know his son. He supposed part of it was that they were busier now, and another part was that Ben didn't talk and they couldn't have conversations like he could with Colton. The love wasn't different, he loved them both the same, but there was a different bond. Ben was more attached to Lindsay too, more apt to seek her out when he was hurt or wanted to be held. They had the same personality and he felt the same sense of calm with them both. It was just going to be different with the boys because they were different people. He would keep bonding to Ben, it would just be in way dissimilar to the way he bonded with Colton.

Either way, he had his sons and he loved them both more than he ever thought possible. Sometimes he wondered if he had had kids with someone other than Lindsay if he would have loved them this much. He was sure he would, but he knew that part of the reason he loved the boys so much is because they were part Lindsay too. It wasn't to say that having a child with someone you didn't love meant you didn't love the child, but he couldn't imagine it. He looked down at the boys and saw a perfect mix of him and Lindsay and every time, it made him love them all just a little bit more.

"Linds, why do you still knock?" Austin asked, opening the door with Junior on her hip and a half smirk on her face.

"Force of habit," Lindsay shrugged in return. "At least I eat out of your fridge without asking."

"At least I never go shopping so there's never anything in there for you to eat."

"Touche'."

"You want your kid back? Because I think we're keeping him."

"Can I exchange him for one of yours?"

"Nope."

"No deal Messer."

"Drat, I was banking on it."

"So I take it he behaved himself?"

"He helped with the lunch dishes. I wasn't even going to do them but he hopped up there and looked at me with those huge eyes. I couldn't say no."

"He's irresistible."

"Apparently Isa agrees with that statement because she demanded that he share her bed for naptime rather than sleep on the floor."

Lindsay raised her eyebrows.

"Quite the brazen little lady you have there. Wonder where she gets it."

"Shuddup, Ross."

Lindsay giggled.

"Are they still sleeping? Wait, dumb question, it's quiet in here."

"They've all been asleep for about a half hour. Coffee?"

"Yes please."

Austin poured them each a cup, then set Junior down to play. He looked up at her and Lindsay confusedly, then peeked around the corner.

"No, Ben's still not here," Austin said with a slight chuckle. "Go play with the dog."

He sighed and toddled off into the other room.

"Okay so I have to tell you something. I'm sworn to secrecy, but you're the other half of my brain so you must know too."

"I don't think a conversation has ever started out better," Lindsay chuckled. "Go on."

"Okay. You can't tell a soul, not even Adam."

"You're asking me to keep a secret from my husband?"

"I'm tellin' not asking."

"This had better be good."

"Oh yes, it's good. Flack is gonna be a daddy."

Lindsay nearly did a spit take across the kitchen.

"Are you joking?"

"Totally serious. They're not telling anyone yet, but of course Flack called Danny and Danny can't keep a secret to save his life."

"I'm so glad he can't."

"I'm so excited for them."

"Me too. I also am worried about Flack's ties."

"That's what I said!"

"We'll have to throw Jess a baby shower."

"She'll hate us for it."

"And secretly love it."

They chuckled together, finishing their coffee and ruminating on the future with so many NYPD babies running around. It was going to be loud and chaotic and they were certain no one would have it any other way.

"I'd better get Colton and go. I'm sure Adam's needing a break by now."

"Is Ben doing any better?"

"A little. Croup gets better during the day so I can't judge for sure, but Adam said he hasn't been coughing as much."

"Poor kid," Austin sympathized. "No wonder you're keeping Colton away from him."

"I definitely don't want two sick babies," Lindsay affirmed, standing up from the table and heading into the girls room.

Sarah was curled into a tiny ball in the middle of her bed, sleeping deeply and not making a peep. Isa and Colton however were a tangle of tiny limbs in Isa's bed and were both snoring like it was going out of style. Lindsay crouched down and wondered how to extract her son from his best friend without waking either of them.

"It's like Jenga and Don't Wake Daddy all in one," Austin whispered. "Ideas?"

"Um… maybe if we can pry their hands apart you can move her arm and then… I don't know, we might just have to douse them in cold water."

"I think Danny would be in favor of that."

Lindsay smirked and leaned down to kiss Colton's sleep sagged cheek. He grunted and opened his eyes, not quite sure where he was at first.

"Mama?"

"Hey. Wanna go home?"

"No. Stay with Isa."

"It's time to go."

"No," he whined, glaring at her. "Stay here."

"No," she whined back. "Go home."

"Stop it, mama."

"It's time to go."

"No takin' Colt, Indy," Isa grumped, sitting up and yawning. "Colt's mine."

"But-"

"NO!" Isa screamed, grabbing onto Colton's arm and glaring at Lindsay.

"Isabeth Grace, it's time for Colton to go home," Austin said, keeping her voice even.

"No, he stays here!"

"I know you want him to stay and I'm glad you love him that much, but it's time for him to go home."

"Indy's mean!" Isa shouted, clenching her fists. "Takin' my Colt away!"

"Isabeth, that is enough. You know better than to carry on like this. Now say sorry to Lindsay and bye to Colton so they can leave."

"I don't wanna!" she wailed, throwing herself against the bed. "Colt please stay here, please?"

"Not today. Maybe next time, but not if you're going to have a tantrum."

She hiccupped, her tiredness evident in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Won't be bad 'gain."

"Thank you. Now say bye."

"Bye Colt. Love you."

"I love you Isa. I stay longer next time, 'kay. And you come to my house later."

"Okay," she agreed as he hugged her tightly.

"Now say sorry to Lindsay for yelling."

"Nope."

"Yes."

"No, I mad still."

"Isabeth."

Isa crossed her arms and stared Austin down and Lindsay would have laughed at the battle of wills had Isa not been in trouble. Colton's eyes were wide as he had never seen Isa in this much trouble before. It scared him to some degree, but at the same time he was in awe of her stubbornness.

"I say no," Isa spat, laying back down and covering herself with her blanket. She wasn't trying to be naughty, she'd just been woken in the middle of a nap and was majorly out of sorts. Austin was thrown for a loop, not having had to deal with this kind of disobedience before. Isa had her outbursts but never anything like this.

"I think we'll go," Lindsay said, not sure what else to do.

"Okay. Let me know if you need me to take the duder tomorrow."

"I will. Thanks. Come on Colton, let's go see daddy."

He slid his hand into hers and looked back at the lump of Isa under the covers.

"Bye, Sweet Thing."

She didn't respond and he sighed, looking up at Lindsay.

"Mama, why she so crazy?"

"Because she's a girl buddo."

"Ben get better," Colton sang, holding onto the bars of the crib and swaying back and forth. "We need to play cars. Stop coughin' too Benny. Don't be sick no more. I love you."

"Dude it's really nice of you to sing to your brother but you need to let him sleep so he can actually get better."

"I was singin' him to sleep daddy. Like mama does when I'm sick."

"I appreciate that. Let's go and play in the other room so we don't bother him, alright?"

"Okay," Colton sighed, giving Ben one last look before tromping out into the other room. Adam had the Legos out, spread all over the floor because Ben wasn't there to put them in his mouth. Colton jumped up and down in excitement and slid down to his knees, snapping pieces together before he was even settled.

"I'm gonna make a plane, daddy. It's gonna fly to China and get fortune cookies!"

"Really?"

"Yes. You want anything from China?"

"Nah, not this time."

"Mama! You want anything from China?" he shouted, even though she was sitting three feet away.

"No thanks, you go ahead and fill the plane with fortune cookies."

He nodded and flew his chunk of Legos around the room, zooming into the kitchen and back.

"Okay, the cookies is here. Who wants one? Mama?"

"I'd better not, I need to watch my figure."

Adam snickered and she shot him a look.

"The holidays are coming up!"

"Right, right."

"Maybe I will just let myself go then."

"Don't do that. I'd still love you but I'm also happy with how you are."

She rolled her eyes and he reached over to pinch her thigh.

"Ouch!"

"Just checking out the goods."

"Oh dear heavens," she sighed, shaking her head and pulling her legs up onto the couch. Adam chuckled and went back to his Lego creation. He loved to tease her almost as much as he loved to kiss her and based on how much he did the latter, the former was loved an awful lot.

"Daddy, are you making a gas station for my plane?"

"Um, sure, I guess it could be a gas station. What kind of fuel does the plane need?"

"Gas fuel, daddy. Not gas like toots, gas like in the car."

Lindsay snorted and raised her book to cover her face, not wanting Colton to know how amused she was. Sometimes if he caught them laughing at him, he would stop whatever he had been doing and get shy and Lindsay didn't want him to start being insecure in his own imaginings. She composed herself after a moment and lowered the book, just in time to see Colton using his teeth to take two Lego pieces apart.

"Hey, don't do that," she admonished, wrinkling her nose in disapproval.

"But it's stuck."

"What happened to that thing daddy got for you to use when they're stuck together?"

"Qwerty's chewin' on it," he said, pointing across the room.

"Qwerty!" Lindsay said, exasperated. The dog looked up at her happily, but his face soon fell as he realized that she wasn't pleased.

"Give me that… that thing."

Instead of dropping the Lego, Qwerty jumped up and took off into the kitchen, hiding underneath the table and growling playfully. She chased after him, reaching down to grab him but missing as he ran into the bedroom.

"I feel ridiculous yelling Qwerty all over the house," she huffed, peeking under the bed and finding two eyes staring back at her. "If we had just named you Silas like I wanted to."

He barked once then picked up the plastic toy and dashed out the other side of the bed.

"You stinkin' dog, get back here! I swear, Austin's gonna pay for this."

"Stinkin' dog," Colton laughed as Qwerty jumped across his lap and hid behind a chair.

"I give up," Lindsay said, flopping back onto the couch. "Choke on it."

Qwerty dropped the Lego and ran to the couch, jumping up on her and settling down against her chest.

"You're a jerk," she said, scratching him behind the ears despite herself. "I should kick you out the door."

"No mama, he's sayin' sorry. You gotta say it okay."

"You think that's how it works?"

"A'course."

"Alright dog, I won't be mad, but don't do it again."

"He promise he won't mama," Colton said matter-of-factly.

"Well as long as he promises."

"He do. Can we go wake up Ben now? I wanna play with him."

"No buddy, we need to let him sleep."

"But he's my brother!"

"I know that."

"I not played with him today, mama! He not play with nobody but daddy."

"Hey, is that so bad?"

"Brothers gotta play with brothers, that's what you say when I don't wanna play with him."

"Yeah, but we don't want you to catch what he's got. Maybe tomorrow he'll be better and then you two can play. Deal?"

"Okay," he sighed, half-heartedly building a car. "If I don't feel good, could I sleep in the big bed like Ben did last night?"

"Do you really feel bad or do you just want to sleep in the big bed?"

"Um, well… I don't know."

Lindsay smiled and reached over to brush her fingers through his hair.

"Maybe once Ben is all better you can sleep in the big bed one night. Okay?"

"Okay."

He went back to the Legos, helping Adam to build a castle, complete with a moat and a dragon. At least it was supposed to be a dragon. All Lindsay saw was every green Lego they owned piled together with possibly a tail coming out of one end.

It wasn't very long before Ben started crying from the other room and she got up, retrieving him from his crib and checking him for a fever. He didn't have one, but he needed some water anyway, so she took him to the kitchen and got a bottle. He sucked half of it down before taking a breath, then finished the other half a little slower. She put the bottle in the sink, then walked him slowly around the living room, shutting off every other light, hoping it would make the boys sleepy. Adam was laying on the floor almost asleep, while Colton sat on his chest and told him some story about being the king of the castle and Isa and Sarah being the queen and princess.

"Well if you're the king, where do me and mama live?" Adam asked on a yawn.

"Uh, you could live on the ceiling," he said, meaning the roof.

"Really? You don't go no other room for us?"

"Well I be sleepin' in the big room and the girls are sleepin' in the next big room. And there's a room for the horses and one for the soldiers, and one for the cook too. Also we have a TV room, and a room for coloring, and one for ping-pong, and also there's a room for Ben too."

"Geez, when I was little castles only had princesses in them."

"Daddy, when you finded mama, you had to rescue her from a castle, huh?"

"Well, uh…" Adam trailed off shooting a glance at Lindsay who was snickering. "I guess you could say that. I mean she was stuck in the lab most of the time."

"Was she trapped by Bowser or a mean stair mother?"

"You mean a step-mother? No, she wasn't really trapped. She was just all alone."

"No Bowser?"

"No Bowser."

"Daddy," he whispered. "Is that a'cuz you couldn't winned Bowser?"

"No, I could beat Bowser any day, especially when vying for the affections of your mama. Nah, I was just lucky I didn't have to go through all that. The only thing I really had to do is to convince your mama to fall in love with me."

"Was that a hard job?"

"Sometimes, but it was worth it. And now I got her for the rest of my life."

"That's a good story, daddy. Is you the king of this house and mama the queen?"

"Yep, and you're our little court jester."

Colton laughed and laid down on Adam's chest, sighing deeply.

"Daddy, I could live in this house castle with you and mama forever and ever 'til the cows come home?"

"You can live with us as long as you want buddy."

"And Ben too?"

"Ben too."

"Good. We stay together for all the days."

"Yeah buddy. All the days."