"What kind of music do you guys want to listen to?" Lindsay asked, adjusting her rearview mirror so she could keep an eye on the kids while she drove.

"Def Leppard!" Isa shouted, kicking her feet against the seat.

"No, Jimmy!" Colton countered, shaking his head. "Jimmy, mama."

"No, I said it first and I say Def Leppard!"

"No Isabeth! It's my car!"

"Don't call me Isabeth!"

"Isabeth, Isabeth, Isabeth!"

"Colton Ross, you're a butthead!"

"You're a poopface!"

"Hey, that's enough!" Lindsay hollered, just to be heard over the din. Ben and Junior stopped their nonsensical singing for a split second, in which Sarah piped up from her spot in the back.

"Auntie, how 'bout Zach Williams? That be good right? Okay."

"Yes, that's a good idea. Colton, keep your hands to yourself. You don't pinch people, especially girls and especially not your best friend."

"She's not my best friend," he snapped, crossing his arms and glaring at Isa. "I don't like her today."

Isa's chin quivered a little as she looked at him and Lindsay knew it took a lot to make that happen.

"Colton, that's not true and you know it. Say you're sorry."

"But mama-"

"Now."

"Isa, I sorry I call you Isabeth and I sorry I call you poopface and I sorry I say you not my best friend. Okay? Now don't cry."

She kept her bottom lip jutted out and he leaned over as far as he could and hugged her.

"I sorry, Isa. I love you, a'member? You is my best friend for all the days."

"Okay," she said, looking out the window. It would be a while before she would forgive him, but it would happen eventually. She wasn't a fan of the times when someone fought back.

Lindsay turned the music on, followed closely by the air conditioner, and drove the car out into the street, navigating the holiday traffic on the way out to the Bronx. The kids had begged for another sleepover and since they were all going to Danny's parents house for a fourth of July barbeque anyway, it seemed like as good a time as any. The kids had been crazy the night before, but not into trouble. They just couldn't stay entertained with one thing for very long, and Lindsay found herself cleaning up after them well after they'd all fallen asleep in her bed. Adam had been at work and didn't get home until five minutes before the kids woke up, and he'd promptly crashed into bed, planning to hitch a ride with Flack and Jess and meet them at Danny's parents by mid-afternoon.

Once they hit Henry Hudson Parkway, she turned the A/C off and rolled the windows partially down, drowning out the little arguments that were still going on in the back seat. Ben and Junior were both asleep, oblivious to their older siblings unraveling drama. Isa was still staring out her window while Colton tried unsuccessfully to apologize and Sarah watched them, her legs tucked as close to her body as she could get them.

It wasn't long before the car stopped in front of the Messer house, and Sarah clapped her hands excitedly.

"Unca Louie is here! Isa, Unca Louie will throw us in the air!"

"Yeah," Isa sighed, unbuckling her car seat while Lindsay got Ben and Junior out. Sarah jumped out of the car and raced across the lawn, hopping up the front steps and right into her uncles arms.

"Colton, come see my Uncle Louie! Hurry up."

The other kids followed her up to the porch while Isa hung back with Lindsay, her head bowed and her sighs long.

"What's the matter sweetie girl?" Lindsay asked, crouching down and tucking Isa's hair behind her ear. "Are you upset with Colton?"

"I know we was arguin' but he didn't gotta say that."

"I think you're right. I know he apologized, but that doesn't mean you're not still hurt."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry that happened, sweetie. I'm really sorry."

"You didn't do nothin' mean, Indy."

"What I mean is that I feel bad that you feel bad."

"Could you carry me? I just wanna be holded."

"Yeah, come here."

She lifted Isa into her arms and they just stood there quietly for a second.

"I love you, Indy."

"I love you too baby."

"Hey, is she okay?" Austin asked, coming out of the house, quite surprised at seeing her wild child so silent.

"Yeah. Colton was being mean to her."

"Makes me sad," Isa added, lifting her face to look at Austin for a moment before sighing and closing her eyes.

"And I bet you kids didn't get much sleep last night either."

"You'd bet right."

"Isabeth, you want to go see grandma and grandpa?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"You just guess?"

"I'm very sad right now," Isa sighed again. "I don't wanna."

"You don't wanna what?"

"I don't wanna nothin'!"

"Okay, you don't gotta anything. There is some lemonade inside if you decide you want it."

Isa nodded and her dark hair spilled into her face, but she didn't bother pushing it back. She'd be in a funk for a while longer, but soon she would forget and everything would be back to normal.

They made their way inside and Isa refused to be put down, letting out a whining "Noooo!" every time Lindsay tried to coax her to the floor. After a few minutes she traded Lindsay for Danny and he carried her into the other room for a nap.

"You had five kids all by yourself, all night long?" Danny's mother asked, handing Lindsay a glass of lemonade. "You're a saint of a woman. I should put some vodka in that for you."

"Nah, Linds doesn't drink," Austin said, her accent coming out thicker. "She's what we call my good influence."

"She must not be doin' a good job, you're still as awful as you ever were."

"Shuddup, Gooey Louie," Austin retorted, throwing a wadded up napkin at her brother in law. "You disgust me."

He reached over and started to give her a noogie but she slapped his hand away.

"See Linds, I told you all brothers everywhere are exactly the same."

"Better kept underground?"

"Exactly."

"I'm glad you didn't have friends when we were kids, loser," Louie muttered, making his way out of the kitchen.

"Jealous! You never had no friends n'matter how old ya were!"

"Are you sure we can leave the kids here?" Lindsay asked while Austin stood in the doorway, fanning herself with the screen door.

"Yeah, they're fine. Danny knows we're leavin', he'll keep an eye on them."

"Are you sure?"

"Linds, do you wanna get away from the screeching for half an hour or not?"

"Okay, you got me," Lindsay chuckled, following Austin out the door and down the street. They were headed in the same direction they had been two months before, almost to the day, but this time the air was warmer, the sun was brighter, and their steps not so heavy. They sat down on the old bridge over the water, taking their shoes off and letting their toes drag in the water. The only noise was the creek bubbling and a soft wind blowing, and they both just sat there for a little while.

"I don't know how to skateboard," Austin said after a moment, spouting off the first thing that came to her mind. "Danny always tried to teach me, but I was a sad case. The first tiny bump and I'd be tossed off. Fall flat on my face. Rip my pants. Yes, that happened. In front of Danny and Louie and half the neighborhood at a block party, I ripped my pants while trying to ride a skateboard. Did I mention this was the same night the straps on my training bra gave out and the cartwheel I was doing made the back part snap apart and the bra fell out my sleeve in front of everyone?"

The laughter started in her toes and crept up until it bubbled out her mouth and her stomach cramped from the force of it. She leaned down, pressing her forehead to her knees while her shoulders shook with mirth. Austin gave her a strange look before letting herself be taken by the contagious laughter.

"Welcome back, Lin."

"What?"

"Welcome back. You're you again, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Good. I missed you, dude. Do you know how many one liners I've saved up until I had an appropriate audience?"

"Did you write them down and save them in a hat box?"

"A hat box? What kind of snoot do you think I am?"

"One with a one-liner filled hat box of course."

"You are so weird."

"You're the one that wanted me back."

"Yep. I'm a glutton for punishment."

Lindsay giggled and lifted one foot out of the water, letting the water drip off her heel before she put it back.

"I really did miss you though, Lin."

"I know. I missed you too. I felt really off-kilter."

"Is it going to happen again?"

"I don't know. I hope not, but it's possible. Maybe it won't be so bad the next time."

"I hope not. It scared me," she confessed with a sigh. "Especially when three days would go by and I wouldn't hear from you."

"I'm sorry. I tried, I really did. There were just some days…"

"I know. I talked to Adam, I made sure you were okay but it's hard to go that long without my best friend. As much as I hate admitting that I need you."

Lindsay gave a half chuckle.

"When in the world did we become so co-dependent?"

"I don't know. It's disgusting."

"It's really bad."

"We're never going to change, are we?"

"I hope not."

Austin smiled and leaned back on the bridge, closing her eyes and looking up at the sky.

"Do you ever think that we've been through enough in our lives and nothing else could possibly go wrong?"

"I think that, but I know it's probably not true. I don't think there's tough times rollover minutes or something."

"Do you think we have an allotment?"

"I don't think so. If we had a quota of bad things, then we would necessarily have to have a quota of good things. And that would be a bad thing."

"You're blowin' my mind."

"I've had a lot of time for thinkin' lately."

"I think that even our bad things are no match for the good things we've got."

"I think you're right, Aust."

"Help! Help!" Sarah screeched, running across the back yard. "Benjamin got hurt!"

"Lin!" Junior shouted, following behind his sister. "Binyin!"

Isa and Colton brought up the rear, carrying a crying Ben between them.

"Mama, a bum-bum bee stinged him in the arm!" Colton reported.

"I stomped it," Isa said as they set Ben on the porch. "That bee won't sting no one else now! I killed it dead."

Ben kept crying until Lindsay picked him up and looked at his arm.

"Ow mama. Ow!"

"I know. It's okay."

She inspected the area and found that the stinger wasn't in very deep.

"No!" Ben shrieked, shaking his head and pulling his arm away.

"Honey, you need to let me fix it, okay?"

He wailed loudly, tipping his head back while the other kids just stared at him, fascinated with the torture he was obviously enduring. Lindsay carefully pulled the tiny stinger out and dropped it into a bush.

"There, all done."

Ben stopped his crying and looked down at his arm then back up at her and grinned.

"Happy."

She nodded and he wiggled out of her arms, showing off his battle wound proudly.

"Does it still hurt?" Colton asked, slightly jealous that he hadn't been the one to get so heroically injured.

"Yep," Ben shrugged with a sigh.

"Wow Binyin," Junior breathed, staring down at the red spot.

They marveled for a minute more, then ran off to play.

"Doesn't take much to entertain them, does it?" Lou asked, draining his beer.

"Nope," Austin answered, giving up on fixing the broken toy that Junior had brought her almost half an hour ago. "I swear we could give them sticks and strings and they'd be entertained for hours."

"Unlike you."

"What's that supposed to mean, pop?"

"I never knew anyone could make a one syllable world last an entire minute."

"I got skills."

"I'm bored," he mocked, drawing the word out as long as he could before Austin reached up and smacked him.

"Between you and your sons I don't know how I ever got any self-esteem. Always pickin' on me."

"Still pickin' on you," Danny said, poking her cheek.

"Knock it off ya pickle-head."

"You been hanging out with Montana too much. Startin' to talk like her."

"Nah, you ain't heard some of the compound insults she's come up with."

"Like what?"

Lindsay and Austin looked at each other and giggled.

"It's better not to say in mixed company. But put the words stain or wipe on the end of any four letter word and it's strangely satisfying."

Danny thought for a moment and a grin cracked across his face.

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Startin' the party without us?" Flack asked, coming around the corner of the house.

"'Course!" Austin replied. "Gimme a baby."

"Which one?" Jess chuckled.

"Whichever one had the most recent diaper change."

"You act like I should know these things," Jess sighed, handing her daughter over to Austin. "She's grouchy."

"Just like her daddy."

"Shuddup Grace."

"See, just like that. But you won't hate me like he does, will you Teags? Yeah, I didn't think so."

"She makes these deals with everyone's kids," Lindsay chuckled. "I'm pretty sure she told Colton that he should not so secretly want to be her child."

"Yeah, well Isa's not so quiet about her preferences either."

"Next time Colton throws a tantrum I'm sending him to you."

"Yeah, and I'll set Hurricane Isabeth on a path for your place."

"Least ya got a plan," Jess chuckled.

Adam grabbed Lindsay from behind and pressed a kiss to her hair while she giggled.

"Hi honey."

"Hey. You get some sleep?"

"A little. Enough. You're driving home."

"Gotcha."

He leaned a little closer, his breath tickling her ear.

"You tryna drive me crazy?"

"What?"

"You're the hottest woman I've ever seen."

Her face colored and she shook her head.

"Stop."

"Would it be bad manners to throw you over my shoulder and tell everyone we'll be back in an hour?"

"Adam!"

"What?"

"An hour?"

"Twenty minutes, I don't know. Depends on how long you play cat and mouse."

"Talk. Quieter," she grumbled, knowing he was saying all this just to get her riled up. He chuckled against her and left a kiss on her temple before righting himself and joining the conversation that had been taking place while they were flirting.

"I heard that," Austin said, casting Lindsay with a side-long glance.

"Sorry."

"It was entertaining. Dirty talk rookies."

"Rookies? Okay, I'll admit that when we started out it was like that one episode of Friends but we're more like Cinemax at night now. That was just talkin', that weren't nothin'."

"Sure."

"I may tell you a lot Austin but there's some things I could never ever tell you about. And that's that."

"I love how you get so defensive, like I've underestimated you or something."

"Well maybe you have."

"I've heard enough to know I haven't."

"I don't know what to say to that."

Night was descending slowly as the kids twirled around in the grass with their glow sticks. Everyone had gathered at a large park for a fireworks show, and the kids were still wound up from the smaller fireworks they'd shot off in the middle of the street earlier. Everyone was sitting on old quilts, keeping an eye on the kids but mostly just enjoying a night of relaxation.

The conversation was kept light, wives leaned against husbands and crickets chirped a loud symphony, almost as if they knew they were about to be drowned out by gunpowder and sparks. Lindsay was wishing for a bonfire and a lake and even mosquito bites that would for days tell the story of a perfect summer night. But this was New York and as much as she loved this place and as deeply as it was rooted in her heart, it had nothing on the big sky of Montana that had made her what she was today.

The fireworks started with a loud pop and sizzle and the kids jumped up and down, cheering excitedly. Sarah, however, was not a fan and ran back to the adults, her hands clamped over her ears. She looked of at Danny and noticed that he was holding Liam, so she plopped herself into Adam's lap, closing her eyes tightly.

"Too loud?" he asked, leaning down closer to her so he could be heard. She nodded and tried to cover her eyes too. Chuckling, he took his sunglasses off his head and put them on her, then covered her ears gently. She smiled and leaned back against him, enjoying the show more now that her nerves weren't working overtime. Lindsay reached over and squeezed Sarah's tiny hand, and Sarah squeezed back and held on as they watched the sky light up.

Pretty soon the rest of the kids joined Sarah, finding different laps to sit in as bedtime approached. Ben was happily wrapped in Austin's arms, Junior was chattering animatedly to Jess and Flack's lap was being shared by Isa and Colton. No one had their biological children, but they all had their kids.

"Whoa, that one was 'spensive!" Colton shouted as a big firework went off. Isa laughed and nodded.

"Costed all the dollars daddy got in the bank."

"That's lotsa dollars, Isa."

"My daddy's rich. He could buy all the toys in the world."

"Yeah, my daddy too," Colton said with a shrug. "And the fireworks."

"Yep."

Lindsay couldn't hear everything they said, but she caught enough to piece it together. She loved that the kids still thought their daddies were superheroes and their mommies were queens. She wanted them to hold onto that innocence for as long as possible. She looked down at Teagan sleeping in her lap and smiled at the beautiful luck of it all. Eight years ago she had breathed in the air of New York and had been completely alone. Now she had her own family with Adam and the boys, and another family that had just sort of fallen together and stuck there, permanently. They wouldn't all be together every holiday, life might get in the way and they would go a while without spending time together, but they would be there always and forever, in a way that blood family just hadn't been able to do.

By the time the firework show ended, all the kids were cranky or asleep and it was definitely time to go home. The twins were returned to their parents and everyone else got up, gathering blankets and children and taking them to the cars. Sarah slept against Adam's shoulder, holding tightly to him as his sunglasses slid down her nose and he patted her back gently. Lindsay could nearly cry at the sight and she couldn't stop the wave of baby fever that rushed over her, along with the tide of desperately wanting a daughter. She watched as Adam tucked Sarah into her carseat and kissed her cheek, then leaned down and helped Isa into her seat too.

Clearing her throat, she checked that her own sleeping children were safely buckled in, Colton holding onto his sock monkey while Ben had a death grip on his sock elephant. They both cocked their heads to the left when they slept, their mouths hanging open slightly.

"Still want me to drive?" she managed to ask.

"Nah, I'm good. You look a little dazed."

"Yeah, just tired," she said, climbing into the car and closing the door. He smirked at her and got in on his side, starting the car and heading for home.

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

"I was just thinkin'," she sighed, propping her feet up on the dashboard.

"Thinkin' what?"

"How many kids did we say we wanted?"

"Honey are you pregnant?"

"What? No! At least I don't think… no, I'm not. Would that freak you out?"

"No, I don't think so. What are we talking about here?"

"Not being pregnant now but maybe later."

"You want another baby."

"I know we've both said that we feel like we're done but… Adam, I don't. I've never felt like we're done. Happy and complete, yeah. But not done."

"I didn't think we were either. I just didn't think it was such a good idea, given the circumstances."

"I know. I don't think right now is such a good idea either. But eventually."

"Like in six months?"

She laughed, then turned serious.

"Yeah."

He grinned and reached over for her hand.

"Well how many more do you want, Mother Goose?"

"At least one more. Maybe that's all. And maybe we never get our girl, but I just feel like there's supposed to be another carseat in here."

"Linds, this isn't just tonight, is it?"

"No. I mean it hit me kind of hard tonight, but I've wanted another for a long time. Since Ben was born."

"So… we're going to try again."

"Yeah… I mean, only if you want to. If you don't want to then-"

"Honey, I will never tire of having babies with you."

"I think you're just remembering the making babies part."

"Hey, that's the bonus you get in advance for changing diapers."

"Oh, is that how it works?"

"I'm hoping."

She chuckled and shook her head.

"What if you get pregnant with quadruplets?"

"Then we'll move into a shoe and maybe we'll get a show on TLC."

He laughed and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers gently.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Hey, when we get home," he started, looking over his shoulder as he changed lanes. "I was thinkin' that in light of the evening, being patriotic and all, we might could make some fireworks of our own."

"Well of course. When do we not?"