"There ain't no reason you and I should be alone, tonight now baby, tonight yeah baby! I got a reason that you're who should take me home, tonight! I need a man that thinks it's right when it's so wrong, tonight now baby tonight yeah baby! Right on the limits where we know we both belong, tonight!"

Lindsay laughed as the kids all jumped up and down on the couch, belting out the rest of the song, not really knowing what it was about, but enjoying it anyway. Ben and Junior pretended to play the guitar and Colton played air drums while Isa and Sarah sang into fake microphones and danced around. It had been a long morning already, but this was making up for it. They were all so excited to spend the next few days together, and their happiness could not be denied. She didn't care that they were jumping on the couch or that the girls hair was messy or that Colton only had one sock on. Avery was sitting on the floor next to the couch, squealing in delight and bouncing up and down. Giggling, Lindsay scooped her up and they danced around the room while the kids continued to pretend they were a rock band.

"I'm on the edge of glory!" Isa hollered, louder than the rest of the kids as she jumped off the couch and spun in a circle on the floor, pumping her fist in the air. By the time the song ended the kids were all exhausted, laying on the floor and singing along to the next song that came on the radio.

"What do you guys think about some lunch and a movie?"

"Yes!" came the answer, along with whoops and hollers. She was certain she could have suggested nothing at all and they would have been just as happy about it.

"What should we have?"

"Fish sticks!"

"Macaroni!"

"Sandwiches!"

"Ravioli!"

"All of those are good suggestions. Let me go see what we have."

She stood up and took Avery into the kitchen, settling her in the high chair before going to the cupboards to find lunch.

"Auntie, I will help you, okay?" Sarah said, coming to stand next to her.

"You don't have to, honey. You can go play."

"But I want to help. Ooh, can we have those nuggets in the freezer?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Lindsay agreed, pulling the bag out of the freezer. She poured the nuggets onto a cookie sheet and stuck it in the warming oven.

"Can we have some fruit massacre salad too?"

"I don't know if I have all the fruit for it, but we can try."

"I just like the bananas in it a lot."

Lindsay smiled and gathered the fruit, then let Sarah peel the bananas and take the tops off the strawberries while she chopped everything else. They soon had a big bowl of fruit salad, just as the chicken was ready to come out of the oven. Avery was screaming in hunger and Lindsay gave her a spoonful of fruit before making five plates for the rest of the kids. Sarah helped her take them to the table and then went and hollered at the kids to come and eat. They all stampeded to the table, taking their chairs and giggling as they ate.

Lindsay went back into the kitchen and cleaned up while Avery worked on her own lunch.

"You just can't wait to be a big girl and run around with the rest of the kids, huh?"

"Dada?"

"Daddy's at work, baby. He'll be home later tonight."

"Mama!"

"Yes, mama. Are you ready to be done?"

Avery held her hands out to be washed off, and then Lindsay lifted her out of the highchair.

"I think it's nap time, lovey."

"Mama, let Avery give us hugs before she goes to sleep!" Colton said, standing up on his chair. Lindsay took Avery to him and he hugged and kissed her softly.

"Sleep with good dreams, baby. I love you."

"Me too! Kiss sissy!" Ben said, also standing up on his chair. He pressed several sloppy kisses to Avery's cheeks, then stopped and looked deep into her eyes.

"I love you sissy. Ever and ever."

"I love sissy too," Junior piped up. "Have a good nap."

Avery giggled as Lindsay took her upstairs, walking around the bedroom for a moment to calm her a little, then tucking her into the crib.

"Mama!" she wailed, hating to be left alone.

"It's time for a nap, baby doll. I'll be back in a few hours. Get some sleep."

Avery whimpered and stuck her bottom lip out in a pout, but didn't protest any more as Lindsay left the room, taking the baby monitor with her. By the time she went back downstairs, all the kids were done eating and had tossed their plates into the sink. She thought for a moment about doing the dishes, then decided she would rather join them watching a movie. They were all huddled around the entertainment center choosing a movie, making a pile for ones they wanted to watch and another pile for ones they weren't interested in. They finally picked "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and Colton put it in the player, then turned the TV on.

"Hey mama, could we all lay on the couch-bed?"

"Yeah, sure. Help me move the coffee table."

He nodded and they moved things around, tossing the couch cushions on the floor so they could pull out the bed. In a few minutes they were all settled in together, watching the old movie play out. Ben and Junior were both on the verge of sleep and Sarah had grabbed a blanket to wrap up in.

The phone rang and Colton grabbed it, staring at the TV while he answered.

"Hello, this is my mama's phone. Oh, hi Austin, I will let you talk to Isa."

He handed the phone over and Isa smiled.

"Hey Ma. What are you and daddy doing? … Oh. Well we're just sitting on the couch-bed watching a silly movie, and I get to cuddle with Indy because Sarah stinks at rock paper scissors… yeah, I miss you but it's okay because I am having fun so I don't miss you that much… okay, talk to Sarah."

Sarah kept the phone for a good ten minutes and was going to pass it off to Junior, but he was in a deep sleep. Lindsay took it instead, yawning as she realized how exhausted she was.

"Hey, how's it going? Are they driving you mad?"

"Nope, not at all. They're all being really good."

"Were they okay at bedtime last night?"

"Yep. There was some scurfuffling about who was going to sleep where, but we got it figured out."

"How's Elvis?"

"He's fine. He mostly just lays around and sleeps. He knows you're gone though. Adam said he'd take him out for a walk later tonight."

"Okay."

"Are you guys having fun?"

"Yeah. It's really nice to get away."

"Where did he take you?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

"Alright then. We'll see you when you get back."

"Okay. Kiss the kids for me."

"I will. Stay safe."

"Bye Lin."

"Bye Aust."

"Popsicles!" Colton hollered, jumping up and down. "I want blue!"

"No, I want blue!" Isa shouted.

"Purple!" Sarah chirped while Ben and Junior both asked for red.

"Okay, okay, let me just grow an extra hand here," Adam chuckled, trying to unwrap all the popsicles at once. "I want you to go straight out to the porch when you get your popsicle, okay?"

They all nodded and he managed to give all of them their dessert and herd them outside.

"Have they been like this all day?" he asked as Lindsay brought another stack of dishes in from the dining room.

"Yes. They're going to bed early and so am I."

"How did you do it all day?"

"After a while I made them play upstairs. I suggested they play that they were spies and couldn't get caught."

"Who were you, Senator McCarthy?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I love my oddball wife," he chuckled, leaning across the counter to kiss her. "And I missed you today."

"You miss me every day."

"Well I guess that's true. You wanna come here?"

She smiled and joined him, loving how his arms wrapped around her and wishing they could spend a whole day just like this. His heart thumped underneath her ear and they breathed in sync while his hands clasped together against the small of her back.

"This is the life," he said, kissing her forehead.

"Yes it is."

They both sighed and she closed her eyes just to hold onto the peace and tranquility until…

"Mama! Dropped my popsicle!"

"How can they holler through doors?"

"It's a special power, like how you have eyes in the back of your head. Are you going to give him another one?"

"No."

He smiled and they stayed as they were until the kids came parading through the door again.

"Can we go play in the dirt in the backyard? Okay, we're going out there."

Adam and Lindsay just laughed together as the posse of kids trooped out the back door.

"Why do they even need us anymore?"

"No idea. Want me to help you finish the dishes?"

"Nah, I'll do it. I think you'd better go pay some attention to your daughter. She's making that face."

"Hey Tink, what's going on in your corner of the world?"

She grinned and chewed on her hand as he lifted her out of the high chair and kissed her cheek.

"Dada!"

"That's my name."

She grinned and snuggled against him, giggling when he kissed her.

"You grow too much when I'm not home, sweetness. You gotta slow down a little. Don't make daddy sad."

"We've had this talk already. She won't."

"Stubborn child, just like her mama."

"Hey."

He grinned and leaned over the counter to kiss her cheek quickly.

"We're going to go play in the other room. Join us when you can, prune hands."

"You wanna buy me a new dishwasher sometime?"

"We'll see."

She crinkled her nose at him as he left the room.

"What should we play with, Tink?" Adam asked as he sat down on the floor with Avery. She smiled and scooted out of his lap towards the toy basket, pulling out a few things before making her way slowly back to him. She drug a fabric book along with her and handed it to him before he pulled her into his lap again. It was the "Who Loves Baby" book and Avery loved to look at it just because of all the family pictures that were in it.

"Mama and daddy love the baby," he read, opening to the first page. Avery laughed and laughed, pointing at the old picture.

"Mama. Dada."

"Yeah. You look just like your mama, do you know that?"

"Mama."

"Brothers love the baby," he continued, showing her the picture of Colton and Ben holding her as a newborn. She smiled and patted the page before turning to the next one.

"Aunts and uncles love the baby."

Avery hollered happily and touched every face in the Messer family picture.

"Grandmas and grandpas love the baby. Friends love the baby. Everyone loves the baby!"

She clapped her chubby hands together as he finished the book, then turned back to the first page.

"Mama," she said carefully. "Dada."

"Yep, that's us. A long time ago before we had all you munchkins. We took that picture on our first date. I was pretty sure I wanted to be with her forever, but I didn't know it was going to be this good."

Avery smiled and leaned down to place a sloppy kiss on the picture, then patted it again.

"I love this picture too. See how happy we looked? We had no idea it would just get better and better and better."

She laughed uproariously as he blew raspberries against her cheek then held her tight and kissed her properly.

"I love you, Averylin. Do you love me too?"

She squealed in reply, dropping her head to his shoulder and hugging his neck.

"Pretty sure she does," Lindsay said from the doorway before she came to join them on the floor.

"Ah! Mama!"

"Hi gumdrop," she said, taking her daughter from Adam. "I'm gonna kiss your face off."

Avery giggled as Lindsay held her close and attacked her with kisses before sitting her upright. She looked dazed but gave them a gummy smile anyway, jamming her finger into her mouth.

"Wow, that's an old picture," Lindsay mused, looking down at the book that was still open on Adam's lap.

"I know. Seems like forever ago. What's it been now, nine years?"

"I guess so. Everything was so exciting back then."

"It's not exciting now?"

"Nah, it is. Just in a different way."

The back door flew open and all five kids paraded in, covered in dirt and smiles.

"We maked something so cool!" Colton announced. "You have to come and see!"

Adam and Lindsay got up and followed the kids into the backyard.

"Look! A muddy snowperson!"

They'd created a snowman out of mud, complete with stick arms and hair made of leaves. It was joined by several baby snowpeople who were without appendages, but still obviously a part of the muddy family.

"I got mud in my hair!" Isa said, showing them the afflicted strand. "Can I keep it in there?"

"No sweetie, I don't think so. Are you guys done playing in the mud or do you want to stay out here for a while longer?"

"We're done. I think I got mud in my butt!"

"Colton!"

"What? I do!"

"Adam, what are your thoughts on bathing these kids?"

"Ladies first I think. They're less muddy anyway. Why don't you take them upstairs and I'll try to hose the boys off a little bit."

"Okay. Come on girlies, you can have a bubble bath."

"Yay!"

She took them upstairs and rinsed them off with the shower attachment before filling the tub with warm water. Avery hooted and hollered until she was allowed into the tub too.

"Oh my word, Isabeth. Your hair is a tangled mess."

"Yep. My ma wants to cut it but daddy said no way. He says I have to keep it long because that's how I am. And Sarah gets her hair cut because she is proper like that."

"Oh, I see."

"Auntie, be careful of my eyes," Sarah said as Lindsay scrubbed the shampoo through her hair. "No stingin'."

"I'll be very careful, honey. Close them up so I can rinse."

Pretty soon the girls were clean and smelling sweet, wrapped in towels with their hair dripping down their backs.

"Let's go get jammies on."

"But it's still light outside."

"I know. You guys don't have to go to bed for a while, I just think you should at least not be running around naked."

She found pajamas for them and got them dressed in just a few minutes. Avery sat on the floor in her diaper and played with a stuffed animal while Lindsay quickly put braids in the girls hair.

"I look glamorous," Sarah said, looking at herself in the small mirror.

"You are very beautiful," Isa confirmed. "Ow, Indy that hurt!"

"I'm sorry sweetie, you have a huge tangle. Just give me a second, I'll get it out."

"Ow! Ow! OUCH!"

"I'm sorry honey. It's all out, I promise."

"My head just hurts so bad," she sighed. "Bein' pretty is hard work."

"Yes it is. But now you're all done."

"Are you gonna braid your hair Indy?"

"No, I don't think so."

"What about Aves? Is her hair too short?"

"Yeah."

"You know what? Sometimes it is fun to be girly instead of boyish."

"Oh really?"

"Yep. I like to get muddy but I like when my hair is pretty too. What do you think, Sarah?"

"I am a girl all the time."

"Yeah. You don't like boy stuff. Hey Indy, could you tell me 'bout when I was borned?"

"You want to hear that story again for the millionth time?"

"Yeah! I like the part best when you holded me."

"And auntie, then you could tell about when I was borned too?" Sarah asked, climbing into her lap. "I like when Colton called me pretty."

Lindsay chuckled and leaned back against the crib, both girls in her arms as she told them the stories they had requested. They listened with rapt attention while she talked, smiling when she spoke of seeing them for the first time.

"What about when Colton was borned?"

"He was very sick when he was born so he had to stay in the hospital for a while."

"Was he cute? Was he chubby?"

"He was cute but he wasn't chubby yet. He got chubby later though."

"I 'member when Avery was born. And she was cute and little and she sleeped all the time."

"All the live long day," Sarah added softly.

"Yeah, she did. And now she's getting big. She's going to catch up to you two."

"She is very fat, Indy."

"She prefers to be called plump, thank you very much."

Avery noticed they were all looking at her and she giggled, then scooted over to them.

"Auntie, will she crawl very soon?"

"I don't know. She gets around pretty fast just pulling herself like that."

"I will teach her to crawl," Sarah decided assuming the crawling position. "Come on, Averylin. Follow me like this."

Avery scooted after her and Sarah shook her head.

"No, up like me. Here, I will help you."

There was some grunting and fussing, but Sarah finally got Avery up on all fours.

"Now come with me like this. You are a big girl now, and it is time for you to crawl."

Avery followed her, slowly but surely as they made circles around the room.

"Indy?"

"Yes honey?"

"You 'member when I was so little like Aves?"

"I do. You liked music a lot. And dancing with your daddy. And you and Colton liked to fight over toys."

"Yep, we did. I like how he was my best friend then and now too."

"Think you'll be best friends forever?"

"Yep."

"Mama!" Avery giggled, crawling as fast as she could.

"Oh my big girl! I'm so proud of you!"

She giggled and tried to climb into her mother's lap, but Isa was in the way.

"Averylin Grace! Don't push me!" Isa shouted.

"Hey, there's room for everyone, you just need to move a little. Sarah, you want to sit with the girls?"

"Yep."

Lindsay groaned as all three girls moved around on her lap until they were comfortably leaning against her. They talked softly for a while and one by one they started to fall asleep. She was just wondering how she was going to get up when Adam peeked into the room, grinning at them.

"The boys are all asleep too. Bubble baths work wonders."

"Can you help me?"

"Yeah. Who should I get first?"

"Sarah. She won't wake up. Are the boys all in one bed?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Put the girls in the other bed, but make sure Sarah's closer to the wall."

He nodded and leaned down to pick her up, cradling her gently so she would stay asleep. Carefully, he walked across the hall and tucked her in before returning for Isa.

"Dum?" she said softly, nuzzling against his shoulder.

"Go back to sleep, princess. I've got you."

He left the room to tuck her in and Lindsay stood up and laid Avery down on the changing table, quickly putting pajamas on her.

"There you go, lovie. Time for bed."

"Yeah, for us too," Adam whispered from the door. Lindsay nodded as she put Avery down and left the room.

Their bedroom was a little warm when they walked in, so they opened the windows and turned on a fan before changing clothes and sliding into bed.

"Was everything really okay today?"

"Yeah, it was fine."

"Six kids babe, it couldn't have been fine."

"It was. They're all really good. There was some fighting and stuff but nothing that lasted more than a few minutes."

"Because I could stay home tomorrow."

"No, don't do that. It was fine. Loud and crazy but fine."

"Okay. You're amazing, you know."

"Oh stop it."

"You are."

"Okay, well that's good."

He sighed and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Can't you just believe me when I tell you that?"

"I believe you. I don't know why you think that, but I believe you."

He sighed and shook his head, leaning down to kiss her.

"Goodnight, crazy."

"Night."

They were quiet for several minutes until she sat up, smiling down at him and framing his face with her hands.

"Thank you for everything you do, Adam. For working long hours and coming home and still being involved and for telling me I'm amazing, even if I don't want to hear it. I couldn't do life without you."

"And I couldn't do it without you, babe."

She smiled and kissed him before settling back down and going to sleep.