A/N: Sorry this chapter took me soooooo long. I had another project (We Run) that I was working on. This chapter was originally supposed to have a lot more in it, but it got too long, so I divided it into two. Enjoy! And go read my other story. Yes I beg and I am not ashamed.

"So what time are you-" Lindsay asked, getting interrupted by a happy squeal from Avery.

"Around four but-," Adam replied.

"I learned a new song today!" Colton hollered, stabbing a meatball and using his fork like a microphone. "In 1492 a stranger from New Delhi was walkin' round the streets of Spain, sellin' hot tamales!"

"I are a shark!" Ben announced before taking a huge bite of his dinner.

"Are you going to take-"

Lindsay's question and Adam's answer were cut off by another yelp and clapping from Avery.

"He said the world was round-o! He said it could be found-o! That calculatin' navigatin' son of a gun Columbo!"

"Now I are din-saur. ROAR!"

"I didn't hear you babe, are you taking a-"

"Wha!" Avery screamed, tipping her head back before smashing her hand into her dinner.

"He marched up to the queen of Spain, asked for ships and cargo! He said I be a son of a gun if I don't bring back Chicago!"

"I are a donkey. Hee-Haw!"

"Beb!" Avery laughed, shaking her head.

"He said the world was round-o! Hey, no one is listenin' to my song! I am going to sit on the floor with my dinner. See how you like that!"

Colton grabbed his plated and climbed off his chair, sitting on the floor to finish his song.

"Yeah, I'll take a cab. I don't want you to have to get the kids up that early and-"

"See me be a bear!"

"It would be a lot easier-"

"Co? CO!" Avery hollered

"I am not comin' up there, no one was listenin'!"

"I'll just say bye to the kids when-"

"Now a turtle!"

"It's only three days but-"

"You don't want me to sing!"

Avery grinned and grabbed a meatball, licking the sauce off it then throwing it across the table. It landed and rolled off the edge, right onto Colton's plate.

"AH! Mama! Lookit what the baby Aves done!"

Ben hooted with laughter and Avery clapped her hands, spraying spaghetti sauce everywhere.

"I'm glad we could have this talk," Adam said, getting out of his chair and helping Colton up.

"Yeah, I really feel like we covered all the bases," Lindsay replied as she wiped Avery's hands off.

Adam chuckled and they leaned across the table, sharing a short kiss while the boys groaned in disgust.

"You should not swap spit at the dinner table! It's not stationary!"

"You mean sanitary?" Adam clarified with a chuckle.

"Yes. That. Gross!"

"You think he would be used to it by now."

"You are touching lips! That is just nasty!"

"You don't think it's nasty when mama kisses you before bed."

"That's different."

"How?"

"She don't kiss me that long! You got each other's spit in your mouth."

Adam snickered and looked over at Lindsay, who knew exactly what he was going to say.

"Hey babe, gimme my spit back."

"Oh alright."

They kissed again, longer this time, while Colton shook his head and covered his eyes.

"Love is so gross."

"Well hey at least you realize that it's love."

Colton shrugged one shoulder.

"I am done eating now. C'mon Ben, let's go play."

"Cole, teach me the song?"

"Yeah!"

They ran into the other room and Avery squealed, reaching her hands out in the direction they'd gone.

"Co! Beb!"

"You can play with your brothers in a while. For now, you've got spaghetti sauce in places it shouldn't be."

Avery smiled and sported a toothless grin, reaching up to pull a noodle out of her hair.

"Maybe it's not us that's gross," Adam sighed. "Maybe it's our daughter."

"I totally think you're right. Come on puddin', time for a bath."

"Bass," Avery repeated with a nod. "Baby."

"You're getting really verbal lately. I love your little accent."

"Dada?"

"Daddy's going to clean up after dinner. You and your brothers made quite the mess."

"That's because your mama made spaghetti," Adam said with a grin. Lindsay shook her head and handed Avery to him.

"Here, you bathe her."

"Oh fine. Let's go, dumplin' butt."

She giggled as he galloped upstairs and started the water. She blew a raspberry and shook her head, then stared down into the tub.

"Wa?"

"Water. Two syllables."

"Wawa."

"Exactly. Oh gross!"

She giggled as he pulled her diaper off, finding a handful of spaghetti in it.

"I think mama and I need do watch you a lot better. Alright, into the tub."

She squealed and splashed for a moment until he stilled her hands.

"Sweetie, I gotta talk to you," he said, kissing her hands. She tipped her head to the side and looked at him curiously as he spoke.

"I've got to go away for a few days. Not very long. I need to go to Phoenix for a funeral. Your grandpa's sister died. I need to go and be there for the family for a few days. I know you don't understand that but I want to tell you anyway. I know you're going to miss me but I want you to know that I'm coming back, okay? Just a few days. Daddy will never leave you for real, little girl. I'll always come back."

She sat quietly for a second, then smiled and kissed his hands.

"Dada."

"Averylin."

Their eyes met and he chuckled, surprised that he was getting such a quiet moment with his daughter. She was often so wound up in the evenings and Lindsay was the only one who could calm her very well, so while he got to do the rough and tumble playing with her, they rarely had silence together. He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly, brushing her messy curls behind her ear. Leaving the family was always hard, but he had a feeling these next three days without his little girl were going to be the worst.

"What time should I set the alarm for?"

"Three."

Lindsay nodded and fiddled with the alarm clock for a moment before getting it set and resting against Adam's chest. He held her tight and kissed the top of her head while she sighed.

"Did you pack already?"

"No, I forgot."

"Don't get up. I'll do it in the morning."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm going to be up anyway."

"Remember the first time you packed for me?"

He felt the smile spread across her face and she looked up at him, her eyes twinkling.

"I sure do. And do you remember what you did when you got home?"

"I gave you a ring and made you an offer you couldn't refuse."

She chuckled and shook her head against him while he rubbed her back.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too."

"I kind of wish we could all go. Not really a happy occasion though."

"It's okay. It's only three days and everyone's coming over tomorrow so that should make it easier."

"Do you need me to throw the turkey in the oven before I leave?"

"Yes please."

"Are you going to be okay doing the whole dinner alone?"

"Austin's coming over early and Jo said she would stay and help me clean up."

"Okay. I just don't want to leave you in the lurch."

"It's going to be fine, honey. You need to go down there and do the family thing. Everything will be fine here and if the house blows up while you're gone, well that's why we got homeowners insurance."

"Don't joke."

She smiled and ran her hand up his chest.

"We need to go to sleep. The alarm is going off in five hours."

"Why do you always do that babe?"

"What?"

"Tell me how long I have to sleep before I go to sleep because then I can't fall asleep because I am watching the clock figuring out how much time I have to sleep."

"I'm sorry. What if I give you a back rub to help you fall asleep?"

"Packing my bag, back rubs… you're the best wife ever."

"Well alls fair in love."

"Mama! Dada!"

Lindsay sighed and rolled over, having just fallen back to sleep after Adam left. Avery must have known he was gone, she never woke up at this time of morning. Lindsay lay there for a moment, wondering if Avery would fall back asleep, but after a moment there was another cry. She sighed and stood up, stumbling downstairs. Avery was standing up in her crib, holding onto the bars and sniffling, then wiping her nose and running her hand through her hair.

"Dada!"

"Daddy went bye for a few days."

Avery reached her hands out and whimpered and Lindsay picked her up, trying to shush her so she wouldn't wake the boys up.

"Should we go snuggle in mama's bed? Maybe you'll go back to sleep."

Avery frowned as they walked upstairs, pointing down and asking for Adam.

"You really know he's gone, huh? I know, I miss him too. We don't do well without daddy, do we?"

They lay down on the bed and Avery crawled over to Adam's pillow, burying her face in it and crying.

"Dada! Dada!"

"Shh, let's not wake your brothers up."

"Dada," she repeated as tears started to dribble down her cheeks. "DADA!"

"Oh baby, c'mere," Lindsay sighed, pulling the little girl tightly into her arms and kissing her cheeks. "Daddy will be home in a few days. I miss him too but it's going to be okay. He always comes back."

"Mama, wha's wrong with the baby Aves?" Colton asked from the doorway where he and Ben stood.

"She just misses daddy."

"Where is daddy?"

"He had to go to Arizona, remember?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot because I was sleepy. I miss daddy."

"I know."

"Mama, I want daddy," Ben said, letting his lower lip slide out. The boys probably wouldn't be upset if it wasn't so early and if Avery wasn't crying.

"I know. You guys want to come and get in bed with us for a while? We don't have to get up for an hour or two."

"Okay. Ben you lay on that edge and I will lay on this edge because we are the men of the house and we have to protect mama and the baby Aves."

Ben nodded and cuddled up to his sister while Colton wrapped his arm around Lindsay's waist.

"Mama, this feels sad without daddy."

"I know."

"When will he be home?"

"Sunday afternoon. That's only three more sleeps."

"Today is Thanksgiving. I am not thankful today because daddy is not here."

"Hey, that doesn't mean you can't be thankful today," she said, rolling onto her back and putting an arm around him.

"Like what?"

"Like that daddy is able to go down to Arizona when he needs to. That we're going to spend the day with our friends. That we have food to eat and a house to live in and we all love daddy so much that we're this sad when he's gone."

"We are thankful for bein' sad?"

"In a roundabout way, yes."

He sighed and shook his head.

"Still miss daddy."

"Do you ever miss me this much when I'm gone?"

"Probably not."

"Why?"

"Well daddy works a lot at the lab and you are here a lot takin' care of us. We see you lots. We don't see daddy as much. Our time before we miss him is shorter."

"Yep," Ben agreed with a serious nod. "Love you the same. Daddy's gone more."

"Okay, I guess I can understand that."

"Is it really three more sleeps?" Colton whined, letting the tears fill his eyes. "That's a long, long time."

"It's not that long, honey."

"It's forever!" Ben agreed, starting to cry. "Daddy will not come home forever!"

"I won't see daddy until I am a real man!" Colton wailed.

Lindsay knew they were just extremely tired, up much too early and to bed too late the night before, but that didn't mean that their tears didn't hurt her heart. She just lay there quietly for a few minutes, wondering if they would cry it out and fall back asleep. Colton's crying seemed to be slowing down, just turning into whimpers about wanting his daddy, while Ben was overly dramatic and Avery just wailed, wanting to be heard. They all stopped the second the phone rang and Lindsay answered it with a roll of her eyes.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe. I'm just about to get on the plane, I thought I would call."

"Okay. Would you talk to your kids? They're all having a meltdown."

"How fun for you."

She put the phone on speaker and Adam talked to the boys for a while, promising he would be back soon and telling them to be good while he was gone. He had to hang up after a while to board the plane and Avery grabbed the phone, holding it close to her and whimpering.

"Dada."

"Sweetie, I don't want you having the phone all day. Who knows what would happen to it," Lindsay sighed, trying to take the phone away.

"No!"

"Averylin, that's mama's phone."

"Dada!"

Lindsay sighed and stood from the bed, going to Adam's closet and finding one of his shirts. She remembered when she was little and her dad would help drive the cows to winter grazing every year, he would always leave one of his shirts with her and it made her feel better until he came back.

"Here baby, you can have daddy's shirt."

Avery took the shirt and dropped the phone before curling up against the pillows and closing her eyes.

"Sissy miss daddy too. It okay sissy. I hug you."

Ben curled up around his sister and kissed the top of her head while Colton scooted closer and wrapped his arm around both of them.

"Daddy will come home. He doesn't want to be gone from us you know. He loves us very much."

"Promise, Cole?"

"I promise. I still miss him though."

"I like how daddy wake us up with the growlin'."

"I like when he teaches us lots of stuffs and how he is so happy when he teaches us stuffs. How about you, mama? What do you like about daddy?"

Lindsay chuckled and lay down with them, trying to figure out how to explain that the things she loved most about their daddy was the three of them.

"You know, I like everything about your daddy."

"Even when he snores?"

"Yep, even when he snores."

"What you like the very mostest?" Ben asked with a yawn.

"I like how much he loves us."

"What was the first thing you liked about daddy? I mean at the beginning of time?"

Lindsay chuckled, turning on her side and propping her head up on her hand.

"I liked that he was dorky and silly and he made me laugh. I liked that he was a good guy and he never lied to me."

"Mama, do you think we got the best daddy in the whole wide world?"

"Yes, I do."

"I like when he tells us how to be good men when we grow up. He tells us how to be like him and I want to be just like daddy when I grow up."

"You do?"

"Yep! Daddy is the bestest, goodest man in the world and I want to be like that too."

"I'm sure you will be."

"Me too, mama?"

"Yes Benjamin, you too."

"Sissy?"

"I don't think sissy will be a good man," she chuckled.

"Will she be a good lady? Like you, mama?"

"I hope she's a very, very good lady."

The boys both nodded seriously as she pulled the blankets up over all of them.

"Mama are you very happy that you married daddy?"

"More happy than you know, Colton."

"Will I ever know?"

"I hope so, son. I really, really do."

"Mama, if I am a really good man someday like daddy, I will marry a very good lady like you and we will have very good kids like me and Ben and the baby Aves. And then you and daddy will be real proud of me, huh?"

"Daddy and I will always be proud of you. All three of you."

Colton nodded and yawned.

"I will practice now by bein' the man of the house. And I say we should all have a little more sleep."

Lindsay smiled and leaned over to kiss all three kids. This was going to be a long three days without Adam, but she had a feeling the loneliness she normally felt when he was away was not going to be as strong this time.