A/N: Holy poo, chapter 240? Insanity! This story must be my therapy or something, considering I often start writing new chapters well after midnight when I have to be up at six. Or something like that.

"Boys, time to wake up," Lindsay said softly, opening their shades. Neither one of them moved, as it was much earlier than they were used to getting up. Gently, she shook Colton, knowing that he would be much grumpier than Ben.

"Baby, gotta get up."

"No!" he grunted, rolling over and covering his ears.

"Colton, we have to take daddy to the airport."

"No I don't want to! Leave me alone, I'm sleepy!"

"Geez, is this really how I am when someone wakes me up?"

"Yes, it's exactly how you are," Adam said from the doorway, giving her a small smile. "Should we double team him?"

She gave a nod and they sat on either side of him hugging and kissing him until he sat up in order to get away.

"You guys are not nice alarm clocks," he grumped, rubbing his eyes. "I hate getting up early."

"We do too."

He slid out of bed and headed for Ben, shaking his shoulder.

"Ben, wake up."

"Oh hey Cole! What's up?"

"You annoy me when you wake up happy like that."

"I can't help it! It's a new day and miracles could happen, like gettin' McDonalds for lunch. You just gotta believe, Cole!"

Colton rolled his eyes but Ben wasn't phased, jumping out of his bed and adjusting his shirt.

"Why is it so dark out?"

"Because the sun is still trying to come up."

"Why are we awake?"

"To take daddy to the airport," Colton grumbled, crossing his arms. "Even if we don't want him to go."

He stomped out of the room and woke Avery up less than delicately, causing her to holler in excitement and run into the boys room.

"Coley mean. Wake me up! I mad."

"That's okay, we needed to get you up."

"Oh. Breakfast?"

"We're going out for breakfast. Let's go get dressed."

Lindsay took Avery into the other room to dress her while Adam helped the boys to pick out clothes. Ben chose several costumes and clothes that didn't fit, and Colton grumbled the entire time, but soon they were dressed and had their hair combed and teeth brushed.

"Girls are you ready?"

"Yep!" Avery answered, dashing out into the hallway, her pigtails bouncing on her shoulders. "I hungry!"

Adam laughed and swung her up into his arms, making his way down the stairs with Ben chattering excitedly behind him. Colton stayed sitting in his doorway, staring at his hands.

"Honey, what's the matter?" Lindsay asked, crouching down next to him.

"I don't want daddy to leave!"

"I know. I don't want him to leave either."

"But why does he have to? Aren't there other teachers in the world?"

"Yes there are. But this college asked daddy because they thought he would be the best at it, and he feels like it would be a good thing to do."

"Why?"

"Because he will be teaching people how to solve crimes like he does. That means there will be more people working for the good guys. And we can miss daddy for a little bit for that, can't we?"

"Well yeah. But it just makes me really sad to think about him being so far away."

"I know. Listen though, bud. You and I are going to have to be a team on this one. We've got to be brave today. It will be easier on daddy if we're in good moods. And later when Ben and Avery are asleep you and I can be as grumpy and grouchy together as we want to be. Is it a deal?"

"Yep! Plus, if I spend all day being happy, I might not feel like being grumpy and grouchy later."

"So I guess if we're not grumpy and grouchy, you'll just have to share some ice-cream with me."

He laughed and sat up, wrapping his arms around her neck.

"I love you mama."

"I love you too Colton. Come on, we'd better go. Avery's pretty excited about breakfast."

"She's always excited about food. And Ben is just always excited. Where did we get these kids?"

She laughed as they went down the stairs and outside, joining the rest of the family in the car.

"Averylin Grace!"

"What mama?"

"You do not throw jelly across the table!"

"Sissy didn't throw it across the table! It splatted in the middle."

"Benjamin, you're not helping."

Ben made a scared face, then went back to eating his pancakes, while Lindsay cleaned Avery's hands.

"There, now can you have some manners?"

"Oh manners? Okay!"

Very daintily, she picked up her cup of juice and sipped at it, sighing softly and smiling. Lindsay rolled her eyes and returned to her breakfast, her appetite basically gone anyway.

"We should probably leave in a few minutes," Adam whispered, leaning over so the kids wouldn't hear.

"Yeah, okay."

He pulled her close and kissed her softly, ignoring the tears that came to her eyes because he knew that mentioning them would only make it worse.

"I'm done eating and that was the best breakfast ever!" Colton announced, wiping his face. He was going a little overboard with the being happy thing, and even Ben could tell it was an act.

"I'm done too! But does that mean it's time to take daddy to the airport?"

"Yeah, it's about time to go. Why don't you boys go into the bathroom and wash your hands before we leave."

They agreed and dashed off across the small restaurant into the bathroom while Lindsay cleaned Avery up yet again and took her out of the highchair.

"Mama?"

"Hmm?"

"No sad. We play. At park?"

"Not at the park today sweetie, it's fixin' to rain. But maybe we can find something fun inside."

"Okay mama."

Avery patted her face gently, having no understanding that her daddy was about to leave for four weeks. Had she been able to understand she would have been a sobbing mess on the floor, so it was probably better this way. They had talked about it a lot, preparing the kids for what would be a temporary but big change, and no matter how normal it had become, Avery still didn't really comprehend time and distance and basically thought daddy would be home by morning.

"Alright, lets go," Adam said as the boys came out of the bathroom, in a heated discussion over something. They all went out to the car, getting inside and buckled just before the rain started.

"But Cole, I was there first!"

"I know but I am taller so I could put my hands higher under the air blower and you could put yours under mine! That's what I was sayin'."

"But then I wouldn't get no air for it would be all taked up by your hands!"

"But I was leaving a gap, Ben! Why don't you listen to me?"

"I do listen, you just are wrong!"

"I am not wrong!"

"You are too and you gots big wet hands!"

"Ben you're rude and you're little!"

"You're mean and stinky!"

"I am not! I wasn't the one that tooted in the bathroom!"

"You said you wouldn't tell no one!"

"Well the old man in there heard too!"

"You're a rotten promise keeper Cole Matthew Ross!"

"Okay that's enough!" Lindsay said loud enough to be heard over the bickering. "No talking for five minutes."

The kids fell into stunned silence and Lindsay crossed her arms over her chest and put her feet on the dashboard. Adam reached over and fumbled for her hand until he found it, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Babe, take a breath."

"This isn't a good day, okay?"

"I know."

He didn't press the issue further, just drove on, glancing in the rearview mirror at the boys who seemed to have forgotten their argument, as Ben had his head on Colton's shoulder. Avery was watching them closely as if sensing that something wasn't right, her forehead creased. If Adam hadn't been feeling awful about leaving them already, this was doing it.

"I like the look of that car," Ben said suddenly, then clapped his hand over his mouth.

"What did you say sweetie?"

"I said that I like the look of that car."

"You do?"

"Yeah!" he said, brightening up and pointing to the silver car in the next lane. "I could see myself drivin' a car like that someday. With a kid in the back what looks like me!"

"You think you'll have a son?"

"Yep, I will. Because I am gonna be a dad."

"What are you going to name that son?" Colton asked, very interested in the answer.

"Scotty Blake Ross."

"Will you have a girl too?" Lindsay asked, turning around to look at him.

"Yes. Her name will be Pinkie."

"But Ben, Pinkie is a nickname," Colton said gently. "She has to have a real name and you can just call her Pinkie."

"Oh. Then her real name will be Pinkitrude."

"Pinkitrude?" everyone asked, not sure they'd heard right. Even Avery had her eyebrow up skeptically.

"Yes, Pinkitrude."

"Well are you going to have a wife then?"

"I guess if I gotta. Girls is trouble and I don't want to work for one."

Adam burst into laughter loud enough that Lindsay reached over and smacked his arm.

"What? He's a very observant kid!"

"I swear."

"So what do you think you'll do for work Ben?"

"I think I will do somethin' what helps people and makes lots of money. Like maybe I will be a garbage person. Because you help lots and lots of people every day and that's lots of money. Plus I wish my chore was takin' out the trash instead of fillin' Qwerty's food and water."

"And what will you do for fun?"

"Play with Scotty Blake and Pinkie. And eat food."

"What will your wife be like?"

"Well if I gotta work for a girl, she will be the best one. She will be very pretty but mostly she will just be nice and polite and have lots of good ideas and he funny and be a good mama. Also I would like if she had long hair and pretty eyes."

"Sounds like you've got it all planned out."

"Yep. And now I know what car I will drive!"

They were all in slightly better spirits when they arrived at the airport and although none of them wanted to go in, they felt like everything was going to be okay.

"I will pull your suitcase daddy," Colton offered, holding his hand out. "Then you can put Ben on your shoulders and hold mama's hand."

"Thanks buddy."

They made their way into the airport and to the ticket line, Avery exclaiming loudly the entire time about all the things she saw.

"Sweetie, indoor voice please."

"Mama, see that?"

"It's a picture of a waterfall."

"So pretty!"

"Daddy can we come visit you in that DC place?"

"I wish you could Ben. But it's too much money for you all to fly down there and I won't be able to spend that much time with you. But I promise that we can Skype every day, alright?"

"Will you send us pictures of where you're staying?"

"Sure, I can do that."

"Well okay. Look it's our turn! Hi lady, I am Benjamin and this is my daddy! He's going on a trip!"

Once they got the ticket sorted out and the suitcase tagged, they headed off to the security checkpoint where they would have to say goodbye.

"Avery, you be a good girl, okay?"

"Okay daddy."

"Can you try and use the potty while I'm gone? No more diapers when I get back?"

"I see. Love you daddy. Safe."

"I'll be safe honey."

He gave her one last hug and kiss, then set her down and picked Ben up.

"Daddy I will miss you so so so much! I will miss wrestling with you and playing stuff and I will miss it when you give me real strong hugs."

"I'm going to miss all of that too buddy."

"I love you a lot daddy. I am proud of you for helpin' people learn important stuff. I will be so happy when you come home."

"I will be too. Be a good boy and help your mama and your sister."

"I will daddy."

Colton hung back a little, his eyes filling with tears and not wanting to say goodbye.

"Hey son, c'mere."

He sniffled and walked over hesitantly, trying to be brave despite how bad his tummy felt.

"Time is going to fly by and before you know it, I'll be home again."

"I don't want you to leave!"

"I know."

"It's okay because you are doing good. But I will miss you a lot."

"I'll miss you too, son. You remember all we've talked about okay?"

"I will. I'll help mama and be a good kid and make you proud."

"Thank you. I feel a lot better leaving knowing you're going to be helping out."

"I love you so much daddy."

"I love you too Colton. More than you know."

"You'd better start sayin' bye to mama, it's gonna take you forever."

Adam chuckled and stood up, pulling Lindsay into his arms and holding her tightly while the kids hugged their legs.

"It's going to be okay honey."

"I know. Just not easy."

"I'll call you as soon as I get there."

"You'd better."

"I love you. And I'm going to miss you so much."

"I miss you already."

He kissed her tenderly, making it last as long as he could, wishing away the tears and wanting to transport them somewhere else.

"I gotta go."

"I know."

He didn't know what else to say so he hugged her tightly and kissed her again, then bid the kids goodbye and headed for the security checkpoint. Giving them a final wave, he disappeared behind the barrier where they couldn't see him anymore.

"Daddy airplane?"

"Yes, he's going on an airplane."

"Oh. We go bye now?"

"Yeah, let's go. What do you boys want to do today?"

Ben and Colton both shrugged, holding hands as they followed her out of the airport.

"What if we all just have a lazy day and watch movies and eat popcorn all day long because we miss daddy?"

"Okay! Could we get back in our jammies too?"

"Sure buddy. That sounds like a great idea."

"Hey Lin. How you guys doing?"

"We're pretty blue."

"I'm sorry. Anything I can do?"

Lindsay sighed and pulled a throw pillow under her head, watching all three kids sleeping peacefully on the pull-out bed together. Avery was in the middle and both boys had their arms around her, something she normally hated, but today seemed to be different.

"No. Thanks for offering though."

"Go check your front porch."

"What?"

"Check your porch."

"Austin," she sighed, standing up and shuffling to the front door. "What did you do?"

"What best friends are supposed to do."

Lindsay opened the door and found a huge bouquet of bright wildflowers sitting there. She crouched down and inspected them, a wide grin spreading across her face as she read the card.

"I love you."

"I thought you could use something nice today."

"Thank you."

"You're going to be fine, Lin. And when you don't feel fine, you come complain to me okay?"

"I always do, don't I?" Lindsay chuckled, picking up the flowers and bringing them into the kitchen.

"Well, we're even. You guys want to come over for dinner tonight?"

"I think the kids would like that but I'm just so… I'm not feeling social tonight."

"That's okay. Want me to come over when the kids are in bed and we can eat ice-cream with hot fudge and watch Footloose and sit under that big quilt and talk about Emilio Estevez and the best way to do a side ponytail?"

"I adore you, do you know that?"

"I know."

"Yeah come over. I have the stuff for that chocolate drink thing we gorged on that time."

"The one with marshmallows on top?"

"Yeah."

"Lin, we're gonna get so fat. I'm totally there. It's a date."

"Thanks Aust."

"Anytime. Let me know if you need anything else."

"Okay. I need to go throw the clothes in the dryer so I should let you go."

"Exactly the same here except I should really try and make a dent in the mountains of laundry we have instead of just buying more clothes."

"I am sure your checking account would agree."

"You're so sassy."

They hung up without saying goodbye and Lindsay spent a few minutes arranging the flowers in the vase before Avery came toddling into the kitchen, searching for food.

"Mama, where daddy?"

"He went bye, remember? We talked to him on the phone."

"Oh. Home later?"

"Much later sweetie. Do you need a snack?"

"Yes! Pineapple."

"I don't have any pineapple honey. How about a regular apple?"

"Oh okay."

"Can I share with you?"

"Yes."

Lindsay washed the apple and cut it into sections then lifted Avery onto the counter so she could eat it.

"Mama sit also. By Avery."

Lindsay grinned and hopped up onto the counter too, amazed by her ability to still do so. The two of them sat in silence for a while and were half finished with their apple when Avery suddenly spoke.

"Mama, I go A'tana."

"You want to go to Montana?"

"Yes! Yay!"

"When did anyone tell you about Montana?"

"Coley. Say farm an' cows. We go?"

"We can't go right now. Maybe next summer when you're a little bigger and then you and I can ride horses together. How about that?"

"Most happy! Daddy go?"

"Yeah, daddy could go with us. He likes it there even if he pretends not to."

"Oh."

"What else do you want to do with your life sweetie?"

"Eat sandwich. Tea party. Go night-night. Daddy home."

"That sounds like a good plan so far. Let's go check on your brothers."

Avery nodded and they went into the other room, finding both boys still snoozing and snoring while a Bugs Bunny cartoon played quietly. Avery sighed and looked around the room, then back up at Lindsay, her blue eyes full of tears.

"Mama?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"Want daddy."

"I know baby. So do I."