A/N: How did I get myself into this ship? Seriously.

The kids sat quietly on the couch in the living room, yawning and rubbing their eyes as they tried to wake up much earlier than they were used to. It had been a late night for all three of them, but at least they were just tired instead of cranky.

Qwerty had run away two days ago and had yet to return. Normally when he got out he came home within a day, but this time it seemed that he might be gone for good. Adam and Lindsay hadn't let the kids in on that part yet, but they knew they would have to soon.

"Ben, where we go?" Avery asked, unsatisfied with grunt that Colton had just given her.

"We's goin' to stay with Mac and Jo-Jo and mama an' daddy is goin' on their 'versary trip 'cross the country."

"Why?"

"So they can find out why they are still in love."

"Oh. Okay."

Lindsay chuckled and stuffed a few more things into her suitcase while Adam tried to match pairs of shoes for the kids. They had thought they were all packed last night, but it seemed as if they had been terribly mistaken.

"Mama, I go you an' daddy."

"No sweetie, you would be really bored. You get to stay with Mac and Jo and they're going to take you to do something really fun."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Mac said it was a surprise. But they both have a lot of fun things to do. You'll see."

"No, I sleep at Au'tin's home."

"Maybe in a few days but I'm not sure."

Avery sighed and leaned against the armrest with a big yawn. She didn't understand how long they would be gone or how far away they would be, but she knew she didn't like it. Last night they had all looked at a map together, seeing where their mama and daddy would be while they were gone, but that wasn't really enough. She wanted to go with them to make sure they stayed safe. Who else was going to take her to tumbling class?

"Okay, I think we're ready to start loading the car. Kids, you want to go get in your seats?"

They slid off the couch slowly and went outside where air was cold and the sun had not yet risen. Shivering and stretching, they climbed into the car and got into their seats, Colton helping Avery with hers before doing his own. They sat quietly and Ben rubbed at his eyes, then stared at the clock on the dash.

"Hey Cole. Is four-five-five early in the morning?"

"Yeah. We don't get up until seven."

"That must be why that sun isn't up yet. It's sleeping. I wish I was sleeping."

"Me too. Maybe we can take a nap when we get to Mac and Jo's. Aves, you wanna take a nap too in that one huge bed at their house that we always share?"

"No. I no take nap. I not a baby. I a sissy an' big girl."

"But don't you wanna rest a little?"

"No. Play with Mac. He play ponies."

The boys both giggled at the thought of Mac playing with Avery's ponies, knowing he would do it if she asked.

"You kids all ready to go?" Adam asked, closing the trunk of the car.

"Do you and mama really gotta go?" Ben whined. "I really like you guys and I will miss you!"

"We like you too son, but I promise that we will all like each other even better if mama and I take off for a few days."

"Are you gonna do lots of talking?"

"No, we're not going to say a word to each other the entire time."

Ben's eyes got wide and he tipped his head to the side.

"That was sarcasm, honey. Daddy's bad at it when he's tired."

"Oh. Well then maybe he needs to practice. Is it time to go now?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

After Lindsay dashed into the house one more time to make sure everything was locked and after they had to circle back for Avery's purse that she suddenly had to have, they were finally headed to Mac and Jo's, half an hour later than they originally planned. Mac was bleary-eyed when he opened the door but Jo was bustling around as if she'd been up for hours and she greeted the kids warmly, kissing their cheeks and hugging them tight, the same way she always did.

"Jo-Jo, me and Cole want to go back to sleep in that big bed upstairs. Can we?"

"Sure, but don't you want to say bye to your mama and daddy?"

"Sure. Goodbye parents. Have fun at the beach without us kids, and try not to think about how we are apart."

"Ben you're so dramatic."

"That's what I do."

They both hugged and kissed him and he went upstairs to the spare room that he liked best.

"I'll help take care of the kids," Colton promised with a yawn. "But I won't be too grown-up about it."

"Thank you buddy. We'll miss you but we'll call you every day."
"Okay. Love you and be safe."

He hugged them and followed Ben upstairs, leaving just Avery, who had already taken up residence in Mac's arms and would probably stay there for most of the morning.

"We'll see you in a little while Avery."

"Little while? Lunchtime?"

"Well, in a few days then."

"Okay. Get me presents."

She waved at them and settled into Mac's lap, her eyes already transfixed on the early morning cartoon he'd found for her.

"Well I guess they're going to be fine honey."

"I guess."

Adam squeezed her shoulders, knowing she was suddenly uneasy about leaving them for so long.

"We should be in cell service most of the time so call us if you need anything. Austin and Danny have copies of all their medical stuff, so if something happens…"

"They'll be fine Adam," Jo assured. You two should get going so you can make your plane."

"Avery wakes up in the night sometimes so if she won't go back to sleep you can call us."

"Linds."

"And Ben's started throwing up when he's worried but he's not really sick I promise."

"Lindsay."

"And make sure Colton has fun, he really takes things too seriously."

"Honey, you're leaving for a week, not forever. Go have fun and trust me. They'll be okay."

"But-"

"Babe, let's go. Come on, that's it. One foot in front of the other."

With one last sigh she followed him out of the house and into the car, grabbing the travel mug of coffee and taking a long sip to try and combat her tears.

"Hey. What's the matter?"

"I miss them."

"I know you do."

"I definitely don't want them to come with us, but I miss them anyway."

"You're hopeless."

"I think you're right."

"Oh blessed fresh air!" Lindsay exclaimed happily as they exited the Portland airport later that afternoon. "Doesn't it smell so good? Like rain and… look at the trees over there! They're green Adam!"

"You have been in the city way too long," he chuckled as they walked to the parking garage to get their rental car. "I need to take you out of it more often."

"Please do. Can we go to the beach now?"

"As soon as we find our car and figure out how to actually get to the beach."

"You brought the GPS didn't you?"

"I did, but I hear tell that this is the most GPS unfriendly city in the country."

"Oh you hear tell huh?" she asked with a little wink. "Well then we're in for a screaming good time."

"Our car fights are the best."

She smiled as he unlocked their rented car and put the suitcases in the back.

"And now our vacation starts."

"Finally."

"Still miss the kids?"

"Well of course I miss them. But don't remind me of that right now okay?"

"Alright. Want to grab lunch before we head out?"

"Sure. Junk?"

"Yes."

He did a quick search on the GPS and found a place on their way, then headed out of the parking garage. He kept glancing over at her as they drove, enjoying the little smile on her face and how different she looked here, as if she was somewhere that she was meant to be.

After a few wrong turns and a longer jaunt off the highway than they planned, they were on the road to the beach with burgers in hand and The Beatles on the radio. The day had started out overcast, but a strong autumn sun had started to peek through the clouds as they drove through little towns with funny names and found themselves in the middle of a national forest, surrounded by tall fir trees and small creeks on either side of the road. Lindsay sighed and put her feet up on the dashboard, tapping her toes gently. They'd been silent for at least half an hour and it was nice to be together but alone with their own thoughts.

"So."

"So."

"I've been thinking."

"I've been preparing to listen."

She smiled and took her feet off the dash, turning in her seat so she could look at him.

"I want another baby."

"You can't do that to me when I'm driving!"

"I guess I should have opened with something else," she commented, her hand clutching her chest in reaction from his near miss with the guardrail.

"You told me absolutely not, there was no way we were having another baby and now you're saying you want one?"

"Well… yeah. I don't necessarily mean that I want to have a baby, but I would like to have a baby. I mean, I don't want to have to give birth, but I would like to have another child. In our family. One that's ours."

"You know we can't have another baby if you're going to keep smoking the crack."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Why can't you listen to me when I'm blathering on without actually being able to tell you what I actually mean?"

"Um…"

"What I mean is that I was thinking that maybe in a few years or maybe even now we could revisit the idea of adoption. And I know maybe we're not ready to jump in tomorrow, but I just kind of want to make sure the idea is still on the table."

"It was never off the table. I thought we were just waiting."

"I know. We hadn't talked about it in quite a while so I thought… I didn't want to forget, you know?"

"We won't forget."

"I don't want to keep putting it off. I don't want to get into the cycle of saying that next year life will be calm enough. Life will never be calm."

"Okay. Then what's the earliest you'd like to start the process?"

She shrugged and watched the forest whip by the window as they drove.

"Probably not until Avery goes to school."

"Okay. Then that's when we start. No excuses."

"It can take years."

"I know. We'll get informed and figure it out from there, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now, is there anything else you want to drop on me?"

"Um… I love you."

"I love you too."

"Hold my hand."

"My pleasure."

She sighed happily and was quiet for the next few miles, leaning forward at every turn and wondering if suddenly, behind the hill, they would stumble upon the ocean. She was disappointed every time and he laughed at her, pointing out that they were still a few miles away and they had to merge onto a different highway before they would be there.

"So Adam, are we good?" she asked after a bit, looking at the small house turned surf shop.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I just mean… Is our marriage really better than everyone else's like I think it is?"

"Of course it is."

"We didn't get the seven year itch. Does that mean we're doing something wrong?"

"Babe, are you happy?"

"Yes."

"Then we're doing everything right."

"I just like feedback."

"Just wait a little while and I'll give you tons of feedback."

Her brow furrowed in confusion and he just smiled, turning his gaze back to the road.

"What do you… Oh Adam."

The dance his eyebrows did only made her shake her head in amusement.

"You were scoffing at me and you missed the first glimpse of the ocean."

"Oh wait, I want a do-over!"

"That'll teach you not to roll your eyes at me."

"Fine, fine."

He turned the music down a little and glanced at the GPS, following the directions to their hotel. It was right on the beach and looked much more like a resort than a hotel. It had to be one of the tallest buildings in town and he was hoping their room was facing the beach instead of giving them a birds eye view of the street below.

"Adam, this place is huge."

"I know. Let's see, I'm going to park right here for now and check us in. You want to call the kids?"

She nodded as he parked the car and got out, heading inside the building. She glanced in the windows and through the lobby, noticing the huge windows on the other side the looked out over the pool and hot tub, and the ocean. It had turned into a blustery day again, but she didn't mind much; they'd been planning on a cold beach trip. That was something people didn't really understand, beaches didn't have to be hot and humid. They could be blanketed in fog, swirling with wind, the waters frigid, and the experience could be even richer.

Grabbing her phone she called Jo, wondering how long the kids had slept this morning and if the interruption in their sleeping had made them grumpy.

"Hey, how's the trip?" Jo greeted as she answered the phone.

"It's good so far. We just got here. It's beautiful and foggy and I don't care how cold it is, I am putting my feet in the ocean."

"Atta girl."

"How are the kids?"

"They're doing fine. The boys set the table for dinner and Avery helped me put ice in everyone's cups and now we're just waiting until the food is done."

"Are they being good? Not fighting or anything?"

"Nope. They've been really helpful all day. Avery was pretty clingy until lunchtime, but I think once she saw food she felt better. Colton just walked in, want to talk to him?"

"Yes please."

Jo handed the phone over and Colton took it, climbing up into the big recliner and burying himself a little quilt.

"Hi mama! Are you and daddy having fun?"

"Yeah we are. We found a prize for you at the airport already but I can't tell you what it is yet."

"Okay. Me and Ben went with Mac today to the music store because he got his bass fixed and he had to pick it up. And we went there and the guy that fixed the bass was in the Marines with Mac and they told us stories about fun stuff they used to do when they weren't on duty. Then when we came home Mac showed us pictures of back then. The Jo came in and said how Mac was so handsome and then his face turned red and we stopped looking at the pictures. After that we had lunch and then us kids played in the backyard. Did you know Mac is making a fountain out there for Jo? Well he is. He just has a hole dug right now for the water and we played in the hole for a while and then Jo said it was time for naps and Aves pitched a fit and Mac gave her a talkin' to and she shaped up and we all took a nap."

"Quite an eventful day you've had buddy."

"Yep. It was fun. I like stayin' with the Messers but over here is really fun too. Feels like our other home."

"I'm glad. We really miss you guys."

"We miss you too. I told the kids that we are happy you and daddy are having fun."

"We'll send you guys some pictures, okay?"

"Okay mama. It's time for dinner now. Can we call you at bedtime?"

"Of course. I'll talk to you then honey. Be good."

"Bye mama, love you!"

They hung up the phone just as Adam came out of the building with their room keys.

"So guess what."

"What?"

"They upgraded our room. We were back in the corner but they put us in one of the rooms that looks right over the beach."

"Oh? Why did they do that?"

"It's a low season and they had rooms open and I talked them into it. Start thinking of ways to thank me now."

"I'm always thinkin' babe."

He gave an exaggerated shiver and turned the car on, driving into the parking garage and finding a spot relatively easily. They unloaded the car and went into the building to their room, which was about halfway up the building and had a large deck that looked out over the ocean. She dropped her suitcase and went out to look, leaning against the rail and breathing deeply, taken aback at the expanse of everything.

"What do you think babe?" Adam asked, appearing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Did I do good?"

"Very good," she assured, turning to look at him.

"You know, the bedroom looks over the beach too. Want to come see?"

"It's freezing cold out here Linds. Why are we doing this?"

"Because it's lowtide. That's when you can find the best shells."

"I thought beach combing was supposed to be relaxing."

"We're hunting. And you have hot chocolate so stop complaining."

"Babe, you're walking down the beach at midnight with a flashlight when its less than forty degrees out. No shell is worth this."

"Ben asked for a whole "sandallo" and I am going to get one for him."

"We can buy one at one of those gift shops."

"He asked for one from the beach and I am getting him one from the beach. If I wait until morning the seagulls will have cracked the shells open."

He sighed and kept walking next to her, his arm around her shoulders and enjoying the moment even if it was cold and windy. They were together, even if he wasn't comfortable.

"You know what?"

"Hmm?"

"I feel like we're newlyweds again. Remember the day on our honeymoon when the cruise ship docked in that little beach town in Alaska?"

"It was considerably colder that day."

"Yeah, but we still had fun didn't we?"

"Only because the woods were so thick."

She shot him a look and felt a blush creeping up her face even though there was no one around to hear his vague reference.

"I didn't mean that. I meant the fact that it was just us together and no one else and we did our own thing and… you know what, stop laughing at me!"

"I'm not laughing at you really honey. I'm just thinking about pine needles."

"Okay so we had a romp in the woods ten years ago. I'm sure lots of people do it."

"I doubt lots of people have the experience of realizing there was a bear thirty feet away the entire time."

"You still haven't told anybody about it right?"

"Of course not!"

"Good."

He smiled at the look on her face, then pulled her shoulders gently so she would stop and look at him.

"What?"

He kissed her gently for a moment, letting her take the lead and pull them closer. His free hand tangled in her hair and his thumb circled around her ear over and over again until she had to break the kiss to take a breath.

"How do you do that?"

"It's a gift."

"I would say it's marketable but I think I want it all to myself."

"I wouldn't make you share."

"Well if you want to increase your skills, I'm always a willing partner."

He gave her a smile and they kept walking, this time away from the beach and back to the hotel. He kept pinching her sides and grabbing her waist, flirting as shamelessly as he always had, in fact, almost proud that he couldn't keep his hands off her.

"Shh, there's people trying to sleep around here."

"I don't care."

"Adam."

"Where's the key?"

"It's in my back pocket but-"

He found the key and gave her a little pinch as he did so, leaning down to kiss her while he unlocked the door. He pulled her inside and they stumbled through the hallway into the bedroom where the moon was shining through the windows. He pulled their coats off and dropped them on the floor and she giggled to herself as he placed her on the bed and peeled her shoes off.

"What are you doing?"

"Opening the window."

"Why?"

"Ocean."

"Okay."

He joined her again, taking control of his fervor as he lay down next to her and pulled her into his arms.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Thanks for marrying me."

"Thanks for asking."

He was about to say something but stopped, staring deep into her eyes for a long time before she reached up to gently scratch her fingers through his hair.

"I can't believe you're mine Lindsay. Never in my life did I think I would get this lucky."

"I never thought I would either. And we get forever. Don't forget that part."

"Sometimes you make me care about nothing but right now."

"Carpe Diem."

"Oh believe me, I'm about to."