"There they are! Mama and sissy! Daddy look!" Ben shouted, jumping up and down and pointing across the room. "Can I run to hug them?"

"Not right now, wait until they get closer."

"I'm so glad to see them," he sighed, squeaking his shoe across the floor. "The house feels funny without no girls in it."

"Yeah, it sure does," Adam agreed, keeping his eye on his wife. Even after only four days apart he couldn't stop staring at her, as if it was the first time he'd seen her.

"Mama!" the boys both shouted, dropping his hands and running across the room. She crouched down and hugged them both, trying to keep her grip on Avery at the same time. There was much laughing and talking and Adam walked over to them, reaching his hand down to help Lindsay up. She smiled brightly at him, squeezing his hand before he pulled her into his arms tightly without a word.

"I missed you," she said after a bit, running her hand over his back.

"Missed you too. Are you okay?"

"Yeah of course," she started, her brow wrinkling. "Did Austin say something to you?"

"She texted me last night and said you had a hard day."

"I wanted to wait to tell you until I got home. I told her not to tell you."

"She didn't tell me. She just warned me."

"I know. I'm okay. Promise."

"You want to tell me about it?"

"Later. Don't let me forget."

"I won't."

He leaned down and kissed her for a long while until the kids started to complain.

"Okay, let's go then. Boys, are you going to be gentlemen and get the luggage?"

It took them a while but they finally managed to get everything off the luggage carousel and they headed outside to the car.

"Well boys, should we take these girlies out for lunch?"

"Yeah! Could we take them out for tacos?" Colton asked. "And burritos. Those are the best."

"Alright, tacos and burritos it is."

"I love that!" Avery giggled, holding Ben's hand as they skipped towards the car. "Tacos is most yummy."

"Sissy, you think everything is most yummy. Did granna make good food?"

"Yep! Breakfast we haved chicken an' waffles!"

"No way! That's so cool! All we haved here was Pop-Tarts what had Spiderman sprinkles on them."

"Oh. Now we have tacos!"

Giggling, the kids climbed into the car, obviously happy to be reunited. Avery had been excited all morning, declaring that she was finally going to see her brothers after "so many most" days, and wouldn't stop talking about all the games she wanted to play once they were home.

"So, you want to tell me about it now?" Adam asked in a low voice, once the music was turned on in the back seat and the kids were occupied with it. Lindsay sighed and looked out the window for a little while before answering.

"I'll tell you but I don't want you to get mad or be upset okay?"

"Okay."

"Because it's really no one's fault."

"Babe, what happened?"

She took a breath and told him what had happened the previous day, stopping a few times to gain her composure and make sure she was getting the whole story out. He reached over for her hand once she was done, stroking his thumb over her knuckles while she swallowed down the lump in her throat.

"Sweetie, you already know what I'm going to tell you."

"I know. Sometimes it's just hard to remember."

"What, remember that I love you?"

"Not that, but everything you always tell me after that."

"You know all of it, you just let what's happening at the moment speak louder sometimes."

"I know. I need to stop doing that."

"You're learning. It's a lot better than it was ten years ago."

"Good."

"Did you sleep last night?"

"Yeah, actually I slept pretty good. I'm sure I'll sleep better next to you tonight though."

"Me too. By the way, we're having family dinner at our place tonight so start thinking about pizza toppings."

"Okay."

"Daddy," Avery started, leaning forward in her seat. "I want hold yours hand!"

"I can't hold your hand right now honey. Not while I'm driving. As soon as we get out of the car, I'll hold your hand okay?"

She sighed and sat back in her seat, shaking her head.

"Fiddlesticks."

"Mama, I think sissy just said a swear maybe."

"No, she didn't."

"Ben, it a funny word granna say. An' papa. Papa also say horsesh-"

"Averylin."

"He said that and granna maked him in trouble."

"Yeah, that sounds like it would be naughty. We don't say swears. Makes us sound like we can't come up with no other words to express our 'motions. That's what mama telled me when I was havin' that swearin' problem."

Colton snickered and shook his head, remembering that Ben's swearing problem mostly involved words like crap, and he'd felt like such a bad kid for saying them.

"Hey Aves, what else did you do in Montana?" Colton asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, I meeted a boy! We is friends! He is Travis! He kiss me!"

"He kissed you sissy? Really? Well, what a brazen act that was."

"On the lips, Aves?"

"Um… on my mouth. Haved chocolate on it from dessert."

"Looks like you finded a soulmate what likes food as much as you."

"Yes. We play an' I wanna bring him home. Mama say no. Oh, me an' mama get eggs from chickens!"

"Right outta the chickens… um… rear-end?"

"I s'pose."

"That's weird."

Avery just nodded and gave a little sigh.

"That life on a farm."

Adam was shaking, trying to hold back the laughter as Avery continued to talk about the trip, explaining "farm life" to the boys as if she was now a seasoned veteran.

"Our daughter is really strange," he said after a while.

"Yeah there's that and then everyone tells me that she is just like me. So I don't know what to think here."

"I love you both, despite the weirdness."

"Thanks."

"Okay, you kids ready for tacos?"

"And burritos daddy," Colton reminded him.

"And those taquito things too!"

"Oh and daddy maybe those cinnamon twists! I love those!"

"And nachos!"

"You would think I hadn't fed these boys all weekend or something," Adam chuckled, parking in front of the restaurant.

"I think they're just excited about the restaurant aspect of it."

"Yum, guacamole!" Ben shouted, unbuckling himself from the car the same second it was turned off.

"Ben, don't go jumping out of the car please."

"I'm starved!"

Adam and Lindsay exchanged a look and got out of the car, herding the kids inside. The boys perused their menus, looking at the pictures to see what they wanted while Avery sat in Adam's lap, coloring happily with a fist full of crayons.

"Ooh, yummy!" she said when the chips and salsa were set down on the table. "I have this!"

She grabbed a chip and dunked it completely, then licked the salsa off before going for a second round.

"Averylin, we don't double dip in this family," Adam said, putting his hand over the bowl. "Finish what you have and then you can start over."

"Oh. Okay! This yummy. You try, Ben."

Ben took a chip and dipped it hesitantly, then brought it to his mouth.

"Hey, that's good and spicy! Have a try, Cole."

"No thanks. I'm not in the mood for spicy."

"Oh. Hey mama, I want this thing right here. What is it?"

"That's a fajita, baby. I don't think you'd like that."

"Bummer. You can pick for me then. I will just eat all this."

By the time they ordered and their food finally came, Avery had been moved to her own chair and her sleeves had been rolled up to her elbows so she wouldn't get so messy. It had been a good theory, but once she mashed all her food together and started eating it with her hands, there was no use trying to keep her clean.

"Sissy, you got beans in your hair."

"Yes. For later when I hungry," she said with a shrug, popping a tomato into her mouth. "This food most good."

"Honey, we need to work on your table manners."

"Okay. We do that tomorrow. Ooh, sauce!"

She reached over and grabbed the bowl of hot sauce, pouring it all over her food before anyone could stop her.

"Mm-mm, this looks goo-ood!"

She dug in with both hands, using a chip to scoop the mashed food into her mouth. Adam and Lindsay watched her half in disgust, half in vigilance for they were certain the hot sauce would cause her to spit everything out. Her eyes did go wide but she ate it all, smiling happily.

"I eat spicy like a big lady!"

"Hey Linds."

"I know."

When they arrived home, Avery was snoring in her seat, obviously tired from the traveling and the time change. Her head was lolled to the side and she was drooling, a fact that had disturbed Colton greatly because they were sitting next to each other.

Austin was sitting on the porch steps when they got there, a paper cup of coffee in one hand while another sat on the step next to her. Hair tucked behind her ear and reading glasses on, she gave the impression of a relaxed day off, tinged with some worry. Tapping her fingers against the cup she waited until they got out of the car before standing up.

"What are you doin' here?" Adam asked, taking Avery out of her seat.

"Can I steal Lindsay for a bit?"

"Dude, I just got her back!"

"Just for a while! I'll bring her back, I promise."

"Okay, fine."

Austin smiled a thanks and handed Lindsay the other cup of coffee before they set out down the street, walking slowly in tandem.

"I hope the coffee's still hot," Austin said after a moment.

"If it's not, at least I am."

"You're so weird."

Lindsay grinned and took a sip of the coffee, finding a particularly good blend.

"So, what brings you here?"

"You."

"Yes, I am quite the magnetic force."

"After that call last night Lin… I just wanted to make sure you haven't slipped down the rabbit hole again."

"I haven't. I'm good."

"Are you sure? Because a lot of times you don't even know it until-"

"Austin. I'm fine. I promise, I would tell you if I wasn't."

"I worry about you."

"Why?"

"Because. It's not like I want it to happen but it's been a long time since you've been sick and I just worry that it's going to happen really suddenly and it's going to be bad. I don't want that to happen so I sometimes watch you really close."

"Thank you."

"Adam and I check in with each other about you," Austin confessed, kicking a rock down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, I know."

"You do?"

"I've known for years."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"No. I know you guys do it because you love me and I know that it makes you both feel a little better if you can talk about it."

"So you're really okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just fine. I will let you know right away if I'm ever not."

"Good. I'm really glad you're home."

"Me too."

"It's like being an amputee and still feeling a phantom limb."

"Oh come on, I was only gone four days," Lindsay giggled as Austin linked their arms together.

"Yeah but we hadn't seen each other for two weeks before that. Didn't you miss me?"

"Of course."

"Good!"

Lindsay laughed and yawned, resting her head on Austin's shoulder as they walked.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"You'll still love me if I'm reckless and crazy?"

"Yep."

"Okay."

"And you'll still love me if I kill your partner?"

"Of course. Help you bury the body. What did he do this time?"

"Nothing. Bound to happen at some point though."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

"Aunt Lin!"

"Hey guy," Lindsay greeted as Junior tore through the door and into her arms for a hug.

"I missed ya!"

"You did?"

"Yep, because Binyin did! And I am boy of the week at school! And you're the only person I haven't telled."

"Oh, how exciting. What kinds of things do you get to do as boy of the week?"

"Feed the fish, lead the lines, pass out milks at snack time, write the day on the chalkboard, and blow a whistle for the end of recess time. It's a lot of work, but I like hard work, like my daddy does."

"That's good."

"I'm gonna go upstairs and find Binyin, but I seen you first and had to give your cheek a kiss."

"Thanks, guy."

He gave her a grin and rushed upstairs, Sarah following him in search of her Averylin.

"Indy."

"Hey, there's my girl."

Isa walked over and hugged Lindsay tightly, not saying a single word.

"Somethin' wrong, Isa?"

"Just wanted to hug you for a bit."

Lindsay chuckled and picked Isa up, even though she was getting too tall, and held her close for a while.

"I haven't had an Isa hug in much too long."

Isa sighed deeply and buried her face in Lindsay's hair.

"Indy, life is hard."

"What happened sweetie?"

"My ma fixed it already. I just needed to hug you to fix it the rest of the way."

"Want to go sit with me while everyone else argues about what kind of pizza to get?"

"Yeah."

They moved into the living room, making the arguing between Danny, Austin, and Adam fade out a little. Lindsay chose the rocking chair and Isa settled herself in, almost as human origami so she could stay in the chair.

"You're sure gettin' tall honey."

"Yeah. Ma said I'm gonna hit puberty early. But she wouldn't tell me what she meant."

"Just means that you're going to get all your growth spurts and start looking like a young lady faster than the rest of the girls in your class."

"Uck, does that mean I'm gonna get boobs?"

Lindsay laughed.

"Well, not overnight. But eventually yes."

"I hope those things wait for a few years. I don't want to wear a bra."

"I don't either."

Isa giggled and shook her head.

"Indy, I don't want to change."

"You won't change that much. I mean, your body does a lot of changing, but not all at once. But you won't change. You'll mature, get a little wiser, and there are definitely going to be hormones."

"Hormomes?"

"Evil little things that make your emotions go up and down, make you eat everything in sight and make you sleep a lot. So for a while, before those things settle down, you may not feel like yourself, but I promise you will always be Isa."

"Okay. What if I get too tall to sit in your lap like this?"

"As long as you want to sit in my lap, we'll figure something out."

"I love you Indy."

"I love you too."

"Hey babe," Adam started, coming into the room and shaking his head. "When you're not in there to keep the peace, we end up ordering five pizzas to make us all happy."

"Five? But there's only three of you."

"Have you ever tried to order pizza with Austin?"

"Oh."

"But Dum, that just means all us kids get to take pizza in our lunches tomorrow," Isa countered with a grin. "Ma's just gettin' two for the price of one. That kind of thing."

"Oh, I see. Well I guess I can't blame her for variety."

"I don't know why you'd want Indy in there. She'd just be stubborner than a mule. That's what Papaw says."

"Mac says I'm more stubborn than a mule?"

"Well, Jo said it first and then… they meant it nicely!"

"I guess I can't be too upset about that then."

"I'm gonna go upstairs and play before I get myself into any more trouble," Isa sighed, climbing off of Lindsay's lap. "Thanks for the talk, Indy."

"You're welcome. So what kind of pizza did you guys land on?"

"I think the more accurate question is which kind did we not land on."

The bathroom door creaked open and Lindsay peeked out of the shower, finding Adam standing in the doorway.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just thought maybe I could sneak in with you."

"I'd say yes," she started, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "But you know what happened last time we tried that."

"You weren't the one that had to explain a forehead bruise to people."

"I guess we do have the no-slip mat now."

"I wasn't actually coming in here for all that, to be honest."

"Good because I am way too tired for all that. I like all that. Just way too tired."

"Considering Avery wanted me to spend the entire afternoon playing monsters with her, I'm too tired too."

"Okay, you can come in then."

She was glad that she'd chosen to leave the bathroom lights off because if either one of them had been able to see anything, this would quickly turn into something that neither of them had the energy for.

"I'm glad you're home," he said after a few minutes, reaching over to put shampoo in her hair, even though she'd already done so. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. Thanks for letting me go."

"Other than yesterday, was it a good trip?"

"Yeah. I think Taylor's actually looking forward to having a baby now. She doesn't seem as hesitant as she did a while ago."

"That's good. You talked some sense into her?"

"I don't know. I think I just told her what she knew all along."

He nodded in the dark and she rinsed her hair out, then used conditioner on the ends while he rinsed off.

"Avery seemed to have a good time. Talked my ear off all day."

"She felt really important. I think it was good for her to not feel like a little kid for a while. She got to do something the boys didn't and she behaved a lot better than normal, for the most part."

"For the most part?"

"She had one little upset but we talked about it and she apologized. And this morning I was watching her get herself dressed and brush her hair and I realized how grown up she is now. It's weird that we don't have a baby anymore."

"C'mere," he said, finding her hand and pulling her close for a hug.

"Hi."

"Hi. I can't see you, but I know you're doing that nose wrinkle that you do when you're amused about something."

"I might be."

He chuckled softly and pushed her hair back, kissing her forehead.

"We should get out of here, I'm about to fall asleep standing up."

She nodded and they turned the water off, toweling dry and pulling on night clothes before heading into their bedroom. Neither one of them had bothered to take the winter layer of blankets off of the bed yet and it wasn't so cold that they needed it, but they climbed in anyway, figuring they could always toss them off in the night.

"Mmm, yeah I think I'm going to sleep real good tonight," he whispered, curling up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. "You smell awesome."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mm-hmm. And you're nice and warm. I hate sleeping in this bed by myself."

"I'm glad I get to sleep with you tonight and not Avery."

"Oh?"

"She moves all night long. She stretches and kicks and sits up and adjusts her pillows and blankets and then in the morning she admonishes me for talking in my sleep."

"Well you can talk in your sleep with me as much as you want. I'm used to it."

"Do I really do it that much?"

"No, not really. I'd rather have you talking in your sleep than not have you at all."

She smiled and rolled over, sighing deeply and pressing herself closer to him while he ran his hands up and down her back.

"Hey I have an idea," she started, sliding her arm around him. "Let's not sleep apart ever again if we can help it."

"And even if we can't, we just won't sleep, in protest."

"Okay."

He chuckled and kissed her softly, tucking her damp hair behind her ear.

"Thanks for coming home."

"I'll always come home."

"You look like you're doing better," he whispered, pressing his nose to hers.

"Yeah. It was a little dark there for a while."

"At least we caught it before you started to feel it. It's always easier to pull you away before you get in the middle of it."

"Yes it is."

"I'm still watching you really close though."

"Thanks."

"You think you're going to come clean with Austin?"

"No. She doesn't need to worry. I'm fine now, I was almost fine before. I know she worries, but I don't need to give her any more to think about."

"She loves you a lot. She doesn't mind worrying."

"I know. But sometimes, there are things that I want to keep just between you and me."

"Okay. Goin' to sleep now?"

"Yeah. Tighter please."

He smiled and gave her a squeeze.

"How tight?"

"Don't let me get away."

"Never."