A/N: Sorry this took forever. I'm spreading myself too thin and my muse has favorites. Bear with me.

"Good morning fabulous people and Thomas!" Avery shouted, jumping around on the bed while everyone else tried to ignore her. "Let's get scootin'!"

"Lin, what is the problem with your offspring? They can't sleep in, ever. Even on vacation."

"They don't get it from me. Averylin, stop jumping."

"Not jumpin' mama. I'm bouncin'."

"Well stop bouncing please. The rest of us are trying to sleep."

Avery sighed and climbed off the bed, sauntering over to Thomas who was awake but still curled up on her bed.

"You wanna watch cartoons with me baby? I will find a dog one so you can see your kind of peoples."

Austin snorted a laugh and rolled over to hide her face in her pillow while Isa and Sarah giggled outright.

"What?"

"Nothing, Averylin. Just an inside joke."

"Oh, okay. C'mon Thomas, let's see how to work this channel changer."

She sat down on the floor and fiddled with the remote for a while then sighed and stood up, climbing back into the bed.

"Mama?"

"Okay but you can't watch it too loud."

Avery nodded then scooted closer to Sarah, remote in her hand.

"Sarah, cuddle me please. I don't smell, I promise."

Sarah giggled and wrapped her arms around her friend, sitting up a little so she could watch TV too. Isa yawned and rolled over, snuggling up to Austin who was surprised at the affection from her daughter, but not surprised enough that she didn't reciprocate.

"Thomas, I finded Clifford! This cartoon is what made me want you, baby. Mama, put Thomas on the bed so we can watch together. I need her to see where she comed from. Well sorta."

Lindsay bit her lip and tried not to laugh at the comment, then leaned over the side of the bed and clucked her tongue at the dog.

"C'mere Thomas, your mama wants you."

"She means me," Avery clarified, as if no one could tell what Lindsay meant.

Thomas trotted over and Lindsay lifted her onto the bed where she immediately went for Avery, snuggling down with her and licking her chin.

"I love you too Thomas."

"Avery, honey could you please try to keep your voice down a little? I know you always talk loud but right now I need you to talk softly."

"But I was just talkin' to Thomas!"

"Averylin, did you know that dogs have better hearing than humans?" Sarah asked, diffusing the situation. "Thomas could hear you loud and clear, even if you whispered."

"Really? If I talk loud, maybe I hurt her ears! Oh Thomas I am so sorry. I will be quieter for you!"

"God bless us everyone," Austin muttered, catching Lindsay's eye.

"You're terrible."

"I know."

"Mama, Thomas says she's hungry for breakfast an' I am hungry too! Could we have food?"

"I guess. Does that mean I have to get up and shower and go find something and bring it back here for you?"

"Yep!"

"Oh Averylin Grace."

"Get some breakfast cheese mama!"

"What if I get breakfast?" Austin asked. "I need to go for a short run anyway, I'll bring something back."

"Okay, I would like that," Avery agreed with a nod.

"Could I go for a run with you ma?" Isa asked hopefully.

"Sure baby. Let's go get changed."

They hopped up from the bed and went into the bathroom while Sarah sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"You want to go with them, Sarahlove?"

"No, I don't like to run. I would rather stay here and watch cartoons with Averylin."

"Okay."

"Mama, we could call daddy an' the boys? I miss them so most! I wanna say mornin' to my Ben. I miss him givin' me a hug."

"We can call them after breakfast. I'm not sure they're up yet."

"Please mama? I wanna talk to them."

Lindsay sighed and grabbed her phone off the nightstand, calling Adam's phone and brushing the hair out of her face.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Yeah well your daughter woke up and she misses you so most."

He groaned sleepily and she could hear the sheets rustling as he rolled over, trying to wake up. As much as she was enjoying the get-away, part of her wanted to be there in his arms where it was warm and safe and the only sound was his heart beating.

"Okay, let me talk to her."

Lindsay smiled and handed the phone over to Avery who began to gush about their trip, explain in great detail how many things they were going to do and how much food they'd eaten before asking to speak to her brothers.

"Hey auntie can I ask you something?" Sarah whispered, climbing over Avery to lay next to Lindsay.

"Sure sweetie, you can ask me anything."

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

"I know you're pretty. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering."

"I know you know this sweetie but there are far more important things than being pretty anyway."

"I know. And I know I've got those things like being kind and helpful and a hard-worker. But sometimes I like to know that I am pretty on the outside too. Jo told me that's called being a well-rounded individual and she tried to teach Tyler and Ellie to be like that. And I said that I think they are both like that and then she got all teary and hugged me for a long time."

"Moms always like to hear good things about their kids."

"What would you tell my ma about me and Isabeth and Daniel?"

"Oh, so many good things," Lindsay chuckled. "She already knows them though."

"When I have kids someday I will always tell them nice things that I think about them. I tell Averylin nice things because she is my best friend and I also think it is cute when I tell her and she smiles and wrinkles her nose, it makes me want to hug her a lot."

"She's very lucky to have a best friend that loves her so much."

"I am lucky too. She makes me laugh and sometimes makes me be a little crazy. I think that's good for me."
"Yeah, sometimes."

"I suppose my ma told you that I got a crush on a kid in my class."

"She mentioned something," Lindsay acknowledged.

"I really like the way I can't stop smiling when I see him. He's just so nice. I really like that in a man."

"I'm glad you know what you want Sarah Claire."

"Is falling in love fast or does it take time?"

"A little of both. I think it takes some time and then before you know it, it's happened. Usually when you're not looking or paying attention."

"Does it happen to people as young as me?"

"There's evidence for it. Look at your mom and dad."

"Hmm, that's true."

"Okay we're headed out," Austin announced as she and Isa headed for the door. "Breakfast cheese, Averylin?"

"Yes please! I love my cheese you know."

"Alright. We'll be back later."

Avery blew them a kiss and they were soon out the door.

"And then I falled out the window and bonked my head real hard!" Ben announced, his voice crackly over the phone. "But I am okay now, daddy told me to make sure you knowed that. We only had to go to the doctor for a small little minute."

"Wait, back up and tell me what happened and why daddy didn't call me."

"Well daddy didn't call you on account of what could you do all the way from Boston? So we waited to make sure my brain wasn't falling out. And that's what's called a exaggeration. Actually my brain didn't fall out and I don't got no concussion either."

"How did you fall out the window?"

"Daddy taked all the screens off the house to wash 'em and I didn't know. And I was in the eatin' room and I looked out the window but there was no screen to stop me and I just tumbled right out into the grass. I hit my head pretty hard and lost my glasses there was some blood. Daddy made me lay on the grass for a bit until I catched my breath and then we goed to the doctor. I got some stitches. I will show you when you come home. Did anybody get hurt there?"

"Avery's elbow slipped out again."

"Did she go to the doctor?"

"No, I fixed it. Austin and Sarah both freaked out."

Ben laughed and relayed the message to Adam.

"Daddy wants to know if she is okay."

"Yeah, she's fine, she just couldn't play rough for the rest of the day."

"I think my injury is worse than hers then. I have to have a ice-pack on my head. That's really tough. And cold."

"Well I'm sorry you got hurt honey."

"I really miss you mama. I'd like a quick hug and kiss from you to lift my spirits."

"I'll be home in a few days."

"Could we have a special day together when you get back? Just you and me at our special restaurant place? We did not go there for a long time. Please mama?"

"I'll do my best."

"Okay! Hey Cole, you want your turn to talk to mama now?"

The phone switched hands and Colton came on, breathing hard.

"I just ran to take out the garbage and when I was out there I think I saw some alien eyes staring at me so I ran really, really fast back inside."

"You sound like daddy."

"I know. How was your day? What did you do?"

"We went down to the water and played for a while, and we went to a few parks and a library."

"Aves went to a library? Was she good?"

"It started out okay. They were just starting a story time for kids and she was quiet for a little while, but then she started telling the girl next to her about her "female she-dog" Thomas and she was too loud so we had to go."

"Oh boy. It never surprises me the things Aves does. What did you do tonight?"

"The park down the street was showing a movie so we took a picnic dinner and watched it."

"That sounds fun! Me and daddy and Ben might sleep out in the backyard but if I just saw alien eyes I don't think I want to after all. Plus we had pizza for lunch and dinner. Daddy said he didn't want to un-freeze the meals you made before you left and he didn't feel like cooking."

"Well he'll get sick of pizza real soon."

"I miss you mama. I can't wait to see you when you come back. Could we go to the bookstore, just us, and have coffee and play a game?"

"I'll do my best."

"Okay. I guess me and Ben really love you if we both want to have time with just you."

"I love you guys too."

"Here, you can talk to daddy now but please don't make kissing noises."

"Oh alright."

"Hey babe."

"Hi. Quite the adventure you've had today huh?"

"Yeah, I was going to call but I didn't want to worry you. And I didn't want to miss the hilarious things Ben was saying about his tumble out the window."

"Like what?"

"'Well I don't think I can add that to my resume, on account of I didn't land on my feet!'"

She laughed and shook her head, imagining his head tipped to the side and the nose scrunch that would accompany that statement.

"I miss you guys."

"We miss you girls too. Kind of quiet around here without our Titian-haired banshee."

"She's raising ruckus here instead. We got back from the park and she went into the bathroom and started washing her feet in the toilet. She looked at me like I was crazy when I told her it was disgusting."

"You are crazy but not for that reason."

"Thank you."

"I love you."

"I love you too. What are you guys doing tonight? Colton said something about a campout in the backyard."

"Yeah, I thought I'd take the tent out and see if I could set it up. If not then I will turn in my man-card."

"Okay, well call me if you need help."

"Yes, sir."

"You're hilarious."

"And you want to jump me right now, don't you."

"Adam."

"I was right."

"Oh go fly a kite."

He chuckled which only made her sigh louder and shake her head. He knew exactly what he was doing. Anyone who had ever said that Adam Ross was a socially awkward, bumbling nerd had obviously never fallen in love with him.

"I should go get the tent out I suppose."

"Good luck with that. I don't even think you can get it out of the basement on your own."

"I can too!"

"There are spiders down there."

"Hey, what I don't know can't hurt me."
"You're looking for the bug spray to take down with you, aren't you?"
"Stop knowing me so well."

"Stop making me want to."

There was a silence and she knew she had him. Simple flirting had taken them very far and when they were apart, even for a short amount of time, it seemed to gather strength.

"Okay you win. I'll talk to you later."

They hung up after a moment and she put the phone on the side table, then stood up from the chair and looked over at the girls. All three of them were cuddled up together in the middle of the bed, sleeping hard. They'd all crashed pretty early, probably because of all the running around and fresh air during the day. It wasn't such a surprise that Sarah and Avery had fallen asleep but Isa usually battled it far longer than the other two and had been up until almost midnight the night before.

Quietly she walked across the room and opened the sliding glass door onto the patio, finding Austin there, staring out over the city in silence.

"Hey Goose. What's shakin'?"

Austin chuckled and scooted over a little in the chair so Lindsay could sit down with her.

"I was just thinking. Did I ever tell you that we came here for a weekend when I was a kid?"

"No, you didn't."

Austin nodded, her mind wandering back so many years.

"I was young, it was before everything went bad. This time of year too. I don't remember a whole lot of it, but I know my dad let me ride on his shoulders a lot. And that carousel we took the girls to today? I begged for days to ride it and finally he said yes and he rode it with me. He chose the most girly, floofy horse on the whole thing just because he knew it would make me laugh. I miss having a dad like that. I don't know, I'm sappy and melancholy and I shouldn't be but I guess it's just one of those days."

"I'm sorry."

"I miss what he used to be. Sometimes I watch Danny with the girls and it just hurts because no matter how long it's been, I still wonder what I did wrong, why my dad didn't love me like that. I know it wasn't me but I don't think I will ever believe that fully."

"And nothing anyone says will help, will it?"

"No."

"Well I love you anyway. No matter what. And you know what else?"

"What?"

"There are men in your life that have acted like a father to you when they had no reason to. They did it because they care about you, and that doesn't come out of nowhere."

"I get it. I really do, and most of the time I know it but occasionally I wonder. What if things had been different."

"Hey now," Lindsay started, pulling Austin into a hug. "We said long ago that would never talk about things being different because one day we might pull a Freaky Friday and things would be different and then we would regret it. Remember?"

"Lin."

"I know. I just don't want you to get consumed by it like you have before. You get into this horrible funk and you start snapping at everyone and that makes you feel even worse. I don't want that for you. I love you too much. And I hate getting snapped at."

"So it's self preservation."

"Among other things. I'm going to go in and go to bed."

"Could you stay out here with me? Just for a bit?"

"Of course. Too bad we don't have a telescope. Scan the other buildings for naked people."

"Remind me to buy a telescope for home use."

"We're gross."

"Wouldn't be gross with anyone but you."

"Aw, thanks Aust."