A/N: The writing is coming easier but the plotting is not. Beggars can't be choosers.

She was aware of him before she was even fully awake. The nuzzling of his cold nose against her neck, the way his beard scratched at her collarbone, the rumble low in his throat before he spoke.

"Wake up."

"No."

"I love you."

"I love you too but I'm not waking up."

"We have breakfast with Hannah today. And her uh… guy friend."

"They're dating, Adam. Your baby sister is dating and you're old."

"Hey!"

She smiled and finally opened her eyes, smiling up at him with a mischievous wrinkle in her nose.

"You're cute, did you know that?"

"I'm too old to be cute," he sighed.

"You're not that old, babe. You look good. And old guys can still be hot. Harrison Ford-"

"Don't."

"But-"

"No."

She laughed and rolled onto her side, sliding an arm around his waist and snuggling against his chest.

"Well, I guess what they all say is true. I do love you today more than I did yesterday."

"You know that makes me worry about yesterday, Linds."

"Oh brother."

He grinned and leaned down to kiss her, taking his time even as the door swung open and Avery jumped onto the bed.

"What'cha doing?"

"I'm kissin' your mama, why are you interrupting?"

She giggled and pulled at one of her curls.

"Well are you almost done kissin' yet? The boys will NOT get awake and I really need some food!"

"How long can you wait before you shrivel up and die?"

"Daddy!"

"Averylin," Lindsay chuckled. "Why don't you go make your own breakfast honey?"

"Because it tastes better when someone makes it for me."

"I guess you're right."

"And I cannot make pancakes. That is what my heart desires."

"Alright, I'll um…" Lindsay trailed off, remembering the lack of attire she and Adam had fallen asleep in. "I'll meet you down there in a little bit. Go put your hair back and wash your hands, we'll cook together."

"Okay great!"

She flounced out of the room, loudly shutting the door behind her, and Adam broke into laughter.

"I realized it the same moment you did," he said, fingers dancing over her skin. "How long do you think before she comes back up here wondering where you are?"

"I really don't want to jinx it."

He mumbled something and pressed a kiss to her neck.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"That's what I thought you said and I'm glad you didn't say it out loud."

"Sorry babe. You know how I am in the mornings."

"And I don't indulge you only for your benefit."

"That's a happy marriage."

"I think you're more nervous than they are," Lindsay whispered, eyes still on her menu, but words directed at Adam. "Take a breath."

"I've never met one of her boyfriends before. She must be serious about this guy if she's making him meet us, right?"

"Maybe."

"What if he's some young kid without a care in the world or any aspirations?"

"He won't be. This is Hannah we're talking about, right? She's turned off by stuff like that. It's going to be fine, okay?"

"I know. I just want her to be happy. Safe and happy."

"She wants that too. Give her a little credit. She's come really far this past year or so. Put in a lot of work. She's healthy again. She's herself. Let's enjoy the fact that she's ready for this and that she's happy, huh?"

"Yeah, you're right."

"I know, I always am."

He rolled his eyes and took a sip off of her coffee, eyes snapping up to the door as Hannah entered, holding hands with someone who definitely looked older than the college guy she had let on that she was seeing. Adam managed not to choke but stood up from the table, walking around to hug his sister as if he hadn't seen her this morning already.

Seeming as if she wasn't nervous about this at all, she introduced them both to Cody, who was definitely a little intimidated about meeting the family. They all sat down at the table and Lindsay glanced around at the three of them, knowing that she would have to be the one to break the ice here.

"So Cody, do you have a record?"

"Huh? What? No!"

Hannah slapped her hand to her face while Adam groaned and Lindsay tried to hold back her laugh.

"Sorry, I had to address the elephant in the room. Everyone relaxed now? Good."

"Linds, you're horrible," Hannah chuckled, reaching over for Cody's hand.

"I do what I can."

They slipped into small talk while they ordered, and before long, Adam and Cody were deep into a conversation about the latest news in the NHL, and Hannah was wrinkling her nose in distaste. She was no more of a hockey fan than Lindsay was.

"So how did you two meet?" Lindsay asked, after the waiter had topped off her coffee.

"He's the lead nurse at the assisted living place I've been volunteering at. I was serving breakfast one morning and spilled coffee all over my hand and he cleaned it up and gave me some Tylenol and the rest is history I guess."

Lindsay smiled and raised an eyebrow, silently asking for more information.

"He knows about the last few years with me. And I would say he doesn't care, because it doesn't make him think less of me or anything like that, but really, he does care. He cares a lot. He knows it's a big deal and he knows it's something I struggle with and I'm trying to get better and he supports that. It's not a non-issue and I think that's important."

"It is. You look happy, Han."

"I am. He's helped me see that I was happy before him. He doesn't make me happy, he just adds to it. It's like all these things I thought about relationships and what's healthy are kind of being thrown out because I realize it's so much more."

"It is. I'm still learning some of those things too. It's kind of exciting when you discover once again just how much someone loves you."

"It still happens after all these years?"

"All the time. You know, he still wakes me up in the middle of the night sometimes to tell me he loves me. I never thought it would be like that?"

"Yeah. It's like I can't wait for tomorrow. I know it's going to be so good because we'll be right there together."

"Doesn't take very long to fall in love sometimes, does it?"

"Nope."

They smiled and Lindsay glanced over at her husband, feeling that familiar bubbling of emotion in her chest, like her body itself was surprised at how much she loved him, how much he loved her, how lucky they had gotten by chance and happenstance to find each other. She reached over for his hand and gave it a squeeze, just to remind him that she was still right there with him. He squeezed back and she smiled to herself, excited for tomorrow and everything else that lay ahead.

"He's old."

"Adam."

"I mean, he's not that old, but he's a lot older than her!"

"It's only seven years. You're four years older than me and I am infinitely more mature, I'm sure they're about even."

"That is not cool, Mrs. Ross," Adam huffed, parking the car and shutting it off.

"Besides, they have a lot in common and they both seem really happy, don't they?"

"They do," Adam agreed. "Believe me I'm in almost full support of this but seven years just seems like a lot, doesn't it?"

"Maybe, but does it really matter?"

He shrugged that they stepped on the elevator to head up to the lab.

"It matters a little."

"Why?"

"Because they're in different stages of life. She's not even done with college and he's already pretty established in his career. What if she graduates and her new life doesn't mesh with his?"

"Then they figure it out. They make it work. Just like we do when something comes up. If they want to be together, then they'll make everything fall in line with that."

"I just want her to be more carefree for a while, you know? She's been through so much."

"He helps her with that you know."

"Why are you always right?"

"That's what you signed up for babe."

He rolled his eyes as they entered Jo's office.

"Morning," she greeted from somewhere behind her stack of post-its and index cards.

"Hey Jo. Do you think age gaps make any difference in a relationship?"

"Not much, unless it matters to the people in the relationship. Why?"

"Because Adam's baby sister is dating a guy seven years older and poor Adam is a little hung up on that fact."

"I'm not hung up on it," Adam defended. "It's just a little different than I was expecting, that's all. I'm good with it now. Stop giving me that look."

"Fine, fine," she grinned, giving his hand a squeeze before settling down in the chair opposite the desk. "What time does court start?"

"Eleven," Jo and Adam answered in unison, while Adam looked at his watch, then pointedly at Jo who was more than likely going to make them rush to get there on time.

"I'm almost ready," she sighed, swiping her hair out of her face. "I can't find my phone."

"The one in your hand?"

She swore and glanced down at the phone, then shook her head.

"Am I getting old or have I always been like this?"

"You've always been like this," Lindsay assured. "Do you have case notes for me?"

"Uh… oh yes, here. See, sometimes I'm organized!" she answered, victoriously handing over the manila folder full of their current case file. "That should catch you up, I've got Haskins and Eller finishing up with the last box of evidence and I sent Heath out with Flack to follow up on some leads. Probably should call everyone into the conference room in an hour or two."

"Okay, thanks Jo."

She wandered out of the office with her nose buried in the file, retreating to her own desk where she could spread out the file and really begin to read it. The case had begun during her weekend, and she spent the next hour getting caught up with all that had been worked on and looked at so far. Another case of love run afoul, and it seemed like another one that would be temporarily filed into the recesses of her mind, then never to be thought of again. Could it be that somehow murder had become so commonplace that it was boring? Was it time for a change?

"So, what do you think?" Hannah asked, watching as Adam sat down in her desk chair and handed her a bowl of ice-cream. The question was pointed yet without prelude and he mildly considered avoiding it for the time being, running her around with different subjects until she frustratedly gave up.

"Hannah, are you happy?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Then I like him."

"Adam…"

"I liked him anyway Hannah. I really did. He's smart, respectful, has ambitions, compassion. He's a good guy. And while I don't like the thought of my baby sister being old enough to have a serious relationship, I'm glad it's with someone who cares about you so much."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. You're happy and healthy and that's all I want for you. He's helping you to stay that way, so there aren't any concerns from me."

"Okay good. He liked you guys too. So maybe I can have him over for dinner soon?"

"Of course."

She nodded and started in on her ice-cream, then flicked her eyes back up at him, questioning look on her face.

"What?"

"How serious is this, out of curiosity?"

She swallowed hard, furrowing her brow and trying to put it into words.

"It's pretty serious. And it happened really fast. But it's not going to a legally serious place anytime soon."

"So you've talked about that?"

"It's hard not to. Right now when I think about my future, he's in it. We have similar goals, and we have talked in depth about how to accomplish those things. We both fit with what each other wants, and it all feels very safe and… I don't know, a little bit perfect. But we're both aware that things could change, so we're kind of letting it happen how it happens and going from there. I still have a lot to work on and he's very patient."

"Any time you start entertaining the idea of eloping, you remember this look on my face."

"Hey mister, I have it on good authority that you and Lindsay almost eloped a month before your actual wedding."

"What? Who told you that?"

"Austin did."

"That is good authority," he muttered, shaking his head. "But the point is, we didn't do it. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I just… I want to be there when you get hitched, alright?"

"Promise."

"Good."

They finished their sundaes in near silence, save for Hannah's giggling. He'd never seen her this giddy before, not even when she was young. He never wanted it to go away.

"Hey," he started, reaching over for her hand. "You know you make me proud every day?"

"I do?"

"Absolutely. Always have, even when… I just want you to know that who you are is more important to me than what you do. And anything that brings out the real Hannah, I'm a big fan of that. It's nice to see her back."

She smiled and reached out for a hug, sighing when he held her as tightly as he used to when she was little.

"I know things have been stressful the last few months and I know part of that is because of me, but I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me. I don't know what I would have done."

"You'll never have to wonder, okay? We'll always be here. Good times, bad times, whatever."

"I know. And I'll be here for you guys too, okay? I can't do as much as you have, but I'll still be here if you need me."

"Thanks Han. I'll let you get back to work," he said, standing up and motioning to her homework. "But sundaes again next week?"

"Yes. Thanks Adam."

"You're welcome Squirt."

He took their dishes up to the kitchen and rinsed them, smiling at the joy that she was radiating, feeling not quite so old after all.