Camping trip-May

"How could I forget the bug spray?" Elizabeth muttered, slapping her arm at a mosquito. "And flashlights?"

"Its okay, babe," Lucas assured her.

"Mama, I gotta pee," Noa told her. Lucas held out his phone with a flashlight for Elizabeth to use since the flashlights were still in the laundry room at home.

Lucas thought back two weeks to their first OB appointment. It was magical to see his baby's heartbeat on the ultrasound screen. Turns out Elizabeth was 8 weeks pregnant at the appointment and now almost ten weeks. They were given a due date of December 18th.

Elizabeth and Noa walked hand in hand to the porta-potty. It made Elizabeth completely nauseous but it was better than a hole in the ground. She told Lucas when he had suggested the trip that she wouldn't be peeing in a hole. It was non-negotiable.

"Mama?" Noa called from inside the porta-potty.

"Yes, punkin."

"I need toilet paper."

"There isn't any?"

"No, and there's a spider. Its really big!"

Spiders, no toilet paper and a stinky porta-potty. No bug spray and no flashlights. How much worse could it get?

"One second babe. I have a tissue in my pocket." When they were done, Elizabeth was going to insist they go buy the things they needed, including toilet paper.

"Daddy! There was a really really big spider in there! It was icky and we didn't have any toilet paper!"

Lucas looked up at Elizabeth and tried not to smile. She was annoyed and that made her even more beautiful to him.

"We need to go get flashlights, bug spray and toilet paper, Luke."

"We have the light on the phone and just stay close to the fire, the bugs won't bother you."

"And the toilet paper?"

"There are plenty of leaves out here."

"Um, no. I am not…no, not with leaves. May I have the keys? I am just going to run to the store."

He sighed and handed her the keys. "Noa, wanna stay here with me?"

"Okay, Daddy." Noa sat on his lap and snuggled against his chest.

Elizabeth looked down at them, looking cozy by the fire. "Anything else you want me to grab?"

"No, I think we are fine."

She found a small convenience store down the road a few miles. She grabbed a first aid kit, a flashlight with batteries, a package of toilet paper and a can of bug spray. Then she thought that they might need some wet wipes to clean their hands. When all was said and done, she may have bought too many things but she didn't want to be without them.

When she arrived back at the campsite, she heard Noa singing a song, Lucas humming in the background. It was a sweet little thing to see, especially when Noa kissed his cheek and giggled.

"Hi, there."

"Mommy!" Noa waved.

"Wow, babe. How much did you buy?"

"I only got the essentials."

He chuckled as she took out a 3 Musketeers bar. "Essentials?"

"Yep. I had a craving for chocolate. So it was necessary."

"Fair enough." He watched her eat the candy bar, staring at the fire, a far away look in her eyes. "Beth, I'm sorry if you're not enjoying yourself. I thought it might be fun."

"I'm sorry, Luke. I thought it might be too…but I think my hormones are making me moody."

"What are hormones?" Noa asked, poking a stick in the fire as she leaned back against Lucas, her eyes getting droopy.

"Something that you don't have to worry about for a few years, honey bun," Lucas told her with a smirk.

"I will try to be more positive," Elizabeth told him. "After I get back from the yucky porta-potty that is."

She put the batteries in her new flashlight, grabbed a roll of Charmin's finest and walked away, shivering at the slight cool breeze.

A few moments later, she found Lucas sitting alone by the fire. "Where's punkin?"

"Asleep in the tent." He stared up at her and patted the ground in front of him. "Wanna join me?"

She really did. They had never gone camping before together and sitting by a warm fire with her very cute husband sounded perfect.

She snuggled back into his chest as she reclined between his legs. "Mm. This is good."

"Yeah."

"Next time we go camping, let's rent a camper."

He chuckled and kissed her jaw and ear and then moved down to her neck. "Whatever you say, Beth."

"I mean, chances are, the next time we will have a baby with us too."

"Mm," he said distractedly.

"Babe?"

"Mm?" he asked, continuing his exploration of her neck.

"I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her cheek and then settled back, holding her as close to him as he could.

"If we have a little boy," she told him. "I think we should call him Lucas."

"I'm not sure. I think he should have his own identity. You know?"

"I think it would be so sweet. A little cuddly baby Lucas."

"You have me. I'm cuddly."

She giggled and kissed his cheek. "You're right. You are."

"We can keep Lucas on the list but we should keep looking."

"Mommy!" Noa yelled.

Elizabeth stood up and walked over the tent, unzipping it. "What is it, punkin?"

"Mommy! I had a bad dream!"

"Oh, sweetie."

"Can I have Daddy too? You and Daddy? It was really bad."

Lucas stood up and walked over, both of them crawling into the large tent and laying down with Noa. "Tell us, baby girl. What was it about?"

"A cat ate Janette! Ate her! Isn't that mean?"

Elizabeth stifled her smile and kissed Noa's curls. "So mean."

"Bluey got away because he's so fast…but Janette is slow. She needs to go on a diet."

Elizabeth giggled, peeking at Lucas.

"Oh gosh, Noa Faith. You are the best."

"I know. I can't help it," she said, shrugging.

….

The rest of the camping trip went off without a hitch, they celebrated Noa's sixth birthday by taking her and a few of her friends to the San Diego zoo. Before they knew it, the school year was done and Noa was officially a first grader and really excited to be a big sister.

Elizabeth started to see a baby bump and her morning sickness pretty much went away.

One day in early July, a few days before they were supposed to fly to New York for a month, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Noa yelled.

"Wait for me, punkin!" Elizabeth yelled back. When she got to the door, she opened it and Noa squealed.

"Auntie Janette! You're back! I'm so excited. Did you know I'm six?"

Noa squeezed Janette's waist and jumped up and down. "Hi, Noa girl. Its so good to see you."

"Come in, Janette. Do you have bags?"

"No. I'm just stopping by before I head up to LA. I have some news. Is Luke here?"

"He's in his office working. He should be done in about an hour. Would you like some tea?"

"I would love some, yes."

"Auntie Janette? Will you have a tea party with me? With crowns and boas and everything?"

"I will, but I need to talk to Mommy and Daddy for a few minutes."

"Okay." Noa scampered off to her room, presumably to play with her hamsters so Elizabeth and Janette chatted on the couch.

"So how are things here?" Janette asked, noticing the maternity shirt Elizabeth was wearing.

"I'm pregnant," she said, confirming.

"Oh, Beth. That's wonderful. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I can't wait to meet him or her."

"Janette? Hi, how are you?" Lucas said, walking in the room. Janette stood and hugged him and then sat back down.

"I'm good. I just wanted to stop in and tell you my news."

"Great. We are all ears," Lucas said, sitting next to Elizabeth and putting his arm around her.

"I met someone in Milan and we got married."

"Married?" Lucas asked, in shock. He never ever thought that Janette, the world traveler, the model who dated for fun would get married.

"Yes. About a month ago."

"So, are you going to live there?" Elizabeth asked, curious. "Or is he going to move here?"

"Here, where?" Janette laughed. I don't have a home base. I haven't for a long time. I'm definitely going to be living in Milan when I'm not on location."

"Wow."

"That's the only reaction I get from you?" she asked, punching Lucas' arm. "Come on. I want to know what you think."

"I think that there must be more to the story. You never wanted to get married. You date a new guy in every place you go."

"Not any more. People can change, Bouchard."

"I know…but what's the catch?"

"Lucas…" Elizabeth scolded softly.

"Seriously, Beth. You haven't known her as long as I have. This is very unlike Janette."

"Tell us about him," Elizabeth prompted. "Tall, dark and handsome?"

"He is. His name is Giovanni Romano. He's 45 and so successful."

Lucas rolled his eyes and snorted.

"You know what, Lucas? I didn't roll my eyes at you when you decided to date Elizabeth or jump right into parenthood and marriage. I supported you the whole way. I wanted you to be happy. Why can't you do the same for me?"

"I'm sorry, Janette, but 45 years old? You're not even 30."

"So? Since when does age matter when you're not a teenager anymore?"

"It doesn't."

"But…"

"But is the guy looking for money?"

"What? He has more money than I do. Didn't you hear me say he was successful? I can't believe how much of a jerk you are being." Janette stood up and looked at Elizabeth, her arms out. "I'm going to go. Can you apologize to Noa for me and let her know I had to leave?"

"Did you promise her, Janette?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, but I really don't want to be around you right now."

"If you promised Noa, you need to keep it. I will leave the room. Don't break my daughter's trust in you."

"Fine. You leave, I'll wait for Noa here."

Lucas left the room and Elizabeth immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what is going through his head right now."

"Its fine."

"Are you happy with Giovanni, Janette?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then I'm happy for you."

Elizabeth watched for a moment while Noa and Janette set up their fancy tea party and then she went to find Lucas. It wasn't hard to do. He was in the master bedroom.

She shut the door behind her and put her hands on her hips. "Lucas Bouchard. What was that?"

"What?"

"I have never seen you be rude before. You are always so kind but that…I don't understand what's happening."

"There has to be a catch. She said she would never get married. It was too confining. She hated the thought of being with someone forever. She never wanted children or a husband. Her career was more important."

"Are you saying that people can't change their minds? That when they find the right person, that their heart can't open and accept a different kind of life?"

"No but…"

"Don't you love Janette? Like a sister?"

"Yes, but…"

"No buts…Lucas, if you care about her at all, you should support her. She's happy and she found someone to share her life with. Its not fair for you to treat her like you did."

"Yeah, you're right. I do love her and I want her to be happy."

He sighed, got up, kissed Elizabeth's cheek and went out to the living room.

He watched the tea party antics for a moment and then he walked over. "May I talk to you, Janette?"

"If you sit down right there and wear this and this," she told him, handing him a pink boa and a glittery crown.

"You want me to sit on that little chair?"

"Yep. Tea party it up, Bouchard or no chat."

Noa giggled and then giggled more when her very tall Daddy wore a boa and a crown and sat down in a tiny chair.

"You look silly, Daddy."

"Thanks, baby." He looked at Janette who had a smug look on her face, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm sorry, Janette. It wasn't fair for me to say the things I said."

"No, it wasn't."

"I really just want to protect you and I guess I went overboard."

"Protect me? Lucas, I travel all over the world and make my own way and I have for years. Why would I need you to protect me?"

"I don't know…that's just the way I reacted. I don't want you to get hurt and I don't know this guy."

"Giovanni."

"Right. Giovanni. I don't know him and it just seemed out of the blue. That's all."

"It wasn't out of the blue. I've been to Milan about six times in the last year to see him and stay with him and he has traveled with me all over Europe. We talk every day we aren't together and I love him, Lucas. Very much."

"Okay."

"It isn't your job to protect me," she said softly. "But thank you."

He stood up and pulled her up into his arms. Just for a moment. "I love you, Janette. I'm happy for you."

"I love you too, idiot," she said, punching his arm again.

"Ow!" Lucas said, rubbing his arm.

Noa giggled again. "Who is Gio…Giovanni?"

"He's my husband. He's from Italy," Janette told her.

"Ooooo is he a prince? His name sounds like he is."

"He's not a prince but he treats me like a queen."

"That's good," Lucas said with a wink, walking off to the kitchen.

"Nice look," Elizabeth said as he walked over to her, still sporting the boa and crown.

"Thanks. I think I can pull it off."

"Absolutely. So, did you make up?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Now, can you please go double check the suitcases? I need to know I didn't forget anything."

"Kiss first?"

She reached up and kissed his cheek.

"That's all I get?"

"Suitcase, then you'll get more."

"Wow, the women in this house sure are bossy."

She smacked his butt as he turned and laughed.

"And violent. Geez."

"Oh come here." She pulled him back and gave him a deep, breath-stealing kiss.

"Mm. Perfect. Now I'll go."