A/N: Jim and Melinda are enjoying their day together, realizing that even if their children are growing up (Katie's an adult and in college, Aaron's starting to date and ugh Mackenzie is almost to double digits), they still have time to enjoy each other and their new baby. Enjoy xx Mariah

Ages:

Jim — 47
Melinda — 43
Ned — 21
Katie — 18
Aaron — 14
Mackenzie — 9
Lana — 4 months

When Melinda woke up, she discovered that she was cocooned in the blankets. She took a moment to enjoy the warmth given off by the fluffy comforter around her before she rolled over, taking in the sleeping profile of her husband.

They'd been married over twenty years, but it was still hard to get a weekend moment like this. Especially in the morning. Usually, Jim was off to work, but he'd switched some shifts around so they could have the whole day together.

She had to press her lips together at the last second to keep a giggle from escaping, but she just couldn't help herself. They rarely ever slept with anything but the base sheet and a thick comforter on their bed. Having the comforter wrapped around her own body, it left Jim's chest bare as a result. He was sleeping on his stomach, his naked body exposed to the cool morning air.

Now laughing so hard that her giggles were shaking the bed, Melinda couldn't help herself anymore. The shaking of the bed stirred Jim from his sleep, and she reached out, and his cheek as he slowly began to wake up. He gave her that adorable half-awake smile once he was woken up a little more and remembered that he was lying in bed next to her.

The smile widened even further when he saw that she had the blankets wrapped around her body, while he had none. "Hmm," he murmured as he reached out and playfully tugged at the corner of the comforter. "I seem to remember falling asleep with the blankets covering both of us last night."

She ducked her head as a blush formed on her cheeks. "I have no idea how this happened," she fibbed, even though she totally knew how it had occurred.

Melinda was a complete and total blanket hog. Even when she was in bed by herself, she often woke up with the blankets wrapped around her like a thick cocoon.

There was a knowing look in Jim's eyes, he knew how often she'd steal the blankets, but he never said anything. He slowly moved the blanket from around her body and slipped underneath it. He drew her into his arms, his hands spreading across her waist as he cradled her in his arms.

She giggled as his cool skin pressed against hers. "You're a little cold," she complained, even though there was no real annoyance to her words.

Jim ducked his head into the crook of her neck and kissed the delicate skin there. "I can think of a few ways that we can warm up."

"I need to go check on the baby soon," she whispered, glancing over at the clock. "Lana needs to eat soon. I haven't fed her since she woke up at seven."

He nodded, leaning in to kiss her neck. "I miss this," he said. "I miss just us, but I love our family don't get me wrong."

"I know," she whispered, smiling slightly. "I miss just us sometimes too."

It was a Sunday. A blissful Sunday. The only day of the week they ever really allowed themselves to lay in bed together in the morning for longer than they should.

They weren't taking it for granted, of course, when their other children had been babies, it had been different. Both of them were so constantly exhausted that they just slept wherever, and whenever they could. But now that Katie was an adult and Aaron was a teenager, things were easier.

They just had Mackenzie and Lana to worry about, most of the time. And for Jim, sleeping in meant little more than staying in bed past five in the morning.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked her.

She smiled and leaned down to kiss his temple. "Just our crazy life together," she whispered.

He propped himself up on his elbow, rubbing his eyes with his other hand. "Are you ready for another forty or maybe even fifty crazy years together?"

"Well yeah, it's in the vows you know," she said smugly.

He slid close to her and began to nuzzle her collarbone, "Mmm I thought I read something about that in there," he slid the straps of her nightgown down her arm and began placing gentle kisses across her collarbone.

"Jim–" she half-groaned, half-gasped as he nipped at her skin.

His smile was innocent, but his eyes were devious, "What… Melinda? Are you worried about the kids? Because I can go check on them right now."

"Don't you dare," she growled.

"Then what is it?" he asked in mock confusion, gently sliding his fingers from the valley between her breasts and down her stomach, pushing her nightgown as he went.

"It's been so long," she whispered, sighing as he got to her navel and spent just a few extra seconds admiring the stretch marks there. He always did on days like today. On the days she'd given him their children. "With the baby and the kid's schedules…"

He chuckled against her hipbone and then slid her nightgown off the rest of the way and tossed it over his shoulder. He leaned back to press his mouth against her and chuckled when he found she was already ready for him.

Jim spent a few heart-pounding minutes there, bringing her right to the edge where he wanted her before he slid back up and met her lips with a kiss. "It has only been a week, Mellie, and who would have thought you'd be so insatiable at forty-three."

Something in his voice alone made her toes curl in anticipation as he slid inside her. "You should know by now," she giggled, leaning up to kiss his throat and content with him this close to her, and right where she wanted him. "I want you as much as you want me."

"Oh, I knew," he breathed out as his hips slowly started to move, making her gasp and squeeze his forearm. "Just wasn't expecting it today." There was a knock on the door and they both groaned. It was a little after ten, so any of the kids could be up. "That must be Aaron. He wants me to bring him to the mall."

"For what?" She asked, hooking her leg in place just as he tried to move out of bed. "No, don't... not yet baby."

His eyes told her it hurt him just as much as her to want to pull away, but she let him as he moved out of bed and pulled his pants on. "He didn't say," Jim shrugged as leaned back in and kissed her. "I'm sorry, but I promised him. I'll get you later, I promise." He ran toward the door and opened it. "Hey bud, I'm getting dressed and I'll bring you to the mall. What's the hurry?"

"Just meeting a girl there. I don't want to be late," Aaron said, only his voice heard because her husband stood with the door half-open. "She's on her way there now. We're just gonna walk around together."

"Oh, yeah? What girl?" He asked, glancing back at Melinda, who'd gotten up and was starting to get dressed.

"Lucy Federman and we're just talking, okay mom?" Aaron said and footsteps echoed in the hallway as he walked away.

Jim was already laughing as he closed the door, ducking as he heard her slipper come flying at him.

"You do remember what day it is, right?" she asked as she walked across the room to him. She'd pulled on a cotton t-shirt and an old pair of good jeans. She ran her hand across his bare chest and through the streaks of his salt and peppered hair.

"Of course I do!" he replied defensively. After a moment's consideration, he looked down at her and grinned widely, "How could I forget the day that we learned Aaron was just talking to Lucy Federman? You hurt me."

"Oh, shut up." She slid past him, opening the door.

"Mel, I would die before I forget one of our kids' birthdays." He said, following her out into the hallway.

"We don't joke about things like that in this house," she chided him, stopping him. "Go get dressed. I'm just going to feed Lana and get her ready. Then I'm gonna go see the birthday girl."

"You think I'm joking?" He asked.

"Jim..." she began.

"Okay. I'm just going to go downstairs and put the cinnamon rolls I prepped last night in the oven. You know how much Mack loves those," he interrupted her, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. "If you still want to talk about the girl situation with Aaron, we can once they're done."

Melinda nodded, biting her lip. There was no point in talking now. There were rare times that Jim avoided talking about things, but that usually meant he really didn't want to talk about them.

She headed toward the nursery, creeping in to see that four-month Lana was just waking up from when she'd fallen back asleep this morning. "Hi Lana-banana…" she cooed, picking up her daughter and cradling her in her arms.

She had lost track of time in taking care of her sweet baby girl, Lana. She fed, changed, and burped her, just walking into the hallway with her, when she heard Mackenzie and Jim's laughter.

"What the hell is this?" Jim chuckled. "In your boxers, really Ned? Couldn't you have put some clothes on?"

Across the hall, Ned had stumbled out of the bathroom in his boxer-shorts, hair sticking up all over the place. "Sorry. Katie's in the one downstairs, so I just booked it up here. She said something about it being too early for me to see her puking yet," he said blearily, staring at Jim and then Mackenzie. "Oh, happy Birthday Mack."

"Thanks, Ned." Mackenzie giggled, shaking her head at him. "Nice chicken legs."

Jim was standing there, holding a plate of cinnamon buns and a glass of orange juice that was for Mackenzie. "At least you two are having fun on your spring break," he shrugged. "Happy birthday, little fish."

"Thanks, daddy!" Mackenzie said happily. "Those look so good..."

"Hey, Ned. Party hard?" Melinda laughed, bouncing Lana in her arms.

"A little too hard," Ned groaned, walking down the stairs. "But Katie is way worse off than I am."

"Tell her I'll come check on her in a little bit." Melinda walked across the hall and over to embrace Mackenzie. "Happy birthday, my little peanut," she smiled into her forehead, kissing her skin.

"Thanks, mama," Mackenzie grinned and hugged her tightly, smiling at her baby sister.