Idina kept checking the triplet's cheeks every few minutes, making sure they weren't getting frostbitten. Day two was walking around the city. Aaron had dressed her up, tucking her hair underneath a hat and using a large scarf to obscure her face. It seemed pointless. With the children, especially the babies, they'd draw attention, and someone would think about that celebrity who had triplets, and wow those two kids' kind of look like hers... and then they'd have paparazzi and fans following them around.

"Just walk normally," Aaron said. "No one cares what you're doing unless you're acting suspiciously. It's too cold for people to care," he said, teasing her a bit, then kissing her nose. "Healthy puppy," he said. Her nose was cold, and she grinned up at him.

They were going to drop Walker off with his grandparents, then they were going to see about leaving the triplets with her dad. Idina was not yet sold on that idea as she wasn't sure how they would react to being alone with a relative stranger in a place they'd only be once, but she wanted some special time with Erika too, who was a few paces behind them, talking to Walker.

They dropped the boy off at his grandparents' first. He waved bye to them with a large smile and bright eyes, easing Idina a small bit. He had his phone, and he knew to call. Besides, she'd left him with his grandparents' countless times and nothing despicable had happened. They needed to start doing normal things now. No more blackmailers or court battles. It was okay to trust people now. Sending children off to spend the afternoon with their grandparents' was a regular, routine thing many Americans did. A routine she used to do too, whenever she was in the city.

She took her daughter's hand in hers as they walked to the subway to go out to her father's. It would be nice to see her dad again. She didn't see her family as much as she ought to now. It had been easier when she was travelling, she could pop in every few months. Now she'd barely left her house all year, let alone the state.

Aaron wrapped an arm around her waist. He had two babies strapped to him. It was snowing, fascinating the triplets who kept reaching out for the little sparkling flecks falling from the sky, and frowned when they walked below ground.

"Can you take one of the boys?" Idina asked Erika. While Aaron was careful, but on a crowded subway, having a baby hanging off your back like a backpack that gets smacked and tossed around, she was not willing to take a chance.

Erika nodded.

"Take Zephie," Idina said, "Just hold him in your arms, it's a short ride," she instructed, handing the teen her youngest brother. Zephyr would be more comfortable being held anyway.

"Mama," the baby said with a bit of a pout, reaching towards Aaron, making him chuckle a little bit. Idina scowled at him.

"It's dada little one," Aaron told the baby, kissing his forehead. "You're going to be super safe with Erika."

Zephyr babbled, disgruntled as Erika rocked him and kissed his chubby little cheek.

"Look at her facial expression," Aaron whispered to his wife.

"Huh?" Idina asked, confused.

"She looks like you when she interacts with the triplets. Her lip curls the same way yours does."

"Okay..." Idina trailed off, waiting for him to explain it to her.

"She's copying how you express yourself."

"Is that bad?"

"No, it's good. She didn't know how she was supposed to act around the babies and she watched you, now she's mimicking that. That's how children often get mannerism of their parents or their idols."

Idina smiled and nodded. She looked down to Lucinda, who had fallen asleep in her carrier. Her lips were in a small pout, reticent of how Aaron looked while he slept. Little mini uses, she thought, taking her husband's hand. Us. She liked that word. And family.

~

At her father's, Idina sat on the stool on the island. Her father had dragged out some old baby cots he'd been keeping, and all three triplets were snoozing. Idina had first let them alone with her dad and walked to the kitchen, keeping quiet. After a half-hour of no crying, she figured they would be okay for the afternoon.

"Thanks, Dad," she said as she sipped on a cup of hot coffee.

Aaron was standing beside her, arm around her waist. Erika was sitting across the island from them, icing the cookies Idina's father had asked her to. She was doing it meticulously, as she did everything, making neat designs with the pastel colours. Idina was glad her father was trying to be a grandfather to Erika, and that he was listening to them about not pushing her. Especially after Aaron's mom, Erika needed a good grandparental figure, even if it was just for sweets and gifts.

She pulled Aaron a bit closer, feeling cold.

"So, what's your plan for the rest of the day?" her dad asked.

"We're going to do some sightseeing wither Erika, then pick Walker up for supper. Aaron has something planned for tonight but he's not telling me what. We should be back by eleven though," she said, looking up to Aaron for confirmation. He gave nothing away. "Maybe eleven-thirty?"

"That's fine," Stuart said.

"And I've left diapers, toys, all for that in the room," she reminded him. "But if you need anything there's a spare room key too, or just let us know and we'll bring it over." She slid him a piec3e of aper. "These are all the precautions you have to take with Zephyr. He's doing a lot better, but he's not fully healed yet and I'd rather be a bit overprotective than let this affect him later in life."

"I've raised children before," Stuart reminded her.

"Right, sorry," she mumbled, looking down. She was starting to feel off again. Gripping the cup, her knuckles were white.

Aaron was rubbing her back now, seeming to have noticed it. She tried to focus on his hand, but after the initial calmness of knowing he was there, the feeling came back, stronger. Shaking her head, Idina squeezed her eyes shut and pressed herself into her husband's side trying to make everything go away.

Her breath caught and she felt dizzy.

Not now, she pleaded to herself as Aaron wrapped her in a hug.

~

Stuart watched as his daughter disintegrated before him. One moment she'd been talking, the next she was shaking, struggling to breathe. His son-in-law hugged her, and Stuart walked forward to comfort Idina but was quickly pushed away by Aaron.

Stuart was about to scold him when he noticed that his daughter had one arm clinging to Aaron's sleeve, and the other had a strained hand pushed the air backwards in his direction. He took a few steps back and the motions slowed. The chair beneath her wobbled a bit, but Aaron was holding her tight.

For a second, he wondered why Aaron didn't just tell Idina to snap out of it, instead opting to caress her and whisper in her ear. Taye had always been quick on that, it had curbed most breakdowns when they'd been married. Then their conversation from yesterday started rattling around when Idina had gotten herself sidetracked listing everything she loved about her second husband. No yelling. He helps me through the rough patches instead of forcing me out. Even if I'm panicking about nothing, he still tells me my feelings are valid. I love him, daddy.

Stuart was seeing this in action.

Aaron had a hand on her cheek, encouraging her to look at him. She was, doing her best to maintain eye contact as her chest heaved. She closed her eyes, trying to hold a breath then cough when her lungs protested and Aaron kissed her forehead and nodded, and soon she was staring at him intently again. It was like the universe didn't exist except for Idina and her needs.

Before his eyes, Idina stopped shaking and Aaron whipped a few stray tears off her cheek.

"Sorry," Idina mumbled, sounding exhausted as she rested her head on her husband's chest. "I think that was waiting to happen since we arrived."

"Don't be sorry, Chickadee," he said, using a pet name Stuart hadn't heard before. Idina's lips curled upwards when he said it. His tone was soft as one arm lay loosely around her hip and the other was rubbing and support her back.

"I just need a moment," she mumbled to no one in particular, her eyes closing and face turning slack.

Erika, who he hadn't realized had moved, handed Aaron a glass of water. He whispered a quiet thanks and helped Idina take a small sip.

"Take all the time you need," he whispered into her hair and kissing the top of her head.

Idina was taking deep, long breaths, trying to calm a racing heart. She still had a hand clenched onto her husband's sleeve.

Stuart watched as the colour slowly came back to her flushed cheeks and her breathing evened.

"I think I'm okay now," she said, sitting up a bit straighter, but making no indication she wanted Aaron to move.

"Wait another minute, honey," Aaron said and Idina nodded, her motion still slow.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

One more minute turned into a few, then Idina's hand went slack and fell into her lap.

"Oh," Aaron said, staring at the sleeping woman, absolutely starstruck. He brushed some of her hair out of her face and kissed her again. Suddenly realizing he was being watched, he turned to Stuart. "I think she's asleep," he said.

Stuart nodded. "Is Dina okay?" he asked, daring to take a few steps forward.

Aaron nodded. "That was very mild," he said, brushing fingers through her hair while he talked. His tone was so soft and quiet Stuart was amazed at his control and evenness as he spoke. "And she was aware enough to know it was happening, and she did not need a lot of coaching. She was able to let me know what she needed. Idina's doing so well; I am so proud of how hard she's working."

Mild? Very well? Barring seeing his girls in the hospital, that had been the most distressed state he'd ever seen anyone in. And Aaron was standing there, looking like a fool in love, saying it was mild.

His face fell. What would be considered normal? What did a bad one look like?

Stuart looked around to the teen, who had gone back to the cookies, and would occasionally glance in the direction of Aaron and Idina, her expression neutral. His daughter said she was less reserved at home. Idina had nothing but good things to say about the teen. Erika didn't seem overly concerned beyond fetching the glass of water, something Stuart should have known to do. Maybe it was mild?

Idina grunted, bringing everyone's attention back to her. Her face twitched as she woke up. At first, she looked around in confusion until recognition dawned on her face. She leaned but up against Aaron, who took the glass of water off the counter. He held it for a second before handing it to Idina. From the way she kept looking up at him, Stuart couldn't help but feel like they had a secret language. He had not heard Idina mutter a single world while she'd bee under her spell, yet Aaron had said she had communicated all her needs to him.

Taye had once said he felt Idina could use some lessons in communication, that she would just shut down and shut things out and it was impossible to figure out what in hell she wanted.

Apparently, all Aaron needed was a glance. Maybe he had been wrong to be so harsh on the man.