N/A: Sorry for the inactivity, I had a rough holiday period. Considering if I want to write my last few plot points or just wrap this up as-is in a few chapters and an epilogue. Either way, expect a lot of cuddling that is all I want right now, and I need the escapism truth to be told I write for myself ok I will stop rambling now.

Aaron had been expecting a lazy day around the hotel rooms on Christmas Eve Eve. Instead, the children had gotten the idea to go snowboarding, and Idina had encouraged him to take them alone. Falling was not the best idea for his wife, and someone had to look after the triplets.

"Walk wants to do something with you," she grinned at him between gentle kisses. In their bedroom, whispering about how they might go about this, Idina snuggled into her husband's embrace. "You two should have a relationship outside of me. You're all he has now."

Aaron nodded solemnly, thinking of the way his stepson... no son, had looked over at him with bright eyes and a wide toothy grin as he had announced that Aaron could take them, and mommy could watch the babies. "Will you be fine by yourself?"

"Yeah," she said, "plus either my mom or Cara might come over for a bit, so I won't be alone. But that is something we have to work on too," she added. "I need to be alone sometimes, no matter how much I want you around." She kissed his cheek, then stroked it with her hand.

Aaron places his over hers and smiled. "I'll take good care of the two of them."

"Of course, you will, you're their dad."

Something broke in Aaron. He hugged his wife tight, closing his eyes and holding her close. He felt her start to shake, and he comforted her. "It's okay, love," he said. "Honey, shhh, it's okay."

Idina nodded, not making a sound as he stroked her arm. "Thinking it and saying it out loud are two different things," she muttered. "You are Walk's dad now. Taye's not. That's that." She nodded to herself, staring past her husband.

Aaron pulled her close again. "I'll do my best," he promised. "For Walk and you."

"I'm sorry," Idina mumbled.

"There's—"

"There is, I'm making this all about me again," Idina said.

"You're—"

She cut him off again, not wanting to hear any of it. "I'm okay," she said to herself. "Don't let me get in between you and Walker, 'Kay? Put the kids' needs before me. I know it's hard," she said with a smirk, not looking at him. "I'm irresistible. An absolute bombshell." She chuckled.

"You are," Aaron replied, smiling. "I won't, you've given me your blessing now."

Idina made puppy eyes and hugged him, sighing deeply. "I'm so sorry if I ruined something for you and Walker," Idina told him solemnly. "If I could go back I would."

Aaron sighed, rubbing her arm. "You're not at fault, Chickadee," he replied. "And we cannot change the past, we can just change the future. You've come a long way and I'm so proud of you."

She nodded along. "I know, but again I'm sorry if I hurt you. I did those things, no matter what was going on. I'm responsible for my actions."

Arron's lips flickered upwards in a millisecond smile. "Thank you," he said.

"What do I say to Walk?"

Aaron shrugged. "Honestly, I do not know."

"Yeah... me neither," she replied.

There was a knock on their door. "Aaron, are you ready to go?" Walker asked. "I don't have snow pants, but I googled, and we can rent some, but we've got to go now, or they'll all be gone and also it won't be busy either..." he continued talking to the door until Aaron opened, dressed and ready to go.

Walker rushed in, pushing past him towards his mother.

"Bye mommy!" he said. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked while giving her a big hug.

"Yes pumpkin," she said, kissing him. "I'm going to have some time with Grandma and Auntie Cara."

Walker nodded along. "I'm going to have more fun than you will," he informed her, making her chuckle.

"I'm sure you will. You, Aaron, and Erika are going to have a blast today."

"Mhm, are you gonna be okay without me?"

"I will try to manage," Idina chuckled. "But just in case, I'm going to build up my kiss store!" she said, hugging him and kissing his cheek. He squirmed and giggled, trying to get away from her as she tickled him.

"No! Mommy!" he shrieked. "Aaron, help me."

Aaron chuckled sheepishly, not moving at first, unsure where he fit. Where they wanted him to fit. He sat on the foot of the bed, then leaned over tickled his wife.

"Aaron!" she giggled, swatting at him playfully. "Help me," she teased.

~

"Ah, Aaron! Help."

He looked up. Walker and Erika were on the bunny hill, trying to get down controlled while an instructor monitored them.

"Toes up!" the instructor told Walker.

The boy smiled and waved at Aaron, who waved back.

"Aaron," Erika said, second before running into him. "Sorry," she said quickly as he caught her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, steadying herself.

Arms around him, she looked up, eyes gleaming. "I almost have it, did you see?"

He nodded, grinning just as wide. "You're doing so well. Having fun?"

"So. Much," she replied. "Thank you!"

He took one of her hands and pinched the tips of her fingers. "Staying warm? Can you feel all your fingers?"

She nodded, still smiling.

"Look out!" Walked shrieked, before colliding with them.

"Walker!" Erika exclaimed as both of them tumbled to the ground.

Aaron helped them up, the both of them giggling.

"I'm cold," the boy said.

Aaron checked his watch. "Ten more minutes then we can get some hot chocolate?" he offered. They had lessons for the entire morning, then another hour after lunch. The kids had insisted, and he was surprised they had held out this long.

"That's good," Walker replied. "I'm gonna try one more time. You're watching me, right?"

"And filming for mom," he added with a smile.

"Let's go up one more time," Erika said, looking to her brother. "Then hot chocolate." She turned back to Aaron, her face stern, making him smile.

"Course," he said. "I'll pull you guys to the carpet. Don't fall."

He took one hand of each child, then ran back towards the carpet as they giggled.

"Don't fall," he teased as their instructor helped them onto the carpet.

"Bye!" Erika waved, then laughed at something Walker said. They both turned back to wave at him, smiling ear-to-ear.

He felt light, watching them, standing in line with all the other parents who had phones out filming their young children. His children waved again when they were at the top of the hill.

"Film for mom!" Walker called down. "We won't fall this time!"

Aaron held his phone high as they came down. Erika took a slow but steady approach, sliding a few inched then stopping, repeating over and over again. Walker, on the other head, came down in seconds, sliding down fast, then stopping in a cloud of snow, falling on his butt and laughing.

"I did it!" he exclaimed, then looked up the hill. "You're so slow!"

Erika was still close to the top.

"Why don't you go a second time?"

"I want hot chocolate," the boy complained, crossing his arms, and sitting down in a huff.

"Okay," he said, looking back up at Erika. She had her hands out in front of her, focusing on not falling. He smiled, pulling Walker near.

"Aaron, look at me," Erika exclaimed, waving at him before almost losing her balance. "I got it!"

"You're doing good, honey," he replied.

She made it to the bottom, hugging him again. "I'm ready to go in," she said.

"About time," Walker snarked.

"Tone," Aaron reminded him, getting an eye roll in return. The same eye-rolls Idina got.,

"Let's goooooo," the boy whined, pulling on his arm. "Come on."

"Okay, we're coming," Erika said.

Inside the chalet, the kids sat on either side as they drank their hot cocoa and ate their meals.

"Thanks for agreeing to do this," Erika said.

"Myham," Walker said with a mouth full of hot dog.

Aaron pulled them both close. "Love you both," he said, giving them each a kiss.