Aaron felt on cloud nine for the rest of the day. The cards the kids had made were put up on the small dresser, and his eyes kept drifting to them as they watched It Is a Wonderful Life, then A White Christmas, all of them tangled in a pile on a double bed. One of the triples let out a small wail.

"I'll get her," Erika said, going over to cribs and picking up Lucinda, who was reaching out for someone.

The baby looked satisfied with herself as she got lifted out of the crib and Erika placed her against her shoulder. She came back to the bed and sat down beside Aaron. The baby kept grabbing at her older sister for a minute, before falling back to sleep with an adorable little smile on her face. Erika kissed the child's cheek.

Idina reached over from the far side of the bed to rub the baby's foot lovingly, giving her husband and son a kiss as she did so. Aaron put his arm around both his daughter and on queue Erika wriggled and bit closer, putting an arm across her stomach.

"We have to go for dinner soon," Idina mumbled to no one, not in the mood to move. She had made a fancy booking at a fancy restaurant where would they wear fancy clothes and eat fancy food.

"I am hungry," Walker said. "Is it just us?" he asked. "Or is Auntie Cara or Grandma or Grandpa coming?"

"Just us," Idina said, making him smile.

Idina was smiling too. Today had been so good, and they had not even gotten to the part of the trip she knew would be the cherry on top: Florida. Erika knew, of course, but she did not know how much fun it would be, and it was going to be a delightful surprise for Walker. And Jane would be back, so Idina could relax a little bit. She had not expected to miss the nanny so much, but she was someone other than Aaron to talk to, someone who had done more research than her on babies and was a bloody superhero.

"How long till the movie's done?" Walker asked.

"Twenty minutes," Aaron said, pausing it to see the time.

"It's a nice place?" Walker asked, referring to their dinner plans.

"Yep," Idina replied. "You'll love it."

He squealed and hugged her. "And I can dress up?"

"We all have to dress up," she groaned.

"Mommy too," he teased.

"Yeah, mommy too.'

"I like this," he said.

"Yeah, I think we all do," she replied.

"I like it," Erika said quietly.

"Can we do this next year?" Walker asked.

"Mhm," she replied. She wanted to do this next month. And every month after. Things were getting better; they could do something close. More family nights, more going out. Idina could do that. And if she could do that, she could go back to work. Wouldn't Walker and Erika love to travel with her? Walker was finally old enough to appreciate museums, events, and excursions, and she knew Erika would enjoy them after this week. Besides, what was the point in all of this if she could not spoil her own children? She might have always wanted to sign and use her voice professionally, but as soon as she had Walker, she had known her purpose in life was to support him and use everything she had built and would build to better his opportunities. And with Erika and the triplets, she wanted to be the provider more than ever.

And Aaron, if she could do that, it would mean he could stay home with the babies. She knew how much he wanted that, and she could not blame him. And he was so good with Erika and Walker, it would be so beneficial for both of them to have him around in that role, not being worried about her.

Aaron leaned over and kissed both his daughters. Poor guy, he was so in love. She smiled, remembering what it was like to stare at baby Walker and be entranced with his mere existence as he gurgled and smiled the way the triplets currently did. Squeezing her not-so-little boy, she sighed and smiled.

The credits started to the role and Idina groaned. Fancy dress, make-up Not a fan. A night out, tasty food, family. The positives outweighed the negatives.

"How much time do we have?" walker asked.

"About two hours," she replied, checking the time. It was later than she thought.

"Can you get ready in that time," he scrutinized, scrunching up his face and staring at her.

"Yes," she said, rolling her eyes. "Can you?'

He harrumphed and crossed his arms, sitting back.

"Don't dish it if you can't take it," Idina teased, making him stick out his tongue and waggle his head. Still a child at heart, for all he tried to act grown.

"Erika, did you bring a dress?" Walker asked.

She nodded. "Idina said to bring one."

"Okay good," he replied. "Because I brought my suit with the blue vest."

She smiled at him, then rubbed Lucinda's back and she exhaled hard, deep in a dream. Her little fists were holding onto the fabric of her sister's shirt and her mouth was slightly open. Idina's heart fluttered, she loved that baby so damn much. She loved them all so damn much. This was not going to be so bad. It was for a couple of days, then they would be in a suite in Disney Land, and any hardships here would be discarded and forgotten.

"Okay, we've got to get up," she muttered. At least, she did.

"Wait," Aaron said.

"Hm?"

He got up and started digging through his suitcase, pulling out a black plastic bag.

"I got this for you for tonight," he replied.

Her heart started beating faster, and the kids were looking on with intent eyes.

"Why now?" she asked, a bit taken back.

"It's more of an 'I love my wife' gift, not a Christmas gift."

"Open it!" Walker said.

She took the back and sat down on the foot of the bed. The children came and sat on either side, eager to see what was in the bag. Aaron took the baby from Erika and placed her back in her crib for a bit more sleep until they had to get up. He kissed two fingers and pressed them to the forehead of each sleeping baby before sitting on the bed with everyone else.

Idina pulled out the tissue paper, then slipped glittering fabric into her lap. Holding it up, it was a gorgeous sequined dress.

"Oh my," she muttered, looking it over. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

It was stunning. A showstopper. Lined with black fabric, and adorned with small rhinestones and gems, it was lighter than it looked. It brushed on the floor.

"Try it on!" Walker said with more excitement than she would have expected.

"You don't have to wear it tonight," Aaron said, "or ever."

She kisses his cheek. "It's stunning," she said.

"I really hope it fits," he said. "It should. I, um," he stuttered, trying to get the words out. Was he nervous or excited? "It was custom, so it should fit," he reiterated.

"I'll go try it on," she said, kissing him again.

She went to the bathroom and looked it over again, her mind flooded with questions. He must have ordered this months ago, if not over a year. She knew the designer; one was lucky if they made a dozen dresses a year. And he must have paid for it out of his personal savings, as Idina would have noticed if the funds had come from their joint account. It was so unexpected and sweet, and grand-gesture-y, which normally was not his style. He was sweet and soft and would hold her and support her, do things. He had never been one for large gifts. She was happy about it; the unsettling part was that this was new.

Was something wrong with that?

If he had ordered it over a year ago, which she suspected he had, it would have been before all for his. Before new things were unsettling. Back she would have been doused in joy and love and feeling like a queen. And he knew that and had taken the risk of giving it to her because he wanted her to have it.

Or you are overthinking this. He is your husband, he loves you, he wanted to buy you something pretty.

It was pretty.

Idina stripped and pulled the glittering dress over her rear end and slipped the straps over her shoulders. Now she would see it was a gorgeous off-the-shoulder gown. Calling it a dress was a disservice. This was a gown. The bodice, while it did not look it, was structured, and fitted. It made everything flat and smooth but was still so comfortable. She stroked the lining, wondering what absurdly expensive fabric it had been made of to be this light and this soft and still holding the structure without tears.

Would it fit when she zipped it up?

She could not reach the zipper.

"I need some help," she called out.

There was some scuffling outside the door.

"No, you can't go," Walker said. "You have to wait."

"We're not getting married," Aaron replied.

"I just need someone to zip the dress up," she said. "Literally anyone."

"You can't go, Aaron," Erika said.

"Guys, seriously," he said, trying unfruitfully to reason with their kids.

"No," Walker said. "Surprise for you. Erika, go."

Idina sighed, a light smile forming on her lips. They were more of then than not on the same page. She hoped they would grow closer as they grew up, hand-in-hand, them against the world when she and Aaron were old. Like she and Cara had been once upon a time. As they still were, when there were no states in between them.

Erika came into Idina awkwardly holding the dress up around her bust.

"The zipper's in the back," she said, and the girl nodded.

Idina held her breath and sucked in her stomach, heart pounding. Fit, she willed it.

She felt Erika's finger brush against her neck as she did up the claps. Idina still held her breath.

"Woah," the girls said.

Startled, Idina exhaled, then looked at herself in the mirror.

"Woah," she echoed.

And - she mover her arms, it fits. It was a bit tight in the bust, which was understandable, but other than that it was perfect. Hugged the curves, even exaggerated them a bit.

The dress came down to her ankles and was gathered near the bodice, so it had some flow to it. It had a fain sweetheart neckline and black tool off-the-shoulder sleeves. They were cut down the front and fell loosely around her elbows.

"That looks very good on you,' Erika said quietly.

Idina smiled and pulled her into a hug, trying to rest her head on the taller girl.'

"Look at us," she said, kissing Erika's cheek. "All grown up."

Erika smiled and hugged her back. "Are you going to wear this tonight?" she asked.

Idina shrugged. "Something's missing."

"You need to brush your hair," Erika said flatly, making Idina snort.

That would drastically improve the look.

"Aaron," she said. "Can you pass me a necklace or two?"

"Which ones?" he asked.

"You choose." He had proven himself ample capable of making that sort of choice tonight.

There was a knock on the door and Erika opened a small crack and took them from Aaron's hand.

Idina held the choice up to her neck, trying to figure out if it was too much or too little.

"Thoughts?" she asked.

Erika watched her for a second and she put one up, then the other.

"Um," she said. "I think the left one. Goes with the dress, but the right one is pretty."

Idina nodded. The thick black velvet and large silver blue pendant did not go with much, but it went with this. The other one, a delicate skinny chain with little gemstones, was not the statement the dress was, but it was certainly a piece she loved.

Idina handed Erika the second necklace, and tied the black velvet around her neck, with her hands making a mock bun on the top of her head.

"That's it," Erika said, nodding.

"Think so," she replied, letting the hair fall.

"You have to brush it at least," her daughter said, blocking the exit when Idina turned to leave.

"Really," she moaned, rolling her eyes.

Erika insisted, handing her a hairbrush. Idina ran it through her hair, catching another glimpse of herself in the small mirror. It made a stark difference. She parted her hair and let the curls fall loosely over her shoulder and down her back, blinking back a few tears. She looked like a movie star, and almost felt like it.

She hugged her daughter, saying: "Keep the necklace," in her ear.

"Really?" Erika asked, eyes wide. She tried to take a step back but there was no room.

"Yeah," Idina said. "I have so many, plus my mom gave it to me when I was your age, so you can have it now."

"Are you sure you don't want Cindy to have it?" she asked, her voice grave.

"Very," Idina replied. She would be sad to see it go, but she would be happier seeing Erika wear it than she ever would be wearing it herself.

She folded her daughter's hands over the small piece of jewellery. "It is yours now. You can even wear it tonight if you want."

Erika smiled and hugged her in a silent thank you.

Idina hugged her back.

"Alright, I think I'm ready to shock the boys now."

"Okay, she's coming out," Erika said, moving out of the way of the door.

Idina opened the door to the stunned faces of the most important people in her life.

Walker's mouth opened and closed. Then, very calmly, and with more sincerity than she ever would have expected from the situation, said: "You look perfect, mommy."

Aaron nodded; his brown eyes glassy. "True wonder, love," he whispered like he could not believe what he was seeing.

Idina smiled, a small laugh escaping her lips as she felt the joy overtake her. Aaron stood and she rushed the two steps in between them to wrap him in a strong embrace, kissing him.