Aaron awoke the next morning to find his wife wrapped in his arms, practically sleeping on his chest and their limbs entangled. He breathed a sigh of relief. It had not been a dream. Idina had come back to him. And for the first time since they came out of hiding, he had a good night's sleep.

She was still dozing, her features soft and beautiful, illuminated by the morning glow. Or maybe the pregnancy glow. His hand found its way to her stomach. He traced her abs. There was a bump beginning to show, he could feel it.

He kissed her forehead. She was carrying his children. She was amazing.

His eyes trailed down to the gauze wrap on her arm. It was an odd place to hurt oneself. He would ask her about it when she got up. Until then, he was going to soak her in and hold her.

Aaron closed his eyes and smiled.

"Mom?" Walker called sometime later, knocking quietly on the door. He opened it and came inside to see Aaron and Idina snuggling and half asleep. The boy smiled and crawled into bed with them. "Good morning," he said as he squirmed his way in between them.

"No," Idina muttered, holding onto Aaron, half out of it. She kissed Aaron's shoulder.

"I wanna sleep in with you," he said, and he managed to pry them apart.

Idina just wrapped him up and squished him between the two of them. Aaron could not help but smile and both his son and his wife got comfortable on his chest.

"Mornin' Walk," he said.

"Mornin'," the boy replied.

He closed his eyes and gave Aaron a one-armed hug. Aaron wrapped his arms around them both and gave them both kisses. It was almost perfect. They were just missing one person. Erika was still a world away from Saturday snuggles. Idina was the only one who could touch her without her trying to shrug it off and Idina did not get any morning snuggles. She was too old. By the time Walker turns sixteen, he will not want to be a part of this either, unless they get lucky or are persistent.

Suddenly Idina got up and ran to the bathroom where she proceeded to have her first round of morning sickness for the day.

"I thought she was all better now," Walker said.

"Dee is," Aaron replied, "it's just..." he trailed off, his eyes rising to her as she held herself over the sink until she was sure she was finished. They could not tell Walker yet. What if they lost the twins? How would they explain it to him? There were still two more weeks until the danger was over.

Idina came back out and sat down on the bed. "Walker," she started. She looked up at Aaron. "I think we need to tell him," she said. He nodded.

"Tell me what?" Walker asked. "Are you dying? Is Dad right, do you have cancer? Taylor says cancer people puke all the time."

"No Walk, I don't have cancer, I promise, okay?" she assured him, looking into his eyes. "Walker," she said finally, taking his hands. "I'm pregnant."

They waited. He blinked. "So that's why you had surgery? They put a baby in your stomach?" he asked.

"Kind of," Idina replied. "I had surgery because the babies were already there, but my stomach wasn't strong enough to protect them, so they made it stronger. Who told you that?"

"Taylor," he said. "Taylor's mommy got all cut up and they put a baby in her stomach because his daddy couldn't put it there so the doctors had to do it. Did daddy put this one in your stomach? Is that why you were mad at him?"

"No, Aaron put the babies there."

"Babies?" Walker echoed, suddenly picking up on the plural.

"Yeah Walk," Idina said smiling through happy tears, "there's two."

"And Aaron put them there?" Idina nodded. Walker turned to Aaron. "Why'd you put two?" he asked.

"That's your mom's fault," Aaron said. Walker looked at him in confusion. They both started laughing.

"What's so funny?" he exclaimed.

"Well, um..." Idina stuttered, trying to find the words. Were they going to have this talk now? He was ten, they should have it soon. She did not trust the education system to do it properly. Maybe she should call her Frozen co-star Kristen. She knew all about this stuff and had already taught it to their children. She could give Idina some pointers. Idina turned to Aaron. "All in?" she asked.

He caught her drift. "Sure," he said. "Walk, come here, sit between us," Aaron said. "We'll explain it to you. You're growing up, you need to learn about it sometime, and we rather it be here with us than with someone else."

Idina nodded in agreement. "So basically," she started before swearing and bursting out into laughter. This was not going to work. Not without preparation.

Walker crossed his arms. "Is this about sex?" he asked.

"Who told you that word?" Idina exclaimed.

"Taylor," Walker replied.

"You're not allowed to see Taylor anymore," Idina decided.

"What's sex?"

"Something you're not allowed to do until we are dead," Aaron said.

"Are grandma and grandpa dead?" the boy asked.

"No," replied Idina.

"So, this is not about sex?"

It was too early in the morning for this.

"Have you had sex?" he asked his mother. Idina just broke down in laughing hysterics. "What about you Aaron? Have you had it?"

"Sex is how you make babies," Aaron said, finally popping the bubble. He had his hand on his forehead and was grinning, eyes closed, and shaking his head back and forth. Neither of them was ready for this.

After a moment, they found their composure and began explaining it to Walker. They started simple, first telling him in a very PG way what happened after a baby was conceived, how it formed and grew and the difference between fraternal and identical twins, and that because they had seen them so early on there was a high likelihood they were fraternal, though given Idina's age it could go either way. There were so many factors and functions that get a bit messed up as one aged.

Then Aaron managed to transition it in the puberty talk. Idina knew Taye had wanted to be the one to give it to Walker, but he was not here right now, and it needed to happen now. However, Aaron was amazing at it and it just cemented her belief that he was an amazing father and would be if their children made it. She wanted a daughter for herself, but she would still be overjoyed with boys, high on the pure elation that would be Aaron's excitement. There were two, maybe they would have one of each. It would be perfect.

She was not sure why, but Idina decided to add in a bit about girl's puberty too because she would rather sensitize him than have him grossly uncomfortable when he started hearing rumours about what it was and what happened. And a teenage girl was living in their house now.

"So that's why Ms. Sarah always lets the girls go to the bathroom whenever they want now?" he asked.

"Yeah Walk," she replied.

"I'm not so jealous now," he said, making her smile. Idina patted his head. "But you still have not told me what sex is, besides how you make a baby. How did Aaron put them inside you without cutting up your stomach?"

Idina was semi mortified. Wasn't this type of stuff saved till he was sixteen anyway? Wouldn't it be better to let him know stuff now than figure it out on his own and get wrong or bad ideas? Either way, she was not keen on discussing her nightlife with her son.

She tried to think of a PG way to explain it to him, then started wondering why this was not PG. It was the human body. Walker had been a whole lot more shaken up over some blood and violence that any kissing and handsy business he had accidentally walked in on. It was all societal pressure...

"Well, um..." she started, trying to think of the right words. "When you make a baby you... I mean it's, you uh..." she trailed off, not looking at him.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. "Is that why you were sick before we went to the cabin? Because Aaron was doing sex? Is it like how the babies are making you sick now, was Aaron hurting you and making you sick?" he asked in a tirade, but gentle and curious. He turned to Aaron. "You weren't hurting mommy when you put the babies inside her right? If you hurt her, I am going to hurt you," he said defensively.

"No Walk," she said swiftly. "Aaron wasn't hurting me. He'd never hurt me," she said, looking into her husband's eyes as she said so. "It was actually felt really nice," she admitted, her cheeks flushing red. She could be in front of hundreds of children at her concerts and have absolutely no filter, but this one little boy pulled them all out form god knows where.

"Oh," Walker said. "I guess that makes sense 'cause now you're puking and sick and that doesn't seem fun," he rationalized.

She buried her face in her hands and told him point-blank how it happened. Then she looked up. He was thinking, but not shocked, so she continued, putting an emphasis on the fact he was not allowed to do this until he was eighteen.

Aaron chimed in, comparing it to drinking. Something adults were allowed to do, and kids were not. It could be fun, but you had to be careful because you could hurt somebody or yourself. Then Idina told him that if you are not careful you could get a bunch of bad diseases and some of them never went away. She did not tell him what, but she did want to make sure he did not try something in a few years. Then she told him about contraception because at this point why not.

"Is that why you guys like kissing so much?" Walker asked.

"Kinda," Idina admitted.

"Double gross," he said, but other than that he seemed fine, not traumatized in the slightest. Maybe Kristen and Dax were on to something. "I'm never kissing anyone ever again."

"Kissing is different though," she explained. "Like I feel differently kissing Aaron then when I kiss you," she said. "Just like my kisses are different than grandma's," she explained. "There are a bunch of different types of love. I love you and I love Aaron and I love puppies. I do not love all of you the same. It is a different type of love. When you have romantic love, it makes kissing a lot more fun because a bunch of chemicals are being released in your brain telling your body to enjoy it," she explained.

Walker nodded. "So, love love, like in the movies?"

"Yeah," Aaron said, "like in the movies."

"And you and Aaron have love love?"

Idina took Aaron's hand. "Yeah Walk, we do."

"Is it nice?"

"Very," she said with a smile. "Almost as amazing as you." They both smiled.

"That sounds nice," he said. "When will I have it?"

"When your older," Aaron said. "One day you'll find someone, and you'll have it too."

"Now Walker," Idina said, "there's one more thing you need to know. Have you hard people talking about 'consent'?"

He little boy nodded. "Yeah, like people shouldn't touch other people if they don't like it."

"Yes," Idina said. "And that goes for sex and kissing too, especially for sex and kissing. One day, you might want to kiss someone, but you must ask them first and make sure they are okay with it. Same with sex. You have to ask them, and they can't be drunk or on drugs, and they have to tell you that they want it and are okay without you forcing them to say it," she explained. "And vice-versa. If someone is trying to force you to do something you do not want to do, do not do it. Just leave. If you feel uncomfortable and you tell them to stop, they have too. If they do not, then they don't really love you."

"But how will I know?" he asked.

"You will ask them 'are you okay with this' and then you tell them what 'this' is and if they don't say 'yes,' they are not okay with it," Aaron said. "Like this," he said, turning to Idina. "May I kiss you?"

"Yes," Idina said enthusiastically, nodding. Aaron leaned over Walker and planted a kiss on her lips.

Walker hid his face in the covers. "Okay, I get it," he said.

"It needs to be enthusiastic," Idina said. "If I said 'okay' like this, like as if I was scared..." she demonstrated "... then you shouldn't. You should make sure the person is okay and not just trying to make you happy, okay? It's a lot better when both people want it."

"'Kay Walk?" Aaron asked.

"Yes," he said. "I get it. 'No means no' and 'only yes means yes,'" he quoted.

"I'm so proud of you," Idina said. "May I kiss your forehead?"

"Yes," he said with an eye-roll.

Idina kissed his brow.

"Can I see the babies?" he asked.

Aaron pulled out his phone, for Idina's was still in the guest bedroom, and pulled up the ultrasound pictures. The three of them huddled together as they pointed out the two blobs that were their children.

"So those are my step-siblings?" he asked.

"Half-siblings," Idina corrected.

"But I thought Aaron was my stepdad," Walker said.

"He is, but these are your half-sibling because I'm your mom and I'm their mom."

"Oh, is Dad their stepdad?"

"No, it doesn't go both ways," she said. "Well, if your dad married Aaron then he'd be their stepdad, but I'm not letting him marry Aaron, 'cause I married Aaron." The three of them giggled.

"Can I see your tummy?" he asked curiously.

"Sure," Idina said. She knew there was a bit of bump, she had felt it last night. And she had felt Aaron trace it and it had been one of the most amazing feelings in the world. She laid down on her back then pulled her shirt up, revealing her abdomen and fading six-pack.

Aaron traced the bump that was starting. "See that," he told Walker, "they're there, growing in Mommy's tummy. They're really small right now, like peanut-sized, but if a few months they'll be bigger, and a few more months they'll be baby size."

"How will they get out?" he asked, "And what if they get hungry?"

"I feed them," Idina said, "They eat what I eat. And when they come out, well they come out the same way they got in, only Aaron doesn't have to do anything this time."

Walker looked slightly mortified. "But babies are huge!"

"Yeah," Idina said. "It's not fun. And it hurts a lot. On the plus side, it hurts so much that you forget about it within a week or so. The mind is interesting that way. You remember that it hurt, but not how much. Like when you get a papercut and you know exactly how much it stings, but when you skin your knee you do not remember it, so you remember the papercut hurting worse."

"That's not helping," Walker said. "I don't want you to be in pain."

"It's worth it," she said, "it was worth it for you."

Walker reached out tentatively and placed his little hand on her bump.

"Gentle," she told him tensely, ready to knock him away if he pushed too hard or decided to poke her.

Aaron took the boy's hand a guided it across his mother's stomach as Idina relaxed. There was a thin red line where her stitches used to be. It was a bit puffy as she had only recently had them removed, but if she kept up the care it would do down and likely not leave a mark. If it did, the likelihood of it being glaringly obvious was slim. She and Aaron would be the only ones to notice it if she wished.

"Can I kiss it?" he asked, so pure and innocent. They had not destroyed his innocence and she was glad.

"Of course," Idina said.

He bent down. Idina winched as his nose prodded the bump, but Walker soon got his bearings and planted a dry kiss on her stomach.

"I think I love them already," he said. "Not movie love though," he clarified. "When will they come out?"

"About seven months from now, a bit less," Idina said. "In the summer."

"I want to meet them now."

"You can't sweetie, that just not how it works."

"Alright," he said in disappointment.

"Now Walk," Idina started as she sat back up and pulled her shirt down. "You can't tell anyone, okay? This is another secret, and I know it is fair to ask you to keep it, but no one can know. When they are this small, sometimes they don't live and in case that happens we don't want anyone to know."

"They might not live?" he questioned, alarmed.

"Not every baby makes it," she replied, trying to keep up a brave face. "That is why we did not want to tell you because we did not think they would. Then the doctor said she could fix me and help me keep them alive, but right now is still the most dangerous time. When they get a bit bigger, they will be safer," she tried to explain whilst holding back tears.

"Are you okay Mom?"

"Yeah," she replied. "I'm just sad that you're growing up."

"I'll always be your little boy," he said.

"'Course you will, Walkie-Talkie. You will always be my little Walkie-Talkie." She smiled. "Give mommy a hug?"

Walker hugged her and so did Aaron.

~

When Walker finally left ad Aaron went downstairs to start breakfast, Idina went back to the guest bedroom and moved her stuff back into the master. Then she called Kristen because she had a few hundred missed texts from her surrogate sister.

"Idina! Dee!" Kristen's cheery voice came through. "I was just about to call. I hope you are feeling better That's all so awful. I have to admit I have been reading the tabloids. It is deplorable what Taye did. Are you okay? How are you?"

Idina chuckled. She ran her mouth just like her animated counterpart. "I'm okay, all things considered," she replied. "I would rather not talk about it right now though," she said. Kristen did not know the truth. No one did. The longer it went on, the harder it was to keep it a secret, or forget about it all together and imagine that Taye was really locked up and out of her life. She would hate it, especially for Walker's sake, but sometimes she just wished it was her and Aaron and whatever children they would have in that scenario and she had never married Taye. But she would not give up Walker for the world.

"So why did you call?" 

Idina imagined the blonde jumping on her bed and laying down on her stomach like a tween talking to her crush or having a good gossip session with her friends.

"I just wanted to hear a friendly voice," Idina admitted. "And let you know that I am okay." I want you to know that Taye did nothing, that I'm pregnant, that I've had five miscarriages and I'm starting to think this won't work out, with all my kids. Walker's going to break, Erika's going to go away, and the twins won't make it. Aaron's working. I can't talk to him.

"How's the hubby?" she asked.

"Busy. Thanksgiving's coming up and people are relapsing and such, so he's on-call all day and night and he's been working extra hours to fit in all his clients."

"He's fighting the good fight," Kristen said.

"I know, and I love him," she replied.

"I'm so glad you are okay Idina. I was really worried you know."

Idina chuckled. "I know, I've been reading over all the texts. They took my phone away and cleared it of tracking bugs and stuff."

"That's insane."

"Tell me about it."

"How's your girl, Erika?" Kristen asked. "How's that working out?"

"Slower than I thought," Idina replied. "She's strong-willed and the world's been cruel to her."

"I was actually going to call you because I'm planning a house party baroque thing," she said. "If you're up to it, that is. It's going to be medium-sized I think. I don't have all the RSVPs yet. If you and you're family wanted to come by I'd be delighted."

Idina smiled. "That'd be lovely, Kristen. I'll let Aaron know. I'll be bringing the kids even if he can't come. I think we all need to get out of this house for something other than school."

"See you then Dee. And thanks for calling."

"Thank you too, Kristen. See you later."

"Love you, bye."

"Bye"

~

A bit later in the morning, Idina had changed and went to go check up on Erika. Walker and Aaron were downstairs, making omelettes.

She knocked on the door frame. Erika was sitting in the hanging chair akimbo with her laptop. She looked up, then looked back down, dismissing Idina.

"May I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," Erika shrugged. She claimed no ownership over this room. Idina and Aaron could come and go as they pleased.

Idina walked over and crouched down so that she was looking up at Erika who was doing a marvellous job at being disinterested.

"So," Idina started, "I was talking to Walker earlier today and anyways..." Erika always made her tongue-tied. "I just wanted to make sure you're fine when I hug you and stuff. I know I've been very forward and maybe not considerate about how you felt about it."

"I legally belong to you right now, do whatever you want," she said.

Idina sighed. "Well, I want you to be comfortable and safe here."

"I think that's covered," she said curtly. She did not elaborate further.

"Do you want to see an ultrasound of the twins?" she asked.

"Not really," Erika replied without any coldness or malice.

"They're going to be your younger siblings," Idina said.

"You're depressingly optimistic Mrs. Menzel," she deadpanned.

"You can call me Idina," Idina reiterated. They had been doing this tango since the very first day they had met. "It's not like you haven't."

"Wouldn't want to overstep my bounds or forget my place, Mrs. Menzel," Erika replied.

"My original question stands, are you okay with me?"

Erika said nothing.

"I'm not going to be mad if you say no," Idina comforted. "I just want to know."

"I'm... not really sure," Erika replied.

"Why?"

Erika thought for a moment. "I'm not... like, scared of you," she said, "but it makes me uncomfortable because I don't understand it."

Idina blinked. She had not actually expected an answer. "What don't you understand?" she pressed.

"I don't know," Erika snapped quietly.

"You can tell me anything," she said, quoting her husband.

Erika shrugged. "It just doesn't make sense and I don't like it when things don't make sense," she replied.

It was better than nothing. "Would it helped if I told you why I do it?"

Erika shrugged.

"I'm going to state it bluntly," Idina said softly, "I want us to bond, have a connection. Sometimes I think a physical connection might help. It's the first thing they do when a baby is born, you know, they lay it on your stomach, skin to skin time."

"So, it's a manipulation tactic," Erika stated with a raised eyebrow.

"Well," Idina said, taking Erika's hand. "How does this make you feel?"

"Uncomfortable," she replied, pulling her hand out of Idina's.

"I want us to have something that's ours," Idina said.

"I have nothing, so you're out of luck there," Erika said.

That hurt Idina. "Really, all of this," she gestured to the room, "and you have nothing?"

"It's yours," Erika explained. "You bought it, it's not mine. You can take it away as easily as you gave it."

"It's yours," Idina reinforced. "We bought it for you."

"But it's legally yours. I did not come here with it; it is not a personal object. Even then it's not like anyone actually cares who it belongs too when foster parents decide that they want something." She paused. "Maybe I am lucky, I've got nothing for you to steal."

"We'd never take anything form you," Idina said.

Erika snorted. "You thought about it the second I said none of this was mine. Don't deny it, the thought of taking it away to prove a point crossed your mind."

Idina was taken aback. It had, for a mere second, because that was the punishment for ungratefulness. When Walker broke his things, they took them away. When she had abused her privileges, her parents had taken her things or pulled out the cable to her personal landline. Erika was baiting her, and she was nibbling.

"So what?" Idina asked. "I'm not acting on it."

"Right now," Erika said.

"I'm just trying to fight for us."

"There is no us."

"What do you want me to do Erika?"

"Give up," the girl replied. "Send me back. You cannot do this. I bet every social worker has told you that by now. They are right, you know. The ones that try and talk you out of it always are."

"Do you really want that?" asked Idina.

"Yes," she replied.

Idina studied her face. As far as the idol could tell, the teen had no tells. Nothing to alert her that this was not her heart's desire. Things had been going well for too long, this was bound to happen. It always did when things went too well for too long. And Idina was cracking more and more each time. Eventually, she might cave. That is what Erika was waiting for. Proof that Idina could not do this and proof that everything Erika believed was right.,

But Idina was not in this alone. She had Aaron. She had been playing defensively, giving Erika space. Now she wanted to go on the offensive, wear Erika down until the girl could do nothing but believe her. Was this even a war she could fight? Idina had no idea. Everyone she knew told her to give it time, but Idina felt like the time was slipping away and taking her away with it. Soon she would just wash away and leave Erika alone.

She also had Walker, but she did not want to involve him. That would be cruel. She let the two of them get along and bond naturally. Walker was a little leech sometimes and he had in a way attaching himself to the idea of Erika and he was not going to let it go easily. He was also smart enough to know that Erika needed space.

"Well I'm not," Idina argued like a child.

"Good for you," Erika mocked. "Is this really my room?" she asked, changing her tune.

"Uh, yes," Idina said, stunned.

"Then will you leave if I ask you too?"

Erika had caught her in a catch-22. If she stayed, this was not Erika's room, and Erika won. If she left, this was Erika's room and she was now outside, and Erika won.

"Are you asking me too?"

"Yes," she replied, as coldly as she could muster. Which was so cold it had to be measure in Kalvin. Celsius and Fahrenheit would not do.

"Aaron's making omelettes," Idina said, standing up. She let herself glance once more over at her ward. "I love you," she said as she left the room, letting the words sink in. She had never said them out loud before. She wondered if Erika had ever heard them before. It did not matter. Erika had her weapons, and Idina had her own. They were at war now.