n/a: trying to write time skips, I guess. Please continue to vote and comment. If you have tips for pacing please let me know, I suck at it. Also, what sounds better, Lohr-Menzel, or Menzel-Lohr?

The weeks were passing by quickly and before she knew it, Idina was in Florence's office again. She did not bother taking her coat off. She was still trying to hide the pregnancy but the twins were growing fast and it would soon become impossible and she and Aaron were slowly working on a plan to tell immediate family and close friends, and then, eventually, the internet.

"Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice," Florence said.

"It's fine," Idina said with a smile.

They went over the basics first, even though there was a sinking feeling in Idina's gut that was growing with every passing second. She had everything prepared. Proof that Erika was doing better, reports from Dr. Snow, the grades form school. She showed Florence a picture of Erika and Walker laying on Erika's bed colouring in a picture. It was stuff she and Aaron had carefully prepared.

"This is all very encouraging," Florence said as she went through everything. "However." Idina's gut sank. She knew what was coming next. "Erika's parents want to be involved."

Idina just nodded. She had been preparing herself. She knew she had to show that she was the best place for Erika and becoming emotional would not help.

"They want to meet her. And in my professional experience, they'll try and sue for full custody when it comes down to it."

"Is there anything we can do?" Idina asked.

"Not right now," Florence said. "Keep doing what you are doing. No one can deny what you are doing is amazing. Keep this up and you will have a solid case."

"What about what Erika wants?"

"Right now, we know that Dr. Snow recommends that they do not meet, and that's what's stopping the situation from escalating. However, her opinions on who's a better guardian are void if she does not know both guardians."

"So, they won't care what she thinks."

"Right. And like I said, our goal is to prioritize family. If they can prove they have a house and a stable household, they will have the same grounding as you. And they do have it. Turns out goat raising can be profitable if one knows what they are doing. The discrepancy in money will be negated by the fact that they are her biological family and you are not."

"What about the emotional implications. Erika and Walker for example. They get along quite well. Walker would be crushed. Erika would feel similarly." Erika was better a numbing herself. She was still somewhat numb towards Idina, Aaron, and Walker, still not getting too involved, but she was also trusting in them to keep her safe and it was something.

"I would advise against bringing Walker into the equation at all when this escalates," Florence replied. "It would lead to a legal reassessment of your and Mr. Diggs's decision to co-parent, and any emotional stress brought on by your situation could lead to favourable judgement towards Mr. Diggs."

Idina took it all in. This was that moment. Walker or Erika. She could let one and keep one, or risk losing both. She could not lose both. She could not let Erika go. How could she do that and still call herself a mother, especially now with two more on the way?

Her arm was aching to rub her stomach, but she wanted to keep the pregnancy hidden until after she had legally adopted Erika. In case it changed something. They had around three more months to go until they could start the adoption process. The twins were due in five and a half. Idina could not do anything that would make the social worker suspect.

"What about Erika's emotions?"

"Look, Idina, point-blank we say we're here for the child, but there are a million rules and guidelines and as you well know the child's wellbeing is often sidelined in the end. The person who will be looking out for them is all of this will be you and your husband. You can fight tooth and nail or choose the path of least resistance. It does not mean you cannot be in Erika's life; it just means you cannot be her parents. You should talk with her and Dr. Snow and find out what is best for her. And if the ruling goes in your favour, you might not be able to cut Elija and Elvira out of her life, no matter how much you may want too."

"I don't see why they deserve anything. I have done more for her than they ever have. She was one month old when they left her. I've been here almost four times that time!"

"That will be taken into account," Florence assured her.

"But probably dismissed because they are her parents." She hated calling them her parent. She was Erika's mother and Aaron her father. She may not call them 'mother' and 'father' and they may sometimes fill a role closer to that of an older sibling or friend, but they were her protectors and providers. They were her home and her safe place. They were the ones who loved and who checked up on her every night. They drove her to school and the library and they were the ones she came to with a problem. She called Walker her brother once when the boy had friends over and they had asked Erika if Walker was her bother and she had said 'yes'. Walker adored her and he had known her less than Idina had. And Aaron would be heartbroken. Erika was his child, possessive intended and natural. His. Erika was his child; he did not see her as his own. He saw Walker as his own because Taye was there and Aaron knew his place in Walker's life, but Erika was his daughter. And Idina believed that is she were to ever start calling either of them mom or dad it would be Aaron bestowed with the title first. Idina knew she was trying to fill a hole so big Erika did not even know the depts of it. One left behind by Elvira, by her other foster mothers, by her elder sister Elsa.

She blinked herself back to reality. "What should I do?" she asked again.

"There's nothing you can do that you aren't already doing right now," Florence said. "But I want you to re-evaluate everything with Mr. Lohr and Dr. Snow. Do what is best for the girl."

Idina nodded again. She thanked Florence and left. Then she called her husband. Together, they called Dr. Snow. Gerda was vehemently against telling Erika any of this. The therapist practically jumped down their throats over the line. Erika was doing so well, telling her any of this now would crush her. She would shut down, but more importantly, she would shut them out. Gerda was on their side over a thousand percent. Erika needed them. They were making progress with her in ways no one thought they would. Partly due to Elvira's and Elija's sudden appearance, but that did not change what had happened next. Erika thought she had a chance, and hope was a powerful thing.

There was still a good chance Erika would stay with them. This was turning out the be the most stable place Erika had ever been in. As a therapist, Gerda Snow could do nothing but advise that Erika not be removed, but she could muster a lot of power over a judge when the time came, for these matters were not determined by a jury.

~

Erika found out very quickly that she liked Hanukkah, or at least holidays with the Lohr-Menzel's, more than she could have imagined. They did not do much, really, just cooked good food and said prayers. Aaron and Idina respected her enough not to force gifts on her and she was glad. She bought them both drug store cards with the allowance they gave her. Only a few dollars a week, but more than anyone had bothered to give her before. And she never wanted for anything either. She did not have to buy herself food or school supplies. It was truly something she could stash in her closet and not worry about anyone taking and use it when she wanted.

Though she'd written nothing more than Happy Hanukah Aaron/Idina and thanks for not being a terrible person, Erika, they were still sitting on the mantle place along with all the other holiday cards the couple had received from extended family.

Then a Christmas tree went up and Erika learned that Idina had more ornaments than any sane person could need. Odd ones too. Kayaking moose and reindeer in Santa hats, an awkward flamingo dressed as Santa, famous character in Christmas attire, Hallmark collectibles, homemade ones by Walker, framed photos with pictures of Walker, Idina, and Aaron and a few faces Erika did not recognize. Idina was quick to order a new set of frame ornaments and print out the few pictures they had taken of Erika and stick them inside so now they were all on the tree together.

Idina had a dancing little tree toy that played Christmas music and she covered the house in fake mistletoe and garlands. The outside was covered in lights and she had stuck a snowflake projector in the garden. And they were not the most overboard house on the block. By comparison, theirs seemed quite tame. By Erika's standards, even one needed to be checked into a mental facility. It was one day of the year. Give it a rest.

But she had to admit she did like the candy canes that begun popping up in odd places. And the colours were not ugly, just obnoxious. However, Erika still did not care one iota for Christmas music. Walker seemed to agree with her there, especially if it was one of Idina's Christmas albums.

Aaron sang at the piano all the time now. Erika had not even noticed there was a large black piano in the living room. It had just been something she avoided. Now it was being used to accost her ears with cheerful music as the holiday drew near. It could be a whole lot worse and Erika did not complain.

She was sitting on the couch reading with Idina on the far side, doing the same when Aaron came in, bringing Walker home from basketball practice. He came over to the couch and stuck his nose in his mother's bellybutton, telling the twins about his day. Idina giggled and rubbed his back, a silly smile on her face.

Erika looked up from her book a few times. She still was not sure how she felt about the twins. It had less to do with their place in the household and more to do with the idea of children. The more she thought about, the more distressing she found the idea of being pregnant. The idea of something growing inside her made her want to shiver. She was sure she never wanted kids. She would have no idea what to do with babies anyway. She never had any idea what to do with them. She could work with a toddler when necessary, but babies were helpless, and she found helplessness frustrating. She knew how excited Aaron and Idina were, but she had a gut worry someone might ask her to look after them and the last thing she wanted was to handle them. Not to mention when people were pregnant, they would start to go off on how amazing it was and telling Erika to just wait until she has children.

Will they want grandchildren from her? That is what being in a family meant. They were stuck together. If they wanted grandchildren, they would look to her. The very thought made her want to stab her gut and make sure it would never happen.

She liked Idina, but her very presence made Erika uncomfortable. She had told no one about this, of course, because everyone told her she was being stupid and going through a phase. It was far better if she just pretended like she was normal. But if she were going to be sticking around, what would happen in a few years? Therefore, she hated getting involved. It was so messy. She was so broken and unlovable. They were so delusional thinking this was just going to be perfect.

But she was safe. Erika repeated that to herself over and over again. Safe and that was all that mattered.

"I don't feel good," Walker said after a moment of silence.

"You don't look good, baby," Idina said, pressing the back of her hand against his head. "You're burning up. Go upstairs and get some sleep."

He nodded robotically. "I want my blanket," he said as Idina steered him towards the stairs.

"Which one?"

"The one at Dad's," he replied.

"I'll call him, 'kay baby?"

"Yeah, can he come and play some games too?"

"Maybe, just get yourself changed."

He went up the stairs and Idina called her ex.

"He's not picking up," she told Aaron after ten minutes of attempts. "I haven't heard anything from him in a while, you?"

"Nothing," he replied.

"I'm going over there," Idina decided, picking up her car keys and walking out the door.

Aaron looked worried and Erika wondered if she should say something. This was not her issue. She liked Aaron. He was kind and nice in a way she had never seen before and she trusted him. When she had been younger, she had always imagined a father would be someone like Aaron. Until recently, she had never thought someone like that existed.

He sat down on the couch where Idina had been and Erika's attention slowly dipped back into her book. She was reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore. She had never felt so connected to a character as she did Katsa. She had gotten it out from the school library, yet for the first time, she wanted her own copy. She kept a notebook with her where she copied down passages she liked so that she could reread them when she wanted.

She found another passage and wrote it down.

"Good book?'

"Yeah," she replied.

"Do you want some tea?" Erika knew enough now to know that he wanted tea and wanted someone to drink it with.

"Sure," she said. She did not really care. It was winter. Tea was cozy.

He made two cups of orange and cinnamon tea and handed one to her.

"Thanks," she said, taking a sip and continued to read. "You're nervous," she said after a few minutes. She hated things just looming. She liked everything on the table.

"Yeah," he admitted. "but it's none of your concern."

She shrugged. If he said so. She went back to her book. Erika finished it before Idina got back. She should not have been gone that long.

~

Idina drove the quick drive to Taye's. She had the spare key in her back pocket.

She rang the doorbell and knocked on the door. "Taye?" she called out. "Walk's sick and he wants his blanket. He would like it if you came over too. May I come in?"

No reply.

"I'm coming in," she warned as she pulled the key out of her pocket.

She unlocked the door and slipped into the house. It was all dark like no one was home. Where was he? She had not heard a thing for weeks and she had gone through Walker's texts. Nothing. He had ghosted them. She hoped he was okay. He had to be okay.

"Hello, Taye?"

Idina turned on a few lights. Everything seemed orderly, but there was a faint, odd stench in the air. Just get the blanket. She made her way to Walker's room and started going through the linen closet until she found the blue blanket her son was very fond of. He had had it since he was an infant, calling it 'Boo' when he had been too young to properly form words. She held it close and smelled it. It still smelled like her happy little baby. She missed him even though he was only a few minutes away.

She was making her way back to the door when she heard a noise.

"Taye?' she asked again. "It's just me, Idina. Walk's sick and he wanted his blanket, and no one was home, so I let myself in. Hope you don't mind."

She turned around the corner where she found Taye. He looked awful. It had been weeks since he had shaved, and he reeked of alcohol and drugs.

"Taye!" she exclaimed, falling to her knees. "What's wrong?" She looked him over. His face was bloody.

"You!" he snarled.

She recoiled. "Taye, it's just me. Idina, Dee. Walk's sick, our baby just wanted his blanket. I'm sorry I let myself in, I thought no one was home and Walk's sick."

He got up and lunged at her, his eyes bloodshot and crazed. She jumped out of the way.

"Taye!" she yelled. "What the actual hell is wrong with you?"

"You lying whore! You're trying to get me locked up!" he yelled, thrashing around.

"Taye, you're drunk. No one is trying to get you locked up, I promise," Idina said as she dodged him, which wasn't hard in his state. What had gotten him like this? She had never seen him like this before.

"Let me see Walker."

"You're drunk. No."

"I want to see my son," he boomed. "You are all out to get me. There're little goblins are out to get me! They are going to lock me up and now they are wearing my wife's skin. They've stolen my child from me!"

"Taye, it's just me, Idina." She was backing up slowly, making her way to the door, her hands fumbling with her car keys, hoping for a quick getaway. "There are no goblins, Taye, baby, please. It is just me. Just Dee." She was almost in tears. "You're scaring me," she whimpered.

"That's exactly what a goblin would say!" he exclaimed and charged for her.

She screamed. She could not get out of the way fast enough. He pinned her down to the ground. She started crying, begging him to let her go. The babies, the twins. Oh god, the twins. He had no idea. It could get worse is he know. She begged him to stop, just let her go, he could see Walker, of course, he could, he was the boy's father. Just let her go.

His eyes were bloodshot and crazed. "The goblins," he muttered repeatedly, pinning her down. He was digging into her arms, but there was no weight on her abdomen.

"Taye, please, it's me, it's 'Dina."

"The goblins have you," he told her tenderly. "They have you, my love. I'm going to save you." He ran a tender finger down her face, tracing her cheekbone and jawline. "I'm going to save you sweet 'Dina. I am so sorry, but it is going to hurt. But I will save you. Then we will save Walker. I'm so sorry Dee," he said as he picked her up.

"Taye, what are you doing? Put me down!"

She was no match for him as he carried her over his shoulder across the house, further from the door, her escape. She pounded on his back, but it did nothing. She kicked, but there was nothing to kick at. He brought her to a bedroom where he chained her to the bed.

"Taye, stop this now before you do something you'll regret," she threatened as he tied her down. She had nothing left. "Kidnapping, seriously, Taye? Snap out of it. They will take Walker away from you. You will never see him again if you do not snap out of it."

"You broke into my house."

"I used the spare keys you gave me."

"No! I gave those to Idina. You have taken her. I will get her back. I will purge you from her body and she will be mine again." He started crying. "I'm so sorry sweet Dee," he said, planting a kiss on her lips. "I'm going to get the goblins out," he said in all seriousness, staring into the depths of her soul. "I'm going to scare them away. Then everything will be better again. My love, my love. I love you, my love. I do not want to hurt you, please know that. Don't be scared, sweet thing, I'm freeing you, you will soon see that." He was chanting in a singsong. Idina was very much afraid. Her vision was turning blurry.

She felt something press against her inner thigh. Something hot, burning hot. Searing pain shot through her limb and she smelt melting polyester and burnt skin. She screamed again.

"Taye, you're hurting me, stop it, please. What do you want? Do you want me to come back to you? Please baby stop," she begged him through tears. He just drove whatever it was harder into her skin.

Then it stopped and she gasped in relief.

"Who's the jewel king?" Taye asked.

"You?" Idina guessed. "I have no idea Taye, please stop."

He struck her. "I said who is the jewel king!" he roared. He produced a knife and Idina's eyes went wide. She clawed at her restraints, trying to getaway. "You will tell me who the Jewel king is or you will get the knife," he growled, crawling over her on all fours as she trembled beneath him, closing her eyes and turning her face away. "I made it in holy water. It will melt the skin right off your face," he said as he pressed the flat side of the knife to her face.

"See," Idina said tenderly. "My face isn't melting. Taye, it is just me. Just your Dee. I am here because of our son, Walker, he just wants his Boo. That's it. You can come give him Boo if you want. Just stop this now before it gets out of hand."

She stared up at him. His face softened and he looked almost afraid of himself. "Dee?" he gasped in a moment of clarity. "Dee? Oh my god." He took a few steps back, looking around. "Oh my god, oh my god, Dee, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" He hid his face in his hand and crouched down in a corner.

"I'm fine. Just let me go," she said. She would get him the help he needed. The blackmailer was taking a toll on her ex. He had cracked.

Taye did not move. He just sat there in the corner for an astronomical amount of time. Idina did not say a word, worried she might trigger another episode. She waited, trying to loosen the restraints herself.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he stood up and walked over to the bed. He united Idina. Relieved, she rubbed her wrists.

"Thank you," she said, still tender and loving. They walked in silence towards the door.

Idina picked up Boo from where it was on the floor, trying not to freak out. Her adrenaline was running high. She just had to make it out the door.

"That's Walker's," Taye said, an edge in his voice that sent shivers down Idina's spine and put her on high alert.

"Yeah babe, it is," she replied. "I'm going to give it to him if you don't mind of course. He wants it." She was not sure if she should look him in the eye or not.

"It's my son's," he growled again.

She dropped the blanket. Just get out!

He lunged at her again, throwing her against the wall. She heard someone scream, a blood-curdling scream only reserved for horror movies, as she sank in slow motion down to the floor and pain exploded through her lower back and head form where she'd connected with the wall and left an Idina sized dent. It was her own scream she was hearing.

Taye kicked at her, telling the goblin to leave his wife alone. Her first instinct was to cover her head, but she did not do that. She covered her gut. She did anything she could to put a barrier between the twins and her ex's shoed foot.

A second scream was added to that of her own and the blows stopped. She looked up through trembling features to see Walker standing there, mid-scream, staring ta her wife-eyed in horror, Aaron right behind him.

"D-dad..." he stuttered, then looked over at Idina. "Mom!" he ran over to her, putting his little body between his father and his mother.

"Get away Walk," Idina said, reaching for his face to push him away. He was in the crossfire. What if Taye decided their boy was a goblin too?

"Get away Walk," Taye said as well. "Mom's not mom. She is a goblin. I am getting the goblin out, then you will have your mommy and daddy back. You want that, don't you Walkie?"

Walker was not paying any attention to his father. "Mom," he said again, shaking her. "Mom!" He turned to his stepdad. "Aaron, help mom, please."

"Walker, step away," Taye said in warning.

"Do what he says, Walk," Idina told him. "Please, baby, I don't want you to get hurt."

"Daddy's not going to hurt me," Walker said, turning to face his dad. "Are you?" he asked.

"No Walkie, I'd never hurt you. And I am not hurting your mom either. I am helping her. I am getting the goblin out. They have stolen her skin, Walk, that is why she has been acting so weird. They stole her skin but not her, she is fighting them, and we can help her come back. I love your mommy Walk, and I want her to come back too. I am doing what no one else will do. I am fighting the goblins. Look what they did to my face. They are not nice goblins; they are mean goblins. I'm going to save everyone from the goblins."

"But you are hurling mom," Walker insisted.

"Please Walker, go away," Idina begged. She did not want to see him get hurt, her little baby boy. "Just go Walk, go home okay? I will see you at home. Go Walk."

"See Walk, that's you, mom. She knows I am helping her. She wants me to help her. That's why she came here."

"No!" Walker said. Idina tensed. Taye was getting agitated again.

Idina dared take a glance at Aaron. He flashed her his phone, which had 911 dialled and was on call. They just had to hold up until the professionals arrived.

Taye took a few steps closer and pushed Walker out of the way. "I'm going to heal you, Dee," he said.

Walker screamed and jumped on his father, but Aaron pulled him off.

Taye pulled Idina to her feet, but he had to hold her upright. She was still shaking.

"I'm going to cure her!" he declared to no one.

Idina looked over at her husband who was still restraining her son, covering his eyes and ears the best he could. Then she looked at her son. This was exactly what she did not want to happen. This was the worst-case scenario she had never even imagined.

She felt a punch to her gut, and she screamed again in pure agony even though she was so shocked and numb she could not feel a thing. She watched as Aaron and Walker did the same thing, crying out. Aaron's hand reaching out to stop Taye but thinking the better of it as he shouted "no!" and his face fell as the punch landed, and she keeled over a spit up blood. She fell the floor, again curling up to protect the most precious area of her body. By some mercy, it all went black.

~

"Mom?'

Idina groaned. She looked around, her eyes fluttering open to a blinding white light.

"Mom?" the same voice asked again.

"Walker?" she croaked; her voice hoarse.

"Mom!" he said excitedly. She felt the bed beneath her shake.

"Walk," came another, comforting voice. "Give your mom some space."

"Right," the boy said.

"Hey there Chickadee," Aaron said, his face clearing and coming into view. She smiled. He knelt to be at her level. "Hey there babe," he said, stroking her face. "How are you feeling today?"

"Taye..." was all that she could get out. All that she remembered.

"He's been admitted to an asylum," Aaron said. "A few weeks ago. We haven't heard anything yet, but Walk's written a few letters."

"What?"

"He cracked Dee. That girl he liked they had been seeing each other on and off for a few years. He wanted to marry her or something, and she had a six-year-old son called Benjamin. She died in a car crash and Benji was put into the system and there was nothing he could do about it, so he turned to alcohol and drugs."

Idina furrowed her brow. It was not making any sense. She could hear what he was saying, and she knew all the words individually, but she could not put them together.

She turned to her side and threw up, blood mixed into the green vomit.

Aaron held a bowl out for her and rubbed her backside. "We're at home," he said. "You were in a medically induced coma for a few weeks, until they were sure nothing was seriously wrong, then they woke you up. We were there for a few more days and now we are home. I do not know how much you remember. They said you had some head trauma and it might make things a bit foggy for a while."

He kissed her forehead. She stared at him blankly. She had no idea what was going on. Her heart was beating faster. Something had happened. Something he was not telling her. Or something he was trying to tell her, and she was not getting it. Where was Taye? Who was Benji? She did not know a Benji. Had she forgotten about someone?

"They thought it might better if you woke up here now that there's nothing they can do," Aaron continued, clueless that his words were not getting through. "And I convinced them I could assess you for nay mental trauma or issues. I love you Chickadee. So much."

"Who's... Chickadee?" she asked, her voice sore.

"You, baby," he said with a smile. "It's always you, baby."

"Baby," she echoed. There was something in that word... Babies! "Babies," she told him in a panic, something finally getting through the haze.

"Fine," he said again. "You're one lucky goose. We both are. The doctors were able to save the twins. You're so big because you've got way too much fluid floating around in there, it softened the blow just enough."

"But," Idina said.

"But there is a higher risk now," he said. He paused.

"But!" Idina insisted.

"There's a higher risk now, for the delivery, for after. I don't know Dee, okay?" he said in exasperation. "Look, I'm sorry, I'm just stressed. I was not asking all the right questions. I just wanted to make sure you are all right. You are my number one."

"Number five," Idina corrected.

"Huh?"

"Twins, Walker, Erika," she said. "Then Idina. Idina is number five."

"Dee, there are no twins without you."

"Walker and Erika first," she said. "And twins before me."

"Dee..."

"Promise?" she croaked.

He sighed.

"Promise me, Aaron!"

"I promise," he said.

She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. "And Aaron before Idina too," she said. "You help me so much, if you need something for yourself, do it. I'm good."

"I don't need anything," he cooed. "Not now that my girl is safe." The back of his fingers brushed against her cheek. They both smiled.

"What day is it?" Idina asked.

"January 17th," he replied sympathetically. "It's been a few weeks Dee."

"I don't remember any of it, Aaron," she lamented, pouting, and lowering her gaze.

"Maybe it is for the best, Dee." There were tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry," Idina said. "I'm here baby, I'm good."

"I know," Aaron said. "But you scared me either way. I hate seeing you like this." He kissed her forehead.

"I have to go to the bathroom," she complained.

Aaron's lips curled upwards in a slight smile. That was his Idina. He helped her out of the bed and walked her over to the bathroom.

"How did I get this big?" she wondered, looking down at herself. "I'm quite sure I was this big when Walker was ready to come out. Also, why is the mirror covered?"

"I had to if I wanted you to come home," he admitted. "They don't want you seeing yourself until you've had a proper psych evaluation. And you are carrying twins. Not to mention you are making extra fluids. That's what saved them."

She rubbed her belly. "I don't think it's physically possible to get any bigger," she muttered. "My back hurts so much," she mumbled as she went o the bathroom, Aaron helping her.

When she was done, he carried her back to the bed. He laid her down, then laid down beside his wife.

"Do you want to know the genders?" he asked after a moment, his hand resting on her bump. "They told me at the hospital, a new nurse let it slip."

"Genders?" she echoed. "I think you just told me."

"No," he said, "that's not it."

"Just tell me, Aaron."

"Two boys," he said.

"Oh." She was not disappointed, just shocked. This was not how she imagined finding out. She had wanted a girl, just a small bit. But she was still so happy. Two little men. They would be perfect, just like Walker. "Walker must be ecstatic."

"He is," Aaron said with a chuckle. "I've had a ball trying to keep him off you. He is already planning to convert one of the guest bedrooms and he is going to teach them how to play basketball. He wants to name them after his favourite players."

"I hope you told him we're not doing that," Idina said. "That's your duty now, Dad."

"I did, don't worry." He rubbed her stomach and kissed her hair.

"Where are Walk and Erika?"

"Walk's downstairs," Aaron said, "I wanted him to give you some space. Erika's at a friend's house."

"What? Who? When?"

Aaron chuckled. "The girl, Amanda from Kris's party. They got pretty well."

Idina was grinning. "Good. I'm happy."

They talked for a while. Aaron was making Walker see Dr. Snow as well. He was as good as could be expected right now. He wanted to get them an emotional support dog. Or a dog, period. Just something with love to help with everything going on when he could not be there. Idina wanted a dog too.

Apparently for Christmas Erika had given Walker the jean quilt she had made in Home Ec. It was now Walker's favourite blanket. She had programmed the sewing machine to embroider some cartoon dinosaurs on it and used some extra fabric to write him name down the side. The holidays had been a bit of bust though, with Idina in the hospital. Everything was still up and waiting for her.

"Mommy?" Walker's voice came from the door. "Can I come in now?"

"Yes, baby," she said, looking over to her son. Walker was holding jean quilt, probably the one Erika made. He crawled in between them and cover them in the blanket. Idina wanted to inspect it, but all she could do was stare at her son.

She ran a finger across his face. "Hey Walk," she said. She kissed his forehead. "How's my strong little man?"

"I'm okay," he said. "Can I touch your belly?" he asked, a gleam growing in his eyes.

"'Course baby," she said, "Just be gentle, Walk."

"I know Mom," he said. His hand joined theirs on her stomach. At that moment, one of the twins decided to kick. Walker flinched at pulled his arm back, alarmed.

"It's fine baby," Idina said. "They're kicking now. They're big enough you can feel it too." She took her hand and placed it back on her stomach. "You can feel them, your little brothers. They're going to be big and strong, just like you."

He rubbed her belly, his eyes focused on it and his brow furrowed. "That's weird," he said. "But cool."

Idina smiled, then looked past her son to her husband, who was grinning as well as one of his sons assaulted his hand. She yawned.

She was tired. And hungry, she realized. Her stomach growled.

"Dee," Aaron said, drawing her attention. "Why don't you rest, and I'll make you some bread and butter? You haven't had anything in your stomach for weeks, so we need to start slowly."

"Yeah, that's what the doctors said," Walker agreed. "I'll stay here with you mommy and Aaron can make food."

"That sounds lovely, Pumpkin." She opened her arms and pulled Walker in for snuggles. Her stomach was making that hard, but she did her level best, planting kisses on his hair as she did so. Walker pulled the quilt over the two of them.

"I love you Walk," Idina said. "I'm so sorry about everything. I love you so very much."

"I know," he said. "it's not your fault." He was right, but it did not change how she felt. "Aaron says we can get a dog."

"That sounds great," Idina agreed, yawning again. She nestled up close against her little boy and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

(the quilt looks something like this but with dinosaur embroidery, I based it off the ones my grandma had but I don't have any pictures of them so this was the closest I could find on google)