N/a: Sorry, I keep forgetting time exists. I wake up, watch Disney plus, do handwork, sleep, repeat. Also, I am splitting chapters to make them shorter so maybe I will get more of them out quicker.

Idina cradled Zephyr. Aaron said he had eaten from a bottle yesterday and she could try feeding him. She was too nervous to move him, but he seemed content, staring up at her and holding onto her hand. She hummed to him. He had already been changed and washed. He just needed food.

"We can spoon feed him too, Dee," Aaron said.

She shook her head. She just did not want to move.

Aaron came and took the infant from her, making him fuss. "Just a moment Zephie, mommy's going to sit down," he said to the baby.

Idina sat down in her chair and unbuttoned her top. Jane had already taken the other two downstairs. Aaron handed Zephyr back. "There," he said, kneeling and gently transferring his son to his wife's arms. "You're doing so well, Chickadee," he said, making her smile.

She grinned when the baby latched on. "He's hungry," she commented. "My little vampire, feeling better?" She cooed.

Aaron kissed her forehead. "I'm going to start breakfast for the other kids," he said. "See you downstairs?"

She took his hand and shook her head. "Can you stay?" she asked. "Zeph won't be long. I don't want to be alone with him, not yet" she pleaded.

He nodded in agreement. He stood beside her, rubbing her back.

When Zephyr finished, Aaron burped him and Idina ducked away. Burping him gave her too much anxiety. The baby did not start crying, but Idina would not say he looked particularly pleased.

Idina carried him downstairs. Walker was on his phone, sprawled out on the couch. She had heard the shower running, so that's where Erika probably was. The other two babies were in jolly jumpers, grinning. Jane was in the kitchen, and it smelt delicious.

Idina walked over and noticed she is making much more than a meal for herself. "Oh, you don't need to do that," she said. "If we need a chef, we can hire one." She did not want Jane to feel taken advantage of. She was a star nanny and Idina wanted her to stick around as long as possible. It would be better for the triplets, better for her. Better for the entire household if they were not switching nannies constantly.

"It is fine," Jane said. "You make me quite a few meals anyway."

"Well of course," Idina mumbled. She was a part of their family it seemed silly not to when they were already making food for four. But the jump from one to five was a lot more work.

"I don't mind," Jane said again. She held Idina's arms by her side. "Relax," she told her. "Spend some time with your children. As your nanny and advisor, I am telling you to spend some time with your children. You are a great mother." She stared Idina down with direct eye contact, making her nervous. Jane was only a few years older than Idina; she had not liked the idea of a nanny younger than her bossing her around, and their dynamic was different because of it. Sort of friends, though Jane was overbearing and motherly with her children out of the nest. Apparently, she had always wanted to do live in and figured now was her chance. Her husband could travel, and she did live in. They were living the empty nest dream.

Then Jane hugged Idina. Not expecting it, Idina tensed up for a moment. Recently she had gotten used to people not touching her, just leaving her, with the exception of cuddling Aaron at night. Idina melting into it, smiling a bit as Jane stroked her hair. Then the elder woman pulled away.

"I'm making pancakes, and don't worry, they're not dinosaurs and they won't be competing with either yours or Aaron's for best pancakes," she said. "You are going to have a wonderful morning with your beautiful children, ok?"

"Can I say cowabunga?" She chuckled.

"Yes," Jane said with her all-intensive stare. Idina smiled. "And I'm banning you from you from the kitchen."

"This is my house!"

"And I am the nanny, out," she said, spinning Idina around and sending her back to the living room.

Erika had come downstairs. She was just in sweats, her hair damp, and was resting her head on Aaron's shoulder, feet tucked under her. Aaron smiled up at his wife and discreetly pointed to their daughter like Idina could not already see. It seemed whatever they had talked about last night had brought them closer.

Why had she been sent back out here for?

The children.

Idina looked around.

"Mom?" Walker asked, looking up from his game.

"Yes Pumpkin?" she said.

"Nothing," he mumbled. He must have wanted to see if she replies. "Have you walked Louie yet?" she asked, sitting down beside him, feeling a bit strange. Was she supposed to cuddle him or give him space? He was almost like a stranger to her.

"Not yet," he mumbled, then he sat up. "Do you want to come?" he asked with a grin. "Did you know Jane is making pancakes? You can come to walk Louie since you don't have to make them?"

Idina shrugged. "Sure," she said. She looked back over at Erika and Aaron, but the girl did not seem to be paying any attention to her or Walker; she was caught up in whatever Aaron was telling her.

"Can we go now?" Walker asked, putting his phone down.

"We need to get changed," she said.

"That's not now," he huffed. "I'll put a coat on, please mommy," he said, tugging on her arm, staring up at her with a large, pleading eye.

"I've got it covered here," Aaron said. "Go out with Walk."

"See, Aaron said you have to go now you have to come." He got up and started pulling her towards the door.

"Louie, walk!" he called.

Somewhere upstairs, the dog got up and bolted across the house, nearly unable to stop in time from hitting the door. She chuckled and scratched his ear while Walker got his harness out.

"You two be good," Aaron teased.

Idina smiled at him. She grabbed a light sweater. She was wearing sweatpants at least. Her son, however, was decked out in last year's pyjamas that exposed his ankles. Luckily, his boots covered them. Hopefully, it was early enough for them not to get caught by the paparazzi.

When the door clicked shut, Aaron looked back to Erika. He rubbed her arm and she looked up at him with a warm smile.

"This is nice," he spoke quietly.

"Yeah," she said, still with a slight smile, "nice."

It was hard to get talking sometimes, but Aaron found that once he got the right subject, he opened the flood gates. He thought about the gift he had gotten for today. He bought her an embroidery kit so that she could have a distraction. Now seemed like the best time to give it to her however he did not want to get up. Not right now. Getting up was a bad idea when she was voluntarily here and clearly content. She was holding his hand.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked.

"Yes,' she replied, closing her eyes.

His heart was racing. It was like holding one of the triplets for the first time all over again. What should he do, was he even prepared for this? A voice, his wife, told him he could. Just like she had said with the triplets. Just like she had said when he was worried about being a good stepdad for Walk, or when they had had their first serious, how will we go about this conversation about bringing Erika home.

She was home now. It was not a matter of making this her home anymore. They had brought her to a house and helped her turn it into a home.

His mind started to wander to all the silent promises he had made this girl. Would it kill him to say them aloud? She had no way of knowing what he wanted so desperately to say.

Erika moved a bit closer to him, moving an arm across his stomach and holding him tightly. She just wanted to be held by someone who loved her. Aaron was happy to oblige.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her hair, "so much. I think you're amazing." he began, unsure if he should continue or stop, but she was still holding him tightly and made no signs she wanted him to stop. He knew Idina said these sorts of things all the time, but coming from him, it was different.

"I want to stay here forever," she mumbled when he was finished.