Idina did not have long to dwell on her ex. She had things to do. Open the door for their new nanny for a few hours so she had help with the triplets while Aaron took Louie to the dog hotel. Get breakfast for her other children. Or more accurately order them something because she did not want to start their vacation by making a dud breakfast.

She kissed her husband goodbye then sat down on the couch downstairs. Suitcases were packed and by the door. She checked the weather. There was snow in New York.

Erika came down and sat beside her. Idina put her arm around the girl and Erika did the same, hugging her across her stomach.

Erika had grown a bit clingy in the past few days. Both Aaron and she loved it. She would sit beside the two of them quietly, sometimes writing or working on her embroidery, other times she just sat with them while they talked or watched TV.

"Excited?" Idina asked.

"Yes," she said, burying her face in Idina's side, making the latter giggle.

"I have some ginger and Gravol for the plane," she continued. "I know you get nervous. It's a private jet and I'm going to be beside you, and I'm hoping it'll be more pleasant for you," she said. They had three flights. Erika had said she was okay with it, but Idina was keen on a repeat of the last time they were on a plane.

"I've never been in a private plane, what's it like?" she asked.

"Well, you get your own seat, and there are couches and food and an open snack bar and an actual bar, but Aaron asked them to remove it completely, and there are personal flight attendants just for us."

"Sounds like it's expensive."

"It is," Idina said, "but I'm not taking the triplets on a charter flight. That's a headache no one wants. Plus, I think you'll be more comfortable, and that's priceless." She finished by kissing Erika's head.

The girl smiled and hugged Idina again. She stroked Erika's hair and closed her eyes, smiling.

Just here with my kid, she thought. Her mind was empty; happy. She hadn't realized until the day after the court hearing just how much stress it had been putting on her family. Aaron was more alive. She'd thought some of it had just faded away with the years and their duties as parents, but he lit up a room in a way Idina had not seen in a while and she knew it had been taking the same toll on him.

Erika was more... more. She did more things with them, or beside them. Aaron had measured her on the inside of their pantry door, and she was taller than Idina. She wasn't necessarily more open with them, but Idina was now certain that would come. Idina put in the perspective of what she's done with the triplets. She had to do skin to skin, spend time with them just laying on her to build some sort of connection. Erika spent time cuddling, it was the same thing. It was an improvement on anything they had before, and no one was complaining.

Idina's phone pinged. Her scan results were in. Brow furrowing, she looked at the attachment full of diagrams she didn't really understand. Things were not worse. They weren't necessarily better either.

Erika squeezed her and she looked back down at the girl and smiled.

"Are you good?" Idina asked.

"Are you?"

"Mhm," Idina said, nodding. "The results are in, nothing different."

"Oh," she said, "I want you to get better."

"Me too honey," Idina said.

"Does Louie know we're coming back?" she asked.

"I'm sure he does," Idina replied. "And the centre lets you facetime the dogs, so you and Walk can talk to him every day."

"Okay," she mumbled, hugging Idina again. "I hope he has fun at least."

"He will, it's very well rated and my friends have left their dogs there before and there have been no issues."

"I'm excited," she said. "I've never been on a vacation before."

Idina smiled. "Well, this is going to be the first of many," she said triumphantly. "So, you'd better keep your holidays clear for the next decade I'm expecting you to show up for everything."

Erika snorted, making Idina snort as well and they were both giggling when Aaron came back, holding bags of breakfast.

"Did I miss something?" he asked, smiling at them.

Idina shook her head. "That's breakfast?" she asked.

"Yep," he replied. "Is Walker up?"

"He should be," Idina stood up and called for Walker.

~

Erika and Walker were staring out the windows as they landed in New York. The triplets were fussing, but they did not seem to be in any pain. She strapped Lucinda to herself, and Aaron strapped Zephyr, while Erika carried Soren. All three of them were wrapped in many blankets and Idina didn't trust the California winter jumpers. They looked like they were quadruple their sizes.

"Make sure Zeph's ribs aren't squished," she reminded Aaron for the umpteenth time as they disembarked.

They walked through the terminal and Idina hoped they draw too much of a crowd. They had a team that would meet them, but she didn't want camera flashes. It would make the triplets cry. And give her a seizure. That would be one terrific way to start off the holiday.

They made it to the hotel without incident. It was nearing past midnight, thanks to time change, and there was more snow than she'd expected. Also, it was cold.

Aaron chuckled at her. "I thought you grew up here,' he teased when she complained.

"Shut up," she said lovingly, kissing his cheek.

They walked into the hotel. Idina had shown Aaron all the pictures of the hotel. They had a great suite. Erika and Walker would have some privacy. It wasn't going to feel cramped.

"For Menzel," she told the receptionist, who was gawking at her a bit but trying to stay professional. Idina was sure everyone had been talking in the breakroom about who would get to check her in.

She typed stuff into the computer and confirmed the detail with Idina. The room numbers were right, but the checkout dates weren't.

"We should be checking out on Sunday," Idina said.

"Here it says Thursday," she said, getting flustered.

Idina took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. She pulled out her phone. "On this confirmation, it says Sunday," she said calmly. There was no point in stressing out the receptionist who was likely already stressed.

"It, um, it says the change was made last night," she said. "You called and asked for it changed."

"I didn't," Idina said quietly. She looked to Aaron, "at least I don't remember changing it."

"It was over the phone," the receptionist said, "I can't see the number, but your birthdate was given as confirmation."

"I'm a public figure," Idina said. "Everyone knows my birthday. Why would you accept my birthday? Why didn't I get a confirmation email?" She spoke quicker than she wanted to, but she could feel her blood pressure rising. Lucinda got anxious at her tone and Walker took her hand.

"I'm sure it's okay mommy," he said.

"It's not," she said quietly. Someone had changed their vacation plans. If not someone, then her, and she had no memory of it.

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

She shook her head. "The rooms are booked," she replied. "Um, maybe I could move you... somewhere else...." She said, typing away. "I can put you into an adjoining regular hotel room for the remainder of your stay, no charge," she replied. "I just need my manager to sign off."

"That would be wonderful," Idina said with a smile. "Thank you so much."

Idina looked back at Aaron as they waited. "I honestly don't remember changing it," she said. "And I don't want to believe someone changed it for us. I don't know what's worse."

Aaron shrugged. "You might have done it," he admitted. "I was out for a bit last night. I'd rather it be you than some stranger," he said. "But I don't like this idea of you having episodes I don't know about."

"Me neither," she muttered. "But let's get some sleep and sort this out in the morning."