"I know I said that if we keep at it, we'll need an even bigger house but, we are also going to need to buy a bus." Lindsey joked, stroking Stevie's stomach.

"Well, are you gonna get the snip-snip or...?" Stevie asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

He chuffed out a nervous laugh. "Steph, we don't joke about that."

"Baby, if you're so concerned..." She challenged. She loved to rile him up.

"I'm not" he replied quickly and she chuckled.

"Alright then." She lay back, satisfied. Lindsey wasn't so relaxed, his mind still racing. She kissed him softly, scanning the room for her clothing. "Think the kids took the bus or should I pick them up?" She got up and found her panties and skirt, pulling them back on. Lindsey didn't answer, still laying on the bed. "Honey?"

"Hm?" he asked as he sat up, looking as if he had come out of a daze.

"I asked if I should go pick up Callie and Dylan or if you think they took the bus."

"Text them, Steph. That's what phones are for."

"Why are you being snippy with me?" Her voice fluttered slightly and he got up as well, pulling on his boxers.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be." He kissed her forehead and she leaned against him, her blouse only half buttoned.

"Are you really upset about me suggesting The Big V?"

"No, I guess I was just a little caught off guard."

She wrapped her arms around him, kissing his lips tenderly. "I'm sorry too, then. I was just joking."

"I would do it if you wanted me to, it would just be hard for me."

"They call it the lunch break procedure."

He laughed as she looked up at him with dark watery eyes. "I'm sure they do, angel, but I didn't think either of us were ready to put our child bearing years behind us just yet. Almost four years ago, you were aching for another little baby."

"So were you."

"I was," he said. "And we were blessed with Iris, then out of the blue only a few years later, we were doubly blessed with our second set of twins."

"After thirty-five the chances of multiples go up."

"Mmhm" He nodded, running his finger tips up and down the tops of her arms.

"I'm sure we won't have to worry about it soon enough because I'll be going through menopause probably any minute." A sad chuckle escaped her throat as she finished buttoning her shirt.

"If that's something you're worried about, you shouldn't. We have five children. We have been blessed far more than we ever thought before. It's a hard transition for women, and men, to move into the next stage of their lives but it's another rewarding season." He stroked her cheek lovingly. "Besides, you are the most youthfully exuberant, vibrant, free-spirited chick I know." She laughed a little, smiling up at him. "I didn't mention beautiful and sexy because those are a given."

"Thank you for cheering me up." She kissed him, pulling him close again.

"No problem." He gave her a gentle peck on each cheek and the tip of her slightly upturned nose.

"But I was supposed to be trying to calm your nerves about—"

"Shh! Don't mention it...please." he said, wincing slightly and she giggled.

"You've got yourself a deal." She watched him dress, unable to stop her mind from wandering back to the love they had made. She was tired but happy. She smoothed her stomach softly through her blouse. She was growing with their babies and she was getting incredibly excited. Never in her life had she been so excited to gain weight and feel so out of control as she was when she was carrying one of she and Lindsey's children. Lindsey pulled his shirt over his head and she groaned.

"What's wrong?" he asked and she blushed, biting her thumbnail.

"The show's over. Such a waste to cover such a beautiful body." Stevie complained, eyes still watching him like a lion stalking a gazelle.

"I could say the same to you. I don't think you realize what you do to me."

"I have an inkling," she said, glancing down at her hand pressed comfortingly to her stomach.

"If I were a painter, I'd paint you just like this."

"Like one of your French girls." She gave him a lopsided smirk and he lightly tickled her.

"You're trouble, Mrs. Buckingham."

"I've never heard that before." Stevie said innocently, flicking her long blonde hair back.

"Yeah, right." he said. She snorted with a laugh and he popped her backside with his open palm.

"No one could stay an angel around you for long. You're a bad influence."

"I'm glad to be." His voice was a low growl, seductive and rough. Something about those simple words did things to her she couldn't explain. Her skin flushed and Lindsey noticed. She could never really keep the secret of her arousal. He kissed her passionately, fanning the flames of her desire. When he pulled away, she nearly fell down. Her knees were weak, her body felt heavy and at the mercy of the man who still held her gaze. His blue-grey eyes glittered with mischief and danger.

"Mmm" she moaned softly, trying to calm herself as she bit her lip. He gave her a devilish smile which didn't help soothe her at all.

"Why don't I drive and we can pick up all three of them together?"

"Sure" she said softly, under his spell.

He took her hand and led her out to the car. He opened the door for her and he helped her inside the large SUV. He turned on the radio and skipped through stations before choosing to find a playlist on his phone.

"You know, we should look at bigger cars soon. I'm off this weekend and I promise I won't take on any more hours like I have been lately." Lindsey said, rubbing her knuckles with a lightly calloused thumb as he drove.

"We have three rows of seating in this car."

"In this one, but what about yours? You will have the twins on your own most of the time, Iris will be at nursery then our older twins have school..."

"We can look." Stevie said.

"You're quiet. Do you not want to?"

"No, it's not that."

"Then what?" Lindsey asked, kissing her knuckles.

"I'm thinking about food. I'm starving!"

Lindsey chuckled, a soft pink hue appearing on Stevie's cheeks. "You're adorable. We will have to do something about that."

"Thank you."

They stopped at Iris's school first and Stevie got out while Lindsey waited in the car. Just moments later, Stevie walked out of the building with Iris in her arms, kissing her repeatedly. Her blonde hair was pulled into curly pigtails and her adorably chubby body was pressed into her mother's chest. Her infectious giggle brought a smile to her mother's face and Lindsey found himself smiling as well just watching them. Stevie opened the car door with one hand, balancing her three year old on her hip. She kissed her one final time before putting her daughter in her car seat, talking to her as she buckled her up.

"Did you have a good day, baby girl?" Lindsey heard Stevie ask their youngest daughter. He looked in the rear view mirror, watching their interaction continue. The little girl played with Stevie's earrings and necklaces, touched her cheek and nose. She was fascinated by her mother, a look of wonder on her face as Stevie spoke softly. She answered but only in short bursts, wanting to hear her mother talk to her again. Stevie shut the car door and Lindsey tore his eyes away, waiting for Stevie to take her seat.

"I'm sorry, I got a little carried away back there." Stevie apologized. "I hope we aren't too late getting Dylan and Callie."

"We're fine, sweetheart." Lindsey told her, stroking her thigh. His voice was filled with so much love and Stevie smiled warmly. "Babe, will you text the monsters and make sure they meet us out front?"

"Sure." Stevie located her purse, then rifled through to find her phone. Lindsey glanced at her a couple of times, watching the petite woman study each item she pulled out of her cavernous bag briefly before discarding it back into the abyss.

"I'll just use voice text" he said, hitting a button on his steering wheel. He gave the instructions and Stevie stared up at him open mouthed. "What?"

"It's just weird."

"What is?" He drove a little farther waiting for a response from his wife. He parked in front of the school and the older children were right where he asked them to be. They opened the door and climbed into the very back, both of them texting furiously on their phones with earbuds in.

Stevie looked back at her oldest children then at her husband with wide dark eyes. "Robots!" she said, her voice low and direct.

He chuckled, then kissed her forehead. "This is why I love you."

A/N: sorry I haven't updated this story in so long! A lot coming up in this story soon. I really hope you like it!