Aubrey stopped short and froze. She couldn't have heard right! There's just no way it happened. She looks at Jedediah who looks as if he saw a ghost but is also looking down at her. Her gaze then travels to her son. He stares at the two of them as if they had two heads. She knows what he's thinking and it breaks her heart. He doesn't know what he's done wrong. She stops herself. He hasn't done anything wrong he just surprised them. If he can choose from any man in the world to call dad he could do a lot wore than Jedediah Williams.

She looks back up at Jedediah and smiles. His facial features relax, all except his eyebrows. He arches them in question. With a bigger smile she nods slightly.

Jedediah lets out a breath of relief and smiles. "Thank you, Cole!" Instead of taking the slimy egg he picks the little boy up and carried him to the trash can. Cole drops it in with a big smile before turning his slimy hands on Jedediah.

Jedediah shrinks his face away from the grimy hands before placing the little boy on the ground and running away. "You can't catch me!"

Giggling follows him around the kitchen table and the couch, down the hall and into Cole's room. There the little boy rubs his hands across Jedediah's face.

"I'm going to turn into a yellow fluffy chick now!" Jedediah bellows with his eyes wide. He sees Aubrey watching from the door and sends a wink her way. When her cheeks heat up he knows that she caught it. He focuses back on the little boy in front of him.

"But momma will be sad that you aren't you," the little boy says, his smile and giggles now gone.

Jedediah chuckles slightly. "Cole I'm not really going to turn into a chick. I'm always going to be me, for your mom and for you."

Aubrey's heart melts at his words making tears form in her eyes. A soft sniffle makes the boys look her way and wrap their arms around her.

"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" Jedediah asks.

She smiles and shakes her head. "I'm just happy."

He smiles and places a kiss on her forehead. Then he picks Cole up and pulls them all into one big group hug.
***

Jedediah watches from the doorway, of Coles room, as Aubrey tucks him in and tells him good night. When she turns towards the door their eyes lock and a soft grateful smile spreads across her face. Thank you Lord! Thank you for giving me the support I need in this confusing time.

He wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead. "Ice cream?"

She giggles. "At ten o'clock?"

"Well it's better than two in the morning," he says with a shrug and a grin.

Nodding she agrees and leads him to the kitchen. He grabs the ice cream while she gets two spoons. In one swift motion he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. She starts to squeal but quickly clamps a hand over her mouth. He chuckles and carries her to the couch.

She sticks a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth and lays her head on his shoulder. "Hey, umm, I need to ask you something."

The tone of her voice instantly sends him on high alert this is not going to be good whatever it is. "Sure, Sweetheart, what is it?"

"Um, do- do you think I should go to the funeral?" She sputters all at once.

He smiles in sadness and pulls her as close as physically possible. "Sweetheart, I think you should do what you think is right for you and Cole. Whatever that choice is I will do whatever I need to to support you."

She smiles. "Thank you. I almost want to think it would be good for Cole to meet them and to see them again, but I know there is going to be a lot of hard feelings."

"Sweetheart, there are always going to be hard feelings from someone, but you can't let them determine what you do with your life. Cole is going to want to know what happen to the rest of his family at some point. You have the chance to show him them now, but it could also not go so well either way I will be right here beside you."

A tear slides down her face as she kisses his cheek. He quickly wipes it away with his thumb and pulls her lips to his.

After the ice-cream bowl is empty and many tears have trailed down Aubrey's cheeks and onto Jedediah's shoulder he slowly picks her up and carries her to her bed. He pulls the covers over her and kisses her cheek. "Good night my beautiful sweetheart."

His mind swirls with thoughts as he plants himself back on the couch. Should he stay, sleep on the couch and make breakfast in the morning? Or go home shower and come back in the morning? He did need a change of clothes, but he could do that in the morning after they both got up. Finally he decides it is best for all of them if he crashes on the couch for the night.
***

Aubrey wakes up and looks at the clock on her bedside table, it reads 6:15. She slides out of bed and pulls on a pair of jeans and her favorite light blue tee shirt. Being careful not to wake Jedediah or Cole she tiptoes through the house to the kitchen.

Within minutes the ingredients for her favorite muffin recipe are on the counter. Her memory guides her through the measuring and mixing of ingredients. First the flour and other powers, then the eggs, milk and other liquids. When it is all mixed together she adds the cooked sausage and bacon. Finally she pours the perfect amount into each muffin tin and smiles as she slides them in the oven. Just as she finishes setting the timer she hears gentle footsteps behind her.

"Good morning Sweetheart."

She smiles, turns and wraps his arms around his neck. "Good morning Handsome Jedi, you hungry?"

He smiles. "I'm always hungry when you are cooking."

A soft laugh escapes her. "Good, I made a couple dozen muffins."

He widens his eyes for dramatic effect. "Are you feeding an army?"

"I like to cook a lot, it helps get my mind off of things."

He nods and kisses her forehead then whispers in her ear, "You are going to make me fat."

She laughs and shakes her head. "You work too hard to make you fat, handsome Jedi."

"Speaking of work-"

She interrupts him. "I know you need to get back. I'm sorry I've kept you hostage so long."

"You haven't been keeping me hostage. I would like to stay and help you out today, but I need to check the cows that are calving. Only after I get to eat your amazing muffins, though."

She smiles. "You aren't leaving until you eat muffins."

"I can do that."