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Two more weeks spent with Jasper meant that Victoria was just getting more and more smitten with the man. He was perfect, almost too perfect. They didn't argue, fight, nothing. If anything they couldn't keep their hands off of each other. It was something new. Something exciting, and something that she hoped she would be able to hold on to for a long time. However, the e-mail she received that morning stated otherwise. In just two months she was going to have to move across the country for her job, and she had no idea how to tell Jasper, so she didn't. Instead she was just going to wait until she was close to leaving and drop the bomb then. Mostly because she wanted her time with Jasper to be good memories, not sitting around and wondering about how much time they would have left together.

This morning Grace was up and awake with Thomas again, and had already made a pancake breakfast, complete with some bacon and hash browns, too. Thomas was sitting in his carseat, snuggled up in a blanket and letting his blue eyes follow Grace as she moved around the kitchen. She and Orion had actually enjoyed their time away from the Creek. It was nice to get away and not have to worry about any of the things that he had been worrying about. Even with Joshua visiting out of the blue, they had a great time at the beach. She had the radio playing some soft music, and was humming along with it as she cleaned up the mess she made from breakfast.
"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away.

It's more than a feeling
When I hear that old song they used to play
And I begin dreaming
Till I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin' away."

She twirled around in a circle, startling Thomas into a fit of giggles. She moved forward and kissed all over his face, laughing herself. "That's a classic, Thomas." She pointed a spatula at him, and arched her eyebrows. "You're going to be the coolest guy on the block listening to this stuff. You will get ALL the chickadees."

It had been two weeks since Cadence had disappeared from the hospital. Lena had been angry that the hospital had not contacted her when Cadence had checked out. They had no legal obligation to though since Cadence was an adult, and capable of making her own decisions. She had spent the last two weeks searching for her daughter and fighting with her ex, Joshua. He was livid that Cadence was missing, and was blaming Lena. Accusing her of being self absorbed and a unfit Mother. Lena was use to this accusation from him though. It was after all the same old fight they had the whole time their daughter was growing up.

Funny since Joshua had never really been a Father to Cadence. However Lena never allowed herself to sink low enough to tell Joshua that. In her opinion that would be a low blow. So she did her best to avoid Joshua, and keep Archie out of the drama. She knew Archie wouldn't be frightened off by it, she simply did not want to bother him with something so silly. A fight with her ex was nothing to concern Archie with.

Other then Cadence's sudden disappearance life was good. Archie and her were still enjoying a casual lowkey relationship. Tyson was healthy and busy now that he had joined a bowling league. It kept both Lena and Tyson busy, and active.

Lena was out on her porch watching the children on the block playing. They were all out and riding their bikes together. Tyson was feeling more confident and comfortable with the other children lately. Each day he came out and rode up and down the street with the other children for an hour.

Lena glanced down at the book she was reading. It was some sappy romance novel. She sighed and tossed the book aside. She sipped her ice tea, and put her feet up on the other chair. She pushed her hair back over her shoulders. She was due for a trimming, her hair was getting just a tad bit too long.

The only good news she had received was that Ben and Black had been arrested. Black was definitely responsible for the attack on Cadence. What Lena wasn't sure of was if he had acted on his own or on orders from Orion. She was staying away from Orion, mainly because she wasn't sure she could trust him. Also because Joshua had made it clear that Lena was not to bother his son. Of course he was protecting his son. It was always what he did. He had never had his daughter's well being in mind if you asked Lena.
'I'm tired of adulting!' Lena sent to Archie and sighed. It was the truth currently.

Archie Thompson

Archie was just pulling in to the Reaper clubhouse when he got his text message from Lena. He knew it was her because he'd set up a ringtone that did the Imperial march music from Star Wars. He thought it was pretty funny. Upon glancing down at his phone a smile came to his face, and he hesitated getting out of the truck. It's a trap. Are you home? I'd like to see ya. He sent the message and started his truck up again. He wasn't going to spend time around here, besides, it looked like Nate had gotten a call or something anyway, and with Archie not being one to put his nose where it didn't belong, he wasn't going to bother asking what the hell was going on. If Dereck needed him, then he had his phone number.

Archie pulled out of the lot and went by Krispy Kreme, getting a dozen assorted donuts and two cups of coffee, one for himself, and one for Lena. As well as a chocolate milk for Tyson. He wasn't sure if it was what the kid liked, but he liked it when he was a kid so he went with his gut.

'Yup! It is a trap! Yes, I am home. Watching Ty play out front. Ohhhh! Like to see me? Mmm-hmm! I would LOVE to see you too. >=) ' Lena sent back and chuckled. She set her phone on her lap and sighed. She was feeling tensed and restless. Extremely stressed, frustrated and just plain aggravated. She wanted answers, she wanted to know her child was safe. She wanted Joshua to get off her back! She groaned as she stood up.

She limped over to her front door. She leg was bruised from one of her patients kicking her. Apparently the boy was terrified of needles. It took two nurses and his Mother to hold him down so Lena could draw his blood. It had been a very rough day.

She moved through the house and into the kitchen. She grabbed an orange and went back to the porch. She settled herself in her favorite chair again. Watched the children as she peeled her orange. She loved oranges, definitely her favorite fruit.

Everything in the last two weeks had been smooth. Dereck and herself had patched up that little mishap after her shopping day with Lincoln and now were not only happily expecting twins, but at some point would have to plan a wedding as well. Life was good for Maralyn. Everything seemed as normal as could be. They had even agreed to have the room closest to the masters turned into the nursery. Which Lyn had recruited Lincoln and Lucky to help with. The boys had been instructed in painting the room, of course in stages at different times mostly, and with the window open so she could still watch and direct from the doorway. Even if it was chilly outside. So the room had been painted a light grey with red accents, And thanks to Dereck and his uncle Archie, it had a bookshelf, some shelves, and a dresser with the changing table on top, all in an espresso almost black color. The cribs were suppose to be delivered today.

Shortly after Dereck left the bed, Lyn's eyes opened. She stretched lightly under the blankets, certainly not feeling Dereck behind her on the bed or Zeke near her feet. Which only confirmed that Dereck was up, and that meant it must be time for her to get up as well. They were suppose to go out and pick out the chair for the nursery today before the cribs came. She couldn't decide if she wanted a glider or a rocking armchair, so she had convinced Dereck to go with her to pick something out. Maybe they'd be able to get a couple bassinets for their room for the first month or so too. If she was lucky, perhaps she could even convince Dereck they should go to Cinnabon for breakfast at the mall.

Rolling slowly out of bed, Lyn made her way to the bathroom. Even in the last two weeks her stomach had grown more. Her hand rubbed the white t-shirt of Dereck's that barley covered down to the end of her shorts now with the belly it had to cover, rubbing her arms Her blue eyes first glanced into the kitchen to look for Dereck out on the porch with the dogs. A frown creased her features as she didn't even see the back door open. Turning her head the other way, she saw Dereck's form leaving the front door. Odd, usually the dogs went out the back. Not that they really ran anywhere. For just being about 7 months, they were well trained and knew not to go far, but still the back yard was just safer and easier. With a shrug, she made her way to the front door, "Der..."Her voice began until she froze in the doorway at the scene in the driveway. Lyn clapped a hand over her open mouth before she quickly retreated back into the house and to the bathroom she had left moments before to toss up whatever had been in her stomach from the night before. Finished heaving, Lyn flushed the toilet and sat back against the wall with her head held in her hands. She had been blessed that this pregnancy had not been a very sickful one. However that scene out front had made her stomach nauseous and turn her stomach so quick. It was just two weeks ago she had been ecstatic and laughing at the irony that the twins were to be a boy and girl, almost matching the dogs. Now she felt that thought of irony twisting in her gut where a small knot had formed with fear and anger curling around the disgust and sadness.

Diana stood in the doorway watching Alyvia walk on to the bus for school when her phone rang. Pulling the device out of her back pocket, Di gave a last wave to the little girl before answering. She was surprised to hear Killian's voice trailing over the device; especially so early in the morning. He had wasted no time getting things on track between him, Di, and Lyv when he had returned after taking Cadie out of town. The first thing he had ordered a paternity test; which Di couldn't blame him for wanting. However it wasn't until he was actually talking to a judge and lawyer about being apart of their daughter's life, that she told her daughter about the changing news in her life. Di hadn't thought that was all needed, but again, she couldn't blame him. She had even tried to dissuade him and the court from the need of child's support. However at his insistence, she had let it go. It wasn't something she really needed anymore. She was fine financially. But with him being so stubborn, she took it. And used half of it to pay back the rest she owed to her aunt and uncle for all the help they had given her, while the other half went into Lyv's college fund. It had been to her aunt and uncle that Di had gone to live with after leaving juvie, pregnant.

Returning to what the man over the phone was saying to her, Di nodded her head and shut the door as she moved back into the kitchen of the house. A smile crossed over her features as she poured herself another mug of coffee. "Yea, I'm sure that would be fine. Where were you thinking? Unless you just want to stop by for dinner." She responded as she moved herself and coffee to sit at the kitchen table. Killian had taken to this new role better than Diana could ever have imagined. Ok perhaps she had imagined him as such in her own secret fantasies over the years. The ones where the three of them were a family. But to see the wild boy she had known, turn into this responsible caring adult, was certainly a trip. And as hesitant as Alyvia had been when she first met the man, the girl was warming up to him quickly. So much so that Di had started to feel comfortable giving the two some privacy when they were out. It was easy enough to go take a call for work, or sit across the restaurant and work. All she was doing currently was paper pushing anyway. Since Black and Ben were safely tucked away in state prison, everything had slowed down.

Diana knew Lyv was happy to be getting to know the man that fathered her, but damn that had been a hard Saturday spilling the news to the girl. She had started slow to tell her the news, showed her some old pictures, one of which Lyv had asked to keep. And their first meeting, the 7 year old had been shy for at least the first half. Then there had been no turning back. Especially not for Diana after Alyvia had asked Killian hopefully at the end of that first meeting, "So since you're like my dad and all, can I call you Dad?" Di was only relieved when Killian seemed as infatuated with the girl as she was quickly becoming with him,"Can I ask by chance what you're so excited for?"Not that Di really cared or thought his present would be inappropriate. She was just simply curious to know what had him so excited.