After Megan called to tell him they delayed her discharge, he asked Kristi if she would keep the kids while he finished his surprise.

"Who would believe that four kids are easier than two, but it's true."

He was serious about his offer to sit with Megan, but he realized it was just as well he didn't. He reminded himself that it was not like with the twins. They weren't married anymore. The delay gave him a chance to get more work done.

He spent the morning sanding and meticulously cleaning up the mess he made. His mother had taught him how to clean and the room was definitely cleaner when he was finished than when he started. Cleaning couldn't have been easy for her the past month or so.

Kristy had already fed the kids when he broke for lunch. She offered him grilled cheese, and he accepted.

"So you saw the baby."

"Yes. She's cute."

"Megan looks great doesn't she?"

He shook his head. "Kristi, what answer are you looking for and would you believe me, if I don't answer the way you want me to?"

"I don't know what you mean." She smiled.

"Well if I say, I didn't notice, you wouldn't believe me."

"Did you notice?"

"I noticed that she looked happy and completely in awe of her baby. Thanks for lunch. If you don't mind having them longer, I'd like to put a coat of paint on."

"Go. Go, but I know the truth."

"What truth?"

"My secret." She motioned locking up her lips and throwing away the key.

He thought about what she meant while he cut the edge by the ceiling with the paintbrush. It was a job that required a steady hand and concentration. Later as he rolled the paint onto the wall, he decided that Kristi had figured out that he loved Megan - not that it was a huge secret. He felt like everyone knew except for Megan.

He and Megan had painted most of the house. A lot of their work was less than perfect, but when he painted the twins' room at his place John gave him some pointers and his skill improved. When he finished the wall, it was the best one in the house. He moved the bookcase in place leaving it about an inch from the still wet wall. He also centered it as it had been oddly off centered all those years hiding the hole. He felt good, because it had been a task he had promised to do when he was still her husband.

He received a text from her explaining that they were waiting on one last test and she should be ready within the hour. He was done with his project and had changed his clothes. The infant car seat was in his car and her house looked nice for her homecoming.

The twins were excited on the way to the hospital. They rushed into their mother's room and threw themselves at her.

"Have they sprung you yet?"

"I just finished signing everything."

"Is she alright?" He put the empty infant carrier down by the bassinet.

"Yes, for now. I need to take her to the pediatrician on Sunday to double check."

"We need to get your car back to you. I haven't asked anyone."

"We can swing by now."

"Do you feel up to driving?"

"I'm perfectly fine."

In the car, he asked, "Where do you want them tonight?"

"Oh, I don't know. I've missed them and they'll be gone this weekend."

"It's up to you. I'll help in any way you need. Let me get something for dinner and help tonight for a little while."

She agreed. At his apartment, he switched the baby to her car with Sophie who insisted on staying with mommy. Nick stayed with Peter. They stopped at the store for a rotisserie chicken, store-prepared mashed potatoes and salad fixings. On a whim he went back through the bakery for some whoopie pies. They were always Megan's favorite.

He wished he had seen her enter the house. He carried in the groceries and went back for Megan's bags from the hospital.

Megan came out of her room. "I can't believe you did that! Thank you."

"Thank Kristi. She ended up with the kids all day so I could finish."

"I will. They're coming over after they have dinner."

"Sit. I'll have food ready in about five minutes." It had been a long time since he worked in this kitchen.

He loved her with a baby in her arms. It was so familiar and reminded him of when they were together. True to his word, it was ready for them to sit down in short order. They felt like a real family. He wondered if she felt it too.

Peter automatically got up and cleared the table. He was cleaning the kitchen when the gang from across the street arrived. When Kristi saw him cleaning, she said, "I need to find myself one of those."

Megan said, "He's single."

Dan said, "She's not!"

Peter called from the kitchen. "I hear you."

When he came out, Kristi was showing Megan a huge pile of gifts from diapers to little pink clothes. She was gushing. "I had so much fun shopping."

Peter went to stand next to Dan who was looking at the sleeping baby. "Do you want to hold her?"

Dan said, "No thanks."

Peter picked her up himself. He hadn't held her since the day before. She was all scrunched up and fit like a little ball in his arms. He loved her baby smell.

Kristi said, "Dan, look at him. You hardly held your own babies."

He protested slightly, and Peter rescued him. "I had no choice with twins."

Dan said, "I can't imagine. We'd probably be divorced too."

Everyone looked at him, but it was Megan who spoke. "Divorced is better than dead."

Peter thought it was getting depressing. "Kristi, do you want a turn?"

She apparently felt the need to lighten things up. "A turn with you or the baby?"

"The baby. You couldn't handle me."

Megan said, "Do we need to leave you two alone?"

"No, I'll be good." Kristi took the baby from him.

Peter suddenly felt awkward. He hugged the twins and left.

When he arrived home, he took a shower and went to bed. Everything seemed weird with his friends. He was asleep and didn't see Megan's text until morning.

He woke early and saw that he had a text message. It read, Thank you for the wall. It looks perfect. Thanks for all your help.

He went for a run, and when he came back, he cleaned up his own apartment. He had a minute before he needed to get the twins. He had been avoiding looking if his father responded. He answered; I wanted to reach out to you first, my only son.

He didn't know what to do. He had hoped he messaged his sisters too. He replied: What is it you really want from me?

When he arrived, Sophie let him in. She was telling him that the baby cried at night.

He said, "You did too, a lot."

Megan was on the sofa nursing, looking beautiful. She looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm still going back and forth with..."

Sophie who was right there next to the baby, so he didn't say more.

"What d'you say?"

"I asked what he wanted. Can I wait a week before I check back?"

She laughed. "You can wait as long as you want."

She finished feeding and held the baby out to him. He took her and burped her. Megan suddenly looked shocked. "I don't know why I did that."

"Because you always did, so you could burp the other one. She is bringing back a flood of memories and not all of them are bad. Some were really good."

"I know." She breathed.