Returning home later that night, Evangeline sighed and put her purse and keys on a nearby table. She'd had a hectic day at work, taking care of babies and parents. She loved babies, but they were tiring. She had a baby of her own to take care of, after all. Speaking of her baby. . . Evangeline looked around the darkened room with the glow of the television the only light. Sprawled out on the couch was Kellen with Reuben laying peacefully on top of his stomach. Smiling slightly, she flicked off The Backyardigans and picked Reuben up. Gently changing him into his pajamas, she tucked him into bed and kissed him goodnight before heading back downstairs. Walking over to the couch again, she gently knelt down beside Kellen and pulled his shoes off as nicely as she could before plumping the pillow behind his head and covering him with a blanket. All of Reuben seemed to be intact, sos he didn't need to worry about killing him. He looked too peaceful, like he'd had a long day and planned to sleep for days, and she just could bring herself to wake him from that. Lightly touching his forehead, Evangeline gave him a soft kiss on the temple before grabbing a bag of PopTarts and a Gatorade and going upstairs.

Changing out of her work clothes, she pulled on sweatpants and a tank top before sitting in bed and turning on the t.v. while she ate. She was starving, and the cinnamon flavored PopTarts filled her up. Downing the Gatorade, she brushed her teeth and checked on reuben before crawling back into bed and falling almost immediately asleep. She began dreaming of Kellen, sleeping beside her, gold rings on both of their left ring fingers and a diamond an hers also. That enough was alone to bug her, but what got her the most was her belly, big and round, nestled between their two bodies. Shocked, she tried to wake up but was too deep in sleep to try too hard. Evangeline believed that some dreams did come true, like deja vu', and in her unconcious mind, she swore to herself that her dream would never come true. she was done having Kellen Scott's babies, and she would never ever marry him. He'd broken her heart once, and she wasn't about to let him do it again.

Kellen's temple still tingled from where Evangeline's lips had touched it a few minutes ago. The kiss was like one she would give to Reuben, but in his eyes it was a kiss all the same. Opening his eyes, he sighed and threw back the blanket Evangeline had placed over him. He'd woken up the minute he felt her fingers working at his shoelaces, and had stayed silent just to see what else she'd do. He was glad he'd kept his eyes closed, because he doubted he would have gotten that kiss otherwise. heading for the stairs, he peeked in on Reuben, who was sleeping peacefully, a content look on his face. He couldn't believe how much his son looked like him. Kellen was amazed at what a little mini-me Evangeline had blessed him with. Reuben was also funny and caring and was very smart. Smiling to himself, Kellen walked down the hall to Evangeline's room and peeked his head in. She was asleep, but her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she was having a weird or confusing dream and even in her unconcious mind she was trying to find out what it meant. then she got a determined look on her face like she'd made a choice and smield slightly before her expression softened into one of a vulnerable sleeper. Kellen had always liked that Evangeline was as expressive in sleep as she was when she was awake. Kellen used to like laying next to her and watching her sleep. He'd lay with her meshed against him and examine her face as her expression changed. He'd come to know every line and plane of her face, and he could tell he still did.

Walking all the way into the room, Kellen cautiously sat down on the side of the bed Evangeline was sleeping on and placed a hand lightly on her back. She shifted around to face him and sighed, moving Kellen's hand along her back. Taking in a deep breath, he stood up and went back downstairs, not at all sure he could be in a bedroom with Evangeline and keep his control. Laying back down, he flipped on the t.v. to a random comedy show and slowly fell asleep, where he dreamed of being married to Evangeline and her being pregnant. It was a dream he didn't at all mind, and he could easily imagine being married to Evangeline and having many more munchkins. It seemed like as soon as the dream was over, a little body jumped on him, and groaning, he slightly opened one eye and saw a giggling Reuben on top of him.

     "What is it, buddy?" He asked, his voice scratchy and dry.

     "Get up daddy!" It's already eight clock!" He said hapily, jumping up and down.

     "Eight o' clock?" He asked incredulously, closing his eyes, ready for more sleep. He'd taken two weeks off of work, and he intended to enjoy them in every way possible, including sleeping in.

     "Uh huh! I wanna play with you! Please daddy?" Reuben asked, his eyes going big, making it impossible for Kellen to say no.

     "Alright, alright. Get off me so I can shower and change then we can go outside. Is your mom awake?" Kellen asked, moving his son from his stomach and standing up.

     "No, I went in to ask her to play with me and she said to wake you up and make you."

     "She did, huh?" Reuben nodded his head furiously, and Kellen put a hand to his day's worth of stubble.

     "Well, tell her that daddy wants her to make us pancakes for breakfast and that I'd like them done before I got out of the shower, okay?" Reuben nodded again and headed upstairs, a goofy grin on his face, much like the one Kellen got when eh was going to do something he thought was funny. Yep, Reuben was definately his son. Grabbing his duffel bag, heheaded into the bathroom and started up the shower, ready for a new day.

     "Reuben, get off me please," Evangeline pleaded, rubbing her eyes and looking at the clock. Eight ten!

     "Mommy, mommy, mommy, daddy and I want pamcakes for breakfast!" He said excitedly, standing up and jumping excitedly up and down dangerously near her head.

     "Can't it wait till later?" She groaned, burying her ehad in her pillow.

     "Uh-uh. Daddy wants them by the time he gets out of the shower."

     "He does, huh? Well, okay Let's get downstairs," Evangeline said, pushing back the covers and standing up. Reuben raced downstairs, and Evangeline made her way to the kitchen.

Grabbing the pancake mix, she stirred all the ingredients together and made te fluffy food, handing Reuben a plate with four mini pancakes on it then making two for herself. She made Kellen's next, but put hot sauce in his stack of six, feeling very devious. Smiling slightly when he came out, Evangeline pointed to the plate of pancakes on the counter, stuffing her face to keep from laughing. She looked Kellen over in appreciation, admiring his snug jeans, gray cotton shirt, slightly damp hair, and rugged, unshaven face. He sat down next to her, kissing Reuben and then her on the forehead. She couldn't let Kellen eat those, and she leaned in and 'accidentally' knocked his plate off the table/

     "Oops!! I'll clean that up and make you some new pancakes, Kellen," Evangeline said guiltily. He looked at her in confusion, but didn't protest when she tossed his pancakes and made him a new stack.

     "Thanks babe. I didn't really mean it when i said you had to make pancakes, though," he said quietly, leaning toward her.

     "It's okay. Reuben wanted them, and they did sound appealing."

     "Sure thing. So buddy," he said, turning his attention back to Reuben. "How about going to the zoo today?" He asked excitedly, looking up at their son.

     "Yay!!" Reuben cheered, nearly dropping his fork.

     "We need to get you dressed and then we can go, okay? Do you wanna come, Evangeline?"

     "Sure, I could use a day out, and I'm off so it works out good."

     "Yay," Kellen cheered in a low voice, catching Evangeline's attention. She didn't know what he meant by that, but when he took her hand under the table, she didn't take her hand away like her head ws telling her. She listened to her heart and left it there.