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"Well, not everyone is as busy as my baby so they can all," Trevor's eyes shot down to their seven year old twins, Jonathan, a. k. a. "Johnnie", and Sebastian and their six year old twins, Mathew and Jessica, who were all looking up at their father innocently, too innocently, Zoe noted, "go suck an egg," Trevor finished, pursing his face up like he swallowed a lemon much to the children's' delight.
Zoe narrowed her eyes on the two sets of fraternal twins, and she thanked god everyday that they weren't identical because she really didn't know how she'd handle the little deviants if she couldn't even tell them apart, and wondered what they were up to now. When all four of them turned those charming Bradford smiles on her she knew it was going to be bad.
Very bad.
"What did you do?" she demanded, trying to cross her arms over her chest and look stern, but unfortunately for her it never really had much of an effect on her kids.
"Why, whatever do you mean, mommy?" Sebastian, the perfect picture of innocence, asked. Like the rest of his siblings he had her hair and eyes, but his father's devastatingly good looks and charm and wasn't afraid to use them.
"What did you kids-" Trevor started to say, no doubt noting the sweet smiles on their faces and becoming as frightened as she was, only to be interrupted when one of the cashiers, a pretty blonde in her late twenties who'd been eying Trevor like candy since they'd walked in, announced that their order was ready. After giving the children a look of warning he gave her a quick kiss and went to the counter to get the boxes of baked goods.
Johnnie gave her that same smile he gave her when his teacher, who'd been trembling and sobbing at the time, informed her that he believed the twins had been the ones to lock him in the closet with the school's pet snake, "Choppers. " She hadn't bought his innocent act then and she wasn't buying it now.
"Remember what your father and I said earlier. If either one of you does anything bad then we're not going to your Uncle Jason and Aunt Haley's today," she said, knowing how much the kids adored Jason and Haley and refused to see them as anything less than their aunt and uncle. It was the same way for Jason and Haley's kids with them, but Jason and Haley's kids didn't scare the holy hell out of them with their innocent little smiles.
"But, we're being good," Jessica said, trying to give her the pouty innocent look that usually worked on her father.
"Really good," Mathew added with a hurt smile that was threatening to break out into a full grin. The boy really needed to work on his innocent act and judging by the scowl Johnnie was sending him he agreed and would probably look into the matter later.
Zoe closed her eyes for a moment. "Please don't let us end up on the ten o'clock news again," she mumbled, wishing she was back home in the large spa-like bathroom Trevor built for her as a belated wedding gift. Over the years it had become her refuge, the one place she went to relax and recuperate after dealing with the twins, both sets. She'd lost count of how many times she'd handed the children over to Trevor as soon as he stepped foot into the house and escaped to her bathroom where she usually stayed for a good three to four hours until Trevor came to get her after he'd put the kids to bed to help her relax in other ways.
"It was the eleven o'clock news," Sebastian proudly pointed out.
She opened her eyes just in time to catch all four children grinning hugely at the reminder of their fifteen minutes of fame. When they realized she was looking at them their expressions once again became innocent, even Mathew's. Hmm, he was learning quickly, she noted, not exactly sure how she should feel about that other than terrified that is.
"We didn't do anything, mommy. I don't know why you don't trust us," Johnnie said, giving her a wounded look as he gave her a little shrug. "We've been-"
"Hey, what the hell is wrong with my cell phone?" a man who'd been standing next to them not five minutes ago demanded loudly.
"There's something wrong with mine, too!" the woman who'd tried to cut in front of them earlier said, sounding pretty pissed.
"Mine, too!" someone else yelled.
"Why the hells are my settings in Japanese?" someone else demanded, but Zoe wasn't looking at them. She was looking at her four children, who if physically possible were looking even more innocent.
"Let's go," Trevor said, suddenly by her side with an armful of white bakery boxes as he herded their children out of the bakery, no doubt already having put two and two together.
No one said a word as they climbed into the minivan and the boxes were placed in the back, minus the large chocolate chip cookie Trevor was nibbling on. He climbed into the driver's seat and shot the children a warning glare. "I don't know what you did in there," he held up his hand in a stopping motion when all four kids opened their mouths, no doubt to protest their innocence, "and I don't care. But whoever acts up tonight will be spending the entire night with your great Aunt Judie and will only be allowed to eat tossed salad and drink water," he threatened and Zoe had to turn her face and bite her lip to stop from laughing, especially when all the children gasped loudly, sounding horrified. To a Bradford a meal based on lettuce, veggies and water was pure hell and her kids were very much Bradfords.
"You wouldn't," Johnnie protested, but didn't sound so sure and for good reason. Trevor never made promises he didn't keep and the kids knew that.
"Try me," Trevor said evenly, making Zoe smile.
He was such a wonderful father, sweet, attentive, but firm when the kids needed it, and boy did they need it often. From the second he held the boys in his arms he'd been a very hands on father. He always did his fair share with the kids and usually more when she needed a break or had work to do. No matter how tired he was he never complained or put the kids off if they wanted to spend time with him.
"B-but she just came back from antique doll convention," Mathew pointed out desperately.
"She'll have pictures! Lots and lots of pictures!" Sebastian cried, sounding close to panic.
"And you'll be spending the entire party with her if you act up or convince any of the other kids to act up," Trevor promised. "Am I understood?"
"Yes, daddy," came the unified muttered response from the backseat.
"Good," Trevor said, wiping the cookie crumbs off on his pants before he reached over and took her hand into his. She placed her other hand over his and absently traced shapes on his hand as he caressed her palm with his thumb.
Even after all these years it still surprised her that he loved her. The fact that he could probably have any woman he wanted and he'd chosen her still humbled her. She would never be thin, gorgeous or sexy, but Trevor didn't seem to care. Actually, when she voiced her opinion on the matter he got really pissed and informed her that she was the sexiest woman he'd ever laid eyes on and then proceeded to prove it to her.
Repeatedly.
It only proved how much he loved her, which was all that mattered to her.
"We're here!" Jessica said excitedly.
Zoe looked over at the large two level dusk grey home and couldn't help but smile as she did every time she saw it even though five years had passed since it was built. The guys had done such a wonderful job building Haley's dream home. It was warm and inviting just like Haley. But as much as she loved the house that her family worked hard to build it was the old Colonial home that Trevor renovated for her that she absolutely adored.
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