Billy frowned up at her, pausing a moment before sticking his tongue out. "It is! It definitely is." Alex responded in the affirmative, thumping his hand on Daddy's chest and letting out a little cry.

"Yep, that seals it. You're already a tough little guy. We're gonna practice walking again later, right?" Of course, of course. Alex looked delighted at the hair falling on him, playing and tugging while Ronnie worked on her husband's sore muscles.

"Come on now, Alex. We can't relax and play if you keep that up." He turned crimson at Ronnie's suggestion, the thought of the children stampeding upstairs in his mind. It had been so long...well, comparatively long anyway. A few weeks. But the kids!

"That trek through the woods might've done it, love, but...the kids. What are they going to do?"

As if to answer that question, Marina and Shari stormed back into the room, immediately jockeying for position on Billy's lap. "Papa! Papa, you're gonna play with us, right?"

"You brought us something, right?"

Billy laughed, shifting Alex in order to make them comfortable. "Of course I did, I couldn't forget you! Go open my bag, you'll find something there."

They would find brand new hula hoops, ones that could automatically adjust for optimum usage and light up in their favorite colors.