"Funny Story That," Elizabeth Laughed Remembering The Day Charlie And Anna Met Wally. "My Best Friend

"Funny story that," Elizabeth laughed remembering the day Charlie and Anna met Wally. "My best friend thought the same about Wally when my godson went back home and told them he had a new friend. When they meet Wally, they were surprised, to say the least. They also were also glad that he didn't turn out to be some creeper. So you guys share that in common."

She held up two fingers on her right hand, "That's all I ever do, be brutally honest at times. Scouts honor." Making a mental note about learning a good peach cobbler pie recipe, she moved and nodded as to let him know that she was listening to what he was saying only to be met with another wave of emotions that she didn't know how to react. One moment they had been talking about Dolly, the next it was about how Wally's life had changed that day they met. A small piece of her felt guilty, knowing that he had always known what had taken her a long time to figure out. The statement also had her think over just how much she had changed too. Wally had changed her life in a way she didn't think possible. "I think we both changed each other, I know he changed me for the better. I hope I didn't change him for the worse."

She was taking in everything Jim was saying, glad to be able to talk to someone freely about how she felt about everything. With Charlie and Anna it was easy, she left and came like the breeze whenever she felt like it, no need to stick around when she wasn't needed. This was different. She wanted to be here. She wanted to get to know them all, but there would always be that piece of her that told her she didn't deserve it. That she didn't fit in and that they all deserved better but listening to him talk about what he had seen between the two of them, just made her happy. There was a time where being read so well by someone would be a death sentence to her, a grave mistake, but this observation just made her glad that everyone could see how much she did care.

"When did you two realize there was something more between you?" As always, she would never miss out in hearing a good story especially about her boyfriends family who never disappointed with a good one. "At least I'm in good company in this pond." Nodding in agreement, she followed his lead, getting up to purchase the couple of items she had her mind on. "Which one?" She asked generally curious about which book he had seen in her hand. In the last couple of weeks she had began to carry two books around when she had her bag with her. One that her therapist had suggested and a fiction novel for when she needed a break from all the real world things that were occurring. "You a big reader?"

He appreciated the kindness Liz showed him and his family. "I am not going to lie but I felt a little uneasy when Annie came back and said she had met her new friend. I was thinking a child but come to find it was an adult. But I am glad that you didn't turn out to be a creeper." A small little joke to ease any lingering nerves.

"I can't have sugary treats. They make my teeth hurt and you're right. Things are too sweet for the sake of being too sweet are usually covering up for something. Usually how bad they really are. Peach cobbler here is really good. Just the right amount but you need to promise you will tell me your thoughts afterwards."

"He can be slightly overprotective sometimes. A trait he shares with his sisters actually. Which when you think about it is funny since he's the most easy going of the lot. But, yeah" he nodded as the time was remembered. Wally had been the baby of the family and he got to see him grow up and go through all his awkward phases just like he did his own brothers. "He really did make us work for it. You'd think being godfather to our children helped our cause but it did not." Jim chuckled thinking he was so silly. "I remember he had a week assignment on the mainland and he nearly missed his flight because he didn't want to let us dogsit. Suffice to say Meli wrestled him down until he relented. It was purely separation anxiety. Which I get. But when he gets stubborn he gets stubborn. Though, I don't know if you believe in it or not but fate would be that it was the trip he met you." Story details were a little fuzzy still but he knew the fact that Wally had come back a changed man after that encounter. "He denies this but you changed him that day."

Jim laughed knowing how daunting that could be. "I understand how that could trigger some sort of anxiety but everyone's journey is different. It took me a while to realize that too. I think either you have figured or Wally has told you that I am a half sibling. But I was never treated like one. Not for the lack of similar looks, everyone thinks we're all fully related, but coming to terms with not being the outsider looking in takes time. And maybe that is why you and I got along better because there is an understanding here that no one else can really relate to. You met your one when it was the time it needed to happen. I met my wife as an awkward seven year old but we didn't date until years later. We kept being pushed together because we had two weddings back to back for our siblings to attend to. So, you know, we didn't really make it easy on ourselves. It's easy to let yourself get drowned with the what ifs but you and Wally just go. I turn into a creeper when I see you two interacting and it is just easy to see. The love is there. The playfulness of friendship dancing between you is obvious. Watching you with him, I just get it. It's not in your face but it's there. You'd do anything for him and he'd do the same for you. He's always been affectionate because that's how he is but with you, there's a deeper level to it." Jim chuckled and nodded, stretching his legs to get up. "Guess that makes us the odd ducks of the family. We should really finish up and get to that ice cream shop before I melt into this sofa cushion. Maybe you can tell me more about that book I saw you carrying around the other day."

"Oh, no. No shame here either." She giggled, she was never ashamed of anything that had to do with her husband. Slightly embarrassed when it was brought up, maybe, but never ashamed. "Just reminiscing about a moment in time that you caught me by surprise is all." Her giggle was quickly replaced by small moans as he continued to bite and kiss her. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to stay quiet, as her teeth sunk into her bottom lip to keep from stirring the kids awake.

"Not a problem," she managed to choke out in a breathy sigh. "Love trying." As she kissed one of his dimples, the words then seemed to register in her mind. " Are you saying you want to try again?" If there was one thing that could be said for their life now, it was that for as much as she had teased him plenty of times for not being able to say no to others, it also didn't seem to be in her vocabulary either whenever he needed or wanted something. The thought of their family growing again did make her smile. Maybe they could have one more boy to round out the kids evenly. From history it would take a couple of tries but like he said, trying was half the fun.

"Hmm," she moaned into the kiss as she felt his fingers thread through her hair and then trace a trail down the side of her face. "Screw it." Was declared suddenly as she pulled back. "You're right. You call and see who's available. I'll go get the kids ready." Before she got up, she leaned down and kissed him again, nibbling softly on his lower lip before pulling back. "Oh, that reminds me," a devious grin coming to her face as she pulled off of him. "I had something I was saving for our anniversary but today feels as good as any to show it to you," Standing up she began to make her way to the door. "But once the kids are gone."

Wally couldn't help the breathy laugh that escaped him. That day and memory vividly making its presence known in his mind. Nothing really compared to the real thing in having her and holding her but that memory was top of the list. A mischievous grin overtook his features for a millisecond and he knew she could read him like a book. "Ah but we didn't get caught. Our quick thinking saved us that day. Though, if you're looking for shame. I can't help you there. It was the first time I got a reaction like that from you when I went right below your ear." That cocky grin showed as his eyes shimmered. "I also wasn't above flashing the badge." He wouldn't have and was happy when he didn't have to use it when he was out and about and not in a suit.

Feeling her body arch into him gave him such a boost of confidence that he could still hit those spots for her that'd make her body writhe against his. He licked over his bite mark he had left and held a satisfactory grin in doing so. Not wanting the other side to be left out he went over and started to sink his teeth into her soft skin. "Mmm," he murmured, leaving a hot trail of kisses down her neck to her collarbone.

She elicited a choked out moan from him as her fingers tangled in his hair. He truly enjoyed when she'd do that and would often never miss an opportunity to let her know. He chuckled as he pulled away and smirked at her. "You're saying that like that's a problem." Having kids under the age of five close together wasn't something most people would find fun but they weren't by any means conventional. "You said it, trying is half the fun." There was his dimpled grin showing off for her the way it did when he wanted her to bend.

"They owe us," he nipped at her neck as the words escaped between bites. How many nights had they'd been put on babysitting duty or been cockblocked by his brother in law's work call in the middle of the night all because they were the closest. "Can't complain about babysitting when they never really ask us. They just assume we're ready." What surprised him if only momentarily was the way she flipped them so she was now on top. Taking the opportunity his fingers glided down her sides and made a path down her thighs. Eyes staring at her like she was the moon. He knew that smile his wife had just provided him. It was one of those that had her thinking, possibly reminiscing. It didn't have a twinge of sadness so he knew it wasn't of her life prior to this but of theirs. Their tangled lives ending up together. Never would the words she had just come out with, not have the intended effect on him. His smile grew a little wider as he leaned into her hand and nuzzled her wedding band. "As I love you," he kissed her back with the same fervor she showed and brought one of his hands up to thread his fingers through her hair making a pit stop at her jaw and rubbed a digit against it.

"Ah," a wide smile on her face. " The quiet technique. I recall that technique failing you last week when you decided to accompany me on my shopping trip. I think they have our picture back there from now on to keep us from being in there together now." Oh, a dare. An eyebrow quirked, glance shot his way, if it was a challenge he wanted, it was a challenge she'd be up to. Many ideas of how to make him let that cute little sound she liked to hear out of him so she won first. Well, by then they both would win but that was neither here nor there.

"Hmm." She agreed as she put her phone down in her lap, not letting go of his hand in her other one. Grabbing his phone, she did as he asked. Talking as she wrote a quick text back to his mom. "I don't think it's a nightmare." She knew what his mother's goal was with the events and she admired not just the action but the person that the actions were coming from. She had come to love his mother. His family. "I can help you with it if you like. However I can, I know you don't like doing them much." The fact that his mother had included her had slipped past her until he pointed it out. It made her sit up a little bit more straight, made her feel more cared about than she ever had before. "Me too," she said softly before putting his phone back down and picking hers back up.

She felt happy tears well up in her eyes at his statement and began to blink them away before nodding. He had been right, again. As long as it was him that she was sharing this adventure with it would be perfect. They could always come back another time to do anything they missed. "Yes," the excitement began to build up again. "A hotel in Reykjavík. We'll rest, and recharge for an hour or so." Thankfully they were traveling light so they wouldn't have to hassle with much. "Then we can see the city for a bit, grab something to eat, and do the whale-watching tour. It's about three hours long, there's also a whale museum we can visit after and where we can get plenty of souvenirs." With that, she put her phone back into her pocket and excitedly waited for him to park so they could begin their adventure. The excited energy began to feed into a nervous one as they got a step closer to her plan with every second. "Do you know that there are over twenty different species of whales in the waters? A lot of people call them the singers of the sea."

"Me?" Wally chuckled as he made a turn on the left lane. "We can't be banned if we operate on the quiet technique. Maybe bite a shirt or something. We're really good at stealth. As I recall you're the queen of stealth. You're just being a scaredy cat. Never thought I'd see the day," he murmured giving her a hard time. Honestly, he could come up with ways to lean into naughty ways without even getting up from their seats.

"Oh, sorry it must have been my other hazel eyed princess, Lila who had said that." Amusement danced in his voice as he shook his head. He squeezed back as he hadn't looked over at her. "I bet I could coax out my bratty babe to misbehave on the plane. Hmm," he pretended to think about it and smirked. He would never deny that whenever she let her bratty side out he enjoyed it.

He could feel her eyes on him but couldn't really turn to ask what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers. Keeping his focus on the road as they boarded the ramp to get to the next exit which was the airport. He heard the ding of his phone which Liz had on her side he took a quick glance over and read the first part from his mom. Winter ball and bring Ellie. She had taken to giving Liz her own nickname wanting to break apart from the pack and smiled as he shook his head. "Worst nightmare. Winter ball. Could you text her back and tell her we will talk later." He had forgotten about the end of year festivities since he wasn't in charge and usually Lu was. But this year she was not in the best state of mind so he was the next up. Meli was already handling behind the scenes that left him to be the face. Moments like this he actually thought about taking up more cases to keep from having to do this. "I love that she automatically includes you."

"No matter how much we get to do, as long as we get to do it together, I'll think this was the best trip ever. I promise you. It sounds perfect because it'll be with you. Also do you know where we're headed as soon as we land?"