"Evan already called us. Time to get up!"

    Tarquin didn''t even bother opening his eyes, just mumbledzily, "Let me snooze a bit longer."

    Elysia pinched his cheek hard.

    "Snooze, my foot! The kids are all up and here we are, stillzing around. Aren''t you even a little embarrassed?"

    Tarquin just shed his annoyingly charming smile, eyes still closed. "Not embarrassed at all. Where''s the rule that says parents have to get up before the kids?"

    "Shameless! Get up! If you don''t, I''m really gonna lose it!"

    Tarquin finally peeked an eye open,shes fluttering, looking like he''d just stepped out of aic book. "Morning kiss?"

    Elysia leaned in and gave his chin a yful bite. "Morn-ing!"

    Tarquin chuckled, grabbed her chin, and nted a firm kiss on her lips, eyes full of affection. "Good morning."

    Elysia rolled her eyes, threw off the covers, and headed for the bathroom.

    Last night, Tarquin had taken his time but had been gentle. And since he only wanted her once, she didn''t feel ufortable this morning.

    As Elysia started brushing her teeth, Tarquin followed right behind.

    She brushed. He brushed.

    He stood so close behind her that his chest pressed into her back, resting his chin right on top of her head.

    Elysia stared at their reflection in the mirror,pletely exasperated. She rinsed her mouth and then red at him in the mirror. “Are you nning to drip toothpaste foam all over my hair?"

    Tarquin turned to rinse his mouth, then immediately plopped his chin back on her head, grinning at their reflection. "Hey, are my teeth white?"

    Elysia rolled her eyes so hard it could''ve been an Olympic sport. "Are you five years old? Move!"

    Tarquin wouldn''t budge. "Let me see if yours are whiter."

    Elysia bared her teeth at the mirror. "Whiter than yours!"

    He spun her around by the shoulders. "Let me get a good look."

    One look led to another, and soon he was kissing her...

    The kiss got deeper and deeper until Elysia, flustered and red-faced, stomped on his toe.

    "Ow! Are you trying to kill your husband?" Tarquin yelped.

    She was breathless, cheeks burning. "Why do you have to be like this? Get out, I don''t want to brush my teeth with you!"

    She tried to push him out, but Tarquin just stood there,ughing "C''mon, the kids and your folks are downstairs waiting. If we hurry up and share, we''ll save time.

    Elysia shot him a murderous re. "You are so annoying in the morning. Behave, or else!"

    ...

    By the time they finally made it downstairs, half an hour had passed.

    As soon as they appeared, Baby dashed to the bottom of the stairs. "Daddy! Mommy!"

    Seeing the whole family waiting for them, Elysia felt her face burn with embarrassment. She gave Tarquin a not-so-subtle kick, then rushed down to scoop Baby up in her arms.

    She kissed her daughter''s cheek. "Baby, you all ready?"

    "Uh-huh! Mommy, I want to take Lan with us skiing. Grandpa says Lan''s brave enough."

    Baby was hugging Lan close to her chest.

    Elysia nodded. "If you want to bring Lan, we''ll bring him. Let''s all go together."

    Most bunnies tend to get skittish in

    new ces but Lan was different. Maybe it was from hanging out e for so long-Lan was.

    Baby had taken Lan to all sorts of ces, and he''d never been scared.

    Now,pared to when Keith first brought him over, Lan had grown twice the size-round and fluffy, like a tiny teddy bear.

    Lan was a gift from Keith. Every time Elysia saw the bunny, she thought of him.

    If Keith were still here, he''d be glued to Baby''s side, just like Lan is now.

    Some things, she supposed, just never got easier.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!