Bad Luck or Fate?

Vacation

"You're sure this is just a family vacation? This isn't going to turn into a business trip like the last three hiatuses?" I grabbed Breckyn's bag from her and slung it over my shoulder as she furrowed her brow and put her hands on her hips. "Hiatus? Hiati? Which one is it?"

I chuckled as I helped Thomas out of the shuttle that brought us to our resort. "Big step, T-Man!" He grabbed my hand and power hopped off the last step, landing on my side and monkey crawling up me to sit on my shoulders. "Good job, you little monkey!" Thomas leaned down and drummed on my biceps that held onto his legs. "Thanks, Daddy!" I relished at him still calling me Daddy even though he was pushing 7 years old. It won't be like this for long, I reminded myself.

"I think it's hiatus or hiatuses both but either way, the answer is no. This won't turn into a business trip." I assured her, taking Winnie's phone out of my pocket and handing it to her as she stepped off the shuttle herself. "All charged up and ready to go pretty girl! But.." I added as she took the phone and started to use her thumbs at lightning speed. She looked up at me, still typing away. This kid, I swear. "Try to enjoy what's going on around you and when we do something as a family, I want it turned off and in the room. Understood?"

"Yes, Dad." She said earnestly. I took one arm off Thomas' leg and held out just my pinky. "Promise?" Winnie looked down at my hand and gave a slight smile. "Promise." She said happily as she hooked her pinky around mine, the crooked parts matching together perfectly. I kissed my fist and she kissed hers and before I knew it, she was walking in front of Breckyn and I, texting away while Thomas bounced up and down on my shoulders, humming to himself.

"Are you sure it's not a business trip?" She asked again. I growled, looking down to my side and making eye contact with those incredible blue greens of hers. A little more blue than green today. That was a good sign. Her eyes changed on her mood and blue meant happy. I called them her mood eyes.

And God I love this woman, but sometimes she's a pain in the ass.

"Well, I don't think Lorne could fit in my carry on, so yeah babe..." I took my hand off our little boy's knee and intertwined our hands, thumbing her wedding ring with my thumb. "I'm positive this is just a family vacation. Nothing more." I leaned to the side, Thomas coming with me as I kissed her lips gently. "Nothing less." I whispered with a smile as Thomas made kissing sounds above us.

"I just know that work has a way of rearing its ugly head. Especially on vacation. And especially Lorne." I looked down at her and nodded understandably as she let go of my hand and grabbed Thomas' face as he leaned off my shoulder. "Isn't that right Thomas?"

Okay. She's kind of always a pain in my ass but she always has been and I wouldn't want it differently.

"No work..no work.. no work." She began to chant as she smothered him in kisses, making him giggle. One of my favorite sounds in this world. And feeling his laughter on the back of my head and thunder throughout my body was the best feeling in the world.

"No work! No work! No work!"

Thomas was now leaning down and yelling, more like growling, this in my ear while Breckyn did the same, hooking her fingers into my belt loops and walking backwards in front of me. Even Winnie was chanting along, holding her phone up, clearly snapchatting this exchange.

"You've turned my children against me."

Breckyn smiled as if she were completely innocent, and even though that was not the case, it melted my heart just the same.

"We are her kids too, Dad!" Winnie piped up from in front of us. I smiled apologetically and nodded. "You're right, Winn. She is very much your mother too. I'm sorry."