Private - Tracey and me only

"Yeah, but I can get it, you're the one who's supposed to be takin' it easy babe." she said going over to the fridge and opening it.

"but i've been sleeping all day," he sighed. "I'm all stiff."

"You can stretch a little bit, but you still have to relax." she told him looking in the fridge.

"That leaves you to do all the work," he shook his head. "You have school during the day. You need to relax when you get home."

"I don't mind baby..." she said quietly turning around to kiss him lightly "It keeps me occupied...usually all my relaxation time is spent with Hope..." she sighed sadly looking at the boxes of apple juice that were there for her and sighed a little.

He looked up at her sadly. "We need to cheer you up," he took her hand and squeezed it gently.

She smiled halfheartedly at him and squeezed his hand back as she got out some fruit punch with the other hand.

He frowned. This was no good. He needed to hurry up and heal so he could get back to work. They needed Hope in their lives, in their arms, where the girl would know, without a doubt, how much her parents loved her.

She let go of his hand to grab the glasses out of the cupboard and she started to pour the fruit punch.

"We'll get her back soon, sweetheart," he promised softly.

"I know..." she said softly.

"Don't be so sad," he begged quietly.

"It's hard." she whispered softly.

"I know it is, baby," he told her gently. "You and Hope are everything to me. I hate only having one of you, but it's better than being separated from both of you. I wouldn't be able to handle that again."

She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his neck.

He leaned his head against hers. "We'll get this all sorted out soon. Then Hope can come home and we can all be together again."

She nodded, "It's just so hard...." she groaned burring her head in his neck farther inhaling the scent of his neck, breathing in deeply.

"I know, sweetheart, I know," he hugged her close, wishing he could make her feel better.