The sun had nearly set by the time they'd reached the car. It wasn't however, difficult to find. A flock of seagulls had taken it for a toilet sometime during the afternoon, spotting the bonnet and windscreen with bird dung.

"Oh, great!" Lee groaned. His shoulders sagged as they approached the car. "All that work this morning, ruined!"

"It's okay, Lee." Lucy patted his back. "I still appreciate the effort." She stifled a yawn as she shuffled towards the car, pulling the keys out of her purse.

"I'm driving home, thank you." Lee plucked the keys out of her hand.

"Hey! Give those back!"

He held them up out of reach. "Lucy, it's a four-hour drive and you're about to pass out from exhaustion. Besides, you've done enough for me today, on your special day. I think it's best if you let me take us home."

She relented, nodding gratefully. As Lee opened the door for her, she reached out and pushed his short, wind-tousled fringe back up off his forehead. "I hope I don't look as frightful as you."

Lee appraised the dried eye makeup streaking down her face. "Worse, actually. You might get mistaken for a sand witch."

Lucy scowled at him.

Lee shot her a sheepish grin. "Still not a fan of the sea puns, then?"

"Come on." Lucy clambered into the passenger seat. "Let's get home before the kids think we've abandoned them to a life with Granddad Frank."

The next thing she knew, Lee was rousing her from the seat beside her. "We're home."

She blinked, looking around at the walls of their garage. "Did I sleep the entire way?"

"Yeah." He smiled gently. "You made for lousy company. I had nobody but Costa Coffee to help keep me awake." He held up an empty Styrofoam thermos.

"I'm sorry." Lucy palmed at her eyes and looked at the clock on the dashboard. "It's nearly half past one."

"I know. We were stopped in traffic for ages 'round Birmingham." Lee rolled his eyes.

"Gosh, I must have really been out of it," she murmured as they both climbed out of the car.

"It's all right. The traffic jam gave me a chance to piss in that water bottle again without you moaning and telling me off."

She gave him a disgruntled look as they stepped back inside the house.

They quietly crept past Frank, who'd curled up under a blanket on the couch and fallen asleep. A late-night poker series tournament played softly on the television. Lee and Lucy carefully ascended the stairs and peeked into the children's rooms to see them all fast asleep in their beds. They continued down the hall to the master bedroom and closed the door.

They didn't speak to each other as they readied for bed, doing their best to remain as quiet as possible. Lee graciously allowed Lucy first go in the shower before taking his turn. When he re-entered the bedroom, he found the lights already out and Lucy rolled over in bed. He slowly climbed in beside her, looking at her still form inquiringly. "Lucy," he hissed.

"Hmm?"

"You awake?"

"No, I'm talking in my sleep," she mumbled.

When he touched her shoulder, she rolled back over towards him and curled herself against his body. He put his arm around her, holding her close. They lay together in companionable silence.

"You know," he finally murmured. "I had a lot of time to think on the drive home."

"You, thinking? That's a first."

Lee ignored her gentle prodding. "I was thinking…that it might be a good idea to take some evening classes."

"Lee, I've already told you. I'm not taking a bondage-themed sex therapy course with you."

"I'm not talking about those sorts of evening classes."

Lucy frowned. "What sort of evening classes, then?"

"Those GCSE courses offered by the council." He looked down, thumbing the comforter absently. "It'd set a good example for the kids. Charlie especially could stand to learn that it's not okay to drop out of school the way his old man did. Besides," he turned to Lucy, "it's what Mum would have wanted. I'd be doing it for her, too."

"I think it's a fantastic idea." Lucy lifted her head and tenderly kissed Lee's lips. His trim beard prickled against her face, causing a pleased moan to escape Lucy's throat. She smiled and touched her nose to his before she nestled her head against his chest, sighing contentedly.

"Thank you for the day out with my mother, Luce. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"I'm always right. You should know that by now," Lucy murmured into his t-shirt.

Lee shook his head, squeezing her shoulder affectionately. Lucy tended to get snarky whenever she was grumpy or tired, and right now he knew she was both. "All right, Big Head. Not everyone can be as perfect as you. Just like an earthquake, we all have our faults!"

Silence.

"Lucy?" He looked down to see her snoozing softly against his chest. He smiled at his incredible wife, the woman who never failed to make him realize just how lucky he was every day. Even on a day meant to make her feel special, she'd gone to great lengths to give him an incredible gift. The depth of her love astounded him; it was a love, he realized, thinking about the woman he'd suppressed from his memory for so long, that only a mother could give. He planted a kiss in her hair and closed his eyes. "Happy Mother's Day, love."

THE END

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