A/N: I have too many stories going GAHHH! But it was a flashback of something from the 50s or 60s era (couldn't exactly tell) that I saw in a movie and I just felt a pull to write in this universe :) So enjoy the sequel to my fanfic Too Many Dames, Not Enough Gas! This story takes a focus on Katherine and Ned and how their family grows together! Yes, do not worry, Melinda, Jim and Micah will have appearance more so than not ;)

This is set in the fall of 1952, about six years after the epilogue.

Ages (from oldest to youngest):

Jim - 52
Melinda - 52
Ned - 26
Katherine - 26
Micah - 9
Henry - 9
Danielle - 8
Josephine (Josie) - 5

It was barely even light out when Katherine woke up before her alarm clock, as usual.

She decided that quarter past six in the morning was late enough to get her day started now, rather than fifteen minutes late when her alarm went off. Plus she knew Josie would be up soon asking for her special bacon and eggs since it was her very first day of school and that was a special occasion.

Katie had stayed home after having their third child, becoming a stay home mom out of the choice to dedicate herself to her family rather than be stuck at the hospital all night.

Her children and husband deserved better than that, and so did her feet.

She pressed a kiss to Ned's shoulder before ruffling his hair and letting him sleep.

"Where are you goin' baby?" Ned muttered sleepily, his hand reaching out to catch her waist.

"I was about to go and get myself all dolled up before I go fetch the kids from their beds," she explained.

"You still have thirteen minutes until you have to do that," he grinned.

"Nice try mister," she shoved his head deep into the pillow.

He laughed and pushed himself onto his back, watching her slip into their connected bathroom.

He wanted to follow her, to used those thirteen precious minutes and then some, but if he wanted to follow her, he'd have to put on the leg to get there and then take it off again before getting in the shower with her, and that is a lot of work.

"Come on," she came out in just her robe and helped him to his feet. "I'll help you."

"Katie," he shook his head.

"Ned," she eyed him. "You need to shower too. You could've done it earlier, but now that you're awake, I could use your help getting our children off to school."

He smiled at her when she said children and leaned down to kiss him.

That seemed like an impossible feat almost ten years ago and now look at them. Happily married with three beautiful children.

A few bumps in the road? Definitely. There had been fights and days when he slept on in the hallway because he hated sleeping too far from her. And there had been times when they were furious with their children, with how they acted, but they learned from them each day.

One thing Ned never did was second guess his wife and her strength. She could carry him to the bathroom if he needed her to, but instead, she helped him in there.

They were quiet as they undressed, and she fumbled for the controls. She waited a few seconds for the water to heat before looking to Ned, who sat on the toilet.

"Do you-" She asked.

"I've got it," he smiled.

She stepped into the steady stream of water and held the curtain for him as he pulled himself up. She held out her hand and he took it, needing the help.

Once they're both inside the small cubicle, she kissed him.

"Can you pass the soap?" She asked shyly.

"I'll wash your body," he said.

"If you say so," she shrugged and leaned her head back to wet it.

His hands slid smoothly around her waist, holding her for a moment like he had done so many times before he moved up her back, letting the bar of soap suds up her body and cleanse it.

His hands wandered, teasingly at first, but deliberately a moment later. He took a breast in each, massaging them with his soaped up hands before clasping her nipples between his fingers and rolling them in a circular motion. It felt so good – great, in fact, and she was about to tell him so, but he stopped before she can speak, his hands moving south over her stomach. She tensed in anticipation, gasping loudly when he finally reached his destination.

The pressure of his fingers between her legs felt impossibly good, and she clamped her free hand over his as her way of telling him that.

"Ned," she gasped.

He traced circles around the sensitive mound, slowly at first, but increasing in speed when she dug her fingernails into his wrist. His voice sounded so distant when he asked her how it felt, and she could only moan in response to him.

He pulled away, and she barely stopped the whimper from escaping her lips. Her disappointment quickly turned to surprise and then to anticipation when she felt him gather up her hair in one hand and swing it over one shoulder.

The first kiss that he placed on the base of her neck sent a shiver down her spine. And then his mouth followed that trail, placing soft but insistent kisses and luscious licks along her backbone, and it took nearly all of her energy just to stay upright. And she was the one with both feet!

When he got to the small of her back, she watched him grip the side of the tub for balance as he dropped to his knee. She gasped when he bit her hip, and moaned when he moves to the other side to repeat the same action. But it was the feel of his nose nudging between her legs that made her cry out. She was almost glad when he moved away to stand again. He resumed his original position, pressed up against her, one hand reaching down to her center, the other reaching up to twist a nipple between his fingertips. Her head fell back to rest on his shoulder, back arched, and she was faintly aware of his whispered words in her ear as he brought her to her breaking point. She cried out as he took her over the edge, the sound echoing around the shower.

Ned held onto her tightly, surrounding her, until her breathing slowed. When she felt strong enough to straighten and leaned back into him, the presence of his erection hit her like a wave. "Morning," he whispered in her ear.

"We should-" She gasped.

"Finish our shower?" he smirked.

"Is that what this is?" She asked, smiling at him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he chuckled as he reached for the bar of soap again and lathered up his upper body and underarms.

"Oh, well then, let me finish this for you." She reached for the soap and rubbed some onto her palms before she grasped his erection. "Now this, this is very dirty... I have to clean it before anything else."

"Katherine," He cursed and grasped the handle they had, had installed a few months ago to help him keep upright in case he got tired.

"We're running out of time, I better get this done." She said as she kneeled before him and washed the suds off.

His head fell back against the linoleum and he grasped the back of her head.

Let the games begin.

After Katie blow dried her hair, she pulled it up into a tight bun and secured it with many pins.

She could already smell the bacon and eggs Ned had set out to cook for the kids' breakfast before they ran off to the bus. She smoothed out her skirt and double checked that each button was secured tightly before she went to Henry's room.

She couldn't believe her baby boy was nine years old. He was starting the fourth grade.

"Rise and shine!" She said and opened the drapes, letting the sunlight into the room.

Henry groaned, rolling onto his belly and tucked his head under the pillow. "Mama please," Henry whined softly, the pillow drowning out most of the loud sound. "Five more minutes!"

He had, had a growth spurt in that last week, his toes poked from the blanket and off the bed. He'd really needed a bigger one soon if he continued growing like this, which Ned backed up with the facts. All of the boys in the Banks family tree grew young and quickly. All tall with knobby knees and skinny legs. And she knew her son was next in line to inherit that gene by the looks of it, but oh she wasn't ready for the day Henry would be taller than her.

Never.

"It's almost seven twenty, mister!" She whispered as she picked up the pillow. "I let you sleep in for a little while, didn't I?"

He muttered something she didn't quite hear and plopped the pillow back on his head. She knew exactly what would get him moving. His toes peeked from under the blanket still and she slowly tickled them, pulling off the blanket and tickling his sides. The giggles rolled out of him like the waves on a long shallow beach. They seemed to disappear for a while only to build up and break to the surface once more. He rolled over and pouted at his mother who sat down next to him with a smile.

"You have to get to the bathroom and all spiffed up before I get the girls up," she said softly, using a warning tone. He sat up and scowled at his mother with the same face his father would make sometimes. "If you keep your face like that too long, it'll stay that way, you know." She laughed, before sitting down next to him and ruffling his hair. "Why the long face? You love school, baby!"

"It's too early in the mornin' mama," he yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"Your daddy is making the special first of school bacon and eggs," she pinched his cheek, trying to brighten his spirits a little. She knew how much of a breakfast person he was like his father.

"Oh boy! I love me some bacon and eggs," he grinned, jumping out of bed and grabbing the clothes she'd set out the night before.

"That's the spirit," she ruffled his hair before pushing him off to the hall bathroom. "Be quick in there. You have two sisters, remember?"

"Yes, mama how could I forget about them? They are so obnoxious," he laughed and closed the door.

Next stop on her list was the girls' room. She could already tell they were gonna need a bigger house if her and Ned kept at it the way they always do. Before she even stepped in the room she could hear Josie's little giggles. She knew her room was next from the trickle of the faucet in the bathroom as Henry brushed his teeth.

That little one is so excited for school, to finally accompany her big brother and sister on the big yellow school bus each day.

"Guess what time it is..." Katie whispered as she made her way to her youngest's bed.

"Time to get ready mommy!" Josie sat straight up and grinned, her tongue sticking through the hole where she'd lost her tooth.

"Yes, it is," she grabbed her little girl and spun her around kissing her cheek. "Are you excited for your very first day of school?"

"I am!" The little girl stood up on her bed and jumped with glee as her mother went to open up the curtains.

"You know the rules," she looked at her daughter.

"Yes, ma'am." Josie plopped down on her bottom and slid off the bed.

"And what are they?" She asked.

"No jumpin' on the... the... what's the word mommy?" Josie went to grab her clothes.

"Furniture," she corrected with a smile.

"Yes, no jumpin' on that." Josie smiled as she held her clothes in her arms. "Is he almost done in there?"

"I bet he'll be out in a jiffy," she winked as the bathroom door opened and Henry came out.

Josie raced off and closed the door behind her as she sat down on Danielle's bed next.

"I know you're awake sweet peat," she rubbed her daughter's back. "Why so glum?"

"Ethan Peterson," Danielle sat up and sighed.

"What about him?" She went to undo the braids she'd put in her hair the night before.

"He's gonna ignore me, again" Danielle sighed. "And I like him... like him like him."

"Oh boy. Here we go," she shook her head and grinned. She didn't know if she was ready for boy troubles yet, she'd have to talk to her mother about this one, on how Melinda handled her when she was a mere girl. "You know, I had a crush once."

"You did?" Danielle gasped. "On who?"

"Well there were a few boys, but one of them was your daddy," she winked. "And guess what?"

"What?" Danielle giggled.

"He had a crush on me too, but we didn't tell each other for the longest time..." She explained. "And look at us? We have three beautiful children and love each other very much."

The little girl blushed and hugged her mother.

"That helped, a little." Danielle sighed and laid back down. "I don't know if I can wait long..."

"Oh baby," she laughed and kissed her daughter's head. "You're growing up too fast. Boys do not need to be on your mind."

"But-" Danielle whined.

"Come on, Josie is finished up. You don't want to miss out on your daddy's special first day of school bacon and eggs do you?" The young girl got off her bed and came around with her clothes. "That's what I thought. Now go on, I'll make sure there is enough for you."

She shuffled behind her and continued to walk out to see her oldest and youngest sitting at the table with their father.

"You look very handsome," she said as she fixed his collar on the freshly pressed shirt and kissed Henry's head.

"Thanks, mama," Henry smiled and then shoveled in another piece of bacon.

"And look at you!" She gasped, looking at Josie's bright green dress. "Miss Josie, you look so pretty in your new dress."

"Thank you mommy," Josie giggled. "Do you like my pigtails? I did them all by myself!"

"I do, they are so good." She winked at the little blonde girl, who blushed. And then she looked at Ned, who sat at the table, reading his paper with his jacket hung over the chair behind him. She pulled on his suspenders and straightened his tie for him like she always did. "You have to remember to shave before you go, because you know how my daddy feels about a salesman who isn't clean shaven."

"I know," he chuckled. "It's my next step after I eat."

"Is it?" She asked, sitting on his good knee.

"Yes, ma'am. Don't worry, everything is finished and you can sit and eat too." He smiled at her.

"Good," she cupped his cheeks in her hands and kissed him. "Thank you, for this morning."

"No kissin' at the table, please." Henry begged.

"I second that," Danielle said as she came out in her new skirt and blouse. "Please, no kissin'."

She smiled at her daughter as she passed them and sat down beside Henry. Danielle was the only one with her dark hair, her other two with Ned's blonde and it made her smile.

Katie went in and kissed him again, basking in her children's mild disgust.

Wow, she really was turning into her mother.

"I love you," she laughed and smiled at her husband.

"I love you too," he kissed her again. "And this blouse. I love this blouse too."

Henry walked Josie to class as his mother had insisted he do.

He even let her hold his hand, even if everyone made fun of him for it.

"Henry, will you let me sit with you at lunch?" Josie asked.

"Of course," Henry looked at his little sister. "Don't worry. You'll have fun. I had Mrs. Danvers too."

"You did?" She whispered. "Is she nice?"

"She's super nice," Henry reassured her. "She makes cookies on the first day. The peanut butter ones are the best."

"Okay," she smiled uneasily. "I think I'm ready to go in."

"Here," he reached into his pocket.

"That's your lucky bottle cap!" She gasped. "No, that's yours... you keep it."

"It's your lucky bottle cap now," he winked and tucked it into the side of her backpack. "It will help you through your first day."

The bell rang and she hugged her big brother tightly.

"Thank you," she said and kissed his cheek.

"Have fun, it doesn't last forever." He smiled and she ran into the classroom.

He ran off toward his class, knowing he'd be late and probably have a terrible seat, but his sister wasn't afraid anymore. And that made it worth it.

Even the possible recess detention he'd get on the first day.

Ned sat at his desk, eating some peanuts that he'd got at the grocer the other day.

Katherine's idea really, she wanted him to not eat such fatty foods.

Ned pushed his hair up off of his face, reminding himself that he needed to get his hair trimmed. He rubbed his eyes, glancing around the office and looking outside to the cars.

He had, had an appointment with an older man looking to buy a new car for his son at one and made the sale on a new Mercedes-Benz W187.

It was quarter after one and he just wanted to go home; the numbers were making him tired. Closing a sale was always stressful, even now, almost five years after he'd started.

There was a knock on the door; he saw a female silhouette and immediately perked up; there were two possibilities of who it could be, and only one made him very cheerful indeed for that possibility.

"Come in," he said, and Katherine poked her head through the door, and all weariness faded; his smile grew and he stood up, meeting her halfway for a kiss. "What brings you by?"

"The house was lonely, all of our munchkins are at school now." She sighed softly. "Plus I knew you'd be sick of those peanuts by now and brought you a treat."

"Did you now?" He chuckled.

"I did," she raised a brown bag with a smile and set it on his desk. "Can you afford to take a stroll with me? The school isn't far and Henry left his lunch at home. Plus I have to pick up Josie, Kindergarten gets out at two."

"I think the office can survive an hour, just let me stop in and speak with Jim." He pressed a kiss to her cheek as he looked into the bag and smiled. "A burger and fries from the diner, you shouldn't have."

"Only for the best," she grasped his hand as he grabbed his coat, fixing his loose tie. "Now come on."

She pulled him from his office and crossed the floor, nearly running into one of the new models inside as she came to her father's office door.

The blinds were shut, odd.

She knocked and didn't hear anything so she turned the knob and let Ned be the first to walk in. He stopped in his tracks and Katie immediately covered his eyes and then her own.

Melinda was laid over the desk with her skirt up and his head between her legs.

"Mom! Daddy!" She sighed. "Do you ever lock the damn door?"

"Katherine," Melinda gasped. "James... Jim! Stop, our daughter and son in-law are right there."

Jim stood up and Melinda situated herself on the desk as she sat up. "What's the matter?" Jim asked, nodding to Ned.

"Ummm... I was just going to take a stroll with Katie, wanted to check and see if that was alright." Ned cleared his throat.

"Yeah, ummm you can go home for the day. Great sale with Harmon, I knew you could get that one." Jim itched the back of his neck. "Don't worry about finishing the paperwork, I'll do it."

"Well gee, that's awful nice of you." Katherine smiled, looking at Ned and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Thank you daddy."

"Just close the door on your way out," her father's face was as white as a sheet. "And Katherine, you make sure he's well rested for tomorrow? We have a big sale we have to make."

"Of course," Katherine rubbed her husband's back. "I'd kiss you, but not after what I saw."

"You two, have a nice night." Melinda smiled as she watched them closed the door. She stood up and whacked Jim over the head. "You didn't lock the damn door?"

"I didn't think anyone would come in, usually I can get you off pretty quickly." He wiped his mouth again and he fixed his suspenders. "I'm losing my game, ain't I?"

"Never," she whispered and stood up, fixing her hair in a small mirror from her purse before adjusting the buttons on her dress. "You should've locked the door."

Jim went after her, stopping her at the door and closing it before she could slip out. She looked up at him as he leaned her into the door, turning the lock.

"It's locked now," he kissed her and reached underneath her to pick her up.

"Yeah, now." She scoffed and rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Good, now this time there will be interruptions." She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Now come here, I miss you."

Once Josie had showed her parents around the entire classroom and she had said her goodbye to a friend she had met, they started their walk back to the car parked at the office.

It was a short walk, barely even four blocks.

They piled into the automobile and they listened to the story of how nice her friend Stella was.

"She made a friend," she grinned, leaning into him as he drove.

"I told you she would be fine," he squeezed her bare thigh, his hand only teasing under the skirt. "You really should stop worrying so much."

She sighed and looked up at him, realizing he was right. But she wouldn't tell him, he'd only bask in it too much.

Katie worried for her children, especially Henry. He'd been teased about how his father was a freak with one leg, and then she worried about each of her children more than she probably should.

"Mommy?" Josie called.

"Hmm?" She looked back at the little blonde girl who smiled at her uneasily. "What's wrong toots?"

"I think Henry got in trouble at school," Josie said as she climbed up toward the front seat, her head between each of her parents. "Don't be mad at him."

Ned moved his hand away from her bare leg and back to the steering wheel, leaving Katie blushed pink.

"Why do you think that?" He cleared his throat.

"He wasn't outside when everyone was playing," Josie explained.

"At recess?" She asked.

"Mmhm," Josie hummed.

Ned pulled into the driveway and let the car settle, turning around to face Josie.

"Go on in," he gave her the key and Josie clamored out and into the house. "What are we gonna do 'bout this?"

"Don't do anything rash, it's Henry we're talking about here." She explained. "You'll talk to him and do things accordingly."

She got out of the car, hips swinging as she climbed the stairs and into the house.

Ned took a minute, thinking through what he'd do before going in after.

He watched as Josie settled down at the table beside Katie, and the two of them work on the first page of the new book. He is content to relinquish his spot beside her for this particular book, content to watch their heads dip, their matching eyes fix on the page, their hands—Katie's so lithe with her movements, Josie's so small—move so effortlessly in tandem. His heart lifted when he saw both their tongues peek out from between chapped lips in quiet concentration.

Neither one of them notice when he slipped away to the kitchen to prepare Katie a mug of tea, and her a cup of juice. When he returned and placed both drinks in front of them, Katie glanced up at him, her eyes soft and appreciative, and she set down her colored pencil and winded her arm around his torso and kissed him.

"It's beautiful," he remarked, gesturing to the perfect rendition of the tree she'd begun to sketch.

Josie was shading in the lights on the boughs, and she's so attuned to her coloring. They watch as she frowned, looking at the green and putting it down for a blue, before she resumed her coloring. Ned laughed.

"That scowl," he mused, his fingers moving to pull her into his lap. "I wonder where I've seen that before."

"Maybe when you first pursued me?" He gathered her hair off her neck and brushed his lips along the slope where it met her shoulder.

She shivered and slapped at his wrist lightly, not wanting to get too wrapped up in him with their little one sitting right beside them. He sensed her hesitancy, and his teeth nipped playfully at her earlobe before his hot breath sent another pleasant shudder skittering down her spine.

He whispered hoarsely, "Relax. Santa Claus himself could come down our chimney right now and she wouldn't notice. She's completely caught up in illustrating that page." He pressed a light kiss. "She has your talent for art. She looks so natural…" She squirmed in his lap when his fingers danced along the hem of her blouse, skimming the bare skin above the waistband of her skirt. "We could always have her go color in her room." Another nip at her neck.

"Ned," she warned.

That steady patience of his was always fleeting when it came to her, and she couldn't deny that it thrilled her to still have such an effect on him.

He stilled craved her as he did when they were seventeen.

"I want to make love to you," he whispered huskily.

In spite of the desire coiling in her belly and the wetness pooling between her legs, she swatted at him again and slid off his lap, crouching down beside their daughter. As she stroked her hair, watching her pencil move over the paper, she looked over at her and smiled.

"Hi mommy," Josie whispered.

"Hi baby," she smiled. "You're doing such a beautiful job, baby," she appraised, kissing the crown of her head as she rose to stand.

"S'not done yet," Josie mumbled, scribbling away.

"No, but let's move you to your room and get you settled in something more comfy," she replied, gently plucking the pencil from her hand, and she closed the book.

She uttered a weak protest, but she did not resist when Ned scooped her into his arms.

Katie collected the pencils and the book and followed him in to her room that she shared with Danielle.

"I've got this," she kissed Ned's cheek and he slipped out quickly.

It only took a few moments before Katie had her daughter dressed in something a bit more comfy and settled on her bed coloring on top of a book.

She still had twenty minutes before the older kids would get out of school, and then another fifteen minute bus ride.

They could definitely get some good time together.

"Hey you," he said as she met him in the bedroom.

Shifting sideways from the bed, he looked at her, his eyes glistening in the contrast to the sun shining through the windows.

And suddenly, he was there, in front of her as his hand reached under her hair below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek.

"I love you," he muttered, his eyes revealing more than his words could express.

Her lips part and their lips mingled lightly, softly.

"Kiss me harder," she moaned and closed the door as he leaned her up against it.

She needed this more than she even knew.

Afterward, they laid together, a blanket covering their sweaty, sated bodies, and they gazed at each other. She inhaled deeply, and the fresh, sharp scent of pine, his cologne. She loved it.

She burrowed further into Ned's embrace, feeling the rapid beating of his heart against her neck, and her eyes began to flutter closed, the delicious tendrils of sleep beckoning her.

The roar of the yellow school bus could be heard as it pulled up outside, along with the patter of feet as they ran out and toward the house.

"I'll get dressed," he whispered. "You sleep."

There were many times before they had children where Ned and Katie would fall asleep wherever it was they wound up, but they could no longer take that risk. And that was one of the only things they missed from before they had children.

They may be young, but each of them are wise enough—and curious enough—to ask questions should they find them sprawled out somewhere indisposed.

She watched as he adjusted his leg and fixed the tightness of the straps before pulling his trousers on. She nudged Ned's side.

"Grab me something from my closet, will you?" She yawned.

"Sleep," he whispered.

"I will," she promised. "Just not like this, not with them all here and awake."

"That's more practical, I suppose." He sighed. "I enjoy you like this."

She laughed, hearty and real.

She knew he did, any man would love to see his wife deliciously bare with only a small sheet that hung over a bare hip and opened up completely to show her backside off. But Ned wasn't any man, he was her man, her husband, the only man to have seen her as a true woman. He brought her a simple house dress, one from back when they first met. She could tell from the wear and smiled.

"This old thing?" She laughed as she pulled it on.

It was tight at her hips, they gone out some with each child, especially Danielle.

"This old thing happens to be my favorite," he smiled and tenderly rubbed her cheek, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss.

"I know," she breathed.