A month has gone by and Jessica is busier than ever.
Not only is she overwhelmed with all of her mommy duties, but she's having to perform two shows six days a week.  The Tony's are coming up as well but Jessica is having second thought about attending.

"I know it's stupid, Sarah.. But it's just so strange.. Danny and both hate these award shows but.. we always had so much fun just being together at these things."

"Jessica, I love you but you have got to get over this!"

"It's not easy, Sarah! He's my husband!"

"WAS you husband!"

"Whatever! I'm not even gonna go.. I lost my plus one.. God I hate this!
I wish I could go back to the day Danny and I went to.. to the fair." Jessica says in tears.

"That was the last time we were really happy.. we had so much fun.  It was like recreating our first date.."

"Every single detail?" Sarah asks because she knows what happened on their first date."

"Yes!  Oh God.. I love him.  I know my family is disappointed in me.. Danny's family isn't even talking to him!  I just wish we could be together."

"Well then be together!  Jesus Jess, you're so back and forth about this!"

"Because I know it's wrong to be with him!  No one but me sees the good in that man.  Maybe I'm stupid but.. Sarah, think of all the good he's done.. He's made me so happy.."

"I know he has, Jess.  I've seen how well he has treated you and I know you were once happy with him.. but I do think you two need this time apart.  Maybe this isn't a permanent thing.. Maybe all you guys need is a little break."

"I don't know.."

***

A day before the Tony's.

"Momma, tomorrow are the awards, aren't you going to pick out a dress?" Sofia asks.

"I don't think I'm going, baby."

"What?  But you have to go!  Momma, you'll win!"

"Heh, well I don't know about that, honey."

"Please go!  You'll have so much fun seeing all your friends!"

Jessica smiles softly as she gets an idea.
"Alright I'll go."

"You will?!" Sofia's face lights up.

"Mhm!  But only if you come with me!"

"What!"

"Will you be my plus one?"

"Me?!"

"Yes, silly!"

"I'd love to momma!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!" Sofia squeezes her mother tightly.

"You're so welcome, sweetheart!  It would make me so happy if you came with me."

"Oh my gosh!  I'm going to the Tony's!  AH!  and I don't have a thing to wear!"

Jessica laughs.
"Well then.. I guess I have to make some phone calls so you and I can pick out a dress as soon as possible!"

"YAY!"

Jessica giggles at her daughters excitement.

***

The next morning.

"Alright, I have eggs and bacon for mommy's little minions!"

"Food!  Food!  Food!" Arabella bangs her fists on the table and bounces up and down.

Jessica chuckles. "Here you go, princess."

"Mommy, no want eggs!" Joseph pushes his plate away.

"Well tough, that's what you're eating!"

"I want daddy's pancakes!"

"You're eating eggs, now enough!"

"Mama, where is dada?  I miss him and that little boy.. What's his name?  What's his name..." Arabella tries snapping her little fingers as she gives it great thought.

"Coltan!" Joshua says.

"Yes!  My Cole Cole!  I misses him so so much, mommy!" Arabella says with sad eyes and a pout.

"I know, baby.  You'll see him soon."

"But when?"

"When you go visit daddy."

"But I wanna see them now!" Arabella crosses her arms and pouts her little lips.

"Well I'll text your father and see if he can watch you guys tonight while sissy and I are at the awards."

"Yay!" Arabella lifts her hands in the air with excitement.

**

*Hey, you want the kids tonight while Sof and I are at the Tony's?* Jessica texts Danny.

Jessica's phone immediately started ringing.

"Hello.."

"Hey!  Yeah, I can watch them!  Do you want me to go over there?  My place is kinda small."

"No that's fine, they should be fine at your place."

"Okay.. well I can go pick them up.  You just worry about you and Sof."

"Thanks.."

"Okay well.. I'll let you go."

"Bye." Jessica hung up the phone and took a deep breath.

Just hearing his voice made her want to cry.  She hated the way he made her feel.
"Why do I love this man so much?" Jessica spoke to herself quietly.

**

"My goodness, Sofia!  You look absolutely gorgeous, darling!"

"Thank you, momma!  You look soooo beautiful!  There's no way you'd ever know you are the mother of five kids!"

"Hah!  Well that's very kind of you to say, baby girl.  Thank you!"

"You're welcome!  It's true." Sofia smiles.

Jessica hears the doorbell downstairs but decides to let Sarah answer it.

"We should get going soon, momma."

"We should.. Just one second, okay?"

"Alright."

Jessica went to the restroom and looked down at her left hand.  Her wedding ring sparkled so beautifully.  After taking a few deep breathes, she slips the ring off and puts it away in the drawer.
Her eyes got a bit misty but she quickly tried to take control over her emotions.

"Mommy, our ride is here!" Sofia calls for her mother.

"Coming, baby!"

Jessica followed Sofia down the stairs.  Danny was in the middle of getting everyone ready to leave with him when he heard his children gasp at the sight of their beautiful mother and gorgeous sister.

Danny turned to them and his heart skipped a beat.  She was so beautiful.  She even brought tears to his eyes.
He just kept thinking how he should be her plus one.  Danny would give anything in the world to escort this beautiful woman tonight.

"Mommy!  Sissy!  You're so pretty!"

"Thank you, Bella Boo!"

"Mommy, can I go too?!"

"One day when you're older, pretty girl." Jessica smiles.

"Awe man!"

Jessica laughed and Danny walked over to them.

"Sofia.. my baby girl!  God you're gorgeous.  You look just like your mother."

"Thank you, daddy!" She smiles and gives him a hug.

"Jess.." Danny looked at her in awe.

"Wow.." He chuckles.

"Do you have everything you need for the kids?" Jessica asks.

"Hm?  Oh!  Yeah.. yeah I have everything.."

"Good.  Make sure they don't stay up too late!  I'll pick them up in the morning."

"Jessica.. you look so beautiful."

"Thank you.." Jessica looked down and spoke in a low voice.

"Well you two should get going!  You'll already be fashionably late, and you don't want to miss the whole ceremony." Sarah says walking over to open the door.

"Wait!" Danny grabbed Jessica's arm.

Jessica looks at where his hand is so he quickly pulls it away.

She looks up into his eyes and he starts to become very nervous.
"Good luck, Jess.. I know you've got this."

Jessica smiles softly. "Thank you, Danny.."

**

"This is so exciting!   Are you excited, momma?"

"Yeah baby!  I uh.. I was just thinking of the last award show I attended.. Hah!  I was about seven months pregnant with the twins.. I looked like this huge ball of baby!"

Sofia giggles. "But you were beautiful!"

"Well thank you!
... That was a lot of fun.." Jessica's voice trails away as she turns to look out the window.

Sofia could sense her mother's sadness so she reached over and grabbed her hand.

"Don't be sad now, momma!  You're about to win your first Tony!"

"You're pretty sure about that, aren't you?" Jessica laughed.

"I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life!"

Jessica smiles and squeezes her hand.
"Thank you, Princess." Jessica says just before kissing her forehead.

**

As always Jessica tried her best to avoid the press.  She didn't want to answer any questions involving her or Danny, especially since Sofia was with her.

Sofia was mesmerized by all of the cameras, giltz and glamour. Before taking their seats Jessica introduced Sofia to her cast mates.

"Gabriel, this is my oldest daughter Sofia."

"Well hello Sofia! You're a very beautiful young lady!"

"Thank you, sir!" Sofia says sweetly.

Jessica smiles and wraps her arm around Sofia.

"When are you going to see your mom? She's incredible!"

"Hah! She's gonna come watch when my family come into town."

"Oh great! Well it was lovely meeting you, Sofia! Good luck, Jess!"

"Thank you!"

**

Danny's POV.

"Kids, do you guys wanna watch mommy on the tv?"

"Mama gonna be on TB?!" Joseph's eyes widen.

"Yeah! That's what your momma and I do.. did we not tell you?"

"No!"

Danny laughs at Joseph's reaction.

"We should watch something with you and mom in it!" Jackson says.

"Yeah that sounds good! First let's see momma win."

"Mama gonna win! Mama gonna win!" Arabella jumps.

"Yeah!"

Danny turns the tv on and right at the beginning they see Jessica and Sofia.

All the kids gasp when they see them.
"That's mommy and Sofie!  That's mommy and Sofie!" Arabella goes crazy.

"That's so cool, huh?"

"Yeah daddy, that SO cool!"

"Hey dada, how'd they get in there?" Coltan asks making Danny laugh.

**

Jessica's POV.

"Mommy that's James Corden!  That's James Corden!" Sofia grabs Jessica's arm and lightly shakes her.

Jessica laughs and taps her leg.

"This is so cool!"

"Well I'm glad you're having fun!"

**

"This is it, momma!  I know you've got it!" Sofia says grabbing her mother's hand tightly.

Jessica smiled softly then turned to the stage.

"... And the winner is.. Jessica Lange!"

"Ahh!" Sofia let out a high pitched scream.

"I told you!!  I told you!  I told you!  I'm so happy for you, Mommy!"

"Thank you so much, baby girl." Jessica hugged and kissed her daughter.

"I love you!"

"I love you too!  Now go get it!"

Jessica chuckles and goes to accept her award.

"Wow.. Thank you for this.. This is uh.. wow!" Jessica chuckles nervously.

After thanking Ryan and all of the other actors Jessica said a quick thank you to her children.

"I want to thank my children.. I know it's difficult having me work so much but I appreciate your patience.  My gorgeous oldest baby is here with me.. Thank you for being the most incredible little girl ever." Jessica's voice was shaky.

"You and your brothers and sisters are my entire world.. Mommy loves her little minions very much!" Jessica chuckles with tears in her eyes.

**

Danny's POV.

"Come on Jess, you got this.." Danny mumbles with his eyes glued to the tv.

"Jessica Lange!"

"YES!" Danny shouted as the kids went crazy.

"MOMMY WON!  MOMMY WON!"

They watched her speech and Arabella ran up to the tv.

"Hi mommy!  You see me?!" She shouts making Danny laugh.

Danny watched her and was so so proud.  He was past the cheating, all he wanted was to be with her.  He couldn't be angry with her for wanting to escape their marriage.  He knows he hasn't been the best husband to her, so he doesn't blame her for what she did.

"Daddy, why you look sad?  Mommy won!" Joshua smiles.

"I know bud... I uh.. I'm just happy for her." Danny says with a small smile.

**

Jessica and Sofia stayed mingling at the after party for a little while before going back home.

"I'm so proud of you, mommy."

"Awe baby!  I'm so happy I made you proud."

"I can't wait to see you on stage!  I've never seen you act in real life before!"

"I'm excited for you to see the show!  Hopefully you'll enjoy it." Jessica chuckles.

"Of course I'll enjoy it!"

Sofia slept in bed with Jessica that night.  She held her tight and enjoyed being with her mother.
Jessica checked her phone and saw a picture from Danny.
It was all the kids glued to the tv, and a video of them screaming when she won.
Jessica chuckled quietly then replied.

*That's cute.*

Danny quickly text back.
*They were very excited.  They all fell asleep watching Tootsie!*

*Haha!  That's cute.*

*I'm so proud of you, Jessica.  You deserve this award one hundred percent.  Congratulations.*

*Thank you.*

Jessica scrolled through a few more congratulatory messages before seeing one from Sam.

*I know you're not talking to me right now, but I'm so happy for you!  No one deserves this more than you do, Jess.*

*Thank you, Sam!* Jessica replied along with a smiley face emoji.

*Are you still mad at me?* He asks.

*I guess you didn't mean for this to happen.  I'm just hurt that you ever discussed it with someone else.*

*I know, I was stupid and I'm so so sorry!  I wish I could make it up to you.*

*Let's start by letting me go to sleep.*

*Haha, Alright!  Night, Jessie.*

*Night, Sam.*

***

The next morning Jessica and Sofia went to pick the kids up.

"Mommy!  Mommy!  You won!"

Jessica laughed at her children's excitement and gave them all hugs and kisses.

"Was it cool seeing mommy on tv?" She asks.

"It was SO COOL!" Joseph shouts making her laugh.

Danny grabs their bags and Jessica tries taking them from him.

"It's okay, I've got it.. Congratulations again.."

"Thank you, Danny.."

Danny stood there awkwardly not really knowing what to say.  What he wanted to do was beg for her back, but he's done that too many times already.  He has to let her be, and whatever happens, happens.

Jesica went to work and had two great shows.  After the second show Jessica walked backstage to change when she saw a familiar face.

"Sam!  What are you doing here?!" She laughs.

"Jessica, I'm so sorry!  Here, I brought you flowers." Sam hands them to her.

"Thank you, Sam." Jessica smiles softly.

"Can we just talk about how fucking amazing that was!"

"Hah!  Well thank you.." Jessica looks down to hide her blushing face.

"Jessica, I was stupid, I'll admit that.. but I'd be a complete moron if I didn't say what I'm about to say right now."

Jessica gives him a strange look as Sam closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"You okay, Sam?" Jessica chuckles.

"Jessica.. I love you.  I've always loved you and I want to be with you.  Please just give us a chance.  I need you, Jess."

Jessica looked at him a bit in shock.
"Sam.."

"I know you're going through all this shit with Danny, but let me take care of you.  Let me treat you like a queen.  Let make you feel better than you've ever felt before.  Jessica Phyllis Lange, take a chance on me, woman!"

"Sam..."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and let's go get a drink."

"Is that a yes?" He smiles.

"I just said let's go get a drink."

"I'll take it!" Sam jumps with excitement making her laugh.

Sam hugged her tight.
"I'm all gross and sweaty, Sam."

"No you're not.  You're perfect."

What they didn't know was Danny left Coltan with a sitter and came to see Jessica.  He stood there watching with flowers in his hand.  His heart broke but what did he expect?  She wasn't his anymore and he couldn't go up to them and start yelling for Sam to back away from her.
Danny set the flowers down and quietly left through the side door.