October.

Danny is working on a big case at work so he has been out of the house quite a bit.  This morning  Jessica has to go over to the studio to pick out costumes for an upcoming show.

"You get to go to work with mommy today, Marley Moo!"

"Mmmmmm!" Marlowe moans.

"MmmmAAMmmmAAA!" Jessica says. "Can you say it?"

Marlowe stops babbling and opens and closes her hands towards Jessica's chest.

"You're hungry already?!  Jesus, you must be going through a growth spurt."

"Ahhh!" Marlowe cries.

"Not really into conversation this morning, I see."

**

"Jessica!  You brought the baby!"

"I did!  Dada had to go into work today so we're having a girl's day."

"Woo!  Wow, she's getting so big.  How old is she?"

"Eight months."

"Yay!  Only sixteen more months until her first dance class!"

"We're counting down the days!" Jessica bounces the baby on her hip.

Marlowe looks up to her mother and giggles.  Jessica kisses her chubby cheek through her mask and walks into the office.

"She is the perfect mix of you and your boyfriend."

"Thank you!  We think so too."

Marlowe has her daddy's hair, and eyes, and her mommy's everything else.

"I really like this one.. I think I'm going to use this one for ballet five."

Marlowe suddenly slaps her hands on the catalog and spits.

Jessica gasps and covers the baby's mouth. "Marlowe, No!  Not in these times."

Jessica's coworker laughs. "Jessica, she's fine!"

Marlowe laughs and does it again.

"I think she wants you to choose that costume."

"Yeah."

Marlowe then looks up to her mother with a big toothless smile.

"You are something else, Marley Moo!"

**

Later that evening.

"Dada's home!"

"Hello ladies!  I'll be right there, let me wash my hands."

"Ahhh!  Ahhh!" Marlowe kicks her legs with excitement as Jessica walks her to Danny.

"Aw she's so happy to see you, Danny!"

"I'm so excited to see you too, Moo Moo!"

Danny takes her and kisses her chubby cheek.  Marlowe Grabs his cheeks and places her tongue on his nose.

"Oh no!" Jessica laughs.

"Thanks Marley girl." Danny wipes his nose.

"Okay Moo, come with me so daddy can change before dinner."

"AH!" She screams and reaches for Danny.

"I'll be back, love.  Go with mama."

"She's had it with me." Jessica laughs as Marlowe sobs.

"He will be right back, I promise you."

A few minutes later Danny walks into the kitchen wearing grey sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"Oof!  grey sweatpants?  Are you just begging me to have another baby?"

Danny laughs, taking Marlowe, and giving Jessica a kiss.

"I made tacos."

"You're awesome!  Thanks baby."

"You're welcome, and thanks!  I am pretty awesome sometimes."

Danny takes a seat and Jessica plates his food.

"...It made me think of our first taco night together."

"Tacos and mararitas!"

"Yeah, sorry I didn't make the margaritas tonight. Miss Marley wanted to be entertained so be happy I was able to make the tacos."

"Just fine, baby girl." He chuckles. "You always want entertainment, huh?" Danny kisses her cheek making Marlowe giggle.

"... Thinking back.. well it just made me miss this house.."

"Honey, we're still living in this house right now."

"I know and don't get me wrong I'm so excited to move into a home we buy together and raise Marlowe in, but this house.. she was my first baby.. I worked so hard and I did it on my own!  And it's such a pretty house!"

"It's beautiful, and you should be damn proud you did it on your own."

"I'm so stupid." Jessica covers her face in embarrassment.

"Stop it." Danny moves her hands.

"I literally am!  I started my period today so I've been extra weepy.  It's dumb.  Since you and I started talking about getting our own home it's something I really am looking forward to.. I just sometimes.." Jessica messes with her fingers and looks down to the ground.

"Get a little sad?"

Jessica nods.

"It's okay.  I get a little sad too.."

Jessica looks up and smiles softly. "I love you, bud."

"I love you more."

After dinner Danny did the dishes and then the three cuddled up on the couch watching tv.

Danny held Marlowe as she drank her bottle and started drifting off to sleep, and Jessica snuggled into his side.

"Babe?" Danny says.

"Hm?"

"Sorry, were you sleeping?"

"Not yet.  What's up?"

"I was thinking.."

"About?"

"Our first dance."

"Ooh!" Jessica sits up quickly.

Marlowe jerks from the noise before slowly shutting her eyes once again.

"You were thinking of our first dance?"

"Yeah and I'm so excited!"

"Cause I taught you how to dance and it's going to be awesome!"

"Yeah!  I think we should do the dance you taught me during lockdown." Danny said enthusiastically.

"Awe, but the lyrics babe.  It's really not a wedding dance song, is it?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but it was so good!"

Jessica smiles and grabs his hand. "It was perfect."

Danny brings the back of Jessica's hand to his lips before an idea pops into his head. "... WAIT!"

"Shh!" Jessica holds her laughter in as Marlowe's eyes shoot wide open.

"Oops, I'm sorry, Moo Moo.  Go back to sleep."

"And she's crying."

"I'm so sorry, baby girl."

Jessica giggles as he tries putting their daughter back to sleep.

"Anyway.. you had an idea?"

"I still have the video we took of it!  You know, the night of our first kiss."

"Aw." Jessica melts.

"We could play that before we walk out to do our first dance which YOU will choreograph and it'll be even better because I'm going to work so so hard to make it even more beautiful than the first one!"

"Honey, you are so into this!"

"It's our first dance and my wife is a literal genius in that department."

"A genius, huh?"

"Yeah in THAT department I said."

Jessica laughs and throws a cushion at him without even thinking.

Danny gasps and says, "The Baby!"

"Oh shit!" She covers her mouth. "I am so sorry, Marlowe!"

Marlowe cries yet again and Danny gently rubs her back as he chuckles. "Man, we really are killing it at this parenting thing, aren't we?"