Jessica returned to the table and Autumn ran over to pull Danny back to the dance floor.
Jessica chuckled and relaxed onto her chair.

"When are you due?" Sam asks.

Jessica's eyes widen. She then looks down and brushes her hand over her stomach.
"Can you tell already?"

"No, not at all! But I didn't think Danny would kiss your stomach if all that was in there was the pasta from dinner."

Jessica laughs. "No, he doesn't! I'm am pregnant."

"Congratulations!" Sam smiles and gives her a hug.

"Thank you! I'm only five weeks so.."

"This baby is going to grow big and strong! I'm happy for you, Jess!"

"Thank you, Sam." She smiles.

"I'm due in February so I'll be huge for Julia's first birthday!" Jessica covers her face.
"Oh gosh!  I wasn't expecting this at all!"

"But you'll be great! It's cool you're having your kids so close together. Megan and I have been trying as well."

"Aw really?! How exciting, Sam!"

"Yeah.." Sam smiles softly.

"Well I hope it happens soon, friend."

"Me too!  You know I've always wanted a bunch of kids!" He chuckles.

"I do!  You said you were going to keep me barefoot and pregnant!" Jessica laughs.

"Well I may not have done it, but you always seem to be pregnant!" He chuckles.

"Yeah!  Jesus Christ, help me." Jessica laughs and rubs her forehead.

***

September 1st.
14 weeks and 1 day pregnant.

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school.  I don't know anybody."

"Autumn Rae, you are the most outgoing, beautiful, sweet and smartest girl I know!  You won't have a problem making new friends!"

"I just want to go to my old school.."

"I know, baby.. I'm sorry." Jessica says moving a piece of her hair out of her face.

"I know you're gonna have a great day, baby."

"I'll try." Autumn shrugs.

Jessica giggles and kisses her cheek.

"I'll miss you, Juju and baby."

"Aw sweetie, you'll see us tonight!" Jessica smiles.

"I'll still miss you.." Autumn placed her hand on Jessica's bump and rubs it softly.

"I'll tell you what, baby.  After school I'll take you for a special treat.  Is that fun?"

"Yeah!" She smiles. "Can we have pizza?!"

"Whatever you want, baby girl!"

"Yay!  Thank you, mommy!" Autumn hugs Jessica tightly.

"You're welcome, baby girl!"

**

As promised, Jessica picked Autumn up from school and took her out for pizza.

"Mommy I made so many new friends at school today!"

"Baby girl, I knew you would!  Every person who meets Autumn Shepard wants to be her friend!" Jessica smiles.

Autumn laughs and takes a bite of her pizza.

"While you were at school, I was teaching Julia to say mama!"

"Did she say it?!" Autumn's eyes widen.

"Nope!" Jessica laughs.
"She chose to eat her hands and eat boobie milk instead."

"Silly Juju!" Autumn giggles.

"She is a silly girl!  Juju, say mama!  Say mama!
Please?  Ma-Ma.. Ma-Ma!"

"Mama!" Julia smiles.

Jessica gasps. She was shocked that Julia just blurt it out like nothing.

"Ah she said it!" Autumn shouted.

"Aw baby girl, there you go! Good girl!"

"MAMA!" Julia giggles cutely.

"Awww, you have such a sweet sweet voice!" Jessica cups her face.

"Mamaaaa!"

"I'm gonna cry!" Jessica says with tears in her eyes.

"Mama!  Mama!  Mama!"

"Oh she just wants me to sob!" Jessica laughs through her tears.

**

Arriving at the apartment Autumn runs in shouting, "Danny! Danny! Juju said mama!"

"She said her first word and it wasn't dada?!" Danny chuckles.

"Take care of her sometime and maybe sh say it." Jessica says under her breath.

"Woah Jess, I was kidding."

"I wasn't."

"The hell? What's your problem today?"

"Nothing Danny."

Autumn started to get that sick feeling in her stomach as she heard the two begin to bicker.

"Mama!" Julia smiles at Danny.

"No I'm Dada, silly girl!" He smiles and takes her from Jessica.

"Mama.."

"Dada!"

"MAMA!" She shouts.

"Oh my goodness, okay!" Danny laughs and kisses her cheek.

"Where were you guys?" Hey asks Autumn.

"Mommy took me for pizza to celebrate my first day of school!"

"Oh how nice of mommy." Danny smiles at Jessica.

"Yep! I'm gonna go upstairs and do my homework."

"Let me know if you need help, baby." Jessica says.

"I will!"

Once Autumn was in her room Danny turned to Jessica and said, "Pizza Jess? Really?" He says sitting Julia on the ground.  She then crawls over for Jessica to get her.  She hated not being held.

"What?" Jessica asks him.

"We don't have money to eat out and you know that!"

"Dammit Danny, how are we so bad off that I can't even take my daughter to lunch? I mean seriously, what the hell?!"

"If you want a house then you have to cut back, Jessica."

"Daniel, I don't buy anything! I buy the groceries we need, Julia's diapers, and that's all! I haven't bought anything for myself in forever! My pants don't fit, I'm wearing a long blouse to cover the fact that they're unbuttoned! My maternity clothes are on the top shelf of the closet. I've been asking you to help me get it down and you haven't! You don't do anything for me, Daniel!"

Danny walks up and grabs her arm.
"Don't do anything for you? Are you fucking serious?"

"Let go of me, that hurts!"

"I don't have a damn day off because I have you three to support! So don't you dare say I don't do anything for you, you ungrateful bitch!"

Jessica looks up to him with anger.
"Fuck You!" She says before she breaks away from his grasp and leaves the room. She slams the door and locks herself in.

Danny slept on the couch that night.
The next morning he woke up feeling terrible for what he had said.
He felt so bad that he actually made breakfast for everyone. Something he never did.

When Jessica woke up she carried Julia to the kitchen with Autumn following behind.

"Hey.." Danny said when he saw them.

Both Jessica and Autumn stayed silent.

"Mama!" Julia smiled.

"Heh.. good morning, Princess.
I made you girls some breakfast."

"Thank you." Autumn said while Jessica remained silent.
She sat the baby in her high chair and walked over to mash her up some bananas.

"Jess-" Danny places his hand on her back.

Jessica pushes him away and still does not speak.
Danny sighs and turns to make her a plate.

The entire breakfast was quite awkward.
Danny made conversation with Autumn, and Julia of course babbled and said mama throughout the meal, but Jessica didn't speak a word. She smiled at Julia and asked Autumn a few questions about school, but to Danny? Nothing.

After breakfast Danny cleaned up and Jessica got Julia ready for the day.

**
"Smile for mama, Ju!"
Jessica laughs and snaps the picture.
"You're looking at mommy like she's crazy! Or like you're just so annoyed with all these pictures! You silly girl!"

"Oh but look at you, baby!  You're such a big girl!  Nine months old today, Juju!  That's as long as you were in my tummy!"

"Mama!" Julia hits her hands on her thighs and smiles.

"What baby?"

"Mamaaaa!"

"Aw, I love you!" Jessica hums and kisses her nose.

What Jessica didn't know is that Danny was standing at the doorway watching.

Julia looks past Jessica and points to Danny as she babbles.
Jessica turns and sees Danny.

"Jessie baby, I'm sorry." He says walking closer.

"No you're not, Danny.  If you were really sorry, you'd stop.  But you never do."

"Jessica, I'm just so stressed.  I can't catch up on these bills, I'm exhausted.. I took it out on you and that was wrong."

Jessica looks at Danny with tears in her eyes.
"I'm stressed too, Danny.  I'm exhausted Too!"

"I know you are.  I mean you're taking care of two girls while pregnant.  I don't say this enough, Jessica.. but thank you for doing this for us."

"What?  Taking care of my kids?  Why are you thanking me for that?"

"Because you don't have to do that.  But you do.. your heart is so sweet, Jessica."

"Mama!" Julia smiles at Danny and points to Jessica.

"Yeah that's mama!  Daddy hurt mommy and he's very very sorry.. will you tell her that dada loves her?"

Julia clasps her hands together and smiles as she takes a deep breath.
Jessica smiles at Julia as Danny rubs her back.

"Baby?" He says.

"Hm?"

"I love you.." Danny kisses her shoulder.

"Do you?"

"Yes.  So so much.  Do you still love me?"

"Of course I still love you.. dumbass."

Danny laughs. "I deserved that.  I am a dumbass."

Jessica smiles and rubs her thumb on Danny's cheek. "Yes you are."

"But I'm your dumbass." Danny pulls her closer and kisses her lips.

***

Halloween.
22 weeks and 6 days pregnant.

This year Halloween is on a Friday.  Since Danny was working, Jessica drove the girls to Minnesota.
Jessica was upset Danny was missing Julia's first time trick or treating, but like he said, she really won't understand until next year or the year after. He promised to be there then.

"Look at my beautiful fairies! Autumn Rae, you look way too grown! Maybe I shouldn't have let you wear makeup!"

"Moooom!" Autumn laughs.

"You're so grown up! And you too, little miss!" Jessica looks at Julia.
Julia turns to her mother making her laugh.

"Look at your sweet face!"

"Momma, you should have gotten a fairy costume too!" Autumn says.

"Haha, maybe I should have!"

"Yeah! That's okay, next year!" She smiles.

"Yes, next year!"

"Plus I love your shirt!"

"Thank you, pretty girl!"

"Is it time to meet daddy now?"

"Yeah, let's get going."

**

"Landon! Look at you in your batman costume!" Jessica smiles.

"Jessie, I batmaaaannnnn!"

"You are the cutest batman ever!"

"Yes I am!"

Megan chuckles softly and sighs.

"Hi Megan! How are you? Jessica asks.

"I'm doing well.. how about yourself? You looks great!" Megan smiles softly.

"Thank you! I'm doing pretty well, thanks for asking!"

"Have you found out what you're having yet?"

"No, we're gonna wait till their born to find out."

"Oh wow!  How cool!"

"I know! It's hard but it'll be so fun to be surprised!"

"That's awesome, Jess!" Megan says with tears in her eyes.

"You okay, Meg?"

"Yeah, I'm fine! Excuse me, let me help Landon with his.." Megan quickly walks away.

Sam then walks over and greets her with sadness in his eyes.

"Is everything okay, Sam?"

Sam sighs and pauses for a moment.
"Let's just enjoy tonight."

"Sam, you're scary me. What's wrong?"

"I'll talk to you after.. I can't right now."

"Okay.."

Jessica was worried for them, the two didn't seem well at all.

**

After trick or treating Jessica drove to Sam's. Megan went in with the kids, and Sam stayed back with Jessica and Julia.

"Is everything alright with you and Megan?"

"No."

"What is it?"

"We found out yesterday that.. she's pregnant."

"What?! Sam, how is this bad news? I thought you two wanted another baby."

"Jess.." Sam nods. "We also found out that.. Megan has an inoperable brain tumor.. Multiple actually."

Jessica froze for a moment. She went completely numb in a matter of seconds.

"What?!"

"She's six weeks pregnant.. the doctor spoke to us and asked what we wanted to do.  Megan wants to go on with the pregnancy, and hopefully deliver full term.. or as close to full term as possible.  The doctors say she only has a few months."

"Sam!  There's no way!"

"That's how we feel.
Jess.. I don't understand. I don't understand why these things happen!  Why did your baby die? Why did you fall in love with someone who doesn't appreciate you?" Jessica was surprised at what Sam just said but didn't interrupt him.

"Why is my wife and possibly my child going to die? Why have I spent most of my marriage wanting to be with you? Am I being punished, Jess?"

"No Sam.. no. There's no reason for all of this. Life just sucks sometimes.
And I am so sorry you have to go through this, Sam. You know I am always here for you two. Megan is a beautiful soul and I'm so blessed you chose her to be Autumn's step mom. She's amazing."

"She is.. I hope she knows how much I love her, Jess." Sam says with tears slowly running down his cheeks.

"Sam, she isn't gone. She's in that house right now with your son and our daughter.. and your baby, Sam.
Tell her how much you love her and how much you appreciate her.
.. and if this is the end.. well Sam, you make every single day count. Take her on trips, if you want Autumn let me know and I'll get her work from her school.  You take her whenever you want.  Whenever you want."

"Thank you, Jess.."

"Of course.  I'm here for you, Sam." Jessica places her hand on his shoulder and looks into his eyes. "Always.  Never forget that."

Sam looks at her and nods.
"Me too.  You know that."

"I do, Sam.." Jessica nods.
".. I do."