April 21st.

"There you go, Theo.. eat up, baby." Jessica spoke in a soft voice as Theodore ate.

Jessica softly ran the back of her fingers over his tiny ears. Jessica then snapped her fingers to see if he'd flinch.

Theodore lifted his eyes up to his mother, making her laugh. "Did you hear that, baby? Can you hear mommy's voice?
.... if not, that's okay! Mommy will learn sign language, and we can get you some hearing aids.. it'll be okay." Jessica smiles and kisses his cheek.

She then takes a deep breath in and pats his bottom.
"Now, tonight you are going to be with grandma and grandpa. You're gonna be a good boy, right?
.. Of course you are! You're always a good boy!
And mommy will be back for your many many mid night feedings!"Jessica giggles and kisses his head.

**

"He's out, mom. There's milk in the fridge.
Autumn is fine, Julia can be a little pain to get to bed, but if you give her some milk, she's fine!
Ah, why am I so nervous?" Jessica touches her stomach.

"Because this is your first date in years!"

"Mom, please! It's not a date, it's dinner!
Plus I'm married!"

"Don't remind me" Dorothy rolls her eyes.

"Mom!  I know he's an ass but.. he's working on it."

"You can't change that drastically, Jessie."

"Alright, enough.  I hear Sam's car, I'll be back."

"Ooh he's picking you up?" Dorothy smiles.

"Mom!"

"I'm sorry!  I just feel like we're back in your high school days!  Sam picking you up in his father's old truck.  Me thinking it was all innocent, you probably spreading your legs in the back seat."

"Oh Jesus, mom!" Jessica laughs and covers her face.

"It's okay because I got a grandchild out of it!"

"Hah!  And she's pretty great too, huh?"

"Yep!  She's the best." Dorothy smiles.

Sam then rings the doorbell and Dorothy gasps.
"He's here!" She says as exciting as a teenaged girl.

"Chill, mom." Jessica chuckles before walking towards the door.

"Hey Sam!" She smiles.

"Hi! You look beautiful!"

"Thank you, you so handsome." Jessica smirks.

"Hah, thanks! Let's get going! Oh wait! Hello, Mrs. Dee!"

"Hello, Samuel! You kids have fun!"

"We will! Call me if you need anything, Ma."

"I will! Jessie!" Dorothy says that last part in a loud whisper.

"Yeah?"

"Show some more cleavage!"

"MOM!"

"I'm just trying to help!"

"Just watch my kids, please! Christ!"

**

"So what's going on? How are you? I never see you anymore without a baby attached to you." Sam chuckles.

"Right?! I'm doing well! Recovery this time around has not been very fun, but the doctor says I'm healing nicely."

"That's good! You were pretty busted up." Sam makes a painful face.

"Yeah but I saw it the other and it's looking quite nice." Jessica laughs.

"Haha, well congratulations!"

"Thanks!" Jessica giggles. "Sorry if that was weird! Should I not talk about my vagina to my ex?"

"No it's fine." Sam chuckles and shrugs his shoulders.

"Moving on! Hah!
.. How's Landon doing?"

"He's little so he doesn't understand.. he has his good days and he has his bad days.
But he's okay.."

"That's good.. poor baby." Jessica pouts.

"I know.."

"And how are you? I know you have to be hurting."

"I am, but the kids keep me going."

Jessica nods. "I totally understand. Autumn helped me a lot. Julia too!" Jessica giggles. "Once I found out she was in my belly, I knew I had to be strong for her. Losing a child is the hardest thing a person could go through."

"Definitely.. But look at you! You've been sent two blessings after Simba!"

"I know. I don't know what I'd do without those little babies."

".. You know.. I've been thinking about how I'll never have that again.. I'll never take care of a newborn ever again. It sucks."

"Sam, never say never. I know it's soon but.. maybe one day you'll find someone else.
Sorry if that was disrespectful."

"Oh no, it wasn't disrespectful!  I don't know.. I don't think so.. I was blessed to fall in love twice.. I don't know if it's possible to love three different women in one lifetime." Sam chuckles.

Jessica smiles softly then stirs her sweet tea.
"Maybe you're right.  I guess if things don't work out with Danny.. my baby factory is closed as well.  That's kinda sad.. I mean I've had so many but.. I wasn't quite ready to.. you know.. close for business." She laughs. "Not yet!"

"Well maybe things will work out, you never know."

"I hope they do.."

"I just want you to be happy.  That's all I've ever wanted."

"That's all I've ever wanted for you as well, Sammy."

Sam smiles softly and they continue talking.

**

"So my next big worry.."

"Oh no, what's wrong?"

"I think baby Theo might have hearing trouble." Jessica pouts.

"Aw, really?"

"Yeah, I've noticed that he doesn't react when there's a loud noise.  He doesn't calm down when I speak to him.  He literally has to be on my chest to calm down."

"Oh wow.."

"Then I overthink Everything!  Babies don't have the best eyesight, right?"

"Well no, why?"

"He doesn't get excited about anyone or anything unless it's right in front of his face.  I noticed that last night. And you know, Danny's probably right and I really am just a crazy worried mama. But I just want to make sure everything's okay!"

"Yes, and if it's not, there are way to fix it."

"I know.. I just feel bad.  Was it something I did?"

"No Jess, definitely not!  That's genetics. You did nothing wrong."

"I do have an aunt who's deaf.. I'll have to ask Danny if he has any in his family."

"If he is he'll live a completely normal life. There's no need to worry yourself."

"Thank you.. I'll keep you updated. He has his 3 month checkup in a couple weeks so I'll ask then."

"Yeah, please! I'm sure everything will be fine no matter what, sweetie." Sam says making a beautiful smile appear on Jessica's face.

***

May 8th.

"Okay Theo, you're all dressed for your doctors appointment.  Now, you're gonna get poked today, but you're so strong, I know you'll be okay!  Right?  Mama will hold your little hand and everything!"

"I gon get pokey too, mama?" Julia asks as she sat on the bed beside her brother.

"No baby, not today.  Just Theodore."

"Oh poor hims!" Julia holds his cheeks and kisses his forehead.

Jessica smiles. "Yeah.. my poor baby boy.  But he'll be okay."

"Him be fine!  Him get tweat?"

"Uhhh.. he'll get boobie milk!" She smiles.

"Dat good!"

Jessica laughs.

"I gots dat when I baby, mama!"

"I remember!"

"Buh I bih now!"

"Yeah, you're a big girl now, huh?"

"Ya!" Julia nods.

"That means you're gonna be a good girl while the doctor examines brother, right?"

"Ya, mama!"

"Thank you!  You're always a good girl, Julia Summer."

"Haha!  Dat my name!"

"I know!  Hey, daddy's gonna be there too!"

"Dada?!  YAY!" She claps.

"Yeah!  Are you excited?"

"YAAAAA!"

**

Jessica sat in the doctors office waiting for the doctor.

"Mama, where Dada?" Julia lifted her hands.

"I don't know, baby.  I'm sure he'll be here soon."

"I wan, Dada!"

"Honey, he's coming.  Play with your toys, okay?"

"Kay, mama!" She smiles.

"Thank you, baby girl."

**

"Hello!" The doctor knocks, then let's himself in.

"Hello.." Jessica smiles.

"Hi, little guy!"

"Say hi, baby boy!" She hums.

"Hi I Juju!" Julia smiles.

"Well hello!  I know you, silly!"

"You cute!" Julia smiles at the young doctor.

He and Jessica couldn't help but laugh.
"Well thank you!  You're pretty cute yourself, little lady!"

"Ya!" Julia smiles and nods.

Just then the door opens. "Sorry I'm late!"

"Dada! Dis my Dada!" Julia points to Danny.

"Hey, baby girl!" Danny picks her up.

He then sits beside Jessica and they start Theodore's Checkup.

**

Jessica brought up her concerns to Dr. Fisher as she sat on the table with Theodore on her lap.

"I mean maybe I'm crazy! But I just think something's wrong."

"No, you're definitely not crazy. I'm going to send you to two different doctors. One that will perform a hearing test, another that will do an eye test.
But yes, just examining him now, I see it.
Mama's always know best." He gives Jessica a soft smile.

Jessica's heart broke for her baby boy.

"No need to worry, Mrs. Huston." Dr. Fisher said as he noticed the tears building up in her eyes.

"I just feel bad for him."

"There's no need. We'll find out exactly what this little guy needs, and then we'll go from there. Glasses, hearing aids, whatever it may be—"

"How much money is all that?" Danny asks.

Jessica was irritated by his response to finding out his child is more than likely deaf.

"That will depend on your insurance, Sir."

"Does he need hearing aids? If you're deaf, you're deaf. There's not much you can do about it, right?"

"Maybe back in the day, but not anymore. We're very advanced and little Theo should be able to hear just like the rest of us."

Danny sighs. "And the glasses? Man Jess, what did you do? Sneak alcohol in while pregnant?"

Jessica ignored Danny's comment and looked down to the baby.

"Mr. Huston, I promise you, it was nothing your wife did. Now, I'll go ahead and send a nurse in for his vaccinations, and I'll write down the specialists I recommend."

"Thank you, Doctor." Jessica says.

"No problem! Bye bye, little guy! Bye, Julia!"

"Bye Bye, cutie!" Julia waves.

"Julia!" Jessica chuckles and nods her head.

**

"Baby, I'm right here.. look at mama, sweet boy!"

Theodore fussed as the nurse gently grabbed his leg.
She then poked him and he screamed.

"Oh my baby!  It's okay, Mommy's here, handsome.  Mommy's here!"

Jessica held his little hand and kissed the side of his face.  When Theodore felt his mother's lips he started to calm down.

"Yeah baby.. it's okay."

"Bless his little heart!  Just two more, sweetie!"

"Aww." Jessica pouts and kisses him once again.

**

"There we go!  All done, baby boy!" Jessica picks him up and kisses his chubby cheeks.

"You did so well, precious boy!"

Theodore cried loudly, so Jessica placed him on her chest and lightly bounced him.

"You're okay, buddy.  You're daddy's strong man, remember?" Danny smiles.

"He's just a baby!" Jessica baby talks.

"We gon get yummies?" Julia randomly asks.

Jessica chuckles. "Yes, let me just calm him down and get him dressed, then we'll go get yummies."

"YAY!"

***

A week later.

Danny and Jessica both stood there and waited as the tested Theodore's left ear.

Jessica's hands were clasped and to her chest.
Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty.

Suddenly a message popped up on the screen.
*Failed*

Jessica began to silently cry.
Danny rubbed her back to comfort her.

Now for the right ear.

*Failed*

Jessica wipes her cheeks and places her hand on her son.

"Alright, so let's look at this.
In his left ear, he is completely deaf.  His right ear.. it's right here just above the bar that says slight."

"So where do we go from here?" Jessica asks.

"Well for today we will give you information about the hearing aids that would be best for him.  Then you and your husband can go home and discuss whether or not that's the path you'd like to go down."

"I definitely want that!" Jessica quickly answers.

"No.  Let's talk about it first, Jessica." Danny places his hand on her arm.

"Yes well, you go ahead and do that.  If you decide that is what you want to do, we can fit him for hearing aids as soon as possible."

"Okay.. thank you.." Jessica says looking down to her baby boy.

**

Next up was Theodore's eye doctors appointment.

"My poor baby has been in the doctors office all day!" Jessica pouts.

"He's okay, baby.." Danny says.

Theodore sat on his mother's lap wiggling around as the ophthalmologist examined him.

"Almost done, buddy!  I'm so sorry.."

"He's probably pissed at us.  We just came from another doctors appointment."

"Oh poor little guy!  But!  We're all done." He smiles.

"Yay!  Good job, Teddy!"
Jessica kisses the side of his head then asks, "So.. how's his vision?"

The doctor sighs and says, "Well.. He's definitely nearsighted and has astigmatism."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Danny says.

"Poor baby.." Jessica pouts.

"It's all okay!  Babies with glasses are pretty dang cute." The doctor says trying to lighten the mood.

"Heh.. yeah." Jessica smiles softly.

The gentleman then steps out and Danny chuckles.
"What the hell happened to this one?"

"Danny!  Stop it!  Stop acting like he's a freak of nature!"

"He's deaf and blind, Jess!  I just don't know how that happened!"

"He's normal!  Stop acting like he isn't!"

"I'm not paying for all that."

"Fine!  I don't want your money!"

"How are you gonna pay for it?"

"I'm going back to work, I'll ask my parents for help!  I will do anything for my son!"

Danny gets up and walks out of the room, completely crushing Jessica.

Theodore fusses a bit so Jessica lightly pats his back and bounces him.
"It's okay, baby boy.. mama's gonna give you everything!" Jessica says in a loud whisper with tears in her eyes.

**

After leaving the eye doctors, Jessica went to Sam's to pick up Autumn.

"Hey Jess!  Autumn is upstairs.  Come on in."

"Thanks.."

"You okay?"

Jessica looks at Sam and tears start rolling down her face.

"Hey, what happened?" Sam walks closer and wraps his arms her.

"Theodore needs hearing aids and glasses.. and Danny.. he acts like he's some type of freak!  He doesn't want to help me pay.. I was gonna get a job anyway!  I don't need his money." She cries.

"Aw Jess.. don't worry about the money.  I've got it."

"What?  No, Sam!  You can't do that.  He's not even yours!" Jessica cries even harder.

"I lost a baby and.. doing this for another child.. and for my best friend, would make me feel so good.  Please, Jessica.  I have the money.  Let me help."

"Sammy.. I can't let you do that." Jessica's voice cracks.

"I'm going to do it, Jessica."

"Why are you so great?  You really don't have to do this, Sam."

"I want to.  And.. I don't know, I'm just naturally really sweet, I guess." He smiles.

Jessica laughs and hugs him tightly.

"It's all gonna be okay.  It's all taken care of.. don't worry."