The next morning.
7:00 am.

Jessica woke to a loud ringing coming from the nightstand. She quickly jumped up to answer it so the kids would stay asleep.
The whole night was rough on her. Julia didn't sleep well through the night, and Theodore had just fallen back to sleep after a feed.

"Hello?" Jessica answered in a groggy voice.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"It's fine. What do you want, Danny?"

"I miss you. I just wanted to talk on the way to work."

"About what?"

"Anything! How are the kids?"

"Autumn is fine, Julia is getting sick, and Theo is great."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, Danny. Can I please go back to sleep? I've been up all night!" Jessica whines.

"Oh yeah! Sorry.. one more question?"

"What?"

"When are you coming home?"

"Danny.." Jessica sighs.
"I'm not. Not for a while. We need to spend some time apart. You need to straighten up.. and I need to be a mother. Only a mother. I can't focus on being a wife to someone who doesn't want to be a husband."

"Jess, I love you! I love being your husband, you know that."

"I thought I did. Please, Danny. I love you so much.. but you have hurt me in ways I never thought possible. I'm staying here for a few months. If you want to see the kids, that's fine.
I would never keep them from you.
But as of right now you and I are separated."

"I screwed up, Jess. I promise not to do it again."

"No.. I always forgive you. I never see the bad in you.. all for you to just turn around and hurt me time and time again. And it just gets worse and worse!
Maybe this break will make you see that.. that I'm a good person who doesn't deserve to be treated this way." Jessica covers her mouth after her voice shakes.

"Jess.."

"No. No more."

"Jessica-"

"Bye, Danny." Jessica spoke in a whisper.
She then set her phone down and silently cried into her hands.

**

A few hours later.

"Theo!  Smile for mama!  Smile for mama, silly boy!  You were all smiles last night!  What happened?" Jessica laughed as she snapped his picture.

"You are so serious!"

"Maybe he's doing his business." She heard a familiar voice coming from the doorway.

Jessica quickly snapped her head towards the door.

"You don't usually like someone pointing a camera at you at that time." He chuckles.

"Sam!" Jessica smiles.

"How are you feeling?" Sam makes a painful face.

"I'm doing okay.  Thanks for asking!"

"No problem.  You tore completely in half so I know that's gotta be a bitch.  Especially when-"

"It's okay!" Jessica laughs. "I'm healing."

"Well that's good!  I came for Autumn and just wanted to see how you and the babies were doing." Sam smiles down to the kids.

"Aw! We're okay. Julia is all snotty nosed and Theodore is just hanging out." She chuckles rubbing his stomach.

"Heh!  He's a cutie."

"Thank you!"

"And so are you!" He tells Julia who was laying on the bed. Still in pajamas with messy hair.

"I shiiiiick!" She whines.

"Aw poor baby!"

"She's not running a fever.  She's just a drama queen." Jessica giggles.

Sam laughs. "Aw! Say that's fine, mama! She's just so cute that it makes it all okay!"

"Sham, I cute?" Julia tilts her head.

"You are SO cute, Julia!"

"I SO CUTE!" She laughs.
"Tanks, Sham!"

"Haha!  You're very welcome, beautiful."
"I booiful too?!"

"Of course!"

Julia laughs and lifts her arms for Sam to lift her.

"Oh goodness!" Jessica nods her head as she laughs.

"You're so cuddly, Juju!"

"Yeah.."

"Hey!  I know what'll make you feel better!"

"What?!  A Pize?!"

"Kinda!  Landon is in the living room!"

Julia gasps. "LAN LAN!"

She kicks her feet so Sam puts her down.
Julia then takes off running.

"She's feeling better already." Jessica chuckles.

"Uncle Sam to the rescue!" He smiles.

Jessica giggles. "I don't think she's faking it, I mean my shirt is covered in her mucus, so obviously she has a little cold.. but I feel like she's doing some of it for attention."

"What do you mean?"

"She asked about Danny yesterday."

"Oh.."

"I told him he could come see the kids.."

"But he hasn't."

"No.  And kids are smart.. they know when someone does and does not care for them. I mean he's not even asking to talk to her!
I don't understand it.  He's seen Theo for a total of two minutes! That would kill me, Sam!"

"I can't even imagine."

"It's stupid.." Jessica looks down and nods.

Just then the baby starts to coo.

"Aw!  He's saying, It'll be okay, mama!" Sam smiles.

Jessica chuckles with tears in her eyes.
"My baby boy!  You're still naked, I'm so sorry!" Jessica says laying his onesie over his chest.

"Oh that face!" Jessica laughs.

"Look at those arms!  Ugh I miss Landon being a baby.." Sam says with a sadness in his eyes.

"Aw.. he was a cute baby!" Jessica smiles softly.

"He sure was.." Sam looks down.

"How are you doing, Sam?" Jessica asks slipping the onesie over the baby, causing him to fuss a bit.

Sam sighs. "Hanging in there.  It's not easy."

"I know.. I'm here for you."

"I know, Jess.  Thank you."

"Of course!"

Sam and Jessica continue talking, and just a few minutes later they notice the sleeping baby.

"I think we were boring him." Sam laughs and points to Theodore.

"Haha!  I think so!" Jessica laughs.

***

March.

"Kids, this is our very first time going out all together since Theodore arrived. It's a special day!" Jessica said with a big smile.

"It's Simba's birthday!" Autumn exclaims.

"It is! My first baby boy is two today!"

"This is Theo's first time ever going to visit Simba!"

"It is! And you're gonna be a good boy, huh, Teddy?" Jessica smiled down to the baby.
Teddy has become one of Jessica's favorite nicknames to call Theodore.

"He's gonna be so good, momma!"

Jessica smiles and kisses the top of Theodore's head.
"Yes he is!  You little miss, better be good too!" Jessica looks down to Julia.

"I good!" Julia giggles.

"You are! All my babies are super good! Now let's get going, loves. Autumn, will you please grab the balloons?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Thank you, sweets."

**

Arriving at the cemetery, Jessica laid a blanket out on the ground for them to sit on.

"Mama, gwass!" Julia smiles, hitting the ground.

"That is grass, good girl!"

"Ya!  Sim— Simbaaaa!" Julia points to her older brother's headstone before clapping her hands together.

Jessica giggles and leans over to kiss her head.
"Yeah!  Say, Happy Birthday, Baby Simba!"

The girls say happy birthday to their brother, and tears immediately fill Jessica's eyes.

"We love you, Simba.. I hope you're having a wonderful birthday with Megan and Everly!  I miss you so much, baby boy.  I wish I could hold you.. and kiss your sweet little lips.. but I know one day we will meet again.. and I hold you in my arms for all of eternity!  Mommy loves you, Simba."

"Mama, no cwy!"

Jessica sniffles and gives Julia a small smile as she gently rubs her thigh.

Autumn hugs Jessica and says, "It's okay, Juju.  Mommy will be okay."

"She kay?" Julia tilts her head.

"Yeah, she's just a little sad right now, but it'll be okay."

Even more tears roll down Jessica's face as Autumn speaks.  Jessica wraps her arm around her and says, "Yes.. everything is okay.  I love you, baby girl.  Thank you for being my rock."

Autumn smiles. "I love you, more, mommy."

**

"Julia, don't jump on the graves!" Jessica says.

"Juju, there are people under there!" Autumn says.

"What?!  Why?" Julia's eyes go wide.

"Just come here." Jessica chuckles.

As Julia runs to her mother in fear, she trips and scrapes her knee.

"Ah.. Owwww.."

"You're okay, honey!  Stand up and come to mama!" Jessica holds her arms out.

Julia begins screaming and crying, and refuses to stand on her own.

"MAMAAAA!"

"You're okay, Julia!"

"Mama!  OWIE!" Julia sobs.

Jessica walks over and picks her up.
She kisses her cheek and says, "You're okay, baby.  Just a little scrape." She says inspecting her knee.

"I bleeeeedingggggg!"

"Mama has bandaids!" Jessica smiles.

Just then Theodore cries.
"I'm still here, baby!" Kneels down.

"He's still sad!" Autumn pouts.

Jessica was a couple feet away from the carrier but she spoke to him in attempt to soothe him as she bandaged up Julia.

"Mom, he sounds scared!"

"I'm coming, sweetie. Mommy's right here, love!"

Jessica placed the bandaid on Julia's knee and kissed it softly.

"All better!"

"Tanks, mama.." Julia scratches her eye.

"You're welcome, baby girl!" Jessica smiles then moves closer to Theodore.
She picks him up and he is still fussing.

"Baby boy!" Jessica baby talks.

Finally, he stops when Jessica places him on her chest.

"Oh goodness! You all better now?"

"Aw!  He just wanted to be held." Autumn smiles sweetly.

"I know.. my baby!"

Suddenly Autumn gasps.
"Momma, Danny's here."

"What?" Jessica turns.

"Hey!" He smiles as he walks over.

"Hey.. I didn't know you were in town."

"Yeah, I wanted to visit Simba. I was gonna call you. Hi girls! Hi little man!" Danny smiles and softly rubs his son's head.

"Dada?"

"Yeah, Juju! It's me!"

"I hurt!" Julia points to her knee.

"Aw poor baby! What happened, darlin?"

"Juju fall!" Julia exclaims.

Danny and Jessica couldn't help but chuckle.

"Juju fell?! Oh no!"

"I kay!"

"Oh good! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Ya!"

Danny smiles then looks at Autumn.
"How's school going, Auttie?"

"Good.. I had a test on Monday."

"Really? How'd you do?"

"Good!"

"Awesome! You're so smart! Just like your mommy."

Autumn smiles softly then looks down to Julia.

Danny clears his throat. "May I hold him?"

"Of course!" Jessica hands the baby over.

Little Theodore was not having it! He wasn't familiar with Danny, so he fussed and fussed for his mother.

"He cwy!" Julia points. "He no happy.. He not like Dada!"

"Shh.." Autumn places her hand on her sister's leg.

Julia puckers her lips and hits Autumn's hand as she furrows her brows.

"He likes him.. he's just kinda fussy today."

"He was smiling at Simba's stone earlier!" Autumn says.

Jessica just looks at her but doesn't speak.

"I should get him home."

"Oh.. okay.."

"You can come by and see the kids before heading back. My parents are out of town so.."

"Oh! Good to know." Danny chuckles softly.
"I'm not their favorite person at the moment. I don't blame them though.." Danny sighs. "You guys go on. Get that little man home."

"Alright. Talk to you later."

"Bye.."

Danny said goodbye to the kids, and they were off.

***

April 18th.

It was a very relaxing afternoon.  Theodore relaxed in his mamaroo and the girls sat around him.

"HI BABYYYYY!" Julia screamed.

"Juju!" Jessica laughs. "Don't scream, you'll scare him, honey."

"He didn't even flinch, mom." Autumn chuckles.

"Well still, we have to be carful with his little ears."

"I pay toys wih baby!" Julia grabs a rattle and shakes it like crazy.
Julia stood to the right of Theodore as she "Played" with her baby brother.

Jessica's smile soon faded as she noticed something that made her worry.

"Girls, will you ask grammy if she needs help with dinner, please?"

"Sure, momma! Let's go, Juju." Autumn holds her hand out for her.

"Wace!" Julia says before taking off.

"Careful, Julia!" Jessica says.

Once the girls were gone, Jessica took the rattle and shook it, trying to get a response from the baby.

The baby showed absolutely no interest in the rattle.  Jessica hoped that maybe he just thought it was boring. She prayed her
Jessica then took the baby and walked to the kitchen.

**

Later that evening the girls were playing and things were getting a little wild.
Jessica told them to calm down, but Dorothy said to let them be.

As Jessica sat on the couch with her feet on the coffee table, and the baby on her legs, she hears a loud shatter. Both Dorothy and Jessica jumped.

"I no do dat! I no do it!" Julia cries.

Dorothy walks over and gets her so she doesn't hurt herself.

"That's why mommy is always right." Jessica smiles.

"Yeah, sorry mommy!" Dorothy chuckles.

Jessica laughs then looks at Julia in her mother's arms. "It's okay. You're okay, baby."

Dorothy sits beside her and Julia screams louder. "Breathe, honey. It's okay! It was an accident, and you aren't in trouble."

"I wuv yewwww!"

"Aw! I love you too!" Jessica chuckles.

"I'll clean this up." Dorothy walks over to grab a broom.

"Thanks. I'm so sorry, Ma. Julia, tell grandma you're sorry for breaking the--"

"I no do it!" Julia quickly defends herself.

"No, we all know you did, so don't tell stories.
Go apologize, please."

Julia hops off the couch and walks over to her grandmother. "I sowy, gwammy!"

Dorothy kneels down and wraps her arms around the young girl. "Aw baby, it's okay! I'm just glad you didn't get hurt!"

"Ya.. I no hurt." Julia nods.

"That's all that matters!"

Autumn walks over and sits beside her mother and little brother. "He didn't even cry! My friend Thomas, his baby brother cries at every single noise! It's pretty annoying when I'm at his house!" She laughs.

"Heh.. yeah.. he's good, huh?"

Autumn smiles, nods her head, and reaches over and kisses the top of Theodore's head.
Theodore smiles and kicks his legs against Jessica's stomach.

Jessica giggles. "Aw! You love sissy's kisses, huh?
Such a sweet sweet boy!"

***

April 20th.

"Hello?"

"Happy Birthday! I know we're going through a lot right now but.. I love you with all my heart, Jess."

"Thank you, Danny.. I love you too."

"How are things?"

"Well.." Jessica sighs.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm worried about Theo."

"Why?"

"I think he might be deaf."

Danny chuckles. "Oh Jessie.. always my worrier. Baby, he's fine."

"Danny, you don't know. You're never around him! He's not like the other two. He doesn't respond to sound like he should be. Something's wrong."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Well his three month appointment is coming up so, I'm going to bring it up to the doctor."

"Alright. I just don't know.. I mean he's only a baby."

"That doesn't matter, Daniel. I just want to make sure he's okay. If he does have hearing problems, he's still my baby, and I love him the same, of course! I just want to know, that way I can learn sign language so I'll be able to communicate with him."

Danny laughs. "Jessica, he's probably just a chill baby and you're over here learning sign language already!"

"If you're not going to take this seriously, then goodbye, Daniel!"

"No, no, no! I'm sorry. I'm sorry.. I just am surprised, I guess. I want to go to the doctor with you. Will you let me know when the appointment is?"

"Sure. But it's not a joke!"

"I know it's not, Jess.  Sorry."

"Alright well, I'll talk to you later."

"Bye babe."

**

Later that evening Jessica's siblings and their family's came over to celebrate her birthday.
Sam and Landon came over as well.

"Twenty nine! You gonna go out and party hard tonight?" Sam chuckles.

"Hah! Yeah right!"

"You and me!  Let's go!  Pretend like we're back in college!"

"What?  Go out drinking and get pregnant?" Jessica laughs.

"Uhh, if you want!" Sam laughs.

"Sam!" Jessica laughs and hits his arm.

She then settles down and gives him a smile.
"You look good, Sam."

"Well.. I mean.. I'm doing okay.  Today was a good day though, so I'm happy." He smiles.

"I'm glad!"

"Thanks..
But uh.. going back.. you and I should go out."

Jessica looks at him and he suddenly becomes awkward. "I mean as friends!  Just to eat!  Not to have a baby!  That-that uh- that was just a joke!"

Jessica laughs. "Okay, how about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?  Tomorrow?!"

"Yeah.."

"Tomorrow sounds great!" Sam smiles.

"Okay.. well good!" Jessica giggles.
"It's a date!  But.. not really."

"Yeah!  It's uhhh.. a friend gathering.. A gathering of two friends that ummm.. we-"

"Sam.. Sam, it's okay.  It's dinner." Jessica chuckles and softly pats his arm.

"Dinner!  I love dinner." He smiles.

"That's great." Jessica laughs.