May 25th-

It was a week after Scarlett's surgery. It was one of the hardest weeks she'd endure during her two month recovery period. It was very hard for this little girl to go through so much pain. She had constant head aches, an upset stomach which lead to throwing up and even more head pain, swelling, no sleep, and being uncomfortable 99.9% of the time. There was always something that someone wanted to do for her, but there was nothing really to take away the pain. Jessica and Danny wanted her to stay away from any powerful drugs. The nurses gave her medicine but it only provided minimal relief. Luckily, she was sleepy, so little naps here and there helped. But at night, she never slept. It was like she was a newborn all over again.

Since Scarlett was going through so much, Jessica asked that no one visited. It would be too overwhelming for her and she was very sensitive to noise. It was just Jessica and Danny, alone, most of the time. He seemed to be back to his old self, which was very refreshing. They would take turns going to their parents, showering, getting more clothes, and it gave Jessica an opportunity to see the boys. Danny was too afraid to see them while they were under Albert's watch. She went back about two or three times a day, depending on how Jack was doing.

Luckily, today was the day that Jessica and Danny would be taking Scarlett home. Jessica was extremely nervous. She had nurses help 24/7 and just hoped that she could do as well as them when it came to doing everything they could to make Scarlett comfortable.

Scarlett would stay with Jessica no matter what. The plan is for Danny to stay with his parents and go back and forth to Jessica's to help her when her parents were gone and to spend time with his kids. For the first few weeks, Scarlett would need all the attention and care in the world.

While they waited for the discharge papers to process Jessica packed up her room while Danny played with her for a bit. Before they left all of her doctors and nurses from Maryland and Minnesota threw her a little party to celebrate. She was very happy but more anxious to go home.

Danny and Jessica talked with Scarlett to remind her how gentle and careful she needed to be, especially when Wyatt begs her to play the moment she walks through the door.

Once Jessica was done cleaning up she walked over to Scarlett's bed and sat on the other side of Danny. Zoe made little sock puppets for Scarlett so Danny had a blast with those.

"Scarlett, What kind of puppet is this?" Danny says holding up his right hand

"Graffe." She attempts

"A giraffe, good job." He whispers, making sure he spoke at a reasonable tone that she could tolerate

"What about this hand?" He asks

"Horsey!" She smiles happily

"You're a smart cookie, little girl." Jessica smiles

The doctors urged Jessica and Danny to do lots of extra educational things with Scarlett to help her brain develop better. With open brain surgery, the odds were always in your favor. Even when it came to memory and being able to process things. There was a chance that Scarlett could be a little more behind then Wyatt when it came to learning.

"Mama, shhhhh." She says holding her head

Everything was still very sensitive.

"I'm sorry, baby." She whispers

"Ice please?" She asks

Ice was Scarlett's number one relief. Jessica gets up and goes to the freezer to grab ice towels. She puts one around her neck, that one supports another that is placed near her jaw, the third towel goes on her forehead, and the last one goes where the incision is. That's exactly how the nurses said to set it up, Jessica was a pro.

"Thank you." She smiles

"Miss Huston, Mr. Lange, your little girl is ready to go home!" The nurse says walking in with a wheelchair.

"Wonderful! Scarlett, ready to go home to grammy and papas?" Jessica says

"Yes! Wyatt! Jack!" She smiles

Danny gently picks his little girl up and puts her in the wheelchair. He puts all of her puppets and stuffed animals around her and gives her a kiss.

"You comin?" She asks Danny

"Yes, baby. I'll swing by later." He smiles leaving her a kiss on the cheek

Danny then stands up and turns to Jessica. They give each other a big hug, a hug of relief that it was finally over.

"Alright, so I'll stop at my parents, shower, unpack, then bring them and myself over to visit for a bit."

"Okay! While you do that I'll settle her in, give her her twelve o'clock pill, attempt to bathe miss stinky pants, hopefully, get her to nap, feed Jack, play with Wyatt, then wait for you to arrive so I can stop at the office and or catch up on sleep." Jessica says breathlessly with a smile. She wanted everything to be organized.

"Will your parents be okay with me coming in and out?"

"Just stay on the down low. Don't bother or talk to anyone. Just focus on the kids." She says patting his arm.

"Sounds nerve-wracking."

Jessica chuckles

"See ya later!" She says

//-//

When Jessica arrived home with Scarlett, everyone was so excited to see her. Jessica perfectly timed their arrival, it would be the boy's nap time. It gave Scarlett a chance to relax and adapt so she wasn't so overwhelmed.

"Sweetie pie! Grammy missed you!" Dorthy says giving her hugs and kisses

"Thank goodness, she's home!" Albert says to Jessica

"I know... I'm relieved." Jessica whispers

"I ty-ty, gram." She whispers in Dorthy's ear as she held her gently

"Okay, sweetie pie. Al, wanna carry her upstairs?" Dorthy says handing her to Albert

"Of course! My strong little girl." he smiles

"Bad-ass." She says slowly, trying to repeat what Danny said to her days ago.

Dorthy and Albert gasp and widen their eyes. They immediately turn to Jessica who began to laugh.

"Oh... haha... ya... about that, Scarlett's vocabulary is expanding." Jessica chuckles nervously

"You are... one.... badass." Albert chuckles as he carries her up the stairs

Before Jessica tends to Scarlett She plops herself down on the couch to catch her breath.

"I don't think I've had a normal nights rest since before I was pregnant with Jack. I just... need.... sleep." Jessica chuckles

"When Zoe, John, and Danny come over, you should nap."

"I wish... but I have to go to the office and help Sam. He's been doing everything alone since we opened. I'll take the boys with me."

"Jess, you're going to burn out." Dorthy insists

"I know, but this is motherhood." She giggles

//-//

In the late afternoon Zoe, John, and Danny arrived. For Danny, it was extremely awkward and uncomfortable. Albert had a close eye on him. He knew that Zoe and John would keep Danny in place, but he didn't expect him to pull anything now. He had lost all trust in Danny.

By this time, all three children were awake and running. Wyatt didn't want to leave Scarlett's side and Jack refused to be put down. He was fussy in everyone else's arms but Jessica's.

"It's complete chaos in here!" Jessica says trying to run around the room to find the ice bag for Scarlett

"Jessica, just relax. Let me help." Zoe says searching

"Here it is!" Danny says

Jessica sighs "Thank goodness. Her head is really killing her. She's super nervous. Maybe she's just overwhelmed right now." Jessica panics

Then, Jack starts to scream in Jessica's face.

"Oh, Jack, come on!" Jessica pleas

Scarlett covers her ears and cries.

"Scarlett is crying... maybe he's a little loud for her?" Danny says

"Okay, I'll leave. Wyatt, come with mama." Jessica says holding out her hand

"No! I stay with sissy!" He exclaims as he sits right next to her

"Shhh!" Scarlett says hitting Wyatt

"Hey, no hitting!" Jessica says

"Wyatt, come with mama, right now. We're going on a trip."

Wyatt immediately felt unwanted by Scarlett. He began to cry as he crawled out of bed and tumbled over to Jessica.

Danny picked him up and gave him a big hug. "I'll walk you two out." He says to Jessica as she gets ready to leave for an hour.

Albert and Dorthy watch as Danny helps Jessica load up her car. They stand by the window keeping a close eye.

"Thanks... I didn't think it would be this chaotic." Jessica sighs

"Yes, I know." He says buckling in Wyatt

"She's just so fragile right now. It's best I take the boys. We need to get back on our normal routine soon though. I think this is all too confusing for the little ones."

"Have fun. We'll be here." he smiles

"Thanks Danny..."

Jessica climbs into the car and rolls down the window. "We'll be back soon so you can have baby time." she says looking back at Jack who finally calmed down.

"Sounds like a trade." Danny jokes

"Haha, Yeah."

It goes quiet. But Jessica doesn't drive off yet. It seemed like Danny had more to say. And he did...

"Jess, I'm really glad we could come together for our kids. I don't deserve your kindness and acceptance. I'm really glad that we are nipping this co-parenting in the butt. Together or not... I'm happy that you've accepted me." He says happily

"It's good that we put the past aside."

"Maybe when things calm down, dinner? Just to talk out visitation and a way for me to send money to you every month. No lawyers." He says

"Dinner at my parents." She insists... Jessica was still too scared to be alone with Danny

"Fair enough. I understand you not wanting to go out alone. I'm still very very sorry." He says

"I know you are... I'm running late, go tend to Scarlett." Jessica smiles rolling up the window.

//-//

After a few stops, Jessica arrives at her new office. She was relieved to see Sam's truck in the parking lot. Jessica gathered up the boys and her works things and headed inside. Wyatt was excited to get out of the house. When he ran into the office he happily greeted Sam then went straight to a spinny chair. When Sam saw Jessica struggling a bit with a diaper bag, baby and briefcase he ran to help her out.

"Need an extra hand?" Sam says taking the diaper bag

"Two or three more would be nice. One for each kid, huh?" She smiles

Sam could tell that Jessica was drained. He gave her a side hug and she sighed.

"It has been a long two weeks. But, I'm here to work. I won't let you down."

"Jess, I said that you could take as long as you need. I feel terrible having you in the office during your daughters first day home." He says

Jessica walks to her desk and sets Jack in his play pin that Jessica had left by her desk.

"I needed to get here and help. I bet you've been busy flying solo."

"All i've been doing is business calls and floor plans for the first project. Jessica, please go home."

"No!" She snaps

Sam stops

Jessica begins to cry. She covers her face in embarrassment.

Wyatt looks up at his mother who was a mess.

Sam takes her hand and sits her down.

"Talk to me..." He whispers

Jessica sniffles and wipes her eyes. "I've spent the last week and half spending every single minute with him. I can't do it anymore. I can't be around him." She cries

"Did he hurt you?" Sam asks

"No... he's perfect. Just perfect." She whines

Sam was confused.... and a bit nervous.

"I'm lost." Sam says

"He's so much better now. He's even better than before. Sam, him and I could be married now. We could be happy together. Our children could have a normal family. He ruined all of that. Being around him this last week just made me so frustrated that he ruined all of it!" She clenches her fists and punches the chair. A cloud of anger showered on top of Jessica.

Sam sighs "Are you not happy now?" He asks

"I'm so happy.... I'm so happy with our accomplishments. I'm happy I'm back in school, I'm happy my children are all healthy, I'm happy I'm in Minnesota. He just comes in town and confuses me!" She cries

"Don't let him confuse you, Jessica. Don't let him get you off track." Sam says sincerely

He gets eye level with Jessica and wipes her tears. They stare into each other's eyes. Suddenly, Jessica jumps out of her chair and into Sam's arms. She kisses him passionately and doesn't stop. She cups his face with her hands and falls into him. His body isn't tense anymore. It was like it had been so tense for so long, but now that Jessica's lips touched his, he felt loose and free. Like it was meant to be.

Jessica quickly pulls herself away from and covers her lips. Sam was really into the kiss because it took him a moment to realize that it was over.

"Im so sorry." She says quickly standing up and walking away.

Sam panics, worried that Jessica was uncomfortable.

"Jess, don't apologize. It was great." He says taking her hands

She pauses and breathes heavily... "I don't want this to change anything. I shouldn't have kissed you, I'm sorry." She stresses

"Change what?" He asks

"Change our partnership... I should go. Today hasn't been a good day. I'm stressed and I shouldn't have kissed you. I don't want to confuse each other. I'm sorry, I have to go." She panics, grabbing all of her things and the kids then running out the door.

Sam stood alone in the empty office, heartbroken. He never realized how much he missed her touch.

//-//