"Auntie Dani! Wakey time!"

Dani peeled her tired eyes open and immediately smiled at her adorable nephew. Who was sitting beside her, impatiently waiting for her to wake up. 

"Well, good morning, Gavi!" She kissed his little cheek, which was still slightly pink from being warm and toasty overnight.

"Morning!"

"Do you have to go potty?" Dani asked, and he bobbed his head yes.

"Okay, let's get going, then," she said as she helped him to her bathroom.

A little while later, she had Gavin up on the counter as she began to prepare breakfast. She decided she'd make a big veggie egg scramble. That way, it would be healthy for Alyssa but still tasty and enjoyable for Gavin. She showed Gavin how to mix the eggs while she started working on dicing the vegetables. However, he was mostly just watching Dani work.

"Was that one?" he asked as she placed red bell pepper on the cutting board.

"It's a red pepper," she explained. "There are tons of peppers out there. All different colors. Some are even spicy."

"Wow." He stared in wide-eyed wonder as she started to dice it up.

"This is picey?" He asked.

"Nope," she assured him. "This one is sweet. Like you."

"I very sweet," Gavin agreed.

"Danica, please do not let him on the counter. It caused a huge mess yesterday." Alyssa's voice broke up the cheerful vibe, and Dani did her best to hide her scowl.

She noticed Alyssa was wearing the same navy blue buttoned shirt that Rocco had on yesterday; it hung a little past her thighs.

"Come on down, Gavin." Alyssa held her arms out, and he scowled.

"I like to help, mommy!"

"I think the mess is worth the lessons he's learning by helping."

Rocco's voice seemed to fill the room, as did his presence. He was donned in a pair of sweats that appeared a little loose on him and a basic white tee shirt. His hair was ruffled up, and he hadn't shaved yet.

Dani assumed they were up late then, making up; it caused a lump in her throat that she didn't like much.

She focused her attention on the vegetables, reminding herself not to worry or even think about their damn marriage.

"If you think so, then okay," Alyssa said in a rare cheery voice. Dani nearly gaped in surprise.

"Are you Ill?" Rocco asked, looking amused.

"No." She shot him a dark look. "I'm trying to do better."

"Okay, then. Thanks." His voice was just as quiet, and he sounded off.

Dani turned her attention to the stove and started cooking the veggies in the pan. She felt awkward and weird listening to this.

"Today will be a light day, Danica." Alyssa said, "I don't have any binding obligations. Rocco is taking an early day cause he and Dante are going to open the pool."

Great, the pool, Dani was now forcing images of shirtless and wet Rocco out of her mind.

"I'll need you at seven, though. Rocco and I are going out to dinner." She added.

"We are?" Rocco asked.

"We are," Alyssa confirmed in a firm tone.

"Okay," Dani said, feeling so tense and weird. She turned her attention to Gavin. "These eggs look good! Can I give them one more big mix?"

"Yes!" Gavin exclaimed. "A really big one!"

"What are you making anyway?" Alyssa came over and peered over her shoulder as she poured the eggs into the pan over the veggies.

"Scramb-ley eggs," Gavin Informed her.

"With lots of vegetables," Dani added.

"Veg-a-bowls make Gavi big."

Alyssa laughed, actually laughed, and Dani nearly gaped again.

"They sure do!" She patted his little head. "Thank you for cooking something healthy, Dani."

"Uh, you're welcome, Alyssa." Dani raised an eyebrow. 

"Just call me Lys; we're sisters," Alyssa chirped.

If Gavin wasn't in the room, Dani would have asked her again if she was on drugs.

Dani also turned to set the pan down on the counter and saw the surprise in Rocco's eyes.

"Well, let's eat, then!"  he called in his silly booming dad voice making Gavin laugh.

Dani stood and watched for a moment. Rocco was getting Gavin settled into his booster chair, while Alyssa set the plates on the table.

At that moment, they looked exactly like that picture-perfect family in Alyssa's postcards.

So why did that make her want to cry?

**

Rocco felt like he was in some weird upside-down world. He tried to shake it off, but he couldn't. Alyssa was playing a role, that much he could tell, but she wouldn't be playing the role if she didn't want to fix things.

He asked her to try, and clearly, she was. He owed her the same.

He had to try, for Gavin's sake. The boy deserved to grow up with both his parents. He didn't get that choice because his parents were ripped away from him. He couldn't let Gavin suffer as he and Dante did.

He shook his thoughts away as he slipped on his black boots and headed out of the bedroom. Today, he'd kept it casual in a fitted black tee shirt and dark blue jeans. Since they had no clients and a half day, they could wear whatever they wanted.

He was heading toward the kitchen when he heard Dani and Alyssa talking.

"No sense in wasting your afternoon off. I'll call my friend, Becks. She can help you scrape together a decent wardrobe."

"I'm good, thanks," Dani said dryly.

"I don't need it to look like I don't pay my nanny enough to look decent."

"I look fine," Dani snapped.

"You look like a walking Walmart ad," Alyssa countered.

"I already have plans today."

"How? You've been here for like 5 minutes!" Alyssa scoffed.

"I'm having lunch with Lexi," Dani said, "Maybe we'll do some shopping later."

"Gross! Lexi has the fashion sense of a wet squirrel."

"A what?" Rocco had to ask, chuckling as he entered the kitchen. "So is a dry squirrel more fashionable or...?"

"Shut up, Rocco," Alyssa gave him the side eye as Dani stifled a laugh.

"Tigers are very fastenable," Gavin informed them. He was sitting at the table coloring in his animal book.

"They sure are," Dani said, kissing the top of his head. "I should go get ready. I'll be back well before seven."

"Can you wait until I'm ready and then leave? I don't normally appear at breakfast like this, but it was a late night." Alyssa said, throwing Rocco a suggestive wink.

He felt a little awkward about it. They hadn't been the flirty and suggestive type of couple in a long time. It felt weird and somehow even more so with Dani there.

"Yeah, sure," Dani mumbled with a shrug.

"Too bad you already showered," Alyssa added in a husky voice before she strolled past him.

He stood awkwardly for a second, avoiding looking directly at Dani. He wasn't sure if he should thank her for taking care of Gavin last night or if she'd think it was creepy that he went down there. He opted not to say anything.

"Alright, Champ. I got to get to work. But guess what?"

"What, Daddy?"

"Daddy is going to be home early today, and Uncle Dante is coming too!"

"Yay!" Gavin cheered.

"I better go fast so I can get home fast." Rocco knelt and ruffled his hair.

"You better!" Gavin agreed.

"Love you, buddy." He gave him a gentle squeeze and kissed him on the cheek.

"Love, Daddy!" Gavin cheered happily.

"Dani, can you do me a huge favor?" Rocco asked as he went to grab his keys from the wall.

"Sure," she said.

"When you see Lexi today, could you give her a heads up that Becks is back in town? I have to warn Dante about it today. He won't be in a good mood later."

"So, she must be the ex he designed the beach house with?"

"Mm," he nodded, "Lexi will tell you all about it, trust me."