August.

"Thank you for letting me stay the weekend, Uncle Doug and Aunt Cathy."

"Of course!"

"Just no hanky panky." Doug says.

"Daaaad!" Jessica groans.

"I promise, sir."

"You have to remember we have Isla in the room with us." Jessica says.

"Ah yes!" Doug smiles and lifts his granddaughter. "The best birth control on the market."

"Poppyyyy!" Isla giggles.

Jessica chuckles softly. "No, we just want to be together. ."

"Yep. . But we will not be sad because I will drive back every weekend, and hopefully my girls can come up and visit me too."

"Yeah. ." Jessica pouts.

"No don't pout because my little heart can't it when you make that face."

"Well if I keep pouting will you please stay?"

"Aw baby!" Danny wraps his arms around her.

"I'm sorry."

"Why?  Don't apologize sweet girl."

"I want you to go, but I'm just extra emotional right now."

"I know, babe.  It's okay."

"And why are you extra emotional?" Doug asks.

"Lady stuff, uncle Doug." Danny says.

"Stoooop!" Jessica whines.

"I'm sorry." Danny rubs her back. "It's just an emotional time of the month."

"I said Stop!"

"Sorry!"

"Danny, I am going to visit you as much as possible, but you know it'll be hard with Isla. ."

"I know, I know.  Don't worry.  I promise, promise, promise to come home every weekend."

"You can't promise that.  You have a life too!" Jessica cries.

"My life is with you, Jessie."

Jessica looks up to Danny.  Her lips quivering, her eyes filled with tears.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Danny."

The couple then share a kiss.

Isla turns to her grandfather and makes a face. "Why is my mommy being crazy today?"

Doug chuckles and rubs her back. "Don't let her hear you say that, sweet pea."

**

Danny, Jessica, Sarah, and of course Isla spent the rest of the evening together.  Watching movies, talking, playing with Isla, and eating junk food.  It was an amazing night.

The rest of the weekend was simply perfect.  Danny and Jessica took Isla out during the day, and went out on a date alone every night.

Now it's Monday.  The day Jessica has been dreading.  Today Danny's parents are driving him to Austin.

"What do you mean Danny's moving away?!" Isla cries.

"Honey, remember we went over this."

"I didn't think he'd actually MOVE!  FROM ME?!  Danny, you're gonna miss me too too much!"

"I will miss you too too much, baby girl.  But I promise to visit."

"You're my best friend!  I don't want you to leave me!"

"Aw Poopy!  Don't do this to me."

Danny picks her up and Isla clings to him. "I'm not letting you go!  Not ever, ever, Ever!"

"Sweet girl. . ."

Jessica tears up and rubs Danny's back. "It's okay.  We'll be fine, babe.  We just love you too much." She smiles to him softly.

Danny leans in and kisses Jessica's lips very gently. "I love you too much, too."

Jessica giggles through her teary eyes.

"Who am I gonna play with now, Danny?"

"Hey!" Jessica says.

"You have mommy, and Poppy, and Gaga!  Don't forget about Holly too!"

"Gaga is always busy with Holly cause she cries too much.  Holly cries too much and smells sometimes, and love my Poppy so so much but. . ."

"But what baby girl?"

"But he's not my Danny."

"Aww." Danny breaks.

"You're crying!  You're sad, you don't wanna leave me!"

"I don't Poopy.  But listen, I'm doing this for you and your momma."

"Leaving us?!"

"No, going to school.  I'm going so I can get a good job."

"And they give you lots of money?"

"I hope so!  Then I'll come back, buy a house, marry your mommy, and have lots of babies!"

"WOAH!" Isla's eyes light up. "Baby brother's and sisters?!"

"Yeah!"

"Oh Danny." Jessica says.  She knows Isla will bug her constantly now.

"How many babies is mommy gonna have?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hopefully it's a boy!  Holly is a girl and she cries A LOT!"

"Yeah, so did you, ma'am."

"Maybe cause I was cold." Isla shrugs.

"Maybe." Danny laughs.

Jessica nods her head and chuckles at her randomness.

"Sweetheart, that's a very very long ways away. Mommy is not having any babies until you're like fifteen years old!"

"What?!  You'll be a million bazillion years old!"

"I'll be like twenty seven." Jessica gives her daughter a look.

"That's too old." Isla nods.

"No that's perfect baby making age!"

Isla scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Women."

"Tell me about it!" Danny says.

"Dorks!" Jessica says with a laugh.

**

"I have to go now. . Jess?  Can I please talk to you for a second?  Alone?"

"Of course."

Danny takes Jessica to the backyard and Isla fusses to go with them.  Luckily Catherine was able to distract her with baby Holly for a moment.

"Oh Jessie. . ."

"Danny. . ." Jessica smiles softly.

Danny sighs and wraps his arms around her. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Aw babe.  I'm gonna miss you too."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

Danny kisses her neck and Jessica giggles.

"Ohhh Danny!  Gosh I'm gonna miss these kisses everyday."

Danny makes his way to her lips and kisses her passionately.

"Danny?" Jessica says between kisses.

"Hm?"

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid?  Afraid of what?"

Jessica lowers her head. "I'm afraid you'll meet some beautiful girl and leave me."

"Meet someone more beautiful than you?  Honey, I could never!  I don't want you to be worried about that, sweet girl.  I love you and only you.  Those girls have nothing on you!"

"Oh Danny. . I know you love me and would never hurt me.  I know that.  I just couldn't help but think about it happening.  You're just so cute!  Those girls are going to go crazy over you."

"What about you around those college boys?  You are stunning!  You better not run away with one of them."

Jessica giggles. "Never.  My heart is yours."

"Forever?"

She smiles. "Forever."

Danny smiles and they share a kiss.

***

Danny leaving really put Jessica into a slump.  Isla was a huge distraction of course, but she missed him terribly.  She knew things would only get harder after this weekend.

"Now aunt Sarah is leaving?!" Isla shouts.

"I'm afraid so, baby girl." Jessica said with a sigh.

"This so totally sucks!"

"Isla Rose!"

"It does, mommy!  Everything's changing. ." Isla looks down.

"I know it does. . But we don't say that!"

"Sorry. . Why is everyone leaving us?"

"They're going to school."

"But what about your old school that's here?"

"We graduated, remember?"

"So you still have to go to school after you graduated?"

"Yep."

"Wow.  Sucks!"

"Isla Lange, you are in trouble for saying that word!"

"I forgot, I'm sorry!  But Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Why aren't you going to school?  Are you dumb?"

"NO!  I'm going to school here."

"Why can't Danny and Aunt Sarah do that?"

"Because Danny has always wanted to go to UT, and I want him to have that.  I'm happy for him. . even though I miss him terribly."

"And Aunt Sarah?"

"She's in love with Sam so she's following him there."

"Dumb Sam." Isla nods and rolls her eyes.

"Stop it!" Jessica covers her mouth. "Jesus, you really like getting in trouble, don't you?"

Isla giggles cutely.

***

The Paulson family made the trip to Oklahoma to get Sarah all moved in.

"Well I guess this is it." Jessica says.

Sarah smiles and takes Jessica's hands. "I love you, sis."

"I love you too."

"I'm gonna miss you." Sarah cries softly.

"Me too.  I don't know what I'm gonna do without you."

Sarah drops her hands and wraps her arms around her younger sister. "I'll be back for Thanksgiving."

"That's so far away!" Jessica cries.

"I know!  But hopefully time speeds by.  I love you so so much, Jess."

"I love you too, Sar.  Thank you for everything."

Sarah pulls away and looks into Jessica's eyes. ". . . I've been a really crumby sister."

"Stop it!  You're an incredible sister.  You changed everything.  I owe you forever.  You saved me, remember?  You're my best friend, Sar."

"And you're mine."

Jessica smiles and hugs her sister once again.

"Promise me you won't come back home with another sister."

Sarah laughs. "Nah.  You're the only little sis I picked up at school.  I've got enough sisters now!"