"Mommy pwetty!"

"Thank you, Isla! I actually put on a little makeup and did my hair." Jessica laughs.

"Where goin?"

"Mommy is going to dinner with Uncle Danny."

"Mama I go!"

"Not today, okay?"

Isla pouts her little lip. "Mama.."

"No, don't pout. Mommy will take you somewhere tomorrow."

"No go wih mommy. Me go wih Danny."

"Okay well Uncle Danny will take you somewhere." Jessica giggles.

"Jessica, can I speak to you for a second?" Catherine asks.

"Yes ma'am."

Jessica follows her into the kitchen.

"Jessica, this is your first date, and I know you know Danny. I know Danny very well." Catherine chuckles. "Have fun but don't let him pressure you ever."

"Yes ma'am. Danny wouldn't do that. He understands what I've been through."

"I know but I still wanted to talk to you."

"I understand. You know.. It's nice because I know I really don't have anything to be afraid of. If it were some boy from school I'd be terrified of something happening. I'd worry about being taken advantage of.. but not with Danny. He's so mature, and we love each other. We're not in love or anything, but you know what I mean.."

"I do. You two are friends first."

"Yes, and I know being friends before taking this step was necessary for us."

"You two are both great kids."

"Thank you." Jessica smiles.

"DANNY!" They hear Isla shout with excitement.

Jessica laughs. "I guess he's here!"

"I guess so! You have fun, sweetie."

"Thank you."

Jessica walks into the living room and smiles at Danny who held Isla.

"Wow. Hi." He smiles.

"Hi." Jessica giggles.

"Mommy I going too!"

Jessica nods and walks closer. "No you are not, little miss."

"Awe mannnn!" Isla frowns and looks to Danny.

Danny kisses her temple and chuckles. "Next time, Poopy."

"YOU Poop, Danny!"

"Ooh she's mad at you." Sarah says taking her from Danny.

Jessica kisses Isla. "Please be good while I'm gone. Don't be a booger."

Isla looks to her mother before rolling her eyes and turning her head.

"She's mad mad." Sarah laughs.

"I know, did you see those eyes?  Isla, that is no way to treat the girl who brought you into this world."

"Say yeah, yeah mommy."

"Yeah yeah." Isla sighs.

"Sarah stop that!"

Just then Doug walks in and over to Danny. "Daniel, let me talk to you for a second."

"Okay.  I'll be right back, Jess."

"Okay!"

Danny follows Doug and sits down. "Yes sir?"

"Daniel, right now I am not speaking to you as your uncle.  I'm speaking to you as Jessica's father."

"Yes sir.. what's the difference?"

"When someone dates my child I make sure their head is on straight and they're not thinking stupid thoughts."

"Oh!  No sir, I'm not thinking anything stupid.  I swear!  I just really like Jessica, and wanted to take her to eat.  That's all." Danny smiles.

"That's good.  Danny, do not push her into anything, do you understand me?"

"Yes sir, I would never!  Jessica is too special to me.  Plus I know how things went with Isla's father.. I want her to feel safe with me."

"Good." Doug nods. "Good, that was a very good answer.

"Phew!  Did I pass?"

"You passed the test."

"Good!  Thank you uncle Doug.  Oh!  I mean Mr. Paulson." Danny smiles.

Doug chuckles and pats his back. "You can be my nephew again, Daniel."

"Alright." Danny chuckles.

He then walks into the living room and Jessica turns to him.

"Ready to break out of this place?"

"Sure!" Jessica laughs.

**

Danny opened the car door for Jessica and said, "I asked my dad to drive us cause it'll be less annoying.

Jessica chuckles and gets in. "Hello Mr. Huston."

"Hi Jessica, how are you?"

"I'm well, thank you!"

"No more talking, dad."

"Danny!" Jessica laughs and playfully taps his leg.

"Hey, where are we going?"

"I'm splurging on you. No rinky dinky pizza joint for our first date."

"Wow, where are we going?"

"Texas Road House." Danny smiles.

John chuckles up in the front, and Danny kicks the back of his seat.

"I love their rolls!"

"Me too!"

**

So far this date was the most relaxed one Danny has ever been on, and all of Jessica's nerves floated away.

"Danny, I was worried about how things would go tonight, but it's great. I'm enjoying myself."

"Why were you worried?"

"Well I didn't want it to feel awkward. But it doesn't. It feels right."

"Yeah.. it does." Danny smiles.

"I thought going on a date with a boy who watched me give birth would be strange."

Danny laughs. "Nah, that just made us closer.  I have so much respect for you Jess.  That was such a difficult thing for you to go through."

Jessica smiles and nods. "Yep!"

Danny chuckles.
"I can't believe I'm on a date with you. This is really really cool."

"It is!"

"I think you're so beautiful, and everyday I like you just a little bit more.  I want you to know that I never liked Claire the way I like you."

"Well that's good!
.. Did you kiss her?"

"No but she tried to kiss me."

"What did you do?"

"I turned my head and pushed her away.  Gently of course!"

"Oh Danny!" Jessica laughs.

"I didn't want to kiss her." He shrugs.

Jessica smiles and looks down.
"Well.. well that's good that you said no and didn't back down from what you felt was wrong."

"Exactly!  I think that was pretty good of me too."

Jessica laughs and takes a sip of her drink.

Just then Jessica's phone goes off.

"I'm sorry, this is rude but I have to check it."

"No you're fine! It could be about Isla."

"Exactly.. Oh and look at that. She's chasing Sarah."

"That little leg!" Danny laughs.

"She's a hot mess."

"But she's so cute!"

"She is. Danny, thank you for loving Isla the way you do. It's hard knowing Isla and I are all we have. She will never know my family, she'll never know her father's family. Sometimes that really gets to me, but.. then I see you and Sarah, her parents and your family with her and I realize that this is how things were supposed to be. Isla knows no different. You guys are our family. She loves y'all."

"We love her so much. She's definitely my family, and I'm always gonna protect her. I'll always be there for you two."

Jessica smiles.

"Wanna leave and get some ice cream?"

"Ooh I'd love that! Let me just pee first because I thought about holding it but NOT with this bladder!"

Danny laughs. "Go before you pee your pants! I didn't bring you an extra set of clothes, you nasty."

Jessica laughs and smacks his arm before heading to the bathroom.

**

"This is good but I should have been daring and gotten what you have." Jessica pouts.

"You can have some of mine."

"No that's mean.."

"That's mean?! Don't you remember when you stole my entire meal?"

"I was pregnant, jerk! That was Isla stealing your food, not me!"

"Yeah yeah, just take some."

"Thanks.
.. Oh this is so much better than mine! What was I thinking? Here. You take mine." Jessica giggles.

"You're giving me this plane Jane one?"

"Yes I am." Jessica smiles cutely.

Danny laughs and kisses her forehead.

Jessica smiles up to him.  She always loved how he gave her forehead kisses.  It made her feel good.

"So.. is this something you'd like to do again?"

Jessica feels butterflies in her stomach. "Yes. I'd like to do this again."

"Me too." Danny smiles. "But not tomorrow. Tomorrow I have a date with a cute little curly haired blonde."

"Excuse me?" Jessica gives him a look.

"Yep! We're gonna watch paw patrol and eat McDonald's happy meals."

"Who is she?" Jessica gives him a look.

"Your daughter, you dork."

"Oh!" Jessica laughs.

"You were lost in space with that one."

"Shut up!"