"Mmm. That was some good pizza."

"It was. You wanna watch another movie?"

"Sure!"

Suddenly Isla started crying.

Jessica sighs and looks over to her bassinet.

"I'll get her."

"Thank you. She's probably hungry."

"Yeah well she emptied her stomach all over the bed."

Jessica laughs. "She did."

"Come here, Pooh Bear." Danny kisses her cheek before handing her to Jessica.

"There's mommy."

Jessica pulled her breast out and started feeding her.

"Oh!" Danny quickly looked away. "I didn't see anything!"

"It's okay. They're just feeding machines, I don't even care. Besides, her head is blocking the goods."

Danny laughs and looks for another movie to put it on.

**

"I'm back." Sarah pokes her head into Jessica's bedroom.

"Hey! Come in and tell us all about it!" Jessica smiles.

"If you did dirty stuff, we don't wanna hear it." Danny says.

Jessica laughs and gets comfortable. "How'd it go?"

"It was fun! He didn't kiss me which was a bummer, but I had fun!"

"You don't need all that kissing and stuff.. Sometimes just being with someone and talking to them is enough." Jessica turns to Danny and smiles.

"I agree." Danny smiles.

"Yeah. So did you guys have any fun?"

"We had pizza, and there was a poo explosion." Danny says.

"Ew, which one of you two did that?"

"It was Isla!" Jessica laughs.

Sarah chuckles. "Can I hold her?"

"Go wash your hands and you can."

"Okay!"

While Sarah washes her hands Danny gets a text.

"Oh no!"

"What's wrong?" Jessica asks.

"My parents are here!" Danny runs downstairs and meets them at the door.

"I've been here the whole time!"

"Save it, your aunt is getting the money we promised you." Zoe says.

"Awe man!"

"Why didn't you take care of them, Daniel?"

"I was talking to Jessica! I bought her pizza, that's nice, right?"

"That's very nice of you, but you were also supposed to be watching the twins."

"I know, I'm sorry. I'll help you take them to the car, let me just go say goodnight."

Catherine nods her head and laughs. "He likes that girl."

"You have no idea!" Zoe says.

**

"Can you give me the baby so I can say goodnight?"

"Danny, I just got her!"

"I'm leaving, and I've been with her all day. Let me tell her I'll see her tomorrow so she doesn't think I just left her."

Jessica giggles. "You're very sweet, uncle Danny."

"I'm the best!"

"You are.."

"I'm gonna go change. Bye Danny."

"Bye Sar.... Isla, I'll be back tomorrow, okay? Jess, if I'm annoying you I won't come everyday."

"No! You're not annoying me. I enjoy our visits."

Danny smiles softly and kisses Isla on the cheek. "See you tomorrow, Poopy."

Jessica giggles and takes the baby.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Jessie." Danny kisses her on the cheek.

Jessica smiles. "Happy Valentine's Day, Danny."

Danny left the room and Jessica giggled. "I wish he were your daddy, Isla."

Isla looks up to Jessica and makes a cute face.

"Either your judging me, or you're gonna explode again. Please just judge me, Isla!"

***

March.

"Someone is one month old today, huh Isla? How are you such a big girl already?" Jessica whispers.

"I know you're sleeping, but mommy just needs to take a couple pictures because you're just too darn cute!"

Jessica snaps a few photos, and Isla wakes up. "Uh oh!  Was I too loud?  Sorry!" She giggles.

Isla groans and makes a grumpy face, looking straight at her mother.

"I'm so sorry!" Jessica laughs harder. "You're so mad at me.  I'm sorry.."

Isla sighs and kicks her legs like crazy.

"Oh wow, I remember those strong kicks!  I thought you'd make my belly button just shoot out like a slinky!"

Isla kicks more and Jessica laughs. "Are you okay, love?  You're so silly!  Oh goodness, I just wanna bite those chubby cheeks you have!"

Just then Catherine walks in.

"Good morning girles!"

"Good morning!"

"How did you two sleep?"

"Well after you left my room I pretty much stayed up with her."

"What? I was in here at four in the morning!"

"I know! Miss Isla was not sleepy. She wasn't fussy or anything, she just didn't want to sleep."

"Oh honey, you should have woke me! I would have stayed with her while you slept."

"It's okay."

"You know, Jessica.. I'm so proud of you."

Jessica smiles. "You are?"

"Yes. You are such a great momma."

"Really? Because I worry that I'm not." Jessica cries.

"Oh honey, why?"

"Because I'm so tired!"

"Well being tired comes with being a parent. That doesn't mean you're bad at it. It means you're doing it right!"

"Really?"

"Yes! I mean it when I tell you I think you're doing an incredible job."

"That's good to hear."

Catherine smiles and rubs her back. "Being a mother is hard work. I don't want to step on your toes, but I do want to help you as much as I can. It's tough on anyone, but a twelve year old.. I know I couldn't do it at your age."

"I'm almost thirteen!"

"Oh yes." Jessica smiles. Yes you are."

"My last birthday was horrible.. I had to remind Billy and Suzanne that it was my birthday, and when I had asked for a birthday cake Suzanne told me they weren't in this for the long haul and that I couldn't have one. Ms. Paulson, I've never had a birthday cake before."

"Aw.. Well you'll have one this year, that's for sure!"

Jessica smiles through her sadness. "Thank you.... Ms. Paulson, they said they would be forced to send me back. They were going to lie and say that I attacked them or something."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yes.. and that day.. that day was the day.." Jessica starts crying. "I'll never forget it."

"What?"

"I met Edwin a year ago on my birthday.. I hid in his closet. I was such an idiot. He came in there with me and he talked to me.. No one else had spoke to me, and I just thought he was being nice. He gave me his ding dong when I told him it was my birthday. God, how could I have been so stupid?"

"Sweetie, you weren't!"

"Just because I love my daughter, doesn't mean I don't hate what he did to me. He made me feel so dirty. He took my first everything away from me! I'll never get that back!"

"Jessica, I promise you that when you meet someone and fall in love, it will be a completely different experience.  You'll be with a person who respects you and who won't force you into anything you don't want to do.  That will be your first."

"I just don't understand.  Why did I fucking go in there!" Jessica raises her voice and immediately calms down.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to curse."

"It's okay.  I know I would!  None of this was your fault.  He is a sick man."

"I was being bullied.. I just wanted to disappear."

"You know.. Sarah comes to me quite often.  She feels bad for not speaking to you sooner."

"It's not her fault.  Ms. Paulson, I love my baby so much.. I'm happy I have her, and I'd never trade her for anything!  I do wish she came when I was at least sixteen." Jessica chuckles through her tears.

"It's going to be so hard to do this at my age.  It already is, and I just want to do it well."

"You already are, sweet girl.  And never forget you have us.  We're here to help you, Always."

"Thank you." Jessica then paused for a short moment, "I wish I loved.. or at least liked her father.  I wish he wasn't a disgusting pervert."

"He will never be her father."

Jessica nods.

"I know.  I feel bad that.. that she'll never have one.. because I know what that's like, and it hurts."

"She may not have a father, but she has an amazing mother, and that's all she needs."

"Maybe.. I don't want her to ever know him.  I want to protect her from him.. I hope I can."

"You will.  Life is going to be hard, yours unfortunately has always been hard.  But you have to push through, because I feel that you are going to have so many blessings to make up for what you've been through.  I feel so terrible that I wasn't able to protect you from him, but I will do everything I can to protect you for the rest of my life."

Jessica looks up to Catherine with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't deserve this."

"Stop thinking you don't deserve to be happy.  You do deserve it, honey."

Jessica hugs Catherine tightly as she cries.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mrs. Paulson."

Catherine kisses the top of Jessica's head before turning to Isla.

"Look at her face!  We love you too, Isla Bug!"

Jessica laughs and lifts her up. "We do love you, Isla.  You're mommy's whole world."

***

Two weeks later.

"I don't want to go back to school, but I know I have to.."

"I know, sweet girl.  I'll take good care of her."

"I know you will, I'm just sad."

"I understand.  I was a mess leaving Sarah my first day back at work."

"Oh please!  She was probably counting down the days until she handed me off to my grandma!"

"Sarah, that's not nice." Jessica says.

"I'm just trying to make you laugh a little.  I know it'll be hard, Jess.. I'm sorry."

"It's okay.. This is something I have to do.  I can't just drop out."

"No.. But we're getting closer to summer and then you can cuddle her twenty four seven!"

Jessica smiles softly. "I can't wait."

**

"Hey!  It's good to have you back, Jess." Danny smiles.

"Thanks.  I miss my girl though." Jessica pouts.

"I'm sure you do, I'm sorry."

"It's okay.. Do you think she thinks I left her again?  Oh my gosh, I bet you she does!"

"She doesn't Jessica.  She knows my mom, she probably just thinks you're.. sleeping or something."

"Maybe.. You guys, do I look fat in this?"

"Jesus, you are not fat, Jessica." Sarah says.

"I have a baby pooch." She pouts.

"You look great, Jess."

"Danny, you're lying.  I look pregnant."

"You don't!" Sarah shouts.

"You don't have to shout.  Jessica, I swear you don't look pregnant." Danny says.

"Thanks." Jessica pouts her bottom lip.

The rest of the day was difficult for Jessica.  She missed Isla so much, and Isla missed her too.

When the three arrived at the Paulson household, Jessica immediately took her baby and started nursing her.

"How did she do with the bottle?"

"Well at first she really fought me." Catherine chuckles. "But eventually she gave in.  She was hungry!"

"Poor baby." Jessica kisses her head and softly pats her bottom.

"Mommy is so sorry she can't be with you all day.  It hurts me so much that I can't be with you, Isla.."

Sarah sits beside Jessica and kisses Isla's head. "She missed you so much, little monkey."

"Yep.." Jessica sighs. "Just a little bit longer and it's summer, little one."

*** Any ideas on what they should do for Jessica's birthday?