Valentine's Day.

Sofia and Jackson both had Valentine parties at school, so Jessica picked out cute outfits for them to wear.  Jessica was already overwhelmed with the babies, and Danny wasn't the most crafty person, so Dorothy helped them with their treats for their class.

That morning, Danny took the kids to school while Jessica got the babies ready for the day.

When Danny got home, he sat on the couch and turned the tv on.

Jessica had no idea he was there, so when she came down with the babies she was not very happy.

"Daniel!"

"What?"

"You're home?!"

"Yeah.."

"Why didn't you come upstairs and help me?!"

"I didn't know you needed help."

"Didn't know I needed help?!  I'm one person with THREE BABIES!  I have to put one of them in the baby sling just to get down the stairs!  Why on earth would you think I didn't need help?"

"... I'm sorry."

Jessica rolls her eyes and puts the babies in their carriers.

"Here, let me help you."

"Oh I just juggled three babies while changing their diapers and dressing them, but putting them in their carriers is just much too difficult!" Jessica says sarcastically.

"Jessica, I said I was sorry!"

She ignores him and continues buckling the babies in.

"I'm ready, let's go." Jessica says grabbing the diaper bag and one of the carriers.

Danny grabs the other two and they walk out to the van.

He puts them both in while Jessica waits beside him with the last one.

As soon as he takes the baby from her, Jessica gets in the van.

He slams the door making one of the babies cry.  Jessica gave him the meanest look because they both knew all too well that when one baby cries, they all cry.

"I'm sorry."

"Just put their binkies in their mouths and they'll be fine.  They're just scared, they'll be fine in a second."

Danny goes to the back and gives them all their binkies.

"It's okay, babies!  There's nothing to be scared of, mommy's right here." Jessica speaks in a soothing voice.

Danny gets back in and closes the door as carefully as he can.

***

Before going into the school, Danny opens the single and double stroller.

He took Arabella out of the car seat and handed her over to Jessica while he took the boys and their car seats out and into the stroller.

"Well that was a workout!" Danny says out of breath and breaking a sweat.

Jessica just looks at him and he chuckles nervously.

"Come on, let's go in, it's cold out here."

"Yes ma'am."

**

Jackson's party was first, so they took the kids in and picked a corner to "Set up".

"Mommy, I made this for you!
Happy Valentine's Day.  I love you more than the whole world!" Jackson runs over to her and hands her a card.

"Awe baby!  Thank you so much, sweet boy!" Jessica gives him a big hug.

"I'll keep this forever and ever!"

"Forever and ever?!" His eyes widen.

"That's right, handsome boy!" Jessica smiles and kisses his cheek.

During Jackson's party, Arabella was occupied by her toy keys, and the twins were sleeping.  By the time it was Sofia's party, Jackson was hyped up on sugar, the twins were hungry and Arabella was fussy.

Danny stayed right by Sofia's side while Jessica nursed the boys in the corner with her nursing cover on.

"Daddy, why can't mommy come sit with us?"

"She's feeding the twins, she'll be over here in a second."

Sofia nods but has sadness in her eyes.

"Hey kiddo!" Danny smiles and rubs her back as she looks to the ground.

"Smile, Princess." He lifts her chin.

Sofia looks at Danny and gives him a small smile.

"Gorgeous, just like mommy." He smiles softly and kisses her cheek.

***

Jessica managed to be with Sofia for a little while before the party ended.

"I love you so much, mommy." Sofia hugs her tightly and lays on her chest.

"I love you more, pretty girl!"

***

After the party was over they went home and Jessica started on dinner. The past couple months have been crazy to say the least. Jessica is constantly feeding someone, and someone always seems to be in tears, that's including Danny and Jessica.

Tonight she decided to make something easy that everyone liked; spaghetti.

The kids were all content, so Danny snuck into the kitchen and tip toed over to Jessica.

She was standing over the hot stove so Danny wrapped his arms around her stomach and kissed her cheek.

Jessica kept doing what she was doing, and Danny started kissing down her neck.

"Are you bored? Because I can find something for you to do."

"Don't be like that. I just want to spend some time with you. It's Valentine's Day."

"Well I'm cooking."

Danny sighs and backs away from her.

He leans back on the counter next to her and says, "So I'm guessing there's not a romantic evening in store for us?"

"Definitely not!"

"Dammit Jessica, then when?!"

"Daniel, I'm busy right now, could you go do some laundry and make yourself useful?"

"What happened to us?"

"What do you mean?"

"We haven't even said happy Valentine's Day to each other."

"Happy Valentine's Day." She smiles and quickly pecks his lips.

"Thanks you too, but can I have a real kiss?"

"Danny, just let me cook please."

"Why are we like this? We don't even have time for each other anymore."

"Well we have kids, it makes it hard. Now will you please go do something!"

"Yes ma'am."

Danny walks out and Jessica sighs and turns to him but stays silent.

"Just let it go, Jessica."

***

After dinner they start baths and put the kids to bed.

Danny put Arabella to sleep while Jessica fed the twins.

Once everyone was finally asleep, Danny and Jessica laid down in bed.

"Oh God, I'm so exhausted." Jessica sighs and rests her hand on her stomach.

"They're little, but they take a lot out of you, don't they?"

"Oh god yes!"

Jessica turns to Danny and says, "I'm sorry if I've been kinda cranky lately.. I'm just so worn out."

"It's okay, I understand."

Jessica smiles softly.

"Happy Valentine's Day.. Even though it wasn't romantic at all.. It was even better because we spent it with our little minions."

"Little minions, Haha! I like that!"

"Hmh! And we were together." He says grabbing her hand.

"That's right baby. Happy Valentine's Day.. I still love you." She looks at him and smiles.

"Ditto, Princess." He smirks and leans in to kiss her.

***

March.

Danny was cooking and Jessica was feeding Joshua on the couch. Things have been a bit rocky the past couple weeks in the Huston house.

**

"Mommy, I need help with my homework!" Sofia says almost in tears.

"Okay baby, come here. Don't be upset, pretty girl."

"I just don't understand these things!  I'm not smart, mommy." Sofia lays on her mother and cries.

"Sofia, you Are smart!  You're the smartest little girl I know!  I'm sorry mommy hasn't had much time to help you with your homework.  Open your book and tell me what you're having trouble with."

**

A few minutes later Jackson comes in and watches Jessica holding Joshua and helping Sofia with her homework.

"Mommy?"

"What baby?"

"Do you still love me?"

"Oh my love, of course I do! Why would you ask that?"

"Because you never hold me anymore. You're always with the babies." He rubs his red slightly watery eyes.

"Sweetie, come here!"

Jessica rearranges Joshua and wraps her arm around Jackson.

"I hate that you feel this way, baby.  I'm so so sorry that I haven't been able to give you two the same attention I used to... It's just so hard with all the babies.  Right now they need me constantly and it's hard on me.  I'm so sorry." Jessica tears up.

"I just miss you." Jackson lays his head on her.

"Awe baby!" She kisses his head and they hear a baby start crying.

Jessica sighs and looks towards the bassinet.

"Just a second, sweetie." She pats his arm.

Jessica gets up and lays Joshua down, then gets Joseph.

"One of them is always crying!" Sofia covers her ears and groans.

"I'm sorry, sweetie." She says as she starts to nurse him.

"And you're always doing that!" Jackson covers his eyes.

Jessica sighs and rests her eyes for a second before hearing Arabella.

"Mmmmaa!  Mmmmaa!"

"Oh Bella's up! Danny, can you help me, please?" Jessica shouts.

"Yeah, just a second, babe!"

Danny comes in a few seconds later on the phone, talking and laughing out loud.

"Daniel be quiet, Joshua's asleep!"

"Sorry!
No man, I'm still here! What?!" Danny says loudly before he cracks up laughing.

"Daniel!"

"Alright!
Hey, let me call you back..
Yeah, it's a circus here. Heh!
Alright, bye."

Danny hangs up and Jessica gives him a dirty look.

"What's wrong?"

"Get off the damn phone and be a father!"

"Hey I was cooking!"

"Just go get Arabella!"

"Why? She'll only scream louder because she only ever wants you!"

"Daniel, please! I can't do this all by myself!"

"Alright!"

Jessica scoffs and Danny goes upstairs.

"Shh shh.. It's okay, Joshy. Mama's here, sweet boy." Jessica smiles and places her hand on him.

Joshua eventually calms down and drifts to sleep, when suddenly the screaming gets louder and louder.

"I told you she didn't want me." Danny hands Arabella to her.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

Arabella rubs her eyes then pulls on her mother's blouse.

Jessica looks down at Joseph eating, then looks at Arabella who was screaming to be nursed.

Joshua started up again and she looked over to the two older kids and saw their miserable expressions.

Jessica starts crying and sits down on the ground right where she's standing.

"Mommy, it's okay. Don't be sad.
I'll watch Jackson for you, and I can FaceTime grandma for help with my homework."

"No! Sofia, I want to help you!  Just.. Just let me feed them, and calm Joshua down." She says struggling to catch her breath.

"Mom, you're busy, it's okay."

"No, I want mommy!" Jackson whines.

Jessica looks at her children with tears pouring down her face.

"I just don't know what to do anymore.." She whispers to herself.

"Jax, Sof.. You two go wash up for lunch, it'll be ready in a second."

"Okay."

The two kids listen to their father and wash up.

By now, Arabella has helped herself to Jessica's breasts, however both twins are still screaming.

"What's wrong?" Danny asks.

"You seriously have to ask, Daniel?!"

"Sorry.
Here, give him to me."

"No I've got him, he still need to eat!"

Danny backs away and picks Joshua up to calm him down.

"Why is it I always have to ask you to do something?  You don't just do it!"

"Excuse me?  I help out plenty!"

*Scoffs* "You go ahead and think that, Daniel."

"Are you serious? I do so much around here, Jessica, but you never appreciate a thing!"

"Danny, shut the Fuck up!"

"No Jessica, you can't just tell me to stop talking like I'm a kid.  Listen to me!
The past couple weeks you have been so cold to me and I don't understand it."

"Because you don't help me! I need help, Daniel!"

"I was cooking dinner!"

"You cook and that's all! We have five kids, and all you seem to care about is talking to your stupid buddies, and watching your stupid sports games!"

"Jessica, I do a lot, how can't you see that?"

Jessica rolls her eyes and looks down.

"Okay..
I don't do anything? Alright. *Nods*
Why don't I leave.. because we obviously both need some time apart.. and you take care of the kids by yourself, like you always do.  I mean you're used to it anyway, aren't you?"

"Fine! GO!"

Danny lays Joshua in his bassinet still screaming and crying, and slams the front door.

Sofia and Jackson were still watching at the top of the stairs when he left.

"Mommy!" Sofia runs down to Jessica.

"Baby, go with your brother." Jessica looks at her with red puffy eyes.

"Why did daddy leave? Are you two mad again? Is daddy coming back?"

"Yes baby." Jessica nods softly and pats her side, before speaking in a whisper.

"Just go upstairs."