December 31st.

"Mommy, I'm yours!  You're my real mommy now!  Are you so so happy?!" Coltan said to his mother with excitement.

Jessica lifted Coltan up in her arms with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Baby, I am so so happy! I love you, handsome."

"I love you more, momma!" Coltan smiles then lays on Jessica's shoulder.

"This is the perfect way to end an incredibly crazy year. Here's to an absolutely amazing new year!"

"Okay, let's eat!" Arabella shouts.

"Bella Boo, you're always hungry!" Sofia giggles.

"Yes I am now let's go!  I want Jimmy John's!"

"No!  We want pizza!" The twins say in unison."

"I want Italian." Jackson says.

"I want McDonald's!" Coltan lifts his head off of Jessica's shoulder.

"We're going home and everyone is getting a bologna sandwich!" Danny says making Jessica laugh.

"What do you want, mommy?" Coltan asks.

"Hmm.. I think Floyd's sounds delicious."

"We're going to Floyd's, guys!" He shouts.

"Mmm! That sounds good!" Sofia smiles.

"I don't want that." Arabella nods.

"Well too bad!" Joshua says.

"Hey!" She shouts and pushes him over.

"Cut it out!" Danny grabs her and sits her on his lap.

"NOOO!  I wanna walk!  I'm a big girl, daddy!"

"You're staying put."

Arabella throws a tantrum.

Jessica sighs and says, "Let's go home and I'll just make lunch.  You kids are too much for a restaurant."

"I think that's a great idea." Danny says trying to hold Arabella down.

"I don't wanna sit in the wheelchair! I wanna walk!"

"Ha Ha!" Joshua sticks his booty out and points to his sister.

"I'm gonna bite you!" Arabella leans towards him.

"Enough, you two!" Jessica slightly raises her voice.

**

"Lunch was so good, mommy!" Joseph says giving his mother a thumbs up.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Joe!" Jessica smiles.

"Yeah.. mommy, I want a turtle."

"Baby, we're not getting a turtle."

"But why?!" He whines.

"I want a giant cat!" Joshua shouts.

"NO!  We getting a turtle!"

"A CAT!"

"I sneeze with kitty cats so that's not going to happen!" Arabella nods.

"I want a little puppy dog!" She says in a high pitched voice.

"We are not getting a turtle, or a giant cat, OR a puppy.  But we are going to take a nap!"

"NOOOOO!!!!" All four little ones scream.

Danny came walking in to help her.

Joseph then threw him self down and started throwing a tantrum.

"Joseph you almost knocked your father over!"

"I don't wanna nap!"

"Come on." Danny lifts Joseph up with slight struggle.

"Daniel, put him down and go sit!"

"Jessica, I need to start doing stuff to help you out a little more!"

"You were shot, you get a pass!"

"I just hate feeling useless.  You never let me help out."

"I don't need your help, Daniel.  Just please go sit before you hurt yourself!"

Danny sighs and walks to the living room.
Sofia felt sorry for her father, so she walked over with her book and sat beside him.

"Daddy, do you want to help me with my work?" She asks sweetly.

"Of course, Princess." Danny smiles.

Jessica got the four kids upstairs and in their beds.
Each one didn't go down without a fight.

When she returned to the kitchen Danny was washing the dishes.

"Daniel, go."

"Jessica-"

"Go!"

"No."

"I've got it though."

"I know you do.  I never doubt you.  It's been a while since the accident, honey... I'm Okay."

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm okay, babe."

"Well can I at least help you?" Jessica asked in a soft voice.

"Of course!"

Jessica smiles then begins drying the dishes and putting them in their place.

"So our second first date is coming up." Danny says.

"I know." Jessica smirks.

"Wanna go out dancing?" Danny jokes.

"And who is going to carry you, sir?"

"I think I can manage." Danny chuckles.

Jessica laughs and playfully taps his arm.

"Well I can at least take you to dinner."

"Yes you can, Huston!"

Danny chuckles.
"Hey Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for loving Coltan the way you do."

"Oh Danny.. you don't have to thank me.  He's my son." Jessica said turning to look him in the eyes.

Danny smiles and wraps his arm around Jessica's shoulders.

"I love you." He says.

"Love you too, mister."

Danny kisses her lips.
Jessica wraps her arms around Danny's neck and deepens the kiss.

"Heyyyyy guysssss!"

Danny and Jessica pull away and look down.

"Arabella, why aren't you napping?" Jessica asks.

"Why are you kissing?"

Danny couldn't help but laugh.

"Bella go get in bed and take your nap!"

"No thanks." She says running over to play with her toys.

"That little girl is a piece of work." Jessica nods.

"She's a tough one, But she is Hilarious!" Danny laughs.

***

January 2nd.

Danny and Jessica dropped the kids off at his parents house so they would have the night to themselves.

"I wanna go back home and stay in my room!" Arabella says with her arms crossed.

She was sitting in her car seat between the twins.

"I know, Bella.  You're gonna have so much fun at grandma and grandpa's though!"

"I want daddy!"

"Momma and I will pick you up first thing in the morning." Danny says.

"Fine!" She groans.

They said goodnight to the kids and thanked John and Zoey for watching them.
They then got in the car and headed off to the restaurant.

Getting to the restaurant Jessica got out then walked around to Danny's side.

"This is embarrassing. I should be the one opening the door for you."

"Oh don't be like that! You want your wheelchair?"

"No babe, I'm fine. Thanks."

Both Danny and Jessica knew he was in a lot of pain. Jessica knew he was just being stubborn.

"It's pretty cold, that can't make your injuries feel any better."

"Yeah.. I should've taken my pain meds."

"If you want your chair, it's not a big deal, babe."

"I know.. I'll take the chair." He says in a low voice as he hangs his head down.

"Not a problem, baby!" Jessica smiled and went to grab the wheelchair from the back of the van.

Jessica then helped him out and into his chair.

"I'm sorry, I wanted tonight to just feel normal."

"Baby, you're here with me.. us being together.. that's what makes this all feel normal."

Danny smiles softly and takes her hand in his.
Jessica then leans forward and kisses his lips.

They had a nice dinner and great conversation.
As they sat eating their dessert, Danny and Jessica watched couples as they danced along to the music.

Danny looked at Jessica who was watching with a soft smile on her face.
Jessica always loved dancing.

Danny wheeled himself closer to her and reached for her hand.

"May I have this dance, little lady?" He smiles.

"Are you serious?" Jessica giggles.

"Yep!"

Jessica takes his hand and stands up.
Danny guided Jessica to his lap and he moved his wheelchair back and forth to the music.

"Mr. Huston, you're very night on the wheels!" Jessica laughs.

"I try." He smiles and kisses her cheek.

The next song that came on was "You're still the one" by Shania Twain.

"Oh Danny.. our song!" Jessica looks at him and cries.

Danny smiles.

"Danny.. I know you've fucked up.. I know I've fucked up.. but there's no one else I could even imagine sharing my life with. I love you so so much."

"Angel.. I am one lucky son of a bitch.
I have fucked up many many times.. I don't deserve a woman like you. I thank God we're together every single day."

Jessica smiles l softly then gently caresses his cheek.
"Danny.. just knowing how close I was to losing you.. it makes everything that happened.. all the bad.. it makes me forget it all. I have you and I get to see you.. touch you.. kiss you and make love to you. From now on we don't speak about the past, okay?"

"Okay." Danny spoke in a low voice and nodded his head.

"I love you, Jessica Lange."

"I love you more, Daniel Huston."

They both share a deep kiss as their song plays.

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

***

It's been a while, sorry guys! 😬
I hope you all are still interested in this story. ❤️