For PhillipaSooisgod, sassyclassydiva, and Ughlifeissoboring. Hope y'all enjoy this update. If you want an update, ask for it yourself, and if you don't, don't shoot the messenger. *cough* Sunday and Gita *cough*

Maria snuggled with Susan as James muttered to himself. "What's up?"

"Bills, that's what."

"Don't your parents usually cover them?"

"They said that I need to this time. I pushed back the rent, but I've got to pay two months worth of rent in January."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I don't know, stupid! If we didn't have Susan, this would be easier. Stupid brat."

"Leave her out of this, James. She's barely two!"

James groaned, and walked out of the apartment. "I'm going to go look for a job. If I can't get one, we'll have to use your paycheck."

"But my paycheck only covers Susan!"

"Well, then, work it out!" He slammed the door shut.

"Your daddy doesn't realize that twenty three dollars," ($33.47 in Australian dollars, according to google) "A day, three days a week is not enough for a family," Maria muttered to her daughter.

Susan looked up at her with her big brown eyes. The toddler leaned against her mother. "I wanna cupcake."

Maria laughed and clutched her daughter. "I don't have any cupcakes, Baby."

"But it's my birthday?" The toddler said like it was a question.

"Your birthday was last month, silly!" Maria exclaimed, tickling the little girl, who shrieked with laughter.

"But I wanna cupcake."

Maria sighed. "You know, what? Cupcakes sound good. For all I know, this will be the last time I'm allowed to use my money on fun stuff. Let's go get some cupcake mix!"

The two went to the store. "Which one should we get, Susie? Chocolate or vanilla?" Maria asked.

"Chocwate!"

Maria laughed and grabbed a cheap store brand box. "What color frosting?"

"Wed! It's you and Daddy's favorite color! With wainbow spwinkles!"

Maria grabbed the cheapest tub of red frosting and rainbow sprinkles available. "What's your favorite color, Susie?" Maria asked, both curious and ashamed that she didn't know her own daughter's favorite color. They were paying for their stuff, while a middle aged couple stared at Maria and Susan, looking disgusted at Maria. Luckily they didn't say anything.

"The one my dress and sooze are!" The girl was wearing a reddish pink dress and shoes, with pale green leggings. Looked Christmas-y in winter, looked normal and cute in other seasons.

"Reddish pink, huh? I think it's called rose."

"Wose," Susan attempted to repeat.

"Good job! No now let's go home and make cupcakes!"

"Yay!"

A few hours later, cupcakes had been made (that had been a big mess to clean up), James had gotten home, dinner had been made, and it and the cupcakes had been mostly eaten.

Maria put Susan to bed, tucking her in and handing her the pig toy. She kissed the girl's forehead. "Goodnight, Susie."

Susan kissed her back. "Night-night, Mommy!"

Maria flipped the lights off, and left the room, cracking the door behind her. She walked to her own room, changing into a nightgown. She laid down, and as she was drifting off, felt the bed shift with the weight of someone else getting on it. Maria felt James' arm wrap tightly around her as she fell asleep, grateful that even though he'd been mad the whole day, she hadn't gotten a single beating.