"I have to talk to the kids.. how do I tell them?"

"I wouldn't tell them the whole story.  Not the little ones at least."

Jessica nods. "Yeah.. I'll talk to them tonight."

Sam rubs her back and kisses her forehead.

Just then Autumn walks out.
"Momma?"

"Hey Auttie." Jessica quickly wipes her cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

"I'm not a baby. Tell me what happened."

Jessica swallowed hard and Sam gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I'll give you some space."

Jessica held his hand even tighter and pulled him towards her.
"No! Stay, please."

"I put the babies in the play pen so they wouldn't get into anything."

"Smart girl." Sam smiles.

"Thanks. Now what happened?"

Jessica takes a deep breath.
"Danny has this whole other life we never even knew about. He has a son.. and the woman he's seeing is pregnant again."

"What?!" Autumn's eyes went wide.

"Yeah.."

"Wow.. I know I'm not allowed to curse but, he's an ass, mommy."

"Yeah.. I'm going to talk to Juju later.. Theo doesn't understand, but Julia knows somethings wrong."

"You're gonna tell her all that?"

"No! No, I'm just going to tell her he left. I can't lie and tell her he's coming back."

"Poor babies.. I'm glad I have the best daddy in the world." Autumn smiled and hugged her father tightly.

"Aww.. Thanks." Sam kissed the top of her head.

Jessica watched them in tears as she held her belly.
"Jessie, it's okay. I know what he's done is terrible, and I cannot even imagine how you must feel right now. But your kids are here. You got one bakin in there." Sam pokes her bump.
"Everyone is healthy and in a safe place. We can get through this."

Jessica nods her head.
"Yeah.. thank you, Sam."

"Of course, Button."

Jessica chuckles softly.
She then rubs her belly and says, "This little one has had enough excitement for one day.  Mommy needs to calm down, huh?" Jessica looks down as she speaks to her bump.

"Yes, let's all go inside and Momma, you put your feet up and rest."

"Thanks, Sammy."

**

Bedtime.

"Hey Juju.." Jessica says walking into the room with Theodore on her hip.

"Hi mommy!" Julia smiles.

"We need to talk, love."

"Kay!  What we talkin bout?  My party?!"

"We can y'all about that!" Jessica smiles.

"What you gonna say, mama?"

"Well um.. it's about daddy."

"My daddy?!" Julia smiles so big.

"Yeah, love.. um.. so uh.."

"What, Mama?  He coming here?"

"No.. he umm.. daddy is.. he's not coming back, honey."

"What?  Why?"

"Because he chose to.. do other things."

"But why?"

"Your daddy wasn't ready to.. be responsible for you and your brother.. and the baby.. I guess it was too much."

"He not coming back?"

"No sweetie."

"He die?"

"I wish." Jessica mumbles under her breath.

"Huh?"

"No baby.  He didn't die."

"He not coming to my party?"

"No.."

"He lub me?  Sishy say he lub me.." Julia looks at her mother with red watery eyes.

"He does love you, baby."

"Den why he leabe?" Julia lifts her tiny hands.

"I don't know.. but I love you... and I am so sorry that daddy made a choice that hurt us all.
But this was not your fault, Juju.  Know that none of this is anyone's fault but his own.
He is not a bad person, he just made a bad choice that hurt a lot of people.. and I am really sorry that it hurt you.. because I never wanted Anyone to hurt my babies!  Especially their father!" Jessica says trying her best to control her tears.
"I love you. I love you more than any daddy Ever will, because you and your siblings are my whole entire word.. and I will Never leave you!  I will always love you guys the most!"

"I'm sad, mommy.."

"Baby girl, I understand.  It's okay to be sad.  He's done a very hurtful thing.  But I'm here.  Sissy is here, your brother is here!  You have your big brother in your heart, remember that!  And you have Sam and Landon, your grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins!  You have so many people that love you, sweet darling."

"But not my daddy."

"He loves you, I promise."

"He leabe me.. He no lub me, mama."

"Sweet pea.."

Julia then climbs I to Jessica's lap and lays her head on her.

"Yes he does! Don't cry, baby girl.. it's okay."
Jessica slowly rocked her back and forth as she played with her blonde curls.

***

December 5th.

Today Jessica has a doctors appointment.
Sam is off and offered to watch the kids while she goes with her mother.

Julia has not been her usual cheerful self lately, and Sam wanted to change that.

"Hey Ju!  I need help making some cookies, you wanna help me?"

"Cookies?" Julia smiles.

"Yeah!  Can you bake!"

Julia nods her head. "Ya!  I so good, Sham!"

"Awesome!  Let's get baking!"

"Yay!"

**

"Look at you! You need to open your own bakery soon!"

"I doing good, Sham?" Julia smiles up to him.

"You're doing great!"

"Hey! You take my picture?" Julia points her finger and gives him a cheeky look.

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Cause you're beautiful!"

"Haha! Tanks!"

"I'm gonna send it to mommy."

"Yeah! Tell her I said hi!" She says mixing her ingredients.

"I will." Sam chuckles.

"Look who's up from their nap and wants to bake?" Autumn says walking into the kitchen with Theodore in her arms.

"Hey buddy! Where are your glasses?" Sam asks.

"He didn't want his glasses or hearing aids on."

"Why not, buddy? Now you can barely see if we sign to you." He chuckles.

"You can try to put them on him, but he was not having it when I tried!"

"Well it's okay, let's let him be for a while."

"Okay. Oh and I asked Landon if he wanted to join us, but he said no."

"Why?" Sam laughs.

"Because Paw Patrol is on."

"It is?!" Julia smiles and widens her eyes

"Yeah!"

"I go watch it after I bake my cookies!"

"That sounds like a perfect plan, pretty girl!" Sam smiles.

"Ya, cute boy!" Julia turn back towards the counter.

Sam and Autumn couldn't help but laugh.
"I like her." Sam smiles.

**

"Look at Theo!  Bud, you're doing so well!"

Theodore stomps his little feet and smiles.

"You are so cute! I'm sending this to mommy!"

Jessica's POV.

"Oh look!  Now Teddy's helping.  My precious babies." Jessica smiles as she shows her mother the picture Sam sent.

"He's so cute!Look at his little feet!" Dorothy gushes.

"I know!" Jessica giggles.
"He's my little man!"

"Cutie!
So, are you gonna find out what the baby is today?"

"What Sam and I talked about was finding out on Julia's birthday.  I'm going to have my doctor write it down, then I'm going to hand it over to Sarah and she'll wrap a little outfit for us."

"Oh how cool!  That's a good idea!"

"Thank you." Jessica smiles.

"So um.. you and Sam.."

"Yeah?"

"Are you.. together?"

"No!  Why would you ask that?"

"You just seem like you are, I'm sorry!" Dorothy chuckles.

"No, we're just friends."

"Oh!  Well that's good.. I mean, you're in the middle of a mess right now.  The last thing you need is a healthy relationship."

"Mom, please stop.  I love Sam!  But as a friend.  Okay?"

"Okay!" Dorothy mocks her daughter.

Jessica sighs and leans back on the bed.

***

Julia's birthday.

This morning both Sam and Jessica woke up early to decorate and make Julia a huge birthday breakfast.

"Okay, let's go get wake the birthday girl!" Jessica smiles.

Sam follows her with balloons and a small gift.
Jessica opened the door and Julia was already up and sitting in bed, with the pacifier in her mouth.

"You're up! Happy Birthday, Juju!"

"I tree today!"

"You are! Happy Birthday, Julia!" Sam smiles.

"Thanks, Shammy!
That for me?!" Julia points to the gift.

"It issss! You can open this one now.
Sammy wanted to buy you these. They were expensive so we have to be very very careful, okay?"

"Yay! Okay!" Julia tosses her pacifier to the side, and holds her hand out.

When Julia opens her gift, she gasps.
"It diamonds!"

Both Sam and Jessica chuckle.
"It's a topaz bracelet, necklace and earrings! That's your birthstone."

"Woah! Tanks, Sham!" Julia stands on her bed and hugs him tightly.

"You're welcome, pretty girl!"

"I lub it so much!"

"I'm glad!"

"Can I wear em?"

"Sure! Come here and I'll put them on for you."

After Jessica puts her jewelry on, Julia stands up and smiles big.

"Oh wow! Look at you! Juju and her Jewls! I'm gonna start calling you that now!" Sam chuckles.

"I like it! I lub being tree!"

Sam chuckles and lifts her up.

**

Before Julia's party began the kids all sat around so Julia could open the gift she was most excited for.

"Okay Ju, this is your baby brother or sister's outfit! We're gonna find out right now, are you excited?"

"Yes, give me! I want to know!"

"Okay wait! Final guesses! Autumn, you're first!"

"I think it's a boy." Autumn smiles.

"Sam?"

"Girl!"

"Theo?"

"Mama!" He smiles.

Jessica giggles and says, "Juju?"

"I want a baby sister!"

"Okay, well we'll see!"

"What do you think the baby is, momma?" Sam asks.

"I don't know! I'm not extremely huge.. Yet!" Jessica laughs. "So I'm going to say girl! I was ginormous with my boys!"

"Well let's see!" Sam smiles.

"Juju.. Open it!" Jessica says with excitement.

"Yay!" Julia rips it open and pulls out the outfit.

"AHHH!  GUYS!"

"IT'S PINK!  IT'S A GIRL!"

"Oh my gosh!" Jessica cries.

"I gonna have a baby sister!"

"You're still the only strong man, Theo!" Sam chuckles.

"YAY!" Theodore smiles and claps his hands.

"Aw, he's so happy!" Jessica chuckles.

"Momma, another baby girl!" Autumn smiles.

"This is so exciting!  Oh my gosh, you're a girl!" Jessica giggles and looks down to her round little belly.

"So, are you going with the name you love?" Sam asks.

Jessica gasps. "I guess I could!  I don't have anyone here to tell me it's stupid anymore!"

"It's a beautiful name, Jess."

"Yeah.." Jessica looks down, places her hands on her belly and smiles softly.

"What's her name, mama?" Julia asks with excitement.

"Her name is Evangeline." Jessica smiles.

**

Later that day.

Everyone gathered at Jessica's parents house to celebrate Julia's 3rd. birthday.

"So many people here, Mama!"

"Yeah baby! So many people came because they love you so so much!"

Julia looks around the room and smiles.
Jessica teared up but quickly stopped herself.
This was totally different than she imagined spending her birthday, but it is what it is, and she wanted to make this day special for her baby girl.

Julia ran off to play with her cousins, and Sam walked over to check on Jessica when he noticed she was upset.

"You okay, Jess?" He asks.

"He didn't even call her.. It's her birthday."

".. I'm sorry."

"I don't get it."

Sam pulls her in and kisses the top of her head.

Just then Jessica hears Julia shout, "DADDYYYY!"

Jessica looked at Sam, both with wide eyes.

"Mommy look! Daddy's here!"

"Hey Princess!" Danny lifts her up and kisses her cheek.

Jessica quickly walks over and asks, "What on earth are you doing here?!"

"It's my daughter's birthday. I heard there was a party, and I wanted to come over."

"I don't want you here, Daniel."

"You can't keep me from my daughter, Jess."

"Daddy, I missed you so much!" Julia hugs her father.

"Aw baby girl!"

"And guess what!"

"What?"

"Mommy has a girl in her tummy! I'm gonna have a baby sister!"

"Oh really? Wow, another baby girl. I bet you're excited."

"I am! She's got a little girl in her tummy, and her name is gonna be Evangeline!"

"Oh geez, not that name again!" Danny gives Jessica a look. "Didn't I say no the first time?"

"You want nothing to do with my baby, I name her whatever I want."

Danny rolls his eyes and turns back to Julia.
"Sishy is here too!"

"I know, Ju.."

Just then Theodore runs over to Danny with excitement.

"Baby wants to say hi, dada!" Julia smiles.

"Hi bud." Danny taps the top of his head.

"DADA!"

Jessica hated seeing her son basically be ignored by his father, so she picked him up and kissed his cheek.

"Hi handsome!" She smiled.

"Dada!" Theodore smiled and reached for Danny.

"Danny, will you pay attention to him, please?"

"I said hi, Jess!"

Jessica rolls her eyes and hands him to Sam.

"What is he doing here?"

"Don't you even start that, Danny."

Danny kisses Julia's cheek and says, "Happy Birthday, baby. Daddy loves you."

"I lub you too, daddy! Don't leabe us again!"

Danny put her down and turned to Jessica.
"Let's talk outside."

"No, I don't want to."

"Let's go!" Danny grabs her arm tightly.

Sam saw him rushed over.
"Let go of her!"

"This is none of your business, Sam."

"Actually, it is. Jessica is my friend and you hurt her. Now if she doesn't want to talk, leave her alone and go."

"Fuck you, Sam! You're such an annoying little shit, do you know that? Our whole relationship, you've just been hanging around!  It's pathetic!"

"Dada yelling at Sham! Daddy Stop, he my fwiend!" Julia looks at her father with red watery eyes.

"Come on, Juju. Let's go play." Autumn takes Julia by the hand.

The begin to walk away when the heard a loud punch and everyone gasp.

"SHAM!" Julia's eyes went wide.

"DADDY!" Autumn ran to her father.

"Damn you, Danny Huston! You ruined Julia's birthday! You ruined everything! We were supposed to have a new baby, live a happy life and grow old together! YOU RUINED IT!!!!" Jessica then ran to her parents room.

Both girls were in tears.

"Girls, I'm fine. I promise you I'm fine." Sam says.

"Sham! You's bleeding!" Julia sobs.

"No Juju, don't cry.  I'm okay!"

George walks over and grabs Danny.

"Let's go to the front, I have something to say." Sam says.

"I don't want to listen to your sob story, Sam!"

"I just want to talk, Danny." Sam responds in a very calm tone.

A few of Jessica's cousins go out with George just to make sure Danny won't do anything stupid.

"What do you want?" Danny asks with an attitude.

"I just don't understand.. How dare you show your face to this family after doing what you did.
You walked out on them! You have a son and another baby on the way! How dare you!!
Jessica is an incredible woman!"

"Come one, Sam, I already know about the crush you have on Jessica!"

"It's not a crush, I love Jessica. I always have."

"Okay And?"

"You don't get to walk out on them and then show up giving these kids false hope! Now you're going to leave and stay away for Lord knows how long!
You fucked up time after time, Danny! I bit my tongue because Jessica loved you.. but I can't anymore. You can't even say hello to Autumn and Theodore.. Your own son!
Thank God Jessica didn't give him your name.
She gave him the name I suggested.. Alexander.
That's right, I named your son. Not you."

"Are you finished now?"

Sam chuckles. "No."
Just then, Sam punches him in the face. "Now I am."