April 20th.
Danny woke up early, took a shower, and slipped into his robe. Today is Jessica's 50th birthday, and he wanted to wake her up with a celebration.
"Wakey wakey my beautiful annoying little pain in the ass." Danny hums.
"Mmm.. No!"
"No what?"
"Go away!" Jessica mumbles, her eyes still shut.
"It's your birthday! Happy Birthday my little troll!" He smiles.
"Daniel.."
"What?"
"I'm fifty!"
"I know!"
"I'm old!"
"I know!" Danny says with a smile still on his face.
"Where did my youth go?!" Jessica shouts.
Danny rolls his eyes.
"Oh let me give you a Tony for this award winning performance you're giving me." He slow claps.
"I'm not getting out of bed today."
"Well that's just fine because that's where your first and bestest present takes place!"
"Huh?" Jessica turns to him.
Danny smiles and drops his robe. "Happy Birthday, Babydoll!"
"Oh gross!" Jessica makes a face and turns her head away from his naked body.
Danny frowns and yanks the covers off of her.
"We are going to have sex, and you are going to like it!" He shouts.
Just then the door swings open and Danny's eyes go wide.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMA!"
The kids then scream at the sight of their father. Kenley quickly runs out of the room traumatized.
"Oh gross! My breakfast is coming up!" Charlotte holds her stomach and gags.
Jessica turns to her kids as Danny hits the ground with embarrassment all over his face.
"Heyyyy everyone!" Jessica smiles.
"Why is daddy naked? You're old you guys should never be naked!" Anastasia says.
"He's just excited to give me my birthday present. I'm too down for that." Jessica then looks down to Danny and says, "But maybe later after a few drinks I'll let you rock my world." She smiles.
"That's it, I'm stabbing my ears out. Anyone care to join me?" Noah looks around.
Jessica throws her head back and laughs. "Oh what a beautiful start to my birthday!"
***
April 28th.
3:45 am.
Jessica threw the covers off of her and onto Danny as she groaned loudly.
Feeling her tossing and turning, and hearing her whining Danny woke from his sleep.
"Jessie? Jessica! What's wrong?" He sits up and looks down at her sweaty body.
Jessica was only in underwear. During the night her pajamas became too hot for her so she stripped down.
"Baby, are you okay?" He asks.
"I'm hot!" She whines on the verge of tears.
"Are you sick? It's not hot in here."
"It's this damn menopause!" She cries.
"Danny, I'm moody, I'm gaining weight, I'm growing hair in places I shouldn't be growing hair! I'm so fucking hot and sweaty all the time, and I still have two babies that are STILL trying to nurse! I'm losing my damn mind, Danny!"
"Babydoll, calm down." Danny places his hands on her shoulders.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Jessica shouts and swats him away.
"Sorry! Sorry!
.. Do you need anything?"
"Could you pour a bucket of ice water on me?"
"... How about I grab you a cold glass of water?"
"Okay.." Jessica looks at him with a pout.
Danny smiles and pecks her temple.
"I'm all gross, Danny.." She says in a low voice.
"It's okay, I love you anyway!" He smiles.
"You're so sweet to me!" Jessica cries again.
"Don't cry! You're way too cute to cry." Danny wipes her tears then softly caresses the back of his finger over her cheek.
"I'll be back with your water."
Danny went downstairs, he filled a glass with ice and water, and grabbed an ice pack for Jessica.
After walking back upstairs he smiled and softly chuckled at what he saw.
All the covers were thrown on the ground, and Jessica was sprawled out on the bed.
Danny sat the water and ice pack down on the nightstand, then grabbed a blanket and made himself comfortable on the ground.
He could have woken her but, she looked too peaceful. Danny wanted her to have a good nights rest.
***
A week later everyone was heading over to Boston for Emily's graduation.
When they arrived Isaiah met them at their hotel.
"You okay, son? You seem nervous." Danny chuckled and patted Isaiah's back.
"Huh?!" His eyes widen.
"You okay, baby?" Jessica asks.
"Oh yeah! I-I'm great!"
"Okay.. now tell me what's wrong." Jessica says.
Isaiah takes a deep breath and pulls a ring out of his pocket.
"Oh son, you shouldn't have!" Danny exclaims.
"Shut up, Danny! Zaya.. are you.."
"I'm gonna ask Emily to marry me." He smiles.
Jessica covers her mouth and tears instantly start to fall.
"It doesn't mean we're getting married now.. but I want to give her a ring so she knows one day it'll happen. I want everyone to know she's mine."
"My baby." Jessica opens her arms and walks towards him.
Isaiah hugs his mother tightly.
"I'm gonna ask her at the restaurant after she graduates. I've already spoken to her father."
"Good boy!" Jessica says making him chuckle.
"Let me see this ring! Oh Isaiah, it's beautiful!"
"Thanks." He smiles.
"Hopefully she says yes.. that'd be embarrassing if she didn't.."
"Oh honey, of course she'll say yes!"
"Thanks mom.."
"I can't believe this! My baby boy.."
Isaiah smiles just before Jessica hugs him once again.
***
After Emily's graduation her family and friends all gathered at a restaurant near her and Isaiah's apartment.
"Zaya, why is your hand so sweaty?" Emily laughs.
"Oh! Sorry, it's.. it's really warm."
"I guess." She shrugs.
"You feel okay?"
"Yeah.. I feel great." Isaiah smiles and tightens the grip on her hand.
**
After a while Isaiah decided now was the time to propose.
"Hey guys.. I just wanna make a toast.. to this beautiful woman." Isaiah stands and smiles down to Emily.
"Dats my bwuder!" Willow shouts.
"Shh!" Jessica chuckles.
"Hey Lo." He smiles and waves.
"Anyway um.. Emily, will you stand please?"
"Sure.." She chuckles.
Isaiah grabs her hands and says, "The amount of hard work this woman has put in.. to accomplish something that she's wanted so badly.. amazes me.. Emily, I am so incredibly proud of you. The sleepless nights.. the stressing. It's all paid off, and I am so so happy for you."
Emily smiles. She had no idea what was coming next.
Isaiah then got down on one knee and reached in his pocket. He pulled out a ring and the entire room gasped.
Emily covered her mouth and immediately started crying. "No! What are you doing?"
Isaiah chuckles and says, "Emily.. I love you more than anything in this world.. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, baby. Will you marry me?"
"Oh my gosh! Zaya.. even if-"
"Yes! Please! Marry me." He smiles.
"Okay!" She giggles.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! Yeah I'll marry you! Let's get married!" She shouts.
The guests all cheer as Isaiah slips the ring on and stands up to kiss his future wife.
Emily holds Isaiah's cheeks and intensifies the kiss.
"I love you. I love you so so much." She cries, her forehead now against his.
"I love you more.. I promise to never ever stop loving you."
***
August.
Recently, Jessica's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His mind is going quickly, and it has been extremely difficult on the entire family.
As for Dorothy, her health isn't the best either. She has had several mini strokes that have slightly affected her speech and mobility.
Each of the kids had a certain day they took care of their parents.
Danny was out of town for a week, so George was going to help her out today.
"Where we going, mama?" Willow asked in her car seat, lifting her hands and tilting her head.
"We're going to see grandma and grandpa!"
"Yay!"
"Gwandpa member my name?" Emerson asks.
Jessica sighs. "I don't know, honey.. grandpa is sick.. his mind isn't what it used to be. We'll make sure and tell him your name, okay?"
"Okay, mama!"
"And remember, when he repeats himself, just answer. Don't get mad and tell him he's already said it. He doesn't know."
"Cause he's sick?" Willow asks.
"Yes."
"Oh.. Mama, no want gwampy to die!" Willow had such a sad and worried look on her face.
"Honey, you can't worry about that.. just enjoy the time you have with him, okay? Not only him but grandma and your other grandpa as well."
"Okay.."
Jessica looks in the rear view mirror and sees Willow pouting.
"Hey you two! Wanna listen to Trolls!" Jessica asks trying to make them happy.
"YEAHHHHH!" The twins shout with excitement.
**
"Hi mom! Hi dad! It's Jessie!" Jessica said in a loud voice so her parents could hear.
"Jessie.. hi baby.." Dorothy said in a low voice with a smile.
"How are you feeling today, momma?"
"Oh just fine.. Did you bring the babies?"
"I did! Kids, say hi to grandma and grandpa."
"Hi! It me Emmy and Lo Lo!"
"Of course! Grandma missed you two!"
"Mishu too! Gwampy? You know me? I'm Emmy!" Emerson shouts.
Albert was just staring into space.
"Daddy, the kids came to see you today. Say hi!"
"Who's kids are they?"
"Mine, daddy!" Jessica smiles.
"Oh yes.. Gabby and Isaiah."
"What?! Noooo!" Willow giggles.
Albert's mind would always go back twenty years to when the older kids were little, sometimes even further than that and he'd think they were Jessica and George.
"Daddy, these are my youngest. Emerson and Willow. Remember?"
"Oh yes.."
Albert clearly didn't remember and just said it to shut Jessica up.
Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat and quickly changed the subject.
"Kids, uncle George put a movie on for you two while we get grandma and grandpa's lunch."
"We watch Paw Patrol?" Emerson asks.
"No! MOANA!" Willow jumps.
"Neither. I found a vhs tape of the little mermaid. You're gonna sit and you're gonna like it." George says.
Jessica laughs. "Man, a vhs tape? Mom and dad need to get with the times!"
"Right?" George chuckles.
**
The movie ended and the day went on.
Emerson and Willow got into a huge screaming match, irritating Albert.
"Would you shut those kids up, Dammit!"
"Dad, cool it, they're two!" George says.
"It's fine, George. He doesn't mean it."
"Jessie?"
"Yeah, daddy?"
"Why are you here? We don't talk anymore. You ran away from home and didn't want to see us!"
Albert went back thirty years.
"Dad-"
"Get out! You caused your mother and I enough headache for eighteen years!"
"Daddy.." Jessica looked at him and her heart broke.
This wasn't her father. Her father was gone. Physically no, but mentally he was gone.
"Daddy stop this! You know! We've been talking for years now, now snap out of this!" Jessica screams.
A mixture of the twins temper tantrum, and seeing her parents turn into children themselves, really got to Jessica and made her completely lose.
After weeks of holding it in, she couldn't take it any longer.
"Jess." George walks over but she pushes him away.
"NO! This isn't fair! I don't want him to go, but this isn't living! I hate this so much!"
George wraps his arms around his sister and tries his best to calm her down.
"Shh, shh.. it's okay."
"No it's not." She cries into his chest.
The twins stopped fighting when they saw their mother losing it. As she hugged George they both walked over and hugged her legs.
Jessica sniffles and looks down.
"Oh babies.. Mommy's sorry."
"Kay, mama?" Emerson looks up to her while patting her leg.
"Yeah, mama's okay.. I'm sorry for scaring you guys." She says going down to their level.
"It's okay, mama.. gwampy sicky, member? He no know.." Willow nods as she places her hand on her mother's cheek.
Jessica smiles softly and nods her head. "Yeah.." She spoke in a low voice.
"Why don't you take the kids home, or stop for some ice cream?"
"No, it's okay."
"Jess, go. You need some time."
"Yeah.. I guess you're right.
.. Thank you, George."
"No problem. Be careful."
"I will.
.. I'll see you later, momma. I'll see you, daddy."
"Bye, Jessie!" Albert smiles.
Just like that Albert had forgotten what had just happened and was in a great mood.
**
"Tanks mama, for da ice cweam!"
"Yeah mama, tanks!" Emerson smiles.
Jessica giggles at his messy face.
"You're very welcome!" She says cleaning his mouth.
"I gots it on my shirt!" He laughs.
"It's okay, it'll come off." Jessica smiles softly.
"Mama not mad?" He asks.
"No baby, I'm not mad. You two just enjoy your ice cream."
Jessica watched them closely as they ate their ice cream. She took in every look, every silly thing they said, every giggle. The joy in her babies eyes was what helped her through life. It always has.
Jessica then began to think. Since she had kids so late in life, does that mean they would be in her situation at a much younger age? Jessica wants her twins to remember she and Danny the way her older kids do. She doesn't want their memories to mostly be their parents getting older and becoming sick.
As she felt the tears coming, she took a deep breath and fought it as best she could.
She saw the twins whispering back and forth and wondered what they were saying.
She was about to ask when Emerson held his little fingers up and counted for his sister, "One, Two, Tree!"
"WE LUB YEW, MAMA!" They both shout.
"Aw!" Hearing that made Jessica cry. The fact that those two little babies knew that's exciting what their momma needed to hear, was amazing.
"Don't cwy!" Willow says.
"I'm only crying because I love you too so much!"
"We love you more, mama!"
"This mean we get num nums?" Emerson asks cutely.
"Yeah mama, we just babies so we get num nums!"
Jessica chuckles through her tears. "Okay, okay. You can have your num nums."
"YAY!" Both twins cheer.
"NUM NUMS! NUM NUMS! NUM NUMS!"