The snowy winds in New York City blustered through the open cracks of the door that Lea Monteith pushed open with her hip. Keeping a tight grip on the bundled toddler in her arms, the Tony Winner entered a familiar theater, but not for her own rehearsal.

"Daddy!"
A shrill, loud, shout of delight interrupted the discussion between drummer and manager, causing the actress to let go of the squirming three-year-old in her arms. "Sorry..." Lea grumbled in apology, brushing her bangs into place on her forehead. "I wasn't sure if you guys were still rehearsing..."

Eliza Monteith hurried as fast as her little legs could carry her, screaming with excitement as a tall Canadian swept her off her feet. "Hey you!" Cory roared, kissing her cheek to cause the usual fit of giggles. "What are you doing interrupting my band practice? Huh?" He rubbed his smiling wife's back and scrunched down to peck her lips. "It's fine, we were just finishing up."

"Kay, good." The short woman nodded, removing her daughter's jacket. "I finished at the recording studio early so I had time for a little trip to the spa and then I picked her up from my mom's and tadaaa! Thought we'd surprise you."

"Yeah!" Cory nodded. "Cool. I'm glad you did."
"Drums!" "Okayokayokayokayokay, Liza. Let's go."
Lea held back an eye-roll, unready for the loud and un-musical ruckus that was sure to sound from the stage. "Two minutes. Then let's get dinner."
The Bonnie Dune members greeted their youngest fan with enthusiasm as Cory let the tiny hands viciously beat the drum set.

"How's the baby?" Jared asked, offering Lea a seat as he packed his belongings into his back-pack. Ever since the band had decided to move to the city, the Bonnie Dune family had gotten close. Of all the respective significant others, Lea Michele was always the least frequent to visit during practices but he figured it was because she was always so busy with her own thriving career. He had to give Cory props; Balancing the band and his position as producer for a television company, along with a spunky toddler and one on the way didn't seem easy. Especially when his partner in crime was off making big bucks with her first original album.
The singer nodded and moved her sunglasses up to her head. "Good!" Lea informed. "Cory and I went in for an appointment the other day and everything was smooth sailing. They promised us that they'd do double-triple-checking when we're able to find out the gender. No more surprises. We've waited in enough gift return lines. Cory...Seriously, that's enough drumming. It's driving me nuts."

The gentle giant peeled the drumsticks away from his daughter and pecked her cheek with a whisper."Momma's nuts."

"I heard that."

"What? What? I didn't say anything." Cory laughed and carried Eliza back down the row of chairs. "I'll grab my stuff and then we can head out." He did a double take, bending down to kiss the Broadway star's temple. "Nuts for me."

That earned him an eye-roll, a playful whack on the arm, and that ten-thousand watt smile he fell in love with.