A/N: Hello!

I do not own Big Time Rush; now or then.

I've decided to go backwards, before going forward that is, for the next four chapters. That way I can have a little something special in honor of Carlos' birthday this month. It will be posted that day. So anyway, the chapter numbers will change to keep them in chronological order. Thanks!

1. Picture Day

Mrs. Diamond removed her little bundle of joy from the yellow baby tub. He wriggled and squirmed, all slippery with soap and the satiny smoothness of his skin. She laughed and held on tightly. She rinsed him with fresh warm water, while he spoke in jibberish that only he could understand. He reached for anything and everything that his little hands could grasp while she towel-dried him.

"No, Jamie! Not Daddy's razor! That will hurt baby!" He paused and looked at her mouth for a moment, deciding whether he should cry for being told no, but found that the bottle of pink shimmery stuff was way too exciting to bother with tears. "Not that either! That's mommy's bubble bath," she said, prying it from his chubby fingers.

He pouted, and she knew what would come next if she didn't act quickly. She grabbed a blue hippo toy from the bin, and made it dance on the edge of his tub. His eyes followed it for a moment, but he yawned.

"Are you sleepy, Jamie? You can't be sleepy yet. Today is picture day!"

His eyes drooped anyway and his head swayed a bit. She had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that he was going to nap regardless of their engagement. He laid his head down on her shoulder and begin to hum sleepily, snuggling his little body into the crook of her neck.

"Oh, Jamie..."

She laid the sleeping baby boy onto his changing table and sighed. They had to be there in an hour and a half, and there was no telling how long he would be out. She smiled down at the little nude beauty, and studied his peaceful face. His long thick lashes were shadowing his cheekbones, and his little bow-mouth was suckling in his sleep. He was going to take such beautiful pictures, she thought to herself.

She powdered and diapered him without him even stirring, and went to the closet to take down the chosen outfit. It was sky blue that enhanced the amber of his eyes, and made it was made of pure silk. Her friend Catherine had joked with her that it cost more than her house payment.

She pulled the leg openings over his pudgy little feet and tugged it up. James arched his back, pulled his legs up, and threw his arms up over his head. He had a good stretch, then cozied back down.

She worked the romper up the rest of the way, and lifted him to her chest to button up the back. He hung heavily against her, little legs dangling limply. She sang softly, and placed him into his carseat carrier. She pulled on snow white socks and European leather slip-ons. She combed the budding tresses of a mane across his forehead, and kissed him on the tip of his nose. He truly was perfect.

They arrived at the exclusive photography studio an hour later. James was still sound asleep, but he was fidgeting more and more as the women talked.

"Who do we have here?" the woman asked when she saw the handsome sleeping boy all decked out in blue silk. "He's gorgeous!" she added, still admiring him.

"I hope it shows in the photos," Mrs. Diamond said with a smile. "The one-year photo is a big deal in our family. We use it on the invitations for his first birthday party, and it's placed on the wall in each household as part of the family-tree."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll do fantastic. You can take a look at some of my work while we wait for the little fellow to wake on his own."

The two women perused the vast museum-quality photographs that she had taken over the years. Many were smiling baby boys captured on film with happy twinkling eyes, all in delightful poses.

"These are incredible! They're just what I was imagining for my little prince!" Mrs. Diamond squealed. Just then, a loud piercing cry echoed throughout the studio.

"Oh, my!" the woman said. "He has a set of lungs, doesn't he?"

Mrs. Diamond flew to the carrier, quickly unbuckled the straps, and pulled her baby from it. He wailed louder when he opened his eyes and realized that he was no longer in his own elaborate nursery. "WHAAAAAAH! WHAAAAA! WHAAAAA!"

The photographer covered her ears reflexively and grimaced. She had dealt with many screaming babies over the years, but this one could wake the dead.

"Jamie! Baby! Look at mama! It's okay! The nice lady is going to take your picture now!" He took one look at the unfamiliar woman and screamed even louder. "But, Jamie! You love having your picture taken! I take them all of the time, and you're such a ham for the cam!"

He began to buck in her arms, his tiny face contorting with rage and turning scarlet. Mrs. Diamond struggled to subdue him, but he was having none of that. Suddenly, there was silence, fooling them into thinking that he had finally quieted until she spun him around to see that his mouth was agape. Breathless, he wound up to release the ultimate whoop of all time. It reverberated off of the walls and drove the poor photographer to retreat into the other room.

"Jamie!" Mrs. Diamond scolded her inconsolable offspring, "You stop that, right now! You're embarrissing Mama!" He shook with frustration and continued to wail.

"Maybe we should just re-schedule!" the woman shouted from the other room.

"I can't!" Mrs. Diamond called back. "We're leaving on vacation, and I really need the photos before then!"

Finally exhausted, James withered in his mother's arms and lay limp. He still shuddered with sobs, but for the most part, the outburst had ended. Without wasting any time the woman set up the backdrop, and waited for the young mother to deposit her baby in front of it. She placed the baby boy in the designated spot, and quickly took a step back.

He stared wide-eyed at the two women. His small puffy face was a vivid pink, and his eyes were swollen and red-rimmed. His mother's jaw dropped. "WAIT!" she cried as the flash illuminated the dim space.

"WHAAAAAA!" James belted out, alarmed by his mother's loud voice coupled with the simultaneous flash of bright light.

"Oh, dear," the woman said with a sigh. They gaped at the scrunched-up little mug of the baby with exasperation.

Mrs. Diamond stomped her high-heeled foot, and stormed over to the distraught infant. "Jamie, you are a prince, and I insist that you behave like one, young man!" He stopped crying, and stared at his mother. She saw that his cheeks were all blotchy. "I can't have blotches on my invitations!" she whined. "Is there any way to erase them?"

"Well, I could re-touch the photos when I develop them," the photographer said. At that point, she would have promised the woman anything just to get them to leave.

"Good! Then carry on!" Mrs. Diamond said.

The woman snapped several more shots, each one a terrible combination of red-faced temperament and distorted facial features. He threatened to let loose if his mother didn't pick him up immediately.

"I think I have enough to work with here, Mrs. Diamond," the photographer said just in the nick of time. He screeched as if he'd been stepped on, and didn't let up until his mother gave in and took him off of the platform, once and for all.

A week later, Mrs. Diamond received a phone call from Heirloom Photography. The woman spoke hastily on the answering machine, and gave her no time to lift the receiver before disconnecting. She played back the message.

"Mrs. Diamond, I have little James' photos here and they are ready to be picked up at anytime. Thank you, bye."

"Hmmmm," murmured Mrs. Diamond. She didn't even rave about how beautiful they were, she thought to herself. She decided to finish the packing for their cruise before leaving to collect the photos.

Two hours later, she stood at the counter of the studio with photos in hand. She stared at the plasticized face of the baby in the picture with shock. His skin was flawless. His eyes were bright and wide. He was smiling. It was perfect for an invitation and a family heirloom photo.

"Thank you!" she said happily, shaking the woman's hand and promising to return for the next session.

The woman smiled and watched her walk out the door. Once closed, the smile faded. "Oh, dear God, I hope not," she muttered.

Mr. Diamond loaded the boot of the car with numerous bags that his wife had packed. He buckled his smiling baby boy into his car seat and ruffled his silky hair. He handed him a bottle of warm milk and James slid down, suckling the bottle contently. With everyone in their seat buckled and ready to go, Mrs. Diamond turned to her husband with a pleasant smile.

"I've sent out all the invitations and now we're going on a vacation to the Mediterranean! What could be better!" She rummaged through her handbag and pulled out the wallet-sized photo of James. "Oh, here!" she said, "I want you to see this."

He studied the photo for a moment, his brows knitted. "Nice-looking little fellow, but who the heck is he?" he asked curiously.

The next one is a baby one for Logan...then Carlos...then Kendall. A pattern, see? (:

Thanks,

Crumpet