Months had passed by since Maureen had given birth to her and Mark's daughter Abigail. The pair easily fell into a routine more quickly than they had originally thought they would, it was mainly because Maureen had really become in tune with her motherly instincts. Picking up on her child's needs and tending to them.

It took some time for Mark to figure out his fatherly role, seeing that Maureen was always the one to rush to the baby's side whenever she cried. But eventually he finally fell into step with the dance moves that Abby and Maureen had set into motion. Most of his duties were to help out the mother of his child rather than actually tend to his daughter.

To everyone else that came over to visit it would look as though Maureen was overly when it came to Abigail but the truth was that she did like to pass the baby off to Mark, Collins, Mimi or Roger so that she could have some time for just herself. Like to get something to eat, sleep, use the bathroom and to get in a shower. Course, her body did adjust to learn to sleep when Abby did so it was more along the lines of the other things that she needed Mark for.

Though the two were living together, they continued to remain just friends. Much to Mark's disappointment. He wanted to show Maureen that he wanted to be more than just a friend to her. And he wanted his daughter to have two parents that loved one another not a mother and father who lived with each other.

There was just never any time nor was there a place to try and show her that he was still in love with her. If she wasn't too busy with the baby, she was too tired to converse with him. Or it was the simple fact that if Maureen didn't have Abby then he did, leaving him to occupied to say anything to her.

Either way, he was happy that he was sharing the life he was leading with her once more. Even if they weren't together.

The day had started just like any other day for the new parents. Mark got himself out of his bed, walked out of his bedroom then made his way into the bathroom to get ready for his day at work. When he was completely finished, he started his way down the cast iron spiral staircase and towards the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

And like usual, Maureen was leaning back in her black leather reclining chair that was back as far as it could go. Her feet raised up and curled to one side. And her eyes were closed as she held a wrapped up Abby close to her breast. It was a sight he was used to seeing when he came down every morning. Maureen resting her eyes as she breast fed their daughter.

When his coffee had been made and poured into his mug, he walked over to her chair and looked down at his two beautiful girls. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips before he leaned himself down and gently pressed his lips to Maureen's forehead, causing her to open her eyes slightly while he placed a light kiss on Abigail's head.

When his coffee was done and he had it poured into his mug, he walked over to her chair and looked down at his two beautiful girls. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips before leaning down, gently pressing his lips to Maureen's forehead causing her to slightly open her eyes while he placed a light kiss upon Abigail's head. She smiled up at him.

"Morning." She said a bit groggily.

"Morning." He responded, kneeling down a bit to caress his daughter's dark hair.

She shifted a bit before gently pulling Abby away from her breast then sitting herself up in the chair. Moving her daughter upright to her shoulder where she lightly started to pat her back. Trying to get her to burp.

"Did you make coffee?" She wondered, turning her head to see the answer.

He nodded his head. "Yeah. Want me to get you a cup?"

Shaking her head. "I'll get some later."

"You sure? I don't mind getting it."

She smiles. "Thanks, Marky."

He smiles back then gets himself back up before walking to the kitchen and getting a cup then the pot from the coffee maker.

He smiled back at her before getting himself back up at her before walking into the kitchen and grabbing a coffee mug and the pot then pouring a cup. Placing the pot back where it belong before crossing the room towards Maureen, holding the cup out to her.

"Thanks. Just set it on the table for now." She said while pulling Abby away from her shoulder and rested the baby on her legs which were now raised up a bit so that Abby was at a small incline. She grabbed one of the burp cloths from the side table and wiped the spit up away from her little ones face before glancing back up at Mark.

He set the hot mug one the end table closest to Maureen so she wouldn't have to move too far to get it while having the baby in her arms. It was always hard to get himself out the door in the morning when he had these two sitting there every morning. Especially today. Maureen never really noticed that when she had pulled Abby away from her breast that her shirt was still opened a bit, revealing a lot more than she should be. Not that Maureen would've cared anyway. She had always been confident about her body. She may not be back at her usual figure but she was getting back to it.

As she looked up at him, she realized that he was staring at something, so she looked down expecting him to be gazing at Abigail but instead found her opened shirt to reveal her breast. It didn't bother her any, nothing he hadn't seen already. She just pulled her shirt to cover herself up then buttoning it up. "Aren't you going to be late?"

He tore his gaze away quickly when realizing that he had been caught red handed at staring at her exposed flesh. Course, when she easily turned the subject he refocused on her and gave a nervous nod. "Probably." He shrugged slightly before walking closer towards her, leaning down and giving his widen eyed and grinning baby girl a kiss on the forehead to say good-bye. The moment his lips touched her head, Abby giggled happily as her tiny hands reached up and grabbed his face causing him to laugh. "Daddy will see you later, Boo."

"Boo?" Maureen questioned, her brow raised a bit as she looked up at him.

He laughed some and nodded. "Yeah. Remember that animated film? Monster's inc?" She moved her head to the side a bit then nodded. "The little girl from it. Abby kinda looks like her. With the dark hair and the blue eyes."

She laughed some as she thought about it more. "Yeah, I guess she does. Blue eyes won't last though. My mom told me, mine changed when I was 6 months."

"They could stay blue." He pointed out.

"They won't."

He sighed, he remembered the last time they had a conversation like this. It was on whether or not they were having a boy or a girl. He thought it would be a boy and she was sure it was a girl. Look who got it right. "And you know this for sure?"

She gave a nod before turning to look down at Abby with a smile on her face. "Abby's going to have Mommy's eyes." She said in a baby voice. "Aren't you?"

"She could have daddy's eyes." He tried again, he himself looking down at her with a smile of his own lingering.

She laughed some, taking her daughter's hands in her own and played with her. "Just like she got your dark hair and your complexion?" She asked before looking up at him. A devilish expression playing on her features.

"Alright, I'll admit. Your genes were very dominate but she had to get something of mine."

"Yeah, her stinky feet."

"My feet don't stink." He said leaning back a bit to look at her. He was looking a bit defeated now and embarrassed.

"Oh, Marky. I'm just teasing you." She said, turning to face him. "I'm sure, she got something of yours. Perhaps, she got your brain?" Maureen grinned giving her attention back to Abigail. "I mean, I know I'm the dominate one but I'm sure your genes kicked in something to contribute." Abby squealed up at her momma who took one of her small hands and kissed the palm.

"Yeah." Mark nodded lightly. "Besides, I'm glad she'll look like you and not me. Your prettier than me."

Maureen stopped what she was doing and stared at him. She didn't know what to say, it was the best compliment she ever received from a man. "Aww, baby. Your so sweet."

He looked down as his cheeks turned a shade of red and that's when his eyes saw the time. He was really going to be late now. Looking up at her. "I have to go. I'll see you two later tonight." He said, standing back up some before kissing his daughter one more time before with out thinking turned to Maureen and kissed her lips.

Mark quickly pulled himself away once he realized what he was doing and his eyes quickly made contact with Maureen's who was equally shocked as he was. But before she could say anything, he rushed out the door. Leaving her with questions and him with a sense of fulfillment that he had been able to kiss her good-bye.

Chapter 1! I hope everyone loved this chapter. I have a lot of things that will transpire in this part of the story. So there will be some drama and of course a love triangle. Please review! And thanks to all that have read and reviewed my first story. Hope you continue your reviews on this story.

Ashes2181