Finally, it was Friday. Jay's day off. Finally he could have a lie in-

As if on cue, a pair of tiny hands cupped either side of his face, waking him up from his slumber.

"Good morning Daddy!"

Jay opened his eyes to find Zoey's own staring straight at him. They were a mini model of his own.

"Morning sweetie" He yawned before sitting up and hugging his daughter. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did Daddy I dreamed of doggies!" She was so full of energy and enthusiasm that she practically bounced on her dad's torso.

Jay groaned, he'd thought the talk of dogs would stop. Apparently not.

"Oh, you did? What happened in your dream, Zo?"

"You and Mommy got me a puppy and it made best friends with Daisy's puppy! They played together! And then we went for a picnic! You and me and mommy and our doggy and Daisy and Daisy's doggy and Daisy's mommy and Daisy's daddy well I think she has a daddy I haven't seen him before-"

"Woah, take a breath there Zo-bo!" He laughed at her, she was trying to reel off her story in one long breath.

"Okay" She took his words literally and sucked in the air around her.

"You're funny kiddo," he told her, scratching his beard.

"No you're funny Daddy!"

Jay scooped her off his stomach into a bear hug. "Say, Zo-bo how about Daddy takes you to school today? You can show me your new friend Daisy."

"Oh, I'd love that Daddy! I love it when you take me to school!" she squealed.

Jay stood up from the bed, scooping her into his arms.

"Zoey, come out of there! Daddy's sleeping-" Hannah Halstead appeared around the master bedroom door. She came to a stop when she saw the pair in an embrace. "Oh I'm sorry honey, I'm sorry if she woke you."

Jay kisses his wife's forehead. "Hey, it's okay. Besides, I'm gonna take Zo to school today."

He lowered his daughter to the floor. She immediately ran off to her room to dress herself. Her parents heard her chanting. "Daddy's taking me to school! Daddy's taking me to school!"

Hannah turned to her husband. "Are you sure? I can take her if you want to go back to bed?"

"No, I want to take her. I haven't had a morning off like this in a while. I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than taking my baby to school," he smiled.

Hannah returned his smile. "Well, if you're sure, I'll head off to work early. Get a good start on my paperwork." She turned towards the door. "I love you."

"Love you too." He waited until he heard the door slam closed. "You almost ready Zo?"

"Yes Daddy!" She met him in the upstairs hallway and Jay let out a chuckle.

It appeared she had tried her hardest to dress herself: the front of her dress was fastened wrong and she had her cardigan on inside-out. But it still impressed Jay.

"Come here you." He made his way over to her and fixed up her outfit. "There! So pretty baby."

Zoey frowned and folded her arms. "Silly Daddy I not a baby! I'm this big!" She raised her arms above her head, pointing towards the ceiling.

"Yes but you'll always be my baby," he said before lifting her up again and carrying her downstairs. "You put your shoes on and Daddy will get his jacket and your lunch bag."

"You got it!"

She ran off to find her shoes while Jay headed to the kitchen. He packed her sandwiches and then made his way to the hallway. "You ready to go Zo-bo?"

"Yes Daddy!" She reappeared in front of him, this time with her shoes and jacket on. "I'm ready."

Jay took a second to look at her: she was growing up too quickly, right before his eyes. He could still hardly believe she was already four. He still remembered the first time he'd seen her- the time he'd cut the cord, the time he'd held her when she came into the world. He'd fallen in love in an instant.

He felt her tiny hands tugging at his sleeve cuff. "What are you thinking about Daddy? We have to go or I'm going to be late!"

She brought him out of his daze. "Come on then, we better go!"

Jay ushered them both outside, locking the door behind them.

He buckled Zoey into the car before heading to the other side and sitting in the driving seat.

Jay turned on the radio quietly as he drove towards Zoey's school. Zoey had her attention focused on the world outside of the car. Her little legs swung in time to the beat of the radio.

They reached school in no time. Jay parked their car at the opposite side of the street.

Jay shut the car door, making his way over to Zoey's side.

"Come on then, Zo time for school."

She smiled a cheesy grin at him, extending her arms for Jay to lift her from the car seat.

Zoey grabbed her father's hand as they walked to the playground. Jay felt his grip automatically tighten when they entered the school ground: he forgot how busy the place got.

His daughter was distracted. "Daddy, look there's Daisy!" She pointed to the opposite side of the grounds, her eyes widening as she set eyes on her friend. Jay followed her finger to where she was pointing: Daisy looked a lot like Zoey did, from what Jay could see.

His arm almost came out of the socket by the way Zoey was dragging him towards Daisy. She may have been tiny, but she was mighty. She got that from him.

"Woah there Zo, slow down."

She was so focused on getting to her friend that his words were lost on her.

Zoey let go of his hand as they reached where Daisy was standing.

"Daisy!"

The young girl turned around. "Zoey! Hi!" She grabbed onto her new friend's hand. "Is that your Daddy?"

Zoey nodded. "Yes that's my Daddy!"

Jay's ears were burning and he made eye contact with his daughter. She spoke to him: "Daddy, this is Daisy!"

Jay lowered himself to Zoey and Daisy's level. He extended out an arm to Daisy, who shook it politely.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Daisy!" He rose back up to stand.

The two girls giggled and Zoey spoke first. "Daisy who did bring you to school today?"

"My Mommy! But she just left 'cause there's a man coming to paint the house! So I've been with Miss Kirsty!"

"Oh well now we can play together!"

Jay smiled as he watched the two girls talking. It didn't surprise him that they got along so well. They seemed so alike. So alike.

He couldn't help but notice though that Daisy wasn't accompanied by a parent. He caught sight of Miss Kirsty and grabbed her attention.

"Hey, um, is Daisy okay? I don't see her mom or dad around."

Kirsty smiled. "She's been dropped early today. Her mom asked 'cause she's getting the house sorted. Seeing as they just moved back and everything-"

"Back?"

"Yup. Her mom is originally from here apparently. I think she's just getting back on her feet."

"Oh I gotcha. And her dad?"

Kirsty lowered her tone, looking over at Daisy. "I don't, I don't think she has one." Jay frowned at her. "Well obviously she has one, but I've just never heard her mention him."

Jay nodded, not thinking anything of it. There were plenty of single moms in town.

He turned back towards his daughter. "Okay Zo, Daddy has to go! Have a great day!"

Zoey stopped mid conversation to run over to her father. That's what Jay loved about her: she was such a daddy's girl.

"Thank you Daddy! Will you be back to pick me up?"

"You betcha."

"I love you Daddy!"

"Love you, Zo-bo!" He turned around, exiting the school grounds.

Jay spent his day off doing pointless jobs around the house. He wasn't used to doing the housework, Hannah would usually say something if he put a foot wrong. But, it killed time until it was time to pick up Zoey.

He found himself finished just in time for school pick-up. He got in the car and drove to the school. He waited at the entrance for Zoey.

She soon emerged, looking a little messier than when he'd last seen her. Her pony was falling out and she had marker down her dress. He laughed. Hannah could handle that one.

Zoey made her way over to her dad, a mischievous look on her face. "Daddy, can I stay at club so I can play with Daisy?"

Jay scratched his beard. "Not today, pumpkin. We have to get home to Mommy."

He looked at her, she hated not having her own way. It was her stubbornness showing again.

She scowled at him all the way home, even when he tried to make conversation.

"How was your day, Zo?"

"I'm not telling." She continued to stare out the window.

He hated her being mad at him. "Come on, Zo. I just said not today. Maybe you can go next week"

"I can?"

"We'll have to ask Mommy," he said, pulling into the driveway. He noticed his wife's car wasn't back yet, which was weird. She was normally back by now. "Hey Zo-bo did Mommy tell you where she was going?"

"Just to work Daddy."

Jay carried Zoey into the house, not thinking anything about his wife being late.

"What do you want for dinner?"

Zoey was silent for a second while she thought about his question. "Toaster pastry!"

"You can't have toaster pastry for dinner. How about mac n cheese?"

"That sounds yummy Daddy!"

Jay went to make dinner in the kitchen and Zoey went to watch TV in the lounge. He dropped a text to his wife. Hey are you okay? Thought you'd be home by now. Do you want me to keep dinner?

He heated up food for himself and Zoey, sipping a beer while at it. A text message came through on his phone.

Sorry babe I forgot to tell you. Just out with the moms from Zoey's school. Won't be too late. Love you. P.S Don't let our laughter stay up past her bedtime.

Jay smiled. He took the food in the lounge for Zoey and himself.

"Well looks like it's just us tonight Zo! Here's dinner! And you can't tell Mommy I let you eat it on the couch."

She grabbed the plate eagerly from Jay and giggled. "I promise daddy."

They finished their food and Jay took their dishes into the kitchen. He walked back to the lounge and snuggled Zoey into his chest on the couch.

"What do you want to watch, sweets?"

"I wanna watch Frozen!"

Jay rolled his eyes. "I should have known…."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A loud bang woke Jay up. He must have fallen asleep, the Frozen title credits were rolling on repeat.

The loud banh hadn't woken Zoey, she was still sleeping on his chest, breathing softly.

He moved her gently onto the couch, making his way to investigate the banging.

He found his wife in the kitchen, looking through the cupboards. She was swaying ever so slightly.

"Hannah? What are you doing?"

She jumped when he spoke. "Shit! I..I'm hungry!" she was slurring.

She was trashed. She always got hungry when she was trashed.

Jay looked at his watch. It was 9:05pm. His wife was such a lightweight.

"Sit. I'll make you food." He ushered her to the table.

"Oh, you're soooo good to me."

He laughed. "So, good night huh?"

"Oh yeah." She slumped onto the table, her head resting in her hands.

Jay gave her a glass of water. "So, who was there?"

"The usual, you know. Ashley, Haley, Sam, Maggie. Oh, and that new girl Daisy's mom was there. Haley invited her."

Jay presented a sandwich in front of her, and sat down opposite his wife.

"I'm glad you had a good night. And the new member of the group, Daisy's mom, what's she like?"

"Oh, she's great! She gave me a ride home. I love her! And she's b-e-autiful. I invited her and her partner and Daisy to dinner."

Jay laughed, his wife was funny at making drunk plans. She probably wouldn't remember them in the morning.

He only wanted to ask her one more question before he put both of his girls to bed.

When he did see Daisy's mom, he wanted to put a face to a name.

And for that, he needed a name.

"What's her name?"

His wife looked confused. "Who?"

"Daisy's mom. What's her name?"

Hannah Halstead finished the last of her food before speaking.

"Erin. Her name is Erin."

Please Review.