A/N: Finally finished that school paper...and may have watched a few new episodes of Flash. But here's the next chapter :)


Jesse groaned as Beca poked him awake.

"Hey," she whispered. "Dog's up- she has nightmares. The deal was that you had to get up with her." Jesse scowled at his wife but couldn't resist smiling when she kissed him.

"Well, because you asked nicely…" he rolled out of their bed and padded down the hall. He paused at their laundry room door, yawning. Echo let out a piteous whimper.

"All right, all right, I'm coming." He opened the door and Echo ran out, running straight into his legs. "Watch where you're going, squirt," he said fondly, picking her up. She wriggled in his arms, trying to lick his face. Jesse laughed, bringing her into the living room and leaning back against the rocking chair. He flipped her over onto her back, rubbing her belly as he rocked. He had expected her to fall back asleep right away, but she stayed alert, shaking a little every couple minutes. Sighing, he began to sing.

Beca sat up in bed, smiling as she heard Jesse's voice float down the hall. She stretched and silently walked over to the living room, where she found a very tired Jesse singing to Echo. She leaned over the back of the rocking chair, ruffling Jesse's hair.

"What're you doing?"

"Well, I read once that singing to babies helped them sleep. Figured it could help Echo, too."

"What were you singing?"

He grinned and broke out in song again.

"Now I'm not a highly metaphysical man, but I know when the stars are aligned you can, bump into a person in the middle of the road, look into their eyes and you suddenly know…"

Beca smiled, remembering the first time she had laid eyes on Jesse. He was singing to her, in his car, in the middle of the road.

"I wonder why you chose this song," she teased.

He winked at her as he continued to sing.

"I say hey, I'll be gone today. But I'll be back all around the way. It seems like everywhere I go, the more I see the less I know. But I know one thing, that I love you." Jesse stood up, Echo sliding off of his lap with an indignant bark. He grabbed Beca's hands and swung her around.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," he sang as she laughed.

"And I say, rocking in the dance hall, moving with you," Jesse spun her in a circle. Beca wrapped her arms around his neck as they continued to dance, savoring the moment.

"I love you," she whispered.

"Hey, that's not part of the song."

He earned a swift kick in the shin for that one.

"Ouch," he said ruefully. "But I love you too, my little firecracker."

"Firecracker?"

He shrugged. "Thought I'd try it out. No?"

"Nah, I kinda like it."

"Well, I kinda like you."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Love. I love you," he added quickly.

"That's more like it," she rested her head on his shoulder. "Hey, look who's asleep."

Jesse glanced down at the sleeping dog. "Well, that's great, but how do we move her without waking her up?"


Beca wrinkled her nose as she bent to clean up another of Echo's accidents. She glared at the dog, but broke into a smile when she licked her nose.

"Why do you have to be so darn cute?" Echo just sat down, giving her a doggy-smile.

"I can't stay mad at you for long. You're like your father."

"And is that a bad thing?" Jesse asked, raising his eyebrow as he leaned against the doorway. Beca glanced at Echo, smirking.

"Hey, honey? Can you do something for me really fast?"

"Anything for you, my love," he said, sweeping his arms out and giving a mock bow.

"Good. Because I need you to clean up Echo's accident." Jesse looked at it the puddle on the floor in despair, then turned his puppy-dog eyes to Beca.

"Hey," she said. "You wanted the dog. Besides, this is good experience. You'll be a pro by the time you have to change diapers."

"Ha-ha," he said, but he kneeled down and took Beca's place on the floor, starting to unroll the paper towels. Beca smiled victoriously and plopped down on the couch. Echo jumped up beside her, setting her head on her lap.

"Hey, you get back here!" Jesse yelled after the dog. Beca laughed as Echo barked defiantly and laid back down.

"Now she gets that from you," Jesse called at Beca.

She stuck her tongue out at him "You do realize she's not actually our child, right?"

"Yeah, but she picks up stuff from our behavior."

"Whatever."

"It's true."

Echo watched their friendly banter with intelligent eyes. Then she yawned and closed her eyes; she was soon asleep.


Beca squealed as a cold nose nuzzled her neck. She sat up quickly, throwing off the covers.

"Jesse!" She shot him an accusing look.

"She wanted you," he said innocently.

"It's like we're parents already."

"Our aca-children are going to be even cuter than Echo. Yes, as hard as that is to believe, girl," he added as she looked at him. "And hopefully less furry."

"Please don't call them 'aca-children' ever again."

"Well, they're going to be, aren't they?"

"Guess we'll have to wait and see."

"Guess so," he said, kissing her forehead.

A/N: The song I used in this chapter was "Say Hey (I love you)" [feat. Cherine Anderson] by Michael Franti & Spearhead. I realized that it really fit the couple. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. More will be up soon! Please let me know what you think!