"You're not a shitty father. She needed to be punished and she doesn't hate you." Dani soothed as she rubbed my shoulders more.

"It still hurt."

"Wait until she's a teenager and is screaming it before slamming her door. It's only going to get harder."

"Way to make me feel better." I mumbled.

"Just telling you the truth." She chuckled a bit.

I heard Emerson's door open and I could hear her coming towards the kitchen.

"Mommy." She whimpered and pulled on Dani's pant leg.

"Hey sweetie, aren't you supposed to be in time out?" Dani asked.

"No." Emmy lied.

"Emerson, go back up to your room or I'm taking your dolls away." I threatened.

"No! Mommy pwease! I be good now." She pleaded.

"Sorry Emmy, you got to listen to daddy. Go back up to your room and I'll be up to get you soon." Dani promised and Emerson huffed and went back up to her room.

"That sucked." I said.

"She needs to learn like I said." Dani said as someone started to knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Dani said as she went and opened the door.

"Logan! James! Carlos!" Dani said loudly.

"Hey beautiful." Logan joked and hugged her. I entered the room and gave him a slap to the back of his head.

"Stop flirting with my woman." I joked.

"Mean!" he pointed at me.

"Where's Emmy?" Carlos asked.

"Time out. She had a melt down at the store today." I explained.

"Not sweet little Emerson." James said shocked.

"She was screaming and she said she…hated me." I mumbled.

"Sorry man." Logan consoled and stole a glance at Emerson's door.

"She's peeking." He whispered.

"Emerson Harper Knight what did I say?" I turned and looked at her now open door.

"Daddy." She whimpered and started to cry.

"What's wrong?" I asked as my strict façade started to crack as I picked her up.

"Peepee…sowwy." She apologized and buried her head into my shoulder.

"Sweetie why didn't you go to the bathroom in the potty room?" I asked as Dani went to clean the mess in Emerson's room.

"You and mommy said not to come out."

"You could have went to the bathroom Lovebug." I told her as I kissed her forehead.

"Sorry for being bad." She told me as she looked at me with wide green eyes.

"It's okay but you need to learn how to behave and listen to mommy and daddy. Go ask mommy to help you change then come down so you can play with your uncles." I told her as I sent her towards Dani.

"Katie was never that bad." James stated.

"Katie was always different then every other baby. Emerson is just going through a phase." I defended.

"You're doing a good job disciplining her." Logan complimented.

"Do you guys want dinner? We haven't eaten yet." I asked.

"We could eat." James smiled.

"Can you guys…let me borrow some money? Dani and I aren't making the rent this month already so…" I trailed off embarrassed.

"I've got it covered." Carlos smiled and headed into the kitchen to order Chinese.

"Do you need help this month?" James asked.

"We're $200 short. Dani isn't going to renew her birth control so that'll be$ 150 so we're just $50 short."

"Here" Logan handed me $100.

"I can't take it plus you gave me too much."

"I don't care. You need this more than me."

"Thanks." I smiled as Emmy ran back into the room.

"Play?" Emmy asked as she grabbed James' hand.

"Absolutely. I get to be the blonde doll." James called as he led her into the play room.

"I changed her sheets. I'll go start cooking dinner now." Dani said as she threw her hair up in a messy bun.

"Carlos just went to order Chinese." I told her.

"We can't afford that this month." She reprimanded.

"Carlos is paying and Logan gave us some money. I've got it covered." I consoled her as I hugged her.

"Thanks Logan." She smiled.

"Where's Emmy?" Carlos asked.

"Playroom with James."

"No fair! I want the blonde doll! James Diamond I will hurt you if you took my doll." Carlos yelled as he charged into the playroom.

"They are so mature." Logan chuckled.

"Go play Logan." I pointed towards the room.

Logan got a slight blush. "I want to be the curly brunette!" Logan yelled as he ran.

"We're going to make this month's rent." I kissed the top of her head.

"I'm glad but I'm still giving up my birth control."

"Whatever you want to do."

"Let's go play and watch our friends and daughter play before dinner. After dinner Emmy needs to go straight to bed. She's going to the zoo tomorrow with Katelyn and her parents." Dani told me.

"She'll be safe right?"

"Completely. I've met Katelyn's parents and they are very nice."

"We'll be all alone tomorrow?" I said seductively.

"Yes… but I have tons of homework so you won't be getting lucky." She smiled and ran towards the playroom.

"tease." I murmured as I walked in to see James, Carlos and Logan all having a tea party with Emerson.

"Well don't you three look like princesses." I joked.

"Why don't you join?" Dani interjected.

"Daddy play!" Emerson smiled and I got up and sat between James and Logan.

"I'm going to get the camera….don't move." Dani giggled and ran out of the room.

"Your wife is nuts." Carlos whispered.

"Heard that Garcia." Dani said. "Say cheese." She clicked the camera and we all smiled.

"That should be our Christmas card." She joked. The doorbell rang and Carlos got up and answered it.

"Go wash your hands Emerson." I advised as we all headed into the kitchen where Carlos was laying out the food.

"Did you buy everything on the menu?" James joked.

"I bought more then I should but I thought that Kendall and Daniella could use them as leftovers during the week." Carlos smiled at us.

"Thanks buddy." I smiled as I set Emmy on a chair next to me and dished out a little rice and chicken and broccoli for her.

"Sippy?" Emmy asked.

"Here's some water." I told her and placed a Sippy cup in front of her.

"Tank you." She smiled and started eating.

"Such good manners." James complimented. Emmy blushed and stared down at her food.

"We should all go away for Spring Break next month." Carlos suggested.

"Somewhere cheap." Dani said.

"We'll head to New York, my mom has a place there and it wouldn't cost much. My mom may even pay for all of us." James smiled.

"In that case…thank you and absolutely." I joked.

"Then it's settled…next month…we party!" Carlos shouted as Emmy giggled and threw a piece of chicken at him.

"Emmy no." I scolded.

"oops." She smiled at me and I knew I couldn't stay mad at her. No matter what she did…she was my daughter and I'd always love her.