keeperofwords here: So this update is much shorter than we usually do and trust me there is a lot more we have written that comes after this. We just decided to highlight this special, cute moment. You know with us we have more than our fair share of darkness, triggers and angst. This is pure cuteness overload. Please note that some of what is described here comes from real life for me. Please enjoy and throw us a review. We live for those.

Hayley here: As always, we thank you for your patience. We both have full time jobs and I have school and yada yada. I know it's not news to any of you how busy we are, but we truly appreciate your patience with us either way. As my lovely co author said, we have quite a few chapters pre-written that are going through final revisions and edits currently, so there's plenty where this came from. Love to all of you, and please review!

Chapter 7: Making Her Debut

Shelby blocked out the sounds of the fans, the traffic and photographers for those disgusting magazines as she slid into the limo. She had slept like the dead curled around her wife, though she'd expected to be restless knowing that she would soon be meeting Cassie's mother and little sister. But her old bed felt comfortable, and like home. The sounds of the city had been just as soothing, if not more so, as the crickets back in Ohio. Henry was standing at the door blocking a clear shot from the paparazzi Shelby remembered from her years living in the city.

What is taking Cass so long? Shelby drummed her fingers anxiously. The singer chastised herself for her impatience when she looked out the window of the car.

Cassandra July was in full character. She had stopped to speak to a young man in an NYU T Shirt with a camera. He was totally out of his element standing with the other members of the so called "press". Cass posed for a picture, flashing her smile and twirling around.

God she is such a ham, Shelby thought to herself as she winked at the others standing there. "Gods, she is so beautiful," Shelby remarked out loud, seeing Henry nod his head subtly. "And I am married to her."

"Morning Henry," Cass told the older gentleman as she slid into the seat next to her wife. "Holly meeting up with the personal shopper to get Cadence some stuff?" the blonde asked, trying to remember what Holly had yelled to her when she was in the shower that morning.

"Yes. Diapers, clothes, that car seat, and a something for her to sleep in," Shelby answered, looking straight ahead to avoid staring at the crowd as the car moved forward. She was just not in the mood for the scrutiny this morning. She was about to meet her wife's baby sister who she was basically going to be co-parenting. There was a good chance she would see Cassie's mother for the first time. That was unnerving. To top it all off, her heart ached missing Rachel. The singer reached over to take her wife's hand. She knew Cassie only went into character for those cameras because it was easier than focusing on her current situation.

Cass felt like she might just throw up if she focused on her own mentality. She was not sure how long she could handle all of this. Shelby holding her hand was the only thing that kept her from telling Henry to take them to a bar for some liquid courage.

One light, two lights, Cass counted down the street blocks to the hospital with a sense of dread low in her stomach. She knew her wife was not doing much better. Shelby's hand was ice cold and she was clearing her throat consistently. When Shelby put her head on Cassie's shoulder, Cassie threaded her fingers through Shelby's long dark hair. No words were spoken between the two of them, but their body language was enough.

"The unknown is a bitch," Cass murmured into Shelby's ear. "At least Rachel could carry on a conversation, was relatively independent...and was toilet trained." she said as an afterthought.

"We were just as afraid then, too," Shelby whispered back, nuzzling Cassie's ear. "And if this kid looks as much like you as the pictures did, she will have us under her spell so quickly that we won't even think about all of our worries any more. It will come just as naturally as it did with Rachel." Shelby wasn't sure if she was trying to convince her wife, or trying to convince herself.

"She has dimples," Cass said simply, smiling as she lifted Shelby's had to kiss her ring finger. "And her hair, it's darker than mine, but if it is anything like Monica's it will lighten when she gets some of that summer sunshine."

The couple fell into a comfortable silence until they made it to the hospital. Henry took them to a service entrance around the rear of the building. Hand in hand, Cass and Shelby matched each others' steps and entered the building.

Shelby let Cass lead the way. While the pair had gotten stares in the lobby and elevator, no one paid them any attention on the pediatric floor. It was almost peaceful. The children had no idea who they were, and the staff were too busy doing their jobs to care. The parents had more important things to focus on than looking at a famous broadway power couple. Shelby found herself letdown when they did not find Cadence in her assigned room. A nurse had pointed them up the hall to a playroom instead.

Shelby's breath hitched and her eyes widened in surprise as a little streak toddled quickly past the doorway.

And I have to chase her around? Shelby thought, already suspecting having a toddler around would be like doing sprints on the track at the gym. A sudden thought occurred to her. What the hell are we supposed to do about our grand staircase? Shelby stood ramrod straight in the doorway and watched. There was absolutely no question that this baby was related to her wife. Everything about her was Cassandra July, from the wide expressive eyes, to the cute little nose and the face of concentration the kid had as she climbed on what seemed to be a small plastic slide.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" the blonde little girl exclaimed as she went down the slide.

"How can she do that?" Cass sputtered. "I thought babies were clumsy and fell around alot? She seems so young to be….I mean I guess she's one…"

"Well, if she is your sister, I am not surprised Cassandra," Shelby smiled in spite of herself. "You don't know how to sit still, does it surprise you your kid sister doesn't either? She probably skipped crawling all together..."

Cadence picked a bright purple plastic ball up off the floor put it on the slide, laughing as it rolled down.

"Uh ohh," Cadence exclaimed as the ball rolled off the slide and across the floor. The toddler took off after it, crashing into Cassie's legs and clutching onto her pants with little fingers so she would not fall.

"Well hello there, kid," Cass smiled, bending down to rub the toddler's back. "Do you remember me?" Cass did not really expect her to, but asked anyways just in case. "I'm your sister, Cassie."

"Cee Cee?" Cadence questioned, holding up her arms to be lifted. Tiny hands started patting the older July's cheeks, Cadence's imploring eyes staring quizzically at her older sister.

"So, I look okay?" Cass joked, secretly wondering if her baby sister thought she looked like her mom. She quickly discarded that notion, knowing that as long as she didn't have that bitch's personality, she was fine. "Cadence, I want to introduce you to someone. This is my wife. This is Shelby."

Cadence followed Cassie's hands as they gestured towards Shelby and the singer literally felt her heart skip a beat. Those eyes met hers and Shelby felt something click into place she could not put her finger on. She reached a shaking finger out, tentatively, feeling like a bundle of nerves. She wanted this kid to like her so desperately, and wasn't sure she could handle any sort of rejection. Sure that her nerves were radiating off of her, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Bee," the toddler spoke, sticking a hand out to grasp the brunette's long brown hair.

"Sorry Shelbs," Cass spoke apologetically, reaching out for Cadence's hand to pull it away.. "I should have warned you. Cadence has a thing for hair, and yours is long, thick, and gorgeous. At least she has good taste."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, July," Shelby flirted, appreciating her wife trying to ease her nerves with the gentle banter.

"That's what I am counting on, Corcoran," Cassandra pressed a quick kiss to her wife's cheek before bumping her sister's button nose. A wide smile formed on Cadence's face. "Want to hold her?" Cass asked carefully. She had noticed Shelby twisting her wedding ring with her fingers nervously.

"No," Shelby knew she'd answered too quickly, and tried to correct herself. "I mean, she wants to play right now..." Shelby noticed the little girl had lost interest and was squirming to get down.

"Well, just for a minute then," Cass insisted. "You need a proper introduction." Cass ignored Cadence's squirming and little lip starting to pucker as she transferred the toddler into her wife's arms.

"Hi there, pretty girl," Shelby spoke to the baby, trying to relax her posture. She spun the baby around in an attempt to entertain her. It worked a minute, before Cadence squirmed again.

"Down," Cadence spoke to the singer. Even as the toddler was pointing down and moving restlessly, she was nuzzling into Shelby's neck and the singer inhaled deeply. Shelby breathed in Cadence's unique scent and committed it to memory. This warm, small body was so soft and full of life. Shelby felt intimidated, but she also fell in love.

"Okay, go play," Shelby said, kissing the baby's soft, dark blonde hair and setting her down on the floor. The little girl half-ran, half-stumbled to the mini slide. The cuts she had from the accident were scabbed over, and the bruises were a dark grayish blue as they were healing.

"She's beautiful Cass," Shelby turned around and grabbed her wife's arms, encouraging her to hold her. Cass was more than happy to oblige.

"My kid sister does not need to be called a big ass name like Cadence," Cass grumped as she watched the little one play, hating that name the more she was having to use it. "I almost hate it as much as I hate when people call me Cassandra. Well. People besides you."

"Well, she'll need a nickname, then," Shelby told her simply, stepping out of her wife's embrace just enough to wrap an arm around her. Shelby didn't ask her if she was okay. How could she be? "I love you," Shelby looked deeply into Cassie's eyes.

"I love you too," Cass replied, letting her eyes make love to her soulmate. "We've got this." she sounded more sure than she felt. It scared the hell out of her, all of it, but she had no doubt she and Shelby were up for the challenge.