It was now November and Emerson was five months old. My birthday was coming up soon and I couldn't wait to spend it with Emmy and Dani. I was at my locker when Dani approached me.

"Hey Mr. My Birthday is Tomorrow."

I chuckled, "Why hello there, how are you?"

"I'm so tired! Emmy does not realize that my AP Stat homework isn't something to drool on. She won't sleep either."

"Should have let me come over yesterday, I offered."

"I know but you have a game today… which I have a surprise for you too."

"What? Tell me! I don't do well with secrets."

"You'll have to find out" she sing-songed.

My friends approached us,

"Yo Kendall, what are you doing with Daniella?" James questioned.

"Just talking."

"Why? She's a bitch!" Jo replied snottily.

"No she isn't. In fact, she's coming to the diner with us after the game today."

Dani looked shocked, "I...I can't… I don't have a babysitter." She looked at me with an expression that clearly said "You knew that already."

"Who cares, bring Emerson. She is cute."

"Yeah, come on Dani." Carlos piped in with a smile.

"It will be fun." Logan added. Good ol' reliable Logan.

"Sure, I'd like that."

The gang all nodded, some happy, some shocked and confused at what just happened. They left and I could feel Jo glaring into my back.

"Why did you do that?"

"I just want to spend time with you and maybe if the guys realize how awesome you are… they will let you hang out with us more so I can see Emmy more outside of the house."

"Good point… you ruined your surprise though. I was going to bring Emmy to the rink and watch the game… but since I am obligated to go to hang with you guys….Surprise." She told me meekly.

"That would have been an awesome surprise. Make sure you dress Emmy warm, it's cold." I said as I grabbed my books to go to my next class.

"No duhh, Knight. I can dress my baby." She told me as she walked away with a smile.

I smirked to myself and I couldn't wait until this afternoon.

.LINEBREAK.

I was skating around the ice with the team just taking a look at the audience. I looked over and saw my mom, Katie and Dani with Emerson bundled in her arms. Dani looked so cute with her loosely braided hair and reddened nose. She looks beautiful. I nodded at Emmy and Dani just smiled and mouthed, warm, and I smiled.

Halfway through the game I got smashed into the board right by my family. Katie and my mom were slightly shocked but they were used to it. I looked at Dani and she looked horrified; she had tears in her eyes and I could vaguely hear Emmy crying. I was taken to the bench and I could still see them so I mouthed, I'm okay, don't worry. She nodded but still wiped the tears from her eyes. I now knew that I should never invite her to a game again.

It was after the game and we had won. I texted Dani while I was in the locker room, wait in the stands for me. I wanna talk."

"okay, CONGRATULATIONS! Btw."

I walked out to the stands and I saw her sitting with Emmy in her carrier. I walked over with my hockey stuff and put my hands over her eyes.

"Guess who?"

"My secret lover, Brad Pitt?"

"Haha very funny. What did you think of the game?" I asked as I lifted Emmy in my arms.

"It was good…scary… that one hit looked like it hurt."

"It did, but I'm okay. Oww, Emmy no… no hair pulling." I grabbed her hand and held it so she stopped.

"She's been doing that a lot now. Our little girl is growing up."

"Awe yeah into a hair pulling monster" I said as I once again removed her hand from my hair.

"What time do we have to meet your friends?"

"Ten minutes… follow my car to the diner."

"Okay…afterwards…do you...Maybe...want to come over and spend the night?"

"I would love that… I can show you my awesome bruise. Will you kiss it and make it better?" I asked cheekily.

"Maybe… maybe I'll do more than that." She spoke as she strapped Emmy in, gave my butt a quick slap and got into the driver's seat.

I stood in shock at that; our relationship was definitely weird.

"Follow me" I got in my car and drove to the diner.

.LINEBREAK.

I walked in and held the door for Dani. I saw my friends and we headed over to them.

""Sup captain! You rocked the game!" Jett told me.

"You looked so sexy in the uniform." Jo batted her eyes.

I smiled and let Dani sit next to me and Carlos and she put Emmy, who was in the carrier, next to me.

"Dani what did you think of the game?" James asked.

"It was interesting…violent but fun."

"Hey, I'm heading to the bathroom, be right back." I said.

"Emerson is really cute." Logan said.

"Thank you. She's a happy baby." Dani picked Emmy up and placed her in her lap.

I returned and I noticed that Dani looked upset but I decided not to push it.

We all ordered our food as Dani began to give the bottle to Emmy. She would not eat and she kept on pushing it away.

"Come on Emmy, you got to eat." Dani tried to persuade.

She just wasn't having it.

"Here, give her to me." I said. Everyone looked shock. "What? I'm good with kids."

She passed her over to me and handed me the bottle. She immediately started eating and I smiled.

"So Dani, what did you do with the $50000 scholarship?" Carlos asked.

"I put half into my college fund and half into Emmy's college fund."

"Isn't it a bit early to start?" Lucy asked.

"No… it's never too early to start. She deserves the best."

I smiled and nodded, she giggled at me and Jo was scowling.

"So, how does it feel that you will never get a man again." Jo asked.

"Jo, stop it!" I demanded.

"It's fine Kendall, I may get a man you never know." Our food came and I handed Emmy back to Dani. She tucked her in her arms and ate her food in silence as the rest of us talked.

"Can I hold her?" Logan asked.

"Sure, just be careful with her." Dani handed her over and Emmy looked up at Logan and smiled. I looked on apprehensively. A few minutes later everyone was playing "pass the baby." Dani looked nervous; I was scared someone would drop her. When she got to Jo she was being really fussy.

"You are just the cutest OW!" Emerson grabbed her hair and pulled. Hard.

Dani immediately got up and grabbed her and apologized profusely.

"I'm so sorry. So sorry."

Carlos was trying not to laugh and I was smirking. My daughter was the best. The check came and Daniella went to grab her wallet.

"Don't worry Dani, I got this." I told her.

She smiled, "Thank you."

"Hey, Kendall will you pay for mine?" Jo asked.

"No, I really don't want too."

She huffed and grabbed her wallet murmuring under her breath.

We all got up to leave and headed to our cars.

"We should do this again. Daniella you should definitely join us more often." James said as he wrapped her arms around her and smiled down at Emerson in the carrier. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Thank you for letting me and Emmy come. We had a good time didn't we?" Emmy looked up from the carrier and smiled.

"I laughed and wrapped my arms around Dani, I whispered in her ear, "I'll be over in a half hour."

She nodded and waved as she put the carrier in the car and drove home. Everyone got in their respective car and left. Carlos stayed behind with Logan.

"Dude, I know about you and Daniella. Emerson is yours." Logan looked up at me, no judgment in his eyes.

"Yeah… please don't tell… you do realize that Carlos knows too."

"I know… he let it slip."

I glared at Carlos and he smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine… I accept it but I am going to be on your case about caring about them. They deserve the best. I will play the charade that I don't know it."

"I know Logan, now if you let me leave I have to head over there to hang out with them."

"See you later bro!"

.LINEBREAK.

I sat in Dani's bed with Emerson laying in front of me while Dani got ready for bed. Emmy was kicking her feet and giggling as I made funny faces.

"Lovebug you are the cutest thing ever!"

"Hey! What about me?" Dani asked.

"You are not cute! You have cooties!" I laughed as I poked Emmy's tummy.

"I do not!" Dani entered. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a black bra. My eyes widened.

"I…forgot …my shirt… This is so embarrassing."

"No. You look amazing. I just want to tell you that you got your body back and you look…hot."

"Thanks Kenny. " She pulled a shirt on, which made me sad.

"So…who wants his birthday gifts early?"

I nodded eagerly as I touched the soft dirty blonde hair on Emmy's head.

Daniella brought out 3 gifts. She handed me the first one.

"A hockey jersey! This must have cost a fortune! Oh My God! And Hockey Tickets! This is too much."

"No… that was only your first gift." She handed me another.

Inside was a beautiful framed picture of the first time I held Emmy. The frame had the word Daddy carved in the front and it had butterflies carved into the corner. I had tears in my eyes.

"This is beautiful… I … I love it."

"Here is your last one."

I opened it and smiled. Inside was a picture of the two of us hugging at the baby shower. My arms were wrapped around her with my palms flat against her stomach. We both had smiles on our faces and we looked so happy.

"Thank you so much Daniella. This was the best birthday ever."

"Good, I'm glad. There is cake in the fridge. I…bought it myself." She smiled.

I smiled and looked down at a sleeping Emmy and brought her into her nursery. I walked back in and saw Dani smiling at me.

"Come here."

I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her.

"I know we aren't together but I thought for your birthday I could surprise you."

"What is my surprise?"

"This." She started kissing my neck and running her hands through my hair. She created a small hickey near my ear and pulled away smiling.

"If you want…we could go further." She looked down nervously.

"No…why are you doing this."

"When you went to the bathroom at the diner, Jo told me that you love her and that you only date girls for sex. She said that that is all you care about. I thought that if I slept with you, I could make you happy." She looked down ashamed.

"Hey, look at me; you make me happy every time I see you. Emmy makes me happy and I don't love Jo at all. I love Emmy and I love you. I really love you. I know we are not dating but I don't care. I think that I will always love you."

"I love you too. Eventually we'll be together but not yet.

"That's fine. You want to sleep… I expect a kick ass breakfast in bed tomorrow… it is my birthday after all."

"Yeah yeah, spoiled brat." She snuggled into my chest and leaned up to kiss me.

"Night Kenny."

"Night Daniella."

I went to sleep that night happy. My friends accepted my secret baby mama and Dani told me she loved me back. I couldn't be any more excited. Life was good at the moment.