True Family Bonds

She may not have been her biological daughter but Jasmine Grace Flack looked much like her mom with her curly brown hair and big green eyes. Jasmine was eight months old. Stella hadn't ruled out getting pregnant again if she and Don wanted a third child. The adoption process, though it had been relatively quick and straight-forward as foster adoptions went had had it's moments of uncertainty where the couple was sure they would going to lose Jasmine Grace. If that had to happen, it would have been as painful as having to give Trey up, no matter people said. Twenty-four hours was no time at to some people. But that time was all it took for all three to want to make the baby a permanent member of their family. Don and Stella weren't sure they could go through an uncertain experience like that again.

In fact they knew so.

Once their adoption of Jasmine was finalized, they had surrendered their foster parenting license. They had become foster parents to make a difference in the life of a child. They were satisfied they had done just that. Because Jasmine had a severe form of Epilepsy and most her biological family's medical history was unclear, caseworkers thought it was unlikely she would find a permanent home if no relatives stepped forward and if the Flacks had decided not to adopt her. The social worker in charge of Jasmine's case had let it slip that all other potential adoptive families interviewed had declined to take the child. For now and since she were four months of age, the baby's condition seemed to have stabilized. The number and severity of her seizures appeared to have subsided. but this had taken dozens of trips to the children's hospital and to multiple specialists before the right regiment of treatment was found.

Stella wasn't surprised but amused that both Lindsay Messer and Hope Taylor were pregnant again. The Messers had wanted a second child for a long time. They told their friends they were just waiting for the "right time." The couple ultimately realized there wasn't an "right" or "perfect" time. Their lives wasn't going to get any less hectic any time soon, so Lucy's parents just "went for it."

The Taylors?

Stella, at least was shocked they had waited as long as they had to conceive a second baby. It was subtle, but Mac and Hope gave off this heat when they looked at each other. Flack could only imagine what they did with that heat when they got to be alone. After the first time she and Mac had sex, only weeks into their relationship friends who weren't told, but were smart enough to figure it out, asked her if she was going to feel guilty if this was all there was going to be to their relationship, Hope replied "if it was, it was worth it!"

Yes, Mac was that good.


Saturday and Sunday off was rare for Mac.

He let his pregnant wife sleep in. She had a small wedding to photograph at a house in Queens late this afternoon. No, Mac wasn't babysitting. He was being a dad, doing what a dad should be and enjoy doing when he wasn't out earning money to support the family. He gave Jesse a bath after they enjoyed an oatmeal and strawberry breakfast together. It was pouring down rain so Mac's plans to take Jesse to the park were out. It was a day of reading books and playing on the floor. The weather was fitting, because Jesse wasn't keen on wearing anything more than his t-shirt onesie today. He was absolutely keen on giving daddy tons of cuddles and wet kisses, however.

"Daddy loves you, too, my sweet boy," Mac said, embracing his son tightly, Jesse resting his head on his dad's chest, over his heart.

Mac's heart fluttered with joy and excitement knowing he and Hope were going to be blessed with another child. The only difference the second time around was they were calmer because they knew what to expect during pregnancy and the delivery. They were still ecstatic about the new family member in the making. At nine, Hope came to the kitchen for breakfast. She smiled at Jesse with his favorite toy, his stacking rings. Her son grinned at her then went back to playing.

Mac stood, walked over to her and gave her a kiss.

"Did you two sleep well?" he asked, rubbing her abdomen which was beginning to become round.

"We certainly did. What did you guys do this morning?"

They toddled over to his parents and reached up to mom.

Hope picked him up.

"We had breakfast and took a bath. And now we're playing, aren't we, pal?" Mac leaning in and tickling the boy in his wife's arms.

Jesse laughed, grabbing his daddy's hand. He then let go and hugged into Hope's shoulder.

The wedding Hope was photographing had been referred to her by Don Flack's mother. The bride, Penny, was her godchild and she had grown up not far from Don's childhood home. When the bride and groom were making picture arrangements, they asked Hope, knowing she had a young son if she had to hire a babysitter to capture the event. They were adamant about covering that expense in the cost they paid for the photography service.

Hope shook her head and said her husband was going to be home.

"It's Mac you're married to, right?"

Hope nodded.

"Don told us a lot about him. I heard you two are expecting again. Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Hope smiled.

The young woman covered her mouth, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have mentioned something so personal!"

"That's all right. I'm sure the news has gone beyond the department by now."