Hello, everyone. And a shout-out to ahowell1993, Utau54, and RAD092515 for either favoring, following or reviewing Chapter 1.

Please, do enjoy my story and please review; new ideas and constructive criticism are always appreciated.

"Okay, now," Reid said as he reached the pantry aisle at the local supermarket he frequently shops at. Approaching the pasta section, "What do you like to eat for dinner tonight?" He asked Anastasia, who was coolly sitting in the shopping cart. "Because I'm thinking some pasta. But what kind of pasta to get is the question I need to answer."

"Hmm," Reid observes a box of veggie pasta. "Perhaps some spaghetti made from vegetables? It's a perfect way to add vegetables to your twelve-month, two weeks, and five days diet, right?" Picking up another pasta box, "Or maybe gluten-free pasta? Or maybe perhaps whole grain or pasta made from lentils, chickpeas and tasty green peas."

Anastasia wasn't really paying attention to him as her eyes were wandering away from the section and looked almost bored.

"Okay." Talking to himself and then her, "Perhaps I should have brought your educational toy tablet but then again, I don't want you to get addicted to it." Noticing this, he just simply grabbed a box of organic pasta. Looking at the rest of his groceries—from the fresh fruits to veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and some healthy snacks—and seeing how Anastasia was already starting to feel a bit sleepy. "I supposed we should be going home now. Especially since it's time for your first nap." As he was strolling down the aisle,

"Hey there, doc."

"Élise." Reid looked a bit surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"

Shrugging her shoulders with a box of organic pasta in her hands, "I needed to get out of the house. Plus, I wanted to cook something instead of getting takeout every now and then. Plus, I wanted to be the early rush."

"Well, yeah." Reid chuckles. Examining the groceries in Élise's small cart. "So, what are you planning on making?"

"I'm thinking Chicken Parmesan, a nice green vegetable salad, and linguine."

"Oh, so tasty!" Reid sounded intrigued before asking, "Don't that sound tasty, Annie?" Reid gives her a little tickle, almost waking her up a bit before she noticed Élise and stretches her arms out to her.

"Hi, babe!" Élise's voice perked up and runs her fingers through her hair. "How are you?"

"Ma…E…E…"

"Yeah, it's me, E." Élise giggled.

"Ma…E…" Anastasia yawns.

Élise figured, "I guess it's time for your nap, huh?"

"Yeah." Reid agreed with Élise, watching Anastasia yawn again.

As Élise let out another giggle, she replies, "She yawns like a cute little sleepy baby tiger."

"That's exactly what I said the other night when I was putting her to bed," Reid said, patting her head. "I'm planning on taking her around some of the Smithsonian museums in DC today since the weather is supposed to be cool and comfortable and low chance of rain or snow."

"Oh," Élise got in Anastasia's face and smiled. "That sounds exciting, doesn't it? Are you excited to see more of DC?"

Anastasia reaches out and touched Élise's face. "E…E…"

"Aw, that's your nickname for me." Élise strokes her head. "You're so adorable."

"You can come with us." Reid offered.

"Me?" Élise asked, pointing to herself. "Really?"

"Really." Reid smiled.

Élise nods her head, intrigued with the offer. "I'll think about it."

"Great," Reid said before watching Anastasia yawn again. "I better get going and take my little tiger home."

Élise chuckles, "Okay." Waving to Anastasia before the two of them walked to the cashiers, "Buh-bye, little tiger."

Élise, dressed in a navy and white stripe shirt, denim jeans, and jacket with brown boots, with her messenger bag hung over her shoulder, arrived as she was going with Reid and Anastasia around the DC area.

Knocking on Reid's front door three times, tapping her foot as she was patiently waiting for Reid to open the door. And when he did,

"Hey, Élise. And morning." Reid awkwardly smiled as he was carrying Anastasia.

"Morning, sleepyheads." Élise smiles back as he gestured her to come into the apartment. Noticing the way Reid was dressed, "You two look nice."

Reid was dressed in a short-sleeve button-down shirt with a tie, khaki pants, and white Converse sneakers. And Anastasia in a striped purple oxford dress, cardigan sweater, and slip-on shoes.

"Thanks. I am going a casual look." Reid explained before chuckling. "I haven't dressed like this in a long time."

"Better now than never, right?" Élise thought before turning her attention to, "Hey there, you!" Her eyes brighten and grinned again. "You look so pretty today. Especially with your little matching bow in your hair, huh?"

Anastasia babbles, stretching her hand out to Élise, "E…E…" Now kicking her legs.

"Ah, you want me to hold you?" Élise asked her before asking Reid, "Let me hold her for a while."

"Okay," Reid replies as he gave Anastasia to Élise. "But if anything, I have her stroller."

"That's cool." Élise began gently bouncing her. "Well, we better get going, huh?"

"Let's." Reid looks at his watch as he gathers up his brown leather messenger bag and Anastasia's diaper bag.

"To Washington DC to go!" Élise cheered.

"We live in DC." Reid corrects Élise.

Élise covers Anastasia's ears, whispering, "Don't ruin the adventure for her."

"Okay, princess," Reid said to Anastasia as he unstraps his daughter from the stroller. "Here we are. Wegmans Wonderplace."

"According to the brochure," Élise said, reading the small pamphlet. "It's the first exhibition on the National Museum of American History at the National Mall designed for children; age range: newborn to six years old."

Sanitizing her hands until they were completely dry, "A perfect place for you to play, huh?" Reid excitedly asked her. "No-no-no." Reid pulls Anastasia's hands away from her mouth. "Don't do that, okay?" He takes her hands before smoothing her hair. "It's not good to do that with your hands after sanitizing them."

Exhaling, "Okay, now." Trying to sound uplifted, "You're going to love it here. You get to buy and grow some healthy food here…"

"And…you get to cook in a Julia Child style kitchen," Élise added. "She was an award-winning cooking teacher, author, and TV personality."

"How do you know that?" Reid asked.

Élise answers, "I watch Top Chef."

"Are you ready to have some fun?" Reid excitedly asked Anastasia, who replies by nodding her head. "Alrighty, then. Let's have some fun!"

"Hey, Anastasia," Reid exclaimed, trying to get her to look at Élise as they were both riding the carousel located near the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. "Look at her."

"Hey, little one!" Élise beamed, waving to the both of them. "Hey there!" Taking a couple more pictures of her new Samsung phone.

"Look at Élise! She's taking our pictures." Reid squealed. "Look at her really quick."

"Oh!" Élise cried. "I got another good one!"

"Aww," A young pregnant mother coos next to Élise. "Your husband and daughter are so adorable."

Élise felt a bit taken aback by her statement. Opening and closing her mouth a few more times before she finally said,

"Oh," A bewildered Élise said, "Oh, uh…I-I'm just the nanny."

"Oh." The woman nodded her head, comforting her belly. "Is he single?"

Élise raised her eyebrow, "Yes…?"

"Well, I suggest you snag him before someone else takes him." She winked at her before walking away with her own husband and young son. As Élise watched her walk away,

"Hey there, you." Reid greets Élise with Anastasia in his arms, reaching for some hand sanitizer.

"Hey, you two." Élise quietly greets him and Anastasia.

Noticing Élise was looking a bit down, "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah," Élise replies, rubbing her hands with hand sanitizer. Clearing her throat again, "I'm cool. Where next?"

"Oh, look, Ana!" Élise points to one of the cows as she, Anastasia, and Reid were now at the Kids' Farm at the National Zoo. "Look at the cows."

"Actually," Reid began rambling. "Based on the cow, other than cow, they may also be stated as either bull, heifer, steer, or calf. The difference between them depends on their sex, age, and…status." Clearing his throat, "Still, they have panoramic vision, meaning they see almost anything around them without moving their heads."

"Basically, they have spidey sense." Élise simply replies.

"Yup."

"Anyway," Élise rubs Anastasia's shoulders, "What sound does a cow make?"

"Moo!"

"Ohh!" Élise and Reid exclaimed together. "That's right! That's right! They go moo."

"Moooo!"

"Oh, my God," Élise chuckles as Reid allowed her to step inside the apartment first. "What a day."

"Oh, I know." Reid agreed as he was carrying a tired Anastasia, who was resting her head on his shoulder. "Did you have a good time, babe?"

Anastasia responded by exhaling a yawn and rubbing her eyes.

"She does yawn like a cute little sleepy baby tiger." Élise giggles.

Reid began to snicker as well, stroking circles on Anastasia's back. "She really does." After Anastasia released another yawn, "I better put this little cub down for a nap."

"But I really did have a great time."

"I did, too. And I'm sure my little cub did as well." Reid gives Anastasia a kiss on the head.

"We should do this again sometime," Élise suggested.

"Yeah, we do." Reid agreed again before they heard Anastasia making quiet grunting noises.

"Well, I better get going," Élise suggested, whispering in hush tones.

"Okay." Reid took one of Anastasia's hand and waved at Élise for her as she was leaving. "Say 'bye-bye, Élise.'"

"Be-be, ma…e…" Anastasia drowsily murmurs.

"Aww," Élise gushes. "Buh-bye, little cub." Giggles as she was walking down the stairs before she began talking to herself, "She's just so adorable. 'Be-be, ma-e." She chuckled again before she stopped walked and repeated what she just said.

"Be-be, ma-e." Anastasia raised her eyebrow and squinted her eyes and repeated again. "Ma-e. Ma-e. Ma-e. Ma…"

Thinking about that pregnant woman at the carousel rides.

"Your husband and daughter are so adorable."

Élise blushed before she half-smiled to herself.

"She called me mommy." Élise realized.

Élise then realized what would she tell Reid now?

"Now-now, my little cub," Reid replied softly to Anastasia, "I'm just about to put you down for your nap."

Anastasia squealingly yawns.

"I can't help but smile at your yawns." Reid grinned before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "See you in about an hour or two." Reid waves as he was leaving. "Love you." Landing on the couch, starting to reread Frankenstein.

"Oh, she can be so cute sometimes," Reid said to himself as halfway through the book. Thinking about what Anastasia said to Élise, "'Be-be, Ma-e.' She is so…" Reid stopped reading and repeated what he just said.

"Be-be, Ma-e." Reid said. "Ma-e. Ma…e..."

Going back to what Anastasia said the other night,

"Ma…E…Ma…E…"

Reid gasped.

"She called Élise mommy." Reid grasped.

But then realized what would Élise say?