Quinn was in her kitchen setting out pizza and party food for all the little princesses in her living room. Gabby was munching on popcorn while Sylvie looked exhausted.
"Cami alone, bossy but cute" Erin said shaking her head leaning against the kitchen counter "Cami plus friends, demon children all of them"
"Please they're not that bad" Quinn laughed "It's only been an hour"
"An hour" Sylvie asked wide eyed "How long until bedtime?"
"Sylvie it's a sleepover, since when do kids sleep?" Gabby asked throwing a piece of popcorn at her.
Quinn picked up the bowl of popcorn and moved it out of the way.
"No food fights" She warned "I'm going to have enough to clean up"
"No food fights?" Erin asked raising an eyebrow "That's rich coming from you"
"You're just sore that you lost" She replied poking her tongue out.
"What happened to the stressed-out Quinn with a million things going on?" Gabby asked with a smirk "You're so laid back tonight?"
"Don't" Erin groaned "She's so in love it's sickening"
"Shut up" She said throwing popcorn at her.
"Hey" Erin laughed you said no food fights "And you two are always mooning over each other when you think no one's watching"
"I am always professional" She said trying to keep a serious look of indignation on her face and failing "So I'm happy, so what. You think you and Jay are on mute in the break room"
"Isn't it refreshing to see that it's not just at the firehouse?" Sylvie asked.
Gabby just nodded and clinked wine glasses with Sylvie. Quinn was having such a good time with them. Cami was having a ball with all of her friends. They were playing games in the living room. Dinner was almost ready. There were more sleeping bags than Quinn thought would fit in the living room and Erin had agreed to sleep over.
"Herrmann wants to run an open mic night" Gabby said "I was supposed to tell you, are you still singing with Sam?
"No" She said shaking her head "It was fun for a night as we tried to arrange a few more practices, but with applying back to school, and just everything else is was too much"
"Mouse" Erin said covering it up with a cough and Quinn just rolled her eyes.
"Ok kids" She called "Food's ready"
Cami came racing through with Annabelle and other girls from her class and cheerleading. They dove into the pizza and snacks like they'd been starved for the day.
"Woah Mini Fabray careful" Erin said jumping out of her way.
"Wine?" She suggested.
"One glass can't hurt" Erin agreed.
Gabby had mixed up 'Princess' virgin cocktails for the girls complete with little umbrella's that were going down very well.
"Are you having a good time sweetie?" She asked fixing Cami's tiara.
"I love it" Cami nodded "Thank you for letting my friends stay over"
"Of course, baby girl" She said giving her a hug "What are we doing next, movie time?"
"Yes" Erin nodded "Please"
She managed to get the girls settled down to watch A little princess. It was nice to have a break from animated movies. Sylvie and Gabby helped with some party games until it was time to settle down for the night. Quinn told the girls to be good and go to sleep. She smiled to herself as she was met with giggles. Those girls would be up late talking having a great time. Gabby and Sylvie headed home, and Quinn went into her room with Erin.
"She's so grown up" Erin said sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"Don't" She said picking up a baby picture from her nightstand "You'll start me off tearing up again"
"I still remember thinking you were probably trouble when you showed up at the house pregnant, another wayward teen being taken in by Hank Voight, or that you'd be some stuck up princess" Erin smiled shaking her head "But you weren't like I thought at all, you brought that baby girl home and your whole life changed, you've done an amazing job"
"I was a stuck-up princess" She said laying back on the bed.
"Maybe a little bit" Erin agreed "but you always had a tough streak, you're one of the strongest people I know"
"Well it's because I had all of you" She replied "Camille, Justin, Hank and you, we were a family, we still are"
"Do you remember her first birthday? Erin asked "And Camille was so set on the cake we had to get; Justin knocked it over I thought she was going to lose it"
"I know" She said smiling fondly "Cami just looks so confused in all of those photos, but they're some of my favorites, she was still there after but it was one of the last times when she was still feeling good"
"She'd be really proud of you" Erin told her.
"She'd be proud of you too" She nodded.
"Wow emotional sister moment" Erin said shaking her head "Quick say something irritating and Quinn like so we can get back to normal"
"You're so stupid" She laughed shoving her off the bed.
"Mom" Cami yelled running through and opening the door "There's a spider, can you get it!"
Quinn instinctively pulled her feet up towards her and she turned to Erin eyes wide pleading.
"Seriously?" Erin asked shaking her head.
"Please" She pleaded.
She had really wanted to teach her daughter than women were strong and could handle anything alone. She also wanted to teach her not to be scared of spiders, but she just didn't have that one in her.
"Come on" Erin said taking Cami's hand "Spiders aren't scary but let's give him a nice new home outside"
"Thank you" She called after them.
The girls stayed up talking late but they weren't a hassle at all. Quinn was surprised and thankful that the night had gone so smoothly apart from one or two disagreements on what games to play next. Cami had a great party and Quinn was so thankful that her friends had helped her out. Erin was helping Quinn put her living room together when there was a knock at the door. Quinn and Erin set down the coffee table to go and answer it.
"Mom it's Mouse" Cami called.
"What did I say about answering the door?" She asked hand on hip.
"Mom I'm 8 now" Cami sighed shaking her head.
"Same rules I'm afraid" She said with a smile as Greg closed the door behind him.
"Is it safe now?" He asked peeking into the living room.
"We are a child free zone" She nodded hugging Cami "Apart from this one"
"That I can handle" He said "I've brought your birthday present"
"You did?" Cami asked excitedly
Quinn smiled as Mouse pulled out a badly wrapped gift. Not that the quality of the wrapping mattered. Cami was already ripping into it as she said thank you.
"You didn't have to do that" She told him as he put an arm around her waist kissing her cheek.
"I wanted to" He told her.
Cami's face lit up as she opened a polaroid camera. She had been talking for weeks about wanting a camera. Quinn loved that he listened to Cami.
"I love it" Cami said excitedly throwing her arms around Mouse "Thank you so much"
"That is a nice camera" Erin said
"I want to take a picture of you all" Cami said "Please"
Erin got in the other side of Quinn and leant in smiling for the camera. Cami was so excited pulling out the polaroid and watching it develop.
"That's great" Mouse told her as she showed off the picture "You could be a photographer"
"We've got a big day out" she said "Go and get ready"
"Can I bring my camera?" Cami asked.
"Of course, you can" She replied.
Cami ran into her bedroom to get ready for their day out. Quinn turned to Mouse putting her arms around him.
"You are so sweet" She told him.
"It was nothing" He shrugged as the went on her tiptoes to kiss him.
"Ok lovebirds" Erin teased rolling her eyes "I'm heading home, but I'll see you at Hank's later"
"See you later" She smiled "And thanks again"
"Bye blondie" Erin called as she was leaving "I'll see you tonight"
"Bye Auntie Erin" Cami called from her room.
Mouse gave Cami a piggyback ride into the bowling alley. She was a loving little girl he was starting to care for just as much as he did for Quinn. Ever since they had officially become a couple, they had been spending even more time together. Something that Jay teased him about to no end. He never thought living the family life would be for him, but he was thinking it was something he could possibly get used to.
"I hope you ladies are ready to lose" He told them as he set Cami back down.
"My Mom always wins" Cami told him shaking her head with a grin.
"She hasn't played against me yet" He pointed out before turning to Quinn "Is bowling another secret talent?"
"I've been known to be pretty competitive" She nodded.
"Can we play in the arcade first?" Cami asked.
"It's your birthday kid, whatever you want to do" He replied ruffling her curls.
He laced his fingers through Quinn's as he took her hand.
"You're really good with her" She said as they followed behind Cami who was deciding what game to play.
Mouse laughed as he watched Cami and Quinn playing on the dance machine. Cami hadn't been kidding about the competitive side. They were giggling and trying to distract each other. He took a picture with Cami's camera as they collapsed off the machine in a fit of giggles hugging each other. They looked too happy not to capture the moment.
He picked up his phone as it started ringing.
"Jay what's going on?" He asked.
"Voight needs us all in, it's a bad case, abandoned baby in the park" Jay told him.
"Oh god" He said "I'll let Quinn and Cami know I've got to leave, and I'll be right in"
"Sorry man, I know it's Cami's birthday" Jay said.
Mouse ran a hand through his hair as he walked over to Quinn. She just gave a small smile when she saw the look on his face.
"You've got to go?" She asked.
"It's a bad case, all hands-on deck" He nodded "I can drop you home first"
"Don't worry about it, we're going to have a girl's day" She replied "I'll see you later"
Mouse bent down to Cami and gave her a hug goodbye.
"Sorry Cami" He said "I've gotta go to work but I'll see you later"
"Bye Mouse" Cami said hugging him back "Thank you for my present and coming to my birthday"
He kissed Quinn goodbye and headed into work. He hated cases involving kids. They hit him hard, he had a lot of memories from overseas that he would rather forget and cases like that dragged them up. He knew Jay hated talking about it. Sometimes he just wanted to get it out, but he wouldn't want to burden someone who hadn't seen the things he'd seen.
Quinn decided to text Erin to see what was going on while Cami was picking her bowling ball. Erin just said she would let her know later so Quinn knew it was something bad. She didn't want to ruin her daughter's birthday and she was sure she would hear more about it later.
Cami had a great time bowling; she had even won the game. They went out for dessert for lunch. Quinn had thought it was too cold for ice cream, but she wasn't going to deny the birthday girl.
"Mom?" Cami asked mixing up her ice cream and sprinkles "Do you love Mouse?"
"Well I like him a lot" She replied coughing on her drink caught off guard. "Do you like him?"
"Yes" Cami nodded "So he's your boyfriend?"
"He is" She replied, "You know it doesn't mean I love you less or have less time for just us two, right?"
"I know that" Cami said rolling her eyes.
Quinn made a mental note to try and control her own facial expressions because having them mirrored back to her was not fun.
"So, do you think you'll get married and have a baby?" Cami continued.
"Where are you getting this from?" She laughed shaking her head.
"Well Sarah in my class got a new Dad and a new baby sister" Cami replied.
"Well that's nice for Sarah" She replied "But it is still me and you, Greg is just going to spend some time with us, if that's ok with you"
"I like him" Cami nodded "He's funny"
"So, what was your favorite present?" She asked changing the subject.
"I haven't seen Grandpa Hank yet" Cami pointed out.
"So, you think it might be his huh?" She asked with a smile.
Hank had a habit of going overboard for her birthday every year. He usually didn't take into account the space she had in her small apartments over the years.
They went to Hank's that night with Erin. Olive was there with baby Daniel. Apparently, Justin had been in town and hadn't told anyone. Quinn was sure that didn't just ring alarm bells for her. Justin was a good man, but he had gotten mixed up in bad crowds over the years.
"There's the birthday girl" Hank said as Cami ran up to him with her arms open wide.
He picked her up and spun her around.
"How was your day princess?" He asked.
"So good" Cami replied "Mouse got me a camera, and I beat Mom at bowling"
"Barely" She laughed "She hasn't picked a favorite present because she's waiting on yours"
"I was supposed to get you a present?" He teased.
"That's ok Grandpa" Cami shrugged hugging him tightly.
"Don't worry kid" He said setting her down "Why don't you run on through there and see what I got you"
Cami raced through into the living room and stared in amazement at the beautiful vintage doll house that was set up in the corner.
"That is beautiful" Quinn told him "And way too much, you already got her a doll's house"
"Well this one is special" He shrugged "It's an antique"
"It's expensive" She said.
"It's an investment" He corrected.
"Grandpa come and see the pictures I took" Cami called from the couch.
Quinn walked through into the kitchen where Erin was grabbing a drink from the refrigerator and talking to Olive.
"Hi Olive" She said walking over to the travel crib where Daniel was playing happily "He's gotten even bigger"
"He's finally sleeping through the night" Olive said with a smile "But they grow up too fast"
"Tell me about it" She said shaking her head "Can I hold him?"
"Go ahead" Olive nodded.
"Hey beautiful boy" She said picking him up for a cuddle.
There was nothing quite like holding a baby and Daniel was the cutest boy she had ever seen in his little star onesie.
"How was the birthday girl?" Erin asked opening a beer.
"She asked me if me and Mouse are going to get married and have a baby like her friend Sarah's Mom" She said shaking her head.
"So, you told her yes?" Erin teased.
"Don't" She laughed "Thank god Mouse was gone by that point, what happened with that case, neither of you would say much"
"Abandoned baby" Erin said softly "But she's a fighter they managed to bring her back, being cold saved her. Some poor girl with an awful mother was told she had to give the baby away or she'd be dead to them, but we arrested her, and the baby and mom are reunited"
"Wow that sounds like a day" She said sitting down cuddling Daniel just a little bit tighter "I'm not sure I would have coped knowing that today, I'm glad things ended how they did"
"She's a fighter" Erin nodded.
Hank had made them all dinner. He doted over Daniel and Cami. Cami loved being around baby Daniel and was always the first to volunteer to help Olive get things she needed. She wished Justin were there as well. Times when they were all together as a family were special. The softer side of Hank Voight was an amazing sight to see.