The news of Jo and Tess' deaths crippled their town for a solid month. Losing them right after losing Regina did not leave a lot of time to process and grieve the way they all should have. It was all anyone was talking about, you couldn't escape it.
Kyle knew he'd need more help with this trauma and thanks to Danny he wasn't scared to book his own appointments with the therapist in town anymore. He didn't care how it looked. He was a strong person and needed this help.
Kyle should have taken a leave of absence from work but felt that at a time like this, when the whole community was holding him up, he'd keep going as their police chief for them too. At the very least, it was something to do to keep his head on straight.
Danny and Lacey laid low. They took turns caring for their newborn daughters, affectionately calling them 'the twins'. Lacey attended the wake for Jo and Tess and then they switched so Danny could attend their funerals. They felt the need to protect the girls from the highly emotional scenes and kept them both at home.
Lacey fell into some severe survivor's guilt. After Regina's death she had experienced her own version of postpartum depression, mourning the loss of her friend, her own life pre-baby and the life she thought she'd have post-baby. She was too busy to get help for it at the time and instead leaned on Danny and took out a lot of her feelings on him instead.
Jo and Tess passing away so soon after Regina had reopened those wounds for her. Lacey began rethinking everything again. Lacey felt that Regina's death was all her fault. What if they didn't go through with the surrogacy? What if Lacey had just stayed awake after her daughter's last feeding and would have seen Regina struggling to breathe?
What if she hadn't taken that nap? What if she was the one who went to Jo's appointment with her? Tess would still be here. What if they left a few minutes earlier or a few minutes later and they all survived to love these babies together like they had planned?
Danny recognized Lacey's inner turmoil after watching her stay awake for over 24 hours, crying off and on. He got her into their therapist and working through it immediately. He needed her and hated seeing her so broken over things that were beyond their control.
A couple of weeks after the funerals, Lacey and Danny had a pretty good system down. Thankfully the girls were on the same schedule so they had an easier time managing their needs. They often wondered how parents of multiples did this on their own and how they managed with triplets or more.
"Do we have everything?" Danny asked as he slowly zipped up the diaper bag.
"I am going to go with probably not." Lacey ran around the nursery like crazy checking and double checking things, "Why are we doing this? Maybe we should have made separate doctor appointments for them, it would be less stressful—"
"Doubtful. It was just as difficult with one before we knew what two was like, remember?"
"I guess."
"You still feeling like shit?"
"Yep." Lacey sighed, she currently had a major headache.
Lacey unzipped the diaper bag again and stuffed more things inside that they didn't need.
"Did you sleep at all last night?" Danny was still worried about her despite Lacey's recent progress.
"No. I had the dream again." Lacey said sadly.
Lacey had been having a recurring dream with the images of deceased Regina that also lived rent free in her head while she was awake too. She couldn't escape it.
"Lacey I need you, okay? You need to take care of yourself."
"I just haven't had time to think—ah!" Lacey reached for her back, "My back has been killing me too."
"Where?" Danny walked over and ran his hands down to where she was clutching the small of her back and rubbed deeply.
"That's so nice." Lacey relaxed and melted against him for a moment.
"I'm calling to get you seen today too. Might as well try to get everyone taken care of at the same time."
"Fine." Lacey groaned, Danny continued with the massage until one of their daughters woke the other one with her crying and joined in.
"This is fun." Danny said to himself sarcastically.
"Hello." Their family doctor greeted the four of them.
Danny and Lacey each rocked a baby in a car seat as they sat side by side.
"You two getting any sleep?" The doctor began, focusing on them before he had to wake the girls.
"I haven't, he has—" If Lacey could spit venom at that moment Danny believed she would.
"We've been taking turns at night, Lacey has not been feeling well though." Danny clarified.
"You mentioned that over the phone. Lacey come on up and have a seat here."
Danny took over rocking both car seats and watched as the doctor looked Lacey all over. After taking her vital signs and asking a bunch of questions he drew her blood and then whipped his stethoscope back around his neck.
"Could be viral, could be a lot of things. You've been through a lot. I'll check out the girls now while we wait for the blood test to come back."
Lacey and Danny worked to undress their girls and the doctor checked them all out throughly.
"They're perfectly healthy, keep doing whatever you're doing. It's working." He smiled at the exhausted pair, those kind words salving their inflamed emotions in the best way.
The doctor finished the notes and then checked again for Lacey's blood test results. He was quiet for a few and then nodded to himself.
"Okay, well your blood work looks good actually. Let me ask you, how long ago did you stop your fertility medication?"
"Oh, uhh—like three, maybe four months ago? I don't remember exactly. Why, do you think my body's just trying to adjust after being on them for a year?"
"Yeah, is it like withdrawals or something?" Danny wondered.
"Partly, sure. Plus, you are currently pregnant and that probably has more to do with how you've been feeling lately."
Lacey's mouth dropped open in shock and she dragged her eyes over to Danny who was equally shocked. They had wanted to hear those words for a whole year but this wasn't how they imagined it would feel. It was fear and panic mostly.
"Excuse me?"
"You're pregnant." The doctor smiled, "Congratulations!"
Lacey's eyes fell down to look at her two little girls. Were they seriously about to have a third baby?!
"Let's get you back up here and do an ultrasound. I will confirm how far along and make sure everything is okay."
Lacey slid up on the table again, Danny not quite able to be as attentive as he would have liked while he held both of his crying daughters. Lacey reached for one and laid her on her chest while the doctor set up the ultrasound machine.
The doctor spread the jelly along the ultrasound device and began running it along Lacey's lower belly. She had gained a few pounds but after caring for the babies and being completely unplugged from her regular routine she assumed it was all part of being a new mom. She certainly didn't have what looked like a pregnant belly by any stretch of the imagination.
"Baby's in a really good spot, see here? That's the head, there is a hand there—" The doctor pointed out a few things and Lacey began to cry.
Danny leaned over and kissed her appreciatively, "You're amazing." He praised her amazing biology.
"I can't believe this." Lacey wiped away her tears.
The doctor watched the baby's heart for a while and let them hear the heartbeat which got Danny crying too. They had gone with Regina to her appointments and had this experience with their first child, but nothing prepared them for doing it again with the baby they created sitting comfortably inside of Lacey's body.
"You're about four and half months pregnant."
"Months?!" Lacey asked again.
"Measuring at eighteen weeks exactly. You're halfway through already." Their doctor said.
"That's—we'll have three babies under a year old." Lacey pointed out.
"Want to know what you're having?"
"Yes." They both responded at the same time.
"It's a girl."
"Three little girls." Lacey said and smiled, crying happy tears.
"This is all my fault." Danny smirked.
"What are you talking about?" Lacey squinted at him in confusion.
"I wished for a big family when I blew out those candles on my birthday. This wasn't what I was expecting." He said with a fair amount of sadness, the joke he had intended on making now made him feel sick.
"Be careful what you wish for, I guess." Lacey added as she struggled up off the table and the pair got the girls ready to head back home.
Danny's phone vibrated in his pocket as he and Lacey sat in the nursery feeding the girls in the late afternoon. They had planned on putting them down and then taking a bath together, something they hadn't done together in far too long.
Even though his phone vibrating was much quieter than it would be if it rang, the noise might as well have been like an alarm clock. Both girls were fully alert again and Danny and Lacey both sighed in frustration. When the vibrations didn't stop, Lacey got pissed.
"Danny I swear to god—"
"I'm sorry."
"You're supposed to turn the ringer off completely!" She whisper-yelled at him.
Danny fished the phone out of his pocket, "It's Kyle, he called three times." He hit the call return and called him back.
"Danny, I'm sorry I know you're busy—"
"What's up, everything okay?"
"I need you to come down to the station." The seriousness in Kyle's voice made Danny uncomfortable.
"Now?" Danny's eyes darted over to Lacey who was burping the baby she was holding, her face drenched in irritation.
"It's important."
"Yeah, okay. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Danny burped the baby he had and together they swaddled them up, snuggled them into their crib and hoped for the best.
"Please don't go—" Lacey wanted to cry.
"He said it was important, I'll be right back I promise."
"I guess we'll save the bath for another time."
Her disappointment killed him. He kissed her and tiptoed out of the house, speeding off to meet Kyle at the police station. This better be as important as Kyle made it sound. Danny grumbled to himself.
"Thanks for coming down Danny, have a seat."
"I have to tell you that Lacey is pissed, I really need to get back, what's up?"
"Sit down." Kyle pointed to the chair and left no room for argument about it. Danny realized he was very serious and took a seat.
"What's going on?"
"I've been asked to assist with a case." Kyle said with a enough gravity that Danny was immediately concerned.
"Okay….why does this sound like bad news?"
"Because it is. I'm sorry Danny, Whitney Taylor died last night."
Danny was quiet, stunned. His chest hurt. How could he lose someone else like this?! He stared vacantly for a few moments and then shot up onto his feet to begin pacing.
"No—" Danny shook his head no, this couldn't be happening, "No, please—" His face crumpled a little, chin quivering.
"Danny—"
"She's—she's—"
"She's gone."
"Damn it!" He grabbed the tissue box off of Kyle's desk and smashed it into the wall, leaning his body there and letting the tears come.
Kyle walked up behind him and peeled him off the wall and into his arms, "I'm so sorry."
Regina, Jo and now Whitney. Why was this happening? He squeezed Kyle back, terrified that if he didn't he may not get another chance. His need to protect his girls and those around him had now shifted into overdrive in his mind.
Once he calmed down a little Danny realized that Kyle had more to say. He sat back down reluctantly.
"Is this the case you're working on? How are you involved?" Danny wondered.
"Whitney was coherent for a short time before she passed and your name came up."
"My name?"
"I know you are aware that your DNA sample is still in the police database."
"Sure—I hope you're not saying—I" He was back on his feet, "I didn't do anything to her, I—I haven't even seen her!" Danny began to freak out, he had been through so much he refused to slide backward.
"Sit down." Kyle insisted and pointed at the chair again, "Whitney was not murdered, she OD'd."
"Chief, please—what's going on?" Danny was beyond exhausted and newly heart broken.
"I was asked to give your sample to the New York City police department because Whitney had a child with her in the apartment she was squatting in."
"A child?" Danny was confused.
"Hey officer Kyle?" A beautiful little girl all of about five years old came waltzing into Kyle's office and held up a crayon, "The orange one broke—" She protested.
"Oh, would you look at that, yep, you definitely need a new one." Kyle opened his desk and pulled out another set of complimentary crayons.
They had the same eyes, the same eyes as his baby girl at home too. This was his child. Whitney must have gotten pregnant after their threesome after all.
"Hey can I see what you've drawn there?" Danny asked.
The little girl looked over at Danny, her beautiful smiled just as bright and boisterous as Whitney's. She was an epic mix of the best of both of them. His heart ached and he tried not to start crying again.
"It's my mommy and me. She's been feeling sick. This is us at the park after she feels all better."
Danny inspected the picture, a smiley face with short blonde hair and red lips and a smiley face with long brown hair. No one else. He had no idea what this sweet little girl could have been exposed to for the last several years, but something told Danny that Whitney always kept her safe and she looked well cared for.
"It's a wonderful picture, you're a great artist." Danny said proudly.
"Thank you."
"What's your name?" Danny asked.
"Danielle, but my mom calls me Danni. What's your name?"
"My name is Danny too actually." His chest pulsed with fresh aches. She named her after him. Why would Whitney do this? "Do you have a daddy?" He asked her carefully, eyes shooting to Kyle to make sure he wasn't pushing her too hard.
"I have a daddy!" The little girl lit up.
Danny wondered who Whitney had introduced her to.
"My daddy is very busy so he can't come see us, but Mommy said he looks like me and that he loves me very much."
"Yeah?"
"Mmhmm! Hey, Danny, you look like me. Are you my daddy?"
"Yeah, I am." Danny smiled at her, "And your mom was right, I have been very busy. I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner." At least Whitney hadn't lied to her—not really.
"Officer Kyle! That's my daddy! I found him! And he's not busy anymore!" She explained to Kyle in case he didn't already know.
"I'm so happy you finally found each other, Danni. You wanna know something?"
"Yes—" Danni looked up at Kyle with big, patient eyes, "Danny has a wonderful girlfriend. Her name is Lacey."
"Lacey." The little girl tested the name.
"That's right and they have two baby girls."
"Oh! I love babies!" Danni approved.
"How would you like to go home with them tonight?"
Dani's face got a little defensive, "I guess it's alright. I'm still mad at mommy, she left me and now I can't tell her where I'm going. I can't tell her about the babies."
"It's okay to be mad about that." Kyle said frankly, "I think you could still tell her. Maybe she can still hear you." Kyle suggested.
"She's in heaven now."
"She definitely is. Officer Kyle is right, it's okay to be mad. It's okay to miss her too, I sure do." Danny couldn't help the tears that showed up. He tried not to start sobbing.
"Danni, can you go color in the fun room again for a minute, I'm just going to tell Danny all about your favorite foods before you guys leave so he can get them all, okay?"
"Okay!"
Once she was back across the hall Danny broke down and flopped his head down on Kyle's desk.
"She really did tell me all of her favorite foods, I just hope you have some at the house or I'm very sorry but you'll just have to go out and buy her all of it tonight." Kyle tried to soothe Danny with his soft humor. He handed Danny a tissue from the box he had turned into an accordion earlier.
"Thanks."
"Danny what happened here?"
"I made a mistake."
"Does Lacey know?"
"Lacey was there, we were—we were all there together for that mistake." He revealed, surprising Kyle very much.
"You didn't know?"
"No. I asked her and she told me not to worry about it, that she wasn't pregnant after. I haven't seen her since—"
"The front office called Lacey, she's on her way. I wanted to talk to you first. They didn't tell her anything."
Danny signed all of the custody paperwork for his daughter and handed it all back to Kyle just as Lacey walked in with their double stroller, one of the babies screaming her head off.
"Hey—" Lacey greeted him, all out of breath.
"Hey." Danny automatically reached for the crying baby and lifted her out of the stroller.
"So what's up, you know I love you Kyle, but why did I have to drag us all over here?"
"Whitney passed away." Danny said bluntly, his anger toward Whitney and her drug addiction now settling into his current stage of grief.
Lacey covered her mouth in shock, "No shit, how?!"
"OD." Kyle confirmed.
"Fuck, seriously? I'm so sorry." Lacey hugged Danny tight, she knew he was actually a mess and being so strong right now.
"There's more." Danny began and released her from their embrace.
"More?"
"Officer Kyle? Is it time yet to go home with Danny—oh! Are these the babies?!" Danni squealed.
Lacey watched the little girl curiously as she inspected each of the babies and then looked over at Lacey. As soon as Lacey saw her eyes she knew this was Danny's child. Her and Danny connected and Lacey figured out what was happening.
"Officer Kyle said that Danny-my-daddy has a girlfriend named Lacey. Are you Lacey?" The little girl asked.
Lacey smiled at her, "I am. What's your name?"
"Danni, just like him." She pointed to Danny.
Lacey's chin quivered then, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Why are you crying? Are you sad?"
"No, honey, I'm happy. I'm so happy to meet you."
"Officer Kyle says that Danny has all my favorite foods at his house and that you live there too, with the babies."
"That's true. Would you like come home with us?" Lacey asked.
"Yes please! I am starving!"
They all giggled at her personality so closely resembling Whitney's.
"Alright, let's go!" Lacey said and prepared to wheel the babies back the way she had come.
"Yay! Yay! Yay!" Danni danced around, "Can I push the babies?"
"I would love that actually, thank you."
"I'll come see you guys tomorrow, we'll go over therapy recommendations and Whitney's arrangements, okay?"
"Thanks Chief."
"Take care of all my granddaughters."
Danny hugged him and headed out with all of his girls.
It took a little while to get Danni settled into her new home. To get her to understand that they didn't have to move to a new place every month, that Lacey wasn't going to feel sick every day like Whitney had. She had a lot of nightmares and Lacey could definitely relate to that.
'Danny-my-daddy' was the title that Danni felt most comfortable calling Danny at first, eventually cutting it to just Daddy after a few weeks. Danni affectionately referred to Lacey as 'My Lacey' and the two hella dominate ladies got along better than Danny could have ever imagined. Surprisingly, Danni did end up calling Kyle, Judy and Samuel grandma and grandpa and that made everyone so happy.
Judy and Samuel had a hard time at first with what Danni's existence meant. Danny and Lacey explained what happened without giving them the details. They had to know that Danny didn't do anything to hurt Lacey or anything nefarious behind her back. In the end it was Danni and her wild personality that won them over.
Danny loved that she was just like her mother. He talked about all of his happy memories of her with Danni and looked forward to the day that he could share even the not so good parts. She deserved to know it all and that in the end her mama was a fun loving person who he cared about very much.
"But how does the baby come out?" Danni stressed as Danny wheeled Lacey into the emergency department with Danni squirming around nervously in Lacey's lap.
"You'll see." Danny tried to stay calm. He thought that the second time around wouldn't be so nerve wracking but he was wrong.
Lacey had gone through the end of her pregnancy with the most amazing little helper by her side. Danni was thriving and enjoyed her new home with her found family. One thing they worked on was bonding.
Lacey understood that the only person in the world who Danni had the chance to bond with naturally was her mother and she was gone. She knew this was a sore spot for Danny and so she took over engaging Danni and incorporating her into every aspect of their daily life like she had always belonged there, because she did.
One thing they did together was talk about the new baby that would come. Lacey answered all of Danni's endless questions honestly and wanted her there for the baby's birth. It would be a natural way for Danni to bond with another family member. To watch her little sister come into the world and make that connection.
"Here comes another one—" Lacey closed her eyes and breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth before abandoning the technique and wincing, "It doesn't work, Regina was right the breathing is stupid!" Lacey groaned.
"Does it hurt?" Danni was a little scared to see her Lacey, who was normally smiling and happy, dealing with obvious pain.
"It does, but I'll be okay—" Lacey didn't want to scare her.
"Promise?" Danni had seen her mom sick before and her mom never came back.
"I promise my sweet Danni. The baby just really wants to come out. I'm okay."
"Daddy the baby needs to come out—" She said to Danny, knowing that he always took care of everything when things were not going right.
"The doctor is going to help her soon." Danny reassured his oldest daughter.
Lacey was admitted and hooked up to a bunch of monitors. Her pregnancy had always been high risk but not finding out she was pregnant until she was already halfway through had reduced the amount of time she had to stew in worry. She ignored the machines and tried to keep herself calm.
"What's this for? Oh! The blinking one, what's that for?!" Danni asked about everything over and over.
"Danni, please—" Danny's patience was slim. The last time they were here to have a child, they left without the dear friend who had given her life. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't concerned about losing Lacey too.
"But I wanna know!"
"Danni!" He shouted at her while he tried to wipe Lacey's forehead.
Danni shrunk back a little, he had never gotten short with her before and Danni wasn't sure what to do with that. Her eyes welled up with tears and Danny's heart sank.
"I didn't mean it, Danni, I'm sorry. I can tell you what everything does after Lacey is feeling a little better."
Danni nodded in understanding, the single tear that crested her bottom lid catching Lacey's eye.
"Come here, sweetness. You can sit up here with me, c'mon." Danni pulled herself up and snuggled into Lacey's open arm, "Daddy's just worried about me. He's the sweetest Daddy ever. Sometimes it's hard to answer questions and try to help me feel better at the same time. It's like trying to sing while you're drinking water."
Danni understood that explanation and smiled again, "Or juice?"
"Yep, or juice." Lacey giggled, "Oh—they're getting stronger." Lacey grunted, holding her belly, the monitors going off like crazy.
"The baby needs to come out now." Danni rubbed Lacey's belly like her and Danny had done for her for the last few weeks, thank god for her, Lacey thought.
Their family doctor finally came in and greeted Danni like they were old friends. Danny had brought her in to see him and have her checked out shortly after she came to live with him.
"Who's ready to be a big sister AGAIN?!" The doctor asked to all of them.
"Me!" Danni claimed that role proudly.
"Alright then, let's do this! Thank you for helping me out today, Danni. I'm lucky to have you here!" He gave her a high five, "First step, I'm going to check on the baby and then we'll get your Lacey feeling better, deal?"
"Deal!"
Their doctor took over and had his nurse casually explain to Danni what all of the monitors were for and why they were using them. This was partly to distract her from interrupting the doctor's assessment and also to allow Danny a moment to focus on Lacey and help her through her now non-stop contractions.
"Daddy I have to use the bathroom." Danni announced.
"Okay, c'mon." Danny helped her down and showed her where the bathroom was.
Once Lacey was sure they couldn't hear she grabbed the doctor's arm, "I can't die, please—Danny and the girls, they need me."
"I know the plan." The doctor smiled warmly, "The girls are with your parents right now, right?"
"Yes—" Lacey writhed in pain.
"If anything happens, I will make sure Danni doesn't know what's happening and then I will call Chief Masterson to support Danny." The doctor repeated the plan, "You're doing great, Lacey. I know how scared you are, but I see no problems."
Lacey nodded and exhaled, "Okay."
Danny and Danni returned just in time.
"You're at ten, it's time to start pushing." The nurse announced and prepped Lacey for delivery.
Danny took his spot to hold one of Lacey's legs while Danni was stuffed in front of the nurse holding Lacey's other leg. Danni stayed quiet while the doctor coached Lacey through how long to hold her breath and push. Danni counted along with him.
Danni watched her Daddy praise Lacey's hard work and hold her hand, change the wet cloth on her head and just be an excellent caretaker. For Danni it was magic. She could tell how much he loved Lacey.
When the baby finally arrived it was a bit overwhelming. Danni watched her Lacey and her daddy cry but could tell they were happy. Danni watched the nurses wipe off the baby and wrap her up before handing her to Lacey.
"Danni, c'mere." Lacey invited her back up beside her and she snuggled into her previous spot.
"Oh, she's so tiny!" Danni marveled at her new little sister.
The nurse took some family photos of them in this moment and emailed them over to Danny's phone so he could share them. Danny set up some snacks for Danni on the loveseat in the corner and she eventually passed out there from all the excitement.
Danny paced as Lacey nursed the baby, her first time experiencing it. It was as if he was waiting for whatever bad thing was waiting for them to just happen already.
"D, relax. I feel okay. Sore and exhausted, but okay."
Danny paused and watched this new tiny person latched onto his everything and his heart melted. They had wanted this baby more than anyone would know and now here she was, finally deciding to show up at the very end of the line of siblings they never expected to have.
"You're getting a vasectomy." Lacey smiled and burped the baby before handing her over to Danny.
Danny looked her all over, she was perfect too.
"I want to buy Johnny Cakes." Danny announced on his birthday, Danny, Lacey and the girls all crammed into Lacey's parent's kitchen together with Judy, Samuel, Clara and Kyle to celebrate, a weird tradition for them now.
"Oh. Yeah, no." Lacey said flat out as she performed some sort of secret handshake with Danni.
"I really want to do it."
Lacey looked at Judy, Clara and Kyle each holding one of their girls while Danni be-bopped around them in oblivious bliss. She held her hands out and moved them all around as if showing Danny exhibits A, B, C and D of reasons to not do this.
"I really, really think opening a whole ass restaurant right now is the worst idea ever." Lacey shook her head no.
"Jo and Regina loved that place, Whitney was there, she met you there actually—and everyone misses it. Johnny ran it into the ground but I think we can bring it back—"
"You already bought it." Lacey knew.
"It means a lot to me. Jo and Tess, their businesses are just sitting there now, empty. The town needs this. I got a really good deal, I can always resell it." Danny smiled tentatively, not trying to piss her off.
Kyle didn't offer any guidance at all. He brought Danny's store bought cake over and lit his candles, two this year: a big ass 2 and a big ass 4. Nobody had time to make him a cake and light twenty four candles. Lacey was very nervous about this part of the day.
"Think long and hard before you make your wish this year." Lacey warned him.
Danny looked at his youngest daughter, the one who Lacey had carried in her belly for nine months against all odds. He looked at his 'twins', one with a mess of blonde hair and blue eyes and the other who looked exactly like Lacey. The furthest from twins but born only a few days apart. Regina and Jo had selflessly worked to get them here safe and sound and he was so lucky to have them.
He smiled when his eyes fell to Danni as she danced around the kitchen with her Aunt Clara. Whitney's wild personality front and center, challenging them every single day. He had lost so much but had ended up with more than he could have ever dreamed of. This year he simply said a formal and genuine thank you to the ladies who had changed his life and blew out his candles.
Danny's phone buzzed to life and he answered it while Lacey and Danni cut up his cake. It was his lawyer.
"Hello?"
"Danny, happy birthday."
"Thanks, man. Everything good?"
"Very good in fact. Lacey around?"
"Uhh—" Danny made eye contact with Lacey and ticked his head to the side to indicate he wanted her to follow him into the other room, "Yeah, hang on."
"I'll be right back." Lacey said, "Auntie Clara, help with the cake please?" Lacey handed Clara the knife and followed Danny.
"Hey, hey!" Lacey greeted her lawyer now too after Danny put him on speaker in the back office of the Porter home.
"I have news." Their lawyer and financial advisor said with a fair amount of excitement.
"What's going on?" Danny wondered.
"Today would have been one year since Regina was released from prison."
Danny and Lacey didn't think that was any reason to celebrate, especially not now. They stayed quiet and waited to hear the rest.
"She would have had access to the rest of Gloria's estate today, but unfortunately she is no longer with us. I checked out the estate. All of the payouts to Gloria's victims are complete and all judgements for her open lawsuits have been settled."
"Okay?" Lacey wanted to wrap this up and get back to their family party.
"Regina left a will and you two are it."
"What does that mean?" Danny looked over at Lacey.
"She left her assets to the two of you. Her lawyer explained to me that when she found out she had conceived the baby for you two, she wanted to make sure that if anything ever happened to her that you two would receive equal shares of what she had left in order to provide the baby with the best life possible."
Danny and Lacey had gotten used to their current wealth, staying smart and investing in an aggressive portfolio that had ended up stretching their assets and allowing them to truly plan a nest egg for each of their girls.
They didn't live as if they had endless means, they planned and it helped to keep them grounded and to be able to help other people in a way that was sustainable for the long haul. They had never anticipated coming into more money.
"How much are we talking about?" Danny wondered, hearing their baby begin to object to their absence.
"The total estate is one hundred and forty six million dollars which means you'll have seventy three million under each of your names."
Danny and Lacey just stared at each other at a loss for words. If they could trade every penny to have Regina back they would. Since they couldn't they decided to make sure they used every penny to make sure their daughters were taken care of and to invest in the community that loved them and had made their family possible.
"Congratulations." Their lawyer chuckled, "Can you stop by today to sign the paperwork?"
"I—I think we can manage that, yeah." Danny stammered, "We can be there in two hours?"
"Great, call me when you're on your way." Their lawyer added before he hung up on the stunned pair.
"Thank you." Lacey said as an after thought once Danny's phone beeped to indicate no one was on the line any longer.
"Did that just happen?" Danny wondered out loud.
"Daddy! You haven't eaten your cake!" Danni found them and pulled Danny along behind her and back to the kitchen.
Lacey grabbed their youngest from Clara and worked to nurse her while Judy and Samuel were feeding the twins.
"Everything okay?" Judy worried about them.
"Yes." Lacey smiled, genuinely feeling calm and happy for the first time in a little while, "Grandma and grandpas, can you all please watch the girls for us? Danny and I need to run a couple errands, maybe grab a coffee."
Danny choked on the bite of cake Danni had made him take, his body reacting to Lacey's words involuntarily. Their baby was well past six weeks old but Lacey hadn't felt ready to resume their usual sex life up until right now, apparently.
It wasn't the announcement about the money that had excited her, it was Danny's birthday and she had planned to surprise him today anyway. The grandparents agreed, knowing that since Lacey was nursing it would only be a couple hours that they would be on duty.
Lacey and Danny went back to their house to have the coffee. As soon as the door shut behind them Danny kissed her, this amazing woman who had been beside him through the never ending wild ride they'd had over the last five years.
"Is this happening?" Danny asked to no one in particular, his body wanting to climb inside of hers and live there forever.
He worked to unbutton her top while they were still standing right there in the living room.
Lacey hadn't gotten used to her new body quite yet. She didn't hate it, she just had no time to connect with her new self after suddenly becoming a mother to a never ending batch of children.
She knew Danny would love her regardless but she had a difficult time being naked around him when she wasn't even comfortable with herself. He could sense her hesitation.
"I've seen you." Danny reminded her, pushing her limits gently, "You're stunning." He pulled her shirt off and kissed her deeper, pulled her closer.
"You just want in." Lacey smiled and pulled his shirt off too.
"So bad—" Danny admitted, his dick painfully hard, "But I mean it."
Danny continued to undress her in the natural light of their living room, the two of them about to have a new first time together. He scoured her body with his eyes, endlessly attracted to her as expected.
"Why now?" Danny was aching, he hovered in front of her, kissing her cheeks and her shoulders. His kept hands polite.
"Because I'm ready—"
They were like magnets after that. Danny chased after Lacey up the stairs and into their lux bed. He licked and sucked her everywhere, finding out the hard way about breast tenderness and how much he disliked breast milk.
Lacey rolled over onto her belly while Danny got behind her and simulated the rhythm she had been missing for a long time. He wanted her to say when it was time.
"Condom?" Danny asked casually, definitely ready for this.
"What's one more at this point?" Lacey shrugged as she looked back at him.
"Did you change your mind about—" Danny held up his hand like scissors and made the snip-snip motion, definitely remembering her telling him he needed to get the vasectomy done after pushing out their baby.
"I'm not sure I'm done yet." Lacey answered simply.
"I'll pull out—" He offered as he teased his cock inside of her.
"No you won't." Lacey rolled her eyes and smiled, she already knew.
Lacey pushed back against him and Danny got moving, eventually laying his weight on her while he got his hips slapping into her ass. Danny intertwined their fingers and he pinned her hands to the mattress.
"I missed you." Danny's voice was low, predatory.
"Danny—" Lacey whined as he continued to blow her back out.
"Damn, this body—" Danny released her hands and stuffed his down the front of her en route to rub her clit, sliding over every inch of her along the way, "You carried my child." Danny was in awe, "You did that."
Danny wanted it to be good for her. He wanted her to know exactly how he felt about her, her body and the way she turned him on. He got his ass up and working her body the way he knew she liked the most, his hands working her clit in tandem.
"You know I like that—" Lacey wasn't quiet, taking full advantage of this kid-free moment with him, "Get it, D—"
Danny kept it up and watched as Lacey absorbed it all and exploded just like she always did when he played her body like the fine instrument it was. Lacey's hands had a death grip on their sheets while she worked her way through her peak, Danny saying allll of the shit she loved in her ear.
"Shit." Lacey smiled and squirmed her face into the mattress.
"Roll over?" Danny suggested, hoping she'd still be up for a round two so he could finish with her.
Lacey had relished their new first time in the position they were in because she could set aside her body issues by literally lying on top of them. Now Danny wanted a full view.
"Please—" Danny's balls ached.
They hadn't had sex in months and with suddenly having four kids Danny hadn't found a lot of time to take care of his high sex drive on his own either. He wanted this so bad.
Danny was right, he had seen her. He watched her belly grow, watched her give birth and had seen her dress and take showers since. They had even taken one very short bath together and he undressed her in the light today—there was no need to be so apprehensive around him.
Lacey rolled over and Danny kneeled before her, reaching his hands forward and dragging them down her body. She watched him inspect every inch of her, measuring her, his eyes soft, thankful. He was in love.
He smiled and rubbed his hands back up, steering clear of her breasts and leaning down to kiss her deep.
"I'm so lucky to have you in my life." Danny said sweetly between kisses.
Lacey matched the intensity of his kisses, thinking about how unlucky he had been in his life and how after everything he had been through, he still found comfort in her arms. She always wanted him to feel safe a loved like this, the same way he always made her feel too. They really were the lucky ones.
Danny's hips found their way all on their own, his cock sliding inside of her with no guidance, no prompting.
"You feel so good—" Danny growled, so ready to fuck her the way he needed this time, "Knees back."
Lacey grabbed behind each knee to pull her legs back and out of the way so Danny could have better access.
"Mmhm, like that—" Danny hummed into her neck before biting her jaw a little, "Wider—"
Lacey spread herself open and Danny worked himself inside deep, rocking into her clit and making her say his name over and over, "Fuck it all the way up, D—" She surrendered, something she never did, but she was feeling it right now.
Danny went harder. They didn't try any of the twisted kinks and positions they had added to their repertoire over the years, just kept it simple and aimed to feel good during their first time back in the saddle.
Lacey released her legs but kept herself spread wide for him. She reached down and got her hands on Danny's perfect ass, encouraging him to take her deeper, rougher.
"Where do you want it?" Danny asked completely neutral as he licked a filthy stripe across her mouth. He wanted her to know he was okay pulling out, whatever she really wanted was fine, no pressure.
Danny stuffed his face into her neck while he waited for her answer, both of them ready for a well-earned orgasm.
"It took us years, D. If number five wants to show up so soon, let 'em."
Something about Lacey saying she wouldn't mind having more of his babies flipped a switch inside of him and pushed his finish line up significantly.
"You sure?" He checked again, cock buried fully inside of her while he kept up a full contact grind into her clit at this point.
"Yes—mmm, Danny, keep going—"
Danny nodded, pulling his face back to lock eyes with her, "Scream time then, baby." Danny promised and did the damn thing, ready to give it all to her, literally.
"Danny!" And scream she did, "I'm, I'm—yes, Dannyyy—" Lacey's jaw relaxed and she came around his cock, hips bucking up to make the contact her body craved.
"Fucking hell, Lace—" Danny took control and pressed her wild hips into the mattress with both hands while he pushed himself in deep repeatedly, "You're it, it's you." Danny promised before unloading inside of her like he had owed it to her and her body was demanding payment.
"I love when you do that—" Lacey ghosted her hands over his too tight grip as he kept her hips pinned down.
Danny's hips lurched and kept dipping his dick inside of her erratically while his orgasm lingered deliciously, "I wanted you so bad—fuck." He admitted gently after resting their foreheads together.
"Happy birthday." Lacey smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
After those two rounds of the best coffee, they passed out together for one glorious hour. Danny had set an alarm and the moment it went off they both knew their borrowed time was almost up. The baby would need to eat again in exactly forty five minutes.
"We should go." Danny rubbed her bare back.
"I love you, Danny." Lacey said spontaneously. It wasn't like they never said it, but something about her saying it after being newly vulnerable with him made him glow.
"I love you." He smiled at her warmly. He ran his hand down her back, up over the slope of her bare ass and down her leg.
Lacey rolled over onto her back and Danny let his eyes drop all over every inch of her again. He lifted one of her legs up and kissed the inside of her calf.
"You're amazing." Danny decided, "Everything about you." He planted a kiss on her lower belly, something he did a lot when she was pregnant, "Thank you for being the mother of my children." Lacey had never felt more loved.
The pair made it over to their lawyers and met with Regina's estate manager. The mood was somber, like this was a final piece in the process of moving on.
Regina's estate manager knew of the troubles Danny had to overcome and everything he and Lacey had been through since. He tried to be personable, anything to make it easier on them.
"So where are you from, Danny?" He tried to make small talk while they signed the endless paperwork.
It was usually a loaded question for Danny most of the time. He looked up at the older man and tried to feel out what he was really asking him. Danny took a chance that he was genuinely asking him where he was from and relaxed a little.
"Green Grove." Danny decided.
"Really? I thought I heard that you were from the city?"
"I was born there, but Green Grove is where I'm from. I finished growing up here, my family lives here. It's my hometown."