Emily flung open the front door to the house she shared with her wife and daughter (and Sergio, of course), calling out, "I'm home! Where are my beautiful girls?"

In response, little feet came pitter-pattering across the floor toward her. Then, a tiny body launched itself into her arms.

Emily squeezed her daughter tight. "Hello, my little Fruit Bat," she greeted, kissing all over her face, making her giggle in her adorable baby way. "Where is your Mama?"

"Coming," Alex called from the kitchen, emerging a few moments later, drying her hands on her apron in an incredibly domestic way that was almost enough to make Emily fall in love with her all over again. She smiled at Emily, approached to kiss her in greeting. "How was work?"

Emily sighed. "Not as good as being here with you two," she lamented. She lifted the toddler, settling her on her hip, then leaned in for another kiss. "How was she today?"

A brilliant smiled crossed her lips, then she tried to cover it up just as quickly. "Please don't be mad..." she said slowly. Her expression turned to one of apology and just a little sheepishness.

Raising a brow, Emily asked hesitantly, "Why am I not getting mad?"

Alex winced. "Clementine said her first word," she confessed in a rush of air.

"What?"

"I'm so sorry, Em!" Alex effused. "I wasn't trying to make her say it, she just...said it."

Her mouth hung open for a few moments. "Well, what... What did she say?"

"Mama," Alex admitted in a mumble. She could see Emily's imagination running away with her and quickly attempted to head it off. "Em...don't overreact. It doesn't mean..."

Emily choked on a sob.

Alex sighed. "You're overreacting..."

"She has no idea who I am," she sniffled.

"Emily, you know that just isn't true. She knows you're her Mama too. I'm sure she'll call you Mama any day now," she said.

Emily pouted, shook her head, choking on another sob.

Alex pulled her into her chest, kissing her temple. "It's going to be okay, Em."

"Hey, umm..." Alex said slowly, then stopped mid-sentence. "What are you doing with all those blueberries?"

"Nevermind," Emily replied curtly. She sat down in front of the high chair. "This is between Clemmie and her Mama."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Emily, you are being ridiculous, you know that, right?"

Emily shot her a pointed glare. "I'm going to get her to say Mama if it kills me," she vowed, completely serious.

"With blueberries?" Alex said dubiously.

Emily huffed, annoyed. "They're her favourite."

"Fruit is not going to convince a toddler to say your name," she maintained. "But if you insist, at least let me wash them first."

As she washed the berries, then carried them back to Emily, Clementine looked up at her with big loving eyes, then said, "Mama? Boobies!"

Alex laughed. "Blueberries," she enunciated. She didn't need to look at Emily's face to know she was devastated. She sighed softly. "Emily..."

She shook her head, sniffled. "She hates me!" she choked out.

"Emily..."

She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs. "Is it because I work?" she asked, voice trembling. "Because I leave her everyday?"

Alex shook her head urgently. "No, Emily," she insisted. "This is a natural stage and it will end. She will bond with you more, you just need to stay calm and keep making time for her, okay?"

She nodded, sniffled.

Alex sighed, extended her arms to embrace Emily, rubbing a hand up and down her back as it heaved with sobs.

Then, a blueberry beaned Emily in the head. "Mama!" Clementine hollered at Alex, "Boobies!"

"Okay, Clemmie," Emily said. "I didn't want to have to do this, but..." She shrugged. "You've forced my hand."

Clementine didn't seem to care about Emily's ominous words. She merely continued attempted to pull off her sock.

Emily extended a bowl of chocolate chips towards the baby. "You've got a choice here..." When Clementine's attention immediately shifted to the candy and she reached a hand towards it, Emily snatched the bowl away at the last minute. "First, you need to say Mommy. Mommy. Can you say: Mommy?"

"What are you doing?" Alex asked, shutting the door sharply behind her.

Emily startled, jumped. She whipped around, eyes wide as she hid the bowl. "Nothing!" she lied.

Alex raised a brow. "So, you've resorted to outright bribery, hmm?" she asked. "How is that working out for you?"

She huffed, pouted. "I'm desperate, okay!? And I'm not above buying her love..."

Alex settled next to her on the couch. "Emily..."

"I know, I know," she insisted. "I just don't understand it... Why won't she just say it?"

With an apologetic smile, Alex whispered, "I wish I could help you, Em, and I can't imagine how frustrating it must be, but there really is nothing that can be done to rush it."

A beat.

She nodded slowly, but said nothing.

"Emily, you are an amazing mother, okay?" Alex vowed. "No matter whether she can say it or not, she knows who you are and she loves you because you're her mommy. I promise that she is going to call you that eventually."

Emily sighed, but she was struggling to hold back a soft smile. She knew Alex was right, but she was also very stubborn.

In the moment of silence that followed, there came a sudden shout of, "Em'y!"

Both women turned to face their daughter in surprise.

"Did she just...?" Alex asked.

Emily groaned. "Not Emily, Mommy."

Clementine smirked. "Em'y!"