(It was time for Mikey's third birthday and Sheila had arranged a party with his classmates in the park. Naturally as new parents as well as friends, Piper and Leo were invited. Darryl watched as Piper and Leo appeared extra content with themselves)
Darryl: Let me guess, first time the baby slept all night? (mentioning Wyatt)
Piper: How did you know?
Darryl: First few months after Mikey here was born were rough. No sleep. No time for each other…
Leo: Sounds familiar.
Sheila: And then about three to four months things start to level off, and they're really good again.
Darryl: Until he hits two.
Sheila: Darryl don't scare them!
(Announcing that he had to leave, Piper and Leo slowly began to bicker and then Leo casually mentioned the Elders. Concerned, Piper glanced up worried that Sheila had overheard them. Darryl decided it was time to let them know that he had in fact told Sheila the truth)
Darryl: Don't worry. She knows. (responding to Piper's concerned expression)
Sheila: Your secret's safe with me, argue away.
(As Piper and Leo continued to talk things out, Darryl couldn't help but overhear the suddenly very polite yet very odd way in which they were now speaking to each other. Unable to hold it in, he snickered)
Sheila: Darryl, stop it. (hitting in his arm)
Piper: What's so funny? (catching on to the fact that Darryl was laughing at them)
Darryl: Nothing, just marriage counseling uh?
Sheila: Honey we did it too, we recognize "the tools".
Piper: I think I hate the tools. I would rather snip later than be open and honest about my feelings now.
Darryl: We felt the same way.
Sheila: But you know what, turns out the tools really help.
(They successfully finish the party and drive home)
Darryl: Birthday boy and his brother are down for the count. (glancing at the boys sleeping in the back seat) We did good.
Sheila: We sure did.
(Darryl continued to snicker)
Darryl: I still can't get over Piper and Leo. Piper was trying hard. It sounded better coming from Leo.
Sheila: I feel for them. Marriage is not easy. Remember our first trip to the marriage counselor?
Darryl: Oh boy, do I.
(Darryl and Sheila began experiencing the regular growing pains of taking care of a newborn three years prior, when Mikey was born. Darryl was dealing with unusual stress on the job as he had just discovered that the sisters were witches, and despite his best efforts, he kept finding himself entangled in cases involving them. Some cases included the abduction of baby Matthew Van Lewen of one of the weathiest families in the city, an outburst of violence at theaters mirroring horror movies, and the murders of innocent civilivans by Dr. Williamson of San Francisco Memorial. As for Sheila, on top of just giving birth, she had opened her hair salon and was dealing with the pressures of being a new business owner. They were both suffering from lack of sleep and no time for each other. A friend strongly suggested they seek counseling)
Sheila: It seems like lately, Darryl isn't present, mentally or emotionally. (talking to Marriage Counselor Dr. Berenson)
Dt. Berenson: Darryl, you disagree?
Darryl: I admit that I have become a bit preoccupied with work, but that does not mean that I am not present.
Sheila: I asked you the other day to pick up some things I needed for the salon on your way home from work and not only did you forget, you didn't even seem to care when I brought it up.
Darryl: I'm a cop! You know the types of things I have to deal with on a day to day basis. Sometimes I'm a little scattered brian.
Sheila: I understand that his job is important, but so is mine! I'm running a business, not to mention taking care of our son!
Dr. Berenson: I have an exercise for the two of you. I want you to try these lines, "when you do this, I feel like this" and as a response I want you both to try, "What I heard you say is this…"
(After a couple of sessions with Dr. Berenson, Darryl and Sheila had managed their stress as first time parents and more importantly improved their communication with one another. It was to the point that they didn't argue anymore)
Sheila: You know Darryl, (glancing over at him as he drove) when I see you involved with the boys it makes me feel a little something, something. (using their marriage tools while flirting with him at the same time)
Darryl: Oh really? (smiling at her) So what I'm hearing you say is, it turns you on when I'm a present father to our sons.
Sheila: Oh yeah. (laughing back)
Darryl: Practice makes perfect and baby we still got it! (taking Sheila's hand and kissing it)