July 4th, 2009

Andrew opened up the playpen and set it on the grass. Dave laid the plaid blanket inside. Randi put Daisy and Anderson in after it was all straightened out. They were going to have a nice picnic and watch the fireworks. It seemed to be a tradition and this year Elizabeth and Randi weren't walking whales.

"Mommy, can we go swimming please? We'll be careful," Ella asked flicking her strawberry blond hair off of her shoulder.

"You can wade in the water but don't go over your knees." Elizabeth said giving her a look, "You too Sailor. Don't go above your knees, all right, Sweetheart?" Sailor nodded and ran after the older girls. Randi smiled softly as she sat down at the picnic table.

"SO, Liz, have you and Andrew discussed the Marriage thing?"

"Oh…A little bit." Elizabeth blushed slightly, "He wants to get married July of next year so we might do it the next Independence Day." Randi smiled softly.

"That sounds perfect." Randi said, "Could I make your dress?"

"Oh god yes!" Elizabeth clapped her hands; "I want a real dress this time. I won't be pregnant so I can." Randi nodded.

"I'll start sketching stuff out soon." She said watching the girls' splash in the water, "Would you think we'd be here eight years ago?" Elizabeth shook her head.

"No offence, but I never pictured the two of us best friends." Elizabeth said. Randi laughed. She was right. She never expected it either.

"No offence taken, Lizzie." She said, "Now we have six kids between us. Do you want anymore?" Elizabeth shrugged.

"I doubt it. I'm not exactly young." She said, "I have one boy and one girl. It's perfect." Randi nodded. "Sonny is perfect. I can't imagine having another child, but if one comes then great."

"Sounds like each of my girls." Randi smiled as she looked over at Andrew and Dave who were playing tetherball. They looked pretty hot bouncing around like that getting all sweaty.

"So tell me." Dave said as he hit the ball to Andrew, "How's fatherhood really treating you?" Andrew laughed.

"It's pretty hard, but seeing Sonny grow up is great." Sonny said, "Can you believe he and Daisy are almost nine months?"

"It's unbelievable. Daisy is standing and flexing her legs. I think she's going to walk soon. She's an early bloomer." Dave said.

"Sonny isn't yet. He's standing but that's about it." Andrew said.

"He'll get there. Don't worry." Dave said wiping the sweat off of his forehead. He danced over and Randi and Elizabeth.

"Hey. Congrats about Lyric passing that test. That's really great." Andrew said. Dave smiled.

"Thank you. I'm really proud of her. I can't believe I have these three…four smart girls. Who knew we would get these prodigies when Randi and I decided to mix our DNA together." He said laughed loudly. "You still looking for a job?" Andrew nodded.

"Yeah. Mercy was an ass laying me off. Fuck the budget cuts. They're not going to ever find a good pediatrician like me again." He said. Dave nodded in agreement. He has seen Andrew work.

"Well, I can always use help at the clinic since your lovely fiancée needs to be at county more." Dave said. Andrew shook his head.

"I can't ask you to hire me." Andrew said, "You're my friend."

"Exactly." He said, "I really need the help and I would love to have you work with me. I need a pediatrician." Andrew smiled.

"I would be honoured to work with you. Thank you. Lizzie will be relieved." Andrew said.

* * *

Dave hugged Randi as she and Daisy snuggled into him.

"I love this holiday." Randi smiled. Dave ran his hand over Daisy's red hair and nodded.

"So do I." He said.

"Shhhhh." Lyric shushed them; "It's starting." Sure enough fireworks began to go off in the air. Daisy jumped in Randi's arms and she began to bawl.

"Awww. Poor baby." Randi bounced the baby. Dave chuckled.

"Daisy Bug doesn't like the booms, I guess." Dave said.

"Doesn't look like Sonny does either." Randi said glancing over at Elizabeth who was bouncing Anderson on her lap. She flashed her a smile.

Maybe next year Daisy and Anderson will enjoy the fireworks a little bit more. Especially if there was a wedding that was going to that place. Randi looked at Dave and smiled. She loved these family outings. She appreciated Dave a lot more since his kidnapping and hearing him hire Andrew warmed her heart.

July 18th, 2009

Randi sprayed Sailor's brown curls with hair spray. She could tell Sailor was both excited and nervous about her first competition. She had only been training with Krysta for less than a year, but Krysta insisted that Sailor was ready. Randi hadn't seen her skate yet. She was waiting for this moment. Sailor was entered in the juniors skating competition. She was the youngest person there. The only person close to her age was a very good six-year-old.

Sailor was wearing a green skating outfit today that Randi had made for her. It was a green sequined leotard with a see through green skirt. It brought out Sailor's hazel eyes. Krysta walked up to them with a soft smile.

"Are you getting ready, Sailor Dear?" She asked her.

"Yes. I'm going to do very good." Sailor grinned. She was going to dance to Sara Mcglaughin's 'Angel'. Sailor picked it out herself. "I'm going to win the gold medal they're giving away."

"That's my girl." Randi smiled softly.

"Momma, you can go sit with the others. I'll be fine here."

"Are you sure?" Randi asked. Sailor nodded.

"I'll see you on the ice." Sailor lisped slightly. Randi kissed her cheek and walked out to the stand. She sat next to Ireland.

"She's ready." Randi said. "And she looks so beautiful."

"She's always beautiful." Lyric said. Randi smiled softly.

"You're right." She said as Sailor took the ice.

"Now our next skater is Sailor Malucci from right here in Chicago. This is her very first competition, so wish her some luck. She will be dancing to 'Angel'." The announced said over the intercom. Dave and Randi cheered for their little girl. She looked so grown up standing there. Who would have guessed she was only three?

"You can do it, Baby." Randi whispered. The piano intro began. Sailor began to glide across the ice along with Sarah's voice

In the arms of the angels, fly away from here from this star called…

Sailor began to do her layback spin. Slowly lowering her head and shoulders and she turned. She seemed so beautiful. She broke out of the spin and began skating close to the edge of the rink.

So tired of the straight life in every way too. There's vultures and thieves at your back.

Sailor took in a deep breath. This was it. She wanted her Momma and Daddy to cheer for her. She took off the edge of her skate as she attempted her first public double axel. She made two and a half revolutions before she landed perfectly on her skate. She smiled brightly as she held out her arms and leg.

"That's my girl!!" Randi cried. "God, Dave, she's beautiful."

"I know." Dave whispered as he watched Sailor do her spiral sequence backward on the ice.

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silence reverie and in the arms of the angel may you find some comfort here. You're in the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here.

After a perfect single axel, sailor went into a sit spin until the music slowly. She held out her arms and stopped. The crow cheered for the tiny three-year-old.

"SAILOR!!!!" Dave cried. Ireland and Lyric bounced and cheered with happiness. Sailor skated into the arms of Krysta.

"Did I do good?" She asked.

"You did wonderful!!" Krysta hugged her as the announcer announced her scores. It put her in first place. Sailor cheered. Randi jumped down from the stand and ran over to her daughter.

"Sailor, you did it!" Randi scooped her up. "I'm so proud of you."

"I knew you would be." Sailor grinned. Soon, Sailor skated onto the ice to accept her very first medal. It may be a small competition, but every world famous skater had to start somewhere.

Sailor stared at her medal with awe. She was the youngest person in the competition history to win a gold medal. Dave and Randi were so proud of her. All the early morning practices and falling asleep at the dinner table, was worth it. In a mere half year, Sailor had come a long way.

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