February 1st, 2004

Maya reached up and grabbed the stuffed orange and pink butterfly that was hanging above her head. She squealed and started gnawing on it. Bug smiled softly as he watched her play.

"Hey Maya." Bug said. Maya let go of the butterfly and rolled over onto her belly. "Good girl! You rolled over! Lily, Maya rolled over."

"Did she?" Lily walked out of the bathroom with a smile.

"I called her name and she rolled over." Bug grinned with pride.

"Oh I missed it." Lily knelt down in front of her daughter, "She's getting so big, Bug." He nodded.

"Our little butterfly is growing up." He said. Lily shivered.

"Shhh! Maybe if we will her to stay a baby she will." She said.

"I don't think that's how it works." Bug said, "We need to get going or we'll starve." Lily nodded.

"Food shopping, Love it." She said. Bug chuckled.

"You're such a liar. You hate food shopping." Bug said as he got up. Lily nodded with a smirk.

"And yet you make me do it still." She chuckled.

* * *

Lily looked over the cereal displays in front of her. Lucky Charms or Trix? Lucky Charms or Trix? On older woman, maybe around sixty years old, walked up to the cart and looked at Maya.

"She's gorgeous." She said. Lily smiled softly.

"We think she is too." Lily grinned as she ran her hand over Maya's dark locks.

"Is she part Negro?" The woman asked.

"What?" Lily looked at the woman oddly, "No…She's not part African-American."

"Her skin is dark." She said. Lily couldn't believe the audacity of this woman. "She must have gotten it from somewhere."

"Lily, I couldn't decide between chunky or smooth." Bug walked up to the cart holding up peanut butter jars.

"Smooth." Lily said, "This lovely lady was just commenting on our daughter's skin colour." Bug narrowed his eyes slightly; "This is my husband, Mahesh."

"You're one of them." The woman said.

"One of whom?" Bug was very confused, but he was slowly getting it.

"I can't believe you would marry and procreate with one of the man who had almost destroyed your country." Lily just had t laugh. She couldn't believe she was witnessing this.

"I'm not Muslim." Bug said.

"That's what they all want us to think." She said as she started to back away, "Enjoy being anti-American." With that, she was gone.

"I can not believe that woman." Lily said as she pushed the cart.

"Don't worry about it. It happens." Bug said. Lily frowned and looked at him.

"Does that happen a lot to you?" Lily asked. Bug shrugged.

"It used to happen a lot more. Now it's just little sideways glanced." Bug said, "It's no big deal."

"It is a big deal, Bug. People's ignorance is a big deal." Lily said.

"Yeah it is, but ignorance will never change. We'll always have that." Bug said. Lily sighed deeply. She couldn't believe she was raising her daughter in this nasty and cruel world.

"Maya needs some more diapers." Lily said. Bug nodded and kissed her shoulder.

"I'll go get them. Don't talk to strangers while I'm gone." Bug smiled and walked down the aisle. He wished he had been there instead of Lily to get the brunt of what the woman had said. He wanted to protect them. That would be a hard job, but he'd try.

February 15th, 2004

A night out alone with out the baby was a very rare thing. Lily and Bug enjoyed being home and being with Maya, but they really needed to get. Their marriage defiantly was being strained slightly and they knew they had to get out alone to save it.

Bug and Lily walked into the Elephant Walk. He grinned brightly.

"Oh, You gotta love restaurant that make you sit on the floor." Bug said. Lily chuckled gently as she removed her jacket.

"I suppose so." She said.

"You okay?" Bug asked as the waiter led them to their private table. Lily sat down on the maroon fluffy pillow on the floor.

"Yeah. Just hungry." Lily mumbled.

"Maya is safe. Nigel is a good babysitter." Bug said. Lily shook her head in frustration.

"Until he starts drinking and puts her in the oven to cook her." Lily said. Bug couldn't help himself. He burst into laughter.

"Nigel won't do that and you know it." He said as he picked up the menu. Lily frowned.

"Well, I'm sorry. It's hard leaving Maya. I've never done it before." Lily said.

"Lily, you put her in daycare almost everyday." Bug said, "This is nothing."

"This is different though." Lily said.

"Can you just try to enjoy yourself tonight?" Bug asked, "I want to have fun. We need this. We need time together." Lily sighed softly and looked at the menu.

"All right. We do need this. I know." She said as the waitress came up to take their orders. Bug and Lily gave them to her and Lily smiled at him. "Have I told you that I love you yet today?"

"No. I don't believe you have." Bug smirked.

"Oh. Okay." Lily smiled and sipped her water. She loved toying with bug sometimes. Maybe she could toy with him some more later on today. Bug looked at her with anticipation. "I love you, Sweetheart." Bug grinned brightly.

"I love you too." He said.

"Here's your food." The waitress leaned down and placed two large plates of great smelling food in front of the married couple.

"Mmmm. It smells delicious." Lily smiled.

"Let's make a toast." He said picking up his glass.

"All right." She said picking up hers.

"To our marriage and our daughter." Bug said. Lily clinked her glass against his.

"To our marriage and our daughter." She smiled as she sipped her water. "This is so great."

"We need to do this ore often." Bug said as he started to dig into his food. Lily giggled softly. She was just as hungry as he was.

* * *

Bug unlocked the front door and he and Lily tip toed in. Nigel was sitting on the couch reading Cosmo Magazine. He dropped it when he saw them.

"Hey. You're back." He said as he stood up.

"Yeah. We were getting tired." Bug said removing Lily's jacket.

"How is Maya? Did she behave herself?" Lily asked.

"She was an angel." Nigel said, "She was fussy for awhile when you guys left but then she got used to me. She was laughing up a storm." Lily grinned.

"Thank you so much for doing this, Nigel." Lily said, "Bug and I really needed this time alone."

"Anytime you need it, I am here." Nigel said.

"Thanks, Man." Bug smiled as he let his friend leave. Lily walked quietly to the nursery. She smiled softly. Maya looked like and angel as she laid there. Bug walked in and walked up to his wife. "See? Maya is in one piece." Lily smiled softly.

"I know." Lily said softly, "She's sleeping perfectly. Can we get some sleep now?" Bug nodded and pulled his wife to the door.

"Yeah. I almost fell asleep listening to you, Lily." He said.

"Gee! Thanks!" She laughed as they walked to the bedroom. Lily fell onto the bed with a yawn. Bug crawled into bed with her. They had a wonderful night just spending alone time together.

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