An hour later we laid in bed, I didn't want to stop touching her skin because who knew when the next time I'd touch that softness again (no, not skin in naughty places, just like her arm and her face...dirty minds)? She continuously forked her fingers through my hair. "I can't believe I am leaving you guys tomorrow," she said softly, staring at me.

"It'll go by quickly," I replied. I was still amazed how we had pulled it all off. I mean, getting married in secret is one thing, but having a baby?

"She'll be almost two next time I see her," she replied. "She'll be walking around saying 'Da Da'. She won't know me. I'm missing out on so much."

"Not on the potty training," I said with a laugh. It is hard to believe there will be a day where I won't be changing her poopy diapers.

She smiled, "Oh, you don't want to do that yourself?"

"I think I'll skip that," I replied. "I think it's more of a mother thing."

"You won't let her forget me, right? I mean, the first few years is when you develop true relationships and-"
"Never. We'll talk about you all the time. Like, almost like you were just out at the market or something. And you'll send us videos. Teach her French and junk"

She smirked, "I don't want her to think that Lilly is her mom."

"She won't."

"Good."

"Good. Did the door just open?"

"Lill?" I called out.

"Yeah, we're home!" she called back.

"We'll be right out!" I yelled. I quickly threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt while Mia put on a sundress.

"You all packed?" I asked.

"Yeah, basically. Evan will be by tonight to get my stuff. Then we're flying out at seven in the morning."

We both had the good and bad points of where we were going to be. For one thing, I would be with our daughter and she'd know me very well. But Mia got to be off in Genovia and be young and carefree...or at least got to act like it. She'd keep her family happy for the moment.

Meanwhile, I was going to be juggling a full time job and a baby and had to face a rumor of my homosexuality. Nice huh?

She'll have to be away from her daughter though. From her new family. From Me. She will have to deal with her grandmother forcing a marriage to Evan.

"Grandmere will be happy that my body is back to normal," Mia said finally as me, her, Lilly and Ella sat down for dinner (well, Ella was in her portable bassinet next to us).

"Yeah, you look even better than before," Lilly replied. "You really toned that stomach up."

I laughed, "Glad you noticed Lilly."

She shrugged. "Well it's true."

"You don't think she'll suspect?" Mia asked nervously.

I shook my head. "You and Evan have an airtight story. The two of you had a love nest out in Montana on a ranch. She won't even consider asking questions. By working on a ranch you would clearly be working out."

She looked at Ella. "I'll miss her so much. Think she'll remember me?" she asked for the thousandth time.

"Mia, we won't let her forget you. I mean, she has no memory skills right now, but we'll tell her all about you. She'll feel like she knows you," Lilly replied. "Did you two want to be alone with her tonight? Or alone alone?"

I looked at Mia. It was up to her.

"If you wouldn't mind Michael, I'd like to be with Ella for a little while," Mia said softly.

"No problem. I believe I have a date with the two most beautiful women in the world," I said kissing her cheek.

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Okay, I have a date tonight."

Mia raised a brow, "Oh? Who is it?"

"You wouldn't know him," she said quickly getting up and taking her plate to the sink.

"Lilly..." I said slowly.

"Okay, his name is Rivers. Okay? Happy now?"

"Like in Pheonix? Or in Cuomo?" I asked.

She glared at me. "Yeah, I have a date with a dead guy and a member of Weezer," she snapped.

"No need to be so touchy," I replied sarcastically.

"No, he's in a really really super underground band."

"Super?" Mia asked skeptically. Lilly never uses such language.

"Well, no one really knows about it so yeah. They play in a few clubs in the city and well, he's great. He's a great guy."

"Wait, Rivers Summerton?" I asked.

She looked at me in shock, "How do you know his last name?"

"I've heard them before. I thought they were all...you know, old."

"He's amazing and I don't care how old he is!" she said storming out.

"How old?" Mia asked carefully.

"Like, forties, late."

Her mouth dropped in shock, "Well, no wonder we haven't met the guy."

"And she has a little diaper rash so make sure you use the ointment the doctor gave us, okay?" Mia asked as Evan waited for her downstairs. "And she has another appointment on September fourth so make sure you get her there by five, okay?"

I bit my lip. She had a whole list of reminders for me that were only distracting her from her own feelings. "And no matter what, do not let Lilly give her ice cream. She's not old enough yet."

I nodded. "Bye baby..."

Her lip gave into the quiver she'd been fighting. "I love you Michael...so much more than I could ever explain. How am I supposed to live the next two years without you?"

"Only one year and nine months," I replied.

She smiled a little. "I love you...I just don't know what else to say to you," she said thoughtfully. "I just can't believe I won't see this face for almost two years."

"MIA!" Evan yelled up the stairs.

"COMING!" she called back. She took one last look at me, then at Ella and walked away. I could hear her crying as she walked down the hall.

"Say bye to Mommy," I said softly to Ella. She just stared at me.

"Looks like it's you and me kid," I mumbled.

She responded by spitting up. Yeah. Two years left of spitting up to look forward to. Woot.

"Moscovitz, I need that data by five," my boss said, sticking her head into my cubicle.

"Yes, Sarah. I know," I said slowly. I was uploading some pictures of Ella for Mia. "I almost have them all."

"Who is the adorable baby?" she asked, her tone softening.

Okay. You've practiced this before.... "She's my friend's baby."

"How sweet! Those chubby cheeks are adorable," she cooed.

I nodded, "Yeah, her mother was like that when she was a baby." I thought about the picture I had of Mia when she was four months old. Her mom gave it to me when we were younger. Mia was in the South of France with her father and one of his old girlfriends. Then there was another up close shot of her crying her eyes out.

"Your friend is the mother?" she asked.

"Yeah, best friend," I replied. I was not technically lying to her. "But I'm taking care of her for her. I'm in the process of adopting her," I lied. I needed to. Ella would be on my taxes as a dependent.

Her eyes widened. "Single parenthood?"

"Yeah, well, I have some friends helping me out with it. I'll be fine."

"It's kind of sexy. Anytime you need a babysitter....you know when you go out on dates or whatever, let me know. I have a niece who is wonderful with children. You do date don't you? Or do you have a girlfriend?"

Geez, don't come on too strong. "I'm not seeing any women right now," I said. "I'm focusing on my career and on Ella."

"That's a pretty name."

"Thanks. I'll get right to work on those figures for you."

"She won't stop screaming!" Alex yelled. We were standing above Ella.

"I don't know what the hell to do!" I said back to him. "I've changed her diaper twice, fed her, rocked her, sang Bye Bye Bye (with the dance moves done by the two of us. He knew them. I only knew the hand motion to say bye bye) to her....nothing is working."

"Check her temperature," Alex said handing me a thermometer. It was the type you put in the child's ear, very difficult with a squirming four month old.

"Ninety eight point three. Normal," I replied.

"She probably just misses Mia," Lilly said coming into the room. "I mean, Mia was the one who always put her to sleep. And have you two bozo's noticed that she is only difficult around this time?"

I looked at Alex. Lilly had a point. But what to do? Then I remembered a video of me and Mia that Lilly made when they were fifteen and I was almost nineteen. I slipped it into the VCR and slowly Ella stopped crying and screaming. She liked hearing Mia's voice.

Come to think of it, so did I.