"Allison, you're coming home now!" Mrs. Sutherland's voice boomed from Mallory's cell phone. Allie rolled her eyes as she let Daniel's tiny hands grab her index finger.
"Mama, why are you so angry? Aren't you the least bit excited to see your grandson?" She smirked into the phone, and wasn't the least bit surprised when her mother detected it.
"Allison, do you dare smirk at me! Besides, I'm a dignified woman. We don't excite over anything. But, we can be anxious." Allie laughed and exchanged looks with her sister, who could hear the entire conversation.
"Mama, relax, you'll see him soon!" She balanced the phone between her shoulder and her ear as she unstrapped Daniel from his infant car seat. Mark slammed the driver's door and came over to get his week-and-a-half old son. Roger, in turn, slammed the passenger door a bit harder than Mark, causing the entire car to shake, and leaned against the car, with his arms folded across his chest.
"I worry about your health too. That hospital, the doctor you had, I don't understand why you didn't use my doctor! Did something just slam?" Allie coaxed a reluctant Roger from his defensive stance and into a more relaxing position, with his hand intertwined with hers.
"Come outside Mama." Allie heard a loud click! and dial tone, and tossed the phone to her sister. Mallory caught it and returned her gaze to her nephew, who was gurgling at his father. Anna burst out the front door to see the four of them-or, five-waiting for her. She walked steadily to them and stopped at Mark's shoulder.
"Is this…he's adorable!" She smiled and looked at Mark. "He looks like you. With the Sutherland bone structure of course, but, he does look like you." Mark smiled a laughed softly.
"Thanks."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Remind me why having a child is a good thing!" Mark shouted over Daniel's cries. The clock in the kitchen revealed it was 4 a.m., not exactly the norm hours for Allie, Mark or Roger. Allie yawned and picked him up.
"Their cute when they're sleeping!" She replied, twirling around, trying to calm him.
"When does this one sleep?" asked Roger, emerging from his bedroom, shirtless and stretching. Mark nodded in agreement and headed towards the coffeepot.
"How much am I making?"
"Full pot!" Roger and Allie replied in unison, as Daniel's crying slowed.
"Thank god." Roger remarked, collapsing on the couch. "Hey Al, do you think your rich family could buy us a TV?" Allie stroked Daniel's head and paced slowly back to her room to set him down, and came back out.
"Uh, no way. I don't ask them for money, they don't give me money, it's a great circle. Speaking of which, Mallory wants to come over tomorrow." Mark blushed, which set Roger off.
"Oh, should we leave then? Or get you guys a room at the Four Seasons? The Ritz-Carlton? Motel Six?" Allie laughed and joined him on the couch. Mark blushed a deeper red.
"Shut up. It's not like that." Allie turned around to face him, as the coffee began to brew.
"It's not like what? We are merely saying my sister is…" She broke off into hysteric laughter. "Extremely obsessed with you." Mark walked around the couch towards them and shoved steaming mugs into their hands.
"Ok, so she is. She's nineteen guys! I'm like six years older than she is! Geez, we slept together once…" Roger gulped down half his coffee and started to laugh.
"You know what would be really hilarious? If she ended up pregnant too!" Allie and Mark both gaped at him. "Ok, I guess it wouldn't be…" Allie set down her mug on the makeshift table and scooted away from him with her arms folded. "What? Al, C'mon, I'm sorry!" She sat in angry thought for a while, and then moved back towards him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Kay, but say something like that again, and you're screwed. Or, I guess technically, you won't be screwed." Roger sat in horrified silence as he contemplated a life without sex, and Mark stared at them in disgust. The phone suddenly rang several times, which caused Daniel to wake up.
"Ahh, shit!" Mark cried, going to comfort him this time. "Who calls at four in the morning?"
"You've reached Mark, Roger, Allie and Daniel, my new son, he's seriously the cutest thing ever-
Aww, Mark, that's so sweet!
And he looks just like his beautiful mother-
Aww, Roger! Hey, Roger…the machine is still on…Guys, please get a room! Argh, not on the counter…"
"We have got to change that." Allie remarked. "But seriously, who does call at this time…"
"Marky? It's me!"
"Maureen?" Mark asked in total shock, coming back into the room. Allie narrowed her eyes.
"Maureen?" Allie's old jealousies rang out.
"I'm sorry to call to late, or early, but I heard about the baby! When can I come see him? Then you can meet Joanne-" Roger snickered. "She's great, you'll love her, and I can meet your little baby, and Allie…" Allie sighed and ran to pick up the phone.
"Maureen? Hi, Allie Sutherland. Oh no, you didn't wake us! Newborns, you know? Sure, whenever you want! Oh yeah, I used to work there, great club, Eh? Of course! Bring Joanne! I'd love to meet you both! See you soon, ok, bye now!" Mark stood in amazement with Daniel as Allie hung up the phone.
"How could you just talk to her like that? It's…Mo, she's…how?" Allies shrugged and took Daniel from him.
"No sweat. Hmmm, I think someone's hungry!" She sat down and pulled up her shirt and began to breast feed him. Roger grabbed the blanket off the arm of the couch and gave it to her.
"Here, um, how 'bout you put that over?" Roger suggested, glancing at Mark. Allie shrugged and obliged.
"By the way, Maureen and Joanne are coming over in about an hour." Roger started choking and Mark dropped the mug he had been taking back to the sink.
"You're kidding. Please tell me your kidding." Roger asked, regaining his breath. Allie shook her head.
"Why would I be kidding?" She looked over at Mark, who was grabbing his scarf, jacket, and camera. "Where are you going?" Mark shrugged.
"Uh, going to get footage. The best stuff is always at this time." Roger wrinkled his forehead.
"When have you ever gone filming at four AM?" Mark hid his face.
"You're going to have to face her sometime, Mark." Allie replied. Mark shrugged.
"Does it have to be today?"
"Might as well be." Roger remarked. Mark shook his head.
"How about tomorrow? Yeah, I think that works for me." He opened the door to reveal Maureen and a sensibly dressed woman looking out of place.
"Hey Marky!" She hugged him tightly. "I know I said I was coming over in an hour, but I was just so excited!" Mark smiled weakly and broke away from her.
"I guess I won't be going out then." He said through gritted teeth, taking off his jacket and scarf. Allie sat up in surprise and gently pushed Daniel away from her. Maureen ran lightly towards her.
"You must be Allie, I've heard…nothing about you, really. Mark doesn't like to talk to me." She glanced down at the wriggling baby in the blonde's arms. "Oh my god, is this Daniel?" Allie nodded.
"Yep, this is him." Maureen gaped.
"He is the cutest thing! Can I hold him?" Allie shrugged.
"Sure." Allie placed her son into Maureen's arms, which caused Maureen to squeal.
"Joanne, look at him!" She cried, causing the woman in the doorway to jump a little, but follow Maureen's orders, and peeked over her shoulder.
"He is adorable." She decided at last, awkwardly. Maureen looked from Joanne's pained expression to Allie's confused one.
"Oh, my manners! Everyone, this is Joanne, my…" She broke off, searching for the right words.
"Girlfriend." Joanne finished at for her, causing Maureen to wince a little.
"Right, my girlfriend! Joanne, this is Mark, Roger, and Allie." Joanne smiled feebly at Roger on the couch and Allie at the kitchen counter, but her face fell when she glanced towards Mark, who came over to take Daniel from Maureen. "Oh, Marky, I'm not going to hurt him!" Mark shrugged.
"I-I know…I just…" Maureen sighed.
"Aww, Marky, that is so cute! You are all possessive of your son!" She obliged and handed him back to Mark, who soon after gave a huge yawn. "Look at you! You can barely stay awake!" Mark shook his head in protest.
"No, I'm fine, really…" Maureen scanned the room.
"You are all too tired for words! You need to rest! How about…" She brought her hand to her chin in thought. "I got it! Joanne and I will take little Danny here off your hands and you guys can have the day to yourself!" Joanne's eyes widened.
"Maureen, I don't think that's such a good idea." Mark nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I mean, we've barely had Daniel here…" Maureen stopped him.
"C'mon Marky, baby! I've always wanted to take care of a baby! If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me!" Roger stood up and joined the conversation.
"Or me! I could use a day for…anything!" Mark sighed.
"Well I guess it's up to Allie." Everyone turned to her. Allie shrugged.
"I guess it's fine. I could use some rest…" As she said this, she yawned largely and rubbed her eyes. Maureen jumped up.
"Great, so it's settled! Just get together everything he needs, and you're scot-free!" Allie laughed at Maureen and went to gather Daniel's necessities.
This was going to be interesting.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
A/N: Hey, it's Mo-Mo! And Jo-Jo! I had a request to incorporate some other characters, so here we go!
