The three sat together on the couch for the rest of the afternoon laughing while watching the cartoons. They all were having a wonderful time and enjoying every minute of it. It was like the surgery and worries seemed to fade away for a little while and give them a piece of mind to relax.

"Well, I guess I should fix us some supper." Baby said noticing the clock on the wall read 7 pm. "Anyone got any ideas?"

"Hot dogs!" Josie beamed out. "Please."

Johnny couldn't help but smile at Josie's excitement. "That would be fine with me."

"Ok, hot dogs it is." Baby said walking to the kitchen.

Baby fumbled through the refrigerator as she searched for the weenies. Hot dogs have always been one of Josie's favorites. It if was up to Josie they would eat cinnamon rolls for breakfast and hot dogs for lunch and dinner everyday. "How about some macaroni and cheese with it?"

"Yeah!" Josie said as she run into the kitchen. "With extra cheese?"

"Of course with extra cheese." Baby told her daughter as she kissed the top of her head.

"Mr. Johnny, you like macaroni and cheese?" Josie said as she disappeared back into the living room.

"I sure do!" Johnny said reaching over to tickle Josie. "Just about as much as I like tickling you."

Josie wailed as she squirmed in laughter. She was so ticklish and it seemed Johnny knew what spots to really get her going.

"Sounds like ya'll are having too much fun in there." Baby called to them.

"Never!" Johnny said tickling Josie more now.

Baby couldn't help but laugh. It was doing Josie so good to be so happy now. She needed Johnny in her life and soon she would find out the truth. Josie acting toward Johnny like she does seemed to make everything easier.


As the sat around the dinner table Baby noticed how Josie couldn't keep her eyes off Johnny. She knew it was probably time to tell Josie. Baby glanced over at Johnny as he gave her a quick nod to go ahead.

"Josie, you remember this morning what we talked about? Remember what you asked me?" Baby asked her little girl.

Josie looked up at her mother. "I think so."

"What did you guys talk about this morning?" Johnny asked wanting to be clued in.

Baby took a deep breath before she began. "Josie asked me this morning were you her father. She apparently heard her grandmother and me talking about it."

"Oh really?" Johnny said looking over at Josie smiling.

"So he is?" Josie asked smiling from ear to ear.

Baby figured Johnny wanted to be the one to tell her yes so she just sat back and waited for him to answer.

"Yes Josie I am." Johnny said to her feeling even more joy than before.

Josie's eyes lit up as she rose from her chair. "He really is?"

"Yes, sweetie, he is." Baby said watching Josie react so excited about the news.

Josie immediately dashed into Johnny arms as she slid his chair back to give her room. Baby watched Josie latch on to Johnny so tight. Smiles after smiles escaped Johnny's mouth as he gleamed of happiness.

"I have your nose." Josie said cheerfully as Baby and Johnny couldn't help but laugh at her remark.

"Well, come to think of it, you sure do." Johnny said squeezing Josie tightly one more time.

From that moment on for the rest of the night Johnny and Josie were inseparable. It was playing games to watching cartoons to just horsing around. Josie wouldn't seem to let Johnny out of her sight.

It thrilled Baby that Josie was so excited about Johnny being her father. She could also see the excitement in Johnny. It was a feeling that both seemed to wear on their sleeves.

Baby thought it would be pulling teeth to get Josie to go to bed after all this. But, in the end Josie was so exhausted from playing that she nearly fell asleep on the couch. So Johnny asked could he tuck her in as Baby watched from Josie's door. It didn't take her long to fall asleep as her head hit the pillow. They both gave her little kisses as Johnny pulled the cover up to her and placed Mr. Squeely in her arms.

"She is an angel." Johnny said as she walked with Baby into the living room.

"She is amazing Johnny and you will see that." Baby told him as they both took a seat on the couch.

"I already do." He returned. "You can't help but see that."

Baby sighed as she leaned back against the couch. "Tomorrow is a big day."

"I guess we should get some rest." Johnny told her. "5 am is going to come early."

"Yeah, your right." Baby said rising to her feet. "I will set my alarm and I will come get you up."

"Yeah that sounds good." Johnny said as he began to pull out the sofa bed. "Sheets still in the hall closet?"

"Oh…..yeah." Baby said forgetting about the sheets. She quickly grabbed him a couple out and tossed the on the floor. "Think that will be enough?'

"Perfect." He said to her.

"Okay, well, good night." Baby said as she started to her bedroom.

"Baby?" He called after her.

Baby turned around to see Johnny with a weird look on his face. "Yeah?"

"I know we haven't had really time to talk one on one together today, but I just wanted to tell you thank you." He said looking

"For what?" Baby asked him as she walked closer to him.

"For giving me the chance to know Josie." He said with a tear in his eye.

"I should be the one thanking you." She told him as she reached for his hand. "You are saving her life."

At the moment Johnny pulled her close to him to embrace her. "Are you scared?"

"Terrified." Baby said as she held tighter and tighter on to Johnny. "I am so scared."

"I know I can tell. But, try to keep a sense of peace at this point. I know it is hard but it will only get better." Johnny told her breaking up the embrace.

"I am going to try. Now you get some rest." Baby said leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. "Good night."

"Good night." Johnny called after her.


Johnny knew he needed to get some sleep but he just tossed and turned. His mind kept racing thinking about what tomorrow would lead. No matter how hard he tried to relax he just couldn't. Sleeping was not an option at this point. He just couldn't do it.

He sat up in on the couch and sat there in the dark. H looked over at the clock on the wall which looked like it read almost close to two am. He had to be up in three hours.

He started to make his way to the bathroom when he heard muffled sounds as he reached Baby's door. He put his ear close to the door and listened carefully. It sounded like muffled cries. Should I go in?... Or let it be?

Johnny wrestled with emotions of whether or not to go in and before he knew it he had already turned the door knob and stepped into Baby's room. It was dark and he couldn't see much. All he could see was the faint outline of Baby's bed and he could hear her soft cries more now.

Baby never heard him come in. She laid on her side with the back to the door as she wiped her tears from her eyes. Emotions were running Baby. All she could think about was tomorrow and what Johnny and Josie would be going through. She was scared. She couldn't hold it in any longer.

She wasn't startled as she felt strong arms slid around her waist. She knew who it was from the moment he touched her. "Johnny."

Johnny had crawled up in bed beside her and pressed his body against hers with his chest against her back as he lay on his side to conform his body to her. He had slid his arm around her wait as she in turn tangled her arms up in his.

He pulled her as close to him as she could. "Shhh." Johnny whispered in her ear to try and calm her tears. "Just relax and get some rest."

Baby felt so secure in his arms. He never knew he could calm any storm in Baby's body with just the slightest touch of his skin. It was a wonderful feeling. A feeling she has missed for so long.

Johnny gently stroked Baby's hair and face. He now could tell that her tears had stopped. He just wanted to hold her all night. He didn't want her to have any worries or any fright tonight. He would do anything to take it all away from her.

Baby felt so close to Johnny now, more than just a physical way. Part of her wanted to roll over at the instant and kiss him with all her being. She wasn't about to let anything stop her this time and with that she rolled over and probably took Johnny by surprise when she pressed her lips against his.

But, Johnny didn't want to fight it himself so he didn't. He kissed her and gently laid her on her back. The kiss seemed to go on forever but it was more than okay with them. Neither could fight it any longer. They had been so wrapped up in one another for all these years and never really realized it.

Both never said a word as more and more kisses flooded out of them. They both knew what they wanted. They wanted each other and before long they were making love like never before. It was magical and new all in the same time.

Baby had known nothing but Johnny for so many years and now she was leaning him all over again. Each was at home with one another.