August 15th, 1996

Allison really didn't like heat waves. It made the girls cranky and cranky girls made mommy cranky. She was ready for school to start to again The girls wouldn't be nagging for her to entertain them. Granted the thought of thirty screaming kids didn't thrill her either but she did like her job and she liked taking a break from home. Allison stood in the doorway to the girls nursery and watched them play.

"Hello." Andrew walked into the house and looked at Allison, "You okay?"

"Yeah. Where have you been?" She asked.

"Claire's. I wanted to check out the baby." Andrew smiled.

"Can we get a babysitter and go out for dinner tonight?" Allison turned and looked at him, "I want some time alone with you. We haven't been on a date since Audrey came." Andrew nodded.

"Let me go find a babysitter. Go get washed up. Put something nice on and I'll take you somewhere nice." Andrew winked as he went to the phone. He really wanted to go lay down and sleep but his wife was right. They needed some time together. They needed alone time. Not that the girls weren't great, but maybe he'd get lucky tonight. It had been awhile.

"This is great." Allison said opening her closet. She looked at all her clothes wondering what she could still fit in. She pulled out a blue dress. The last time she had put it on, she got pregnant with Audrey,

"All set." Andrew walked into the bedroom, "The Whitney girl will be here in twenty minutes."

"Great." She said pulling her shirt off. Andrew grinned brightly. "Don't even think about it mister."

"I wasn't thinking anything." He said as he watched Allison wiggle into the dress. She grunted slightly as she zipped it up. She turned around in the mirror.

"I have a little pooch." She sighed.

"I don't see one." Andrew frowned. Allison put her hand on her stomach. "You look beautiful."

"Go away." She walked into the bathroom and slammed the door. Andrew chuckled as He left the bedroom to check on the girls.

"Girls, Mom and me are going out tonight so Sarah will be here to watch you." Andrew said.

"Sarah is nice." Adria said.

"Yes. She gives us ice-cream." Asia said as she ran into th house, "Can we have ice cream?"

"If Sarah wants you to." Andrew said ushering them into the house, "Go wash up. You don't even look like my children You're so dirty."

"Can Audrey take a bath with us?" Asia asked. Andrew laughed.

"No. She's too little." Andrew said, "Go." the girls ran down the hallway and into the bathroom. Sarah opened the front door, "Hey there."

"Hi, Mr. C." She smiled, "It's quiet."

"Audrey is napping and the girls are starting a bath." Andrew said, "Thank you for doing this."

"No problem. I love babysitting them." Sarah said, "I hope the two of you have fun tonight."

"Thank you." Andrew walked back into his bedroom and knocked on the door to the bathroom. "Sarah is here."

"Good for her." Allison said.

"Can we go?" He asked her.

"I suppose so." Allison stepped out and Andrew stared at her. She shyly looked away.

"You look beautiful." He said. Allison had put her hair up and put a small amount of make up on. For her jewelry, she wore the presents Andrew got her for Christmas.

"Shut up." She smacked his shoulder.

"I mean it, Alli. You're beautiful." Andrew said.

"Can we go now?" She asked. Andrew nodded. He knew Allison would probably always be self-conscious but he refused to back down from his compliments.

"Andrew, this is delicious." Allison licked the remains of the cheesecake off of her fork.

"I'm glad You're enjoying it." He said to his wife, "You deserve it."

"Why do I deserve it?" Allison asked.

"Because you work hard as a mother." Andrew told her, "I've been working hard trying to get my team ready for the new season so I have left a lot upon your shoulders. And with a new baby, you got to be stressed."

"I am." She admitted, "But this is exactly what I needed, Andy."

"I know it was." He smiled picking up her hand and gently k issing it. He knew that sometimes he was a forgetful husband, but he would do everything in his powers to make Allison still feel wanted even after all these years.

September 1st, 1996

Zophia was slowly becoming comfortable in her skin again. It was hard to knock down those walls, but for her children she would. She would become a sociable mother and make friends for her sons. She would have an American dream.

"Come on, Heath." Zophia took her son's hand as she walked up the steps to the Bender home. Sh eknocked on the door.

"Coming." Claire called out as she walked down the hallway. She grinned brightly when she opened up the door, "Zophia, hi. Come in."

"Thank you." She said walking in, "I hope we're not interrupting anything."

"Oh no You're not. We're having a lazy day today." Claire said, "Hi, Boys."

"Hi." they both said.

"I thought they should get to know yours a little bit better." Zophia said, "Like...what do you call it? A play day?"

"Play Date." Claire smiled, "Tyler, come here. We have visitors." Tyler ran down the stairs.

"Hi Heath!" He waved. "Can we go play outside?"

"Sure." Claire said, "Take Wolf with you too. I'll be watching out the window so stay where I can see you."

"Okay, Mommy." Tyler said taking heath and Wolf's hands. The three boys ran out of the hallway.

"Conner is in his swing in the living room. I just made some coffee. Would you like some?" Claire asked.

"Sure. Just black." Zophia said walking into the livingroom. She walked over to Conner ad knelt down, "Hello there, Chico." Conner stared at her trying to recognize her.

"Here you go." Claire put her mug on the table.

"Thank you." Zophia went over to the couch, "I cannot believe how big Conner has gotten."

"Oh I know." She sighed, "Every day he gets a little bigger. Have you and Brian thought about having another?"

"Sure." Zophia said sipping her coffee, "I would love to try for a little girl someday. I mean I'm only 26 so I have a while yet. We're finally settling into this place, so...maybe in two or three years."

"That'd be nice." Claire said, "Lord knows I was expecting to have four children by the time I was 28."

"Life makes the unexpected happen sometimes." Zophia said looking out the window at the boys, "They seem to be getting along nicely."

"Good. Tyler is friends with a lot of girls his age, but not enough boys." Claire said, "When will Heath be six?"

"October 10th." Zophia said, "I cannot believe it."

"How do you think I feel?" Claire asked, "Courtney turned eleven in March. She's like...hormonal."

"Wow..." Zophia shook her head. She couldn't imagine her boys that old.

"I know." Claire looked at her, "So, why are you really here?"

"You caught me." Zophia chuckled, "My motive for coming over here is to make friends with you." Claire smiled.

"We can be friends, Zophia." She said to the woman, "I enjoy your company from what I've seen. I could always use another girlfriend."

"Really?" Zophia smiled.

"Sure." Claire waved in the air, "Allison and I try to have a kid free day every few weeks. You're free to come along. We always have a great time. Last time we go manicures and pedicures."

"That sounds fantastic." Zophia said.

"Great." Claire said, "We're going to go out in a couple of weeks. I'll be sure to call you."

"Thank you." Zophia said, "They seem to be getting along."

"Good." Claire said as she picked Conner up. "Do you mind if I breast-fed? Some people are really uncomfortable. Zophia shook her head.

"Breast-feeding is completely natural and beautiful." Zophia said, "When I fed my boys, I swear I did it anywhere and everywhere." Claire laughed as she lifted her shirt up.

"I know what you mean." She said. Zophia smiled at he woman. Okay, this was really nice. Zophia enjoyed notbeing shut in the house. Living life was uterly great.