A/N: Happy Saturday! I don't know about all of you, but I didn't think it would ever get here. Thanks for continuing to read, review and follow! Sorry for the late post today, but I still made Saturday. This chapter picks up where the last one left. Hope you enjoy this update!

/

As Marissa pondered everything weighing on her mind, her thoughts were interrupted by a hesitant knock on the door. The redhead glanced up and saw her oldest daughter standing in the doorway and smiled.

"Hey, Miranda."

"Hi, Ma. Can I talk to you?" Miranda asked anxiously.

Marissa removed her glasses and set them on the desk. "Of course. Come on in."

"Can I close the door? It's kinda private."

"Sure. Whatever you need, sweetie." Marissa closed the file containing the report and the other evidence gathered by Mitch and slid it into her briefcase while her daughter was closing the door. The redhead waited patiently as Miranda settled in the chair opposite her.

Miranda sat across from her redheaded mother a few moments trying to figure out how to say what she had to say.

Marissa saw her daughter's internal struggle play across her face. "What did you want to talk about, Mimo? Did something happen at school?"

"Kinda. Amber told me something that I really think you and Mom should know."

That statement was one Marissa most definitely had not been expecting and had her raising an eyebrow. She knew things had changed with Amber after her counseling following the bullying incident and that Miranda and her were now friends. This was all despite the fact of who Amber's mother was and her feelings on the matter. Bianca and Marissa found they liked Amber. She was smart, funny and thoughtful, and most importantly, she was truly sorry for what she had done and the hurt she had caused Miranda.

"What did she say?"

"There's this boy at school who's supposed to be one of AJ's friends. Amber heard him saying some stuff to AJ during recess."

"What did he say?"

Miranda took a deep breath and began to recount what her friend had told her. "He was saying that you and Mom don't love AJ, and don't want him around. He was telling AJ that he doesn't fit in with our family because Mom had Gabby and me and now you're having a baby. He said you don't need AJ anymore and that every time you look at him, he reminds you of his dad and all of the trouble he caused you."

Marissa sat there dumbfounded. How could someone who was supposed to be AJ's friend say things that were so cruel? It was clear to her those words were intended to hurt and definitely had. "What's this boy's name?"

"Donnie Clayton. Amber told Donnie to shut up. I think she probably told him something else, but she didn't tell me. She talked to AJ a little after Donnie left and said that AJ had told her that Donnie had been saying that stuff for almost two weeks."

Marissa jotted down the boy's name. For some reason, it sounded familiar, but she just couldn't place it at the moment. The redhead could tell something else was bothering Miranda. "I can tell you have something else on your mind. What is it?"

Miranda sighed. "I feel bad. When Amber told me that AJ had talked to her and told her what was going on, I was hurt that he was telling her all that stuff and not me and didn't like it."

"You were jealous and feel bad because you were. I can understand that."

"You can? Doesn't that make me a bad person?"

"No, sweetie, it doesn't." Marissa answered gently. "It makes you human. You and your brother are very close and love each other a great deal. You don't really keep secrets from each other. So, I can see where you would be hurt, a little jealous, when he told someone else instead of you what was going on. It's okay to feel that way as long as you don't forget how much AJ loves you. He probably didn't tell you what was happening because he didn't want you pulled into it and get hurt by what that boy was saying. He remembers what you went through and thought he was protecting you by not telling you."

Miranda scrunched her face as she thought about what her mom was telling her. "I guess. I'm really glad though that he told Amber. She probably kinda gets it better than I would."

"What do you mean? Is she still having problems with her mother?" Amber had shared with both Miranda and AJ some of the problems she was experiencing with her mother Tammy after the girl had completed counseling and made amends for her actions.

The young brunette nodded sadly. "Yeah, she is."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Me too. Amber knows what it's like to have what Donnie's saying really be true so she's able to tell AJ that Donnie was making that stuff up about him and him maybe believed her more than he would me."

"So after she stopped Donnie from bullying AJ, Amber told you what was going on?"

"Uh huh."

"That was very nice of her. She's a good friend."

Miranda nodded. "Yeah, she is."

"You want to know something else?"

"What?"

"You are the best sister. It's a really good thing you're doing by telling me all of this."

"Will you and Mom be able to help AJ? I know something's up, something big, and I think I know what it is."

Marissa raised an eyebrow. "You do, huh?"

"Yep."

"Okay, I'll bite. What's going on?"

"Well, AJ feels like you and Mom don't want him around him anymore, partially because of what Donnie's been saying and a little because of the baby. I'm not saying he's right because I don't think he is. I just think that's how he's feeling right now. I also think he told you something like that and that maybe he doesn't want to live here, that he wants to live with his dad. That is wrong and can't happen! AJ belongs here with us. If he did tell you that though, it's because he's hurting and thinks he won't as much even though he knows this is hurting you and Mom."

Marissa shook her head as her daughter finished. "You are too smart for me and your Mom sometimes, and I'm not joking about that either."

"You and Mom aren't gonna let that happen are you?"

Seeing tears well up in her daughter's eyes, Marissa held open her arms. "Come here."

Miranda hurried over to her mother's side of the desk and was engulfed in her embrace.

"You're right. AJ does belong with us. We'll figure something out. I promise. You're telling me about this? It's going to help us a great deal."

After being comforted for several minutes, Miranda left the office feeling somewhat better. Marissa started doing some research. The name 'Clayton' finally clicked for her. Now, she just needed to connect the final dots that Mitch hadn't been able to yet.

/

"Hi, Mimo."

Miranda looked up from her seat at the kitchen table where she had been writing in her journal and smiled as her brunette mother came in from the garage. The journal was one of the presents her mothers had given her for Christmas, and she cherished it and wrote in it constantly. "Hi, Mom."

"Where is everyone?"

"Gabby's watching 'Frozen', again. AJ's in his room doing some extra homework he got. Ma is back in your guys' office. I think she really wanted to talk to you as soon as you got home."

Bianca chuckled at her perceptive daughter. Truth be told, the brunette had wanted to talk with Marissa in-depth all day long. Bianca knew her wife had something big to tell her and was waiting until they could talk in the privacy of their home. She placed a kiss on the top of Miranda's head. "Okay. I'm going to go back and change my clothes and talk with your Ma for a little while before we start on dinner. If you, AJ or Gabby need anything, come back and get us."

"Okay."

/

"So, she's his mother?" Marissa listened to someone on the other end of the line and jotted something down. "Okay. That definitely helps fill in that last missing piece of the puzzle. Now, I've got another call to make. Thanks again, Mitch."

Marissa disconnected the call and took off her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose after doing so.

"Hey."

The redhead smiled seeing Bianca standing in the doorway. "Hey, yourself."

Bianca crossed the room and kissed her wife tenderly.

"I needed that."

"I aim to please. You didn't get that nap today, did you?"

"No, I didn't. There was a lot going on so I didn't get a chance. I'm so glad you're home."

"Me too." Bianca gave her a quick kiss and pulled a chair closer to the redhead before sitting down. "Now, tell me everything."

Marissa sighed before she began to summarize Mitch's report.

"So, who bought the phone?"

"It was purchased at an electronics store in Los Angeles."

"L.A.? How would a phone bought across the country end up here?" The answer was there for Bianca before she even finished the thought. "Son of a bitch. JR bought it."

"Yep, and I have the video to prove it." Marissa flipped her laptop open and clicked on the link Mitch had given her.

After watching the footage, Bianca stood and began pacing around the room while she began a mini rant. "Unbelievable! He buys a phone and sends it to our son so he can what? Fill his head with lies by playing on his insecurities about the baby?!"

"Pretty much, yes."

"That bastard. The only one he's hurting is AJ, and he would know that if he would ever take his head out of his ass. AJ is a sweet, loving boy, and the only thing JR is accomplishing is to hurt him. You would think he would learn by now, but hell no, not him! It's all about JR. It's always all about JR!" Bianca stopped. "Why aren't you more upset?"

"I've had more time to process all of this than you have, and I'm trying my very best not to lose it completely because of Sparky. Someone very smart told me I needed to keep our little one in mind when I start to lose my temper."

Bianca sighed heavily. "I hate when you do that."

"Do what?" Marissa asked feigning innocence.

"Throw my words back at me. Okay. Dipshit rides again. Why? Why now?"

Marissa stroked her baby bump. "Why do you think?"

Bianca rolled her eyes. "Seriously? He's jealous?!"

"That would be my guess."

"Of all … So, he'll hurt AJ as a way to get back at us because he's jealous that we're having a baby together." Bianca shook her head. "Un-fucking-believable."

Marissa grinned as she watched her wife. One of the things she found amusing that nobody else outside of her, Kendall and Erica knew was that Bianca could swear with the best of them when pushed far enough.

"Wait. So, how did he get the cellphone to AJ?"

"Ah, we just figured that out. Please have a seat, and I'll tell you."

Bianca did as asked.

"It goes back to something Miranda told me after we got home."

"Miranda?"

"Yes, she told me that Amber saw another boy, someone supposed to one of AJ's friends, telling him that we didn't love him or want him around. Amber stepped in and tried to convince AJ otherwise. Afterwards, she told Miranda who then told me. And before you say anything, I know that we'll be dealing with that bully."

"Damn straight we will. How does this tie back to the phone?"

"The boy's name is Donnie Clayton."

"I still don't see the connection."

"That's because you didn't see the report. JR shipped the phone to Jill Clayton."

"As in?"

"Donnie's mother."

"Why would she get involved in something like this?"

"Her name sounded familiar to me, and I wracked my brain ever since I talked to Miranda and she told me about Donnie. Them having the same last name was just too much of a coincidence for me. I finally remembered. Jill Clayton worked for Chandler when JR was in charge."

"Did they?"

Marissa shook her head. "No surprisingly enough, JR didn't sleep with her. This all occurred during the whole 'Annie obsession'. I think she wanted to, but …"

"Annie."

"Yes. Jill did, however, cover for him. As obsessed as JR was with Annie, Jill was obsessed with him."

"So, he sends her the cellphone, and she has her son give it to AJ."

"That's what I'm thinking."

Bianca straightened up in the chair as she prepared herself for a fight. "What's our next move? This woman is interfering with our son, hurting him as a direct result of her actions. She's not going to get away with it, and you know there's not a snowball's chance in hell that JR will either. Doesn't this fall under interference of some sort?" The brunette paused seeing Marissa smiling proudly at her. "What?"

"You are exactly right. It's called custodial interference."

"I guess those tutoring sessions are paying off."

"So it would seem. In this case, the interference involves enticing the child, AJ, away from the parent with custody, meaning me and also visiting AJ when I'm supposed to have custody. Jill Clayton is guilty of the enticement since she is responsible for actually giving him the cellphone. JR is also guilty of enticement in addition to visiting AJ while I have custody using the cellphone to accomplish this."

"Alright. I understand that. What are we going to do to stop it? I overheard you when you were on the phone with Mitch. You were saying you needed to make a call."

"Yeah, I did. I need to call Caleb and report this. Now that you're here, we'll call him together." Marissa put the phone on speaker and dialed Caleb's number.

Bianca moved her chair closer while Marissa dialed. She wasn't surprised her wife was calling Caleb instead of Jack. While both men were her attorneys of record concerning the custody of AJ, Marissa was closer to Caleb. They had started out as mentor/mentee, but over time, the relationship had changed. Marissa was one of only a handful of people Caleb let in. Under that gruff exterior, the man adored Marissa, seeing her as almost like a daughter. This wasn't to say that he wasn't close with Bianca, just that he was closer with her wife. Caleb filled a role in Marissa's life that Jack filled for Bianca, something she was happy for. One other thing was that Caleb detested JR and would fight tooth and nail for Marissa against him.

/

"Caleb Chandler."

"Hi, Caleb. It's Marissa and Bianca, and I've got you on speaker."

"Hi, Caleb."

"Ladies, to what do I this honor? I'm hoping it's safe to assume that everything is okay with Sparky?"

Bianca rolled her eyes. "Not you too."

Caleb chuckled. "I'm sorry, Bianca. I like the name and so does everyone else in the office so that's how the baby's referred to here. I think you're fighting a losing battle there."

"Whatever." Bianca huffed while Marissa laughed.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Marissa took up the question posed to them. "First off, Sparky is good, knock wood. Second, we have another matter that we need to discuss with our lawyer."

Caleb sighed. "Let me guess. JR is up to something."

"Yes, and this is kind of twisted even for him."

Marissa then related everything that had happened up to that point with Bianca adding in details here and there.

When they were finished, there was silence on the other end of the line. The couple could hear Caleb thinking of how much he wanted to kick the crap out of JR and then plotting the best way to make him pay legally. Caleb took a deep breath. "He never learns. The report from Mitch?"

"I'll have him send you a copy of everything."

"What about the cellphone?"

"I've left it turned on but on silent mode."

Bianca grinned. The couple had discussed this when Marissa had called her after finding the device and contacting Mitch. "This way, we can keep track of how many times JR tries to call without the constant ringing bothering us."

"It also allows Mitch to track the incoming calls."

"JR really doesn't know how misguided he is when he underestimates the two of you. How many times has he called?"

Marissa pulled out the phone and looked at the log. "There are 17 missed calls, all from the same number, but no voicemails. He probably didn't set that up for AJ."

"Okay, I'll start on restraining orders for both JR and the Claytons as well as draw up papers for custodial interference. I'll try my best to keep AJ from having to testify. I can't guarantee it though. Damn, I hate JR even more because of him doing this to AJ. What's good about this is that AJ has the two of you to help him get through this, and I know you will."

"I hope so, Caleb."

"You will. Trust me on this, Bianca. You will. Alright, you take care of AJ, and I'll take care of JR. If I need anything else, I'll let you know, and if anything else comes up, you do the same."

"Thanks, Caleb. I'll call Mitch now and have him get that file over to you."

"You're welcome, Marissa. We'll talk soon."

After the call was disconnected, the couple briefly discussed how they wanted to approach AJ about everything. Bianca then headed to the kitchen to start on dinner while Marissa called Mitch.

/

Bianca had just added the meatballs that Marissa had made earlier in the day to the spaghetti sauce she had made when her wife joined her in the kitchen.

"The file is on its way to Caleb. Mitch said the calls are still coming from California."

"Oh, that's really good to hear." Bianca filled a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil for the pasta she would add when it was ready.

While her wife was doing that, Marissa started on the garlic bread. "Tell me about it. I …"

"Hi, Mommies! What are we having for dinner?"

"Hi, Monkey. How does spaghetti and meatballs sound?"

"Sounds yummy!"

Bianca smiled. She loved how their youngest was so happy and easygoing, always finding the joy in life even in the smallest of things. "I think so too. Would you please get your brother and sister so the three of you could set the table?"

"Okay, Mommy." Gabby skipped over to the door, opened it and yelled for her siblings. "AJ! Mimo! We need to set the table!"

The mothers shared an amused look knowing that would be the way she would get them and not the way Bianca had wanted her to.

"I should have been more specific I guess, huh?"

"Yeah, we should know better by now."

Soon, they were joined by Miranda and a pensive AJ.

"Hey, you two. Please set the table. Dinner will be ready soon."

"I'm not hungry. Can I just go back to my room?" AJ mumbled.

The couple glanced at each other. They had hoped to hold off on talking to their son until after dinner but could tell they needed to do it now. They simply couldn't wait any longer.

Bianca turned to the girls. "Miranda, Gabby, would you go to the family room please? Your Ma and I need to talk with AJ."

"No, I don't want to. It's not right." Miranda stated stubbornly.

"Excuse me?"

"Gabby and I have a right to know what's going on, especially if AJ says he doesn't want to live here anymore."

"You don't want to live with us anymore, AJ? You don't love us anymore?" Gabby's eyes immediately began to fill with tears. "Did I do something wrong? Mommy, I don't want AJ to go." Gabby threw herself at Bianca who picked her up to try and console her.

Miranda wanted to kick herself for letting what she'd said slip and upsetting her little sister.

AJ felt awful that he made Gabby cry. He really just wanted to crawl in a hole and forget everything that had happened recently.

Marissa sighed. Enough was enough. It was tearing her apart to see her family hurting so much. It was going to stop, now. A quick glance at Bianca told her that her wife was thinking the same exact thing.

"Alright, it's time for a family meeting. Everybody in the family room." As the others headed to the other room, the redhead turned the burner for the sauce down to simmer, the one for the pasta off and the temperature for the oven down so the garlic bread wouldn't burn.

/

Everyone was seated when Marissa entered the family room. Gabby was sitting on Bianca's lap, clinging tightly and sniffling. Miranda was sitting on the sofa at the end farthest from Bianca with AJ next to her and fighting tears. Marissa quickly made up her mind and sat next to her son at the end of the sofa closest to where Bianca and Gabby were.

"Okay, this has gone on for far too long. Part of that is our fault for not pressing more, but that ends now. Ever since Miranda was bullied, we've promised to be open and honest with each other, and that's exactly what we've been doing it seems until recently." With that said, Marissa turned to her son and softened her voice. "AJ, is there anything you want to tell us? Maybe about something that's been happening at school?"

AJ quickly glanced up, his eyes darting between his mothers. He wanted to deny it but could tell his mothers knew. "How did you know?"

Miranda jumped in quickly to answer. "Amber told me because she was worried about you. I knew I had to tell our Moms."

The blonde's shoulders slumped in defeat. It was time to come clean. "This boy Donnie's been giving me a hard time and saying mean things, and I don't know why."

Bianca caught her son's eye. "Why don't you tell us what's been going on with him?"

AJ took a deep breath and then told them everything Donnie had said. As he talked, AJ could feel some of the weight he'd been carrying around being lifted off of his shoulders. "And that's what's been going on with him for almost two weeks."

"Why was that boy so mean to AJ, Mommy?" Gabby asked as she glanced up at her brunette mother. Her eyes brimming with tears again, but this time, the tears were because her brother had been hurt.

Bianca squeezed her youngest tighter and shared a glance with her wife. "I'm not sure, sweetie."

Marissa nodded in silent reply and picked the conversation back up. "AJ, is there anything else you want to tell us?"

AJ froze. They couldn't know, could they? No, they couldn't know about the cellphone, but I didn't think they knew about Donnie either. AJ's internal struggle went on for a few moments and played across his face. Finally, he gave up. He was tired of fighting and tired hiding. AJ noticed the cellphone was missing when he got home from school, and to be honest, he was glad it was gone. Without the device, his dad wouldn't dare call him, and he felt he could breathe for the first time since he had gotten it. His dad's voice wasn't ringing in his ears constantly telling him that his mothers didn't want him anymore.

"I had a cellphone. It was from dad."

Miranda's and Gabby's eyes grew wide at the revelation.

"We're not allowed to have those, AJ." Gabby stated.

"How did you get one?" Miranda was suspicious. She'd learned to ask certain questions watching her Ma work.

"How'd you know?"

"I found it in the car this morning after I dropped all of you off at school. Did Donnie give you the phone?"

AJ wanted to ask how she knew but didn't. He should by now that he couldn't hide anything from his mothers for long. "Yeah. He got it from his mom. Dad sent it to her and asked her to give it to me. At first, he said he just wanted to talk to me more. He said the reason we didn't talk more before was because you and Mom stopped him from calling me. That's not true though, is it?"

"No, Buddy, it's not. What else did he say?"

"He … he said since you were having the baby that I would be too much for you to have around. Four kids are a lot for you guys to have to take care of, and he didn't have anybody. He's all by himself, and if I went to live with him, he wouldn't be alone anymore. And with the baby, you wouldn't miss me. It wasn't like I really fit in because I'm adopted."

Miranda jumped in before either of her mothers could. "Why did you listen to him, AJ? You know none of that's true."

"Well, Donnie …"

"Donnie is a jerk and isn't really your friend. If Amber hadn't stopped him, he'd still be saying stuff to you that hurts you. You should've told me. Why didn't you? I could've helped."

"You would've told them."

"Yeah, I would've because they need to know when your dad is being a jerk and hurting you."

Marissa and Bianca glanced at each other and silently agreed to let this play out and see where it went.

/

AJ sighed. He knew his sister was right and hated it. "I know. I just didn't want to get them upset and stop me from talking to him."

"Even if he hurts you?"

"I really hate when you do that."

"Do what?"

"Are right. I don't like it when he does stuff like that. I just don't know what to do or say to get him to stop."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "That's what our Moms are here for. They're not afraid of him and will tell him to stop. They'll put him in his place."

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I am. I thought you knew that by now." Miranda gave him a cheeky grin.

AJ rolled his eyes this time and playfully shoved his sister. "Shut up."

"So, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd know what I was feeling."

"And Amber does?"

"Well no, but she was there when Donnie was saying those things, and me telling her just happened."

"Why didn't you think I would know how you were feeling? I mean, we're in the same spot."

"Not really. Mom is really your mom. She had you like Ma is having Sparky. Ma didn't have me. She adopted me."

"You know, you're really dumb sometimes."

Bianca started to interrupt, wanting to reprimand her daughter. She didn't like them saying things like that to each other.

Marissa stopped her though and whispered. "I think I know where she's going with this."

"Hey, I'm not dumb."

"I said sometimes, and I know you're not really. Think about it. What's Ma?"

"A lawyer?"

This caused an eye roll of epic proportions. "Seriously?"

AJ thought for a moment and the light came on for him. "Adopted!"

"Exactly! Ma knows exactly how you feel more than anybody else, and you know Mom doesn't care if you're adopted."

"Mimo's right." Gabby scrambled off Bianca's lap and squeezed in next to her sister. "We don't care either. You're my big brother no matter what. You have to tell the Mommies when something's wrong so they can take care of it. It's what they do. When you had your cold, who took care of you? Our Mommies. When you fell off the jungle gym, who took care of you?"

Miranda smiled knowing exactly what her little sister was doing. "Our Moms. Who helps you study for your tests? Our Moms."

"Who's always taking you to baseball practice and is at your games? Our Moms."

"Who's always there whenever we need them?" Miranda paused hoping her brother got the message.

AJ had gotten it, loud and clear. "Our Moms." He turned watery eyes to the women he loved and who loved him and his sisters with every fiber of their beings. "I'm sorry. I … I … I wanna stay here with you. I don't wanna go. I didn't really mean any of it. Please let me stay."

Marissa pulled AJ onto her ever-dwindling lap while Bianca knelt down in front of them.

"AJ, you don't have to ask to stay. We don't want you to go anywhere. We never have. This is your home, Buddy, and we love you."

"Inside out and upside down. You are our son, and I don't care what anyone else says. While it's true that I didn't have you like I am Sparky, it doesn't change a thing for me. I love you so much, and there's no difference for me. You stole my heart the first moment I saw you and nothing has changed that. I became your Mom because I wanted to. I chose you, just like you chose me. Do you love me any less because I didn't have you?"

The boy shook his head vigorously. "No! I love you too, you and Mom. You're my Moms no matter what."

"Then why would you think it would be any different for us?"

AJ shrugged. "Dad said."

"Buddy, your dad is wrong. One of the big reasons we broke up was because your dad stopped listening to me. When he did that, he stopped knowing me, stopped knowing my feelings. So when he tells you how I feel, he's wrong."

"Your Ma and I love you all the same, that includes Sparky. We're a family, and you're stuck with us. Got it?"

AJ smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. "Got it."

"Good! Now, give me a hug and then give your Ma one too."

Bianca was knocked backed as AJ leapt into her arms before he threw himself carefully back at Marissa.

"I'm sorry. I was being dumb."

"You're not dumb, AJ. I'm sorry I said that. You just weren't listening."

"I know, Miranda. I should've said something, but I was scared that Donnie and my dad were right. You and Gabby really helped me figure out what I really knew. Thank you. You're the best sisters I could ever have."

Gabby beamed at the compliment, and Miranda was pretty proud of herself too.

"Ma, could I ask you something."

"Anything, Buddy."

"Why did dad say all that if it wasn't true?"

Marissa sighed. She didn't want to tell her son that his father was a misogynistic asshole who put himself above anyone else and probably always would. "I don't know for sure, Buddy. I haven't understood your dad for a long time so I couldn't say. What I can tell you is that your Mom and I love you, Miranda, Gabby and Sparky more than anything, and we always will. We want you all to be happy and will do everything we can so that you stay that way."

"You're going to talk with dad, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are. He needs to know that he can't say things like that to you, things that hurt you. I won't stand for anyone hurting my family and neither will your Mom."

"That's right. We won't."

"Donnie too?"

Bianca nodded. "Donnie too, and his mom. What they did was wrong, and Caleb's helping us with that. We don't want you to worry about that though. We're taking care of it. That's our job."

"Dad's gonna be mad when I don't answer the cellphone."

"Like your Mom said, don't worry about that. We'll take care of it. Your dad was wrong to give you that phone. He knows you're not allowed to have one yet, and he agreed that he would talk with you on Skype only if one of us was there. What makes it worse is that he told you to keep that secret from us. He broke the rules and pressured you to break them too. He knew better and doesn't have any right to be mad when he knew he was wrong. You're not in trouble for what he did. We'll handle him."

"Okay." AJ was more than happy to let them do it. The burden he'd been carrying was finally gone, and he could finally breathe easily again. His stomach started to growl with his appetite finally returning.

"You think you're hungry now, Buddy?" Bianca asked with a relieved smile.

"Yeah, I am."

"What about you, girls?"

"I'm starving, Mommy."

"Me too."

"Why don't I finish getting dinner ready? You all stay in here, and I'll let you know when it's done."

"You sure, B?"

"Yep." Bianca gave her wife a quick kiss before placing kisses on the top of their three children's heads and then heading to the kitchen.

"Ma, what's that?" AJ's eyes grew wide.

Marissa smiled. "That's Sparky just saying 'hi'."

"Really?!" Miranda's wonder was evident.

"Do you all want to feel?"

Three heads nodded in excitement. The three of them hadn't been around when the baby had kicked before.

"Okay. AJ, I need you to move a little, and girls, come a little closer." After doing as instructed, Marissa took a hand from each child and placed it on her belly. A look of awe appeared on the kids' faces as they felt the baby kick.

AJ leaned in close and whispered to his mother's belly. "I'm glad you're gonna be part of our family, Sparky, and I'm gonna make sure nobody picks on you."

/

Dinner was markedly different from breakfast, as different as night and day. Everyone chattered away and cleaned their plates as opposed to that morning's meal where there had been nothing but silence and barely touched plates. With everyone helping, the kitchen was cleaned up in fairly short order. Due to the emotional nature of the day, it was decided to have a quiet evening together since they were all a little drained. The kids decided on a movie for them all to watch and went to grab their pillows and spare blankets before starting it. AJ was a little surprised at the reprieve in his punishment but was beyond happy about it.

While they were doing that, Marissa pulled out ingredients for hot chocolate. The temperature had dipped several degrees below freezing, and hot chocolate was definitely called for to help combat the chill in the air. Bianca leaned on the counter and watched her wife work. A smile spread across her face as she remembered the first time Marissa had made what she called 'proper' hot chocolate for her and the kids. Like always, it was made with equal parts love and precision.

"Could you grab the marshmallows for me?"

Bianca was pulled from her memory by her wife's request. "You got it." After handing her wife the requested item, she broached a subject. "Rissa, I was thinking about AJ's punishment."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. I'm willing to tweak it a little if you are."

"Given everything we know now, I think we should. I'm thinking maybe by half, family movie nights are the exception though. They're not part of the punishment."

"Sounds good to me. He needs this especially tonight, so do the girls, and quite frankly, so do we."

Bianca sighed as she retrieved a tray and mugs. "I agree. Tomorrow …"

"We'll deal with everything else, but tonight, we're taking off and enjoying our family. Deal?"

"Deal."

Marissa kissed her wife tenderly and then began pouring the hot chocolate into the waiting mugs.