Jackie has missed two weeks of school already. Catherine and her mother had gone to see Catherine's OGYN. Jackie thought it would be a prefect time to take the baby to the university to speak to Professor Hecht. Entering the psychology department, Jackie pushed the baby stroller into Professor Hecht's office. He was over joyed in meeting Madeline. He asked Jackie for Catherine and she explained what had been going on at home. He told Jackie that Catherine could take all the time she needed as he held the baby in his arms. Jackie told him that she also wasn't able to continue with her two classes that she already had missed two weeks of classes. He advised her that he would come up with a plan to help her knowing what she was going through at home.
As he moved around with Madeline in his arms, he asked the secretary to call in Jackie's two professors. A little while later they both entered, Jackie explained the situation with Catherine and her being the primary caregiver of both. The dilemma wasn't that Jackie couldn't do the work, but that she could not be present for their classes. They all were fussing over the baby that they all agreed that Jackie could continue her classes online for the rest of the semester. Professor Hecht told Jackie that him and wife would like to stop by sometime next week to see both Catherine and the baby. He was worried about Catherine. As Jackie pushed the stroller through the department more of Catherine's colleagues came up to Jackie to take a look at Professor Stark's daughter. Mattie was looking more and more like her mommy everyday, dimples and all. As they got home, Catherine was in her bedroom taking a nap. Jackie noticed the baby to was asleep and placed her next to Catherine. Mrs. Kirk sat in the kitchen waiting to speak to Jackie about Catherine's doctor visit.
As jackie sat down, her mother explained that Catherine had broken down in the doctor's office. She started saying that she did not want to be a mother and that she felt nothing when she looked at Madeline. She went on to say that Catherine wanted to give up the baby for adoption. Shocked, Jackie eyes began to fill with tears. She loved Mattie and there was no way in hell that Catherine was going to give away her little Madeline. Anger overcame Jackie with Catherine. Just like she had done with her, Catherine was now going to get rid of Madeline. Mrs. Kirk tried to calm Jackie's anger. She told her that the doctors gave Catherine some medication to help with her depression and recommended a psychologist to be seen by Catherine once every two weeks.
Mrs. Kirk was so disappointed with the entire situation. Seeing Jackie so upset with the possibility of losing Mattie was devastating. Jackie needed sometime alone and went into grab Mattie and take her over to her bed. Jackie put pillows all around in a circle in the middle of her bed to lay down with Mattie. Jackie watched her sleep as she started crying softly. Before she knew it, she and Mattie were both deep in sleep. As Catherine woke up about an hour or so later, she went in looking for Jackie and the baby. Once in Jackie's bedroom, she noticed the sight before her eyes. It was Jackie and the baby sound asleep. In that moment, Catherine couldn't believe how peaceful and happy they looked together. As she sat on the edge of bed, Jackie opened her eyes. Jackie scooted over and pulled Catherine down to lay next to them closing her eyes once again. Catherine stayed with Jackie and the baby for what seemed like an hour until she got up and went into the kitchen to get something to eat.
As she ate alone at the kitchen table, Mrs. Kirk came in from the grocery store. She began to put things away as Catherine began to apologize for what she had witnessed at the doctor's office. After a moment of silence, Mrs. Kirk looked at Catherine seriously and said, " Jackie will never forgive you if you give Madeline up for adoption. I'm sorry, but I told her what happened this afternoon. Catherine, I want you to know she was devastated. I have never seen my daughter like this over anything or anyone, but that baby. It would destroy her." At that Mrs. Kirk went upstairs to her bedroom. Catherine just stared into outer space as she thought about Mrs. Kirk's words. Catherine knew if she did give Mattie up, she'd be losing both of them. Catherine never thought Jackie would love her baby. She thought this baby would only be a constant reminder of her infidelity. Catherine was wrong, Jackie loved this baby more than anything else, even more than her.
As another week passed, Mrs. Kirk returned home to Los Angeles. Catherine seemed to be getting physically back to normal. Little by little, she started holding Madeline and spending time with her. In the afternoons, Catherine, Jackie, the baby and Ethan would go out for walks around the neighborhood. Their life seemed to be getting into the same old routine, at night they would bathe Madeline and rock her to sleep. More and more Catherine began caring for Mattie. She'd even lie in bed with Jackie and the baby as they napped together? It became Catherine's new favorite thing to do, as they both slept she would watch them. Oh how, Catherine loved to watch them sleep. A month passed and everything had changed for Catherine. She was falling in love with her little girl.
One evening, Catherine found herself looking at Jackie. Madeline was in bed and Jackie was seated at the kitchen table doing her homework. As Catherine moved closer, she noticed Jackie rubbing her neck. Catherine placed her hands on Jackie's shoulders and started massaging her neck. Catherine was surprised Jackie allowed her to touch her. Catherine said, "Porcupine, why don't you call it a night. It's late." At that Jackie was to tired to think straight or argue with Catherine. Jackie retreated to check on Madeline in Catherine's temporary bedroom. She gave Mattie a tiny little kiss on her chubby hand. Mattie was out like a light. With that, Jackie went into her own bedroom and took off her jeans. Getting into bed, Catherine came in to say goodnight or Jackie at least thought she was going to. As Catherine sat on the edge of Jackie's bed in the dark. She told Jackie she was sorry for wanting to give up Mattie for adoption. She was sorry that she hurt her again with the thought of losing Mattie. Jackie allowed Catherine to speak without interrupting. Relieved to hear she didn't really mean anything she said about adoption, Jackie touched Catherine's hand. Catherine stopped talking. Catherine looked into her eyes and without thinking kissed Jackie passionately. Jackie could not help but let her, she had missed the feeling of Catherine's lips on hers as their kiss deepened. Catherine took off her top and pants and got into bed with Jackie. Catherine wanted her, her hormones were off the charts. She wanted Jackie but she needed Jackie to make the first move. As they kissed once more, Jackie told Catherine she couldn't breathe. Jackie began hyperventilating. She was in full panic attack as Catherine got up and ran into the kitchen for a paper bag. Jackie took slow and deep breaths into the paper bag. Slowly Jackie calmed down. Disappointed Catherine retreated to her own bedroom. Jackie knew she loved Catherine more than friends, but how could she ever trust she wouldn't hurt her again. And, now with Mattie in the picture she was scared of losing her too if things didn't work out with Catherine. She was scared to be anything more than friends with Catherine.
After another couple of weeks, Catherine soon returned to work, she hired a nanny for Mattie. Catherine thought Jackie could get back to her studies with the extra baby help, but Jackie refused to leave anyone alone with her Mattie. Eating dinner one night just the two of them, Catherine looked at Jackie and out of the blue began telling Jackie that she named Mattie after her and their situation. Stunned Jackie looked at her in confusion. "Yep, I named Madeline because of you. I was mad at you, Jacqueline. That's where I got the idea for her name Mad and the last half of your name eline." I would never have had a baby if it weren't for you. In that moment, Jackie was in disbelief. Was she blaming her for cheating? Jackie thought. Catherine said, "Look you wanted to know where I got her name, now you know. Since you came into my life, you have become my reason for everything." Jackie did not know how to feel about what Catherine revealed. All she knew was that Catherine was being honest about how she came up with the baby's name.