[A/N] This is a quick and fun one. Next one will be better, I promise :P

As soon as I sat down on the back seat of the car Harriet began struggling in my arms and let out a small whimper.

"What? You wanna stay here at the airport?" I asked, my voice coming out high and soft just like every time I talked to her. "It really is a nice day, but there's nothing to do out here." I complained, my lower lip sticking out slightly.

In addition came another little cry, as her body stretched and fists clenched.

I lifted her up so that she was standing, her feet on my lap. She had begun standing on her own lately –with the support of the couch or other furniture- but she hadn't taken her first steps yet. Jackson and I had been waiting for that moment anxiously. "Don't you want to go home and get some rest?" I asked her. "Mommy and daddy were operating on a little girl all night! They are so, so tired! But then tomorrow we could, maybe, go to the park if you want? And get some ice cream!" I suggested as she put her fist in her mouth, obviously having no idea what I was talking about. "Well, mommy is gonna get some ice cream. Perks of being a grown up." I added in my normal voice.

I heard the driver sitting in the front seat chuckle softly, then, and that was when the realization that I actually wasn't alone sank in. I felt my cheeks flush slightly in response as I took hold of Harriet again and placed her on the baby car seat next to me. "Do you have kids?" I asked the driver with a small smile while buckling my daughter's seat belt.

He shook his head. "Not yet. My wife and I are trying, though."

I looked at him through the rear view mirror. "Aw, that's wonderful!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah." He nodded. "It is. At least, the trying part is fun." He laughed and I giggled along. "I am kind of worried about what comes after, though, but my wife seems so confident and sure about everything that I think we are covered."

I smiled. "Well, my…" I trailed off, my voice fading. I cleared my throat. "Jackson was pretty nervous too, at first. I had always known he would make an amazing dad, but he wasn't very confident in himself. Yet another time I turned out to be the one who's right." I said with a shrug and the driver huffed in response. "Don't worry. It's a bit hard until you get used to it, but once you do and relax a bit you'll see it's not all that scary anymore. You'll do great."

He glanced back at me through the dark sun glasses he was wearing and gave me a smile. "That is actually very reassuring. Thank you, Dr. …?"

"Kepner", I muttered, "April Kepner."

"Dr Kepner." He repeated, just as the back door opposed to mine opened and Catherine sat on the empty seat.

I turned to buckle my own seat belt when I heard the last door open too, Jackson sitting at the front next to the driver. As soon as I sat back straight Jackson turned to look at me. "Did you double check?" he asked, glancing towards Harriet's seat.

"Yep. All ready to go." I exclaimed and he nodded as the car began moving.

We were driving in silence for a while until Catherine spoke. "So, I take it the surgery went well?"

I nodded. "It went great. Better than we could have possibly imagined. That girl was talking almost as soon as she woke up, it was incredible."

"I'm confused." Catherine said with a frown. "Did you not do the laryngectomy after the transplant got scrapped?"

"We used her ileo-cecal valve and her attached appendix to build the patient a new vocal tube." Jackson explained.

The shocked look on Catherine's face was priceless and I couldn't hold back a giggle. "We turned her stomach into an actual throat." I added.

Catherine stared at me in disbelief. "Who came up with that?"

My smile grew wider. "It was all Jackson's idea."

He huffed. "It wasn't even an idea, it was all because of that stupid expression."

"Which you still can't get right." I said with a wide grin and we shared a look of utter amusement through the rear view mirror.

Once I finally broke our gaze, I noticed that Catherine was examining our exchange carefully, and in advance I quickly looked down at my arms on my lap. This woman was like a hurricane, if she even sensed there was something going on between us again she would use her meddling powers without restraint, and that was the very last thing we needed right now.

And she had definitely figured something was different already. "So you two must be very tired." She assumed, talking slowly as if she was choosing her words carefully.

"Mhm." Jackson agreed and I nodded.

"That surgery must have taken a hell of a long time. April, honey, did you even sleep at all?"

I felt the blood rise up my cheeks as I looked out the window. "Uh, no. Not really." I mumbled.

"Oh, that's too bad. How about you, baby?" she asked Jackson.

I heard him clear his throat. "No, I didn't either. Which is exactly why we are so tired." I gave him a quick glance and our eyes locked for a brief second, then quickly away.

"I see." Catherine muttered. "Well, if you want me to come over to look after Harriet for a bit longer so that you two can get some sleep then-"

"No!" we both cut her off at once.

I was sure I saw her lips slightly twitch in an attempt to hide a grin.

I gulped. "Um, I can't speak for Jackson but I have a lot of things to do before sleeping… like empty my suitcase… and stuff… And it soon will be Harriet's bedtime anyways, so there is no need. You go rest, you've already done more than enough. Thank you, Catherine."

She smiled. "Why, of course. And, please honey, just don't thank me. That's what grandma's are for."

Thankfully she didn't meddle any further during the rest of the ride, which I appreciated greatly. Instead we engaged into various conversations about our trip, and before I knew it the car pulled into the house's front yard. Catherine kissed all three of us goodnight before we walked to the front porch, and as I was holding Harriet Jackson used her hand to wave at his mom goodnight, making me laugh out loud. Then the car drove into the night.

Jackson and I locked eyes for a brief moment, before I bit my lower lip and led the way to the front door. I tried holding Harriet with one arm, so that I could reach for my keys with the other, but from behind me came his hand with his set of keys ready.

"I got it." He said, and for the few seconds that it took for him to unlock his entire body was pressing into mine. I could even feel his breath against my shoulder, and I felt my teeth's grip on my lip get all the tighter.

"There." He said eventually, and the door swang open before me.

I nodded. "Thank you."

Once we walked in and he locked the door behind us, I took a second of just standing above the stairs, my eyes travelling around the living room and taking everything in. From the large fireplace to the black and white throw pillows, I had to admit that even though this place had been just 'Jackson's house' for so long, looking at it now I realized I had actually missed it. Being here just felt… right.

With the corner of my eyes I noticed Jackson nearing me, until I soon felt his arms wrapping around my waist, his face burying in my hair. "Finally home." He mumbled while letting out a long sigh.

Home.

The word had a shiver running down my spine, but instead of cold it spread warmth all over my body. I closed my eyes for a brief second and savored the moment, the feeling of his hands wrapped around me, our baby in my arms. And then, too soon, he let go. He didn't walk away completely, though, as his one arm remained on my shoulder.

And then he burst out laughing.

"What?" I asked curiously, a wide grin on my lips at the view. "What is it?"

"Her face!" he managed to spit out between chuckles pointing towards Harriet, and I looked down at her in wonder, only for my mouth to drop.

Harriet's face was all crumbled up in an extensive grimace also known as the infamous 'angry face' she had inherited from her father. Her tiny eyebrows were smashed together in a deep frown, her lower lip slightly sticking out. And just as I thought the whole thing couldn't possibly get more ridiculous, she used her little hand to shove her father's one away from my shoulder.

Jackson threw back his head and laughed. "Did you see that?!"

What the… "What are you doing, Hattie?" I asked my daughter who, still frowning, leaned down to rest her head at the crook of my neck.

"Do you not like me touching mommy?" he asked her, placing his hand on my shoulder again, and her head immediately shot up in response as she pushed it away again with a small cry.

I widened my eyes. "Holy crap!"

Jackson gasped, fake offence on his face. "Whoa, what do you think you're doing? Mommy is mine!" he growled and raised one arm to point at his chest. "Mine!"

I watched her eyes focus on his hand, studying it carefully for a moment. And then in the smallest of gestures, she raised her tiny hand too, hitting her chest with her palm. "Aae!" she quirked, anger written all over her face.

"Oh. My. God!" I squealed before bursting out laughing.

Jackson snorted in disbelief before repeating his gesture. "No, mine!"

"Aae!" she yelled back furiously and hit her chest again.

He wrapped his arms around me, his head on my shoulder. "Mine!"

She used her hand to push back his face. "Aaaee!"

By that point I was laughing so hard my eyes began watering. "This is not happening!" I cried, my entire body shaking in laughter.

"You possessive little…" I heard him growl from behind me and I just held on my belly with my free hand in an attempt to make it stop hurting from all the laughter.

Harriet wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled her face against it, glaring at her father from the corner of her eyes. "Aae." She finally mumbled against my skin, and I just looked back at him, my mouth hanging open, disbelief and pure amusement written all over my face.

His expression mirrored my own. "Well, this was unexpected."

"Yeah, no kidding." I tilted my head. "Does this count as talking?" My eyes widened in realization. "Oh God, did she just speak?"

He chuckled softly. "I don't think 'aae' counts as a word by any means."

"What did you expect a baby's first word to sound like, dummy?"

He shrugged. "Well, we both know her first word will be daddy, so this for sure doesn't count."

My eyebrows shot upwards. "Oh, really?" I challenged. "Cause I'm pretty sure she'll dedicate her first word to her favorite parent instead, won't you Hattie?" I asked her in my baby voice looking down.

"…Which is what I just said." He whispered, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Oh, nah-ah, Mr., you are by no means her favorite parent. That spot is long taken."

He huffed. "Yeah, right. She's a daddy's girl."

"Doesn't look like it." I pursed my lips and shook my head, glancing down at her clinging onto me.

He smirked. "You want proof?' he asked and without waiting for an answer he leaned down so that he was at her level before tapping her shoulder. "Harriet, Harriet?" he quickly said and she slightly turned her head to peek at him. "Who's daddy's little baby? Who's daddy's favorite girl?" he asked in a goofy voice.

She immediately cracked a smile and raised her hand to touch her nose.

He grinned. "That's right, Hattie! And who's Hattie's favorite daddy?'

I rolled my eyes. "Does she have lots of daddies to choose from?" I grumbled just as she untangled her one arm from around my neck and stretched it towards him.

"Aww, you're so sweet, baby! Do you wanna come to me and give me a big hug?" He said emphasizing the word while he raised his arms towards her. "Daddy missed his little girl so much!"

And before I knew it, Harriet's other arm left my neck as well and she leaned towards him, as he picked her up and brought her to his chest instead.

I gasped. "You traitor!" I shouted and tickled her belly, earning a little shriek. "You're supposed to be on my side in this!" I cried, tickling her harder as her melodic giggles began filling the room.

"Not my baby, don't touch my baby!" Jackson shouted in urgency as he took a step back, but I quickly caught up and tickled her again, her laughter mixed with screams. "No, go away mom!" he yelled and turned around to hide her from me. "Leave us alone!"

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Yeah, whatever. I'm her favorite parent, I had my belly cut open with no anesthesia to get her out, what did you do?"

He took a moment but eventually he turned his head to smirk at me. "Put her in there?"

I rolled my eyes again. "Nice. As if that took a lot of effort."

"If you keep rolling your eyes like that they are going to fall off." He warned me. "And yes, it did take a lot of effort. I still have the scars from the fortune cookies you threw at my face."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, was that when she happened?"

"I like to think so, yeah." He said and began pacing towards me. "Our first time after forever... Desperate, needy…"

"… everything messy afterwards… you left…" I reluctantly added, as I was suddenly hit with the realization of how different that reunion had been from the one we had just had last night.

And then the greater realization hit me, of what was happening right now. We were honestly acting like a happy little family for the first time in forever. Being all goofy and carefree, the way it was always supposed to be. And it was just so easy. So effortless. So beautiful.

He reached for me then, raising his hand to cup my cheek and I leaned into his touch. The tenderness in it left me awestruck once again- just like it had that very first time.

But suddenly the feeling of his touch left my face and I opened my eyes to see a tiny hand pushing his arm away again.

Harriet cried out, enraged.

"Alright, enough of this." I said with a giggle. It would apparently take her a while to get used to this new intimacy. That was, if it were here to stay.

I frowned. It was, right? After everything…

"Anyways, talking about fortune cookies…" He interrupted my unpleasant train of thought, glancing at me reluctantly. "Does Chinese sound good for dinner? I think I owe you some extra cookies after the other night I was at the diner."

I bit my lips. "I think you think right."

He chuckled nervously. "Okay then just… why don't you go start unpacking? I'll take the nugget. I'm gonna order and go put my own stuff back and then come meet you, okay?"

I nodded, knowing that he could manage to get all those done before I finished my one task. I would bet all I had that he barely had two shirts and a pair of boxers in his suitcase, while me, just counting all the breastfeeding equipment, well… "Great." I simply replied.

And so I did. I gave Harriet a quick peck on the cheek and then I grabbed the suitcase and climbed up the stairs to my room. I switched on the light and opened the window to ventilate. The chilling air of late dusk hit my face, and for a second I just let it. I stared out the back yard, the grass, the yellow aspen tree that stood proud outside my room. Even colored in the drably palette of twilight, I still found the sight stunning.

It was all dark outside when I finally finished emptying the suitcase, and just as I was climbing down the stairs I heard the door from Harriet's nursery down the hall creak open. I paused a few stairs from the bottom, and watched in amusement as Jackson, on his tiptoes, creeped out of the room overdramatically like some secret agent. He shut the door silently, and when he noticed me watching he raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he mouthed.

I shook my head. "Nothing. You put her to sleep?"

"Put is a strong word, I merely placed her on the crib. She passed out." he widened his eyes in emphasis.

Lord. What on earth did Catherine do to her? "Snap, I didn't get to feed her. She'll probably wake back up at some point."

"Still, it should give us enough time to talk, right? Oh and before I forget…" he put his hand in the front pocket of his pants, and pulled out a pair of blue dotted panties. My blue dotted panties. The same ones I had been looking for all morning before I had finally given up and simply wore my pants until I changed again in my room.

I almost fell off the stairs at the sight.

"I believe this is yours?" he asked with a bit of unease and my cheeks flashed red in response.

I gulped, flew down the rest of the stairs, and grabbed the underwear. "Uh, yes thank you. Where did you-"

"Behind the bedhead at the hotel."

I blinked rapidly. "Oh."

He cleared his throat. "Aha."

"I wonder how it got there."

"Yeah, me too, no idea. So! Are we eating here or at the dining room?"

I shook my head in amusement at his attempt to change the subject and slightly chuckled. "Uh, dining room, definitely."

"Good, great." He said nodding. "Oh, hold up." He raised one finger and run passed me to disappear down the hallway. A minute later he was back, holding a sealed bottle of wine.

"You said 'Tonight, after we put Harriet to sleep with some wine' right?' he explained.

Oh, right. "I guess I did say that." And for once things were going according to my planning, look at that.

"So back upstairs we go." He led the way to the staircase again, pausing at the base. He gestured towards it. "After you."

I walked up to him with a small smile, and I only then realized that I still had my panties in my hand. I debated throwing it in the laundry basket real quick, but then with a mental shrug I just hung it at the end cup of the handrail. Then I walked passed him.

"Are you… just gonna leave that there?" he asked after a moment.

"Yep."

"Okay…" he trailed off amused and followed right behind me.

I was smiling as I climbed the rest of the stairs. But as soon as I reached the dining room, well… things got real. I stopped in my tracks and I felt him stop right behind me, both slightly hesitating.

"Maybe I should have brought two bottles." I heard him mutter breathlessly.

I pursed my lips. Yeah, just maybe.