A/N: Sorry this took so long! I was kind of stuck.
As always, I only own Melody and the plot. Everything else is owned by RIB. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: And...We're Off!

Rachel opened her eyes to the sound of Melody babbling over the monitor on her side of the bed. The other side was empty, void of her hunky husband and she smiled as she listened to her little girl babble, interspersed with little giggles and things that only made sense to her. Rachel swung her legs over the side of the bed, straightening the tank top and shorts she had worn to bed as she went. She left the room and headed for her daughter's nursery down the hall. Her grin widened when she saw her 11 month old standing up in her crib, babbling as she clutched the bar. She grinned a lopsided toothy grin, the one that matched her father's so perfectly when she saw her Mama.
"Well good morning to you too Melody Doll!" Rachel exclaimed when she approached the baby. Melody giggled and raised her hands for Rachel to take her out. Rachel did as Melody wanted and the little girl immediately wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. She giggled into Rachel's ear. Melody was a happy girl. Rachel loved mornings like this.
"Daddee?" Melody questioned as Rachel brought her over to the closet to pick out an outfit for the day. Melody was enamoured with Finn at the moment, and always wanted to see him. Rachel had no idea how she was going to deal with this phase if it persisted past the summer months. She was so lucky her husband had chosen a profession that allowed him to be home during the summertime with them. Like Melody, she liked his undivided attention too.
"I think Daddy went for a run" Rachel smiled, finding the outfit she wanted for the little girl and walking back to the change table. She placed Melody down and went about getting her ready for the day. She changed her diaper and into the pink one piece romper she had picked out, completing the look with a clip in her hair to keep it out of her eyes. While her hair was long enough for clips, it wasn't quite long enough for pony tails or pigtails. Hopefully that would happen soon. Melody giggled, looking up at Rachel as she finished.
"There, now you're all beautiful." Rachel smiled, leaning down to rub noses with her baby. Melody's hands went for Rachel's hair. Rachel smiled for a second before gently pulling Melody's hands out.
"Gentle with Mommy princess." She smiled. She scooped her off the change table and Melody instantly itched to get down. She'd mastered crawling in the last few months, and wanted down as often as she was allowed. Rachel smiled as she watched the baby take off out of the nursery and down the hallway towards the living room. The slap of her hands against the floor of the hallway made Rachel laugh. She loved that sound. She followed a few paces behind the baby and smiled when she saw Finn coming into the living room, sweaty from his run. He smiled at her but gestured for her to stay quiet, Melody hadn't noticed him yet. That only lasted a second though.
"DADDEE!" She exclaimed when she caught sight of her favourite person. She sat back on her diapered bottom and jumped a little excitedly, clapping her hands while she grinned. Finn swooped in and picked up his baby girl, smothering her face with kisses until she used her tiny hands to push him away.
"What, no more daddy kisses? Too much for you?" He placed one more on her cheek before throwing her up in the air a little bit as Rachel came closer to the pair. She smiled.
"Have a good run?" She asked as she ran her hand around his back, coming to rest on his opposite hip.
"Yeah." He smiled, not taking his eyes off the baby. He made a funny face at her, that she giggled at in return. She squirmed after a few minutes to be put down. "It's getting hot out there already, " He turned to her a little bit when Melody had crawled over to her toy box. She hoisted herself up to it as her parents watched, and grabbed for the first toy she could successfully grab. Her doll. She sat down on her diapered bottom and immediately started to talk to her baby in a language only the two of them understood.
"I bet" Rachel smiled, looking up at her husband. "I was hoping we could maybe hit the Central Park Zoo, unless you think it'll be too hot today?"
Finn looked down at her, away from where his attention had turned to Melody. "If we go soon, maybe before lunch time we might be okay. I'm going to jump in the shower and then we can hit the road after breakfast" Rachel nodded and kissed his cheek before he walked away. Melody looked up from her doll as Finn left the room.
"Daddee?" She asked, looking at Rachel.
"He's just going to shower. How about you come into the kitchen with Mama so we can make breakfast?" Melody grinned up at Rachel. Another way she was like her father. Melody loved to eat. She crawled over quickly to Rachel and grabbed onto her leg, hoisting herself up and looking at Rachel. She laughed and lifted the little girl onto her hip, bringing her into the kitchen to make breakfast for the three of them.

That evening, after spending a good part of the day at the Central Park Zoo, they hung out playing in the living room. It had gotten extremely hot out and they'd returned early so Melody could have her nap. But once she was up she was ready to play and have fun with her parents. They'd been working for a few days to attempt to get Melody to take her first steps. She would often cruise around on the furniture, but had been quite hesitant to take her first steps. If she had to get somewhere she would drop to her knees and crawl. Finn stood in the middle of the living room, holding Melody's hands in his. She stood there, looking at Rachel who was standing on the opposite side of the living room, holding her favourite doll.
"Melody" Rachel called to her daughter in a soft voice. "Melody, come get your dolly" Melody grinned at her mother as she held her Daddy's hands. She bounced a little bit and Finn let go of one of her hands, helping her walk a few steps before letting her go when she got her footing on her own. She stood there for a moment and looked up at Finn who was right behind her.
"It's okay baby!" He tried to encourage. Rachel held out the doll. Melody was maybe five steps away from her.
"Melody, come to Mommy!" Melody looked up at Finn and then turned to Rachel, her gaze turning to the doll that Rachel was holding. She took an unsteady step towards Rachel, falling on her diapered bottom. She pouted, as Rachel laughed.
"It's okay baby" Finn stepped in and helped her stand up again, moving her back half a step. Rachel held out the doll again and looked at Melody. "Come on baby, you can do it." Melody grinned again and took a slight step. When she didn't fall, she took another timid step and another before she eventually got to Rachel. Rachel squealed as Melody fell into her arms, grabbing for the doll.
"Finn, did you see that?" She grinned up at her husband. Of course he had, he'd been right there.
"I did baby." He smiled as he crouched beside them, running his fingers through Melody's short hair. "You did it Melly, you got to Mommy" The baby just grinned at Finn, her doll clasped in her hands. Maybe it was a fluke because she wanted her doll, but either way they now had a walking baby girl on their hands.
And that night, once she got going there was no stopping her. They were in so much trouble.