Dear averybody…. Not going to lie, it was kind of tricky to figure out what to do at first when all you gave me for a birthday prompt was a title…but then I figured I'd just throw Arabella in… and it all sort of came together from there….I hope you laugh a little bit.

As your Goddaughter would say Happy Birthday Stupid-Face…..

PS…there's tons more I could say but for now, just this. I can't wait until we meet at a bar one day and make up for all of the times we should've been drinking together. Hope you had/have a great day George

100 Encore, Day 48: "Spooning"

"Mmm….that was so good babe. So good." April sighed happily as Jackson wrapped his arms around her, catching his breath.

He kissed her shoulder. "Relaxed?" he asked, and she nodded, turning to peck his lips. "Good. I'm glad. You throw a damn good carnival party and your efforts deserve to be acknowledged. What else can I do for you, hmmm?" He whispered in her ear.

But she was six months pregnant with her third baby girl, not up for much more than one round lately, especially not after hosting a bunch of three-year olds and their moms all day. "Spoon with me," she yawned. "Maybe in a second make some tea. I like being the little big pregnant spoon for now, though. Don't move. Oh but I get the remote, too."

"You got it." Jackson reached over and handed her the remote, keeping an arm around her. But before April could turn the TV back on, Bellie burst through the unlocked bedroom door, charging toward her parents.

April quickly thanked God for small favors. She was not ready to lie about sex to a three-year-old, but had the door opened five minutes earlier she wouldn't have had a choice. "What you guys doing?" Arabella demanded of her parents, arms crossed.

"Spooning," April deadpanned. "What are you doing out of bed, missy? 9:30 is way past your bedtime."

"You don't hab spoons, no eatin' in you bed!" She huffed, arms crossed.

"It means cuddle, diva…when you spoon someone you cuddle them. It's time for you to march off to bed though. Go ahead, I'll be right behind you." Jackson tried to sound stern, but the yawn didn't help.

"I waked! I want to cuddle wit you on my bir-day! Let me up!"

"Bellie you know the rules." Jackson loved his girls, but he hated letting them in bed, especially at night. "It wasn't your birthday, it was just your party, anyway."

April rolled her eyes. "Babe just let her up! You're the reason she's awake anyway. You were the leader of the freakin' cotton candy crew all day!"

Jackson smirked. "Great name, really clever. What else are they supposed to do at a carnival party?"

"She's wide awake…just let her fall asleep in here and then you can move her." She said the last part under her breath through gritted teeth and he relented, picking his little girl up and putting her between them in bed.

"Mommy, what are you wearing on you big pop?"

"What kind of a question is that? It's a nightgown." April was really happy Jackson didn't insist she take it off, that would have made this conversation so much more awkward.

"Hey diva, what was your favorite part of your party, tell me," Jackson insisted, but he let April pull her as close as possible to cuddle.

"Uhhh the horsies and the cake." She answered quickly, referring, of course, to her strawberry birthday cake and the carousel Jackson let April rent. He would never let real barn animals in his yard, much to his wife's dismay.

"Who made you happiest? Tell daddy what you told me." She kissed the back of her daughter's head.

"Oh that daddy play all day wit me an' Tee. Tee sayed 'Dadda hi' all day so much times!"

"I know she did say it so much, right?" April eyed Jackson to make sure he was listening. She wasn't quite on maternity leave yet but she was entering her third trimester and going to need more help soon. She was hoping Arabella might convince him to lighten his workload.

"Yeah I say 'Shhhh' pease so many times 'cause me an' Mari heared it so much."

"I know. She's just a baby though. And usually she hangs out with me all the time, she was just excited to see dad."

"I know. You was busy at my party. You hab fun?" Bellie yawned.

"I did. I loved playing with you all day. Happy birthday, baby."

"Thanks mom." Bellie tuned and kissed her mom's cheek. "I not you baby nemore."

"Sorry. Happy birthday big girl."

"Hey Bellie," Jackson whispered. "Let's play a game. Tell me all your presents."

He was determined to get her to sleep and hoped that counting presents worked like counting sheep. "Uhh I gotted dress up, an' dollies, an' colorin' an' readin' books…." She yawned. "A mobie an' stickies an'…." She was coaxed to sleep pretty quickly thanks in part to April gently stroking her hair.

It took Jackson a little longer to coax April to let go of her child, but eventually she relented. After he put Arabella in her own bed, tucked her in and kissed her goodnight again, he remembered to make April tea.

"Ready for round two soon?" he grinned sheepishly, handing her the mug.

"Of that spooning session? Absolutely!" she smirked. Yet somehow he sweet talked her into more sex before sleep. Clearly it wasn't very hard, otherwise she wouldn't find it so hard to remember what life was like not pregnant. She had to learn to stand her ground. But when he looked at her with those gorgeous eyes as she came for the second time that night, she decided it was so much easier said than done. And maybe that wasn't a bad thing…