Please review! James is 4.

James wandered into the kitchen to see her father making dinner for them. The same thing he'd made the previous four nights before. Their schedule, and eating habits, had been thrown off with Claire's out of town business trip that had left the two to their own devices. With Francis's hectic work schedule, it created late nights at the office and hangry fits for his four year old who wasn't used to going home to eat and go straight to bed. Luckily, it was finally Friday and Claire was due home the next night.

Francis glanced over at James, smiling softly seeing her droopy eyes. "Hey darling, dinner is almost done. Did you want to call your mother? I think she just got back to her hotel room."

"Yes, please." James nodded while rubbing her eyes, accepting Francis's phone and swiping her small fingers across to call Claire. She walked over to the small breakfast nook and sat down to wait for Francis to bring over their food.

Claire answered after the second ring. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mommy," James smiled.

"Hi, sweetheart, how are you? How was school?" Claire grinned, toweling off her hair from her shower.

"I got more math homework." James sighed. "You're still coming home tomorrow, right?"

Claire felt her chest ache with those words. As much as they tried to prepare James for her business trip, it was the longest she'd ever been apart from Claire. While James's schedule was completely derailed with just one parent at home to watch her and tend to her, Claire also felt the need to keep looking at her calendar as well. The need to be with her child was taking an emotional toll as well as a physical toll - something she wasn't expecting to be this difficult. "I will be there late tomorrow night, so I'll see you Sunday morning."

James slumped back against the bench seat. "Promise to call me tomorrow?"

"Promise." Claire breathed sitting down on the edge of her bed. "I will call you tomorrow and Sunday can be all about you and me. But, how is your father doing? Did he have another late night at the office?"

"Yeah, we're having egg sandwiches again." James stated, glancing over to see Francis constructing them. "I think they're Daddy's favorite."

Claire chuckled with a shake of her head. "I'm afraid it's probably one of the only things he has the energy to make. Hopefully, he won't have much work tomorrow, and you two could go get something different to eat." She bit her lip, closing her eyes gently. "I miss you so much, James. You know I love you more than anything, right?"

James nodded tiredly before speaking. "Me too. When you come home, can we make muffins? Or, anything other than eggs?"

"Anything you want." Claire smiled. "Let me talk to your father. With the time difference, you two will probably head to bed soon. Have a good night, baby."

"Night, Mommy." James replied before Francis came over and took the phone before placing her dinner plate in front of her, holding back his chuckle when her eyes went wide seeing the color of everything. He quickly kissed her cheek. "Dr. Seuss came by." He brought the phone to his ear as he went back to retrieve his own plate. "How was your day?"

Claire laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "Productive. I think we have a clear direction with our clean water initiative. But, I'm ready to be home. How was your day? James said you had another late night."

"Yeah, she's been a trouper this week for sure." Francis agreed as he sat down opposite James, grinning seeing her inspecting the eggs he had dyed green. "I'll have to treat her tomorrow. She'll cling to you come Sunday. Which means I only have you for a few hours until dawn."

Claire smiled, feeling a blush hit her cheeks. "I should plan accordingly then, huh?"

"Claire, it's been five days. You could be wearing snow pants when you come home. I don't care. We'll role play trapped in a snowed in cabin." Francis stated, earning a loud laugh from his wife. "Seriously, though, our home isn't the same without you. James and I are definitely ready for you to be back."

Claire hummed softly. "Me too. You just have one more day. How do you suppose you should treat James? Her favorite place is the zoo, and you can't stand the thought of it."

Francis studied his four year old, watching as she ate the sandwich she had decided was safe to eat. "Not entirely sure. But, I've got a few ideas. Do you remember that woman who dented Doug's car?"

"The vet at the aquarium?" Claire recalled.

"Yes," Francis smirked, "I could call in a favor. Spend a day learning about them and getting an up close look of a few different kinds of sharks." He grinned when he saw James's eyes dart to him. "I think they even have tiger sharks there."

"Francis, if I come home and she's got a shark bite somewhere, we'll be role playing the sex deprived country boy and the Texan who can get herself off." Claire warned him. "Just be careful."

"Always." Francis murmured with a wink to James.

Claire walked into their home the next night, later than she had hoped. Her flight had been delayed an hour and the plane couldn't park right away due to a storm delaying flights and keep them at their gates. She had texted Francis to let him know but hadn't received response on the ride home, and she found out why. The living room TV was on, illuminating Francis passed out on the couch with glasses on and mouth wide open. Setting her things down and removing her jacket, she walked over and gently massaged his temples. "Francis? Honey, wake up."

"Please, tell me I'm not dreaming and you're actually here." Francis mumbled sleepily.

Claire chuckled, kissing his forehead. "I'm here. What are you doing down here? I told you my flight was delayed and not to wait up."

"I wanted to." Francis smiled softly before Claire walked around the couch and sat down next to him. He wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head when she rested it on his shoulder. "How was your flight?"

"Long." Claire stated simply. "How was the aquarium?"

Francis hummed. "Well, James was excited about all the sharks we saw, but you know her. She wanted to see a Great White. She had fun though, most fun she's probably had all week. I swear; I was beginning to wonder if I would lose James as a 'Daddy's Girl,' because I just wrecked her week with my schedule. I probably have scared her for life with making egg sandwiches over and over again. By the time I was done with work, most places were closed to order out and it was too late to go grocery shopping. She was moping around missing you. Rightfully so. I just felt like I kept disappointing her."

Claire rubbed his chest. "She just had an off week. Yes, she missed me, but, Francis, she mopes around and is disappointed when she doesn't get to see you. She likes spending time with us, but she loves having both of us around. She's a kid, and she's never had to go very long without seeing us." She leaned up and kissed his jaw. "She's still a Daddy's Girl. She'll be your girl even when she finds someone she wants to spend her life with, because she'll want your approval."

"Big fat no." Francis gritted out, earning a muffled laugh in his chest from his wife. He rubbed her shoulder, sighing contently to himself. "How did you do this week without James? I know you missed both of us, but I can't remember the last time you've been away from James for this long."

"I haven't." Claire breathed, glancing towards the stairs. "Do you remember when we first started going back to work after James was born? The gnawing feeling in the pit of our stomachs. Worrying about her and wanting nothing more than just to see her and hold her. It felt like that. My body physically just wanted to be with her. It's such a helpless feeling when I know I can't."

Francis nodded, knowing how she felt. He felt that way about Claire and James every time he had to fly out to South Carolina for some event or rally or tragedy. He could be gone just a couple nights, but it didn't stop him from wishing his girls to be with him. "We didn't use to be this soft."

Claire reached up and took his hand into hers, softly kissing the back of his. "I don't think we've gotten soft. I just think we have a soft spot. You have to admit. We are more ruthless if it comes to something that threatens her. You and I got together with ambitious dreams and calculating minds, with a deep love for each other that has built a strong marriage and life. We were it. Then, we had her, and suddenly it's not just us. We had someone relying on us and someone we belonged to outside of each other. She makes wherever we are home. You've said it yourself that even your office feels better having her there whether she's laughing at something she's watching or talking to herself while playing."

"She even brought us closer." Francis mused softly, remembering his awe over his wife's strength carrying and birthing their daughter. He knew Claire wasn't like anyone he'd ever met before, but he fell in love with her harder over a pregnancy he'd never wanted until then. It had completely confused him at the time, but he understood everything she had fought for and endured once he held their daughter for the first time. Something he was endlessly grateful to her for. "And, I didn't think that was possible."

"Me either." Claire whispered before pulling out of his embrace and looking back at him. "I need to go hold her, Francis."

Francis nodded, caressing her cheek. "I know."

After changing into a nightgown, Claire padded into James's room, smiling softly when she found her four year old sleeping like a log with her stuffed shark tucked in her arm. She stepped over the few toys that were left on the floor before sitting down on the bed and rubbing James's back. "James, sweetheart, I'm home."

James mumbled something before she turned over. Her little body heaved a sleepy sigh before her eyes creaked open just a sliver. "Mommy?"

"Hey, baby," Claire smiled softly, stroking her daughter's side soothingly. As much as she wanted to hold her daughter, she also didn't want James to stay awake for long. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." James murmured before holding out her arms for Claire. When Claire pulled her up and into her lap, she immediately snuggled into her mother's embrace. "Do you have to go away on another trip soon?"

Claire kissed the top of James's head. "No, this trip was it for a while. I'm sorry you had to spend so many late nights at your father's office. I heard you had fun at the aquarium today though."

"One of the sharks almost bit Daddy." James barely got out with a smile before she was asleep again.

Claire smiled with a shake of her head before burying her nose in James's hair and inhaling. The ache that had plagued her body all week vanished, leaving her content. For the second time this week, she was reminded of just how attached she was to the small child in her arms and what she would do for her.

Waiting until she felt James was sufficiently out, Claire put James back into her bed and tucked the covers around her. "Night, sweetheart." She whispered with a kiss to her cheek before sneaking out to head for her and Francis's room.

Francis glanced from the TV to his wife when she entered. "And, here I thought James wouldn't let you leave her side." He grinned when Claire walked over to see what he was watching. "Just the news. Sounds like it's going to rain cats and dogs tomorrow."

"That's okay. I wouldn't mind staying home tomorrow with you two." Claire smiled before climbing onto Francis's lap, draping her arms over his shoulder. "I don't think I've said I missed you yet."

"You haven't." Francis murmured before pecking her lips. "I missed you. Can't even sleep properly without you."

Claire dropped her forehead to his. "I'm usually annoyed with your snoring if I wake up in the middle of the night, but it's all I wanted to hear this week." She gave him a thoughtful look. "I guess we should catch up on our sleep then, huh?"

Francis chuckled at the playful tone in her voice, his hands massaging her thighs on either side of his and easing his way upward. "I guess if you're tired we could." His thumbs met the hollows at each of her hips. "But, I can think of better ways to spend our time."

"Me too." Claire whispered before thrusting her hips down against his, feeling his erection press against her center. The contact made both of them groan softly before she started grinding against him. "For starters, you could tell me how you almost got bit by a shark today."

Francis grunted before dropping back into the bed, keeping his hands planted on Claire's hips to help her move against him. "It was a baby. Even if it had gotten me, I've had worse paper cuts." He quickly pulled his t-shirt over his head, tossing it over her shoulder to the floor. Her hands landed on his chest as she leaned forward, using the new position to her advantage. His hands slid further up her hips only to realize she wasn't wearing anything under the nightgown. "Fuck, Claire."

Claire sighed softly when his pubic bone met her clit. She leaned over him, capturing his lips with hers as his hands freed himself from his pajama pants. Cupping her face in one hand, the other slid to the small of her back as he sat up and brought her down on him. The action forced moans from both their throats. She bit her lip when Francis grabbed her left knee and lifted it until it was caught under and behind his shoulder, her foot flat on the bed. The first shallow thrust made Claire gasp. "Francis."

Claire was very happy the next morning that Francis had urged her to put some clothes on before they fell asleep, because James rushed into their room as soon as she was up. Or at least until the time she and Francis had given her to prevent her from watching cartoons at 3 am in the morning. So at six sharp, James ran into their room and woke them both up with her excitement.

"Mommy!" James squealed as she nearly launched herself on the bed, crawling on top of Claire and hugging her tightly. "You're home!"

"I am." Claire smiled tiredly through a yawn. "Good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?"

James nodded against Claire's chest. "Good."

Francis groaned softly as he peered over at the two. "What am I? Chop liver? Where's my good morning hug?"

"Daddy," James giggled before sliding off Claire to cuddle with Francis, "what's for breakfast?"

Francis couldn't help but smile, hearing his wife's amusement as well as she giggled. "Well, what would you like? I'm sure your mother is tired of hotel food. Is there something she wants this morning?"

Claire bit her lip, trying to keep from laughing as she teased her daughter. "I'm kind of hungry for one of your egg sandwiches." She nearly busted when she saw James whip around, smile completely dropped from her face.

"You're joking, right?" James asked seriously, visibly relaxing when Claire nodded with a chuckle. "Can we have waffles and berries?"

"I'm in the mood for more of your mother's cream." Francis smiled as he closed his eyes, laughing when Claire swatted his arm. "Whipped cream."

Claire giggled as she blushed. "You are disgusting. Don't!" She blurted out when he opened his mouth to speak again, knowing he was going to say something dirty again that their daughter, thankfully, wouldn't know was dirty. When James crawled back on top of her, she held her against her chest, stroking her hair as her daughter sighed contently. "I bet if you ask nicely Daddy will make them for us."

James smiled as she turned her head back to look at Francis. "Daddy, will you make us waffles?" She frowned when his eyes remained closed, fully aware he was awake. "Daddy?" Still nothing. Reaching over, she pressed her thumb against Francis's eyelid and pulled it up so he had to look at her. "Daddy?"

"Alright, alright," Francis groaned with a grin. He slowly trudged out of bed, scratching his chest as he mumbled heading for the door. "The things I do for the two of you."

Claire snickered in James's hair before gazing down at her little girl, enjoying the extra snuggles she was providing. "What do you want to do today, baby? I think we're sticking around the house."

"Can we start planning the charity gala?" James asked looking up at her mother with big blue eyes.

"You want to do that?" Claire grinned, receiving an excited nod in return. "You have fun at those, don't you? We can start that today. You're such a big help with those too." She tapped James's nose with her finger, laughing when her nose wrinkled up with her own grin. "I missed you, goofy girl."

James smiled. "I missed you too, Mommy. I think Daddy did too. He kept telling me stories about before you got married. He even showed me where he gave you a ring."

"He took you to the Lincoln Memorial?" Claire asked as she eased out of the bed with James clinging to her. She wrapped an arm under her daughter, glancing at herself in the mirror as she passed to be sure her hair and clothes were somewhat presentable in case one of the agents had to come inside.

James shrugged. "I don't know what it's called. A big statue of a guy was inside though. He was huge." She frowned as they headed down the stairs, taking another look at her mother's attire. "Mommy, you're wearing sweatpants."

Claire smiled. "I am. Just like you." She walked down the hallway and into the kitchen to find Francis already at work in the kitchen. She bit her lip as he focused on making waffle batter, the gears in his mind working to try and remember his usual recipe without looking it up. Remembering her first trip with him to the monument James had mentioned visiting, she couldn't help but ask after fifteen years of asking. "How was Lincoln?"

Francis grinned, meeting her eyes with a nod. "Still standing strong."

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