Music filled the kitchen as the sounds of grits boiled on the stove and spam sizzles. Soon as breakfast was done Jess would wake Miguel up. Those little pills had him out like a light. She just knew he would turn a new shade of red if he found out she had found him asleep on the couch and carried him to bed. The thought alone had her giggling.

Mig turned on his side, eyelids barely open, "Lyla?"

"Good morning, sleepy head."

"Put on coffee please and get the monitors up."

"No can do, boss."

"And why is that?" He pushed up, rubbing his eyes, vision still slightly blurred.

"For one, we're not at home or hq. So there isn't exactly anything for me to connect to," The fabulous sprite explained.

Mig began to question her when he finally caught a look around the room. Oh right. Jessica's house.

"Hey, brighten up Sunshine. Looks like Jess is making a yummy breakfast. Makes me wish I could eat."

Again with that word. He shook his head and just made his way to the bathroom before meeting his friend.

X

"Good morning Miguel, Lyla," Jess said with her back to them both.

"Good morning! I love your house!"

"Why thank you," she turned, setting the food at the table, "How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm well. I didn't realize how tired I was last night," Mig sat, looking at the small spread.

"I couldn't remember if you liked your eggs whole or scrambled. Lyla said you take them either way. Now dig in, we've got a few more things to do today."

"Thank you again for having me the night," he took a few spoonfuls of grits in, "I'm feeling much better today though."

"Are you going to add butter or cheese to that, or you just like it bland?" Jess raised a brow, sprinkling some shredded cheese in her bowl.

2099 paused, looking at her for a moment.

"You feel better right?" She sprinkled some in his bowl with a small slice of butter, "You're still half asleep."

"I do feel better. In my defense I did just wake up," he stirred it together, continuing to eat.

"And it was one of the best sleeps he's had in a long time," Lyla added.

"Good to hear. That means you'll be less cranky today."

"I wasn't cranky yesterday," he pointed his spoon at her, setting the bowl down and going to eat his eggs. Pausing at her expression, "What? Why are you smiling like that?"

"It's nice to see some of your old habits are still there, despite you having been like…this for a while."

She was referring to how he always finished one item on his plate before going to the next. Something he had done since before they even met.

"What is 'this'? I haven't been any type of way."

"Delusional?"

"Càllate!"

Jess smiled, biting into her toast with a crunch.

"I am no type of way."

Her smile fell, "You just had a nervous breakdown, Miguel. You've been so stressed and bogged down. I know you feel like there is so much on your shoulders. And there is, but you don't need to push us away. I'm here to help.

"Peter wants to help and so does Ben," she rubbed his hand, causing him to reel back slightly. Jess could see the guilt and shame plastered on his face.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to let you get that way again."

"I'm not your responsibility."

"You are now," she tapped his nose, receiving a surprised look, "And you're about to become accustomed to not getting the final say."

Mig glared, biting into his breakfast sausage, "Does Ben know about this?"

"Not really. He knows you were hurt, obviously. And he knows I said I would nurse you back to health. Asides that, he doesn't know much."

That satisfied the giant for the time being.

"When you're done with breakfast you can either relax in your pajamas or change into some day clothes and we can plan our day out."

"Fine," he mumbled out.

Jess smiled, taking the empty dishes to the sink. Before walking to Miguel's room she stopped next to him, giving him a tender hug.

Again, he tensed, unsure what to do. After a moment he allowed himself to relax and lean in. With his head against her stomach he could hear the heartbeat of her baby, there was even a gentle kick at his cheek. Mother and the baby's heartbeats were synchronized.

Jess put a hand on his head, rubbing his hair back. She knew that her plan would help ease his load.

X

"Aww, is boss feeling something other than brooding?" Lyla floated around him, teasing, "You should take a moment and enjoy this."

"I am enjoying it," Miguel defended, "But I need to get back to work. I have to fix these holes."

"Always some excuse. Either way."

"Coming in," Jess pushed the door open, "Are you staying in your PJ's?"

"Is there anything you plan on letting me do other than rest?"

"Even if I do, we're not leaving the house."

Mig shrugged, "Then I suppose there is no reason to get dressed, is there?"

"Nope," she reached into a drawer, pulling out some fabrics.

2099 watched in confused curiosity as she laid out powder and such.

"Alright, lay on your back."

"Why?"

"So I can diaper you."

The way she spoke was so matter of fact that Miguel would have thought this was a normal occurrence. Maybe in her dimension it was, unfortunately it wasn't normal in his.

"Absolutely not."

"Remember what I said about good choices?"

He turned his nose up, crossing his arms defiantly.

"Ok," she grabbed his leg, beginning a mini tif. This consisted of him attempting to get his limb out of her grip, trying to hop away.

He was successful in escaping her grasp eventually. Once out of her hold, he just played keep away with himself.

"You didn't even fuss this bad over the bath and me dressing you last night," she complained, "And you ended up loving it. Come on."

"A bath is one thing, you putting…that on me is another!"

"Come here."

"Not a chance," he barely finished before she whipped his leg from under him, dragging him over.

"I'm gonna be real mad if you bust your stitches and I have to take you back to the hospital," she warned, "Stop being difficult or I'm calling Peter."

"And what's he supposed to do? He's not the boss of me," he scoffed, attempting to crawl away.

"He can give you a spanking, something I can't quite do right now."

He paused, "Y-you don't know what you're talking about."

"I heard you and him having a 'talk' in your hospital room. I've grown up around enough people to tell the signs of getting your bottom thoroughly swatted. And unless you want me to call him over here and tell him you're making poor, pregnant Jess' day hard, I suggest you make good choices. And don't scratch my floor!"

Mig glared at her, a hot blush cresting his face.

"I mean, she has a point. She is pregnant and you are making her day harder," Lyla floated above Miguel's face, earning a glare from him. "Don't think Peter would be super happy about that."

Mig was about to demand to know whose side she was on when he was unceremoniously flipped on his back and his pants ripped off. On reflex he covered himself.

"I already saw that," she sang, "Now raise your waist."

"Why do I need to be in that ridiculous thing! I'm not a d mn baby nor am I an invalid!"

"You don't need to be an invalid to wear these," she forced his hips up to slide to cloth under, "Move your hands please."

"Aww, Miggy is super shy"

Miguel groaned, covering his red face. He hoped for death when he felt her maneuvering his member to apply powder.

"You're doing good, almost done," Jess tightened the sides, holding them in place with a couple safety pins on each side before snapping the cover shut, "Not too tight, is it?" She ran her finger along the leak guard, making sure it was in the right position.

"Why are you so cruel?" He whined behind his hands.

"If it's any consolation, you can consider it you helping me practice," she smiled, pulling his pants back on for him.

"How am I the best option for that? Just steal Mayday or something!?"

"I have you here, so that's more convenient. Don't take it off, either," she pointed, "You only get one warning."