Ace is cooking dinner for everyone one Friday night, "where's Graham," asks Tegan.
"He hasn't called yet," Ace turns and smiles at her daughter who Tegan is starting to play with.
"Aren't you worried," Tegan asks, knowing how the two can be when one is late.
"He told me he might be calling later in the evening during this week, kids are leaving bigger messes since it is the end of the school year."
"Dadda," Ace and Tegan stop and turn to the little voice.
"Dadda isn't home yet," Ace bends down to pick up Manisha who squirms away from her.
"DADDA," Manisha faces the door. "DADAA," she starts to cry, Ace's phone rings.
"Please get that for me Tegan," she asks her friend while trying to soothe her crying baby.
"Dadda," she sniffles between cries.
"It's Graham," Tegan hands Ace the phone, Tegan tries to take Manisha from Ace's arms. Manisha pushes away her hands.
"What's wrong," he asks worriedly as Manisha cries even harder hearing her father's voice.
"Your daughter has been screaming for you." Ace replies as Manisha is looking around in her mother's arms looking for Graham.
"What do you mean?"
"She's been saying Dadda and now is crying her eyes out. I don't know what to do. When are you going to be home?"
"Yeah, about that?" Knowing he is about to say something she won't like bounces on her feet trying to distract Manisha.
"What happened," Ace tries to keep the panic out of her voice.
"I'm ok, there were no kids on the bus."
"Graham," she tries not to sound panicked as Manisha cries louder.
"Some nimrod hit the bus. I just called dispatch, they are sending out someone to pick up the bus and myself."
"Where did they hit?"
"The right side, I had my seat belt on and felt nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Can you put Mani on the phone?"
Ace turns the phone on speaker, "Manisha, it's Daddy." The tears slow down and she looks at the door. "I will be home, I promise."
"Dadda," Manisha cries looking for him not understanding that he isn't in the room.
"I am coming home, be good for Mamma. Ace."
"I'm here Graham."
"I know," he smiles into the phone before continuing. "I promise I'll get home as soon as I can."
"I love you."
"I love you too," as soon as the phone hangs up Manisha starts crying again.
"Dadda, Dadda, Dadda," she wiggles her way out of Ace's arms, making Ace panic as she catches her daughter right before she hits the floor. Setting her gently on the ground she turns to Tegan.
"Tegan, can you please go and grab one of Graham's sweatshirts."
"You go, I'll stay here."
"I don't want to leave her side right now. I have a feeling if I would leave her eyeline she would cry even harder." Tegan walks away, Ace picks up a blanket, "does Manisha want to play peek-a-boo?"
"Dadda."
"I know, I miss him too when he's gone, and I know he misses us. Want your bear," a few weeks ago Nyssa surprised Manisha with a stuffed bear. Manisha pushes it away as Tegan comes running out.
"That is the first time she has done that."
"I think we have a Daddy's girl, have the shirt."
"I do and I have some questions."
"When you guys take her we use the opportunity to show our love. We aren't ready for more kids, so protection it is." Ace takes the sweatshirt, she can smell Graham's scent on it. Manisha turns around, not tricked by the shirt.
….
One hour later the door opens, Graham slumps his way in as the onslaught of his daughter greets his ears. "Daddy's home." Manisha holds out her arms.
"Thank god, you're home," Ace says as Graham picks up Manisha. "I have tried everything, feeding her, changing her, giving her a bath, rocking her. Getting her bear that she tried to toss to the side."
"Seems both of my girls had a rough night." Using one arm he brings Ace to him as Manisha settles down. "How is everyone else?"
"I told them to go out and get something to eat and maybe catch a movie."
"You are at your wits end, why would you do that?"
"They don't need to hear her crying for hours."
"Why don't you make yourself something to eat, then take a shower or a bath."
"I'll think I'll just head to bed after I pump." He kisses her lightly before refocusing back on Manisha.
"So you decided to give your mamma and aunties a hard time tonight," she blinks up at him. "What sounds good to eat," he walks to the kitchen, getting a bottle out and setting her in her highchair. "So Manisha, want to hear a story?" He says in a silly voice. Once the bottle is heated, he tests it on his wrist. "Are you ready for dinner?"
He picks her up and takes her over to the chair in the living room. "Mani, you shouldn't be too hard on your mom. She loves you dearly and hates it when you cry; we both do." Manisha's eyes start to droop as she falls asleep. Graham walks into his bedroom to find Ace still awake.
"Do you want a cuddle," he lightly says as he puts Manisha in her crib.
"Yeah, when is school out?"
"In two days," he smiles and changes out of his work clothes. He lays down next to Ace. "I am looking forward to the summer. Spend the days with you and Mani, maybe visit our family for a couple of weeks."
"We should do it around my birthday?"
"You sure you want your 20th to be spent with your family."
"Well we can ask if Mel, Nyssa, Tegan and maybe a few others to be there and at night we can ask Mom, Dad or Sarah Jane to watch Mani."
"It's not like I am 21 in two months. I'm sure when that happens those in this house will make sure I'll be able to drink and we'll have to find a babysitter for Mani."
"She'll be 1, almost 2." Ace cuddles more onto his chest. "We haven't talked about Father's Day, it is closer. It is also your first."
"First of many," he kisses her head.
"When should we start planning her first birthday party?"
"We still have a few months Love. I know we both are tired, can we go to sleep?"
"Sure," she kisses him lightly before closing her eyes.
…
A few weeks later they are woken up by some crying. "Let me, it's Father's Day," Ace says, opening her eyes.
"Can I," he asks, already putting his feet on the ground. He gets up and moves to pick up Manisha. "Hello Sweetie, Daddy's here." Manisha grabs his face and brings his face to hers.
"I think someone is copying Mommy and Daddy," Ace says from the bed.
"We are showing her what love can look like," he smiles as Ace gets up from the bed.
"You have one cheek, I'll have the other," she says. Both kiss a cheek making Manisha laugh.
With Manisha in his arms they make their way out into the living room. "Morning Nyssa, are you heading out with Tegan?"
"No, Ace. When are you three heading out?"
"After we eat something. We packed Mani's bag last night."
"That's a good idea. I know Tegan's father is going to be my father-in-law in two years."
"It's still not the same," asks Graham.
"Yeah."
"I understand. Last month was the first Mother's Day that I wanted to celebrate since my Mum died." Ace leans into him, Manisha feeling something; cuddles closer to Graham making him sigh happily.
Once they arrive at Ace's parents, Harry takes Manisha from Graham. "How's my Little Princess?"
"Dad," Ace groans.
"What, you are my Fire Princess."
"Since having Manisha I haven't had time to make it."
"Honey, you hadn't made any since moving in with Tegan, Nyssa and Mel," Graham says, kissing her cheek. "Happy Father's Day Harry."
"You too Graham." Steven comes running in.
"Sissy," Ace bends down, picking him up before he runs into her legs.
"How are you," she asks him.
"Good. Li is getting closer to his girlfriend."
"Liam," she says her brother's name, still feeling the need to protect him.
"She's just my friend," he sighs, knowing what's coming next.
"Are you still friends with Adric?"
"He's in math club," Liam says, making a face.
"There is no problem with math club. Nyssa was the president of ours."
"Come on, nerds aren't cool."
"I'm one too."
"What?"
"How do you think I know how to make Nitro?"
"Dunno."
"I am a nerd, through and through."
"No you're not, you're my protective sister."
"Liam, I am more than one thing. I am your sister, a nerd, a mother, a partner."
"Don't forget a woman with a heart of gold," Graham says.
"Yes, I love you too Graham. Liam why don't you come with me to get what I got Dad and Graham for Father's Day." Once out after setting Steven in his playpen. "Li," she sighs, "did something happen between the two of you?"
"Why do you think that, we are just growing apart it happens. When was the last time you talked to Shreela?"
"Last week, and it's a little different for us, not only living in different time zones, different countries, both of us are in school; one with a baby."
"So."
"You and Liam live just doors down from each other. You never know when you are going to lose someone. Your niece is a namesake for someone I lost."
"I know."
"I'm just asking you to cherish your friends."
"Do you?"
"Excluding Shreela, I live with mine right now, three of them are aunts to my daughter, one is her Daddy."
"I will try."
"Good," she tucks his head under her arm, rubbing his head.
…
The following week, Ace and Graham are cooking dinner while Tegan is playing with Manisha. Tegan looks away for a second reaching for her phone. She looks back in time to see Manisha standing up, "Ace, Graham look." When they look, Manisha falls on her butt.
"What," asks Ace.
"She was just standing," Ace puts down the knife and Graham the spoon he was using to stir the pasta with and move towards the small area.
Holding out her arms, "Mamma," Ace bends down and picks her up.
"Were you just standing up for Aunty Tegan?" Manisha cocks her head to the side reaching for Ace's hair and sticks a piece in her mouth. "No." Manisha doesn't pay attention to what her mom just said. So Ace lightly grabs Manisha's hand, taking it out of her mouth and tries to get her hair back. "I see what everyone means about a toddler's grip being fierce. Mani, can Momma have her hair back?" Manisha moves her hand back to her mouth, Ace covers her mouth to stop it from going in. "That's Momma's hair, she doesn't want it wet.
Ace looks to Graham, silently asking for help. Graham takes his daughter from Ace's arms, whose hand is still wrapped tightly around Ace's hair. "Let go of Mamma's hair please. She doesn't like her hair being pulled."
"You would know," jokes Tegan.
"Tegan," a voice says from the doorway.
"Come on Nyssa, they have been together for long enough; even have a small child.
"And that child is right there in front of you and at the age where she is listening to everything."
"Also picking up on how all the adults around her are reacting," Graham says, as he gets Ace's hair out of Manisha's hand. "I'll put her down and get back to helping you with dinner."
"I think she wants to play more with Aunty Tegan," Tegan says as she tickles Manisha's stomach, making her laugh and reach for Tegan.
A few minutes later Tegan gets out her phone, Ace, Graham, she's doing it again." They turn as Manisha has a serious look on her face using the holes in a playpen as she stands up.
"Graham," Ace drops the knife again, grabbing Graham's hand as Manisha sturdies herself. "She's standing. Our daughter is standing."
"I see that," his voice croaks. She looks to see her parents staring at her and sits down.
"I got a video of that," Tegan tells them.
"Please send it to our phones and my email," Ace requests. Nyssa steps up the counter and starts to cut.
"Tegan, can you please help me finish making dinner? I think the parents want to gush over their daughter who is now standing." Tegan gets up as Ace and Graham step into the area that is blocked off so Manisha can safely play.