Archive of Our Own ^beta

Janis is making herself dinner and trying not to think too deeply about her life when she gets the message.

Getting a text from Cady is normal, they usually chat a bit at least once a day. Sometimes it’s just a good morning or goodnight message, but it’s still nice to keep in touch. Cady’s busy with her studies and work and husband, and Janis is busy with her own work and her cat and trying to get her commissions business up and running. Getting in touch whenever they can is normal.

What isn’t normal is Cady’s tone within the text.

caddycat: Hey are you busy??

jayjay: nah i’m just making dinner

jayjay: why what’s up

caddycat: Could I maybe come over for a little bit???

caddycat: Please

jayjay: yeah ofc

jayjay: is everything ok ??

caddycakes: I don’t know yet

jayjay: uhm… ok

jayjay: let me know if u need anything

caddycakes: I will

caddycakes: Thank you Jay

caddycakes: I’ll be over in an hour

jayjay: anytime <33

—-

Cady knocks on the door an hour later. Janis opens it to find her visibly shaking and clutching a shopping bag.

“Hey, Cads,” she says. “Need a hug?”

“Please,” Cady replies, sounding seconds away from tears. Janis immediately pulls her in, kicking the door shut behind Cady and holding her close.

“What’s going on?”

Cady inhales sharply. That’s never a good sign. She stutters out, “I-I… I think I’m pregnant.”

“Oh.” Janis says. She peeks into the bag Cady has and finds it to be full of pregnancy tests. “Is this, like, a happy thing? Do you want a baby?”

“I do,” Cady says miserably. “But Aaron… I don’t-I don’t think he does. I don’t know what to do, I-“

“Hey, shh,” Janis calms. “We don’t know for sure yet, there’s no reason to freak out now. We’ll do the tests when you’re ready and go from there, okay?”

“Okay,” Cady says, taking some deep breaths.

“Have you eaten? I have extra food,” Janis murmurs. “It’s just chicken and rice, it should go down easy.”

“That sounds nice,” Cady replies. “Hi Picasso.”

Janis’ cat beeps at her in reply, confused as to why she’s not picking him up for cuddles and pets like she normally does. He purrs and winds around their legs to try to coax some response.

“Soso, Caddy’s upset,” Janis scolds. “Let her get comfy before you try to get all her attention, you little whore. Where are your manners? I raised you better than this.”

Cady gives a weak giggle at that, following Janis and the cat to the kitchen. Janis plates up the extra portion she has and gives it to her. Picasso leaps onto the table to try and steal some, but is quickly foiled by Janis hauling him off and imprisoning him in her bedroom.

Cady eats slowly, pushing her food around the plate and taking a bite every few minutes. It’s good, but she’s so lost in her mind that she can’t focus on anything. Janis tidies up from cooking and lets Cady take her time.

Cady looks up at her when she finally finishes. Janis takes and washes her plate, then points to the bag standing ominously between them. Cady takes a deep breath and nods.

-

Cady does everything she needs to and sets a timer for all the tests. She clings to Janis once her hands and the bathroom have been sanitized and she’s waiting for the results.

“Either way, it’ll be okay,” Janis comforts. “One way or another. It’ll work out.”

Cady nods, but she still locks up when her timer goes off. “Could-could you… maybe check them for me? I’ll clean everything first, I just-I can’t… I can’t do this myself, I need everything to be okay for a few more seconds.”

“It will be,” Janis says. “You’re not alone. I’ll check them for you.”

“Thank you,” Cady says shakily. Janis nods and releases her to go get everything set up.

Cady opens the door again and gestures to the tests all lying face down on the counter. Janis steps in and takes her hand.

“Can you make sure they match? Before you tell me?” Cady mumbles. “If they’re all the same it’s a better gauge. If it’s a mix it could go either way.”

“Okay,” Janis says. Cady turns around and covers her ears so she can’t get any sense of Janis’ reaction to them.

Janis picks up the first test, a small white stick with a pink cap. She flips it over and sees two pink lines. It’s positive. The second one of the same brand is also positive. So is a flimsy paper one, and a digital one with a blue cap, and… the rest of them.

“Cads,” Janis says, just loud enough that Cady can hear her. Cady warily turns around and uncovers her ears.

“All the same?”

“Yeah,” Janis says. Cady takes a deep breath and pinches her middle fingernail.

“What… what are they?”

“They’re all positive,” Janis says quietly. “You’re pregnant.”

“Oh god,” Cady whimpers, immediately bursting into tears. Janis wraps her in a tight hug. “What am I gonna do, Jay? I-I-“

“Hey, shh,” Janis comforts. “Let’s get out of my gross bathroom first, come on.”

Cady doesn’t even grin at that, she just takes Janis’ hand and follows her to the couch. Janis has never seen her like this. Cady sinks down onto the soft cushions and curls in on herself, burying her head in her hands and weeping. Janis gently tugs her closer, and Cady tips to rest her head on Janis’ shoulder.

“You still have options,” Janis murmurs gently, rubbing Cady’s back in a desperate but ditch attempt to comfort her. “Do-do you want an abortion? I can go with you if you do. Aaron would never have to know if you don’t want him to.”

“No,” Cady chokes immediately. “I-you know me, I’d support any-anyone who needed one, or wanted one, but… I-I can’t do that.”

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure,” Janis says. “But you still don’t have to tell him right away. You have time before he’d catch on or notice anything.”

“He deserves to know,” Cady mumbles. “It is his baby. I-I… If he doesn’t… take it well, could… no, I can’t ask-“

“You can absolutely come back if he doesn’t react well,” Janis butts in. “I don’t have… a spectacular amount of room, but we’ll make a place for you. Picasso would love having you around a bit more.”

“Thank you,” Cady chokes. “I-he gets home tomorrow afternoon from his-his business trip, I’m gonna… I’ll tell him then.”

“Okay,” Janis says, pulling Cady a bit closer. “You can text me with what he says. I’ll come get you if he doesn’t take it well. But I’m sure he will, you guys would make great parents.”

“Thank you,” Cady sobs again. “For everything. You’re such a good friend.”

Janis’ heart aches a bit at that. Friend. “Of course.”

—-

Cady spends the night in Janis’ bed and in Janis’ pajamas. Janis sleeps on the couch to give her her space, but she can still hear Cady venting to Picasso well into the night.

Cady leaves just after breakfast. Janis spends the day worrying, pacing back and forth around her apartment and chewing her fingertips raw. Eventually she has to bust out her sketchbook and pencils to distract herself.

Cady never texts.

-

The first Janis hears all day is around eight in the evening. A knock on the door, again. She opens it to find Cady on the other side, sobbing heavily and clutching a small overnight bag.

“Oh god, Caddy,” Janis says sadly as Cady immediately lunges forward and starts crying into her shoulder.

“He-he left me,” she wails. “He’s not-not coming back.”

“Fucker,” Janis grumbles. “I’m so sorry, Peanut.”

“And-and he’s been cheat-cheating on me. He wasn’t on-on a business trip.”

Janis is seething by this point, having to actively restrain herself from hunting Aaron down and removing his testicles in a particularly violent fashion. But Cady is here right now, and she needs comfort more than Janis needs vengeance.

“I’m so sorry,” Janis murmurs. “Come here.”

She picks Cady up, very mindful of her belly, and carries her back over to the couch. Cady doesn’t let go. She just cries and cries, and Janis lets her.

“We’ll figure this out together,” Janis murmurs into her hair. She’s not sure if Cady can actually hear her over the force of her sobbing. But she has to say it. “You’re not doing this alone. You can stay here as long as you need.”

Picasso leaps up and worms his way in between them, settling on Cady’s legs and purring full force in an attempt to comfort. Cady doesn’t acknowledge him, but Picasso knows she’s grateful he’s there too.

-

Hours later, Cady finally calms down. Janis knows she’s not feeling any better, though. She simply ran out of tears to cry. “Do you wanna go shower? I’ll make dinner and get everything set up for you.”

Cady nods hollowly, finally giving Picasso a little peck on the forehead and Janis a final squeeze before she pads off to the bathroom.

Janis strips off her sheets and remakes the bed with her softest set, then fluffs the pillows and blankets so Cady has a nice place to sleep for the foreseeable future. She also remembers that Cady will need towels, so she grabs the softest few and leaves them outside with a knock to let Cady know they’re there.

-

Cady comes back about forty five minutes later, clad in Janis’ bathrobe and her auburn curls still dripping slightly. She presses against Janis’ back as she stands in front of the stove.

“Hey,” Janis greets quietly, switching the heat off. “How you feeling?”

“Empty,” Cady whispers. “But better, I guess. I’m just trying to process everything.”

Janis hums sadly and nods. “I have spaghetti. I didn’t add anything to it, I know pregnancy can kinda… mess with stuff, I didn’t know if you have anything you can’t eat anymore.”

“Not yet, luckily,” Cady replies, finally giving the smallest hint of a smile. “Least this kid can do is go easy on me.”

“Seriously,” Janis chuckles sardonically. “I have sauce if you want, or you can just freeball it.”

“This is fine,” Cady says as she takes her portion. “Thank you, Jay.”

“Of course,” Janis replies.

It’s a lot nicer to eat together.

—————

Janis does every possible thing she can to help Cady over the next few weeks. She helps get divorce proceedings started, goes with her to the clinic to get tested for STIs since Aaron had been exposing her (thankfully, everything was negative), and helps her find a doctor for the baby.

Cady asks her to come to the first scan with her, and Janis agrees in a heartbeat. She’s rather invested in the whole thing now, anyway.

Cady doesn’t let go of her hand through the whole vitals check and preparation process. Janis supposes she needs some sort of physical reminder she’s there. And she’s all too happy to oblige.

“Here’s your little one,” the doctor says once the ultrasound has started. “Face is up here, and then you can see some extremities starting to take shape.”

Cady and Janis both look as she points to all the parts. The baby is still vaguely shrimp-shaped, but it’s remarkably cute already. Janis gently squeezes Cady’s hand.

“Everything looks beautiful, I’m not seeing any major abnormalities or anything else to be worried about,” the doctor continues. “Would you like to hear the heartbeat?”

Cady nods, so the doctor flips a switch on the machine. A strange sort of pulsing sound fills the room.

“That’s you, hold on,” the doctor says. She shifts a bit and a similar, but more rapid sound can be heard. “Here’s baby.”

“Oh my god,” Cady whispers, holding her free hand over her mouth as she bursts into tears. “Hi baby.”

Janis finds herself holding back a few tears as well. It’s really hitting her now that Cady is actually pregnant and is actually going to have a baby soon. Man, I really am getting old.

“Sounds perfect, congratulations mamas,” the doctor says.

“Oh, we’re not together,” Janis corrects immediately. Cady, oddly enough, keeps quiet. “I’m just a friend.”

“Oh, my apologies,” the doctor replies, looking as if she doesn’t believe that for a second. “You’re about thirteen weeks along, so you’re due around the twentieth of October. Just a few more things and then we’ll let you go.”

Cady continues crying gently throughout the rest of the scan. Janis doesn’t know if she’s happy or upset by the events. Probably both. She never lets go of Cady’s hand, either.

“You okay?” she says when the doctor finally hands Cady her photos and leaves them alone.

“Yeah,” Cady sniffles, wiping her eyes. “It just kind of hit me now that there’s… a baby in me.”

“Me too. I get a mini-Caddy to play with,” Janis chuckles. “And you’re due around my birthday too, maybe I’ll get a twin.”

“You already look exactly like Veronica, don’t be greedy,” Cady teases. “Take me home.”

“Fine,” Janis laughs. Cady’s choice of words gives her pause. Home.

————-

In May, Cady is officially freed from Aaron and dubbed Cady Jane Heron once more. It was a long and difficult process, but Janis was there every step of the way. Child support payments are set in order for when the baby is born, and Cady gets their house in the settlement. But she doesn’t want it, and that’s a problem.

“Janis?” she asks about a week after everything finally settles.

“Hmm?”

“Could you maybe… help me move? I can’t stay in that house,” Cady says anxiously. “God, I’ll have to find a place, too, I didn’t even think of that.”

“Why?” Janis asks. “You can stay here. Picasso and I like having you around.”

“I like being here,” Cady replies. “But I can’t raise a kid in an apartment this small. No offense.”

“None taken,” Janis chuckles. She tucks her paintbrush behind her ear and swipes her hand over her forehead, unknowingly smearing it with purple. “Uh… you can totally say no, but would you maybe want to… move in together? Like, to a house or a bigger apartment? That way I’d still be around to help with the baby and stuff, and you might… not feel so alone?”

“That would be great,” Cady agrees immediately, visibly relaxing. She tenses again rather abruptly. “Whoa.”

“What?” Janis asks in a panic, rushing over to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Cady says as she reaches for her. Janis is confused when she takes one of her hands and rests it on the side of her belly, until she feels a little pop pop pop flutter against her hand.

“Holy shit!” Janis yelps. “Baby peanut can move!”

“This is the first time they’ve kicked,” Cady laughs through her tears. “Man, they’re excited.”

“That’s so weird, oh my god,” Janis says, squealing as another round of kicks begins beneath her hand.

“It is kinda weird,” Cady agrees. “Like Alien.”

“I fucking hope not,” Janis chuckles. She bends down a bit closer to Cady’s tummy. “Hello little creature inhabiting my friend. I’m your auntie. I’m gonna spoil you so much, and probably steal you from your mom sometimes so we can hang out. Maybe I’ll teach you how to paint. But I’m gonna buy you so much candy, and toys, and stuffed animals. I’m your cool auntie.”

“You’re so sweet,” Cady laughs. “Thank you. For being here for us.” I love you.

“Of course,” Janis replies. She can’t bring herself to look at Cady or risk ruining everything. I love you too.

Janis coughs slightly and heads back to her easel. “Dame follows the real estate market like a hawk, he can probably help us find a place. And he’s still got dance muscles so he can help physically. I’ll make him.”

“Why does he do that?”

“Hell if I know,” Janis shrugs. “We both just know not to question anything the other one does anymore.”

“Fair enough,” Cady giggles. “Oh, I should probably… tell him about the baby, huh?”

“Yeah, probably,” Janis laughs. “Have you told anyone?”

“Just you and my family,” Cady replies. “And… him.”

“Fucker,” Janis huffs. “Oh, I should probably start learning to stop swearing.”

“Eh,” Cady shrugs, stretching out on the couch and watching Janis work. “It’s part of you. If they pick it up we can deal with it later.”

“Tits.”

—————

Janis apparently massively underestimated Damian’s abilities, because he manages to find them a three bedroom apartment in a decent part of the city for a reasonable price. And agrees to help them move.

“So why the sudden rush to move?” he asks as he helps them start packing. “I mean, I get Janis not wanting to sleep on the couch anymore, but why three bedrooms? Are you pregnant?”

He’s clearly joking, but Cady freezes. “Um…”

“Wait, really?” Damian asks excitedly, looking up at her from the ground. Cady nods. “You’re pregnant?! And you didn’t tell me?”

“I forgot, I haven’t told anyone,” Cady replies sheepishly. “Surprise?”

“Oh my god, Caddy!” Damian says, scrambling to his feet and running to hug her. “Congratulations, oh my god! Tell me everything.”

Cady laughs and hugs him back. “Not much to tell, really. Baby’s healthy, I’m healthy. I’m due in October, I decided not to find out the sex.” She cups her oversized shirt to show off her bump. “But your little niece or nephew is in here.”

“Oh my god, you’re so cute!” Damian squeals. “Hi baby bump. Damian junior.”

“Absolutely not,” Janis calls as she enters from the bedroom carrying a box. “I can’t handle two of you.”

“And what if it’s a girl?” Cady laughs.

“Damiana.” Damian replies immediately. “What? That’s a good name!”

“I’ll think about it,” Cady jokes, popping up to kiss his cheek. “You two are gonna be the best auntie and uncle.”

Damian notices how forced Janis’ smile is when she looks at Cady. Luckily, he decides now isn’t the time to mention it and instead says, “Hell yeah. This is gonna be the cutest baby ever.”

“Thanks,” Cady laughs. “Has some good genes, I hope they turn out cute.”

“Mini Caddy,” Damian says.

“Mini Caddy,” Janis agrees with a nod. “Damie, this is heavy, will you carry it for me?”

“What happened to being a ‘strong, independent woman who don’t need no man’?” Damian teases. Janis just points to her box again.

“You’re more of a woman than I will ever be,” she says affectionately. “But you’re also stronger. Chop chop.”

“Fine. But only because I’m happy that I finally get to be an uncle.”

—————

“Caddy! I found the best thing ever at the store ever!”

“Oh?” Cady hums, turning around from the stove as Janis comes barreling in. Janis nods eagerly.

“I found a Halloween costume for the baby!”

“Jay, it’s August,” Cady laughs.

“So?” Janis defends. “They’ll be here by Halloween. And it’s versatile.”

“You’re cute. What did you find?”

Janis roots through her bag and pulls out a teeny tiny lion costume along with a binkie decorated to look like a lion nose.

“Oh my gosh,” Cady says, immediately taking it and holding it up to her tummy. “This is so cute!”

“Why are you crying?” Janis asks worriedly.

“Sorry,” Cady sobs, wiping her eyes carefully before feeling the material of the mane on the hood and the fabric of the little paws. “I’m, like, really hormonal lately.”

“Don’t apologize,” Janis says, hugging her friend as close as she can around Cady’s belly. “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” Cady sniffles with a laugh. “You thought of everything. It even has mittens so they can’t scratch themselves. And it’s just warm enough to keep them cozy without overheating. My little cub, I can’t wait.”

“I can’t either,” Janis agrees. “You’re gonna be an amazing mom.”

“I hope so,” Cady whispers, resting a hand on her stomach.

————-

“What are you doing?” Janis asks when she comes home from work to find Cady sitting on the ground by the coffee table surrounded by several different kinds of curry.

“I read that spicy food can induce labor,” Cady replies with a shrug. She doesn’t look at all bothered by the one she’s eating. “I’m sick of being pregnant, I figured it was worth a shot.”

“I think that’s a myth,” Janis laughs. “But I get it, it has to be uncomfortable by now.”

“You think?” Cady huffs. “I’m huge. I look like I have a basketball stuck to me.”

“You’re beautiful,” Janis replies quietly. She grabs a fork and takes a bite of the curry Cady was eating. “Jesus Christ, that’s so spicy!”

“Is it? I didn’t think it was that bad,” Cady laughs. Janis snatches the water bottle she offers and chugs about half of it in one go. “You good?”

Janis gives a thumbs up and continues drinking after a breath. “Great.”

“I can finish the rest,” Cady chuckles. “Try this one, it was the mild one.”

Janis warily takes the offered portion and tries a bite. “This is better.”

“Then have at it,” Cady says. Janis digs in happily. She forgot her lunch, so she’s been hungry all day. But Cady is quiet.

“You good?” Janis repeats quietly, gently nudging Cady with a foot under the coffee table.

“Yeah,” Cady murmurs. “I’m just thinking.”

“‘Bout what?”

“Them,” Cady says, holding her tummy. “As much as I hate being pregnant, I don’t… I don’t know if I’m ready. They really could come any day.”

“You don’t have to be totally ready,” Janis replies. “I think if we’re both about half ready we’ll be solid. And we baby-proofed everything, so they’ll be safe while we work it out.”

Cady smiles at her. “How do you always know what to say?”

“I know you,” Janis shrugs.

“That you do,” Cady agrees quietly. “That you do.”

————-

“Janis?” Cady calls from her room at around midnight that night. Janis comes barreling in to check on her and promptly crashes into the doorframe.

“Ow,” she groans in defeat. Cady winces and comes to check her out.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Janis sighs. “Are you okay?”

“Oh!” Cady says, appearing to remember something. “Uh, no, I’m in labor. The curry worked after all, I guess.”

“You what?!”

“My water just broke. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine! We should go,” Janis says in a voice about three octaves higher than normal.

“Okay,” Cady chuckles. “Lead the way.”

—-

“Are you sure you want me here?” Janis asks quietly once Cady is all hooked up to monitors and cozy in her hospital bed. “This is kinda personal for you.”

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to,” Cady replies sadly. “But it would really help me to have you here. You’ve seen my vagina enough at all their appointments. You’re basically their other parent by this point.”

Janis flushes at that. “Then I guess I’ll stay.”

“Good,” Cady grins. “Just let me know if you’re gonna pass out.”

“I could handle it in health class in middle school, I think I can handle this,” Janis replies. “Just try not to make this a regular thing.”

“Definitely not,” Cady agrees, breathing through a contraction. “And, um… thank you. For everything. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, let’s get this kid out of you first,” Janis chuckles. “But you’re welcome. I can’t wait to meet them.”

“Me either,” Cady says as another contraction hits right after the last. “Jesus.”

Cady seems to have jinxed herself with that. Everything suddenly progresses more rapidly, and she’s surrounded by doctors before she’s totally aware of what’s happening.

-

Cady’s daughter is born at 5:26 in the morning on October seventeenth, 2025. Janis was by her side the whole time, providing water and ice and encouragement whenever Cady needed them. She cries along with Cady as her child is rested on her chest and cleaned off.

“Hi, baby girl,” Cady sobs quietly, gently holding one of the baby’s little hands. “Oh, shh, I know. That wasn’t fun for either of us, huh?”

“She’s beautiful,” Janis sniffles as Cady and the baby both get patched up and covered with a soft blanket. “She looks just like you.”

The baby really does, with her bright red hair, big blue eyes, and the chubbiest cheeks Janis has ever seen. There’s barely a lick of Aaron in her, thankfully.

Cady smiles and scoots her baby up to kiss the top of her head. “Thank you.”

Janis just nods. “Nice job, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Cady laughs. “God, that was horrific. I think you’re an only child, little one.”

“Probably a fair call,” Janis laughs.

She and Cady continue cooing over the little one for a long while. Janis feels strange. She feels like she’s intruding on this private moment between a mother and her child, but she also feels like she’s finally found a family of her own. Like this is her baby.

-

“Do you wanna hold her?” Cady asks after several hours of snuggling her newborn.

“Uh… sure,” Janis says anxiously. A nurse comes in to get all of her measurements, then swaddles the baby and passes her to Janis. Janis takes her hesitantly and gives her a gentle rock. “Hello there.”

“I think she likes you,” Cady giggles as her daughter stares up at Janis’ face. Janis smiles back down at the little being in her arms.

“What’s her name?”

“Maya,” Cady replies as she takes the pen to add it to the birth certificate. “Maya Jay Heron.”

“What?” Janis asks in shock, snapping her head to look at Cady.

“This isn’t an impulse thing, don’t worry,” Cady replies with a chuckle. “You’ve done so much for me. For us. You’re already a better parent than her sperm donor. I think Jay is a perfect middle name.” She continues filling out the form, and gasps when she sees the date on it. “Janis, it’s your birthday! You got your twin after all.”

Janis somehow smiles wider. “Hey, man. Stealing my birthday, what the heck?”

“But look at that sweet face,” Cady pouts. Janis hesitantly brings the baby up and kisses her forehead, earning herself a quiet but happy squeak in response.

“She looks so much like you,” Janis says quietly. “I guess I can live with it. As long as she likes chocolate cake.”

“She’s my kid, of course she will,” Cady chuckles. “You two are sweet together.”

“Thanks,” Janis says quietly, trying to hide her blush. “I kinda like her.”

“We kinda like you too.”

————-

Cady and the baby get released from the hospital about a day later. Janis and Cady are both completely taken with the new little human living in their house. Picasso is a bit more unsure. Maya’s a sweet baby, but very, very loud. Janis quickly gets used to being woken up in the wee hours of the morning by the wails of the babe, or hearing her shriek through the afternoon.

She’s not quite so used to hearing Cady cry along with her. So Janis decides to check on things.

“Caddy? What’s the matter?”

“I can’t do this, Janis,” Cady sobs, holding a screaming wriggly baby. Her hair is disheveled and clearly hasn’t been brushed in several days, her clothes are stained with all sorts of… baby fluids, and she looks as if she hasn’t slept in years.

“You already are,” Janis says quietly. “You’re doing great.”

“She won’t stop crying, I don’t-I don’t know what she needs,” Cady continues weeping. “She won’t eat, I can’t get her to-to sleep. I’m a horrible mother!”

“No, you’re not,” Janis says. “You’re a great mom. Newborns just… do that sometimes. You’re doing so well.”

“But-but listen to her,” Cady whimpers.

“Can I take her?” Janis asks gently. Cady nods and carefully hands her the baby. “You need more rest than you’re getting. I’ll get her calmed down and maybe take her to get some fresh air. You should shower and change clothes, and eat something. And nap. Picasso will take care of you in the meantime.”

Cady looks like she’s about to protest, but she knows she’s been neglecting her own health and self care. So Cady nods. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Janis says, bouncing Maya a few times in a ditch attempt to hush her.

“She has-has bottles,” Cady sniffles. “In the fridge, if she’s hungry. But she won’t usually-”

“Okay,” Janis says, cutting Cady off. “You just take it easy, I got her for a while. I’ll work it out.”

Cady nods and kisses Maya’s forehead gently before making her way to her bathroom.

“Okay, let’s figure you out, hm?” Janis murmurs to the wailing baby in her hold. Maya quiets for a split second when she hears her voice, but quickly continues her screaming. Janis checks her diaper and finds nothing, so that can’t be it. Cady probably already tried feeding her. What else do babies need?

Janis takes to Google. She doesn’t want to admit it, but all the research she did on babies may not be enough. She reads up on something called colic and learns that swaddling can help. Maya has her own little dresser in Cady’s room for the time being, so Janis roots through it until she finds a swaddle and then heads to the living room to figure out how to turn the baby in her arms into an effective burrito.

Janis manages with another internet search. It’s not quite right, but the baby is cocooned well enough. “There we go, is that better?”

Maya looks at her, her face still red from her exertion. Janis rocks her carefully a couple times to try to calm her further. But Maya gives another pitiful wail.

“Let’s try feeding you again,” Janis says. “Shh, Maya, please. You’re okay, I promise.”

Maya continues wailing and trying to wiggle out of her little straitjacket while Janis heats up one of her bottles under the tap and checks the temperature.

“Shh, little one,” Janis soothes, offering Maya the bottle. Maya latches immediately and goes quiet, just giving her little squeaks periodically as she suckles the milk away. “There we go! Auntie Janis to the rescue.”

Janis carries the baby over to the couch and sits down, staring down at the tiny thing in her arms. She grins slightly at the quiet nuk nuk nuk she can hear as Maya goes to town on her bottle.

“God, you look like Caddy,” she murmurs. “You’re absolutely beautiful. But you need to go easy on your mama, she’s been through a lot lately. And she worked really hard to get you here. And she’s still working, trying to make sure you’re healthy and getting bigger and happy. She’s doing a good job, huh?” Maya grunts at her. “Yeah. We both love you a whole lot, little one. Especially when you’re all cute like this and not screaming at us.”

Maya looks Janis in the eye and blinks a few times. Janis feels a sort of shock hit her gut at the level of trust in the tiny blue eyes. She may not have given Maya life, but she knows she’ll protect this baby to the ends of the Earth. Maya will know how much she’s loved. Janis will make sure of it.

“That’s better, huh?” Janis asks once Maya finishes off the bottle. “Tasty milk in your little belly. I guess I should burp you. How… how do I do that?”

Janis has vague memories of watching her own mother take care of her baby sister, and decides to try propping Maya up against her shoulder and drumming on her back. It should do something, even if it’s not what she’s wanting.

She winds up getting a bit more than she bargained for when Maya spits up all down the back of her shirt. “Oh, nice. Feeling better?” Maya just gives a quiet coo against her shoulder. “Then I guess I can’t complain. Now it’s time for Auntie Janis fun time. Patent pending.”

Janis carries the baby to her own bedroom and sets her down on the bed, then carefully blockades her in with pillows even though Maya can’t go anywhere yet. She changes out of her now stained shirt and into something a bit warmer, frantically looking over to check on the little one as soon as her eyes pop out of one shirt and into the other.

“It’s kind of chilly outside, I don’t know what you have in the way of warm clothes,” Janis hums thoughtfully when she picks Maya back up. Luckily for her, the baby is already starting to drift off now that her tummy is all full of warm milk. Janis carries her back to Cady’s room to look for a warm outfit.

The lion outfit she purchased is about the warmest thing she can find, and is the only thing that would cover Maya’s tiny ears to protect them from the chill. Janis grabs it and unswaddles the little blanket pocket to get Maya changed.

“Well aren’t you just the cutest little lion cub,” Janis coos when she sees her in it for the first time. She bought the smallest size, but Maya is still practically swimming in it. She appears to have gotten Cady’s genes in the size department as well. “Tiny little peanut. Okay, here’s your little… baby storage device, how does this work?”

Janis manages to strap the baby carrier to herself with some degree of success, finagling all the buckles into their correct places. It’s only after she has it on correctly that she realizes that the baby is supposed to go in first. So she takes it off and tries again, ending up with eight pounds of baby perfectly strapped to her chest.

“Haha,” Janis cheers victoriously. “There we go. You comfy, Emmy?” Maya squeaks quietly as Janis kisses her soft hair. It’s just starting to curl on top, which Janis is delighted to see. “Yeah? Okay, let’s go.”

Janis grabs her backpack and phone and keys, along with Maya’s diaper bag. She texts Cady to let her know where they’re going and is out the door.

-

Maya sleeps through most of their walk through the park. Janis decides she quite likes having the baby in the carrier. It’s a nice reminder of her presence but less strain on her arms. She can faintly hear Maya squeak and grunt around her pacifier as she has little baby dreams pressed against her chest.

Janis snaps a few photos of crows and the fall leaves around to use as painting references later as they walk around. She also keeps sneaking little glances at the kids running around the playground, rushing down slides and hurtling back and forth on the swings.

“I hope I’m still around this much when you’re big enough for those, My,” she murmurs quietly, drumming gently on Maya’s back and kissing the top of her head. “But I guess your mama’s happiness is more important. If I’m not then that means she’s found someone who makes her happy. Someone to take care of you. That’s all I really care about. But for now I like getting to see you grow up. Spend time with you and your mama.”

Maya doesn’t respond, still deep in the throes of her nap. But Janis’ phone does, pinging off her text tone. It turns out to be Cady asking if she would mind picking up some diapers and dinner. Janis texts back an affirmative and starts the trek to the nearest store.

-

“How old is your baby?”

“Huh?” Janis asks, her hand pausing as she reaches for the right size of diapers. “Oh, she’s two weeks old today.”

“Wow, you look great,” an elderly woman replies. “Only two weeks postpartum.”

“Oh, she’s not… she’s not mine,” Janis says quietly. “She’s my best friend’s. I’m just auntie.”

The woman shakes her head knowingly. “Not with the way you look at that little one. That’s a mother’s look, that baby is as much yours as she is your friend’s. You two will learn that eventually. Congratulations to her mother, though. A beautiful little thing.”

“Uhm… thank you?” Janis says, blinking in confusion as she tries to process everything she’s just been told and wondering if she’s just met some sort of witch or faerie. It is Halloween today. But the woman just nods and continues hobbling along to shop for her own groceries. “The fuck was that?”

Janis manages to stuff some discount candy into her various bags at checkout, and carries the diapers and microwave dinners home in her hands.

-

“There you are,” Cady says happily when Janis comes through the door. “How did you get her so quiet?”

“Uh… I swaddled her and gave her a bottle, then burped her and she just fell asleep,” Janis recalls as she starts putting things away.

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Cady says. “She took a bottle?”

“Yeah?”

“She hasn’t taken one before,” Cady murmurs. “Man, I’ll have to keep you around. Baby whisperer.”

Janis chuckles quietly at that. “I’ll be here as long as you want me. You look better.”

“I feel better,” Cady agrees quietly. “Thank you. How was she?”

“Once I got some milk in her she was fine,” Janis shrugs. “Snoozed for most of our trip, never fussed. I really like this thing.” Janis points to the baby carrier still stuck to her.

“It is handy,” Cady agrees with a chuckle.

“Oh, by the way, um… I know it’s, like, totally not my place, but have you looked into her having colic at all?” Janis continues as she carefully starts undoing all the buckles to free Maya. “I know Google also isn’t the place for medical stuff, but it sounds a lot like her.”

“Oh my god, of course,” Cady murmurs. “I didn’t even think of that. I took care of the little ones in the villages in Kenya sometimes, I had colic babies all the time. It just never crossed my mind with her.”

Janis relaxes slightly as Cady seems to take her advice to heart. “I remembered reading about it in the books, so I Googled it. Swaddling her seems to have helped the most, she actually calmed down enough to eat.”

“Wow,” Cady says quietly. “You read baby books?”

“I want to help you,” Janis replies sheepishly. “I did some research.”

“You’re so sweet,” Cady says with a quiet sniffle as she takes her little one back. “Hi, munchkin. There’s my sweet girl. Oh, and you’re in your little costume! My little cub, look at you!”

“What is it with this outfit and making you cry?” Janis jokes gently. She smiles seeing the contentment and peace on Cady’s face as she looks down at her daughter curled up in her arms. Maya still spends a lot of time huddled up, not totally used to being free from the womb yet. Janis thinks it makes her look like a little peanut. Which is rather fitting, given Janis’ favorite nickname for Cady.

“I’m still hormonal, shut up,” Cady defends with a noise that sounds like a laugh and a sob at the same time. “Popped a whole human out of me a couple weeks ago, that takes time to recover from.”

“I’m not judging,” Janis chuckles back. “I got us some discount candy, by the way. Figured we could have our own little Halloween party.”

“Oh my god, yes please,” Cady says in relief. “Gimme all the sugar.”

“After dinner,” Janis says, booping Cady’s nose as she passes by to go heat up their meals.

“Yes mom,” Cady jokes back. Janis freezes, but relaxes herself before Cady can pick up on anything.

-

“Come cuddle us,” Cady coaxes once Janis has finished with the dishes and Maya has finished her own dinner. “Let’s watch Halloween movies and eat all this candy.”

“Horror movies?” Janis asks eagerly.

“Halloween movies,” Cady corrects. “There’s a difference.”

“Fine,” Janis pouts. “You can’t use the baby card forever, though.”

“Yes I can,” Cady says happily. Janis pops Halloweentown into the DVD player and cuddles up with the two of them on the sofa.

“I think once she’s, like, three, we can start her on the weak ones,” she says, looking at Maya’s sleeping face. “Children of the Corn and stuff. The fakey ones.”

“Absolutely not,” Cady insists, protectively holding her little cub closer.

“I’m kidding, oh my god,” Janis groans. “No horror movies until Mama says so.”

“Thank you.”

Janis just chuckles and nods, smiling but tensing slightly as Cady rests her head on her shoulder to watch the movie. Janis covers both of their laps with a blanket and rests a pillow between them for Maya to snooze on.

-

“Can I ask something?” Janis asks quietly about halfway through the movie. Cady nods, noticing she’s looking at Maya. “Why did you name her Maya?”

“Maua is Swahili for flower,” Cady replies softly, taking Maya’s hood off and stroking a gentle hand over her small head. “But that’s a little on the nose, and tricky to pronounce. So I went with Maya. Flowers remind me of spring, starting over. And she’s my new start. New beginning, new life. My little flower.”

“That’s beautiful,” Janis murmurs. “It suits her.”

“Thank you,” Cady whispers. Janis knows she doesn’t just mean for that.

“Of course.”

—————

“Janis? Do you have-“ Cady calls from her room one day when she wakes up from a nap. Janis turns to see her when she heads to the living room, showing off Maya in her sling stuck to her chest while Janis works on a painting. “Maya.”

“Why are you crying?”

“You’re just so sweet, look at you,” Cady sobs. “Just painting away with the baby tied to you.”

“I heard her start fussing, I didn’t want her to wake you up,” Janis shrugs sheepishly. “Here.”

Cady takes her baby back as Janis scoops her out of her little cocoon and carefully hands her over. Maya burbles happily when she looks up to see her mama. Cady smiles back and wipes her eyes with her free hand. “Hi, baby. Did you help your auntie with her masterpiece?”

Maya gives a coo and reaches out to touch Cady’s face. Cady gently takes a small hand and kisses it.

“She’s been very helpful,” Janis agrees.

“Good,” Cady says. “Glad she wasn’t too much.”

“She never is,” Janis says quietly. “She’s you. I can handle her.”

Cady grins gently at that. “You think you can handle two of us?”

Happily, Janis thinks. Instead she jokes, “It’s a challenge, but I can do it.”

Cady rolls her eyes, but laughs. “You’re such a goof. Do you have time for a break?”

“Yeah,” Janis says. “Could use one anyway, my back is starting to hurt.”

“You should get an easel you can use sitting down,” Cady says in concern. “Standing that much can’t be good for your spine.”

“My spine is fine,” Janis groans affectionately. She comes and plops down next to them, carefully taking the baby and propping her up against her legs so they can see each other. “Huh, Maya? Mama worries too much.”

“Hey!”

“I’m kidding. I’ll look into one,” Janis says. She looks back at the little one still staring at her. “She’s getting so big.”

“She’s three months old today,” Cady agrees quietly.

“Damn,” Janis breathes. “She’s so sweet. Huh, My? You’re the sweetest little munchkin ever!” Maya beams at her, showing off her toothless smile. “Yeah.” Cady and Janis both smile back. Janis tips her head back so Maya can’t see her face, then pops it back down to surprise her. “Boo.”

Maya smiles again and gives a happy little squeal. Janis smiles back and does it again, and this time a little “Hee!” can be heard. Janis furrows her brow and does it one more time.

“She’s laughing,” she says in awe. She does it one more time to prove it. Maya’s giggles are undeniable this time.

“Oh my god,” Cady whispers around a sob. “She’s laughing at you! Do it again, see if she keeps going.”

Janis does, and earns herself yet more giggles. “Are you laughing at me, Emmy? That’s a bit rude!”

Cady continues weeping softly into her hand, delighting in the joyful sound of her baby’s laugh. “Can I try?”

“Of course,” Janis chuckles. “She’s your kid.”

Cady carefully takes her baby and covers her face with her hands. Maya whimpers when her mama disappears in front of her, but gives another squeal and round of happy laughter when she comes back. “Oh, my big girl! You have the most beautiful giggles.”

“Her whole belly moves,” Janis says affectionately. “And her laugh sounds like yours.”

“Does it?”

“Yeah,” Janis says softly. “Boo!”

Maya continues giggling at the both of them, and giggles harder as Cady brings her up closer to kiss all over her tiny face. “Oh, my little cub, I love your giggles. Makes me feel like I’m doing okay at this whole thing.”

“You are,” Janis says quietly. “You’re doing more than okay. Look how much this little peanut loves you.”

Cady looks at Janis for a second before leaning her head on her shoulder. “Thank you. You’re not doing half bad either, you know. She loves you too.”

We both do.

————-

“Morning,” Janis greets as she heads into the living room to find Maya lying on her tummy on the floor while Cady gets some work done next to her. Cady looks up and smiles.

“Morning. I made you coffee,” she replies.

“Oh my god, thank you,” Janis groans around a yawn. She pours herself the only mug of fresh coffee left and adds her usual sugar and dash of milk. Once that’s handled, she comes and lies down next to the baby. Maya smiles when she sees her auntie’s face pop into her view. “Good morning, Emmy! You’re getting so strong, holding up that heavy head all by yourself!”

Maya burbles happily at her, and Janis smiles back. Cady grins at the interactions between both of them. “You can pick her up if you want, she needs a break.”

Janis does, making a sort of hoop with her legs and sitting Maya down in the middle. “There we go, hi!” Maya looks at her curiously. “You’re getting steadier, can you sit all by yourself?”

Janis lets go of Maya’s little torso but keeps her hands close in case she tips over. Maya leans to the side a little bit, but one gentle nudge back to where she needs to be keeps her in place.

“Yeah, look at you!” Janis cheers. Cady looks up at them again and comes to join them this time.

“My big girl, look at you go, munchkin!”

Maya giggles at all the praise and gives a happy gurgle. Cady leans in and kisses her chubby cheek, inadvertently tipping her over.

“Whoa! Careful,” Cady chuckles. “Still a little topsy turvy. Oh, I’m so proud of you!”

Janis takes Maya and holds her up like an airplane, earning herself more delighted giggles. Maya reaches to grab her nose once she’s back at Janis’ eye level.

“Man, you have a strong grip, little one,” Janis winces as she gently pries the small hand off and away from her face. Cady leans in to sneak one more kiss from her daughter.

“Can you watch her for a sec? I wanna go get her picture stuff,” she asks, already moving to stand up. Damian had bought her little wooden plaques that list all the major milestones and ages for the first few years, and Cady has followed them religiously.

“Of course,” Janis says. “Huh, My? Auntie Jayjay can handle you for a second. Mwah.” Maya giggles as she blows raspberries on her cheeks.

Cady runs to her room and returns with the ‘I can sit by myself!’ plaque. Janis helps position the baby so she’s upright and runs to stand behind Cady. She does goofy dances and shakes Maya’s toys around to get her to smile and look at the camera while Cady gets her pictures.

Maya does her best cheesy giggles at Janis’ antics, making for some absolutely adorable pictures. Eventually she gets bored and decides to taste her little sign, which provides an opportunity for yet more photos.

“Good job, Emmy!” Cady cheers when she’s satisfied with the quantity of good pictures. Janis picks Maya back up and kisses her nose a few times.

“You’re getting so big! We’re so proud of you!”

Cady smiles seeing her best friend interacting with her child. She’s been having a strange fluttering feeling in her chest whenever she sees it, lately. She’s not sure what it could mean. She decides to ignore it for the time being and heads over to kiss both of their cheeks. Janis squeaks quietly and blushes.

“You’re so good with her,” Cady murmurs quietly. “Who would’ve thought that the great Janis Sarkisian is such a natural with babies?”

“I’m great?”

“I sure think so,” Cady laughs. “I think she does too. Huh, Emmy? You love Jayjay?”

Maya has a staredown with Janis, and Janis stares back. Maya has a very serious look on her face, seeming to be assessing Janis up close. After a few seconds, she apparently deems her trustworthy and cuddles into her shoulder like normal.

“Aww, yeah,” Cady coos. Janis is nearly in tears at the rather aggressive baby snuggles she’s on the receiving end of and kisses some little red curls. “It’s official, she’s chosen you. You’ve been knighted by Queen Maya.”

“I’m honored,” Janis chuckles. “Why does she smell so good?”

“Baby pheromones,” Cady shrugs. “Or something, I dunno. Well, looks like I’m making breakfast this morning. You two enjoy your little love fest.”

“I definitely will.”

————

“Whoa!” Janis yelps when she feels something crash into her legs while she paints. She looks down expecting to find the cat, but instead sees Maya, sitting at her feet and beaming up at her. “M&M, how did-did you crawl over here?”

Janis bends down to pick her up and goes to find Cady. She’s in her bedroom cleaning up after Maya’s bath.

“Did you lose this?”

Cady whirls around to find Janis holding up her child, and her brow furrows in confusion. “How did you get- oh no.”

“I think we have some more baby proofing to do,” Janis chuckles. “She’s on the move.”

“Finally!” Cady chuckles. “Was starting to think I was gonna have to carry this little peanut everywhere!”

Maya kicks her little legs in delight and happily starts telling her mama about her adventures to find her auntie. Cady takes her with a giggle and holds her again.

“Really? Did you sneak away from Mama?” she asks. Maya giggles in response. “Yeah? Why didn’t you tell me you can crawl, hm?”

“Let’s test,” Janis says. Cady sits against one wall of her room and sets the baby down. Janis sits at the other and reaches out. “Come here, Monkey!”

Maya giggles again and starts moving over. It’s more of a wiggle than a crawl, as she sort of inchworms her way across the room to Janis. Regardless, she’s definitely mobile.

“Oh my goodness, Emmy! You’re pretty fast!” Cady laughs. “Good stamina. Probably got that from your daddy’s side.”

Janis looks at Cady when she says that. It’s the first time she’s so much as mentioned Aaron in the nine months since Maya’s birth. Janis can see a glint of something melancholy in Cady’s normally bright blue eyes, but Cady moves on before she can check on it.

“That was, like, thirty seconds! She wouldn’t even crawl yesterday!”

Janis grabs the baby when she gets close again and holds her up. “We could put you in baby races. You got some serious speed there, Mymy. Can you go get Mama again?”

Maya crows happily and starts pulling herself back over to Cady. Cady grins back and reaches out to beckon her over. “Come here, sweet girl! You can do it! Come to Mama.” Maya’s a bit slower this time, but determined to make it. Cady scoops her up when she does and holds her up triumphantly. “My big girl! I’m so proud of you! Gimme kisses.”

Maya giggles happily as she gets loving kisses everywhere Cady can reach. Janis stays against the wall and smiles watching the two of them together. She’s glad Cady is smiling and laughing again. She deserves happiness.

“Why is Auntie Jayjay so far away? Tell her to come over here,” Cady says after a beat. Janis rolls her eyes affectionately and also crawls over to join them.

“Here I am.”

They stay like that until Maya has to go to sleep, just cuddling on the ground and talking about nothing. Maya even chimes in from time to time. Janis can sense this is a memory she’ll hold for a very long time.

—————-

“There’s Auntie Jayjay!” Cady cheers when Janis gets home with groceries one afternoon. Janis drops her bags at her feet and heads over to greet her and Maya. The baby looks up happily and points at her.

“Hi!” Janis says, kissing Maya’s cheek. She whispers, “I got you some cookies, don’t tell Mama.”

“Janis,” Cady laughs. “You spoil her too much.”

“She’s my niece, I’m allowed to!” Janis defends. “Auntie privileges. Right, Emmy?”
Maya giggles at her. Janis nods. “Yeah.”

Maya points at her again. But this time she babbles a, “Jaaaayjay.”

“What?” Janis asks in shock. “Yeah! I’m Jayjay! Say it again, who am I?”

“Jayjay,” Maya repeats happily. It sounds a bit more like ‘Dayday’, but the effort is there. “Jayjay.”

“Yeah! Oh my gosh, munchkin!” Cady says happily. “Look at you talking! What about me, who am I?”

“Mamamama,” Maya babbles. Cady sighs.

“Mama. Just two,” she coaxes. “Maaaaama.”

“Jayjay,” Maya says again, reaching for her auntie. Janis laughs and takes her.

“Maya, be nice to your mama! You can do it,” she says. “That’s Mama.”

“Mama?”

“Come on, man!” Cady laughs. “You’ll only talk for Janis? Say Mama.”

“Mamama,” Maya says.

“Say Mama,” Janis says to test the theory.

“Maaama,” Maya says, reaching back out for Cady.

“You’re so weird,” Cady teases lovingly. “My little squish. Mama.”

“Mamamama.”

“Who’s that?”

“Jayjay!”

“And who am I?”

“Mamama.”

“Emmy, who’s this?” Janis asks.

“Mama,” Maya babbles.

“You little stinker!” Cady laughs. “Guess I know who your favorite is. Goofy.”

“Little comedian,” Janis chuckles. “C’mere, Mymy, you wanna help me put stuff away?”

“Jayjay,” Maya bleats happily. Cady passes her over for a little hangout and heads to get a bit of work done in the meantime.

“No cookies before dinner!”

“Okay!” Janis calls back. She checks to make sure she’s out of earshot before she presses her forehead against Maya’s. “I think we can get away with one cookie. But don’t tell or we’ll both be in trouble.”

She can tell by the look in Maya’s eyes that their secret is safe.

————-

A week later, Cady goes out for the day to buy birthday presents for Janis and Maya. Janis isn’t allowed to come, and elects to keep Maya with her so Cady can have a peaceful trip.

Janis sketches on the ground while Maya sits next to her playing with some toys. Suddenly, Picasso makes an appearance and starts sniffing curiously at the little one. They’ve tried to distance the two while Maya is still so little for safety reasons, so this is the first she’s seen of Picasso so close up.

She gives a frightened whimper at the strange creature and looks up at Janis. “Oh no, it’s okay! That’s the kitty! That’s Picasso.”

Janis holds the baby in her lap and reaches out to pet Picasso’s little head. Maya seems much more comfortable being held while the cat sniffs at her toes.

“See? Just the kitty, you’re okay. I got you, I promise. Soso won’t hurt you.”

Maya looks curiously between Janis and Picasso, but apparently elects to stay with her auntie, since she makes no effort to get off her lap. Instead, she yawns and slumps down a little bit.

“You sleepy, Emmy? It is naptime,” Janis chuckles. “I’m kinda tired too. Hm.”

Janis picks them up off the ground and shifts to the couch. Maya could still fall off in her sleep if Janis drifts off too, so Janis tucks her into her oversized jacket for safety. Maya grins up at her with her three whole teeth and rests her sweet little head on Janis’ chest. She’s asleep almost immediately, lulled by the rhythm of her heartbeat. Janis smiles back and gently drums on her back to help her drift off.

Janis gently strokes a finger over the baby’s chubby cheek and tips her head up to kiss the soft red curls. “You have no idea what you mean to me, little one.”

She pulls out her phone and snaps a few cute pictures of Maya all bundled inside her jacket and decides to send one to Damian.

janjan: Sent a picture: i’m pregnant

damdam: AHEJSJJSKSKSISI

damdam: Oh. Dammit, Janis, we already had one surprise pregnancy. I can only handle one every three to five years

janjan: lmao noted

damdam: She’s so cute

janjan: she looks like caddy

damdam: So u think Caddy’s cute ???

janjan: shut the hell ur mouth

damdam: That’s not a no 👀👀👀

janjan: not a yes either

damdam: When are you gonna tell her Jan

janjan: never

janjan: wait shit

damdam: Caught in 4k

janjan: i mean uh

janjan: tell her what idk what ur talking about

damdam: Sometimes I want to hit you with a heavy rock

damdam: She likes you back Janjan

janjan: no, she doesn’t

damdam: Oh shit a comma u mean business

damdam: But,,,,,,,,,,, so do I

janjan: she does not like me back

damdam: YOURE LITERALLY RAISING A CHILD TOGETHER

janjan: AS FRIENDS

damdam: I’m hunting for rocks rn

janjan: dame really

janjan: i’m just here to help her with emmy until she finds someone better

damdam: Is she looking ??

janjan: …

janjan: she’s been through a lot lately, she deserves some time for herself. and she has to find someone she trusts to be with maya

damdam: Janis

damdam: I cannot with you

janjan: ???

damdam: Where is Caddy rn

janjan: shopping

damdam: So she left you

damdam: Alone

damdam: With Maya

janjan: yeah ???

damdam: I’m outside with a rock rn I’m actually gonna do it istg

damdam: SHE TRUSTS YOU WITH MAYA

damdam: Who did she go to for help when she found out she was pregnant

damdam: WHO DID SHE ASK TO BE THERE WHEN SHE PUSHED A BABY OUT OF HER UNMENTIONABLES

janjan: a friend

damdam: I literally-

damdam: She’s been in love with you for a long time, Jan

damdam: She trusts you more than anyone, especially with Maya

damdam: One of you is gonna have to fess up eventually.

janjan: i can’t lose them dame

janjan: she’d never look at me the same if she knew. she’d leave and never look back.

damdam: Or

janjan: damian i can’t

janjan: i’ll admit i’m in love with her and that i love maya like she’s mine but they can’t know that

damdam: Okay, Jan. I’m not gonna do anything. But you really should tell her.

janjan: thanks

damdam: I love you

janjan: i love you too

damdam: Tell Maya I say hi

janjan: lol i will when she wakes up

Janis clicks off her phone and sighs heavily, cuddling Maya a little closer. There’s no way Cady likes me back.

Is there?

—-

“I’m home!” Cady calls as she enters the door with her bags of birthday treats. She frowns in confusion when she doesn’t hear anything back. “Hello?”

She heads to the kitchen to put the food away first, then to the bedroom to hide the rest of the presents. She stops in her tracks when she finds the scene in the living room.

Janis is on her back on the couch, her long half-blonde hair cascading down over the arm she has her head resting on. She’s deeply asleep, with both hands resting protectively over a suspiciously baby-shaped lump in her jacket. Cady tiptoes closer and gently shifts the jacket, peeking in to find her daughter snoozing away as she’s held close and safe.

“Aww,” Cady coos softly. She quickly rushes to hide the presents in her closet and then comes back to sneak some pictures.

Janis wakes up about halfway through the impromptu photo shoot and looks at her. Cady only notices when she sees Janis raise an eyebrow at the camera and quickly hides her phone behind her back.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” Janis whispers.

“Whatcha doing?”

“Napping,” Janis yawns. She carefully pulls the jacket up to peek at Maya and finds her awake and smiling at her. “Or not. Good morning, Emmy! Look who’s home.”

“Mama,” Maya yawns. “Mama.”

“Yeah, Mama’s home,” Janis says happily. Cady heads closer and pulls the jacket away.

“Boo!” she says gently. Maya squeals in surprise, but giggles. “Hi, little love! Did you have fun with Jayjay?”

Maya nods happily while she stretches, but just cuddles back in once she’s handled that. Janis laughs and drums on her back a couple times. “You just gonna hang out there?” Maya nods again. “Okay. I’m not complaining.”

“You two are cute. Was she okay?” Cady chuckles as Janis tries to sit up with Maya still huddled up inside her jacket.

“Yeah, she was fine. We napped most of the time you were out,” Janis hums. “Picasso came and sniffed at her and scared her a bit, but that was about it.”

“Aww,” Cady laughs. “I guess it would be a little scary to have something you’ve never seen before that close to you. They are about the same size.”

“They are,” Janis agrees with a chuckle. “Did you have fun?”

“I did,” Cady says, sitting next to them and resting her head on Janis’ shoulder and peeking down at her child in her little pouch. “I missed you guys though.”

“We missed you too.”

—————

“Oh god!” Cady yelps quietly when she heads to the living room in the middle of the night and finds Janis there in the dark. “What are you doing?”

Janis grins sheepishly as Cady flicks the light on and reveals her surrounded by multicolored balloons. Cady can barely see the floor. “It’s her birthday, she needs balloons!”

“Janis,” Cady chuckles. “She’s only a year old, this is a little excessive.”

“She deserves it,” Janis shrugs. She finishes blowing up the one she’s been working on and ties it around her fingers. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Cady sighs. She’s not, she’s obviously been crying. Janis raises an eyebrow, and Cady crumbles. “No.”

“I figured. What’s on your mind?”

Cady sniffles quietly and comes to sit next to her. Janis pulls her in and lets Cady rest her head on her shoulder.

“I’ve been thinking about Aaron,” Cady mumbles, barely audible. “I’ve been so focused on Maya since she was born that I haven’t had much… brain power to spare for him, I guess. But now that she’s a little older…”

Janis just hums sadly. She squeezes Cady gently as she feels warm tears start soaking into her pajama top.

“I just… it’s hard not to feel guilty, you know?” Cady chokes. “My baby doesn’t know her father because… I wasn’t good enough for him.”

“No, she doesn’t know her father because her father is a walking bag of ass and doesn’t know what he gave up,” Janis corrects. “His stupid decisions have nothing to do with either of you. And it doesn’t make you any less worthy of love. Either of you.”

“Thank you,” Cady whispers. “I know this is stupid.”

“No, it’s not. You’ve been through a lot over the last year. And even longer, the whole pregnancy and everything happening was so rough on you too,” Janis comforts.

“I just… I know he’s not… who I thought he was,” Cady continues. “But who I thought he was would’ve been such a good dad. I see-I see so much of him in her. I wish-I wish that I’d been… no, I wish he had made better-better decisions. As much as I hate him, I want… I want him to see her. Know her. See what a precious little thing she is. My baby deserves that.”

“She does,” Janis agrees. “But she deserves love more. You’re right, Aaron isn’t who you thought he was. It’s absolutely okay to mourn the life you thought you’d have. But you should know that what you’re giving Maya now is better.

“She has a mama who loves her so deeply, with her whole heart, and she has a mama who’s growing with her and finding her happiness. She has a mama who’s learning how to be whole again. If you somehow worked out a way to stay with him, Maya would be living with a father who never wanted her and a mother trying desperately to stop her life falling apart. But she has this version of you instead, and you’re giving her the best life you possibly can. You’re kicking ass without him, Peanut. The love you have for her and the love she has for you is more than enough to make up for his dumb ass causing a deficit.”

Cady is quiet for a long moment as she carefully considers each and every word she’s just been told. Janis just holds her for a few minutes until she bursts into tears again, and then holds her closer. It’s remarkably similar to the night they first found out about Maya.

But it’s also different. With every heaving sob Janis can feel a few of the chains of Cady’s burdens clinking off and away. She’s mourning the life she thought she knew and learning to embrace what she now has at the same time. And Janis is here to support and hold her through everything.

“Thank you so much,” Cady chokes when she finally calms down a little. “For everything. Everything you’ve ever done for us. I’m so glad Maya has you. That I have you.”

“You always will,” Janis replies quietly. “Both of you. I’m not going anywhere.”

Cady nods and sniffles, pulling back slightly to wipe off her nose and eyes. She winces when she sees what she’s done to Janis’ shirt. “Sorry. I’ll wash that for you.

“There’s a baby living here, my shirts have been through worse,” Janis chuckles. Cady giggles back and looks around for a clock. It’s now about one in the morning. She seems to have cried for a bit longer than either of them thought.

“Happy birthday,” Cady whispers. “Do you have a wish yet?”

“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true,” Janis replies. She’s had the same wish for years. But Cady doesn’t feel the same.

“I’m the birthday fairy, I’m allowed to grant one wish every year,” Cady declares, crossing her arms. The shaky sniffle kind of ruins the immersion, but Janis just grins.

“Fine, one wish… I want… a sleepover with Maya,” Janis says. “Birthday snuggles all night.”

“Okay,” Cady laughs. “I can do that. She’s kind of a wiggly sleeper, though, are you sure?”

“Yes. She gives the best cuddles,” Janis says immediately.

“What about mine?” Cady pouts, already about halfway to the door she shares with Maya.

“Fine, she gives the second best cuddles,” Janis chuckles quietly. Cady grins happily and disappears into her room. Janis kicks her way over through the sea of balloons.

“Here you go,” Cady whispers, carefully passing over the sleeping babe. Maya is carefully wrapped in her blankie and equipped with her pacifier and teddy bear. All the supplies needed for an awesome impromptu sleepover.

“Thank you,” Janis whispers back. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Cady murmurs back with a small smile. She carefully kisses Maya’s forehead before turning to head back to bed. Janis carries the baby to her own bedroom and gets her all cozy in the center of the bed before sliding in next to her to cuddle. Maya scrunches up her little nose when Janis kisses it gently, making Janis smile. It grows when the baby instinctively wriggles her way into her embrace and nuzzles into her chest. Janis holds her close and drifts off to sleep like that.

A great start to a great birthday. She has a feeling the next one might be even better.

————-

“Janis?” Cady asks gently one night, knocking on the frame of Janis’ door while she’s getting ready for bed.

“What’s up, Peanut?” Janis replies. She sees the look on Cady’s face and her smile falls. “Everything okay?”

“Uhm… I don’t know,” Cady says quietly.

“What’s the matter?”

“One of my professors is making me come back in person,” Cady says. “He says he can’t make allowances for me anymore now that Maya’s older. And I can’t bring her.”

“The fuck? Who does this guy think he is?” Janis demands. “She’s barely a year old!”

“I know,” Cady says sheepishly. “I tried everything, but I have to go back or fail, and I really can’t afford to be bumped back any more. I took so much time off when I was recovering.”

“Because you had a baby,” Janis says. “And it did a lot to you.”

“Yeah.” Cady sighs. Janis beckons her over, so she comes to rest against her shoulder. “They have a daycare center on campus, but I don’t… trust them with her yet. She’s still so little, I don’t-“

“I can watch her,” Janis says. “I work from home, it’s not like I have anywhere to be.”

“Are you sure?” Cady asks. It had been what she was going to ask, and she’s glad Janis has volunteered, but she still doesn’t want to impose. “I know you love her, but she’s a lot sometimes.”

“She’s a baby, babies are always a lot,” Janis chuckles. “She’s such a little nugget, of course I’m sure.”

“Thank you,” Cady says gratefully. “I don’t start until next week, and it’s just the one class for now, but I-“

“Caddy,” Janis says, grabbing her shoulders. “Breathe. I’m glad you’re getting some more time for you again, even if it is just a class. Maya and I will be fine, we got this.”

Cady nods and leans back in for a hug. “Thank you. She’ll be happy to get more time with you.”

“Of course,” Janis says softly. “I’m happy to get more with her.”

—-

Cady very anxiously leaves them the next week just after Maya gets put down for her morning nap. Janis has to practically force her out the door so she isn’t late to her class.

Janis has a bit of time to attend to herself while Maya rests, so she gives Picasso some much needed attention and does a bit of cleaning. She’s almost bored without Maya to keep her company, and her smile is wider than ever when she hears Maya wake up and start talking to herself.

“Good morning, Maya monkey,” Janis coos, heading in to get the baby up. “Did you have a nice nap?” Maya nods. “Good.”

Maya babbles about her dreams while Janis gets her changed and carries her into the kitchen for lunch. Janis buckles her into her high chair for safety, then heats up one of her mushy baby stews to feed her and grabs a silicone spoon.

“What do we think of this, M&M?” Janis asks as Maya chews her spoonful. “Got lots of veggies in here. Maybe you’ll actually grow past five feet if you eat enough. Beat your mama.”

“Mama?” Maya asks, looking around for Cady.

“She’ll be home soon,” Janis comforts. “I miss her too. But you get to hang out with me all day!”

Maya smiles at that, opening her mouth to accept another spoonful of lunch. Janis chuckles as her little tongue pokes out briefly while she chews.

Janis and Maya chat as they have lunch, until Maya decides she’s done. Janis goes to wash their dishes before everything dries on and becomes harder to clean off. Maya is displeased with this.

“Mommy,” she whimpers sadly. Janis whirls around to see her.

“What?”

“Mommy,” Maya repeats, straining against her buckles and pouting. Janis furrows her brow and goes to pick her up. Cady is usually ‘Mama’, but…

“Mommy’s at school, honeybun,” she says. “I’m your auntie.”

Maya shakes her head and cuddles in. “Mommy.”

Oh boy.

-

Janis doesn’t quite know what to do about this. She’s tried explaining the situation to Maya, but the barely one-year-old just doesn’t seem to put the pieces together. So Janis cuts her losses and straps Maya to her chest to work on a painting together.

Cady comes home an hour or so later, calling a “Hey!” as she kicks off her shoes and comes to find them.

“Mama!” Maya squeaks happily from her little pouch. Cady smiles and comes to pick her out of it when her baby reaches for her. Janis undoes the carrier the rest of the way and casts it aside.

“Hi, my little cub! Did you have a good day?” Cady asks, kissing Maya’s chunky little cheek. Maya nods happily and rests her head on her shoulder. “Good. Jay, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Janis says, her scarlet blush and squeaky voice betraying her. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. What’s up?” Cady insists, bouncing Maya on her hip slightly.

“Don’t be mad,” Janis pleads. Cady raises a suspicious eyebrow. “Uhm… MayacalledmeMommy.”

“What?”

“Maya called me Mommy,” Janis repeats quietly. “I tried to tell her you were at school, but… I don’t know how babies work yet, I couldn’t-“

“Janis, hey,” Cady hushes. “I’m not mad. Come here.” Janis warily tucks her brush behind her ear and approaches them. “Flower, who am I?”

“Mama!”

“Yeah, that’s right!” Cady says. She points to the cat. “And who’s that?”

“Soso,” Maya says, nibbling gently on one of her little fingers.

“Uhhuh, my clever girl,” Cady coos. She gently pokes Maya’s belly. “And who’s this?”

“Maaaaya!”

“Yeah, that’s my Maya,” Cady grins. She points to Janis. “Who is that?”

“Mommy.”

“Yeah! You’re so smart,” Cady says, kissing Maya’s hair. Janis looks between them in shock. “I’ve been teaching her that. I did it on purpose, I promise I’m not mad.”

“You… but…” Janis stutters. Maya reaches out for her, so Janis hesitantly takes her. “Hi, kid.”

“Hi Mommy,” Maya replies. Janis sniffles and blinks away tears. “Luff Mommy.”

“I love you too, Emmy,” Janis murmurs. Maya wraps her tiny arms around her neck and plants a wet kiss on her chin. Janis laughs at the ticklish sensation and kisses Maya’s forehead.

“Luff Mama?”

“You love Mama too?” Janis asks, holding up a hand and smiling as a chubby fist grips her thumb. But Maya shakes her head. “No?”

“Mommy luff Mama?” Maya asks. Janis tenses and flushes bright red. She can faintly hear Cady let out a flustered squeak from next to them. Maya isn’t satisfied with the lack of response and pats her little hands against Janis’ cheeks. “Mommy? Luff Mama?”

“Yeah, M. I love Mama,” Janis replies quietly. “I love Mama a whole lot. I always have.”

Maya nods triumphantly and turns to Cady, who’s now frozen in place with wide eyes and her jaw slightly dropped. “Mama? Luff Mommy?”

“Yeah, pumpkin. I love Mommy,” Cady says, sniffling quietly and trying to recover from the emotions of the last few seconds. “I have for a long time.”

“Now kisses!” Maya says happily, pressing her tiny hands together and grinning at them with her handful of little teeth. Cady slowly bridges the gap between them and looks up at Janis.

“We mean this the same way?” Janis whispers before they do anything. Cady cups her jaw and pulls her down for a sweet kiss.

“I mean it that way,” she murmurs, flicking her blue eyes up to meet brown.

“Same,” Janis says, pressing in again. She remembers they have company when Maya gives a delighted little squeal. “You little matchmaker! You’re the cutest couples therapist there ever was!”

Maya chortles happily as Janis spins her around and kisses all over her face. Once they stop moving, she yawns widely and plops her head against Janis’ shoulder.

“You sleepy, Flower?” Janis murmurs. “I think it’s nap time.” Maya nods and rubs her eyes with a chubby knuckle.

“Ninight.”

“Night night,” Janis hums, kissing her red curls one more time before handing her to Cady. Cady gives her a goodnight kiss and cuddle before passing her back to Janis to put down for her afternoon nap.

-

Cady gets slightly concerned when Janis doesn’t return. Maya doesn’t usually take very long to put down. She heads into her room to find Janis standing over her crib and staring down at the sleeping child. Cady watches from the doorframe until she hears Janis sniffle and watches a tear drip down her nose.

“Jay, what’s the matter?” she asks sadly, making her way over and wrapping an arm around Janis’ waist.

“Why did you teach her that?” Janis murmurs shakily.

“To call you Mommy?” Cady asks. Janis nods. “Because you are.”

“But I’m-I’m not,” Janis says.

“She doesn’t know that. Look at it from her perspective,” Cady murmurs, stroking a stray curl away from her sleeping daughter’s face. “She doesn’t know about genetics. She doesn’t care about DNA, or blood. She cares about love. All she knows is that she has two people who take care of her, and protect her, and love her the same way.”

“But…”

“Janis,” Cady insists. She cups Janis’ cheeks in her warm hands, staring kindly into watery brown eyes. “My child will probably never know the man who gave her life. He doesn’t care about her enough to meet her, or to get to know her. To love her. And that-“ she pauses to clear her throat as her own tears start flowing. “That breaks my heart, that my little angel won’t know her daddy. That’s always gonna hurt. But she has you. You’ve been here for her since before she even came into this world. She has two parents.”

“But Caddy,” Janis pleads.

“Janis Olivia Sarkisian, look at me,” Cady demands, growing slightly upset now. Janis pouts a little but listens. “Do you take care of her? Protect her? Care for her?”

“Yeah, but-“

“And do you love her?” Cady asks. “Janis. You look at that baby and tell me you don’t love her like your own.”

“I do,” Janis whispers shakily, looking down at the little one holding her teddy bear and sucking periodically on her binkie. “I love her more than anything. She’s… she’s you.”

“Then how are you not her mother?” Cady pleads. “Just because she doesn’t have your genes? Are adoptive and step and foster parents not parents? Same sex couples who had to do surrogacy? Trans couples who had to do artificial insemination? Infertile people who had to use a sperm donor? Family is more than blood, Janis. Family is love. And you love her. That’s all that matters to her, and to me. You’re her family. My little love has two mothers who love her to the moon and back seven times over. She has the most wonderful family I could have ever dreamed for her.”

Janis just lets out a strangled noise at that, sinking into Cady and muffling sobs against her shoulder. Cady gently leads her to the couch to leave their daughter a quiet space to nap.

“I’m not asking you to be a replacement for what she doesn’t have,” Cady murmurs, holding Janis against her and rocking her the same way she rocks Maya. “I’m asking you to be you. Be what she already has. Just with a new title. I think it’s a nice promotion.”

Janis nods slightly against her and clears her throat. “I love you. Both of you. But she’s asleep, so… I love you.”

“I love you too,” Cady says with a hint of a chuckle. “I love you so much. And I have for so long.”

Janis doesn’t answer that, she just props herself up and tips Cady back slightly. Cady willingly falls to the couch cushions, her auburn curls fanning out around her. Janis sniffles and wipes her eyes before leaning in. “Can I kiss you?”

“Always,” Cady replies quietly. Janis leans down the rest of the way and gently presses their lips together. Cady strokes some hair away from the side of Janis’ face and leaves her hand there, tilting her head slightly to the side for a better angle. Kissing Janis feels more right than kissing Aaron ever did. It feels like she’s finally home.

Janis purrs slightly when Cady flicks her tongue against her lips, gently parting them and brushing their tongues together. Cady gasps and groans quietly when Janis carefully nibbles on her lip.

“I love you,” Janis whispers when they regretfully have to break apart to breathe. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me this. For loving me,” Janis says. “Trusting me with your child. Giving me a family.”

“Of course,” Cady replies. “Thank you for loving us. Making us a family.”

“Speaking of,” Janis sighs when Maya starts calling for them. “Babies are real cockblockers sometimes.”

“That they are,” Cady laughs. “I’ll go get her.”

“Okay,” Janis says, rolling off of Cady and sitting upright. She smiles as she listens to Cady with their baby as Maya continues waking up.

“Hi Mommy!” Maya says excitedly when Cady carries her back to the living room. Janis smiles this time and reaches for her.

Cady sets Maya down to make her way over herself, so she sets off. Janis scoops her up once she crashes into her legs on shaky feet and rests her on her lap. “Hi baby. Did you have a nice nap?”

“Nap,” Maya confirms with a nod. Janis nods back.

“Good. Do you know something very important?”

Maya tilts her head in confusion. Her thinking face is exactly the same as Cady’s, a furrowed brow and bottom lip just barely poked out. “‘Po’tant?”

“Very important,” Janis confirms. “Do you know… how much I love you?” Maya shakes her head, continuing to look at her curiously. Janis makes sure she’s steady on her lap and holds her arms out as far as they can go. “Thiiiiis much.”

“Wow,” Maya says in awe. Janis laughs and holds her again.

“How much do you love me?”

Maya holds her own arms out. “Dis.”

“Wow,” Janis chuckles. “How much?”

Maya does it again. “Dis much.”

“How much?”

Maya does it one more time, but this time Janis sticks her fingers into her little armpits and tickles her. Maya shrieks in surprise but quickly starts laughing her sweet laugh and squirming around in Janis’ lap. Janis picks her up and kisses just under her jawline, earning herself more squeals and giggles.

“What is going on out here?” Cady chuckles when she returns from making Maya’s bed. “Goodness. My two crazies.”

Maya continues laughing and shakily reaches out a hand for her mama to save her. Cady snatches her up and tosses her in the air a few times. “Is Mommy getting you?”

Maya nods, her chubby cheeks flushed and hair even more disheveled than it was a second ago. Cady chuckles and runs a careful hand through it.

“My sweet girl,” she says quietly, kissing a chubby cheek a few times. Janis quietly approaches and presses in on the other side. Maya giggles happily as her moms both kiss a cheek, squishing her lips out into a fish face. “Mmmmmmmwah!”

“‘Gain,” Maya laughs, so they squish in again. She tries to talk around it this time. “L’ff you.”

“We love you too,” Janis says.

“Sooooo much.”

————

“Flower, what movie should we watch?” Cady asks, settling in next to Janis and trading Maya for a bowl of popcorn.

“Uh…” Maya hums thoughtfully. “Hawoween!”

“Which one?” Janis chuckles. “Come here, show me.”

Janis carries Maya over to the movie rack to pick which DVD she wants. Apparently she meant Nightmare Before Christmas, so Janis helps her put it in and then returns to sit by her girlfriend on the couch. Cady nuzzles into Janis’ neck and rests her head on her shoulder to watch. Janis kisses her forehead and tugs her a bit closer, until she practically has both of her girls in her lap.

Maya wriggles uncomfortably as she’s suddenly squished and releases a frustrated whine.

“Hey, kid, not my fault you’re hogging my girlfriend,” Cady chuckles. “Come here.”

Janis lets Cady adjust the lot of them. She willingly falls back against the arm of the couch when Cady nudges her, and smiles when Cady tips back against her chest with Maya resting on her own.

“Better?”

Maya pokes her lower lip out in thought as she considers the new positioning. “Need b’ankies.”

Janis chuckles and pulls one off the back of the couch, resting it over Maya’s back and letting it drape down over herself and Cady. “How’s that?”

Maya nods and finally cuddles into Cady. Cady smiles and strokes her soft curls with a loving hand. “There we go.”

Cady has to bend her arm at a strange angle to reach the bowl of popcorn, but she doesn’t complain. Janis looks at her girls as the movie starts with a fond smile and a kiss to Cady’s temple. Cady smiles back and kisses the part of her chest she can reach.

“I love you,” Janis murmurs.

“I love you too,” Cady sighs contently. “So much.”

Maya continues munching on her popcorn and looking intently at the screen. Her moms both chuckle at the tiny crunching noises they hear as she watches her movie. “Hey.”

“Wha’?” Maya asks when Cady taps her head, popping up to look at them.

“We love you,” Janis says, booping her little nose. Maya giggles.

“Luff you,” she replies, resting her head back down to go back to her movie. Janis chuckles affectionately and starts watching as well, tenderly stroking through two heads of red curls.

————

“Happy birthday, my loves!” Cady greets, kissing each forehead. Maya snuck into bed between them yet again and is being spooned by Janis.

“Hi Mama,” Maya grins.

“Hi pumpkin,” Cady says. “Happy birthday! You’re two years old today! You’re getting so big!”

“Mommy birt’day,” Maya says, wriggling around to see Janis.

“Yeah, it’s Mommy’s birthday too,” Cady chuckles. “Mommy’s sleepy.”

Maya brings up a hand to try to carefully pry an eye open. Janis groans sleepily and pulls her closer, but Maya is having none of it. “Mommy!”

“What?”

“Birt’day!” Maya insists.

“Let’s have a birthday nap,” Janis says, rolling over onto her back and squishing the little one on top of her. Maya wriggles discontentedly until she’s sitting upright and bounces up and down a few times.

“Wate up!” she pleads.

Cady giggles at their antics and crawls back into bed with her family. She kisses Janis’ cheek and lets Maya crawl to be on top of her instead.

“I made a special birthday breakfast for you two,” Cady says in an attempt to coax Janis into the waking world. “And there’s cake. And I have some special presents for you.”

That gets one of Janis’ eyes to pop open. “Present?”

“Mmhmm,” Cady hums. “I think you’ll like them. But only after your pumpkin waffles and super special chocolate cake.”

“Socklet!” Maya cheers happily. “Mommy! We hab cake!”

“Okay, fine,” Janis chuckles. “Birthday girl wants cake. Let’s go.”

-

“Here, pumpkin,” Cady says, handing Maya the next present. “Go give that to Mommy.”

Maya makes her way over happily and deposits the present on Janis’ lap. Janis picks her up and holds her on her other leg, then checks the tag. “From Maya. Can you help me open it?”

Maya nods eagerly and very helpfully removes all the tissue paper from the small bag. Janis reaches in to see what the actual present is, and pulls out a frame. Her brow furrows in confusion as she reads over the paper within, before shooting back up her forehead as her eyes well with tears.

“Adoption papers?”

Cady nods. “You wanna be Maya’s mommy for real? Legally, anyway?”

“Yes!” Janis sobs. “Are you serious?!”

“Of course,” Cady chuckles through her own tears. “Just sign those and it’s official.”

Maya looks between them in confusion. “Why you cwy?”

Janis holds her up and kisses Maya’s little nose. “I’m crying because I’m happy. This paper Mama gave me is super important and special.”

“Oh,” Maya says. “Happy cwy?”

“Happy cry,” Janis confirms with a laugh. Cady smiles seeing them interact and cuddle, and giggles as Maya tries to dry Janis’ tears and accidentally pokes her in the eye.

“One more,” Cady says. “C’mere, Mymy, I need you for this part.”

Janis pouts when she has to let Maya go, but does willingly hand the child to Cady. Her girlfriend takes Maya back to the bedroom and apparently changes her clothes, given the snippets of conversation she can hear between them.

“Mommy!” Maya yells when she comes back, barreling on shaky feet back to Janis. Janis catches her with a laugh and holds her close again.

“Maya,” Cady chuckles when she comes back too, holding one hand in her back pocket. “Did you even let her read your new shirt?”

“Oh!” Maya says when she remembers what she was supposed to do. She giggles as Janis grabs her under the shoulders and holds her up in the air to see her adorable new shirt. Janis nearly drops her when she reads it.

‘Will you marry my mama?’

Janis carefully brings Maya back down and holds her close, revealing Cady on one knee next to her. Janis claps her free hand over her mouth as Cady pulls out a ring box and opens it.

“Janis,” Cady begins. “My love. I can’t even begin to thank you for everything you’ve done for us. You gave us a home when we needed one, and so much love. You’re everything I could ever want and more. You’re the perfect mother to our little munchkin,” she says, tickling Maya’s foot. “And the most wonderful partner. I want forever with you. With us. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Janis sobs, barely letting Cady slip the ring on her finger before she hauls her up and slams their lips together. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Cady chuckles against her lips, kissing her sweetly and brushing her tears away. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

Maya looks very concerned as both of her moms are now crying. “Mama?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Happy cwy?”

“Yeah, baby,” Cady confirms. “Happy cry.”

————-

“You ready?” Damian asks as he prepares to walk Janis down the aisle. Janis smiles faintly and nods as she takes his arm.

“I’ve been ready for a long time.”

“So have I,” Damian jokes as they start moving. He kisses her forehead once they make it down and heads to his spot behind the microphone.

Janis looks back down the aisle when the music picks up again, and grins when she sees little Maya standing at the other end in her big puffy dress and holding her basket of flower petals. She looks a little nervous to be in front of so many people. Maya carefully adjusts her flower crown and looks around for a second, before she spies Janis at the altar.

“Mommy, Mommy!” she calls, running down towards her. The only flowers that hit the aisle are the ones that fall out of the basket from her bouncing. Janis rolls her eyes lovingly and crouches down to catch her.

“Hi, Mymy,” she greets.

“Hi Mommy!”

The guests chuckle at that. Maya is still cute enough to get away with stuff. Janis points to the basket. “What’s in here?”

“Oh.” Maya says when she notices. Janis laughs and kisses her cheek.

“It’s okay, honeybun. I’ll go with you this time,” she offers. Maya nods, so Janis carries her back down the aisle and then back to the altar. She stops periodically for Maya to drop a fistful of her petals. “There we go, you did it!”

Maya grins happily at her before she’s passed off to Cady’s mother to wait for the ceremony to begin. Janis giggles quietly as she faintly hears a, “Woooooow.” from their daughter at the sight of Cady in her dress. Janis would be lying if she said she didn’t have a similar reaction.

“Hey,” Janis greets quietly when Cady finally makes it to her. “You look beautiful.”

Cady grins at her and adjusts the skirt of her dress. It’s quite simple, just plain white with a large, tiered skirt and a slit that goes a bit past her knee. Her hair is just in her natural curls down her back, and she’s holding a bouquet of the same flowers that make up Maya’s crown.

“Thank you,” she whispers. She reaches out to feel Janis’ white blazer. “So do you. You’re a little risqué.”

“Yeah, one wrong move and my whole chest is just out,” Janis chuckles quietly.

“Or one right move,” Cady flirts, waggling her eyebrows for emphasis. Janis flushes but manages to keep her shocked laughter quiet.

“Keep it in your dress ‘til we’re alone.”

“Fine,” Cady pouts. She peeks around Janis to see Maya sitting next to her mom and already munching on some snacks to keep her quiet. Maya looks up when she feels her gaze and waves eagerly, and Cady gives her a little wave back.

Damian begins his speech then, asking Janis and Cady to hold hands. Neither of them listen particularly close after that, electing to stare at one another instead. They do laugh when he says, “I came out to my mom as gay about fifteen years ago, and I know there was just a teeny tiny bit of disappointment that I wasn’t marrying a woman. I’m very excited that she gets to watch me marry two of the most incredible women today.”

After that they get lost in one another yet again, until Damian asks them to give their vows. Cady goes first, taking a small set of notecards from Damian with a thankful smile.

“Janis,” she says, looking her in the eye and squeezing her with her free hand. “Where do I begin?” She takes a breath before continuing. “I suppose the beginning is as good a place as any. Almost exactly three years ago. I came to you with one of the most difficult things I’ve ever faced. Finding out I was pregnant wasn’t quite the happy occasion I had always dreamed of. But you were there, and you supported me. And then her father left us.

“I had resigned myself at that point to the fact I would be a single mom. You let me grieve, held me while I cried, and took such good care of both of us while I was pregnant and recovering afterwards. Nothing I could ever say or do would even begin to be enough to convey my thanks to you for that. But I’ll try my best here. I realized on Maya’s first birthday that I had never been a single mother. From the moment I found out there was a baby in me, you were by my side. You were there for her birth, her first laugh, her first words, her first steps. For her. And for me. And now it’s my turn. I promise I’ll stick by you through everything we face, and I promise to love you through it all. I promise to support you like you’ve done for me, and to share the joys and sorrows of life with you. I’m so excited to share our life with you. Forever.”

Janis sobs quietly a couple times as Cady finishes and slides the ring onto her finger. Cady grins at her through her tears and tenderly swipes her tears away. Janis has to actively restrain from kissing her until she’s allowed to. But now it’s her turn.

She wrote note cards, but leaves them in her pocket. She knows she kind of rambled in them and figures it’s better to just fly by the seat of her pants and get the core message across.

“Caddy,” she begins. “I love you more than I can begin to say. And I have for as long as I can remember. You make me better. You keep me balanced, and grounded. And so, so happy. The years I’ve gotten to spend with you have been the best of my life. I wouldn’t trade a single moment in them for anything. Everything you do, every word you say, just makes me love you more. I thought I knew before what it meant to love, and then you came back into my life full force. And you gave me a whole other little person to love, too.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve the both of you, but I’m forever thankful for it. Both of you are such a light in my life. I can’t wait to watch our girl grow up while we grow old together. To spend my life with you. I love you more every day, and I promise to give you the rest of them. I promise to share every up and down of this crazy life with you, and love you through every moment. I always have, and I always will. Both of you. Thank you for everything you’ve given me.”

Cady sobs quietly a few times as Janis slides the ring home on her finger. She prepares to grab Janis’ face for the kiss, but Janis regretfully pushes her away.

“Maya,” she coaxes. Maya pops her head up to look at her with her precious smile. Janis beckons her over with a finger. “Come here, baby.”

Cady looks a bit confused, but bends to pick her baby up as she toddles her way over. Janis reaches into her pocket again.

“Now for yours. My little sunflower, my M&M candy girl. My Maya monkey. You bring me so much joy, so much happiness. I love your cuddles and your hugs, seeing that cute smile and hearing you laugh. I love watching you grow and learn new things. You remind me so much of your mama. You have her beautiful eyes, and her hair, and her precious smile, and her spirit. I got two of you to love. You have my whole heart, little one. I promise to give you so many cuddles and hugs and kisses, and to make all your owies better. I promise to snuggle you after you have bad dreams, and sneak you cookies when Mama says we can’t have any before dinner. I can’t wait to watch you grow up, and I can’t wait to see what incredible things you get up to. I love you so much, Emmy girl.”

Janis knows Maya doesn’t understand most of what she’s telling her, but she seems happy to just be included. Janis pulls a necklace the rest of the way out of her pocket and carefully fastens it around her neck. Maya reaches to feel it and smiles at her. Cady pulls it away slightly to look at the charm, and gives a watery smile at the gold heart with their birthstone on it.

“Okay, kiss the baby first,” Damian coaches. Maya giggles happily as she’s squished in her favorite kind of kiss before she’s put back down and released back to her grandma to show off her new necklace. “There we go. Now you two. I now pronounce you wives. You may kiss.”

Neither of them waste a second, grabbing the other wherever they can reach to pull her close. They can feel their happy future approaching as their lips meet for the first time as wives.

—-

Maya watches eagerly from the sidelines as her mothers have their first dance, and then runs over as she’s called to join them. Janis scoops her up and holds her between them as they move around the dance floor as a unit.

Cady kisses each of them and heads off, leaving Janis and Maya to dance together. Maya giggles happily as she stands on Janis’ shoes and holds her hands to be led around the floor.

“Are you having fun, M?”

“Yeah,” Maya says happily. “Mama got big dress.”

“She does have a big dress. Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Janis asks. Maya nods again. “You do too. You’re the most beautiful little princess here.”

Maya beams at her and cuddles in as their song ends and she’s held close once more.

She seems even more delighted when they get to the cake. Janis feeds her a bite and smiles at the stray chocolate on her lip.

“Yummy?” Maya nods eagerly and opens her mouth for more. Janis chuckles and gives her another bite. “Save some for us.”

Maya runs around to greet all her relatives during the speeches. Cady giggles quietly as she trips over her shoes on her way back to her moms. Maya just pushes herself back up and continues on her way. “Hi!”

“Hi, baby,” Cady chuckles, lifting her onto her lap and continuing to watch. Janis scoots her chair closer and rests on Cady’s shoulder. Cady tips her head to rest against Janis’, content to just hold both her loves close.

Once the speeches are over and the music kicks up again, Maya runs off to go dance. Her moms watch and laugh as she tears up the dance floor with her adorable moves.

-

“Cads?” Damian asks as she rests on his shoulder for a moment.

“Mm?”

“Where’s your child?”

“I dunno,” Cady yawns. “Janis had her last. I should probably go find her.”

“Yeah,” Damian chuckles.

Cady hauls herself upright and pops up on her tippy toes to look for her wife and child. She grins when she spies them on the dance floor as far away from the music as they can be.

“Hi,” she greets. Janis whirls around when she hears her.

“Hi, Peanut.”

Cady peeks a bit closer at the situation and feels her heart melt a little further when she sees Maya sound asleep against Janis’ shoulder. She’s cuddled close and her head is securely supported by Janis’ hand as they move around to the music. Cady comes close and kisses Maya’s chubby cheek gently.

“Couldn’t handle the party anymore, huh?”

Janis chuckles and adjusts her grip. “She’s out cold.”

Cady nods and rests her head against Janis’ shoulder. “Our girl.”

“Our girl,” Janis agrees softly. “My loves.”

“I love you,” Cady murmurs, popping up for yet another kiss. Janis returns it carefully so as not to wake the wee one resting in her arms.

“I love you too.”

“My parents are gonna take her for the night,” Cady says, gesturing to the baby. “So we can have our night together without… interruptions.”

“Can’t wait,” Janis replies. She kisses Maya’s forehead before passing her to her mama. Maya stirs and releases an anxious whine.

“Mommy.”

“It’s okay, Emmy,” Cady hushes, trying to rock her back to sleep. Janis gently runs a hand over Maya’s little cheek.

“Go back to sleep, baby. I’m right here.”

And I always will be.