Annie opened her eyes slightly to look at the clock. ' Well, atleast I made it to 4 o' clock this time, ' she thought then rolled over to look at Brian.
"He's sleeping, figures. That good for nothing..." she mumbled, getting out of bed and walked down the hall.
She stopped outside the door next to her bedroom, "Here we go," she sighed and opened the door. She walked over to the crib and picked up the screaming blue bundle.
"Aw, shhhh, don't cry baby," she cooed cradling him in her arms.
"You want mommy to sing to you?" she asked, not expecting an answer, she walked around the room and rocked back and forth.
"Hmmm, what could I sing? I can't believe I'm going to sing this, but here's goes nothing," she smiled, "I don't know what he does to make you cry, but I'll be there to make you smile. I don't have a fancy car, to get to you I'd walk a thousand miles. I don't care if he buys you nice things. Does his gifts come from the heart - I don't know...but if you were my girl...I'd make it so we'd never be apart. But my love is all I give. Without you I don't think I could live. I wish I could give the world to you...but love is all I have to give..." she trailed off at the end of the chorus when she noticed he had settled down. She carefully put him back in his crib and replaced the blanket over him.
She planted a kiss on his forehead, "Good night, angel," she smiled and turned around to see Brian leaning on the door frame with a smirk on his face.
"Jesus, Brian! What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?" she whispered.
"Sorry," he walked over to her and looked in the crib, "I heard you singing and I didn't want to interrupt you."
"Oh yeah, you heard me singing, but you didn't hear Anthony screaming his lungs out," she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"About that, see...um..." he stuttered.
"Hmm, mm."
He pulled her close to him, "I love you."
"I love you too...and I guess I can let you off the hook, let's get back to bed for now."
He gave her a sweet kiss on the lips, "I wouldn't mind going back to bed," he smiled slyly.
"You're too much, you know that, Brian?" she laughed.
"I try," he looked over in the crib again, "Let's leave before he wakes up again, maybe we can make it 'til morning," he whispered.
"Yeah, come on," she whispered and flicked off the light switch and pulled the door up a little on her way out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Annie walked downstairs to be greeted with the smell of pancakes and sausages. 'He's too good,' she thought and walked towards the kitchen. She passed the living room on her way and heard voices so she peeked her head in.
"Do you ever go home?" she asked A.J. who was on the couch watching TV.
"Yes, I go home," he said matching her tone, "and why aren't you dressed?" he asked seeing her still in a T-shirt and shorts.
"What, pajamas aren't good enough for you?"
"Oh, I'm fine with them. I just don't think the nurses would be too thrilled," he laughed.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
"Um, you were going with me to Lina's therapy," he gave her a look that said 'duh, you idiot'.
"Oh...OH, Ohmigod! I completely forgot!" she said, remembering the conversation she had with Lina's doctor to ask if she and A.J. could attend one of her sessions.
"Nah, what gave it away," A.J. said sarcastically.
"Shut up, I don't have time for your smart remarks," she said and ran to the kitchen, "Brian, can you watch Anthony today?" she asked.
"No, sweetheart. I have to go to the studio at 10, to go over my song," he said and licked some pancake batter off his finger.
"Damn, double damn!" she said under her breath.
"Why? I thought you were going to be home."
"I was, until I was reminded I was supposed to be going to one of Lina's therapy sessions."
"Oh," Brian thought a minute, "What about Kim?"
She smiled, but then it quickly faded, "Can't, she has school today."
"Doesn't the public schools have off this week? Nick's sisters are out."
She ran over and hugged him, "I knew there was a reason I loved you!"
He frowned, "You didn't love me for me?"
"Of course I do, but that mind of yours is amazing," she kissed his nose.
He smiled, "I thought something else was amazing."
She rolled her eyes, "I swear," she laughed and left the kitchen in search of the phone.
She looked all around the house for the phone and when she went in the living room, sure enough there it was. In A.J.'s hand.
"Gimme that," she snatched it away.
"Hey!" he yelled.
"Sorry, Mr. McLean over here, will have to call you back," she said into the phone then pushed off.
"What'd you do that for?" A.J. asked annoyed.
"I need MY phone that happens to be in MY house that you happen to be a guest in," she said and quickly dialed a number.
"Hello?...Kim, could you watch Anthony today? I normally wouldn't ask you to, but something - ...You will?...Thank you so much! You're a gem...OK, bye," she sighed and cut off the phone. She handed it to A.J.
"You can call your little friend back if you want," she said and walked out of the living room.
"She's not a little friend!" he yelled, "She's big friend...oh boy is she big," he snickered.
Annie walked back into the room carrying a pile of mail, "I heard that, you perverted man."
"When are you gonna be ready?" he whined.
"Yeesh, you're worse than the baby! Let me check the mail first then I'll go get dressed."
He sighed, "Fine."
"OK, now," she started to go through the mail, "junk, bill, bill, junk, bill, you," she handed a card to A.J.
He read it out loud, "Two tattoos for the price of one when you bring a friend," he smiled, "Thanks."
"No need," he said and continued to look through the pile of envelopes, "Sweepstakes, junk, junk, ooo me!" she put the rest of the letters aside and examined the small tan envelope.
"Hmm, who is this from?" she flipped it over and looked at the return address.
"Oh shit," she dropped the letter and stared at it on the floor.