It's Jade's Party and I'll Buy if I Want To!!

[Addisonsgirl]

The two days passed by in what seemed the blink of an eye, and before Maddie and David even realized it, the newlyweds were back from their short trip. David secretly thought that he was going to miss the laughter of two babies around the house instead of one. But he hid that feeling of course. David was biding him time. Jade was already 6 months old and Maddie had agreed that they could start trying for another Rugrat when Jade was 1 so that wasn’t so far off. Soon there would be two babies under this Addison’s roof, and that thought filled him with joy.

When the doorbell rang, he announced brightly: "Ah, the lovebirds are here!"

“Leave them alone, David,” Maddie warned playfully. “No lewd remarks, do you hear me?"

"Lewd remarks? Moi?" David fluttered his eyelashes in feigned innocence, and Maddie rolled her eyes. He chuckled. "I'm not gonna start anything, babe. I swear."

“Hm,” Maddie growled skeptically and opened the door where a glowing Terri and Richie were standing outside, faces beaming, eyes shining, both packed with boxes of heavenly smelling Chinese food. Maddie stepped aside and let them in. "Hey!” she smiled. “Great to see you!"

“Hey!” Both brothers made a great deal of greeting each other and their respective women with several overly solemn repeats of "Mr. Addison, Mrs. Addison!" while Maddie shook her head laughing and hugged Terri. "Hope you had a great time!"

"We sure did," Terri grinned. "How did it go with Nate?"

"Fine!" Maddie took the boxes from Terri's hands and shoved them into David's. "Hey, why don't you clowns set the table, and we go check on the kids?"

"As usual, your wish is my demand." David took the boxes, and when he and Richie turned towards the kitchen, he asked his brother almost casually: "So, how was the beach?"

"The beach?" Richie echoed in an amused voice. "How would we know?" he asked back.

David snickered and elbowed him roughly. "Never left the hotel room, huh?"

"What for?" Richie snickered back. "All the fun was had inside."

"Addison!!" Maddie scolded, and both brothers turned around.

"What?!" they replied innocently in unison, and David added: "I didn't start!"

“The hell you did!” Richie protested.

Maddie just rolled her eyes, shook her head and turned away, but suppressed a grin herself, while Terri laughed out loud. "God, I love being part of this family!"

Maddie playfully slapped her sister-in-law's arm. "Because you're worse than them!" she told her, then linked her arm with Terri's and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper while she led her towards the spiral staircase. "And now tell me... did you get to see the beach?"

Terri threw her head back and laughed, then she answered in the same conspiratorial voice: "Not one single grain of sand."

Maddie giggled. “Good. My kind of honeymoon," she commented with a laugh; the occasional lewd talk with Terri and sometimes Agnes was something she had gotten used to, and she even kind of enjoyed it, although it still embarrassed her a little. But it held that touch of forbidden that made her feel so deliciously wanton.

Terri nudged her playfully and scolded with a laughing voice: "Mrs. Addison!!"

Both women laughed and went upstairs. When they sneaked into the nursery on the tips of their toes, Maddie told her sister-in-law: “He's probably asleep... we put them to bed about half an hour ago.”

Terri nodded. “That's okay, I can wait a little longer until I cuddle him.” A ray of love and tenderness fell over her face when she looked at her sleeping son. “And now the truth,” she whispered, “how was it with two of them?”

Maddie smiled. “Honestly? It went better than I thought. I was a little anxious that I wouldn't be able to pull it off with two babies, but...” she shrugged. “Nate is the sweetest kid, of course, but still I'm a little proud of myself.”

“Great!” Terri commented. “Well, one day...”

“And soon,” Maddie interrupted, and when Terri raised a questioning eyebrow, she explained: “I realized that I don't want to wait much longer. When Jade is a little older we'll try for a second one.”

Both women hugged, and then Maddie asked: “And how is it going? Any morning sickness yet?”

Terri shook her head. “Not at all, but I know that from the first pregnancy – I didn't have any negative side effects at all.”

“Oh, I had a few,” Maddie sighed. “I was so moody...”

Quietly, they closed the nursery door and went downstairs again.

“I know what you mean,” Terri answered, “in the last trimester I was a little moody too, although usually I'm not.” She shrugged. “But I think that was maybe because at that time I was already... confused about my feelings for Richie.”

“Well, you don't have to be confused about that anymore,” Maddie grinned. They entered the kitchen where the men had set the table for the four of them.

“Where's Junior?” Richie asked, and Terri melted when she saw how disappointed he was that they hadn't brought him downstairs.

“Asleep,” she smiled. “You'll see him soon enough.”

The two couples enjoyed their dinner and a few laughs; Maddie and David told the other couple how well they had handled the situation with the two babies and how great they had gotten along. After the dinner, David and Maddie exchanged a conspiratorial smile, and David cleared his throat.

“Oh, by the way,” he said, “you are heading home to your new house.”

Richie frowned. “Why would we head to an empty house, bro?” He shook his head. “The move will be tomorrow’s project. Maybe, if I’m not too bushed.” He winked at his wife. “Mrs. Addison here totally wore me out.”

Terri elbowed him but grinned, and Maddie rolled her eyes but grinned too. David slapped the back of his brother's head. “Snap out of it, Rich!” he growled. “And your house isn't empty anymore,” David told him with a grin.

“What are you saying, Dave?” Terri asked.

David shrugged. “Well, me and a few friends – Bert, your pals from the bar, a few guys from Blue Moon and our dad – brought most of your furniture over to the house and set it up. We brought over most of the boxes too.”

Richie stared at his brother with his mouth hanging open. “You did what?!”

Terri's eyes flew to Maddie, and she nodded with a smile. “You guys are crazy!” she exclaimed, jumped up from her seat and flew into David's arms, kissing his cheek. “That's wonderful!”

“Yeah, wonderful,” Richie drawled dryly. “Now I owe him one, and he knows it.”

“Just say thank you and take your wife and kid home, Rich!” David snarled back and kissed Terri on the top of her head. “You're welcome, curls.”

***
Richie and Terri put Nate to bed in his new room and admired the work their family and friends had done for them.

“Really, I can't believe they did this!” Terri spread her arms and turned around on her heel like a spinning top, almost overwhelmed. David and the other helpers had truly worked miracles; all of their furniture had been brought to their new home and the nursery had been set up just like it had been in Terri's apartment. Most of the boxes she had packed with clothes, books and kitchen stuff had been brought over too; she just needed to put away everything in closets, drawers and bookshelves. There was barely anything left for them to do except enjoy their new home.

“Yeah, it's pretty darn awesome,” Richie admitted. Not for the first time he told himself that it had been the best decision of his life to move to L.A. close to the family, ending his lone wolf odyssey once and for all. He grinned like a boy and suddenly took Terri's hand, pulling her with him to the entrance door. “C'mon.”

“What? Where?” she gasped.

“Outside,” he explained vaguely without really explaining anything.

“Why?”

Richie chuckled. “Stop asking so many questions.”

With a sigh, Terri gave in and followed him outside, although she was slightly annoyed; it was late, it had been a long day, and the past two days had been indeed a little exhausting, even though in a very pleasurable way.

“Here we are,” he announced, and she threw up her arms in exasperation.

“So? It's pitch dark, and I can't see anything anyway,” Terri complained. With a quick move, Richie swept her up in his arms which made her gasp in surprise. “What are you doing?” she laughed.

“Well, what does it look like?” he replied dryly. “I'm carrying you over the threshold of course.”

Terri wrapped her arms around his neck. “Richard Addison, you're crazy,” she declared almost solemnly, but it didn't sound like she was stating something negative. It sounded more like a love declaration which it actually was.

Richie raised an ironic eyebrow. “What, too cliché?” he asked.

She shook her head with a smile and replied softly: “You can cliché me any time you want, coach.”

“That's exactly what I'm planning to do, kiddo,” he grinned and started to whirl her around two, three, four times until she shrieked with laughter.

“Stop!” Terri finally told him breathlessly. “We're waking up the neighbors!”

“They better get used to it,” he purred lewdly in his deep voice and entered the house with a big gesture, kicking the entrance door closed behind them. Instead of putting Terri down, he kissed her and announced: “Welcome to the new improved Addison home, Knowles.”

Terri chuckled. “My name's not Knowles anymore,” she reminded him.

Richie looked at her like she had just said something very stupid. “You kiddin', right?” he asked. “When I first saw you that evening in Maddie's kitchen, Dave called you Knowles. You were standing there with your wild hair, your bag of sweets and your baby bump, and the first thought running through my head was – Holy Mother of God, this must be the hottest chick I've ever seen.”

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And what was your second thought?” she inquired.

He grinned his lopsided grin, still carrying her weight effortlessly on his strong arms. “I don't remember,” he shrugged and winked at her. “I was too distracted by you sticking your finger in that sauce pot and sucking it clean.” Terri laughed again, and he added in a more serious tone: “And I was a goner when you laughed at our stupid jokes. You'll always be Knowles to me.”

She looked deep into his mesmerizing blue eyes, and for a moment she didn't know what to say; somehow his recall of their first meeting and the way he had perceived it touched her deeply. She cleared her throat and said the first thing that came to her mind. “You... you can put me down now.”

Richie shook his head. “Nah, I'm gonna carry you right into the bedroom, woman.” He chuckled. “C'mon. We're still newlyweds, and this is the first night in our new house. You didn't seriously think we were gonna sleep tonight?”

Unconsciously, Terri wiggled her toes in her slippers, where a pleasant, well familiar tingling started to run up her legs. “I thought I've worn you out completely?” she whispered in her husky voice and kissed his neck.

Richie was already heading towards the bedroom with long determined steps. “I was just kidding,” he purred. “Don't worry, there's a lot more to come before that happens.”

The bedroom door fell closed behind them with a loud bang.

***
A few miles away at the other Addison house Maddie and David were getting ready for bed. Maddie was brushing her hair at her vanity and frowning at the small crow’s feet around her eyes. David came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped low around his waist and noticed Maddie staring at herself in the mirror unhappily.

He frowned. What was it now? “Hey Blondie blonde? You okay?”

Maddie sat up with a start; she had been so involved in staring at her aging face that she hadn’t heard David come up behind her. She shook off the unpleasant thought that always stayed at the back of her head – that he was and would always be five years younger than her. But then she looked at his face in the mirror and saw that there were fine lines around his eyes too – they were laugh lines. Sometimes she desperately wished she could just stop worrying – weren't laugh lines so much more attractive than wrinkles from permanent frowning and thinking? With a determined gesture she pushed her hair out of her face, and the moment of melancholy was gone.

“Hey sexy,” she purred at her husband.

David grinned. “Sexy me?”

Maddie nodded as she stood up and turned toward him.“Sexy you.” She nodded to the towel around his waist. “Is that really necessary?” She raised an eyebrow as she moved closer. Just the sight of David wearing that small towel and just damp from the shower shot a bolt of heat right between her legs that made her forget everything except her arousal.

David licked his lips as he tore off the towel and threw it wordlessly across the room. He stood there proudly showing off his massive boner; moving his hips toward his wife. “Better?” he asked huskily as his hand stroked his dick.

Maddie nodded. “Much better. But just one more thing,” she told him as she stood in front of him.

“And what’s that?”

“This should be my hand.” Maddie told him as she replaced his hand on his boner with hers. “Ahh... much better,” she purred as her lips moved over his chiseled jaw.

David chuckled as he peeled off her short nightgown leaving her only with a black lacy thong that covered nothing. His fingers played over her curvy ass then moved between her damp thighs, moving in a slow circular motion over her throbbing nub. He heard her sharp intake of breath and continued his magic. “Love that, baby, don’t you?” he whispered smugly. “I love how you touch my dick.” David tilted his head back to allow Maddie’s red hot tongue to move over his neck. “Oooh, I like that baby,” he purred as he moved his boner against her.

David’s hands were all over her; running up and down her legs, fondling her breasts, petting her hotbox until she moaned, her body a raging inferno of passion. “Ooh baby, I’m so fucking hard for you. And you are so fucking wet.”

Maddie pushed David against the wall and wrapped her long leg around his hip. “Fuck me, lover,” she gasped as his tongue pushed into her mouth. “Please.”

“Oh, I love it when you beg,” he moaned, his voice caramel thick. With one slick move, he turned her around so that she was trapped between his body and the wall now; she sighed with pleasure, knowing what was to come now. He thrust into her quivering core with one hard push, practically pushing her through the wall. He began to pound into her with deep long strokes until she was screaming his name as orgasm after orgasm washed over her.

“Oh God, I’m coming again!” Maddie panted as her hotbox pulsed around David until he was catapulted into his own climax. Her hands were in his hair, pulling his mouth onto hers; pushing her tongue deep into his mouth. David was holding on to her ass thrusting deep into her as his orgasm finally subsided. Both took a few moments to come up for air.

“Wow!” He smiled into her cornflower blue eyes still filled with passion and love.

“Wow!” she repeated staring into green eyes which mirrored her own.

“I’m up for some more wow if you are,” David told her as he moved her toward the bed.

“Go for it.” Maddie smiled as they fell on to the bed wrapped in each other’s arms.

***
The next 6 months passed in the blink of an eye.

Maddie was sitting at her desk, thinking of how happy she was. Here she was back full time at the company she loved, working side by side with David again and looking forward to Jade’s first birthday party which was in a couple of weeks. A grin spread across Maddie’s face when she thought about her green eyed daughter. True, she may have her temper and impatience, but in almost every other way she was David – from the way she smiled and smirked to the way she pursed her lips; the twinkle in her eyes was identical to her father’s, and so was her personality. Even at the young age of 1 Maddie could see she had a bit of the devil in her – just like David.

There had been a bit of commotion in their lives when Jade turned 8 months and Maddie had insisted that the baby was old enough to go to daycare full time, and now she could go back to the agency full time. David hadn't been very happy about that, but she had firmly insisted that they had agreed that Jade would be fine at daycare while she worked full time at Blue Moon. Although David had pointed out that they had never agreed on a date, he hadn't been able to deny that basically, Maddie was right. And since he didn't want her to change her mind about bambino (or bambina) number two, he had given in in the end.

The first weeks had been hard and unnerving for everybody: David had – at first openly, then secretly (when Maddie had become irritated over his numerous visits) – checked with the daycare center a few times per day if Jade was doing okay. Maddie had been livid when one day one of the child care workers had told her diplomatically that they did appreciate the parents' concern, but that Mr. Addison could really start to relax a bit more. They pointed out that the baby would never get accustomed to their caregivers if her dad was always around. Maddie had thrown a tantrum, accusing David of not trusting her maternal instincts about leaving Jade at daycare and, what was almost worse, embarrassing her in front of the daycare center staff.

David had ranted that he damn sure was allowed to worry about his daughter, and insisted that he would check on her as long as he wanted. Despite his agreement that his wife would return to work and put Jade in daycare, David was not comfortable leaving his little Bean with strangers. Maddie had gritted her teeth in the end, because she had realized that David had to understand all by himself that Jade was safe and that the daycare center was top notch. After a couple of weeks and after getting to know the caregivers at the center David had calmed down a little and had tried to look at the facts from an unbiased point of view, he even admitted to himself that Jade seemed happy and was growing like a weed. Basically, being at the daycare center obviously wasn't doing her any harm, and so – a little reluctantly – he had made his peace with the new situation; at least on the surface. Although he was still far from happy about it; he still believed a mother should be home with her child, at least until it was old enough for kindergarten. The only good thing about this situation was that he got to work with Maddie everyday again – but he admitted to himself ruefully he would even sacrifice that to have his complicated wife at home with Jade, at least part time.

Life was good right now, and Maddie thanked her lucky stars every day. She thought about how she was now surrounded by family and friends. Her parents were thriving in their new city. Of course, Alex could not sit still and do nothing, so he had started a part time consulting business which was doing very well.

David’s father was working part time as the head cook in Richie’s bar which had become one of L.A.’s hottest nightspots. And all the babies! Nate was growing like a weed and at almost fifteen months was starting to talk. Soon he would have a baby brother – Terri was due in about three months, she looked and felt still great, and she and Richie had found out pretty early that they were expecting a boy – another boy, as Richie never grew tired to point out. He was smug about that, but in a very nonchalant way. Basically, he didn't care about the sex of the baby – but any occasion to tease the hell out of his little brother David was welcome of course.

Little Hope – or Gidget, as her two big brothers called her – was crawling and babbling and had all the men in the family, especially her big brothers, wrapped around her little finger. Many, many family dinners had followed that first one, and nobody was feeling awkward anymore when Hope, her niece Jade and her adopted nephew Nate, who were both older than her, were busy wrecking one of the Addison living rooms; or at times Viola. Every single one of the Addisons had accepted that their family ties were rather unusual, but none the looser. It was as it was, and it was close to perfect.

And a grin split Maddie's face when she thought about the newest addition to their growing family – although Agnes and Bert were not blood relatives, everyone considered them part of the family.

Shortly after the Violas had found out they were having a baby boy, it had become clear that they were going to name him very conservatively after his immensely proud dad – Herbert Jr.; Maddie had seriously threatened her husband with bloody murder when he had blurted out with laughter: “Bert Junior? Holy shit, that poor kid – BJ, seriously??”

“You shut your filthy mouth, Addison!” she had scolded him in an outraged voice. “If I ever hear anything like that from you, I...”

Quickly, he had raised his hands, feeling guilty. “Rewind the last ten seconds, babe. I wasn't thinking. The name sounds nice. It's Little Bert, ain't that cute? LB. Yes, LB is fine, don't you think?”

So, LB it was from then on – and LB was a chubby happy baby who had both his parents' curly hair and mother’s wide expressive eyes. Although he was a few weeks younger than Hope, he already started to babble as well; in fact, he seemed to be babbling a lot. “Bertie boy from head to toe alright,” Richie had commented dryly. “Jabbering all the time, but half of the time you have no fucking clue what he's talking about.”

Maddie sat back in her seat when she thought of the day Agnes and given birth. The women had been out to lunch when she suddenly had gone into labor, about two weeks before she had been due. Agnes had been more excited than scared while Maddie had been slightly nervous. Still, she had kept her nerves and acted prudently: she had called Agnes' doctor from the restaurant, then David on his cell phone who had been out in the field with Bert that day and had told him to pick up Agnes' bag and meet them at the hospital. Then she had taken her secretary and friend to the hospital.

A little later the men had shown up, just in time for Bert to hurry to his love bunny's side, and according to Agnes he did quite a good job helping her through the birth, even if at some point she had told him to “just shut up, Herbert Quentin Viola, willya!!”

The ringing of the phone brought Maddie back to the present in a hurry. It was a client rescheduling an appointment for the following week. Maddie couldn’t wait for Agnes to come back to Blue Moon; even though the temporary receptionist they had hired to replace Agnes during her maternity leave was capable, Maddie missed Agnes’ quirky rhymes and her cheerful face at the front desk.

A sigh escaped Maddie when she realized that Agnes had already asked to extend her leave another month; she was reluctant to leave LB when he was so little. Maddie pondered why she was so happy to return to work full time when all the other women surrounding her seemed so content to play mommy all day every day? Of course, she adored Jade, and being home with her had been fulfilling – no – Maddie had to admit that although she was thrilled to be a mother she didn’t know what to do at home all day with an infant, and some days seemed never ending, not really fulfilling at all – and she did feel guilty about that.

Maddie, of course, would never admit that to David; it was difficult enough admitting it to herself. She put her head back on her office chair as she thought about how eager David was on having another baby – and so quickly. Of course she remembered she had promised him that they would start trying for another child when Jade was about one – and at that time she had been truly convinced that was her wish too – but now that her daughter was reaching that age, Maddie was feeling slightly regretful over her promise.

Did she even want another child? Their little family was perfect as it was. And now that she was back at Blue Moon full time and had struggled to get most of the baby weight off, she was reluctant to get pregnant again. She was 38, and at her age it was a fight to keep her curves without them turning into fat, and she didn’t know if this time she would regain her figure. That worried her. Although she was sure that David wouldn’t leave her if she gained weight she knew she would feel uncomfortable being naked around him if he maintained his hard body. But then, when she looked at Terri so happily pregnant she yearned for another baby of her own. She was so confused. Another deep sigh escaped her. Sometimes it wasn’t easy being a woman. But a smile crossed her face when she thought of the good things about being a woman as she pictured David’s hard body in her mind’s eyes.

***
The day passed quickly as Maddie prepared to go home. She knew David was working at Richie’s bar that night and she might not even see him in passing since he had been out in the field with Bert all day. Maddie’s eyes hurt and she had a slight headache from staring at numbers all day long. She longed for a hot bath; lately Maddie had been bathing with Jade to make things flow easier at night. A smile crossed her face when she thought of her daughter happily splashing in the tub. A desperate yearning to see her green eyed baby overcame Maddie as she took the elevator down to the daycare center. When she held Jade in her arms and the baby snuggled close Maddie’s confusion once again overwhelmed her. Holding her daughter in her arms was the best part of her day so far – so would having another little Addison be so bad?

***
It had been a very long and tiring Friday for David; after working at the agency, he had run home, showered and changed into more casual clothes – just to hurry right to Richie's bar where he had agreed to help out because the bartender who regularly worked the 6 – 12 shift had been struck down with flu, and his regular substitute wasn't available as he was out of town on a weekend trip. Of course, Maddie hadn't been very happy about it, but this was something that didn't happen very often, and she could hardly tell David not to help his brother out in a moment of need or be angry at him about it.

David Sr. was working at the bar too on Friday evenings; it had been in fact the first time ever that the three Addison men had ever worked together, and David was amazed at how smoothly it went. He had worked together with his brother a few times, and he knew that behind the bar they operated together like a clockwork, blindly relying on each other, and they always put up a great show. When the Addison brothers were tending bar together, the entertainment for the guests was guaranteed, and the tips flowed as abundantly as the alcohol, especially on ladies' night. But to see their father fit in there, practically running the kitchen, made David happy and somehow proud. Although it was hard work and stressful and although he would never have admitted it to Maddie, he enjoyed those rare occasions when he bartended with Richie.

That Friday evening, however, David and Richie ended their shift a quarter past midnight when their substitutes took over and would work the shift until the bar closed at 4 am. The kitchen had closed at half past eleven, and by the time the brothers had shaken up their last drink – much to the ladies' dismay – David Sr. had three steaming bowls of his special stew à la Addison ready, and the three of them sat down with a sigh in the staff room.

“Busy shift,” David remarked and flared his nostrils at the delicious smell of the bowl in front of him.

“Yeah,” Richie replied with a beam and stretched his long limbs under the table. “Sometimes I can't believe my luck. One of the best decisions I ever made, to open this bar. It's gone off like a rocket.”

“Well, not by itself,” David Sr. pointed out. “You worked hard for it, your partners too, of course, and you obviously know how to run a business, son.”

“Or,” David replied with an amused voice, “he had more luck than brains, as usual.”

“Says who?” his brother snarled and kicked him under the table. “Says the jerk whose boss was just too hypnotized by his pretty face to fire his lazy no good ass!”

“Ha! At least I have a pretty face!” David snarled back. Both snickered.

“Guys...” their father growled. He still remembered the ever-present tension in their womanless home back in South Philly and was never really sure if the brothers were just roughly joking with each other or if there was more to it. But luckily, those days of grim sibling rivalry and general grumpy unhappiness were over for all of them.

For a while, the three Addison men ate their stew in amicable silence. “Dad, this is really delicious,” David then said and added teasingly: “You should cook for us all on Beanie's birthday party next weekend.”

“I can't believe it's already her first birthday!” his father exclaimed.

Richie nodded with a lopsided smile. “The last year and a half has surely flown by,” he agreed, remembering that evening of his niece's birth very well – it had been the same evening he and Terri had made it official with their family and friends that they were a couple. Had that really only been a year ago?

David laughed. “What a baby boom year!” he commented. “Junior, the Bean, Gidget, LB...”

“Why do you always call your little sister that?” their father frowned. The brothers just looked at each other, like they were asking: what is the old man saying? Can't he see the obvious?

“And don't forget the soon upcoming Addison bambino number two,” Richie reminded them and puffed out his chest a little, like Bert would have done.

“Yeah, yeah,” David grumbled, “as if you'd let us forget it.”

“What can I say, I'm the man – The man,” Richie commented smugly.

“You're a dick,” David replied dryly.

“David!!” his father scolded in an angry voice.

“I'm The dick, you mean,” Richie corrected, and both brothers snorted with laughter.

“Richard!!” David Sr. thundered and slapped both his sons' heads, causing them to yelp. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” But secretly, he started to enjoy the brothers' rough and crude banter – another thing he had missed when they had been younger. He quickly pushed the thought aside. "How do your wives even put up with you?!" he added.

"Oh, I think they basically wouldn't want us any other way, dad," David laughed. "Ain't that true, Rich?"

"Yep." Richie nodded, and the two brothers high-fived each other. "Terri's happy I'm mostly doing the management stuff now and can be home more evenings than I used to." He shrugged. "She never complained, but I know deep down she never really liked me being on the front too much..." – he nudged his brother – "...and then of course she never liked the thought of all those chicks throwing themselves at my feet each night."

David put his arm around his brother's shoulder in an exaggerated gesture with a grave nod and told him in an overly compassionate voice: "Oh, I know what you mean, alright. Maddie would hate that." David shook his head in memory and snickered. “Remember what she cooked up when I first started bartending for you?” Maddie and Agnes had disguised themselves as men, even though Agnes was dead set against it, to find out if David was being too friendly with the ladies. Thank God his complicated blonde seemed to trust him – if not 100% – now.

The memory had Richie nodding his head as he recalled David’s anger at Maddie. Both men looked at each other and couldn’t help bursting into laughter at their memories.

Their father smiled to himself and shook his head benevolently at his two sons who had always been so different, yet so alike. “What are you too so hysterical about?” He looked from one son to another. “Care to share with your old man?”

Richie and David told the story in their typical way. After drying his eyes from tears of laughter, David Senior looked around the table at his two sons proudly. “We all are so lucky to have found women who are crazy about us and put up with us Addison men.” He sipped his beer and shook his head, “which isn’t always easy.” He looked at his older son, “and I think it is important to be around a lot when your woman is pregnant.”

Richie smirked. "Oh yeah,” he nodded in agreement, “of course, especially the pregnant chick needs her man always around and at her service, if you know what I mean." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and David chuckled.

"Oh man, do I remember!" he replied and mirrored Richie's smirk. Obviously, pregnant Terri was like pregnant Maddie when it came to her libido. For a moment, he allowed himself to daydream about a beautiful, always horny, pregnant Maddie carrying their bambino number two, and he reveled in the thought that this in fact would happen soon – as they had agreed on going for it after the Bean's first birthday.

"We found out that Lamaze class is so much more fun when you get to practice: "learn to know your partner's body better than your own" at home," Richie snickered, and David could only nod in agreement.

"How long is she planning to stay home this time?" he asked his brother. "I hope more than just a few weeks?"

"A few weeks is definitely too short," David Sr. butted in again.

"Well, dad, last time she was alone in the beginning and needed to work for a living," Richie pointed out. "She would have loved to have a longer maternity leave, but she couldn't afford it at the time."

David pursed his lips in thought; that was something he had never really fully understood about Maddie... many times he had had the feeling that staying home with the Bean had been more a burden than a pleasure to her, and he resented a teensy tiny bit that she seemed to be happy to 100% only now that she was back at Blue Moon full time. Okay, Terri wasn't a businesswoman, but she had been working all her life just like Maddie, and in a high class and fulfilling job too – Dr. Knowles! – but nevertheless, she would have gladly reduced it drastically to spend more time with her kid, and it wouldn't be a sacrifice for her. Why couldn't Maddie prefer her child over her work? David slightly shook his head to cast off these unpleasant thoughts.

"Oh, she organized it all with the university already," Richie went on. "She told them she wants to stay at home at least a year and a half, maybe even two, and they said her job would be waiting for her as long as she wanted."

"Two years?!" David gasped, and Richie nodded gleefully.

"That's great!" their father commented appreciatively and raised a questioning eyebrow at his older son: "Are you sure you can afford it?"

"Oh yeah," Richie told them in a quite self-satisfied tone. "I mean, Terri earns good money, but daycare for two kids that small is expensive as hell... this business" – he made an all-encompassing gesture with his big hands – "is thriving, as you can see. It might get a bit tight with the house and all, but we calculated it all through, and if we're reasonable with the money we don't need her income." He shrugged. "So I left it up to her to decide, and she said she'd be happy to stay at home.” His lips curved into a lopsided smile. “I'm happy about it too, of course, but it was her decision."

"Well, I think it's the right thing to do," their father declared firmly. David pressed his lips together and said nothing. "Modern times alright," the Senior went on, "but if the family can afford it, I think the mother should spend at least part of her time at home with the child."

Each of his father's words was like a thorn in David's flesh, because they expressed exactly what he felt. Hell, he didn't want Maddie to fully stay at home and play housewife all day, but with a one-year-old at home... was it really asking too much to limit her hours at the office at least a bit? And then his father turned to him. “What about you guys?” he asked.

David cleared his throat. “What about us?” he asked back nonchalantly, and his brother threw him a quick sideways glance; they hadn't explicitly talked about it, but from a few of David's remarks Richie had understood that he never had really made his peace to 100 % with Maddie going back to work full time and especially with putting the Bean into daycare full time.

“I hope the agency isn't in trouble?” David Sr. inquired.

“What? No!” David pushed away his soup bowl. “The agency has made a real leap over the last year.” Somehow, he felt the need to prove himself to his father, especially after what his brother had said. “I'm not saying Blue Moon is a goldmine, but we're making decent money. Don't worry, dad.”

“Well, I thought with Maddie being back to the office full time...”

“She's going to work because she wants it, dad,” David interrupted hastily and in a slightly annoyed tone. “She's been working all her life, she's built a business of her own, and she enjoys it.” His words sounded shallow to himself, and he was angry that he had to defend his wife with arguments he didn't believe to be valid himself. He cleared his throat. “Things will get different anyway once we'll have bambino number two on the way... soon I hope.”

Richie's thoughts were whirling, thinking of how he could prevent the situation from escalating, but luckily their father had noticed himself that he was maybe going a little over the line and didn't pursue the subject further. He raised his hands. “I was just worrying, son. I'm sure you guys know what's best for your family, and I'm aware that everyone handles things differently.”

David didn't reply, he just nodded. But his tense jaw betrayed that he wasn't really happy with how things were handled. Richie decided to talk to his brother soon, but maybe better on an occasion when their father wouldn't be present. He pushed back his chair to break the tension.

“What do you say, gentlemen, shall we call it a night and head home to our better halves?” he suggested.

Both Davids eagerly followed his lead.

***
David’s thoughts ran wild as he drove home until he felt annoyed and angry at his wife. She should be home with Jade at least part time. He couldn’t for the life of him comprehend how she didn’t feel the same. Her words from a few years back slammed into him – “I’m just not the type of woman to make a fuss over babies.” And didn’t she sort of imply that she was a businesswoman and didn’t think she would ever have a child? Suddenly a sick feeling hit David in the pit of stomach – the Bean hadn't been planned; Maddie’s pregnancy had been an accident, but David had always believed that after the first shock of the completely unexpected Maddie was as happy as he was about the baby; oh, he knew she loved Jade, but maybe…. David pushed these uncomfortable thoughts out of his head, but he still felt his blood simmering as he pulled into the driveway.

The house was dark when David walked in; it was only illuminated by the small nightlight Maddie had put in the entryway for when he came home late at night. He slowly walked up the stairs and, as usual, the first room he entered was the nursery where he caressed his sleeping daughter's face. Then he went into the dark bedroom, trying not to wake up Maddie; he didn't want to risk her throwing him a snippy remark for being late, because he knew that a fight would be the inevitable consequence of that. He was undressing and getting ready to jump in the shower when he heard Maddie’s sleepy voice.

Maddie could never fall fully asleep until David was safely home. “David, glad you’re home,” she murmured, not sounding snippy at all. For some reason, that annoyed him all the same.

“Me too,” David mumbled, trying to keep his voice neutral; the last thing he wanted was to start an argument as this late hour. “Gonna jump in the shower. Go back to sleep.”

Maddie closed her eyes with a sigh and fell asleep almost immediately, so she didn’t feel David’s reproachful look as he climbed into bed after his shower.

The next morning Maddie woke up long before her husband. She figured he was tired, which was no surprise as he had had practically worked the entire day before at the agency and the bar, so she let him sleep as she attended to Jade and did some minor chores around the house. They had a cleaning woman come in a couple of times a week, so there wasn’t much housework to do which Maddie was grateful for.

Maddie was sitting on the living room floor playing with Jade when a little after 10 she heard David’s footsteps on the stairs. She turned to him as David made his way downstairs wearing a pair of old jeans and a Dodger t-shirt – his hair was messy and he hadn’t shaved yet and looked so drop dead sexy that she felt her heart beat faster with every step he took. He still could just turn her on alone with his looks, and sometimes the scruffier he looked, the better.

Maddie threw a sultry smile at him and was puzzled why he seemed to ignore it as he flopped on the floor next to the baby and began to tickle the little girl who screamed with laughter. For some reason Maddie hated when David tickled the baby, and he knew that. “Stop, David. She just ate breakfast you’re going to make her throw up.” Maddie tried to keep her tone calm – she didn’t want to start off the weekend with an argument.

David threw Maddie a nasty look which she couldn’t help but notice with surprise. “She’s fine. And how do you know what they do with her at daycare after she eats?” He glared at Maddie then shrugged. “Maybe they throw her around the room.”

What the hell was this about, Maddie thought with a pang. Was he looking for a fight? That was what she usually did – or used to do – when she was in a bad mood for whatever reason. Maybe he was just a little cranky from working so hard all day yesterday. She decided to ignore his barb. “I doubt that.” She stood up. “What would you like for breakfast?” She asked neutrally, looking down at David playing with Jade, and her heart softened. She loved to watch him playing with the baby, and she loved especially the expression in his eyes.

“Not hungry,” David murmured not even looking up at her.

“Okay...” She was getting a little annoyed now. “So then, what’s on the agenda today? What do you feel like doing?”

David looked up at her and she was dismayed to see a spiteful edge in his brilliant eyes. “Well, you seem to be the boss. What do you want to do?”

Maddie put her hands to her hips. “Do you have a problem today?” she asked with a menacing edge to her voice. “Since you came downstairs you’ve been picking at me.”

David picked Jade up in his arms and was making faces at the baby as he spoke to Maddie. “And why would I have a problem?” he asked as he made Jade giggle at his silly faces.

Maddie glowered at him. “You tell me.”

“Maddie, Maddie, Maddie.” David’s tone was patronizing and put her back up. “Why must everything turn into some sort of drama with you? Chill out babe.” He knew he was being unfair but he was mad and irritated with his wife and was finding it hard to be civil to her.

Mount St. Maddie was about to erupt, so before she felt the lave spewing out of her mouth Maddie pressed her lips together, turned on her heel and walked out of the room. She didn’t want to fight around the baby. Over her shoulder she threw at David with forced calmness in her voice: “When you’re ready to act like a human call me, I’ll be on the patio.”

About 15 minutes later David appeared on the patio with the baby, he ran a hand through his hair as he looked at his wife. “How bout we take a walk on the boardwalk,” David suggested. Maybe a walk on this beautiful day would take the edge off his anger.

Maddie nodded and decided to swallow her irritation at David. After all he was human, and sometimes even David got crabby. So she put a smile on her face and decided they would have fun.

As they walked along the boardwalk, David pushing Jade in her stroller and Maddie walking beside them, he couldn’t help but wonder how many of the women he saw had children in full time day care. Like a dog with a juicy bone David just couldn’t put his irritation at his wife to rest, but then that was logical – as long as the reason for his irritation didn't change, it would always bubble underneath the surface. He half wished it was a weekday, so he would be able to go in the field with Bert and away from Maddie. David was silent as he pushed the carriage, his head filled with unwelcome thoughts.

Maddie was getting more annoyed as they walked along the boardwalk. David hadn’t said one word to her since they had left the house. She racked her brain trying to come up with something she may have done to make David angry, but she couldn’t think of anything. Why was he so sullen? And which was even worse – if he thought he had a reason to be angry at her, why didn't he talk to her about it openly? And last but not least, to top off her annoyance his eyes seemed to be following every woman they passed which set Maddie's teeth on edge.

Finally, as David’s eyes trailed a shapely woman holding the hands of two toddlers, Maddie had enough. She turned to David with a scowl marring her features, “You really need to keep your eyeballs in your head and off that woman’s ass,” she growled menacingly.

David was asking himself if the brunette had her kids in daycare when he heard Maddie’s ominous instruction. He turned to her with a dirty look. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Maddie glared at David with blue balls of fire. “Are you punishing me for whatever you think I have done wrong in your little brain by staring at every woman who passes, or have you just reverted back to the jerk you once were?” Maddie knew her words were mean but she couldn't help it, and at that point she didn’t care.

“Yeah, I’m a jerk,” David nodded adamantly, “a fucking big one.”

Maddie wanted to kick him. “I want to go home!” Maddie demanded in that bossy tone he hated.

“Sure, it’s always what you want,” he spat. “I’m having fun. I want to stay.”

If looks could kill David would be dead on the spot, Maddie pulled the stroller out of his hands and steered it toward the parking lot. “So stay! Fuck you, David.” And with that Maddie stormed off with a babbling Jade looking after her father with a frown. “Drool over all the hot babes you want without me to disturb you!”

David ruffled his hair as he looked at Maddie angrily pushing the stroller to the car. He shook his head frustrated with himself now that he had deliberately ruined what could have been a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Maybe he should stop acting like a fucking idiot and actually tell Maddie what was bothering him. Wasn’t that what he always accused her of and what they always promised each other they were going to do; that is until the next angry feelings or misunderstandings? David sighed and decided to take a walk on the boardwalk to clear his head and think about how he could convey his feelings to Maddie without having the situation escalate into a fight.

Maddie drove home in a haze of fury. Damn that man! What was wrong with him now? First snapping at her all morning, and then ogling women on the boardwalk. Her hands tightened around the steering wheel, wishing it was David’s neck. Hot angry tears sprung to her eyes as she pulled into the driveway.

Miserable and confused, Maddie fed Jade, then put the baby down for her nap. As she came downstairs she saw David standing at the bottom waiting for her. Her heart clenched with love when she looked at him – his hair tousled and his face slightly burnt from the hot sun. But then she remembered how he had treated her that day and her fury returned full force.

Maddie went to walk past him without a word but David grabbed her arm and turned her to him. “Sorry, babe,” David told her ruefully. He really hated how he had acted that morning; being snippy all day without even giving her the chance to understand why had been totally unfair, and it was clear that she misunderstood his constant glances at other women.

She pulled her arm out of his grip and stepped back and away from him, looking at him with repugnance. “Why are you back so soon? No other hot babes to drool over?” She hated the idea that David had been looking at hotter, younger women. Why would he do that? And right in front of her? Her anger began to percolate.

David shook his head slowly. “You got it wrong, honey. I wasn’t looking at any babes.”

Maddie’s index finger shot toward him like a loaded pistol. “I saw you, David. Don’t deny you were looking at those women.”

He nodded as he ran his hand through his already tousled hair. “Yeah I was looking…”

Tears sprang to Maddie’s eyes. He was admitting it? “See…”

“But not for the reason you think.” David stared at her with those damn green eyes that she adored, and suddenly she realized that he looked as miserable and confused as she felt. “Why would I look at any other women when I have you?”

Maddie stood there and slowly shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“I was looking at them wondering which mom had her kids in daycare,” he finally blurted out.

“What?” Maddie looked at him with confusion all over her face. “What are you saying?” She put her hands on her hips. “Why should you care if some stranger's kids are in daycare?” This man would be the death of her yet.

“I don’t care about those stranger's kids,” David contradicted.

“But you said so!”

“I just care about our kid,” he pointed out.

She frowned. “What?”

“Maybe it makes no sense, but I was just thinking about how many kids are actually put in daycare full time.” He looked at Maddie with a hint of annoyance in his voice, he couldn’t help it. “And I was wondering if those moms were happier out in the working world than home with their kids.”

Maddie shook her head as if to clear it. “And why were you wondering that?” she snapped. Hadn’t they agreed that Jade was doing well in daycare? Why was he bringing this up again? Maddie wanted to kick him hard, but she just stood their staring at him waiting for his answer.

“Well, I was just talking to my dad and Richie last night. Both Terri and Stephanie are happy to stay home with their babies until they are older.” David waved at Maddie. “But you decided to stick Jade in daycare. All damn day long.”

Fury washed over Maddie. “I didn’t stick Jade just anywhere, and you damn know it.”

“But Terri and Stephanie…”

“Well, I’m not Terri or Stephanie!” Maddie’s voice was low with indignation and hurt.

He raised his hands in a defensive gesture, not wanting this to escalate. “But really, Maddie... would it have killed you to stay home with Jade until she was a little older? At least part time?” He ran his hands through his hair.

“But we agreed!” She almost stomped her feet with rage.

“I never remember agreeing on full time!” David’s hands were moving around as he tried to explain his points. “You decided that's how it has to be, and I just followed along so we wouldn’t fight.” He looked at Maddie. “You know how I feel about Jade in daycare.” He shrugged. “I see that she is doing well, granted, but I just can’t help how I feel, Maddie.” David pursed his lips as he thought back to a few weeks ago. “You would have missed Jade’s first steps if she had taken them in daycare!” He threw up his hands. “Thank God it was on a Sunday that our baby decided to take those first steps!”

“She took her first steps because you and I were prompting her and urging her on to come to us!” she told him adamantly. “She wouldn’t have taken her first steps without our out reaching arms!”

David shook his head. “You can't know that, Maddie. When the time's ready, these things will happen, whether we are around or not. So many firsts you might miss!”

“And you will miss them too!” she pointed out with frustration in her voice.

“I’m not her mother!”

Maddie was incensed that this daycare topic was once again the subject of a fight between them. She tried to think clearly before she said things she might regret. Maybe she had really backed David into a corner back then, she didn't remember clearly now. And she admitted to herself that she still knew that he was not thrilled with her not staying home with Jade; but as he hadn't pursued the subject further, she hadn't addressed it either. But then another side of her was angry that he was judging her maternal instincts. “Are you saying I’m not a good mother because I choose to work?” She conveniently ignored that he had used the words part time.

“No, of course not!” he contradicted adamantly. “You’re a great mother, but I just wish…”

“David, come on!” she interrupted, but not in a harsh tone this time. “We hashed this over dozens of times. I love Jade, but right now the agency needs me. I am the only one I trust with our books. I will never allow anyone to have power of attorney over our business, and you have no head for the accounting side of Blue Moon.”

David was listening to Maddie carefully. “Maybe you can take some of the work at home?” Her point was valid of course, but why couldn’t she work from home at least part time? And then she knew damn well that it didn't take her to work eight hours every day to do the books of the agency, so her point was only partly valid after all.

Maddie shook her head. “With a toddler? I don’t think so.”

David smiled. “Hey, we can hire a college kid to help out when you’re busy!” His smile widened. “And after we have Bean two you’ll of course be staying at home for a long time with the two babies.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “Daycare is very expensive for two bambinos.” He told her seriously. “And you can do your work from here.” He waved his hand to encompass the house. “We can set up a study for you in one of the guest rooms!” Suddenly, he was all enthusiastic, thinking he had found a way to resolve their problem.

Maddie felt as if a knife had pierced her insides. Now she really didn’t know if she wanted another child, if David thought she was going to stay home full time... but she decided not to bring that up now. She still didn’t know how she felt to 100%, and she knew that would just open another can of worms and bring on more fighting. She made a pact with herself she would do some deep thinking before she told David her feelings.

David looked down at Maddie but didn’t notice her ambivalence. He had no clue she was regretting the promise she made to try for another child so soon, so he was happy thinking they had reached a compromise. “So babe, what do you say?”

Maddie forced a smile on her face, but if David had been looking at her instead of nuzzling her neck he would have noticed the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Sure, I’ll think about it.” Maddie pushed the words out of her mouth, but they weren’t a lie, she was truly thinking…

David pulled her hand and put it against the tent in his pants. “Fine baby, but now I want you to think about this.”

Despite Maddie’s confusion she felt a bolt of heat shoot between her legs. Her fingers began to move over David’s zipper, but before she had the chance to pull it down they were interrupted by the sound of Jade crying in her crib.

Maddie pulled away reluctantly. “Later.”

David nodded as he watched his wife’s curvy butt walk up the stairs. Something was still bothering him, but he vowed to put it out of his mind and not ruin the rest of the weekend.

***
The next week passed by quickly and without further disagreements, and neither David nor Maddie brought up the subject of daycare again. But that didn't mean that it was out of their minds – in fact, it bothered David all the time the more he thought about it, although he tried not to think about it all the time. But he couldn't help it: the further the clock ticked by each day as the afternoon went on, the heavier the thought weighed on him – it's late afternoon, and why is Maddie here at the office and not at home with our daughter? Again and again, he pushed those thoughts aside, but they kept coming back and nagging at the base of his mind. He hated how it made him irritated at Maddie and he tried his best not to show her his annoyance which sometimes was very difficult.

Maddie, on the other hand, kept replaying their talk in her head... and she heard David's eager voice: ...after we have Bean two you’ll of course be staying at home for a long time with the two babies...

She remembered how frustrated she had been those first months when she had stayed home after Jade's birth, how left behind she had felt... oh, not because she had needed the buzz of the office, not because she had wanted to feel important or in control of everything... it had bothered her just so much that for those months she had almost had no clue at all of what was going on in the office. She had felt left out, pushed aside, like an outsider. And David expected her to do that again, and she really wasn't sure if she would be able to pull it off without going crazy. Maybe it really wasn't such a bad idea to set up an office at home, so she could at least stay in touch? Or should she prevent the problem by procrastinating? After all, she wasn't too old. They could wait a few years before trying for another baby, couldn't they?

But she also remembered that they had agreed on trying for another baby when Jade would be a little older – maybe one. That had seemed so far away at that time, but now her birthday was around the corner, and Maddie would bet her first magazine cover that David wouldn't lose time reminding her of that promise as soon as Jade's birthday party was over. And she honestly didn't know for the life of her what she was going to tell him. Yes, she had really meant it then, and yes, she really wanted another baby with David. But still... Maddie pushed those thoughts aside and decided to procrastinate a little longer.

***
When the morning of Jade's party arrived, David made a big fuss over not letting Maddie go anywhere near the garden or even throw a glance out of the window. Despite her wistful thoughts she smiled to herself about his boyish joy and eagerness to make this a special day not only for Jade, but also for their entire family and friends who, of course, were all invited to celebrate with them. Maddie knew that she and David were the best combination as parents and completed each other wonderfully – where she was the one keeping an eye on the daily routine, trying to give Jade even at her young age an example and thus a sense of good manners and order – which was important – David was the one to make the crazy jokes, throw her around and let her run free – which was as important. In short words, Maddie knew that she probably would be the one to teach Jade how to tie her shoelaces, and David would be the one to teach her that it was okay to run barefoot sometimes.

David's father was expected with Stephanie and Hope, Agnes and Bert with LB, Richie and Terri with Nate, and of course Alex and Virginia who couldn't be any more proud of their first grandchild – and were secretly hoping that maybe, just maybe they would be able to welcome a second one someday. David had also invited his bowling buddies and their wives and kids so it was sure to be a raucous and fun party with so many small children running around.

Maddie was determined to enjoy that day with her family and push the worries out of her head for a few more hours; after all, it was a day of joy. That determination lasted exactly until Maddie set foot in the garden. She stood rooted on the spot and turned around to David who was beaming at her; she stared at him in disbelief.

He raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“What is all this?!” she gasped and waved her hand hectically at the scenery that unfolded in the garden. A makeshift floor had been put over the pool area to give them more room; a huge playhouse had been set up; there was a small stage with a band, all of them dressed as fairytale characters; there was a ball pit and a pony ride area. Everything was decorated with myriads of balloons in all colors. Maddie's jaw dropped. There was even a make your own sundae station set up next to the buffet table which would soon hold the food from the caterers they had hired.

David noticed that Maddie didn't seem very happy with all his efforts. For a moment he thought that maybe he had gone a little over the line, but when the Bean started to bounce up and down on his arm and babble excitedly as she pointed with her chubby finger he didn't care about anything else than making his daughter happy. Was Maddie really going to try to spoil the fun?

“It's Jade's birthday party, and we're going to have fun, aren't we?” He deliberately kept all the defiance he felt out of his voice.

“It looks like frigging Disneyland, David!” Maddie snapped. “Have you gone completely out of your mind?!”

David's jaw tightened. “I really don't want to argue today, Maddie,” he replied through gritted teeth, “and I don't want to hear anything from you about common sense or that the Bean is too small to appreciate all of this. I just want to spend our daughters first birthday in great company, having fun and laughing and doing everything to make her happy right now, and I don't care if she remembers any of this tomorrow or next week.” Maddie pressed her lips together in silent fury but said nothing. “So would you please come outside with us,” he went on, “and welcome our guests and for once just have fun?”

Maddie decided that he was right about this being the wrong moment for making a scene. There would be enough time for that tomorrow. She swallowed her anger. “Then let's have fun,” she replied with forced calmness. It sounded almost like a threat.

***
Maddie threw Terri a half-suspicious, half-curious sideways glance. The brunette had made herself comfortable in a garden chair, her 7-month baby bump making her even more attractive, just like Maddie remembered her from her first pregnancy. Her dark curls were wilder than ever, and her eyes sparkling as usual. Utter joy and love emanated from her face as she watched Richie holding Nate safely on the pony, his big hands firmly around the infant's waist, and quietly talking to him; the baby boy‘s face was beaming with joy.

“They're great together,” Maddie commented. “Richie is a great dad.”

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Terri replied, not taking her eyes off of her men. “I can't thank you enough for inviting me over to dinner that evening. That was my lucky day.” Absentmindedly, she put her hands on her swollen belly and stroked it.

Maddie cleared her throat. “Will be quite a change in your life,” she remarked, and finally Terri turned to her.

“Change?” she echoed. “Oh, with another baby? Yes, true.”

“And going from full-time professor to full-time mommy again,” Maddie added.

The brunette smiled. “But a nice change!” she said enthusiastically. “I can't wait!”

Maddie cleared her throat. "So... you're planning to stay home a little longer this time?" she asked.

Terri nodded. "Yes! The university told me they'd save my job for me as long as I want. Isn't that great? With Nate, I couldn't afford it. But this time..." she shrugged. "We calculated everything through, and the bar is making enough to cover all our costs."

"So Richie persuaded you to stay home," Maddie concluded tentatively.

Terri threw her a sideways glance. "He didn't have to," she told her calmly. Maddie looked away thoughtfully, and Terri shook her head inwardly. “Maddie, you don't have to justify your decision by telling yourself I was talked into mine.” She drew a deep breath and raised her chin in an almost challenging way. “'Cause I wasn't.”

Maddie waved her hands in a defensive move, a little embarrassed that Terri had put her finger in the wound again. “What? No, I didn't mean...”

“I've been working all my life,” Terri interrupted, “and mostly, I've been alone... it was quite a struggle sometimes.” A shadow flew over her face, but the moment was gone fast. “I love my work, but for now I'm happy to let someone take care of me and dedicate myself to the family I was afraid I'd never have, at least for a little while.”

Maddie shifted a bit uneasily on her seat; Terri's last words reverberated in her head... not even two short years ago she herself hadn't imagined she would have a husband she was madly in love with and a child to complete their family. Did she take it too much for granted, did she want too much?

“Look, Maddie,” Terri went on softly and put a hand on Maddie's arm. “When it comes to these things there's no such thing as right or wrong, I think. Different people handle things differently. It doesn't make me a suppressed housewife that I want to stay home with my kids, and it doesn't make you a bad mother that you want to go to work. You've worked all your life too, you've built up a business, you're proud of it and you have every right to. You're a great mother for Jade, and as long as you're happy with what you're doing then it's the best for your kid too.”

“Thanks.” Maddie sighed and looked down on her hands. “I'm afraid David sees that differently...”

“I'm sure David wants you to be happy too,” Terri told her firmly.

Maddie swayed her head skeptically from one side to the other. “He seems to resent that I'm happy going to the office instead of staying home with Jade.”

“I don't think he resents it,” Terri contradicted. “Maybe he just doesn't understand it.”

Maddie nodded and sighed again. She looked at Terri questioningly. “Tell me,” she said after a while, “do you and Richie ever fight?”

Terri chuckled. “Me and Richie? Oh, of course we fight.” She frowned. “Well, let's say, not about serious stuff. We're mostly on the same page, at least about things that really matter. Probably we're just too alike. And mostly, whenever I get angry, he makes me laugh. I can't help it.”

“Oh boy.” Maddie shook her head. “David knows he'd better not try to make me laugh when I'm angry. That just makes it worse.” She looked over to the pony and saw Nate had just gotten off, and Richie and David who was holding Jade in his arms were laughing and talking animatedly to each other and to their kids; simply a joy to watch. These Addisons. She turned to her sister-in-law again. “And in the rare case you disagree on something,” she went on with a slight ironic touch to her voice, accompanied by a sarcastic eyebrow, “what do you do to resolve it?”

Terri folded her arms – which wasn't as easy as it used to be, due to her baby bump – and replied in an equally benevolently ironic tone: “Well, if there's something that really bothers or upsets me, I do something really crazy...” she inclined her head a little and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone as if she was telling Maddie a big secret. “I talk about it openly,” she whispered.

Maddie rolled her eyes but had to grin; she slapped Terri's arm. “Fair point well made,” she admitted. “I know that's not my strength – David's neither.”

“Oh, come on.” Terri put her arm around Maddie's shoulders amicably. “I know you guys are deeply in love with each other, and that's the most important thing. So far you two seem to resolve your differences – eventually.” Maddie nodded thoughtfully, and Terri went on: “Let me tell you another secret that always works.” Maddie raised her eyebrows in question, and Terri told her in the same conspiratorial voice: “When all else fails...” she wiggled her eyebrows, “...there's always the bedroom.” She laughed at Maddie's expression. “Just kidding!”

“Ah!” Maddie snorted with fake disgust but had to suppress a grin again. “You talk like an Addison!”

“I know.” Terri nodded and waved at her husband. After a moment, Maddie waved too and sighed again. The talk with Terri had opened her eyes once more, and she knew what she had to do, and soon – she had to talk to David and lay all her cards on the table. Her doubts and worries about having a second child – he needed to know it, and she couldn't avoid an open talk any longer. Maybe, she thought, deep down she secretly hoped he would convince her – convince, not persuade – that her worries were unnecessary. Maybe she needed just a little of his positivity to overcome her fears; it had worked a few times in the past already, and she was getting more and more confident it would work again, or so she hoped. But she had a sick feeling that even David’s arguments may not be enough to put them on the same page this time. And she hoped they would be able to discuss it like two mature adults. She sighed inwardly and nodded to herself. She decided to bring it up calmly and diplomatically the following day.

***
"So, tell me, bro... what's up with you and the blonde?" Richie asked when he had taken Nate off the pony; the boy was still all excited and showering David and Jade with a cascade of babbling, presumably telling them about his adventure on that huge fluffy animal with his dada. "Trouble in paradise?"

Jade motioned to the pony herself with her chubby arms, but David told her: "No Beanie, it's LB's turn now."

Jade protested a little when Bert put his curly mini-me LB on the pony's back and fastened the belt carefully, but then she started to babble along happily with her cousin and best pal Nate.

"With me and Maddie?" David finally turned to his brother. "Nothing's up," he shrugged nonchalantly.

"Too bad for you," Richie teased ironically, and when David shot him a mean glance he punched his shoulder. "Just kiddin”. Come on, Dave – don't smartass a smartass. I noticed the grim face you made when I told you about Terri's plans for staying home the other day."

David knew there was no use in trying to convince his big brother that he was just imagining things. He blew out his cheeks in a frustrated way. "Did you have to talk Terri into staying home with bambino number two?" he asked instead of giving Richie an answer.

Richie shook his head. "No chance. I know better than to try to talk her into something she doesn't really want herself. That never works. I told you it was her decision."

David nodded gravely. "I thought so." He shook his head. "Damn, why can't Maddie be a little more... fulfilled staying at home?" David shook his head ruefully. “Fulfilled my ass.” He grunted.

“Fulfilled?” his brother echoed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully with one hand while balancing Nate safely on the other arm. "I suppose you want a serious answer and not the one that I would normally give to that question," he remarked dryly. David threw him a filthy look, and he went on earnestly: "I'm sorry, kiddo, but I don't have an answer to that one... except maybe, that just like you are not me, Maddie is not Terri."

"What, that's all?" David rolled his eyes. "Well, that's just great, Rich."

Richie shrugged. "I hate to say it, bro, but even my wisdom is limited," he replied smoothly, and David snorted in brotherly disdain.

Suddenly, the kids on the men's arms started to yell andfuss, and the brothers turned their attention to the obviously arguing infants. Richie laughed and disentangled Jade's chubby hands from Nate's hair which she was pulling. "Easy, Beanie," he purred, and his niece threw him a mean glance.

"U, poo poo!" she declared, pointed at Richie with a chubby finger and stuck out her tongue at him. Damn if the baby didn’t sound like she was saying Richie is poo poo, but of course at only a year old she was far too young to talk.

David grinned sheepishly; after all, he had been telling his daughter a few times that her uncle Richie was full of poo poo. “Jade, that’s not nice,” he admonished his daughter softly, “we don’t call people names and we do not stick out our tongues at anyone!“ But his eyes, as his brother's, were twinkling with amusement.

Richie roared with laughter. "Poo poo?" he echoed and started to tickle his feisty niece until she almost choked. "I'm gonna give you poo poo alright!”

Nate had stopped complaining and laughed again, and David tickled him fondly. Richie stopped when he saw Jade's red face and heard the gurgling sounds she made, but she flapped her arms wildly and yelled for more.

"You want more? Yeah, that's what your auntie Terri always says," Richie chuckled and tickled her a little more softly. "Anyway," he turned to David again, "I see what your problem is, bro."

David snorted. "You tell me, Rich – Is it really asking too much not to stick the Bean in daycare all day long?” His free hand talked along with his mouth. “I mean, I see what's Terri's choice doesn't necessarily have to be Maddie's, but I'm not even demanding she should stay home full time. Would it really kill her to limit her working hours a bit, at least until Beanie is older?"

Richie shook his head slowly, thoughtfully. "No, I suppose it wouldn't."

David nodded grimly. "I'm glad you're on my side here."

Richie swayed his head, trying to find the right words. "Not so fast, bro. I don't think there's such a thing as right or wrong here."

"What?!" David growled. “Listen, don't tell me I need to put myself in her shoes or listen to her and try to compromise. I did all that. The fucking compromise was that she got her way in the end.”

Richie raised his free hand in a soothing gesture. "Look, I do think like you that it would be a good – if not the best – solution like you suggested, if she worked part time," he said.

"But?" David urged.

"But,” Richie went on firmly, “that's only in theory. There is no perfect recipe. If working makes her happy..." he shrugged. "I think if the blonde isn't happy, nobody in the house is happy. And the time she spends with the Bean seems to be really quality time. It's not like she's neglecting her, is it?" Richie threw a questioning glance at his brother.

"No, of course not!" David assured quickly. "I'm not saying that!"

"And it doesn't look to me like that daycare is doing her any harm," the older one went on and bent forward to Jade. "Isn't that right, Bean?"

"Poo poo," Jade singsonged gleefully and flapped her arms again, obviously hoping for another merciless tickling attack from her tall uncle.

"Nice try, Beanie," Richie snickered devilishly and grabbed her nose between his index and middle finger. "Your nose is mine now." Jade shrieked in outrage and fumbled for her nose with her chubby hands which seemed to amuse Nate. He beamed proudly at his dad, as if he wanted to high-five him for outsmarting his sometimes all too temperamental cousin.

"No, you're right with all that," David admitted and shrugged a little helplessly. "I still don't like it."

"If it bothers you that much, you need to talk to her about it, bro," Richie told him. "Clear shit up. Make a compromise."

"Yeah," David snorted, "compromise my ass. She gets her way, that's usually the compromise."

"You're both stubborn knuckleheads," Richie chuckled and finally took pity on his hysterical niece, giving her back her nose. Jade was so relieved that she even beamed at her uncle and forgot to poo poo him. "You are making things too hard on yourself." He nudged his brother and motioned with his head across the lawn. "Look, the ladies can't take their eyes off of us. And who can blame them."

David's eyes followed Richie's motion, and he saw that Terri and Maddie were waving over to them, both women smiling. His heart melted a little, and the Addison brothers waved back.

"You and Terri never fight, do you?" David asked with a slightly envious sigh.

"Not really," Richie admitted with a shrug. “We hardly ever disagree on things. And if we do get into an argument on some thing or the other, we mostly end up laughing and making out.” David couldn't help but chuckle, and Richie corrected himself dryly: “No, actually it's not making out... usually it's more like...” he pursed his lips Addison-style, looking for the right colorful description.

David punched him. “I get the picture, Romeo,” he snickered. “You don't have to elaborate any further. We’ve had some of our steamiest trysts making up after a fight.”

Richie punched back. “Then what are you complaining about?” he asked and wiggled his eyebrows. “Talk to the blonde, set up a compromise and make up alright, and maybe you even get to score for bambino number two. It's a win-win situation.”

David laughed, and they slowly started to saunter over to their attractive wives. Maddie didn't look sour anymore as she had at the beginning of the party, when she had scolded him for all the unnecessary stuff he had organized in his exuberance. Maybe this weekend would turn out better than he had thought; maybe she was more open for a compromise. At least he would try to honestly explain to her how he felt.

***
The morning after Jade’s party David was outside watching the men put the yard back into order. They had already disassembled the ball pit, the pony ride arena, the giant bouncy house and the band stage – now they were just taking away the rented tables and chairs and taking the makeshift floor off of the pool.

Meanwhile, Maddie was puttering around the house putting things in order. Jade must have been exhausted from her party because it was almost 9 am and she was still asleep. Maddie hoped that she wouldn’t be thrown off schedule due to sleeping so uncommonly late. She smiled as she remembered the grin on her daughter’s face yesterday. She was glad that she had listened to David and had a big party for Jade’s first birthday – that innocent joy on her daughter's face was all that counted. Although Maddie knew the baby wouldn’t remember a thing, the memories would stay with her; and of course they had taken many pictures and videos of the special day.

A sheet of paper lying on the floor by the sofa caught Maddie’s attention. She stooped to pick the paper up and saw that it was the final bill for the party. Her mouth dropped open in shock when she saw what David had spent, and suddenly all her thoughts about Jade's joy being the only thing that counted were wiped away. She couldn’t believe that he would be that irresponsible to spend so much money on a baby party! She knew yesterday that he had gone overboard, but she never imagined he would throw away their hard earned money on things Jade wouldn’t even remember! Her hands clenched into fists at her side when she forgot all positive thoughts and good intentions, which always happened so quickly with her. Wait until she got hold of him!

When David came into the house a few minutes later Maddie was lying in wait for him. She didn’t even let him step with both feet into the house before she was waving the bill in his face. “What the hell is this, David?” she barked.

David knew it was probably the bill for the party. He thought Maddie would be a little upset about the amount of money he had spent, but looking in her near demonic eyes he realized that she was more than a little upset. He inwardly sighed and geared up for a fight. Like every disagreement between them, also this one would turn into a fight; he could feel it. Sometimes, he thought, that it wasn't exciting and challenging anymore, it was just exhausting and annoying. “Looks like a sheet of paper to me.” he told her as he walked past her determinedly.

“Not funny,” she snapped. “How could you have thought it was okay to spend so much money on a party?” She stepped in front of him.

“What’s the big deal, Maddie? We have the money.” He shrugged. “And frankly, the expression on Beanie's face made me think it was okay,” he pointed out with a little edge to his voice. Only Maddie was able to ruin the fun after the party was over.

“We don’t have the kind of money that would warrant spending so much of it on a baby’s party!” Maddie hissed, ignoring his last remark.

“Please, everyone had a great time, and you know it!” His hands were talking with him. “The babies, the adults – everyone had fun. Even you had fun,” he added and smiled. “Actually I think that this is the first time I one upped Richie in a long time.”

Maddie was aghast. “This party was about one upping your brother?”

David shook his head. “No, of course not, but I take that as an added bonus.”

Maddie looked at David like he had sprung horns. “I never ever thought I would say this when I first met Richie, but your brother has become much more responsible and reasonable than you!” She knew that generalization was absolutely unfair; but she couldn't help it. She shot her index finger at him like a loaded gun. “I’m sure he would never have wasted so much money on a foolish party!”

David’s eyes narrowed; he was starting to get really annoyed and angry now. “First of all, the money was not wasted. And second it was not a foolish party.” He shrugged. “And anyway, soon he’ll have two so he can’t go that overboard. Besides, Blue Moon is saving so much money now that you're back full time to do the books again, so why not put some of it to good use?” he asked sharply, and Maddie pressed her lips together at his barb. “I figured we could go all out this year cause we only have Beanie,” a gleam came into his eyes wiping out the anger, “but next year when Bean 2 is here, then we have to be more reasonable.”

The words fell out of Maddie’s mouth before she could stop them. “Well, I’m not sure about that at all.”

David was absolutely dumbfounded by her words; he searched her eyes. “What does that mean?” He had a funny feeling he wasn’t going to like her answer.

“Well, I already have two children, and don’t need a third right now,” she shot at him. All her vows to talk about her feelings calmly and maturely flew right out the window. She was too upset to think about being calm or mature over this issue; she didn't care that she was being unfair again.

“What the hell are you saying?” David growled angrily.

Maddie began to pace around the room. “I’m saying – maybe... I’m not so sure we should start trying for another baby right now.”

David was holding on to his temper by a thread. She had promised him they would try again for another baby when Jade was a year old. Now she was going back on her word! And the thought shot through his head, she would wreck hell if I stepped back from a promise I had made! “What? We agreed when Jade was older – a year or so – we would try for another baby!” David spat at her. “And I want another child!”

“Well, maybe I don’t!” she said unusually quietly, almost in a hushed voice.

“What?” David was stunned.

Maddie shook her head and pushed her hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure. I mean, I think I do want another baby,” she looked at him beseechingly. “Maybe just not now?”

David looked at Maddie with icy emeralds. “Not now?” he repeated slowly. His voice was dangerously low and cold, and it was worse than if he had been screaming at her. “Then when?” he inquired, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Maddie shrugged. “Maybe a year or two.”

David pursed his lips and tilted his head as he looked at Maddie coldly, “Let me get this straight – you’re saying we have time?”

Maddie’s back went up when she realized what David was implying. “I’m not that old, David.”

He drew a deep breath and tried not to explode. “Really, so it’s okay to worry about your age when it comes to your looks,” he told her snidely, “you’ve mentioned that quite a few times already. But your age is fine when it comes to your childbearing years – so now we can wait to have a baby?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“You’re calling me old?” Maddie was furious and hurt, although he hadn't said that.

“Don't put words in my mouth,” he replied harshly. “But let me remind you that you’re the one who mentioned a few times you weren’t getting any younger but I guess that only applies to a few small unnoticeable wrinkles or to suspecting me of looking for a younger woman sooner or later, and not about having a baby?” He ruffled his hair, “I can’t believe you!”

Maddie stared at him with angry blue marbles, “Maybe you should have married a younger woman!” she threw at him.

He snorted in disdain. “Yeah, go on, make me the bad guy. That's your usual strategy. Maybe we should have discussed this before we got married!” he raged. “Oh, but by that time it was too late, Jade was already on her way.”

“What the hell are you implying in that pea brain of yours?” Maddie asked venomously.

David pierced her with his eyes. “If Bean hadn’t been an accident, would she still be here?” he asked with glacial calmness.

“Are you saying that I don’t want Jade?” She felt her heart skip a beat. “How dare you say that to me?” At that moment she had to stop herself from clawing his green eyes out.

“That's not an answer to my question, Maddie,” he shot back, “but I guess you don't have a good answer to that one. How dare you go back on your promise?” He snorted again. “But then I should have known better about your pact keeping abilities.”

“You really are a jerk!” she almost yelled.

David began to wave his hands in the air in rage as words bubbled out of his mouth, words that were aimed like bullets to maim. “And you’re a selfish bitch!” he barked back.

“Selfish?” Maddie didn't believe her ears. “You’re the one being selfish, trying to push something on me that I’m not sure I’m ready for!”

David looked at his wife with a disgusted stare. “No, you’d rather be the big, important business woman than be a full time mom. Or even a part time mom!” He shook his head, “I told you years ago a good job doesn’t love you back.”

“You’re going over the line, David.” Maddie’s hand itched to slap that snide look off his face. She looked into icy green eyes and shuddered.

“Am I now?” he threw at her nastily, “well, that’s too fucking bad that you think I’m fucking going over the line, 'cause you know I’m damn right!”

Maddie felt her eyes twitching with fury. “Right?” she echoed in a shrill voice. “Right about what?”

“About breaking your promise about having another baby.” His eyes were so cold that Maddie felt herself shudder again as they bore into her.

“I didn’t promise anything,” she tried to defend herself, knowing that David was right and she had agreed to start trying for another baby when Jade was one. Quickly, she pushed the thought aside.

“Liar!” David sneered. “You know damn well what we agreed on, but noooo, the big business woman would rather go to the office full time, being boss lady then taking care of our daughter, and another baby would just crimp your style even more.” He nodded. “I get it.

Maddie stomped her feet in fury. “You get nothing!”

David’s index finger shot at her like a bullet. “Didn’t you choose to work full time and leave Jade in daycare?”

Maddie clenched her fists in rage. “God!” she growled. “Will you ever get off that topic?” The steam was coming out of Maddie’s ears. “You idiot!”

David ignored her. “And now you’re so worried about your illustrious career or your damn looks that you are denying me another child!”

“It’s all about what you want?” Maddie screeched at him.

“What I want?” David echoed in disbelief. “Now you listen to me, honey – so far, since we were expecting the Bean, everything always had to go your way!”

“Are you kidding me?” she gasped. “How dare you say...”

“I'll tell you how!” he thundered. “When you were only a few months pregnant you already went looking for daycare centers without even asking my opinion first – and you got what you wanted.” She opened her mouth to interrupt, but she didn't stand a chance this time. Furiously, David went on: “When we had said you'd stay home for a few months full time, you started to investigate your friend's case, oh and behind my back again – and you got what you wanted. When you were supposed to still stay home, you decided you didn't want to feel left out, you wanted to go back to the office earlier than planned – and, surprise, surprise – you got what you wanted.”

She couldn't believe he brought all these old stories up again! And in such an unfair way! “What are you saying?!” she shrieked. “Those were all compromises we made!”

“Compromises my ass!” David barked back. “I agreed to all that in the end because I had no other choice if I didn't want to constantly be at odds with you!” He threw at her, and she was completely shocked. She had thought they had found those compromises together, and that he had agreed to them because he saw that they were both equally right. “No wonder you always kept going behind my back,” he raged on, “dumbass that I am, as you like to point out, I always rewarded you for it, because in the end one way or another you always got what you wanted in the first place! You!”

“This is not about...” she tried to object, but he cut her off.

“It is! It's about you, it's always only about you!” He ruffled his hair in exasperation. “And your biggest coup was to return back to work fucking full time when our baby was only eight months old!”

Maddie gasped. “We agreed that...”

“We agreed shit!” he told her furiously. “You insisted – again. And now you tell me – what other choice did I have than to succumb to your wishes, again?”

Maddie's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowed and her blinds went down. This was all too much to handle right now. “Maybe you’re right,” she told him icily, slowly, “and maybe we should have discussed this before we got married.”

David looked at her venomously. “Maybe we shouldn’t have gotten married at all,” he replied in the same, terribly distanced tone, and she felt like he had thrust a knife in her heart and started to slowly twist it around. “Seems having a career and working full time is more important to you than having a family!” David knew he was being cruel, but he couldn't help it, and part of him meant it.

“Fuck you, David!” Maddie yelled, tears of rage and despair welling up in her eyes.

“Fuck you too,” David told her slowly as he slammed out of the house.