a romance-y christmas.

the part where a little fight ensues (& a lil somethin' is revealed)

Dec. 27

In the morning, Miranda was always second to wake. Tucker first, then her. And Tuck was always the last one. He wasn't a morning person, the opposite, in fact. He was horrible in the morning, and very cranky when woken up.

So when Miranda wakes up, imagine her surprise when the TV in the living room is open.

"Tuck?" She called out.

"No, it's Joey." The little boy called out from the couch.

She smiled and sat beside him. "Hey, you're an early bird too, huh?"

He nodded. "Daddy hates mornings."

"Tuck does too. But I like to wake up before anyone else."

"The cartoons are funnier in the morning," Joey shrugged. "Miranda, can you make breakfast? I'm hungry. Please?"

Miranda smiled. "Of course. What do you want?"

He paused and scrunched his nose up in thought. "Can I have some pancakes, please?"

She nodded. "I got it." She ruffled his hair, which made him giggle.

They moved to the kitchen, and while Miranda was preparing the stove, and the pans, Joey spoke up. "Miranda, are you and Dad going to have a baby?"

She looked at the young boy with wide eyes. She blinked twice. What? Is he seriously asking that? God, she wanted to cry. This boy was incredibly smart and curious, and kept asking her questions she wasn't really prepared to answer, or even think about.

Her and Ben have just settled that they loved each other, and then they had sex. And honestly, she just wanted to have Tuck and Joey and keep their little family like that for a while. She just wants to take it slow. This was all coming in her face too fast. Yes, she'd want to have her own child with Ben, maybe, someday, but not right now. And if Ben did want one, now, she didn't know what she'd do.

"Uh..." she trailed off. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged as she made the pancakes. "I don't know. Married people are supposed to have kids, right?"

"Well... sort of. If they want to."

Joey frowned. "Really?"

She smiled, and put the pancakes on his plate. "Yeah. There you go."

"I think Tuck and I would like a sister." He grinned and ate his food. He paused to think for a while, as he ate, then looked up to her as he chewed.

He mumbled something while he was chewing, and Miranda couldn't understand a thing. She frowned. "Mind your manners, young man. Don't talk--

Joey swallowed and cut her off. "--talk with food in my mouth. Sorry," he sheepishly said. He asked for water and she gave him some.

"So, you were going to say something?" She asked after he finished his water.

"Are you guys staying married? I don't want to go back to our apartment." He pouted. "It was nice. Really nice. The view is cool. But Mama visits a lot, and she doesn't really like me."

"Mama?"

"My grandma. Like Gramma E with Tuck."

Miranda smiled at the thought of Joey bonding with her mother, but frowned as she tried to figure out why Ben's mom didn't like his son. "Oh. Why do you think your Mama doesn't like you?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. Dad always fights with her. But Papa's cool with me." Miranda tried to put it at the back of her mind, noting to herself to ask Ben later on.