Graceland 𖤓 J. Katsopolis

The First Day of School

Vivian was sleeping in on her final day before she started her new job. Tomorrow was the first day of Kindergarten, and despite her having taught other kindergarten classes in other cities, she was nervous.

Suddenly, as she laid stretched out in the bed, the door slammed opened. Squeaking, she made sure that the covers were over her body, knowing that she was only in her night gown. Looking up tiredly, Vivian frowned at the image of Jesse holding a filthy Michelle, Joey standing behind him.

"What's wrong?" She grumbled, her eyes still half-closed. Jesse walked further into the room, "We need your help."

Joey joined in, "Yeah, and pronto. Michelle really needs to learn that nostrils and mouths are not the same. She's got smashed carrots shoved up so far that it may have turned her brain orange."

Vivian groaned, sitting up slowly and pulling the covers up to her chest, "And you needed my help, why?"

Jesse looked down at Michelle, "We don't know what heat to set the bath water to."

Viv felt more awake now, and she shrugged, "I mean no offence, Jess, but I haven't had a baby - you do know that, right?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, but you had two younger siblings - I know that you must know something."

With a resolute sigh, she nodded. "Fine, yes. Give me two minutes to get dressed, okay?"

Jesse nodded, standing still, while Joey stepped back. Vivian began to rise from the bed, but paused as she noticed Jesse standing with Michelle. "Two minutes, Jess."

He grinned, "Yeah, I know."

Vivian frowned, "Nope, nuh uh. You aren't allowed to mentally scar Michelle, so step on out of the room. I'll be quick."

Jesse frowned and shook his head, "You're a cruel woman."

She nodded, "That I am. Now go and get that bath poured at medium temperature, please!"

-

Viv thought ahead, and as she walked into the bathroom in her bathing suit, she noticed Jesse mutter a quiet "Have mercy..." under his breath, eyes glued to her. "Alright, let's get this show on the road. Did you pour it at medium heat?"

Joey stood in the bathtub with a ridiculous get-up that included a life jacket and a swim cap with goggles. Vivian bit her lip to prevent her grin as she stepped over towards him, placing a finger into the water to feel the warmth. "Feels safe to me. Jess, bring her on in."

Jesse was still frozen, but he shook his head clear and nodded, "Okay, yeah. Incoming baby."

Jesse stepped towards the bath and slowly lowered Michelle into the warm water. "In she goes!"

Michelle kicked and giggled as they lowered her in, and Vivian cooed, "Awe, look Jess, she likes the bath! She's so cute."

Jesse nodded, "Sure is - come on, squirt, time to dunk."

Vivian went to cry out to stop him, but he looked back at her with a coy grin, "Ah, just joking. I'd never waterboard poor Michelle."

Vivian frowned and shook her head at him, "Can you just bathe the poor baby?"

Michelle was definitely on board as Joey began to gently scrub her face clean, the small baby squealing.

-

As they finally cleaned Michelle up, Vivian took her and swaddled her up in a towel, gently drying the baby. "You did so well, Michelle!" She cooed down at her.

Joey stood in the tub still, watching as Michelle wriggled around in the towel, "Hey, you guys, thanks for helping me out with the baby."

Jesse nodded, "No problem - we've got nothing planned for the next few hours, not until dinner time. Then I'm taking Viv out for dinner to celebrate her new job."