Saved By A Man In A Cowboy Hat

Caught, A Troubling Toddler, And An Anniversary

*ten days after starting an investigation*

Jason's pov

I was at a meet and greet thing and I was signing autographs when Mike calls me on my cell phone. I hold it to my ear with my shoulder while I still sign autographs. "We've tracked the douchebag to a little apartment outside Michigan." "Have you caught him?" I ask, holding the phone with my hand now. "Yeah. He's some escaped lunatic from an insane asylum. You just happened to be the guy he first saw. But he can't do it anymore." "Good." I say, smiling. I get off the phone. "Attention folks, the hacker has been caught!" The fans cheer. I'm in such a good mood after this. I grab a mic and sing a few if the hits before the actual show.

*the next day*

CJ came home from school. I was getting Emma changed since she got stuff spilled on her shirt at lunch. "Where's Miranda?" He asks, setting his backpack down. "Girls night." I reply, standing back up. "There. All clean." Emma smiles and runs to her room to play. "We're going to meet her and Luke's family for dinner later on." He nods and opens his backpack. "I uh I sorta got in trouble today." Uh oh. "What happened buddy?" He pulls out a detention slip. "They kept on bullying me and I couldn't handle it so........" "What'd you do, son?" "I beat him up." I shouldn't encourage violence but that's how I was raised, not to let bullies get away with it. "Good." I say. His eyes go wide like I expected. "What? You said good?" I nod. "Don't take bullying. I woulda done the same thing if I were you." I say, signing the form and handing it back to him. "I won't tell Miranda either." He smiles. "Thanks dad!" "Of course buddy. Now go get changed out of your school clothes." I go to Emma's room to get into the car and she's covered in finger paint! "Dang it! Emma! You know you're not supposed to touch this without mama or daddy!" I gasp, walking over. Now I have to change her again. She just smiles up at me innocently. I break into a smile. "Man, I can't stay mad at you. Let's get you cleaned up." She laughs and runs away! Oh man, this girl. "Emma, come back here!" She ran downstairs to my studio and was hiding behind my desk. I pretend not to know. "Hm.... Where did that little girl go?" I walk around the desk and scoop her up. She screams in surprise and busts out laughing when I tickle her. I get her in the bath and CJ walks upstairs. "Whoa what'd she get into?" "Oh her finger paint." I mutter, scrubbing it off. CJ gets me a new outfit for her just as my phone rings. I have him answer it. "Yeah we're walking out the door now." "Who is it?" "It's Miranda." He says, covering the mouthpiece. He puts it on speaker. "Um honey our daughter is a curious little troublemaker." "Ha ha, what'd she get into this time?" "Let's just say she's gonna be really colorful." We all laugh and Emma splashes me, completely soaking me to the bone and my hat gets all droopy. Ugh. "Ok girl, now I've gotta change." I say, putting my hands on my hips. She laughs again. "I can take it from here dad." I pat the young boy's head and go get changed.

Miranda's pov

My family arrive at the resturaunt. "There you guys are." Caroline says, smiling. Jason smiles too. "Little fuss budget kept causing problems." He says, holding a fighting Emma. "Mama!" She gasps. I laugh. "Hey baby girl." I say, taking her. "Hey sweetheart." Jason says, kissing me. "Hey Jason, she wasn't too much trouble was she?" He chuckles and shakes his head. We get food and then go to a movie but Emma falls asleep on my lap, halfway in. I lay my head on Jason's shoulder. He squeezes my hand. "Tomorrow is a special day." I whisper. He glances at me wide eyed. "It is?" My eyes go wide. "Jason, don't tell me you forgot!" I gasp, upset!

Jason's pov

Forgot?! Uh... What?! What was I supposed to remember?! It's not her birthday or the kids'. "Um uh of course not baby I was uh just messing with you." I lie. "Oh yeah then what is tomorrow?" She asks, glaring at me, hands on her hips annoyed. Um! What do I say?! "Luke help me out here." I whisper, looking back at him. "Your anniversary dude." Oh yeah! "Um it's our anniversary. Of course I wouldn't forget." I say quickly. She glares at me still. She knows I didn't know. "I promise baby we'll do something special tomorrow." "For real?" She asks, grabbing my arm. I smile and hold her hands. "Of course princess. I love you so much!" "Oh Jason, I love you too!" She gasps. I kiss her gently.