Around 4 in the afternoon, Daphne walked into the house after her shift at the salon. After two weeks of working at Maria’s, she came to find that she had a second home there. The girls she worked with welcomed her with open arms and she considered all of them family. She was growing popular with the men and women that came into the salon. She even made more money at Maria’s than she did back in New York. It finally seemed like everything was falling into place for her and Misty. Misty was excelling in kindergarten, despite starting late. The only big thing Daphne was worried about was finding an apartment and moving out of Matt’s. She hadn’t even heard from Derek since that one time at the zoo, so she was hoping that he dropped everything and let them go.

After she kicked off her heels and hung her jacket up, she jogged up the steps and into her room. She changed into a pair of shorts, a short sleeved shirt and her flip flops. Since it was Halloween, she wanted to be comfortable when she took Misty out trick or treating. After she laid out Misty’s costume, shoes and make up, she jogged back downstairs and into the kitchen. She saw Matt and Jade looking at things for the baby on the laptop.

“Hey sis! How was work?” Jade smiled.

“It was good. You guys picked Misty up from school right?” Daphne asked as she looked around for her.

“Oh, we got caught up at the store while we were registering for the baby,” Matt muttered.

“What? Matt you were supposed to pick her up! What if someone took her? Damn it Matt, why didn’t you call me?” Daphne yelled.

“Daphne calm down! I made sure she got picked up!” he told her.

“You did?” she breathed out, relieved.

“Yes, I’m not stupid. Now sit down before you give yourself a heart attack,” he demanded.

“I’m sorry Matt. I just panicked,” she sighed as she sat down.

“I’m not going to lie, you really scared me,” he laughed.

“I’m sorry. Wait who picked her up?” she asked.

Before Matt could answer, she heard the front door open.

“Anyone home?” a familiar voice called.

“Please tell me you didn’t call him,” Daphne begged.

“Oh I did,” Matt smirked.

Daphne groaned and trudged into the living room. Since the parking lot incident two weeks ago, she hasn’t seen or heard from Brian. He has been plaguing her everything thought though.

“Mommy!” Misty squealed as she ran towards Daphne.

“Hey cutie!” Daphne grinned as she tightly hugged Misty.

“Brian took me to get ice cream!” Misty smiled.

“He did? Were you good for him?” Daphne asked.

“She was great, she always is,” Brian replied for Misty.

Daphne forced herself to finally look up at him. Her eyes widened as she took in his tight button down shirt and jean clad body. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, showing off some of his tattoos.

“Uh, thanks for picking her up,” she muttered as she took Misty’s book bag from him.

“No problem,” he muttered.

“Why are you so dressed up? Are you going to Jason’s party with everyone else?” she asked.

“No, I was going to stay in tonight but Misty convinced me otherwise,” he smirked.

“What did she do?” she asked.

“Tell her Misty,” he smiled.

“Mommy you and Brian are going to be a king and queen tonight!” Misty giggled.

“Baby, we’re not dressing up,” Daphne laughed.

“We already got the crowns though!” Misty insisted.

She took the plastic bag out of Brian’s hand and pulled out two plastic crowns.

“Baby I’m sure Brian doesn’t want to go trick or treating with us,” Daphne told her.

“Yes he does, I asked him!” Misty told her.

“When I said yes she made me go home and change into nicer clothes so I could look like a king,” he laughed.

“Please mommy? Can Brian come?” Misty asked.

“I don’t know Misty,” Daphne sighed.

“But I’m a princess; I need a king and queen!” Misty pouted.

“Child you are too damn smart,” Daphne muttered.

“Please mommy?” Misty begged.

“Yeah, please mommy?” Brian mimicked.

“You’re a dork. Fine, we’ll be a king and queen,” Daphne sighed.

“Yay!” Misty smiled.

***

After dinner was eaten and Misty’s bath was over, Daphne was helping Misty get into her Belle costume. She slipped the yellow flats on her feet and lightly covered her eyes in gold eye shadow. She coated her lips in light pink lip gloss and combed through her hair. She pulled some it up and put the rest in ringlets just like Belle’s hair from Beauty and the Beast.

“You look so beautiful!” Daphne cooed.

“Hey, we’re heading to Jason’s party. Oh my God Misty, you look so beautiful!” Jade squealed as she walked into the room.

“Doesn’t she look just like Belle?” Daphne smiled.

“God yes! Matt get your butt in here!” Jade yelled down the hall.

“Stop yelling at me woman!” Matt huffed.

He walked into the room and grinned over at Misty.

“Misty is that you? You look so grown up!” he smiled.

After taking pictures, Jade finally pulled herself away from Misty and hugged Daphne goodbye.

“We’ll see you later,” she smiled as she made her way down the hall.

“You look beautiful baby girl,” Matt smiled as he kissed Misty’s forehead.

“Bye Daph. I’ll see you later,” he told Daphne as he kissed her forehead and walked out.

“Alright, lets go find Brian,” Daphne suggested as she placed Misty’s tiara on her head.

The two of them walked downstairs and saw Brian watching a game on TV.

“Misty you look so pretty!” he smiled.

Misty giggled and grabbed Brian’s crown from the table. Daphne took a picture as Brian stooped down and let her put it on his head.

“Alright baby, you ready to go?” Daphne asked.

“Mommy you’re a queen! You have to wear a dress and look pretty!” Misty exclaimed.

“Thanks for calling me ugly,” Daphne laughed.

“Go!” Misty urged and pushed against Daphne’s legs.

Daphne sighed and jogged back up the steps to change. She slipped into the first dress she saw and slipped on a pair of flats. She kept her make up and jewelry simple. She walked back down the steps and met Brian and Misty in the foyer.

“My lady,” Brian smirked as he took her hand and kissed it.

“You’re a nerd,” she smiled.

“Now we can go!” Misty grinned after she placed the crown on Daphne’s head.

“Yes your highness,” Daphne teased.

***

After two hours of non-stop trick or treating, Daphne, Brian and Misty walked into the house and into the living room.

“I am so tired!” Brian whined as he collapsed on the couch.

“I know,” Daphne groaned as she sat on the opposite side of the couch.

“How is she still awake? I figured she’d be tired from walking so much,” he muttered.

“She’s hyped up from all the sugar,” Daphne laughed as she watched Misty play with Bella.

“Mommy can we watch a movie?” Misty asked from the floor.

“Sure,” Daphne nodded.

She raided through the DVD collection and chose A Nightmare Before Christmas for the occasion. Misty plopped down on the couch next to Brian and glued her eyes to the TV. Daphne sat next to Misty and draped the blanket on the back of the couch over them.

As the movie ended, Daphne saw Misty yawn and paw at her eyes.

“I think its time for bed Belle,” she teased.

Misty nodded and hugged Brian.

“Night Brian, I love you,” she muttered.

“Love you too princess,” he muttered as he kissed her forehead.

Daphne carried Misty up the steps and into her room. She changed her into her pajamas and wiped the make up off her face. She fixed her hair and tucked her into bed.

“Did you have fun?” Daphne smiled.

Misty smiled and nodded.

“Good, I’m glad. I love you so much baby,” Daphne smiled as she kissed her forehead.

“I love you too, tell Brian I love him,” Misty yawned.

“I will baby. Goodnight,” Daphne smiled as she walked out and shut the door behind her.

She sighed and used the bathroom before going downstairs. Not seeing him in the living room, she walked into the kitchen and saw the backdoor open. She walked outside and saw him lying on the hammock smoking a cigarette. She noticed he really wasn’t paying attention to his cigarette. He was letting it burn as he stared off into space, lost in thought.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked as she walked over to him.

“Having kids,” he muttered as he took a drag from his cigarette.

“With Zoey?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” he muttered.

Daphne nodded and kept her comments to herself.

“Do you have any idea how lucky you are to have Misty, Daph? That girl adores you,” he muttered.

“You really love her don’t you?” she asked.

“Honestly Daph, I have to remind myself sometimes that she’s not mine. I just want to be in her life all the time and I want to know everything that’s going on in her life,” he sighed, throwing his cigarette to the ground.

Daphne couldn’t stop the wide smile that took up her face. Without hesitating, she crawled into the hammock next to him and cuddled into his side.

“You’re amazing; you know that right?” she muttered as she looked up at him.

“What did I do?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“I know now that you don’t want a life with just me, you want one with Misty too. I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” she smiled.

“I really do want a life with you two Daph, but there’s Zoey. We’ve been together for like six years, that’s not easy to throw away. Our three year marriage anniversary is coming up soon too,” he muttered.

Daphne didn’t reply with words. She merely pressed her lips to his gently.

“Don’t worry about Zoey right now, just be with me for a little while,” she muttered.

Brian smiled and kissed her again.

“I love you,” she whispered as their kiss got more intimate.

“I love you too baby,” he muttered as he pulled her on top of him.

He bunched her dress up around her waist and softly ran his hands over her body. Daphne reached between them and unbuttoned his shirt buttons. Before they could go any farther, a loud squeal interrupted them.

“Oh my God, Daph!” Abby squealed.

Daphne sighed and got off of Brian. They sat on the hammock as Abby sprinted over to them.

“Zack proposed; we’re engaged!” she yelled.

“What? That’s great!” Daphne yelled as she tightly hugged Abby.

Brian watched, amused as Daphne and Abby gushed over the ring.

“Come on, we’re opening some champagne,” Abby smiled as she ran back to the house.

“Oh! Zoey’s out front looking for you, Bri!” she called back.

Brian groaned and looked over at Daphne. She was looking down at her lap, refusing to look at him.

“I have to go,” he muttered.

“I know,” she whispered as she looked over at him.

“I’m sorry baby,” he muttered as he kissed her and walked away.

“Yeah, me too,” Daphne muttered to herself.