Disclaimer: I own nothing. Literally. Unless you want to count gray hairs. I own more of those than I care to admit.


The Birthday Party

One knock on the door sent Lindsay into a panic.

"Danny, stall whoever that is!"

"What? I can't hear you over Lucy's non-stop crying."

Lindsay brushed some crumbs off the kitchen counter into the sink, removed her apron and with a quick glance at herself in the hallway mirror, answered the door.

"Hey, Linds. What smells so good? And where's that birthday girl?"

Stella entered carrying a huge bag full of brightly colored wrappings and ribbons. Attached to one of the bag's handles was a bouquet of helium balloons with various birthday greetings.

A quick grab into the bag and Stella pulled out the cutest teddy bear Lindsay had ever seen.

"Awww. Stella, that is the sweetest bear. Lucy will love it."

"Danny!"

"Coming, sweetheart."

Just as Danny entered the room, a timer in the kitchen sounded. Lindsay shut off the oven and pulled out two large tins of cupcakes.

Lucy toddled out of her room dragging a naked baby doll behind her. When she saw 'aunt' Stella, she dropped the doll and ran into Stella's arms.

"There's my girl. Give me a kiss."

Danny wandered into the kitchen and snuggled Lindsay from behind.

"Be careful. These are hot."

"So are you, Montana."

A crooked grin and air kiss were directed toward her husband as she turned around to face him.

"They have to cool before we ice them"

"We?"

Danny slapped Lindsay's butt and started to nuzzle her neck just as another knock on the door demanded their attention.

Twenty minutes later, the apartment was overflowing with loved ones. Lucy was a popular girl for only being on this Earth for one year. The pool table had turned into a gift stand; multi-colored bags, boxes and stuffed animals were everywhere but the pockets.

"This is quite a haul, little lady."

Danny lifted Lucy and placed her gently in the middle of the pool table amidst the gifts.

"She looks like a doll. Takes after her mother."

Don Flack never eased up on the endless teasing he threw Danny's way.

"Okay, time to open the gifts!"

"I want a cupcake."

Lindsay rolled her eyes at Danny's comment.

"Later, mister. Now go get the camera."

"Got the camcorder right here. You think I'd miss my girl's big day?"

He winked at Lindsay and took a spot front and center before the 'gift' table.

Before long, it was difficult to see the hardwood floor beneath the ripped papers and empty gift bags. Lucy had thrown everything, gifts included, on the floor when she decided to use the pool table as a stage.

"Whoa, little lady. Don't you think it's a little safer to dance down here."

Mac lifted Lucy off the pool table and placed her on the floor. She immediately threw herself to the floor and started screaming and throwing a tantrum.

"Oops."

"Don't worry about it, Mac. That's the terrible two's a year early."

Lindsay had gotten past being embarrassed by her daughter's tantrums long ago. She picked Lucy up and handed her the bear Stella had brought. Lucy toddled to her favorite Barbie chair and sat down with her new friend.

"Hey, Montana, there's nothing terrible about our daughter. She's just spirited. You know, like a Messer."

"Yeah, spirited."

Stella followed Lindsay into the kitchen to help pass out the cupcakes.

"Who wants a sugar high?"

Everyone dove into the cupcakes as if they were a piece of Heaven.

"These taste like Heaven, Linds."

"Well, I don't know about Heaven, but I made them using my grandma's recipe. She was famous in Missoula for her baking."

Closing the refrigerator door, Danny turned to his wife.

"Hey babe, are we out of milk?"

"Dammit, I knew I forgot something."

Lindsay grabbed her keys and some money and started out the door.

"I'll be right back. Danny, can you make sure Lucy doesn't get chocolate icing everywhere?"

"Where's the fun in being clean?"

He winked at her as she walked out the door.

Two minutes later, Danny appeared at the neighborhood market that was just a couple buildings over from their apartment.

"What are you doing here? Did I forget something else?"

Clutching Lindsay's hand, he pulled her toward the back of the store.

"What are you doing?"

"Come here."

He reached into this pocket and pulled out the key to the restroom. Unlocking the door in one swift move, he pulled Lindsay in behind him.

"You know we have a house full of guests."

She couldn't help but smile playfully at him.

"Yeah, I know. Come here."

He lowered the toilet lid, placed his jacket over it and sat down. Lindsay moved closer to him and he buried his face in her breasts while grasping her butt. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head.

"Okay, but we have to hurry."

"No problem."

Damn that Messer charm, Lindsay thought as she started unbuttoning her jeans. With one swift move, her jeans and panties were on the floor.

"Wait, Danny, let me at least put them on the edge of the sink. Who knows the last time this floor was cleaned."

That comment made Danny laugh out loud.

"Come on cowboy, give me your pants."

Danny obliged and Lindsay placed Danny's jeans on the sink next to hers.

"Wait!"

"What? Why? Come on."

"Do you have a condom?"

"Let's chance it. Come on, Linds. Lucy's a year old now. Please?"

His begging always softened her defenses. The fact that they were both naked from the waist down didn't help either.

"It probably won't matter anyway. What are the chances, right?"

She gently lowered herself onto him. What seemed like only seconds later, they were both fighting the urge to scream out in ecstasy.

Lindsay let the entire weight of her body fall to Danny's lap. He moved a strand of her hair that had draped over her eyes and kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you."

"I love you."

As they were putting their clothes back on, Lindsay started to giggle.

"What did you tell everyone when you left?"

"I told them you forgot to take cash with you. See."

Danny pulled out a $20 from his jeans back pocket.

"Sneaky, Messer. Very sneaky."

As they approached the market's front door, Danny tossed the bathroom key to the clerk with a wink.

"Have a nice day."

They entered their apartment hand-in-hand. No one seemed to notice they hadn't bought any milk.

Stella was sitting in the rocking chair, cuddling Lucy close to her chest.

"When are you two going to start working on another one of these?"

Danny and Lindsay looked at each other with an all-knowing smile.

"Soon. Very soon."

THE END

Such a nice surprise for a Sunday morning. Thank you Roni.

I see that you've made another use of the pool table other than for playing and "playing". Oh! Thank you for adding Flack to your story and comment about the doll...hehheheehe!

Glad you liked it. That was the story that's been bouncing around in my head for weeks now. It finally decided to flow out of my brain to my fingers to the computer.

The pool table seemed like a necessary prop.

that is a great story Roni , love it

Thanks, Lee. I tend to write cute fluffy stories. Drama doesn't belong in my stories!

Cute fluffy stories are much easy to write, right? They are much faster to write, right? You can churn them out more often right?...right? So we know what to expect more right? Right? Right Roni?

Nice try, Ros! It took me weeks to get that story from my head to screen!!

Don't worry Roni, "Patience" is my middle name.

*sits in a Lotus position and chanting "please,please,please,please......."*