So we meet again

"She'll come around sooner or later," Ceci said reaching over and resting her hand on Jakes. She silently hoped he would not move his from hers but instead move to hold her hand like he use to. "Oh! Well happy early birthday!" Cec exclaimed when Jake spoke of Anali's birthday that was coming up. "How old will you be?" she asked smiling at the young girl kindly. It was a good thing that she seemed to be liking cecilia better since Jake had gotten on to her. It had to be because she was seeing her dad with a girl other than her mom. Cec hadn't liked it when her father got remarried why should Anali like it seeing her dad around other women?

"Awee... I have to wait until theeeeen?" Anali whined, pouting slightly. "Yes Anali, your present is home, not here." he told her. Anali continued to pout and looked at Cecilia when she asked how old she would be in a few days. She put up for fingers and exclaimed, "Four!" Anali smiled at Cecilia, seemingly forgetting that she had not liked her before.

Jake finished eating just before Anali took one last bite of her food and he called the waiter, asking for the check. He came back with it and gave it to Jake. After leaving money for the food, Jake looked at Anali and Cecilia. "Shall we go now?" he asked them.

"What do you say Anali?" Cecilia asked rising an eyebrow at the small girl, "Would you like to leave?" leaving the restraunt was something Cecilia was okay with, Jake and his small daughter on the other hand, She was dreading having to leave them. She feared she may not see Jake again for a long time like had happened in the past. This was a moment she wanted to hold on to for a while if not forever. Cec smiled at Jake before glancing down at Mollie to check on the still sleeping baby.

"Yeah!" Anali said, before yawning. "I'm tired Daddy." she added, looking at Jake. The ex-Gryffindor looked at her and smiled. "Alright, then let's go home." he said, getting up from his seat and holding his hand out to Cecilia, to help her up while Anali jumped out of her seat and stood beside the stroller where Mollie was still sleeping. Jake looked at Cecilia and made sure Anali was preoccupied with Mollie before he spoke.

"Once we're back at my house, we can talk about everything that happened." he told her softly.

Cecilia placed her hand in Jake's allowing him to help her up. "okay," she smiled speaking softly as Jake had. The two kids would nap while the grown ups talked. the thought made Cecilia chuckle. She had never been able to think of herself as a grown up, but that's what she is now, isn't it? She had a child of her own, and she was out of school. It had to be, but it was strange. "Thank you," She said without removing her hand from Jake's enjoying the feeling of him holding her hand.

"Okay, then let's go. It's just a few minutes away." he said. Anali yawned again and looked at her father for a moment before looking down the street in the direction of their home for the time that they were there. "Daddy, I'm sleepy..." she told him. "I know Anali. Once we get home you can take a nap in your room." Anali nodded and waited for them to go. "You can leave Mollie in Anali's room too while we talk, if you want." he told her.

He started walking down the street, holding Anali's hand while they were next to the stroller. Jake thought it a bit strange that she didn't want to leave Mollie's side, but he also found it cute. She wasn't used to being around kids younger than her, so it was to be expected. Once they were home, Anali started heading to her room but she stopped in case Cecilia wanted to leave Mollie in her room too, so she could show her how to get there.

"I'm not sure how much longer Mollie will stay asleep. I don't want her to wake you up if she starts to cry," Cecilia spoke to Anali who waited to see what she would do. "How about you go take your nap and I'll stay until you wake up so you can see Mollie again. What do you say?" Cecilia gave a sideways glance at Jake to see if he approved of this idea. "I promise i won't leave until you wake up again so you can see Mollie." Cec knew as soon as Mollie was moved from the stroller she would wake up and the young mother wasn't ready for the baby to be woken up just yet.

"Mm... Okay!" Anali said softly but happily. There was a small tone of sadness in her voice and she ran off to her room. She really hoped Cecilia wouldn't leave until she woke up so she could at least say bye to Mollie. "You know you shouldn't have promised that." Jake said once Anali was gone. "You might have to stay all night. Anali might not even wake up until tomorrow. She's a lot more tired than she led on." he added.

"I don't mind," Cecilia said, "As long as you don't." She smiled at him tilting her head to the side. "Once I try to pick Mollie up she will wake up and start crying. I didn't want that to happen while Anali was trying to go to sleep. It's better if Mollie wakes up on her own." Cec reached up and pushed the hair away from her face. "And anyway Anali seemed like she might have tried to stay up if I didn't tell her i'd stay until she did. She likes Mollie, even if she doesn't like me."

"You have a point." Jake said. "Anali probably would've stayed up until Mollie woke up and we wouldn't be able to talk." he continued. "Anyways, I don't mind if you stay over night. There are plenty of rooms in the house." he added. "Anali's still having a hard time coping with her mother being gone... Don't take anything she might say or do to you seriously. I'm sure she'll be fine as time goes on." he said softly, wishing Anali would've tried to be nicer since the beginning.