"hey! there they are!" jesse would beam, swooping in to lift his daughter high in his arms, a laugh leaving him as the little girl squealed and giggled in delight. she was simply too cute. and you? god, you were a vision. before, during and after your pregnancy. you two had never been official but he was your baby daddy! he had special privileges.

"how're my two most favorite girls in the whole world?" he grinned, turning his attention to you, allowing your daughter to toy and tug on the zipper of his hoodie. he couldn't help it, a little flirting never hurt nobody. he balanced the little girl in his arms on his hip, shifting his free arm around your shoulders to tug you close.

jesse was a good guy. he just did bad things. yes, it made things hard. it made loving him hard, bringing him around your daughter hard. it had been rough when you had gotten sober, but it was for the wellbeing of your daughter. it made everything worth it. jesse, however? god. you knew he was still using; never around the kid, but still. he was still dealing, too. still, you didn't have the heart to turn him in. at least he was honest about it with you? it was a start, maybe. worrisome, nonetheless.

"oh, c'mon, ma. don't gimmie that look," jesse pouted, batting his lashes at you dramatically. he couldn't read your mind, but he could definitely read your mood. "lighten up. it's like we're one big happy family!" he'd give you a squeeze against him, "and you've got me all day, baby."