Welcome to the lab - take a number.

is the new year here, yet?

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:38:01 GMT

I'm really getting antsy. To be honest, I'm looking forward to coming back to work. I'm gonna miss the routines I've gotten into with the baby (and Isa), but it'll be so nice to talk to adults all day.

Voicemail for Alex Eames

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:45:34 GMT

Hey Alex, it's Millie. I was wondering what you were up to this weekend. Isabel's been getting a little antsy since we've mostly just been at home since the baby was born. She asked about Ellie and I told her I'd call to see if you guys could do a play date. Let me know. I'll talk to you later. Bye.

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:39:08 GMT

You know what's nice about having a newborn at Thanksgiving? Everyone else does all the work. We had dinner at our place, under the condition that I wasn't gonna do a damn thing. It worked out pretty well. My brother Ray made the turkey. Between Gracie, Pedra and my mom, all the side dishes and desserts were taken care of. Oh, and Isabel "helped" Mike make a pumpkin pie.

I didn't even really straighten up since the place was just gonna get messy with all the kids running around. My mom stayed after and cleaned when everyone left. Yeah, there are definitely perks. Plus, the baby was adorable in the outfit Pedra and David gave him, along with the hat we found for him at the Christmas market. Isabel has her own hat, which she's hardly taken off since the day we got them.

Oh, and the baby has a new nickname. Isabel kept referring to him as "the kitten" so much that Miike and I started saying it while we're around her, out of habit. It's been shortened to "Kit." He seems to be okay with it.

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:20:25 GMT

In case you haven't heard, instead of having dessert on Mike's birthday, we had a baby!

I'm a little late in announcing it (what with the whole 'having given birth' thing and all) but David Michael Logan arrived last Friday, November 13th at 9:07PM. He weighed in at 8 lbs., 4 oz.

On Alex's desk Tuesday morning, there's a manila envelope. When she opens it, there is a homemade card made out of construction paper. On the front, there are a couple of blobby people and some shapes, brightly (and enthusiastically) colored. Inside, there are a jumble of random words - 'book,' 'cookie,' 'cat' and 'tree'. Underneath, in Millie's handwriting, it says, "Thank you for babysitting me, Auntie Alex!" Isabel's name, in her own handwriting, is written at the bottom. There's a note from Millie tucked into the envelope as well. It reads, "Alex - thanks again for everything. Mike, Millie and Baby David."

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:50:07 GMT

Friday morning

It's Mike's birthday. I'm already off work and he took the day off. We don't have much planned - a day of relaxing and hanging out with Isa, then dinner at one of his favorite restaurants. Should be nice.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:17 GMT

I've got about two and a half weeks left. I'm supposed to be going on leave next week...which I'm actually looking forward to. I need to rest up.

Cop Kid, Lawyer Kid (RP Log)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:14:28 GMT

Millie Logan: *Millie goes to pick up Isabel from preschool....all the little kids are milling about, waiting for their parents or babysitters or whoever to pick them up....

Isabel Logan: *is sitting near Aidan, being very, very good (or trying), looking at a book, trying to learn the words*

Brian Peluso: *Brian arrives to pick up Aidan, being lucky enough to sneak out of the office for a half hour*

Aidan Peluso: *runs up to Brian as soon as he sees him*

Isabel Logan: *looks up at the same time and sees Millie, gets up* Hi, Mami!
Millie Logan: *smiles, all big and nearly 8 months pregnant, but happy to see Isa* Hey, baby. How was school?
Isabel Logan: Gooood. I was goood.

Brian Peluso: is about to ask Aidan about his day when he notices ISA written on the side of Aidan's face* What happened? *tries to wipe it off*
Aidan Peluso: *proudly* Isa showed me how she wrote her name. *lifts up his shirt to show another ISA*
Brian Peluso: *sighs*

Millie Logan: *hears this, turns to see* Isabel!
Isabel Logan: He let me!
Brian Peluso: *to Aidan* Did you let her?
Aidan Peluso: She said she could.

Isabel Logan: I said I will show you, Aidan. An' Aidan said okay.
Millie Logan: ......well she did get his permission.....
Brian Peluso: He's a minor he can't give permission.
Millie Logan: Ay, 'minor' - they're preschoolers, not defendants and witnesses, Peluso. It's not a freakin' tattoo.

Brian Peluso: *picks up Aidan* Let's just hope it's not permnant marker.
Isabel Logan: *to Brian* I wrote it nice. *kind of pouty*
Aidan Peluso: It was nice words.
Brian Peluso: *sighs* Let's get you home.

Millie Logan: But she won't do it any more. *to Isa* You don't write on people, even if they say it's okay, all right?
Isabel Logan: *frowns* But I diiiiiid.
Millie Logan: I know, and now Aidan's daddy has to go clean him off.
Isabel Logan: Yeah, but baths is fun. An' boys are stinky an' need baths.

Millie Logan: *gives Brian a look like 'yeah i can't really argue with her, perhaps if I was not tired and pregnant I would, but long day, SO.*
Aidan Peluso: I don't want a bath.
Brian Peluso: You wouldn't have to have as many baths if you didn't let people write on you.
Millie Logan: *chuckles*

Aidan Peluso: *to Isa* You can't write on me anymore.
Isabel Logan: *sticks her tongue out*
Millie Logan: Isabel, be nice.
Isabel Logan: * dramatic sigh*

Aidan Peluso: I write on you. *Aidan grabs a marker on the table and runs for Isa*
Isabel Logan: *shrieks, hides behind Millie*

Brian Peluso: No. *doesn't try to grab him*
Millie Logan: : *reaches out to catch Aidan* No attacking with markers, buddy.

Aidan Peluso: She needs a bath. *still aiming for Isa*
Millie Logan: : *catches him by the hand if she can* Don't worry. She gets a bath every night.
Isabel Logan: *shrieky, behind Millie* I'M CLEAN.
Brian Peluso: *goes over and takes Aidan from Millie and takes away the marker*
Isabel Logan: *scowly*

Brian Peluso: I think it's time to go home now.
Millie Logan: : Yeah, c'mon, Isa.
Isabel Logan: Yeah I GO HOME. *scowly*
Aidan Peluso: Not my home.
Isabel Logan: I go to MY house. *like he's dumb*
Aidan Peluso: You’re not coming.
Isabel Logan: *glare* MY house.
Millie Logan: *taking her hand, heading out the door before Isa starts fussing again*
Brian Peluso: *picks up Aidan and hurries out the door with him*

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:21:47 GMT

Isabel learned how to write her name at preschool.

Ya know how when she was like, a year old, all she'd ever say was her own name? "Sah" this and "Sah" that? Now, she wants to write it everywhere.

I'm trying to get "ISA" off the refrigerator. Anyone have any good permanent marker removal suggestions?

Halloween!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:14:10 GMT

We've got our costumes picked out already. Yeah, it's early, but our family likes Halloween (c'mon, candy and pranking people? It's like the day has "Logan" written alllll over it).

Mike's gonna be Batman because...he's always Batman. He's determined to wear that damn suit till he dies. Actually, I think that might be one of the stipulations in his will - "bury me in the Bat costume."

Isabel keeps saying she wants to be a pirate. I think she may have picked that up at school from one of her new preschool friends. That's so weird. I think my three-year old has more friends than I do. Did you know "So-and-so did it" is a preschooler's faaavorite excuse? (Ay, and it makes me wonder how many kids go home doing bad stuff and tell their parents, "Isa did it." or "Isa said it.")

Me? I'm gonna be a nun. He he he.

Fuhhh...

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:07:55 GMT

...my kid thinks my belly can be popped like a balloon.

Had to get the wise-ass, didn't I? (I blame MIKE. He encourages her.)

The new one better not be as bad.

...yeah, I just referred to my kids like they're versions of a computer program. Version 1.0 has the super-special Wise-Ass feature. I'm hoping Version 2.0 will come without that option...

Labor Day (RP thread)

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:31:25 GMT

[[This is aimed at the Logan and Dresden-Eames families, however if anyone feels inclined to crash the not-party, feel free to.]]

While Mike puttered around on the roof getting things ready for the small barbecue they had planned for that afternoon, Millie chased Isabel through the apartment.

"Get. Back. Here." Millie stopped to catch her breath. "You can't swim naked, you little psycho-kid."

She was answered by a round of giggles from Isabel, who peeked her curly-haired head out of the guest bedroom. "I will!"

"Yeah, and do you want everyone to see you like that?" Millie raised her brows.
"...no." Mostly, Isabel had just wanted to see how far she could push Millie, wondering if her Mami would actually chase after her, what with that silly baby kitten slowing her down.
"And do you want a spank for not listening?" Millie's hand was on her hip, stern look still in place.
"No, no, no," Isabel conceded, running over and letting Millie dress her. She was hardly ever actually spanked, and when she was, it was light, but the threat usually worked.

"Let me put your hair up," Millie said, back in the living room, once Isa was in her swimsuit.
"Nooo, I'ma wild thing," Isabel said, raising both hands to cover her head.
Millie sighed. "All right. But tomorrow for school, you can't be a wild thing. You gotta let me fix it up all nice and pretty."
Isabel made a face, but didn't object.
"Go get your pool toys," Millie said. "They're in the closet in the empty room."
Isabel ran to the guest bedroom to get her plastic container full of toys for the wading pool. Millie, meanwhile, leaned against the couch, waiting, wondering when the Eames-Dresden family would get there. She hadn't told Isabel that Ellie was coming, hoping to surprise her.

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:44:29 GMT

We decided on a middle name - Michael, after Mike - so the baby's gonna be called David Michael Logan. He's started to kick, finally. I was a little worried - Isabel kicked a lot more and was generally a lot more active. I'm hoping it means this kid will be laid back. Mike says it means he's lazy and has started calling him "Lazy Baby." Isabel still calls him "the kitty cat." ...who does that? My family, that's who.

Work's starting to tire me out more, even just being on the desk and running papers around. Since I had problems with Isabel, the doctor's keeping a close watch and said that anything that comes up could be cause to put me on bed rest.

I. Do. Not. Want. Bed. Rest.

I'll go freakin' crazy.

I'm already going crazy at my desk in the lab. I think Henley's been bribing Simmons to keep an eye out for me. Swear to god, that kid is at my desk a dozen times a day, asking me if everything's all right or if I need anything.

...you know, I think I could use that to my advantage.

Claire's Bachelorette Party [rp thread open to the LADIES]

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:19:19 GMT

Friday, August 28, a little before 7:00PM

Millie arrived early at the Chinese restaurant, setting up the tables that the waitstaff had already put together. Initially, she hadn't been too sure about organizing a bachelorette party for Claire. Parties she could do - she knew how to have a good time and make sure everyone else did, too -- but a bachelorette party where the bride and the matron-of-honor were both pregnant would be a challenge. Plus there was the fact that Claire tended to go the non-traditional road most of the time.

Finally, Millie decided the party would be a mix of bachelorette party tradition (there would, at some point in the night, be a trip to a male strip club) and the quieter, more personalized style that Claire enjoyed. To achieve the latter, the evening would start off at the Chinese restaurant she knew Claire liked. The party was set up in the banquet room area toward the back, mostly closed off from the rest of the eatery -- intimate, and yet allowing them to get rowdy if they happened to.

Quickly, as she'd been running a bit late, Millie decorated the tables. At each place setting, there was a takeout carton with the bride and groom's names, plus the date of the wedding, tied nicely with black and red ribbons.

Inside the cartons, however, the party favors were less than classy. Each carton contained the following: a Pecker Inspector Badge (as a police officer, Millie thought it was her duty to buy them), a Condom on a Stick, a bag of Yummy Gummy Peckers, a container of Sexy Party Bubbles, and a Pecker Drink Stirrer.

There were balloons tied to the chairs (Millie had opted for simple red and black, instead of the penis balloons - hard choice, it was true) and plastic, take-with-you margarita glasses. Millie and Claire would be filling theirs with non-alcs, but everyone else could enjoy actual alcohol in them and take them with them wherever the night happened to lead them.

At Claire's seat there was both a Bachelorette Tiara and a Bachelorette Sash. At each bridesmaid seat, there was a Bridesmaid Sash. Draped over all the other chairs were multi-colored, glittery featherboas.

After setting everything out, Millie leaned against a chair to take a breath, and waited for people to start arriving.

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:33:32 GMT

We took Isabel to look at her new preschool today. She got to do a little mini-session with some other kids and meet her teachers. She liked it a lot, which is good. She seemed to ~~mostly~~ get along with the other kids...I just hope the rest of them don't mind her bossiness. She kept going on about how now she will go to school just like Nathan and Max.

Also, we decided on what we're naming the baby. We're calling him David, less after my brother and more after the fact that it was my dad's middle name and it's a family name.

Email

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:29:27 GMT

Email to: Alex Eames, Megan Wheeler, Olivia Benson, Val Lanier.
From: Millie Vizcarrondo
Subj: Claire's bachelorette party.

Hey, ladies - Claire's wedding, as I'm sure you know, is the last Saturday of the month. I was planning on having her bachelorette party the Friday night before. I'm hoping you girls will all be there! Some of her family and friends from L.A. will be here, too. Let me know if you're coming so I can tell the restaurant how many seats to reserve (it's gonna be dinner, followed by...hijinks. Or as much hijinks as a couple of pregnant ladies and some cops and their entourage can have...)

Millie.

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:36:31 GMT

Okay, so Alex and I were talking about needing a ladies' night. We were thinking maybe some time next month since Claire's wedding is in a couple weeks. Who's game? (and I hate you all in advance for being able to drink while I can't!)

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:39:32 GMT

I'm not even six months along - barely a bit over five, won't be six till the end of the month - and I feel huge as a house. I think summer just makes it worse. When I was pregnant with Isa, I managed to bypass the worst of the heat.

This...is just gross.

Even with the air conditioning...blech.

Mid-day Voicemail for Mike Logan

Miiiike. Answer your damn phone. I know you're not working. *pause* Okay, maybe you might be. Gimme a slurpee. *sounding a lot like Isa* And a hotdog. *longer pause* And some peanut butter. Looove youuu.

Pool Party! {Group RP}

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:45:01 GMT

The backyard of Don Cragen's house out in Westchester County was covered in Dora the Explorer birthday decorations. After so long, Cragen never thought he'd actually see his place be home to a kid's birthday party (and Mike Logan's kid at that!), but there he was - and there they all were - him, Mike and Millie, along with some of Millie's relatives, waiting for more guests to arrive and watching the little girl in question run around. Isabel was already hyper, although she had not yet had any sugar.

"Mami, Mami, I wanna go in the poool now," Isabel said for what must have been the dozenth time.

Millie, in a maternity dress that was summery, but did nothing to hide her nearly-five-months baby bump, shook her head. She was surprised that Isa hadn't already jumped in while they had their heads turned. Thanks to those baby-swim lessons she'd had since she was less than a year old, the toddler knew how to swim, but still. "You gotta wait till the other kids get here," Millie said again.

Isabel frowned. "Chris an' Marcus an' Daisy are here!" She pointed over at her three cousins. Daisy was playing with one of Isabel's toys, Marcus was busying himself with a book and Chris was over by the chaise lounge where Mike was lying, asking him what seemed to be a string of non-stop questions.

"Yes, yes, I can make a quadruple-stuffed Oreo," Mike said, lining up the Oreos he had assembled on his chest to show his nephew just that.

To Isabel, Millie replied, "All your other friends still have to get here."

Isabel bounced up and down impatiently, wanting to do something. "Uncle Donnie, Uncle Donnie," she ran over to her godfather. "I help you cook?"

Cragen, at the grill, just chuckled. "You helped your mom decorate," he told her, eying the haphazard streamers that were at toddler-height on various places around the backyard. "I think you've done enough helping today."

Isabel wandered over to where her Aunt Pedra and Uncle David were sitting with their baby, her cousin Gabriel. "...Uncle Dabid, you wan' anodder baby?" Isabel said, smiling sweetly.
"Huh?" David looked up.
"You can have the new baby," Isabel said, pointing to her mother.
"...but he's going to be your brother," David said, smirking. "Your mom couldn't get rid of me and you can't get rid of him."
Isabel frowned. "No, I'mma have a kitty," she informed him. "It's my birthday!"
"...hey, Millie," David called out to his older sister, "Your kid's trying to sell your other kid..."
"...yeah, that's her new thing," Millie said. "Give the baby away..."

While they went back and forth about this, Isabel sneaked away and quickly shed her dress. In her swimsuit, she went as fast as her little feet would carry her and dove into the swimming pool. Mike jumped up when he saw her running, but with Chris in his way and a pile of Oreos flying everywhere, he wasn't quick enough to catch her. As he yelled her name, everyone else turned to see what was going on.

Just as Isabel came up for air, Mike scooped her out. "I swim, I swim!" Isabel insisted, kicking her legs as she was brought up and out of the pool.

"Not without supervision," Mike scolded her. "And not until Mami says."

Isabel whined, and then ran over toward the side of the house, hoping for more party guests to arrive so she could get back in.

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:04:59 GMT

Isabel's birthday is tomorrow. I can't believe she's going to be three. Her party is on Saturday but we've still got our traditional stuff planned for her tomorrow (cake for breakfast, whatever she wants for dinner and letting her open a couple of her presents). She's pretty excited. Me, I'm wondering how three years went by so fast -- and how my tiny preemie baby got so big.

[Private Thoughts]

She was so small at the hospital. I think sometimes Mike and I still see her that way - but she shows us just how tough she is. And yes, bratty. I remember Mike saying when she was a couple days old, 'She's perfect' as he traced her eyebrows and her nose. Yes, she's a handful, but she really is perfect to us. I hope she sees how much we love her -- she's been getting into moods because of the new baby and I've been worried about how it'll affect her. I know it's normal - older siblings always take time to adjust and it's really not a big deal - but when she gets so upset - like the other day when we were out with Claire - it makes me upset to see her struggle to try and understand what's going on. Hopefully when he gets here, it'll make more sense to her and she'll see that we still love her just as much.

sooo...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:53:13 GMT

We went for the sonogram yesterday.

...it's a boy!

...yeah. Having a baby boy. Totally weird.

...and we finally told Isa... She wasn't too happy, but oh, well. She'll have to get used to it. I know I had to when my little brother was born a couple years after me.

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:17:00 GMT

I'm not even four months along - still have till the end of the month for that - and I'm bigger than I was with Isabel at this point. Mike keeps mentioning (thanks so much) that I'm eating a ton...and to top it all off, this morning (she still doesn't know, we're trying to wait till we find out the gender) Isabel climbed up into my lap, patted my stomach and said, "Mami, you are fat."

Fuhhhh.

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:03:26 GMT

I'm glad we know someone with a pool, but going up to Westchester two weekends in a row was a bit much. I mean, I'm glad Isabel is having fun and that Mike and Donnie get to do their guy thing, but I'm tired. I think I've been looking at the same piece of paperwork for over ten minutes.

I need to get with it or I'm gonna fall asleep right here at my desk. *yawwwn*

oh, yeah...

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:25:20 GMT

So I guess I should announce this before people start playing some sorta guessing game when it starts to show. ...I'm pregnant. Around three months. Baby's due in late November. We'll find out next month if it's a boy or a girl...

...and we haven't told Isabel yet, so, uh, please don't mention "new baby" around her yet.

Pep Talk [RP moment]

Thu, 07 May 2009 05:29:29 GMT

Millie walked out of her mother's apartment building, Isabel holding her hand. As they went down the street toward the subway station, her cell phone went off. She reached down to her hip, unclipped the phone and answered. "This is Millie," she said.

"Millie," Don Cragen's voice met hers on the other end of the line. "How's it going?"
"Oh, hey Donnie," Millie said. She paused as Isabel tried to run off in the opposite direction.
"Mami, ice cream," the toddler pointed to the shop down the corner.
"Not now, Isa," Millie said, tightening her grip on Isabel's hand.
Isa scowled.
"That good, huh?" Cragen's voice was full of mirth.
"Oh, yeah," Millie rolled her eyes but managed a laugh.
"I was calling to see if you could stop by the 1-6," he explained. "But it's not work-related and it sounds like you've got your hands full."
"Oh, no - it's not a problem," Millie said, wondering what he wanted. "I was gonna take Isa to the park, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing her Uncle Donnie instead."
"If you're sure," Cragen said. "I don't want to hold you up."
"It's fine," Millie said. "We're not very far from there, actually. We'll see you in a bit." After a quick goodbye, she hung up.
"Mami, we go to the park?" Isa wanted to know.
"No," Millie said, smiling down at her. "We're gonna go visit Uncle Donnie at work instead."
Isabel's eyes grew wide. "Uncle Donnie-at-work?"
"Yep," Millie said. "Are you going to be a good girl while we're there?"
The little girl didn't immediately answer.
"Isa?" Millie prodded.
Isabel looked up, smiling sweetly. "Yes, I be good."
"...I don't trust you," Millie said as they headed in the direction of the 16th precinct.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Millie arrived with Isabel in front of Don Cragen's office door off the side of the SVU bullpen.

"I knock," Isa said.
Millie nodded. "Go ahead."
Isabel took a step forward and knocked loudly on Cragen's door. "HELLO," she called out. "UNCLE DONNIE, YOU BE HOME NOW. WE HERE."
"It's his office," Millie said. "Not his house. You've been to where he lives."
A moment later, Cragen opened his office door with an amused smile. "Not the first Logan to come banging down my door."
"Uncle Donnie!" Isabel grinned widely. "Hiii, Uncle Donnie!"
Cragen bent down to pick her up, still smiling. "Hi, Isabel! How are you?"
"I am a good girl," Isabel said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, I'm sure you are," he said, going back into his office, Millie following. "How's your dad? Is he behaving himself?"
"No, he is bad," Isabel said.
"Not surprising," Cragen shook his head, mock-seriously.
Millie snorted. "Some things never change, right?"
"Nope, they really don't," Cragen said.

Isabel peered around the office. "Uncle Donnie, you have candy fo' me?"
"That's not polite, Isabel," Millie said.
The toddler gave her mother an impatient look and then looked back at Cragen. "...you have candy fo' me pleas' ?"
"I sure do," Cragen said. He paused, then looked at Millie, "If it's all right with your mom."
Millie nodded. "It's fine."
He carried Isa over to his desk where, after rummaging in the top drawer, he produced a sucker.
Isabel grabbed at it. "For me!"
"Hold on," he told her. He unwrapped the candy, then handed it to her.
"Thank-you," Isabel said.
"You're welcome," Cragen smiled and set her down. "Why don't you sit down at my desk while me and your mom talk?"
Isabel nodded, content with her sucker. She eyed the legal pad sitting on Cragen's desk. "I have paper?"
"Sure," Cragen said. Millie went to sit Isa at the desk while Cragen grabbed the pad of paper and a couple of pens and set them in front of her.

"So," Millie said once Isabel was settled, "What's up?"
"Weekly meeting at 1PP this morning," Cragen said. "Got the new master schedules...I noticed you were off the tech rotation...and on desk for medical."
"Ahhh...yeah," Millie took a breath, becoming a little nervous.
"Wouldn't happen to be nine months of medical would it?" he asked.

She gave a small laugh. Other than her mother, Claire and Mike, she hadn't really discussed her pregnancy with anyone. She and Mike hadn't even really talked about it at length - she was only a couple of months along and they were both still getting used to the idea. She hadn't been planning on telling anyone else until she was past the three month mark. "...yeah, actually." Her tone was quiet, despite the laugh.

"You doin' okay?" Cragen asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, nodding for emphasis.
"...how's Mike taking everything?" He had known Mike for too long to think that the man would be taking the situation lightly.
There was a pause and Millie glanced away, briefly. “He’s…he’s adjusting. He’s…trying.”
“You know he’ll come around,” Cragen said. “You remember how he was when you found out about Isabel.”
“That was different,” Millie said. “As he likes to point out.”
“How?” Cragen asked. “Only thing that’s different is that you’re married now and you already have one kid…”

Millie sighed. “He thinks one is enough…He’s afraid he’s too old to handle it…I try to tell him, you know, he’s not so old. Guys have kids at his age all the time…” She looked away again, trying not to get too emotional.

“He’s just afraid, Millie,” Cragen told her. “He wants to be there for you and for Isabel…and for the new—” He paused, glancing at Isabel, and then spelled out, “b-a-b-y, when it arrives.”

“He says it’s not fair to her,” Millie motioned to Isabel, who was drawing scribbles all over the legal pad, still working on her sucker.

“She’ll have a bit of a time adjusting, I’m sure,” Cragen said. “But it’s natural, Millie. Kids get little brothers and sisters all the time. You know that. She’ll be fine.” He gave her a look. “Mike will be, too.”

“You sound so sure of yourself,” Millie said warily.
“I’ve known him a lot longer than you have,” Cragen said. “I also know that he loves you very much.”
Millie knew that was true. She looked over at Isabel again. “We’ll probably tell her when I really start showing…maybe before. It’s gonna be hard not to tell her once other people start to find out.”

He nodded. “I’ll give Mike a call. Maybe talking to someone else—another guy or whatever—will help.”

“Thanks,” Millie said. “He doesn’t talk as much as he should…but you know that.”
“Oh, do I ever,” Cragen managed a smile. “I’ve been trying to get that guy to talk for over twenty years.” He shook his head. “Same stubborn-ass he always was.”

Isabel looked up from her paper, alert. “Uncle Donnie, you say a bad word.”
“Oops,” Cragen gave a genuinely apologetic look at Millie.
“…she’s heard worse,” Millie said.
“Yeah, you say oops,” Isabel went on. “An’ get a spank.”
“Oh, really?” Cragen raised his brows at her.
“Uh-huh,” Isabel nodded sagely.
“Sounds like someone’s had experience in that area,” he said.
“She sure has,” Millie said. She checked the time on her cell phone. “We should probably get going, though. Mike’s gonna be off work soon.”

“Right, right,” Cragen nodded.
Millie cleaned up the mess Isabel had made with the pens and paper and ushered her toward the door. “Say bye to Uncle Donnie, baby.”
“I don’ wanna go,” Isabel said.
“Too bad,” Millie said.
“I’ll see you later, Isabel,” Cragen said, bending slightly to ruffle her hair.
Isabel whined at Millie. “Don’ wanna go,” she said again.
“Don’t you want to go home and see Daddy?” Millie asked.
“No, I stay here wit’ Uncle Donnie,” Isa said. “I work.”
Cragen chuckled. “This squad can barely handle your mom,” he told Isa. “I don’t think they’re ready for you.”
Millie smirked as she picked Isa up. “Thanks for the talk,” she told Cragen.
“Any time,” the captain told her. “And I’ll call Mike like I said.”
“Say bye, Isa,” Millie said again.
“BYE-BYE!” Isa yelled, waving vigorously over Millie’s shoulder.
“Bye-bye,” Cragen smiled and waved back, watching them go.

belated, I know...

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:35:32 GMT

Easter was...interesting. Isa insisted on wearing her Max costume instead of the dress we got her. Figures. We stopped by Cole's on the way to my brother's. What did we learn from that? Oh, right. Isabel still doesn't know how to share. Well...she can when she wants. She just didn't want to. ...sorry, guys. She was a bit better at my brother's, at least.