Jeff walked out of his office and smiled at his receptionist. She was cradling Alan in her lap and the toddler was determinedly chewing on his fist. The front of Alan's t-shirt was drenched in drool as was the bib Jeff had put on the toddler in hopes it'd save his shirt from becoming moist, but to no avail. Walking up to his receptionist, Jeff picked up his youngest baby before twirling the toddler around in the air.

"Whee!" Jeff said as he heard his son giggle. "Is that fun baby boy?"

"Daddy!" Alan babbled around his fist before removing said fist from his mouth and gripping his fists at his dad. Jeff understood Alan's signal for a hug and pulled the growing toddler into his arms.

"Is my big boy ready to take his nap?" Jeff asked Alan before chuckling when Alan buried his face in the front of Jeff's suit.

"No!" Alan said as he gripped the lapels of his father's suit. "No nap."

"Yes nap time. You need a nap son, don't want you to become a fuss budget now do we?" Jeff asked Alan hoping the boy would agree to take his nap.

"No." Alan said as he stubbornly refused to take a nap.

"How about if daddy takes a nap with you…will you take a nap then?" Jeff asked, knowing that Alan would agree to a nap if he wasn't alone in doing so. Alan put a couple fingers in his mouth as he looked to be deep in thought before giving his dad the puppy pout combined with a nod. Jeff smiled as he looked at his secretary and she nodded knowingly. She knew whenever Jeff brought Alan in that during his naptime, Jeff usually liked to have all calls transferred directly with a verbal warning so the ringing phone wouldn't awaken the sleeping toddler.

"Sylvia…" Jeff started to say.

"I know sir, you are not to be disturbed." Sylvia said. She waved at Alan when Jeff put him on his shoulder and turned to go back into his office. Alan laid his head on his father's shoulder as he got comfy.

Jeff closed his office door quietly before striding over to his couch and stretching out on it with Alan between him and the back of the couch. Alan snuggled up into the lapels of his coat and fell into his nap time without any problems. Jeff smiled down at his son, content to watch the toddler sleep for a few minutes before he too succumbed to the pull of sleep.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The next time Jeff woke up, it was to his secretary gently shaking him.

"What's going on?" Jeff asked as he glanced at his watch. That had been a fairly restful nap. He wasn't even the least bit tired.

"Your one o'clock is on the phone. I figured you'd want me to take Alan for you." Sylvia offered as she and Jeff both noticed Alan was still sound asleep in Jeff's arms. His t-shirt had crept up, showing Jeff the little belly button that was terribly ticklish and was a source of amusement for his toddler. Alan loved to get raspberries blown on his belly and he'd cackle for hours.

"Okay, go let him know that I'll be with him in a moment. I need to check Alan's diaper before he wakes up. He'll be screaming if he wakes up with a full diaper." Jeff said as he cradled Alan close before sitting up. Alan wallowed in his daddy's arms, his eyes thankfully staying asleep. "Lucy will be by in a little bit to get Alan for Gordon's show and tell."

"Aw! He's suckling!" Sylvia cooed as she saw the slumbering toddler's mouth working in his sleep. "I'll go prepare a bottle for him too."

"Thank you Sylvia." Jeff said softly before walking to the spare room in his office that he used as a nursery. It was actually supposed to be his secretary's office but she was insistent that her desk be right outside Jeff's office rather than the next room over. Lying Alan on the changing table, Jeff quickly undid the snaps of his creeper to discover that yes indeed…Alan needed that diaper change. "There you go little guy."

Alan remained asleep thankfully. Jeff sometimes dreaded changing Alan's diaper because he didn't like having it done. No, when Alan got his diaper changed, he'd get mad at the drop of a hat and he'd scream loudly to voice his extreme displeasure. So changing his diaper while the baby was asleep was the best option because he was none the wiser to having it done. No screaming, no tears, no father wanting to rip out any of his salt and pepper hair. Leaving the nursery, Jeff walked out into the lobby to discover that Lucy had arrived early. She stood in the foyer of the office, holding Alan's car carrier in one arm.

"…just feel so bad for the little guy. Nobody likes having allergies." Sylvia was saying as Lucy was apparently describing Alan's allergy to Polyester.

"Oh I know…Virgil was the same way. Poor guy can only wear cotton clothing anymore because his skin is sensitive." Lucy said before she noticed Jeff walk into the room with Alan on his shoulder. "He's still sleeping?"

"Yeah, fresh diaper and he stayed asleep through the entire thing." Jeff said before sidling close enough to Lucy to transfer the sleeping infant into his wife's arms. "There we go."

Alan seemed to sense the change in parental guardian for he began nuzzling Lucy's chest, indicating that he was waking up and that he was hungry. Lucy noticed and she accepted the bottle that Sylvia had prepared at Jeff's request before supplying the formula bottle for the little guy's nourishment. Alan's eyes remained closed as he suckled on instinct and when the bottle was empty or close enough – Lucy burped Alan and placed him in his car carrier. The entire time Alan remained unaware of what was going on and he snuggled with Ellie (Scott's hand-Me-Down) when Lucy tucked the stuffed elephant in Alan's arms.

"Okay, well Allie and I've got to go if we're going to make Gordon's show and tell. Go figure that Gordon would want to take Alan as his show and tell. He's the only one in his class that has a little brother as young as Alan." Lucy said before standing on her tip toes to kiss Jeff goodbye. As she left the building, she walked through the lobby – being stopped several times by people employed with Tracy Enterprises to ogle at the sleeping infant. When she finally made it out of the building, Lucy got Alan situated in the car and drove to Gordon's kindergarten. She'd be in time for Gordon's show and tell which was meant to be last for the day before picking Gordon up from kindergarten for the day.

When Lucy finally arrived at Gordon's kindergarten, she quickly glanced at her watch. She was almost out of time. If she jogged she could probably make it. Retrieving Alan from the car, Lucy checked for cars in the parking lot before speed walking into the building. Knocking on the door of Gordon's class room, Lucy smiled when she was granted entrance by Gordon's kindergarten teacher.

Gordon and the other children were sat in a circle on the floor. A little girl held up her baby doll talking about how the doll's name was Molly and the doll belonged to her imaginary friend. All the children smiled and clapped when she sat down after showing her doll and telling about the history of her doll.

"Okay, who's up next for Show & Tell?" Gordon's kindergarten teacher asked. Lots of children raised their hands as did Gordon who was eagerly waving his arms to gain the teacher's attention. "Ah! Gordon, why don't you show us what you brought?"

Gordon stood with a smile the size of Venus before moving over to his mom who was in the process of removing a now awake Alan from his carrier. Alan looked around, chewing on his fist as Lucy sat in a small child sized chair holding Alan in her lap. When he saw Gordon he giggled before reaching out with a slobbery fist and grabbing a fistful of Gordon's hair.

"OW! Allie! Le'go!" Gordon reached back with tears in his eyes as Alan yanked on his hair. Lucy shushed Gordon as she untangled Alan's fingers from Gordon's hair. After a moment and Gordon's class quit giggling, Gordon continued his presentation. "This is my bruver…Allie. He's…"

Gordon held up his fingers as he tried to count how old Alan was. Lucy leaned down and whispered into Gordon's ear how old Alan was. Gordon grinned before he revealed how old Alan was.

"He's eleven months old! His birthday is in a month." Gordon stated proudly. Turning back to look at his baby brother, Gordon smiled at Alan when the infant gave the older redhead a toothy grin. Gordon inched closer and Alan became even happier.

"Go-Go!"

Gordon smiled bashfully before explaining why Alan just said Go-Go.

"He can't say my name yet. He calls me Go-Go."

Lucy resituated Alan on her lap when Alan reached forward for Gordon. Gordon stepped back within range and let Alan latch onto him.

"He can't say much yet. My big bruver Scotty is Soy to Alan and Johnny is Ohnny." Gordon grinned at his baby brother and hugged the infant back when Alan tightened his grip. "Then he calls Virgil Birg…it sounds funny."

The class giggled at Gordon's explanation when the redhead giggled at Alan's baby babble. When show and tell was over, a lot of the children crowded around Lucy, Gordon and Alan – all wanting to get an up close look at the baby in their classroom. Parents that came to pick up their children, all complimented Lucy on two such handsome kids and everyone just practically melted when Alan smiled and laughed at Gordon's antics. After everyone left, Gordon's teacher came up.

"Thank you for coming out today Mrs. Tracy. It was a real treat for the children to meet Gordon's baby brother."

"Oh, it was no trouble. I'm just glad to have not been late. I was worried I'd missed the kids' show and tell." Lucy said as she looked over at the children's play rug. Gordon was showing Alan the alphabet blocks and babbling incessantly about stuff Alan couldn't even begin to understand and Alan, well he was showing his flexibility. He had managed to fall over and was lying on his back with his right leg lifted in the air. The infant had accomplished a way to put his foot in his mouth and Alan he just chewed lightly on said foot in his mouth. "Your boys are just darling Mrs. Tracy."

Lucy smiled as she went over to the play rug and lifted her infant from the floor, his foot sliding out of his mouth immediately being replaced with a toothy grin. Gordon came up and clung to Lucy's pant leg and smiled as she left the kindergarten class.

"So kiddos, what do you want to do until your brothers get done with school in a few hours?" Lucy looked at the infant chewing on his fist attached to her hip and her six year old holding her hand. Alan cooed as he chewed his fist while Gordon looked off in a daydream.

"Can I gets a haircut mommy?" Gordon looked up at his mom with questioning eyes. Lucy paused a moment before she grinned.

"Sure baby. Any idea what you want done?" Lucy trailed her boys over to the car and got them loaded up before she herself got in after them.

"Just a haircut." Gordon replied, not having any idea what he wanted done. Lucy pulled out of the parking lot of the kindergarten and drove off through town. She didn't say anything really, just driving around while humming along to the radio. Gordon sat in the back of the car back to babbling at Alan about all he learned in kindergarten while Alan blew bubbles to keep himself amused.

When they arrived in the mall parking lot, Lucy removed both of her boys before venturing inside. Alan hid his face shyly in Lucy's shoulder when people came up and began baby talking to him and Gordon hid behind Lucy's leg with mild bashfulness at all the attention they were getting from the strangers. Lucy pulled her boys through the throngs of people before she arrived at a barber shop. Going inside, Lucy sat down, pulling Gordon up to sit on her lap with Alan.

Opening a book of haircuts, Lucy began pointing out various boy haircuts that would look good on Gordon. The redhead pointed to one he liked and Lucy agreed. Alan looked at all the other pictures and smacked one that he appeared to like. Lucy looked at Alan wondering if she should go ahead and get Alan's hair cut also. It was certainly long enough for an 11 ½ month old baby. A barber approached Lucy and pointed at each boy, inquiring which one was getting a haircut.

"They both are." Lucy said before she was led over to a chair to sit and hold Alan in. Another barber draped an apron over Lucy before putting a child sized apron on Alan. The pudgy baby looked around in confusion until someone started combing his hair. Lucy described the haircut she wanted for Alan before the barber started the first cut. Instantly Alan began bawling when the sounds of the scissors scared him. Lucy rubbed Alan's back as he whimpered and sniffled. Gordon who sat in the big boy chair beside his mom and brother started babbling incoherently at Alan and soon the bawling settled and Alan babbled back at his brother.

When they'd finished the haircuts, Lucy was given a mirror to show Alan the haircut he'd gotten. Alan sniffled miserably as he refused to look at his reflection.

"Is it okay if they have a lollipop? Since they were such good boys?" The barber that had cut Alan's hair asked as he held up two lollipops. Lucy nodded to the barber.

"What do you boys say to the nice man?" Lucy asked as Gordon stood on his tip toes to grab his lollipop from the barber.

"Tank you!" Gordon exclaimed before he started licking his lollipop.

Alan stuck out his bottom lip, eyes still wet as he pouted. He wouldn't take the lollipop from the man and Lucy wound up carrying it.

"I'm sorry for my little man, he's not usually so stubborn." Lucy said as she kissed Alan's cheek.

"It's okay, you have no idea how many little ones I get that just don't want their hair cut. That's why I've got a supply of lollipops to cheer them up." The man remarked as he ran Lucy's credit card for payment. "Here's your card back ma'am."

"Thank you." Lucy said as she hefted a sniffling Alan into her arms. Afterwards, they went to a baby clothing store to get Alan some cotton clothing so he wouldn't encounter the polyester sensitivity. After paying for their purchase, Lucy took Alan and Gordon to go get some lunch from the food court. Both boys were on their best behavior after the barbershop meltdown so Lucy treated them to an ice cream each. Lucy fed Alan the ice cream he'd been given the opportunity to eat and Alan instantly seemed to cheer up. No longer was he a fuss pot as Ruth and Grant affectionately called Alan when he was being a fussy monster. "Alright boys, ready to go home for now?"

Alan and Gordon both smiled at the word home and Lucy bundled her boys up before heading home. When they got home, Lucy unloaded her boys and purchases at the same time. Heading into the house, she got everyone situated.

"So Gordon; want to help mommy bake a cake?" Lucy got down to eye level with Gordon and looked at the boy.

"Yeah!" Gordon exclaimed, he loved helping his mommy prepare dessert.

"Let's go wash our hands then." Lucy said as she placed Alan in his playpen. Ushering Gordon along, soon Alan was left alone with just his toys for company. He pressed his face against the netting of his playpen, looking for his mommy but she wasn't there. Alan turned away, and began playing with his blocks as he waited for his mommy to come back.

When Lucy returned with Gordon, she set up the baby gate so Alan could wander around the kitchen rather than be stuck in his playpen. Setting a cup of hot tea on the table for her to drink in between baking dessert and fixing dinner, Lucy turned her attention back to helping Gordon mix the cake batter.

Alan watched his mommy place something on the table and like any child would curiosity kicked in and Alan toddled over to the table. Reaching up, Alan found he was too short to reach the top of the table. Going for the next best thing in his quest to obtain the mug, Alan began to tug on the tablecloth. Tugging hard, Alan could see the object of his desire and he gave one more sharp tug on the tablecloth. Suddenly, hot liquid splashed all over Alan, drenching his face, hair, chest and soaking into his clothes. Alan gave a sharp cry.

Lucy whirled around as she heard ceramic shatter and she saw Alan sprawled on the ground screaming his little heart out. The coffee mug lay shattered beside Alan, the tea bag on Alan's tummy and the hot tea surrounded Alan in a hot puddle.

"Alan!" Lucy cried before she grabbed Alan up from where he lay on the floor. Turning quickly, Lucy turned on the faucet and placed Alan directly in the sink, cupping cold water in her hands and splashing it all over Alan to cool the burns. Alan screamed and Gordon stood by his mom's side, helplessly listening to his brother scream from the pain of being burned. "Gordon, can you go to the hallway closet and grab mommy a towel?"

Gordon nodded silently before running off to get the desired object for his mommy. When he came back, he saw Lucy sitting at the table on the phone talking rapidly with a naked Alan sitting in her lap. Gordon frowned as he saw the red marks beginning to rise up. Alan looked like he was turning into a balloon. Gordon gave his mommy the towel and tried to touch one of the red marks on Alan's arms, but Lucy brushed his hand away when Alan gave a cry.

"Yes, he pulled the tablecloth off the table and my freshly made tea which I left to cool spilled on him. Yes, he's got red welts…where? Yes, his face, back, chest, arms, legs and feet. I did. I gave him a cold bath to numb the burns…Silvadene? What's that?" Lucy asked as she rattled off information. "Yes, I have some burn ointment. Is that okay? It is? Okay, should I bring him in to the ER? Okay, not unless the burns appear worse than a sunburn. Got it. Thank you."

Lucy hung up her phone before kissing Alan gently so as to not hurt his burns. "You'll be alright baby. Mommy's so sorry honey."

AN: So sorry for not having updated this story in forever. I had a very bad case of writer's block and just kind of forgot about it. This is the most recent update and I will be updating further when I get time to write on it. And, the description of Alan being burned by the hot tea...well that actually happened to me. I pulled my mom's coffee mug off the counter when she turned her back to answer the phone and I wound up with burns covering over half of my body. I had blisters from the scalding hot coffee down to my knees according to my mom and she called my pediatrician who recommended burn ointment unless the burns got worse. How I like drinking coffee today, I have no clue...but anyway if anybody has any ideas for this story, I might just end it after the next chapter - which as you've all guessed I plan on having revolve around Alan's birthday. Hope to see some reviews and maybe suggestions, otherwise have a good night and enjoy this chapter.

~Angel~