I Know SVU Has Iconic Women, But We Need to Formally Apologize to Them Because Frannie May Rules This Show
Put down your badges and clear the courtroom, because we need to talk about the absolute blueprint of loyalty, grace, and flawless behavior in the Law & Order: SVU universe. I am talking, of course, about the literal best girl to ever grace the screen: Frannie May the dog.
Amanda Rollins' sweet fur baby was the ultimate emotional anchor in a squad room full of pure chaos, and it’s time we give her the crown she deserves.
Let’s look at the absolute facts of why Frannie easily clears the entire roster:
1. Zero Fandom Drama: While everyone else is busy getting caught up in squad politics, relationship mess, and personal trauma, Frannie’s only daily conflict was deciding which toy to chew on.
2. The Ultimate Nanny: She didn't just love Amanda; she fiercely protected and looked after Jesse and Billie. A sweet, gentle, well-mannered queen who understood the assignment of being a big sister.
3. Impeccable Manners: Polite? Check. Playful? Check. Her only actual complaints in life were being bombarded with premium food and getting non-stop attention from the blonde detective who loved her so fiercely.
Look, I love the women of this show. I really do. But I need to issue a formal, sweeping apology to the entire SVU universe right now.
Sorry, Olivia. Sorry, Alex. Sorry, Casey. Sorry, Melinda. Sorry, Jeffries, Kathy, Donnelly, Greylek, Kat, Grace, and yes, even sorry to Amanda herself! You are all legends, but you are not a perfect, sweet, fluffy doggy.
And finally... Rest in Peace to Frannie May. The fact that she was played by Kelli Giddish’s actual real-life dog makes her legacy even more heartbreaking and beautiful. She will never, ever be forgotten. 🌈🐾
in which Nick Amaro comes back to SVU to help out on a case and realises Amanda Rollins daughter, Jesse is his daughter - Lots of Rollisi (this is a mostly a Amanda Rollins/Sonny Carisi fic) (Fluff/Angst)
masterlist
tags: Amanda Rollins, Nick Amaro, Sonny Carisi, Jesse Rollins, Mom Amanda, fluff, love confession, Nick and Amanda know how to rile each other up, arguing, angst, in love rollisi, past rollaro, step dad sonny carisi, olivia benson mention, law and order special victims unit, cute jesse scenes, domestic family fluff, dating, gambling mentions, amanda opens up to sonny about her past.
warnings: no warnings apart from Nick and Amanda arguing - no one gets hurt
When Amanda walked into the squad room and saw Nick talking to Olivia her heart dropped. Why was he back? He had left her almost three years ago and now he had turned up, fitting back into the squad room chatter as if he had never left.
She finally had a good life with Jesse and Sonny… if you could count him as part of her life when they hadn’t discussed exactly what they were to each other.
Amanda backed out of the squad room slowly once she realised no one had seen her yet and once in the elevator she messaged Olivia telling her she was sick and wouldn’t be able to make it in today. Her only problem was that Sonny knew she wasn’t sick, he’d been at her apartment the whole night before.
Once she was back at home, she relieved her babysitter telling her she had decided to spend the day with Jesse. She knew her next job was to call Sonny.
The blonde woman gave Jesse her sippy cup of milk before clicking on Sonny’s contact, he was always at the top of her recently called list. She knew he would put two and two together after seeing Nick there. He was the only one who knew Jesse was Nick’s; she’d told everyone else she wasn’t and luckily for her Jesse almost looked identical to her so no one would ever have assumed she lied.
The phone rang twice before he answered, “Detective Carisi.”
“You always answer the phone to people you know like that?” she teased.
“‘Manda, I didn’t look at the name before I answered. Are you okay? Liv said you were sick. You felt fine this morning didn’t you? Was it the food? I feel fine. Nick is here helping on a case.” He spewed out what felt like a million words a minute.
“Okay, slow. I’m fine, I’m not sick I just… wanted to spend the day with Jesse I’ve been missing her lately, and” Amanda pauses, “I got to work and saw Nick was there; I kind of freaked out a little.”
“Because you still have feelings for him?” Sonny asked a little deflated.
“What? No of course not I’m happy with how things are right now I just didn’t want him asking any questions in case I started nervous talking.”
“Oh right, yeah the Jesse thing I get it it’s okay, I’ll just see you later yeah?” Sonny’s voice changed to a softer understanding tone.
“Yeah I’ll see you later, thank you.” Amanda hung up the phone looking over at Jesse who had been watching her waiting for her to be done.
“Mama, Unc Son?” She asked with bright wide eyes.
“Yes baby, it was Uncle Sonny,” Amanda smiled at her daughter’s attempt to say his name he’d been trying to teach her ever since she started saying Mama and she was getting closer every day.
Although she was still learning a lot she could say quite a bit for her age. The pronunciation was what was difficult for her.
“What should we do today baby? How about the park?” Amanda stroked Jesse’s blonde hair as the little girl smiled widely and nodded quickly at the word park.
——————
At the precinct, Sonny was jotting down notes from the last case, he hadn’t finished them before going over to Amanda’s last night.
He was pulled from his concentration when he noticed a shadow by his desk, the shadow belonging to Nick.
“Carisi, how are you doing man?” Nick said as he approached.
“Yeah, I’m great. How’s California?”
“Warm, Amanda would like it. Speaking of, where is she today?”
Sonny nodded figuring that was his angle since the two of them had never been very close, “She’s out sick accordin’ to Liv.”
“Aw, that’s too bad I would have liked to see her,” It was at that moment that Nick spotted the picture Sonny had on his desk of Amanda and Jesse from a few days after she was born.
“Who’s that?” Nick asked pointing at Jesse, “And why have you got a picture of Amanda on your desk?”
Carisi could hear the tone in Nick's voice, it was agitated and a little aggressive so he knew the safest way to play it off was, “That’s Amanda’s daughter, Jesse, and I’m her godfather hence the picture.”
“Right, she’s got a kid? A lot has changed since I was last here.”
Sonny nodded before looking back down at his paperwork.
——————
By 11 am both Amanda and Jesse were in their hats, scarves, gloves and coats, ready to leave. It wasn’t particularly cold but it was nearing the colder months in New York and they’d be outside for a while; Amanda really didn’t want to risk Jesse getting sick.
The park was only a couple of blocks from her apartment and she didn’t want to carry Jesse’s stroller down the five flights of stairs so she opted for carrying and letting her walk every so often since she liked wandering a lot at the moment.
They walked slowly to the park due to the small steps Jesse could take and once they got there she made a beeline for the swings. Amanda helped her in and started pushing it gently feeling so much love in her chest each time the girl squealed or giggled.
The park was mostly empty at this time of day but she felt eyes on her for around five minutes before she felt someone grab her shoulder. The grab was gentle but still scared her enough to turn and shove the person before catching a glimpse of their face.
“Sonny! What the fuck?” Amanda exclaimed, prompting Jesse to turn to see what was going on.
“Sorry sorry, I thought… I wanted to surprise you,” He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a small grin, “I suppose that wasn’t the best idea.”
“Unc Son!” Jesse giggled lifting her arms in the air for him to pick her up out of the swing which he happily did.
“Right,” Amanda rolled her eyes, “Maybe make yourself known next time, what are you doing here?”
“We have a case in the area, just lookin’ around for some clues right now with,” He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Amanda noticed Nick walking toward them.
She quickly turned to Sonny with her eyes a bit wider than usual, “Seriously? You’re with him!” She whispered.
“Well I would have been with you but you ditched.”
Amanda hit his shoulder gently, it probably would have been a bit harder if he weren’t holding her daughter.
“Amanda,” Nick said although she wasn’t sure if he had said it as a question or a statement.
“Nick, hi,” she offered a small but slightly awkward smile.
Nick’s eyes narrowed at Sonny seeing how close he was to Amanda. “So this ya kid?”
Amanda nods, “Yeah, Jesse.”
“How old is she?” Nick asked before Sonny handed Jesse back to Amanda and interrupted with an excuse that they needed to carry on with their search.
Amanda was more than grateful that Sonny had interrupted and she knew he did it to prevent Nick from finding out that Jesse was his daughter.
——————
Later in the evening, Amanda was still waiting for Sonny to come over, it was just past 6 so she had fed and bathed Jesse and was about to get her ready for bed when she heard a knock on the door. It wasn’t Sonny’s usual knock he did before opening the door with his own key but she wasn’t expecting anyone else.
She walked to the door holding a sleepy Jesse in her arms. She opened the door and was met with Nick instead of the blue-eyed man she was expecting.
“Nick? What are you doing here?” Amanda asked surprised but let him in.
“We needed to talk Amanda,” Nick said seriously causing the blonde to sigh.
“Let me just set her up with the TV,” Amanda walks further into the apartment with Nick following. She put Frozen on and passed Jesse her comfort blanket before going over to the breakfast bar across the room and taking a seat.
Nick chose to stand which she wasn’t all that surprised about, she knew how he got when he had some kind of pent-up anger.
“How old is she?” He asked the same question he had tried to ask earlier.
“Two, almost three.”
“Is she mine? I mean I wouldn’t think it from first glance she’s almost identical to you but the timeline… she is right? The night after Liv’s?”
“Yeah, yes she’s ours,” Amanda replied not looking at him, she kept her eyes trained on Jesse the whole time.
Nick threw his arms down letting them slap against his body, “Why didn’t you tell me? When were you going to tell me?” His tone became more stern.
“You left Nick, you didn’t even tell me you were leaving! What was I supposed to do? Call you and tell you that you knocked me up before you left?” Amanda shook her head with a sarcastic laugh.
“Uh yeah, Amanda that’s exactly what you should have done.”
“And what, you would have left your wife and your other children to come back here to be with Jesse and me?” Amanda rolled her eyes.
“Don’t do that,” he raised his voice slightly, “At least I would have known and I could have been here for you. I mean come on! You knew what it was like for me when I found out about Gil.”
Amanda hadn’t really thought about Nick’s situation with his son, it hadn’t really crossed her mind once when deciding on whether or not to tell Nick about Jesse.
“I don’t need you, Nick. I can look after her myself.”
Nick laughed or scoffed.. maybe it was both she couldn’t really tell, “More like you needed someone so you jumped into bed with my replacement as soon as I left.”
She stood from her seat and turned her head quickly to face him angrier now, “No, you’re not judging me. You left me, my life doesn’t concern you anymore.”
Both of them knew how heated their arguing could get but neither of them wanted to back down, they were both so caught up in the anger of it all that they didn’t hear Sonny’s knock on the door or the twisting of his key in the door or Jesse’s sleepy “Unc Son” as he walked through to where they all were.
“Jess, hi.” He stopped almost taken aback for a second at the sight of another man in Amanda’s apartment and also at the raised voices and how close they were to each other.
“Guys, whoa, what is all this about?” Sonny said trying to get between them.
“Back off man,” Nick said with his teeth gritted.
“No Amaro I think you need to back off-“ He was interrupted by Amanda, she hadn’t meant to be rude towards him but in her anger, it came out that way.
“I got this, I don’t need protecting Carisi!”
Nick suddenly turned more of his attention to Sonny, “Did you know? You like planning ‘Daddy’ with another man’s child? Trying to slither your way into her life?” Nick pointed at the appropriate people he was addressing as he spoke.
“At least I stayed,” Sonny simply said before earning a shove from Nick.
Jesse saw him get pushed, she hadn’t been paying attention until that point considering she was trying to doze off on the sofa. The confrontation made her scared. She started to cry calling for Mama.
“That’s enough, Nick, you should go,” Amanda said quietly but harshly before going over to Jesse to comfort her.
Sonny had followed Nick to lock the door behind him before joining his two favourite people.
“I’m sorry baby,” Amanda was mumbling to Jesse as she bounced her up and down kissing her head.
“Are you okay?” Sonny asked rubbing a hand down Amanda’s back.
“Yeah, we will talk once she’s in bed? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“He’s not that much stronger than me,” Carisi added for some humour. Amanda just smiled and shook her head.
“Want to read her bedtime story?”
“Always.”
——————
The two of them were sitting on the sofa eating the takeout Sonny had picked up on the way over.
“You said we’d talk?” He broke the comfortable silence between them.
“Yeah, I don’t know why he came here. Well no of course I know why but I didn’t expect it to go like that.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“What? No, never. Not physically he wouldn’t he’s not like that… we just know how to rattle each other,” Amanda emphasised, she had to make it clear she knew Nick he would never put his hands on a woman in that way.
“Okay,” he put his arm around her pulling her closer to him, “But you wanted to talk? Did he say something to you?”
“He brought some things up,” she sighs, “It reminded me I haven’t really told you everything about myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Before you started at SVU I was in some trouble, gambling debt. I went to meetings a lot. Something changed in me when I had Jesse though I knew I couldn’t do that anymore even if I have an urge to gamble I know I can’t for her.” Amanda spoke.
Sonny nodded his head, “I will help you in every way I can and I’ll never judge you. If you have an urge you tell me,” he kissed the side of her head.
She smiled, “Thank you. Anyways my point is Nick brought it up,” she looked down at the blanket covering their laps, “I know he was just trying to get under my skin but he said if I keep screwing up as I did back then I’m going to make a bad mother and role model for Jess and I don’t know.. It got to me. I work so much I barely see her, I’m failing her already.”
Sonny saw a tear fall down her face, “Hey,” He took her face into his hands forcing her to look in his eyes, “Amanda, you’re a great mother. Jesse is so lucky you’re her mom. You don’t think Olivia is a bad mom do you? And she leaves Noah with a babysitter while she works as well so why would it make you one?”
“Liv is a better person than I am,” she says quietly.
“Stop that, you’re amazing and.. and I love you.”
“You love me?” Her wet eyes look hopeful for a second.
“Of course I do, I have for a long time,” He kissed her forehead.
“I love you too Dominick, thank you,” she hugs him tighter.
CW: (Established/Establishing) Unprofessional and unethical teacher x student relationship, (implied-ish) suggestive content, angsty at the end, Reader and Amanda being sort of stalker-ish (lowkey just vibes only), that's basically it...??
Summary: (Vaguely explained here) Outtakes from the last few months, over the course of your unofficial and unsanctioned relationship with Professor Rollins. ~ Part 2 | Part 3
A/N: After a quick few Google searches, I have decided that Reader is gonna be like mid-twenties for the purpose of this fic, and earning her doctorate degree at Fordham University (obviously, already having completed her undergrad degree), and Rollins is in her mid-thirties (as well as a single mom to Jessie), so - even though this is fanfiction - it's not *that* bad of an age gap.
Also, I've jumbled some things about a little bit (as per), to make things kind of simpler for me. Plus, for the sake of clarity, I have next to zero idea how most of the technicalities to this would actually pan out (aside from having done a couple Google searches), but yeah... :)
Taglist (?): @carinaswife
~~~
It'd been a year since you'd properly introduced yourself to Professor Rollins - having heard a lot about the newest member of staff, from a friend of yours the year prior, while attending her class on Criminal Behaviour. Though, you'd been too wrapped up in your own course requirements, for your own doctorate degree, to find out any more about her, until a lot later on; something that you partially regretted.
But once you did, you were hooked. And, in all honesty, so was she.
You'd sat in on one of her lectures, when you had a free period, at the end of the day - sitting at the back of the hall, with your notebook open, and linguistics textbook on the empty space next to you, so you didn't look completely out of place - Staying until everyone had filed out of the room, before getting up, and making your way down the steps toward Rollins's desk, right at the front of the class, just off to the right of the projector screen.
"I liked your perspective, on some of the questions I asked." The professor stated, finishing up the last bit of writing she was doing on a student's paper, before you could decide whether or not you were gonna stick around for a bit longer.
"Most of those guys usually stick to what they've read, or an answer that's similar to it, but you- You're different." The blonde continued softly, glancing up from her work, to look at you. "I don't think I've seen you in my class, before; you a freshman?" She asked.
"Uh, no, I'm a senior- Super-senior, technically. I mean, I'm working on getting my doctorate." The words tripping over themselves out of your mouth. "I'm Y/N. Y/N Y/L/N." You added.
"Well, Y/N, I'm Professor Rollins - Amanda - and it does not look like you're on any of my class lists." The woman - Amanda - deducted, after quickly flicking through a few pieces of papers to her right. "I didn't think any students had time to audit classes, anymore." She said, looking back to you.
"Oh, I'm not- Not really, anyway. One of my friends was in this class last year, the year before, and this year, and I heard a lot about it after you took it over, so I figured it was about time I came and saw what all the fuss was about." You explained, unintentionally sneaking in the slightest bit of teasing, at the end.
"Is that right? All good things, I hope." Amanda joked lightly, clearly having picked up on the bit of accidental banter in your tone, leaning back in her chair to get a proper look at you. "And what is it you're actually studying?" She questioned.
"Linguistics- 3 years down, 1 more left. I've always been fairly like, interested in languages, and all that, so it's been kinda cool to learn about it, in lot more depth." You replied, shifting on your feet a little.
"That's impressive." Professor Rollins said, a small smile gracing her lips. 'God, she's pretty.' You thought, before pushing it to the back of your mind.
That's how it started, anyway. That one thought sparking months of infantilization that followed.
---
Over those next 6 weeks, you'd carved out the perfect weekly schedule that you were planning on continuing for the rest of the year.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays, were for your required classes, on campus, to get your new assignments, and jot down rough drafts of your notes to write up whenever you had the time. Wednesdays were for grocery shopping, and catching up on anything that needed doing; for school, or otherwise. Fridays were for the "random" pop-quizzes that your professor would give you, and the rest of the class, in the mornings, going out for lunch, and sneaking into Amanda's lectures, at the end of the day. Saturdays were for you to go out, or stay in, and do whatever you wanted. And Sundays were for submitting your then finished assignments, and making sure that you were prepared for the week ahead.
It was perfect.
Though, now it was nearing the end of the first half of first term, and you couldn't carry on with that weekly plan, for a whole 7 days, part of you was filled with some sort of dread. Longing, maybe? Or a form of sadness? You were probably just being dramatic.
But, to test out that probability, you decided to do what any other normal person would do, and buy a small gift to give to the person where that sense of longing lied with. Professor Amanda Rollins.
Similarly to how you'd done it a good handful of times before, you approached the professor's desk, at the front of the class, and set the black cat plushie and bag of Sour Patch Kids on the wooden surface, causing the blonde to lift her head up, from looking at her computer screen - as if having only just noticed you were there.
"What's this?" Amanda inquired, glancing between you and the two items you'd placed in front of her, eyebrows knitted together slightly.
"A Halloween present. Or a small token of my thanks, if you're not a Halloween person." You answered, with a nervous smile on your face. "I saw the plushie, about a week ago, and it kinda weirdly reminded me of you. Plus, Sour Patch Kids are a fairly safe-bet, gifting wise, for most people; and they tend to help with panic attacks, which can be a useful tool to have." You rambled.
"That's really sweet, thank you." The older woman stated, that same soft grin pulling at the corners of her mouth, as she looked back down at the presents - almost in a state of shock - before tucking them into her bag, along with some papers that needed grading.
She then stood up, and rounded her desk, stopping a few feet in front of you - your heartrate starting to pick up, as she lifted a hand up to cradle your jaw in her palm, before leaning in to press her lips to your. The kiss setting off fireworks in your head, with TV-like static blurring your thoughts.
"Happy Halloween, darlin'." Amanda muttered teasingly, her accent bleeding through, once she'd pulled away. Taking just a little bit of pleasure in the stunned look on your face, as she picked up her bag and coat, and walked out of the room - leaving you stood there with flushed cheeks, and your mouth parted slightly.
---
Your crush on the blonde almost doubled in size over that week of not seeing her. And then tripled, throughout the second half of the winter term. Neither of you had talked about the kiss, or even talking much at all, during that time, but you still attended her lectures; as a small sign to her that you were still here, regardless of whatever the kiss meant, or didn't mean.
Whether it was a one off, a moment of weakness maybe, or would eventually turn into something more.
That was, at least, until the last day of term, before the holidays. A boy from one of your classes - short hair, glasses, fairly smart, a little bit cocky, but really unfunny - approached you in the hallway, after you left Amanda's last lecture of the year.
"Hey, Y/N- I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna grab a bite to eat, sometime? Once school starts up again." He asked, leaning the wall next to you - almost directly opposite the open door to Professor Rollins's office, that was adjoined to her classroom, of which she was currently watching the two of you from, while bidding a few students walking past 'goodbye'.
"Oh. I, um-" You stammered, not entirely sure whether you should politely accept, and come up with an excuse to give him later on, or how to decline his proposition.
Before you could decide on what to do, a voice beckoned you away. "Y/N? Can we talk?" The professor said, her hand lingering on the cord to the blinds on the window next to her office door, assumedly having just pulled them down.
You flashed a small smile to your fellow classmate, and walked away, into the small room, spotting him heading down the hallway to the main exit, before the door closed behind the blonde.
"I've been thinking, as I'm sure you have as well, and you intrigue me, honey." Amanda stated, approaching you, and somehow trapping you between her front and desk, without even touching you. "I couldn't figure out what it was you were getting out of auditing this class, but then it hit me - just before Halloween. You've got a little bit of a crush on me, don't you, doll?"
She carried on talking, before you could answer. "I'll admit, I probably should've gotten to that conclusion a lot sooner, since I used to be a detective, but I think the reason I didn't, is cause you've scrambled my brain up quite a bit, as well. So I'm willing to see where this goes, as long as you're up for it, on a few conditions."
"Okay-" You murmured softly, more than a little bashful at being caught out about your feelings so soon.
"Number one, we keep it outside of school. That means it's not to effect your education, or my job; no more giving me presents on school grounds." The older woman started. "Number two, we set clear boundaries with each other, about anything; physical stuff, especially. If it gets too much, or if you wanna stop completely, just say. She continued, resting her hands on your hips, and gently brushing her thumbs over them.
"Yeah, I can do that." You perked up a little, suddenly eager to please.
"And number three," Amanda said, pulling your hips flush against hers, her face hovering just above yours. "You don't go anywhere near that prick - or anybody else, for that matter - romantically, ever again."
Which caused you to scoff slightly, thinking she was joking, but the possessive look gleaming in her eyes, made you think again. "Yes, ma'am." You replied, with a curt nod.
"Good girl." The blonde praised, arousal flooding your lower abdomen, her nose brushed against yours. "Y'want another kiss, baby?" Her question, and tone of voice, making you whine. "Fuck, yes."
You woke up the next morning, back in your off-campus apartment, with hickeys decorating your neck and chest (and thighs), shaky legs, and a small note on your nightstand; 'Last night was great, sorry I had to go. Hope you have a good Christmas, see you in a couple of weeks -A.R xxx P.S. Call me...?? 332-916-0425 <3'
~~~
Alright, so this has been sitting in my drafts, like this, since then, and I was gonna add a bit more, but then I realised I don't really have to, cause I make my own rules + this is all I got 🙃
I am still struggling with a lot of stuff, at the moment, which is sort of impacting my writing :( so I can't guarantee when, or how fast/slow these next two parts (or anything else I have lined up) will get posted, as much as I wish I did, but hopefully I'm doing a bit better soon, so I can get to finishing the rest of this, all my Alex fics/drafts, NINO, and some more OC stuff :)
Also, assuming the phone number used in this is fake, since I just spammed numbers, and arranged them the way American phone numbers are, so hopefully it is actually fake...
Merry (late) Christmas, and Happy New Year (for in a few days time, as I don't think I'll post anything else between now and the new year), see you again soon :)
Y/N Y/L/N came into Amanda's life when Jesse was only a month old after a small kitchen fire in Amanda's apartment. What started as a moment of crisis became the foundation of something beautiful—a family neither of them had expected to find.
"Oh shit," Amanda curses as the smoke alarm goes off, its shrill beeping cutting through the afternoon quiet. Franny immediately starts barking in response, her protective instincts kicking in as she paces anxiously around the small kitchen.
Amanda had been trying to make some chicken for dinner, one of the few meals she felt confident preparing in her sleep-deprived state. But exhaustion had made her careless—she must have turned the burner too high, and now flames were dancing dangerously across the stovetop, licking at the edges of the pan.
The urgent knock on her door comes within seconds of the alarm. The blonde quickly turns off the heat, her heart racing as she hurries to open the door. She expects to find Mrs. Chen from across the hall or maybe Mr. Rodriguez from downstairs—concerned neighbors checking on the commotion.
Instead, she opens the door to reveal a newly familiar face that makes her pulse quicken for entirely different reasons. Y/N Y/L/N, her neighbor from next door, stands in the hallway carrying a fire extinguisher with the casual confidence of someone who knows exactly what they're doing.
Y/N had moved in just a few months ago, and Amanda had quickly developed a crush on the other woman. They'd spent many nights hanging out, sharing takeout containers and stories, with Jesse sleeping peacefully in Amanda's arms or playing on a blanket between them. Y/N had seamlessly integrated herself into their little world, bringing laughter and lightness that Amanda hadn't realized she'd been missing.
"Uh hey. I heard the alarm go off and I'm a firefighter so..." Y/N states, her eyes already scanning past Amanda toward the kitchen where smoke is still visible. "Need some help?"
"Please. Stove top's on fire," Amanda sighs, exhaustion weighing heavily in her voice. Dark circles under her eyes tell the story of countless sleepless nights. "I must have turned it up too high. The baby was up all night—"
As if summoned by her mother's words, Jesse's wails suddenly pierce the air from the bedroom, the infant startled awake by the commotion.
"Breathe, Amanda. I got the fire, you go get Jesse," Y/N states with calm authority, already moving past her toward the kitchen.
Amanda doesn't argue—she's learned to recognize competence when she sees it, and right now, Y/N radiates the kind of steady reliability that Amanda desperately needs. She hurries to the bedroom where Jesse is red-faced and crying in her crib, tiny fists waving in distress.
"Shh, baby girl, it's okay," Amanda coos, lifting Jesse into her arms. The infant calms almost immediately, her cries settling into soft hiccups as she nuzzles against her mother's shoulder. "Mommy's here. Everything's okay."
When Amanda reenters the kitchen, the smoke alarm has fallen silent and the acrid smell of burnt food is already beginning to dissipate. Y/N is efficiently cleaning up, having used her fire extinguisher to douse the flames. The chicken that was supposed to be tonight's dinner sits charred and inedible in the ruined pan.
"Yeah, so dinner's a no go I'm afraid," Y/N jokes, gesturing at the destroyed meal with a wry smile. She takes in Amanda's appearance—the exhaustion etched in every line of her face, the way she's swaying slightly on her feet even as she holds Jesse. "You look wiped. Here. Give me the baby and go sit down. I'll order us some dinner. Pizza okay?"
"No, it's okay. You probably already had plans tonight. I don't want to be a bother," Amanda protests automatically, even though the offer sounds like heaven. She's been running on fumes for weeks, trying to juggle new motherhood with work and basic survival.
"None of that. I don't have anything planned. You're far from a bother, Amanda," Y/N says firmly, her voice warm with sincerity. "Besides, I like spending time with you."
The admission hangs in the air between them, loaded with unspoken possibilities. Amanda feels heat rise in her cheeks that has nothing to do with the lingering smoke in the kitchen.
"I like spending time with you too," Amanda admits quietly, carefully transferring Jesse into Y/N's waiting arms.
Y/N takes the baby with practiced ease, as if she's been holding infants her whole life. Jesse settles immediately against Y/N's chest, her tiny fingers grasping at the fabric of Y/N's shirt. The sight does something complicated to Amanda's heart—seeing this woman she's growing to care about holding her daughter with such natural tenderness.
******
After that night, everything changed. The crisis had stripped away their careful politeness and revealed something deeper—a connection that had been building quietly over months of shared dinners and late-night conversations.
They confessed their feelings for one another that same evening, sitting on Amanda's couch with pizza boxes scattered around them and Jesse sleeping peacefully in Y/N's arms. The conversation was tentative at first, both women afraid of disrupting the delicate balance they'd found. But honesty had a way of making things simple.
"I've been wanting to tell you something," Amanda had started, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Me too," Y/N had replied, shifting Jesse carefully so she could look directly at Amanda. "You first."
"I think I'm falling for you," Amanda had said in a rush, the words tumbling out before she could lose her nerve. "I know it's complicated, with Jesse and everything, and I understand if—"
"Amanda," Y/N had interrupted gently. "I'm already there. Have been for weeks."
The kiss that followed was soft and sweet, full of promise and possibility. Jesse had stirred in Y/N's arms but settled again with a contented sigh, as if she approved of this new development.
Now, over a year later, they've been together through Jesse's first steps, her first words (which had been "mama," directed at Amanda while Y/N beamed proudly from across the room), and countless small moments that had woven them together into something that felt remarkably like family.
Y/N officially moved into Amanda's place just a few weeks ago, though as Amanda likes to joke, she'd been unofficially living there for months anyway. Her clothes had gradually migrated to Amanda's closet, her coffee mug had found a permanent spot in the cabinet, and her presence had become as essential to their daily routine as morning coffee or bedtime stories.
*****
Currently, Amanda is out grabbing lunch with Olivia, taking advantage of Y/N's day off to catch up with her friend and partner. It's a rare treat—time to eat a meal while it's still hot and have an adult conversation without interruption.
Y/N is at home with Jesse, sprawled on the living room floor surrounded by the detritus of toddler entertainment. Colorful blocks are scattered across the carpet, along with board books with chewed corners and a collection of stuffed animals that Jesse insists on carrying everywhere.
"Mmm..." Jesse murmurs contentedly as she gnaws on a red block, her four tiny teeth leaving small indentations in the soft plastic.
"That tasty, Jesse?" Y/N chuckles, reaching out to stroke the little one's cheek with gentle fingers.
Jesse is fifteen months old now, all chubby cheeks and wild blonde curls that stick up in every direction no matter how much Amanda tries to tame them. She's inherited her mother's stubborn streak and her bright blue eyes, but she has a fearlessness that's entirely her own—something that keeps both her mothers on their toes.
When Y/N first moved to this apartment building, she'd been looking for a fresh start. The small one-bedroom next to Amanda's had been all she could afford on a firefighter's salary, and the neighborhood wasn't much to look at. She never could have imagined that she'd find not only the love of her life but a beautiful baby girl and the best dog someone could ask for.
Franny is curled up beside them now, her golden fur warm against Y/N's leg. The dog had taken to Y/N immediately, seeming to recognize a kindred spirit. She'd appointed herself Jesse's guardian from day one, following the toddler around the apartment and sleeping by her crib every night.
Jesse giggles suddenly and throws the block with surprising force, clapping her hands happily as it bounces off the couch. She's decided she's finished with blocks for now, apparently moving on to her next favorite activity. Wanting some cuddles, she reaches out her chubby hands toward Y/N, making the grabbing motions that both her mothers find impossible to resist.
"Mommy!" Jesse gurgles clearly, her voice bright with excitement.
Y/N freezes, her heart stopping for a moment before beginning to race. She stares at Jesse, hardly daring to believe what she's heard.
"What? What did you say?" Y/N asks, her voice shaky with shock and hope.
"Mommy!" Jesse replies more insistently, straining to be picked up, her little arms reaching determinedly toward Y/N.
Y/N scoops Jesse up immediately, holding her close and pressing kisses to the top of her head. The baby's fine hair tickles her lips, and she breathes in that unique scent that belongs only to Jesse—baby shampoo and something sweet and indefinable that Y/N has come to associate with home.
Happy tears stream down her face as the full weight of the moment hits her. This little girl, who she's watched grow and change every day for over a year, who she's fed and bathed and rocked to sleep countless times, has just claimed her as family in the most fundamental way possible.
The sound of keys in the lock breaks through her emotional haze. Amanda walks in, her cheeks pink from the cold and her hair slightly mussed from the wind. The blonde's expression immediately shifts to concern when she notices Y/N crying.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Amanda questions, quickly moving to take Jesse from Y/N's arms, her maternal instincts kicking in as she checks both her girlfriend and daughter for signs of distress.
"Happy tears, love. Jesse called me mommy," Y/N replies as she gets to her feet, wiping at her cheeks with the back of her hand. But uncertainty creeps into her voice as she adds, "Is that okay with you?"
The question hangs between them for just a moment, but Amanda's face immediately breaks into a brilliant smile that erases any doubt.
"Of course it is, Y/N/N. You've been there for us since she was a newborn. She's just as much yours as she is mine," Amanda says firmly, her voice thick with emotion. "Of course you're her mommy."
She shifts Jesse to one arm and uses the other to pull Y/N closer to them, creating their own little circle of family. The kiss they share is soft and full of love, tasting slightly of the tears that are now flowing freely down both their faces.
"Mm. I love you, Y/N," Amanda whispers as she rests their foreheads together, their breath mingling in the small space between them.
"I love you too. So much," Y/N replies, her voice barely above a whisper. She looks down at Jesse, who is watching them both with bright, curious eyes. "And of course, I love you as well, little one."
"Mommy! Mama!" Jesse giggles, bouncing excitedly in Amanda's arms as if she's proud of herself for learning this new skill.
Both women look down at their daughter—because that's what Jesse is now, undeniably and completely—and just smile. The moment feels perfect in its simplicity, a quiet celebration of the family they've built together through love and patience and countless small acts of devotion.
Later, they'll call Jesse's grandparents to share the news. They'll take pictures and videos, trying to capture this milestone the way they've documented all the others. They'll probably cry some more, overwhelmed by the beauty of it all.
But for now, they're content to stand in their small living room, holding each other and their daughter, marveling at the unexpected ways that love can grow and transform ordinary moments into something extraordinary. What started with a kitchen fire has become this—a family bound not by blood but by choice, by commitment, by the daily decision to show up for each other no matter what.
And as Jesse babbles happily between them, calling out "Mommy! Mama!" with increasing delight, both women know that this is just the beginning of their story together.
