2 hours later the doctor came out of the exam room and walked over to AJ and Howie.  "The little girl has mild hypothermia" "Is she going to be okay?" asked Howie.  "Yes she will be." "Um, when can we take her home?" asked AJ.  "You can take her home in a couple of minutes.  What you need to do is keep her in dry clothes and wrap her up in blankets.  The important thing is to keep her warm.  So you know, feed her soup and hot chocolate."  "Thank you Doc" said AJ "Yeah thank you."

When they walked into the exam room AJ took notice of Alexanderia's face.  Her mother was right she does look like him especially around the eyes. Howie notice the same thing and he saw the way that AJ look at Alexanderia it was already out of love.  When they got closer Alexenderia stared up at them.  "Hi sweetheart, this is Howie and I'm your... I'm your Daddy."  Alexanderia turn her focus on AJ now that he said that he was her father.  Howie gave AJ's hand a squeeze to encourage him.  "You going to come home with us, is that okay?"  Alexanderia nodded her head yes.  Howie got the blanket that the hospital gave them to wrap her up in.  Howie picked her up and they headed to the car.

In the car Howie was talking to Alexanderia.  "You're going to love it at our house.  We have a swimming pool, there is a movie theatre and do you like dogs? Because we have 5 cute little dogs.  And if there is anything that we don't have and you want then we can go buy. Okay?"  Alexanderia nodded her head.  Howie looked at AJ and AJ nodded his head that he understand what Howie was trying to tell him.  They were worried because the only time they heard Alexanderia's voice was when she was screaming no at the hospital.

Alexanderia didn't know what to think.  So far her Daddy was nice and so was the Howie guy.  She never talked that much before because of her mother's boyfriend, he never let her talk.  So she got use to saying very little.  

They pulled up to the house and Howie got Alexanderia out of the back seat.  When AJ open the door and they walked inside Alexanderia's mouth fell open. She never saw a house like this before, only people on TV and in fairy tales had houses like this.  "Babe, where are we going to put her?" "How about the room next to ours."  "Babe, can you find something for her to sleep in?" AJ walked to their room and 5 minutes later came back with one of Howie's baseball shirts.

"Alexanderia, are you hungry?" asked AJ she nodded her head yes.  "Okay" AJ went to the kitchen to make some soup while Howie helped Alexanderia get ready for bed.  "There you go you'll all ready for bed.  Not the best looking sleep wear but you pull it off.  Why don't we go downstairs and see if your Daddy has the soup ready."  Howie picked up Alexanderia and went downstairs.

Howie and Alexanderia bounce in the kitchen.  "Hey Daddy is the soup ready?" asked Howie.  AJ turned around to see Howie putting Alexanderia down in one of the chairs.  He smiled to himself. He was glad that Howie was already getting into the parent thing.  "Yes sir re Bob" he placed a bowl of soup in front of Alexanderia and Howie.  "An AJ special for my special little girl" and he went back and got his.  "Now be careful it's hot" said Howie.  Alexanderia nodded her head.  Howie and AJ watched her eat not really eating their own soup.  When Alexanderia finish her soup; Howie took the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.  "Okay time for bed, to bed, to bed I say" said Howie picking her up and spinning her around.

"If you need anything then you can come to our room its right across the hall, okay?" said Howie. Alexanderia nodded her head.  Howie bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.  "Okay sweetheart have a good sleep and we'll see you in the morning, okay?" Again Alexanderia nodded her head.  AJ bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead as well.  They kept the lamp light on beside her bed and they left the door open a bit.

Once they got to their room, AJ fell on the bed and let out a sigh. Howie sat on the bed and put AJ's head in his lap and began brushing his hair.  "What's matter Babe?" "Well in the course of 5 hours our whole lives have changed.  We have to be at Kevin's around 4 today and I'm not sure how they are going to take it. And what about my mom? your parents? what are we going to tell the fans? Also you notice how she doesn't talk all she does is nod her head why?" Howie sat back and listen because he thought about the same things.  "Babe, all I can say is we have to take one thing at a time.  The worst thing with the guys is they could be mad but it still won't change things. I think your mom will be happy that she has a grandchild.  Remember that was one thing that she was worried about that she would never have a grandchild.  And my parents it's just one more person for them to love and spoil. All you have to remember is that I love you and I love Alexanderia."  AJ looked up at Howie "You know that I love you too right?" "I'm not so sure about that" "Well I guess I have to prove it to you." AJ pulled Howie head down to his and gave him a kiss.  "So do you know now?" "NO I think I need to see the evidence one more time!" They kissed again.  "Yeah I believe you now" they both laughed.  "We should get some sleep," said Howie.

AJ turned over to face Howie "D, are you asleep?" "Not anymore" "I was thinking what should Alexanderia call you?" 'If she ever will talk' he thought.  "What do you mean?"  "Well I'm Daddy right, well she needs to call you something."  "She can call me Howie, I don't see anything wrong with that."  AJ sat up and turn on the light "Ah, why did you go and do that.  You could have warned me," said Howie sitting up hiding his eyes from the light.  "Because I wanted you to see how stupid you sound.  She's our daughter and no daughter of mine is going to her Dad, Howie." "So what do you have in mind then?" "I don't know that's why I'm asking you." Howie shook his head "Babe, sometimes I wonder about you" and he kissed AJ on the cheek. "I got it" said AJ with a smile.  Howie had to laugh AJ was too cute.  "Papa" "What?" "She can call you Papa because in Spanish Dad is Papa, isn't it?"  "Cool, I'm liking it.  Can I go back to sleep now." "Yeah sure" AJ turned out the light and went back to laying in Howie arms.

Howie felt like someone was staring at him and something told him to open his eyes.  When he did he saw Alexanderia standing in front of him.  He turns on his lamp and sat up which woke up AJ "What's going on?" "You couldn't sleep, hey? Did you want to come sleep with us?" asked Howie.  Alexanderia nodded yes; Howie helped her up and put her between him and AJ.  "Are you all comfy and warm?" asked AJ.  She nodded her head.  Howie turned off the light and the three of them went back to sleep.  AJ and Howie both fell asleep with a smile because they felt like a family.