#dandyfluff

This little piece of fluff is dedicated to my amazing beta redrobin2175, a belated bday gift(Sorry its so late), this was also written in celebration of Hulu picking up TMP and for my lovely friend/fellow mindian and loyal reader evmlove who wanted some fluff, it was inspired by Ed Sheeran’s thinking out loud , hence the name, its short but sweet, enjoy!

Thinking Out Loud

This was it , what they'd been waiting for, nay looking forward to the past 9 months, baby boy Castellano was ready to meet the world. Incidentally Danny and Mindy were arguing about baby names when she went into labor.

" What's wrong with Ashton?" Mindy said as she lay on their couch munching on sour straws. Danny sat next to her, Mindy's feet on his lap as he massaged them.

" For the last time we're not naming our kid after some movie star. " Danny said.

"Fine, what about Christopher?" Mindy said pouting as she realized the candy package was now empty.

" I'll grab you another package, and Christopher, I like it." Danny said getting up.

"Wait, really?" Mindy asked sitting up.

"Yeah, Anthony Christopher, like the saint." Danny said.

"Yeah, the saint, and definitely not the hunk that plays Thor in the avengers." Mindy said mumbling the last part.

"What was that babe?" Danny said returning as promised with an unopened package of sour straws.

"Nothing sweet...ow. Danny, don't panic.." Mindy said once the pain subsided.

"Panic, why would I panic, did you accidentally delete all my ken burns documentaries on the DVR again ? Danny said using air quotes when he said accidentally.

"No,, and it was an accident, that's besides the point, I'm pretty sure I'm going into labor."

"The baby, hes coming now?!" Danny said immediately starting to sweat.

"Yup." Mindy said gritting her teeth as another contraction hit.

Danny stood there in shock for a second before something snapped and he jumped to action. After holding Mindy's hand during the current contraction he ran to their bedroom grabbing his keys, wallet and their hospital bag. He helped Mindy down the stairs of their brownstone and into his car before speeding to the hospital.

"Alright Mindy, you're dilated 6 centimeters."

"Six, only six you've gotta be kidding me." Mindy said breathing rapidly as the latest contraction subsided.

"You're doing great babe." Danny said wiping her forehead.

"Danny, Danny what if the baby hates me, what if we aren't ready."

"What, Min, of course he isn't going to hate you, and no ones really ready to be a parent."

"Thanks for trying babe,but doesn't make me feel better."

" Hey, I wasn't finished, no ones really ready to be a parent, but Min, this baby is going to love you as much as I do, and we're in this together ." Danny said kissing her forehead.

"I love you." Mindy said with a smile.

"I love you too." Danny said kissing her lips.

After twelve hours of labor, the first loud cries of baby boy Castellano were heard.

"You did it Min." Danny said as the doctors cleaned the baby up, and examined him before handing him to Mindy.

"Danny, he's so beautiful." Mindy said looking down at the little person that was part her, part Danny.

" He's perfect."

"Welcome to the world Anthony Christopher Lahiri-Castelllano."

 Love has a way of creeping up on you, sometimes you try to fight it, but ultimately you accept it, mind, body and soul and the outcome makes all the pain, doubt, indecision along the way, all worth it when you look into your new born child's eyes as the love of your life holds him.

  I've been stupid and reckless with her heart. There was a time where I broke up with her, although I secretly wanted to be with her. I've been all in, terrified to move in with her, blind to the fact that she was family. I've hurt her more times than I could count with my words. I've tried to walk away, but couldn't. Mindy, she's loved me through it all ,and one month ago she gave me the greatest gift a man could ever receive, you kid.  

" I love your mom, more than I've ever loved anyone. I thought I could never imagine being married again, I didn't think I deserved it. I thought we'd fail a, that I'd fail her. That it would be like it was with Christina, but I was wrong. " Danny said as he sat in the nursery Anthony in his arms, the baby starring up at his father with his brown eyes so like his mothers.

" I realized I was wrong kid after talking to your Grandma Annette, so I ran and found your other grandparents, I asked your grandfather, not your grandfather Alan, but your other grandfather, your mom's dad, for his permission to marry your mom. He said no and slammed the door in my face, but I wasn't going to give up so easily. " Danny said and the baby yawned as if saying get to the point dad.

" Long story short kid, I  got him to say yes. I'd never admit this to her, but I can be as stubborn as your mother. I wanted you to know we were a family before you were born and we'll always be one, I will never leave you or your mother. I also know she likes to eavesdrop on the baby monitor when I'm in here with you, which means she'll be making her way in here right about, now." Danny said with a smirk and looked at the door and there was Mindy shock on her face.

"So you admit it you're stubborn." Mindy said with a smirk. Danny smiled at her, placed Anthony into his crib and walked closer to Mindy.

"Min, you are the love of my life, my best friend, the mother of my son, I fall in love with you every single day ,and I'm going to love you til the day I die. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so Mindy Kuhel Lahiri will you marry me?" Danny said taking out his grandmothers ring and kneeling in front of Mindy.

Mindy looked at Danny , at the ring and over to the crib where her son was laying down and she knew her answer.

" I love you and yes, Daniel Alan Castellano, I will marry you." Mindy said.

Danny slipped the ring on her finger , then stood up. They kissed, a kiss that was interrupted by the cry of their son.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

previously posted here on tumblr and now betaed by the lovely redrobin2175 and posted on both sites, enjoy if you haven't already.

Here it is my latest, written at the request of my dear Ana(BrazilTMP) had to knock my muse back in gear to get through the block and finish this, warning this is unbetaed and my labor delivery knowledge is minimal at best soI excuse any errors, and hope y'all enjoy, I will post on usual sites when its betaed. I have one more fic in the mix another request, hope to finish it by weeks end.

-MG

"Danny,Danny, where are you?" Mindy said to her husband on the phone.

"I'm walking up now." Danny said.

"Did you get everything ?"

"Maybe?" Danny said and Mindy could hear his trademark smirk through the phone.

"Hey man, don't test me !" Mindy said.

"Yes,babe, I got everything, I'm at the door, so hanging up now."

"OK,bye, see you in a sec." Mindy said hanging up and waddling to their condo door, opening it to reveal her husband, a bunch of target reusable shopping bags in hand. Mindy reached to help him ,but Danny shooed her away.

"What are you doing, you shouldn't be on your feet, or lifting anything." Danny said.

"Danny, I'm pregnant, not an invalid,and you and I both know that by this stage we usually recommend our patients stay active to encourage labor. And I wasn't trying to help, I just really want my ice cream and sour straws." Mindy said with a pout.

"Alright,alright go sit down and I'll bring a big bowl for you." Danny said.

Mindy complied and waddled back over to the couch, stretching herself out slowly so she wouldn't roll off the couch. She was 9 months pregnant and the baby was scheduled to come anytime in the next two weeks. She watched as Danny retrieved a cereal bowl from the cabinet and began to scoop her favorite type of ice cream into the bowl. He then mixed some sour straws in as well as some chocolate chips.

"Don't forget the chocolate syrup!" Mindy called from the couch.

"I got it, I got it,was just about to add it." Danny said taking out a bottle of syrup and covering the top surface of the candy ice  cream concoction. He then walked over to his waiting wife, handing her the bowl.

"I've been waiting for this all day, oh god Danny, thank you,it's so good!" Mindy said after taking a spoonful.

"Anything for the mother of my child." Danny said kissing her forehead.

"So did anything interesting happen at work today?" Mindy said sitting up to allow Danny to have room with her on the couch. , he took one of her feet in his hands and began to massage it, before speaking.

"Interesting, not really. You know the usual, Peter bragging about his latest conquest, Jeremy still wallowing over his break up with Lauren. Morgan, Tamara and Beverly being their usual selves." Danny said then switched to massaging the other foot.

"Oh, come on, there's no way your day was that boring?" Mindy said.

"You know I don't like to gossip." Danny said.

"Come on Danny I'd be at work to witness it all myself, if you hadn't knocked me up during our honeymoon. Not that I regret you baby, mommy loves you so much, Daddy is just being a spoils sport but not filling Mommy in on the office gossip." Mindy said rubbing her belly as she looked down at it and spoke to the active baby inside.

"Well Daddy was too busy getting work done quickly so he could get home to you and Mommy, cause the work day just isn't the same without her popping in to say hi, shower me with kisses and share gossip when I'm trying to do paper work." Danny said with a smirk as he placed a hand on Mindy's swollen belly.

"Ok, that was kinda sweet, you're forgiven for lack of gossip this time mister." Mindy said with a smirk before devouring the rest of the sweet concoction.

 Her pregnancy had started off rough, especially her morning sickness, but when that had stopped her crazy cravings had started. Her cravings ranged all over the map, from chocolate and goldfish, graham cracker and cheese, to random ice cream concoctions like the one she was eating now. The worst had been the one where she wanted sorbet, pickles and peanut butter, with soy sauce on top. Danny nearly gagged making it, but Mindy had happily gobbled it up as if it were one of her favorite types of bear claw. Lately though her cravings had been sweets, sweets and more sweets. They mirrored her non pregnancy eating habits for the most part.

 "Good, I don't like when you're mad at me." Danny said kissing her forehead.

"I could never stay mad at my baby daddy, and think I it's time for a nap, the ice cream calmed the baby down, she's been so active this week I've barely slept ." Mindy said.

"It's probably cause she knows she's gonna meet us soon." Danny said with a smile. He then helped her up off the couch his arm around her as they made their way to the bedroom. Mindy lay down as comfortably as she could spooned against Danny. His arm wrapped around her belly as they both fell asleep.

"Danny..Danny." Danny heard Mindy's frantic voice.

"What, huh?" Danny said opening his eyes and sitting up.

"Danny I think, well I'm pretty sure my water just broke." Mindy said hand on her belly.

"Now, like right now?" Danny said.

"Yeah...oh..contraction." Mindy said through gritting teeth as a contraction hit.

Danny always planning ahead had come up with a labor plan, so that they would be prepared whenever the baby would arrive. It took a lot of arguing back in forth as they made up Mindy's hospital bag two weeks prior. Danny had to convince her to go from eight pairs of change of clothing to four, marriage was all about compromise after all. Danny called the hospital, turned out their doctor was already in surgery with another patient. Their baby would have to be delivered by whoever was on call, Danny prayed over and over that it wouldn't be Peter, as he grabbed Mindy's bag and helped her into his car before making their way to the hospital, one hand holding hers as another contraction hit, the other on the steering wheel.

"Name?" The nurse asked when Danny wheeled in Mindy.

"Mindy Lahiri-Castellano, she's a patient of Dr. Logan's." Danny said.

The Nurse typed out Mindy's name, checking her in. A nurse wheeled her into her own private room, as per her labor plan. Mindy had been adamant about not having to share a room when she gave birth to her little girl.

"OK, vitals and everything looks good, the doctor on call is on his way, I'll be back to check in on you." The nurse said after hooking up Mindy's vitals and monitors.

"You ok?" Danny asked after the nurse left.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm a little scared, I knew she was coming, but Danny I didn't think it was gonna be this soon." Mindy said.

"I know, but you're gonna do great. We probably should have expected her to make a semi early appearance, sounds about right for a daughter of ours." Danny said with a smirk. Mindy smiled a little, it was just like Danny to make her feel better with a lame joke. She couldn't believe this was actually happening, she was gonna get to meet her daughter, their daughter, hers and Danny's.

"And how are we doing today, I'm Dr. Jeremy Reed I will be...Mindy, Danny." Jeremy said shocked to see two of his medical practice doctors.

"Jeremy? You're the doctor on call , you've gotta be kidding me." Danny said.

"You're the early delivery? " Jeremy said equally shocked, he'd arrived and been told the room number, but the chart was in the hospital room, so he didn't have the name of the patient.

"No, I'm just sitting in labor and delivery for kicks!" Mindy said annoyed as another contraction hit, she reached for Danny's hands, Danny gritted his teeth as she slowly crushed his hand.

"No, no way, are you delivering our baby." Danny said.

"Why not, I'm a capable doctor, plus, it's not like I haven't seen.." Jeremy begin but Danny cut him off.

"Hey, that's my wife, she's my wife now, I don't care that you've seen her Vagina before, you don't get to see it anymore." Danny said whispering Vagina.

"I, I wasn't talking about that, I was gonna say vaginal birth. The nurse told me she's almost fully dilated , there's no one else around Danny. You're going to have to suck up your pride and let me bring your child into the world." Jeremy said.

"Ok, ok fine, but don't linger or anything while your down there." Danny said.

"Wait, what about my drugs?!" Mindy said as another contraction came and went.

"I'm afraid the time for that has passed." Jeremy said.

"Oh you've gotta be kidding me. Dammit Danny, it's your fault our daughter is so impatient!" Mindy yelled hitting him with the hand he had previously been holding.

 "Mindy, Mindy, stop, breathe ." Danny said trying to stay calm and remembering what they'd learning in their Lamaze classes.

" Screw you and your breathing Castellano!" Mindy yelled.

"I know you don't mean that Min." Danny said continuing to remain calm.

"Alright Mindy, it's time to move into delivery." Jeremy said after he examined her and determined she was fully dilated.

 " This is it Min, you've got this." Danny said kissing her forehead.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you." Mindy said sheepishly.

"It's ok, I'm gonna get changed and I'll be right in there with you." Danny said giving her a quick peck on the lips.

The nurses rolled her into delivery and shortly Danny reappeared by her side dressed in a sterile hospital gown over his clothes.

"Alright Mindy, get ready to push." Jeremy said.

"You can do it Dr.L ." Morgan said appearing out of nowhere.

"Morgan, what the hell get out!" Mindy yelled. There was no way she wanted Morgan in there as she pushed out a baby, it was bad enough Jeremy was delivering.

"Morgan,out, Mindy focus and push, ok stop.' Jeremy said.

"Everything alright?" Danny asked when Jeremy glanced at the monitors real quick and whisphered something to the nurse.

"Yeah, Danny, can you come here for a second." Jeremy said.

"Yeah, sure." Danny said confused but complying.

"I don't want to panic Mindy, but the baby has shifted and is now breached. Her vitals and Mindy's are fine, I just need you to keep Mindy calm while we turn her. Can you do that mate and keep yourself calm as well." Jeremy said.

"Uh, yeah, yeah I can do that." Danny said swallowing. He could feel himself panicking, even though he knew everything would be fine, a part of him wanted to panic but he needed to keep cool for Mindy and for their daughter.

"OK, Mindy, you're going to feel a little bit of pressure, but everything ok, just stay calm." Jeremy said once Danny was back at Mindy's side.

"Danny, shouldn't I be pushing again, is something wrong?" Mindy said suspicous.

"No, every things alright." Danny.

"You're lying something is wrong." Mindy said worry on her face

"Hey Min look at me,you just got a little sweat, here let me get that.' Danny said wiping her forehead.

"What?" Mindy said when he gave her one of his looks.

"You're beautiful, absolutely beautiful." Danny said, and Mindy remembered a conversation she and Danny had , had five years prior in this very same hospital. Danny was indeed a man.

"Alright Mindy, I'm going to need you to start pushing again." Jeremy said. And Mindy realized she had been so focused on Danny she hadn't even felt the pressure Jeremy had mentioned. Mindy pushed and a few seconds later she heard the first loud high pitched cries of her daughter.

 "She's here, you did so good MIn." Danny said with a smile.

"Would you like to cut the cord Dad?" Jeremy asked and Danny nodded before walking over and glimpsing at his daughter for the first time.

The baby was kicking her legs and screaming her little lungs out, she had Danny's eyes and a curly tuft of dark brown hair, her mothers color and when she settled down after being cleaned and wrapped in a blanket and placed in Danny's arms, he saw she had her mothers smile. Danny walked over and placed her in her waiting mothers arms.

"Oh Danny, she's so beautiful." Mindy said as she looked down at her daughter for the first time.

"Just like her mother. Welcome to the world Calliope Anne-Maria Castellano, I'm your dad and I promise I'm never gonna leave you, either of you." Danny said as he gazed at his wife and daughter.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Mindy Project Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Summary:

prequel of sorts to part 4 of my story "May I have this dance". Six year old Mindy Lahiri is constantly being bullied and teased till one day an older boy, eight year old Danny Castellano comes to her rescue. AU

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: The Mindy Project Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Danny Castellano/Mindy Lahiri Characters: Danny Castellano, Mindy Lahiri Additional Tags: Family Summary:

Danny and Mindy's life together , all that comes with marriage and raising their children. future fic, sequel to Steps To Happily Ever After.