• Home
• Contact Me
• Links to Fiction
• Funny Quotes
• Tumblr
• Instagram

I Have a Secret - Chapter Three

Tom called a few days later to confirm that he would be there Christmas Eve before Gage went to bed and that he'd be staying at Skylar's to celebrate Christmas morning with them. "We don't really do much." Skylar explained. "We just usually open presents and have breakfast. We put the toys together and play for the afternoon. My Mom usually has dinner around four so we go over there to eat but that's about it."

"Sounds good to me." Tom smiled and sat back on the little couch on the bus.

"Aren't you going to your parents?" Skylar asked.

"Bill and I are doing that Christmas Eve." Tom nodded. "I'm going to bring their gifts with me when I come."

"Oh, okay." Skylar said softly.

"My Mom and Gordan are coming to our New York show too. Mom said that you guys can get together and go out or something since you'll all be in New York. I'll be busy most of the time so you guys will have something to do."

"Okay, that sounds fun." She smiled and twirled the cord around her finger.

"Is Gage around?"

"No, he's at preschool. They're decorating stockings today."

"Oh, that sounds fun." Tom laughed.

"Hey, Tom, you're late." Bill said as he poked his head onto the bus.

"Okay." Tom nodded at Bill. "I have to go. I just wanted to call and make sure everything's set."

"Okay, have a great show." Skylar smiled and opened the fridge to get a water out.

"Always." Tom laughed and hopped down the stairs and off the bus. "I'll see you in two days."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye. Love ya." Tom said quickly.

"Love ya too." Skylar whispered with a smile. Tom clicked the phone off and stuck it in his pocket. He followed Bill and the security through the barricade and into the venue.

Christmas Eve passed by in a blur of colorful wrapping paper, plates of food, dozens of cookies and sweets and loads of presents. By the time Skylar herded Gage into her car with all of his new gifts it was after eight. Tom was supposed to be to their house soon and she didn't want to be late.

Skylar and Gage unloaded the car when they got home and stacked all of his new toys from Oma and Opa in his room by his toy chest. They changed into their warm pajamas to drink hot chocolate and wait for Tom.

"Can we watch a movie?" Gage asked as he snuggled into the corner of the sofa.

"Sure, how about Charlie Brown Christmas?" Skylar pulled the movie out of the closet and slid it into the VCR.

"Okay." Gage yawned then took a sip of his lukewarm cocoa. He'd had a long day, and Skylar doubted he'd be awake much longer.

Skylar pulled Gage onto her lap as the movie started and slowly sipped her hot chocolate. Before the opening credits were over Gage was sound asleep with his head resting in the crook of her arm. She waited until the movie was over before she carefully carried him into his bedroom.

Skylar checked the time on the DVD player as she walked back into the living room and saw that it was a little before ten. She picked up one of her new books and refilled her mug before sitting on the couch to read.

All of the lights were off except the lamp beside her and the tree lights that blinked different colors at random. She flipped open her book and started reading with interest. Two chapters later she yawned and rubbed her eyes it was close to midnight and she was getting worried about Tom. He had said he'd be there before nine. It was almost three hours later.

Skylar sighed in frustration and sat her empty mug on the end table beside her book. She tugged the little cord and turned the table lamp off. She padded across the living room and switched the porch light off and headed for her room. She yawned and peeked in on Gage. She heard a soft tapping on the front door.

Skylar smiled to herself and went to the front door. She slowly flipped the entry and porch lights on before she pulled the front door open. "I'm sorry I'm so late." Were the first words out of Tom's mouth.

"It's okay." Skylar whispered. She held the door open and he walked in out of the cold. He quickly shed his coat and dropped it across the back of the recliner. "Gage is gonna be excited to see you tomorrow." Tom set his bag of gifts on the floor beside his feet.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I missed him. Traveling on Christmas Eve is shit." Tom yawned and pulled Skylar in for a hug. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Anytime, Tom, you know that." She let her fingers travel down the soft wool of his sweater and inhaled his cologne.

"I know." He nodded as he held her close. "And I'm sorry I've been weird since this whole thing."

"Don't apologize. It's my fault. If I had just-"

"Skylar, c'mon. We both made mistakes but let's just forget about that." Tom smiled and kissed her slowly. "I- " He started to talk and his pulse quickening at the thought, "I want to make this work, Skylar." Tom took a deep breath and blew it out with a nervous laugh. "I'll bet you never thought you'd hear me say those words, huh? I wanna make it work. I want the relationship. That is hard to say."

"Wow- Tom, I- Whoa." Skylar looked down at her feet quickly and took a step back. "I know that you love Gage but Tom this thing between us has to be an all or nothing thing. I know you've been doing the Daddy thing for the last month or so but this is a lifetime commitment to Gage, not to me."

"I know that." Tom smiled and reached for her hand. His large warm hand circled hers and he continued to smile, "I love Gage and I love you, Sky. I want to make this work." He said slowly.

"Tom, I love you too." Skylar said almost confused. This wasn't entirely what she had expected but, at the same time, she wasn't sure where he was going with this.

Tom glanced at his watch quickly and saw that it was 12:02 am. "Merry Christmas, Skylar." He whispered as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. He held it out to her and she stared at it. Her mind was racing a million miles a minute. A look of fear crossed her face as she wondered how in the world she could say no.

Skylar reached out her hand but not for the box. She rested her hand flat against the wall to help balance herself. It suddenly became necessary to remember to breathe. Tom laughed softly at her reaction and placed his hand on her arm to help steady. "You okay?" He asked with a slow smile.

"I- yeah, I think so." She offered him a shaky smile.

"Skylar, it's not what you think." He laughed softly. "I'm sorry if I scared you or if you were thinking it was- you know- this isn't a proposal. Not really anyway. Here." He used his free hand and flipped the little box open. Inside was a tiny silver band with just a flicker of a diamond chip embedded in the center. "My Opa gave this to my Oma when they were in high school. It's a promise ring." He carefully took it out of the tiny box and rolled it between his fingers.

Skylar breathed a slight sigh of relief and attempted a smile. "A promise ring?"

"Yeah, I promise that there will always be an 'us.' Kind of like a pre-engagement thing."

"Tom, I just don't think that-"

"I'm not talking about anytime soon." He shook his head quickly. "I mean eventually."

"Eventually?" The fog lifted from Skylar's mind and things started to make sense.

"Eventually I'd like to propose. Sometime later." Tom smiled and slid the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit. "But for now I promise to be here for you and for Gage." Tom wrapped his arms around Skylar waist and she rested her cheek on his chest.

"You scared me half to death, Tom." She laughed softly. She was definitely relieved.

"Sorry." He laughed and kissed her gently. "Merry Christmas." He whispered with his lips hovering just above hers.

"Thank you." Skylar smiled and looked at the tiny ring on her finger. It really was a pretty yet simple ring. It couldn't have cost more than a hundred dollars, even back then, but it was given from the heart and that made it priceless. "I have something for you too." She smiled and walked over to the Christmas tree sitting in the corner of the room. She sat on the floor in the glow of the multi-colored lights and searched for the box with Tom's name on it. Gage's gifts from Santa were set in front of the other gifts and included a little BMX bike with training wheels and a big pack of Matchbox cars.

He joined her on the floor. They sat with their knees touching, not saying a word as she looked through the multitude of gifts. "Here." She sat back and presented him with his gift.

Tom smiled as he read the gift tag, "To: Tom. Love: Skylar." He carefully peeled the paper off of the box and crumpled it up before he lifted the lid off the top. He looked down at the cloth covered photo album with a current picture of Gage on the front. "Into the eyes of your future" was stitched across the front.

"This is perfect. Thank you." Tom smiled and lifted the photo album out of the colorful box. "I can fill it up with all the pictures I'm gonna take." Tom laughed and leaned over to kiss Skylar again.

"Wait, look inside." She smiled and scooted back so that she was leaning back against the couch.

Tom flipped open the cover and was met with the image of a very pregnant Skylar. She was smiling with her hands on her bulging tummy. The big day said the caption. "Look at you!" He laughed and moved to sit beside her.

"Not bad for nine months." She smiled as he turned the page.

"Wow, Skylar. This is more than perfect. Look at him." Tom whispered as he paid close attention to Gage's newborn pictures. A red and wailing baby, with a head full of jet-black hair, arms flailing out as the doctor lay him on the scale. Seven pounds four ounces, eighteen inches long. Tom slowly turned the pages. He'd spend a few minutes staring back at his own eyes. He was literally speechless as he watched his son grow up before his eyes. Gage's first taste of baby food. Applesauce was all over everything. Gage sitting up by himself. His first Christmas staring wide eyed at the lit up tree. Gage crawling across the grass in their backyard while eating dirt. Gage's first tooth. His first Halloween dressed as a cow, complete with udders. His first wobbly steps towards Skylar as she waited with her arms wide open. Gage's first birthday with a big #1 candle in the middle of his cake. All of his firsts and special moments caught on film. His cute little expressions, his haircuts, all of this was new to Tom.

It was more than an hour later when he came to the last picture in the half empty book. Tom had Gage on his shoulders to help the little boy slam dunk his basketball. Tom was laughing and looking up at the basket while Gage looked shocked to see the ball go through the hoop. It was a classic picture and one that fit perfectly in the book.

"This is amazing, Skylar. Really." Tom whispered and wiped his eyes quickly. "It's so hard to believe that he's mine sometimes because I missed all of this." He nodded at the photo book. "Thank you so much." He hugged her awkwardly as they sat on the floor.

"You're welcome." She smiled and placed her hand on the back of his neck as he held her close. She yawned softly and tried to cover her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry, I'm just so tired. Gage's going to be up early."

"Okay." Tom nodded and stood up. He offered his hand to help pull Skylar up. He stretched his back and yawned. It was after one in the morning and he'd had a long day.

"C'mon." Skylar whispered and nodded toward her room. Tom glanced back at the couch then shrugged and followed Skylar down the hall. She switched the lights off along the way. She stood in the dark of her room and allowed her eyes to adjust.

"Did Santa come already?" Tom whispered over the bed.

"Yeah." Skylar nodded and pulled back the blankets. She removed her robe and slid under the covers on her side of the bed. Tom stood there for a minute before he quietly removed his clothes and slid in beside her.

Tom pulled her close and hugged her from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "Can I tell you something?" He whispered.

"Hmmm?"

"You were even more beautiful when you were pregnant." He laughed softly and kissed her neck.

"Don't even start that shit." Skylar laughed and covered his arms with hers over her stomach.

"I'm just saying."

"Well, stop it. Don't even think it."

"I'm not." He smiled.

"Good." Skylar laughed and closed her eyes. She was content with the feeling of his arms surrounding her in warmth.

"Mommy!" Gage screeched from the bedroom doorway. Skylar jerked awake and sat up quickly as the room spun around in her head.

"Gage, baby, shhh." Skylar held her head and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Mommy!" Gage tried again. This time in a whisper. "Santa left presents!"

"He did?" Skylar smiled and squinted into the light coming from the hallway. She looked over Tom's sleeping mass and cringed at the time on the clock. Five thirty was way too early to be functioning.

"And I got a bike with a real helmet!" Gage crawled up onto the bed and tugged at Skylar's hand. "Come on, Mommy! I'll show you! There are lots of presents!"

"Okay, just a second, sweetie." Skylar rubbed her eyes and stretched. She smiled as an idea hit her. "Hey, Gage, why don't you wake your Daddy up so he doesn't miss anything." Pure evil. "I'll go make some coffee." Skylar quickly kissed the top of his head and stood up.

Gage stood up on the bed and jumped up and down. "Daddy! Santa came in my house last night! And there's presents!" He plopped down on Tom's shapeless figure and bounced lightly.

Skylar laughed as she heard Tom groan and mumble. "Ow! Watch out for the nuts."

"Uncle Jared can't have nuts. He's lergic."

"That's wonderful." Tom grumbled as Gage bounced off of him and crawled to the head of the bed.

Gage laughed and pulled the blanket away from Tom's face and said, "Santa came. You have to come see!"

"What time is it?" Tom yawned.

Gage looked at the clock and shrugged. He didn't know how to tell time so he just said, "It's breakfast time! Get up!"

"Is it still dark outside?" Tom asked.

"I don't know! I'm not outside." Gage shrugged again. "Come and see what Santa put in my house!" He grabbed Tom's hand and shook his whole arm.

"Go look out the window and tell me if it's dark." Tom buried his face in his pillow and pulled the blanket back up to his shoulders.

Gage jumped off the bed and padded around the bed to the window on the other side of the room. He pulled the curtain to the side and pressed his nose to the glass, "It's not all da way dark because I can see outside but it's kinda a little dark and the lights are on by the cars."

"Ugh." Tom groaned and closed his eyes tight.

Gage shut the curtains again and ran around to Tom's side of the bed. He leaned down so that his face was only an inch or two from Tom's and, in his most serious tone, said, "Tom, I really think you have to go see what Santa bringed."

"I have coffee." Skylar said from the doorway as the smell of coffee filled the room.

"Did you see my bike?" Gage ran over to Skylar and pulled her hand. "Daddy isn't going to come and see. He says it's dark outside still and he can't get up in the dark."

"C'mon, Tom. It's Christmas."

"Yeah. I'm up." Tom mumbled as he pulled himself into a sitting position.

"He's four." Skylar said as a means of explanation.

"I know. I know." Tom ran his hand over his head. He quickly pulled his jeans and sweater back on. He followed Skylar out to the living room. "Wow, Gage. You got a lot of stuff here." He tried to sound enthusiastic as Gage pulled the helmet off the handlebars and tried to place it on his head.

"And cars!" Gage laughed and sat on the floor near his pile of gifts.

"I love cars. Let's see what you have here." Tom sat on the floor beside Gage and yawned. He pulled the big case of Matchbox cars onto his lap and carefully opened it.

"There are a hundred lots of presents, Mommy." Gage looked up at her with his helmet in place.

"I see. Are they all for me?" She asked with a surprised look. She warmed her hands around her mug of coffee and sat on the couch behind Tom and Gage as they continued to play.

"No, they're all for all of us and even some for Daddy." Gage laughed and shook his head.

"Wow. Why don't we make some breakfast. Then we can open some of these presents?" Skylar yawned and shivered.

"I have an idea." Gage said as he jumped up and ran over to the other side of the tree. "Let's open them all now and then eat breakfast."

"Let's get something warm in our stomachs first." Skylar gave Gage the 'mom' look and laughed at the sight of him in his helmet.

"Can't we just open a couple?" Tom asked as he bounced his knees up and down and looked at the brightly lit tree.

"Why don't you guys open up presents and I'll slave away in the kitchen and make breakfast?" Skylar raised an eyebrow at the two 'kids' in the living room.

Gage and Tom looked at each other for a second before they both shrugged and said. "Okay!"

"Nice." Skylar laughed and shook her head. She disappeared into the kitchen.

"Hey, Gage, we should go help, huh?" Tom asked as Gage grabbed a small present off the pile under the tree.

"I don't even know how to cook." He said as he handed the gift to Tom.

"Neither do I but maybe we can make toast or something."

"But I want to open presents." Gage pouted.

"Yeah, me too. But let's go do that first so Mommy will be happy." Tom pushed himself up off the floor and reached down for Gage. He scooped the child up and tossed him in the air. "And then we can open presents all day long!"

"Yeah!" Gage screeched with delight as Tom set him back on the floor. Gage ran into the kitchen and pulled the step stool over to the counter where Skylar was breaking eggs into a bowl.

"Hey there! Are you going to help?" Skylar smiled down at Gage.

"Yeah and then so we can open presents." Gage pushed the sleeves of his pajamas up to his elbows and reached for the big wooden spoon.

"Cool." Skylar smiled and tossed the eggshell into the trash. "Mix those up for me and I'll make some bacon. How does that sound?"

"I like bacon." Gage said as he slowly stirred the eggs.

"What do you want me to do?" Tom asked. He reached into the cupboard over Gage's head and grabbed a mug for coffee.

"I don't know. Do you guys want toast?"

"With peanut butter?" Gage asked.

"If you want." Skylar nodded and shut the refrigerator. "You wanna do that?"

"Sure." Tom nodded and the three of them stood in the small kitchen making breakfast. Tom moved Gage to his side of the counter when Skylar started making the bacon to keep his tiny hands away from the stove.

When they were done, they took their coffee out to the living room and sat on the floor in front of the tree. "Okay, let's open some presents!" Skylar smiled. She and Tom were both a little more awake after the coffee and breakfast.

"Yay!" Gage cheered and bounced around the tree. "Me first?"

"Do you think there are any under there for you?" Tom asked.

"Yes." Gage reached for the nearest present and handed it to Tom. "Is this one for me?"

Tom looked at the tag and said, "Nope, that's for me." He set it beside him as Gage pulled another out from under the tree.

"This one?"

"No, that's for Mommy." Tom smiled and handed the present to Skylar.

"This one is for me." Gage beamed as he picked up a small rectangular gift.

"Let's see?" Tom reached for the gift. "No, that one is for Sam."

"Who's Sam?" Gage frowned at the present and set it beside Tom.

"I don't know." Tom laughed and watched as Gage searched for one of his own presents. Skylar laughed to herself and watched as Gage presented Tom with two more brightly wrapped gifts.

"How come none of these are for me?" Gage began to pout.

"I'll be that one is." Tom pointed to one that he had brought with him. It was poking out the top of the bag close to the door.

"That one? It's for me?"

"Go get it! Let's see." Tom smiled and leaned back against the couch. Gage carried the heavy box and put it at Tom's feet.

"Is this one mine?"

"Yeah, I think so." Tom bent over and read the tag. "Yep, it says 'To: Gage,' that's you, right?"

"Yeah!" Gage laughed and plopped himself on the floor beside the gift. He tore into the wrapping and threw it to the side. "Mommy, look!" He held up the box with wrapping paper still stuck to it. "It's a dog!" He showed Skylar the box with a picture of a remote control dog with a leash cord.

"A dog?" Skylar smiled and looked at Tom. "A dog?"

"I figured you'd freak out if I got him a real one." Tom laughed as Gage sat down to tear the box open.

After a few minutes he sighed and handed the box to Tom. "I can't get it out."

"I'll get it going for you so you can open up some more." Tom took the box and untwisted the twist-ties that held the silver dog to its base while Gage started in on the other gifts.

They sat on the floor surrounded by discarded wrapping paper and empty boxes as Gage unwrapped toy after toy and a half dozen outfits. Tom and Skylar opened their gifts also. After an hour Gage collapsed in a heap on the couch. "There's so much stuff!" He sighed.

Tom laughed and started wadding up the wrapping paper to make it easier to throw away. "Sort of anticlimactic, huh?" Skylar laughed.

"Yeah, I don't remember it being this tiring when I was a kid." Tom yawned.

"You're an old man now." Skylar copied his yawn and smiled. "Okay Gage, what do you say?"

"Thank you for all the presents!" He said. He tried to sound enthusiastic through his tiredness. Gage climbed off the couch and squeezed Skylar's neck. "Thank you, Mommy."

"You're welcome and thank you so much for the sweater. It's so pretty!"

"Welcome." Gage smiled then flopped into Tom's lap. He wrapped his arms around Tom's middle and said, "Thanks, Daddy."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you liked everything."

"I love everything and my dog!" Gage laughed and reached for the little remote control for the dog. He pressed a couple buttons and the dog sat and barked at the three of them.

"That's a cool little dog." Skylar smiled at Tom as she pulled herself off the floor. "But it makes noise."

"Hey, it's staying here with you." Tom laughed and followed Skylar to the kitchen. He placed the breakfast dishes in the sink and leaned back against the counter as she refilled her coffee cup. "So you guys are coming on the 30th, right? To New York?"

"Yeah." Skylar nodded and stirred sugar into her coffee. "We'll be there for New Years. We leave on the 1st in the afternoon."

"Cool." Tom smiled. He reached out as she walked by and pulled her to him. "So you'll come with me to our New Years party?"

"Sure, if Gage can come." She smiled sweetly.

"I think I can talk my Mom into watching him, if you wouldn't mind."

"We'll see."

"She'd love to, Sky. That way we can celebrate the New Year together."

Skylar paused and looked at the floor, "You told the guys about Gage, right?"

"Yeah." Tom nodded. "And the security and management teams because they need to know."

"Okay."

"What? What's wrong?" He tilted her chin up to face him.

"I don't know. I can just picture Gage calling you daddy or something in front of everyone and I know you don't want that."

"Sky, it's not that I don't want that." He thought about how to word this right, "It's just- this isn't just about me. I don't want you guys exposed to everything that would come along with making that public knowledge, you know? For me not much would change." He shrugged. "But you'd be in the spotlight. You and Gage and I don't want that. I know you don't either."

"No, I don't." She shook her head.

"Maybe we can explain to Gage that when you guys come out and see me he has to call me Tom. Make it a big secret or something."

"I don't want to confuse him."

"He's a smart kid. I think he'll understand it." Tom smiled and kissed her quickly. "Speaking of the smart kid-" Tom leaned around the corner and peeked into the living room. "He's fast asleep."

Skylar leaned in front of Tom and laughed. "He's in absolute heaven." Gage was sound asleep in the middle of his pile of toys with his arm wrapped around the mechanical dog Tom bought for him.

"Can we go take a nap now too?" Tom asked hopefully.

"You can go take a nap if you want." She nodded.

"You aren't tired?"

"I'll sleep well tonight." She smiled. "What time do you have to leave?"

"Not till later. I'm flying into Chicago and I think my flight leaves around 7. The van is picking me up at my house at 5."

"At your house?"

"Yeah." Tom nodded and stifled a yawn.

"Go ahead and take a nap. I'll clean up in here."

"I can help." Tom reached for the dishwasher door and pulled it open. He stood beside Skylar as she rinsed the dishes and he stuck them in the washer. When they were done Tom smiled and sighed contentedly. "I don't know what I was so afraid of." He said mumbled softly as he leaned against the door frame on the way to the living room.

"Hmm?" Skylar looked up as she pulled her hair out of the scrunchie. She hiked up the waist of her flannel pajama bottoms and smiled. "What?"

"Nothing." Tom smiled and shook his head. "I love you, Sky."

"I love you too, Tom." She smiled almost confused.

"No, Skylar, I really mean it." Tom said as he looked at his bare feet.

"I really mean it too, Tom. Are you okay?" She walked over to where he stood and took his hand.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He smiled and looked her in the eye. He had no doubt that right here was where he was supposed to be. Staring into the amazing green eyes of the half-asleep, wild haired, coffee smelling woman in pink and blue plaid pajama bottoms, a 'Got Milk?' T-shirt and not even a hint of make up covering the freckles across her nose.

He squeezed her hand then kissed her before tucking her hair behind her ear, "Okay, how about a nap?"

"How about a movie?" Skylar laughed softly and pulled him toward the living room. She slid a movie into the DVD player as Tom flopped down in the corner of the couch. Skylar snuggled up next to him and smiled as Ferris Bueller's Day Off started.

"How old is this movie? It's ancient." Tom complained as he rolled his eyes.

"You're going to nap anyways. Shut up." Skylar laughed and lay her head on his chest.

"True." Tom smiled and let his eyes drift shut. He wrapped his arms around Skylar and let her warm him from head to toe.

The boys napped for a few hours in the morning. They spent the afternoon playing with and putting away all of Gage's new clothes and toys from the morning and the night before.

Tom ordered a pizza to eat before he had to leave. They ate while sitting together on the floor in the living room. Tom helped Gage set up his new Hot Wheels racetrack. "Hey, Gage, you know when you come out and see me in a couple days?"

"Yeah! We get to fly to see you at your show." Gage smiled.

"That's right. To New York." Tom smiled and snapped part of the track together. "You get to come see me at my work and there are gonna be a lot of people around." Gage just nodded and spun the wheels on his little car. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Yeah." Gage looked up at Tom cautiously. Skylar was in the shower so Tom and Gage could have some time alone.

"Okay good. This is a big one though."

"Okay." Gage dropped the car and scooted closer to Tom.

"When you come to see me you have to call me Tom. We can't tell anyone that I'm your Daddy. It has to be a secret, okay?"

"But you are Tom."

"Yeah, but you can't call me Daddy."

"But you're still my Daddy?"

"Yeah, buddy. I'm still your Daddy." Tom pulled Gage onto his lap and reached for another section of the track. "I'll always be your Daddy but it's a secret from other people. I'm going to tell them later so it'lll be a surprise. So we can't say anything when you come, okay?"

"But when there's nobody there you can be my Daddy?"

"I'm still going to be your Daddy, Gage. But can you just call me Tom when you're in New York?"

"Yeah, I can call you Tom. That's your name." Gage laughed as if to say "You idiot!"

"I know." Tom laughed, "But only for New York, okay? Anywhere else you can call me Daddy. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah." Gage nodded and crawled out of Tom's lap. "I'm going to be a surprise for everyone when you tell them that you're my Daddy. But not until later so now you're just my Tom."

"Right." Tom laughed lightly. "You're a smart kid."

"I know." Gage smirked and handed Tom the loop that went with the track. "Can we put this in now?"

"You bet." Tom took the loop and popped it into place on the track. "This is gonna be cool."

"Yeah and now we can race."

"Okay, but I get to be the red car." Tom said.

Gage sighed and rolled his eyes. "I know, I know."

Skylar piled Tom and Gage into her car to take Tom back to his house for the van to pick him up that evening. They pulled up at the same time as the van and Skylar parked at the curb. "Okay, I'll see you guys in a couple days." Tom said as he pulled his duffel bag out of the backseat. He leaned over and muffled Gage's hair then leaned between the seats to kiss Skylar quickly. "You have your tickets and everything, right?"

"Yeah." Skylar laughed lightly.

"Cool. Gage, don't forget the secret."

"I won't." Gage smiled from his booster seat in the back and waved as Tom slammed the door shut. They watched him run up the driveway to the full van. They followed the van back to the freeway to go home.

"What's the secret?" Skylar asked.

"Tom is going to surprise everyone and say he's my Daddy but not until later so when we go to see him I can only call him my Tom and not my Daddy."

"Ooooh." Skylar smiled and glanced back in the rear view mirror at the boy. "You think you can keep that a secret?"

"Yeah." Gage said. "Because his name is Tom and that's what I'll call him."

"Good plan." Skylar laughed and asked, "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yeah. We got lots of good presents, huh Mommy?"

"Yep."

"And we got to have Daddy there too."

"Yep. That was really special."

"Yeah." Gage sighed and looked out the window. "I like Tom."

"Me too." She said softly.

"I know you do, Mommy. That's why he's my Daddy." Gage laughed and reached for the action figure on the seat beside him. For Gage it was just that simple. Tom was his Daddy because they liked him. The innocence of his comment made Skylar smile the rest of the way home.

"Mommy my ear hurts." Gage complained as they descended into New York five days later.

"I know, sweetie. It's because we're in the airplane. It makes your ears pop. Pretend like you're yawning. That'll help."

"It doesn't, Mommy." Gage whined and opened his mouth wide to yawn.

"Do you want some gum?" She reached into her backpack and pulled out a pack of rainbow gum. He nodded with a big smile as she handed him an extra large piece of grape gum.

Gage stuck it in his mouth and chewed loudly as the grape scent traveled around their seats. "It still hurts, Mommy."

"It'll be better when we get off the plane. Sometimes it just takes a few minutes." She explained as they landed. "It's going to be really bumpy for a second as we land."

"I know." Gage said as he tried to look out the window. "There are lots of stores, Mommy!"

"Yeah, look at all those buildings. They're huge."

"Which one is ours?"

"I don't know." Skylar said. "We're staying in a big hotel though."

"Maybe it's a Tokio Hotel." Gage said as he pointed out the window at the New York cityscape. "Maybe it's that one."

"Maybe." Skylar smiled and sat back in her seat as the plane touched down and taxied to their gate.

When the plane stopped Gage unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up in his seat. "Do we get to go off the plane first?"

"No, we're going to have to wait like everyone else." Skylar sighed and unbuckled her belt. She brought the backpack onto the seat beside her and loaded up the little toys Gage had been playing with as well as his snack wrappers and his sweatshirt. "Okay." She strapped the backpack on and picked Gage up onto her hip. She struggled her way down the aisle and up the walkway into the airport.

"Is my Tom going to be here?" Gage asked as he wiggled to be set free.

Skylar sighed and set him on the floor so he could walk but kept a firm hold on his hand. "Probably not." Skylar looked out over the sea of faces. She didn't know who she was looking for. Tom had left out that little detail.

"Why? I want to see my Tom. Mommy, we're s'posed to see Tom when we get off the plane." He whined.

"We're going to see him here in New York, but not right when we get off the plane." Skylar explained. She pulled Gage out of the flow of traffic to stand off to the side.

"I have to potty." Gage started to do the pee-pee dance beside her.

"Okay." She sighed and glanced around at the people standing around.

"Mommy, I have to go now."

"I know." Skylar spotted the bathroom off to the right and pulled Gage toward the ladies room.

"Skylar Schnee?" A man in a suit asked as they walked by.

"Excuse me?" Skylar asked.

"Mommy, he said your name." Gage said quietly at her side.

"My name is Jackson. I was sent here to pick you up and take you and your son to Madison Square Garden." He explained.

"Oh. We have to make a little pit stop first." Skylar smiled and glanced down at Gage who was shifting uncomfortably.

"Certainly. I'll just wait right here. Do you have luggage?" He asked.

"Yeah, we have one bag." She nodded. "We'll only be a minute." She tugged Gage's hand and went to the ladies room.

"No, Mommy. That's for girls."

"Honey, you have to go in with me."

"I can go by myself." He pouted.

"Gage, you are seriously disturbed if you think I'm going to let you go into a bathroom in an airport in New York by yourself." Skylar stopped and stared down at the little boy.

"But my ear hurts." He stuck out his bottom lip.

"I'm sorry." She pulled him into the ladies room and let him go to the bathroom. She helped him wash his hands after and noticed that he was still frowning. "Does it feel like there's water in your ear? Like you can't hear?" She asked.

"No." Gage shook his head and they walked out to meet Jackson.

"Thanks for waiting." Skylar smiled and took Gage's hand as the three of them headed down tot he baggage claim area. Jackson grabbed their bag and carried it out to the limo that was waiting at the curb.

"Mommy, look at our car!" Gage gasped as Jackson put the bag in the trunk.

"A limo. Wow." Skylar smiled and watched as Gage climbed into the backseat. She slid in beside Gage and shut the door.

"They have a TV and some ice." Gage laughed and touched the buttons on the front of the TV.

"I see that. We don't need to watch TV though. Look at all the buildings, Gage." She pointed out the window as the driver shut the trunk and climbed in the front seat. "Are we going right to the arena?" Skylar asked.

"Yes."

"Do I have to carry my bags around?"

"No, I'll be taking them to the hotel to have them sent to your room." Jackson smiled in the rear view mirror and pulled away from the curb.

"This is exciting, huh Gage?"

"Yeah." Gage fell into the seat beside Skylar and she strapped his seat belt over his lap. They didn't bring his car seat with them so that would have to do.

They stared in awe at the tall skyscrapers on the way to the arena. There was a massive crowd of girls crowded around outside in the parking lot of the arena.

"Whoa, Mommy! Look at those people!"

"Yeah, there are a lot of people here tonight, Gage. You need to stay right next to me, okay?"

"Okay." He nodded slowly as his eyes opened wider. "They're going to see my Tom on the stage?"

"Yeah." Skylar laughed and waited as Jackson parked the car at the side entrance and came around to open their door. "Thanks." She smiled as they stepped out of the limo. Skylar took the laminated badges out of the backpack and dropped hers around her neck then tucked Gage's into her back pocket. She was afraid he'd lose his. Skylar threw the backpack over her shoulder and took Gage's hand as they started toward the entrance.

About halfway to the door, Tobi appeared at her side and took her backpack. "Sorry, I was supposed to meet the limo but you're early." He smiled. "Hey Gage, what's up?"

"Nothing." Gage smiled up at the tall man and waved.

"Right on." Tobi smiled and held the side door open for them. "The guys are doing a meet and greet right now. They'll be done in a few minutes if you want to sit in on that."

"Sure." Skylar nodded. "I'm not sure where Tom wanted us."

"Doesn't matter. He'll find you guys. I'll take you to the meet and greet and you can see them for a little there. Then they have to get dressed for the show and everything."

"Okay." Skylar followed him through the backstage area. It seemed like a maze of halls and with countless security guards. They stopped in front of a pair of huge double doors and Tobi pushed them open slowly.

"Whoa, uh- they must have finished early." Tobi said as he looked at his watch. The room was filled with a few dozen fans and reporters but the guys were nowhere to be seen. "Wait here. I'll see if I can find out where they've disappeared to." Tobi said quickly.

"Okay." Skylar smiled down at Gage who immediately turned shy. Tobi went down the hall and left Skylar and Gage standing there alone. They stood in silence watching the stage crew walk back and forth with microphone stands and what looked like hundreds of feet of cables.

"Gage! Hey!" Bill shouted as he trotted down the hall to where Gage stood shyly holding Skylar's hand.

Gage flinched and held Skylar's hand tighter as he tried to hide behind her leg. "It's Bill, baby. You remember Bill?"

"Bill?" Gage asked softly as Bill knelt in front of him. Bill ran his hands through his hair and pushed up the sleeves of his jacket.

"Yeah! How've you been? Are you gonna watch the show tonight?"

"Uh huh." Gage said shyly. "What's- why do you have that on?" He asked.

"What? These clothes?" Gage nodded and continued to stare at Bill. "They make us wear these like a costume. It's like Halloween kind of."

"For you to play on the stage?"

"Yeah, in fact I have a bunch of costumes I have to dress in for the show. Wanna come see them? I have one where the shoulders light up! How cool is that?"

"That's cool." Gage smiled.

Bill stood up and smiled at Skylar. "Hi. How are you?"

"Good. Are you guys ready for the show?" She asked as they followed Bill down the hall.

"Yeah, almost. The opening acts go on in about- I dunno- Fifteen minutes or so." Bill laughed and pushed the dressing room door open. "Hey guys! Look who's here!"

"Gage!" Georg shouted as he jumped over the back of the couch to greet them. Gage cowered behind Skylar and chewed on his fingernail.

"He's a little shy." Skylar smiled and smoothed down his hair. "This is all so overwhelming."

"Yeah, I bet." Bill laughed and squatted in front of Gage again. "Do you remember Georg?"

"Yeah." Gage whispered.

"And Gustav?"

"They're your friends." Gage nodded.

"Yep, they're my friends."

"Gustav and Georg came trick-or-treating with us, remember?" Skylar reminded him.

"With Maddie and Alex?"

"Yep, Maddie is Savannah's little sister and Alex is Gustav's cousin." Bill smiled. "See, you know everyone here." He stood up and put his hands on his hips.

"Do they have jackets with lights too?" Gage asked softly.

Gustav laughed from his corner. "No, we're not as amazingly awesome as Bill."

Bill smirked at Gustav as he pulled his jacket off the rack and flipped the little switch to turn them on.

"Check that out!" Bill laughed.

"That's crazy." Skylar smiled.

"Yeah." Gage laughed shyly and reached out to touch the lights. "And you can wear it on stage?"

"Yeah. See, they turn all the lights off so it's dark and then you can see the lights on my jacket really well." Bill said before he disappeared into a back room to get his shoes. He came back and sat on the couch to put them on.

"It's dark?" Gage frowned and looked up at Skylar.

"A little bit but not for very long." She smiled. "I'm going to be holding you though so you'll be okay."

"Okay." Gage said slowly. "Where's my Tom?"

"Tom is getting you a little surprise." Georg smiled and sat on the couch to tie his shoes.

"A surprise?" Gage smiled and shook his Mom's hand. "I get a present?"

"Wow, I guess so." She laughed.

"There's my little man." Tom said as he rushed in the door. "Check it out!" He tossed a T-shirt at Gage and he caught it expertly.

Gage let go of Skylar's hand long enough to unfold the bright red T-shirt. "It's the Bulls!" Gage's face lit up as he showed Skylar the shirt.

"Cool!" She knelt in front of him and held it up to his chest. "It's a little big, but it'll fit. Do you want to put it on?"

"Yeah!" He smiled and reached out his arms for her to slide it on.

"Wait, look what's on it." Tom smiled and reached for the shirt. "Michael Jordan signed the back"

"Mommy! Jordan put his name on it." Gage said softly.

"Jordan signed that?!" Georg jumped up and snatched the tiny shirt out of Tom's hands.

"Hey." Tom frowned and grabbed it back.

"Wait, let me see." Georg whined and pulled it back. "When did you have him sign this?"

"When we were in Chicago like 2 days ago." Tom explained. "You were there too you know."

"Well yeah but I didn't get an autograph." Georg mumbled.

"You didn't ask." Bill pointed out.

"Yeah, how stupid would that look? Oh my God! It's Michael Jordan! Can you sign my shirt, my arm, my underwear! Anything!" Georg shook his head. "No way."

"I just said I knew a little boy who would love his autograph. Not a problem." Tom smiled.

"Maybe you should try that next time we're in Chicago. Just tell him, 'Hey I know this 23 year old kid who would love your autograph. Can you just sign my shirt and I'll give it to him'." Bill laughed. He looked down at Gage as Georg handed him the shirt.

Gage smiled and reached up so Skylar could pull the shirt over his head.

"A signed Jordan shirt for the four year old." Georg complained. "Don't let him lose that." He said to Skylar.

"I won't." She smiled and gave Tom a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Tom laughed. "Are you guys ready for the show?"

"Yeah, you look great." She smiled.

"When do I not look great?" Tom laughed as someone knocked on the door.

"Guys, you've got 10 minutes." A girl said before she shut the door again.

"I thought the show didn't start till 8."

"We have pre-show stuff we have to do." Georg explained as he and Gustav headed for the door.

"Why don't you go on out front and get your seats. After the show you can just come back here and we can all ride to the hotel together." Tom said as Skylar picked Gage up and rested him on her hip.

"Okay, you ready to go sit out with all those girls?" Skylar asked.

"Yeah." Gage laughed and asked, "Can I go on the stage with you?"

"Um- I dunno." Tom glanced at Skylar who just shrugged. "I'll see what I can do but I'll wave at you, okay?"

"Okay. Then I can maybe go play with you up there?" Gage asked.

"I'll see what I can do." Tom leaned in and kissed the top of Gage's head then kissed Skylar quickly. "Have fun. Don't lose your badge." He flicked the plastic laminated badge around her neck.

"I won't." She smiled and dropped it down the front of her shirt.

"See you in a bit." Tom smiled and jogged after Bill as he left. "Oh, hey, do you know how to get out to your seat?"

"Um- No." Skylar shook her head.

"Just go down this hall to the end. Either Tobi or Saki will be waiting. Just let them know you need to get to your seats and they'll take you there."

"Okay." Skylar nodded. She and Gage waved as Tom left. She grabbed her purse and followed Tom's directions to get to their seats.

"Thank you all for coming tonight! This is an amazing crowd we have here in New York." Bill shouted to the crowd after their first few songs. "This is the best crowd in the world!"

"Mommy, that's Bill!" Gage shouted in Skylar's ear.

"I know! Isn't that cool?"

"Where's my Tom?" He asked.

"You see how Georg is over by the edge? Tom is on the opposite side."

"I see him!" Gage laughed and waved his hands over his head. "This is so loud, Mommy!" Gage laughed. Skylar triple checked his earplugs to make sure they were firmly in place. Once she was satisfied they hadn't budged she relaxed and watched the show.

"Tonight we have a special friend in the audience." Bill said as he shaded his eyes and looked out over the audience as they screamed. "Where's Gage?"

"I'm here! I'm right here!" Gage shouted. His tiny voice was drowned out by all of the fans.

"There he is!" Bill pointed right at Gage and waved Skylar over to the edge of the stage. The security guard looked at Skylar and nodded toward the stage. "Can he come up and say hi?" Bill asked into the microphone.

Skylar couldn't deny Gage the thrill. She nodded and boosted him up into Bill's hands. "Hey Gage! Wie gehts?"

"Mir geht es gut!" Gage laughed into the mic Bill held out for him.

Bill and the others laughed, "Is this your first concert, Gage?" Bill asked.

"Yeah." Gage nodded and scratched behind his ear. "And it's loud."

"Yeah, it's pretty loud in here." Georg nodded and tousled Gage's hair. "Do you have ear plugs?"

"Yeah." Gage pulled at his ear and frowned. "Do you have some too?"

"Yeah." Georg turned his head to show Gage the in-ear monitors they all wore.

"Wicked." Gage laughed and looked out at the crowd. "There's a lot of people in here."

"How many do you think?" Tom asked which caused the fans to scream louder.

"I think maybe a hundred." Gage said after a thoughtful moment. "It's a lot."

"You having fun?" Tom asked as he picked Gage up and placed him on Bill's shoulders.

"Yeah." Gage nodded and grabbed onto Bill's mohawk for dear life.

"What's your favorite part?" Tom asked.

"When Bill does the dance and he goes- " He flung his arms around and shook his head as he laughed.

"Like this?" Georg asked as he did a perfect imitation of Gage.

"Yeah." Gage laughed and leaned forward to look Bill in the face. "Can I get down now? It hurts my butt."

The crowd rippled with laughter as Skylar blushed. "Just like his father." She whispered to herself.

"What song do you want us to sing?" Tom asked.

"You already singed it." Gage said as he adjusted his red pants.

"Which one?" Georg asked.

"The one that says 'da MONSOON!' like that." Gage wandered near the edge of the stage to look over. Tom quickly reached out and grabbed him before he took the final step and pulled him back to the middle where the others were.

"Is there another one you like?"

"No." Gage shook his head as the guys laughed.

"You don't like any other songs?"

"I like the song from TV for Pocoyo." Gage smiled.

Tom laughed and shook his head, "How about if we sing 'Schrei'? You like that one, right?"

"Yeah!" Gage jumped up and down as he yelled, "Schrei! Schrei! Schrei!" He smiled and looked up at Tom. "Can I go back with my Mommy now?"

"Sure." Tom nodded and took Gage's hand.

"You don't want to stay up here with us?" Bill asked.

"No." Gage shook his head. "It's too hot."

"That's because of the lights." Bill shaded his eyes and looked up.

"Yeah." Gage nodded knowingly.

"Here ya go." Tom picked Gage up by his hands and lowered him down to Skylar's waiting arms. The girls around him smiled and stared at Gage as he smiled at his Mom and pointed up at the stage.

"Mommy, I was up there with my Tom and my Bill!" Gage laughed.

"I saw you." Skylar laughed as the song started. Bill dedicated the song to Gage and his Mommy.

When the show was over Skylar and Gage were escorted back stage where they were met with a very hyper bunch of guys. "Hey, baby!" Tom wrapped his arms around Gage and Skylar as he came out of the dressing room in clean and dry clothes. "Did you have fun?" He asked quickly.

"Yeah, the show was great!" Skylar smiled. "You guys must burn a thousand calories up there. I could use a work out like that."

"Yeah, no kidding." Tom put his hand on Gage's back. "Did you like the show?"

"Yeah." Gage said as he played with his badge around his neck. He'd insisted on wearing it after seeing everyone else backstage with theirs on.

"Let's go get something to drink. Are you hungry?" Tom turned and led them down one of the hallways to where their caterers had set up.

"No, I'm fine." Skylar shook her head.

"Hey! Tom! Where are your keys?" Bill shouted from across the room.

"In the thing." Tom shouted back.

"In the thing?"

"The- you know- the-" Tom made the hand movements like he was turning a key.

"In the screwdriver?" Bill asked.

"No! In the ignition." Tom laughed. "You knew what I meant."

"Keys?" Skylar asked.

"For our scooters." Tom shrugged and grabbed a couple bottles of water. "Bill want's to show Laura-Ann our new toys."

"You have more new toys?" Gage perked up.

"Yeah, we have little motor scooters. You wanna ride?" Tom asked.

"I don't think so." Skylar gave Tom a look and shook her head.

"We have helmets." Tom laughed as Gage wiggled his way out of Skylar's arms.

"Mommy, I can wear a helmet like when I ride on my bike outside." Gage smiled up at Tom. He then frowned and scratched his ear.

"He's too little to ride a scooter, Tom."

"He can ride it with me." Tom reached down to high-five Gage.

"I can ride with my Tom."

"His Tom?" Tom smiled at Skylar then looked back at his son.

"It's better than the alternative." Skylar said softly with a smile.

"True." Tom took Gage's hand. "Yeah, you can ride with me or Bill. Or some other big kid."

"Big kid is right." She shook her head and followed them back out to the hall where Bill flew by in a blur of black and blue. "Whoa."

"Mommy that goes fast!" Gage squealed with delight.

"Yeah, they do." Skylar cast a worried glance at Tom who just smiled and shook his head.

Another scooter zoomed by with a girl at the controls. Her long brown hair flowed out behind her and a melodic laugh lingered as she rounded the corner. "Laura-Ann?" Skylar asked Tom.

"Umm- Chelsea. But, yeah, same thing." He laughed and waved Georg over from the opposite end of the hall. "Gage here wants to ride around on a scooter. Do we have an extra one?"

"He can't fit on a scooter." Georg said to Tom before he looked down at Gage, "You can't fit." He shook his head.

"I know." Gage rolled his eyes as he gave Georg the you're so dumb look and laughed. "I'm going to ride with Tom on the scooter and wear my helmet."

"Only for a little while." Skylar yawned and looked at Tom's watch. "Because it's already ten thirty and you're up way past your bedtime."

"Mine?" Tom asked with a flirty smile.

Skylar laughed and said, "Yes, yours too."

"Daddy doesn't have a bedt-" Gage clasped his hands over his mouth and looked at Skylar quickly. "I said my secret." He whispered loudly.

"It's okay, sweetie." Skylar looked over her shoulder at the others standing nearby. She knelt down in front of Gage and brushed his bangs off his forehead. "The guys already know." Skylar whispered with a smiled. "It's just everyone else we have to worry about."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

Skylar kissed his cheek quickly as Tom took his hand and said, "Okay, scooter time." Tom met Skylar's eye and smiled. "You wanna ride?"

"I think I'll pass." She laughed and shook her head.

"I didn't mean the scooter." Tom said as he waggled his eyebrows.

Skylar lightly punched him and laughed. "You're bad. Have fun."

"We will." Gage and Tom said in unison.

"Did they ditch you for their toys?" A female voice asked beside Skylar.

"I think I've been replaced." Skylar smiled and looked to identify the voice.

"Boys will be boys." Chelsea laughed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hi, I'm Skylar." She extended her hand.

"Hi, I'm Chelsea." She laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Ugh, can you believe that show? God, if I were up there performing all I would want to do is go to bed. But these guys are all over the place!"

"I know! I need a nap and I only watched them." Skylar laughed nervously.

"I know." Chelsea laughed and rolled her eyes. "You wanna get something to munch on?"

"Sure." Skylar looked back over her shoulder but the guys had already disappeared with Gage.

"Is that your little boy?" Chelsea asked. "The one they brought on stage?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. That's Gage." Skylar followed Chelsea back to the cafeteria and they stared at the snack table.

"This all looks gross." Chelsea made a face and walked over to the vending machine. "Snickers or Milkyway?"

"Snickers." Skylar nodded.

"Gage? Oh wait! I know Gage."

"You do?" Skylar's stomach did a flip-flop. She knew Chelsea couldn't be a random fan or she wouldn't be backstage.

"Well, no but yes. Bill talks about him all the time." Chelsea laughed and handed Skylar her candy bar as they collapsed onto the big couch in the corner. "He's Tom's, right?" She asked softly.

"I- well, uh-" Skylar stammered over her words.

"Oh, Bill wasn't supposed to say anything was he?"

"Well, no but-"

"It's okay. I'm not going to say anything. You can trust me on that." She unwrapped her Milkyway and took a small bite before continuing. "The one thing I've learned about in this business since I started seeing Bill is when to keep my mouth shut especially when it's not my business. You have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you." Skylar said as her cheeks still burned pink.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even said anything. He's the cutest little boy though. My goodness he's gonna be a heart breaker when he gets older."

"Yeah, he is." Skylar smiled and played with her bottle of water.

They made small talk for a little longer before Chelsea stood up and stretched her arms over her head. "Well, Skylar, I don't know about you but I'm ready to call it a night."

"Yeah, I think I am too." Skylar yawned and stood up beside her. "Do you know where the guys went?"

"I can hear the scooters zooming around out there so I bet if we wait around in the hallway long enough they'll come by." Chelsea laughed and held the door open to the hallway. She was right. Within a few seconds Georg came cruising around the corner with Gage hanging on for dear life to the handlebars.

"Georg! You better hold onto him!" Chelsea called after him. Georg took one hand off the scooter and wrapped it around Gage's waist as they turned the far corner.

"I'm glad I wasn't out here to see all of this." Skylar smiled and covered her mouth as she yawned. I'm going to go find a bathroom. If they come back around can you please tell them it's time for us to go?"

"Sure thing. I'll see you tomorrow night, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be there." Skylar waved over her shoulder and headed down the opposite hall.

"This little dude is passed out." Gustav said as he walked out of the dressing room with Gage propped up on his shoulder sound asleep fifteen minutes later.

"He's had a busy night." Skylar laughed and stood up from the little folding chair in the hall.

"Yeah, he did. Did you see him cruising around on our scooters?" Gustav smiled and nodded at Skylar to follow him to the side door.

"I saw. You guys are perfect for him." She laughed. "Are you guys ready to go back to the hotel now? Or do you have more stuff to do?"

"I'm heading back in a few minutes but the guys are mingling with the other rock stars." Gustav rolled his eyes and pulled the door open as a guard appeared at his side.

"Where you headed, G?" He asked.

"I'm going to get Gage situated in the car. Then I'm gonna go back to the room and sleep." Gustav adjusted the sleeping boy on his shoulder.

"Do you want me to take him?" Skylar asked.

"No, I've got him." Gustav waved her off and smiled at the guard. "So do I have to say the magic word or something?"

"Come on, smartass." The guard laughed and held the door open. He followed Skylar and Gustav out to one of the awaiting limos. "You going back too?" He asked Skylar.

"Oh, yeah. I'm going back. I'm not feeling very well." Skylar nodded and watched Gustav lay Gage down across the back seat. "Can you let Tom know I'll just meet him back at the hotel?"

"Sure thing." Gustav yawned and scratched at his stomach. "They won't be too much longer in there I don't think."

"Okay. Did you want me to wait for you? Since you're going back?"

"Oh, uh- No, that's okay. You can go on ahead. I'm gonna be a few more minutes. I gotta get my stuff packed up." Gustav shrugged and turn back toward the building. "See ya tomorrow."

"Thanks." Skylar waved then climbed into the car beside Gage.

Tom and the other two guys didn't make it back to the hotel until after one in the morning. Skylar was already asleep. Tom crawled into the bed beside her after pulling Gage's covers up in the bed beside them. He wrapped his arms around Skylar. "Hey, baby."

"Hi." She mumbled still half asleep.

"Sorry I'm late."

"S'okay." Skylar grumbled and adjusted her pillow beneath her head.

"Did you want to get up and go to breakfast with us in the morning?" He whispered.

"You might not have noticed, Tom, because I was being so quiet and everything, but I'm asleep."

"Oh. I know. But did you want to-"

"Yeah, breakfast. Tomorrow. Got it. Now shhh." She pulled the blankets up to her shoulders and sunk deeper into the pillow as Tom kissed her neck quickly and sighed into her hair.

"Love you."

"Love you too." She sighed and fell back to sleep.

When Skylar woke up the next morning Gage and Tom were already awake and shaving in the bathroom. Well, Tom was shaving. Gage was smearing shaving cream on his face and scraping it off with his finger as he sat on the edge of the tub.

Skylar sat up slowly and swung her feet over the edge of the bed as the room spun around her. "Ugh."

"You're up."

"I feel like sh- I mean, crap." She said softly as she pushed herself to a standing position.

"Are you gonna be sick?" Tom asked as he stepped into the room with his razor in one hand.

"I hope not." She put her hand up to her mouth and swallowed a couple times. "No. I think I'll be okay."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah." Skylar squinted up at him and forced a smile. "I just need a drink of water." She got herself a cup of tap water and drank it quickly. "I think it's just because I didn't eat anything yesterday except a candy bar." She explained as she set the glass down on the counter.

"No, you had crackers on the a-yuh-plane." Gage said as he wiped his shaving cream covered hand on a towel.

"Okay, a candy bar and some crackers. I think once I get some food in me I'll feel better." She looked at Gage's outfit and cringed. "You've got that stuff all over your shirt."

"I know." Gage looked down at the shirt and smiled.

"Tom can you get him a clean shirt out of the bag? I need to get cleaned up." She sighed and ran her hand over her face as her stomach flip-flopped again.

"You bet." Tom reached into the bag at his feet and pulled out a pint sized Tokio Hotel T-shirt. "For you, buddy." He yanked Gage's shaving cream covered shirt over his head and pulled the new one into place. "Good as new. Now don't get that crap on it." Tom motioned toward the shaving cream.

"I won't." Gage said softly as he pulled at his ear and frowned.

Tom went back to shaving as Skylar got dressed in the other room. They were presentable a half-hour later when they headed downstairs for a continental buffet breakfast.

Skylar grabbed one plate for her and Gage to share. She knew he wouldn't eat that much. Gage kept sticking his finger in his ear and making faces as they placed danishes and croissants on their plates.

"What's wrong with his ear?" Tom asked as he spooned scrambled eggs onto his plate.

"Why don't you ask him?" Skylar asked with a frown as she placed her hand on her still unsettled stomach. She put her hand on Gage's head to inch him forward in the line.

"Gage, what's wrong with your ear?" Tom asked.

"It hurts." Gage whined softly.

"Because of the show last night? Did you wear your ear plugs the whole time?" Tom asked as he placed bacon on Skylar's plate.

"I did." Gage tugged at his ear again and frowned. "But it hurts in my head."

"Wait a second." Skylar set her plate down and knelt in front of Gage. "Tom, wait a second." She lay her hand flat on Gage's forehead and frowned. "I think he has a fever."

"I do." Gage nodded as if he knew.

"A fever? What does that mean?" Tom asked.

Skylar gave him a look and said. "Tom, you know what a fever is."

"I know what a fever is." Tom said defensively. "What does that mean for him? Is he sick?"

"Shit, he prob-"

"Mommy, you said shit." Gage interrupted her.

"I know I did. Sorry." She rumpled his hair and picked up her plate to follow Tom to their table. "He probably has an ear infection."

"That's bad?" Tom asked.

"Ouch. Who has an ear infection?" Georg asked as he sat across from them.

"I think Gage does." Skylar frowned as Gage curled up next to her in the booth and rested his head on her arm.

"Does he need to see a doctor?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, I'll need to see about finding a doctor as soon as we're done here."

"I don't want to." Gage whined.

"I know, sweetie, but if your ears are hurting the doctor can make it feel better." Skylar wrapped her arm around the tiny boy and ate her breakfast with one hand.

"Did you have fun at the show last night, Gage?" Georg asked.

"Yeah." Gage said softly.

"Wicked."

"We can have Houbi look at his ears if you want." Tom suggested.

"Houbi?"

"He's our tour doctor. He takes care of our sprains and strains and stuff." Tom shrugged.

"He needs to see a pediatrician."

"He sees us. We're worse than any kid out there." Georg laughed.

"No, I know- I just-"

"We'll have Houbi take a look and, if you want, we can take him to the hospital." Tom said as he ate his breakfast.

"Okay." Skylar nodded and tried to get Gage to eat something but he wasn't hungry.

When they finished breakfast, Tom carried Gage back upstairs to the crew floor and to Houbi's room with Skylar following close behind. "Hey, Houbi." Tom smiled as he walked through the man's door.

"Hey, Tom. What's up?"

"Um- This is, uh- My son- Gage. He's four and we think he has an ear infection. Do you think you can take a look?" Tom asked. Houbi caught Tom's eye at the word 'son' but didn't say anything.

"He's had them before." Skylar added. "And he feels like he has a fever."

Houbi placed his warm hands on Gage's forehead and frowned. "Yeah, I'd be willing to bet he does." He rubbed Gage's back as the little boy lay his head on Tom's chest. "I'm gonna take a look in your ears, okay? It's not going to hurt at all."

"With a needle?" Gage asked as he started to cry.

"No, no needles." Houbi shook his head and opened up his medical bag. "I used to be a general practitioner. Kids are nothing compared to these guys." Houbi smiled at Skylar who looked worried. Houbi took his lighted device and looked in Gage's left ear. "Oh yeah, that's infected."

"Oww! Mommy, it hurts." Gage cried.

"It's okay, baby." She placed her hand on his back and stood closer to Tom as Houbi checked Gage's other ear.

"The right one looks a little red but nothing much. That left one is infected." He shook his head and placed his hands on his hips. "I want to start him on antibiotics. Is he allergic to anything?"

"No." Skylar shook her head. "He's been on Amoxicillin before."

"Okay, good." Houbi nodded and picked up his prescription pad. "I'll get this filled here at the hotel. You should be able to pick it up in an hour or so." Skylar nodded and glanced up at Tom. "Give him one teaspoon. It'll come with a little measuring cup. Give him one of those every four hours for the next 7 days. Even if he looks like he's getting better, keep giving it to him for the whole time."

"Okay." Tom nodded.

"If he's still feeling bad in a couple days let me know." Houbi nodded.

"Okay." Skylar nodded. "We're leaving tomorrow though. Can he fly?"

"Eh-" Houbi shrugged. "If his ear still hurts, flying might not be the best thing as far as comfort goes. But medically, he can."

"You can always stay another day if you need to." Tom adjusted Gage in his arms.

"Okay."

"And when you get back home you might want to have your pediatrician take a look to make sure it's clearing up." Houbi smiled.

"Thanks. I will." Skylar nodded and smoothed Gage's hair down.

"I'll phone in the prescription now. I'll have them bring it to your room when it's ready."

"Thanks again." Tom smiled.

"No problem." Houbi smiled and scribbled on his pad.

"I want Mommy to carry me." Gage whined as he reached for Skylar.

"Here." Tom handed him to Sky and stretched his arms.

"Hey, Tom, hang back for a second." Houbi said as they headed for the door.

"I'll meet you back in the room, okay?" Tom smiled at Skylar.

"Okay." She nodded and shut the door behind her as she left.

"I didn't know you had a son." Houbi said as he sat at the little table.

"Yeah, uh- That's Gage. I kinda just found out myself. We're keeping it quiet, you know." Tom shrugged. "So the media doesn't go crazy."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Houbi nodded. "But, just so you know, I can't really see patients other than you guys. I've signed a contract and, for legal reasons, I can't."

"Okay." Tom nodded. "I just thought, you know- Since you were here-"

"No, I know." He shrugged. "I'm going to put the prescription in your name and next time he'll have to go to the local hospital."

"Okay, thanks."

"Sure thing." Houbi nodded and smiled as Tom left.

Tom went back up to the room and changed his clothes to head out to the MTV studios where they were doing a taping for the New Year's Celebration being aired later that night. "You gonna be okay here?" Tom asked before he left.

"Yeah, we'll be fine." Skylar smiled and kissed Tom quickly.

"I talked to Tobi and he said he'd watch Gage for us tonight."

"Okay." Skylar said hesitantly. She was having second thoughts about going to their New Year's party. Even though it was only downstairs, she didn't want to leave Gage while he was sick.

"How much would you hate me if I didn't go tonight?" Skylar asked later that day as she looked over at Gage playing quietly on the bed. She was already dressed and ready to go in her New Year's outfit, but she didn't want to leave Gage.

"I wouldn't hate you but you can't not go." Tom pulled on a sweater and turned from the mirror. "You look great by the way." He looked over her shimmery top and leather pants.

"Thanks." Skylar said distractedly. "I just feel bad leaving him here with a stranger."

"You know Tobi. He's not a stranger. And he loves kids." Tom reached into his suitcase for his shoes.

"That's not what I meant." She said softly. She slid her shoes off and sighed as she tucked her legs up under her on the bed and scooted closer to Gage.

"Don't get too comfortable." Tom said as Tobi knocked on the door. Tom walked across the room with one shoe on and the other in his hand and pulled the door open. "Hey, Tobi. Thanks a lot for doing this. I owe you one."

"It's not a problem." Tobi smiled and brushed past Tom into the room. "Hey, Gage. How you feeling?" He asked Gage.

"Hi, Tobi." Gage mumbled and scratched behind his red ears. "I'm sick."

"I know, I'm gonna hang out with you tonight. Is that cool?"

"Yeah." Gage yawned and ran his matchbox car back and forth across the bedspread.

"Tom- I think I'm just gonna-"

"No, I don't wanna hear it. C'mon. We're only going to be downstairs." Tom picked her shoes up off the floor and slid them onto her feet.

"He'll be fine." Tobi smiled and sat at a chair at the table. "Right, Gage?"

"Yeah." Gage coughed and brushed his bangs off his forehead.

"He's had his medicine for tonight so he should go right to sleep." Skylar sighed and allowed Tom to pull her to a standing position. "If he gets up or starts crying or anything, send someone down to get me. Or call Tom- You have your phone, right?" She asked.

"Yes, as always." Tom patted his pocket and smiled.

"He can have water or that Gatorade in the kitchen thing, but nothing ice cold." Skylar explained to Tobi. "The thermometer is by the bed. It's digital so you won't have any problems reading it- if you need to, I mean." She rambled, "Um, he's not allergic to anything. Like I said he'll probably go right to sleep but if he's still up like in an hour or so come and get me."

"We'll be fine." Tobi smiled. "I have a dozen nieces and nephews."

"I- Okay." Skylar looked back at Gage. She leaned across the bed and kissed his forehead. "I love you, baby. I'll be right downstairs if you need me, okay? You just have Tobi call and I'll come right back, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy." Gage wrapped his tiny arms around her neck and kissed her cheek softly.

"I love you, honey."

"Love you too." Gage mumbled and covered his mouth as he yawned.

"Get some sleep, okay?" Tom kissed the top of Gage's head then messed his hair. "We'll be here when you wake up in the morning, okay?"

"Yeah." Gage nodded and went back to his cars.

"Go on, guys. Have fun." Tobi smiled and waved as Tom pulled Skylar out the door.

As soon as they walked into the blue and silver ballroom Skylar's face lit up and Tom knew they'd have a great time that night. "Wow! It looks amazing in here!" She said in awe as she looked around the room. "Tom, this is absolutely amazing." She excitedly looked over her shoulder at him.

"It looks good, huh?"

"It's unbelievable!" Her eyes shined as they circled the room together and said hello to the crowd of party-goers.

"Now this is New Years." Tom laughed and took Skylar's hand to spin her around.

"Ooooh, careful." She said as she stopped herself from spinning. Her stomach was still feeling a bit queasy and she knew if she kept going this way she'd be vomiting before midnight. "I really think the plane food made me sick." She frowned.

"You okay? I thought you only had crackers."

"Yeah, I did. I'll be fine." She reached for a glass of champagne as a waiter walked by. She took a quick sip and handed the glass to Tom. "Enjoy."

Tom downed it and smiled. "This is gonna be fun."

"Yes. I believe it is." She smiled back at him and laced her fingers through his. They said their hellos to the other guys before the music started and their voices became drowned out. Skylar and Tom headed off to a quiet corner to relax for a little before he finally pulled her to the dance floor for a few slow songs. "How can you not like to dance?" He asked her softly as he held her close.

"Because I have no rhythm at all." She laughed softly. She frowned as she thought about Gage upstairs. She promised herself she'd go check on him as soon as the song was finished.

Three songs later Skylar finally managed to pull her hand free from Tom's so she could head toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Tom asked playfully as he used his free hand to pull Skylar to him. He took a sip of his champagne and smiled.

"I'm going to go back up to the room." Skylar said with a worried look. "I just want to check on him."

"Sky-" Tom sighed, "C'mon, he's in good hands. If anything was wrong someone would call or come get you."

"I know, I just want to check on him." She released his hand from her side and started across the room. The multicolored lights dancing around the room caught the silver of her shirt as she crossed the dance floor.

Skylar opened the door to their hotel room. The music from the ballroom still echoed through her ears. "How's he doing?" She whispered as she sat her purse on the counter of the little kitchen in the room.

"He's been asleep since you left." Tobi said softly as he closed the magazine on his lap. Gage was sound asleep beneath the covers on the large king sized bed.

"I'm going to call it a night." Skylar sighed and took her earrings off then set them on the counter beside her purse. "Thanks for staying with him."

"It wasn't a problem." Tobi smiled and left them alone in the room.

Skylar kicked off her shoes and walked across the carpeted room barefoot. She sat on the edge of the bed beside Gage and lightly stroked his forehead. He was still warm and damp with fever. "Oh, buddy. Being sick sucks." She whispered as she watched him sleep. Skylar reached over and pulled the sleeping boy onto her lap. She cradled his head against her shoulder but he didn't stir at all.

She held him that way for a couple minutes before the door opened softly and Tom stepped into the room. "Hey." He whispered as he dropped his jacket across the back of the chair.

"Hi." She whispered back as she rocked Gage gently in her arms.

"How is he?" Tom looked concerned as he walked over and sat on the bed beside her.

"He'll be okay. Go on back to the party." Skylar sighed and tried to smile.

"No, I wanna make sure my big boy is okay." Tom reached out and brushed Gage's hair off his sweaty forehead. "Whoa. He's really warm."

"He still has a little fever." Skylar explained softly.

"Is that what that pink medicine is for?"

"Yeah, that's Amoxicillin." She smiled and nodded.

"I don't remember ever having an ear infection." Tom shook his head and rubbed Gage's back gently.

"It's not fun." Skylar stopped rocking and looked up at Tom.

"It doesn't look like it." Tom scooted closer to Skylar on the bed and wrapped one arm around her waist while using the other to rub the sleeping boys back. Skylar rested her head on Tom's shoulder and sighed. "Are you going to stay another day to let his ears heal?"

"Yeah. If that's okay." Skylar said softly as she began to rock slightly from side to side.

"Yeah, It's fine." Tom kissed her shoulder through her shirt and sighed.

"I'm sorry I ruined your New Years." Skylar said a minute later.

"You didn't ruin anything, Sky." Tom shook his head and continued to rub Gage's back as he slept. "I wanted to spend New Years with you and I'm doing that." He smiled and kissed her lips quickly. "Nothing was ruined."

"Thanks, Tom." She looked down at Gage as tears sprang up in her eyes. She'd been really emotional the last few days, and that, coupled with not feeling well, only intensified her reactions to everything.

Only a few minutes later the street erupted with fireworks and shouts from below. Tom smiled and whispered. "Happy New Year, Sky."

"Happy New Year." She smiled and kissed him firmly. What a great way to start the New Year.

Gage woke Skylar up early the next morning asking for juice. When Tom woke up after eight the bed was empty. "Good morning, sleepy head." Skylar smiled from the other bed.

"Hey." Tom rubbed his eyes and adjusted the pillow under his head as he rolled onto his side to watch them play cards. "Who's winning?"

"Me." Gage said softly as he picked up a handful of cards from the disorganized pile in the center. "Two more for me." He lay two of the cards down in front of Skylar and smiled.

"Awesome." Tom yawned. "How's your ear, buddy?"

"It just itches." Gage frowned and itched behind his ear.

"What are you guys playing?" Tom asked.

"It's called You have to match it. It's a game." Gage explained as he sorted through the pile again.

"Sounds like fun." Tom yawned and sat up in the bed as he swung his feet over the side. "How about you, Sky?"

"Hmm?"

"You feeling better?"

"A little." She said though her stomach still felt queasy. "Is there a breakfast thing this morning?"

"No, it's Fend for yourself today. We can order room service if you want." Tom stood up and hiked up his shorts. He walked over and kissed Skylar quickly as he squeezed her knee. "So you're gonna stay an extra day?"

"Yeah. I need to call the airline and change our flight to tomorrow. What do you have planned for today?"

"Nothing. Sleep." He yawned.

"Dream on." Skylar rolled her eyes and glanced at Gage.

"Yeah." Tom laughed and went into the bathroom. "If you order anything can you just get me some Coke? Lots of it?"

"You don't want real food?"

"No, it's too early for real food." He smiled and shut the door.

"Do you want some waffles?" Skylar asked Gage as he tossed all of his cards on the huge pile and spread them around with his hands.

"No." He shook his head.

"Eggs?" He shook his head again. "Cereal? French toast?" He continued to shake his head as he played with the cards. "Peanut butter toast?"

Gage stopped playing with the cards and thought about that for a second before he said "No, I don't want real food. It's too early."

"Nice try." Skylar laughed. "Tom's gonna eat something, whether he likes it or not, and so are you. So what do you want?"

"I'm not hungry, Mommy. My tummy hurts." He whined and tilted his head to the side as he tugged on his ear.

"Then why are you grabbing your ear?" His hands dropped to his stomach. "You've gotta eat, Gage."

"Yeah whatever." He mumbled.

"Excuse me?" Skylar tilted his chin up to meet her eyes. "I don't think so."

"I said I'll eat whatever." He pouted and jerked his chin away.

"Someone here needs an attitude adjustment." Skylar raised an eyebrow at him as she reached for the phone. She ordered cereal for herself, peanut butter toast and waffles for the boys and plenty of Coke for Tom.

She sighed and called the airlines to change her flight to the next day so that Gage's ears could heal a little more. She turned back to Gage and picked up the cards to shuffle them. "Don't, Mommy." Gage scowled.

"What's with the attitude this morning?"

"I want to go home."

"We're going home tomorrow. Today we're going to stay and visit with your Daddy and Bill and everyone." Skylar explained, "You want to play with the guys don't you?"

"I want them to come to my house. I don't like this stupid room." Gage frowned at the cards in his hand and sighed deeply. They played You have to match it for another few minutes in silence.

"So what are we doing today? Do you want to go see the Statue of Liberty?" Tom asked as he came back into the bedroom. He was still damp from his shower but he was awake.

"I don't know if having him out in the cold would be good for his ears." Skylar shook her head as their food arrived from room service.

"Oooh. Coke!" Tom smiled as he wheeled the cart in and parked it next to the bed. "What else did you get?"

"Cereal for me, waffles and peanut butter toast for you guys." Skylar poured the glass of milk over her Honey Nut Cheerios and reached for a spoon.

"I'm not hungry." Tom wrinkled his nose and twisted open a bottle of soda.

"Me either." Gage imitated him.

"Too bad. For both of you." Skylar frowned and took a bite of her cereal. The bad mood was apparently contagious.

"Okay, okay! I'll have a waffle." Tom said as he put one on his plate and covered it with syrup.

"You too." Skylar nodded at Gage.

"But my ear hurts." He whined.

"C'mon, Gage." Tom put one on a plate for Gage and drenched it with syrup.

"Just a few bites." Skylar gave him a look and ate her breakfast in silence. Gage sighed and resigned to eating at least a few bites of his breakfast. Tom managed to eat half of his waffle and a few bites of Skylar's cereal.

Tom put the food cart out in the hall and nodded toward the bathroom. "Do you want to shower? By then maybe the other guys will be awake."

Skylar looked at the clock and laughed. "It's only nine o'clock. They won't be up until noon. You shou-" She was cut off by the sound of someone knocking on the door.

"Breakfast looks good! Open up!" Georg said through the door.

"Those fools thrive on two hours of sleep." Tom laughed and pulled the door open again.

"Hey guys. Are you gonna take the ferry out today?" Georg bounded into the room and sat on the counter of the little kitchen. "Hey, Gage. Wie gehts?"

"Wie gehts, Georg?" Gage perked up and bounced off the bed.

"It's too cold for Gage to be outside. He has an ear infection." Skylar explained as she stood up and headed for the bathroom for her much needed shower.

"Yeah, whatever." Georg mumbled and rolled his eyes.

"That was you?!" Skylar turned around quickly.

"Huh?" Georg looked startled as she turned on him.

"You know what Gage said to me this morning, Mr. Bad-Influence-On-My-Child?" Skylar smiled and placed her hands on her hips. "That precious four year old told me, 'Yeah whatever' this morning. I was wondering where he picked that up."

"I say that all the time." Georg shrugged.

"I'm scared to find out what else you've taught him." Skylar shook her head and shut the bathroom door.

"Your Mom is weird, kid." Georg laughed and ruffled Gage's hair.

"Yeah." Gage sighed and pulled up the sleeves of his pajamas.

"You've got syrup on your clothes." Tom pointed out as he took a napkin and wiped Gage's mouth off like he'd seen Skylar do a hundred times before. "Hey, don't you have some medicine to take?"

"I have the pink stuff." Gage shrugged.

"Are you supposed to take it in the morning?" Tom asked.

"I don't know." Gage sat on the floor by Georg's feet and pulled his socks off. "I just take a drink of it."

"Hey, Sky?" Tom said as he knocked on the bathroom door. "Does Gage need his medicine?"

"Yeah." Skylar turned on the shower and draped her towel over the shower door.

"Do you want me to do it?"

"If you want. Just give him a cup full. The cup that's on top of the bottle."

"Just one?"

"Georg can do it if he wants." Skylar shrugged and stood under the water.

"Only one cap full?" Tom laughed and asked again.

"Yeah, only one." Skylar shouted back. "Now let me shower in peace."

"Okay, Gage. Let's take your medicine." Tom walked to the kitchen and took it out of the refrigerator. "Does your mom heat it up or anything?"

"I don't know." Gage shrugged and crawled up into the big recliner chair.

"Is it cold when you drink it?" Tom read the side of the bottle for instructions.

"Yeah."

"Then she doesn't heat it." Tom smiled and shook the medicine before opening it. He brought the bottle to his nose and took a sniff. "Jesus, you have to drink this?" He made a face.

"Yeah, but I'm not Jesus." Gage nodded.

"Smarty. Do you like it?" Tom asked as he took another sniff.

"You try it."

"I don't think so." Tom shook his head and held the bottle away from his nose.

"Yeah, come on. Show him it's not that bad." Georg laughed.

"I'm not taking it." Tom made a face and poured the correct dosage into the little cup.

"I'm not taking it." Gage shook his head and clamped his hands over his mouth.

"Good going." Georg laughed at Tom.

"You have to take it. It's to make your ears better." Tom explained as he knelt in front of Gage's chair and held up the little cup of pink liquid. Gage kept his hands over his mouth and shook his head. "Shit." Tom said under his breath. He looked up quickly and said. "Shoot! I meant shoot."

"Looks like you're going to have to take some." Georg smiled and leaned back on the counter.

"Gross." Tom wrinkled his nose.

"If you think it's nasty how can you expect Gage to take it?"

"Because he has to." Tom argued.

"I think Tom should take some, right Gage?" Georg asked. Without removing his hands Gage nodded.

"You too." Gage said quickly and squeezed his hands over his mouth again.

Tom laughed and waved Georg over. "You too, Georg."

"I have to take it?" Georg whined. "Gross." He walked over and leaned on the side of Gage's chair.

"We can only have a little bit though, okay? Because if we take it all there won't be any left for you and you need it for your ears." Tom explained.

"Wait. Is it okay if we take it?" Georg looked worried. "Will it do anything to us if we don't have an ear infection?"

"Don't be stupid." Tom rolled his eyes. "It's a kid's medicine. There isn't enough of anything in there to make us sick." Tom silently hoped he was right.

"Ugh." Georg said under his breath. "I should have waited another hour before coming in here."

Tom held the little cup out to Georg. "Wanna go first?"

"Yeah right!" Georg laughed and pushed Tom's hand back. "You do it."

"I'm only gonna take half. Georg will take the other half, okay?" Tom asked Gage. Gage nodded and smiled behind his hand.

"Take it." Georg smiled.

"Gross." Tom made a face and lifted the small cup to his lips with one hand and pinched his nose with the other. He took a tiny sip and made an awful face. "Your turn. Go." He handed the cup to Georg and ran to the kitchen with his mouth wide open. He took several long drinks from Gage's Gatorade and shuddered. "That's disgusting!"

"And now you want me to drink it?"

"I did it! You have to!"

"Fine." Georg took a deep breath and looked into the cup. "Hey! There's more than half in there. You didn't drink your part."

"Just drink it!" Tom shook his head as Gage tried not to laugh. Georg cringed and took a tiny sip.

"Oh my God! That's disgusting!" Georg put the still half full cup on the table and stood up. "Pass me the Gatorade." Tom tossed the plastic bottle across the room so Georg could rinse his mouth.

"Okay, Gage. Your turn." Tom took the little cup and rinsed it off in the sink. He filled it again with the medicine.

"He's not gonna take it now. We just barely gagged it down and now you want him to take it?" Georg shook his head.

"You've gotta take it. Okay, Gage?" Tom held the tiny cup out to Gage who was still smiling behind his hands. Gage reached out and took the tiny cup. He swallowed it all in two big gulps. When he was done he stuck his finger in the cup and wiped the excess off the sides and licked it off his finger.

Tom and Georg stood there staring at Gage stunned. "What the hell?"

"It's good." Gage shrugged.

"It's- It's good?" Tom asked. "Then why did you make me drink it?"

"Because it was fun." Gage smiled and carried the empty cup over to the counter and placed it by the bottle of medicine.

"It tastes like ass." Georg said as he wiped his mouth again.

"It tastes like bubble gum." Gage licked his lips and pulled his shirt up to bare his stomach. "Take this off please."

"No way. I'm not even gonna help you. You made me drink that stuff." Tom shook his head.

"But I'm stuck." Gage had the shirt halfway off his head but his arms were stuck in the armholes.

"Too bad." Tom laughed and crossed his arms.

"Georg, can you take it off?" Gage blindly turned to where Georg was standing.

"No way! I drank that nasty stuff too." Georg crossed his arms as he and Tom watched Gage struggle with his shirt.

"Hey, guys? Do you think the little store down in the lobby is open?" Skylar asked as she walked out of the bathroom in a clean pair of jeans and a sweater. "What's going on?" She asked as Gage stumbled into the recliner chair and laughed with his shirt stuck on his head. "You know, you could help him, Tom." Skylar sighed and reached over to help Gage untangle himself from his shirt. "You couldn't tell he was stuck?"

"No, he told us he was stuck." Georg smirked.

"What?! You're mean. Both of you." Skylar tossed the pajama shirt onto the bed and placed her hand on Gage's forehead. He didn't seem warm at all.

"Why don't you ask him why we're being mean to him." Tom said as he took another drink of the Gatorade.

"Why are they being mean to you, baby?"

"Because they're mean." Gage pretended to pout.

"Oh! Gelogen! Das ist gelogen!" Georg said defensively. "He made us drink his medicine."

"I didn't make you." Gage laughed and crawled into Skylar's lap as she sat on the bed.

"He said he wasn't going to take it so me and Georg took some to show him it was okay. But damn it, Sky, that stuff tastes like sh- crap." Tom shook his head.

"Gage loves it." Skylar frowned.

"Yeah. We know. He told us that after we took it and almost vomited."

"I was only pretending I didn't like it." Gage laughed and licked his lips. "They didn't like it at all, Mommy. They went 'bleeeech' and had to drink juice."

Skylar laughed and gave Gage a quick hug. "You guys are wimps."

"Have you tried it?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, of course I have. It's not- It's not that bad." She laughed She knew good and well it was, in fact, that bad.

"It's disgusting." Georg shook his head.

"You guys are just babies." Skylar smiled and looked Gage over. "You need a bath." She gently pushed him into the bathroom and filled the tub with water. She put him in with some bubbles to play and clean himself up. She stood in the doorway to keep her eye on him and talk to the other guys at the same time. "So do you think that store thing is open in the lobby? I need an Advil." Skylar frowned.

"I don't know. They should be open." Tom glanced at his watch.

"I'll bet Gustav has some. He's always prepared with stuff like that." Georg laughed. "He's up if you want to go ask him."

"Yeah, I think I will." Skylar looked back at Gage in the tub then said, "Tom, can you come here and keep an eye on him?"

"He's in the tub." Tom said from the other side of the room.

"I know. I need you to watch him while I run down the hall."

"He's not going anywhere." Tom shrugged.

"You always have to watch kids in the tub." Georg said as he stood up and walked to the bathroom doorway. "A child can drown in as little as two inches of water, you know." Georg smiled and leaned against the door where Skylar had been standing.

"Thanks, Georg." Skylar smiled and left the room to go get her Advil. When she returned just a few minutes later Gage was out of the tub and in the process of getting dressed. Tom was having problems trying to snap the waist of Gage's jeans.

"Is there some kind of a trick to this snap?" Tom looked up at Skylar as she walked in.

"Yeah, you have to line it up with the other side and push." She laughed and sat on the bed beside Tom. "Here." She reached over and snapped his pants with one hand.

"I guess I don't have the Mommy touch." Tom laughed and reached for Gage's clean shirt to pull it over his head.

"You'll learn." She smiled and helped him tuck in his shirt. She smiled and patted his butt. "Go get your shoes. Where's your jacket?"

"It's in the bag still." Gage explained as he crawled halfway under the bed to get his shoes.

"Where's Georg?" Skylar asked Tom as she ran a brush through her hair.

"He's leaving to go back to Germany today." Tom explained. "So what are we doing today?"

"I'm not sure. We've never been here but then I don't know if I want Gage out in the cold air if his ears are bothering him." Skylar sighed. "On the other hand, he's going nuts up here in this room so it'd almost be worth it to bundle him up and go outside for a bit."

"We could go ice skating or something."

"Can you go?" Skylar asked as Gage plopped down on the bed beside her and handed her his shoes. She pulled them on and began to tie them before she suggested, "You know, we could just go to the movies or something. Ooooh, we could see Shrek 3D!"

"Yeah!" Gage said excitedly.

"True." Tom nodded. "You wanna just do that? Maybe get some lunch?"

"Sure. That sounds good to me." Skylar smiled and finished tying Gage's shoes.

"Sounds good to me too." Gage said as he stood up and jumped up and down over to Tom. "Sounds good to you?"

"Sounds good to me." Tom laughed. "I'll call Tobi and have him go with us, just in case."

"Can Bill go too?" Gage asked.

"I think he's with Chelsea today."

"But maybe she can go too?"

"I don't think so, buddy." Tom laughed and stood up. "Let's go."

They grabbed Tobi and took a limo across town to the theater to see the new Shrek movie. Afterward walked across the street to get a bite to eat at a little deli that Tom had heard about. They walked around downtown for a while checking out all the Christmas decorations that were still up. They finally headed back to the hotel as it started to get colder.

Tom saw them off the next morning from the hotel as Skylar and Gage left for their early flight back to Germany. Tom and the others didn't have to leave for another two days. They had a few more interviews they had do but nothing until later that day so they caught up on some much needed rest.

Chapter Four