Nick held Michael in his arms as he wandered throughout the small house. The one room that adjoined the master bedroom had been completely turned into a nursery. "Whoa Michael, look at this." Nick said, showing his son the mobile over the crib.
Lis walked in behind them. "I guess Michael should go down for a nap soon." she informed him as she took a seat in the rocking chair.
"All right, here Michael," Nick put his son down in the crib. "Me and mommy will be right through that door k?" he turned and took Lis' hand, pulling her into their room.
Lis sat on the bed, nervously watching Nick. "It's nice here." she said, drawing circles on the bedspread.
Nick nodded, "I wanted to bring you down here once before but we got hit by that hurricane so...better late then never I guess." he sat beside her and Lis jumped to her feet.
"I'm surprised AC and BJ did all this." she said, heading over to the window.
"Why? They're pretty good at surprises."
She nodded, "Yeah that they are. All you Carters are." she rubbed her arms and leaned against the window, waiting for him to speak.
Nick set his suitcase on the floor and leaned back on the bed. "Are you gonna answer me now?"
"Answer what?"
He sighed tiredly, "You know exactly what, what are you so afraid of?"
"Nothing." she said, her eyes on the blue water.
"Damn it Lis, where are you."
She turned around. "I'm right here Nick in my life, the life I have to have..."
"What about our life?"
"Our life died in that car accident..."
"I'm starting to think you did." he said quietly. He watched her for a minute. "It's me isn't it, that's what you're afraid of. You think I'm going to hurt you, but Lissy you know I'd never do anything to hurt you."
She laughed. "Oh really? I seem to remember getting divorce papers, and you disappearing and oh yeah knowing Michael was yours and not even coming once to see him. I can see why you'd avoid me but god Nick he's your son!"
"Aaron wanted me to come, he begged me to but I was scared...I didn't want to upset you."
"Upset me? Ha that's a good one, what do you think you coming here now's done."
"I was hoping it would wake you up...From the second I saw you and Michael in that park I knew everything I'd done in the last year was wrong."
"Park?" she asked, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "How long have you been here Nick?"
"Aar drove me to the park to see you two before he took me to our house."
"My house! And what right did he have to do that?" she walked from the room into the nursery. She stood over the crib and stared down at Michael sleeping.
Nick stood in the doorway. "He wanted me to wake up...to see what I'd lost...Michael and you...I wanted to go over to you but I had no idea what to say."
She laughed softly, "Yeah I guess walking over to me and going 'hey I'm back' wouldn't have been a wise choice."
Nick shook his head, realizing she was nearly hysterical. "Look Lis I Think you should lay down...you're losing it."
"Oh really? First my husband, our life and now my mind. Hey guess it does happen in threes." she tried to move by him but he stopped her.
Nick looked into her eyes and saw for the first time how scared she really was. "Oh god Lis." he held her in his arms.
"I can't do this Nick..." she said into his chest, feeling her entire body shake.
Wordlessly he picked her up and carried her over to the bed, laying her down in the middle. He crawled next to her. "I'd take back this last year if I could...you know that don't you?" she nodded as she shut her eyes, trying to keep from crying. He propped himself up on his elbow. "Lis...you don't want to lose me but I...I don't want to lose you either. I can't Lissy." his shoulders started to shake as he finally felt the pain of the last year. His eyes filled with tears as he looked down at her, his blue eyes piercing hers, "There's no way I can watch you marry Bri...I'm not that strong Lis...it's gonna kill me."
Lis stared into his eyes. "Shhh Nicky, it's okay."
He shook his head almost frantically. "No, I have to make you see." he said adamantly. "I lost you once because of me and this time it's permanent." he paused, "Please baby please...don't marry B." Nick's voice broke as he pleaded with her and he rested his head on her chest.
"Nicky...look at me..."
He sniffled and looked up at her. "What?"
She smiled weakly. "There's always gonna be an us."
"Not if you're married to B."
Slowly she ran a hand through his hair. "What if I told you I wasn't so sure of that happening anymore?"
"Really?" Lis nodded and watched as he moved closer to her. He smiled down at her, "I love you Lis."
"I love you too Nicky, always have." she said quietly, finally saying what she had been afraid to say to him.
Brian followed Shan onto her patio and watched as she leaned on the railing for a minute. "So Nick took her to the keys?" Shan asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, I guess they rented the place for the rest of the week...so maybe by the time they come back I'll be a free man." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Shan sighed. "I hope so."
He rested his head on his shoulder. "I'd bet money on it, by the time they're home we'll be totally free to be together. Don't worry about it. Now lets eat."
"You're right I worry too much." she turned and smiled at him. "And besides I'm starving."
"Good, come on." he took her hands and led her inside.
Nick woke up to Michael crying. He woke up and stretched, smiling down at Lis in bed next to him the sheet wrapped around her. He climbed out of bed and went to check on his son. "Hey Michael." Nick said picking his son up. "You know what? Mommy and daddy are together again." He kissed his son's forehead and sat down in the rocking chair. "Know what that means? I'm gonna be with you all the time and so is mommy and maybe soon you'll have some brothers and sisters. Would you like that?" Nick smiled to himself, he'd finally get his life back and everything he'd missed out on.
Lis woke up hearing Nick's voice in the nursery. She smiled and rolled over, seeing the two men in her life together. For the first time in over a year she felt genuinely happy. Deep inside she wondered how long it would last. She banished that thought from her mind as she propped herself up on her elbow and listened to Nick talk to their son.
Fifteen minutes later Nick walked in. "How long you been awake?" he asked in surprise.
She smiled sweetly. "Awhile."
"Really?"
"Mmmmhmmm, you know you probably shouldn't promise Michael siblings."
"And why's that?" he asked, his blue eyes lighting up.
She shrugged innocently. "I don't know."
"Well maybe," he started as he lowered himself on top of her, "maybe we should try so I don't end up lying to Michael."
Lis smiled shyly at him. "Maybe that would be a good idea."
~ A few days later ~
Nick set the blanket down on the beach. "I love this place, why don't we just stay here?" Lis said sitting down.
"Because," he said wrapping his arms around her, "we need to go home but not before we get darn sick of each other. And trust me that isn't going to happen soon."
She leaned back. "How long can we stay?"
"Till we don't want to be here."
"Nick, exactly how long do we have this place for?" Lis asked, looking down the beach to the little house.
Nick smiled. "Forever."
Lis turned around. "What?"
"I bought this place long time ago. The guy who owned it before me looks after it and rents it out occasionally still."
"You bought a house and never told me, nice one Nicky."
"Hey you keep things I keep things."
"What have I..." she stopped suddenly, her eyes clouding over.
"I meant you buying that bear in the baby store. Reminds me I think we should go back there, I have a really good feeling."
"You always have a good feeling where babies are concerned Carter." Lis said with a small laugh.
Nick smirked. "Yeah well what can I say?"
