The sound of the front door opening made Lis smile. "Han is that you?" Lis called from upstairs.
"It's me!" Aaron called, shutting the door.
She looked at Michael in the bathtub. "Uncle Aaron's here." she said, wrapping him up in a towel and heading downstairs. She stopped in her tracks seeing Aaron and someone with his back to her. "Oh god." Lis said softly.
AC looked at Lis, his eyes meeting hers. "Hey Lis, look who I found."
Nick turned around and his jaw dropped at the sight of her. She was staring at him wide eyed, in her ripped jeans and tank top clutching Michael to her.
"Hi." he said finally.
"Nick...uh...nice to see you...I've got to put Michael down." she said hurriedly and nearly took off running.
Lis shut the door to the nursery and leaned against it, looking into her son's bright blue eyes which were gazing at her confused. "Your daddy's downstairs Michael, why is he here?" she asked herself, heading over to the crib. He looked up at his mother as she set him down. "You don't know either huh?" she asked him. A knock on the door interrupted their 'talk'. "Yeah?" she called, brushing the hair out of her face.
The door opened and Nick looked in. "Can I see the baby?"
Lis felt her heart race. "Sure, he's still wide awake." She moved away from the crib and watched as Nick grew closer. He gave her a smile and stood beside the crib afraid to look down and see his son for the first time up close. Suddenly Michael gurgled and both parents looked down. Nick was amazed at the tiny face looking up at him, he was the perfect combination of both his parents: Lis' hair, Nick's eyes, her nose, his lips and chin. Nick reached down and held his son's tiny hand. "Can I hold him?" he asked, gazing up at Lis.
"Sure uh just be careful." she said softly.
Nick nodded and carefully scooped their son into his arms. "He's beautiful Lissy." he said quietly. "What's his name?" he asked, pretending to have no clue.
"Michael Aaron."
Nick's eyes stayed on his son. "It fits him."
"Why are you here now?" Lis asked, feeling nervous. It was as if she was afraid of his answer.
Nick adverted his gaze from her. "It was time to come back I guess."
Lis sighed, she wished he'd said because of her and their baby. "Did you know..."
"You and Rok are getting married, yeah I heard. Congrats." he forced asmile.
Lis studied his face, something wasn't right. His eyes met hers and there he was her Nick, the one she dreamt of night after night since the accident. This time it was her turn to look away. "So he looks like B huh?" she asked, keeping up the charade, looking down at her son in his father's arms.
Nick looked down, of course she'd say he was Rok's, she didn't know Aaron had told him the truth a year ago. "Yeah a bit though. More like his mom though. When's his birthday?"
"January." Lis answered softly.
Michael started getting fussy and Nick looked at Lis nervously. "I uh...well..."
"He's hungry... his daddy... I mean you interrupted his feeding time.." she said getting flustered. She took Michael from Nick. "I'll be in my room." she said and disappeared across the hall, shutting the door behind her.
A minute later Aaron walked in. "Well, how did it go?" he asked worriedly.
Nick looked at his brother. "I'm not letting them go. That's my family AC..."
Aaron smiled. "Whatever you need help with me and Beej are in."
Nick nodded, his eyes filling with tears. "Did you see him AC...he's so..."
"I know Nick, he's always been a good looking little boy."
"Can you...you check on her? I don't think she's taking this well."
"Sure."
Lis sat on her bed, staring down at Michael. "This is so wrong..." she said softly feeling the hot tears sting her cheeks.
The door opened and she heard Aaron's voice. "Lis?"
"Yeah?"
"Everything okay?" he asked, closing the door.
"No...why now AC? Why is he here now?" she said crying.
Aaron took the sleeping baby from her. "Shhh, it's okay. He's here because it was time for him to come home.....to both of you."
Nick fingered the baby blanket in his hands. His eye stopped on the tape recorder on the table next to him and something made him hit play. He listened in amazement as he heard his own voice singing. "Lissy..." he said softly, getting to his feet.
Lis shook her head. "Aaron I'm marrying Bri in eleven days..."
"Why? Lis you don't love him."
"I do too." she said defensively.
The sudden ringing of the phone caused them to stop their discussion. Lis reached over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Lis," Shan's voice came through the phone. "Why do you sound funny?"
"Nothing, where are you?" she asked.
"In my car on the way over...you did remember dinner right?"
"Course. Uhm do you want me to meet you somewhere?"
"Why?"
"No reason."
"I'll be there in fifteen okay?"
"I'll be ready." Lis said and hung up. She turned around. "AC, can you watch Michael for awhile? I'm going out with Shan."
He stared at her in shock. "But Nick's here...you two should..."
"Aaron, he divorced me...he doesn't feel that way anymore."
Nick leaned against the door, listening to her voice. "No Lissy, I feel that way...more then ever." he whispered his body filling with pain.
Aaron got up Michael in his arms. "We'll watch him no problem."
Lis smiled. "Okay, I gotta get ready...Shan'll be here soon."
"I'll put Michael down and we can order pizza..."
Nick met Aaron in the hallway, "Can I put him down?" he asked nervously.
"Sure Nick." Aaron passed his brother his son and watched as Nick's whole face changed.
Nick headed into the nursery and laid his son carefully down. "So Michael, don't you worry one day soon we'll all be back together in this house."
He turned to his brother, "I've got eleven days right?"
Aaron nodded. "Right."
Nick sighed and looked around, eleven days to make her realize the truth.
Lis pulled the shirt over her head and looked in the mirror, at least she didn't look like she'd spent the last five minutes crying.. She picked up her purse and headed downstairs. The sight of Nick sitting on the couch startled her but she quickly ignored him and went to the front door, checking to see if Shan had appeared.
Nick walked over behind her, "Where ya headed?"
Lis grabbed her sandals. "Somewhere with Shan...dinner, girls night out...when Han gets home you guys can go..."
Nick watched her, the way she was avoiding him slightly frightened him. "I'm sorry Lis." he whispered softly.
Lis paused. She swore she heard him apologize but she shook it off, "Anyways it was nice seeing you Nick, have a good stay in Tampa." she said, glancing outside.
His eyes went wide, he couldn't believe the way she was acting it was as if she was numb. "I will..." he said dumbfounded, not sure of what to say.
She turned to him. "There's Shan...tell Aaron I said bye." and with that she disappeared outside the door.
Nick waited till the door was shut. "Aaron, we've got a big problem!" he said, facing his brother who stood in the doorway.
"Which is?"
"That isn't Lis."
Aaron nodded. "That's Lis on autopilot. The real Lis, your wife, my sister-in-law hasn't been around in a long time Nick...you've got to bring her back."
Nick rubbed the back of his neck. "Call Beej, we gotta figure things out."
"She's on her way."
