A/N: Anybody missed Dylan? I know I did. And he missed all of you as well.

Oh well, if you have no idea whom I'm talking about – Dylan is my original character from "Since That Cold November Day". Read chapter 25-26 and you'll get the gist.

If you already know and love him, I won't waste your time with my babbling anymore. I hope you enjoy this new story. Thanks!

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MY MOMMY AND DADDY

© CATE

It was 8:30 p.m. and four-year-old Dylan Christopher was still awake. It was nowhere near past his bedtime but he had a big day tomorrow. He kept on bouncing on his bed with a wide smile on his chubby face.

Tomorrow would be his first day of preschool and he's very excited. About a month ago, his parents, Mac and Stella made their choice of school for their son. It was a reasonably priced private preschool near the crime lab with after school activities in case neither parent can pick him up right away.

The administration was very glad to accommodate Dylan. "Very smart, articulate, polite and happy boy," the remarks card said. "Inquisitive," Stella laughed at that. She knew that it's a nice way of saying, "He asks a lot of questions." The letter also said, "We are happy to have him in this school. A good boy with great and supportive parents."

They sent three sets of uniforms and a list of requirements. Dylan tried on his uniform that night after dinner and he looked very cute. He was in dark blue slacks, black school shoes and a white button-down shirt. They were also required to wear a necktie, which sent the little boy over the moon.

"I'll be like Daddy now!" he exclaimed as Stella crouched down to put it on him. He held the end of the tie and said, "See?"

Mac picked him up, careful not to wrinkle the shirt and gave him a raspberry. "I like it, Dylan. Very much." The little boy giggled and kissed his cheek. "Do you like it Stella?" She chuckled and nodded as she fixed his collar. Dylan pointed downward and Mac got the point. He placed a palm over his wife's belly and asked, "Do you, Bumpy?"

Stella was seven months pregnant with a baby girl. Ever since her baby bump grew, Dylan nicknamed it 'Bumpy'. Mac could feel faint movements under his hand. "Bumpy loves it, big brother," Stella answered. It was getting more and more uncomfortable when the baby moved as the months dragged on.

Dylan clapped his hands and jumped from his father's arms. He ran downstairs to find his pet dog and hug him. But before he could finish the flight of stairs, Mac caught him. "Oh no, Dylan. Change into something else before you give Blue a hug," he warned. The boy mumbled his 'okay' and launched himself into Mac's arms. He then gave him a bath and changed him to his pajamas.

While they were in the bathroom, Stella double-checked his school bag. It was Bob the Builder as per his request. Actually, it was a gift from someone from the crime lab, Adam Ross, for his birthday not too long ago. She figured that she would stand-by the school for the day since it'll be his first time. Just in case he gets separation anxiety; she read that kids would get that.

Soft pitter-patter of feet on the carpet directed her gaze to the bedroom door. Dylan was running towards her, wrapped in a fluffy towel, with Mac hot in his heels. Her son slammed to her, toppling her backwards to her butt. Dylan buried his face against her chest and laughed. "Come on, how can you get mad at that?" she said to herself.

"Are you okay, Stell?" Mac asked with concern in his voice. "Dylan, you be careful."

"I'm fine, Mac, don't worry," she laughed, standing the boy up and rubbing him down. "Will you hand me his 'jammies?" He rummaged through the middle drawer and pulled out a plain green pajama set. He dressed his little boy and ruffled his wet hair.

"Off to bed with you," he said, sitting him on the bed.

"Not sweepy!" Dylan huffed and he started jumping on the bed. "Not tired!"

"But you have school tomorrow," Stella reasoned. She laughed at the thought that this will not be the last time one (or both) of them would say that to him. That didn't get their son to stop jumping. "Come on, baby. For Mommy?" That stopped him for a few seconds and he sat down, legs under the covers, toes wiggling. But after a while, he started to bounce.

"Not sweepy," he repeated. Stella sighed. Actually, she was the one who's getting tired.

Blue scampered towards the end of the bed and barked at the sound of the springs squeaking and the bed shaking. In his doggy mind, he saw this somewhere before, only… not in this room.

That's where Mac took over. He sat on the bed and started tickling Dylan's exposed toes. Lightly at first and when the boy started to pull away, he grabbed his ankles and his fingers danced on the soles of his feet. "Daddy!" he squealed. "Daddy, please!" Mac wasn't letting up. "Mommy, help me?" he laughed out loud.

Dylan was trying to pry his dad's hands off his feet and knees. He wasn't doing a good job at it. "Can't, baby," Stella chuckled, hands on her belly. "But I can if you promise that if Daddy lets you go, you'll go to sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"I promise, I promise!" he cried out as Mac bit the tip of his big toe and growled like Blue. He let go and sat back up. Dylan was wiping tears from the edges of his eyes. "Tired now, Daddy."

Mac's smile said it all, "I knew that would work." It always did. Apart from the 'no blankie over the toes' thing, being very ticklish is something that Dylan got from his mother.

"Big day tomorrow," Dylan whispered, his eyes half-mast. "School!"

"Yes, school," Stella cooed, kissing him on the forehead. "Good night, baby." Mac kissed him, too.

"Goodnight, Mommy and Daddy," Dylan mumbled. "Wuv you."

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Well? Still cute, is he?