Disclaimer: I own no one except my OC's. No one is giving me money yada yada.

RATED M for language and to be safe. Not sure where this story is going!

Andy Hillstrand leaned back in his seat and popped his back. Sliding down lower in the chair he extended his legs and dropped his head to his chest trying to catch a short nap as the intercom informed everyone of the flight delay from SEATAC to Anchorage. The crowd groaned and many people wandered off in search of refreshments or to stretch their legs. Several aisles over sat a woman and her son. The youngster looked to be about eight and Andy could tell the boy was giving his mom a run for her money.

Sighing deeply the woman dug a portable DVD player out her carryon bag. Sitting the child beside her she handed him a pair of headphones and tried to settle him down for the wait. It became quickly apparent that loud and louder were the only volume controls the kid had as he began repeating sound effects and favorite lines from his movie. Andy couldn't help but grin as he watched the boy, the child reminded him so much of himself and his brothers. He made a mental note to send his mom something nice as soon as he made it back to Homer.

Carly sat at the Seattle terminal waiting as her flight to Anchorage was delayed yet again. Her seven-year-old son was becoming extremely antsy and she hoped that the powers that be would either fix the plane or find them a new one. In desperation she pulled out the DVD player. Aiden quickly sat down and started watching Cars. No sooner had peace descended than Aiden started a running commentary and special effects show. Seeing the man in a cowboy hat slouch down lower in his seat she poked Aiden on the shoulder. When he looked at her she put a finger to her lips and then pointed to "sleeping" Andy.

Aiden nodded enthusiastically at his mom and yelled "ALL RIGHT MOM! I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THAT MAN'S NAP TIME. I'LL BE QUIET!"

Carly blushed scarlet and covered her face with her hands. She loved her son with all her being, but the kid was just like his father—heart of gold but no self-control. "I'm soo sorry," she apologized.

"Nah, its fine. Don't worry about it," chuckled Andy.

Two hours past and finally they were able to board the flight. Throughout the flight Aiden kept the passengers entertained with his observations from the window. When they hit turbulence and the plane began bouncing he yelled, "It's okay people! We still have wings!" Finally landing in Anchorage Carly was dismayed to find that their flight to Homer was also late and that the weather conditions were making any flight attempt that day unlikely. Andy was standing behind her and had listened the conversation. "Figures," he muttered.

Carly turned around, "You're headed to Homer too?"

"Yeah. My families there," he answered. It was then that he realized she looked familiar. He just couldn't put his finger on it. "You?"

Carly drew a shaky breath, "We're headed back for my Mom's funeral." Looking directly at him, Carly recognized who Andy was. "I'm Carly Matheson."

"OH! Right. I dated your cousin…."awareness dawned on him.

"Riva. Yeah, that was a very long time ago," finished Carly.

Andy turned to go find some coffee when a memory flashed into his conscious, "Hey, didn't you and John…"

A shadow crossed her face and she bit her lip before answering, "Yeah. Your brother and I dated for while a long time ago too." Seeing Aiden standing on the back of a chair ready to jump off in a Wright Brothers impersonation she quickly hurried past Andy.

The flight attendant had watched as Aiden became rowdier and rowdier. Carly had pulled out every trick in her bag to no avail. Taking pity on the mother, the woman offered to let Aiden race up and down the boarding gate hall. With Carly on the terminal end and the other door locked he could run and race to his hearts content and burn off some of the pent up energy. Carly gladly accepted and let the boy go wild. Up and down the hallway Aiden ran and jumped, tumbled to the floor and shot up again.

"HEY MOM! WATCH THIS!" he yelled and came racing toward her. He threw himself into a forward tumble then leapt to his feet and executed a wild arm chop, "I'm a ninja!"

Andy had walked by just as he yelled and watched the entire stunt. He paled at the end, the gesturing clicking in his mind like the final piece of a puzzle. He'd seen that excited expression his entire life... from his older brother Johnathan.

Aiden sat down beside his mom and patted her on the knee, "I know what I want for my birthday, mom."

Fatigue was thick in her voice, "Oh, what's that?"

"Well, I'm gonna be eight. I want to take karate," not waiting for an answer he raced back to the end of the gate.

Andy dropped down into his vacated spot, "Great kid."

"Yes he is. Thanks," answered Carly nervously. She wasn't happy with the run in with Andy Hillstrand, no good would come from this

"Does he know?" the 'he' in question being entirely obvious by his tone.

"If he doesn't, it's not because I didn't try to tell him," she retorted coldly. "After he threatened to get the restraining order I decided he could just go fuck himself."

Obviously this is a fictional story, but Aiden is based on a little boy I had in class several years ago. He walked in day one and I thought to myself..."OMG, he could be Johnathan Hillstrand's love child!" He talks like him, gestures like him, and looks so much like him it was spooky!

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