A\N 1: Wow, can't believe I'm writing two ShOliver stories. A huge thank you to all of my friends on Twitter who keep being amazing and so supportive. I really hope you all love this new story.

A\N 2: This story is slightly AU (Alternative Universe) as it differs from the series in a few ways. Shane has a one and a half year old son when she moves to Colorado. Oliver is already divorced from Holly and Joe is already back in his life.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Spoilers: None

Warinings: None

Chapter One

Shane took a deep breath as she hung up her cell phone. Running a hand over her face she went back upstairs to her son. When he had woken up he'd had a fever and was definably not himself. So, she called the daycare to say he wouldn't be coming in and then called into work. She hated calling in sick to work, she'd only been at the job for less then a month. She didn't know anyone that could take her son though.

Maybe moving to Colorado was a bad idea, but she needed to get out of D.C. and away from her ex-boyfriend. When she told him she was pregnant he had said he had zero interest in becoming a father and wanted nothing to do with the baby. Luckily she had help from her mother, but even she couldn't keep her in the city. So she' taken a job in Colorado and moved.

"Mama," One and a half year old Noah cried as he clung to his mother, "Birdie," He looked at her.

"I know baby," Shane kissed her son's forehead. Of all of the things to lose in the move it had to be her son's favourite toy, a stuffed bird he'd gotten from someone. It was the only thing he'd sleep with and the nights without it had been hard. It was even harder now because he was sick and Shane knew that toy would make him feel better. She'd looked in every box and asked her mother to look for it at her house in D.C. Nothing had ben found.

"Let's go downstairs," She carried her son down the stairs onto the first floor and made her way around the boxes she hadn't had time to unpack yet. She settled herself on the couch and held Noah in her arms, "The medicine should make you feel better soon."

"Birdie," Noah began to sob.

Shane felt like crying herself. She hated not being able to find the toy her son wanted. And she hated even more how her life felt like it was out of control. She had no time for anything and with no help, or no friends to talk to she was beginning to get very stressed out. Her colleagues were very nice and she ahd gone out to lunch with them a few times. However she had never been one to share too much about herself and didn't want to tell them about her son just yet. So when she called her boss to tell him she needed the day off she said she was sick.

"Birdie!" Noah yelled. "Mama!"

"I'm sorry," Shane began to cry herself, then in an effort to maybe get Noah distracted she put on the TV.

Half an hour later, when the doorbell rang Noah began to cry again. She stood up, wanting to tell whoever it was to go away, however when she looked through the blinds she saw her boss Oliver.

She didn't deny to herself that she had feelings for him. Something about him very much intrigued him and she felt sparks go off in her body around him. She knew though that he was recently divorced and she figured he wasn't ready for another relationship. Then there was Noah; she knew very few men would want to date her when she had a young son.

"Hi Oliver," Shane opened the door realizing she looked horrible, her hair was a mess and she was still in her sleep pants and shirt.

Oliver opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again; he looked at the baby in Shane's arms. It was clear he was her son; he looked very much like her. Suddenly the reason she sounded so stressed out on the phone seemed to make a little sense, "You seemed rather frustrated on the phone. I came to see if I could be of any assistance."

"Birdie !" Noah screamed loudly as he began to hit and kick Shane.

"You can come in, sorry for the mess," She apologized, "This is my son Noah. He's sick today so he couldn't go to daycare," She explained.

"Ah, Noah. A lovely name, I wasn't aware you read the Bible."

"I don't, I just liked the name," Shane explained.

"Why didn't you tell us about him? I would have understood if you needed to stay home with him. Is that why you're so stressed?"

"Partly. His favourite stuffed bird got lost in the move. He's been having a hard time sleeping without it. I looked for another one but there not the same. I don't even remember where he got this one. It's body was brown but…" She sighed, "It doesn't matter."

"Actually, I think I may be able to help. As it turns out, I've had a passion for birds since I was a child. I think I may have the stuffed bird you're looking for."

"No," Shane shook her head; "I can't take that from you."

"I want to give it to you. I'll be back as soon as I can," He nodded his head and then walked out of the house.

"Well that was interesting," Shane mused as she continued walking Noah around hoping he'd fall asleep. He was able to sleep for around an hour, although in fifteen-minute periods, after which he's wake up quite upset.

When Oliver returned holding the stuffed toy Noah lifted his head off Shane's shoulder, "Birdie," He reached out for the toy. Oliver gave it to him and Noah cuddled with it happily. He held it and began sucking his thumb.

Shane was amazed, the toy was the exact same one that Noah previously had and it seemed to be working very well. Noah was clearly more relaxed and ready for bed. "Thank you. You really have no idea how much this is going to help."

"I'm glad he likes it," Oliver looked at the baby. "If you'd like I can stay here while he sleeps, that way you can get some rest as well. You must be tired."

"No, no. Hopefully he sleeps now and that'll help," Shane began to get nervous.

"Ma-" Noah coughed and then threw up and began to cry again.

Oliver felt sick for a moment. He hated seeing other people throw up, and it usually made him feel sick. However upon seeing how distressed Shane looked he realized he needed to offer some assistance.

"Here," He took Noah into his arms, "Let me look after him and clean him up while you get cleaned up. He noted how Noah had thrown up not just all over himself but all over Shane as well.

"Yeah," Shane wasn't in the mood to argue, "I'll take you to his bedroom," Shane led Oliver up the stairs. "Are you sure you're okay with this. I know you like everything organized and neat."

Oliver was a bit surprised at how Shane had observed that so quickly, "I believe we'll be okay," He assured her. He placed Noah on the changing table and began looking for everything he'd need. Once he had everything he began to change the baby.

"Oh," Noah babbled happily as Oliver cleaned up the stuffed bird as much as he could. He was now dressed in clean clothes and closing his eyes.

Oliver hadn't expected to find the baby this enduring. He was however very cute and at the moment very cuddly as he held him close. As he moved over to the crib he lowered the railings and placed Noah down, "you have a good sleep," He covered him up with the blanket. It didn't take Noah long to fall asleep.

Oliver found Shane in the kitchen sitting at the table still very much stressed out. He walked up to her and sat in the chair beside hers. He waited and hoped that she'd reveal what was stressing her out the most.

"Thank you Oliver. I really…I don't know anyone here in Colorado yet and I just…. I have a headache too."

"Shane," Oliver began slowly, "You have my full support and I know once you tell Norman and Rita about Noah you will have their support as well. Also, if you ever need anyone to watch Noah while you're at work my father is retired. I'm sure he'd love to watch Noah."

"Thanks," Shane nodded her head, "I'll tell them tomorrow. Speaking of work shouldn't you be getting back?"

"We aren't currently looking to deliver a letter. So I told them I was taking most of the day off. Let me help you with something."

Shane looked around her kitchen, "I'm not even sure what to do honestly," She admitted, "I'm feeling kind of lost."

"Well then you'll be happy to know that I am very good at organizing things," Oliver stood up. He walked over to a box, "May I open it?" He asked.

"Sure," Shane nodded her head.

For the next three hours Shane and Oliver worked on putting away things still in the boxes scattered around. While they worked they talked about general things and Shane was happy Oliver was there to help her. He asked her a few questions about Noah but stated clear of questions about his father. Oliver knew that had to be something she told him about on her own.

As Shane went to check on Noah Oliver looked around the living room; it seemed Noah had quite a lot of toys to play with. Some were standard baby toys Oliver had heard of but others seemed to be higher tech like a baby tablet. Oliver didn't think it was necessary for babies to be exposed to that level of technology. However he knew Shane was very high-tech after all her job at the DLO was to provide Internet and tech support.

Shane returned a few minutes later, "He's still sleeping. That's good, he needs to sleep. Hopefully his fever goes down by tomorrow so I can go back to work.

"Yes hopefully," Oliver agreed, "Although I once again request that you get some sleep as well."

Shane yawned and blinked her eyes, she was very tired but there was still a lot to do. She knee though that she'd be able to get things done faster if she wasn't so tired.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, I'm not complaining, Shane yawned again as she made her way upstairs and towards her bedroom.

Three hours later Shane walked into the living room to the most adorable sight. Oliver was sitting on the floor with Noah in his lap. As Noah was putting blocks on top of each other and then knocking them down Oliver was explaining how to build an actual sustainable tower.

"I'm not sure toddlers are known to be good engineer's," Shane smiled, "More like good wrecking balls."

"Mama!" Noah looked up and smiled as he heard his mother's voice. "Oh," He held up his new stuffed bird and waved it around.

"Yes, Oliver gave that to you."

"Oh," Noah again waved the toy around.

"Oh, is the bird named Oliver?" Shane asked her son.

"Yep," Noah replied.

"Yep?" Shane laughed, "Well that's a new word. Where did you learn that?"

"Day," Noah responded.

"Oh at daycare," Shane couldn't help but be amazed at how she was actually having a conversation with her son. He knew enough word now that she was able to actually talk to him. She also assumes she could never love her son even more than he did something like this, and she realized she could.

"Mommy's so glad you're feeling better," Shane lifted him up.

"He woke up around an hour ago. I found a Sippy cup and water, he drank a few sips. He's been playing a little bit but mostly he's just been sitting here while I play. He seems to be found of be building complex structures and letting him knock them down."

"Like I said toddlers are good wrecking balls," Shane sat with Noah on the couch, "Well Noah what do you say we let Oliver go home now. He's been here helping as all day.

"No!" Noah shook his head.

"Oh your first no," Shane wasn't to thrilled about that word. She knew that meant her son would begin saying no to everything,

"Before I depart I was wondering I could show you and Noah around Colorado on Saturday, if he's feeling better of course. I could look up the best places to take young children. That would give you some ideas on what to do with him."

"Sure," Shane smiled, "That sounds good. I'm sure he'll be feeling better by then. He'll probably be back at daycare tomorrow."

"Okay," Oliver stood up.

"Oh," Noah looked at Oliver and then at Shane and began to cry.

Oliver picked Noah up and smiled just a little as Noah kissed him on the cheek. "No?" Bye." He babbled waving his arms.

"Bye's a new word too," Shane announced and was amazed. "What other words do you know?" She began tickling her son's stomach.

"Mama," Noah laughed.

"Well hopefully I'll see you tomorrow," Oliver handed Noah back to Shane and put his shoes on.

"Yes hopefully," Shane smiled in return, "An thank you so much for everything you did today."

"It was my pleasure." Oliver left and closed the front door on his way out.

TBC

A\N: I hope you liked it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.