A/N: So I wrote a one shot before this (it's terrible written) called Arms Wide Open, which was a nonsense bit of prequel to this, just so you know that in this story, Kevin and Jenny have already had a baby girl named Riley Kathrine Ryan. (So named by my lovely friend Taylor) Riley's about 11 months to a year when this begins. It's going to be a multi chapter, but I have tests and whatnot, so I may not update constantly. It's just something to do while we wait out the five weeks until more episodes. It's got a slow beginning, but I promise that it picks up in the next chapter. As always, R&R and hang in there! Yours 'till the wheels fall off ;)

"Quietly while you were asleep, the moon and I were talking. I asked that she'd always keep you protected. She promised you her light that you so gracefully carry. You bring your light and shine like morning."-Sade

Detective Kevin Ryan loaded the last dish into the dishwasher and turned it on. Casting a sidelong glance at the oven clock, he sighed and moved towards the door. He and Esposito were scheduled to do some follow up on a lead they'd gotten on a case. Why they hadn't done it earlier, he didn't know. Jenny shuffled into the kitchen just as he was shrugging into his jacket. She helped him with it and then kissed his cheek.

"I finally got Riley to bed," she told him.

"Good," he said honestly, smiling and spinning around to kiss her again. Riley was going on a year now (actually, she was eleven months and fifteen days, but who was counting?), and it seemed like she never slept. She may have looked like an angel with her sweet, soft dark blond curls, deep dimples, and twinkling gray-green eyes, but when it was bedtime...That was a whole other story. But Ryan smiled to himself in spite of it all. He loved Riley with his whole heart, so much it hurt, sometimes. He wanted to believe that he was being a good parent, but that was hard to do when he was working all of the time.

"Going out?" Jenny asked suddenly, startling him from his thoughts. He shook his head clear hugged her to him, resting his head on top of hers.

"Follow up with Javi, shouldn't take too long," he replied. He felt Jenny laugh against his chest, and he smiled.

"You're going to be late, Kevin," she warned, pulling away. He sighed and started toward the nursery.

"I know, just let me say bye to Riley first," he called softly, opening the door as soundlessly as he dared. Riley lay asleep in her crib, just as Jenny had said. One hand was curled around her teddy bear, and the other lay open at her side. He smiled with pride as he looked down at his daughter. Javier had been right. She was going to be a heart breaker. Ryan hooked his thumb through her impossibly tiny empty fist and watched her as she slept.

"Thank you," he said silently to no one in particular, "And...keep them safe." The last request had taken him off guard, but he felt like he needed to say it. He didn't know why. What he did now, however, was that he was late. He could feel his phone vibrating in his pants pocket. Not wanting the phone to wake Riley, Kevin stayed by her side for a moment longer before he left the room, closing the door silently behind him. It was only then that he picked up the phone.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming..."

Javier Esposito sat waiting in his car outside of his partner's house. Gates had assigned them to do some follow up on the case that they were working on. He usually wouldn't have minded, but today, it seemed, he and Lanie had finally gotten their groove back. And anyway, he knew for sure that the lead wouldn't check out, but they had to put the hours into it anyway. Ryan opened the door, and Javier greeted him by handing him a cup of lukewarm coffee. He took a sip and then looked sideways at him.

"What?" Esposito asked.

"Why's it so cold?" Ryan complained, making a face. Javier had to bite back his laughter.

"It's not cold, you're just late." Now Kevin was the one who laughed.

"Whatever, bro." He drank it anyway. Esposito's own cup was already empty.

"How's my girl?" he grinned, putting the key back into the ignition and starting the engine. Just over two or three months ago, he'd been made Riley's godfather. Lanie had been made her godmother, and if that hadn't put them back together, then he didn't know what had.

"Jenny just got her to bed, finally, so she'll probably sleep for all of an hour before she wakes up again." His partner was tired. He could see it in his eyes. Ryan had come into the 12th with horror stories about sleepless nights and diaper changing nightmares, and they'd made Esposito laugh until tears came to his eyes. Kevin always came back with his usual retort, "Wait 'till it happens to you." That usually shut him up. Esposito smiled to himself anyway and put the car in drive.

Just as they'd thought, the lead hadn't checked out at all, and when his partner dropped him back off home, Kevin Ryan was dead on his feet. He stuck the key in the lock, but to his surprise, the door opened easily without it. Immediately, he was wary. He drew his gun out and stepped cautiously inside.

"Jenny?" he called loudly, somehow already knowing that the house was empty. He tried again anyway, desperately hoping that maybe the sound of his voice would wake Riley, and Jenny would come to check on her, and his fear would be put to rest. But that didn't happen. The nursery door was wide open. He closed his eyes and tried to stifle the feelings, but he just couldn't. He knew what he would find if he kept walking, but he forced himself forward. The only thing inside of Riley's crib was her teddy bear. Placing his gun down, he picked it up. There was a note pinned to its chest. It said simply:

Let the games begin.