Chapter 3: Restless night

When Lucy and Lilly came back into the living room, Lucy proceeded to grill Scotty about his love life much to the annoyance and discomfort of both Lilly and Scotty respectively. After she left, Lilly sighed "Sorry about her" Lilly said "She just has to know everyone's business" Scotty laughed. Lilly showed Scotty to the spare room "Sorry it's not the Ritz but it's a dam sight better than your crappy hotel bed" Scotty looked down at the single bed, he hadn't slept in a single bed since he was a kid, he wasn't sure if he'd fit but he grinned at her "Its fine Lil" Scotty said putting his duffle bag on the edge of the mattress.

"I'll be in the living room if you need me, this case is driving me nuts" as she walked back down the hallway to the living room. He followed her back out and sat down on the chair opposite her "Mind if I have a look?" he asked "fresh pair of eyes might help"

She nodded and pushed the file towards him "Could use one of your crazy angles right about now" Lilly said with a smile.

Scotty chuckled "Hey wouldn't be the first time one of my crazy theories panned out" he said defensively as he perused the file.

"Probably a good thing you aren't in my squad, your heads so big I doubt you'd fit through the door" Scotty laughs again and is about to reply when the sound of Annie's cries interrupt them. Lilly sighs and closes the file in front of her "I'll go Lil" Scotty says standing up.

"She's in the room next to yours" Lilly called after his retreating back. Scotty reappeared, a short time later holding the sobbing Annie in his arms. She's clinging fiercely to his shirt, her eyes red and swollen. Scotty starts bouncing her in his arms again and she soon calms down. He rubs her back, whispering to her softly in spanish

Lilly look at her partner curiously, she never knew he was so good with kids "What are you saying to her?" she asked

"Just a lullaby my grandma used to sing to Mike and I when we were little" he said

"You ever thought of having kids?" She asked him

"Yeah, someday" Scotty replies honestly "Elisa and I wanted a bunch of kids, but after she died..." he trailed off not wanting to dreg up those painful memories "...I kinda forgot about any of that, but lately I been thinking maybe it's time I find someone settle down, you know have a family"

"You'll find the right girl Scotty; you're a really great guy. Any woman would love to have a family with you" Lilly's eyes returned to her paperwork and Scotty kept his eyes fixed on her. Would she wanna have kids with me, he thought to himself...if I told her I loved her would she want a family with him. Clearing his throat, he looked down at Annie to find her drifting off to sleep again "I'll go put her down" Scotty said softly.

Lilly nodded distractedly and Scotty left the room. As he placed Annie back in her crib, he lightly kissed her forehead "One day, I am gonna tell your beautiful aunt how much I love her and we are gonna give you cousin."

...

Scotty didn't sleep well that night, in the unfamiliar bed and with Lilly asleep in the room across the hall he just couldn't get comfortable. So when he heard her rousing at a very indecent 5:30, he figured he might as well just get up too. In true Lilly Rush fashion, she was already dress and ready to go to work, her hair done up in her usual pony tail that used to drive him to distraction when they were partners. He had to resist the temptation to sneak up behind her and trail kisses down her long, elegant neck.

"Mornin Lil" he said happily he'd managed to sound normal

"Morning Scotty, sleep okay?" she inquired as she put her bagel in the toaster.

"Kinda" he replied honestly

"Annie didn't wake you up did she, sometimes I wonder how someone so small can make all that noise" Lilly said pouring herself a very strong looking coffee.

"You going in early?" he asked, pouring himself an equally strong cup.

Lilly shrugged "I am always in before 6:30, lotta paperwork to do." Lilly said grabbing her bagel and taking a bit as she gathered her files "Never knew how much work Boss did, running a squad is hard work" Lilly grabbed her bag and sighed, she handed him a set of keys. "Here, in case you and Annie want to go somewhere, Scotty took the keys from her. "Annie's pram is in her room and so is the diaper bag" Scotty nodded "My numbers are on the fridge, in case you need to call me" and she continued to rattle of a list of seemingly overly complicated set of instructions.

"I got it Lil" he said smiling at her "I babysit for Mike all the time"

Lilly sighed, realising that she was probably going a bit overboard. "I am sorry, I am just a little over protective" Scotty nodded and Lilly walked towards the door.

"I'll see you later" she said and she opened the door and walked out. Scotty figured he'd better have a quick shower before Annie woke up and as luck would have it, she stayed asleep long enough for him to shower and shave. He heard her crying as he finished wiping his face and when he hurried into her room her saw her sitting in her crib. She quietened when she spotted him, reaching her arms up to him picking her up he realised the reason for her discomfort. After a quick diaper change, he got her changed and carried her into the kitchen to find them something to eat. "What do you think your aunty Lil has for breakfast?" Scotty asked her, putting her in her highchair.

He started looking through the pantry "How 'bout strained peas?" he said showing her the bottle. Annie blew a raspberry at him and he laughed "Yeah not my favourite either" Scotty said taking out a bottle of mashed Banana instead. He opened the jar and began to feed her.

...

When breakfast was finished (and Scotty had cleaned up the mash Banana off the walls) he carried her into the living room, placing her into the playpen. His cell phone rang and he picked it up and flipped it open.

"Valens"

"Hey man, how's it goin up there in the big apple?" Vera's gruff voice asked "Managed to convince Lil to come home yet?"

"I've been here less than two days Nicky, gotta give me time" Scotty replied

"Come on, all you gotta do is go all mushy on her and tell her love and all that other crap you've been poutin bout these last five months and bring her back to Philly where she belongs" Vera said

"It ain't that simple, I can't just spring it on her" Scotty protested

"Well hurry up will you" Vera pleaded

"I am laying the groundwork" Scotty said "I am taking care of her niece while she's at work, I am even stayin in here spare room, just gotta give me time" Scotty replied, sitting down on her couch. "Look man I gotta go" he hung up; Scotty started to get ready to go out. Deciding he needed a run to clear his head, he picked up Annie, strapped her into her pram and headed out the door.