A/N: I'm really enjoying writing this story, like I said before, it's probably going to be quite long. Something to do over hiatus and whatnot. Please feel free to leave any reviews, comments, or suggestions. :D I really appreciate them.

He pulled her along behind him, floating slightly as he felt her fingers curl around his. She kept talking about seeing New York in a new way, seeing the real city. Well, he thought maybe he could be the one to show it to her.

She laughed, finding his enthusiasm contagious. "Oh, Danny, look at all these people. I thought only people being interrogated by Ice-T on SVU played chess in the park."

He rolled his eyes, slowing their pace so they could leisurely stroll past the occupied tables. "I wish I had my set with me."

"Your set?"

"My chess set. My uncle Silvio gave me a really nice one when I was a kid. He used to bring me here a lot." He laughed, remembering the mischievous old man. "As much as he irritated my mother, she had little choice when it came to childcare. He used to bring me and Richie here sometimes in the summer to play in the fountain when we were kids. He'd spend a whole day playing blitz chess with his buddies." Amusement bubbled up in his chest. "Silvio was kind of the black sheep of the family, carousing with his buddies, never having a steady job."

A note of sadness infiltrated his voice, and Mindy squeezed the hand clasping hers. "Does he still come and play?"

Danny smiled sadly, looking down at their clasped hands before answering her. "No. He died years ago, before I even finished school. He was old even when I was a kid." A thickness in his throat found its way into his words. "He actually taught me to play here. I always thought maybe…" He trailed off, surprised at the direction of his thoughts.

Their pace slowed, and he slipped his hand from hers, feeling slightly out of his element. She wouldn't let it go though. "You thought maybe what?"

He shook his head, walking slightly ahead of her. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

She felt strange as he pulled ahead of her, palm tingling from the absence of his touch. She scurried behind him, returning to his side. "Aren't we friends? Who else are you going to tell dark childhood secrets to? Tell me, tell me, tell me."

He shrugged, wishing he hadn't let the wistful little comment slip. "It's not a dark childhood secret." It was stupid really, and a little too revelatory, but he found the pathetic truth spilling from his lips. "I just thought by now I'd be coming here with my own kid or something." He shrugged off the vulnerability he felt, clearing his throat. "But, it is what it is."

Mindy was quiet, unable to articulate an appropriate response. Sure, she felt bad for Danny, but the own failure of a relationship was too fresh in her mind to feel really sorry for him on that front. She had her own doubts about ever having a family, and didn't feel like she was in the position to be very helpful. They continued to walk, coming upon a small group of people peering down at a pair of chess players in fascination.

Walking up to the edge of the little group, Mindy and Danny peeked over shoulders to see what had drawn such fascination. A little boy, around four years old, was squared off against a middle aged gentleman. The juxtaposition of the two was almost comical to Mindy. The child sat on his knees, popping up occasionally to reach across the board and dramatically shift the position of a piece, a little ball of vibrating energy coursing through him as he slammed his tiny palm down on the timer.

The kid was something of a prodigy, and after a few minutes his opponent hung his head in defeat, reaching across the painted table to shake his conqueror's hand. The child accepted the proffered hand, beaming up at a somewhat younger man beside him. "Daddy, can I play again?"

His father's eyes crinkled, surprised laughter rumbling in his chest. "Sure, son, if anyone wants to play you." He glanced around at the crowd, eyebrows raised in inquiry. "Any takers?"

Suddenly the very interested crowd of men found other things to look at, several throats were cleared, followed by an uncomfortable silence. The little boy's face fell, his shoulders slumping in disappointment. The picture tugged at Mindy's heart, and she couldn't just stand there.

She wedged a shoulder between two tweed jackets standing in front of her wiggling her way to the table. "Excuse me. Pardon me. Coming through."

Danny watched her in fascination as she sat down across from the child. Without a word she began to arrange the chess pieces on the table. A smile tugged at the corner of Danny's mouth. The child stared at Mindy in unabashed curiosity, his eyes wide pools, his little mouth dropped open involuntarily. Danny could relate.

Finally, the chess pieces set up, Mindy looked turned her attention to the child. "Hi, my name is Mindy. What's yours?"

The child immediately turned his attention to his father, unsure of what he should do. This was the first time any of his opponents had cared to ask his name, looking at him as something other than an exhibition of freakish ability.

His parent nodded in encouragement and the child's whole demeanor changed immediately, a bright little smile splitting across his face. "I'm Bobby, and this is my daddy. His name is Bobby too, but people call him Robert. Your coat is very green."

Mindy nodded. "Yes, it is. Are you ready to play?"

In answer, he reset the timer and made his first move, continuing to talk to her. "It's the same color as Kermit the frog. Green is my favorite color."

Mindy made her own move, slapping the timer beside her in satisfaction. Danny watched them silently, their match lasting much longer than the one with the previous opponent. So much so that the other spectators began to drift away until it was just the four of them. Bobby and Mindy completely immersed in their match and also a conversation about the muppets, Danny standing silently next Robert.

"People usually don't engage him like this. They're too busy trying to beat the prodigy, they don't really view him as a child." He laughed when Bobby excitedly popped up on his knees after a particularly good move, tapping the timer happily. "You two have kids?"

The question took Danny by surprise, and he attempted to stammer out a reply. "Us? We… um.. no. It's not really…. well, we're not… You see…" He trailed off, disappointed in his ability to define his relationship with Mindy. He couldn't say he'd never thought about what having kids with her would be like. They were both old enough to know that if they wanted children they'd have to do it soon, so he shouldn't have felt weird about picturing their future children within weeks of officially dating her, or feeling an acute sense of loss when he thought about it now. He sighed. "We're not together."

"Oh, sorry man." He didn't look sorry, in fact, the smile on his face broadened. "So, she's available? I mean, dating is hard in the city, man, especially when you're a single dad. So?"

Jealousy burned in his stomach, and his situation suddenly felt hopeless. Mindy would never forgive him when she found out about his deception. And this guy? He was just one in a city of thousands. Before he could respond, Robert's voice intruded on his thoughts. "So, not available then…"

Danny's mouth dropped open, feeling he should correct the man's assumption, but the words caught in his chest and the man nodded sympathetically. "Better figure it out soon, man. She doesn't look like someone who will wait around."

As if on cue, the child's voice rang out excitedly. "Checkmate!"

Mindy nodded, gracefully accepting defeat. "Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have put my King there."

The child giggled, stretching across the table to extend his hand to Mindy. She took it, the pudgy little one enveloped in her own. The smile on her face tugged at something deep within Danny, making him feel desperate.

Bobby excitedly rose to his feet in the chair as Mindy stood up. "Want a rematch?"

Robert stepped up, interrupting his overly excited son. "Wait a minute, buddy." He tapped his watch. "We have to go. You should thank the nice lady for playing with you."

The child pouted, sticking out his bottom lip, looking up at his father with puppy dog eyes. Robert was firm, not giving to the oft used ploy. Finally Bobby gave up, turning back to Mindy. "Thank you for playing with me."

He still looked disappointed, and Mindy bent down to him, resting a hand on his shoulder before pulling him in for a little hug. "We can play again the next time we're both here, okay?"

When she pulled away, Danny could see the utterly smitten look on the child's face. She was an easy person to love, and it was hard for him to believe that she doubted her ability to connect with children sometimes.

Bobby grinned, jumping down from his perch and capturing his father's hand. The two departed, Bobby occasionally glancing back at Mindy to wave. A small, almost sad smile, graced her features as she walked along beside Danny. He coughed slightly, attempting to clear away the drowning sensation in his chest. "Uh, so, I didn't know you played chess."

She laughed, slipping her arm through his once again. He sighed involuntarily, hoping she didn't realize how he craved her touch.

"I haven't played in forever. It was something I always did with my dad. I've never really enjoyed playing with anyone else."

He glanced at her, happy to finally see some of the sadness that had settled around her eyes was finally evaporating. "You could always play with me… If you get the urge or something. I mean, I'm no child prodigy, but I think I can hold my own. In fact, I'm not sure you'd be able to beat me."

Squeezing his arm, she sent him a sidelong glance. "Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe. You interested?"

"Maybe."