AN: Just another quick thank you to all those who reviewed! Happy reading!
In the predawn hours of the following morning, Fiona woke up in a slight panic. She realized it was past the time she usually got up for Liam's early morning feeding. Glancing towards the playpen, she saw it was empty and in the same moment she realized Michael was missing too. Scanning the loft, she noticed the balcony doors were open and could just make out Michael's form on the chair he kept out there. She smiled at the thought that Michael had let her sleep and was at least attempting to bond with his son.
She grabbed Michael's discarded shirt from the night before and quickly threw it on before she headed over to join them. She saw Liam was sitting in Michael's lap, facing him as he spoke quietly to him.
"Looks like Mommy finally woke up," Michael murmured without looking up at Fiona.
"Well if it isn't my two favorite boys," Fiona praised before she leaned down to kiss Michael's cheek and scoop Liam up into her arms. "Was he any trouble for you?"
Michael looked up and smiled. "Nope, we got along just fine. I fed him some food about twenty minutes ago and changed his diaper."
Fiona look genuinely shocked. "You changed his diaper? I would've paid to see that, especially your first time."
Michael got up and kissed her temple before he whispered, "Your loss."
Fiona laughed as she carried Liam inside and sat in Michael's favorite green chair. She pulled her shirt back and started to feed Liam while Michael went and showered. By the time he was clean and dressed, Fiona had Liam fed and changed. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed a yogurt.
"Michael, can you take him while I shower and get ready?" Fiona asked as she joined him in the kitchen area. "I'll be quick, I promise."
He nodded as he took Liam and settled him on his hip. He looked to his yogurt and then back to his son. "This should be interesting," Michael mused as he carefully scooped some yogurt out while trying not to knock the container over. When he succeeded in getting a spoonful, he brought it up to his mouth only to be stopped by a chubby little hand. Michael looked towards his son to see Liam had his mouth open and waiting. "This is my food buddy, not yours. Besides, you just ate," Michael reasoned. He tried again to take a bite when Liam suddenly shrieked. Michael crinkled his face in pain at the sudden intrusion to his ear drum. He looked for Fiona but she was already in the shower. He sighed in frustration before he glanced at his son and noticed Liam was scowling at him.
He couldn't help but laugh. "That is definitely your mother's face."
Liam continued to scowl at his father until Michael finally caved. He carefully brought the utensil to his son's mouth and let him eat some of the yogurt off the tip of the spoon. Liam's lips smacked together and pleased sounds grumbled from him before he happily reached for the spoon again. Michael chuckled as he carefully fed him another bite.
"He is definitely your son," Fiona observed as she approached the kitchen in clean clothes and damp hair.
"Wow, that was quick," Michael noted without taking his eyes off his task at hand.
"When you're a single parent, you learn to do things quickly," Fiona remarked and immediately regretted her words when she saw the look on Michael's face.
Michael cleared his throat and cast his eyes down before he pulled his mask on and smiled. "Is it okay for him to eat this?" Michael questioned as he gave another small amount to Liam.
"I don't see why not. He seems to really like it," Fiona pointed out as Liam opened his mouth for more. "Maybe I should've been feeding him yogurt instead of baby food."
"He probably would actually eat the whole thing," Michael lectured as he fed another bite to Liam. "After all, this is so much better then mushy vegetables, isn't it Liam?"
Liam gurgled happily as he continued to eat almost half of Michael's yogurt. Fiona laughed when Liam settled against Michael's shoulder and yawned. "I've never seen him so content after a feeding," She stated before she pointed to his little tummy that now stuck out of the bottom of his polo shirt. "Look at that distended full belly. Put him in a Hawaiian shirt and we can call him Sam Junior."
Michael's eyes widened at the mention of his best friend. "Oh no, Sam…"
"What is it Michael?" Fiona asked in concern.
"He's gonna be here any min…"
Michael never finished his sentence because the man in question suddenly threw open the loft door and entered.
"Hey Mikey you ready to get this…" Sam froze when he lifted his head to see Fiona standing in front of him. "Fiona you little Celtic pixie, you're back!"
"Hello Sam," Fiona said as she eyed the older man up and down. "Nice to see some things haven't changed. You're looking as bloated as ever. "
"And the troll returns from under her bridge!" Sam mocked and despite their bickering, they moved toward each other and hugged. "You have no idea how rough it was on Mike with you gone. I hope you're sticking around cause I gotta tell ya sister, Mikey needs you," Sam said under his breath so only she could hear.
"Don't worry," Fiona whispered before she pulled back and spoke at normal volume. "Liam and I will be staying in Miami."
"Liam? Who's Liam," Sam questioned.
"This is Liam," Michael answered as he approached them. "Liam is our son."
Sam's jaw went slack as he stared at the little boy who was no doubt Michael's son. "I don't believe it. Michael Westen and Fiona Glenanne are parents."
"Well believe it Uncle Sam," Michael retorted.
Sam suddenly paled. "Oh no, you can't be here. Fi, you gotta take that sweet little baby and leave now." Sam turned to Michael. "If Vaughn finds out you have a kid…"
"Sam, I know. Fiona is leaving town for a few days while we deal with Vaughn," Michael explained.
Sam exhaled in relief. "That's good. Listen, I'll give you guys a few minutes but we gotta get goin Mikey. Jesse is waiting for you at the nuclear facility and your mom is waiting on me to meet with Cowley."
"Nuclear facility? Cowley?" Fiona questioned in concern.
"The facility is where we're going to hide the NOC list and Cowley will hopefully help us defeat Vaughn," Michael explained.
"You take care sister. Hopefully I'll get to know my little nephew after all of this is over," Sam said before he left the loft.
A heavy silence suddenly filled the room. Liam seemed to sense the tension in the air and sucked on his fingers while his head rested against Michael's collarbone.
"If only you could've returned a month ago," Michael wished out loud. "Maybe things would've been different today."
"Michael," Fiona whispered.
He sniffled back the tears that threatened to spill and flashed his winning smile. "It's okay Fi, things happen for a reason. Listen, I need to go and I need you two out of here."
Fiona took Liam into her arms and held her son close. "Be careful Michael. Don't let Liam grow up without his father."
Michael felt like he had been physically punched in the gut with Fiona's words. He sucked in a deep breath before he wrapped his arms around his family. He placed a kiss to Liam's head and then pressed his lips to Fiona's in a desperate need to say goodbye. After a few minutes, Michael reluctantly pulled away and quickly gathered what he needed before he left the loft. Fiona let the tears fall freely when she heard Michael's Charger pull away. Liam started to cry at his mother's distress and she pulled him close as they cried together in Michael's loft.
