co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo


Alden giggled when Ryann pushed her on the swings and Mike stood back and smiled. He didn't understand how she seemed to have this power over him. How she could make him break out of the haze of Nikki's memory and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Uncle Mike, come play." Alden yelled to him. He laughed and headed over.

"It seems like you're having a great time." Mike said to them both.

"Ryann's fun." Alden smiled. "Can I play in the sandbox?"

"Of course." Mike said as he helped Ryann stop the swing and Alden headed over to the sandbox. Mike and Ryann headed over to the bench nearby. "Thanks for coming today."

"My pleasure. She's a wonderful little girl. It's obvious you love her very much." Mike nodded.

"I do. Alden and her cousin Brandon...they're as close as I'll ever get to babies of my own."

"Oh I doubt that." She replied. "You have plenty of time."

"Yeah but I don't think I will fall in love again." He said as he looked toward Alden who was building a castle in the sand. "I loved my wife more than anything and I can't image loving or being with anyone else." He sighed and then smiled toward Alden. "Besides, I think Alden would be jealous. She likes to have me all to herself."

"I can see why. You're a very caring person with a good soul. And I don't think your wife would want you to waste that. I know Jack would have wanted me to move on. And I'm trying to put my life back together. It just takes time, faith and friends who aren't afraid to give you a little push."

"Yeah, I guess so." He said as Alden ran up to him.

"Uncle Mike, I'm hungry."

"Well it is lunch time." Ryann said to them. "How about we go to this place I know that makes the best sandwiches."

"Okay but no tomatoes."

"Oh do you not like tomatoes?"

"Actually she's allergic. It's a rare allergy but she is." Mike replied.

"Well then Miss Alden...no tomatoes. Promise." She smiled and held her hand out to Alden and Alden smiled and took it. They walked to the sandwich shop not far from the park and Ryann went up to talk to her friend Danielle who was the owner. Alden looked over at Mike as he looked over the menu.

"Uncle Mike?"

"Yes princess?"

"Do you like Ryann?"

"She's a nice lady. Why?"

"Because maybe she could help you not be so sad anymore."

He smiled slightly. "What makes you think I'm sad princess?"

"Because of Aunt Nikki. Mommy and daddy worry about you." She said with a small frown. "I worry too."

He sighed. "Princess, you don't have to worry. Mommy and daddy don't have to worry. I get better each day and as long as I have you and Brandon in my life, I will be fine. I promise."

"Okay but that doesn't mean she can't help you."

"How did you get so smart?" He laughed.

"Daddy says I take it after mommy."

"I agree with your daddy there." He smiled as Ryann came back over with the sandwiches. Mike smiled as she sat down and handed Alden her sandwich.

"No tomatoes." She said and then she handed Mike his sandwich. "And I got you a ham. You just seem like the type to me."

"It's my favorite." Mike said.

"Mine too. Extra meat, just a little mayo with pickles." Alden giggled.

"You sound like Uncle Mike." Ryann smiled and looked over at her.

"Do I?"

"Yeah huh. That's how he always gets Mommy to make them." Ryann smiled.

" I'll have to remember that."

"How old are you?"

"Alden, that's not a polite question to ask." Mike said.

"It's okay. I'll be 30 in a few weeks." Ryann said.

"You're almost as old as Uncle Mike." Ryann laughed. Mike smiled and shook his head.

"You're almost as bad as your Mommy. You know that?" Mike said as he reached over and tickled her.

"Daddy says that too." Alden said giggling. Ryann smiled. "But she's pretty Uncle Mike."

"Well, thank you, Alden." She smiled. "And I think you're a very pretty little girl."

"Don't you think she's pretty, Uncle Mike?" Alden said with a little smile.

Mike looked at Ryann. "She is pretty."

"Well, thank you too." Ryann smiled.

They finished up lunch and walked back to the park where the cars were. "Well, I think I better get Alden home. It seems like nap time for her." Mike said as he looked at Alden who he knew was getting sleepy.

"I understand." Ryann smiled. "Well, Alden, it was nice to meet you and I hope to see you again."

"You will. Uncle Mike gets me once a week sometimes."

"Well, see you next time then." Ryann smiled. "I'll see you around Mike."

"See you later." Mike said as she walked away. He turned to Alden. "Alright little miss. Let's go." He drove her home and smiled when he saw she was asleep in the car. He carried her in and Melody smiled.

"Did you guys have a good time?" Mike nodded.

"We did. We had breakfast and then went to the park and played and then had lunch. She's such a sweet girl."

"She loves you." Melody said as she took her.

"I love her too." He laid her down in her room and kissed her on the forehead. She opened her eyes a little. "Hey princess, didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay Uncle Mike. I had so much fun to today."

"Me too."

"Are you going to see Ryann again?" Alden asked. "She's so nice and so pretty and she smells like cupcakes." Mike laughed.

"I don't know sweetie. But don't you worry about that okay?"

"Okay. I love you Uncle Mike." He smiled.

"I love you too." He hugged her and then walked out of her room.

"So who's Ryann?" Melody asked.

"She's my neighbor. She owns the bakery where I brought the cupcakes from the other night. We had breakfast there this morning and Alden decided to try and play matchmaker."

Melody smiled. "Well, John does say that she takes after me." She laughed. "I remember I was a pretty good matchmaker."

He smiled slightly. "Yes you were."

"Mike, let's head downstairs." She didn't want to wake up Alden. They headed into the kitchen and sat down. "I know you're not ready to move on and that's okay. But Nikki would want you too. She wouldn't want you to be alone."

"I know but I'm not ready."

"I know that. And that's fine. But it wouldn't hurt for you to get to know her as a friend." She smiled. "And that doesn't mean you have to fall in love with her or anything like that. But it wouldn't hurt to have a friend. Especially since she owns a bakery and smells like cupcakes."

"Smelling like cupcakes is a plus then?" Mike asked.

"Always."

"She asked me to have dinner with her tonight."

"Then you better go get ready for it."

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for it."

Melody smiled and hugged him. "Just be her friend. No one is telling you that you have to marry her or anything. Just enjoy having her as a friend."

He smiled. "Thanks Mel. I will talk to you later."

"Thanks for taking Alden today."

"Anytime." He hugged her and left.

Melody smiled as he left. This was definitely a step in the right direction for him And now she wanted to know more about Ryann.

She picked up the phone and called Jamie.

"Hello?"

"Hey, you feel like taking a trip into town tomorrow?"

"Sure. But what's up?"

"I think Mike's kind of seeing someone and I want to meet her."

"Translation, you want to spy on her. I'm totally in."

"Great. You and Brandon come here and we will go from there."

"Okay." Jamie hung up. She wondered about this girl too.

Melody smiled and headed into the kitchen. If Alden like this girl and Mike did too, then she couldn't wait to meet her.

Ryann locked up the shop and headed home. She'd had a great day with Mike and Alden. And she was hoping he'd take her up on the invitation to dinner. She headed home and in her apartment. She began making dinner and hoped Mike would show up.

Please Review!