Skinner left Kim's house in a hurry. He couldn't believe he did that. He got into his car and sighed. He cared about Kim a lot, more then she even knew, and Hannah, well, who wouldn't love that amazing little girl? He smiled thinking about them. He glanced up at Kim's house as he started his car. He them drove back to his place.
Arriving there he grabbed his bags and went inside. His place was so bare and lonely, he never hung anything on the walls or put anything out on display because it never really felt like home to him.
Even with his ex wife, their place didn't feel like home, it felt more like roommates them anything. Even though she hung pictures up, it didn't feel right. But being at Kim's with her and Hannah, now that was home.
He sat down on the couch to think about things. He enjoyed spending time with Kim, at work and at her place, really enjoyed their dates. What was wrong with him? He removed his glasses and leaned his head back, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He laid his hands in his lap, keeping his eyes shut. It didn't take long before he was asleep.
He woke up with a stiff neck around 4 in the morning. "Oh...why did I do that?" He asked himself and stretched. He got up and went to take a nice hot shower, knowing that the hot water hitting his bare skin and muscles would help with the stiffness in his neck.
Stepping out of the shower, he dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist. He went in and picked out his clothes for work today. He opened the drawer and seen the small box sitting there. He picked it up and held it, opening it up he looked into the box. It was his mothers wedding ring. He looked into the mirror. "What makes you think she'd even consider saying yes... Your old..much older then her... You've been married before.. She could have anyone she wanted..." He sighed as he talked to himself in the mirror. "What are you really afraid of?" He asked and thought about it a moment. "Afraid of falling in love with someone and getting hurt if it doesn't work out." Wow, he was shocked, that was exactly how he felt.
He put the ring back in the drawer and got dressed for work. He'd go in early and start his report.
Arriving at work, he went through his mail and messages. He saw he had meetings all week.. Great, just what he needed, more boring meetings and not enough time for much else.
He saw Kim arrive to work, she didn't say much of anything besides, "good morning sir." And then she got to work. She'd let him know when the people got there for the meetings, gave him his coffee and mail and not say another word. He knew he's messing up a good thing, but he wanted to make sure before taking that big giant step forward.
The week dragged on, meetings went late, but he'd show up and sing Hannah to bed each night, only talking to Kim about Hannah before he'd leave and go back to his place. Each night getting more and more restless and not enough sleep. To busy thinking about everything.
Friday morning came and when Kim got to work, she knocked on the door. "Come in." He said and looked up from his reports.
Kim pushed opened the door and walked in. "Excuse me sir."
"Yes?"
"Um, I was just wondering... Would you mind watching Hannah tomorrow?"
"Of course not!" He smiled, he's missed spending time with her. He looked at Kim. "What's tomorrow?"
"Well, my moms meeting my aunt who's in town for the weekend, Scully is out on a case, and I have a dinner date tomorrow at 4."
Now it was Walters turn for his heart to sink. Did he really miss his chance? "Oh?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry it's short notice."
"No, that's...that's fine." He swallowed hard. He wanted to beat the guys ass... Or his for waiting. "Um... Do you just want me to take her tonight and you can pick her up tomorrow then?"
"You don't mind?" She smiled. "That'd be great." She couldn't wait to see her best friend from high school tomorrow, it's been years.
"Not at all, I will be over after work then."
"Thank you so much... Your a life saver." She smiled and then left the office and went back to work.
Skinner leaned back in his chair after she left, knowing he'd have to figure something out and quickly. The day went like planned, meetings after meetings, getting out after six. He went over to Kim's to pick up Hannah. He was looking forward to his time with her. This will be a good chance to figure out if he could take care of her like a real father would.
He walked up and knocked on the door. He didn't have to wait long before she opened the door. She stepped back. "Come in... I almost have everything together." She walked back to the nursery and was making sure he had diapers, wipes, clothes, toys, everything she'd need for tonight and tomorrow.
He followed her. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Um, Hannah's in her swing if you want to put her in the car seat and get her coat and shoes on her, that'd be great." She said not looking up.
He nodded and walked to the living room. "Hi pipsqueak." He smiled. He put her shoes on before he took her out of the swing. "So, are you gonna like spending time with me this weekend?" He asked and she just cooed at him. "Yeah, me too sweetie." He put her coat on her, some what with difficulty but did get it on her. He put her in the car seat and buckled her up.
Kim walked out with an over stuffed diaper bag.
He smiled at her. "You think I'm really gonna need all that?"
"Better to be safe then sorry." She sat the bag down and then kneeled down to Hannah. "Mommy loves you baby girl, you have fun this weekend ok, I will see you soon." She kissed her head. She looked at Walter. "Thanks for doing this for me." She said and as she spoke she let her hand rest on her stomach, she hasn't felt good for the past two days.
"Not a problem. You go out... Have fun." He bit his lip. He don't know why he said that. He picked up the bag and draped it over his shoulder, he then picked up the car seat, putting the blanket up over to protect her from the light coolness in the air.
"You are gonna have a lot of fun with daddy this weekend pipsqueak." He talked to Hannah the whole way to his place. "We will stay up late partying and getting into trouble." He teased knowing she didn't know what he was talking about. "I know you haven't been to my place all that much, but I hope you like it." He had one of those pack and plays she could sleep in he was sure. She never really stayed for a whole night before, so he never bothered to get one.
Getting home he sat the bag down and took Hannah out of the car seat. "So... This is it... You have the living room here... Then the kitchen, I know it's not big but it works... This way is the bathroom and laundry... Then here is my bedroom and then the guest room here...which I guess will be yours in a few years." He watched her as he spoke, she was looking around at things. He walked back to the living room and sat on the couch. "So, let me ask you...what does your mommy think about me?"
Hannah started talking her baby talk and cooing at him.
He smiled. "Oh...you don't say? So then is it ok with you I ask your mommy to marry me?" He's watching her closely as he talks with her.
She smiles up at him and wraps her hand around his finger, still coping at him but louder now.
"Yeah, I hope she says yes too...I'm just worried about this date tomorrow night she has." He sighed. "Are you hungry sweetie? It's getting late." He seen it was almost 8 at night and this was her bed time. He walked over and got her formula and made her a bottle. He tested it and went about feeding her. He sat in the rocking chair as he feed her, hoping it'd make her more sleepy. She ate most the bottle before she started dozing off. "Ok little one... Let's clean you up and change your diaper, then off to bed you go."
When Walter was done cleaning and changing Hannah he went back to the rocking chair. He started signing to her, his favorite song from Elvis, Love me tender. She seemed to like it and it wasn't long before she was out every time he sang to her.
When she was asleep, he carried her into his room where the pack and play was set up and laid her down. He then got ready for bed himself. Before he laid down, he checked on her, he smiled and then turned the light out and went to sleep.
Hannah woke Walter up three time that night. Once because she went to the bathroom and needed her diaper changed, another because she was hungry and the last was because she got lonely. The last time he put a pillow on the side of the bed, laid Hannah down and laid on his side, they both fell back to sleep, him not so much because a part of him stayed awake to make sure she was ok sleeping on the bed next to him.
Next morning went by quickly, he was surprised, he enjoyed spending more time with Hannah. "What do you say, we go to the store? Daddy needs some food in the house." He put her on the car seat after changing her diaper and unloaded some of the things from the diaper bag, he didn't see why he needed all that. "Ok...off to the store we go." He smiled and they begun their journey.
Getting to the store, he put the car seat in the cart and talked to Hannah the whole time. "So... Bananas or strawberries?" He looked at her and yet she cooed back. "Bananas it is." He picked some put and put them in the cart. "So, this is where everyone comes to get food. It's a store and there's all kinds of stuff here." He walked over and picked up an apple. "Like this... It's an apple...its fruit..and its red." He smiled.
A lady was walking by and heard him. "Wow, I have to say... Most fathers leave the kid at home and come get the food... And yet your here with her and teaching her things... I'm impressed. You're a great dad." She smiled at them both.
He was shocked but smiled at the lady. "Why thank you."
"No...thank you, you just showed me not all men are worthless. And you taking the time to do this... I'm sure she's gonna be one smart little cookie." She smiled and nodded. "Good day to you both." She said and walked off with a smile on her face.
He looked down at Hannah. "Well, that was interesting and kind of her to say huh?" He kept on getting what he needed and talking to her.
"Walter?"
He wasn't listening he was focused on Hannah and the shopping.
"Walter...WALTER?" They said louder.
He turned around at hearing his name and a familiar voice. He scanned the store and that's when he seen her. "Sharon?" He was shocked to see her. He thought she moved away.
"Well, you remember my name." She walked over to him.
"How could I forget...so what brings you here?" He asked. She hasn't changed that much.
"I've been back for a few weeks." She looked at the baby in the cart. "Looks like you have your hands full." She nodded to her.
"Oh...Hannah no, she's not a handful at all." He smiled.
"I'm glad you moved on after our divorce Walter." She smiled. "You deserve to be happy...and you do look happy."
He opened his mouth to explain, but then didn't see the sense in it. He thought of Kim for a moment and frowned. "I am...thank you." He hoped she didn't catch it.
"Well, I need to get going. Nice to see you again Walter." Sharon hugged him.
He hugged back not thinking really. "Bye Sharon." He watched her walk away and he looked down at Hannah and her little lip was quivering. "Oh... Sweetie... It's ok." He rubbed her belly some. "She's nothing to me anymore." He nodded. "Promise." He started pushing the cart again and it was like all the hurt he felt after they broke up and divorced, he never thought he'd be able to love someone or be loved by someone with out hurt again.
As he finished up and got to the front, he looked down at Hannah, he knew he loved Kim and wanted to take that chance again. He wanted to have a family with her. He had the ring, but the setting would have to be perfect, he will have to make reservations at the nice restaurant in town. He'd ask her then. He smiled wide, hoping all would go smoothly.
