(Sara)

Sara opened the door, and almost took a step back but stopped herself.

"Michael, um… come in."

He stepped inside and it was then she noticed the small box he held in his hands.

"For David, I hope you don't mind?"

Sara shook her head, "Of course not." After a beat, "David, you're Uncle Michael is here, come say hi."

"Um, don't mind the mess, we're moving soon so…"

Michael's eyebrows shot up at this, but before he could voice any of the questions she saw reflected in his eyes David shot into the room and straight to Michael, where he stopped with a huge grin.

"Hey Uncle Mike!"

Michael was smiling down at him, the gift now hidden safely behind his back. "How goes it, bud?"

David started right in, his voice full of excitement, "We got a new house; it's huge and messed up! But Grandpa Aldo is gonna fix it."

"Really? Hmm. That sounds awesome, David, but I have a house that's, well it's not huge, but it is messed up." Michael brought the 3-D puzzle out from behind his back. "Maybe you can fix it?"

David's eyes lit up instantly. "For real?" He looked to his mother, who nodded.

"Wow, thanks Uncle Mike!" He started shaking the box; the sound rattling through Sara's frayed nerve endings.

"Um, David why don't you get started on that, it looks like a lot of fun."

"Okay, Mom. Hey Uncle Mike, come on!" He grabbed Michael's hand and hauled him away. Before Sara could say a word they were headed into the other room, puzzle box in hand.

XXXXX

Sara looked around at the many boxes and packing materials and sighed in relief. David would keep Michael busy until his grand parents arrived and then maybe, just maybe…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from the other room, "Mom, you gotta see this!"

Well so much for that. Sara tossed down the bubble wrap and headed into David's bedroom to join them. She felt a smile tug at her lips at the sight of them down on the floor surrounded by boxes, the many puzzle pieces spread out around them.

And then she was hit by the memory of herself and Michael at the book drive surrounded by boxes in the overly warm library. The smile fell from her lips, but she forced it back as they looked up at her.

"Wow, that's a lot of pieces. This could take a while."

She moved closer to examine the beginnings of the small house's foundation.

"Look, Mom it has turrets!" David held up the box pointing them out.

Sara raised an eyebrow at this, but Michael just shrugged his shoulders with a grin.

"That's very nice David. Um, Michael would you like some iced tea? Milk sweetie?" She said ruffling David's curls.

Michael looked up from the puzzle, "Iced tea would be great, thanks."

"Can we have cookies too, Mommy? David turned on the charm, his sky blue eyes going wide.

Sara scrunched up her eyes and smiled at him letting him know she was on to his game, but giving in just the same. "Well…maybe one cookie. You're Poppy will be here soon to pick you up, and we wouldn't want you bouncing off the walls."

David's shoulders fell a little, and then he looked to his uncle. "I have to get a hair cut today...My Poppy's taking me"

Michael looked at him and ran a hand over his own closely cropped head. "I think maybe I need a trim myself."

David giggled. "You hardly have any hair, why would you do that?"

Sara left the two of them, their voices and laughter trailing after her into the kitchen.

(Michael)

"Watch this..."

David leaned in close and examined the pieces of the turret as they went together in Michael's hands.

"Awesome!"

Michael handed it to him and watched as his face lit up. The kid was amazing. In most ways David was pretty much like any other five year old; it was only when he started talking about base isolation that he blew you away. And then it was almost like talking to a mini Aldo.

Michael watched him now as he added another piece to the puzzle house. He felt an ache start in his chest and move up his throat at the very idea David might be his son. And if he was…Michael hated to think of how much he had missed out on. He had missed so much of his life. He swallowed hard and tried to smile as David looked up at him.

"Is something wrong Uncle Mike?"

He shook his head. "Nope, every thing's great, David. I was just thinking there's no place I'd rather be right now...I'm having fun hanging out with you."

Michael looked up as Sara entered the room with a tray bearing drinks and a plate of cookies. She handed him a glass of iced tea, and he couldn't help but notice the care she took so she wouldn't so much as graze his fingers in the exchange. He took a sip and set it aside, careful to keep it out of range of small feet.

"Here you go, sweetie," Sara said as she handed David his milk and a cookie from the plate.

"Thanks, Mom," And then the cookie was on its way to his mouth.

Sara smiled and sat down, her back straight as she perched on the edge of the bed. She was holding her iced tea in both hands, running a thumb along the bottom of the glass.

"You want a cookie Uncle Mike?" David said as he dunked what remained of his own cookie into the milk.

Michael's eyes snapped up from the glass to David's face. "Um, I ah, yeah, sure."

Sara held out the plate to him and their eyes met briefly before she looked away. Was she thinking the same thing he was? Was she thinking of the last time they had shared a plate of cookies? He couldn't not think of it. In fact even the sight of a chocolate chip cookie had brought forth that memory on so many occasions he had lost count.

He watched as David dunked his cookie again, his own cookie forgotten in his hand as the memories washed over him, Sara insisting it was perfectly okay to dunk your cookie into your milk and then drink it regardless of the floaty things. He felt a smile tugging at his lips as he remembered her words. "It makes floaty cookie things..."

Sara's head shot up at the words he hadn't even been aware he was voicing. Their eyes met and what he saw in her coppery depths left him breathless. And then she was looking away...the moment broken by the turning of her head.

"You wanna dunk it...it's the best way?" David held the glass of milk out in offering.

Michael shook his head. "Um, no thanks, buddy, I think I'll pass this time."

David shrugged as if to say oh well, and chugged the milk down, floaty cookie things and all. Apparently he was like his mother where cookie eating etiquette was concerned.

Sara was reaching for the empty glass when the doorbell rang.

(Sara)

Sara slid off the bed grateful for the interruption, but also reluctant to answer the door. But only because she knew who it was; David's Poppy come to take him for the rest of the afternoon. And once David was out the door she would be left alone with those eyes...with Michael.

The look on his face after speaking her own words in the quiet bedroom had floored her, adding to the memories that assaulted her at the very sight of him sitting there on the floor, cookie in hand just like that late night so long ago that was forever trapped in her memory.

She had had to look away then, but his words, her words coming from his mouth, the admittance that he too was remembering that night and all it had meant had forced her eyes back to him, and she had found herself getting lost for just a moment in the blue depths of feeling shining from his eyes.

She felt a shiver course through her now as she excused herself and made her way from the room. She took a deep breath and let it out, before swinging the front door open wide.

"Alex, how are you?" She hugged her son's grandfather warmly.

"I'm perfect, Sara. How bout you? Your not working too hard are you?" His eyes traveled passed her to the many boxes littering the floor.

"Absolutely not. Listen, I know David has an appointment soon, so come on in and I'll go get him for you."

"Sounds good, we are running a little late." Alex Apolskis glanced at his watch and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"I'll be right back." Sara promised, and leaving him standing in the living room she headed back to David's room.

Despite being pressed for time she stopped in the doorway and watched the two builders working away. She found herself reluctant in more ways then one to break it up.

She cleared her throat a little and Michael looked up.

Avoiding his eyes she instead focused her attention on her son. "David, Poppy is here. It's time to go."

David looked up from his construction. "Awww...Mom! Please just a little longer? Uncle Mike said he was having fun."

Sara smiled, "Something tells me Uncle Michael isn't the only one having fun, but there is always a next time, right?"

David sighed and put the puzzle pieces down.
But then he looked up, his eyes hopeful. "Will you come back tomorrow, Uncle Mike, please?"

Michael looked from David to Sara, and then back to David. "I don't know if I can tomorrow, pal, but I will soon, I promise. That is if it's okay with your mom?"

Sara nodded as two pair of eyes identical in color, shape and intensity looked upon her questioningly. "Of course its okay, but Poppy's waiting, so say goodbye now sweetie."

Michael was moving to stand when David threw his arms around him knocking him backwards. Sara watched as Michael hesitated and then his arms came up around David hugging him close.

Michael was facing her, his back to the bed, his eyes closed tight as he held his son.

Sara took a deep breath suddenly feeling like there wasn't enough air in the room, as it became all too clear.

He knew.