I'm sorry this is so short, but it's all I have for now. And I know I said Lena and Mark would get together and Lena and Shay would be better explained in this chapter, but that's not happening, either. I promise it will happen in chapter 5, though, once all the Bohemians find out about Roger and Shay, OK? Enjoy what I've got for you, because this is my last update for this story until June 10th!

"I'm not sure I can do this," Roger said, as he stopped walking, a few feet away from the Life Café entrance.

"Roger, stop it," Maureen said. "You told Shay you'd be there and you're gonna be. Don't make me drag you. Now come on, you put the little boy's hopes up."

Roger nodded. "I did, didn't I?" he asked her. Maureen nodded, raising a brow. "OK, all right, I'm going."

Roger smiled at Maureen before walking into the Life Café. He looked around for a moment, and then he saw Shay and Noah waving at him from their table. He went over to them and sat down.

"Hi," he said to the two of them.

"Hi," Shay and Noah replied.

"How are you two tonight?" Roger asked, looking over at them.

"Good," they replied.

"So what do you want to order?" Roger asked, trying to get past his awkwardness of being with Shay again.

"Oh, let's wait to order," Shay said, smiling. "We can get to know you a little better."

Roger swallowed and nodded. "OK," he said, and the waiter that had come over left courteously. "Well, um, what do you want to know? Or I should say," he changed his mind, "what do you not already know from Mimi?"

"Well, she said you played guitar and that you were in the middle of writing a song," Shay said. "Did you ever finish it?"

"Yeah," Roger said, "but only, like, a week before she died."

Shay nodded. "I'm sorry," she said. "But at least she got to hear it, right?"

Roger smiled and nodded as well. "Yeah," he said, "anything else?"

Over the next hour or so, Roger was surprised. With Shay, he never seemed to run out of things to say. Eventually, he got over his nervousness, because she was so easy-going, and they talked and ate together until Noah was done eating and starting to get tired.

"Hey, baby boy," Shay said, "we'd better get you home and to bed. It's almost your bedtime. OK?"

"OK," Noah said, and Shay picked him up. "Check, please," she added to the waiter.

"Oh… no, Shay, you don't have to," Roger said uncomfortably, looking down at her.

Shay shook her head. "It's fine," she said. She looked up at him. "You can pay next time."

"Yeah, but…" Roger began, but Shay gave him a look and he relented. "All right, I'll pay next time. Thanks, then."

Shay smiled and Roger's knees wobbled. "You're welcome," she said, and they walked out of the café. When they got back to Shay's apartment, Roger went in with her and she got Noah in his pajamas and ready for bed. Just when Shay was going to close the door and leave the room with Roger, Noah got out of bed and went up to them.

"Roger?" he asked.

"Yeah, kiddo?" Roger asked, crouching down to look at the little boy.

"Can you read me a bedtime story?" he asked.

"Sure, kiddo," Roger said, smiling at him and then at Shay, who was looking surprised. "Which one do you want me to read to you?"

Noah went over to his bookshelf on one of his walls and scanned the books for a moment. Then he picked one out. "This one," he said, smiling at Roger.

"Ooh, Goldilocks," Roger said, "one of my favorites from when I was your age." He looked up at Shay and grinned. "OK, let's read it."

Roger began to read it, and Shay watched as the little boy's eyes drooped and began to close. Within the first few pages of the book, Noah was fast asleep. Roger slipped off the bed and carefully tucked the covers around the boy's body and walked out of the room with Shay, both of them holding hands. Roger followed Shay out into the living room and sat down on the couch with her.

"So Roger," she began, "do you wanna, um, stay a while?" Shay asked, looking up at him, as she caressed his chest with her finger and moved closer. She leaned up, about to kiss him—

Then she pulled away, looking confused. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't have—"

"No, it's OK," Roger said, and before she could protest, he pulled her into a kiss. Shay was hesitant for a moment, but then she melted into him. He deepened the kiss and his hand found its way to her shirt. But before he could do anything, she pulled away again. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

"No," Shay said, "it's just… I think we're moving into this too fast. I mean, I don't know what Noah would say if he knew… if he could understand… his dad left right after he was born… he could almost think…" Her voice trailed off.

"He could almost think what, Shay?" Roger asked, looking into her eyes.

"Well… that you were his father."

Roger's eyebrows rose. "Really?" he asked. "Why would he think that?"

Shay shrugged. "I don't know," she said, "maybe because he's only ever seen one picture of his dad?"

Roger shook his head. "He knows," he said. "I won't ever try to replace his father, you know."

Shay nodded. "I know you won't," she said. "I can tell he wishes you were, though."

"He wishes I was his dad?" Roger asked curiously.

"Yeah," Shay said. "I mean, he's obviously too young to understand the concept of marriage and divorce and all, but…"

"Then we'll take it slower," Roger promised her.

Shay looked up at him. "Really?" she asked.

"I would never hurt you, Shay," Roger said. "If I did, once I'm gone, Mimi will kick my ass."

Shay smiled. "Thank you, Roger," she said.

"You're welcome, Shay," he said, kissing her on the forehead.

Shay got up and looked back at him. "I'm heading off to bed," she said. "Thanks for the wonderful time at the café tonight."

"You're so welcome," Roger said, smiling up at her. "I'd best be getting home anyway. Mark will be worried."

"OK," Shay said. "So when do we tell them? All your Bohemian friends, I mean?"

Roger shrugged and stood up as well. "Whenever you want," he said. "Just don't kill me if I spill early, OK? It'd be an accident."

Shay smiled. "I understand what you mean," she said. "OK, I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"You will," Roger said, and he headed toward the door. "Bye, Shay."

"Bye, Roger," Shay said, and after she went in her bedroom, he left.

Don't forget to review. Thanks. See y'all June 10th!

Until next time, lots of love,

Renthead07