Jason's phone rang in the middle of the night, startling him awake. "Hello?"

He blinked a few times and looked to the other side of the bed, where Xavier was sound asleep. He was clutching his favorite stuffed animal—a plush tiger Jennifer's father had given him when he was born. Sometimes he came to sleep in Jason's bed because he had a bad dream, or got scared at night. Other times he just wanted to sleep in here, for no other reason than to be near his dad. Jason couldn't really say no. It usually resulted in him getting kicked awake a couple times during the night, but as long as the boy was okay, he could fall back asleep.

"What the hell is your problem?" the caller asked as greeting.

Jason frowned and switched the phone to his other ear. "At the moment, it's harassment from anonymous phone callers in the middle of the night. Who is this?"

"Tristan."

Jason sat up and squinted at the clock. "Do you have any idea what time it is here?" Dumb question, it was probably intentional. He quietly got out of bed and left the room.

"I just talked to Jennifer. She's unhappy and it's your fault," Tristan said, ignoring the question.

"She got there okay? She didn't call me, she usually calls when she gets there."

"I have to let you in on a secret, Digger."

"It's Jason."

"I am not invested in your happiness, at all. I only care about Jennifer and Xavier," Tristan said. "You do not get to make her feel bad for dating. I know for a fact you've been with women while she was raising your kid all by herself."

"Hey, I get that you hate me for that, but I didn't know I had a son. And I've been making up for that for the last three years," Jason said. "Is Brody around? He's more reasonable and I like him a lot better than you."

"Nope, he isn't here," Tristan said. "It's just me."

"I've always thought it was a shame Jenny has such a punk kid for a younger brother."

"At least I'm only 22. You're a punk and you're pushing 40," Tristan said. "If you don't have feelings for Jennifer or aren't attracted to her, that's fine. But you can't to decide you like her now just because she's dating someone else."

"I did not just decide," Jason said. He stood in the dark kitchen, not sure where he wanted to be for this conversation. He didn't like that he was having it at all.

Tristan went on, "I know you might prefer more exciting women now. Jennifer's never made out with her kid's teacher in the middle of the school day, and she probably never will. She isn't that kind of girl."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jason asked. "Xavier's kindergarten teacher is a woman, and I know Jennifer likes men." He shook his head. "I didn't just decide anything. She won't date me, and she has good logic backing her up."

"As much as I'd like to believe that, she would date you, and you know it."

"You think I haven't tried? She turned me down."

Doubtfully, Tristan asked, "Why?"

"Because I'm her kid's dad." When Tristan was silent, Jason went on, "And I run away from relationships after five months. The one time I didn't, I had no idea I wouldn't be able to think of any reason to breakup. So I have no way of knowing what would happen with Jenny."

"Digger, this is why you're a punk," Tristan said. "You already dated my sister. Why were you going to dump her back then?"

"I don't know, she moved before the itch came over me. Although, if I'd known about your family, that probably would have done it."

Tristan muttered, "I hate you so much." Then he said, "You can't take them seriously. Why is five months your threshold?"

"I don't know, it's a subconscious thing."

"Well, consciously think about it."

Jason did for a minute. "Dating is fine and fun at first—you flirt, you go to dinner, you—." He stopped.

"I know how Xavier got here," Tristan said.

"Right. So that's all good, but if the relationship goes on much longer, more is expected."

"Like what?" Tristan asked impatiently. "Marriage and kids?"

"Well yeah, that's generally what women want."

"But with you?"

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Yes, with me. I don't want to lead anyone on."

Tristan considered this for a moment. "I thought you dated Jennifer for six months."

"No, it was four," Jason argued. "Then she moved. You must be thinking of the functions we went to when we first met."

"That didn't count toward her time?"

Jason contemplated it. "No, there's no pressure when you're friends. It didn't count."

"Whatever. So if you dated her again, would she get five new months or would she just finish out the one month she didn't get before?"

"I don't know. But you pose some good questions."

Exasperated, Tristan finally said, "You've been there three years, and Jennifer already had your kid."

"That's true."

"She already knows if she wants to marry you, and I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"What?" Jason frowned. "Did she say that? She told you she doesn't want to marry me?" Tristan was messing with him, he knew, just trying to rile him up. Except Jenny probably did figure out he was a lost cause.

"I can't tell you what she said specifically, we have brother-sister confidentiality. If she did, then you're off the hook." Tristan said, "You don't have to think up any excuses if you're afraid of a long term commitment to them. Feel better?"

Jason was paralyzed speechless. The panicky feeling was back. It was a pressure bearing down on his chest.

"That covers all I had to say," Tristan said somewhat awkwardly at the continued silence. "If you're having trouble thinking of the perfect graduation present for me, I won't turn down a car."

The call ended, and Jason didn't know what to do with himself. He wasn't going to be able to fall back asleep, and not only because it was nearly dawn. He went over to the couch and sat down with a heavy sigh.

He must have wakened Sirius when he was talking to Tristan, because the dog was now sitting in front of the fireplace, looking at Jason expectantly. He signaled for the dog to come over to the couch, which Sirius was happy to do. He rubbed the dog's head behind his ears and said, "You've changed." He used to be such a good and quiet little dog. Now he was a whiner. Whenever Sirius's boy wasn't here to shower him with love and affection, he whined. The dog never would have been allowed on the couch before. And here he was now, living the high life.

Tristan was right, Jason had been here three years without ever looking for an escape. He had responsibilities, it never occurred to him to run from them. In the recesses of his mind, he vaguely recalled an aversion to the idea of anyone being dependent on him. Jenny could obviously cope without him just fine, but he liked helping her whenever he could. He wanted her to come to him when she needed something. And it was really nice knowing she'd do the same for him.

Jason sat like that until Xavier walked into the room, bleary eyed and still holding his tiger. When he sat down on the couch, Sirius abandoned Jason to crawl over to his preferred Stiles.

In five months, it would be October. Xavier would be in first grade and probably grow a little taller. He seemed to do it overnight. One day he was going to wake up and be the one asking for a car and Jason wasn't going to know where the time went. He already didn't know. But he knew he would be here for it—both the first grade and the driving lessons.

Oh.

He needed a convincing way to prove it. Reassuring words didn't seem like enough. He had to make his intentions very clear. And now.

Jason looked over at his son. "Do you want to go car shopping with me?"

XXX

Jennifer was gone for a week. Jason texted her before she got in, making sure he was still picking her up from the airport. It was with relief that she said yes. But there was a follow-up message. She needed to talk to him. He couldn't sleep her last night away, worried about whatever it was she had to talk about. He needed to talk to her too, but he didn't preface it with an anxiety inducing warning.

He and Xavier waited at the baggage claim on the day of her arrival, the boy watching for his mother's luggage, Jason watching for the woman herself. He felt like it was an eternity before she appeared. She kneeled down to hug her son and then stood up to face Jason. He handed her flowers.

"What's this?" she asked with a frown.

"It's an apology—for barging in last week. I was a jerk."

"Oh, yeah, you were. Thank you."

Xavier pulled on her hand. "Come on, I want to show you something."

Jenny let him lead her away, Jason following with her suitcase. "What did you guys do this week?" she asked.

"I went to school and we got some stuff."

"What stuff?"

"You'll see," he said excitedly, pulling her to walk faster.

In the parking lot, she tried to steer him away from a black Mercedes he was going towards. "Where are you going?"

"To our new car." He asked Jason, "Can I press the button?"

"Sure," Jason said, handing over the remote.

Jenny frowned at him. "Was there something wrong with your car?"

"Yeah, it was too small."

Xavier pressed the trunk button and smiled widely. "Look Mommy, I got a bike!"

She looked into the trunk and saw a small black bicycle. "Cool, and it's the same color as Daddy's new car."

"I know."

Jason put her suitcase in and shrugged. "I thought we could both get new wheels."

"I see. It's like the Grand Canyon in there," she said of the trunk.

"Look, it doesn't have training wheels," Xavier said, pointing at his bike. "Those are for little kids."

"And you're so big."

"Yup."

She tilted her head toward Jason to forcefully whisper, "He's my baby, and he always will be." Then she said, "You guys got cool stuff and I just got flowers?"

"No, we got you stuff too," Xavier said. He looked at Jason and his hand flew to his mouth, covering a smile.

Jason shook his head. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it." He opened the passenger side seat for Jenny before going to his side.

She twisted around to look at Xavier in the backseat. "Wow, I could cross my legs back there."

"And read the paper," Jason added. As he drove, he felt her eyes on him. She either got the message, or was wondering if he was sending one.

Once they were inside her apartment, Xavier asked, "Can I give Mommy her present now?"

Jason reached to check his pocket and nodded. "Yeah—yes. Go get it."

While the boy ran down the hallway to his room, she opened the refrigerator. "Can you stay for dinner?"

He pulled her away from the appliance, closing the door. "Actually, could I talk to you?"

She paled. "I thought we could eat first."

He shook his head. "No, it can't wait."

She sighed. "Fine. Let's sit," she said, leading him to the living room sofa. She looked at him seriously, but he rushed to talk before her.

"I need to go first."

"First?"

"Yes. I have something I have to say and it can't wait. It's important."

She frowned. "Oh, all right. What is it?"

"I don't want you to date other men." Her frown turned confused, and then annoyed. He held up his hand and kept going, "Because I want us to be together. I want to take you out to dinner tonight, just us. And at the end of the night when we kiss I don't want you to pull away, and I don't want to either."

Jenny softened, but still looked concerned. Xavier returned then, handing her a long black velvet box. She accepted it and asked, "This is from you?"

"Yes. I picked it out. Open it."

She glanced at Jason before looking down and prying open the box. "Oh my," she said, lifting a diamond necklace. "It's beautiful." She hugged Xavier and thanked him, though her eyes were on Jason. "You really picked it out?"

"He has a knack for it," Jason said.

Xavier pulled away from his mother. "It had to match Daddy's."

"Match his what?" she asked.

"His present for you."

"Blabbermouth, shh," Jason said quickly, putting a finger to his lips. "I haven't gotten to that part yet." He turned his attention back to Jennifer. "I know it seems like I'm just jealous because you're dating—which I am, but that isn't why I want to go out with you."

Her eyes were starting to water. "It isn't?"

"No, Jennifer, I love you. I want to be in a relationship with you." He pulled a small black box out of his pocket. "This is for you, it matches the necklace."

She stared at it. "What's that?"

"What do you think it is?"

She opened her mouth like she was going to say something, but couldn't find the words, or was afraid to guess wrong.

"That's what it is."

She weakly asked, "Earrings?"

"Nope," Xavier said smugly. He put his hand up next to his mother's ear, "It's a—"

"Hey," Jason said, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him over. "What are you doing?"

"I want to tell her what it is."

"We talked about this, remember? You said you wouldn't tell." He added, "She knows what it is."

Xavier looked to Jenny, brow arched. "You do?"

She nodded, and then frowned when Jason re-pocketed the box without opening it. "What are you doing?"

"Putting it away. I'm not giving it to you today. That would be crazy." He was giving it to her in October, which seemed far away. He asked, "So will you go to dinner with me tonight?"

She asked Xavier, "Could you go to your room and let me talk to your dad?"

Crap, Jason thought. That could not be good.

After the boy reluctantly left them, Jenny looked at him desperately for a moment. Then, "Jason, my cousin is out."

His brows moved together and he took a second to switch gears. "Still? I thought he came back from Las Vegas."

"He did. He came into the office, and he wasn't fazed by all the lawyers, but when he saw me and found out why I was there, he looked hurt," she said. "I could see in his face, the realization that there was always a backup plan. I felt kind of bad for him. He looked at his dad and said he couldn't work for him anymore. Then he calmly walked out."

"I started a trend," Jason said. "So what does that mean for you?"

She exhaled and looked down at her hands for a second. "It means I'm on a five year plan and Mom told me to move back. They're expecting me in two weeks."

"Oh."

"I'm going to let Xavier stay to finish out the school year . . . and then move him," she said. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry for anything," Jason said. "Is that all?"

"Well, yeah."

He put his hand to his heart. "Thank God. Where did we land on dinner tonight? You still haven't answered."

She stared at him. "What's the point?"

He frowned and pulled the black box out of his pocket. "I thought this was the point." Her eyes followed the box as he put it in his pocket again.

"But, did you hear what I said?"

"Yes—moving back home, five year plan."

"Aren't you mad? I'm taking Xavier and going back to Connecticut. So you won't see him as much."

He frowned. "I'll see him as much as usual—probably more if you agree to dinner."

"How will you see him more if he's on the other side of the country?"

"I'm not going to be on the other side of the country," Jason argued. "I'll be on the same side."

She blinked a few times. "You would have to move. Are you moving?"

"You just said we are."

"You're coming with us?"

"Aren't I? I'm here because of you guys. Why would I stay without you?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but words didn't come out immediately. "You work here, so, there's your job."

He waved a hand. "I'm trying to marry rich if you hadn't noticed."

She stifled a laugh and bit down a smile.

"No, there are other jobs. I'll get a new one, or I'll just transfer."

"So we're all moving," she stated, letting it sink in. "All three of us."

"Yup. I'll call the movers in the morning. Now, are we going to dinner or what?" he asked. "I already talked to the nanny, so she'll be here soon. I realize that may have been presumptuous, especially now that you're withholding your answer." He muttered, "Tristan was right. I hate that."

"What was he right about?"

"You already know whether or not you want to marry me. And this is your long and drawn out way of saying you don't."

She scowled. "Tristan doesn't know anything."

"So that's a yes, we're going out?"

"Yes. I'll go to dinner with you."

The weight lifted from his shoulders. He smiled at her. "Okay, I have to go home and change, but I'll be back in an hour to pick you up."

"In your sexy family car?"

His brows shot up. "That's what I drive now, yes."

"You're so practical," she said, looking at him like she was about to kiss him. "I don't have anything provocative to wear," she said. "But that will only serve as misdirection."