Now we move into what I consider the second phase of this story. Phase one was the coming together of Tom and Sybil; phase two is the both of them as a couple, how that will affect their lives (and Suzy's life) and introduce an unexpected struggle (but stick with me people! You know I won't lead you and our babies astray) ;o)

Also, many of these drabbles when I posted them had similar titles, so I will be changing those as I post them on FF. Anyway, thanks for continuing to read!


"Mittens"

The following Monday...

Kieran Branson stood a few feet away from the park path, his hands in his pockets and his eyebrows lifted as he watched his younger brother scour the path and the area around it, reminding him of a bloodhound in search for clues. Only in this case, the "clue" was in fact…a child's mitten.

Kieran glanced at his watch, taking note that they had been there for nearly forty-five minutes. "It's not here, Tommy."

Tom waved his arm. "Let me just look by the picnic tables and the playground; she swore she had both of them then, but it's most likely that she dropped it there—"

"Kids lose things all the time, I've lost count of the number of times my two have lost stuff; and it's just a mitten, Tommy. Buy her a new pair, it's not going to break the bank."

Tom shook his head, chuckling softly to himself. "Sybil said the same thing, but Suzy started pleading, saying they were her 'Irish mittens', that they were apparently her first piece of clothing purchased here, and therefore were 'filled with luck'—"

Kieran snorted. "Some luck, if she lost them…"

Tom just shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway, I don't mind—besides, after saying that, how could I refuse her?"

Kieran's eyebrows rose again. "Aye, I've noticed that…" he murmured, more to himself but certainly loud enough for his brother to hear. "She's certainly got you wrapped around her little finger!"

Tom looked back at his brother and fixed him with a look, but again, gave a shrug of his shoulders and resumed his search. At this, Kieran threw his head back and laughed. "Wow…my little brother…a dad before he's even managed to put a ring on the girl."

Tom looked back at Kieran again, his face flushed, but his eyes completely serious. "If you're trying to embarrass or shame me—"

"Oh God no!" Kieran shook his head, moving closer to his brother. "No, I joke and tease, but…no, listen to me, Tommy…" he put a hand on his brother's shoulder and Tom straightened, looking back at Kieran and momentarily putting the search for the missing mitten on hold. "I'm happy for you, truly," Kieran told him. And he meant it. "And it didn't take a search for a missing mitten to prove to me how much she—both of them—mean to you."

At this, Tom did relax a little and smile back at his brother with bashful pride. "I know it might sound mad, but…I love her, Kieran; I've been falling for Sybil for a long time, and Suzy…" he chuckled then, his heart squeezing with emotion as of the thought of the little girl who beamed up at him with the same, beautiful blue eyes as her mother. "I would do anything for either of them, I truly would."

Kieran nodded his head, but it wasn't missed on Tom that his older brother seemed…troubled.

"This is serious; I mean…getting involved with a woman who also happens to be a single mother is a bit different than—"

"I am serious, Kieran, didn't you hear what I said? I love her…and…if I didn't think it would frighten her, I'd marry her tomorrow and start filling out the papers to adopt Suzy as my own."

Kieran's eyes did widen at this. He knew his brother had been "infatuated" with his next-door neighbor for a while now, especially when Tom seemed to practically be the live-in nanny to the woman's kid, and when his brother announced just a few days ago that he and Sybil were going to give it a go and be a couple…Kieran felt an odd mixture of happy relief and cautious dread fill him.

"All I'm saying is…be careful. Single mothers are complicated—"

"Kieran…" There was no denying the warning tone in Tom's voice.

"Only because you're dealing with two people now; should something happen, you're not just breaking one heart, but two…which means for you, the pain will be doubly—"

"Alright, alright, I do understand, and…and I do appreciate what you're saying, but trust me, Kieran, please…" Tom looked into his eyes, and Kieran's head was filled with memories of his little brother looking up at him with fondness, with pride for when he accomplished something, looking at him as if he were a superhero or something, only now Kieran found himself looking at his little brother in that way. Tom was eight years younger than himself, but a great deal more mature than Kieran had been at his age. Tom had never really been the "one-night stand" kind of guy, and always treated women with the utmost respect. His little brother had had some serious girlfriends in the past, but nothing like this. Kieran honestly couldn't remember ever hearing his brother talk so freely about marriage or having kids, and yet here his brother was, admitting that if he could and she were willing, he'd marry Sybil tomorrow. He'd probably marry her right now if that were possible…

"What's the story with this ex-husband of hers anyway?" Kieran found himself asking.

Tom shook his head. "They were never married," he explained. "Suzy shares Sybil's name, not his."

Kieran started scanning the ground for this missing mitten, but continued to ask questions. "'Dead-beat dad'?" A classic; man gets woman pregnant then wants nothing to do with them.

Tom made a face. "Not exactly," he muttered. "I don't know a great deal, simply that…he was an arse, he hurt her—"

"Physically?"

"No, thank God," Tom sighed. Thank God indeed, especially for that man. If he had put his hands on Sybil or her child, and then later crossed paths with Tom…

"He lied to her, broke her trust," Tom explained. "And he never took an interest in Suzy."

"So he was the complete opposite to you, then."

Tom looked back at him, and a smile curled at the corners of his mouth. "I take that as very high praise."

"You should," Kieran chuckled, and he meant it. He took another step but felt something squish under his foot. He looked down and his eyes widened, before he murmured his brother's name. "Tom?" he bent down and picked up the little snow and dirt-covered purple mitten.

Tom's eyes widened and a great grin spread across his face. "You found it!" he leapt forward and snatched the dirty mitten. "She'll be so pleased—come on, 'Uncle Kieran', let's go back and give her the good news."

"'Uncle Kieran'?"

Tom didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. "If things continue as I certainly hope they will…that will be your reality one day."