A/N: Whether you're good at it or not, school sucks.

Chapter 10-Mr. Dad

"You know you should cut the dude some slack. He was just trying to spend time with his son."

"Dick, why the hell have you been defending Niko?! Don't think I don't know about your little arguments. Tom and Jerry versus Sylvester and Tweety and Mickey and Bugs Bunny running for president my ass!"

"How did you find out?"

"Not only do you talk a lot while you're awake but also talk a lot in your sleep. Plus you snore."

"Really?!"

"Don't divert from the subject at hand, Darren! Answer my damn question!"

"Karen no likey when angry."

"Fine, don't answer my damn question dammit! Be a funny, slacker, uncommitted ass like you always been, Dick! Be a dick!"

"I believe that's the idea of the nickname, but seriously, Karen…at least he's trying to be there for little Andy."

"What the hell that's suppose to mean?!"

"He's trying to be a father!" Dick and Karen stood toe-to-toe. "Something we never had."

"We had a father!"

"Someone that is there, not only physical, but mentally! Someone who makes you feel loved…and wanted…and cared for and all that paternal shit that you hear and see on tv. He was just standing up to you, ignoring you're 'my baby so get to touch and everybody else but not the father' rule. It took two to make a baby, Karen. And even though I hate the idea of you two…you know…and here comes Andy, I respect him because he's trying to be man about it and doing what a real man does." Karen stared at him wide eyed.

"Did I just say I respected him? Whoa. I think I had an outer body experience." He slapped himself. Hard. Then again on the other side with the same amount roughness. The look on Karen's face changed to different degrees of anger, shock then finally contemplation. "Despite what I said about respecting him I stand true to one thing. He's doing something. Now I'm going to cool down my face because it's all hot and red." As Dick walked to do what he said he left Karen there standing alone in reflection.

Early Next Morning…

Breakfast time, as Dick put it, was the most important time of the day, second dinner. And our family ate their meals in silence, the most noise was Dick's loud digesting of his food. Niko's head was in the direction of his food and not unnoticed by Dick Karen often glance at Niko, he guessed she was feeling guilty. Once everybody finished their breakfast they put the dishes in the sink so Karen could wash them, for this once Karen let go of her pride.

"Niko." He looked up at her for the first time this morning. "I'm s-I would like to say--I apolo-" Her pride still hung on. "Andrew seems to be in good condition."

"I can take care of our son."

"That's good to know. Prove it to me. All day, for twenty-four hours, you're going to be Mr. Dad. You take care of Andrew, you feed him, you change him, you do it all, superdad."

"What's the catch?"

"Catch is if you win this little bet then I'll stop preventing you from being a daddy…" She swallowed the pride that was hanging on. "…but if you lose then you must get out of my apartment and never even attempt to be a part of Andrew's life again or I will destroy and kill you, Niko."

"Deal."

"Ooh, I can't wait to see this!"

"Dick, don't you have a job interview today?" He groaned in realization.

"Why today of all days?! Today I have to dress up as a monkey and put on a monkey suit and miss the best bet in the whole history of the world! Damn I wish life had a tivo!"

"When does this bet begin?" On cue, the baby started crying.

"Now…" Clock starting at six o' clock am

Thirty minutes into the bet and he was already having trouble. It was like every thing he tried didn't work; he just kept on crying! And Karen just watched with a smile on her face. Yesterday, they had a good time but now he was giving him hell! He checked his diaper, tried to give him a bottle, checked if he was hot or cold, nothing was the matter. Karen knew. It was obvious by the snicker she let out when watching them. He let a groan of frustration.

"What do you want from me?" He asked nicely to the baby in his arms. "'Cause I have no clue." The baby stopped crying and suddenly laughed, kicking his feet in happiness. Then, just as happiness came to him, his face contorted in a weird emotion. Next thing he knew he was crying once again. Again, he followed all the major protocols and, this time, he found one violated. On the changing table he placed him. He un-strapped the diaper, for a minute, his sense of smell overwhelmed. He pulled the poopy diaper from under him, threw it in the disposal with the accuracy of a professional basketball player, and wiped him down. Next was powdering then he strapped on a fresh, new diaper like a pro. Karen, who was watching, gave a semi impressed look.

"Who says I can't take care of my son?"

9:30am

Niko was faced with a new problem…feeding time. Usually feeding him wasn't a problem but today it was. He refused to take the bottle and cried, reaching out towards Karen.

"Just take the bottle, Rico." He jerked his head away from the bottle and squirmed to get out of Niko's arms and into Karen's. Niko swore if he could talk then he would be saying mama. Niko gave a look at Karen but she shook her head. After more minutes of putting up with this he finally came up with a plan. He took a cloth and wrapped it around Andrew's eyes. Karen almost protested his actions but stopped herself. She had to see where this was going. He took off his shirt and held Andrew to the left side of his chest, slowly easing the bottle towards Andrew's lips. Andrew latched on thinking it was Karen. Niko smirked in triumph.

12:00pm

"Doing a good job, aren't I?"

"Great. Perfect." He didn't expect her to agree with him.

"What made you change your mind?"

"Dick." He didn't expect that answer either.

"You're lying!"

"I contemplated that but I'm telling the truth. Speaking of the truth, Andrew's real name isn't Rico."

"Kinda figured that out."

"It's Niko."

"You named him after me?!"

"I was drugged, to get one thing straight! And he looked so much like you. It wasn't my fault your genetics are stronger."

"So I was right all along."

"What?"

"Nothing. Is there truth serum in your tea?"

"Maybe but I think there's an invisible lasso of truth wrapped around me."

"What?"

"Nevermind." As Karen laid down Andrew tried to jump out of Niko's grip. Niko laid Andrew on top of Karen, close to her heart. He watched them slowly fall asleep and following their example he fell asleep along with them.

A/N: Aw, so sweet. Anyway, um…random shout out goes to…the UK! Mad love to da UK, gwan; as Little Jacob would say. Note to anybody reading this, does anybody knows what Little Jacob is saying most of the time!? I'm serious! Really!

6:30am