"Mommy," Ethan began to say the following evening.

"Yes sweetie?" Lita asked while she washed the dishes.

"Daddy's birthday is on Saturday."

She looked up at him for a brief moment before continuing to wash the dishes. She thought about how today's date was October 25th and Adam's birthday was on the 30th, which was on Saturday in five days. "Yes, it is his birthday on Saturday."

"I want to give him something."

"Do you know what you want to give him?" She asked when she finished washing the dishes and sat down next to Ethan on the couch where he was playing with his toys.

He stopped playing with his toys and thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Will you help me?"

She smiled down at him."Of course I will help you." He smiled back at her and turned his attention back to his toys while she started to think about the past. She thought about what she did for Adam the last time they spent his birthday together; that was six years ago, but she still remembered it clear in her mind. She took him on a weekend road trip two weeks before his birthday to New Jersey so he could watch his favorite hockey team, the New Jersey Devils, play their home opener of the season which they won. They made a weekend out of it. He wasn't expecting much after that, but she wasn't done.

The day of his birthday, she took him to the shooting range right after work that day because he verbally expressed how much he missed going to the shooting range and didn't have much time for it lately. She held a small surprise party for him with his closest friends at his favorite restaurant after the shooting range later that night.

She shook those thoughts out of her head and began to think about what something special Ethan could do for his father. She had some sort of idea, but didn't think much about it since it was around Ethan's bedtime and they still had time before that day rolled around.

"Alright Ethan. Put away your toys, it's time for bed."

"Okay," he replied and began to do as she said.


Lita was punching with all her strength on a punching bag at the gym located in the apartment complex she lived in the following Wednesday afternoon. Everything was stressing her out and annoying her lately. Everything was just piling up the past two months and this was how she usually handled it when she was stressed.

First, Ethan asked her about his father which was the stressful part. She never knew what to say and then Adam decided to make a reappearance which was annoying as well as stressful. She was worried about how Ethan would handle finding out about Adam and how he would react to Adam being a part of his life. At least he took that well, but it still worried her how things would possibly change as he got older and would eventually want the truth about why his dad was not a part of his life before. There was also that Torrie revelation, but it wasn't like it was the first time she heard about Torrie when Dawn told her. She actually knew about the blonde woman for a couple of years now, but no one knew that she knew. But for some reason, hearing about it again upset her as much as it did when she found out about Torrie the first time.

Her headaches were back but she tried ignoring them. They would leave an hour or so after she took the medicine the doctor prescribed for her, but they were still there. Her doctor was also getting on her nerves trying to convince her to get a CT Scan, but she still refused saying that it wasn't a big deal and the medication was working for the most part so she was okay. And it wasn't a big deal since nothing happened and wasn't going to happen. The doctor told her she didn't know that, but she said yes she did because she had knowledge of what it could possibly could be and he should just leave her alone.

Work was also pretty stressful. Stacy was still always showing up late and the blonde nurse was usually her counterpart nurse so she almost always worked an extra hour than her shift. The redhead was off three days in a row which was much needed since she had horrible hours for a week in a row with no days off until the following Saturday. She had to work sixteen hours with a one hour break somewhere thrown in the middle in three days. Her schedule was six in the evening until ten the next morning on Sunday. And then she had work later that night at eight again, for another sixteen hours. And it didn't end there. She would be working for twelve hours the rest of the week. It wasn't like she hadn't worked a schedule like that before, but there was always a full day off thrown in the middle somewhere.

She sighed when she decided she was done working out for the day and headed up to her apartment while she thought about how she wouldn't be able to spend any time with Ethan for a whole week. He was going to be staying with Adam that weekend. He would be with her during that week, but all that week she had an 8:00am to 8:00pm shift. Adam tried to convince her to let Ethan stay with him during the week since she would have to be at work before she dropped Ethan off to school and would be able to pick him up around eight thirty or nine which was past his bedtime, but obviously she said no. It would be easier if Adam didn't have to get to her house by a certain time everyday so she could leave to get to work on time and he could help Ethan get ready and drop him off to school, but she didn't really care. She did not think she would be able to go a whole week without seeing her son. She never did that before and she wasn't about to try. At least she would be able to see him before he went to bed and when he woke up.

She made it to her apartment and saw a red light blinking on her house phone which meant she had a new message or possibly messages. She decided she would listen to it later since she did just come back from a workout and needed a shower. If it was something important, the person would have just called her on her cellphone. But it's not like she would have known either way because she didn't check her cell phone during her time downstairs at the gym.

She finally emerged back to the living half hour or so later and decided to check her messages since she heard the phone ring a couple of times while she was showering. But before she could check any messages, she received another call.

"Hello?" Lita answered the phone not knowing who was on the other end since she didn't check the caller id.

"It's about time!" Came the reply from the other end of the line. "I have been calling you for hours now. Your cellphone, your house phone, but no reply on either. You couldn't even return any of my messages. Where the hell have you been?!"

"Okay. Wow. First, calm down Dawn. I was busy working around the house and running some errands. And then I went downstairs for a workout. I didn't hear my phone go off at all."

"It was probably off since it kept going straight to voice mail. But that doesn't matter." Dawn was about to continue until Lita interrupted her.

"Listen, I was just about to come and pick up Ethan. You can tell me whatever it is you need to when I get there."

The brunette shook her head on the other line even though the redhead couldn't see her. "No I cannot. Ethan already left." She was interrupted once again.

"What do you mean Ethan already left?"

"Let me finish first, okay?" She didn't wait for Lita to answer as she continued. "He left a couple of hours ago with Adam. He wasn't feeling too well-"

"What? Why? What happened?"

"-and you know I cannot keep him here when there are other kids around," she continued after the interruption. "You would not answer your phone so I had to call Adam and he left work early and picked him up."

"He took him to his house?"

"No. He took him to Dr. Robbins," she answered referring to Ethan's pediatrician. "I do not know where they are at now. It's five so I'm assuming they're already done being with the doctors since they left at two."

Lita took a while to reply, she was starting to worry about Ethan, hoping that it wasn't anything too serious. "Thank you. I will talk to you later. I have to call Adam and see where they are at now and what's going on."

"Okay. And if you need anything, don't hesitate."

Lita nodded. "I know. Thanks. Bye." She hung up with Dawn and dialed Adam's number. "What happened? What's wrong? Is Ethan okay?" She asked once Adam answered the phone.

"Okay. First I'm going to need you to calm down," he replied.

He could sense the glare on her face after she replied to him. "Adam, just answer the damn question."

He rolled his eyes, thankful she couldn't see that gesture. "He is as okay as someone can be who has the flu. I checked his temperature, he has a fever and said he was cold and his body ached, so I took him to his doctor after I called her. Dawn gave me her number."

"Crap. I knew I should have made an appointment for him to get a flu shot. Is it even flu season yet?"

"It starts in October and it's almost November."

She nodded. "Right. Well, looks like he's going to be getting a flu shot soon." The two were silent for a few before she spoke up again. "Where are you? Are you home? I'm coming to pick him up."

He shook his head as he continued to drive. "No need to. I just picked up some medicine like Dr. Robbins told me to and I was actually on my way home since you weren't answering any of my calls, but I'll bring him right over. She said he needs a lot of rest and fluids. She also said that the medicine would help with the fever and with pain."

"Okay. How is he right now?"

He glanced at the rear view mirror and saw the object of their conversation was sleeping. "He just fell asleep. I guess that's good."

"Okay. Well I'm just gonna be waiting for you. I mean I'll be waiting for him. For the two of you. Alright bye." She finished rambling and hung up the phone and started to think about how this was the first conversation in a couple of weeks that they didn't argue nor did either of them have a smart remark to say to the other. At least it looked like they would get along for Ethan's sake and that's all that mattered to her. It wouldn't be fair to him if all his parents did was argue. They never argued in front of him, but she still didn't think it would be fair.

A half hour had gone by and Adam finally made it to the apartment with Ethan. Dr. Robbins already gave Ethan a dose of the medicine at the appointment so Lita decided not to wake him up. He was still pretty much knocked out while Adam put him down to bed.

"Thanks for picking him up and taking him to the doctors. I wasn't at home around the afternoon and I guess my cellphone was off. I do not know how because I didn't turn it off. Point is, thank you."

He nodded in response, not saying anything with the two looking at one another in mere silence and then around the room after they started to feel awkward. To say the scene was uncomfortable for the duo would be an understatement. "I should get going now," he said breaking the awkward silence.

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye." Adam left with Lita closing the door behind him. Both of them were thinking the same thing unknown to the other; Why was everything so unpleasant between them? Sure he left without telling her and she didn't tell him about Ethan until he found out himself, but it felt like they were strangers. It was like nothing ever happened between the two, that they were never in love, but they had a little boy sleeping inside that told them otherwise. Would they ever get over the awkward phase? Would they ever get past any of this? Adam shook his head while walking down to his car as he thought that they probably would be able to talk things out if Lita listened to anything he had to say regarding to why he left. Too bad she was too stubborn for her own good.


The weekend was finally here and Ethan was feeling much better than before. He was over the flu, but he still had some symptoms which was not out of the ordinary. Lita didn't want to leave him, but she knew he would be fine with Adam who was fully capable of taking care of their son. And since she was a nurse and knew some stuff medical wise, she knew it wasn't much that she should worry about. But she was a mother so naturally she worried more than she probably needed to.

The past couple of days were pretty hectic since Ethan was sick and all of her time was devoted to him which wasn't unusual, but she still had some time to herself when he wasn't sick. Adam even came by the past two days to check up on his mini-me. Lita didn't particularly like how he seemed to always be around, but he was around for Ethan so she didn't complain. Well, she did complain to Dawn because she needed someone to whine to and then that person to tell her to get over it and get used to it because Adam was her sons father and it's not like he showed up randomly, he did call up Lita and ask her if it was okay if he stopped by before he actually did so. He usually went over either to drop off or pick up Ethan. Just hanging around her apartment for an hour or so was something he never did after the first time he did that after they had their first real conversation when he came back.

During those days when both Ethan and Lita were at home, they figured out what the former could do for his father's birthday. Ethan handmade a card for Adam which he had very little assistance from his mother. He also made a picture frame for Adam with more than a little help from Lita. They put a picture of the father-son duo in it because Lita thought it was a good idea. He wanted to make another picture frame for his father, but Lita made that one completely by herself since he was still sick when they made the frames and she he needed rest. The second frame contained one of the first pictures that was taken of Ethan since Adam didn't have any of those. Ethan decided he also wanted to bake his dad cupcakes which obviously Lita did most of it but she still allowed him to help her because he really wanted to. She thought Adam would like the gifts since Ethan made them himself. It was only a matter of time until she was either proven right or wrong since she was taking the little blonde boy to his father's house before she had to go to work.

Lita rang the doorbell to Adam's house when her and Ethan got out of the car with the gifts in hand. It didn't take long until the door was opened.

"Happy birthday daddy!" Ethan exclaimed as he hugged Adam... Or maybe more accurately, his legs.

"Thanks buddy." Adam smiled down at the little boy who finally broke the hug.

"Happy Birthday," the lone female broke her silence with Adam turning his attention to her. Ethan called Adam earlier that day, but Lita didn't talk to him so she thought she should probably wish him a happy birthday now.

"Thank you." He wanted to ask if she wanted to go inside, but he knew she wasn't going to, so he didn't bother asking. The trio still stood outside while Lita talked.

"This is for you," she handed him the gift bag in her hand over to him. "From Ethan." He took the bag from her thanking her and Ethan and then she handed the box of cupcakes as well. "This is also from Ethan. He made it. Well, he helped. He's way to young to bake on his own." She seemed nervous and Adam could tell by the way she looked and talked, he just didn't know why. "Um, so Dr. Robbins advised me to still give him his medicine because he has some symptoms and she said the medicine will help with it. I put it in his bag," she motioned towards his backpack on his back, "so don't forget to give it to him." She turned her attention to the little blonde after she finished giving Adam more instructions. "Mommy will see you on Monday, okay?" He nodded. "If you need anything just call me, okay?" He nodded once again. She glanced up at Adam for a moment while she spoke. "If he needs anything, then call me. If you have any questions, then call me."

"Will do," Adam replied.

She nodded. "Great." She bent down so she was at level with Ethan and hugged him with him hugging her back. "Bye sweetie."

"Bye mommy." He then went inside because he didn't like seeing her drive off.

She stood up straight and looked at Adam. "Bye."

"Bye," he replied. "And thanks," he said referring to the gifts.

She shook her head. "You don't need to thank me. I didn't do anything, that's all from Ethan."

"But you helped him."

She nodded. "You're right, I helped him. I did it for him, not for you." She immediately regretted those words as they left her mouth. Okay idiot. Why did you just say that? There was no reason whatsoever that was important for you to say. Whatever. Don't care. Liar. You do care. Shut up. No, you shut up. Oh my God. I'm seriously going crazy.

"Right." He watched as she walked to her car and drove off.

He went back inside and saw Ethan was waiting for him in the living room.

"Open your presents daddy. I want to know if you like your presents."

"Of course I like them. You got them for me."

"You're silly." Ethan giggled which made Adam smile. "You do not know what it is and you said you like it."

"Okay, I will open it." He sat down next to Ethan on the couch after he placed the box on the table with the bag on the space of the couch between him and Ethan. He pulled out the card first and saw that Ethan made it. It was pretty cute and he did love it. "You did a good job on this. Thank you." Ethan simply smiled. He took the next item out of the bag which was the first picture frame with the picture of the father-son duo. "Did you make this?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes."

"It's good. I love it." He then took out the second picture frame which he loved just as much as the first one. He became a little emotional when he saw a baby picture of Ethan.

"Mommy made that one because she said I needed to sleep so I could get better and come here."

"You both did a great job on both of them. Thank you." The smile never leaving his face. He took out the last item from the bag which was a photo album, which meant more photos. This album was purchased rather than created by Ethan or Lita. He opened it and saw it consisted of pictures through various stages of Ethan's young life. He was happy that Lita gave him some pictures of Ethan for himself since he didn't have any except for the one he recently took.

"Can we have cupcakes now?" Ethan asked while Adam was looking through the album.

Adam rose a brow. "Mommy said you didn't have dinner yet. You can have a cupcake after dinner."

"Or we can have a cupcake now and another one after dinner," Ethan suggested which made Adam chuckle. He definitely got that sweet tooth from his mother.

"Mommy won't like it."

"But it's your birthday." Adam laughed again at Ethan's reasoning, but didn't give in.

Adam shook his head. He knew if Ethan had a cupcake before dinner, it would ruin his appetite and that wouldn't be good since he was just getting better. "No Ethan. Dinner first and then you can have a cupcake."

Ethan pouted but agreed. "Okay."

The two resumed to look through the photo album before they ate dinner and eventually Ethan got to eat the cupcake. They watched a movie afterwards with Ethan falling asleep half way through the film. Adam took the little boy to his room and tucked him in bed. This was definitely one of his better birthdays.


Thanks for reading. Thanks for the reviews. I have a feeling some of us don't like John being introduced in this story...

Anyways, I hope you liked the chapter. If anyone is confused about Lita knowing about Torrie before Dawn spilled the beans, you should be. But next chapter will clarify when and how she found out.