A/N: Thank you for the great reviews. This chapter is the calm before the storm. All errors are my own. As always, thoughts are appreciated.

Chapter Twenty-Five:

She saw the surprise on his face as she parked her car outside of her parent's home. He slowly turned his head and looked at her.

"Your parents live here?" she unfastened her seatbelt and then nodded.

"Yeah. Will that be a problem?" She watched him peer out the window again before looking back at her.

"I hope not. You didn't say…"

"That I was wealthy…I'm not, my dad is…" she opened the door and got out. There was a slight breeze blowing, which helped to reduce the record-breaking temperatures a little. Bobby followed suit, opening the rear passenger door to let Nicky out.

"But…" He stopped and swallowed. He had been a little nervous at the prospect of meeting her parents, now he was really nervous. He watched her walk around the front of her car and towards him.

"They're nice people Bobby, I'm sure you'll get along fine with them" she looked at Nicky who was currently spinning around on the spot. She wondered how he could do that and not get dizzy.

"My mom is looking forward to meeting Nicky" he looked at her, the expression in his brown eyes unreadable.

"You could've told me…"

"Maybe. My dad is retired, my mom stayed at home to take care of Michael and me. He worked hard and his money is self made and now he's enjoying his retirement" she captured one of his hands.

"Please Bobby" she whispered. He sighed and then nodded. She smiled and stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss on his cheek. She turned as Nicky came to stand beside his father. Once in a while his wandering gaze would sweep over her face and hold for a few seconds.

As they went inside the large house, Bobby's eyes automatically took in his surroundings. It was part of his job to notice the unnoticeable but also he checked for breakables. So far he couldn't see anything. The furnishings, while comfortable, were sparse. There were no fancy little tables that usually held delicate little knick-knacks and photo frames.

"Kate?" a female voice called and Bobby watched an older version of Kate emerge from what he assumed was the kitchen. Upon seeing her daughter, a huge smile broke out across her face and she went towards her. He watched them embrace.

"Mom…this is Robert Goren and his son Nicky" Kate introduced, her tone slightly breathless, slightly hopeful. Bobby watched the older woman turn blue eyes his way. Oh yeah, definitely an older version of Kate. He felt the butterflies tremble in the pit of his stomach as they had done on and off all morning. The smile remained on her face as she held out a hand, which he took.

"It's nice to finally meet you Robert…or do you prefer Bobby?" Bobby glanced briefly at Kate before returning his attention to her mother.

"Uh…I don't really mind…" he stammered.

"What does Kate call you?"

"Bobby"

"Then Bobby it is…and this must be Nicky" Bobby turned his head and watched as Nicky stopped his examination of the ceiling and looked at her, actually held her gaze for a moment.

"Yeah. I Nicky" he responded and nodded at the same time. Bobby watched Eleanor Jones continue to smile.

"It's nice to meet you Nicky" she looked at Bobby again "he looks very much like you," she added on and Bobby swore he felt himself begin to blush. He looked at Kate again. She smiled in encouragement and he thought that maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all. He sighed quietly. He really was out of practice.

They watched Eleanor head back the way she came. Kate took his hand as they followed. Butterflies were still dive-bombing in the pit of his stomach but the crucial bit was over with, he had met her mother and so far she hadn't run away screaming.

It was obvious that they had prepared themselves for today. There was fresh juice in the refrigerator for Nicky. Bobby watched Nicky continue to take in his surroundings. It seemed to him that Kate's idea of gradually opening him up to new experiences was proving to be successful. It was subtly done but she managed to accomplish it with ease. Nicky seemed to be comfortable here. He sighed shakily. Maybe this could work after all.

There was a huge climbing frame and swing set in the middle of an enormous yard that made Bobby pause in his step and stare.

"I hope you don't mind…" Eleanor began, coming to stand beside him. He looked at her, a little bewildered.

"Mind? Why would I mind?" he asked quietly, watching his son hurry towards it.

"Kate mentioned…that Nicky likes to climb when she takes him to the park…this used to be Michael's…and when he went into the residential centre, we dismantled it and put it away" he watched her as she spoke, saw the earnestness in her blue eyes and he smiled softly.

"Mrs Jones…this is…uh…this is amazing...that you and your husband would consider Nicky's needs, what with this is the first time that we've met. I really appreciate it and I'm sure Nicky does to" he turned his head when he heard his son laugh and watched him hang upside down, his arms hanging down and almost touching the grass. He couldn't hear what Kate was saying to him but he watched as Nicky righted himself and lowered himself to his feet.

" Watching Kate with Nicky reminds me of how she was with her brother. She had so much patience with him, she literally took anything and everything that he threw at her" Eleanor confided.

"She has the same patience with Nicky, she's a…a rare gem" Eleanor smiled and nodded.

"That's it exactly, a gem. I used to feel so guilty, so much of our time was spent with Michael, taking care of him, helping him to cope that Kate got pushed to one side a lot" She turned and watched her as she pointed something out to Nicky.

"And then she chose to work with autistic children. It's been her calling" Bobby watched them walk towards the trees and shrubbery that lined the edge of the yard and nodded slowly.

"It's how we met. Nicky is in her class"

"I know, she told me. She probably won't thank me for saying this, but she cares for you, she cares for you both very deeply" Bobby sighed.

"I know she does…and she's very special to me too…" he let his voice trail away.

"Picnic!" Nicky exclaimed joyfully and Bobby turned his head and saw Kate walking towards them both carrying a basket. She also had a blanket looped over one arm. Immediately Bobby went towards her, relieving her of the basket. Nicky swiped the blanket from her arm and set about spreading it on the grass, not too far away from the climbing frame. Kate smiled as she watched them work together in a slightly disjointed manner and as she expected, once the blanket was flat, Nicky threw himself down onto it and lay flat on his back, smiling up at the sky. Kate wished for a camera to record this moment, Nicky looked so happy and carefree.

"I thought your parents would be joining us?" Bobby commented as they sat down. Kate shrugged and moved closer to the basket.

"Mom wants to give us some time alone" she replied. Bobby bit back a smile.

"She's very nice…I like her a lot" Kate glanced at him and she smiled at him.

"She likes you too, thinks you're refreshing" Bobby raised both eyebrows in surprise.

"Really? Well I've been called a lot of things… but never refreshing" he confided and his smile widened when he heard her laugh.

"Now I understand why you wanted us to visit" They got into her car after farewells and promises to visit again. Kate glanced at him as she started the car.

"You do?"

"It's nice here. Quiet, Nicky enjoyed himself today"

"Being able to run around almost unchecked? What's there not to love about that?" she glanced behind her at Nicky.

"He's coped with the change brilliantly" Bobby looked at the big house as the car pulled away.

His son could be safe here.