Bay and Ty's apartment, September 2018

Tank:

I rang the doorbell and waited. Ty opened the door two seconds later and we greeted each other with an embrace. It had been almost a year since I'd last seen him as I had left for Boston after graduating and had just done my Masters at Harvard.

Ty smiled at me "You look so prim and proper Tank, ready to be a big shot lawyer?"

I stepped in and sighed "I couldn't think of a more dreadful thing. I'm supposed to start as a first year associate at my father's law firm in one week."

"Can I get you some coffee?" Ty asked.

I accepted and sat at the kitchen table.

"Where's Diego and Bay?" I asked.

"Diego is at school and Bay is teaching an art class at Carlton. Monday is my day off, but for them it's a work day. We can collect Diego at one. Bay will be here around four."

I nodded "I can't wait to see how much he's grown."

"He's gotten so big. Do you ice skate? There's a new ring next door that opened last week, I was thinking of taking Diego there after school."

I laughed "Do I ice skate? What kind of question is that KC boy? Of course I do! I'm from the East Coast, we're all playing hockey while we're still in diapers. Do you ice skate Private?" I winked at him.

Ty shook his head "Not very well. I tried it once or twice. At least I don't fall much."

I smiled gleefully "I can't wait to do a sport with you at which I'm better."

Ty sat down at the table next to me "So what's the big news you wanted to tell me in person?"

"Aida is pregnant. She's due in April. We're getting married next month and I want you to be my best man."

Ty smiled "Congratulations man, that is some news. How does she like the life outside the Army."

"She loves not being in the Army. She's got a nice job at the hospital in Boston. The problem is that we both hate it up there."

Ty looked puzzled "I don't understand that. You're from Boston, she's from New York. You're home."

I ran a hand across my stubble.

"I know. But home is not always where the heart is. For now we'll stay put, but as soon as I can I'll move south."

Ty nodded "We'll be happy if you do. How long are you staying?"

"One week. I'm down at the frat house; they've invited me over to do some career coaching. How are things at the car wash?"

"They're good. Money is still tight until we pay off the loan, but the place is a money maker if it's well run. I have a great team with Travis as Assistant Manager and Mary-Beth doing the books."

I nodded "And Bay? Is she happy?"

"She's very excited to work at Carlton. It's her second week and she loves it. We're working on Diego having a brother or a sister soon."

I felt an odd pang "Wow, that's cool." The phone rang then and he got up to answer it.

He looked so content with the simple life they were living. I couldn't help but wonder if that would've been me had Bay and I stayed together. I loved Aida more than anything, but Bay would always have a special place in my heart. Hearing Ty talking about having another child made me think about Bay's pregnancy and Diego's birth and how happy I'd been then. Somehow even at that time it had seemed unreal, like she was never meant to be mine.

I'd been so glad that Ty had forgiven me for calling the police on him and at the same time I'd felt like I'd been punched in the gut when he'd told me that Bay and him were back together. It had been a hard six months for me ever since we'd broken up and deep down I knew that she'd had feelings for Ty all along, but to actually see them together had been difficult for me. Seeing was maybe the wrong word, as Bay didn't manage to forgive me for another six months after that, but I definitely conjured up images of the two in my mind. Meeting Aida had helped and although it had taken a long time for us to become a real couple, I now felt like I'd met my true soul mate.

It wasn't until we'd been dating for six months that she'd told me about her brief hook-up with Ty before she started dating Justin and I'd been more than shocked. Then I realized I had no reason to be as I'd slept with Bay as well. The weirdness of it all had kind of freaked me out a bit nonetheless.

Ty had finished his phone call and looked at his watch.

"Shall we go and collect Diego, then?" He asked.

"Sure thing."

We got in his car and drove the short distance to the school.

"For someone who runs a car wash, you couldn't have a dirtier car" I observed as I wrote my name in the dust on the windscreen.

Ty laughed "I know. It's embarrassing. Bay tells me I'm like the women who do her nails. They always have the worse ones. It's just too painful for me to run it through it after I've been doing nothing else all day. I even park it two blocks down the road now and walk so that no one will see it."

"I understand." I patted his back.

I couldn't believe how tall Diego had gotten as he ran towards Ty. He looked at me shyly and hid his face behind Ty's legs when I said hello.

"Diego, don't you remember your uncle Tank? He used to take you to the pool with me."

Diego frowned in concentration "You mean when I was little?"

I laughed "That's right. And now look how big you are. I guess you don't even like trucks anymore?" I handed him a present.

I was rewarded with a smile "I like trucks." He was already ripping the paper off "Look Daddy, is a fire truck."

Ty leaned down to examine it "Isn't that great! You didn't have one of those yet. What do you say?"

"Can I have a police truck as well?" Diego said with a serious expression and I had to stifle a laugh as Ty shot me a warning glance.

"That's rude son, what do you say to uncle Tank."

Diego had the grace to look bashful "Thank you." He extended his hand and I took it and shook it. "You're very welcome Diego, I'll keep the police truck in mind for my next visit. How about that?"

"Yes" He smiled at me and turned towards Ty "I'm hungry."

Ty ruffled his hair. "Today you're in for a treat. We're going to the ice-skating ring and you can have a hot dog."

Diego was already pulling Ty's hand "Let's go, let's go!"

I observed them both and thought that soon it would be me taking my son or daughter ice-skating. I smiled at the thought.

Ty:

It was good to see Tank. I didn't have many friends and I didn't particularly feel the need for them as my work and my family kept me too busy to think about socializing. Tank, Carter, Aida, Mary-Beth and Daphne were the only ones I considered my true friends.

I secured Diego in the car seat and drove in the direction of home. Once we arrived at the ice-skating ring we headed straight to the food concession and I ordered three hotdogs and some fries. Tank raised an eyebrow. I laughed.

"You know me so well. I hate these and they're reserved for special days. I'm sure Bay sneaks a few in behind my back though. She does not share my passion for healthy food."

Tank bit into his hotdog. "I can't believe that I don't actually enjoy these anymore. Ever since we first met I completely changed my eating habits. Aida is a health freak as well."

"I know." I said simply.

The same could obviously not be said for Diego as he devoured his hotdog with a look of utter delight. He was looking at the few people on the ice and tugged at my sleeve.

"Can we go now?" He asked.

I nodded and we made our way to rent the skates. I took hold of Diego's hand as we made it onto the ice. He looked confused when he felt the slippery floor beneath him. I held on to the rail and pulled him along. Tank overtook us in two seconds and zoomed along the ice.

He stopped next to us after one lap. "Hey Ty, not falling while holding the rail doesn't count, you know?"

"Hahaha, very funny Tank. I'm trying to multitask here."

Diego looked at me "I want to go fast with uncle Tank, Daddy."

Tank winked at me and took off pushing Diego in front of him. Diego shrieked with delight. While Tank was teaching Diego how to skate I tentatively let go of the rail and tried to skate. It was a lot harder than I thought. After half and hour Diego was skating by himself. I smiled at him proudly.

"You're doing so well! Let's go have some water and we'll come back." I was really the one who needed the break.

As we sat down I saw a tent being erected next to us. Try Hockey for Free the sign read. The man smiled at me and pointed at Diego. "Does he want to try?"

I shook my head "He's too young I think."

Tank slapped me on the back "Not for hockey he isn't! Let him try it."

I relented and Diego was fitted with a t-shirt, a helmet and a stick. For the next hour he played with the coaches while I sat with Tank, who was observing Diego critically.

"He's got talent, you know." He said to me.

"You think?"

"Yes, you should seriously consider having him join a program."

I picked up a leaflet. It was expensive and that wasn't even counting the equipment.

"WHAT do you think you're doing?" I heard a more than familiar voice behind me.

"Hello to you too, sweetheart." I turned to face an irate Bay.

"Hockey, Ty? Seriously? He's three!"

This was not going well.

"It's a free trial class. And he's almost four." I said apologetically.

"And you chose one of the most dangerous sports?"

"He's doing really well Bay. If it was up to you he wouldn't do any sport at all. Let him try it. It's what they're here for."

"Did you plan this? Where you not going to tell me about it?"

I was getting angry now.

"I didn't plan a thing Bay, we went ice-skating and then we saw the sign. He's having fun. What's your problem?"

"My problem is that we take these decisions together Ty. You don't just put him in ice-hockey without telling me. I played field hockey, remember?"

I just snorted which made her even angrier.

"You? Field-hockey? I wish I could've seen that!"

Bay turned towards Tank angrily.

"Tank! Tell him!"

Tank looked from Bay to me uneasily.

"Well, hello to you too Bay! Nice to see you again. Yes, Ty, I guess she tried."

Bay turned to Tank "Was this your idea? Where you a big-shot hockey kid?"

"I wouldn't call myself a big-shot but yeah, I played. He's having fun Bay. Hockey starts around this age."

Bay was fuming "Yes, and when they're 12 they have no teeth."

Tank raised his hands "Come on Bay, now you're being a bit melodramatic. The teeth thing is not until they're 16 you know?"

I shot Tank a warning glance. There was no point stirring the pot when Bay got angry. He saw it and wisely shut-up.

Just then and to make matters worse Diego fell over and started crying. He was clutching his ankle.

Tank and I skated up to him just as the coach was removing his boot.

"It hurts Daddy, it hurts!" Diego was wailing.

"You better get him to the ER to do an X-ray. He was doing really well. You should bring him again." The coach said.

I picked-up Diego and walked towards Bay. She was beside herself with rage. I sat down with Diego on my lap and took off his other boot.

"We need to get him to the hospital." I said to Bay.

"You…you…" She didn't say anything. Whatever she was planning on saying must have been bad as she barely managed to contain herself in front of Diego.

Two hours later Diego cheerfully hobbled on his crutches towards Tank.

"Uncle Tank, I have a bad sprain and a cast. The doctor said my class can draw on it tomorrow." He turned towards Bay. "Mommy, when can I do hockey again?"

Bay pulled me out of earshot. Once we were around the corner she pushed hard against my chest.

"You asshole! I hope you're happy now that you managed to break both our ankles."

I looked at her incredulously.

"Jesus Bay, it was an accident. He'll be fine."

"He'll be FINE? He would've been FINE if you hadn't made him play….you know what? Go to hell! Don't bother coming home tonight."

I saw her collect Diego and then she was gone. Tank patted me on the shoulder.

"Guess you won't be getting her pregnant tonight."

I managed a small smile "Guess not. Possibly not for another month."

"Nahhh, the kid really enjoyed it. She'll come around. And she was a terrible field hockey player."

"No shit Sherlock! I wouldn't have guessed. You don't happen to have an extra bed in that frat room of yours, do you?"

Tank smiled "We'll figure something out for tonight, there's always an extra mattress somewhere. Let's go!"

This chapter was dedicated to EyesOnFire, my 100th reviewer and I happen to know that she's a BIG hockey fan! And I missed Tank so I had to bring him back. Do you want him to stick around or should I send him back to the East Coast? Let me know. Hope you enjoyed. Please review.