Sunday Nikki and Owen were taking their boys for a walk, both babies were nearly asleep in their strollers.
"Owen can you help me find my dad," Nikki asked.
"Why," Owen asked, "you've never been interested before?"
"I'm curious," Nikki said, "I've been debating it for the last year. I think I'm ready now."
"His name is Maxwell McRae and he's local," Owen said, "I treated him just after your accident."
"Can you help me look," Nikki asked.
"I will," Owen said, "I think you should talk to mom about it."
"Mom's never told me anything about him she shuts down when I ask," Nikki said, "I was trying to get the family history on his side last year for Dr. Montgomery and had to leave it all blank."
"Did you ever get Jeffs," Owen asked.
"I did from his mom," Nikki replied, "it's all printed out at home she emailed it to me. His parents want to see Tyler but I don't know."
"What don't you know about," Owen asked, "they are his grandparents."
"I don't want to see them," Nikki said, "Jeff has chosen not to be in our lives. He's not even paying child support."
"He's not paying," Owen said.
"We go to court in January to get it sorted out," Nikki replied, "I'm okay. We're okay. I hate dealing with the court and the lawyers but I have to."
"Did you get the paternity test done," Owen asked.
"Months ago," Nikki replied, "it proved what I knew. Jeff is Ty's father. I don't want Ty to always wonder to have more questions than answers about his father. I'm not sure I want a relationship with mine. I just want to know what he looks like, where he works if I have other siblings."
"He was an alcoholic," Owen said, "I don't want you to get hurt when you find out he's not what you expected."
"I know he was rough with you and Meghan," Nikki replied, "but I feel like I need to know at least for my son. I have a whole side to my family I never met."
"I'll help you look and come with you if you want to meet him," Owen said, "but you have to tell mom first."
"Will mom get mad," Nikki asked.
"I think she understands you have questions," Owen said, "Meghan will understand."
"I want to know," Nikki said, "I know there's a good chance it wont go well."
"There is," Owen agreed, "why now?"
"If I'm willing to fight for Ty to know about his dad's family I should try to know mine," Nikki said, "it's a cycle. My dad abandoned me and never looked back, Jeff did the same. Then I have Jeff's mom calling me saying she wants to meet Tyler."
"What do you want to do," Owen asked.
"Can you come with me," Nikki asked.
"Me," Owen asked, "you've been talking a bit more to Meg lately."
"About kids," Nikki said, "she just gets being on your own with a boy."
"What about Brett," Owen asked,"whats happening there? I've seen what I think is his car around more."
"He's been over a few times," Nikki said, "only half school related."
"What's happening," Owen said, "do I need to be the scary big brother?"
"No scaring him off," Nikki said, "I like him."
"Friend like or really like," Owen asked.
"Like like," Nikki replied, "but it's too soon to say anything."
"You came home late Friday night," Owen pointed out, "if you don't want me to know when you come and go use your own door again."
"It's just easier to cut through the garage with Tyler," Nikki said.
"It is," Owen agreed.
"I know you've always noticed when I come and go," Nikki said.
"The motion light by the gate is right by the kitchen window we see it flick on and the one on your stairs is by the living room window," Owen said.
"I know," Nikki replied, "I used to use those when I was babysitting to see if Jeff or Julie were coming in."
"Where were you Friday night," Owen asked, 'it wasn't a date you took Ty."
"We went to Brett's for dinner," Nikki replied.
"How was it," Owen asked.
"Good," Nikki said, "it felt right. I can just be me with him."
"You looked really relaxed," Owen said, "your baby shower he had you laughing."
"He gets my sense of humour," Nikki replied.
"You two connect," Owen said, "I think he gets you."
"We get each other," Nikki said, "he played football professionally until a bad tackle fractured two vertebrate and he had to stop. He understands my dance and why I stopped. He plays guitar."
"Does he know you're musical," Owen asked.
"He's seen my violin at my place but hasn't heard me play," Nikki replied.
"You play for Tyler," Owen asked.
"I play for myself after I tuck Ty in for bed at night," Nikki said, "I play him to sleep, it's his lullaby."
"Why don't you let anyone other than family hear you play," Owen asked.
"I gave up performing a long time ago," Nikki said, "my last time on stage was the night of the accident. I have no desire to perform anymore."
"You don't have to hide it," Owen said.
"I just enjoy it for me," Nikki said, "I play to relax and some lullabies now."
"We hear you when you leave the door open," Owen said.
"Both boys like it but I'll be happy to have Faroke move out of the nursery so I don't feel bad when Ty wakes up at night," Nikki said.
"Still not sleeping though," Owen asked.
"One wake up," Nikki said, "I'm used to it."
"You're good with him," Owen said, "he's happy and content with you."
"He's a good baby," Nikki said, "he was fussy at first but that was probably my anxiety."
"Maybe," Owen said, "and unsettled when Meghan came home."
"Second best thing to happen this spring," Nikki said.
"Second to Tyler," Owen said.
"Tied," Nikki said, "different. I never thought we would see her again."
"Neither did I," Owen said, "I didn't believe it until she was here and we could touch her."
"When she said I'm home Squirt where's my hug," Nikki said.
"She only ever said that to you," Owen said.
"Its still new for me to have two big sisters," Nikki said.
"Teddy notices," Owen said.
"She's so busy with your three and working," Nikki said, "Meghan is around and is in my space. I miss Teddy. She knows the whole story. I need to talk to her about Brett; she's still the heart expert."
"Just come up one night and talk," Owen said.
"It's harder now," Nikki said, "I don't love being upstairs when Ty is sleeping. You want to get Meg upstairs and send Teddy down?"
"Or we wait two weeks," Owen said.
"That's getting close to Christmas," Nikki replied, "Do I need to get Brett a Christmas gift? I'm pretty good in the Santa department for Ty. I have all the kids done I'm on grownups now."
"I'd get something," Owen said, "that shows how well you know him. Not big or expensive but thoughtful. What are you?"
"We're cautiously dating," Nikki answered.
"Do you feel safe," Owen asked.
"I do," Nikki said, "he makes me feel safe and cared for."
"Date," Owen said, "you smile when hes around. You look relaxed and happy."
"I like him," Nikki said, "but I can't get hurt again. I won't put myself through that again. The nights on your couch sobbing to Teddy because I had fought with Jeff, the night he left."
"We sat up with you a lot," Owen said.
"I can't do that again," Nikki said, "I don't want drama or to wonder if he's really there or if he likes me. I don't have the time or energy for games."
"Tell him that," Owen said, "tell him you don't want games."
"I will," Nikki said.
"Your dad," Owen said circling back, knowing how Nikki's mind works.
"I want to try to contact him," Nikki said, "I don't know if I want a face to face meeting with him. I was thinking maybe a phone call or emails?"
"Mom threw him out for a reason," Owen said, "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Thats why I thought a phone call would be good," Nikki said, "I don't want a dad. I'm 25 it's too late. I don't need a dad. I've had my big brother when I need you. You've been there for the best and the worst moments."
"I always will be," Owen promised, "if you want to meet Max I will go with you. You don't have to do it alone."
"I want to know more about him," Nikki said, "figure out where Ty's green eyes come from. Jeff's are brown mine are blue the green makes no sense. Why does my son have blonde hair?"
"You want the genetic information," Owen said.
"I want a face to the name," Nikki said, "I don't have to reveal much about me do I?"
"Just what you want to," Owen said, "you have nothing to hide or be embarrassed about."
"I don't want him to see Ty unless I know it's safe," Nikki said.
"I would never let him see my kids," Owen said, "you have to keep your son safe."
"Why I'm trying to avoid seeing Jeff's parents," Nikki said, "they don't have any legal right to see him do they?"
"Ask your lawyer," Owen said, "it would be a gesture of good will and good faith."
"I'm trying to get Jeff to see Ty," Nikki said, "it sucks to know your dad rejected you and never wanted you."
"What are you going to tell Jeff's parents," Owen asked.
"I'm just going to make our schedule really busy," Nikki said, "Syd wants to go look at christmas lights soon, I need to get Santa pictures done. Mom wants to resurrect cookie and gingerbread house days. I have a few late school nights coming up, conferences with parents, the concert. We need to practice for Christmas."
"Three of us and she's going to be really rusty," Owen said.
"That will be some long rehearsal times," Nikki said, "tell Meg to practice."
"I have," Owen said, "she always sang better than us."
"No opera," Nikki said.
"I agree," Owen said.
"That was annoying and loud," Nikki said.
"The two of you were bugging Teddy like a week ago with the blue jay song," Owen said.
"She was singing it with Faroke," Nikki said, "I had to join and your girls needed to learn it."
"It was fun," Nikki smiled, "we were just playing and laughing."
"Having two big sisters is okay," Owen asked.
"It is," Nikki beamed, "I like having both. But one knew me as a little kid and one saw my teens and college. I think Teddy knows me better now."
"Owen, Nicole," a woman called.
Owen and Nikki looked forward.
"Beth," Owen said looking at the short blonde woman.
"What are you two doing," Beth asked.
"Just taking our boys for a walk," Owen said.
"Your boys," Beth asked.
"Daniel is almost 9 months and Tyler Nikki's son is just over 7 months; they're six weeks apart," Owen said.
"So Nikki you're married now," Beth said, "what happened to ballet?"
"I chose college instead," Nikki replied, "I teach sixth grade math at Blue Pine."
"You're a teacher," Beth said.
"My third year," Nikki replied, "teaching and working on my masters."
"So your husband," Beth said.
"What are you doing Beth," Owen asked.
"Staying home with my kids," Beth said, "it's too much to teach and have a family."
"How old are your kids," Owen asked.
"Five, three and one," Beth said.
"Teddy and I have three it's busy," Owen said, " seven, four and almost 9 months."
"We should get home," Nikki said, "I promised Meg we would go Christmas shopping after Ty naps."
"Meg," Beth asked, "your partner?"
"Meghan," Owen said, "they found her in June. After ten years she's home."
"They found your sister," Beth asked.
"Meghan is home and living with me," Owen said.
"How is she," Beth asked.
"Meghan is great," Nikki said, "she's Meghan. We hang out, help each other with our sons. Her son is 8. "
"Your mom must like that how many grand kids," Beth said.
"Five of them," Owen said, "but we should head home. I've been out longer then I told Teddy I would be."
"It was good to see you," Beth said.
"You two," Owen said.
"Bye Miss Whitman," Nikki said.
Owen and Nikki walked home together and laughing and joking as they walked. Nikki helping Owen figure out the perfect Christmas gift for Teddy, for the first time ever he was stumped.