Not quite sure what i was doing here...it just flowed and it adds to the impending drama i intend to create...so who knows if it makes much sense. but enjoy! i may dump this chapter later for something completely different...

Aaron managed to calm me down and get my composure back. I tried to call Lauren a couple of times, but no answer. As Aaron and I walked back into the front doors, O'Neil walked in behind us, I cornered her and asked where Lauren had gone.

O'Neil looked around, "She had a personal emergency, I took her back to the hotel. That is why she came outside in the first place, she asked where you were then saw you...over there." she stopped, visibly nervous about discussing what had just taken place.

I looked at Aaron, "I have to go to the hotel."

he frowned, "I know, but we are about to this presentation for you, I don't know if we can necessarily leave my father hanging." I could see that he was right, I was stuck in the middle. I sighed hard, "Your father is going to have to forgive me later, I have to go to Lauren."

I squeezed Aarons arm and went to grab O'Neil to drive me to the hotel when I saw a yellow cab pull up to the cub, Lauren stepped out the back. She looked frazzled but still professional. Aaron looked over my shoulder, "Go."

I walked over to her and met her at the door, she caught my eyes as she pushed through the door, "Lauren, we need to talk, please."

Lauren was short as she spoke, "I don't have the time. I need to tie up some of the things here, then I am going home." she pulled at her jacket. I could see something was bothering her, I reached for her hand, noticing that it was turning purple and had swollen up from striking Dyson, "Lauren, are you okay?"

She said nothing, looked me in the eyes and walked away from me. The walls were up as well as the cold front. I watched as she walked into the one seminar hall, disappearing into the sea of uniforms. I felt Aaron come up behind me, "Bo, the presentation is about to start, lets get this over with and then we can get your girl." I looked up in his blue eyes, nodding slowly.

The presentation was typical military, I was presented with my promotion and my distinguished service medal. Admiral Williams told the entire conference of my tale of gallantry as Aaron sat next to me, a firm hand on my knee, trying to keep me calm. I looked through the crowd, trying to find her. I finally spotted her as I scanned the back of the room. She was leaning against the back wall, watching me intently as the Admiral went on and on. Our eyes were locked. I felt Aaron squeeze my hand, I looked at him with tears in my eyes, he had caught Lauren also, standing in the back. I looked back at her and she was gone, a round of immense applause filled the room, all of the people in the room giving me a standing ovation. Aaron helped me up and pulled me into a big hug, whispering, "As soon as this is done, we go talk to her, I will vouch for you that Dyson forced the kiss." he held me at arms length as I nodded. As soon as I shook Admiral Williams hand and took the obligatory picture, Aaron and I ran off the small dais as the next presentation started.

We found Lauren talking to one of the main moderators of the conference, telling the older Colonel that she would have to leave the conference early due to a personal emergency back home, I walked over to them just as I heard her say that I would be staying to finish out the conference as a representative of RNH. Aaron and I waited until the Colonel and Lauren finished, before he stepped to her, "Excuse me Commander Lewis, can I have a moment to speak with you?"

She was caught off guard by the smooth voice and turned with a slight smile that faded when she saw me, "Bo, I have left the itinerary in your room, you will have to attend some of the seminars for me."

Aaron looked at her, "Listen, cut the formal crap, Lauren." Lauren looked at him with wide eyes, "What you saw out there was some scruffy jerk trying to force Bo into a kiss. I watched them the whole time, Bo here." he reached back and grabbed my elbow gently pulling me closer into the conversation, "Told him to piss off and that she had a girlfriend. You. She was about to get up and leave when he lunged, I was three steps away from tackling him, but my bum leg slowed me down." Lauren looked at me, then at Aaron, I wanted to grab her. I swallowed hard, trying to keep the fear out of my voice, "I tried pulling Dyson off of me, I told him that I no longer loved him or will ever love him, that I only love y..."

Lauren held up her hand, "Bo, don't. Don't say something you can't take back." she was about to say something else when her phone rang, she pulled it out, a extremely pained look came across her face. She answered it and turned away, "Audrey, I am on my way home, try and do what you can until I get there." she hung up and gripped the phone, she bit her lip, "I need to grab my bags and head to the hotel." Lauren looked at Aaron and I, "I appreciate you both clearing up the Dyson situation, but I have to go." she was so closed off to us, she turned and walked out of the doors.

I didn't need to have Aaron urge me on, I ran after her as she flagged down one of the other drivers. I grabbed her upper arm, "Lauren, what is going on? Who is Audrey?" I was getting irritated and frustrated that she had run me through the ringer for what she saw with Dyson, and yet I was kept at an arm's length with this mysterious caller who had Lauren so upset.

Lauren kept her eyes on the young driver who was running for the black sedan, "I told you this morning about that Bo."

"Is she the brunette I saw in your office before you left England?" I kept my hand on her arm as I felt her tense up.

She looked at me, "Why were you snooping around my office?"

"I wasn't, I was walking back to my office and I saw you in there, I wanted to sneak in and say a quick hi and goodbye to you, when I saw the beautiful brunette and you, and the little boy." I looked in her golden brown eyes, "Is that Audrey? Is she an ex girlfriend?" I wasn't about to let go of the hold I had on her arm, and I was going to push for answers. I took a breath, "And who is the little blonde boy that I saw, the boy in the picture on the phone."

The black sedan pulled up just as Lauren gently pulled her arm from my hand, she looked harder into my eyes as tears rimmed them, "The little boy, Jack, is my son and I need to get home as soon as possible before I lose him."

It was as if a frying pan hit me across the face, I was stunned as she went to open the back door. I snapped out of it quickly and ran to the other door, sliding in with Lauren. She didn't make a move to ask me to get out, she just told the driver to take her back to the hotel. There was an awkward silence as I thought back to when I saw the little boy in her office as well as the quick glimpse of the photograph, he did look a lot like Lauren. I broke the tense silence, "Is he okay? Is he hurt?" I kept my voice low, so as not to bring the attention of the young driver.

Lauren kept her focus on the phone in her hand as if it was about to ring at any moment, "He is perfectly healthy." I could see that she was looking at the photograph on the phone. I placed my hand on her leg, "Tell me about him."

the car stopped suddenly, the young driver hopped out and opened my door, "The hotel, ma'am."

Lauren opened her door and slid out, she told the driver to wait for her as she grabbed her bags. I could tell she was wrapped up in something as she walked with a quick purpose towards the elevator, I had to jog slightly to keep up with her. As the elevator doors closed she leaned against the back wall, "Jack is my five year old son, yes. The most important thing in my life and I am flying home to because I am about to lose him to his fathers family."

Strike two of the frying pan, I swallowed hard, "Father?" I paused thinking about the previous night and I could not picture Lauren in any way being with a man. She looked at me, "I know what you are thinking, but no, it is not like that. Jacks father, Robert, was my best friend in college, kind of like Aaron. I had been single for years and wanted to have children, being a doctor never really provided much for a stable relationship, especially in my position and rank. I was getting older and as a doctor I knew that my body was on a slow ticking clock. Robert had always joked that if I ever needed a donor, I finally took him up on it one day." she paused, "I met Audrey when I was two months pregnant." Lauren leaned her head back, "I guess we were in love, but the stress of everything after Jack was born led us to separate. She is still very much in love with me and its gotten worse over the last few months as I work through fighting for Jack."

I stood silently as I listened, I wanted to wrap her up in a hug and never let her go, "Is Robert trying to take Jack away from you?"

Lauren took a breath as the elevator opened up, she took hurried steps glancing at her watch. I followed her to the hotel door, she pushed it open, "Robert was killed almost a year ago in a transport helicopter crash, he was a rescue diver for the Royal Navy." Lauren paused at the edge of her bed, "His family has been fighting to take Jack away from me for the last six months. I have had shared custody with his family for the last six months, due to their last legal battle. I get him on weekends and I just recently filed my own appeal to have him completely. Audrey is a lawyer, sadly the only lawyer I could afford to do this extensive work for me, she has been helping me get the paperwork and legalities in order." Lauren walked to the closet and started pulling out her bags, "They feel I am an unfit mother, that I cannot properly take care of him as a doctor and a officer in the Royal Navy that is also at war." She threw her bag on the bed, "The biggest thing is, his parents have always hated me since they found out I was gay, but put up with me because of Robert."

I reached for her, "Lauren, I will go back with you, help you in anyway I can."

She clenched her jaw and shook her head, "No, I don't want you involved with this, it's been messy and brutal." she looked up at me, "When I saw you with Dyson it hurt me more than I expected. I have always been tentative to let anyone in my life because of Jack and the mess with this battle, my son has been pushed and pulled for the last year and used to get to me." she sighed, "I wanted you to meet him when we got home, Bo. To know some of my secrets." she started pulling off her uniform, "I got a call from Audrey at the conference that the judge had approved that Jack be placed with his grandparents permanently and I would have supervised visits, I ran out to find you. I punched Dyson because of my anger at the phone call and that I could not bear to see anyone touch you like that." She looked at me, a tear had escaped and slid down her face, "Audrey has filed a temporary stay order, but I have to be in court first thing tomorrow to fight the decision."

I couldn't help it, I pulled her into my arms, holding her until I felt her break and start to sob, "He is the most important thing in my life, I couldn't bear to lose him." I felt her arms wrap around me, I held her as she sobbed, "Lauren, I will go with you, I can make some calls. My family is connected in more ways than anyone can imagine."

She pulled back out of the hug, shaking her head, "No, I have to do this on my own." She turned back to her bags. "I am sorry Bo, about earlier, what I said. It was all too much at once."

I moved to stand in front of her, reaching up to wipe away tears, holding her face gently so she would look at me, "No, no apologies, but I want to finish to what I was going to say before you told me not to say something that I cannot take back." I stared deep in the golden brown eyes that had captured me from day, "Lauren Lewis, I love you. I will never take it back, I will never want too." I ran my fingers over her cheek as more tears fell, "Let me do something, anything to help you and your son."

Lauren held my hand against her face, closing her eyes, "I will call you when I get home." she pulled my hand from her face and kissed the palm. She walked into the bathroom to change her clothes, I felt my heart twinge, I did not expect her to tell me she loved me too, I had to say it in that moment before she ran off again. I finished packing her bags for her and set them by the door, as I as waiting for her to come out of the bathroom I made a quick call home to Grace, asking her to send me all of the family lawyers information. I hung up as Lauren stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and a pullover sweater. She looked tired. I picked up her bags, "I will walk you down."

She nodded slowly as her phone rang, "Audrey, I am leaving now, I will see you at the airport." Lauren hung up and walked down the hall. I helped her with her bags as the young driver waited patiently. Lauren turned to me and tried to smile, "I will call you when I land, hopefully by the time you come back. This will all be sorted out."

She moved quickly and grabbed me in a hug, holding onto me tightly I could feel her heart pounding as she whispered, "I do want to give you my heart, Bo." she pulled away, kissing my cheek she whispered, "I love you so much it scares me." Lauren turned away from me, sliding into the back seat of the sedan before I could say anything else. I watched the sedan until it melted into the strings of New York City traffic.

I went back up to the hotel room, I stood in the doorway breaking up the two rooms. Staring at the bed that was still unmade from our night together, my mind was still wrapping itself around all that Lauren had told me. She was a mother, she had a son and it slowly made sense why she was so hesitant at times to let me in. It wasn't just her she was keeping protected. I sat on the bed, placing my hand on her pillow as I called Grace.

"Ysabeau, what is it my dear? You sounded frantic earlier."

"Those lawyers you sent me, will you get a hold of a couple of them. Then give them Laurens contact information." I sighed as I pulled the pillow to my lap.

"I can yes, Can you tell me what is happening?" I heard Grace open a desk drawer and the slow creak of the old desk chair as she sat down.

"Lauren has a son, the fathers family is trying to take custody away from her and her lawyer is not doing as best as she could." I sighed, I had no jealousy towards Audrey, I only felt that Audrey's emotions could be clouding her focus. "She should be landing late tonight, if you can have one of the best lawyers we have meet her at the airport, anonymously, I would appreciate it."

I heard the quick scribbles of my aunt, "Noted, are you coming home Ysabeau?"

"No, I have to finish up the conference here and then I will be leaving in two days." I had to stop, my heart was pounding at the thought of Lauren going through this alone, I knew that if I had forced myself to go with her, it would have not gone well.

I gave Grace a few more final instructions and hung up with her. I laid back on the bed and stared at the hotel ceiling, I had no desire to return to the conference at all. I set the phone next to me and stared at the envelope Lauren had left on the side table. I reached for it when I heard the knock on the door, I stood up and opened the door. Aaron was standing there, still in uniform but his tie was pulled off to the side. I held the door open for him as I walked to the window, "Lauren is on her way back home."

Aaron closed the door and walked over to stand with me as we both looked out onto Central Park in the late afternoon sun, "Are things between you two done?" he asked softly, afraid to hear the answer.

"She has a son. His grandparents are trying to take him from her."

Aaron let out a breath, "What the shit."

I looked at him as I pulled him into a hug, "I know, she told me everything in the elevator and as she packed her bags, I offered to go home with her. She doesn't want me to get anymore involved."

Aaron held me close, "What do you want too do, Bo?"

"i want to go home, stand by her side as she fights for her child. I already have Grace sending our lawyers to help out. I have the money and the resources, I will do anything I can for her." I leaned forward and pressed my head against the cool glass, "i told her I loved her."

Aaron stepped back and took a seat in the chair by the window, he reached into his pocket and set my new rank insignia on the table next to the chair, "You forgot these, my Dad absolutely adores you."

I glanced over at the gold oak leaf as it wobbled on the table, "And your point is?"

Aaron smiled, "How bad do you want to leave this conference? He can make it happen tomorrow, and you will not get into any trouble by your bosses." he held up his phone, "Give me the word, and I will have you on the morning flight back to England."

I smiled at Aaron, "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

He shrugged as he dialed his father, "Only a million times Bo, only a million times."

The next morning I sat next to Aaron as O'Neil took me to the airport. His father was able to pull me out of the conference, giving me a short leave of absence as part of my promotion. It was a total bullshit excuse, but who would question an Admiral. The ride to the airport was short and quiet, I had only received a text from Lauren when she landed, but nothing since. I was beginning to get worried as the hours passed.

Aaron and I said our goodbyes in the terminal, I hugged him harder than I ever had before and he made me promise that when I was discharged I would come back to New York for a proper celebration with him. I agreed and kissed him on the cheek, telling him to feel free to punch Dyson again for me if he ever crossed paths with him, Aaron laughed and pushed me on my way.

The flight home made me restless as the hours slowly ticked by, Grace had called me as I was about to board, letting me know the lawyers had been sent on their way and with the instructions I had given her. When the flight landed I was greeted by Grace and Kenzi as they both leaned against Kenzi's beat up BMW. Kenzi scooped me up in a hug, "You better start talking, I know that look on your face. You and the blonde doctor are in lurve."

I smiled, "Later, Kenzi." I held my hand out to Grace, pulling her towards me for a hug. "Thank you for getting things in order quickly, have you heard anything."

"Not yet, my dear. But it is still early." Grace smiled and motioned to the car, "Lets get you home, you look exhausted."

We drove home, I told Grace and Kenzi about my promotion and that I would be discharged in two months time if I wanted. Grace smiled wide, "Oh I do hope that you take it, it would be nice to have you home and never in that uniform again."

Kenzi looked at me as she drove, "I can totally get you a job at one of the studios as a consultant, the pay is ridiculous and you work when you want too."

I smiled, "I have not made a decision yet, it depends on Lauren." I looked out the window as Grace asked, "And what is going on with you and Lauren?"

I took a deep breath, "We are together, as of two nights ago. She told Dyson that she was my girlfriend when I ran into him in the old neighborhood."

Kenzi almost killed us all when she slammed on the brakes, "Whoooooa, the scruffy faced asshole found you?"

I nodded as I glared at her, "yes, you can keep driving as I tell you. Lauren and I were walking around the city, I stopped to get us some coffee and he was there. He has not changed in anyway, he was being a jerk and she came to my rescue. I thought that was it until he found me at the conference and kissed me, which ended up in him getting punched in the face by my girlfriend."

Kenzi laughed, "I knew there was something about the good doc I liked." she winked at me, "So if everything is peaches and vodka with you too, why are you here and all mopey?"

I took a breath, "Because." I leaned against the window, "She won't let me in to help her."

Grace reached over and squeezed my shoulder, "It is a huge part to let someone in the life of a child, especially when its your child. She loves you, Ysabeau, its apparent. She is trying to make room for both of you in her heart." Grace sighed, "Shame on the grandparents for trying to take her child from her."

Just then her cell phone rang, "It's the lawyers." Grace answered the phone and chatted for a minute, her face was covered with worry and she nodded, issuing polite thank you before hanging up. She looked at me in the rearview mirror. I turned to look at her, "What did they say."

Grace sighed, "Lauren has lost custody of her little one, the grandparents were awarded full custody with limited and supervised visitations for Lauren. John, our lawyer, is going to re-file the appeal and begin preparations to sue for full custody on Laurens behalf. It appears her lawyer had misfiled a few documents and the judge was a bit of stickler for that."

I swallowed hard, "How long will the appeal take?"

Grace frowned, "John said up to a year, it is a real mess. The grandparents had a better lawyer, more resources and more clout with this particular judge." I turned back to stare out the front windshield as Grace continued, "Lauren has forty eight hours with her son until he is place into the custody of his grandparents."

I said nothing as we drove the rest of the way home.

When we got back to the manor I called Lauren and left her a message. I unpacked my bags then sat with Grace and Kenzi as they went on about random things. I wanted to go to her, but realized I had no idea where she lived and how I could find her without breaking the trust she had placed in John. I sat, curled up in a ball as I half listened to Kenzi's latest story. After checking my phone for the four hundredth time, it rang. I jumped off the couch and ran out into the hallway, "Lauren, hi."

Her voice was tired as she spoke, "Bo, I want to thank you for sending John, he is truly amazing and has already done so much." I heard her take a breath, "it was just a bit too late."

"No, it's not, John is going to fix things, he has already set to work on new paperwork." I began pacing, "And don't worry about his fees, he is doing this as a favor for me." I ran my hand through my hair, "Are you okay?"

there was a pause, "Do you want to meet him?" her voice was shaky. My pacing stopped, I held my hand over my heart, knowing exactly what she was asking, "I do, only if you want me too."

"I will text you my address, can you be over soon? He goes to bed in a couple of hours."

I could hear the little voice in the background playing, "I will be there in a heartbeat."

Lauren hung up and two seconds later I had her address in my hand. I ran past Grace and Kenzi, yelling at them where I was headed. I threw on clothes and ran out of the house, rushing to the old MG that was in the garage.

The address Lauren gave me was a few streets over from the manor, in the small town that bordered the edge of the massive expanse of land where the other manors dotted the green hills. I had been in the town many times in my life, it made me wonder if I had come across Lauren before. I found her house easily, it was a small older cottage like house. White walls, with old wooden crossbeams that seemed to brace the house as ivy crept all around it. I smiled at the cozy feeling the house gave me as I stepped out of the car. Laurens mini cooper was in the driveway and I smiled wider as I saw the small play set and sandbox in the backyard.

I took a steadying breath and walked to the front door, knocking on it lightly I heard small footsteps run to the door as Lauren softly called out she was coming. When she opened the door, I could see how tired and defeated she was, yet she still offered me a warm smile. "Hi, Lauren. I hope it isn't too late."

She smiled, "I sent the text less than ten minutes ago, Bo."

I went to say something else when I saw a small blonde head poke out from the side of Laurens legs, bright blue eyes peered at me. Lauren reached down and picked the boy up and held him, "Jack, say hi to my friend Bo."

Jack smiled as he laid his head on his mothers shoulder, he was slightly shy as he said, "Hi Bo." his tiny English accent was adorable.

Lauren looked at me, "This is Jack, my son." I stared at the little boy as he looked at my cautiously. He looked almost exactly like Lauren, only dotted by features that I was certain that came from his father. I smiled to put the little boy at ease, "Hi Jack, its nice to meet you."

He smiled wide, and buried his face in her hair. Lauren turned to walk back in the house, "Come in, Bo."

I closed the door behind me and looked around her house, it was in pristine order as I would expect from her. Bookshelves lined most of the living room, medical texts, literature and children's books lined the shelves. As Lauren set Jack down, so she could pick up his random toys I smiled as I saw pictures of her and the little boy, playing, laughing. There were a couple of her in her uniform standing with, who I could only assume was Robert, both were holding baby Jack as the smiled wide. I was caught up looking at the pieces of Laurens life, when I felt a little hand tug at mine, I looked down to see Jack pulling at me, "It's snack time, we are having peanut butter and grahams, want some?" he looked at me with the same softness his mother did. I smiled wider, "lead the way." The little boy nodded and pulled me towards the kitchen were Lauren was setting down the snack plate.

I helped Jack to sit on his chair, pushing the plate towards him so he didn't have to reach, I watched him eat in such a determined manner, exactly like Lauren. "He looks so much like you, Lauren." I turned to look at her as she leaned against the counter, she would not tear her eyes from the boy. "I know, he also takes after a lot of my OCD habits, his father tried to break him of it for years." she smiled as she set the towel in her hand down.

Jack suddenly giggled as he said my name, "Bo, Bo, Bo. Your name is funny." he handed me a snack, "Want one?"

I took it gently and thanked him as he began to chomp on his second peanut butter graham, "Are you mummy's special friend? Like Audrey was?" he looked at me with inquisitive eyes.

I glanced at Lauren, who smiled and answered for me, "She is, Jack. Very special." Lauren met my eyes as she said it.

Jack smiled and giggled, "She is pretty, mummy. I like her."

We watched as Jack finished his snack, sliding off the chair and grabbing the plate, he took it to Lauren. Then asked, "Can I go watch cartoons?"

Lauren nodded, "For a little while, its almost time for bed. Remember, we are getting up early tomorrow to go to the zoo and the park, before I take you to your grandmothers." Lauren's tone changed as she finished the sentence. I saw her jaw clench as she tried to keep the emotion from her son.

Jack smile wide and ran out into the living room, expertly navigating the television remote to his favorite cartoons, before flopping on the couch, pushing himself into the soft cushions. I watched him for a moment before I turned to Lauren, "Thank you for letting me meet him."

Lauren busied herself with the dishes, putting them into the dishwasher, "i had wanted you to meet him when we came back from New York City." she closed up the dishwasher, "Then things changed, and I thought it was best for you to meet him now, before I lose..." she stopped as tears welled up.

I stood up and went to her, turning her to face me as I wiped away tears, "Lauren don't cry, don't let him see that." I held her face, "How did the grandparents win this."

Lauren leaned into me, "Audrey screwed up a lot of the paperwork, the grandparents were able to sway the judge that I was a bit of an absentee mother, with the hospital and all the out of town meeting is would take. I tried to prove that whenever I had Jack, I was with him. It was easier when Robert was alive, he lived three doors down and we had a perfect schedule. One happy family with whomever we were in a relationship with." Lauren looked at me in the eyes, "It's mainly Roberts mother, feeling that I am corrupting her grandson, it doesn't matter that I am undoubtedly his mother." Lauren stopped as her eyes fell onto Jack as he bopped his head to the cartoon music. "She had made it so I will not see him more than a few hours a month, and is working on making it so I can never see him unless she approves it." She swallowed hard, "Which may mean never..."

I pulled her into my arms, "I, we will make this right. I promise you, John will fix it." I felt her arms wrap around me. "Bo, why are you doing this for me?" it was a raspy, whispered question. I could feel in the way that she held me, she was defeated and on the verge of giving up.

I leaned back in her arms, "Because I love you, Lauren. You should never have to question that." She looked in my eyes, as silence fell between us. I took her hand, lacing my fingers in hers, "Lets go watch some cartoons and I will help you put him to bed." She smiled and nodded, I bent forward, kissing her gently.

The three of us sat on the couch, Jack in between Lauren and I as we watched cartoons. Jack was a curious boy, extremely intelligent for his age, he would tell me stories about his toys and ask me questions. If I was a sailor like his mummy and dad, if I liked to color, why I had a funny accent, a million questions that I answered that made Lauren smile as her son was taken with me. He eventually sat in my lap and fell asleep as we watched the end of his cartoon movie. Lauren stood up to take him from me, I shook my head, "I got him." I stood up, carrying the little blonde boy as he snuggled into my chest, sleeping peacefully. I followed Lauren to the small room near the back of the cottage, it was a typical little boys room. Stars on the ceiling, boats on shelves, drawings on walls and toys in bins. I smiled as I saw the random kids science and medical books on the small desk. Lauren turned to me, taking the boy from my arms she sat him down on the bed, gently trying to wake him up. "Jack, we need to get your pajamas on."

The little boy peeled his sleepy eyes open and nodded, he began pulling off his shirt as Lauren held out his Alien patterned pajamas. The boy was quick to change and quick to roll into his bed. Lauren pulled up the covers and kissed him on the forehead, "Goodnight, my love, I love you more than the moon and the stars." Jack held his arms out to his mother, and in a very practiced voice, full of love for his mother, "Goodnight my heart, I love you more than the oceans and the air." he kissed his mother on the cheek and then looked at me, "Goodnight Bo Bo Bo!" he giggled as he said my name.

I laughed lightly, "Goodnight Jack."

Lauren tucked him in as he looked at her, "Can Bo come with us tomorrow? I want to show her the lions." His eyes with hope that his mother would agree to a tag along for their special plans.

Lauren looked at me, I smiled, "I would love it if you showed me the lions." I glanced at Lauren as she kissed the boy again, "Sleep now, and in the morning we will make French toast."

Jack smiled and buried his head into his pillows and soon fell asleep. Lauren took a moment to look at him as I left the room. A moment later, I heard the door click softly behind her.

"I should head home." I folded my arms, feeling suddenly very awkward.

Lauren closed the space in between us, placing both of her hands on my face as she pulled me into a kiss. It was soft, gentle, but full of so much emotion. It took a moment for me to catch up and place my hands on her side, when we parted, "Stay, please. Jack would be very upset if he woke up and you weren't here to have breakfast with him, he is very taken with you."

I ran my hand down her arm, settling it on her wrist, "He is an amazing little boy, just like his mother." I ran my thumb over her pulse, "And yes, I will stay." I felt my heart pound hard for this woman.

Lauren, kissed me again, "I am also very taken with you." she looked in my eyes and I could see how true her words were. She sighed and walked towards the other bedroom door, she pulled out a pair of linen sleep pants and a t-shirt, handing them too me. "I am going to wash up." she motioned to the massive bed in the room, "There are extra pillows over on the chair." she walked past me and into the bathroom. I changed quickly as I looked around the room. Lauren's room was very sparse compared to the rest of the house. Her bed was massive, there was a small desk pushed against one wall, covered in paper work. There was a dresser, a closet and a small couch off to one side. On top of the dresser was pictures of Robert, Jack and her and it looked like it had been taken recently. I moved to the side of the bed to crawl in it when I nudged the desk chair, the top of the chair hitting a stack of papers, making them tumble to the floor. I bent down and started picking them up, trying to sort them and put them back in order. I set a handful of papers on the desk and reached for the lone folded paper still on the floor. I saw a watermark that was familiar too me. I flipped the page open and saw it was from the Royal Navy.

My eyes quickly caught key phrases, I swallowed hard as I began to read the full letter.

Commander L. Lewis,

Your transfer request of immediate active duty has been approved, in one weeks time you are to report to the Manchester duty station for deployment readying. The below is the duty station of your choosing and the rest of the instructions will be given to you at the deployment briefing. The hospital has agreed to your leave in lieu of your request to move to the front.

We appreciate your service and willingness to serve on the front lines.

I read the bottom of the letter, and saw it was signed by a Rear Admiral whose name I did not recognize, it was also co-signed by Colonel Windsor. I caught where she had chosen to go, it was a unit that was close to the one I had just left, in the heaviest area of combat and one of the busiest field trauma units. I looked at the date and it was dated yesterday. "Lauren, no. You don't want this."

I heard the bathroom door creak open and I quickly folded the letter up, shoving it back onto the desk I climbed into the bed.

MORE SOON!