I don't own these characters just a fan wanting to tell a story

Maria lay in bed, she tossed and turned, trying to fall asleep. It was too hot with a blanket on but when she took the blanket off it was too cold. She sighed, she needed rest, she needed to forget about what had happened the past couple years of her life. She had buried Angelo so deep down in her mind that she had almost forgotten the pain he had caused. She had forgotten how happy she was when she found out she was pregnant, how excited she was to be a mom, and the pain she went through when she lost her baby. She pillowed her hands under her head, and tried to keep the tears from slipping down her cheeks. Was her baby a boy or girl, would he or she have looked like her or Angelo? Maria couldn't help crying any longer, she buried her face in her pillow and sobbed until it hurt, she felt as if her heart was going to break. She soon felt like she couldn't cry anymore but she just lay there silently enduring the pain she felt like she couldn't escape from. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She heard a light knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Maria asked, surprised by the raspiness of her own voice.

"It's Sean, can I come in?" the voice echoed.

"Yeah," Maria said sitting up, turning on the lamp beside her bed.

Sean opened the door.

"What's up?" Maria questioned, motioning for him to sit on the bed.

"I'm sorry..." Sean said sitting down on the bed.

"About what?" Maria inquired.

"About your baby." Sean answered, he looked as if he had been crying.

"You heard that." Maria sighed. "I was hoping you didn't."

"I'm sorry about over hearing it too, I didn't mean to I just did,." Sean apologized.

"Don't worry, I believe you." Maria said kindly.

"Good." Sean said, relieved.

"So is that all you wanted to say?" Maria questioned.

"No, I heard you crying, I wanted to make sure you were okay." Sean stated.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Maria lied folding her hands in her lap.

"I don't believe you." Sean said firmly. Maria smiled. There were times that Sean acted so much like his dad, it made her wonder if that was how Danny acted when he was a kid.

"You are too much like your father, he can always tell when I'm lying too." Maria laughed, she laughed trying to lighten the mood..

Sean grinned at the comparison, people usually said he was like his mother.

"But are you okay?" Sean asked again, not wanting Maria changed the subject.

Maria sighed, "No," She answered, "but I will be." she promised.

"Do you want some ice cream?" Sean questioned "That always makes me feel better."

Maria looked at him, "Yes!" She exclaimed."I love ice cream."

"So..." Maria started, "Sam is a nice girl, I approve."

Sean grinned, "Yeah she is." He agreed as he took Rocky Road ice cream out of the freezer

"Oh I love this stuff." Maria commented as she got bowls out of the cabinet. Are you going to ask her out?" Maria questioned.

"I'm not sure." Sean answered scoping out the ice cream. "I want to, but I'm not sure how to. she's my friend and I don't want to freak her out."

"Well, maybe for now just be her friend." Maria suggested. "Just see where it goes."

"I'll think about that." Sean replied handing the bowl of ice cream to Maria.

"Thanks" Maria said taking large bite of ice cream.

"Maria can I ask you something?" Sean inquired settling down in a chair.

"Sure, but I don't promise to answer." Maria replied.

"Last night I saw Dad leaving your room at like three in the morning-" Sean started.

Maria interrupted.

"Oh no,." She stated quickly, "He was just staying with me until I fell asleep and he accidently fell asleep." Maria explained.

"Oh okay," Sean said quietly. He hadn't know what to think last night but now it made sense.

"Do you like my Dad?" Sean questioned, after a long pause.

"Yeah, of course I do, he's my partner and my friend." Maria answered.

"No," Sean said, "I mean do you like him." He clarified.

Maria's heart caught in her chest, "AM I that obvious?" She said softly looking down at her ice cream.

"No,I was just wondering because if you do, then I can stop faking being dumb." Sean said with a relieved sigh.

"So you WERE faking it, I thought you were!" Maria exclaimed. "But why?"

"Jack and Nikki put me up too it." Sean defended.

"Why?" Maria demanded, though she was smiling.

"Jack and Nikki don't think it's good for Dad to be single, and you are the only woman they know that they think he has a chance with." Sean explained.

"So you guys are trying to play matchmaker for your Dad?" Maria questioned.

"Are you mad?" Sean inquired. He suddenly realizing Maria might be offended by what he had done.

"No, but just remember, that your Dad is going to move on when he thinks it's right. Nothing you guys do will change that." Maria answered.

"Yeah I know, " Sean said, finishing his ice cream, "but if and when Dad does start dating again, I hope it's you." Sean added, his voice kind and accepting. Maria almost cried. She had been so careful to hide the fact she cared for Danny from the kids, she was afraid they would be offended.

"Thanks Sean," Maria said, her face beaming.

"Want more ice cream?" Sean questioned.

"Absolutely."
A few moments later,Danny came down the stairs.

"Hey dad." Sean said, surprised to see his Dad, he had thought he was asleep.

"Maria, I think you should come with me." Danny said, "There was in a break in at your apartment."

Maria sprung up, "Let me go change." Maria ran up the stairs, her heart pounded. Had it been Agnelo who broke in or just a random occurrence?

Neither Maria or Sean knew that Danny had been at the top of the stairs during the latter half of their conversation. Danny turned on the coffee pot, glancing at the clock and saw that is was 3:00 o'clock in the morning.

"Sean, go up to bed you have school in the morning." Danny ordered.

"Yes, dad." Sean answered and hurried up stairs.

Danny stood confused in the kitchen, he hadn't meant to overhear what Sean and Maria were talking about, but he had been so surprised he didn't move. He couldn't believe that Sean was okay with him dating at all, let alone Maria. He had considered dating again after Linda, but only briefly, and never had he considered dating Maria. He had admit to himself that loved spending time with her and the fact Maria was extremely attractive, but the thought of dating her was always off the table because he thought she didn't care from him. Now though he knew she cared for him.

Maria came down the stairs in a pair of jeans and a blouse. Her brown hair pulled up in a ponytail and her dark eyes were distressed with the thought that her apartment had been broken into.

"Okay I'm ready." Maria stated.

"Good," Danny said, "Coffee is ready too."

Hope you liked that chapter, please let me know what you guys think!