CHAPTER 2

"Oh my God! Look at him go! Come here, big guy! Come to Grandpa!" My father was crouched down in the grass with his arms outstretched. Finn had just turned 20 months old and was toddling around the back yard. It was an unusually warm early spring day in Chicago and we were taking advantage of it. The three of us watched in amazed silence as Finn stomped through the short brown grass, enjoying his new found independence and shouting "GAH!" as he pushed his little walker around. My father scooped Finn up in his arms, making him squeal with delight. He giggled and cooed as Dad spun him around.

"Moments like this. Am I right, baby?" Matt leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"Right," I said, nodding my head. "I'm going back inside to finish dinner. Make sure Dad doesn't over do it." Matt gave me a wink and assured me that he would watch the two of them like a hawk. My father was easily winded and could become unsteady at times. I was concerned that his legs might go out from underneath him while he was holding the baby. I walked up the back porch steps and into the kitchen to find Em rummaging through the refrigerator.

"Emily, we'll be eating in a few hours. Can't you wait?" She popped her head up, cheeks full of something she found to eat. "I could starve to death in a few hours," she mumbled. She swallowed whatever she was chewing and wiped her mouth on her sleeve. She watched me as I peeled a few potatoes and threw them in a pot.

"You still haven't said anything to Casey?"

"No, Em...I haven't and I'm not going to. There is no need to get him upset. Audra stopped calling a couple of months ago when I made it clear that I would not be open to seeing Jackson. She understood that and promised me she was going to tell him exactly what I told her. There's an end to it, so please stop mentioning it," I said. I probably sounded more stern than I intended, but she needed a reminder. I was beginning to get annoyed with her for constantly bringing it up. Just then, Matt, Dad and Finn burst through the back door.

"He's tired out, Mama...I think he's ready for a nap. I'll put him down," said Matt. He was holding Finn in his arms and had pulled off his hat and coat. He stopped long enough for me to give Finn a kiss before he carried him upstairs to the nursery.

"He's a good Daddy," said Em, watching Matt carry Finn through to the dining room.

"Yes, he is. One of the best two Dads I know," I said, feeling a couple of tears prick at my eyes. Finn had been the best thing that had ever happened to Matt and me. Since he had been born, it was as if he healed everything that Matt and I had been through since we reunited. He had been our miracle and I wasn't about to do anything to ruin that. As far as I was concerned, Jackson Walker was still dead and that part of my life was buried with him. My life now was with Matthew and our son. Nothing would change that. I wouldn't allow it.

"He's all tucked in. Fell asleep the second his little blonde head hit the mattress," said Matt, grabbing a beer from the fridge and making his way over to me at the stove. He set his beer down on the counter, then wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close to him. I draped my arms around his neck and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"He really is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen," said Em between chomping on a carrot.

"But you hate kids, Morrison," said Matt.

"Finn is my Godchild, which makes him special and the exception to every rule I've made up for other people's kids," she replied.

"Yeah, yeah," said Matt, before giving me another kiss. "Maybe it's time to start thinking about having another baby. We do make exceptionally beautiful babies."

"I'd be open to that...with one condition…"

"And that would be?" asked Matt.

"That I be a stay at home Mom," I said. Em spit out chewed carrot all over the kitchen counter.

"You're kidding, right Mads? I couldn't survive without you in that office full of sharks!"

"You could if you were the boss," I replied. She took another bite of her carrot, before walking into the dining room. The look on her face was one of sheer terror.

"Well...we've managed to activate Morrison's panic button. Our work here is done," said Matt.

"I'm serious, Matt," I said, quietly. In my head, I knew it was a pipe dream. We couldn't go without a second income, even with Matt's promotion to Captain.

"Maddy, baby...you know we can't...at least right now. We're building the new house...I wish things…" I put my index finger on his lips.

"I know, Matt. You don't have to say it," I said. Matt pulled me in close and kissed me hard on the mouth.

"You know I would give you anything and everything you ever wanted, if I could…"

"I do...and that's enough," I said.

"I love you like mad, baby."

"I love you back," I said, trying to hide the fact that my heart was broken. We never truly talked about it before, but now that we had and the reality of it all had been laid out in front of me, it was a little difficult to take.