The bell rang and Jack looked up excitedly. "Is that Miss Erin?"

"Why don't you go see, Jack?" He watched his son tear out of the kitchen and to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Miss Erin. May I come in?" Aaron heard his son pull open the door and launch himself into Erin's arms. Hand in hand they entered the kitchen. "Is there somewhere I could stash my coat?"

"I'll put it in the closet, Miss Erin." Jack held out his hands and she slipped the coat off before handing it to him. Aaron noticed she'd taken time to change into a cowl neck sweater and a long skirt. She noticed his scrutiny and began to blush a little.

"Georgia said I shouldn't wear office clothes on a date." She touched her hair self-consciously and smiled at hi. "I hope I look all right."

Aaron nodded as the buzzer went off. "That means supper's ready. You got here just in time." He pressed a button on the stove to make it turn off and then used the oven mitts to take out the pot from the oven. Carefully, he placed it on top of the stove and removed the cover. Whatever Jessica had made for them smelled delicious.

"Do you need me to get anything?" Erin asked softly.

"Plates are in the cupboard next to the sink. Would you get three, please?" It seemed he'd no more than asked and she was at his side with the dishes. Using the tongs Jessica had left out, he pulled out the first lobster and set it on the top plate, along with potatoes and broccoli. Once all three plates were full, they set them on the table and Aaron called Jack in to eat.

His son came into the room with his hands behind his back and a giant grin on his face. "I got you a present, Miss Erin. but you'll have to open it after we eat, because I'm hungry." He handed the small box to her as she gently laughed and she set it next to her wine glass.

"I hope the suspense doesn't get to be too much, Jack. I really like presents." Jack giggled and dug into his food, anxious to get the meal over with. Aaron and Erin lingered over everything, their eyes meeting occasionally while they played footsie under the table. "Christmas is coming, Jack. Is there anything you'd like?"

"I've already asked Jesus for my gift." He grinned at Erin. "But I like Legos and superhero stuff."

"I'll keep that in mind, Jack." When they'd finished eating, Aaron refilled their glasses and Erin picked up the package. "May I open this now?" Jack nodded and she slipped her fingernail beneath the tape, carefully taking the paper off and setting it on the table.

"I saw this as we walked past the swan store in the mall. I hope you like it."

Erin opened the lid of the box and pushed back the tissue paper. "Oh, Jack, I love it." She held up the delicate crystal bear and looked it over. "This is perfect. Thank you, sweetheart."

He beamed at her and then crawled up onto her lap, hugging her tightly. "I just want to make you happy, Miss Erin, and keep you in our lives."

Aaron watched her eyes tear up as she set the bear back in the box. "I want to stay in your life, too, Jack." She kissed his forehead and hugged his back.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm happy. I never thought, well, that's a grown up thought. You make me so happy, kiddo. You and your father."

"Then you'll stay here with us forever?"

Erin looked at Aaron over Jack's shoulder. "Not quite yet. There are still some things that I have to work out on my own. It's a big step to go from being alone to being with other people once more."

"If you're worried about Molly, I can tell her. She needs to learn how to share you with other people." A watery laugh erupted out of Erin's mouth and Jack giggled as well.

"Oh, honey, it is more than that. Please, trust me. When the time is right, I will stay with you forever." Jack nodded solemnly and reached his hand up to wipe away her tears. This opened the floodgates and Erin broke down weeping. Aaron moved to their side and knelt in front of them, opening his arms. Erin fell into the waiting embrace and buried her head in his shoulder.

Jack wiggled out from between them, and Aaron pulled his lover more tightly to him. "Shh, my darling. No one will hurt you here. I promise you," he whispered as he stroked her hair. "Oh, my lovely one, calm your heart, you're safe here." He felt her struggle to calm down and he kissed her temple lightly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry like that. It's just…"

"It triggered something in you. We all have those triggers, Erin. Do you feel able to stand now?" She nodded and he helped her to her feet. "I wonder where Jack went?"

Aaron felt someone tugging on his shirt and he looked down at his son, who was holding on to his favorite stuffed bear and blanket. "Daddy?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"Can Miss Erin and I go cuddle in your bed? I know when I'm upset that makes me feel better."

"Ask her and find out."

"Miss Erin, will you come cuddle with me? And perhaps you could tell me a story?" He smiled up at her and Aaron watched the emotional gamut run over her face. "Please?"

"For a little while, Jack. I have to spend some time with Georgia before she leaves tomorrow." She followed him up to Aaron's room, leading Aaron along with them as she refused to let go of his hand. "What kind of story would you like to hear?" she asked as she climbed into the bed. Jack snuggled between her and Aaron, resting his head on her chest.

"Tell me a story about when you were young."

"Okay." She smiled at Aaron and he grinned back. "I wasn't born here in America. I was born in Dorset, England. When I was your age, I moved to America with my family. I was the youngest of five children and tiny for my age. We landed at La Guardia Airport and my parents split us kids up. Mum and Da each thought the other had me, but neither did as I had become distracted by the violin player by the shops. When I was young, we didn't have the security like we do now.

"So, I sat down in front of him, listening to him play and thinking my parents were right behind me, since they'd been there moments ago. Hours passed and he finally stopped playing. Coming up to me, he asked where my parents were. I looked around and they weren't there. The young man saw the panic on my face and got me to focus on hi, while he took me to the security desk."

"Were your parents there, Miss Erin?"

"No, or at least, not yet. See, we had a home waiting for us in upper Manhattan, and that's where they were heading. It takes time to get there and so it was a little time before they discovered I was gone. Only, we didn't have our phone line connected yet, that would be later in the week. So Da had to go to a neighbor's house and use their phone to hire a cab to bring him back to the airport.

"By the time he got there, the violin player had begun teaching me the basics of how to play. You see, my fingers were the only long thing about me at that time, and I was able to hold onto the violin and make sound come out, with his help, of course. I was in love with the very notion of my hands making the same music he had. My father was furious that he'd lost me, and I could tell he was upset when he stalked up to us."

"What happened next, Miss Erin?"

"If it hadn't been for the violin player, I think I wouldn't have been able to sit for a week. As it was, I had to stay by my mom's side for the next six months. But I got a violin that year for Christmas. I still play at times." A sad, faraway, look swept over her face.

"Honey?"

"It's nothing," She sighed and pulled Jack close to her, kissing his forehead gently. "Would you like me to play for you sometime, sweetie?"

Jack nodded and yawned, his eyes fluttering closed as he gave in to sleep. "Erin, when did you stop playing for an audience?"

"You see too much, Aaron. After Georgia was born, Eric asked me to stop playing so much."

"So you lost your child and your outlet to express your grief?"

"Pretty much. I should be going now, though, Georgia will wonder where I am." She carefully extracted herself from Jack's grasp and stood up, smoothing her skirt. Aaron got up and she held out her hand. Together, they walked back the hall to the door. He got her coat and helped her into it, kissing her neck as he did so. "Call me tomorrow," she whispered before turning and kissing hm.

"Okay." He watched her leave, an odd sort of melancholy tugging at his heart.