A Second Act

Author's Note: A fun chapter about an alternative possibility.

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Donald Ressler tucked in his shirt as he looked in the mirror in his bedroom. He stopped and looked at himself for a moment and closed his eyes.

"This is ridiculous," he said as he deflated in front of the mirror. It was awkward getting dolled up for this.

"Daddy!" Carolina yelled from the hallway. "Erin won't..."

"Carolina, I told you that you need to learn how to resolve..." Ressler said.

"But I did and..." Carolina insisted as she walked into his room.

"But nothing," Ressler said as he reached for his wallet and shoved it in his pocket. "Figure it out."

"Daddy..." Carolina whined.

"I'm serious," Ressler said as he reached for his jacket and pulled it on. "I'm already late and..."

"Fine!" Carolina said as she stomped her foot and marched from the room.

He sighed. "Carolina!"

No answer.

"Carolina!" He called to his daughter as he walked out of his bedroom and into the hallway. He heard a tell-tale slam to his twelve-year old's door and knew the conversation was over.

"Christ," he sighed.

He walked toward Erin's room and looked inside.

"Honey, whatever is going on with your sister..." he said to his eleven-year-old.

"She always says it's my fault when something of hers goes missing, but I haven't been in her room all week and..."

"Then go help her find whatever it is she's lost," Ressler said as he did up his watch. "Mrs. Bridges will come over when it's dark and get you two to bed and she'll stay until I..."

"We're not babies," Erin said as Ressler walked toward her and kissed the top of her head.

"Which is why she's not here the entire time," he said quietly before he left her room.

He stepped over a basket of laundry he'd just brought upstairs and went down the stairs grabbing his car keys as he passed the table, lifting Erin's skateboard out of the way and leaning it against the wall, and shoving a bunch of shoes to the side so Mrs. Bridges wouldn't trip on them when she came in.

He got in his car and made his way toward the address he could navigate in his sleep. She lived only 10 minutes away but it felt like years to get there and yet seconds until he was pulling into her very familiar driveway. Ressler turned off his car and looked at her house.

He'd been here hundreds of times, possibly thousands, over the years but never under these circumstances. Yet here he was, about to take Liz Keen out on a date. They had been partners for 13 years, had attended each other's weddings, been there for the birth of children, he and Audrey had helped her through her divorce, their kids were friends, he was Agnes' godfather, they had been on vacations as families, she had cried in his arms when Tom let down Agnes again and again, and she had slept at his house for weeks on end helping him with Audrey when she was in treatment. She had made all the funeral arrangements when he couldn't function, had fed his kids, had helped him learn to be a single parent for the first time...

"You aren't coming in to say goodnight to Agnes?" Liz startled him as she leaned down to look in his window.

"Oh, uh, yeah..." Ressler smiled up at her and got out of her car. He looked at her standing in her short copper dress and smiled. "You look beautiful."

She blushed. "Thanks."

He nodded and blushed and walked with her up to the house. When he walked inside Agnes ran to him and hugged him.

"Uncle Donnie!" She yelled as she snuggled into him. "You and mommy are going on a date!"

"We...we are," Ressler stammered as he looked toward Liz then back at Agnes. "You okay with that?"

Agnes nodded and smiled.

"Good to hear," he smiled back. "You got a babysitter for the night?"

"Felicia is making us pizza," Agnes said as she pulled away. "You taking mommy to a restaurant?"

"I am," he nodded. "You've been there. Costa's?"

"They have nice lasagna," Agnes smiled.

"Mommy likes their calamari," Ressler smiled up at Liz.

"Ewww," Agnes said.

Liz and Ressler chuckled. Of all of their girls, Agnes was the pickiest eater and most of the restaurants they had gone to with their families over the years had been determined by what she could and would eat on their menu.

"Have a goodnight sweetie," Ressler smiled at her before he walked out of the house with Liz.

"You told her?" Ressler asked.

"You didn't tell the girls?" Liz asked, confused.

"I told them I was going on a date," Ressler said. "They didn't ask for details..."

She stopped and he took a few steps before he faltered and turned to look at her.

"What?" He asked.

"Ressler, we can't start this with lies..." Liz said.

"I didn't..." he started.

She shifted and crossed her arms over her chest.

He sighed and walked toward her and took her hands in his. "You're right."

She gave him a soft smile.

"Ressler...it's been months..." Liz said quietly.

Months ago, they had started to realize that they were attracted to each other. Audrey had been gone 2 years, Tom had disappeared from her life 3 years ago, and they had been in this odd co-parenting friendship since Audrey had died. Both of them had been busy or grieving or tired and it had taken them a while to realize they were probably in love. He had kissed her two months ago and felt guilty about it for days. She had run her hands up the inside of his shirt as they kissed a month and a half ago and worried she had pushed him into something before he was ready. Three weeks ago, they had started making out on one of their sofas while their kids had a sleepover upstairs. And last week, he had asked her to dance in the rain on her back porch while they waited for another parent to drop their kids off.

"Too long," he said softly as he leaned in and kissed her softly.

She smiled.

"Are you not telling them because it would seem like you betrayed Audrey or...?" Liz asked.

"No," he said honestly. "I mean, it felt scary at first but...I'm sure this is right. You?"

"Ressler," Liz said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. "I love you."

A slow smiled crept across his face.

"I love you too, Liz," he said sweetly.

She kissed him softly and when she pulled back, she was smiling.

"I know this date is PG..." Liz smirked as she placed a hand on his chest. "But maybe we should plan a weekend...for just us..."

His eyebrows went up and he smiled as he placed his hands on her hips and pulled her a little closer. "Let me talk with Mrs. Bridges..."

She chuckled. "Let's get her to take Agnes too."

He nodded and took her hand in his and walked her to his car.

The end. Let me know what you think.