CHAPTER 20

The fight between Ian and Benjamin was all the Ridge seemed to be able to talk about. Every eye, more than ever, was locked on Ian and Skylar, waiting to see what would happen next. But Skylar made it her duty that nothing ever would follow.

The two men were kept apart, friends and family making sure that they were never in the same room or, God forbid, alone.

But try as everyone might, it was impossible for them to never see each other. But when they would cross paths, for even a brief moment, the tension built between them instantaneously and they would share a hard glare, each of them also taking in the handiwork they left on the other's face.

Thankfully, none of Ian's injuries were serious and would heal pretty quickly. But they were still prominent enough that Ollie took notice of them.

The night after the fight, when Ollie, Ian and Skylar were having dinner, Ollie couldn't stop staring at Ian. Ian felt ashamed for letting it happen. It wasn't the example he wanted to set for his son. Ollie was scared of him enough as it was, this could just make it worse.

But instead of shrinking away from him in fear, Ollie stood on his chair to level with Ian's face. He very gently touched some of the cuts and bruises and said, "You got ouches?"

Ian was so taken back that Ollie asked him specifically a question with genuine curiosity, that it took him a second to answer. "They dinna hurt so bad anymore, laddie. But, aye, I did get an…ouch." He glanced at Skylar who was watching the interaction with awe.

"Nana has me'cines that make ouches go away," the little boy went on.

"Don't I ken it. Yer Nana is verra smart wi' her potions. And yer mother takes after her."

"I'm smart too!"

"Oh, there's no doubt about that. Yer the brightest lad on the Ridge, I'm sure of it."

Ollie smiled and giggled, then sat back down and continued to eat.

Ian and Skylar looked at each other and tried to hide their grins.

They tried to push their luck and see if Ian would actually be able to sleep in the same room as Skylar and Ollie that night. But Ollie insisted on him sleeping in Skylar's bed with just mother.

"One day at a time," Skylar told Ian as they spent their few minutes alone after Ollie fell asleep. "He's talking to you. That's huge."

"I ken," he replied, though his heart was still breaking at not having his son's full approval.

Skylar's was too. She wanted so much for them to have a real father son relationship like she had dreamed for so long.

She kept trying to think of any way they could bond, anything to bring them closer together and get Ollie to see how important Ian was in his life.

The following week, she remembered an idea that Marsali and Claire had given her and decided to put the plan in action.

Nothing like jumping in the deep end, right, Claire?

On the day that she was joining Mrs. Bug and a couple other women into Wilmington, Skylar informed Ollie that he would be spending the whole day with Ian.

"No! I go with you, Mama!" he cried. "I got to Willyton too!"

"You have to stay here, sweetheart. You're going to have so much fun with Daddy."

Ollie kept whining. "No! No!"

"Are ye sure this is a good idea, Sky?" Ian whispered to her.

"Absolutely. It's just one day, and it'll give you two some good quality time together."

Ian wasn't as certain. When she had brought the idea up to him the previous night, he had been all for it. Especially since Ollie had been tolerating him more and more of late. But now that it was here and seeing Ollie's reaction, he was very nervous.

Skylar touched Ian's arm. "It's going to be great, I promise." She kissed his cheek then knelt down to calm the two year old.

Once Ollie reached a point where he realized this was how it was going to be, Skylar figured she better leave quick before anything started up again.

The three went outside to the wagon. She gave Ollie a big hug, then kissed Ian, and climbed into the wagon.

Ian and Ollie watched as it rode away until it was out of sight. Then, they were alone.

Christ, what do I do now? Ian thought. He looked down at Ollie and saw him just standing there, kicking his feet in the dirt. This shouldna be so hard. I have wee nieces and nephews. I ken how te entertain children. It's just never been one of my own.

"So…" he started. "What would ye like te do teday, Ollie?"

"Play with Rollo?"

"Ye want te play wi' Rollo? Aye, we can do that. Let's go find him."

As they were walking back towards the house, Ian put a hand on the back of Ollie's head to keep him close, but Ollie shook him off and ran ahead.

"Ollie! Stay with me!" Ian called, running after him. But Ollie kept going until he collided with Marsali and fell to his bottom.

"Are ye alright, Ollie? Ye have te be careful," Ian said when he caught up to him. He helped the little one off the ground and dusted him off.

"No harm done. He bounced right off," Marsali joked, rubbing her pregnant belly. "What are ye two up te?"

"We're looking for Rollo!" Ollie announced.

"Are ye? Well, I just happened te see him on the other side of the house, jumpin' at birds."

"Shall we go see if he's there?" Ian said to Ollie, and without a word, the tiny redhead took off. "Ollie, wait!" and Ian followed after him.

They found Rollo where Marsali said he was. He was entertaining some of the other kids of the Ridge, so Ollie went and joined them while Ian stayed to the side to keep watch.

Ian could watch him play for hours. Seeing him smile and laugh warmed his heart. Every day he renewed his vow to himself to keep Ollie safe and happy, and he did again now. It was moments like this that made him optimistic for their future.

Soon, he'll want te be with me as much as Rollo. I hope.

The day continued on very well. Ian tagged along as Ollie played with other kids, helped feed the chickens, and other activities. They didn't talk much, Ian not knowing what to say mainly, but Ollie was comfortable around him; and Ian would take that as a win.

Around 2:00, Ollie was starting to wind down and Ian noticed him yawning a lot.

"Are ye tired, Ollie?" The boy nodded and rubbed his eyes. "Why don't we go inside and ye can take a nap, aye?"

"Kay."

Ollie let Ian take his hand and they started for the door. But before they got there, Ollie perked up and shouted, "Benji!" He broke from Ian and bolted to where Benjamin was.

Shit, Ian thought as he followed.

His stomach sank when he saw Benjamin smile and squat down, opening his arms for Ollie to run into.

"Oh my goodness. If it isna my favorite wee lad."

"We were just goin' inside," Ian spoke up coldly.

"Were ye now? Well, ye could do that, or, ye could come help me brush the horses."

Ollie bounced up and down giddily. "Yeah! Yeah! I help!"

"Ollie, it's time fer yer nap," Ian argued.

"No! I go with Benji! I go to the horses!"

"Ye were just fallin' asleep standin' up."

"If he wants te come wi' me instead'a ye, ye should just let him," Benjamin retorted with a smirk. He stood up to face his opponent.

Ian wasn't going to let him win though. He held out his hand and said, "Come on, Ollie. We're goin' inside. Now."

"But I wanna go with Benji."

"Wouldn't ye rather be in yer bed wi' Ribbet?"

"Bibbet, I believe ye mean. His rabbit is called Bibbet." Benjamin couldn't let the opportunity to humiliate Ian pass by with correcting him. But Ian wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Ollie, nap time."

"He isna yer dog te order around."

"I'm no orderin' him around. Yer the one tryin' te distract him." Ian took a threatening step towards the man. But he quickly became very aware that they had an audience of dozens that was on the edge of their seats. So instead of punching him like every instinct was telling him to do, Ian took a breath and stepped back. He took Ollie's hand and led him back to the house.

Once Ollie was away from Benjamin, he remembered how tired he was. He was asleep within moments of Ian tucking him in bed.

He just sat outside Skylar's room in the hallway while Ollie napped, not wanting to be far in case anything happened. He was busy wracking his brain with what they could do when he woke up that he didn't hear someone come up the stairs.

"I was wonderin' where ye got te." Ian looked up and saw Marsali standing above him.

"I, uh, didna want te be far from Ollie."

"I understand that. Whenever one of mine are sleepin', I can barely be two steps away. Checkin' every five minutes they're still breathin'."

Ian have a half smile and looked at the door. He saw Marsali go to sit next to him, so he stood up to save her the trouble.

"It seems like teday's been a success, no?"

"Ye could say that," he whispered, looking at the floor. After a minute, he looked back up at her and the look she was giving him was pressing him to say what was on his mind.

He sighed and confessed, "I dinna ken what else te do, Marsali. He's never goin' te see me as his Da."

"That's not true."

"He prefers that bastard Benjamin Allaway te me."

"Ye have te give this some time."

"It's been over a month since I've been back."

"He's a two year old little boy, Ian. He isna goin' te take te ye right away like Rollo did. Yer a brand new person who's just showed up in his life after bein' told ye live on the moon. That's scary fer him."

"Not just fer him. Maybe I just wasna meant te be a father."

"Now that, Ian Murray, is the most foolish thing ye've said yet. Ye are goin' te be a wonde – no, ye are a wonderful father. Ye'll see, verra soon Ollie is goin' te love ye as much as he loves Sky. Ye just have te find a way te connect wi' him and have him trust ye."

"That sounds easier said than done. I love him so much, Marsali. From the moment I met him and he smiled at me, I thought me heart was goin' te burst wi' the most powerful love I've ever felt. And it's eatin' me alive that he…he might not ever love me as his Da. And that he was practically raised by another man who wishes he was Ollie's father; and would probably be better at it."

"Ye are here now and that's all that matters. Though he may wish it, Benjamin is not Ollie's father, nor is he the one Skylar loves and wants. Ye have te have faith and trust that everythin' is goin' te work out fine."

Ian couldn't get another word out before they heard Ollie start crying. He didn't waste a second. He jumped up and ran into the bedroom with Marsali following.

Ollie was sitting up in the bed with tears running down his face. Ian knelt next to him on the floor.

"Are ye alright, Ollie? Are ye hurt?" he asked, trying to calm his heart that had started racing from worry and fear.

"Mama! I want Mama!" Ollie cried.

"What's wrong, darlin'? Can ye tell us?" Marsali tried.

Sniffling and hiccupping, Ollie answered, "There was-there was-there was a-a monster with sharp teeth and he wanted to eat me."

"It was just a nightmare, Ollie. Yer safe," Ian said, trying to comfort him. He went to stroke the little boy's hair, but when Ian touched him, Ollie pulled from him and laid on his side facing away from Ian.

"Mama!" he sobbed out again.

Marsali saw Ian's heart break in his eyes. He looked so defeated, but she wasn't about to allow him to give up.

"I ken ye want yer Ma right now, but I'm sure yer Da kens how te make ye feel better too." She looked at Ian and could see how unsure he felt about this. She urged him to try through a look. This was his chance and he needed to take it.

He tried to think of anything he could possibly use, trying to remember what he used to do with his nieces and nephews. But then he got an idea that he thought might have a small chance of working.

He looked back at his son still facing away from him and started, "There was a time when I was havin' nightmares too. They were verra scary and would wake me up at night. But Skyl – um, yer mother kent a way te make me feel better every time. She would sing te me a verra special song, and it would always work."

"Mama sings to you?" Ollies little voice came up.

"Aye, she did. Now, I may not have a pretty voice like her, but I'd like te sing it fer ye. If ye'd like." The little boy nodded. Ian looked up at Marsali, feeling nervous. But she gestured for him to start. He took a breath and began to sing.

"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green. When I am king, dilly dilly, ye shall be queen. Who told ye so, dilly dilly, who told ye so? Twas my own heart, dilly dilly, that told me so."

Ollie's ears perked up when he heard the song. He rolled over to face Ian. "You know Ladder?"

Ian's breath got caught in his throat for a moment, so surprised at Ollie's sudden interest.

"I do. It's me favorite. Yer mother would sing that fer me all the time."

"She sings it to me."

"She does?" The toddler just nodded again. "Do ye want me te keep goin'?" He gave another simple nod in agreement. So, Ian continued. "Call on yer men, dilly dilly, set them te work. Some te the plow, dilly dilly, some to the fork. Some te make hay, dilly dilly, some te cut corn. While ye and I, dilly dilly, keep ourselves warm."

Ollie's big bright eyes were locked on Ian. It was almost like somewhere in his two year old brain, he was starting to recognize who Ian was. If his mother had sung their special song to this man as well, he must be important.

Ian could see the slightest bit more trust Ollie was forming for him and it made his stomach hurt in a good way. He was starting to have hope.

"Lavender's green, dilly dilly, lavender's blue. If ye love me, dilly dilly, I will love ye. Let the birds sing, dilly dilly, let the lambs play. We shall be safe, dilly dilly, out of harm's way."

He decided to push his luck and put his hand on Ollie's head to stroke his hair. This time, the little boy didn't pull away.

"I love te dance, dilly dilly, I love te sing. When I am queen, dilly dilly, ye'll be my king. Who told me so, dilly dilly, who told me so? I told meself, dilly dilly, I told me so."

When he was finished, he stayed silent, just treasuring this peaceful moment of his son accepting him. He looked up to Marsali, but she was gone.

"Do ye still feel afraid?" he asked Ollie, who just shook his head no. "Do ye want te try te sleep again?" Another nod. "I promise there will be no more monsters tryin' te eat ye. And if there are, yell fer me and I'll get rid'a them." He started to stand up, but Ollie grabbed his hand.

"Stay til I sleep. Mommy does that."

Ian tried to force down the massive lump in his throat that formed hearing him ask him to stay.

With a voice holding back happy tears, he said, "If that's what ye'd like."

Ollie moved over in the bed and patted the spot next to him, silently asking Ian to lay down next to him. Ian softly chuckled at the gesture, but got into the bed and put an arm around the boy. Ollie didn't snuggle right up into him, but he let Ian's arm be there, and that was more than enough.

Ian watched as he fell asleep and kept staring at him long after he did. He couldn't hold back the couple tears that fell seeing his son sleeping so peacefully next to him. His heart ached for the life he was supposed to have had. He wished so desperately that he could change the past and make it so that he was here from the beginning. But he knew he couldn't, so he would just have to make the most of the life he had now.

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An hour passed and the group at last returned from Wilmington. After helping unload the wagon, Skylar gathered her purchases and headed for the house. She noticed Marsali sitting on the front steps, and when Marsali saw her approaching, she stood up.

Before Skylar could say anything, Marsali said to her with a huge smile, "I need te show ye somethin'?"

"What's going on?"

"Just come wi' me. Oh, when ye see…"

Very confused, Skylar followed her sister-in-law inside. She dropped her stuff in the dining room and continued with Marsali up the stairs. She was confused when they stopped in front of room door.

"We have te be done quiet," Marsali whispered. "I dinna want te wake them."

Very cautiously, Marsali opened the door and the women went inside. The sight Skylar was met with made her breathless. Ian was asleep in the bed with Ollie. His arm was wrapped around the boy, and Ollie was nuzzled into his father's side.

"Omigod," Skylar muttered under her breath. She had never felt lighter than in this moment. This was all she had wanted. Whatever had happened that day, it brought them another several huge steps.

And it continued into the night. For the rest of the day, Ollie's trust in Ian was noticeably better and growing. He was talking to him even more and bringing him along to play with Rollo. When he would hold Skylar's hand, he reached out for Ian's as well. It was enough to bring Skylar to tears.

That night, when they were putting Ollie to bed, Skylar asked him if he would be okay with Ian staying in the room too. And shock wasn't the right word when Ollie nodded. Ian was glowing.

He couldn't believe it when Ollie let him give him a hug. "Good night, Ollie."

"Night night, Daddy."

Tears immediately filled both Ian and Skylar's eyes. Tears of utter happiness. So much so that they had to step out of the room once Ollie get was down. They hugged each other tightly and just cried into the other's shoulders.

'Was that real? Did that really just happen?' they both were thinking.

When they went to bed, they held each other as close as possible and tangled their legs together. They knew this was the start of a very bright future for their little family, and nothing would ever break them apart again.

All I can say is…blame grad school…

Have y'all seen the first two episodes of season 6? It's breaking my heart already. I also have so many ideas already for what I'm going to do with season 6! But there's still so much to do with season 5 and I can't wait to share it with y'all!

I love ye all verra verra verra much and I will be posting 21 asap!