I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews again. You don't know how much they mean to me. I'd like to say welcome to all the newcomers on this story and I'm glad you liked it. It makes me very happy to know it can still pull people in. I'm back from Europe but I leave again Sunday night, so I'm going to post this now. Thank you again!

Chapter 30

He was standing there, waiting. Hannah could see him out the window. She was to spend the day with him all by herself. Just him and her. No Liz, no Isabel.

The teacher carried on about how important it was for them to bring back their carry-alls on Monday with all the paper work filled out by their parents. Hannah didn't pay attention because her mother just went through all her stuff anyway.

How would they spend the day, what would they do? They had all the way until six o'clock when Max would drop her off at home.

Finally the teacher dismissed them and the streamed out.

"Hi, Mr. Evans."

"Hi, Natalie." He smiled. "How was your day?"

"Good."

"Come on, Natalie, we have to take Francesca to the doctor." Her mother called.

She scampered off and they were left alone. "Hi."

"You ready?"

She nodded and slipped her hand into his. "Where are we going?"

"Wherever you wanted to go. How about lunch?"

She nodded happy with that decision.

"Hannah, wait a moment." Her teacher called.

Turning her teacher was holding her sweater she had worn that morning. The September mornings were much cooler than the August ones.

"Oh, thank you." She ran back and snatched it. Max smiled, a month ago that would have left her blue and trying to catch her breath. Instead, her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were glowing.

Her teacher walked back over with her and held her hand out to Max. "Hello, I'm Hannah's teacher, Mrs. Howell, how are you Mr..."

"Evans." He shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Hannah is a wonderful student, Mr. Evans." She smiled. "She has expressed an interest in being in the Christmas Pageant. It's only September but we take it very seriously. It's put on by the sixth grade. It's the yearly event. This is the first time kindergarteners are being allowed to participate. I'm hoping to get a good representation from my class so they will continue to be allowed. I'm asking Hannah, Natalie Barclay, and another little boy. It's a lot of work, but she said she really wanted to do it. Would you be interested?"

"I'll speak to her mother about it." Max nodded. Hannah beamed.

"Mommy will say yes." Hannah said with confidence.

"Well, thanks." He nodded. "Her mother will get back to you on that, Mrs. Howell."

"See you Monday, Hannah."

"Bye, Mrs. Howell." She waved and took Max's hand again.

"So what is this play about?" Max asked, shifting the folder to his shoulder.

"They don't know yet." She said brightly. "They haven't chosen yet. There's three to choose from."

"Do you know which one you want?"

"Only the teachers know right now, the upper kids pick." She held tightly to his hand as they crossed the street. She was starting to relax, she had talked to him many times and she had nothing to be afraid of. She felt special walking down the street with her daddy. She smiled as she hopped up to the curb but continued to grip his hand as tightly as before. She stopped by his car just to look up at him. He was so much taller than her mother and must have been taller than Kyle and Uncle Alex.

"What?" He asked uneasy under her gaze.

"Nothing." She shook her head with a smile. She wrapped her arms around his legs and hugged him before allowing him to settle her in the booster seat. "Can we go to the mall?" Hannah changed the subject.

"Sure." He didn't know what to do anyway. The mall had many things to do and a movie theatre. He wondered if there was any little kid movies out now that she hadn't seen.

"How were you this last week, Hannah?"

He had called a few nights before to check up.

He prodded gently asking about Liz in an indirect way. It wasn't his fault he was a family lawyer and could find things out from kids younger than her.

"Kailyn is going away next week." She said sadly.

"Really?" His hand squeezed hers. "Why?"

"Mommy says her mommy is ready to take care of her now." Tears filled her eyes.

"Are you going to miss her?" He asked gently.

"Yes." She nodded.

"I'm sorry, Hannah." He picked her up just because he wanted to. She let him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"I want her to stay, I don't want her to go away." She hugged him and he held her close. He felt her tears but she let him comfort her. "I want a sister."

If he could get Liz to love him again, he'd see to getting Hannah a sister.

"Did you guys have a good time?" Liz asked as she opened the door to let Hannah in. She had been listening for her patter of footsteps up the stairs for an hour and a half. She knew they were alright because they would have called if they weren't. The fact that she could actually see Hannah was happy was a huge relief.

"Can I be in the school play, Mommy, please?" Hannah was full of energy, her earlier worry about Kailyn going away currently appeased. She didn't even bother with a greeting she was too excited about the success of her day.

"What?"

It's put on by the sixth graders and other grades perform it.

"That's a lot of work, Hannah."

"Please, Mommy, please." Hannah pleaded. "I'll sleep in my own room."

"Oh, that doesn't bother me, Sweetheart. I'll just think about it, I'll give you an answer on Sunday night."

She nodded, that's the best she would get.

There was an awkward silence and then Max said "I'm going to go now. Bye Hannah."

"No, don't go." Hannah shook her head.

He had to, he was beyond behind on work and he couldn't get further behind or the case he was working on would go to court. Then his time for Hannah would be extremely limited.

"I have to go, now, Hannah." He told her seriously.

"Can I spend the night?" She asked and threw herself into his arms. "Please?"

How could he deny that? He looked at Liz. "Next week is when you're supposed to spend the night, Hannah." Max said.

"I want to this week." She said and hugged him tighter. "Please." She turned eyes on him that were impossible to deny. They may have been his eyes, but they could convince him to do anything.

"Ask your mommy."

Hannah just stared at her. "Mommy?"

"Alright, start packing, I have to talk for a minute."

She jumped down from Max's arms and ran into the room.

"Sucker." Liz smiled at him.

"You try to deny those eyes when she does that." Max tried to defend himself. He could hear Hannah explaining to her doll that she was going to spend the night somewhere else.

"She'll be fine." Max said before Liz could get anything in.

"I know." She nodded. Her heart was beating fast. Her baby was going away for the night, with Max. "I know."

"He's real big and we'll be safe." Hannah was telling her doll.

"You don't seem so sure, but you hear that? I'm really big and they'll be safe."

Liz laughed. He took a step towards her and she took one back.

"Could you have her home around four? Or is that too late?"

"No, that will be fun. I had fun with her today. I heard Kailyn's going away?"

"Yeah, Tuesday. She's spending the night tomorrow, Amy and Jim have a two day class and I volunteered to baby-sit. Hannah's excited."

"What time is that? I can have her home so she can be here with her."

"She'll have tomorrow evening and all of Sunday, she'll be fine. Come into the kitchen so I can explain meds. There's not many but you need to understand."

"No problem." He sauntered in.

Every time he entered their apartment he felt like he was intruding. There were papers out on the table. "Have a seat. I was going through rent papers. We were going to move but because of the money I don't have to." She smiled. She laid several bottles on the table and carefully explained the procedure. He paid attention and was grateful when Liz proceeded to write it all down.

"When did Hannah start ballet?"

"End of June. Just simple stuff, she couldn't do much until after the surgery. She starts back on Wednesday."

"I'm ready." Hannah had an overnight bag and was smiling.

"Do you have your toothbrush?"

"Yes."

"Jammies?"

"Yes."

"Clothes, and hair ties?"

"Oh" She ran to the bathroom and returned with her ties and shoved them in the bag.

"Let me look, Hannah bean."

She looked through the bag and then whispered something to her. She took off to her room and returned.

"You're set baby." Liz said.

She was already out the door.

"I'm going to take care of her Liz." Max said.

"I know." She let out a breath slowly to control herself. "I'm not sure I'm going to be though."

"Are you sure you're ok with this, Liz? We talked about next week, this is kind of sudden."

"Yes." Hannah was bouncing by the door and Liz couldn't bear disappointing her now. Her hair was in to messy braids her bangs pinned to the side so they wouldn't hang in her face. She smiled as she watched her parents.

"I'll see you tomorrow." On impulse he bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Bye, you two." Liz said to distract from the kiss that was burning her forehead. His small gestures of affection were starting to get to her.

"She'll be fine." Max brushed a hand over her cheek and turned to follow Hannah.

"Where's my princess?" Liz didn't even bother knocking when she went across the walkway.

"With Max."

"Why?" Alex straightened. "He hasn't brought her back yet? Could it be grounds for kidnapping?"

"No, she's spending the night with him."

:"Why?"

"She wanted to."

"Are you going to be ok? It's just a sleepover." Maria seemed to have a lot more confidence. "You should be happy."

"I am, I am." Liz sat down. "She likes him, a lot."

"That's not so horrible, is it? He is her father."

"Maria, why are you being so reasonable?" Liz looked over at her friend who usually took her side no matter what.

"She's in love with Michael." Alex answered for her.

"Really!" Liz asked.

"The man's an abomination to man! He may be a big time lawyer but the man in clueless. He doesn't even think to open a door for me, the thought of flowers? I don't even think he knows the exist. He's too tall, too handsome, and all too soft at heart. Yes, I love him."

"That's wonderful. Are you going to marry him?"

"Maybe sometime this century. He hasn't even admitted to loving me yet." Maria said with a small smile.

Liz smiled back.

"What else is wrong, Liz?" Alex asked.

"You guys are too good." She shook her head. "Hannah wants to be in the school play."

"So?"

"It'll be so much work. I don't want to have too much pressure on her, ballet, school, the play, and Max." She said.

"I don't think Max would be considered a pressure to her, if she asked to spend the night then she's enjoying it. I don't think a four year old could really have too much. She enjoys all that she does." Alex said trying to get her to see reason.

"I'm not sure, but I think maybe Mrs. Howell sees some potential. Hannah's a bright girl. Let her do it, and maybe she'll be the greatest one up there."

"I think it would make her very happy if you let her do it, if my vote counts for anything." Maria put in.

"I have plenty of time to think about it." Liz leaned her head back.

"Yeah, but you'll have to go home to do it. Michael's coming here, and Alex is leaving." Maria scooted her out the door. "I hate to rush but we have to clean up."

"I understand." Liz shook her head at her friends and made her way back to her own apartment. The apartment was empty; it was going to be along night.

"Can we watch Nemo?" Hannah was dressed in her pajamas and her hair neatly brushed. "Please?"

"Yes." Max smiled. He had pulled on some sweats and an old shirt. "Do you want some popcorn?"

"Yes!" She sat on a barstool and watched him work. It was only seven thirty but by the time Nemo was through, it would be nine and Hannah's bedtime.

"I do have other Disney movies you know." Max told her. Maybe we could move away from the Nemo, Max thought.

"I know." Hannah said. "I like Nemo."

"Ok." He pulled down a plastic bowl to put the popcorn in. "Do you wanna call your mom?"

"No." She pushed her hair back.

"Alright, let's go watch Nemo, shall we?"

"Yes." She jumped from the stool and went to the front room.

She settled, to Max's surprise, in his lap. She snuggled close and pulled the popcorn on her lap. "Ok?"

"Yeah, Ok." He swallowed the lump and pressed play on the remote.

Ella was curled up at his feet, Hannah in his lap, he was happy—except Liz was missing from the moment.

She laughed and the sound caused her entire body to vibrate. He dropped a kiss to her head. Startled she looked up at him and smiled shyly and settled back down.

"Will you be ok by yourself?" Max asked.

"Yes." She pulled her doll closer to her. She was sleeping in Isabel's room since she had phoned and said she wasn't coming home.

"Ella will stay with you, ok?" He asked.

"Yeah." She smiled, "Goodnight."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead since she seemed to enjoy that. She quickly leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight, Hannah."

"Goodnight." She curled beneath the blanket.

He went back to the kitchen and pulled out his briefcase, even though he had stayed up to date as best he could while Hannah was in the hospital, he had fallen miserably behind. He was close to catching up but the case he was looking at now looked like it was about to go to court, he wanted to avoid that. Letting out a frustrated sigh he began to sift through the paperwork.

It was around eleven when he decided it was time for bed. He remembered Hannah was an early riser and would rise early tomorrow.

He stripped out of his shirt and slid into bed his eyes shutting. He heard a creak and sat straight up in bed. He listened for Ella's warning bark. He heard nothing but the clang of the tags on her collar and small slipper clad feet across the floor. The door pushed open.

"Daddy?" She peeked her head in.

She really had just called him that. "Yes?" He said after a moment.

"I'm scared." She said quietly. "Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure, climb on in." He held the blanket up.

She ran across the room and into the bed. She cuddled close against his bare chest noticing the difference from the softness of Liz. She moved closer, and was relieved when she found she was accepted.

"Goodnight, Daddy." She said already sleep taking over her voice. "I love you."

"I love you too, Hannah." He answered, and stroked a hand down her back.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Hi, Max, it's me." Liz's voice drifted through, she sounded wide awake.

"Is something wrong?" He asked softly.

"No, I was just wondering how Hannah was doing, I feel embarrassed now."

"No, it's alright." He said she cuddled closer. "She's fine. She's right here. She didn't want to sleep alone so I let her crawl in bed with me." He said in a rush not sure what Liz would think of that.

"I didn't think she would sleep alone. Is she awake?"

Hannah shifted a little. "Who is it, Daddy?"

"Mommy." He said.

"Did she just call you Daddy?" Liz asked quietly. The fluttering in her stomach wouldn't go away.

"Yes." Liz could hear the smile in his voice and it didn't bother her.

Her heart was aching. Is this how Max felt every time he had to go back to his apartment and Hannah got to go home with her. The feeling that Hannah's presence gave was steady and her love unwavering. Without her there the apartment seemed empty.

"Do you want to talk to her?" Max asked Hannah.

She curled into him and shook her head. She was already asleep.

"She just fell back to sleep, I'm sorry. She's doing fine though." Max reassured Liz.

"Good. I just wanted to check, I'm sorry for waking you."

"I understand, Liz. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Max."

"I love you, Liz." He said quietly.

He was met by the click of the phone a few seconds later.

tbc