The very next day Bosco and I were up at the crack of dawn with our new baby, who had, miraculously, slept through most of the night, only getting up once to be fed and changed.

We decided that we would call Ty first thing and let him know what was happening. If he hadn't started drinking yet, which was how he started most of his days now, we wanted to ask him to come over and see the baby. He was, after all, Ty's grandson too.

I was grateful for the time alone with Bosco, considering that as soon as Emma found out what was happening that she would be here as fast as she could. I felt bad, though, because we had excluded her from a lot of things in the past few weeks and it showed. She had been calling less frequently and was not as talkative as she usually was. I made up my mind to call her as soon as we were finished with Ty. We also wanted to call Mikey and ask him to come over so we could let him know the decision we had come to, and also, to offer him a chance to spend some time with his son, if he wanted to. Both Bosco and myself were betting that he wasn't going to step up to his responsibility.

We were in the kitchen having breakfast, me a poached egg with whole wheat toast and Bosco, a glass of orange juice with a bowl of Special K cereal. Davis was in his seat on top of the table. Every once in a while Bosco would reach up and coo at him and alternately, I would do the same. We would glance over at each other and give a knowing look that this was going to be far from easy, but that we would make it through because we had each other. We always did.

"Have you heard from Arthur?" I asked in between bites of my toast.

"Ya. He called me the night you left and asked me how things were." He answered lightly.

"What did you say?" I asked, genuinely interested in knowing how things were going between them.

He shrugged. "I told him that we were doing fine. He doesn't need to know all of our problems. It's not like we really know him or anything."

"Are you going to see him again? Maybe we could bring Davis over to see him." I suggested.

He looked away for a second and then looked back at me. "Don't you think that we should figure out this mess before we go and get into another one? We still need to talk to Ty and to Michael. It's too much pressure right now."

"Maybe you're right." I said, reaching over and giving his shoulder a light squeeze. "I just thought that you might like to see him again."

"Some day. I'll call him soon." He answered non-commitally.. Obviously he wasn't ready to do any more bonding with his birth father quite yet.

We decided to call Ty in the morning and ask him to come over for a light lunch, that way we could call Mikey and ask him to come over for supper. Bosco made the call and told him that we had the baby with us and that we would love for him to come over and meet him. As I anticipated, Ty asked Bosco if he could come and pick him up. It was only nine in the morning and he'd already had something to drink. Bosco agreed and confirmed that he would be by around eleven thirty.

I busied myself by making a plate of egg salad sandwiches and a vegetable tray consisting of fresh mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, celery, and carrot sticks. I made my own spinach dip to go with it. Bosco contented himself by feeding and changing the baby. He also began to plan the nursery for Davis in Mikey's old room, which was beside ours.

"What do you think we should do to the room, Faith?" He asked me as I put the finishing touches on the table setting.

I glanced up at him as I placed napkins in their designated holders next to the plates. He looked so handsome today, I thought, as I watched him holding Davis in the crook of his arm. Bosco had on a pair of blue jeans with a tight black t-shirt that accentuated the still-hard muscles of his chest.

"Do? I don't know." I said blankly. "Just do what you think should be done. You're the one with the decorating talent around here."

He glanced down at the sleeping infant and traced a finger tip across his head before looking back up at me. " You don't seem to be too into the idea."

I sighed. It wasn't that I wasn't into it. I was preoccupied by the fact that Ty was coming over. These past few months hadn't exactly been the easiest when it came to dealing with Ty. He had a severe drinking problem now and was liable to say exactly what came to his mind, whether or not it was tactful or hurtful or even honest. I knew he blamed Mikey for the entire mess, and although he was very angry with Carly for what had happened, I knew he still put the mark on my second son.

Could I really blame him for thinking that way? Mikey had grown into a man that I couldn't even respect. As of late, he had told his father that he and Carmelle were still seeing each other and that it was serious. He mentioned that he was thinking about asking her to marry him—marry him? The whole idea seemed ridiculous to me. I mean, what was he thinking? He had proven to both his father and I that he had no idea how to treat a lady with respect. He had no conscience when it came to hurting any of his girlfriends. Who was I more disappointed with? Him or myself?

"It's not that. Really." I asserted, trying to get the point across. The last thing I needed was him thinking something that wasn't true. " I was just thinking about how hard this is going to be on everyone...especially Ty. He blames Mikey, you know that, don't you?"

"I know."

I sat down on one of the kitchen chairs and leaned back, trying to relax the tenseness that had settled into my neck and shoulders. For the past few days I had come from one world to another. I had surprises at every turn, heartache, followed by intense happiness, mainly when I looked at my new baby. But, the emotional side of it was really beginning to wear me down. My husband had been right when he told me how hard it was going to be. I hadn't considered what would happen far into the future. All I knew was that I wasn't going to abandon that little boy. But with all things, there were consequences to that line of action. Having him would ensure that our family unit would never again function the way it once had. Two brothers, once loving, were now enemies. Each so far apart that I feared that gap would never close over. Having Davis would ensure that that wound would never heal.

The truth was that I was nervous about Ty coming over. I was even more nervous about having Mikey see Davis for the first time. It seemed that I was having a hurricane of emotions, riding an emotional roller coaster. One second I was happy. The next, I was worried and pensive about my abilities and my limitations. I couldn't win. For all I knew, Mikey could have been there for the birth and never told us. He could have even visited his son, considering that he had been in Boston and there was no way to find out exactly where he was or wasn't.

I bit down on my lower lip and thought for a second. I tilted my head back and looked at the ceiling, wishing the answers to all of my questions were some how written across the eggshell paint. I sighed again. "Do you think we can do this?"

He narrowed his gaze at me and then shook his head sympathetically. He brought Davis over to his seat which was still on the table and set him in it and then squatted down in front of my chair and took both of my hands into his. He gazed up at me, his whole face tense with emotion.

"Oh babe, I'm sorry that this is so hard on you. I know you're stressed and believe me, I understand. But you're the one who made me realize that we need to do this." He nodded up toward the table. "For him. For our grandson. I'm gonna be here every step of the way and I'm gonna help you in any way I can. If we stick together then it will work out."

"I know we need to do it, but you're right, Bos. This is just the beginning for us– for him. He won't be accepted by his father or his mother. He won't be loved by them the way he should. Ty probably won't feel the same way as he would have if he had been Brett's son. I just don't know—" I blinked back the beginning of tears.

He stood up and pulled me up along with him and looked deep into my eyes. "No one knows, Faith. No one knows what's gonna happen. But what we do know is that he will be loved. We are gonna love him. Emma will love him and Little Faith will have a cousin to play with. He'll be accepted and we'll make a life for him no matter what."

He hugged me close to him, holding as tightly as he could. I could hear the steady rhythm of his heart through his t-shirt. I closed my eyes and told myself that everything would be okay.

Bosco left to go and get Ty and I spent the last few minutes freshening up in the bathroom. The day was hot but not too hot and the sky was a bright delicious blue color with small puffy clouds that looked like whipped cotton candy. I chose a light pink skirt and a white t-shirt and put my hair up in a bun. I put on my white Keds and wore a matching pair of pink socks. Satisfied with my appearance, I picked up Davis who was lying on my bed and held him close to me.

"Time to meet your other grandpa, my sweet-heart." I cooed, leaning down and kissing his cheek. He didn't even stir. It had been so long since I had a new born in the house, I had forgotten just how much they sleep. He smelled like shampoo and baby powder. I'd always loved that smell and when Bosco and I had bathed him it felt like old times when we were young and had a house full of kids. I had forgotten how much I missed it.

We got to the bottom of the stairs just as Bosco and Ty were coming in. Ty's eyes brightened when he saw us and his face broke out into a wide grin. I could smell the alcohol even before he reached me and I cast a look over his shoulder towards Bosco. He held up his hands indicating that there was nothing he could do about it. He was right, of course, and I pasted a welcoming smile on my face.

Ty had on a pair of black dress pants and a white cardigan sweater. The pants accentuated how much weight he had lost in the past few months. They hung from his hips and were only staying on because of the black leather belt that was around his waist. His once black hair was now starting to turn gray at the sides and the temples. The salt and pepper appearance seemed to change him from the virile man he once was.

"So this is him, huh?" He asked, the Jack Daniels lingering on his breath. I tried not to make a face and instead, held my breath. " He sure is cute, is'n he though?" He slurred, reaching out to touch the sleeping infant.

"Yes..he's sweet. He's a really good baby too." I said.

"Can I hold him?" He asked, reaching his arms.

"Hold him—uh sure you can. Let's just go into the livingroom." I said as cheerfully as I could. I backed away from his reach and started off down the hall.

The truth was that I wasn't sure he was in any condition to hold a new born baby. He reeked of alcohol and I was afraid that he'd drop him.

I cast a glance behind me and saw that Bosco had to take him by the elbow and guide him along. He stumbled every few feet and I was sure that it would only be a matter of time before he hit the floor.

"Okay bud, easy there." I could hear Bosco saying behind me.

Poor Ty, I thought, as I went into the livingroom. He had become a shell of the man he was when Sasha was alive. Thinking of my friend again put tears in my eyes, as it usually did when I thought about all that she had lost. What I had lost. It would kill her to see the man she loved in such a state. He had never gotten over her. He had nothing left to hold on to now that she was gone. His parents were both long gone. His father when he was a teen and his mother, Maggie, had died of cancer almost four years before that. He had no real relationship with his son, Tyrone, who was too busy to care for the father who wanted no help and could not see that he was destroying what was left of his life.

As long as I live I will always remember the way he looked at her funeral; like he wasn't even on this earth anymore. His angel had gone up to heaven and taken his heart and his whole life with him. His red rimmed eyes haunted me in my sleep sometimes, so dull and void of all emotion. Maybe Davis would be the very thing he needed to carry on and live his life.

Ty and Bosco came shuffling into the livingroom and Ty sat down heavily beside me. He looked so old now, mostly due to the excessive drinking and no exercise, which probably wouldn't have helped anyway. He was so skinny he looked like a waif compared to the hard bodied man he once was.

"So, Davis–Monroe—Boscorelli. That's quite a name." He said, taking time to separate all three names. "It's nice, though." He added, looking over at me.

"Ya. I was surprised at the name, but happy." I said, a little uncomfortable with his slurring every word he said. It was only a matter of minutes before he would say the things I knew had built up inside him for the past few months. My heart fluttered in anticipation for what was to come. We had never talked about the turn of events that had led to the conception of the child, nor had we talked about anything related to it. It was just too painful. I wasn't sure if Bosco and Ty had spoke about it, for I never really knew what they talked about and what they didn't. But if they had, I hadn't known.

Ty took his time looking over at the baby, smiling a bit, although not in the shape to be as pleased as we were about the arrival of our new addition. His dark eyes scanned over me, accusing me of rasing the ass who had gotten his little girl pregnant, wanting to say so much more, so much. Obviously, he had something in mind to say to me. I could tell it wasn't going to be nice. It wasn't like I wasn't expecting it, though. I had waited for months to hear Ty's reaction about Mikey getting Carly pregnant, but it had never come. That's probably why I had avoided him for so long. I didn't want to hear what he had to say.

"So..you know what I don't get?" He asked scornfully. "I don't get how your son gets my daughter pregnant when she's married to your other son, who makes her give up her child when he should be looking at the other guy and blaming him. That's what I don't get. Care to explain it to me?"

I winced and glanced over at Bosco, who did the same. Oh, Ty Davis could be nasty when he had a mind to. I remembered how mean he had been to Sasha when they had broken up after her abortion. The drinking defenately encouraged his behaviour.

"It took two to make this child, Ty. I don't think it's very fair of you to imply otherwise." I said softly, not wanting this to turn into a screaming match over whose child was more to blame.

"Sure it did, Faith. But I'm sure that he pressured her...I know what Mike's like and so do you. He'd sleep with anything that would spread her legs." He said nastily.

My mouth dropped open in shock. He was intent to hurt us as much as he hurt. But it stung to hear words from the man who had been our closest and best friend for so many years. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if he was referring to his own daughter, but when I opened my own mouth to say it, Bosco interrupted me

"That's enough, Ty! Shut your mouth! We can't sit around here and blame each other's kids for this mess! It's both of their faults..all three of them are to blame! It's not going to help anyone to talk like this."

"Why? Can't own up to your kids mistakes?" He shot back.

"Own up? Own up to my kids mistakes? What the hell do you think we're doing here anyway? Do you see any of our kids here to take responsibility for this child?" He hissed, extending his arm toward me. "NO! You don't...and you know why?" He asked, his own face starting to blaze.

"No, why don't you tell me why!" Ty goaded.

Bosco scoffed and shook his head. "Because MY son and YOUR daughter were BOTH too damn selfish, that's why...so don't give me your bullshit, man! They are all to blame here and I'm not going to discuss this any further with you. It won't do any good. So, don't put the blame on my boys and not look at your own, Ty."

Ty's mouth curled up into a sneer. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"You know damn well that Carly could have kept him if she wanted..no matter what Mike or Brett or anyone else said. But she didn't. She left him at the hospital and walked out the door without telling Faith that she didn't want him! You want to talk about irresponsibility? I think you might want to consider that Carly played a lot more in this game than you realize."

"Let me see 'em." He said, ignoring what Bosco had said and reaching over to pluck him out of my arms.

Bosco swallowed and sat rigid on the rocker. Inside, I could tell that he was seething, but that caring part of him, the one that remembered how hard the past year had been on his best friend, stopped him from clocking him one. There had been a time that Bosco wouldn't have thought twice about it, but now, he was too old to be doing that sort of stuff. And he wasn't about to hit his best friend when he was already down.

"Careful." I said, a little too sharply, when Ty awkwardly took Davis into his shaking hands."Hold his head, Ty."

"Faith." He chastised me, a little look of anger on his face. "I think I know how to hold one of these."

"Sorry–I just— I just get nervous. He's so small and fragile and–"

"And I'm the drunk that might drop him? Is that what you're saying?" He questioned. Looking over at me sarcastically.

I recoiled and sat up straighter. Obviously he hadn't lost sense of what was going on around him. He was still as perceptive as ever.

"No! Ty– I"m sorry...I'm just– concerned about you...your drinking–" I started to say, looking over at Bosco, who was sitting on the rocking chair, to come to my rescue. He looked over at me and made a face, warning me to watch what I said. He shook his head about a quarter of an inch and mouthed the word 'no' to me.

Ty's face screwed up in anger and hurt at my accusation. He turned his body more toward me, his dark eyes flashing. " What did you just say to me?" He barked. "You're concerned with my drinking? And just how is what I drink or how much I drink any of your damned business? Bosco?" He looked over at my husband. "You feel the same way as she does?"

Bosco stood up and extended his arm toward his best friend. "This isn't the time or the place, Ty. I'm sorry that we all got out of line—this is just really hard on all of us. The last thing we need to do is be fighting over this."

"Oh, we're gonna talk about it now! I don't see how you think that I have a drinking problem—I may drink a little more than I used to but I'm havin a rough time of things and I can drink as much as I damn well please." He told us, looking from one to the other. "Sorry we all can't be as happy as you two love birds are...with your hand holding and your hugging all the time. Get a room, would ya?"

So that was it.

He was looking at us and thinking about what he had lost. He, too, had a wonderful marriage to a woman that he loved more than life itself and now it was gone. He resented us for the happiness that we now had, the happiness that he wanted to badly but would never have again.

He briefly held Davis to his chest and then leaned down and kissed his tiny face. I could see the emotion that was in his heart. I could see that this entire situation was tearing him apart the same way it was both of us. The only difference was that Bosco and I had each other.

Who did he have?

That day, I watched years of friendship and good times be replaced by an anger and jealousy so strong that it rocked the core of that friendship until I wondered if it would ever be undone. I saw one man who had loved and lost and had no idea how to carry on. I saw the other, the one who had loved and won, and both of those men had no idea just how much they meant to each other anymore.

And that was the saddest thing of all.