1A/N: Just a renewal of my Disclaimer and a big "Thank You" for Mr. Wolf, for sharing.

Also, big "Thanks" to the faithful reviewers– you know who you are. I'm thinking that one more chapter might wrap this up. I appreciate your comments and encouragement thus far.

Finding My Son, Finding Myself

Chapter Twelve

Bobby and Maria Elena tiptoed up the porch steps, feeling conspicuous, like teenagers sneaking home past curfew. He quickly deposited the blankets and 'Berto's telescope in the foyer and followed Maria to the bedroom. She turned and smiled as Bobby entered the room, quietly closing the door behind him. "Here," she said, handing him a folded sheet of paper, " 'Berto left you a note."

Bobby paused for a moment to look at the handwriting, "To: Daddy." He opened it and read. "I've gotta' go back outside for a little while."

"Why? What's wrong?" Maria asked.

"No, nothing's wrong. My, ummm, partner called this afternoon. Roberto forgot to tell me. She's umm, been waiting for a call back all night. I'm just gonna' go out on the porch and call her back.

"Bobby, it's almost one in the morning!"

"I know --- Eames is used to it, don't worry."

"Okay. But don't be too long," she teased, turning her back and slowly wriggling out of her jeans. She glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a wink. It had been dark on the beach, both of them protected from the chill of the night air, hidden under a heavy blanket; their earlier union sparked by emotions and touch, alone. But here in the light, the visual imagery of Maria Elena's slow 'strip tease' now fueled a different type of desire in Bobby—a primal one, driven by lust.

"I won't be," he assured her, as he watched her tan, nude body slip beneath the covers.

Meanwhile, back in NYC

Alex had spent a quiet evening at home, catching up on a pile of mail that had accumulated, fixing herself a light supper and settling in to watch some TV. Her phone rang only once; it was her sister, inviting her to lunch and to do some shopping on Saturday. She found herself dozing on and off during The Tonight Show and decided shortly after midnight to go to bed. There was still a chance that Bobby would call – it wasn't out of the ordinary for her phone to ring in the middle of the night. The tiredness that had been overtaking her on the couch had somehow passed and she now found herself laying awake, stealing glances at the clock every so often; her imagination conjuring up different scenarios about how Bobby's day actually went and what he was doing now. She kept remembering the little boy's voice on the phone earlier that day – how happy and excited he sounded. Alex was happy for him and for Bobby, but realized she already missed him. Friday's were "their" nights– at Carucci's for after-work drinks, then back to Alex's for a Ray's pepperoni and onion pizza, usually accompanied by a weird movie of Bobby's selection and talks that lasted late into the night. The feeling in her gut told her that, obviously, those nights would be coming to an end.

The ring of the phone startled Alex for a moment but, unless she was being called in on a new case, there was only one other person who would ring her phone at the late hour. She smiled as she picked up the receiver.

"Hello."

"Hi, it's me."

"I figured. Who else would call me at one in the morning," she said, teasing him.

"I, I know, I-I'm sorry. I, umm, just got your message."

"Don't worry about it. So, tell me! How's everything going? He sounds adorable!"

"It…it's been a great day – better than I could've hoped for. Maria's done a great job raising him—he, he just took to me like I've been here all his life…"

"And what about the parents, or Maria Elena? Anybody give you a hard time?"

She heard Bobby's breathy chuckle and, knowing his quick wit and sense of humor, she imagined how he had twisted her innocent question into something risque.

"Don't bother answering that one," she warned him. "I was just wondering if everyone's getting along."

He was still chuckling, "Well, then, yes—we're all getting along just fine."

"Where are you?"

"I'm out on the porch. Everybody's in bed."

"So now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"What's next? When are you coming home? Are they coming back to New York with you?"

"I, umm, I don't know. I'm gonna' have to talk to the Captain… I'm gonna' be here a while longer—'Berto's counting on me for umm, for this father/son thing at school next Friday night. Besides, w-w-we umm, haven't talked about that yet."

Alex had been listening closely and thought to herself, "that sentence had a lot of 'umms' and he's stuttering. He's nervous." She let him get away with the answer – mainly because it was too late at night to get involved in that conversation, which seemed more suited to a face-to-face talk than one over the phone, anyway. Bobby could lie to anybody, except her – she knew him too well. There was no way that he would leave his boy behind, so, if Maria Elena and Roberto weren't coming back to New York, that left Bobby no choice.

"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I won't keep you – it's late."

"I'll c-call you tomorrow, wh-when we have more time to talk, okay?"

"Okay. Oh, Bobby, I'll be out to lunch and shopping with my sister, so try me at night, okay?"

"Okay, I will. Eames? G'good night."

"G'night, Bobby."

Alex hung up the phone and settled back into her pillow, realizing how the ripple effect of Bobby's life changes could soon be making waves in her own.

Meanwhile, back in Dorado, Puerto Rico

Bobby flipped his phone closed and took a deep breath, inhaling the cool, fragrant night air. The Coqui had been 'singing' for hours – he paused to listen for a moment before he headed back inside. Remembering his promise to peek in on his son before he went to bed, he walked softly down the hallway and slowly opened the door, to find the boy sleeping peacefully. As he turned back down the hallway and saw the dim light filtering out from under Maria's bedroom door, the image she had planted in his mind instantly returned. He anxiously entered the room, only to find her sound asleep, as well. He undressed and gingerly climbed under the covers, so as not to disturb her, and turned off the small lamp. He convinced himself that he should be content to just be there, next to her. As he laid in the darkness, recounting all the wonderful experiences of his day, he felt Maria stir. He heard her fumbling with the switch and the dim light once again illuminated the room in a romantic amber hue. He truly felt bad for disturbing her – waking her.

Maria Elena turned towards Bobby, propped up on one elbow, a sly smile overtaking her beautiful full lips. "I thought you liked to watch."

Bobby smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. It was an invitation he'd never decline.

Saturday Morning

Bobby was roused by the sounds of Rosa Vasquez in the kitchen and the wonderful aromas of the breakfast she was cooking. As consciousness overtook him, he became aware of the warmth of Maria Elena lying next to him, her head resting on his chest. He absentmindedly began stroking her hair, planting little kisses on the top of her head. He wanted to check the time on the clock, but didn't want to disturb her, so he gauged the hour of morning by the angle of the sun which was hazily filtering through the shade. "Must be close to nine," he surmised, giving in to his still-sleepy eyelids as they closed.

They had stayed up well into the morning, having so much to catch up on and discuss. Bobby wanted to get everything out in the open – he didn't want any secrets clouding this new beginning– so he told Maria everything. Everything about his life and career over the past twelve years; everything about his best friend and partner, Alex and how she 'grounded' him; everything about his family history, including the medical history. He even told, at her insistence, about the circumstances of the demise of her brother, Benjamin – both of them agreeing that, for the good of her parents, they didn't need to know the grizzly details. They alternated between making love and making plans, finally succumbing to the exhaustion of their pleasure sometime after 4:00 a.m.

Bobby listened as Rosa walked by their room towards 'Berto's room – she was calling him for breakfast. Maria awoke with a yawn and a stretch, as Bobby felt his own stomach grumble for food.

"You should be hungry," she teased him. "You must've worked up quite an appetite," she smiled as they kissed 'good morning.'

"Maybe I'll have another serving of you," he playfully teased back, kissing her this time with more purpose. Covering himself with the sheet, he rolled on top of her, supporting himself with his elbows while soulfully kissing her, pressing his hardness against her warm, smooth thighs.

xxxxxxxx

Roberto sat at the kitchen table, a broad smile on his face. "Good morning, Grandpa."

"Well, good morning to you!" he exclaimed, taking another sip of his coffee.

Rosa served 'Berto his plate. "That's quite a grin for so early in the morning; you're usually a sleepyhead," she commented.

"My Dad's still here," he answered, before taking a fork full of his scrambled eggs.

"Well, of course he's still here. He promised you last night that he would be, didn't he?"

"Yes — but I just hadda' make sure." His eyes widened, "They were kissing."

"'Berto! You went in your mother's room? Did you knock?"

"No, ma'am," he answered sheepishly. "I didn't wanna' knock and wake them up if they were sleeping, so I just peeked to make sure he was there."

"'Berto. There'll be no more of that. I know you know about respecting peoples' privacy. Your Mommy and Daddy need to spend some time alone – they haven't seen each other in a long, long time."

"Yes, ma'am," he pouted "I won't do it again."

"Good boy," Carlos said from behind his newspaper.

Rosa felt bad for having to reprimand her grandson; she didn't want to spoil his happiness –having him start out his day in trouble– but such an infraction couldn't go unnoticed, either. She was convinced that he had learned his lesson so, as she filled his orange juice glass she bent and kissed his head, whispering, " 'Berto?"

"Yes, Grandma?"

She smiled and spoke softly in his little ear, "I'm glad they were kissing."

Her Grandson's smile returned.

xxxxxxx

Bobby and Maria Elena laid in the warmth of the sunlight, like spoons cuddling. He reveled in the closeness of the feeling, both in body and heart. It was the feeling that John Tagman had longed for — yearned for so desperately that he had killed and maimed for it. Bobby quickly shook the thought from his head, amazed at how the dark images of his job somehow always managed to slip through.

"I don't think I can move," Maria groaned. "I haven't felt this...well, this in ages."

"You'll feel better after a hot shower," Bobby said, kissing and smelling her hair. He grabbed the bedspread around him and swung his legs over the side of the bed, "But first..." He left his sentence unfinished as he bent on the floor over his luggage.

Maria raised herself up on one elbow, watching Bobby. He climbed back onto the bed, still clutching the blanket around him, but freeing his left hand to caress her face.

His sparkling brown eyes looked into hers of tawny gold, "Maria Elena Vasquez. I've never loved anyone but you. I never stopped loving you – even for the past twelve years while we were apart – there was never room for anyone else in my heart. I'm gonna' continue loving you all the days of my life."

Her heart started racing, her breaths became more shallow. His hand left her cheek, but his eyes stayed connected with hers. He held the Tiffany's box before her.

"I bought this twelve years ago and made the mistake of not giving it to you. I'm not going to make that mistake again. The way I feel right now – here with you and our son — there's only one thing that could make it more perfect..."

"Oh, Bobby..." the whisper could barely escape from her throat.

"And that's if you say you'll be my wife –and be with me 'til my dying day."

He opened the box to reveal the ring – a brilliant white solitaire diamond, two carats in size, with baguettes on either side, set in platinum. It was absolutely breathtaking in its beauty.

Joyful tears streamed down her cheeks as her smile beamed at him, "Yes, oh Bobby, yes, yes, yes, she repeated, leaning forward to kiss and hug him. "I love you, I love you so much."

He wrapped her in a hug, then pulled away, reaching for her left hand, "Let me put it on you," he said, removing the ring from the velvet and satin case and sliding it on her finger. "It looks more beautiful 'cause it's on your hand."

She looked down at her hand, now adorned with the symbol of her his love for her. The brilliant stone captured the rays of sunlight as she tilted her hand, admiring it from all angles.

"Look," Bobby said, pointing to the rainbow prism dancing across the room.

Maria Elena smiled and grabbed him back into a hug. "Didn't I tell you rainbows were good luck?"

END Chapter Twelve