The two week visitation soon turned into a month and the month turned into two. And by this time she could no longer deny that her flu wasn't going away. Still, she couldn't bring herself to leave. Here she was surrounded by loving friends and family and she could easily forget her woes back in Boston. Or so she kept telling herself. Sure she felt at peace here but she missed her father and Nigel.

Today she was going to sort things out once and for all. That is what she kept repeating to herself as she drove to the cemetery. It took her several minutes to get out of the car but soon she found herself standing in front of a smooth, black headstone. It came up to her hip and could be considered one of the biggest headstones in the small cemetery. She smiled sadly as she traced a finger over the name. "Hey Mark." She mumbled and didn't even try to stop the tears that were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes. "It's been awhile. I'm sorry I haven't visited more often but things got complicated after you...died." The tears were now running, freely, down her cheeks. "I moved back to Boston like I always promised I would; if anything happened to you. It took me a little while but I finally managed to make the move." She crouched down, careful not to disturb the fresh roses laying at the base of the headstone. Jeb brought them every month. "I miss you, Mark. Eve does too. She's growing like a weed." She sighed and moved her fingers to the words beloved son, husband and father tracing each letter with her feather light touch. "I bet you're wondering what I'm doing here?" She smiled. "You remember Nigel right? I told you about him. He was my lifesaver when my life was in shambles. I...I started seeing him again. Or at least I was. That's why I'm here, Mark. I need some guidance from my best friend." She took a deep breath. "You see...damn. This is difficult to talk about Mark. But she called him daddy. She knows who you are and will always love you but I guess Nigel fills the void that your death left her with. But he ran, Mark. He made up an excuse and ran..." Sobs replaced the words.

Mark Kincade listened as Jordan poured her heart out to him. She needed his help and he wasn't going to let anything stop him. Not even God. So once he heard the sobs, he appeared behind her. Flesh and blood but only for the moment. Only so she could get the comfort and guidance that she needed. "Hey Jo." He said quietly.

Jordan straightened up and turned around, coming face to face with her late husband. She stumbled backward and ended up leaning against the headstone. She blinked, frantically, trying to get his image out of her mind. Seeing things wasn't a good sign. Especially when she was in such a fragile mental state. But he didn't go away. "Mark...?" She didn't move or rather she couldn't.

"Ya. It's me Jo. Don't look so surprised." He drew out with his southern accent. "You asked for my guidance so I'm here to give it." Mark gave her his trademark lopsided smile and adjusted his glasses. His crystal blue eyes, twinkling in amusement.

She swallowed hard, unable to accept that her husband was standing in front of her. Jordan took a tentative step towards him, then another and another until she was standing right in front of him. She could smell his old spice aftershave. Slowly, she raised a hand laid it on his cheek. He was warm and seemed very much real. Again sobs were overtaking her but this time she was gathered into a warm embrace. A familiar, calming embrace. She stayed there, sobbing, until she had no more tears to shed.

Mark held the sobbing Jordan until he heard and felt her quiet. He pulled back and looked into her red, swelled, eyes. "Feeling better now?" Again he smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Boston, huh?" He, gently, tried to ease her into the conversation.

She sniffled and smiled up at him. "Ya. I promised you that I would go back if anything happened to you and I did. Not that it was worth it." Jordan whispered.

"Hey. Don't talk like that. Sure it was worth it. I've been watching over you, Jo. You're getting to know your son and mending the fences between you and his father. I would say that was worth it. You finally moved past the guilt you were harboring over your failed marriage and not being there for your son. I bet Eve loves him." Mark prodded.

"I don't think Eve understands yet. She knows that Spencer comes around and he goes to the park and zoo with us but she doesn't realize that he is her brother. He's more of a...playmate to her." Jordan stepped away from Mark and crossed her arms over her chest.

Mark watched her. "Tell me about this Nigel fellow. He's the reason that you're here, right?"

Jordan sighed and placed her hand, unconsciously, on her stomach. "He's my best friend." She whispered but saw the skeptical look in Mark's eyes and knew that she was going to have to tell him the truth. No matter how painful it was for her. "He's my..." She really didn't know what to call him. "Boyfriend? Lover? Both, I guess. And yes, he is the reason that I'm here."

"Now was that so hard, Jo?" Mark questioned. "You guess? Come on. I know you better than that, Jo. What did he do to make you travel all the way from Boston back to Kentucky just to talk to a headstone?"

She snorted and couldn't help but roll her eyes. It felt like old times. "I didn't come all the way here to talk to a headstone. I came here to talk to you. I just never realized that you'd be making a house call." Jordan was quiet a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. "Eve misses you. We both do. Nigel is...was...around a lot. He even made it his job to put her to bed at night and get her up in the mornings." She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her lips. It was a good memory. One she'd hold onto forever. "She called him daddy and he...I dunno." She threw her hands in the air out of frustration.

Mark smiled. He could remember tucking little Eve in at night and reading her a bedtime story. But he never woke her up in the morning because he was always up and heading out the door before either of the two woman in his life were awake. He felt a pang of envy for this Nigel fellow. "He didn't handle it well? Jordan..." He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands over hers on her stomach. "I'm sure he just needed sometime to process what happened. He's not a father, right?" With the nod of her head, he continued. "So he isn't used to be addressed as daddy. I'm sure before this he was an Uncle right?" Again she nodded. "It might not seem like much but going from being addressed as uncle to daddy is scary. Hell, Jo...Even I was scared when I found out I was going to be a father. I was used to being a uncle. But that didn't make me any less of a father to Eve. I learned, slowly, to accept it. He loves you, Jo. And I wouldn't want anyone else to be a father to my daughter. He has enough love to go around. He can take care of you and Eve. I'm gone, Jo. As hard as that is to accept, I'm not coming back. Don't let this chance for happiness, slip through your fingers because of me." He was quiet a moment. "Does he know?" He gave the hand underneath his a squeeze to make his point.

Jordan listened to his words and found herself smiling. But the smile faded at his last question. "No. I thought that I may have been before I left but I didn't find out for sure until a few weeks ago. How am I going to tell him about this? He hasn't seen me in two months and when I left the word daddy scared him. And it was coming for a four year old. What is this news going to do to him?"

"Jo...He has a right to know that he's going to be a father. You can't deny him that. And I'm sure this news will thrill him. He's a good man. I've seen him a few times and I can tell you that he'll be overjoyed. He's hurting now. Deeply. He's actually has himself believing that you won't be back. I never seen a man in so much anguish for the first two weeks after you left. He almost lost his job over it. Go back to him, Jo. He see's nothing but darkness now, go be his light. But remember that I will always love you and Eve. Go be happy. I give you my blessing." Mark brushed his lips against her neck.

Her eyes closed and she felt a breeze dance through her hair. When her eyes opened, she was alone again. Jordan glanced back at the headstone and kissed the palm of her hand, laying it against the cool surface. "And I will always love you, Mark Kincade." Feeling better, she climbed back into her car and left the small cemetery heading back to Jeb's.

Back in Boston

Nigel woke up with his heart rapidly thumping in his chest. He looked around his dark apartment. Nothing was out of place and it was quiet. The green numbers on his clock read 3:22a.m. And with a groan, he ran his hand through his shaggy, black hair. Two months now without any word from Jordan. He gave up hope of her returning. He even accepted that she wouldn't. He drug his tired body from the tangled red sheets and sat on the edge of the bed. After his talk with Garrett, he got himself together. He took a week off and cleaned up. All alcohol was removed from his apartment and he has been sober ever since. Being sober also affected him at work. He was actually pleasant to be around again and always got his work done on time. Even a little early if he could manage it. He even looked healthier. He didn't stay late anymore unless he had to and never went out of his way to drive past her house. Instead he emerged himself into the night life spending his free nights at Creatures of the Night, a new Goth club that opened up downtown. He fit in without trouble and even managed to round up a few friends. He slowly rebuilding his life. A life that didn't include Jordan and a special little girl with blue eyes who had wanted to call him daddy. Or that is what he told himself. He knew exactly why he had woken up so suddenly. It was that nightmare again. He had it about once or twice a week. It was always the same. Jordan needed him and he tried to get to her. But once he did, she'd turn her back to him and walk away. Sighing, he rolled back into bed and willed himself into a uneasy slumber.