"Mom, can I ask you something?" Oliver had been chewing his bottom lip for the past half hour. She could see he was thinking about something but Daisy was doing her reading and he knew that he couldn't interrupt, that was the rules.

"Sure honey."

"Can I show Adam his badge?"

"Oh." That was completely unexpected. Ollie knew that his mother had it, he had seen it and they would sometimes get it out for him and they always talked about it but she had it put away and promised him when he was older he could have it, that she was saving it for him. She didn't quite know when she would give it to him, but he needed to be older. He had the tendency to lose things and if he lost Adam's badge it would destroy her, it had got her through a lot of dark moments. "Have you talked to him about it?" She didn't even know if Adam was aware she still had it. They hadn't had that conversation yet. The photo of Oliver with his tiny hand on the badge when he was first born was the only time he had seen it and for whatever reason he never asked about it.

"No, I think he'd like to see it. He was talking about being a cop yesterday when we went out. How much he loved it."

Adam had talked about it, he'd asked Kim if it was okay that he told Ollie about his career and she was more than happy for him to share those times with Ollie. Adam was happy then, he loved being a cop and despite the bitter way it ended that was when he was his happiest. Until now. This had blown him away. They were getting on so well and it was relentless the way they were growing together. It was better than she imagined. They hit this groove and it was amazing to watch.

"Sure."

"I want to surprise him." Ollie was always looking for ways to make Adam happy. He had noticed there were times when he seemed sad and it had worried him and he wanted to do anything to help his Dad. He honestly thought this might help him.

It had been a whirlwind six weeks and nothing was going to change anytime soon, Kim felt like she was just on the outside what everything unfold. Watching her son fall in love with his Dad was something that she only ever dreamed about. It couldn't come true, no matter how many times she dreamt about it, but it did. It was coming true right before her eyes and she had to keep pinching herself. Hearing Adam tell her that he loved Oliver was one of her happiest moments ever.

He'd called her up and asked Kim to meet him for a coffee. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest as she waited for him to arrive. "Sorry I am late." He kissed her cheek before sliding into the booth opposite him. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, not long. How are you?" It had been three weeks since Adam and Oliver had met and she'd never seen her son so happy but she still had this nagging fear in the pit of her stomach that this man was going to rip off his mask and admit it had just been some cruel joke or she was going to wake up from this dream and realise that's all it was.

"I'm good. Getting back into work is a struggle. Getting up in the mornings sucks but it feels good to be doing something. How's Ollie?"

She was used to this, eventually he would ask her how she was but right now it was all about Oliver and Kim didn't mind, she found it really sweet that Adam was so enamoured by him. "He's a bit disappointed actually."

"Why?"

"Because I told him I was having coffee with you today and he's at school."

"Yeah but I am seeing him tomorrow, he knows that right." His nervousness was cute and endearing and she was falling under his spell. Adam was coming to his game in the morning and then spending the day with him. "That's what I want to talk about."

"Tomorrow?"

He reached for her hand and a bolt of electricity rifled through her. "Yes, I want to ask you something. Tell me if it's too soon or lame."

"What is it Adam?"

"I love him Kim, I am in love with my son. That's crazy isn't it? I want to tell him that I love him but I don't want to scare him." He rushed out and almost fell back against the seat with relief now that is was out. It had been churning in his gut for days.

She blinked a couple of times. "It's too soon isn't it?" He asked when she didn't speak. "I'm sorry." He looked devastated.

"Oh Adam, it's beautiful." A sob caught in her throat and he reached over and grabbed her shaking hand. "You don't know how happy that makes me. He needs to hear it; you need to tell him. It won't scare him, its what he wants to hear."

"Can I tell you a secret?" He beckoned her closer. "I loved him the first moment I realised that boy in Al's kitchen was our son."

"It's crazy isn't it? That moment you know about them, that instant.." she clicked her fingers. "..it's love."

"Love isn't crazy. Letting go is crazy." He didn't let go of her hand and she got it, she got what he wasn't ready to say. "I won't let go."

Kim actually cried when Ollie told her. He skipped through the door after his day with Adam but it wasn't until she went in to say goodnight to him that he spilled. She perched on the edge of his bed and was surprised when Ollie sat up ready to talk. Daisy had been in fine fettle since he'd been home and Adam didn't come in, he hadn't met Daisy yet, that was a little way off but Kim did come out and talk to him briefly. He could see how happy Adam was and squeezed his hand when he told her he'd talk to her later. "Did you have a good day today?"

"I did. We went fishing. Adam spent a lot of time fishing when he was away." Kim already knew this, Adam always checked in with her about his plans. All he wanted to do was spend time with his son and the first time she let them go out alone Adam had panicked but they had both come home buzzing.

Kim had dropped him at Al's place and he made Kim a coffee before they were heading out. He was telling Kim his ideas for the day, they were going to go to Navy Pier. She screwed up her nose. "What? No good?"

"No, Oliver will love it."

"But not so much you? We can do something else."

"No, it's fine Adam. I will see you when you get back." She stood up quickly; it hadn't been her intention when she arrived today. She actually enjoyed spending the day with both of them but the time was right for Adam to spend some time with his son on his own. She felt a little redundant lately when they were out together, Adam and Oliver were oblivious to her presence at times. "Have fun."

"Kim?" He looked a bit flustered.

"Adam, take Oliver out for the day and I will see you later."

"What do I do? Like for lunch and stuff and what if he gets hurt."

She chuckled lightly and rested her hand on his arm. "Adam, relax. He's hard to kill. You've bought him lunch before, you won't hurt him." Oliver was delighted, he actually clapped when Kim told him she was leaving them alone for the day. She reminded him to be nice, not take advantage of Adam because she knew Adam would do whatever Oliver asked or buy him things to make him happy.

Now she let them go out more often than not by themselves and then they would have dinner together at the end of the day. "Did you catch anything?"

"No, neither did Adam but it doesn't matter. I liked it anyway." He looked at his Mom and his smile was pure. "Adam said he loved me."

"Oh honey, that's wonderful. Did you like it?"

"I did, I did like it." he blushed a little and looked away as he muttered. "I told him I loved him too. Is that okay?"

"Well tell me Oliver, do you love Adam?"

"I do."

"Then buddy, I'm glad you told him."

"Me too." It was right then that Kim burst into tears and Oliver comforted his Mom. "I am so happy Mom. Please don't cry."

"Oh Ollie, I am happy for you too. Don't worry about me, I'm just being a silly mom."

Waiting for his call was torture, she just wanted to know how he felt now. As well as being desperate to talk to Ollie about it, she also wanted to talk to Adam. His feelings were just as important as Ollie's. If Adam was happy there was less likelihood that he wouldn't bolt, that was her biggest fear, Kim couldn't lose him again. "Are you okay?"

"I am, Kim I love him so much."

"He's so happy Adam and he told me what he said to you. Are you okay with that?"

Kim wasn't surprised when she heard his quiet crying. She was used to it now and she would let him go because it could be a little all over the shop. "I never quite understood what it all meant. I stopped thinking that I would ever have that moment again, when the one person who I would die for told me they loved me. I had it once and I thought that was it. I get it now, I get the children thing. I didn't think I was missing out on all that much or I had convinced myself I wasn't but I was. Kim, he owns me and I couldn't be happier. I feel like I can do this."

"Do what?"

"Be here, be his Dad."

"Adam, you are his Dad. You are doing it and you are doing a great job. I know this is hard for you."

"Loving Oliver isn't hard Kim."

"I know, but this is a shock for you, I know you struggle some days but what amazes me the most is seeing you being a Dad, I knew you'd be like this. I was never worried about you being Oliver's dad. I want you to know that. You are the Dad I always thought you would be."

"Thank you for letting me, for trusting me with the most precious thing in the world to you."

"Adam, he's your son. He is precious and he's yours too. I want you both to experience how great that is."

Oliver had it all planned and he had been nervous all day. He had begged his Mom to invite Adam over for dinner, Daisy was away for the weekend and Oliver had planned the menu and helped his mom with the shopping and cooking. He was desperate to impress the man who had come into his life and made him feel wanted. It had turned his life upside down and in the past Ollie didn't cope well with such major upheavals so Kim was amazed at how he was thriving right now. Adam was the best thing that happened to her son.

"I cooked dinner." He proudly told his Dad when Adam arrived. He still hadn't called him Dad but he would tell anyone who asked that Adam was his Dad.

"Did you just? Should I be worried?"

"No, Mom helped."

"Now I am worried. She was never very good." It had surprised them both when Oliver had started asking them questions about when they were together, he only wanted to know the good times though and that was a relief. Neither of them were ready to plumb the misery mine.

"She's got better. Al tells me Mom used to burn water."

"I am right here guys." Every time she walked into a room and saw them together her heart still skipped a beat. It seemed crazy that Oliver looked more and more like his father every day. Adam handed her a bunch of flowers, he had no idea what else to bring. It was his first time in her house, in Oliver's house and he was nervous.

She took the flowers and rested her hand on his arm briefly as she thanked him. Kim could steady him with a touch and that's all he got, a touch and it made his world stop spinning for just a moment. Oliver was quick to drag him away. He wanted to show Adam his room.

He was glad when Kim came up and told them that dinner was ready. It was strange being here, it felt a little surreal and when Oliver bounded down the stairs he followed him but not before he stopped briefly and asked Kim which was her room. "I don't want to get lost."

God damn him. "Keep walking." he winked at her and headed downstairs.

"Ollie sit still." Kim was getting frustrated with his nervousness. He could barely sit in his seat and Adam tried his best to compliment the overly bland lasagne Ollie had insisted they make. Kim had wanted to add a few herbs and spices to give it some flavour but Ollie was worried that Adam wouldn't like it so she let him go and it was dry and bland but the salad, which Kim had made was edible.

"I will cook you the worlds best ribs one day." Adam promised.

"Did you not like it?"

"It was great Ollie. I love lasagne. You did a great job." He ruffled his hair as he served himself another slice of the Italian disaster and Ollie's face lit up as he pushed the food down.

"Can I help you?"

"Sure can Bud." They cleared the plates and he was delighted to find they had Kim's chocolate brownies for dessert. It had always been his favourite. She couldn't cook to save herself back then but her brownies were sublime. As soon as Kim told Ollie that Adam used to love her brownie's he insisted she make them.

"Adam…" Ollie started nervously. "Can I show you something?"

"Sure." He nodded, looking at Kim who just shrugged and averted her eyes. She knew what was coming. Ollie ran into the lounge and came back and stood next to his Dad.

"Mom kept this for me. So I could remember you. Some days she would get it out for me to hold. It was my favourite thing." He handed Adam his badge. "Until now." Adam looked at it and then Kim. She was crying and he couldn't stop himself letting the tears tumble down his cheeks. "Until I met you." Ollie stared at his Dad. He'd also looked at his Mom and she just nodded and smiled a watery smile.

"God Oliver. Come here." He pulled him into his arms and cradled his head as he bent down and whispered. "I love you Oliver, so much. You are the greatest thing in my world. I'm glad I came back because of you and because I got to see your Mom again."

"I want to be a cop, like Mom and like you. They told me you were a good cop, I want to be like you. I want to make you and Mom proud."

"You be you Ollie and be happy and that will be good enough for us." He grabbed Ollie's hand and put his badge back in it and closed his fingers around it. "Hang onto this and I promise to be standing next to your Mom when you get your own badge."

"Yeah?"

"Of course." He beckoned Kim over and for the first time they hugged their boy together.