Author's Note: Here's the next chapter... enjoy and thanks for all of the feedback, I love it :-)

I sat in the front with my dad and watched Casey's legs bounce nervously in the back seat where she sat impatiently. She was clutching Jake's diaper bag to her like it was some kind of treasure everyone was out to try and take away from her.

I myself tapped nervously on the glass of the window, alternating between looking at Casey to gazing at the falling snow outside. I glanced down and realized that I, too, was fidgeting nervously. Stilling my legs, I took note of the time. There was traffic because of the snow, so it was taking a bit longer to get to the airport than usual. But we still had about three hours before Jake's plane was due to arrive.

"Can't this thing go any faster?" Casey suddenly blurted in annoyance.

"We'll be there in about ten minutes, Casey. Relax," my dad said, looking at his stepdaughter through the rear-view mirror.

I looked over and threw her a comforting smile. "We've still got a lot of time, Case."

She nodded glumly, going back to staring out her window.

We did make it there about ten minutes later, and my dad dropped us off right at the British Air terminal. I took Casey's hand and we ran inside while my dad yelled to us that he'd meet us inside after parking the car.

My eyes scanned the area, wondering where we were to go next, when I heard Casey give a cry.

"What!" I yelped, startled, snapping my head to my girlfriend. She clutched my hand tighter, pointing ahead of her. On the screen in front of us listed Jake's flight number…and the word "DELAYED" next to it.

"Dammit," I cursed, raking a hand through my hair in frustration. I looked at Casey, who was biting her lip, visibly upset by this news. "It must be because of the snow. Maybe it's not a long delay." I tried to stay positive for her, and took her with me to the front desk.

I told the lady at the desk with the British accent what flight I was looking for, and she told me that it had, in fact, been delayed. She was not sure for how long. But she gave us the gate number and told us that we could wait over there.

"Thanks," I said to her, and pulled Casey along with me.

"I hope they feed him and change his diaper," Casey muttered as we settled down at the gate waiting area.

"I'm sure they're taking good care of him," I put an arm around her and she snuggled into my shoulder.

My dad came over to the gate, which was empty sans me and Casey, and asked what was going on. Of course he hadn't bothered to check the screen when he walked in. It was a wonder he had found us.

"The flight's been delayed," I told him, rubbing my thumb over the smooth skin of Casey's palm.

Dad didn't look very happy about then, and walked away to go call Nora on his cell phone to update her. I heard Casey's stomach growl next to me and looked over at her. She was staring sadly out the window at the snow. I stood up and she immediately looked up at me inquisitively.

"I'm going to get us something to eat," I told her, digging into my pocket to make sure I had brought my wallet in my rush out of the house. Thankfully, I had.

"I'm not hungry," Casey said solemnly, relaxing back down in her seat, curling her legs under her childishly.

"I don't care, I'm gonna make you eat," I told her firmly. She hadn't eaten anything since Jake had gone missing.

Casey just pouted, but didn't protest as I turned on my heel and went to go search for some food. The first thing I found was a McDonalds, so I got Casey her favourite fast-food treat and myself a Big Mac and a Coke.

"Thanks," Casey took the food glumly from me but didn't open the bag.

"Eat," I eyed her assertively.

She sighed heavily, but complied, opening the bag up to search through its contents. She gave a tiny smile over at me when she saw what I had gotten her.

"Thanks, Derek," she said more gently, and I felt relieved as I watched her bite into her burger.

We sank back against each other tiredly after we finished our dinner. I stroked Casey's hair, trying to get her to doze off for a little bit. I couldn't tell if she had fallen asleep or not, but I knew that we both bolted upright when we saw three airport security officers walk over to the gate.

"Mr. Venturi?" they looked over at my dad.

"Yes?" my father immediately walked over to them, hanging up the cell phone he was on.

"We're here to take Alice Venturi into custody as soon as the plane arrives from London," one officer said. "And we'll make sure that your son is returned to you safely and securely."

"Actually, it's my grandson," my dad nodded over towards me, and the officers all turned their heads. "That's my son. He's Jacob's father."

"Oh, we're sorry about that," the officer actually looked slightly embarrassed and the three walked over to me and Casey. "Mr. Venturi, we'll make sure that your son is returned to you safely and securely."

I nodded, and Casey breathed a grateful "thank you" as she clutched my arm tightly.

"Will the flight be arriving soon?" my dad asked.

One officer shrugged. "We haven't heard anything. But the weather is making it difficult."

"What happens if they can't land?" Casey asked. Her voice was soft and timid, very different from the assertive Casey tone I was used to.

"The flight will be redirected," the officer replied.

"When will we know if it has been redirected?" I asked. My eyes kept moving to the large window. The snow was really picking up. I didn't want to think it or anything, but chances of the flight landing here were looking less and less possible.

"As soon as we get word," the officer said. "In fact, we'll go check and see if there's been any word yet."

"Thanks," I mumbled absently as they took off.

I looked down at Casey to see that silent tears were streaming down her face.

"Oh, Case," I immediately sat down and pulled her onto my lap, enveloping her in my arms.

"I'm sorry," she sniffled into my shoulder. "I just want him to come home. I can't wait any longer."

"I know, honey, I know," I soothed, caressing her back and pressing my lips to her soft-but-tangled hair. "We'll get him back. It might just take a little bit longer but then we'll have him back with us. At least for another eighteen years," I tried to make it light and chuckled at myself.

Casey looked up at me and gave me a sad smile. It was small, but it was still a smile. A small victory for me.

"Let's talk about other things," Casey said quietly. "I need to take my mind off of it or I'll go crazy."

I raised my eyebrows. "Okay…" I gave her an impish smile. "How about we discuss when we're gonna start on a little brother or sister for Jake?"

That got me a big Casey laugh, just what I was hoping for. "How about after we graduate?" she said with a grin.

I gave a mock pout. "That's not for over a year!"

"Exactly!" Casey laughed.

"Fine, fine. But we can still practice in the meanwhile, right?" I wiggled my eyebrows, leaning in closer to her.

"Oh, definitely," Casey smiled, and I kissed her soft lips.

"Love you," I mumbled against her mouth before pulling her in for another tight hug.

She snuggled into me and I stroked her back until I felt her breath even and knew that she had fallen asleep. It wasn't long before one of the officers came back. He saw that Casey was asleep, so he quietly told me what was going on.

The plane had been redirected. It was landing in GMIA—the Greater Moncton International Airport—in New Brunswick and would be stationed there until the weather let up here. I closed my eyes, sighing heavily, trying to take in the news.

"When will that be?" I asked.

The man looked sorry to say that, "It could be a few hours, could be until tomorrow. Or even tomorrow night."

"And Jacob?"

"He's still in proper, secure custody. He's in good hands."

I rubbed my eyes with my free hand and stroked Casey's hair absently with the other. "What should we do?"

The man looked at the sleeping girl in my arms. "Nothing we can do but wait. Take the pretty lady home. We will call you as soon as we hear anything."

Casey shifted in my arms, and I realized that she had been up throughout the entire conversation. "No…please…can we stay?"

The officer shifted his weight where he stood and scratched his dark moustache. "There's nothing you can do here. Mind as well go home and get some rest."

"I can't really rest until Jake is back with us," Casey said, sitting up in my lap. "I need him back with us." She bit her lip and I could see how wildly torn apart she looked. It was how I felt but wouldn't let her see. Couldn't let her see. Because I had to be strong for her.

The officer gave a slow nod of understanding and walked away, leaving us in our peace. My dad came over, having heard the conversation.

"Casey, I think you'd feel better if you had a hot shower and a nice meal and had some rest on an actual bed," he said to her.

"No," my stubborn girlfriend shook her head indignantly. "I'm not leaving this airport until I get my baby back." At her last two words, her voice wavered, and I saw a tear fall from her bloodshot eyes. She turned to me. "Derek, you can go if you want to, but I'm staying here."

I studied the anxious girl on my lap and shook my head. "Case, I would never leave you here," I reached out and stroked her cheek. It was wet from her tears and slightly flushed. I glanced up at my dad. "Dad, you go home. Fill everyone in. Get some rest. Casey and I will be fine here."

My dad looked very hesitant. But I knew that he could tell that Casey and I needed our alone time, and there was nothing he could do here. He gave in.

"Fine, but I want you to call me as soon as you get word," he said, eyeing me seriously. "I want to be here when that plane lands." He used his lawyer tone, and I nodded, promising him that I would. Casey and I didn't have our cell phones with us, so he gave us his, along with a bit of cash for food.

"I might be back if the streets are bad," he said, pulling on his jacket.

"We'll be fine," Casey said, not really listening to him as she stared over at the "delayed" sign they were putting up at the gate.

I said goodbye to my dad and pulled Casey tighter to me. She sighed in my arms, leaning back against my chest.

"Am I a terrible mother?" she asked quietly, absently fiddling with my fingers latched at her abdomen.

"What?" I frowned over at her. Is that what she thought?

"Do you think Jake will be traumatized from this whole thing and need, like, major therapy when he gets older and never forgive me for it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Case, you know that it wasn't your fault. It's my stupid crazy mother's fault. Jake's fine, and he most likely will never remember this." I pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You're a good mother, Case. You really are. I wouldn't want to impregnate anyone else but you."

I got a chuckle out of her with that, and I smiled with amusement.

"You better not," she looked over at me, her eyes teasing. She gave me a peck on the nose and snuggled into me again. We were relaxing, but it still felt like something was missing.

Jake.

"Please let him be okay," I mouthed to God or whoever was listening as I stared out into the dark snowy sky.