Here is another one let me know what you think. Sorry it isn't longer.
Chapter 7

Of Coffee and Car Rides


Lily sat nervously at the kitchen table. She had made a simple breakfast of eggs, fruit and toast. All that was left to do for the moment was wait for Bug to come out of the bedroom. The longer she sat waiting the more nervous she got. Finally, she got up and went to the refrigerator. Realizing there wasn't anything for her to get she went and sat back down. As Lily poured herself another glass of juice, truly wishing she could have a cup of coffee, Bug wandered out of the bedroom. Going to sit down next to Lily he kissed her on the cheek and said, "Breakfast looks good."

"Uh Honey," Lily began, "I need to tell you something."

"Okay," Bug replied casually dishing up his breakfast.

Lily was sure where to start and just managed to mumble over some words, "I, well, you see, we…"

Bug stopped looking at Lily in alarm, "Lily honey is there something wrong?"

"Well not wrong exactly it is well it could be good or maybe not depending on how you feel about it I mean I think it is good but you know."

"Lily, what is it?" Bug asked getting anxious.

"I, well, I'm pregnant," Lily finally blurted out. Bug just stared at her in silence. "Say something," Lily pleaded.

"I…I…," now it was Bug's turn to stumble over his words. "Wow, we are having a baby," he finally said flatly.

Lily nerves increased to concern. She couldn't tell how he felt. "What are you thinking? How do you feel about this?" she finally asked.

"I…I think it is great," Bug said looking up at her grinning. Then he leaned in and kissed her. "I love you so much," he added.

"I love you too."


Jordan and Carter had a peaceful Sunday. She felt like she had fallen into a routine again. As much as she wanted to encourage Woody to come around it was nice to have a day off. She got to be alone with Carter and not have to worry about anyone else. Plus it alleviated the weird jumpy feeling she had been feeling around Woody.

Monday morning shook Jordan back to reality, though the morning started off fairly well. Carter's babysitter was finally healthy and able to work. Jordan was dressed, with dry hair, and kissing Carter goodbye when there was a knock at the door. Jordan furrowed her eyebrows, though she was starting to expect who would be on the other side. "Good morning Woody," she said as she opened the door.

"Hi Jordan, I thought I would see if I could give you a ride to work." He walked in through the open door. "Hi there buddy," he said to Carter as the boy attached himself to his father's leg.

"Julia, this is Woody," Jordan said to the somewhat confused babysitter. "He is Carter's father."

"Oh hi," Julia replied not sure what to think. She had been watching Carter for a long time and had never heard about his father.

"Hi," Woody said. Turning back to Jordan, "Can I give you that ride? I could give you a ride home too.

"Umm, yeah sure," Jordan picked up Carter and gave him a big hug and kiss, "Bye baby, see you tonight."

Woody took Carter from Jordan and in turn gave him a hug. "It was nice to meet you," he said to Julia handing Carter off to her and leading Jordan out of the apartment his hand against the small of her back.

As they settled down in the car Woody picked up a coffee from one of the cup holders and held it out to Jordan, "I assumed you tastes haven't changed."

"Thanks," Jordan said taking the coffee and smiling.

"You're welcome," Woody said grinning, confident that his plan was going to work.


After seeing Bug beaming all morning Jordan slipped into Lily's office at lunch. "Guess it went well," she said sitting down.

"Yeah, he is thrilled. He is already picking out names."

"Oh yeah, what has he picked out?" Jordan asked curiously.

"None that we are using," Lily said with a smirk.

"I'm sure you guys will agree on the perfect name. I didn't have a name for Carter until after he was born."

"Bug wants to move into a house. Well you know he wanted to when we got married but I resisted. I think I agree with him now."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Jordan said. "I think I would have, if things had been different." She fell into deep thought, looking down at her feet.

"Hey, what's up?" Lily asked concerned.

"I was just thinking…," Jordan started, then changing tracks she continued, "Woody gave me a ride to work today and got me coffee."

"That's nice," Lily replied. Seeing Jordan's face she asked, "It's not nice?"

"No it was it is just. I don't know. It seems too simple. It is too easy."

"You and Woody?" Lily asked.

"Yeah," Jordan said, "It feels comfortable. Shouldn't it be weird?"

"Well, I don't know. You and Woody have had a lot of weirdness over the years. Maybe it is time for something to be simple. Maybe it just needed to be the right time."


Woody showed up in the doorway of Jordan's office just as she was finishing up for the day. "Hey Jo, you ready?" he asked cheerily.

Jordan quickly got her bag together. "Yeah, I just need to drop these off with Garret on my way out," she said holding up a stack of files.

"Alright," Woody said following her to Garret's office.

"Garret, here are the rest of those files for you," Jordan said setting the stack on Garret's desk. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Jordan," Garret said.

Jordan returned to the hallway and she and Woody began walking to the elevators. As the doors opened Woody again placed his hand on the small of Jordan's back to lead her into the elevator. That morning it had seemed strange but after her long day it was somehow comforting. As Woody sat down in the driver seat with Jordan next to him he gathered his courage and asked, "So do you have plans for dinner?"

"Yeah Woody, I have a hot date; he is two and a half feet tall and wears footsy pajamas," Jordan replied sarcastically.

"How would you feel about ordering a pizza? Carter can have pizza right?"

"Yeah, he can have pizza. I just don't like to give it to him too often," Jordan said. "But that sounds wonderful Woody."

When they got to the apartment Carter and Julia were playing in his bedroom. When he heard the apartment door open Carter ran toward the door. Jordan knelt down and held her arms out for a hug. When he was about three feet away from her Carter fell and landed on his face on the floor. Jordan quickly moved forward and scooped the now crying boy into her arms. "Hi baby," she said softly sitting down on the couch with Carter on her lap. Carter buried his head in her chest. "Carter honey, its okay," Jordan said rubbing his back. "Did you get hurt?" Carter just kept crying and snuggled closer to Jordan. Turning to Woody Jordan said, "I am dreading when he gets older and doesn't want me to comfort him when he gets hurt." Woody smiled in response.

Julia came out of Carter's room. "I cleaned up all of the toys, Jordan," she said as she gathered her stuff together.

Jordan stood up still holding Carter in her arms. "Thanks Julia," she said. After pausing she added, "I owe you money, your payday was while you were sick." Jordan struggled with her purse attempting to remove her check book. Once she had freed it she opened it to write the check. "Damn it," she said, "I'm out of checks. Hold on a second Julia, I'll go find some more." Jordan began to set Carter down but as his feet touched the floor he started to cry again and clung to Jordan's shirt for dear life. "Baby, I need to put you down for a minute to find the checks."

"Jordan," Woody interrupted, "I can take care of it." He pulled a folder check out of his wallet. "What is your last name?" he asked Julia.

"Woody, no," Jordan said authoritatively.

"Jordan, get over it. Technically I owe you a lot more than this. Two years of child support probably adds up to a lot."

Jordan gave in and Julia who was looking a bit uncomfortable with the situation quickly told Woody how to spell her name.

After Julia left Jordan, with Carter still in her arms, turned to Woody. "I don't expect any money from you," she said. "We are doing just fine and I don't want you to feel pressure."

"I don't," Woody said reaching out and rubbing Carter's back, "I just want to help take care of our son."

Jordan smiled. "I think I will give him a bath, would you mind ordering a pizza. We can eat after his bath."

"Sure," Woody said. "I thought he took a bath after dinner."

"Usually he does but he is cranky and waiting for food will only increase that. His bath calms him down."

Woody nodded and turned to order the pizza while Jordan took Carter to take his bath. After he had ordered the pizza Woody moved toward the bathroom, he stopped when he heard Jordan's voice.

"Did you see your daddy is here?" she asked Carter.

"Mmhmm," Carter replied quietly.

"Do you like having your daddy here?" Jordan asked. Woody didn't hear Carter respond but assumed he had nodded when he heard Jordan whisper quietly, "yeah, me too."