Stanley Walker arrived at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo at 11:15. Nearly fifteen minutes early for their scheduled meeting. He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep the night before. He was too nervous that Karen wouldn't show up with Cailyn, or would call off everything.

Standing near the gates, he saw Karen and Will walking towards him. Cailyn was standing between them, holding onto each of their hands and swinging back and forth every few steps. To Stan, they looked like a family. The family he could have been a major part of. But now, he was a year too late.

Stepping forward, he smiled at Karen and shook Will's hand. She gave him a polite smile back, still holding onto Cailyn's hand.

"Hello Karen."

"Stanley."

Stan then leaned down to Cailyn. "Hi there, Cailyn."

Cailyn took a step back so that she was hidden behind Karen's legs. Karen took her hand and knelt down next to her daughter.

"Cailyn, sweetie? This is an old friend of Mommy's. Can you say hi?" Karen coaxed.

Cailyn looked up at Stan with wide eyes, trying to decide her next move. Then, in a voice lower than a whisper, she repeated her mother. "Hi."

"He's going to come into the zoo with us, would that be okay?" Will asked her.

She looked at Stan, then at Will and nodded.

"Thank you, Cailyn. We're gonna have fun, right?" Stan said, trying to interact with his child. Cailyn still wasn't very sure of him and once again clung to Karen's side.

"She's a little shy, Stan. You've got to give her some time." Will said as Karen picked up her daughter and they all walked into the gates.

After walking through the zoo for an hour, the group decided to take a short walk around Central Park. Cailyn had begun to fall asleep, so Karen had been holding her. She could tell that Stan wanted to say something, but didn't want to wake the baby.

Stopping suddenly, Karen turned to her right. "Will, honey? Could you hold Caylin for a while? My arms are starting to hurt."

Will nodded. He knew Karen wanted to talk to Stan alone for a while, so he gingerly picked Cailyn off of Karen's shoulder and placed her on his own, rocking back and forth as she had started to wake up.

"So?" She asked, looking at Stan.

Stan remained silent. He didn't know how to be in a conversation with her anymore.

"Come on, Stanley. You're the one who wanted to see her. This is your time you're wasting, not mine."

"She's beautiful, Karen. You've done a great job."

"Thank you."

Stan had a million questions for her. He wanted to get to know as much about Cailyn as he could, just in case this was the last time he saw her.

"Do Olivia and Mason know about her?"

"Yes they do. They came when she was a newborn and again a few months ago at Christmas. She really took to Liv, following her around the manse. And Mason played peek-a-boo with her for over an hour and taught her how to play Ring-Around-the-Rosie. Cailyn just loves the end when she gets to fall down." Karen said, smiling at the memories of Christmas.

"What's her favorite color?"

"Baby blue. Will's parent's sent her a blanket for her birthday in that color with her initials in violet. She never goes to sleep without it."

"Favorite movie?"

"Anything Disney. Right now, she's been watching The Little Mermaid nonstop."

"Food?"

"Spaghetti."

"How long has she been walking and talking?"

"She's been talking for about five months, and walking for about two and half?"

"First word?"

"Ma. Then Ro-Ro. It's what she calls Rosie."

Stan nodded his head. He had been smiling the whole time, learning about his child. Learning the things he should have known already.

"Why does she call Will dad?"

Karen stopped short, staring at Stanley.

"We didn't teach her that, if that's what you're implying! One day, we were together, and it just came right out of her mouth."

"Did you ever talk about me?"

"No." Karen said, face stoic. Then she looked down at her hands before continuing. "I didn't talk about you because it hurt too much."

Stan reached out to touch her arm and Karen flinched away. "Don't. Not yet."

He nodded. She was ready to talk to him, but not ready to have him touch her. "So, can I see you both again?" He asked, hopeful.

Karen nodded. Cailyn, although being shy for most of the morning, had warmed up to Stan after he bought her a stuffed zebra as a gift. She had even hugged him after he gave it to her. Karen decided that it was a good sign, her daughter was learning to trust her father, even if it had started through bribery.

"I think that would be fine. She likes you. Even though you technically bribed her into it." Karen teased with a smile.

"How's Saturday?"

"Oh, um, we have plans. Will's parents are having a party and we're all driving up to Connecticut on Saturday morning."

"A party, huh? What's the occasion?" Stan asked, not realizing.

Karen cleared her throat and looked down before answering, "My birthday." She said, nodding.

Stan's face fell. He couldn't believe he'd forgotten.

"Right, well. Then how about Monday? Would you two be free for lunch?"

Karen nodded and they agreed to meet in the Park on Monday afternoon. As Stan was leaving, he leaned down in an effort to kiss her, but Karen pulled away. She couldn't bring herself to get close again, she didn't want to be hurt.