Gil went to his room and Zara was playing with a dolls set at the kitchen table. Nick came and sat beside Amanda on the couch, put his arm around her and kissed her. Hello mi amor he smiled. Hi she smiled back. So, did you miss me in work today he joked, I did actually, she said squeezing his hand. She told him about her chat with the chief. He asked her how Carisi was today, mmm she said, looking round to see where Zara was, Nick looked at her, what? Nothing, he made a comment about me suiting babies, when I was talking to you on the phone about Noah. He followed me into the staff room again she rolled her eyes. He sighed, I just told him I wasn't thinking of that yet and I was missing a key ingredient of a man to make one she whispered, so that threw it off again she laughed. Nick laughed, seems to be the topic of conversation today for us he laughed and kissed her, yours went better than the conversation I had sprung on me today about babies he said. She looked at him and he sighed, and turned around to make sure Zara wasn't listening. He whispered Zara asked me if you were going to have a baby like Noah, because she wants a baby brother or sister. Amanda sat up shocked, he laughed yeah imagine me sitting with Noah on my lap and Gil staring at me trying not to laugh he said. Where did that come from? Well it seems she has brought the subject up with Maria, but Maria said she doesn't want any more babies. And she doesn't think Maria loves Nathan like she used to love me because God gives mummies and daddies a baby when they love each other very much. She then wanted to make sure we love each other very much he laughed. Amanda didn't know what to say, OK she said settling back down. Don't worry he said, I told her we just have to wait to see what God has planned and he laughed again. I've told her maybe in a few years, he smiled. Amanda laughed, well, maybe not a few, she said quietly, but not soon either she said and kissed him. Hmm he said, I like that idea he whispered against her lips and kissed her again. A few minutes later Nick called them both over. What would you like for dinner? Would you like me to make some dinner here now, or we can get a takeaway? Takeaway both kids shouted. Ok, pizza? Yay they said and went to get the menu. Pizza ordered they were all sitting in the living room. Nick at the end of the couch with Amanda leaning in on him his arm around her. Gil was at the other end of the couch and Zara playing at the coffee table. So, did you do anything fun today she asked. Zara said we got wallpaper for my new room she said happily. Nick said, go get the piece the lady gave you and she went to the bedroom. Did you pick any wallpaper Gil? No he said, I'm not getting wallpaper, dad give me your phone so I can show Amanda what I'm getting. He unlocked his phone and gave it to Gil smiling. I actually really like it he said to Amanda as he kissed her head. Gil leaned over to Amanda and showed her, Wow she said, that's brilliant Gil. I really like that idea. Is this the colours you want? Yeah, he said, we got some paint samples today to see what they will be like. Amanda turned to Nick, I really like that you know she said. Yeah, I thought it was cool, it's different. And it's just done with masking tape. I'll speak to José tomorrow about it and send him a picture. Zara returned with her wallpaper sample. This is mine she said as she climbed up onto Amanda's knee. Oh, I like that she said, very girly and grown up. Uh-huh, daddy said only one wall with that though and the others can be pink as I'll get dizzy. Nick laughed, and put his hand through her hair, that's right princesa. All 4 of them on the one couch; it was Gil's turn to ask a surprise question. Amanda? Yes buddy? Will you be living with us in dad's new house? She felt Nick freeze and he felt her tense up. Zara then said, oh I like that idea Gil. Amanda cleared her throat and tried to sit up. She looked up at Nick and he shrugged and whispered it's up to you if you want to tell them, I've dodged a bullet today already he laughed. She lifted Zara up and sat up properly on the couch with Zara on her knee, Nick holding her other hand and she looked at Gil, well I don't want to do anything that would upset you two she said, I would love to live with your dad in his new house, but if you two don't want me to then we can wait a while she said. Zara whined no I don't want you to wait, Nick looked at Gil, what do you think ¿hijo? Gil looked at him and smiled, I'd like you to live there with us too he said with a grin. Both Amanda and Nick let out the breath they'd been holding, and he squeezed her hand, they both smiled at each other and Nick said, well there we go then, we'll all live in the house together he said smiling. He pulled Amanda closer and kissed her head, he kissed Zara's head and he put his arm out to Gil who walked over to him and he kissed his cheek. Zara then piped up; does this mean I can get a baby brother or sister now? She looked at Amanda with big eyes, Gil hit Zara and he said, dad told you today you have to wait and see what God plans, he hissed. But if we all live in the same house and daddy and Amanda love each other very much then God HAS to give us a baby she whined. Amanda tried to stop herself from laughing, her face was red from the effort, she looked at Nick, and he let out a sigh. Princesa I told you, Amanda might not want to have any babies he said, and if she does it might be when you are a bit older. You have to wait and see what God decides. Zara huffed, pleeeassse daddy and Amanda, Amanda pulled her close and hugged her. Let's have some time just us 4 for now she said to her, we can have lots of fun together, then we will see what God decides. Zara thought about this and then she said Ok Amanda, that's a good idea. Nick let out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding, Good he said, so we can forget about baby brothers or sisters for now? he smiled at Amanda putting his arm around her again. Yes, Zara said and hugged Amanda. If you get a baby in your tummy then you won't be able to do lots of things. My friend says her mummy is boring because she gets stuck in the chair lots of times now. They all laughed. Gil said, but I don't want an annoying sister he said, I want a brother. Oh boy, Amanda said, I'm not sure that's how it works kids, you have to take what you're given she laughed. The doorbell rang, Thank God said Nick, saved by the bell. Right you two go to the table. He got up and got the pizza, Amanda got up and walked towards the kitchen. He passed her some of the smaller side boxes and he put his arm around her and kissed her. Sorry about that mi amor, I thought I'd settled her on that, she laughed, seems everyone is wanting us to have a baby she laughed. He grinned, God will have to sort his plan, I want you to myself a while longer, she said yeah, me too. They headed to the table with the food.
Dinner eaten the 4 of them were sitting around the table playing a card game. Zara got bored and went to sit on Amanda's lap. Hey missy, you tired? Yeah but I don't want to go to bed she whined. Nick said Ok how about you have your bath then put you pj's on and we can watch a movie before bed? She nodded her head Ok papi. Gil said do I have to go to bed dad? No hijo you don't he said, it's only 8pm. Gil smiled good he said, they finished the game and Amanda said, hey Gil why don't you see if there's any sport on the TV and I'll wash up. Ok he smiled and turned the TV on. Nick walked over and kissed Amanda, then took Zara from her lap, ok hija, let's go for your bath. He carried her into the bathroom and started to run the bath as he undressed her. She climbed in and she said papi, I really really like Amanda. He smiled and said, good. So do I. And I'm so happy that you like her and are being such a good girl. Yeah, she said, I love her too, but not the same way I love mummy, I don't want mummy to be sad because I love Amanda. Nick took this as his opportunity to talk to her about Nathan. Hey bebita you can never love anyone else like you love mummy and daddy he said. And it won't upset us if you love Amanda or Nathan too. It will make me and mummy happy. But you don't have to love them, you can just like Amanda or Nathan. And that's OK. I won't be sad if you like Nathan, and mummy won't be sad if you like Amanda. He could see Zara thinking. Ok she said, but I don't want to love Nathan, he smiled, that's OK but you want to like him? Yes, she said if it makes you and mummy happy. He smiled, I know it would make mummy and Nathan happy even more he said, but I still want to love Amanda she said, and he laughed. That's ok he said, you can love Amanda if you want to. But just like Nathan? she asked. If that's how you feel that's OK too he said. OK she said, I'll try to like Nathan. He smiled good girl, so I can tell mummy you won't play her up when Nathan is at her house anymore? Yes daddy. Then she said, but what happens if mummy gets a new house and Nathan wants to live there too. He sighed, well, we can talk about that if it happens, he said. And if they do want to get a new house, you will get another new room. She thought again, OK she said. Right let's get you out of the bath before you turn all wrinkly he said. He wrapped her in the towel and carried her to the bedroom to get dressed. Before they went back out he said, how about you phone mummy and say goodnight? Yeah, she said. He went out to get his phone. Amanda asked if he was Ok and he said yeah, we've had a good chat in there she's going to phone her mum to say goodnight. 10 minutes later Zara ran out to Amanda and jumped on her lap. Hey, she said, you smell nice she said, sniffing her hair. Papi got me new shampoo she said. I like it Amanda replied. Gil asked where is dad Zara? He's talking to my mummy on the phone, she turned to Amanda. Amanda? Yes honey, she said as she stroked the little girl's hair. Are you sleeping here tonight? Amanda looked at her and Gil, um, I hadn't really thought about it she replied. I thought I might go to my house and give you two some alone time with your dad. Nah we don't mind said Gil, we have to go to bed soon so dad will be on his own. Zara said yeah you can have a sleepover, Nathan sometimes has a sleepover at my mummy's house. Does he she said laughing, well if you want me to have a sleepover here then that's Ok with me. Zara turned around and said, yes let's do that. Gil smiled at Amanda. Nick came out about 5 minutes later. Daddy Amanda's going to have a sleepover here tonight she proudly announced, Oh, is she now he laughed. Do I get a say in this sleepover? Zara laughed, no me and Gill said she can. So, does that mean you two have to sleep in the garage then? No, don't be silly daddy; she can sleep in your bed with you. Amanda looked at Nick in shock; Nick raised his eyebrows in shock. Can she now? Uh-huh Nathan sometimes has a sleepover in mummy's bed with her so Amanda can have a sleepover in your bed with you. Well you know if Amanda sleeps in my bed with me, you can't come in during the night he said, there's only room for two people now, because you're a big girl. Yep she said, mummy has the same rule in her house. He smiled, Ok then, he said, grinning at Amanda. 15 minutes into the movie Zara was fast asleep on Amanda's side. Hey, Gil Amanda whispered, you want to change the movie now your sister's sleeping? Yes please, I hate princesses. Nick laughed you do that hijo while I put tu hermana to bed. He walked over and lifted Zara gently from Amanda's side. He kissed Amanda as he leant over. Someone's got a new friend I think he whispered, yeah, my sticking plaster she laughed. Nick carried her into bed and Amanda went to get a beer for them both from the fridge. Gil, would you like anything she said. No thank you he replied. Nick came out and closed the door as Amanda closed the fridge door. Beer she said to him, absolutely he said walking over to hug her. That girl doesn't know when to be quiet, and where she gets her ideas from, I'll never know. She kissed him and said, and she's not even a teenager yet and laughed. Hey, you'll be dealing with her teenage problems too he said. She smiled, hmm that's way down the line thinking there she teased. I'm pretty confident he replied as they walked back to the couch. Gil had found an action movie, which all 3 would enjoy. Nick sat down and held his arm out for Amanda to join his side. She snuggled in and Gil sat on the other side of the couch. As the introduction was still going on Nick heard Dad? He looked down at Gil and said yes hijo. You OK? Yeah, he said. And sat up, oh no Nick whispered in Amanda's ear what's coming now. Amanda took a swig of beer to stop laughing. Gil looked shy and said, you know the way Zara was talking about babies earlier on? Amanda cleared her throat and said, I'm gonna go and get changed into my pj's. Nick held her tight and said scared, noooo, you're gonna stay here for a minute mi amor. She sat up and said, go on Gil what's bothering you. Gil looked and she said would you like me to leave you and your dad to it? he shook his head. No, it's Ok. Nick said well what are you worried about he? said carefully. Well, he said, you said that it's up to God to give you and Amanda a baby, Amanda looked at Nick and he said, Ok. Well yeah it is. Gil replied, it's just, some of my friends said something different. Amanda clenched Nick's leg, Nick sat up straight and said, Ok, have you talked to your mum about this hijo? He shook his head, no; I feel better talking to you about it. Nick looked and said, and you still want Amanda to stay to talk about it? He nodded his head. Right he took a deep breath in, OK, and what did they say? The boy blushed slightly and said well, they were making fun of my friend Joe because his colita was poking out a lot he said. He looked at Nick and said, my colita sometimes does that too. And sometimes white stuff comes out, but it scares me. Ok, that's normal Nick said. It's natural he smiled. Amanda shuffled and said here swap places with me Nick. As they did that Gil continued, they told him that it means he has to have sex with a girl, but if white stuff comes out of his colita he'll make the girl have a baby. Nick let out the breath he was holding and looked at Amanda, then back to Gil, oh boy, he muttered and ran his hand through his hair and scratched the back of his neck. Right Gil we need to have a man talk, Gil looked, but Amanda can stay, can't she? Amanda cleared her throat and said, if you want me to stay, I'll stay honey and she smiled. He nodded his head and Amanda rubbed Nick's back reassuringly. Nick started to explain things to him, yes a man and a woman has to have sex so they can have a baby, but it's not any kind of sex, it's making love, and you should really only have sex, or make love to a woman who you really like, and love. And you both have to want to do it he said. If the woman says no, you have to stop. You got that ¿hijo? He nodded his head. Now, as I explained to you earlier about the white stuff, your sperm, yes, that is what helps to make a baby. You need that to make a baby. But how? Nick turned and looked at Amanda with panic on his face. Well Gil, she leant over and put her arm around Nick's waist, you know the way you have a colita? He nodded; you know that girls don't have one yes? Yes, he said, they have a vagina. That's right she said and let out the breath she was holding. She looked at Nick and he nodded back, well, when your colita is erect like your dad explained, and when you're grown up, it happens when a man and woman love each other, they are both very excited. Right now, it's happening to you because your body is changing and growing up, so it's learning new things too. Gil nodded, so when the boys talked about having sex, or as your dad said making love, then the man puts his colita into the woman's vagina. And that's how the sperm helps to make a baby. Because if it swims really, really, fast and strong, it will meet an egg that is sometimes inside the woman and when those two meet it will make a baby. She was rubbing Nick's back the entire time and he was holding the inside of her thigh. But hijo he found his voice again, that's not something you have to worry about for a very long time. You have to be an adult and you have to find the right girl who you love very much before thinking about this. So, God doesn't give you the baby then? well in a way yes he does, because he gives that little tiny sperm the energy to swim a long way, but really like we always talk about at Mass, God has plans for everyone and he helps us along the way doesn't he? A baby is a blessing from God, and that's what is important he said. But listen hijo, you will learn more about this in school when you are old enough to understand he said. But it's also really important that you don't tell any of your friends about what me and Amanda have told you tonight ok? Their parents will have this talk with them when they have questions too. Ok said Gil. So, when my colita gets hard and sticky it's not bad? No Nick said, it's not bad at all hijo, it's a good thing, it means your growing up to be a man he sighed. And he pulled him in to hug him. He kissed his head, you ok now? Gil nodded and said yes thank you dad with a big smile. And remember this conversation stays between me, you and Amanda OK? If you want, I can tell your mum we talked about man things? Gil nodded, yes please Papi, Ok, he said, and kissed his head again. Gil got up and walked over to Amanda, thank you Amanda he said, and sat beside her and gave her a big hug. Amanda could feel herself welling up. You're welcome she said hugging him back and kissed his forehead. You were very brave tonight she said, I'm very proud of you for how you done that she said smiling at him. Thank you he said. Nick could feel a lump in his throat, as he put his arms around both of them, and he kissed their heads once more. Gil then sat back and said, is it OK if I go to bed now? Nick looked and said yeah of course you can, feeling slightly relieved. Gil kissed Nick and Amanda goodnight and went to bed. When the door closed, Nick let out a sigh, fucking hell Amanda and she laughed.