"Hey bud," Jack stared in the rear view mirror at his son. "Your birthday is coming up. Anything special you'd like to get?"

The five year old thought, scratching his head as he considered all the possibilities. "I can have anything?"

"Well, not anything…"

"Will you talk to mom?" The blonde asked, leaning forward in his booster seat in an attempt to get closer to Jack.

"That isn't a birthday present. You can't open it. But I'll talk to Mom anytime you need me to," he promised. Actually, he would gladly do anything if it meant he could get a minute or two with Kate. They'd gotten closer after he got sober for Aaron's sake. They met in person to drop him off. They even spent holidays together as a family, whether it were planning Aaron's birthday party together or staying under the same roof on Christmas Eve.

"Spencer got me a X-Box—"

"An X-Box," Jack corrected.

Aaron sighed. "He got me an X-Box and Mom won't let me have it."

"It's only a few days until your birthday. She just wants to wait—"

"No dad! It wasn't a birthday present. It was a gift and she took it!"

"A gift for what?"

"He wasn't at my little league game…"

Jack nodded, glancing back at Aaron. Kate's boyfriend, Spencer attended very few of Aaron's functions, opting to buy a kids toy to make up for it. Jack hated the slimy investment banker but all he did was help Jack out. Jack never had to worry about being replaced in Aaron's eyes. Jack would always be Dad, the man who switched any appointment or surgery to ensure he made every single one. He also enjoyed knowing that Kate was smart enough to see how little Spencer did for him in terms of attention and time; she was also smart enough to understand that Jack had been there for every single sports game, school play, art show. She knew how busy his schedule was and that nothing would stop him.

Spencer's behavior also had perks of its own. When Kate made special plans, like Disney on Ice and Spencer cancelled, Jack was the one who got to spend the evening with his family. He got to give Aaron every stadium food and carry him out of the building when he fell asleep before the end of the show. He got to watch Kate's profile as she watched the ice show. And every so often, he got to share a smile with her.

After Disney on Ice was over and they returned home, Kate watched as Jack put Aaron to bed in the room he had created for the little boy. A little boy who Jack wasn't obligated to at all.

"He's out like a light," Jack smiled.

"With his light," Kate nodded towards the fiber optic light they'd bought him that was still clenched in his tiny hand. "Thank you again for filling in."

"I don't fill in. Spencer fills in for me; I'm Jack's father," he said sternly. He still had no idea whether it was his words or his tone, but Kate grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him into a heated kiss. Instantly they were clawing at each other's clothes in a frenzied attempt to get to each other quicker. He grabbed her, pinning her against the wall as he slammed inside her so hard it knocked his framed medical degree off the wall.

Kate grabbed his hair, pulling it as she bit his lip. "I want your lips on me. Everywhere," she pleaded in between moans. He carried her to his bedroom, tossing her on the bed and kissing her. He let his lips trail down her neck and onto her collarbone. He took each nipple in his mouth, gently tugging while he sucked on the hardened nubs. She moaned loudly and clutched a fistful of his bedspread. His kiss trailed down her stomach before he bit her inner thigh. She yelped and grabbed another fistful of his hair with a moan. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down against his mouth. The surprise movement caused a string of moans, each making his erection more painful. Still, he waited until she was yanking on his hair and trembling that he knew it was time for him.

He slammed into her without warning. She mewed and met his rhythm as he pushed into her again and again. As they both came, Kate scratched Jack's back, leaving it bloody. Jack bit down on Kate's shoulder, leaving an indentation that they both knew would leave a larger mark. "Not yet," she whispered when he started to pull out. It was something she'd always done with him, something he wondered if she did to Spencer.

She cupped his face and kissed him while she pressed her body against his. She stared into his eyes between kisses, the silence speaking volumes.

"What are you going to tell him?" Jack finally whispered.

"The truth," she shrugged. "I have to."

"You don't have to," Jack suggested. "I'm not going to throw you under the bus." Kate studied him intently. All Jack wanted was to get back together and now he was telling her the opposite?

"What's your endgame?"

"Nothing."

"Jack, come on."

"When you break up with Spencer, it won't be because you're afraid of him finding out something."

"When?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Let a man dream," he joked and they both smiled.

"Jack," she said softly. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't apologize. I'm an adult. I know what this was," he smiled so seductively that Kate felt like she'd melt into a puddle. As much as he replayed the sex in his mind, he had engraved that expression on her face into his memory.

"So, will you tell Mom to let me have it?" Aaron asked, bringing Jack back to reality. He shook his head as he tried to stay in the present instead of living in the memory of a month ago.

"I'm sorry, kid. I've got to side with your mom on this." Aaron groaned loudly as Jack pulled into the driveway.

A few moments later Kate stepped outside in a houndstooth cape overtop a white blouse, skinny jeans and white flats.

"Mom!" Aaron yelled, running and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Dad won't tell you to give me the X-Box," he pouted.

She mouthed a quick thank you to Jack. "You don't need to grow up so fast," she said as she ran her hands through his blonde hair.

"We didn't have time for his art project," Jack added.

"You got it all done otherwise?" Kate asked with wide eyes. Keeping Aaron on track during his homework wasn't easy and they'd had to split the assignments between the two. Having him supervise while Aaron did everything but one was a feat. "I can't thank you enough," Kate said softly, placing one hand on his chest.

"Kate!" Spencer called, standing on the porch in khakis and a blue sweater that made him look like a mannequin in a store window.

Kate gave him a glance before returning to Jack.

"What? Is he worried?" Jack whispered.

Kate offered a sly smile but changed her mind quickly. "Be nice." She gave the porch one last look, watching Aaron run inside. "Jack, can we have lunch? Just you and I?"

"Kate!" Spencer yelled again. Jack could see the irritation written all over Kate's face. She wasn't the type to be bossed around.

"You know we can." Jack grabbed her hand quickly, "everything's okay?"

Kate nodded, looking almost worried as she glanced towards Spencer. "I've got to go. I'll text you."

He nodded slightly and gave her hand a squeeze before sliding into his vehicle.