For the Moment

Genre: Friendship; Family; pre-Romance; FUTURE FIC

Pairings: Scott and Naomi

Main characters: Scott, Naomi, Liam

"I'm so sorry to drag you over here so late, he's just being so cranky right now," Naomi said, as she opened the door of her small flat to let Scott in. "I would have hoped by now he'd have grown out of it, but he just won't settle down, whatever is wrong he is inconsolable, and it just doesn't seem to matter WHAT I do."

"Terrible twos, I reckon," Scott said with a soft laugh, smiling warmly at Naomi. "No worries, you know I was JUST thinking how much I've missed you and Liam all day and would LOVE to see you both after shift…" He looked down at her with a crooked smile and winked as they made their way to the toddler's room.

"Alright, Mr. Jenkins. What's the fuss about, hey?" he said, as he reached down to pick the crying youngster up. Naomi stood back in relief as her young son began to settle somewhat in her best friend's arms – or at least turn his volume down a smitch.

Scott turned to gaze at Naomi for a moment before shifting his attention back to the toddler in his embrace, who, by now, had wrapped his little arms around Scott's neck, as though his life depended on it. The two adults stood silently as the sniffles slowly but surely subsided, and the little boy seemed finally to relax from head to toe.

"So tell me, little laddie, what's wrong? Why so upset, hey?" Scott asked gently, as he reached up to brush away tears from the flushed little cheek. Liam lifted his head to gaze up into Scott's warm brown eyes.

"I missed you, daddy," was all he said, before he lay his head back down on Scott's chest. Try as he might, Scott couldn't stop his eyebrows from shooting up his forehead at this simple, innocent, child's declaration.

"Oh, my," Naomi murmured softly, as she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and softly, and wondering where on earth her young boy had picked up that notion.

"Well, THAT was a bit unexpected," Scott simply said, glancing to her. Naomi sighed at this, and took his arm, leading him to the living room of her flat.

"Oh, Scottie… let's be honest here," she implored, as they sat down on her loveseat. "Is it REALLY that unexpected? We've been this little platonic family for months now… even Greer has commented that at this rate, you're the only father Liam is likely to ever know or remember. I have to admit, the idea of raising him with you is… well it's quite comforting actually. There's a contentment there."

Scott said nothing to this at first, simply thinking on Naomi's words as he absently stroked under Liam's ear with his thumb. "I suppose you're right," he finally said, his voice soft and low. "I guess I hadn't really thought about it… I knew this could happen someday, really. I hoped it would, in fact… I suppose I just wasn't expecting it so… well, I suppose it HAS been nearly a year since the accident."

"Time flies when your heart is healing, it seems," Naomi said, thoughtfully, as she reached over to rest her hand on her son's back. "There is no timeline on grief, Scottie. There are no rules stating how long we must grieve and be lonely and miserable and heartbroken. Some people grieve for months, others for years, some never really stop… but for me, I think the distraction of Liam, and meeting you at a time when we both needed it most, well... oh, I don't know," she finally sighed. "I don't know WHAT to think."

"I think," Scott said carefully, reaching over Liam to take the hand that rested on his back, "that at some point, because we understand each other so well, we became such close friends that we began to love each other, I mean REALLY love each other, though I don't think we were IN love. Now I have to question if that's been… evolving somewhat."

Naomi sighed at this. "I've been wondering the same thing, if I'm honest about it. We've certainly been the definition of 'slow burn' if that's the case, I'm just not sure we're quite ready yet to take that next step. And really, Scottie… I'm in no hurry, if you aren't."

Scott laughed softly at this in agreement. "Indeed, I'm in no hurry either. Things seem to have taken on their own momentum. When we are both ready, it will happen. That seems a course that cannot be strayed from, nor do I wish it to. I can't even begin to imagine not having you and Liam in my life now."

"Life seems to have taught us to not waste time, to not avoid happiness, or put it off. But I don't think we're doing that, do you?" Naomi asked, suddenly sounding worried. She leaned forward to accommodate him as Scott moved his free arm to wrap it around her shoulders and draw her closer to him.

"No, we're not putting anything off, and we're certainly not avoiding happiness. We're just taking our time, making sure it's the right thing. Besides, it's not just US we've to think of, it's this little man right here most of all. We need to be sure, for his sake, that whatever decisions we make are in all of our best interests. All three of us."

Naomi huffed a small laugh through her nose, smiling. "There's that infamous Lestrade wisdom again. You and Johnnie are incorrigible with it," she giggled. "Oh, I DO love you Scottie, whatever that means for the moment."

"Indeed," he replied, placing a friendly kiss on her cheek, and lingering there just a big longer than he had before. "Whatever it means for the moment, Naomi... I love you too."