He slammed the apartment door and then had no idea what to do with himself. He was no calmer now than he'd been when he'd left John's. Eames was right. He wasn't Maggie's father. Maybe he shouldn't have said what he did; it was none of his business. But someone had to think of Maggie. Eames was busy trying to save a failing marriage, and he got that. He didn't get why she stayed with the son-of-a-bitch, but that also was none of his business. He hated the way Ricky treated her, hated the way he tried to run her life. But what bothered him most was the way he dealt with Maggie. He had never lived with Eames, so he couldn't say if she asked for his attitude or not, though his inclination was to think not, but Maggie did nothing to deserve his anger, except be born. It also bothered him that Ricky had never let Eames be the mother she wanted to be to her baby girl. He knew how much she'd wanted a child of her own, but having had her just made her life all that more miserable, and that just wasn't right. Thank God for John...at least because of him, Maggie was a happy little girl. His mind glossed right over the fact that he, too, had a hand in the little girl's happiness.

He knew that John had not been serious when he asked if his love for Maggie was an extension of his love for her mother, but that had gotten him thinking. He did recognize that through Maggie, he had a deeper emotional connection to her mother, but that truly had absolutely nothing to do with the love he felt for her. No...the love was all Maggie's and it existed solely for her. He needed no motivation to love the little girl he called mouse. The pain that came with the realization that he would never have any children of his own was eased by Maggie, even if she wasn't his, and he was glad, on some level, that her father wanted nothing to do with her. He knew that was selfish because it did hurt Eames, but he allowed himself this one selfish feeling because, simply put, he needed the little girl he adored.

He couldn't understand Ricky's jealousy over the time he spent with Eames. He really didn't spend all that much time with her, outside the job. Well, not as much time as he wanted to spend with her, but he resigned himself long ago to the fact that he never would. He spent more time with Maggie than he did with Eames, but that was all right. He felt...different when he was with the little girl. His life no longer spun out of his control when he was with her; he was happy in a pure kind of way. Logan said that Maggie brought out the best in him, and he could feel that. Now here he was, breaking his word to her...no--he was not going to let anyone interfere with a promise he made to Maggie. There would be one adult in her life that she knew she could trust and depend on to never let her down. He had to go back to John's...but he stopped as another thought entered his mind. She's not your daughter. Suppose Eames got it in her head to not let him see Maggie any more? He leaned back against the wall. What would he do? She would be totally within her rights to do that, and he would have no recourse...and it would utterly destroy him. Her marriage had almost done him in; losing Maggie would finish him off for good.

The knock barely registered. The door opened and Eames came into the apartment. What was she doing here? And why hadn't he locked the damn door? He pressed his head back against the wall as she just stood there, uncertain, watching him. Finally, she spoke. "Bobby, I am so sorry. That was...cruel to say. I..."

He waved a hand at her and stepped away from the wall, resuming his agitated pacing. "No. Don't. You're right. She's not my daughter. I..." He choked off his next sentence, emotion getting the better of him. Maggie was a potent weapon to use against him, and he resented Eames for using her that way.

She watched him, reflecting that in all the years she had known him, she had never seen him this angry, this hurt, and it pained her deeply to have caused it. She knew when she said it that it would strike a chord with him, and she should never have said it, but sometimes, when she was hurt and angry, her mouth got away from her. Bobby loved her little girl, but even more, Maggie adored him. If he were to step away, out of the little girl's life, it would be a loss from which she would never recover. And there wasn't a damn thing she could do to stop him. Fearing that loss in her own life as well, she approached him.

He spun in mid-stride, set off balance by her arrival which interfered with his thought processes and interrupted his intent to leave. He was surprised when he ran into her; he hadn't realized she'd approached him. When his body hit hers, she stumbled back and, reflexively, he grabbed her. His eyes studied her and his heart skipped a beat; his body was trembling, not entirely from his anger. No matter what she did, he would always love her. Without stopping to think, he pulled her closer, leaning down and kissing her roughly, almost savagely. The kiss softened, and he pulled away, stepping from her and heading for the door. He stopped with his hand on the knob. "Stay here. He won't look for you here, not with my car in your dad's driveway."

"You're going back to Dad's?"

"I-I made a promise to your daughter. No one is going to make me break my word to her, Eames. Not even you. I-I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"Bobby..." The urgency in her voice made him stop. He waited. "Are-are we okay?"

He was silent for a moment, standing there with his eyes closed. "No, Eames. We're not okay. Not right now." He looked over his shoulder at her and his face softened. "But we will be."

Yanking the door open, he left the apartment, slamming the door behind him. This time, she let him go.

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By the time he got back to John's, he had mostly stopped trembling. Most of his anger had subsided, but none of the pain had. It was still dark, but not for long. He was surprised when John opened the door for him. "Why are you still up, John?"

"I knew you'd be back."

He followed Goren into the living room, where the younger man dropped onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. John waited. Finally, Goren looked up at him. "H-how did you know, that I'd be back?"

"Just a hunch. I thought you'd be back, at least to check on Maggie."

He could feel his emotions build again, and once more that sickening fear of losing that little girl from his life nearly paralyzed him. He swallowed hard. "John...if something were to happen, between Alex and me..." He stopped for a minute, facing his second greatest fear. Another hard swallow. "Uh, would you..." He closed his eyes, swallowing the lump that appeared in his throat. "Would you let me see Maggie?"

John could never imagine Alex letting this man out of her life, and he knew Bobby well enough to know he would never willingly go. But seeing his distress and hearing the raw fear in his voice disturbed him. "What happened, Bobby?"

He shook his head. "W-would you? Even against her wishes?"

There was another scenario he could not even imagine, that Alex would remove Bobby from Maggie's life. He did not even want to think about what that would do to both Bobby and Maggie. Would he go against Alex's wishes to let him see her daughter? "Yes," he said softly. "One of us would always let you see Maggie." Goren seemed to relax a little. "Bobby, why would you think Alex would ever not let you see Maggie?"

Goren just shook his head. "I, um,...thank you, John. I-I promised Maggie I would let her sleep with me tonight...and tonight's almost over...uh, I'd better get her..."

John watched him adjust the blanket on the couch, sensing the man just needed something to do. "Where's Alex?"

"A-at my place. Ricky won't look for her there, if he's even looking for her. He probably passed out a long time ago."

"The bed is more comfortable..."

His body jerked involuntarily. No...hell, no..."Uh, thanks, anyway. I...prefer the couch."

"If you're sure..."

"I am. Positively sure."

John watched him finish messing with the blanket, noting that it was right back where it had been to start with. And again he wondered what had transpired between them to make him react this way. But he was going to get nothing from Goren. He watched him get up and head down the hall, returning with the sleeping toddler. It was nothing short of amazing how much more settled he was with the baby in his arms. He watched as he eased himself onto the couch, leaning back and holding Maggie close. Why would he ever think Alex would even consider taking this from either of them? That bothered him deeply, but he was not going to let Bobby live with that fear. Heading past the couch, he rested his hand on Maggie's curly head, and then he moved his hand to Bobby's shoulder, surprised to feel the tremor that still coursed through the bigger man's body. "Don't worry about it, Bobby. Alex would never take her from you."

Affectionately, he laid his hand against the back of Goren's head before leaving the room to return to his bed. Maggie was safe and would be well-cared-for. He would have no trouble sleeping...except for the fact that something was wrong between Alex and her partner. He hated feeling helpless, but he had to have faith that they would work it out.

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Goren spent the day alone with Maggie. He took her to the park, pushed her on the swings, caught her at the bottom of the slide, chased her around the soccer field, raced her back to the playground and let her win. He laid in the grass with her, watching the clouds and seeing the same shapes within them that she did. A horse. A bear. A tree.

She got up suddenly from the grass beside him and climbed onto his chest, folding her little arms and resting her chin on them. "Unca Bobby, what are you gonna get me for my birfday?"

He smiled. "Your birthday? You just had a birthday, mouse."

"But I'm gonna have anudder. I'm gonna be free!"

"No way! Three, huh? Well, that's a pretty important birthday. How about a new car?"

She giggled. "I can' drive!"

"You can't? Oh, okay...then...how about, um, a diamond ring?"

Another giggle. "I don' need a ring, silly."

"Okay, help me out here, mouse. What do you want?"

She looked thoughtful. "Can I have you for my daddy?"

A new wave of pain washed over him. If only that wish were in his power to grant. "There's nothing I'd like more, baby. But I can't do that."

She pouted. "Why not?"

He resisted the urge to put this all on her mother. "Because I'm not your father," he answered softly.

"You can' fix it?"

"No, Maggie. I'm sorry. I can't."

She rested her head on her arms and he gently stroked her hair. Finally, she looked up. "Are you gonna come see me on my birfday?"

"Of course I am. Don't I always? It's the most important day of the year."

"It is?"

"To me it is."

Finally, she smiled and laid her head back on his chest; he tipped his head toward her and gently kissed the top of her head, which then popped up again. "How 'bout a puppy?"

He laughed, and it was a real, genuine laugh. "Your mother would kill me."

Her brow furrowed. "No, she wouldn'. Mommy loves you."

His body tensed at those words, spoken so matter-of-factly, so innocently. "What makes you say that?"

She shrugged. "Nufin' makes me say it. But I never tell it to Daddy. His face goes red, and he lelled at me last time I sayed it. I don' talk-a Daddy no more. He gets mean."

"He's mean to you?"

"He jus' lells."

"Maggie, baby..." He paused. He didn't want to frighten her. "Uh, are you afraid of your father?"

She thought for a minute. "I not scared, but I don' like him."

"If he ever...hurts you, or Mommy...promise you'll tell me."

"Can you 'tect us?"

"If I have to, I will." In any event, he would protect her. Unfortunately, Eames was on her own. She made her bed, she had to lie in it...as long as he wasn't in the damn bed, too. He switched his mind from that scenario again, focusing on the little girl who was lying on his chest, studying his face.

"I'll tell you," she promised. Then she sighed dramatically and said, "I wish he would jus' go 'way. I miss Mommy."

"I know you do. She misses you, too, but things are hard for her right now. You know she loves you, don't you?"

"I know. An' Gampa loves me an' Unca Mike." She smiled her biggest baby smile. "An' you loves me."

"Yes, I love you. I always will. Never forget that. You're my best girl, and you always will be. Okay?"

He swore there was a glint of mischief in her eye as she said, "Even more'n D'nise?"

He laughed. Most people would think that it was Maggie joining him on his dates when he brought her. In most instances, it would be a fair assessment. But Denise always teased him, saying she was the one joining him and Maggie. The few other women he dated from 1 PP agreed with her, and they all thought it was adorable. They thought his devotion to his partner's little girl was sweet and they enjoyed Maggie. He refused to give up time with Maggie for anyone, and it was Denise who had first insisted he bring Maggie along. He was glad he did. Of his dates, Denise was by far Maggie's favorite, which he thought was great since she was his favorite, too. "Even better than everyone." He tapped her nose. "Come on, mouse. Grandpa is going to wonder what happened to us."

"Gampa doesn' worry when I go wif you, Unca Bobby."

She slipped her hand into his as they headed from the park. "Really?"

She nodded. "He telled me dat."

"I'm glad to hear it. Grandpa knows I'll take care of you."

"An' I take care-a you!"

Leaning over, he swung her up into his arms and hugged her. "Yes, my girl, you do." Better than anyone.