I just got the urge to add to this story. I recently watched 'Human Flesh Search Engine' again, and decided to add something personal about Bernard and his son. (I didn't get a name, so I decided to call him 'Toby'). Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order, nor do I own its characters. Callie and Toby are mine.

Michael pushed open the front door, letting Callie go in front of him, who was holding a new stuffed toy octopus and heavy book on Jupiter and its moons.

"Hey, how'd you two go?" Cyrus asked, approaching them.

Mike looked up at him little exasperated, removing his scarf and jacket and placing them on the hook of the coat-rack next to the doorway.

Callie sprung towards him. "Look what Daddy Mikey got me," she cried out cheerfully.

Cyrus looked down, taking a look at the new book and toy that she handed to him. "Oh wow, another book on space, and a stuffed animal."

"It's an octopus," Callie exclaimed gleefully. "We're learning about them in pre-school!" She jumped up and down excitedly.

"I see that," he looked at the purple octopus's smiley face.

"I dropped into the mall on our way back from Connie's, to see if our new vacuum cleaner was in yet, and we happened to walk past a bookstore," Michael began. "And of course we watched some documentary about Jupiter, and then she saw this book, so then I just had to get it for her."

He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Of course," Cyrus laughed, used to Michael's usual indulgences on their daughter. Anything to feed her growing mind.

Cyrus knelt down and handed Callie back the book and stuffed toy. "Hey, sweetie, why don't you go into the lounge room with your new friend and sit on the big blue couch," he suggested to Callie. "Just give Daddy Mikey and I a moment. We'll be in there in a minute to read to you that new book"

"Okay," she replied, skipping into the next room.

Cyrus watched until she was out of the room. He slid his hands into his jeans pockets and approached Michael slowly.

"How is Connie?" he asked him a low voice.

Michael lowered his voice as well, so that their daughter couldn't hear.

"She's okay physically as far as I know, but emotionally, I don't think she's coping at all," Michael replied solemnly.

"She still on the cocktail?"

"At the moment she is, but she said her doctor is thinking of taking her off them soon, as her T-cells are up, and her viral loads are steady," Michael answered quietly. He paused for a moment. "I think she's lonely though." He stared at the floor.

Cyrus also stared down. "I see," he replied quietly.

"She was happy to see Callie though," Michael mentioned, looking at his husband. "I know she's always wanted kids, so I'm glad that she and Callie get on so well."

Cyrus nodded. "I guess we should be thankful we're so lucky," he replied. "I mean, ten, twenty years ago, people like us having kids was unheard of. And now, there are straight people like Connie who don't even get that chance." He sighed.

"Oh, Callie and I bumped into Jack McCoy today, on our way out," Michael said, changing the subject. "And he bought Callie a lollypop."

Cyrus laughed. "Yeah? He has real soft-spot for kids."

"He was buying a pair of slacks for his daughter's engagement party," he replied.

They both laughed, reminiscing the week before when he split his other pair of slacks at the dinner dance.

Michael and Cyrus then headed for the lounge room, both taking a seat on either side of Callie.

"Okay, let's read this book," said Cyrus, flipping the pages.

***

Bernard rubbed his gloved hands as he walked through the park.

Mother nature sure knows how to be bitter, he thought to himself.

He looked down at his fourteen-year-old son, Toby. "Ready for some figure skating son? Your old man's about to beat you at your own game," he chuckled.

He laughed at his father's joke. "You know you'll never beat me, dad," he said amused by his stupid ambition.

"Still, no harm in trying," Bernard pressured even further, giving him a wry wink.

They reached the skating rink. Toby took a seat at the side, and put his ice-skates on, his father doing the same.

Once his skates were on, Toby freely skated along the ice into the centre of the rink, followed by a show of extravagant leaps and twirls.

Bernard proudly watched on, as he stood to the side of the rink.

"Come on Dad, I thought you were going to beat me at my own game," Toby called out teasingly.

Bernard nervously slid along the ice, his legs wobbling. He attempted moving forward, but fell flat on his backside.

Toby skated towards him, and helped him up.

"Damn, this ice is nasty," Bernard commented, taking his sons hand.

Tony held both his father's hands, helping him keep his balance. "Don't worry, Dad, I'll teach you how to skate," he reassured him. "Maybe in the summer, I can try beating you at basketball."

They both laughed.

"You know that will never happen," Bernard replied, continuing to laugh, accepting their differences.

What do ya think? Is Callie too spoiled, because I didn't intend for her to come across as that?