''Deb about tonight I can't make our date.'' Dan said when he saw his girlfriend of 4 months.
''Is something wrong.'' Deb asked as they sat down at a table for lunch.
''No, it's just my parents had to go out of town today for some emergency and I have no one to watch Lucas for me. Not anyone I trust him with.'' Dan said. His son was the most important person to him. He gave up his dreams of going to college after the first semester because he was away from Lucas for too long.
''If you want to I don't mind if you bring him with us. We can change our plans.'' Deb said. She had heard so much about the young child but had yet to meet him.
''If you don't mind, I will, can we make it an early date, I can take him to the park then we can have dinner at my place.'' Dan said.
''Ok I'll meet you at the park. I have to go I have another class soon.'' Deb said.
''I'll see you at 4.00pm. I'll probably be by the swings.'' Dan said as he walked Deb back to her car. They shared a kiss before Deb got in her car and drove off. Dan went back to the firehouse to continue training before his shifted ended at 3.30pm.
-x-
''Hi mom, where's Luke.'' Dan asked his mom as he walked into his apartment.
''Hi sweetheart. Lucas is asleep, I put him down for a nap about an hour ago so he should be waking soon, and he has had his lunch. How was work today.'' May asked.
''It was good, I met Deb at lunch and told her I couldn't make it tonight.'' Dan said sitting on the couch beside his mom.
''I'm sorry that your dad and I can't watch Lucas for you.'' May said to her youngest.
''It's fine mom, she understood. I'm going to take him to the park and Deb said she would meet us there then we can come back here, I'll give Luke his supper then, I will get him ready for bed and after he has been put to bed Deb and I can eat and talk.'' Dan told her.
''Is Deb ready to meet Lucas.'' May asked concerned her grandson didn't need another person walking out on him even though he never knew Karen.
''She was the one who suggested it, so yeah.'' Dan said. 'You and dad just be there for Keith.'' Dan told her.
''Okay, I'll see you on Monday.'' May said.
''Bye mom.'' Dan said walking her to the door and kissing her cheek before letting her go. After May was gone he heard Lucas call for his nana. ''Hi buddy.'' Dan said walking into his son's room and seeing Lucas sitting up in his bed.
''Daddy.'' Lucas called out with a smile.
Dan lifted Lucas into his arms and brought him over to the changing table and changed his dipper and put on clean clothes. ''Will me and you go to the park.'' Dan asked.
''Park.'' Lucas said clapping his hands.
''Let's go then.'' Dan said lifting him and grabbing his jacket along with Lucas and his car keys. He put Lucas into his car seat. ''Do you want to meet daddy's friend Deb.'' Dan asked as he drove out of the driveway and to the park.
''Deb. Yes.'' Lucas said letting Dan know he did want to meet Deb.
-x-
Deb walked through the gate at the park and saw Dan over at the baby swings pushing a little blonde boy. ''Hi Dan.'' Deb said once she reached him.
''Deb, this little guy here is Lucas my son.'' Dan told her as Lucas turned his head to look at his daddy when he heard his voice.
''Hello Lucas.'' Deb said kneeling down in front of the swing.
''Luke, this is daddy's friend Deb.'' Dan told Lucas.
''Deb. Hi.'' Lucas said waving at Deb.
Deb smiled then stood back up. ''He's going to break alot of girls hearts when he is older.'' Deb said to Dan. ''I mean the blonde hair and blue eyes, he's going to be a looker.'' Deb told him with a smile.
''Sand. Daddy.'' Lucas said pointing to the sand tray.
''You want to go play in the sand buddy.'' Dan asked him as he picked him up from the swing. Lucas nodded then reached for Deb. ''He wants you to carry him, but you don't have to if you don't want to.'' Dan told her.
''Don't be stupid Dan, come here gorgeous.'' Deb said taking the child from her boyfriend. Dan shook his head as they walked over to the sand pit. ''You don't have to tell me but why did his mom leave.'' Deb asked as she put Lucas down in the sand pit. Dan had never really talked about his ex.
''She wanted to have an abortion before he was born because of college, we were going to go our separate ways at the end of the school year, then I asked her to keep the baby and when the baby was born I would take the care of the baby all she had to do was sign over her rights and stay away.'' Dan said.
''I bet she will regret it later in life.'' Deb said.
-x-
2 hours later and Dan and Deb had arrived back at his apartment with Lucas. ''I'm going to put his dinner on will you be okay with him for a bit or do you want me to take him with me.'' Dan asked Deb as he hung the coats up on the rack.
''If Lucas wants to, we can play in the living room.'' Deb answered him as Lucas nodded his head.
''I'll be right out in about 10 minutes.'' Dan said as Deb walked back out into the living room.
''Deb, play.'' Lucas said handing her a soft basketball.''Basket.'' Lucas told her pointing to the basketball net.
''You want to play basketball.'' Deb asked. Lucas nodded and took the ball from her hands and went over to the net and dropped the ball through it. ''Go Lucas.'' Deb said clapping her hands.
''Deb go.'' Lucas said handing her the ball again.
Deb threw the ball and it bounced off the rim. ''I guess you're better than me.'' Deb said as she began tickling Lucas.
''Dada.'' Lucas called out through his giggles.
Dan came into the living room and saw his girlfriend tickle Lucas. ''What have you two been doing.'' Dan asked sitting on the floor beside Deb and Lucas.
''Lucas showed me his basketball skills.'' Deb told him.
''Dada play.'' Lucas said getting up and getting the ball and giving it to Dan.
''You want daddy to play basketball with you.'' Dan asked throwing the small ball at the net and watched it go in.
''I didn't know you could play basketball even if it is a soft one.'' Deb said.
''I had a basketball scholarship for Duke.'' Dan told her as the beeper went off in the kitchen. ''Okay Luke you ready to get some dinner then we can watch in the night garden.'' Dan said getting up from the floor and helping Deb up.
''Yeah.'' Lucas said as he walked towards the kitchen with Dan and Deb behind lifted Lucas up onto the chair. ''Take a seat beside him.'' Dan told Deb. He went and got Lucas dinner from the oven. He cut it up to small places and mashed it all up. ''Luke do you want milk chocolate or milk.'' Dan asked as he brought Lucas his plate.
''Choco.'' Lucas answered as he picked his fork up and handed it to Deb. ''Deb help.'' Lucas asked her.
''Alright here we go.'' Deb said taking a spoonful of food and feeding Lucas.
-x-
Dan had been in Lucas bedroom putting him to bed for 10 minutes. ''Okay baby boy, its bedtime.'' Dan told him pulling the covers up over Lucas and putting the book on the end of the bed.''Deb, night.'' Lucas asked.''You want to say night night to Deb.'' Dan asked him. When Lucas nodded Dan went out to the living room to get Deb. ''Deb, Lucas wants to say goodnight to you.'' Dan told her.
''Ok.'' Deb said getting up and following Dan to Lucas' bedroom. ''Look at you, all ready for bed like a good boy.'' Deb said standing by Lucas' bed.
''Night Night.'' Lucas said putting his arms up for Deb to hug him.
''Night Night Lucas.'' Deb said hugging the small child before standing back up.
''Okay baby boy its sleep time.'' Dan said once more as he sat down beside Lucas on the bed.
''Night Night dada.'' Lucas said his eyes closing.
''Night baby boy. I love you. Sweet dreams.'' Dan said kissing Lucas forehead.
''Wove you dada.'' Lucas answered before cuddling up with Elmo and falling asleep.
Dan and Deb left the room and went back into the living room. ''Do you want to pick a movie and I'll go get some wine and we can order takeout.'' Dan asked Deb.
Deb nodded and went to pick a movie. ''Thanks.'' Deb said taking the glass of wine from him. ''I picked the mummy.'' Deb took the video from her and put it in the player.
''Sorry we had to do this instead of what we had originally planned.'' Dan said, picking up the phone. ''What do you want in the Chinese.'' Dan asked.
''I'll have the spring rolls and noodles.'' Deb told him. ''This was nice, Lucas is gorgeous and I enjoyed being with him.'' Deb told went off to call the Chinese.
''Okay it should be here in 20 minutes.'' Dan told her as they settled back on the couch to watch the movie.
AN-Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It will be Brucas. Brooke will be coming into it in the next few chapter