A/N: Hello to you readers from Hungary, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Ireland, South Korea, Peru, Austria, Argentina, Netherlands, Bosnia, Turkey, Belgium, New Zealand, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and last but not least USA. Thanks to you all for reading.

Yes, chapter three already. At this rate this fic should be done by….Hmm, rubs chin, SOON. Hope you enjoy.

Later

Chapter Three

"Hello."

"Hey Dad it's me."

"Me who?"

"Gees Dad you need to get some new material." They share a laugh. "You were to take Robby upstate to see Bobby this afternoon, right?"

"Yes I was."

"I'm going up there."

"You are?"

"Yes Bobby's in the hospital."

"What happened?"

"Steven called earlier and told me that he has contracted an infection and it has settled in his lungs." She hears her mother's voice faintly in the background. She strains to hear what she is saying but she is unable. She smiles as her father neglects to cover the mouthpiece of the phone as he answers his wife.

"Bobby's in the hospital, she and Robby are driving up there this afternoon." She hears her mother's voice again, "She's not sure; when she talks to the doctor she will let us know."

"Alex, would you like me to drive you up?"

He startles her, "Huh, ah no Dad its ok I can drive."

"Are you sure." She raises her eyebrows, "Yes Dad I'm sure, I'll call as soon as I know about his condition." Once again her mother's voice is faintly heard.

"I will, Sara, I will." Alex chuckles softly.

"Give Bobby our love and you, drive safe."

"I will, bye Dad and tell Mom I said good bye." She disconnects the call as tears start to well up in her eyes. She comes to an intersection and the light turns red. She tosses her cell phone onto the dashboard of the car, she then frantically searches for the package of tissues she keeps in her bag.

Two Months Earlier

The door opens and he sheepishly looks up at his visitor, she turns when she hears the door close. He hears the click-click of her heels as she walks further into the room. "I am so angry with you right now," she states emphatically. He avoids her eyes but watches her as she pulls out the metal chair then sits down. "Why? Why Bobby? What the hell were you thinking?"

He wants to say, I wasn't thinking but he holds his tongue, knowing that would not appease her, he stays silent.

"You left the house, leaving Robby alone?" He shrugs his shoulders unaware of the answer, "If you didn't leave the house that means that you had that shit hidden in our house."

"No," shaking his head feverishly, "No, it was not in the house."

"So you left the house and your son to fulfill your own needs. Wow," she sits back in the chair, "Does that sound familiar."

He raises his head to meet her eyes, "Don't you dare compare me with that man."

"Why not?" She says smugly, "It's the same thing."

"One time," he raises his index finger in the air, "One time."

"Yes Bobby, one time." Nodding her head, "One time too many."

He sits up, outstretching her arms. "I made a mistake."

"Yes you did," she crosses her arms in a definite pose, "A mistake that will send you back to Gainsport."

"Well that wouldn't happen if you didn't call the cops on me." He bows his head, "How, how could you?" he whispers.

"I…." her voice cracks, "I had to."

"You had to?" he slaps the table with his hand. "No you didn't, you could have…." He sighs heavily, "Ok, ok. You had to." He scrubs his unshaven face as he stands, "I really messed up this time didn't I?" He turns to face her, she remains silent. "Alex I'm sorry."

"I know you are," she smiles for the first time in hours. "I saw the caller ID numbers flashing, Bobby. Your mother phoned, didn't she?"

"Yes she did," he nods his head, "Poor pitiful Frank in trouble again." He stretches out his arms, "And I'm not."

"I'll call her and see what I can do."

"No!" he bellows and it startles her. "Sorry," he holds his hand up. "Screw em; let them take care of themselves for the next six months," he says boldly, "Six months, oh man." He suddenly feels deflated as he resumes his seat.

They turn their attention to the door when they hear it open, "Your lawyer is here," says the tall thin blonde-haired officer. "Should I send him in or have him wait till you're done?" Alex stands, Bobby follows her with his eyes, "Send him down, we're done."

He gives her a puzzled look, "Done?"

"Bobby," she walks over to his side of table. "I've been thinking about this all night and I've decided that," she grabs his hand. "I am not going, I can't….I can't go up there."

He frowns as he gently pulls her closer, "What?" He emits a nervous chuckle.

Tears start to well up in her eyes. "I can't go up there ever again," she bows her head. He traces the outline of her chin with his finger, gently raising her head, "You….you can't mean that." He stands to meet her eyes but she turns her head away.

"Yes I do," she says slightly sobbing. She wraps her arms around his waist. "I'll call and you'll call." He tenderly strokes her back. "Take care of your self." She releases her hold and reaches up to kiss his cheek, "I love you Bobby."

He stays quiet and still as he watches her leave the room, the sound of the metal door closing startles him. He resumes his seat at the table.

PS 18 Brooklyn

She waits outside the school with the many Moms' and Dads' anxiously waiting for their children. She recognizes quite a few and she nods and greets them. The bell rings and a few minutes later she spies her son walking slowly out of the building, accompanied by his best friend. A petite girl with long blonde hair crosses Robby's path and he immediately follows her with his eyes, "Bye Robert," she says with the sultriness of a woman twice her age.

Alex raises her arm to call to him, then suddenly lowers it, walking quickly to intercept him. "Hey Mom," he notices her immediately, "What are you doing here?"

Kevin Taylor, Robby's friend since pre-K flashes a smile at her, "Hi Missus Goren." He says adoringly.

"Hello Kevin," she says sweetly very aware of the crush that the nine year old has on her. She touches her sons' shoulder, glancing at Kevin, "Kevin do you need a ride home?"

"No," he points. "I have to wait by the flag pole for my big sister."

"Bye Kevin," she says.

Robby lifts his arm, "Later Dude." The boys' knuckles meet.

Kevin turns when he hears his sister's voice, "Later," he says then jogs across the schoolyard to meet her.

Robby scans the area, "What happened to Grandpa?"

"Grandpa? Oh nothing. I left work early; we are going upstate to see Dad." She grabs a hold of his hand, gently yanking him forward. He pulls back, "Mom, don't," he says imploringly. Raising her eyebrows momentarily she lets go.

He quickly looks over his shoulder, standing erect, "We are?"

"Yes we are, why do you look so surprised?"

"What's happened?" He examines her face, "Have you been crying?"

TBC