All right ladies, enough with the smut, now back to the rest of the story!

Coming slowly awake, Carly stretched languidly and yawned. Laying quietly she took a moment as the after effects of last nights lovemaking still seeped through her body. Joy washed through her; finding a man like Andy was a dream come true for any single mother. She had had men work the Aiden angle before in an attempt to get her in bed, but Andy was completely different. She knew, one hundred percent that Andy would be in Aiden's life no matter what became of this new relationship between them. She rolled over, reaching for Andy, and found his side of the bed empty. Startled she sat up and found a note on his pillow.

~DC~

After their romantic interlude, Andy had picked Aiden up from the "slumber party" and brought him back to the suite. After tucking Aiden in, Andy took Carly's hand and led her back towards the master suite. Mid stride he stopped and looked at her, the question plain on his face. Carly closed the distance between them and lightly kissed his lips then nodded towards her bed, "There've been a couple guys over the years, nothing he's never seen."

As they slipped under the covers Andy murmured, "So what happened to them?". Carly shrugged, "The usual. The plight of the single mother. Guys don't understand that our kids come first. And always will."

Andy nodded, "That's how it should be with any parent, mother or father."

"I won't say most, but a large majority of people don't seem to know that. And it's worse if they don't have kids of their own." Carly took a deep breath, "And Aiden is…", she searched for the right word.

Andy laughed, "Aiden is a Hillstrand. And worse than that he is Johnathan Hillstrand's son."

Carly laughed in return, "And why is it that we can see that as a full explanation?"

~DC~

Sitting up in bed Carly unfolded the note:

Good morning sweetheart,

Figured you would sleep in. Taking Aiden to "ride the rides Mom's too scared to ride". I called the spa, it's all set. When you get up head down there for a girly day. We'll meet you for and early dinner.

Love, Andy

Carly called the spa and told them she would be there as soon as she grabbed a bite to eat.

"Don't worry about that hon," assured the lady on the phone. "We can have room service deliver it here." Carly agreed that that was a fantastic idea and ordered fruit and coffee after she grabbed a quick shower. Half an hour later found her sipping coffee and nibbling on mango as she was treated to a full spa pedicure. A mani, seaweed wrap, and facial followed. After a light gourmet lunch she enjoyed a full body massage and trip to the salon. Walking out of the spa she felt like a million bucks, she giggled at the silliness of the thought.

After returning to the room, Carly took the book she had brought along out onto the balcony and spent the day reading until her boys returned. One look told her they were both exhausted. Sending them both off for showers she ordered pizza and had it delivered to the room. Even with the soda rush, Aiden was barely able to relate all the days events to his mom without yawns punctuating every other word or so. Tucking her son into bed she came back out to the sitting area. Andy was stretched out on the sofa and Carly thought he had fallen asleep. Hearing her soft step he popped one eye open. "We need to talk," he said quietly.

Not sure where this was going, Carly tucked a leg underneath her and sat down beside him. Andy squeezed her knee, "Nothing real bad."

"Okay," now Carly was getting worried.

Andy sighed, "Aiden and I ran into Scotty and his family…"

~DC~

Scotty had brought his family to Disneyland as a Christmas present and to try to patch things up with his wife. Life had been rocky with the two of them and he hoped this time away would heal some rifts.

They were on their way to find the line for Space Mountain when Scotty heard a familiar voice. Looking over he saw Andy with a child he didn't recognize. Leaving Denise and Sawyer in line he sauntered over to where his uncle was. "Hey Uncle Andy!" called Scotty.

Andy looked up startled, recognizing the voice instantly. He turned, "Hey Scotty, how's it man?"

Scotty fought to keep a straight face, "Good. What brings you to sunny Cali?"

Before Andy could answer Aiden turned around to see who his uncle was talking too. The look on Scotty's face when he saw Aiden for the first time was priceless. Scotty was assuming that his uncle had moved on from his divorce and was hooked up with some single mom. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought Andy had an illegitimate child. Hillstrands were thick as thieves and none of them would have hidden a child from the family.

Scotty grinned, "So is this why Sab…".

His question was interrupted by Scotty's wife yelling from the other line, "Scotty! Babe! We gotta go!"

"Gotta go Uncle Andy," he waggled his eyebrows, "Y'all have fun!"

Scotty joined his family, "Who's that kid?" hissed Denise in his ear. Scotty chortled and then whispered back, "I think we're looking at the straw that broke Sabrina's back!"

Denise whirled around, "WHAT? That's Andy's kid?"

Scotty nodded, "Must be. That kid is undeniably a Hillstrand."

~DC~

"So does he know Aiden is John's?" asked Carly.

"No, I don't think so. I think he thinks I was cheating on Sabrina," he answered.

"So what now?"

"Well, I'm going to have to tell John the truth sooner or later," he said resignedly getting up and walking over to the balcony door.

That had been a question burning in Carly's mind for a long time. She had expected Andy to run and tell his brother as soon as he'd found out about Aiden and was surprised he had not. Pausing, she finally asked, "Why haven't you told John he's Aiden's father?"

He laid his head against the glass. "Because I want to be," he whispered, tears pricked in his eyes.

Carly slipped up beside him and put her arm around his waist. Leaning her head against him she spoke quietly. "I once saw a wall hanging that said, "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy." She kissed his cheek, "You're more of a dad to Aiden than Johnathan Hillstrand will ever be."

Andy drew her into his arms, his forehead touching hers, "And if I want to make it permanent?"

"P-permanent?" she stuttered.

"Permanent? Official? It's all the same. I want us to be a family." He tipped her chin up and kissed her. Andy swept Carly into his arms and carried her to the bed…

The next morning Carly was woken by a small voice whispering, "Mom. MOM!"

She opened her eyes groggily, "Hmm?" she said to her bright-eyed and bushy tailed son.

Ever inquisitive, "Why's Uncle Andy sleeping in your bed?"

Andy heard them talking and raised his head up, "Hey buddy, what's up?"

"Why are you sleeping with mommy?" he asked again.

"Well honey, your Uncle Andy and I…"

Andy grabbed her left hand and brought it up to his lips, the sun sparkled off the new ring on her finger, "I got this babe." Carly nodded and slid out of bed. She kissed Aiden on the head and walked into the bathroom. Andy patted the bed beside him, "Come 'ere buddy. You and me need to have a talk, man to man."

The little boy looked up at Andy, "My mom really likes you."

"I really like her too," Andy began but was interrupted.

Aiden cast his eyes down on the bed. "I'll be real good. I promise. You won't have to go away."

"What are you talking about?" asked Andy, confused.

"Mom's other boyfriend David. She really liked him. He made her smile like you do. But he didn't like me, said I was bad and too much so he had to leave." A small tear rolled down the boy's cheek, "He used to take me fishin' just like you."

Andy hugged Aiden and explained as simply as he could about the relationship he and Carly had, that they wanted to get married, and how he wanted to be Aiden's dad. "Aiden, those other guys? YOU didn't do anything they were jack- jerks. I love you and your mom very much."

Carly stepped out of the bathroom, still damp from her shower. Aiden bounded off the bed and flew into her arms, "MOMMY! UNCLE ANDY'S GONNA BE MY DADDY! I'M GOING TO HAVE A DADDY!" Tears filled her eyes, "We're gonna be a family Aiden."

~DC~

Carly and Aiden saw Andy off at the SEATAC airport. Saying their goodbyes Andy kissed her passionately and slipped an envelope into her pocket. She pulled it out and opened it then thrust it back at him. "Andy, no. I don't need your money." She knew he meant well, but it stung her pride and she wasn't with him just to have someone take care of her.

Andy covered her hands with his, "It's not like that. You accepted my ring. This goes with it." Carly started to protest but was stopped. "It's tuition money for that private school you want to send Aiden to."

"But…"

"But nothing. He's miserable at school and you know it as well as I do," he insisted.

He was right. Carly had been reworking her budget for years trying to find the wiggle room to a non-traditional private school in Tacoma. They embraced the theory of multiple intelligences and children like Aiden excelled there. She wrapped her arms around Andy, tears spilling down her cheeks, "Thank you."

Aiden and Carly waited at the airport until the plane took off. Walking back to the car, Aiden slipped his hand into his mother's, "I'll be glad when Uncle Andy gets back."

"Me too, honey, me too," she agreed.

"Am I gonna keep calling him Uncle Andy or Daddy?" asked Aiden, screwing his face up in confusion.

"Hmmm, well that's up to you. What do you want to call him?"

"How about Uncle Daddy? That way it's both," Aiden smiled.

Carly had to smother a laugh, "Ummm, I don't think so sweetie." She laughed inwardly at the inbred connotation. Then she realized that it really did look that way. Aiden's uncle was about to become his dad and his father was about to become his uncle. That also made his brother his cousin…lord she could hear the gossip now…

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