hey everyone! I am soooo sorry I haven't updated! I don't know what happened! At least now I have time to update and summer's coming up so I'll definitely be updating more often-and this time I mean it!

I hope you enjoy the update and please review! (No, I don't own N2N)

On most Friday nights, Henry stayed in and graded papers in front of the TV. On a rare occasion, he'd go out with some co-workers for drinks. On even rarer occasions, he'd visit his mom. But on this Friday night, Henry stood in front of his bedroom mirror, combing his unruly hair. Tonight would be the night he would finally get to hang out with his son. Natalie had called him that morning, saying she planned on working from 9 to 4:15, then she'd pick up Hank from her parents house. He could come over at 6:30 for dinner. Henry immediately said yes. He could barely concentrate on his classes that day. He spent most of the afternoon getting ready. Once the clock struck 5:53, he couldn't wait any longer. He hopped in the car and drove to Diana's old condo.

The condo was exactly as he had remembered it. Even the car in the driveway was the same. He figured Natalie must have inherited Diana's car as well. Henry took a deep breath before he mustered up as much courage as he could to walk to the front door. Natalie answered right after the first knock.

"It's not even six fifteen," she said, skipping the hello's. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, hi," Henry said. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait around anymore."

"Well, come in." The inside of Diana's place was also the same as before. The only thing different was the pile of toys in the corner next to the TV. And of course the five year old jumping on the couch.

"Hank, stop that," Natalie said in an uptight Mom voice. "Just because I turned around for one minute to get the door doesn't mean you don't have to follow the rules." Hank made a face and jumped onto the floor, rolling around next to the dinosaur Natalie had bought for him. She turned back to Henry. "So, um, I have some pasta on the stove." She pointed to the pot boiling over in the kitchen.

"Oh, no problem," Henry said. "I can help you, if you want."

"No, I got it. You can...um...I guess sit around with Hank until dinner's ready. That is what you wanted to do, right?"

"Absolutely." Natalie turned her back to go. "Wait, Nat. What does he know about me? I mean, what have you told him?"

"Just that his daddy wasn't around," she said simply. "But don't worry, I told him that his dad loved him. As for tonight, you're just a friend. If he likes you and we can work something out, I'll tell him the truth."

Henry was almost shocked by the lightness in her voice. She talked about Henry's not being there as though it was his choice. It never was his choice. It was all Natalie's. He only did what she had wanted. To avoid getting angry, he hurried onto the couch to focus on his son.

"Hey, buddy," he said cautiously.

Hank stared at him for a few minutes before saying, "Hi. Do you like dinosaurs?"

"Do I? I love 'em!"

"Good, 'cause they're my favorite animal. Mommy bought me a whole book on dinosaurs. I read it all by myself. I can read, you know. Can you read?"

"Yes," Henry said, laughing. Hank was a genius like Nat, but a chatterbox like his dad.

"Good, 'cause Mommy said only smart boys can read. You must be smart. Mommy says I'm smart. Did your Mommy ever tell you that you're smart?"

"She did. You know, I'm a teacher. I love to meet new, smart people."

"Who are you?" Hank asked, hopping up onto the couch next Henry, dragging his dinosaur with him.

"I'm Henry, your mom's friend."

"My name's Henry!" Hank shouted, starting to jump on the couch. Henry remembered he wasn't supposed to, but didn't say anything. "But no one calls me that. Mommy doesn't let them."

"Well, that's because it's my name," Henry started to explain, but then he realized he was talking to a five year old. No use explaining his mother's complex emotions. "Anyway, Hank's a good nickname."

"I know." He stopped jumping and grabbed the TV remote, clicking the TiVo button. Once he had started an episode of Sesame Street and relaxed against some pillows, he stared at Henry. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he said, "I look like you."

"Really?" Henry squeaked, afraid of this moment from the second Natalie told him she hadn't said anything to Hank. The two of them did look a lot alike, especially when they smiled. Hank was obviously smart, even for a little kid. Of course he was going to notice.

"Yeah." He smiled. "Or maybe you look like me."

"Um, yeah, that must be it."

"Dinner's ready!" Natalie called from the kitchen. Hank sprang up and ran like the wind into the other room. Henry wondered if he always had this kind of energy.

Natalie had set the table for three and even had a vase of daisies out. Before Henry even sat down, she was filling their bowls with spaghetti and getting the sauce. Henry noticed there was bread and salad on the table too, and Hank was already digging in.

"Masketti's my favorite," he said, his mouth overflowing with noodles.

"Hank, chew and swallow before you talk," Natalie reminded him, pulling two wine glasses from the cabinet.

"I said spaghetti's my favorite!"

"Mine too," Henry agreed, filling his salad bowl. He waited until Natalie had poured them some wine and settled into her seat before he started eating. The three of them didn't do much talking, just eating. Henry was beginning to think the whole night was a waste. He had only spoken to Hank for a few minutes, and Natalie barely said a word to him. And then it was bedtime.

"But it's so early!" Hank protested.

"It's almost nine, and that is late," Natalie told him, leaving the dishes in the sink and ushering Hank into his room. To Henry she said, "Um, I guess you can watch." He felt incredibly out of place as he followed them to the guest room that he had once spent the night in. Of course now it was a little boy's room, painting a dark blue with plenty of toys all over the place and a racecar bed with outer space sheets. It was the perfect little kid's room. Henry thought that maybe Natalie had just thrown all the typical elements of a boy's room in to one to decorate Hank's room.

Natalie quickly helped Hank change into his pajamas before tucking him in. Henry watched from the doorway.

"Story!" Hank shouted.

"Ssh, it's late," Natalie told him. "Inside voices. And I have a kitchen to clean. I think you can fall asleep without a bedtime story this one night."

"Mommy, please!"

She gave him a kiss on the forehead. "One night."

"Noooo!"

"No whining or won't get a story this whole week!"

"Hey, I'll read him one," Henry chimed in. "I mean, if you don't mind, it's the least I can do."

"Yeah, let Henry do it!" Hank agreed with a smile. "He's smart!"

Natalie stood up. "Well, if you don't mind, I guess it's okay," she said. "I'll be doing the dishes if you need me." And he was alone with his son.

Henry wandered over to the bookshelf. "Okay, what story do you want to hear?"

"You're silly!" Hank said. "Bedtime stories never come from the bookshelf. Mommy always makes up the bedtime story."

"She does?"

"Of course! So you have to, too!"

"Okay, sure," Henry said, standing at the edge of his bed. "Okay, so once upon a time-"

"No!" Hank interrupted. "You have to lay down next to me in bed to tell the story."

"Um, I don't know if that-"

"It's the only way it works!"

"Okay, okay." Henry squeezed himself into the racecar bed. Little Hank immediately nestled closer. Henry was so taken back he almost forgot he was supposed to tell a story. There he was, snuggling his son. A son he hadn't seen for five whole years. He wished Hank already knew the truth. Then he could be Dad, and not Henry. He could always be there. He could always tell the bedtime story and always be there for dinner.

"Henry!"

"Sorry." He cleared his throat. "So once there was a dinosaur who wanted more than anything to go to the ball." And he spiraled into a pretty strange story about a yellow dinosaur with green polka dots (according to Hank) who wanted to go the princess dinosaur's ball so he could eat all the cake and steal the magical egg of basketball. With the magical egg of basketball, he could beat the evil dinosaur at their basketball duel that Saturday. But since he fell in love with the princess and couldn't bring himself to steal the egg, he had to face his enemy without any magical powers. He ended winning with the power of love and ruled over the dinosaur kingdom forever! The end!

They both were laughing by the end of the story. Even Hank thought it was just completely ridiculous. Natalie came in a few moments later.

"Someone isn't sleeping," she said.

"Sorry, but the story was so good!" Hank said. "Henry should read one to me every night!"

"Well, Henry can't. He doesn't live here."

"Well, can he?"

"Yeah, can I?" Henry agreed, enjoying the moment so much.

"No!" Natalie. "Come on, Henry, it's time for you to go home. And Hank, go to sleep." She flicked off the light and went into the hall, leaving Henry to climb over Hank in the dark.

"Goodnight, Hank," he whispered from the doorway. But the boy was already snoring. "I love you."

Natalie stood with her arms folded in front of the door. "I hope you had fun, because I don't think we can do this again," she said.

"What?" Henry asked, his face falling. "Why not? What's wrong?"

"It's just that I didn't want him to get too attached. And now after one bedtime story he wants you to move in. I'm sorry Henry, but he hasn't had a dad for five years. I don't think it's time to just throw one into the mix and then have him disappear if a job somewhere else comes up."

"Is about what I said in the pharmacy? Because I'd never move. Not now." He grabbed her hands. "Natalie, please, I've waited so long to see him. Now I finally have. And he likes me! I'm not messing this up. No way."

"But it's just-"

"What? Is it your dad?" Henry asked, getting agitated. "I know he told you to leave me, but did he tell you I'm not allowed to meet my son?"

"No!" she said sharply. "Don't bring my father into this. He had his reasons for what he did. And so did I. You want to play with Hank? Fine! We're going to the zoo tomorrow. Meet us here at one. Goodnight!" She opened the door with such force, Henry was afraid she'd rip it off the hinges.

"Natalie, I don't want to leave here with you mad at me."

"Too late," she said, pushing him out the door and slamming it in his face.

I hope you liked :) Please review

And really, I'll update sooner!