~*~

Hannah was walking down the wide hall of the indoor part of the mall when she saw three men just walking into Wagamamas. One of them was Billy Darley, the other dark haired young man, and then a boy she was positive she had seen before. The frowned as the memory flimmered past her inner eye. It had been nearly twenty years ago, when she had only just married Nick.

~*~

They were on their way to the car. Hannah had one last appointment with her doctor before they drove to Boston, where they had bought a house and Nick had just signed a five year contract with the city team. It had all happened so fast. She had gotten pregnant by a one-night stand with Nick. At first they didn't get along too well, but then, just a few months before Nick had said they should get married – for the baby. Hannah had agreed. It was better if the baby was born in wedlock. They were going to give marriage a try. Become friends, or something along those lines. If it didn't work out, it didn't work out. They had nothing to lose.

Her attention was caught by a black haired boy walking down the sidewalk. He looked like he was walking towards death row. Whatever it was, she pitied him.

Nick froze, his insides churning as he saw the boy and hurried towards him. "I just gotta talk to him sweetheart. Just saying goodbye." He said shortly. Hannah shrugged and got in the car.

"Billy, what are you doing here?" He hissed, afraid that Billy might tell what he had done. He knew what he had done was horrible, but he was trying to do the right thing by Brendan, their son.

"I –I need to talk to you." He said quietly, his voice shaking. He was wearing a black hoodie, something that struck Nick as odd, considering Billy rarely wore anything but skin tight clothing, or at least closely fitted.

Nick shook his head, "No, you don't have to." he said and gestured nervously with his hand, his gold ring glinting in the sun, catching Billy's attention,, "Me and Hannah are leaving Detroit. She's pregnant and we need some new scenery. Got a contract with the Boston Rangers…" Nick studied Billy's face, but saw nothing. The boy was pale, and looked tired, otherwise fine. He had dyed his hair. Nick longed to reach out to touch it, run his hands through it like he did when they cuddled, but he didn't think Billy would allow him any physical contact after…that.

After Billy's eyes settled on the narrow gold band on Nick's left hand, the only words he heard were 'me and Hannah,' and 'she's pregnant'. "You're married?"

Nick looked away, willing his voice to stay calm, "Yeah. Two weeks ago."

Billy was in shock. He blinked rapidly as he saw Nick walking away from him. "Nicky…" he felt anger, fear and pure pain rise in his chest as Nick started the car and drove down the street.

Hannah frowned as she studied the boy. He was quite beautiful. A stunning creature, that was a given. Nick looked angry when he came back to the car. No, frustrated was more like it. He got in and put the keys in the ignition. She could see tears slipping down the boy's cheeks, the sun making them shine. She frowned as he clutched his stomach. His obviously swollen and round tummy…"

~*~

Hannah gasped, clasping a hand over her mouth. Why hadn't she recognized him before? The seriousness of the situation began to dawn upon her.

~*~

The face of that crying boy had haunted Hannah for years. The image of his obvious sorrow had slipped into her mind at the strangest times. She'd asked Nick about it, but he'd always said the boy was just an old friend. It had been the flash of obvious pain in his eyes that had kept her from asking again. Thinking back, she had seen longing and regret as well as love.

Billy said the only mistake he had made was falling in love. She sat down on the bench and put her head in her hands. That poor boy. Nick couldn't have known. She was sure that if he had known, he would not have asked her to marry him. They had barely even gotten along for god's sake. If it weren't for her parents pushing she wouldn't have agreed. Nick hadn't spoken a word on the entire drive to Boston – and it was a long drive.

"Mom, are you alright?" Lucas asked as he came towards her. He had just dropped by the record store to buy a CD.

"Yes Luce, I just remembered something important."

"Oh, okay…"

Hannah rubbed her face and stood up, "C'mon, let's get home." She said and laid her arm around his shoulder.

~*~

A/N; i actually had the entire date written out for this chapter, but my laptop froze, and i lost it.... *cries* i've decided that i'm gonna move the story back and forth every few chapters, since i obviously cant make up my mind as of where to put it. now i just have to figure out the new layout *groans* only one or two chapters left before murtagh and billy head up to detroit people. bear with me.