**Thanks for the reviews Xandman216, Kinley Orton, xKimberly12x! I appreciate them!**

The Next Morning

Amanda woke up and headed into the shower. She yawned and climbed into the shower. As the water washed away her sleepiness, she began to think about her busy day.

But she was yanked back to reality upon hearing someone peeing. Thinking it was Brandon she pulled the curtain back a bit and poked her head out and let out a bit of a shriek. "Randy!?"

He looked over, "Morning."

Shaking her head she tucked herself back into the shower and began to mumble about privacy. Randy laughed, "I've seen it all already, you don't have to worry." He flushed and walked out.

Amanda finished her shower and quickly got dressed. She poked her head out of the bedroom, "Randy? Do you want to wake up Brandon?"

Randy quickly got up and replied, "I'd love to!" He walked into Brandon's bedroom, "Buddy…wake up. It's time to get ready for school."

Brandon rolled over and looked up at Randy with squinty eyes, "Daddy? You're still here? My dream did come twoo!"

Randy smiled from ear-to-ear. "Yeah buddy, I'm still here. It's time to wake up and get ready for school. Do you want me to pick out your clothes?"

Brandon nodded his head, "Yes pwease." Then he rolled over and burrowed back under the covers.

Randy opened the drawers and found underwear, socks, a t-shirt and sweatpants. "Here you go, I picked out a great outfit."

Brandon rolled over and slowly sat up, "I need hugs." And opened his arms wide.

Randy leaned down and picked him up into a big bear hug. "I love you son."

"Wuv you too. You dress me and I lie down."

Randy laid him back down and helped him get dressed as best as you can with a five year old laying down. Then he got him up and Brandon went running for the potty.

When Randy got back to the kitchen, Amanda had coffee going and breakfast on the table. "Breakfast is served. Is Brandon up?"

He nodded his head, "Yes, he's going potty."

Brandon finished and walked into the kitchen and hugged Amanda's legs, "Mommy! My dweam came two…daddy still here!"

She couldn't help but tear up…that little boy missed having his daddy so much. Amanda just prayed that Randy would stay on the path of sobriety. "Yes honey, Daddy is still here."

Randy lifted Brandon up and sat him on his booster chair. Then pushed it in. Brandon took one bit of cereal and chewed it what seemed like 50 times before he took his second bite. Randy glanced over at Amanda.

Before he could say a word, Amanda held up a hand. "Yes, this is part of why my mornings are the way they are."

"Why don't I take him to school? Nathan will be here with my Hummer anytime now. I'll double check where he's at, but I'll take him to school so you can just head to work without having to worry about running late. Maybe even stop and get a coffee on your way. Then I can head off to the facility a bit early so I can do intake paperwork and stuff." Randy offered.

She thought about it…the offer was nice and having a little extra time in the morning sure would be handy. This would be trusting Randy with some responsibility and that could be helpful. Amanda crouched down by Brandon, "Hey Brandon. Can you look at me for a minute?"

Brandon looked up with a mouthful of cereal and milk dripping down his chin.

"How would you feel if Daddy drove you to school from now on?" She asked happily.

After he finished chewing up his mouthful of cereal he smiled, "Forever and ever?"

Amanda shook her head, "Not forever and ever but for a little while."

Brandon took another bite full of cereal, when he finally finished chewing his mouthful he nodded his head, "Yes Daddy can drive me to school."

Amanda smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Thanks Brandon. Daddy is very excited to drive you to school." Then she grabbed a napkin and wiped his chin.

"Nathan's here in the parking lot, I'll be right back." Randy said getting up and heading for the door.

Amanda finished doing her make-up and when she walked back out Randy was just walking back in. "Ok, here are your apartment keys," She said placing them in his hand. "Now let me show you where we keep his backpack." And she showed him the closet where Brandon's jacket, shoes, and backpack were. "Here's where all of his stuff is. He picked this himself, this is where he wants it and if you tell him to get ready, he'll get his stuff and get ready for you.

Randy nodded his head, "Got it. When you get home from work we'll go shopping like we talked about last night. After I drop him off I'll go buy a carseat on my to the facility so we don't have to keep moving yours."

Amanda grabbed her jacket and her purse. "Ok sounds good. You remember where Highland is, right?"

"Yes dear. Now kiss Brandon and go to work."

She kissed Brandon, "Be good for Daddy. I'll see you after school, ok?"

"O-tay mama."

"Love you lots." Then she kissed Randy on the cheek. "Good luck today. I hope everything goes well and if you need anything call me. I'll keep my phone on my desk."

Randy smiled, "Thanks babe. If outpatient is close to inpatient then everything will be ok. We'll be fine. Have a good day at work."

"I'll leave the carseat on your hood. Bye!" And Amanda headed out the door.

Randy looked over at Brandon, "Well, it's just you and me."

Brandon looked over and gave Randy a thumbs up.

"You finish your cereal, I'm going to hop in the shower, ok?" Randy said to Brandon as he checked the clock on the wall.

All Brandon did was nod his head.

Randy quickly headed off to the shower. He took a quick shower and got ready for his day. When he returned to the kitchen Brandon was still sitting there eating his cereal. It was almost gone, but each spoon-ful of cereal was chewed many, many times.

"Buddy, we need to get going soon so we're not late to school." Randy said, then said again, then said again. He was growing impatient but wasn't sure how to express it so he wouldn't startle Brandon and make him slow down.

Finally Brandon got up, "Done Daddy!"

"Then lets get going to school, we don't want to be late!" Randy replied as he stood up. He went to the closet and grabbed Brandon's stuff.

Suddenly Brandon dropped to the ground screaming hysterically, "NO I BIG BOY I GET MY STUFF!" over and over and over.

Randy's eyes popped out, this was a side he had never seen of Brandon. Not since before the divorce. "Whoa…Whoa…Brandon there's no need to scream like that. It's fine, get ready for school."

But Brandon wasn't listening, he was far too busy screaming and sobbing. And the way it was going it didn't seem like it would be stopping anytime soon.

Randy looked at the clock and saw the minutes ticking by. They needed to get ready and go or they were for sure going to be late.

"BRANDON ENOUGH!" Randy said sternly as he sat down and bear hugged him.

The sound of Randy's deep voice sounding so stern made Brandon's eyes open wide. He stopped screaming and looked at Randy with a look of fear across his face.

"It's time to get ready for school." Randy said trying to sound calm. "Can you do that?"

Brandon sniffled, "No *sniffle*, you *sniffle* got *sniffle* my *sniffle* stuff *sniffle*."

"You're right, I did. Tomorrow, you can get it. Today, I did. We need to go. You can get ready for school or I can get you ready. What's it going to be?" Randy replied firmly.

Brandon wiped his nose on his arm and wriggled free from Randy, "You do it."

So Randy sat and put Brandon's shoes and jacket on him as Brandon was as limp as a spaghetti noodle. He wouldn't carry his backpack so Randy carried Brandon in one arm and held his backpack with the other.

Randy had a slew of emotions running through him. But, he kept his cool for the most part. He locked the door and headed out to the parking lot.

He put Brandon's booster seat in the back seat in the middle and buckled Brandon in. Randy got in and breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you ready to go to school?" He asked his son.

Brandon looked around the vehicle, "Wow…big!"

Randy laughed, "Yeah, this is a lot bigger than Mommy's car, isn't it?"

Brandon nodded.

Randy started it and off they drove to school. Once they got there, Brandon was willing to cooperate and seemed to be back to his usual self. He took Randy's hand and together they walked in the school and Brandon showed him to the classroom.

Randy introduced himself to Brandon's teachers and gave Brandon a big hug and kiss. "I love you. I hope you have a good day at school."

Brandon hugged him back, "You be home when I get home?"

"Yeah, I'll be there buddy."

"O-tay. Bye Daddy." And Brandon quickly went over to the train table.

Randy smiled and walked back out to his Hummer. "What a morning" he mumbled to himself. He then went to the coffee shop to get a large coffee and go the outpatient facility get everything started.

**How do you think Randy handled it? What will the outpatient program be like? What will Amanda think? Please read and review! **