"Are you kidding me Dora?" Lita quietly shouted at the television so Ethan wouldn't wake up. She knew he was going to wake up soon, but she didn't want to disturb him and speed up the process because he did wake up another time in the middle of the night due to another nightmare. Plus it gave her more time to continue baking, which she did a lot of when she was stressed. "I said map a billion times. Where's that stupid map?" Yup, she was watching Dora the Explorer. She wasn't able to sleep much last night. She guessed she only slept for about an hour, finally falling asleep around three, when Ethan fell asleep after his second nightmare, and waking up around four. She wasn't too fond of the dream she had, it contained a happier moment when her and Adam were together, so she didn't fall back asleep just to avoid another dream like that. She decided to finish watching that scary movie because she knew if she didn't have a distraction, she would start thinking about him again. And then she found herself watching random stuff on the television. Her choices were limited since it was the day time and the weekend, so she opted for Dora. "Are you serious Swiper? You're really going to steal from a... well, however old Dora is supposed to be. She's a little kid."

"Mommy," she heard Ethan giggle. She didn't hear him come out towards the living room and kitchen area. "You're watching Dora. You sound silly."

She sighed as she realized how correct he was. "I know. Did you brush your teeth?" He nodded. Wow, I must be really out of it if I didn't hear him at all. "Okay, good." She was about to continue until Ethan interrupted her.

"Can we go see Uncle Christian today?" Ethan asked her.

Not if Adam's there. "We'll see."

"Please," Ethan started to plead with her. "I miss him." Ethan formed a close bond with Christian who was always there for him helping Lita with whatever the mother-son duo needed since the day she found out she was pregnant.

"Maybe," She continued to say more when it looked like he was going to say more. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"Cookies," he said as he looked over to where Lita had about three dozen cookies on the counter.

She shook her head. "No. You can have one later," she said as she put some cupcakes into the oven to bake.

"Waffles." She nodded as he went off into his room and came back with some crayons and a coloring book and started to color in the living room. She couldn't help it and started to think about Adam again and how she would tell Ethan anything. She knew Adam was going to want to know Ethan and maybe it was time she told Ethan the truth now that Adam was around. But how was she supposed to tell a four year old about a parent he didn't know about who randomly decided showed up one day?

*Flashback- July 2007*

"Why are you staring at me?" Adam finally asked after he looked over at his girlfriend of a little over two years. The couple had met through their best-friends who had been in a relationship for a couple of years themselves and actually got married two weeks ago. They got along quite well when they met which Dawn knew they would and that was why she set them up.

Lita arched a brow. "Is that problem?"

"No, but it is a tad bit creepy. Every time I look up, you're staring at me."

Lita shrugged. "I like the view of you better than the view of Call of Duty," she said referring to the video game he was playing.

He smirked while sparing a quick glance her way, "Of course you do. I mean, why wouldn't you?"

She rolled her eyes as she shifted a bit on the couch. "You just ruined it."

"Ruined what?"

"I was picturing how our kids would look like." That made him turn his attention away from the game and to her. "You're getting shot at." He then returned his attention back to the game and paused it even though he didn't care about it for the moment.

"Our kids?" He questioned.

She nodded. "You don't want kids?"

"Well... I mean..." He was nervous. They hardly ever talked about the future even though he knew he wanted a future with her. "We never really talked about it."

"I know, but you asked me why I was staring at you and there's your answer."

"You think about it often?" He asked as he gazed at her intently. "The future?"

She started to bite her lip out of nervousness as she finally realized what they were talking about. "Well, yea. Don't you?"

"Yea."

"So, when you think about the future, am I in it?" She asked a bit cautiously since she was nervous because she wanted him to say yes, but what if he didn't?

He smiled at her. He thought she looked really cute when she was nervous. "Of course."

She smiled back. "Good." It quiet for a brief moment. "So you never answered my question. Do you want kids?"

"With you. I want everything with you. I know I want to marry you one day. I want kids with you. I want mini Lita and Adam's running around. I want to move with you in a place of our own. I want you to bore me with how we should decorate our own house. I want to get into stupid little fights with you, making up is always fun." He chuckled when he saw her roll her eyes at that part and then continued. "I want to make you happy every day. I want to grow old with you. I want to bother you when you get your first grey hair or your first wrinkle, whichever comes first." She pouted at that, playfully punching him on his arm. "I just want to see you everyday and know that we'll always be there for one another. I love you."

She leaned in to give him a quick kiss. "I love you too. I want all of that too. Except for the grey hair and wrinkles."

He chuckled as he leaned in and pulled her in for a kiss. "This kids thing," he started to say as they parted, his forehead resting on hers as a smirk started to form on his face, "We should probably practice making them, right?"

She rolled her eyes once again as she backed away from her. "You're a dork."

"I take that as a yes," he said moving towards her, but she backed away a bit more and then stood up.

"I don't want to take you away from your game." She teased, trying hard not laugh when she saw the pout on his face, but she failed and burst into laughter.

"I'm happy I can amuse you."

"Me too." She then started to walk away from the living room.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

She didn't look behind at him or stop in her tracks, instead she continued walking away. "You said you wanted to practice, so inside the room. Duh. We're not about to practice on the couch."

"That hasn't stopped you before." He heard her say something, but he couldn't hear her well since she was already in the other room and wasn't loud. He got up from the couch after he turned the television and the game console off and followed her in. They both were pretty happy right now, enjoying where their relationship seemed to take them. Little did they know, everything would change for the worst soon.

*End of Flashback*

*Present Time*

Adam shook his head as he lay down in bed thinking of happier times. He too wasn't able to sleep much last night like Lita. He thought about the first time they actually had a real conversation about their future and how they both wanted to have children. It hurt him when he thought about how Lita kept Ethan away from him when she knew he wanted children with her. He thought maybe it was his own fault because he left her, but he was doing it for her own good. He was furious with her. He didn't understand why she couldn't have found another way to tell him. She knew how his father was never around and how he would never want that for his own child. Hell, her own father wasn't around much when she was growing up, so he thought she would understand how tough it could be for a child not to have his or her father around.

He asked Christian a lot of questions about his son. He found out Ethan was born six weeks earlier than his original due date which was in the end of April, but he was born on March 7, 2008 which would make him four and a half years. He found out Ethan liked to play soccer and basketball, but Lita didn't want him to join a peewee team quite yet so he just played with Christian and some of his own friends. That made him upset, Ethan should be playing soccer and basketball with him, not with Christian. He was thankful Christian was around for Ethan and Lita, but he became even more upset and angry at Lita when he found out he missed four and a half years of his sons life. He wanted to be a father to his son now that he knew about him. He then thought about his mother and how she always wanted a grandchild and she didn't know anything about him now that she had one. His mother knew about the circumstances concerning his departure from Tampa some years earlier, but she only found out last year. That was one person he told the truth to who he was dreading to tell. He didn't know how he was going to explain any of this to her. He didn't know when Lita would let him be a part of Ethan's life. He knew he had to talk to her and he had to talk to her soon. He didn't want to go another day without getting to know Ethan and being there for him for whatever he needed. But he knew he had to be patient, this information couldn't just be thrown at a little kid. He decided he would try to talk to Lita later that day and tell her that he would have no problem in helping her with telling Ethan about him. He didn't think it was only Lita's responsibility to fill Ethan on who his father is, he should be there too when she told Ethan, but only if she wanted him to.

"Adam, get your lazy ass out of bed. It's ten." He looked up when he saw Christian open the door. He was staying at Christian and Dawn's house until he finally settled down into his own house he purchased not too far from them. The deal wasn't going to be finalized until another week. "I knew you would be awake."

"Yea, I wasn't able to sleep much. Just thinking. I didn't really want to get up."

Christian nodded. "So, are you going to try and talk to her?"

Adam nodded. "I want to get to know Ethan. I don't want to go another day without getting to know him."

"Well, you know you're going to have to be patient with that. She has to tell him first. I don't know when and how she's going to do that. I don't even know if she was planning on telling him anything anytime soon. He asked her about you before a couple of weeks ago."

"What did she say?"

"Well, he first asked your name. She told him your name and then she said she got distracted by a call and when she went back to him, he was busy playing. He gets distracted easily."

Adam was quiet for a moment and then he spoke up. "I want to help her with telling him. I don't want to put the burden all on her."

"Okay. But maybe she'll feel more comfortable telling Ethan herself."

"Probably. But it won't hurt to suggest it."

"I guess not." It was quiet again until the two friends started talking about something else.

Meanwhile downstairs, Dawn was talking on the phone with Lita who decided to call her not too long ago. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you he was coming to your place. I only found out like probably a few minutes before he actually got there."

"Whatever. I don't blame you," Lita said from the other end of the line.

"So, are you going to let Adam to get to know Ethan?"

"Do I have to?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yes."

"I don't want to."

"Lita Chr-" Dawn started to say only to be interrupted.

"Okay damn. Don't pull out the full name. I will. I know I have to. You said he's back for good now. Ethan has started to ask questions as you already know. I... I don't know how, but I know I have to tell Ethan who his father is and let them two have a relationship. But I have every right to kill Adam if he does something stupid and Ethan gets negatively effected in any way." It was quiet again for a moment. "Is he with you?"

"Yes. He's staying for a couple of days until he officially gets settled into his house."

"You know one day he told me he wanted to move into a place of our own together and have me bore him with details of how we would decorate our house," Dawn heard the sadness in her friends voice and was about to say something, but Lita continued. "Well Ethan wants to see Christian. So you guys should come over. Without him. I'm not coming over. I don't want to see him right now."

"You know you have to talk to him since you said you will let him and Ethan get to know one another."

"I know. But I don't have to today. That can wait."

"Alright, we'll come over later."

"Great. I'm going to go now. Bye."

"Bye." Dawn hung up the phone and then went to see where Christian was. She went upstairs and saw the guest room door open and decided to go in seeing Christian and Adam talking. "Good morning Adam."

"Good morning," he replied.

"Okay, here's the thing," she started to say. "You really pissed me off with how you handled this whole situation, but I'm going to let it go for Ethan's sake. Li was going to come over today because some monkey wanted to see his Uncle Christian, but she's not coming because she doesn't want to see you."

"But I need to talk to her," Adam interrupted.

Dawn nodded. "I know. Which is why Christian will try to talk some sense into her. I will probably end up joining her in bashing you instead of trying to convince her to talk to you. Don't think I'm doing this for you, I'm doing it for Ethan."

"I know. Thanks," Adam said as Dawn left the room.

"Just give her time. Let her come to you. I'll try to talk her into not taking forever," Christian promised.

"I'll get it!" Ethan cheerfully exclaimed when he heard a knock on the door. Lita let him answer it since she was right there and she knew it was Dawn and Christian. Dawn sent her a text half an hour ago telling her they would be coming soon to visit. "Where's Uncle Christian?" Ethan pouted when he opened the door and only saw Dawn and Brooke.

"You're not happy to see me or Brooke?" Dawn asked putting Brooke down who ran over to Lita who wasn't far away.

"I see you everyday," he said as Dawn hugged him. "Where is he?"

"He's coming monkey," Dawn said as she entered the apartment and walked over to where Lita and Brooke were playing. "Your son doesn't like me."

Lita rolled her eyes. "He does, he just likes Christian a tad bit more."

"How is that fair?" Dawn pouted as she sat down on the couch. "I'm always with him. I pick him up from preschool. He's always with me then," Dawn said referring to the fact that she looked over Ethan after he got out of preschool. She actually opened up a daycare in her house a few years ago. She used to work in a daycare center, but then decided to open up a private one at her house when Ethan was born because she wanted to help Lita out as much as she could while she went to her own job. There were four more other kids, not including Brooke, that she looked after as well. One of them including a friend of Ethan's from preschool.

"Do you do guy stuff with him?" Christian asked as he finally entered the apartment.

"Uncle Christian!" Ethan exclaimed as he got up from the floor where he was playing with Brooke and ran over to Christian. "I missed you!" Even though he saw Dawn every weekday, he didn't see Christian since he always went back home before Christian came home from work.

Christian chuckled. "I missed you too. You don't come over to see me anymore,"

"That's mommy's fault. She doesn't bring me."

"Well, mommy is a bad girl." Ethan started giggling. "We need to change that."

"My son doesn't like you. I don't like your husband. Let's end this relationship. We need to keep those two away from each other. We can't be friends anymore." Lita said as she looked over at Dawn who simply rolled her eyes.

"No," Ethan whined.

"I was joking sweety." Lita shook her head. "Sometimes I think he loves Christian more than he loves me."

Dawn snorted. "Join the club."

"Someone's been stress baking," Christian said when he noticed the amount of treats on the kitchen counter as he made his way to where the other three were with Ethan at his side.

Lita sighed. "You can blame that-" she stopped herself, she was about to slip and curse in front of Ethan and Brooke. Not a smart idea. "Him. Take how much you guys want."

"Ethan," Dawn started to say, "Brooke wanted me to take her to the park. How about you come with us?"

"Is Unlce Christian coming too?"

Dawn shook her head, he really didn't do much without Christian. "No. Just me, you, and Brooke."

"But-"

"Sorry monkey," Christian started to say. "I have to talk to your mommy."

"No you don't." Lita spoke up.

"Yes he does. Hush." Dawn said, then returning her attention to Ethan. "We can get ice cream."

"Yes Dawn. Bribe my son why don't you," Lita said only to be ignored.

Ethan still looked like he was going to protest. "I promise I'll go to the park with you tomorrow and we can play soccer." Christian started to say. "I just have to talk to mommy."

Ethan nodded. "Okay."

"Awesome." Dawn clapped her hands. "Put on your shoes and we'll go." Ethan did just that as Dawn took the moment to say something to her friend. "Just listen to him please. Don't be stubborn."

"Whatever."

"I'm ready." The duo heard Ethan say as he walked towards them again after he put on his shoes.

"Okay." Dawn said as she picked up Brooke and put her own shoes on. "We're just going to go to the park across from here," she told Lita who simply nodded.

"What?" Lita asked annoyed after five minutes of silence after Dawn took the two kids to the park.

"You have to talk to him."

Lita sighed. "I don't want to, but I know."

"So when do you plan on doing that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

He rolled his eyes. "Just do it soon. He wants to talk to you. He wants to get to know Ethan."

Lita nodded. "I know."

"You didn't tell him about Ethan. I know you tried, but he didn't know anything. And you could have let me told him even though I know that's not how you wanted to tell him, but... You never gave him a chance to be Ethan's father. He deserves that. He asked multiple questions about Ethan and how he's like. He really wants a relationship with his son. I know you don't want to do it for Adam, but do it for Ethan. He deserves to get to know his father. He recently started to ask you questions about him, so this is your chance to tell him the truth."

"Trust me, I'm only going to be doing this for Ethan. But I do have to think about how I'm going to say anything to him."

"He wants to help you."

Lita started to bite her lip. "I think it'll be easier if I do it myself. But, I mean, I should probably talk to Adam about this beforehand." She shook her head as she put them down in her heads letting out a breath. "I hate him."No you don't, Lita thought to herself but didn't say anything out loud. I can never hate him no matter how much I try. "Ugh. Stupid bastard," she muttered under her breath which didn't go unheard by Christian, but he decided to pretend he didn't hear that.

"Just know that I'll punch Adam for you if he does or says something stupid. I'm always going to be there for you and Ethan."

She looked up at him and smiled. "I know. You always have been. Thanks."

"You want to join them at the park?" Christian asked.

"Sure. Let's go."

Thanks for reading. Thanks for the reviews.

Hm... Interesting guesses. Promise I will try not to take long to reveal the reason he left.