"Come on! You can't tell me that you honestly believe your students only come to you during your office hours for the reasoning of 'but Doctor Reid, I'm having a hard time grasping the elementary school level directions you tediously lay out in your syllabus.' Reid, man, those kids are only in there to stare at your Pretty Boy looks."

"Dewek, 'Pence ain't pwetty, he's a boy! Mommy says boys are han'some!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at Henry's outburst.

"Spencer is pretty Henry; see his long, sometimes wavy hair, and his pink cheeks?"

Henry gasped.

"He is pwetty like a gurl! 'Pence, did you know you is pwetty like a gurl? Mommy's cheeks are pink, she colors it on!"

Derek's deep laugh erupted, Henry's giggles chimed in and I could only let my cheeks darken in color.

"Henry my cheeks are flushed, it's natural, meaning something my body can do on its own. Your Mom uses make-up called blush that yes, she colors on. You have long hair too, does that make you pretty like a girl as well?"

He shook his head.

"No silly, I'm a boy!"

"Then why am I pretty like a girl?"

"'Cause Dewek says so."

I looked between the two of them who were grinning up from the floor at me as if they had done nothing wrong. Technically they hadn't. It was the same nickname Derek used to call me. The man comes back into our lives and manages to coerce my godson against me.

"If it's gang up on Spencer day, I missed the memo. Are you done building your awesomely, amazing tower?"

"NO! We almost finished! Dewek has to put the top on."

Henry shoved his oddly formed cap to their tower—he kept all of his favorite blocks for the end. He always did this. He gently placed the creation in Derek's hands, who kept up the cautious handling as he put the cap on.

"Now it finished! Can we leave it out for Mommy and Daddy to see? Pwease?"

They both looked up with that childish puppy look—I couldn't resist either.

"Of course, they'll be impressed!"

Derek and Henry shared a high-five and I made my way into the kitchen. I heard them murmur to each other, I couldn't quite make out what words were spoken but after a few moments the house went oddly silent.

It really was gang up on Spencer day, and I completely missed the memo.

I ignored their silence and prepped three bowls of ice-cream for our movie night. Henry's bedtime was in an hour, whatever film he chose would pass it by a half hour at most—he'd most likely choose The Pagemaster. He has a thing for books and adventure at the moment; speaking of, it's been too quiet for a grown man and a three year old to be on their own.

I grabbed the small tray JJ uses for Henry's lunches in the living room and packed up the three bowls of ice-cream and made my way back into the room. They weren't where I left them.

I sighed and placed the tray down on the coffee table.

"I have ice-cream and I'm sure you guys are really great hiders, but it'll be all melted by the time I find you."

I was met with silence.

Henry is officially a traitor.

I picked the tray back up and headed to the freezer, at least they had a chance of still being edible—if I could find them in time. I really did a lame job at this game. I was always the first to be found when I did play with the neighborhood kids. When I was "It" they would all manage to make it back to "home" and remain safe. About my third round I would realize they had all moved on to different games by peering into windows and seeing them in groups. For one so smart I really had a bad time at guessing where people would willingly choose to hide.

However, I had Derek on my side this time. He was a rather large man and Henry would most likely hide with him, cutting their options down considerably.

I've been searching for them for twenty minutes now. If it weren't for the faint sounds of whispers and the occasional giggle from Henry, I would've thought someone kidnapped them both. I at least hoped the noises would notify of their location, but each time I found the spot I presumed was their location I would hear another sound somewhere else in the house. I am underestimating Derek's hiding abilities.

I ventured into Henry's room and I actually stopped short at the amount of drawings hanging on his wall. I knew of them, he always talked to me about his pictures, and I knew he drew with JJ and Will, but it was the picture that he placed over another that actually caused me to stop. It was a Henry rendition of four people, two adults and two children. I knew his smaller, yellow head, along side Jack's slight bigger, yellow head was the two of them. I knew that the tall figure with the glasses was supposed to be me, just like I knew the other adult was supposed to be Derek. He drew us holding hands—Henry and Jack on the outside.

"'Pence! Where you? Did you forget we playing hide an' seek?"

I felt a small body collide with my legs. I looked down at him before glancing back up at the picture.

"I drew dat when you and Dewek took me an' Jack to the park! You like it?"

I nodded down at him, a smile on my face. I didn't trust myself to speak. I'm not sure why his drawing rendered me momentarily stupid, but it did. No, I know why, I just didn't want to admit or accept it.

"Do you want one? I can draw it again. Dewek has one too! He says it's his favowite picture in the whole wide world."

"Does he?"

"Yes! He tells Mommy dat he likes helping you wif me. Daddy always laughs at him when he says dat. I know where he hides. Go get him!"

He's been around Jack for far too long; saying things like that, not realizing the implications of his words. Such is the genius of children I suppose.

I allow him to grab hold of three of my fingers and drag me out of his room and down the hall. He kept putting his finger to his lips to shush me—I didn't have the heart to tell him all the noise was coming from him. I did my best to look sheepish each time he shushed me. He led me to the pantry and pointed to the door.

"In dere."

"He's in there?"

We were whispering quite horribly. I heard the slight chuckle from inside.

"Henry? Henry are you back little man? I'm opening the door."

Derek slowly opened the door and Henry made sure he was in the gap as soon as he could peek through. He was laughing—you know that laugh when a kid thinks they're so smart and accomplished something great. I was still hidden by the door, but Derek and I both knew that he knew I was there.

"Did you find Spencer? Or is he still looking for us?"

"I foun' him in my room! He wants a picture too!"

I felt my cheeks flush. Derek has a picture. Derek likes the picture. Derek talks to JJ and Will about me—about spending time with me. Well, spending time with me as he and I both babysit Henry.

"Is that so? It's a great work of art. Did you tell him it's my favorite?"

"Uh-huh! He smiled big."

I was even redder now; I cold feel that burn in my cheeks. I had to end this conversation so I quickly grabbed the handle on the door and pulled it open.

"I found you, I win! It's movie time. I should let you both watch the movie without ice-cream, but I won't."

Henry's arms latched around my legs.

"Oh, 'Pence, we did'n mean it! Pwomise! It was 'posed to be fun!"

"Little man, he said we still get ice-cream!"

He hugged my legs tighter.

"You're still my favowite 'Pence!"

I glanced down at him and smiled, then let myself look at Derek. He was grinning; it was so carefree and open. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Cliché and cheesy as it sounds, it's true.

"Yeah Pretty Boy, you've got some stiff competition, but if I have to lose to anyone, I'm glad it's you."

His smile grew and got even brighter. I don't think that's actually possible, but I'm permitted to moments of whimsical fancy every now and then. At least that's what I tell myself.