I'm glad you like Ethan. I love him even if he's just a character in a fic. I refer to some things from the other fic (The Rollaros) cause it's the same universe.
Hope you enjoy, let me know.

When the stranger sat down on the bench Frannie raised her head to look at him, but she wasn't interested and rested her head back on the ground. Unlike her reaction, Nick stared at his father in disbelief, what the hell was he doing here? It's been years since he last saw him, and even that wasn't enough. His eyes moved back to his son who was running around with another girl.

"What are you doing here?" Nick asked, what was he doing in California, what is he doing in LA, what is he doing in this playground?

The other man touched his jacket and looked straight ahead at the little boy, who was now inspecting something on the ground, he and that girl he's been playing seemed to be following a tiny creature, Nick figured it was a bug.

"I wanted to meet my grandson" he replied simply, as if it was obvious.

"I have no idea what made you think this was a good idea, but I don't remember ever wanting you to have a relationship with me or my children, so it's time for you to leave"

"Nick" his voice was calm "I gave you plenty of time, I think we can move on"

"The only moving on here is you walking away" Nick couldn't control his irritated tone.

"Listen Nick, you are my son and…"

"And? I don't know what you're doing here, but stay away from me and from my family" "Daddy!" Ethan ran to Nick's direction and climbed on the bench, looking at the other man "who are you?"

"I am your dad's friend" he replied, but Nick shook his head.

"I'm Ethan" the kid moved closer to his father.

"Come on buddy, it's time for us to go home" Nick stood up and grabbed Frannie's leash, he didn't want his son to exchange any other words with this person.

"Think about what I said" his father watched them with a smiled.

"But daddy I want to play with Emma" Ethan's request was accompanied with a sweet smile. But Nick wanted to get away from his father and decided to leave.

"You can play with her another time, go say goodbye and we'll go home" Nick's eyes followed Ethan as he walked to his friend and said a quick bye before running back to him.

"I don't want to see you again" Nick looked at his father and walked towards his son, followed by Frannie.

"Pick me up daddy!" Ethan raised his arms. Nick chuckled but lifted him off the ground.

"You're tired?" the boy rested his head on Nick's shoulder and he caressed the child's back.

The park wasn't too far from their home so they made the way back by foot. Nick was holding the leash in one hand and the other supported Ethan. He did look back twice, making sure they weren't being followed.

What was this man thinking? Nick wanted nothing to do with him. He was his father, but it was only biology. Nick felt none of the emotions you're suppose to feel for a dad, no love, no respect. He didn't care about him. All Nick wanted was for that man to stay as far away from him and his family as possible.

"We're home" Nick lowered Ethan to the ground and smiled when he yawned, it was a good time for a nap.

He unlocked the door and let Frannie and Ethan walk into the house. Ethan sat on the floor and took his shoes off. As usual he threw them and Nick shook his head, noting the exact place each of them fell.

"Ok, hijo, I think you should get some sleep"

"I want a story" Ethan asked.

"A story?" Nick kissed his cheek.

"Yes"

"How do you say yes in Spanish?" Nick has been trying to teach him, the only way to do that was to speak the language, but he wasn't doing that enough.

"Yes" Ethan repeated.

"No" Nick smiled "you say sí"

"Yes" the boy nodded.

"And how do you say no?"

"No" Ethan's cheek was rested against his father's shoulder again.

"Close enough" Nick carried him to the bedroom and helped the boy change his clothes "you want me to read you 'Annie the magician'?"

"Sí" he replied quietly.

Nick sat down on the bed next to him and the kid scooted over so he could look at the illustrations. Nick started reading the story, Ethan loved it so much both Amanda and he knew it by heart. Ethan could recite most of it too.

"'One, two, three' Annie said 'I will turn this puddle into a…" Nick read and waited for Ethan to finish the sentence.

"Sea"

"And boats will sail and waves will be in my wide, beautiful…"

"Blue sea" Ethan yawned again.

Nick finished reading the book and covered Ethan with the blanket "sleep tight, te adoro"

"Sí" Ethan mumbled.

Nick watched him for a few more seconds, he was so innocent, unaware of the pain the world had to offer, the complications. As his parents they wanted him to stay in this bubble as long as possible, they were introduced to those things way too soon and wanted their son to have a different childhood.

Nick walked to the living room and patted Frannie, he refilled her bowl and watched as she ate.

He grabbed his phone and called Amanda, she was working but he suddenly needed to hear her voice.

"Hey" she answered after a few rings.

"Am I interrupting?"

"It's ok, are you guys at home?" she asked "I'll leave in a few minutes, be there soon"

"Good" he blew out some air.

"Is everything ok? Did he tire you out already?" Amanda chuckled.

"Yeah, no. I mean…" Nick started over "he didn't tire me, we had fun and everything's ok" he wanted to tell her about seeing his father, but not over the phone.

"Good, I'll see you later"

Nick heard someone call her and she said goodbye before hanging up. He placed the phone on the coffee table and lay down on the couch. The thought of his father being in town kept on nagging him. He must have followed him to the playground and that was a bad sign. He wouldn't have bothered if it was about seeing his grandson, not that Nick wanted his father to meet Ethan. There was no reason for him to be around them.

He got a text from Amanda, letting him know she was on her way home. Nick walked to the kitchen to drink some water when he heard Ethan's bedroom door open.

"I'm up!" the boy rubbed his eyes and ran to the kitchen "see?"

"I can see you're awake" Nick gave him a kiss "are you hungry?"

Ethan nodded and walked over to pat Frannie while Nick warmed some of the food Cesaria had made before leaving for her vacation.

"Mommy!" Amanda walked into the house and Ethan ran to her.

"Hey baby" she picked him up and he hugged her "did you just wake up?"

"Yes" he nodded.

Amanda planted a kiss on his forehead and walked to the kitchen to say hello to Nick.

"Hey babe" she kissed his lips.

"Glad you're here, food's gonna be ready soon" Nick leaned for another kiss and Ethan giggled as he watched them.

"I'll help you set the table" Amanda tickled him and opened the drawer to take out the forks.

"One for daddy, one for mommy and one for Ethan" he chanted placing them by the plated Nick had already put on the table.

They all sat down after a few minutes and Nick served the food.

"Did you have fun at the playground?" Amanda asked.

Ethan was chewing but still spoke up "saw a bug…lady…daddy's friend…"

Amanda gave him a confused look and then turned to Nick, did he meet a lady friend at the park? Maybe one of the other moms made a move on him.

"I think he means that he saw a ladybug, yeah?"

"Yeah" Ethan approved Nick's explanation.

"And is she your friend?" Amanda was still curious about that part, not that she was jealous, she had no doubt in Nick's love.

"No" he slightly shook his head "I'll tell you later"

"Alright"

They finished eating and played with Ethan for some time.

"Put the blocks away baby" Amanda said when he was done with building towers "so who's this mysterious friend?"

"Far from a friend" Nick wanted to clear that up 'it was my D-A-D" he spelled when Ethan was back to pick up more blocks.

"What?" Amanda's eyes widened "seriously?"

"Yeah, I have no idea what he was doing here but I didn't bother finding out, we left a few moments after he showed up"

"This is weird" she could sympathize with him, seeing the man who hurt him so much, who left such a scar.

"I just hope he doesn't show up here or anywhere near me again"

"Did you tell your mom? Is she still in contact with him?"

"We're not talking about that" he said "so I don't know, but I hope not, how could she after the way he treated her"

Amanda placed her palm on his shoulder and kissed his cheek "there's not much you can do, but whatever it is, I'm hundred percent behind you, ok?"

"Thank you" he smiled and softly kissed her lips, allowing himself to linger.

"What are you doing?" Ethan asked.

"We're kissing" Nick explained and exchanged a grin with Amanda.

"Ok" the boy smiled at them.

"Ok?" Nick asked "can I kiss your mommy again?"

Ethan nodded and Nick brushed his lips against her for a quick second.

"I need to get going" Amanda caressed his shoulder, she had to return to work "I'll be back later"

"Bye mommy" Ethan gave her another hug.

"Take care of your father baby, ok?" she winked.

"I do" he promised.

Amanda left work on time, she was dedicated to her job, made a lot of sacrifices for it, but she also loved her family. Years ago she thought that having one wasn't really for her. Her parents weren't a good example and it seemed like other people, like the ones she worked with, couldn't hold their family together. Even Nick got divorced and it was hard on him. But somehow, despite all of the complications, they ended up together. They did talk about marriage, but decided against it. They were very happy together and it was enough.

Now she had a family, she had Nick and Ethan, they were the most important people in her life and having them made her feel like she belonged, like she was safe.

When Nick mentioned his father showing up she wasn't sure what to think. The man had no relationship with Nick so why would he locate them? Cesaria probably told him that he has another grandkid. But Ethan was three, so if he wanted to try and make amends, why wait till now? Why not just say so?

But if Nick didn't want anything to do with him, Amanda was fine with that, she meant what she had said earlier today, he had her full support.

They had dinner together and Amanda bathed Ethan, letting Nick have some time for himself.

"Let's wash all of your hair" Amanda shampooed his hair "like a lion's mane"

"I'm a lion" he roared "rrrr…"

"You're my cub"

"I'm not a taxi" he said and Amanda laughed.

"A cub is a lion baby, like a puppy" she explained.

"I was a baby"

"You're my baby" she kissed his cheeks, getting some of the shampoo on her face.

"You have a beard" the boy pointed on the foam.

"Yeah?" she took more foam and smeared it on her chin "how about this?"

Ethan giggled and helped her elongate the fake beard "I want a beard!"

"We can make that work" Amanda smiled and placed a bit of foam on his face.

They were laughing so hard Nick had to come by and see what was going on.

"Daddy we have beards" Ethan exclaimed.

"I can see that" he raised a brow.

"You like that look? I might stick with it" Amanda winked and Nick shook his head and walked to the bedroom.

She was in charge of bedtime and after a story she exchanged a kiss, a hug and another kiss (on each cheek) Ethan was asleep.

"He's such a sweetheart" Amanda walked into the bedroom and smiled at Nick, who's been lying on the bed.

"I think he gets that from me"

Amanda joined him in bed and rested her head on his shoulder "what did he get from me?"

"He likes throwing his clothes around"

"Are you saying I'm messy?" Amanda tried to give him a serious look, but the laughter took over her "but you know what, I can throw my clothes right now, unless that's gonna bother you"

"I think I'm gonna be ok with that" he nodded "and I won't mind tossing it on the floor myself"

"Are you being turned to the dark side?" she kissed his neck.

"Turned, but not to the dark side" he pulled her to him for a long kiss.

"Well then" Amanda pulled away and sat up a little "you should keep your promise and throw my clothes on the floor"

"My pleasure" Nick took Amanda's shirt off and let it drop down.

"That was hot" Amanda bit her lip and Nick kissed her again, his hands sneaking to the back of her back to free her from the bra.

He gently pushed her down on the bed and kissed her breasts, he started with tender pecks and they gradually turned rougher, his teeth teasing her nipples.

"Mmm" she closed her eyes, wanting more of his touch when they heard a familiar sound.

Her phone.

"Don't stop" Amanda sighed, she wasn't working tonight, whoever it was, they could wait.

Nick kept on going, his hands and lips gliding down her body. But the caller didn't give up and Nick gave her a questioning look.

"Fine" she said and he moved off of her "for the record, I wanted to continue with this" Nick handed her a shirt and she rushed to answer the call.

The caller ID said it was her partner, Rachel Parsons, she better have a damn good reason for this interruption.

"Rollins" she replied and glanced at Nick who walked out of the bedroom "what?" she turned to him again "yes…he's here, why?"

It was Nick's turn to wonder what was going on. Why would she ask if he was at home?

"Really? That's…ok, thanks for letting me know…yeah, see you"

"What was that about?" Nick moved closer.

"She got a courtesy call from one of the officers, apparently they arrested a man whose name is Nicholas Amaro, and since you're here…"

"They arrested my father?"