Author's Note: Time warp ahead three years

Chapter 24

Kelly knocked on Parker's door and waited while she answered it. He held three year old Philip in his arms, figuring that was the safest place for him since he couldn't wander down the hall and away from him.

Parker heard the knock and looked at the clock. If it was Kelly, he was right on time. She made her way to the door and opened it.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hey. Come on in."

He passed through the open door and walked inside. He set Philip down and straightened up to face her.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

She nodded. "We can talk in the kitchen. I can make coffee."

"Don't put yourself out."

"It's a Keurig, Kelly. It makes one cup at a time. It's not a big deal."

"Ok, fine."

In the kitchen, she brewed him a cup of coffee and herself a cup of tea. They sat at the table. Parker was stirring sugar into her tea when Kelly's hand reached out and stopped her stirring. She looked up at him, confused.

"I'm getting married," he said quietly.

She looked at him for a long minute. For a few seconds, her brain was unable to process what he had just said. "Congratulations," she finally managed to squeak out.

"Thank you. I want Philip to be ring bearer."

"Of course."

"Don't worry about expenses. I'll pay for his tux rental."

"Kelly, I am more than capable of paying for his tux rental."

"Dammit, Parker! He's my son too! It's my wedding, I'll pay for his tux!" he exploded.

Before she could say anything, Philip was running into the kitchen and to her side.

"Is everything ok, Mommy?" he asked, his blue eyes full of concern.

"Everything is fine, Philip," she soothed as she reached down to hug him and give him some reassurance. "Go play. Daddy has stuff he has to talk to Mommy about."

"Ok," he said before scooting off.

As she watched him walk back to the living room, she realized once more that he was more Kelly than he was her. He had Kelly's dark hair and blue eyes as well as his charm. She looked at Kelly and realized that in ten years, she was going to be in a lot of trouble fending off the girls that would automatically flock to him just like they did to his father. She wondered if he would choose CFD as a career as well.

"Just let me know when and where and I will have him to the Church."

"You're invited too."

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"We already talked about it. It wouldn't be fair to you to not let you watch your son bring the rings down the aisle."

"Thank you, Kelly, but I'm going to have to take a pass. I can get pictures before or after the wedding."

"You may as well come. I'm going to invite Mary Alice. You can bring Jimmy."

"I am sure she will love that. She loves weddings."

She ignored the comment about Jimmy. She and Jimmy were over years ago and that was a road she didn't want to take, especially now that she had Philip. Having Jimmy in her life again would be a huge mess.

Kelly finished his coffee and rose from the table. "I'll let you know about a date."

"Thank you."

"I'll see myself out."

He walked out of the kitchen, stopping in the living room long enough to give Philip a hug and kiss goodbye, then he quietly left the apartment. He leaned against the door for a long minute. He had expected her to go completely hysterical at his news, but instead she had taken it with much more class and grace than he had expected. He had also expected a fight when he told her he wanted Philip to be the ring bearer. He wasn't surprised when she didn't ask who his bride to be was.

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number as he walked toward the elevator. He heard the female voice answer the phone.

"Hi, it's me. Yeah, I told her. "

He listened and pushed the elevator button.

"Better than I thought she would. She's okay with Philip being the ring bearer, but she said she won't be at the wedding."

The elevator arrived and he stepped inside. "Yeah. Yeah, I will. Ok. Take care."