Part 5

Disclaimer: As usual any characters that are recognizable are not mine. I just like to take them out to play for a while!

Marcus approached Stephanie the next morning. "Hey Steph, can we talk? I have been wanting to have a conversation for a while, but I just wasn't sure how to approach it."

"You know you can talk to me about anything Marcus. What is it?" Stephanie sat giving him her full attention.

Rubbing a hand through his hair nervously Marcus started. "I am just going to jump right in please let me finish before you say anything." He ran through the whole story of how his brother had stored sperm in case anything happened to him, the clinic's mistake, the letter, and how Alex was a tiny clone of his brother. Afterward he handed her the letter from the clinic.

"That is a lot to take in. I can understand how you were not sure how to approach it. I am so sorry for what happened to him. I can only imagine the anxiety of knowing you might have a child out there and having no idea what their life is like. Can I see the photo?" Stephanie reached out with shaking hands to take the photo and letter.

"Wow if i didn't know any better I would say this is a photo of Alex!"

"I know." Marcus laughed relieved this was going well.

"Is he going to grow up half as handsome as I think he is?" Stephanie teased.

Marcus didn't answer, instead pulling out his phone and pulling up a picture of his brother and handing it to her. "Holy crap I am going to have to beat the women off with a stick before he is a teenager aren't I? I guess my question is Marcus what am I supposed to do with this information? I cannot and will not give up my son." Stephanie's tone became deadly serious.

"No! No that is not what anyone is asking here Steph. Carlos only wants to know if Alex is his, and to be a part of his life." Marcus answered quickly.

"I am willing to do that Marcus I would never deny him a father that wants to be there, but my life is here now. I love this place and I don't think I could permanently move back to Trenton."

"We will take things one step at a time. No one is going to ask you to move or give up Alex or your home I promise. If Carlos tries something you don't like I will knock some sense into him for you." Marcus reassured her praying his brother would have the sense not to push things.

"Alright. I am willing to take Alex to have the dna test done, and if Carlos is his father I am willing to meet him and go from there." Stephanie blew out a long breath.

"That is all we can as for Steph. Thank you so much." Marcus grabbed her into a crushing hug.

"Marcus.. Need to breathe." Stephanie squeaked out.

"Oh! Sorry Steph." Marcus let her go immediately. "We are booked to fly out tomorrow morning, do you have everything set?"

"Other than figuring out how to keep Alex quiet and calm on a four hour flight absolutely. I am debating dosing him with benadryl and carrying him on the flight. I have heard so many horror stories about taking kids on planes." Stephanie laughed.

"He is a very well behaved child besides I have a plan for that.." Marcus held out a brand new gameboy with a few games.

Stephanie laughed, "You spoil him rotten!"

"Blood or not that boy is my nephew so I have the right to spoil him rotten."

Carlos breathed a sigh of relief reading his brothers email that the woman had agreed to the dna test. Not only that but to allow him to be a part of his sons life with the hard line that she would not move or give up custody. That was understandable and he more than had the means to go see them as often as he wanted. In face he had been debating on buying a jet for the company, and this solidified his plans. His brother had sent a new photo with the news and this one included Alex's mother. The woman was stunning with flowing brown curls with a hint of auburn and big blue eyes that his son had inherited from her. The attraction was instant but he wasn't sure that complicating that relationship was a good idea.

They would arrive in Trenton tomorrow all five of them and he planned to be the one to pick them up in one of the company suvs. He had already helped Frank to plan a dinner reservation for a room at his family's restaurant. Now he thought he might also attend this dinner because he wanted to get to know the mother of his son. There was no question in his mind that Alex was his, but he did not want to push Stephanie.

"Ella I need to convert the office in the penthouse to a room for a six year old boy, and I need it done in the next two days." Carlos had no doubts whatsoever that Alex was his son and he planned to be prepared.

Ella didn't say a word, smiling as she left to handle his request. There would be a child to spoil rotten soon she had plans to make and baking to do. While she had the men moving the furniture out of the office, taking some space in the overly large living area to set up a desk for Carlos to work at, she ordered furniture to be delivered. Reaching out to Marcus she found that the boy loved video games and anything Mario brothers. The walls were painted a sky blue with images from the game and a rug she found that looked like one of the little mushrooms in the game that gave some sort of power up.

Stephanie wrung her hands nervously as they got closer to landing in Trenton. She knew that Marcus wouldn't let anything happen she didn't want when it came to his brother, but she had never had to face the idea of sharing her son this way. It was a lot to take in, in a short amount of time. She startled when Astryd's hand rubbed her arm gently so as not to disturb Alex sleeping in her arms.

"It's going to be alright Steph, get out of your own head and just take things one step at a time." Astryd murmured.

Once they had landed it didn't take long for Carlos to find them; it seemed like people just moved out of his way instead of fighting the crowd as she always had. She went completely still as she took in the man and the powerful grace with which he moved, feeling her entire body heat and her skin begin to tingle. Marcus and Ben had their bags well in hand so Carlos took the sleeping Alex from Stephanie, his other arm automatically going around her sending heat through her body.

"You guys must be tired, let's get you to the restaurant for something to eat and I have set up 2 apartments in my building for you to stay during your stay." Carlos automatically took charge of the group.

Stephanie looked at him oddly. "I thought we had rented a flat for our stay."

"Marcus told me he was going to and I offered. My building is secure and your father is living there as well. If it makes you uncomfortable other arrangements.." Carlos started.

"No, no that is fine I was just unaware. Thank you so much for hosting us at the last minute like this. I hope we didn't put anyone out." Stepanie stammered a blush heating her face. The man had way too much of an effect on her she would need to watch herself.

Stephanie blinked tiredly as they made the short drive to the restaurant to meet her father for dinner. Astryd elbowed her in the side, jostling her. "That was some heat coming off of the two of you Steph the chemistry is off the charts."

"Hush before he hears you! I just met the man!"

"I don't hear a denial." Astryd teased.

"I can't deny that there was an instant attraction there, but we don't live here Astryd and I don't want to make things complicated for Alex. Hell the dna test is really a formality at this point they are practically twins if Alex hadn't inherited my blue eyes." Stephanie kept her voice low.

"Hell I'd let that man complicate my life if I were single." Astryd laughed unrepentantly.

"Right her Ash." Ben mumbled.

"Sorry love." Astryd leaned over to kiss him.

Stephanie was saved from further awkwardness by their arrival at the restaurant. Carlos pulled up parking at the door and moving around to open the door for her as she unbuckled Alex who clung to her sleepy and whiny at being woken up. She hushed him, her hand running along his back as she murmured in Spanish to him as he clung like a monkey with his legs wrapped around her waist.

Frank rushed forward to meet them . "Pumpkin it is so wonderful to see you. Thank you for making the trip home and being willing to connect with me."

"I am willing to try dad but I will not take any abuse." Stephanie leaned into the awkward hug his father wrapped her and Alex in. "Daddy this is your grandson Carlos Alejandro Mazur we call him Alex."

"Hey there Alex, do you think you could come over here and give your old grandpa a hug?" Frank held out his arms.

Alex looked at his mom for a moment, and getting her nod of approval leaned over transferring to Frank's arms. "Hola Abuelo tengo hambre, ¿ podemos comer ahora?"

"Sorry dad, we are a multilingual household. Alex speak Italian or English with grandpa."

"Sorry grandpa! I'm hungry, let's eat!" Everyone laughed as they entered the restaurant chatting amiably. Stephanie sat between Carlos and her father with Alex firmly planted in her fathers lap loving being the center of attention. Stephanie shivered everytime Carlos brushed her in some way. If she didn't know any better she would swear he was doing it on purpose.

"Please order anything you like. The meal is my treat this is my family's restaurant and they are very proud of it." Carlos announced.

"You know our uncle won't allow you to pay anyway!" Marcus laughed.