Note: I'm back after a loooong hiatus due to family health issues and focusing on my published books. Each chapter will be a short one-shot that may or may not be related to previous ones. I can't say if I'll be consistent in posting, but when I have time, I will write several ideas I have. I hope to finish my previously hanging story, Hide & Seek (sorry, but I didn't have enough hours in the day to do everything I wanted)

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"Are you sure this isn't an imposition?" Stella peered at Sonny, worried she leaned too heavily on him. Sonny had his own life and shouldn't be dropping things at a mere phone call when her babysitter called in sick.

"No way. Me and the crawling commando will have a great time." Sonny grinned as he peeked into the playpen, where Brian sat playing with his plastic blocks.

Stella smiled. Sonny continued to give Brian nicknames, just as he had done with Clay. It both warmed her heart and made her sad. "Well, alright. I'll be back as soon as the lecture is done."

"Take your time. Go for coffee after and relax a bit. I'll be here. No chance of me being spun up yet." He waved his casted forearm … the price of having a rookie who screwed up in training … thank God it wasn't a real mission or he might be dead and unable to fulfill his last promise to Clay.

Picking up Brian and giving him a hug and kiss, Stella said, "Be good for Uncle Sonny. Mommy will be back soon." She got a sloppy kiss from her little boy and embraced him again before setting him on the floor. She hated using the playpen, but sometimes she had to when she needed to corral her active and inquisitive child who took after Clay in so many ways. She doubted the pen would hold him much longer. He liked to pull himself up and would likely learn to climb out of it soon.

As Stella exited, Sonny joined Brian on the floor. "Well, kiddo, it's just us for a few hours. What do you want to do?"

Brain crawled to his favorite uncle, smiling and drooling as a new tooth was coming in. His little fist clutched Sonny's sleeve, and he pulled himself up to his feet as he babbled.

"Standing it is." But then Sonny's mind hit upon something he read in one of the many baby books when Leann was born and merged with thoughts of Clay's determination to stand on his own after losing his leg. He ticked off the months, and a grin grew. "Hey, Champ, I got an idea."

Sonny shifted to his knees while simultaneously switching Brian's grasp to his hand. "Okay, little buddy, we're gonna see how many seconds you can stand on your own. Don't worry, I'll catch you if you fall … just like I did your daddy."

Prepared to catch Brian, Sonny let go and counted, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, wow, you're strong. Thirteen, fourteen." He continued until Brian's little legs began to wobble. When his knees started to bend, Sonny made good on his promise, keeping Clay's son from plopping to the carpet. "Excellent for a first try. Let's rest a bit, and then you can go again."

Expecting the ten-month-old to stay down, the determined look, one Sonny recognized matched Clay's, took root on Brian's face as the scamp grabbed onto his shirt and pulled himself up again, then surprisingly let go. He laughed, remembering Clay's drive. Brian certainly was a chip off the old block. "Okay, I guess you're ready to practice being a Webble. Remember, they wobble, but they don't fall down."

For the next hour, they repeated the pattern of Brian pulling himself up, Brian letting go, Sonny counting, and Sonny catching his brother's son until the tyke was tuckered out. Instead of putting the little guy in his bed, Sonny chose to hold Brian in his lap as the tow-headed boy with a riot of curls napped.

Stella returned an hour and a half later, having taken Sonny's suggestion to take a short break. She had gone to the coffee shop she and Clay frequented and bought his favorite scone to share with Brian for dessert tonight. Entering the apartment, she grinned when she spotted Sonny and Brian sacked out together.

Somedays, she felt she relied too much on him but was eternally thankful Clay's brother always seemed to be here when she needed him. Likewise, Jason, Ray, Trent, and Brock could be counted on in a pinch. They hadn't abandoned her after Clay was senselessly killed by the trigger-happy security guard. It was one reason she decided to stay in Virginia. They were role models she wanted in Brian's life.

Sonny stirred when he heard Stella's keys jangle as she set them on the counter. He opened his eyes and asked, "So, how was the lecture, Professor?"

"Good. How was Brian?"

Sonny transferred the still-sleeping boy to the pillow beside him, noted the time, stood, and joined Stella at the island. "Excellent. Glad you took some time for yourself."

Profound grief crossed her face as a brief thought of what life would be like if Clay was still here flittered through her mind.

"Hey, there," Sonny reached out and pulled Stella into a hug.

Stella clung to him for a moment but then steeled her spine, pasted on a smile, and pushed back. She was stronger than she ever imagined, and she would hold it together.

Sonny peered into her sad eyes as he said, "I'll be here to catch you if you fall."

Tears welled, and Stella swiped them away. "I know, and I appreciate it."

A sound from the common area drew their attention. Stella's jaw dropped as she stared at Brian who stood on his own.

Sonny grinned. "Guess he wanted to show his mama what he achieved today. His best time was five minutes."

"Five?"

"Yep."

Then to the shock of both adults, Brian took his first steps. When he began to fall, as promised, Sonny was there to catch him … and always would be.