Ten years later…
- Hello Bobby...
At that voice, so dear to his heart, Goren's heart stopped.
No.
It couldn't be.
It couldn't be her.
It had been ten years since she'd said goodbye.
And she'd changed her identity.
So it wasn't possible for her to be there, in front of him, and especially not here, at Homicide.
- You don't say hello...
At this anxious voice, Goren looked up from his file to see an Eames standing there, a small smile on her lips, seated at her desk.
My God...
But it was his imagination playing tricks on him.
Eames couldn't be there.
His mind was playing tricks on him, he who so longed to see her again.
And yet...
That beloved face, those big hazel eyes she was gazing into, told him it was true.
- You've come back...
Eames nodded.
Yes.
She had returned.
The FBI had succeeded in breaking up and arresting the members of the Russian mafia who had sought to kill her.
And so, nothing had stopped her from returning, resuming her true identity, resuming her normal life, and also, her place at Homicide.
And today, there she was, in front of a Goren who still couldn't believe it, looking at her as if she were an illusion.
- Yes... I'm back.
She had come back...
So that meant Eames was safe, and the members of the Russian mafia who wanted him dead had been arrested.
My God...
Goren still couldn't believe it.
It was all so wonderful.
The woman he loved was back, and she was going to team up with him again, if that's what he understood.
And to think, he had so hoped to see her again, unable to forget that night they had spent together.
And today, there she was in front of him.
- Bobby... Eames lowered her eyes, her cheeks pink and shy, not daring to look at him. There's someone I want you to meet.
Eames had to introduce him to someone...
At his words, Goren's joy faded and his heart sank.
No.
It couldn't be possible.
Eames was finally standing in front of him, and she had to introduce him to someone.
So that meant she'd made a life for herself.
But how could she blame him.
But Goren had thought she meant something.
He'd thought Eames had also felt something strong that night they'd slept together.
But he'd been wrong.
If he hadn't let her go, and run off with her, she'd never have made a new life for herself, and would have stayed with him forever.
Or so he thought.
But Eames hadn't promised her anything, hadn't told her he loved her.
So maybe he'd have done it for nothing.
- Bobby... He lifted his gaze to hers, forced himself to smile. I want you to know this person. He nodded gravely. You absolutely must know him.
Very well, then.
To please Eames, he would agree to get to know this person.
But Eames couldn't ask him for more.
Otherwise, he'd end up going crazy.
- Very well... I'd like to get to know this person.
From the resigned look on Goren's face, Eames understood that it wasn't going to be easy to introduce him to the person she wanted him to meet, but above all, the person he needed to know.
But she was sure that when he got to know this person, he would no longer have this resigned air.
But on the other hand, maybe he'd resent her.
But Eames couldn't help it.
- So tonight... I'll introduce you.
Tonight...
So soon.
Couldn't Eames see that he was already upset about seeing her again.
So the idea of her introducing him to her partner…
- Bobby... This is Nathan... Eames pushed the little boy with the ebony curls in front of her, who must have been nine at the most. Your son.
Pardon...
His son.
Goren struggled to hear.
Nathan couldn't be her son.
He couldn't be.
And yet...
Thinking back to the night he'd spent with Eames, they hadn't protected each other, and that could be entirely possible.
But how...
And why.
This little boy, looking up at him with rosy cheeks and big, shy hazel eyes, had come from that one night he'd spent with Eames, and he was her son.
But why hadn't Eames tried to contact him to tell him he had a son?
But Goren already knew the answer.
It was impossible, and she couldn't.
If she had contacted him, she would have jeopardized her cover, and she would have risked her life, and that of their son.
And for that reason, Goren couldn't blame him.
- So you're my daddy.
At the little boy's question, Goren snapped out of his thoughts to see him staring at him, his big hazel eyes shining with hope.
My God...
His eyes...
That color.
Nathan had inherited his mother's eyes.
And even in his expressions, it was all Eames.
But Goren didn't know what to say to his son.
Nor what to do.
He'd expected Eames to introduce him to his partner, not his son.
So he didn't know how to behave.
And above all, he didn't want to hurt this child.
- Nathan... Eames crouched down to her son's level and turned him toward her. Your dad didn't know he was going to meet you. She brought her hand to his ebony curls, stroking them affectionately. And as you can see... Eames looked up at Goren, who was watching them, not daring to move. He was speechless with surprise. She turned her attention back to her son, giving him a big smile. But he's a real chatterbox.
Nathan turned to the tall man who was his father.
Was it true...
Was his father a real chatterbox.
- It's true that you're a real chatterbox too.
Chatty, him.
Yes and no.
But not at the moment, he was far from talkative.
In fact, he was rather mute.
And how could he not be.
When you were introduced to your son, and didn't even know you had one.
- Bobby...
Eames stood up and came to stand behind his son, placing his small hands on Nathan's shoulders, who looked up at his mother.
- Nathan didn't dare make the first move.
Goren understood from Eames' words that she was asking him to take the first step with his son.
So he moved towards Nathan, and when he reached him, his fingers trembling, he put his hand to his ebony curls and stroked them hesitantly.
- I'm glad to know you, son.
Nice to know him…
Was it true...
Was his dad really happy to know him?
He looked so embarrassed in front of him.
But Nathan had to admit that he was too.
So it was quite possible that his daddy was happy to know him.
- I'm glad to finally meet my dad too. Mom told me so much about you.
Was it true...
Had Eames really told her son about him?
And especially, as much as her son told her.
Thinking of his son, Goren smiled.
Nathan really did seem like a nice boy.
And thanks to his son, Eames wasn't alone.
And for that, he had him to thank.
- So you looked after your mother.
At his father's words, Nathan raised his chest and nodded proudly.
- Yes. He turned to his mother and looked at her, his big hazel eyes shining with admiration. I was the man of the house. He turned his face from his mother to his father. At last before...
At last before...
Good God…
Goren had to make Nathan understand that he would need time to adapt, and that for the time being, he would remain the man of the house.
Goren couldn't be with Eames and his son for the time being.
More importantly, he couldn't undertake anything without Eames' agreement.
And first of all, would Eames want him in her life?
Just because she'd slept with him ten years ago and had a child with him didn't mean she wanted him.
- Nathan... You'll always be the man of the house.
What do you mean, Nathan.
He would always be the man of the house.
Didn't his father want to live with him and his mother.
- You don't want to live with us...
At the sadness in his son's words, and painted on his face, Goren felt his heart clench.
It wasn't that he didn't want to live with them.
But how could they live together, if Eames didn't love him, and didn't want him in his life.
Goren couldn't risk all three of them being unhappy.
- It's not that I don't want to live with you...
- But then why…
Good God...
Eames had to intervene and fast.
She could see that Goren was uncomfortable, and she felt, too, that her son's continued insistence that Goren didn't want to live with them would hurt him.
But how could she blame Goren.
He'd never promised her anything that night.
And just because they'd slept together, and a child had been born, didn't mean they loved each other.
Besides, knowing you had a son without ever having known him must have been pretty powerful news.
- Nathan... Your father needs time... He just found out about you.
So that was it.
It was because his father didn't know him.
And he needed time to get to know him.
It had nothing to do with the fact that he didn't love his mother, or himself.
- When he gets to know you... Maybe he'll come and live with us.
When he gets to know his son…
Perhaps he would come and live with them.
Yes and no.
Eames couldn't tell her son, give him hope, that his father would come to live with them.
Besides, Eames didn't know exactly how Goren felt about her.
And she didn't know if he had the desire to come and live with them.
So it was better to give him time.
And above all, to make Nathan understand.
- Do you understand Nathan...
Nathan nodded.
Yes.
Nathan understood what his mother was trying to tell him.
So he would be patient.
Just until his father got used to the situation.
- I'd wait.
At Nathan's word, Goren felt his heart beat with infinite love for his son.
He had understood his son's desire to be recognized as such, and to be accepted by him as his son.
And Goren could only love him for it.
When he got to know his son well, he would reflect on the situation between him and Eames.
And then he'd see whether or not he'd come to live with them.
