trigger warning. Mentions of abuse. Not graphic. Just implied."*

Carnival date

Elizabeth giggled as she and Lucas wandered around the carnival. A woman of thirty four years old didn't normally giggle, or at least she didn't, but the man made her feel ten years younger.

"We could ride the ferris wheel again," he suggested, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I think five times is good. Not that kissing you for an hour on the ferris wheel wasn't enjoyable."

It was only about thirty minutes but whatever. Each time their seat came back to the bottom to be let off, Lucas handed the guy more tickets and they stayed on and kissed. A lot. Which also made her feel not only ten years younger but also light headed. In a good way.

"Enjoyable?"

"Mm." She laughed as her face turned red and he squeezed her side.

"Can I ask you something, Beth?"

"Always."

"How many kids do you see yourself having?"

"I want to carry a baby. After my divorce, I didn't think that would happen and I tried to be okay with just adopting. Adopting is amazing and I love Nora so much, but I want to experience a pregnancy."

He nodded. She took his hand that was on her hip and weaved their fingers together. "Lucas, I don't have a set number. I just know that when all is said and done, I want to carry a baby."

"I understand."

"Would you be okay with starting from scratch?" she wondered.

"Yes. I didn't think I'd have a partner to raise my family with either so I adopted on my own. I see the possibility now though and raising a child from a newborn made from that loving and committed relationship…yeah, that sounds perfect."

She nodded and kissed him quickly. She knew they were both speaking in generalities on purpose but she hoped he saw her as that potential partner or possibility. She saw him that way.

"Oh! I want to try a deep-fried snickers. Let's get one!"

She dragged him to the line and they stood there, hand in hand. "Lucas?"

They both turned and Lucas stood motionless. A blonde woman with a five or six year old boy hiding behind her stood there.

"Um, Crystal?"

"Your Crystal?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Used to be."

"Lucas. You look good."

"What are you doing here, Crystal?"

"Its a free country. Am I not allowed to take my son to the carnival?"

"You don't live here, Crystal."

Crystal crossed her arms and frowned.

Lucas squeezed Elizabeth's hand and she squeezed back.

"So you are….?" Crystal asked Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth."

"And you're dating my hus…"

"I'm not your anything, Crystal."

"Next!" the deep fried snickers vendor called. Elizabeth stepped forward and ordered and then paid, leaving Lucas for just a quick moment.

"Hi," the little boy said, peeking around his mom and waving at Lucas. Apparently he had decided he wasn't shy anymore.

"Hi, bud."

"My name is not bud. Its Kyle."

"Hi, Kyle."

"I'm six."

Lucas raised his eyebrows and looked at his ex-wife. "Six. Wow."

"You don't get to judge, Lucas," Crystal told him.

"Have a good day. Enjoy the carnival, Kyle."

"Thanks!"

Lucas walked over to Elizabeth who collected her snickers and they walked off. Lucas was stiff and not smiling anymore and Elizabeth understood that. Too bad this happened tonight. It was going so perfectly.

"Do you want to leave?" she asked, taking his hand before he shoved it in his pocket.

"No. I just need a minute. I don't understand why she's here."

"Where is she from?"

"Last I knew, she still lived in Portsmouth. Unfortunately my mom thinks I need to know that information."

"Maybe she just wanted to see where you lived. If you're doing well."

"She doesn't care about me, Beth. She never did. All she cares about is herself."

"I'm sorry, Luke."

He sighed and let go of her hand, putting it back around her waist and giving her that lovely temple kiss. "I'm sorry. We are on a date. I don't want anything to come in between us tonight."

"It won't." She smiled. "Why don't we go ride the ferris wheel again?"

"Your wish is my command."

…..

Over by the kiddie rides

"Who was that man, Mommy?" Kyle asked.

"That man was my husband."

"Why doesn't he live with us?"

"He will, Kyle. He will."

"So I'll have a Daddy like all of my friends?"

"Yep!"

"Awesome!"

…..

Later

Lucas drove into the driveway of Elizabeth's house and put the car in park. "I'm sorry, Beth."

"Please don't apologize. You didn't know she was going to be there."

"She just ruined my mood and I feel stupid that I let her have that kind of control over me. Still. After almost seven years."

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"Lucas, thank you for tonight. Really. Up until that point, our afternoon and evening were perfect."

"I wanted it to be."

"It was." She leaned over toward him and of course he met her halfway, wanting that comfort, needing her assurance that his ex hadn't ruined everything.

"Should we go in?" she asked. All three of their children were inside with Vi who thankfully was feeling better.

"Sure."

He got out and walked around to her side, pulling her door open and offering his hand. She slipped her fingers into his grasp and smiled. "Thank you, Luke."

"You're welcome, Beth. Thank you for being so understanding."

"The way I see it, that's part of being a good friend or partner."

"You're right. It is. And you aren't just my friend…."

"Nope. I'm not."

"So you're saying…"

"I'd like to be considered a girlfriend at the very least."

"Oh, you definitely deserve that label."

"Thank you, and if we are going to keep going at the speed we are, I think girlfriend is good for now." They stopped just outside her door and she took his other hand too. "Is that what you want?"

"Truthfully, its not what I want, its what I feel I need right now."

She nodded, kissed him again and then opened her front door.

"Dad?" Ace said, rushing to him and hugging his waist.

"Bud, what is it?"

Lucas brushed his hair out of his eyes, making a mental note to take him to get a haircut. The poor guy had tears streaming down his face, his eyes swollen and red.

"Ace?" Lucas picked up his son and held him as tight as he needed him to, rubbing his back to soothe him.

"You came back. I was so scared! You were gone so long, Dad. I thought you were dead. Like in my dream."

Elizabeth walked into the living room to give them a minute and found Vi and the two girls reading a story on the couch.

"Hello."

"Mama!"

Back in the foyer

"Ace, do you remember that we had a talk before Miss Elizabeth and I left? Remember I told you we would be gone for a few hours but that you are safe here with Miss Vi?"

"Yeah, but, Dad. My head made me think that you weren't coming back. I don't want that!"

"I know and I don't want that either."

"Please don't leave me."

"I'm not, bud. Why don't we get your sister and then go home? We can read some more Tom Sawyer and then go to sleep."

"In your room? Please."

"Actually, we are going to try something new."

"I don't want to."

"You might like it, Ace. I will be right there and you will be safe."

"Daddy! Hi! We had so much fun with Miss Vi!" Amie said, skipping into the room.

"Oh good, baby doll. I'm so glad. Why don't you and Ace go get your backpacks and we will go home, alright?"

"Okay."

Elizabeth walked in with Nora.

"Hi, Daddy!" Nora said, clapping her hands and reaching for him.

"Hi there." He took her in his arms for a hug and kissed her forehead. "Love you, sweet pea. I need to go home now. Go see, Mama."

"Kay, Daddy."

Lastly, Lucas went to thank Vi for her babysitting services. "Vi, thank you so much." He tried to hand her a fifty but she waved him off.

"No need. I don't accept money from family."

"We're not…"

"Never say never," she said with a wink. Then she picked up her purse, hugged Elizabeth and walked out the door.

"We got our stuff, Daddy," Amie told him, walking into the room with Ace.

"Okay. Let's say goodnight to Miss Elizabeth."

Ace hugged Elizabeth for an extra long moment and looked up at her. "Goodnight, Miss Elizabeth."

"Goodnight, sweetheart," she told him, kissing the top of this head. "Everything is going to be just fine."

"Promise?"

"I do."

"Okay."

The fact that he took her promise as truth was a step up from just the other day when he didn't realize she was trustworthy.

"Night, Miss Elizabeth," Amie said, hugging her too. "I love you."

Elizabeth kissed the top of her head too. "I love you back."

The older two kids walked out the door to his vehicle, leaving him inside with Nora and Elizabeth.

"Night, Miss Elizabeth," he said with a smile and a wink.

"Night."

He wrapped both her and Nora in a hug. He wanted to say that he loved her but that was so not slow. So the hug and two kisses would have to do.

"Talk to you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

……

Lucas' house

Amie went to bed, no issue, so as soon as Lucas and Ace were ready, Lucas grabbed his pillows and a blanket from his bed and they both walked to Ace's room.

"You're gonna sleep in here?"

"Yep." Lucas wondered if the darkness, even though there were sources of light all over, was what kept Ace from feeling comfortable enough to sleep in here.

As they laid in silence, every so often Lucas would look up from the floor at Ace who was on the bed.

"Its too dark, Dad."

Lucas lifted his hand and reached out to Ace. "Take my hand, bud."

He put his smaller hand in Lucas' grasp. "Do you trust me, Ace?"

"Yes. Don't leave."

"I'm not. I'm going to be here all night."

"Can you turn on the light?"

Lucas got up and flipped the switch. He made a mental note to upgrade the light to a dimmer switch.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Do you know why I don't like the dark?"

"I think I know, but if you'd like to tell me, I'm here to listen."

"My first dad used to do stuff to me. I don't think he did stuff to Amie. But he would come at night."

Rage filled Lucas. "I'm so sorry, bud. That is terrible. No one should ever have to go through that. No woman. No child."

"Yeah."

"I won't ever hurt you."

"I know. You're different. You're nice and you love me."

"I do. Very much. I will protect you."

They didn't say anything else. Before long, Lucas heard the soft snoring of his son so that helped him sleep too.

…..

Saturday morning

Lucas woke up around 6:30 and smiled. Saturday. Saturdays were for pancakes and pajamas and movies.

"Daddy?" Amie whispered from the doorway. "Its Saturday, right?"

"Yep."

"Maybe you should ask Miss Elizabeth and Nora to come over for breakfast. I bet they like them."

That made him smile. "I bet you are right."

"Well, make that call, mister."

"Alright, sassy." Amie giggled and that woke up her brother.

"Amie, shush, I'm trying to sleep."

"But its Saturday!"

"So?"

"So Saturdays mean pj's and pancakes."

"Oh yeah!" Ace sat up, his hair a mess, making Lucas smile again.

"Beth? I hope I'm not calling too early."

"Nope. Having a two year old means no sleeping in."

"So does having a five year old."

"Can you come, Miss Elizabeth?" Amie yelled.

"Come where?"

"How do you and Nora feel about pancakes?"