He loved the Tuscan villa-style home that sat in a private setting away from the road. No one knew he was there unless they drove down the long driveway that took them to the beautiful home. The backyard was probably one of his favorite things about the home. It had two patios, a huge in-ground pool, a pool house, and a really nice grotto. He also had a big field that at first he was annoyed with but now he figured he and Aiden could go out and play soccer, or have Aiden’s birthday parties there.

The house he once was annoyed with was now something he was glad he had.

Aiden jumped out the truck and ran to the back to get his equipment. Lucas followed behind him, grabbing out his bag before handing it to Aiden. Aiden leaned to the side from the weight of the bag and Lucas chuckled as he grabbed his own bag and their sticks. As they walked towards the back door, Aiden stopped at Lucas’ 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, and looked up at Lucas, smiling.

“That’s a pretty car,” Aiden said, and Lucas laughed.

“Yup, it’s a special car,” he said with a smile. He had gotten the Charger because it was what Fallon used to drive. He had loved that car, and the things they had done in it. Having his own reminded him of the times him and Fallon shared.

Aiden nodded his head. “It's really shinny.”

“Yeah, maybe we’ll go for a ride later?” Lucas asked and when Aiden gazed up at Lucas with excitement in his eyes, Lucas grinned.

God, he loved this kid.

“So we can’t go in the house yet? Aiden asked as they went through the back door to the hall that led upstairs or to the hockey rink.

“Not yet, they should be cleaned up and gone by lunch, so I figured we would play for a couple hours and then head up.”

“Cool, I wanna see the inside of this huge house.”

Lucas smiled. “Is it too big?”

“I thought so at first, but Mom said you like things big,” Aiden giggled, causing Lucas to laugh.

“Your mom is right on that one,” Lucas said as he led Aiden into the ice rink. When Aiden took in a sharp breath, Lucas smiled.

“You do like big things!”

Lucas laughed again and threw his bag down as Aiden did the same. His eyes were wide as they looked around the rink, and Lucas felt good that he had impressed Aiden. He wanted Aiden to think his house was cool because the following day, Fallon and Lucas were going to tell him about Lucas being his dad. Even though Levi was extremely against telling Aiden without the paternity papers, Lucas felt good about it. There was no doubt that Aiden was his, plus Fallon wouldn’t lie to him.

Hide a child? Yes. Lie? No.

Lucas shook his head as if he was shaking the thought away and started pulling his equipment out the way Aiden was. After getting Aiden dressed, Lucas started to get dressed as he watched Aiden try to skate out onto the ice. It was one of the funniest things Lucas had ever seen — Aiden would skate an inch and then fall down, get right back up and fall again. Lucas tried not to laugh but it was so hard, and he almost fell off the bench laughing at one point. Aiden had fallen so hard that his stick and gloves flew off.

“Are you laughing at me?” Aiden asked as he lay down with his face against the ice.

“Not at you bud, with you,” Lucas laughed as he stood up after lacing up his skates.

“I’m not laughing.”

Lucas let out a gut-busting laugh before going onto the ice and skating around Aiden’s little body. He skated around the rink a couple times while Aiden stood up, getting his balance. He looked over at Lucas as Lucas skated over to him, stopping in front of him.

“Alright bud, it’s all in the way you move your feet. Left, right, left, right,” Lucas said, showing Aiden with his own feet.

“Okay,” Aiden said nervously as he tried to throw his stick away but Lucas grabbed it, shaking his head.

“No, bud, keep the stick. It helps with your balance.” Aiden nodded and looked up at Lucas with a nervous look but excitement in his eyes. “Okay, I’ll skate in front of you. Let’s go.”

“You’re gonna skate backwards?”

“Yeah,” Lucas said with a grin.

“That’s so cool,” Aiden gushed as he put his stick down and started skating. Lucas probably encouraged Aiden a little too much as they skated, but he wanted him to be confident. Lucas would probably tell the kid anything as long as it gave him the confidence he needed.

Hell, Lucas would say and do anything for Aiden.

“Alright, I’m going to time you,” Lucas said after watching Aiden skate around the rink a couple times. Once he got his feet right, he was flying. Lucas was having a hard time keeping his cool — even at the age of 30 he was on the edge of jumping up and down while yelling out how proud of Aiden he was. The kid was spectacular.

“Time me?”

“Yeah, let’s see how long it takes you to get around the rink.”

“How fast are you?” Aiden asked moving his helmet up so he could look up at Lucas.

Lucas grinned widely as his cheeks warmed. “I’m a little fast.”

“How fast?”

“Wanna time me?”

Aiden grin grew as he nodded his head. “Yeah! Ready set go!”

Lucas took off and in no time was back to Aiden just as he said, “14.”

“You’re really fast,” Aiden said with awe in his eyes.

“Yup, that’s why I have a big house and a nice car. The NHL likes fast,” Lucas said breathing deeply.