When he finished he looked up at Lucas. Lucas sat gaping at his child as the words he had been waiting to say were lodge in his throat. Lucas cleared his throat again, and smiled before saying, “Buddy, I love you so much. You don’t need to question that, I just didn’t want to scare you.”

Aiden smiled. Lucas’ eyes started to fill with tears and he begged himself not to let them fall. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing? If his words didn’t scare Aiden, then his actions sure would. All Lucas wanted to do was wrap Aiden up in his arms and hug him tight, telling him how much he loved him over and over again, until Lucas was sure that Aiden would never question that again. Lucas was bursting with love for this child and he hated that Aiden had to question him. He hated that Fallon had let this happen. He knew he should be livid with her but he couldn’t be.

Lucas loved Fallon just as much as he loved Aiden.

“Okay,” Aiden said. Lucas smiled right before he was attacked by him. Aiden wrapped his small little arms around Lucas’ neck, nuzzling his nose into his shoulder as Lucas tried to catch a breath. Lucas slowly wrapped his arms around Aiden, not believing what was happening. He had dreamed of this moment all week, the moment when his son would know that he was his father, and that Lucas loved him with basically everything inside him. It was the most amazing feeling having his boy in his arms. His flesh and blood. All Lucas could think was that his dad had to be proud of him that he had to know that Lucas had done right by Aiden and would forever do right by him for the rest of their lives.

When Aiden pulled back and smiled at Lucas, Lucas felt as if his heart was going to explode. Man, he loved this kid. “Will you dress up as a Ghostbuster for Halloween with me?”

That came out of left field.

Lucas smiled, nodding his head. “Sure, bud. Which one are you going to be?”

“Oh I’m not, I’m gonna be the Marshmallow Man.”

Lucas laughed. “Okay.”

“But you can’t shoot me.”

“Never.”

“Awesome! So I need you to convince Mommy that she needs to be one too. We could go as a family!”

Lucas nodded as he said. “Sounds great to me.”

Because it did, and if Lucas had anything to do with it, they would be a family. All he had to do was convince Fallon it was a good idea.

*********************************

Fallon couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks if she wanted too. She knew she was wrong for listening in on Lucas’ and Aiden’s conversation, but the momma bear in her had to make sure that Aiden was okay. What Fallon didn’t prepare herself for was the emotion that came from Lucas. Hearing him tell his son that he loved Aiden for the first time would forever be burned in Fallon’s brain. It was so heartfelt, so intense that tears streamed down Fallon’s face as she made her way down the stairs. Fallon went to the sink, wetting a napkin before patting her hot skin.

As she looked out the window, Aiden’s and Lucas’ conversation replayed over and over again in her mind while she stood there trying to compose herself.

“That’s up to her. Your mom doesn’t like me most of the time.”

Oh, if only Lucas knew how much she did like him. She was pretty sure that comment would have never left his lips if he knew the truth. It was all just so hard because no matter how much she wanted him, she just couldn’t do it. Fallon continued to tell herself that but her body wasn’t listening. Something needed to happen, maybe she needed to give him the chance, let him back in, but what if he f**ked her over again. Could she do it all over again? The hurt, the betrayal, the depression? Could she? She had Aiden to worry about now, and if she hid him from Lucas then, what would she do now? Lucas had messed her up pretty badly, could she let her heart love him freely again?

“You okay?”

Fallon turned quickly to see Lucas standing by the fridge watching her. Fallon took in a deep breath, nodding her head as she wiped her face. “Fine.”

“You look like you have been crying,” he stated. Fallon shook her head turning back to the sink to continue patting her face.

“I’m fine.”

“Aiden’s cleaning his room and then we can go.”

“Sounds good,” Fallon said. She reached to turn on the faucet when Lucas’ arms came around her middle. He laid his head on her shoulder, pressing his body against hers. Fallon froze against him but when his breath ran along her neck, she relaxed.

Even against her better judgment.

“Why were you crying?”

Fallon shrugged her shoulders. “Come on tell me,” Lucas whispered against her ear before running his nose along her temple. “Were you listening in on us?”

A small smile came across Fallon’s mouth and before she could hide it, he laughed. “You are probably the nosiest person I know, Ms. Parker.”

“He’s my baby,” Fallon countered as she tried to move away, but of course, Lucas wasn’t going to let her.

“Have I told you lately that you are a good mom, Fallon?”

Fallon smiled. “Not today.”

“Well you are. And you know what?”

“What?” she asked as her heart warmed. For some reason, being told that she was a good mom by Lucas made it seem real to her. That was wrong too, because Audrey said it all the time, and Fallon knew she meant it, but hearing Lucas say it just meant something. Fallon had no clue what though.

“You are also a really hot mom.”