Cat and I walked the boards, enjoying the warm sun on our back and the cool ice cream in our mouths. I look down at her and she smiles up at me.

"What?" I ask, unable to keep the grin from spreading across my lips.

Cat shrugs. Her smile holds a secret she appears to be enjoying and she planning on keeping it to herself for the moment.

"Whaat?" I prod.

"Nothing. I just think you're cute is all."

"Thanks, you're pretty cute yourself." I look back over at her and a question that's been needling me for a while pops into my head. "You ever wonder what the baby would look like if, you know ... it was our baby?"

"Peanut is our baby," Cat corrected.

"I know," I say, taking the finished cones and throwing them away in the trash, "but you know what I mean. If you and I ... biologically ..."

"Yes."

I turn back to her. "Really?"

"Sure, haven't you?"

"Yeah," I tell her, "but to be honest, she always ends up like a little version of you."

"You picture us having a girl?" I watch as color flushes her cheeks and I wonder what I may have said to bring on this delightful blush.

"Yes, why?"

Again with the secretive smile. Cat shakes her head no, telling me she refuses to tell, but I persist. "You think about it too, don't you? Us... having a child together." She side glances at me, but she's not saying a word.

I stare straight ahead and grin. "If you were up to it. I would love to have several children with you. I'd love a big family."

Cat stopped walking. So I did as well. I found her shocked expression amusing. It's rare that can I stun Cat into silence.

"Why are you so surprised? I grew up in a loveless home with parents that disapproved of me. I had a brother who for most of his existence resented me. Just spending this short amount of time with your family... being a part of it has shown me what I've missed out on."

Cat scoffs with an unladylike snort. "Puhlease, we are not the example you should strive for. My family has an entire closet full of problems. Don't let this one day fool you into thinking we're this perfect shining example of what a family should be."

"No family is perfect, Cat, but I've experienced enough of what not to do that I think I'd be a pretty great husband and father if given the chance."

Cat grinned at me. "You're not expecting me to disagree with you, are you?" She holds up her hand with the engagement ring and wiggles her fingers. "I didn't say yes just because you're gorgeous, you know. Although, it really didn't hurt your chances."

I laugh and shake my head at her, before reaching out and pulling her close by her waist. "If you find me that attractive, then the idea of having babies with me should be even more appealing. We already know we'd have fun with the trying part," I taunt and something flashes in her eye that curls my toes. Damn, how does she do that with just a look!

But all too soon Cat gets serious on me again and she actually tries to push me away a little. I can't say it didn't hurt. She's been doing it to me a lot lately. She's afraid of something. I just wish I could figure out what.

"Look, I appreciate the mental image, really I do, but let me figure out what kind of Mom I'll be before we fill a house with kids, okay?"

I didn't get it. My face tensed as I frowned. "Cat? Do you really think you'll be a terrible mom?"

"No... yes... I don't know! That's the whole point, isn't it? The not knowing... I'm sure my Dad didn't expect to start out being a bad father, but for most of my life he was... questionable. My mom was a complete non-presence. I love them both, but I don't want to be them."

I take her hands in mine. "We won't be."

She looks up at me, her eyes pleading with me to be careful. "How do you know?"

"Because you may not have chosen this path your now find yourself on but you have chosen time and time again, this baby," I say resting my hand against her stomach. 

"You have fiercely protected this child from Liam, your parents, the hospital, the doctors all who have been telling you to give it up, to walk away, that you could have your life as you knew it back again and each time you've said no to them and yes, to this baby. What could make you a better mom than that?"

Tears filled her eyes and I thumb away the one that escaped. "You've already won Mom of the Year in my book, Cat, and this baby hasn't even arrived yet."

"You're such a jerk sometimes."

"What?" I ask, pulling away from her.

"We're just about to get together with everyone and I'm going to look like an emotional mess," she says, sniffling a bit. "All because you have to go be all wonderful and such."

I grin at her. "Well, I could go back to talking about making babies and get you all hot and bothered instead. If that would help?"

She smacks me in the chest. Her face immediately flushes with color and I chuckle.

"No! That's not helpful." But she's smiling again, even if it's with chagrin.

"Come on." I take her hand in mine. "Dillion is probably waiting for us."

"We need to stop by the car first to pick up the beach stuff," she tells me and I wave my hand for her to lead the way.

We get all the items out of the trunk of the car and meet up with Dillion on the boards.

"I was wondering what was taking you two so long. I thought you might have snuck off to you know... get some alone time in."

"Eww... no!" Cat says, thrusting some beach chairs into her brother's chest.

"What? Is he that bad?" Dillion teases, taking the chairs off of his sister's hands.

"Hey!" I protest, and Dillion laughs.

"No... that's not what I'm saying. I just don't want to think of you thinking of us..." Cat shakes her head like she's trying to remove some disturbing mental image from her brain. "Can we just get to the beach already?"

"Sure, Tiger," Dillion agrees with a teasing twist to his lips.

We find a brilliant spot on the beach which will give us a magnificent view of the sunset, or at least that's what I'm told. I've gathered up some dried-out driftwood for the bonfire while Cat set up the chairs and blankets around the fire pit.

"Where's Dillion?"

Cat points to the ocean and I see this speck bobbing up and down in the water. I wave and the spec waves back. "Couldn't wait to get in, huh?"

"No. Sometimes I think Dillion was a fish in a past life. Me, I'm more of a firebug."

"Is that because you're so hot?" I tease.

Cat gives me a look that spells out "lame" and I laugh. "Okay, not one of my best lines, but I saw the opening, and I took it and I am not ashamed," I tell her, holding my head up high, sticking my nose in the air.

"Dork," Cat giggles and I pretend to look wounded.

"Now my feelings are hurt and I'm afraid you must pay the penalty."

Cat's eyes grow wide, and she immediately takes a defensive position behind a chair. "Alex, don't you dare?"

"Dare? Dare what, Cat?" I ask as I slowly advance on her.

"Don't you dare tickle me!" she demands, and she circles around another chair, looking desperately for a way to escape.

"Tickle you? No, whatever would give you the idea that I'd..."

"Because I know you Alexander Bragin... and don't you even think about it, or I'll... I'll?"

My one eyebrow raised, and I paused a moment to let her try to think of something before announcing, "Too late!" 

I sprinted towards her. She squealed and runs. I capture her just in time to see Olivia and Doug advancing towards us.

"Hey now, don't let me impede whatever this is?" Olivia hollers, grinning.

"Help! Please!" Cat begs, reaching out for her friend as I held her firmly in place around the waist and began tickling her.

"No! No... noooo!" Cat screams, laughing, completely helpless against me. I would normally have her beg for mercy, but since her friends had arrived, I let her go.

"Oh, thank God!" Cat says taking in a few deep breaths. Olivia came over and gave Cat a hug.

"Hmmm... girl, I have missed you."

"Hey, what am I chopped liver?" Doug complains and Olivia waves him off as she continues to hug her best friend.

"Thanks, I'm feeling the love, O."

"O?" Cat repeats, giggling.

Olivia shrugs. "It's his nickname for me. I haven't decided whether or not I like it, but it has potential."

"Oh, really?" Cat lets go and asks, "And do you have any nicknames for Doug?"

"Oh sure," Olivia responds without hesitation, "just none he'd feel comfortable about me repeating in public."

Olivia shoots Doug a knowing look, and Doug actually blushes. Blush on a guy that big looks really out of place. He's an offensive lineman for the school team and so when I say big, I mean big.

"Come on, we set up right over here." Cat takes Olivia's hand and leads her over to our special spot.

"Ooo, great choice for sunset watching! Oh, darn it. I forgot the snacks from the car."

Doug held his hand out for her keys. "I'll go back for them?"

"You're so sweet," Olivia says pulling out her keys and handing them to him. "But hurry back before I miss you." Olivia pulls Doug forward for a kiss and I raise my eyebrow at Cat who giggles in response.

"Hey guys, the water is actually not so ba..." Dillion freezes on the spot and my eyes follow his gaze to where Olivia is standing there kissing Doug. He looks... ill.

Olivia pushes away from Doug and turns to stare at Dillion, who is standing there dripping wet from having just come out of the ocean. "Dillion! Cat didn't mention you were... back."

"Yeah, I returned home during winter break." The two of them stood there staring at one another a moment longer, and an odd tension filled the air.

"I didn't tell you?" Cat says surprised, that she obviously somehow left out this information.

"Why would you?" Olivia says, her eyes turning cold. "Not like it bears any relevance to my life."

I glance at Dillion and see her words hit him with a physical blow. Then realization dawns... Shit! Olivia is the girl, the girl Dillion went to prison for.