"Guys they're here," Brian pointed out Nick at the hostess stand.

"Who is it?" AJ asked squinting his eyes.

"I can't see her yet," Kevin replied.

We walked to where the table was and sat down.

"I don't believe it," Brian smiled at me.

"Hi Laney," Howie smirked.

"Idiot!" AJ hit him with his menu, "This is Ali, can't you tell?"

"Well, yeah, but you guys said it was definitely Laney coming," Howie said
innocently.

"Sorry to disappoint you guys, but yes its me, Ali" I replied at Nick pushed my seat in for me.

"Its nice to see you again," Kevin smiled.

"Likewise," I replied. Dinner was going really well. When we were almost
ready to leave Nick excused himself to the restroom.

"Al, I really didn't expect you to take Nick back," Brian told me.

"Me either, but it just feels right," I replied.

"Just be careful," he smiled slightly. I nodded and took a sip of my water.

"Well, I'm glad its you and not Laney, she was such a bitch," AJ commented.

"Could we maybe not talk about Laney? It still kinda hurts," I said quietly looking at the table.

"Oh, sorry Al," AJ said as Nick walked back.

"So, how are Kat and Turn? We still haven't gotten to meet them," Kevin
changed the subject.

"They're great. They haven't forgotten about you guys," I replied.

"Why don't you guys come over tomorrow and see them?" Nick offered.

"That would be great," I commented.

"Okay, tomorrow afternoon, Al's house," Nick decided. They all agreed.

"Nick, we better get going, Mare needs to be home by ten. Its a school night for her," I announced.

"Mare?" Brian spoke up.

"Yep, and she's still single," I replied hoping he was interested.

"She's a total babe Bri, I think you better go after her before she's taken," Nick added. I wrote her number down just incase he wanted to call her.

"Bye guys," we left.

Nick pulled into my driveway. We started up the sidewalk to go in, but I
turned around and stopped him.

"Nick, don't stay over tonight," I advised, "Hunter, Turn, and Kat just need one more night without you being here. Today changed all of our lives and I don't think they can handle all of that," I explained.

"Are you saying I can't see my own son?" he asked.

"Only for tonight. You'll see him tomorrow," I said worried he'd get mad.

"I think it would be better if I did stay. What's it going to look like to Hunt if his mom and dad didn't stay in the same house?" he asked slightly angry.

"It'll look the same as the last 3 years," I said a little snobbish, "Besides, you're not on Turn's favorite list yet."

"Well, he has to learn. I'm here to stay now. Al, he needs discipline," he replied.

"Don't tell me how to raise him, or any of the other kids," I started.

"Al, lets not fight. I don't want to cause problems, but those are going to be my kids soon. One of them already is. I just want to be a good father," he
explained. He kissed me softly.

"Okay, I have a solution. You take Turn tonight and see what happens. I agree he needs to learn that you're here to stay, but not while Kat or Hunt are around. He tries to act tough infront of them," I reasoned.

"Deal," he smiled.

"Lets go inside," I opened the door and Hunter ran into Nick's arms crying.

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I"ll go get Turn ready," I whispered and left.

"Turn hit me," he sobbed.

"Let me see where," Nick said softly. Hunter pulled his sleeve up. There
was a huge bruise, "Oh my god," he whispered, "Are you sure its from Turn? You didn't just fall?"

"No, he hit me. He said I was a constant reminder of you. I don't know what that means, but its gotta be bad," he cried.

"Where was Mary during all this?" Nick asked taking him in the family
room and sitting on the couch.

"Fixing our dinner," he said simply.

"He's all ready," I came in bring a duffel bag. Turn followed me quietly.

"Turn, did you hit your brother?" Nick asked standing up.

"I don't have a brother, I have a brat who's gunna turn out like his dad," he replied angry.

"Turner Lee Smith, did you hit your brother?" I asked him angry. He just
shrugged, "Turn, he's only 3. He doesn't know what goes on. And if you hit
him he's going to think its okay to hit people," I explained kneeling infront of him.

"His dad hit you, a lot. Worse than what I did," he said innocently. I looked back at Nick with a blank face.

"Where did you hear that from?" I asked.

"It was in an old book of yours on your shelf," he said like he'd done nothing wrong.

"You mean my diary," I corrected.

"Yeah," he shrugged.

"Okay, well Nick, I think its about time you two get out of here," I stood up. I handed Nick the duffel bag and picked Hunter up.

"Daddy told me today he didn't hit you," Hunter said confused.

"He didn't sweety, don't worry about it. Now isn't it bedtime?" I asked changing the subject.

"Can daddy tuck me in tonight?" he whispered in my ear.

"Yeah, Nick? He wants you to put him in bed," I handed him over. Him and Nick headed upstairs to his room.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit him. We were watching a movie and
he just reminds me of Nick so much and for a second I saw him sitting there so I hit him. I'm sorry," Turn cried.

"On, honey," I picked him up, "Its okay, I understand. Don't cry."

"I don't want to stay with Nick. He'll hit me, like he did to you," he said worried.

"Turn, that was a long time ago. He didn't even mean to. See he has this
problem where if he drinks too much of this certain kind of drink, he gets
angry. Nick never drinks that kind of stuff anymore. So he won't hurt you or me anymore, don't worry," I explained, "Give him a chance, he's really sorry for last time, and he really wants to be your dad."

"I'll try it," he sighed.

"Okay, Hunt's asleep, you ready Turn?" Nick asked coming downstairs

.
"Yeah," he said as I put him down.

"I"ll have him back at ten," Nick said pulling me into his arms.

"Okay," I smiled. He kissed me gently and hugged me tighter than ever.

"I'm gunna have a present for you tomorrow," he whispered in my ear.

"I don't want one," I whispered back.

"Same old Ali," he laughed as he pulled away.

"Well, I don't," I smiled innocently.

"We have a lot to talk about," he replied and stoked my hair.

"Tomorrow," I said noticing Turn was feeling out of place.

"Don't cook tomorrow morning, I'll bring something over," he said as Turn
picked his bag up and let himself out.

"Don't be hard on him if he gets out of control. He's having a hard time and its 10 sharp tomorrow, he's got a voice trainer coming over at 10:30," I said motherly.

"Okay, seeya tomorrow," he kissed me again, "Love you." Those words sent
chills all over me.

"Love you too," I said weakly.

"Bye," he smiled and left.

"Ohmigosh, Mare!" I said to myself. I found her in the game room.

"Hey Al," she smiled.

"I'm back, you can on home. Here," I said handing her 40 dollars, "That's
for the little squabble between the boys. Take care," I smiled.

"Thanks," she smiled and got up. Mare drove herself home.

"Time for bed," I sighed lying on the couch. I was so tired I fell asleep right there.