“Off Duty Cops, On Duty Dads”

“Now are you sure that you guys will be okay just the four of you up at the lake?” Jean Reed gave her husband and his partner a doubting look. “’Cause Judy and I would be more than happy to come along and help out.” She looked at the redheaded woman who stood beside her and received a nod of agreement.

“Uh, uh.” Her husband, Officer James A. Reed, senior shook his head and exclaimed. “Sorry, no girls allowed. This is Pete’s last weekend as a footloose and fancy free bachelor and we’re going to make the most of it while we can.”

“Gee thanks.” Judy Walters crossed her arms and sent a mock angry look Jim’s way. “That makes me feel really good. One more weekend of fun before the wedding and he’s chained to me forever, huh?”

“Well you know how things are after you get married.” Jim teased back. “No more coming and going as you please. No more spur of the moment fishing trips. No more spending your days off lazing around the house doing whatever you want, putting your feet up on the coffee table and leaving crumbs everywhere.”

Officer Peter J. Malloy, Jim’s partner of five years and the impending groom-to-be rolled his eyes heavenwards and said with a shake of his head. “This from the man who’s been telling me for the last five years just how wonderful married life is, and how a home and a family is where it’s at. He even goes on about how much fun it is to paint bathrooms and every other room in the house on your day off.”

“Well it is.” Jim replied, trying very hard to hide his amused smile.

“Well don’t you dare undo all the good that you’ve finally accomplished these last five years in one weekend.” Jean scolded her husband as she slipped an arm around his waist. “You’ve finally managed to make him realize that marriage is a good thing, so don’t you dare go and ruin it now with all your nonsensical diatribe.”

Jim raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife with mock hurt. “’Nonsensical diatribe’?”

“Don’t worry, Jean.” Pete assured the young woman with a smile as he slipped his own arm around Judy’s waist. “After five years of riding together I’ve learned when to ignore him.”

“Good.” The young woman remarked with a smile. “Because I’d hate to see my lunkhead of a husband unintentionally spoil a good thing.”

Jim gave her a not so mock look of hurt. “Lunkhead?”

She smiled sweetly up at him. “In the best sense of the word.” Jim just chuckled and leaned down to kiss her tenderly.

When he pulled away he looked at his partner and urged. “We’d better hit the road. I’d like to get out of LA before the weekend traffic starts.”

“I’m all set.” Pete assured him, glancing towards the packed car. “I think we’ve got everything we need.”

“Everything but two very important things.” Judy told him, her green eyes dancing with amusement.

Pete gave her a puzzled frown. “What have we forgotten?”

Judy’s eyes danced even more. “How about your two charges?”

A slightly embarrassed flush stained Pete’s cheeks. “Oh yeah, we wouldn’t want to forget them now would we.”

“Now I’m really wondering if it’s safe to let our two boys go with these guys.” Jean commented to her friend, shooting her husband and his partner a mock uncertain look.

“I suppose they have to learn responsibility sooner or later.” Judy teased, jabbing Pete gently in the ribs.

“And I suppose now is as good a time as any.” Jean let out a deep sigh, sending both men a wicked look.

Jim just laughed good-naturedly and suggested to his wife. “Why don’t you go and get those two rascals so that we can get going?”

“Whatever you say, Master.” Jean gave him an exaggerated bow as she backed away from him. Then after shooting her husband a teasing look she headed into the house.

Pete gave Judy a worried look. “I’m beginning to wonder if it’s safe to leave you here alone with Jean for the weekend. I have a feeling she may be a bad influence on you.”

Judy just laughed with amusement and laid a hand against his chest. “You forget, honey that I was married before. None of this is new to me.”

“That’s right, Pete.” Jim piped up delightedly. “When it comes to the joys of married life, it’s you who’s the rookie around here.”

“Not for long, partner.” Pete countered with a broad grin. “Soon I’ll be an old married man just like you.”

“Sure beat being an old lonely bachelor.” His friend remarked with a smile.

Pete gave his fiancée a warm smile. “I finally agree with you on that, partner.”

“It’s about time.” Jim returned with a wicked grin.

His partner’s retort was cut off by the sound of David Walters, Judy’s ten-and-a-half-year-old son bursting out the Reeds’ front door. “Are we going now?” He asked Pete eagerly as soon as he was on the front walk. “Are we finally going?”

The three adults laughed at the young boy’s enthusiasm. “Yes, we’re ready to go.” Pete assured him with a big smile on his face.

“Ya!” The red-haired boy turned around and scooped up four-and-a-half-year-old Jimmy Reed, who had followed him out of the house, into his arms and cried. “We’re ready to go, Jimmy! We’re ready to go camping!”

“All right!” Jimmy Reed exclaimed as he clung tightly to David’s neck as his friend swung him around excitedly.

“Here.” Pete interrupted the eager pair. “Why don’t you give Jimmy to me and go and say goodbye to your mom and Aunt Jean.”

David obediently relinquished Jimmy to Pete and threw his arms around his mother’s waist. “Bye, Mom. We’ll see you Sunday.”

“You be good now.” Judy admonished her son seriously as she warmly returned his hug. “And you do exactly what Pete and your Uncle Jim tells you to do. You hear me?”

“Yes, Mom.” Her redheaded son drawled with embarrassment. “I already promised you that I would.”

“I’m just making sure that you remember, that’s all.” She told him as she hugged him tightly to her. “I love you, kiddo.”

“I love you too, Mom.” The young boy told her sincerely. Then in an eager tone he asked. “Can I go now?”

Judy laughed and hugged him once more before releasing him. “Yeah, you can go. Say bye to your Aunt Jean first though.”

David quickly obliged, running over to Jean and giving her a big hug. “Bye Aunt Jeannie.”

“See you later, Master Davey.” Jean smiled as she returned the young boy’s enthusiastic hug. Jean was the only person in the world, save his mom on occasion who David let call him Davey. To everyone else in the world he was David.

“And don’t you worry, I’ll take care of Jimmy.” The young boy told her seriously. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”

The amused mother managed to stifle the broad smile that tugged at her lips as she acknowledged with as serious a tone as she could manage. “I appreciate that Davey.” Then after hugging him again she released him and watched him run back to Pete.

“I’ll put Jimmy in his car seat.” He volunteered, reaching up to take his young playmate from the officer.

“You’d better let me or your Uncle Jim do it.” Pete told him seriously, but not unkindly.

“I can do it.” David insisted eagerly. “I know how it works. I’ve watched you guys do it hundreds of times before.”

Before Pete could respond Jean stepped in and held out her arms for her son. “How about you let me do it.” Taking Jimmy from her friend she looked at David and asked. “Is that okay if I do it? I won’t get to see him for two days.”

David considered her request for a moment then nodded. “Okay, but make sure that he’s in there good and snug. I don’t want him getting hurt if we have an accident.”

Jean managed to hide her amused smile by hugging her son to her. “I’ll do my very best.” She promised sincerely.

“I’d better come and make sure that you do it right.” David said and followed Jean towards the car. Jimmy’s mother shot the other three adults an amused look but didn’t dissuade the boy from coming.

Pete shook his head in amusement and looked at Judy. “That’s quite the kid you’ve got there. He’s ten going on thirty.”

Judy chuckled and snuggled up to him again, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Soon he’s going to be our kid.”

Pete nodded and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Yes he will, won’t he?” Judy missed the slightly nervous look that quickly flashed across his freckled face, but his partner didn’t.

Jim knew that Pete had a lot of fears about his upcoming marriage to Judy. Not only was he going to be a husband for the first time in his life, but he was also going to be a father too. And while Pete was very good with children and loved them very much, he had never before been responsible for one’s welfare and well being before. Jim knew that the whole idea had his friend spooked, not that Pete would ever admit it. As a mater of fact he was more apt to deny it than to admit it. But after over five years of partnership Jim knew his friend well and could read him like a book. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons that Jim had suggested this whole ‘guys only’ camping/fishing trip was to hopefully help his partner face up to some of his fears and maybe even get him to open up about them. Jim wanted to do everything that he could to help Pete make the transition from bachelorhood to married life and fatherhood as smoothly as possible.

“Well, the boys are all set.” Jean announced as she rejoined the group. “You should probably get moving before Jimmy starts getting antsy. You know how much he hates that car seat if he’s in it for too long.”

“Yeah, and we’ve got about three hours of driving ahead of us.” Jim commented, glancing at his watch. “If we leave now we’ll still be well ahead of the traffic.”

“Right.” Pete nodded and turned in Judy’s embrace to face her. “So, I’ll see you when we get back on Sunday.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She assured him with a gentle smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He whispered softly in return before leaning down and giving her a warm kiss. A few feet away Jim and Jean were similarly occupied.

When the couples broke apart they each turned towards the other.

“You guys have a good time.” Jean told Pete as she gave him a warm hug. Judy hugged Jim as well.

“We will.” Pete promised. “You too. And please promise me that you won’t corrupt Judy too badly. I’m sort of fond of her the way she is.”

Jean laughed and linked her arm through the other woman’s “I’ll do my very best not to.”

“Why don’t I feel reassured by that comment?” Pete gave Jim a wry look.

Jean gave the redheaded man a gentle shove towards the car. “Will you two get out of here so that Judy and I can get on with our girl stuff?”

“Well, I guess we know where we’re not wanted.” Pete huffed with a mock-insulted tone.

“That’s right, you’re not.” Jean replied with a wave of her hand, not the least bit perturbed by his comment.

Jim just laughed and encouraged. “Let’s go, partner before they literally throw us out.”

“You’re just eager to go because you get to drive.” Pete muttered as he moved to the passenger side of the vehicle.

“Hey, I’ve go to get some driving in sometime.” The younger man remarked as he looked at his friend over the roof of the car. “Besides, it’s not my fault that your car’s in the shop – again. Now I know why it was painted yellow. It’s a lemon.”

“Just drive, will ya?” Pete commented as he climbed into the front seat.

“Don’t be such a grump.” Jim retorted as he also took his place inside the car.

Judy and Jean waved as the guys pulled out of the Reeds’ driveway and headed down the street.

“Think they’ll be okay?” Judy asked with concern.

“I’m sure they’ll be just fine.”

“So what do you want to do now?”

“That’s the beauty of it.” Jean told her friend with a broad smile. “Anything we want to.”

Three hours later Jim pulled the car into the parking lot of Pat’s Lakeside Cottages and turned off the engine. “Well, we made it. Safe and sound may I add.”

“Miraculously.” Pete let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. Then glancing into the backseat he teased. “Though it looks like you lost a couple of passengers along the way.”

Jim turned in his seat to see the two boys in the back. Both of them were sound asleep. Looking back to his partner the dark-haired man remarked cheekily. “Well, I guess my driving couldn’t have been too bad if they both felt safe enough to fall asleep.”

Pete just shot his friend an amused look and said. “I’ll go and get us registered, while you stay here and guard the two Sleeping Beauties.” Opening his door he exited the car before Jim could say anything in reply and headed towards the main office.

When he entered the small building that housed the reception desk as well as a mini-convenience store a friendly voice greeted him eagerly. “Well, look at what the catfish dragged in!”

Pete smiled at the blond-headed man standing behind the reception desk at the back of the room. “Hi ya, Pat. How’s it going?”

“Just great, Pete.” Pat replied accepting the hand the other man extended. “The business is booming; the family is growing and the fish are biting. Things couldn’t be better.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.” The officer chuckled in amusement.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen you up here, my friend.” The owner commented with mild chastisement. “We thought maybe you’d forgotten about your old friends up here.”

“Not at all. I just haven’t had a free weekend for the last little while. And it’ll probably be a while again before I have another.”

“LA’s that busy, is it?” Pat asked curiously.

“Busy enough.” The officer acknowledged. “But I’ve been busy too.” He paused for a moment before admitting. “I’m getting married next weekend.”

The blond-haired man across the counter gaped at him in surprise. “You’re getting married?”

“That’s right.” Pete nodded his head in confirmation, an expectant look on his face.

A broad smile tugged at Pat’s lips. “You’re putting me on, aren’t you? You getting married? I find that hard to believe!”

“Well you’d better believe it because it’s true.” Pete told the other man seriously.

“Naw…” The other man studied the officer carefully as if waiting for the punch line to come.

Pete just sighed and said with mild impatience. “How about getting us checked in?”

“Us?” Pat asked eagerly. “You mean she’s here with you?”

The officer shook his head. “No, I’m here with Jim and Jimmy and my future stepson, David.”

“Stepson?” Pat repeated in surprise.

“That’s right, Pat.” Pete confirmed. “Stepson. Now would you mind checking us in? I’d like to get out on the lake before I’m too old to enjoy it.”

Pat obliged, pulling a form out from under the counter and filling in the information. After a couple of minutes he slid it over to Pete to sign. “Are you sure you’re getting married?” He pressed, as he watched Pete sign his name.

“I think I should know if I’m getting married or not.”

“Prove it.”

“Excuse me?” Pete gave the other man a puzzled frown.

“Prove it.” The shop owner repeated seriously. “Prove to me that you are getting married next weekend.”

“What for?” Pete asked with a slight chuckle. “You’re not invited to the wedding anyway.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ll over look that fact and give you an early wedding present anyway. But first you have to prove to me that you’re really getting married next weekend.”

“And how should I do that?”

“Well, I’d say that’s up to you to figure out.”

The sound of the door chime caused the pair to turn around. Seeing Jim and the two young boys enter the building a broad smile broke over Pete’s face. “Here comes my proof right now.” His smile broadened as David broke away from Jim and Jimmy and came running towards him.

“Can we go swimming, Pete?” The young boy asked eagerly. “Can we? Please?”

Pete chuckled slightly and replied. “After we get checked in and settled we’ll see about going for a swim.”

“Yes!” David acknowledged joyfully then looking at Jim and Jimmy he informed them eagerly. “Pete says we can go swimming after we get checked in and settled.”

“Yeah!” Jimmy cried happily from his father’s arms.

“David,” Pete put a hand on the redheaded boy’s shoulder to get his attention. When David looked at him he continued. “David, this is Pat Kelly, he’s the owner of this fine establishment. Pat, I’d like you to meet my future stepson, David Walters.”

Pat blinked a couple of times, surprise written on his sun-tanned face. He had been sure that Pete was pulling his leg when he’d said he was getting married. After a moment he recovered enough to say. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, David. I understand that Pete here is marrying your mom.”

“That’s right, sir.” David nodded eagerly. “Next weekend.”

“I see.” The owner looked at Pete, a look of complete wonder on his face. “Well, I guess you were telling the truth, Pete. I never would have believed it before, but I guess I have to believe it now. So, in honor of your upcoming marriage, even though I’m not invited to the wedding…” He shot Pete a sly look before continuing. “…All your rentals for the next two days are on the house. That includes your cabin, boat and anything else you want.”

“Thanks, Pat.” Pete acknowledged with an appreciative smile. “But I can’t accept that…”

“Sure you can.” Pat insisted. “As a matter of fact I won’t take no for an answer.”

A grateful smile nearly split the officer’s face. “I appreciate your generosity, Pat.” The redheaded man remarked as he picked up the keys that his friend had laid on the counter.

“It’s my pleasure.” The blond shop owner replied as he watched Pete and David turn and leave the store. Before Jim could turn to follow Pat called his name. “I don’t know how you did it.”

“Did what?” Jim asked with an expectant look.

“Got our confirmed bachelor friend to agree to take the walk down the aisle.”

“I had nothing to do with it.” Jim denied with a laugh. “He made the decision all on his own.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.” Pat told him with a laugh. “You’ve been a good influence on Pete these past five years, Jim. A real good influence.”

“I try.” The other man said with amusement. “But I think the main thing was that Pete just hadn’t met anyone who he felt motivated enough to take the trip down the aisle with. But Judy’s good for him and he adores her. And he and David get along well, which is nice for David. His father died about six years ago when he was just four years old, so it’s just been him and his mother for quite a while. Pete’s been a great father figure for him.”

“So I guess that’s why I haven’t seen much of him lately.” Pat commented with a slight smile. “He’s been otherwise occupied.

“Basically.” Jim chuckled slightly.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that he’s found someone to spend his life with.” The other man commented seriously. “I hope they’ll be happy together.”

“They will be.” Jim assured him confidently. “I have absolutely no doubt that the three of them will be very happy.”

“There you go, Ma’am.” Jean commented brightly as she handed Judy a tall glass of ice tea. “The perfect refresher for a hot day.”

“Thank you.” Judy acknowledged as she accepted the glass. As she took a sip her friend settled herself in the lounge chair beside her. “So, how do you think our boys are doing?”

“Our big boys or our little boys?” Jean asked with a slight smirk.

“Both.” The other woman replied. “But mainly the big ones.”

“Well provided they can keep themselves out of trouble I’m sure they’ll do just fine.” Jean told them confidently.

“What kind of trouble?” Judy frowned worriedly.

“Oh, you know, the usual trouble that can happen when a bunch of ‘kids’ go camping.” The other woman replied lightly. “Poison ivy, mosquito bites, falling into the lake.”

“Sounds like fun.” The redhead laughed and settled back in her chair.

“Ah, its good for them to have to look after the boys for a while. Helps them appreciate everything that we have to do for those kids on a regular basis.”

“I’m sure it’ll help Pete and Jim appreciate what we have to do for David and Jimmy too.” Judy quipped cheekily, shooting her friend a look of amusement. Jean laughed in agreement. When the merriment died down both women remained silent, both lost in their thoughts as they sipped on their drinks.

After a few minutes a slight sigh escaped Judy’s lips. Jean turned to look at her friend and noticed the slightly worried expression on the other woman’s face. “What’s the matter? You afraid Pete and Jim can’t handle a couple of rambunctious boys for a couple of days?”

“No, not exactly.” The redheaded woman replied slowly.

“Then what is it exactly?”

Judy gave Jean a careful look for a several long moments before she finally spoke. “It’s not that I don’t think that Pete can handle David. I guess I’m just a little worried that Pete will decide that he’s not ready to do so. That he’s not ready to take on being both a husband and a father. I mean its an awfully big responsibility taking on someone else’s kid to raise. I mean David’s already ten-and-a-half, in less than three more years he’ll be a teenager. I’m not looking forward to those rocky years and I’m his mother. Pete must be terrified at the thought.” Jean couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Pete Malloy, a seasoned police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department who has faced down his share of hardened and heartless criminals terrified of a thirteen-year-old boy. “I don’t want to loose him, Jean. I almost lost him last year when he was shot during that Narco raid and the thought of it almost killed me.” Tears appeared in Judy’s eyes as she added emotionally. “I love him, Jean. I love him so much.”

“And he loves you.” Jean reached over and gave her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “And he loves David too. Trust me, anyone seeing the three of you together would think that you’d always been a family.” She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. “I have known Pete for five years now and he has never loved anyone as much as he loves you. Let’s face it, you’re the only woman who’s ever been able to get our confirmed bachelor to even think about marriage, let alone propose it! Jim’s been on his case since they first started working together about getting married but he’s always resisted before. In fact Pete would get so annoyed if one of his dates so much as mentioned the word ‘marriage’ because he always viewed that as his cue to back off because they were getting too serious on him. And even though he may have enjoyed their company and may even have had a lot in common with them, he would never allow things to go any further.” She looked at Judy eagerly as she added. “But with you, well didn’t you tell me yourself that Pete was the one that brought up the subject first?”

Judy nodded. “About a month before he proposed. The three of us had had dinner at my place and Pete was helping me do the dishes afterwards while David was finishing up his math homework at the kitchen table. Every so often David would ask for help with something he didn’t understand and Pete would patiently go over the problem with him until he got it. After about fifteen minutes or so Pete suddenly stopped drying and just stood there staring at David and me for several minutes without saying anything. When I asked him what was wrong he looked at me with this funny expression on his face and said in a very serious tone ‘I think I finally understand what Jim loves so much about married life’. That was all he said at the time, but then about four weeks later he asked me to marry him.”

“And you said ‘yes’.” Jean concluded with a broad smile on her face.

Judy smiled in return. “There wasn’t anything else I could say. I loved him so much by that point that I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Though I have to admit that the whole idea of being a cop’s wife scares me. I don’t know what I’d do if Jim or Mac or some other officer showed up on my doorstep one day and told me that Pete was never coming home again. I was frantic enough when Jim had showed up that night to tell me that Pete had been shot in that Narco raid.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” The younger woman assured her seriously. “And while both Jim and Pete have been fortunate not to be injured often or even very seriously, I’ll never forget the terror I feel every time one of them is. I’ll especially never forget the time that Mac showed up at our door to tell me that both Jim and Pete were missing. They had found their unit abandoned, lights flashing with no indication of where they’d gone. There last known location had been several blocks away from where the black and white was found. It took them about six hours to finally locate them and that was only because one of the suspects had decided to help them and had called the police. Jim had been shot in the leg and one of the suspects had very nearly executed Pete as well.”

“He had?” A look of terror filled Judy’s green eyes.

“According to Jim the guy had it in for Pete because Pete had shot him in the shoulder after the guy had shot Jim. When they got to their destination he took Pete out of the bus they’d been in and had forced him to his knees in the dirt outside, putting his gun to Pete’s head ready to pull the trigger.”

“What happened?” Judy’s lips began to quiver as she momentarily forgot that everything must have turned out all right since Pete was still alive and well.

“Jim managed to get himself free just in time to jump the suspect and save Pete.”

“I’m glad he did.” The redheaded woman commented seriously as she relaxed again. “I can’t imagine never knowing Pete.”

“Me neither.” Jean echoed wholeheartedly. “He’s become such a constant fixture in our lives. I really don’t know what Jim would do if anything every happened to Pete. He looks up to him just like a brother.”

“Pete’s very fond of Jim.” Judy confided earnestly. “He’s told me that he has never had a friend that he’s trusted or valued as much as he does Jim.”

“When did he say that?”

“He’s said it a few times actually. The night that Jim was awarded the Medal of Valor, for instance. And then again last month after we had that party celebrating Jim’s fifth anniversary on the force and their fifth as partners. He was so proud of Jim that night, both nights actually.”

Jean laughed. “I know, when Jim got his five year hash mark on his sleeve it was hard to tell who was prouder – Jim or Pete. Both were beaming pretty broadly. Pete’s toast to Jim was very nice. I know he didn’t say much, but what he did say and most importantly the way he said it spoke volumes if you ask me.”

Judy nodded. “Like I said, Pete’s pretty fond of that husband of yours. He’s pretty fond of all of you, actually. Every since he and I met he’s talked of Jim and you and Jimmy almost non-stop. He loves you all very much.”

“We love him too and you and David as well, of course. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you and Pete are getting married. I always hoped that when Pete finally decided to settle down and get married that he would pick somebody that I could be good friends with too. Pete is the best friend that Jim has ever had and I was hoping to have the same with his wife whenever he finally chose one. And I do.” She reached over and gave Judy’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “You are most definitely one of the dearest friends I have ever had.”

“So are you.” Judy returned the squeeze. “You know, when I first met you and Jim I immediately knew that you were a package deal. That if I wanted to have a relationship with Pete than I had to be willing to accept all four of you because I could tell at once that you and Jim and little Jimmy were not negotiable.” Her smile brightened. “I’m just so glad that we all hit it off so well.”

“Even David and Jimmy are good friends.” Jean remarked eagerly.

“And will probably be more so as they get older.” Judy added. “I think that’s so good for both of them. Everybody needs at least one really good friend in their lifetime.”

“And it’s even better when those good friends become like family.” Her friend returned, a broad smile on her pretty face.

“Indeed.”

“Hey Pete, watch me!” David shouted to the redheaded man seated beside Jim on the sandy shore just before he jumped off the dock, cannonballing into the lake. Jimmy squealed and laughed in delight from where he was sitting building a sandcastle by the shoreline.

When David’s head broke the surface of the water both Pete and Jim applauded the feat and whistled. “Good job!” Pete called to the boy as he swam back to shore. Once he reached the edge of the water David sat down beside Jimmy and started helping him build some towers for his castle.

“They get along well together, don’t they?” Jim observed after watching the pair play together for several minutes. When he didn’t receive any reply from his partner he glanced over to the man sitting beside him. Pete’s eyes were firmly fixed on the boys playing several feet away and there was an expression on his face that Jim had very rarely seen before the last couple of weeks. It was a combination of worry and excitement. He mostly noticed it whenever Pete looked at David. Giving his friend a gentle nudge with his elbow Jim asked lightly. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Pete quickly assured him. “Everything’s fine.”

Jim shot him a look that very clearly showed he didn’t believe him, but wisely he dropped the subject for the moment. “It’s nice to see them getting along so well.”

“Yeah.” Pete agreed with a slight nod.

“I don’t know about you, but I like the ideas of our sons being best friends.”

“Our sons.” The other man repeated an almost wistful tone in his voice as he continued to watch the boys who were now splashing around in the water.

“That’s right, Pete.” Jim nodded eagerly. “Our sons.”

There were several moments of silence that passed, as Pete seemed to try to formulate a comment. Jim remained quiet waiting for his partner to take the lead in the conversation. He could sense that the other man had something important on his mind. After a few minutes his friend finally began to speak. “When Jean was pregnant with Jimmy were you ever scared about becoming a father?”

“Sure.” Jim assured his friend honestly. “Almost every moment of every day.”

Pete gave his partner a surprised look. “Really?”

“Really.” The dark-haired man confirmed.

“You never showed it.” The other man remarked. “You always seemed excited about the baby.”

“I was.” Jim assured him seriously. “But that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared as well. Becoming a father is a big deal. Suddenly you have this little person who’s totally and completely dependant on you. It’s a scary thought.”

“It’s a no less scary thought when they’re not so dependant.” Pete remarked truthfully as he continued to watch the two boys at play.

“You having second thoughts?” His partner prompted gently.

“No.” The other man replied slowly, a thoughtful look on his face. “Not so much second thoughts as concerns. Let’s face it I’ve never been a husband before let alone a father. Both are really new experiences for me and I have to admit that I’m a little bit scared.”

Jim couldn’t believe that Pete actually admitted his fear. “Pete, what you’re going through is perfectly normal.”

“Really?”

“Really. As a matter of fact I would be more worried if you weren’t concerned. Basically you’ve got the groom-to-be and father-to-be jitters all at the same time.”

“I’m just worried that I’m going to let them down.” Pete surprised his friend by admitting, his eyes fixed on his feet as he nervously dug his toes into the sand. “That I’m going to fail them in some way. That I’m not going to live up to their expectations.”

“What expectations do you mean exactly?”

Pete shrugged slightly. “I don’t know, whatever expectations they may have. It’s just like you said earlier back at your place. When it comes to marriage and family life, I’m the rookie around here. All of you have been married before, including Judy. What if I don’t live up to what she thinks a husband and a father should be. What if I can’t make her as happy as…”

“As Greg did?” Jim finished when Pete didn’t. Without meeting his friend’s gaze Pete nodded slightly.

The younger man gave his friend an examining look. In all the years that he had known Pete Malloy he had never seen him look so nervous. Not even when he was facing down multiple armed suspects with an empty gun. The redheaded officer was usually the picture of confidence, never letting anything crack his courage. So to see him now looking so apprehensive tore at the dark-haired man’s gut. “Pete, when you first graduated from the Academy, would you say that you were completely comfortable with your role as a police officer?”

The redheaded man looked at his friend curiously, surprised at the sudden change of topic. “No, I wouldn’t say I was. As a matter of fact my first night on patrol with Val I was quite nervous.”

“But that feeling didn’t last, did it?”

“No. After about the first week the feeling subsided. I found that once I realized that my training helped me get through anything I encountered I was able to relax and enjoy what I was doing.”

“Well marriage and fatherhood isn’t much different.” His friend told him. “Mind you, you don’t have the benefit of a training course ahead of time, but you do have your heart to help guide you. And experience will help you along the way as well. Besides, let’s face it, you and Judy have been seeing each other for what? A year and a half now?” Pete nodded in confirmation. “I’d say you’ve already been a father figure to David since the time that you and Judy started dating. He loves you, Pete and what’s more he looks up to you just as much as any boy looks up to his father.”

“You think so?”

Jim nodded. “Remember last year when you were shot during that Narco raid and David stayed with Jean and I while Judy sat with you at the hospital?”

“Yeah.”

“Jean told me that the night you were first taken in she had gotten up in the middle of the night to get a drink and she heard crying coming from David’s room. She went in and found him sobbing into his pillow. When she asked him what was wrong he told her that he was so scared that you were going to die. He said that he didn’t want to loose another dad.”

“He said that?” A look of profound surprise filled Pete’s green eyes. “He actually thought of me as his dad even back then?”

“Even back then.” Jim watched as a series of emotions passed over his friend’s face. “Pete, don’t feel that you have to live up to anyone else’s memory. Judy knows that you aren’t Greg and she doesn’t expect you to be Greg. She’s marrying you because she loves you and she wants to spend the rest of her life with you.”

“I know, it’s just that…AAAAAAHHHHHH!” Whatever Pete was going to say next was lost when he was suddenly drowned by a bucketful of cold lake water.

Jim howled with laughter as his partner wiped water off his dripping face.

“What the…?” The sound of childish laughter behind him caused the soaked officer to turn around. When he did he found both Jimmy and David standing behind him, their faces full of mirth. David had a plastic bucket clutched in his hand.

“Unca Pete all wet.” Jimmy giggled with evident delight.

Pete narrowed his eyes at the little boy and demanded seriously. “Are you responsible for this?”

Jimmy shook his head, not the least bit affected by his godfather’s dark look. “Nope. David did it.”

Pete shifted his gaze to David, who he noticed was affected by the look on his face. “Was this your doing, young man?”

David nodded and stammered nervously. “Yes…yes, sir.”

Pete glanced back to Jim, a slight smile tugging at his lips and winked mischievously. Suddenly the redheaded man leapt to his feet and scooped the anxious boy up into his arms, heading at a run for the small dock that David had jumped off earlier.

Surprised by the sudden events David dropped the bucket he’d been holding and threw his arms around Pete’s neck fearfully. “What are you doing?”

“Returning the favor.” Pete replied cryptically as he neared the end of the dock. “Hang on!” He ordered as he jumped off the wooden deck and catapulted the two of them into the air. David tightened his grip on Pete’s neck as the two of them hit the water. A few moments later they both broke the surface, laughter on their lips. “Did I scare you?”

David, as if suddenly realizing that he still had a death grip on Pete’s neck, pushed away and quickly denied. “Of course not.”

The older man laughed and splashed some water at the redheaded boy. “Are you sure?”

David splashed back. “I’m sure. Pete splashed him again and the two of them soon dissolved into riotous laughter as their splash fight gained force. After several minutes they both stopped, almost breathless from the exertion.

As Pete wiped the water from his eyes David took advantage of his momentary distraction to jump on the older man’s back, pushing with all his weight on the officer’s shoulders. Pete good-naturedly allowed himself to be pushed under the water, coming up spitting and sputtering much to David’s delight.

The two of them continued to horse around in the water for several more minutes, laughing and carrying on like a couple of kids. Finally Pete suggested that they move in closer to shore so that Jimmy could join the fun. David readily agreed, jumping on Pete’s back and wrapping his arms around the officer’s neck.

Jim, who had been watching the pair delightedly from the beach, rose to his feet and swung Jimmy up into his arms. “Let’s go see Uncle Pete and David.” He suggested to the child.

“Yeah!” Jimmy agreed.

“So who won the splash fight?” Jim asked the pair when he joined them in the waist deep water.

“I did, Uncle Jim!” David told him proudly as he slid off Pete’s back. “I got him good! I even dunked him once! Didn’t I Pete?” He looked at his future stepfather eagerly.

“Yes, you sure did.” Pete assured the boy with a broad smile as he gently treaded water.

“Dunk me, Unca Pete!” Jimmy cried excitedly, suddenly launching himself out of his father’s arms at his godfather. Pete scrambled to catch the boy before he gave himself a good dunking. “Dunk me!” The four-and-a-half-year-old laughed, wrapping his arms around the officer’s neck.

“Okay.” His godfather laughed. “But close your eyes first.” Jimmy did as he was told. “Good, now when I tell you to I want you to take a deep breath and hold it until after we come back up out of the water. Okay?”

“Okay!” The young boy nodded eagerly, his eyes still tightly closed.

“And make sure you hold onto my neck. Don’t let go, okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, here we go.” Pete warned. “Deep breath.” Jimmy took a deep breath, puffing out his little cheeks with the captured air. “Hold on!” Pete dipped the two of them under the water for just a few moments and then sprang them back up.

As soon as they broke the surface Jimmy released his pent up breath and laughed delightedly. “Again!” Pete moaned slightly.

A broad grin broke across Jim’s face. “Hey, you started it.”

“I know.” Pete groaned again. “I never seem to learn, do I?”

“Most times you catch on really quick, but other times…” He shot his partner a teasing look. Pete just sent him a mock-glare in response. “Some things though I would say come very naturally to you.” He glanced pointedly towards the redheaded boy that was hovering at Pete’s elbow, a broad smile on his young face as he looked up at Pete.

Pete followed Jim’s gaze, meeting David’s green eyes that he was surprised to find were full of warmth and admiration. Swallowing the sudden lump that had formed in his throat the veteran officer nodded gently. “Yes, I suppose some things are.”

“So Mary MacDonald said that she’d pick up the flowers for me on her way over here on Saturday morning.” Judy commented as she considered the cards that she held in her hand and patiently waited for Jean to make her move. “That way you and I don’t have to worry about stopping there on our way back from the beauty parlor.”

“What time is our appointment?” Jean asked curiously as she laid a card down on the table.

“Eleven o’clock.” Judy replied as she picked up a card from the deck and added it to her hand. “That’ll give us plenty of time to get back here and have a quick bite of lunch before everyone starts getting here around one-thirty.”

“And the ceremony’s at two, right?”

“That’s right.” The bride-to-be nodded. “Are you sure that you and Jim don’t mind having the wedding and reception here? I mean, I know the guest list is very small, but it’s still an awful lot of work for you to do.”

“Are you kidding?” Jean exclaimed eagerly. “Jim and I are thrilled to be able to do this for you two. And we’re honored to be able to stand for you too.”

“We’re honored to have you.” Judy assured her.

Leaning forward the other woman confided honestly. “When you two first announced your engagement Jim was sure that Pete would ask Mac to be his best man. After all the two of them go back a long time and have a lot of history together. I think Jim had basically reconciled himself to just being a part of the crowd of well-wishers. So when Pete asked him to be his best man Jim was on top of the world. I think it helped Jim realize that his friendship is just as important to Pete as Pete’s is to him.”

“Well, like I said earlier, Pete thinks very highly of Jim. He’s like the kid brother Pete never had.” Leaning forward in imitation of Jean’s position she added mischievously. “But don’t tell Jim that I said that. Pete would kill me if he knew that I told anyone, most of all Jim.”

“My lips are sealed.” Here friend assured her with a smile as she sat back in her seat. Then placing a card on the table she remarked. “Ten of Clubs on your Seven, Eight and Nine.”

Judy nodded and picked up a card from the deck after Jean had discarded. “Is Jimmy getting nervous about being the ring bearer?”

“Are you kidding?” Jean laughed in amusement. “He can’t wait. He’s been pestering me all week as to how many more days until ‘Unca Pete’ and ‘Aunt Dudy’ get ‘marweed’. Jim’s been practicing with him for the last few weeks. Have you and Pete come up with something for David to do yet? Jim was saying a couple of weeks ago that Pete was worried about making sure that David felt included in the ceremony.”

Judy nodded. “We’ve decided that David’s going to walk me down the aisle since my parents aren’t going to be able to make it.”

“They’re not? Oh, what a shame.”

“I know.” Judy’s eyes held a disappointed look. “I wish they could be here. But remember I told you that Dad fell and hurt his back two weeks ago?” The other woman nodded. “Well, he’s been pretty much laid up ever since. LA is a long way from Maine, too long when your back’s out of commission. They’ve made me promise to send pictures though.”

“Well, I’m sure that David’s thrilled to be able to stand in.”

“He is.” Her friend confirmed. “As a matter of fact he’s been practicing ever since Pete and I told him. But he doesn’t know that I know that. He usually does it when he doesn’t think I’m watching.”

“Aren’t young boys just so cute?”

“And so are the men that they become.”

“True.”

The two women continued their game in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly a deeply amused grin tugged at Jean’s lips.

“What are you thinking about?” Judy prompted after the grin remained for several minutes.

“Oh, I was just thinking about the day that Jim and I asked Pete to be Jimmy’s godfather. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on Pete’s face as long as I live.”

“Oh?” The redheaded woman gave her an expectant look. “What did it look like?”

“Oh, it’s too hard to describe.” Jean told her earnestly. “I mean you know how expressive a face Pete has.”

Judy nodded and smiled. “I have to admit that’s one of the first things about him that caught my attention. I just love watching his facial reactions to things.”

“Well, you would have loved his reactions during this one particular event.” The younger woman commented with a grin.

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Well, first he looked incredibly nervous.”

“Why nervous?”

“Because Jim had just asked him if he wanted to hold Jimmy.” Jean explained. “Something that Pete hadn’t done before and wasn’t particularly keen on doing either at this time. But Jim wouldn’t take no for an answer and after a little encouragement Pete finally relented and gently took Jimmy in his arms. I swear there was a look of awe mixed in with the nervousness as he did so. Then when Jim remarked to Jimmy something to the effect of ‘How about that, Jimmy? That’s the first time you’re godfather’s ever held ya’ Pete’s face was one of complete astonishment. I really wish I had of had my camera at the time. His face was priceless. Than after he questioned and we confirmed that that’s what we wanted this look of pure delight washed over Pete’s face and his grin nearly split his face. He then eagerly accepted the role of Jimmy’s godfather.” She chuckled slightly. “Then his nervousness returned and he handed Jimmy back to Jim.”

“But his nervousness around Jimmy didn’t last, right?” Judy asked a little worriedly. “I mean he and Jimmy seem to be so close now…”

“Oh, believe me they are.” Jean quickly assured her. “By the time Jimmy was a couple of months old you couldn’t keep Pete away from him if you wanted to. His nervousness disappeared completely.”

“That’s good.” Judy looked genuinely relieved.

The other woman eyed her friend curiously for a moment before folding her arms on the table and asking gently. “Are you thinking that you’d like to have another baby?”

Her friend flushed slightly at the question and dropped her eyes to look at her cards. After a few moments she admitted honestly. “I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Have you and Pete talked about having a family?” Jean pressed, watching her friend intently. Judy nodded her head. “What did he say?”

“He said that he’d like to have a family.” Judy told her finally lifting her eyes from her cards. “He thinks it would be nice for David to have a brother or sister. He said he knows how lonely it is to grow up without one.”

“That’s wonderful.” Jean’s face split into a huge grin. “I always thought that Pete would make a terrific father. I’m glad to hear that he’s thinking that way himself.”

“He did say that being around Jimmy these last four-and-a-half years has been good training for him. He claims that he’s learned a lot.”

“Yeah, like how to spoil a kid rotten.” Jean laughed with visible amusement. “I swear he’s bought Jimmy more gifts than my parents and Jim’s put together. That kid has enough stuffed animals and toys to entertain half a dozen kids. But whenever I say anything about it he just grins and says that spoiling Jimmy is all part of the ‘Godfather Coda’ and that if I try to stop him from doing it I’d be interfering with a long standing and sacred tradition.”

Judy laughed. “Pete loves his godson very much.” Her expression sobered slightly. “I just hope that he loves his stepson half as much.”

“He does. He loves David just as much as he loves Jimmy. Maybe even more so.” Jean assured her sincerely. “Jim says that Pete talks about and brags about David all the time. Even more so than he does Jimmy.”

“That’s good to know.” A marginal amount of relief showed on her face. “David really looks up to Pete. As a matter of fact he told me last night that he’s going to ask Pete this weekend if it would be all right if he started calling him ‘Dad’. I just hope Pete accepts otherwise David will probably be crushed.”

“Well, I have absolutely no doubt that Pete will be very honored to be David’s ‘Dad’. In fact I’ll bet you anything that by the time they arrive home on Sunday morning David will be calling Pete ‘Dad’.”

“That’s one bet I hope you win.” Judy told her sincerely.

“Will you just look at all those stars.” Jim remarked as he tilted his head back and gazed appreciatively up at the twinkling lights in the night’s sky. “Hard to see them in LA.”

Pete grinned and chuckled. “The only ‘stars’ that you get to see in Los Angeles are the ones getting in and out of limos.”

Jim grinned. “How true.”

“Daddy!” Jimmy’s excited voice pulled the dark-haired man’s attention from the Heavens back to the earth. He watched as his young son ran down the steps from the cabin towards where he and Pete were seated by the campfire.

Grabbing the young child when he reached him Jim pulled the boy onto his lap and hugged him tightly. “You all ready for bed?”

Jimmy nodded and proudly pointed to his pajamas. “Got my powiceman jammies on dat Unca Pete give me.”

Jim looked at the small black and white patrol cars spotted all over the young boy’s clothes. “So you do.”

“What you doing, Daddy?” Jimmy asked as he snuggled closer to his father’s chest.

“Your Uncle Pete and I were looking at the stars.”

Jimmy tipped his head back so that he could see the sky. “Pwitty.” He exclaimed, an awe-filled tone in his voice.

“Yes they are.” His father smiled across the fire to Pete who was watching them with amusement. In the orange glow of the fire Jim noticed a pajama-clad David standing beside Pete’s chair, a wistful look on his face as he watched Jimmy and Jim. When he saw that Jim was watching him the boy quickly shifted his gaze to the Heavens, unconsciously leaning even more against the arm of Pete’s lawn chair.

Jim caught his partner’s eye and motioned meaningfully to David. Pete glanced at the boy and than back to his friend, a puzzled look on his face. Jim hugged Jimmy to him and then glanced back towards David. This time Pete got the message.

Reaching over to touch David’s arm Pete patted his knee and encouraged. “Have a seat.”

David eagerly accepted the offer and quickly settled himself on Pete’s lap, leaning back against the officer’s chest. Pete and Jim once again shared a look across the fire.

“There’s the big dipper.” David said, pointing out the familiar group of stars. “And there’s Draco.”

“Do you know a lot of the constellations?” Jim asked the boy curiously.

“A few.” The boy replied. “One of my grandfather’s is really big into astronomy.” David explained. “He has this real neat telescope and everything.”

“Is that your mom’s dad or your dad’s dad?” The dark-haired officer pressed.

David hesitated for a moment before replying. “Grampy Walters.”

Jim nodded and turned his attention back to the sky. David leaned back even more against Pete, resting his head against the officer’s shoulder. Pete responded by tightening his arms around the boy on his knee as he too turned his attention back to the sky.

The four of them sat there in silence, listening to the sounds of nature and the crackling of the fire that burned between them as they carefully examined the wonders of the Heavens above. After about half an hour Pete heard Jim whisper his name.

“Yeah.” He whispered back, smiling when he noticed that his godson had fallen asleep. “I think you lost yours.”

“So did you.” Jim grinned back, an amused look on his face. “What do you say we get these two to bed?”

Pete glanced towards the young boy that he held in his arms. “In a minute.”

“You need help getting up?” His friend offered, wondering if his partner was trying to work out the logistics of how to get out of the chair without waking David.

“No, I just want to sit here for a few more minutes.” The redheaded man assured him.

“Okay.” Jim acknowledged as he carefully rose to his feet. “I’m going to take Jimmy in and put him to bed.”

“I’ll be in in a few minutes.” Pete told him.

Jim nodded and carefully climbed the stairs that led to the cabin door. Once he disappeared inside Pete turned his attention back to the fire. After staring into it for several minutes he began to speak, softly addressing the boy he held against his chest.

“I honestly don’t know what kind of a father I’ll be for you, David. I have absolutely no experience in the matter what-so-ever. The only real experience I have with children is being Jimmy’s godfather, but that’s not a hard role to master at all. I just have to be there for him and spoil him rotten. But I can’t do that with you. With you spoiling you rotten is Jim’s job since he’s your honorary uncle. I have more responsibility to you.” He paused as he remembered saying similar words to someone else a few years before. It was to Billy MacDonald after he’d been caught joyriding with some friends in one of his buddy’s Dad’s car. Mac and Billy had locked horns big time over that incident and Billy had gone to Pete for help. The teenaged boy had made the observation that Pete was able to relax more with him than his father was and Pete had told him that the reason for that was that he only had to be Billy’s friend. That he didn’t have the same responsibility to him as his father did. The same was now true of him and David. Up until now he had been David’s friend, giving him advice when he was asked or when he felt it was needed, but otherwise leaving everything else to Judy. After all, like Pete had once told Jim when he hadn’t agreed with the way that Judy was handling a problem that David was having with his grades ‘we’re not married and its her kid’. But no more. A week from today David was going to be his kid too. Their kid. Pete felt the increasingly familiar feeling of nervousness well up inside him again. Then he thought back to the events of the afternoon and smiled. He and David did get along well. David respected him and seemed to genuinely enjoy his company and Pete felt the same way about him. He was a well-mannered young lad, who in many ways seemed older than his ten years. That probably came from being the man of the house for the last six years. But when Pete looked at him now, sound asleep on his shoulder he barely looked his ten years.

“Let’s get you to bed.” Pete whispered gently guiding the boy to a standing position just long enough for Pete to get to his own feet before scooping the boy up into his arms. Quietly he climbed the cabin steps and carried the boy through the living room/kitchen area to the bedroom that the boys were sharing for the weekend. Pete noticed with a smile that Jim had already pulled back the covers on David’s side of the bed. Laying the boy down he pulled the covers up to David’s chin and then ran a tender hand on his head. On an impulse he bent down and kissed him softly on the forehead. “Good night, son.”

“Good night, Dad.” Was the mumbled reply, a reply that brought a lump to Pete’s throat.

“Ummmm, something smells good.” Judy announced as she inhaled the delicious aroma wafting through Jean’s kitchen. “What are you making?”

“Blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup.” Jean told her guest brightly. “And there’s fresh coffee in the pot. Help yourself.”

“Thanks.” Judy eagerly moved to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup. After taking a sip she offered. “Want some help?”

“No thank you, ma’am.” Her host told her breezily. “Just make yourself comfortable. Everything will be ready in a minute.”

Her friend obeyed and took a seat at the kitchen table. “So how do you think they managed their first night?”

“Well, we didn’t receive any frantic phone calls in the middle of the night.” Jean poured some more batter onto her griddle. “I consider that to be a good sign.”

“I suppose it is.” Judy laughed as she took another sip of her coffee. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”

“Anything we want.” The other woman smiled as she slid into her seat with her own coffee cup.

Judy thought for a moment as she ran through a list of ideas. “Well, since this is the only day that we are one hundred percent guy-less why don’t we spoil ourselves rotten. What do you say to going shopping for a new dress and then getting our hair and nails done and then treating ourselves to dinner and a movie tonight?”

“Now that sounds marvelous.” Jean sighed with exaggerated delight.

“Good.” Her friend nodded and took another sip of her coffee. She then watched Jean quietly for several minutes as the younger woman returned to making their breakfast. There was a slight smile on Jean’s lips as she hummed to herself as she worked. As far as Judy was concerned her friend was the very picture of contentment. Leaning her elbows on the table the redheaded woman rested her chin on her hands, secretly wondering how her friend managed to do it. How did she manage to go about day by day, week by week, year by year despite all the uncertainty in her life and still stay happy? One of the things that scared Judy the most about marrying Pete was the fact that it was uncertain as to how much time they would actually have together. Would they be blessed with fifty years of marriage or would she loose him next week? Would he live to retire at a ripe old age or would he be shot down in the prime of life with so many more years ahead of him? And if he did go early, how on earth would she ever get through it? And how would David handle it? He barely remembered his father he’d been so young when Greg had died. And despite all of Judy’s attempts at finding him a father figure to look up to, it wasn’t until Pete came on the scene that David finally warmed up to any man. That was one of the things that had drawn Judy to the redheaded officer the most. He was so good for David. She just wished that Pete’s job wasn’t so risky. But experience had taught her that a change of job wasn’t an option. So she would just have to ride it out until he decided that he wanted to try a desk job. She prayed she didn’t have to wait too long.

“You okay?”

Jean’s voice pulled Judy from her musings. “Yeah, I’m okay. I was just wondering how you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How do you always seem so happy?”

A confused frown creased Jean’s forehead. “Because I am happy.”

“I don’t just mean now.” Judy commented, struggling to figure out how to explain what she was meaning. “I mean I know you worry about Jim and that every time he goes out on patrol you’re scared that he’s not going to come home at the end of his shift. Yet despite all of that you’re happy. I’m just trying to figure out your secret so I can do it too.”

Jean slid into the chair beside her friend and gave her a concerned look. “What’s on your mind, Judy?”

The other woman hesitated for a few moments before admitting. “I haven’t said anything to anyone, not even Pete but…” She paused for several seconds before continuing. “I’ve been having nightmares lately.”

“About?” Jean prompted gently, her eyes carefully searching her friend’s face.

“About Pete getting killed on the job.” Tears appeared in Judy’s eyes as she said the words that nearly broke her heart. “I keep dreaming that there’s a knock at the door and I open it up to find Jim standing there, looking very much like he did that time he came to tell me that Pete had been injured in that Narco raid. Except this time he doesn’t just tell me that Pete’s been injured he tells me…” Her voice cracked as she finished. “…that he’s dead.” Wiping at the tears in her eyes she said almost pleadingly to Jean. “I don’t want to ever hear Jim say those words.”

“I don’t either. For one thing I think it would kill Jim to have to say them.” Jean reached over and put a gentle hand over Judy’s.

“I’m scared, Jean.” The redheaded woman confessed with a tremor in her tone. “I’ve already lost one man that I love I don’t want to loose another one. I don’t think I could survive it. Pete’s the first man that I’ve really cared about since Greg died. He’s the only man that David’s ever taken such a shine to. All the other guys that I’ve dated made David mad, no matter how nice they were to him. It was as if he could see right through them. But Pete…well, you remember how quickly the two of them hit it off.”

Jean smiled and nodded. “I remember.”

“I don’t want to loose that, Jean.” Judy said with tears. “I don’t want to loose him.”

“You have to stop thinking like that, Judy or you’re going to drive yourself nuts.” The other woman admonished her friend earnestly. “I know its hard not to, trust me I know. But you can’t let such fears rob you of a happy life. I mean it would be such a waste to worry so much about loosing them that we can’t enjoy the time we have with them.”

“You’re right.” Judy nodded slowly and wiped her eyes with the tissue Jean handed her. “I can’t let the fear of loosing Pete rob me of enjoying the time I do have with him. I just have to make the most of whatever time we have, all the time praying that it’s a long time.”

“And you’ll have my prayers and those of every other police wife in the world along with yours.” Jean told her seriously. “It’s a pretty big club.”

“Full of some pretty special people.” The older woman gave Jean’s hand a warm squeeze. Jean smiled back and returned the affectionate gesture.

“And it’s gaining more all the time.”

“He looks so peaceful.” David whispered softly to his companion. “I don’t know if we should wake him.”

“Daddy said to.” Jimmy told the other boy seriously. “Bweakfast is weady.”

“I know, but I don’t want him to wake up in a bad mood.” The older boy replied, a worried frown on his face.

“I wake him.” The four-and-a-half year old announced unperturbed by the possibility that his godfather could be upset by the sudden awakening. He lifted a hand to hit the shoulder that was buried under the covers, but was halted by David’s restraining hand.

“No, wait. If one of us has to wake him, it should be me.” The redheaded boy remarked seriously, his hand still clutching Jimmy’s.

“Why?” The younger boy frowned slightly. “He my dodfadder.”

“I know.” David acknowledged as he observed the freckled face that was reposed in slumber. “But he’s going to be my dad.”

“He is?” Jimmy gave his friend a wide-eyed look. “Why?”

“Because he’s marrying my mom. That’ll make him my dad.”

“But Unca Pete not my daddy.” The younger boy commented with a shake of his head. “Daddy my daddy.”

“I know.” David assured him patiently. “My Uncle Jim is your daddy and your Uncle Pete is going to be my dad.”

“Den why don’t you call him ‘Daddy’?” Jimmy quizzed, a curious look on his young face.

The other boy turned an almost wistful look towards Pete. “I don’t know. I’ve never asked him if I could.”

“Den ask him.” Was Jimmy’s four-and-a-half year old reply. “Unca Pete vewy nice. I wuv him.”

“Yeah.” The redheaded boy nodded and whispered softly. “So do I.” After another moment of hesitation the young boy squared his shoulders and said. “Okay, let’s wake him.” Reaching out a hand he gently shook the officer’s shoulder. “Pete? Pete? Uncle Jim says its time to get up.”

When the sleeping man didn’t move Jimmy joined in. Shaking his godfather’s shoulder roughly he called. “Wake up, Unca Pete! Daddy say bweakfast weady! Time to get up!”

Before either boy knew what had happened they were both trapped in a huge bear hug and flung onto the bed.

“You dare try to wake an officer from his sleep, do you?” Pete growled as he mercilessly tickled the two young boys lying on the bed. Squeals for laughter mingled with attempted protests filled the room as the two boys wiggled and squirmed, trying to get away from Pete’s teasing hands.

Finally Jimmy’s shout of “I gotta go potty” put a sudden halt to his godfather’s attack. The young boy quickly scrambled off the bed and took off out of the room at a run, hightailing it past his father who was standing in the doorway of Pete’s room, laughing heartily at the scene before him.

“If he doesn’t make it, you’re cleaning it up.” Jim told his partner seriously before following his son towards the bathroom.

Pete wrinkled his nose and looked at David. “I hope he makes it.”

David laughed and echoed in agreement. “I hope he does too.”

“Well, I guess I should get up.” Pete sighed wearily before flopping back against his pillow. “Or maybe I’ll just stay here and take a nap first.” With that he folded his hands across his chest and closed his eyes.

David laughed and moved to lie on his stomach beside Pete. Resting his elbows on the bed he leaned his chin in his hands and watched as the redheaded officer pretended to sleep. There was something very important that he wanted to discuss with Pete but he wasn’t quite sure how to bring it up. With his mother’s impending marriage to Pete coming up so quickly he had a few questions he needed answers to. Namely his place in the new family.

He had been talking to a couple of his friends from school lately who had stepfathers and the results had not been too encouraging. One of his friends had said that his stepfather had wanted to send him away to a boarding school after he and his friend’s mom had gotten married. The other one said that his stepfather basically ignored him after the wedding except to yell at him or tell him to go away. David had quickly assured his friends that Pete would never do those things to him, that they were friends and got along very well. But his friends had told him that they too were friends with their stepfathers too – before the wedding. David did not want that to happen to him and Pete. He looked up to Pete more so than he’d ever looked up to any other man he’d ever met and certainly more so than any other man his mother had ever dated. He had liked Pete immediately upon meeting him. The officer had been so open and friendly.

The day that they had met Pete, David and his mom had been at the park playing with the new Frisbee that they’d bought when David had accidentally run into Jimmy, who had been at the park that day with Pete. David had been trying to catch a wild throw of his mother’s and hadn’t been watching where he was going when he ran right into Jimmy, unceremoniously knocking the younger boy to the ground. Surprised more than hurt, three-year-old Jimmy had wailed at the top of his lungs. David had tried to comfort the crying child but it wasn’t until Pete had gathered Jimmy into his arms that the scared boy had started to calm down. Both David and his mom had apologized profusely for the incident but Pete had dismissed their words assuring them that Jimmy was fine. Pete had then invited the two of them to join him and Jimmy for ice cream claiming that Strawberry Pistachio could cure anything that ailed you. They had readily accepted and the rest was history. During the year and a half that Pete and his mother had been dating David had come to really love and respect the redheaded officer. The thought that he may possibly loose that relationship after Pete and his mother married worried the young boy greatly.

David felt something nudge him gently in the leg, drawing him from his anxious thoughts. Focusing his gaze on Pete’s freckled face he read the concern in the older man’s green eyes.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Pete pressed, obviously not convinced. “You look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You want to talk about it?” When David hesitated he nudged the boy again with his toe and added. “Some times things don’t seem quite as bad when you talk them out.”

The young boy considered his words for several moments trying to decide what he should do. Whether he should tell Pete of his fears regarding a possible change in their relationship after the wedding or whether he should just wait and see what happened when the time came. But he was finding that as the big day approached he was getting more and more concerned. He finally decided to tell Pete what was on his mind, but before he could do so Jim and Jimmy reappeared in the bedroom door.

“Well, you were fortunate.” Jim told Pete with a grin. “He made it. Barely, but he made it.”

“I wasn’t worried.” The redheaded man commented confidently. “I knew he wouldn’t let me down.”

“Uh, huh.” The dark-haired man rolled his eyes. “You, ah, ready for breakfast or are you planning on lazing around in bed all day?”

“Lazing in bed all day sounds like a good idea.” He looked at the boy laying on his bed for confirmation. “Don’t you agree, kiddo?” When David didn’t answer a small frown creased Pete’s forehead.

“Hard to catch any fish if you lay in bed all day.” Jim observed, also wondering at the young boy’s silence. “If you have any thoughts of getting out on the lake you’d better get that keister of yours in gear, old man.”

Pete turned a mock-annoyed look on his younger partner. “You just watch it junior or you might find yourself being unceremoniously dumped into that lake.”

“You might try, but you’d never succeed.” Jim challenged wickedly. “Face it, Malloy. I’m the athletic one in this partnership.”

“Just go fry up some bacon before you end up being the black and blue one of this partnership.” Pete threatened, the twinkling in his eyes belying his harsh words.

“Sorehead.” The younger man commented before leaving the bedroom doorway. After he disappeared Pete turned his attention back to David, who still wore a very worried look on his face. Pulling himself to a sitting position the officer leaned back against the headboard of his bed and crossed his arms against his chest. “So, you want to tell me what’s got you looking so glum?”

The redheaded boy hesitated for another moment before pulling himself to a sitting position, tucking his knees up to his chin and wrapping his arms around them. He rested his chin on the top of his knees and looked at Pete thoughtfully for several minutes before finally voicing what was on his mind. When he started talking his eyes moved from Pete’s face to the bedspread beneath his feet. “Are you still going to like me after you and Mom get married?”

“What?” The incredulous tone in the older man’s voice caused David to look at him sharply.

“Are you still going to like me after you and Mom get married.” The boy repeated, his tone earnest as he looked at Pete expectantly.

“Come up here.” Pete encouraged after he’d finally digested the implications of the child’s question. Patting the empty spot beside him he added. “Sit beside me for a minute.” David obeyed, crawling up beside the officer and sitting beside him at the head of the bed. The redheaded man slipped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and gave him a serious look. “Now, do you mind telling me what brought on such a question as that?”

David looked down at his hands, which were folded in his lap and said, his tone low and nervous. “Tommy and Michael were telling me all about what it’s like having a stepfather.”

“And?” Pete prompted when the boy fell silent.

“And they make is sound perfectly horrible.” The troubled child confessed earnestly, looking up at Pete with worried eyes.

“What’s so horrible about it?”

More hesitation followed Pete’s question but finally David admitted. “Tommy told me that after his mom married again his stepfather wanted to send Tommy away to a boarding school in Boston. And Michael, after his mother remarried, his stepfather basically ignored him except to yell at him when he did something wrong.” He paused for a moment before adding. “What really worries me is that both Tommy and Michael said that they were really good pals with their stepfathers before the wedding…like you and me.”

Understanding flooded over Pete as he realized exactly what it was that had the boy so concerned. “And you’re worried that that’s going to happen to us too.”

David lowered his head and nodded. “I don’t want to loose what we have.” Looking back to Pete he pleaded. “Couldn’t things just stay the way they are? Do you have to marry my mom? Couldn’t you just keep doing what you’re doing now, at least until I’m old enough to leave home? You could still be my dad without marrying my mom. You already are.”

Pete fought hard not to laugh at what was obviously a very serious concern to the little boy. Instead he tightened his arm around his shoulders and said earnestly but gently. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen, David. Your mom and I are going to get married next weekend and I am going to be your stepfather. But I will tell you something that’s not going to happen. You and I are not going to suddenly become strangers. You see, as far as I’m concerned you and your mom are a package deal, a set. And I love you both very much.”

“Really?” David looked at him hopefully.

“Really.” Pete nodded in confirmation. “As a matter-of-fact, I couldn’t love you any more if you were my own flesh and blood. And I’m looking forward to being your stepfather.”

A thoughtful frown wrinkled the young boy’s forehead as he contemplated something. Pete waited patiently for him to speak, anxiously wondering what was on the boy’s mind. He didn’t have to wait very long. “Can you be just my dad instead of my step dad?”

“What do you mean?” The officer asked with a hint of perplexion in his voice.

David turned to look at him eagerly. “Well, I was thinking that if you adopted me than you would be my real dad and we could maybe avoid all the problems that could happen if you were just my step dad. So, what do you say? Will you be my real dad?”

“David, I would love to be your real dad.” Pete assured the young boy seriously. “But I’m afraid that it’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“Well, for one thing, we need to discuss this with your mom. She may not want me to adopt you. She may want you to keep ties to your real father.”

“But you’re my real father now.” David said determinedly. Now that he had his mind set on the idea of Pete adopting him he was determined to see it through.

“I mean your birth father.” Pete patiently replied. “Your mom may want you to keep his name.”

“But I want to be your son.” The young boy cried emotionally. “I want to know that you’ll always be my dad no matter what.”

Pete turned so that he could see the boy better. “I’ll tell you what. When we get home tomorrow the three of us will sit down and discuss this together, okay? And whatever your mother decides is what we’ll do, understand?”

David nodded solemnly. “I understand.”

“Okay.” Pete nodded, then after a moment he added in gentler tone. “But I want you to know that no matter what your mom decides we should do, whether she agrees to the adoption or not, you are and always will be my son. Okay?”

A broad smile spread across David’s face. “And you’ll always be my dad.”

“That’s right.” Pete nodded, a big smile spreading across his face when David suddenly flung himself into his arms.

“I love you, Dad.” David said against the officer’s chest.

Wrapping his arms around the boy the redheaded man hugged him tightly. “I love you too, son.” Looking up Pete met the approving eyes of his partner who was once again standing in the bedroom doorway, a wide smile on his handsome face.

“So, what do you think of this one?” Jean asked her friend as she stepped out of the change room in the woman’s clothing section of Somners Department store.

Judy smiled when she looked at her younger friend. “I love it. That color really suits you.”

The dark blond woman looked at the dress, smoothing out some invisible wrinkles. “I was always told that blue was my color.”

“Most definitely. I’m just glad that you didn’t buy a dress of that color for the wedding.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes you look far too stunning. And it doesn’t do for the Matron of Honor to outshine the bride.” Jean just laughed and turned back to the fitting room. “You ‘bout ready for lunch?”

“Sure where do you want to eat?” Jean asked through the door.

“How about Biff’s? It’s not far from here and Pete says that the food’s pretty good.”

Laughter floated out of the small cubicle. “That’s not the only thing that Pete thinks is good about that place.”

“What do you mean?” The redhead frowned as Jean opened the fitting room door.

A mischievous smirk tugged at Jean’s lips. “He once told Jim that he liked going there, not so much because they had good food, but because they had cute waitresses.”

“When did he say that?” Judy frowned with visible displeasure.

“About five years ago, during their first few weeks together.” Her friend told her, a sly grin on her pretty face as she headed for the check out counter.

“Oh.” The redhead chuckled slightly at her own jealous reaction.

After paying for her purchase Jean laughed and looped her arm through her friends. “Don’t worry, ma’am. You’re the only cute woman that Pete looks at these days.”

“I know.” Judy acknowledged.

Jean chuckled again. “Come on, let’s go get some lunch. I don’t know about you, but shopping makes me hungry.”

“Lead the way.” Her friend remarked as they left the store.

Pete, Jim and David all looked up when Jimmy let out a sharp squeal of surprise. Up until then the four of them had been enjoying a quiet morning of fishing in the boat they’d borrowed from Pat Kelly. True to his word, the business owner had waived all rentals for the group for the weekend. Pete had tried to pay him for the boat rental, but Pat had insisted that a deal was a deal and had refused to accept the officer’s money. With a grateful smile Pete had thanked his friend and then had left to join the others.

It had been a rather unproductive morning. Neither he nor Jim had had so much as a nibble and David had snagged his line on something and had ended up having to cut it free. So Jimmy’s sudden cry of surprise had caused his three companions to jump.

“I dot somethin’, Unca Pete!” Jimmy exclaimed eagerly as his line pulled taut and his rod danced about in his little hands. “I dot somethin’!”

“Reel her in, Sport!” His godfather instructed with a broad grin on his freckled face. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“It too hard!” The four-and-a-half year old complained as the rod continued to dance around in his hands.

“Maybe it’s a whale!” David suggested excitedly as he held his own pole while his Uncle Jim tied a new hook on his line.

“Let’s see.” Pete slipped his arms around his godson and helped him steady the rod as they reeled in the line. “He sure is a fighter.”

“It must be a whale!” Jimmy cried excitedly. “A gweat big whale!”

“Sure feels like it could be.” The older man commented eagerly but then couldn’t help laughing when their catch finally broke the surface.

“That’s some whale, guys.” Jim teased when he caught sight of the fish.

“Looks more like bait.” David added, a deeply amused look in his green eyes.

“It not bait!” Jimmy argued defensively. “Dat my fishy!”

“And it’s quite a fishy.” Pete remarked as he carefully removed the small creature from the hook, trying hard not to hurt him seriously.

Looking at his father eagerly the little boy pleaded. “Can I take him home, Daddy? Pwease! I take good care of him!”

Jim smiled and acknowledged. “I’m sure you would, Sport. But I think you’d better let him go.”

“But I catched him.” Jimmy pointed out eagerly. “I want to keep him. Pwitty pwease!”

“That may be.” Pete quickly piped up, coming to Jim’s aid. “But he’s just baby. What if his mommy and daddy are looking for him?”

“Yeah, they’d be very sad if they couldn’t find him.” David added, giving Pete a conspirator’s wink. Pete smiled in amusement.

Jimmy’s little forehead screwed up into a thoughtful frown. “I be vewy sad if my Mommy and Daddy couldn’t find me.” Looking at the small fish that Pete held in his hands the boy finally nodded his head. “Otay.” Patting the gasping fish that his godfather held in his hands he said. “You fwee, fishy. Go find you Mommy and Daddy. Dey may be looking for you.” Then he leaned over and gave the fish a gentle kiss.

Pete sent a deeply amused look over Jimmy’s head to Jim before leaning over the side of the boat and releasing the small fish back into the water. The fish floated on the surface for a moment before righting itself and disappearing into the depths of the lake.

“Bye, bye fishy.” Jimmy waved to the departing creature.

“That was a very nice thing of you to do, Jimmy.” Pete told his godson sincerely as he slipped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and gave him a warm squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”

“I proud of me too.” The boy echoed brightly causing his father and godfather to both laugh heartily.

Slapping the brim of Jimmy’s ball cap so that it fell over the child’s eyes the officer exclaimed with amusement. “You’re a little imp.”

Jimmy lifted the cap from his eyes and grinned cheekily at his godfather. “You an imp.” He then pulled the cap back down over his eyes and giggled mischievously.

Pete, Jim and David all laughed at the boy but before anything else could be said Pete felt a sharp tug on his own line. “Looks like I finally got a bite!” He cried as he scrambled to grab the rod that had been resting beside him on the seat before it went overboard.

“Maybe this one’s a whale.” Jim teased his friend, a large grin on his handsome face.

“It just might be, partner.” The redhead remarked as he reeled his line in. “Maybe we’ll be having fresh fish for lunch after all.”

Jim laughed with amusement. “You think that one little fish is going to feed all four of us?”

“Oh ye of little faith. This sucker’s gonna be a big one!”

“I’m sure it is. Don’t forget Jimmy’s fish.”

A couple of minutes later a triumphant Pete held up his catch for his doubting partner to see. “Now that’s a fish!” He glanced at the five-pound bass and grinned. “Makes your mouth water just looking at it, doesn’t it?”

“It certainly does.” Jim readily agreed, his own mouth already watering at the thought of pan-fried fish.

“Are you cooking him for lunch?” David asked eagerly.

“That’s right!” Pete drawled with a broad smile. “Fresh fish cooked over an outdoor fire. Nothing in the world can beat it.”

“You can’t eat him Unca Pete!” Jimmy suddenly cried, looking at his godfather in alarm. “You hafta let him go!”

“Why?” The boy’s godfather frowned slightly in confusion. “Don’t you want fish for lunch? I thought you liked fish.”

The four-and-a-half year old turned sorrowful eyes on the officer. “He could be de Daddy, Unca Pete. Do you want de baby fishy not to have a daddy?”

Pete glanced at his partner over Jimmy’s head and found that the other man was desperately trying to stifle a grin. Turning his attention back to his distressed godson he prompted. “What makes you think he could be the daddy?”

“Because he big.” The boy replied with four-and-a-half year old logic. “And daddies are always big.”

“He’s got you there, partner.” Jim remarked with an amused grin on his face.

Pete rolled his eyes at his friend before returning his attention to his godson. “Not all big people are daddies.”

“Daddy’s big and he a daddy.” Jimmy pointed out earnestly.

“But Uncle Pete’s big and he’s not a daddy.” The boy’s father countered still trying to hide his amusement from his distressed son.

“Yes he is.” Jimmy argued to his father. “He David’s daddy.” The looking back to Pete the boy accused seriously. “Would you want David not to have a daddy?”

Pete watched with mild disappointment as their five-pound lunch disappeared beneath the lake’s surface. The feeling quickly disappeared however when he felt two arms wrap themselves around his neck from behind.

“I’m proud of you, Dad.”

Pete looked at the owner of the arms and chuckled. “I’m proud of me too.” After a few moments of thought the redheaded officer suggested eagerly. “What do you say we take this boat for a spin around the lake?”

“Ya!” The two boys cried in unison.

“Can I drive?” David asked Pete eagerly.

“Don’t even bother asking.” Jim told the young boy as he shot his partner a wicked look. “He never gives up the steering wheel of anything.”

Pete shot his friend a mock-annoyed look as he encouraged the young boy. “Sit right here beside me, David and you can help me steer.”

“All right!” The redheaded boy cried eagerly as he carefully moved to sit in the very back seat of the boat. Once he was settled Pete followed him, sitting beside David while Jim and Jimmy made sure all the gear was packed up and secured.

“Everybody set?” Pete asked before starting the motor. When he received a loud ‘yeah’ from his three companions he started it up. Then with David’s eager help he directed the boat towards the center of the lake.

“This has been such a fun day.” Judy commented to her friend as they lingered over their coffees and desserts.

“Hasn’t it been?” Jean whole-heartedly agreed with the other woman. “It was so nice not to have to worry about Jimmy or about having to get supper ready for Jim when he finally got home from work.”

“Or to have to worry about arranging for a babysitter for David while I went out for the day.” Judy echoed eagerly. “Or to make sure I was home by a certain time so that the sitter could go home.”

“We really have to do this again sometime.” Jean suggested enthusiastically. “Send the guys off on their own and have a day to ourselves.”

“Most definitely!” Her redheaded companion readily agreed.

They sat in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts as they savored their desserts. Finally Jean looked up from her slice of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake and asked curiously. “You miss them?”

“Terribly!” Judy confessed honestly around her bite of trifle.

Her young friend grinned. “Me too.”

“Good, then this weekend was worth while.”

“What do you mean?” Jean frowned uncomprehendingly.

“Well, it helped us to appreciate just how much we enjoy having those guys around.” Judy explained with a mischievous grin. “Something to remember during the times that they drive us crazy.”

Jean laughed heartily at her friend’s comment. “Yeah, they do tend to do that a bit, don’t they? Especially when they come home late from work.”

“Or break a date because they have to work overtime or pull a double shift at the last minute.”

“Or they get stuck on a call at the end of watch and aren’t able to call and tell you that they’ll be late.”

“Which leaves you sitting at home anxiously watching the clock and ready to die of a heart attack every time the phone rings or there’s a knock at the door.”

Jean nodded knowingly. “I remember bursting into tears one time when Jim was late coming and a vacuum salesman knocked at the door. I was sure when I opened it that I would find Mac or Pete or some other policeman standing there with his hat in his hands. The poor salesman was at a complete loss as to what to do.”

The two women shared a long, understanding look. They may come from different backgrounds, they may have had different life experiences but they were now joined by one common bond. That bond was their strong love for two of LA’s Finest, as well as the daily fear that they both harbored that one day one or both of those men would go to work and never come home.

“Excuse me, ladies.” Their waiter suddenly appeared at their table, two filled glasses of champagne sitting on his tray. As he set a glass before each of them he explained. “The two gentlemen at the table by the wall asked me to deliver these to you with an invitation to join them for dessert if you wish.” Giving them a slightly amused smile he added. “They’ve been debating back and forth between themselves for about the last twenty minutes the best way to introduce themselves to you. They didn’t want to appear too forward or too eager, but they wanted to make sure to get your attentions.”

Judy laughed with amusement. “Well, they certainly succeeded.” Both she and Jean risked a look towards the table their waiter had indicated. They found two good-looking young men smiling in their direction. The blond gave them a discreet wave.

“That’s Charlie.” The waiter informed them. “He’s a teacher at one of the local High Schools. I’m not sure which one. The other fellow is Mike. He’s an Assistant Bank Manager.”

Jean laughed. “And are you their publicist?”

Their waiter chuckled good-naturedly. “Naw, I just feel sorry for them. They’re a couple of hard-working guys who don’t seem to have much luck in the dating department. They always seem to be striking out. Though I must say, they are good enough sports about it.”

Jean and Judy exchanged amused looks before the younger woman remarked, trying hard to suppress a grin. “Well, I’m afraid that they’ve just struck out again.”

“Oh?” The waiter raised an eyebrow expectantly.

“Please tell them that while we’re flattered and appreciate the offer and the champagne we don’t think that my husband or her fiancée, both of whom are police officer I might add, would approve of our having dessert with a couple of strange men.”

The messenger shook his head slightly. “They sure do know how to pick ‘em.” Then giving the two women a smile he left their table, heading across the room for Charlie and Mike. As he reached the table across the room Judy and Jean returned to their desserts, watching what was happening out of the corner of their eyes.

When the waiter left the other table the girls risked a glance that way and found the two men watching them again. When they knew that they had Jean and Judy’s attention they raised their own wine glasses in acknowledgement and then returned to their own conversations.

“I told you that that dress looked stunning on you.” Judy teased her friend mischievously.

“Me?” Jean exclaimed with an amused chuckle. “How about yourself? You know that dark green makes your eyes and hair stand out really well.”

The redheaded woman chuckled. “Wait ‘till we tell the guys.”

“Do you really think that we should?” Jean frowned with mock-concern.

“Why shouldn’t we?” Judy looked at her in surprise.

“Well, you know those two.” Her friend commented with a teasing smile. “They’re liable to track down Charlie and Mike and have them busted.”

“For what?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure that they’d come up with something.”

Judy chuckled again and raised her champagne glass. “To Pete and Jim. Two of the best guys that two girls could ever ask for.”

“Cheers.” Jean exclaimed and gently tapped her own glass against Judy’s.

Pete took a long drink from his soda and turned his head to better see the playground located at the edge of the take-out parking lot. He watched with a smile as David pushed Jimmy on the swing, the younger boy squealing and laughing with delight all the while encouraging his friend to push him even higher.

It had been a good day. One of the best days that Pete had ever had. After his heart-to-heart conversation with David that morning the young boy had immediately started referring to him as ‘Dad’. It had seemed very strange to him at first. As a matter of fact, the first few times that David had called him that Pete had failed to respond until the boy had called him by name. Pete had then apologized profusely for not responding, assuring the boy that he just wasn’t used to the title yet. David had good-naturedly accepted the apology and told the officer that it was okay, that he understood. But despite the reassurance Pete was trying to make a very concerted effort to respond to the child’s new title for him.

“Dad!”

Pete’s ears perked up and he lifted his head a little higher to see David better. The boys had abandoned the swings and were now occupied on the seesaw. The redheaded boy wasn’t even looking in his direction. Another sound caught the redheaded officer’s attention causing him to turn his head towards his partner who was chuckling in amusement.

“First David can’t get you to respond when he calls you ‘Dad’, and now your responding when someone else says ‘Dad’.” At the frown that his partner shot him Jim laughed even more and said. “Don’t worry, Pete. Every father does it. Once you get use to the title you have a tendency or perhaps more the instinct to look every time you hear it.” The redheaded man didn’t reply but just nodded thoughtfully. Jim waited for a few moments before venturing to ask. “So, how does it feel to be a full-blown father?”

Pete looked at this friend and smiled a little sadly. “I’m not a full-blown father yet, I’m afraid. And it’ll probably be a long time before I will be.”

“Pete, just because legally you may not be David’s father, that doesn’t mean that you’re not his father the way that it counts. He loves you like you were his father. I mean he’s been calling you ‘Dad’ all day for goodness sakes! I mean, how many kids today actually call their own fathers ‘Dad’ let alone a man who technically has no connection to them what so ever.” He paused to let his words sink in before continuing. “You are David’s father, Pete. And after today, I’m convinced of that fact more than ever.”

“You really think so?” The other man looked at him eagerly.

“I know so.” Jim assured his friend confidently.

Pete nodded his head and turned to look back to where the boys were playing. “Judy says that David doesn’t really remember his father.”

“Oh?” Jim prompted. Pete had told him that before, but he didn’t let on sensing his partner had something on his mind he needed to say.

“He was only four when Greg died.” He turned his head to look at his partner as he added. “Jimmy’s age.” He saw the look that flashed through his Jim’s eyes at the meaning behind Pete’s words. There were several moments of silence before the older man ventured to ask. “When you and Jean finally had your talk about your job and the possibilities of your getting hurt, how did you bring it up?”

“Which time?” Jim smiled. “That’s been an on-going discussion for the last five years, especially after you got shot a year-and-a-half ago. Then it became an almost daily discussion for weeks after that. Though it wasn’t until after the Award ceremony that we finally got everything straightened out. Jean and I finally sat down and talked everything out, coming to terms with what had happened and what could happen. We even talked about things we’d danced around for the previous three-and-a-half years. And I have to tell you that I was scared. Jean had been so angry, so quick tempered about my job ever since you had landed in the hospital. I was so sure that I was loosing her, that she had finally had enough of the worrying and the uncertainty. I didn’t know what I was going to do if she said that was it she was leaving.”

“But she didn’t.” Pete commented seriously.

“No she didn’t.” Jim confirmed. “And I think that once we actually worked up the courage to sit down and face everything head on that our relationship became much stronger.”

Pete smiled. “And you also gave up on taking the Investigators Exam too.”

Jim nodded. “A very wise man once told me that the streets were where the action was. I love working patrol.” His partner raised an eyebrow in surprise, clearly remembering the events that surrounded the words that Jim had just quoted. It had been Jim’s first days on the job and the rookie officer had been all in a snit because they’d had to turn over one of their cases, a homicide, to the Detectives. Jim had chewed on that murder for most of the remainder of that shift, much to Pete’s growing annoyance. “I like what I’m doing.” Jim continued, once again slyly quoting his friend’s words. “I’ll have to move on one day, but I’m not looking forward to it.”

“You’re not, huh?” Pete’s eyes twinkled in amusement.

Jim shook his head. “Not until the day they carry you away in a hearse. As long as we’re partners I can’t imagine being anywhere else but in a black and white.”

“Me neither partner.” His partner echoed sincerely. “Me neither.” Then taking another long drink of his soda he turned his attention back to the boys who were now playing on the slide.

“You really should talk to her about it.” Jim ventured after several moments of silence had passed. “You need to find out how you both feel about things.” Pete glanced at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the playing boys. Jim waited patiently for the other man to speak. It took several minutes before he did.

“What if she gets scared off?” He asked without looking at Jim as he spoke. “What if she decides that the pressures and worries of being a cop’s wife are more than she’s willing to handle? I could loose everything that I care about.” He turned a desperate look on his friend. “I could lose everything.”

The dark-haired man gave him an encouraging smile. “Won’t happen.”

“How do you know?” Pete gave him a slight frown. “Just because you and Jean have worked things out and are perfectly happy doesn’t make you an expert on everybody else’s relationship.”

“I never claimed to be an expert.” His friend protested, a little surprised by the other man’s biting tone. “I was just trying to reassure you that there is no way Judy would leave you just because things may be hard at times. She loves you Pete, even a blind man can see that. And what’s more, she needs you.” He paused to let his words sink in. When he saw his friend nod slightly a mischievous grin tugged at his lips. “At least that’s the only logical conclusion I can come up with as to why she’s still hanging around with the likes of you after all these years.

Pete turned a glare on his partner, which would have cowed even the most hardened criminal. But the same effect was lost on Jim. He knew the other man too well. “The likes of me, huh? Listen to him! After all the times that I’ve pulled his butt out of the fire, this is the thanks that I get. I even let him be my best man.”

“Let me?” Jim cried with exaggerated disbelief. “You practically begged me!”

The redhead shook his head and remarked. “I think your memory’s failing, partner.” Then with a deep sigh he added. “But if that’s how you feel about it, I can always ask Mac to fill in for you. After all I’d hate for you to feel pressured to do something that you’d really rather not do.”

“I never said that I didn’t want to do it!” Jim quickly objected.

“Well, I don’t know, Jim.” Pete continued to tease, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “That’s what it sounded like to me.”

“Yeah, well you’d better get your hearing checked, old man.” The younger man shot back.

Pete laughed good-naturedly and finished off his soda. Tossing it into a nearby garbage can he asked. “What do you say we head for the barn? I’m in the mood for another campfire and maybe some more stargazing. May as well take advantage of it since we don’t get to see many in LA.”

“At least none besides the flesh and blood kind.” Jim replied, disposing of his own garbage and following his partner towards the little playground to gather up the boys.

“What a terrific day!” Judy sighed contentedly as she flopped down heavily onto the sofa in the Reeds’ living room. “Shopping, a trip to the beauty parlor, a nice dinner and a tolerable movie. I’d call that a very successful day.”

“Not to mention an offer to join two very handsome gentlemen for dessert.” Jean laughed as she joined her friend on the couch.

“How could I forget?” Her friend laughed as well.

“I wonder how the guys’ day went.”

“I’m sure they had a ball.” Judy commented as she leaned her elbow on the back of the couch and rested her head against her hand. “At least I hope they did. David’s been looking forward to this trip for weeks.”

Jean turned to face her friend, mirroring her position. “I wonder if he’s asked Pete yet about calling him ‘Dad’.”

“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. They should be back sometime tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yeah, about mid to late morning. I told Jim that I’d make a nice brunch for all of us when they got back.”

“That sounds good.” Judy smiled. “It’s a shame that they have to work tomorrow night. They’ll barely have time to get unpacked before they have to report for duty.”

“You mean we’ll barely have time to see them before they have to report for duty.” Jean corrected knowingly.

“Well, that too.” Her friend chuckled lightly. “But I guess that’s what we have to expect if we’re going to have police officers in our lives. Fluctuating shifts, crazy schedules, overtime, double shifts, constant worry…”

“But it’s all worth it.” Jean told her friend seriously. “And as much as I may hate Jim’s job and the life threatening situations it sometimes puts him in, I love Jim. And I can’t even imagine my life without him. So, even though things aren’t always easy, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Both Jim and Pete love their work. Being police officers seems to be what they both want to be, so I guess we’re just going to have to keep putting up with it.”

“Especially since being patrol officers seems to be their preference too.” Judy commented grimly. “I don’t think we’ll ever get either one of them behind a desk. I know I sure tried after Pete got shot last year. Mind you the desk that I wanted to see him behind wasn’t one at a police station. It was one in a hardware store in Fresno.”

Jean laughed. “Some how I can’t quite picture Pete selling lumbar and paint. It just doesn’t seem to suit him.”

“I have to agree – now.” The older woman admitted. “But I’d still rather see him behind a desk than the wheel of a black and white.”

“I don’t know if you’ll ever get him out from behind the wheel of a black and white. Jim has a hard enough time getting Pete to let him drive for a shift.” She laughed suddenly and said. “Though one time Jim said that Pete actually begged him to drive.”

“Oh, really.” Judy’s eyebrows raised expectantly.

Jean nodded and related the story. “I guess one shift their regular patrol car was out of commission so they were driving this old unit that they nicknamed ‘The Beast’. Apparently they had no end of trouble with it, including an annoying hitch in the accelerator which would cause the car to lurch forward and the glove compartment door to snap open and rap Jim on the knees.”

“Ouch.” Judy grimaced.

“Yeah. Jim’s knees were red by the end of the night. Anyway, after about their fifth or sixth trip to the garage Pete came up to Jim and asked if he wanted to drive. At first Jim turned him down, but when Pete literally begged him to take ‘the Beast’ off his hands for a while Jim finally agreed. But Jim didn’t have any more luck with the car than Pete did.”

“Sounds like a nightmare on wheels that car.” Judy laughed picturing the two officers frustration at the constant hold ups at the garage.

“Oh, it was. Jim said that he’d never drank so much coffee or spent so much time in the coffee room in one shift in his life. He was pretty annoyed about the whole affair at the time, but now when you hear him and Pete talk about it they laugh like a couple of hyenas. They do that about several different things that’s happened to them over the last five years.”

“You know that’s probably why we can’t get either one of them behind a desk.” Judy remarked with sudden understanding.

“Why’s that?”

“Because they can’t be together if they’re behind a desk.” The redheaded woman pointed out earnestly. “I mean think about it. If Pete took the Sergeant’s exam than he’d no longer be out on patrol with Jim and if Jim took the Investigator’s exam it would mean the same thing. Either way they’d be separated.”

“I have to admit that I’m surprised that Jim has stayed put for as long as he has.” Jean admitted seriously. “I remember him commenting years ago, just after he had started with the department actually, about how he thought that Pete was wasting his career by still being out on patrol after seven years on the force. Jim had been told by some of the other guys at the station that Pete would have been a shoe in for Sergeant a couple years before but that Pete had refused to even take the exam when it was offered. Jim told me than that he would never do that. He viewed being a patrol officer as a means to an end. He’d put in his time in a black and white but as soon as he qualified he’d move on to bigger and better things. He was determined to be a Sergeant by the time he earned his five year stripe.” She smiled slightly. “His attitude towards that seems to have changed completely. Now I’m beginning to wonder if he’ll ever get out of a patrol car.”

“I’m sure he will.” Judy remarked thoughtfully. “After all, it’s only a matter of time before Mac separates them, giving them new partners. They’re both good officers and now that Jim’s got five years under his belt he’ll probably be given more responsibilities as a training officer.”

“I guess.” The younger woman nodded, a sad look appearing in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Judy asked curiously, wondering at the reason for the look.

“Oh, nothing.” Jean dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. “I was just thinking of what a sad day it will be when Jim and Pete are permanently split up. The day that they’re no longer officially partners.”

“I have a feeling that even if those two are no longer officially partners, they’ll always be partners in spirit. I think those two will always be a team even if Pete’s Police Chief and Jim’s a Commissioner. I don’t think that anything, short of death, will break up their partnership.”

“Well than let’s just hope that they both live to be a good old age before we test that theory.”

“Amen to that.” Judy exclaimed solemnly.

Pete tilted his head back and looked up at the stars, a contented sigh on his lips. He and Jim were once again enjoying the natural twinkling lights that danced about in the Heavens above their heads. The two boys had gone to bed a couple of hours before and the two men were reveling in the peace and solitude of the late hour.

“It’s been a great day.” Jim remarked, finally breaking the silence that enveloped them.

“Yes it has.” His partner readily agreed shifting his gaze from the stars to his friend who was sitting across the fire from him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he replayed the events of the day over in his mind. “It has been a really wonderful day. Thanks, Jim.”

“For what?” The dark-haired man asked with surprise.

Pete turned his gaze back to the twinkling lights above before replying sincerely, though somewhat uncomfortably. “For this weekend. For knowing exactly what David and I needed.” A slight pause prevailed while the officer gathered his thoughts. Finally he shifted his focus back to Jim and admitted earnestly. “You’re a good friend, James Reed. A really good friend.” He paused for another moment. “I, ah…I’m very grateful for your friendship.”

“And I’m grateful for yours.” Jim returned honestly.

Another pause followed before Pete was able to continue. “There’s something that I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time now. Ever since the Medal of Valor ceremony actually and I suppose that this is as good a time as any.” Curiosity sparked in his partner’s eyes but he didn’t say anything. “I know I told you before the ceremony that what you did meant a lot to me. I mean, how could it not. You had risked your life to save mine and for that I will always be deeply grateful. I mean I know I wouldn’t be here today if you hadn’t have been there then. I’ll never forget that. But what I never told you was how proud of you I was. You’ve become a very good cop, Jim. One of the best there is. And I feel both honored and privileged to have you as my partner.”

Jim was grateful for the surrounding darkness as he fought for composure. Even now, over a year and a half later, he still couldn’t think of what had happened that night during the Narco raid without shuddering. That was the night that he had come very close to loosing his best friend. The man that he’d looked up to since the very first days on the job for help and guidance. Pete was his mentor, his partner and his friend. His best friend.

“I feel the same about you.” Jim finally replied, his tone full of emotion. “And like I told you before, that night I was just doing my job. I was watching out for my partner.”

“But technically I wasn’t your partner that night.” Pete pointed out seriously. “You were working with John.”

“You will always be my partner, Pete.” Jim told him truthfully. “Even if we end up working in separate divisions or even separate cities and you’re a Captain and I’m a Lieutenant I will always think of you as my partner. We’re a team, Pete. A good team and we always will be.”

“I agree.”

They smiled at each other before turning their attentions back to the stars above. After several minutes of silence Jim commented. “There’s something that I’ve never told you either, but I’ve always wanted to.” He saw Pete look at him expectantly over the campfire. A sudden uncomfortable feeling washed over him. Neither he nor Pete were the type to regularly ‘bare their souls’ as it were, but there was something about the quiet of the country and the darkness of a star-filled sky that prompted even the most deeply hidden secrets to come to the fore. “You know that ever since we met I’ve looked up to you as a mentor. You taught me how to put everything I learned at the Academy into practice and how to do so effectively. To me you are the epitome of a good cop. You’re smart, courageous, fair everything that I’ve aspired to be. And I just want you to know how much your example and your guidance has meant to me.”

“Jim…” Pete tried to interrupt his friend, very uncomfortable with the conversation.

“No, Pete.” The other man objected. “Please let me finish. I want to say this.”

“Okay.” The senior officer nodded reluctantly.

Jim took a deep breath and continued on. “That night during the Narco raid, when you were shot I was never more terrified in my life. Actually, that’s not true. There were three other times that I was that terrified. The time you were shot in Duke’s Café and held hostage by those two escapees and I wasn’t sure if we were going to get you out in time. Then there was the time that you disappeared after going after that 211 suspect because you had rolled the black and white in Griffith Park. Once again I was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to find you in time and even when we did find you, you looked so bad I was afraid that you weren’t going to make it. It was touch and go there for a while, remember?”

“I remember.” Pete acknowledged eagerly. When Jim didn’t say anything else he prompted gently. “What was the third time?”

“The third time was when you and I were kidnapped by those two 211 suspects and that head case Steve Deal took you outside to execute you. In each of those cases I was sure that you were going to go out on me. That I was going to loose the very best friend that I have ever had. And that’s what you are, Pete, my best friend. I have never had a more loyal, more trust-worthy friend than you. And I can’t tell you how much your loyalty and trust means to me. You’ve never wavered in your friendship, even if everyone else in the world doubted me you never did.” HE paused for a moment before saying. “Do you remember the time that I was under investigation because it looked like I shot that guy who was trying to mug me when I was off-duty?” Pete nodded his head. “You never once thought that I was guilty. You believed me when I said that I didn’t do it, even when all others including Mac I’m sure, thought I did it. And remember that night that I shot that sixteen year old kid? The first person that I’d ever killed. You stayed by my side through the whole ordeal, helping me get through the shooting review board, the reenactment, everything. You even sat with me in that all-night pancake house for three hours afterwards and patiently helped me work though my churned up emotions. I know how hard it must have been for you having this still-green probationer bend your ear and pour out his heart to you when all you’d no doubt wanted to do was go home and go to sleep. I think that was the day that I really began to feel that you were my friend. You had stuck by me during one of the most difficult times of my life. I’ve always wanted to thank you for that, Pete. It really meant a lot to me. It still does.”

“There’s no need to thank me, Jim.” Pete’s tone was suspiciously deep. “I was just doing my job, looking out for my partner.”

Jim couldn’t help but smile and quote. “It was a little more than that.”

There was a long pause before Pete finally said. “Since we seem to be playing ‘True Confessions’ tonight I have a couple of my own I should probably make. You remember that first night on patrol?”

Jim nodded and chuckled slightly. “I’m not likely to ever forget it.”

His partner smiled momentarily but his expression quickly sobered. “Remember your comment to me that I didn’t seem to have much confidence in you?” The dark-haired man nodded again, wondering where Pete was going with this. “Well, it wasn’t so much that I didn’t have confidence in you…I just didn’t want you there.”

A frown creased Jim’s forehead. “What do you mean?”

“Seeing you sitting in the passenger seat of the black and white