IN MEMORY OF ANGELS

 

By:  Kenda

 

 

 

*In Memory of Angels is written under the assumption that Jack Simon wasn’t killed until A.J. was approximately ten years old, as alluded to in the aired episode, Revolution Number 91/2, and based on a work of fan fiction entitled Journey Into The Past by Brenda A.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

                                                                

 

     Rick Simon sat alone in the office he and his brother shared on a sunny afternoon in mid June.  The lanky detective was shuffling through the papers piled on his desk in an effort to organize them and return them to their file folders.  He looked up when the door flew open so vigorously that it hit the wall behind it.

 

     A slightly built five-year-old boy with strawberry blond hair bounded into the room.  "Rick!  Rick!" the youngster shouted with glee, his arms outstretched.

 

     Rick stood and walked around his desk, grinning.  He swung the giggling child in the air, holding him high over his head. 

 

"Whose juvenile delinquent has lightened my door step?"   the detective teased of the small boy.

 

     Rick continued to tease and tickle the youngster, even as A.J. and the boy's mother entered the room.  When the little boy's giggles turned to loud, piercing shrieks of excitement his mother admonished, "Okay, Josh, that's enough now.  Calm down."

 

     Rick continued to playfully torment Josh, making it impossible for him to obey his mother.    

 

     A.J. was then forced to echo the words of the mother. "Okay, Rick, that's enough now.  Calm down."

 

     Rick gently deposited the child on his feet, pouting, "Aw, A.J., you're no fun."

 

     Josh waggled a finger in the direction of Rick's nose and teased in a singsong voice, "You got in trouble, Rick.  Aaay Jaay scolded you."

 

     "It's not the first time for that, partner," Rick dismissed as he perched on the edge of his desk.

 

     "Nor will it be the last, I'm sure," A.J. quipped dryly while indicating for their client to take a seat in front of his desk. 

 

     A.J. moved to sit behind the desk, taking a few seconds to leaf through the mail that was piled on it.  Before that task was completed, however, a squirming five-year-old had managed to worm his way into the blond man's lap.

 

     "Josh, come sit here by me and leave A.J. alone," the child's mother instructed.

 

     "He's okay, Melanie," a preoccupied A.J. assured as he held the little boy against his chest and continued to look through the mail.

 

     Josh sat quietly leaning back against A.J., seemingly satisfied and occupied with the important job A.J. had given him of holding onto each piece of mail as A.J. finished with it.

 

     "How'd it go today?"  Rick asked of their pretty, petite client.  Her own strawberry blond curls fell to her shoulders in natural waves, and she had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks just like her son.  Those freckles made her appear to be at least ten years younger than her thirty-three years.  Her tiny, fine boned face was accented by large gray eyes.

 

     "All right, I guess.  The judge gave us no problems in regards to putting a restraining order against...him," Melanie finished softly.

 

     Melanie's son possessed a sharp mind, as well as sharp ears.  He looked over at his mother from A.J.'s lap.  "You mean Daddy?"

     Melanie nodded.  "Yes, Josh, I mean Daddy."

 

     The little boy bent his head back, looking up at A.J.  "What's that mean, A.J.?"

 

     A.J. affectionately brushed the boy's bangs back from his forehead.  "What Josh?  A restraining order?"

 

     "Yeah."

 

     The blond man looked at Melanie.  Upon seeing her nod he answered the boy with, "Well, Josh, a restraining order was put out on your dad to keep him away from you and your mom.  It means he can't see either one of you, phone you, or come near you in any way."

 

     "Or else he'll be in trouble with the police.  Right, A.J.?" 

 

     A.J. nodded.  "Yes, Josh, that's right."

 

     The adults all exchanged glances as the little boy stated firmly, "Good."

     Rick asked their client a few more questions concerning the afternoon she and A.J. had spent in court before picking up Josh at day care.  A.J. kept the boy's attention away from the adult conversation by starting a lively game of tic tac toe on a piece of office stationary.

 

     Melanie Cason had been a client of the Simons for four weeks now.  Her divorce had been final for only two months when her abusive ex-husband began to harass her.  At first it was simply annoying phone calls at both home and work, but soon moved beyond that when the tires of her car were slashed one night, her phone line cut, and then her home broken into and ransacked.  As in most cases like this, except for the phone calls, Melanie had no way to prove the vandalism had been caused by her ex, although she had no doubts that it was.  Neither did the police, who had seen many cases such as this in the past.  Unfortunately, without proof, there wasn't much the police could do either except to go over with Melanie certain safety precautions she should take in an attempt to keep herself and her son free of harm.  The police officer that was assigned to her case also suggested that she might look into hiring a private investigator.  When she told the cop she didn't know of any private investigators and asked if he could recommend one, he highly recommend two, off the record of course.  That's how Melanie obtained the name and address of Simon and Simon Investigations.

 

     The harassment of his former wife on the part of James Cason didn't end just because she had suddenly acquired two body guards.  Nor did it end when Rick and A.J. cornered the man on his way out of his work place one Friday evening and very politely, but very firmly, advised him that it would be in his best interest to leave Melanie alone.  As Rick said to A.J. later that night, "I'll give the guy this much credit, he's one heck of an actor.  If I didn't know better I could have almost bought his, ‘Who, little old me?,’ act."

 

     For the first week that the Simons were employed by Melanie, she and Josh remained in their condo while Rick and A.J. took turns on stakeout duty.  A.J. also drove Melanie to and from work each day, as well as dropping Josh off at, and picking him up from, the summer day care program he was enrolled in.

 

     By the end of the second week, with very little decrease in the harassment, but no hard evidence against Jim Cason, the Simons moved Melanie and Josh to Cecilia's home at two o'clock one morning.  What could fit in the trunk and backseat of the  old Impala borrowed from Carlos went to Cecilia's with Melanie.  The rest of her belongings were loaded into the back of a moving van borrowed from a client of the Simons and were taken by Carlos to a storage facility he had recently purchased.  The brothers hoped this middle of the night move would finally shake Cason loose of Melanie since her condo was up for sale anyway.  They were keeping their fingers crossed that her ex-husband would quickly grow frustrated in his search to find her and ultimately give up.

 

     Now, almost four weeks into the case, all was going as they had hoped, which caused the skeptical Rick to say to his brother when they were alone on morning the previous week,  "I don't know, A.J.  I don't like it.  I've got a bad feeling about all this.  The guy's giving up too easy."

 

     "That's what we were hoping for,” A.J. pointed out. “That the guy would give up."

 

     "Give up, yeah.  But not roll over and play dead."  Rick shook his head.  "I don't know. I just don't like it."   Rick's words hung heavily in the air, like some kind of ominous prediction.

 

     A.J. chose to ignore his brother's gut feeling.  "Maybe now that Cason's got to put some effort into his search he's getting tired of playing cat and mouse."

 

     "You didn't see any sign of him when you were takin' Mel to work, or droppin' Josh off at day care?"

 

     "No, none at all.  That's four mornings in a row now he hasn't made an appearance."

 

     "And everything was quiet at Mom's last night?"

 

     A.J. had nodded and answered his brother with, "Yes.  No problems there at all."

 

     "What are we gonna do on Monday when Mom goes up to San Francisco to visit Aunt Marion?"

 

     "I've been giving that some thought these past few days.  Since we've both agreed that it would be best if Melanie doesn't return to her condo, and we don't want her and Josh alone at night, I can stay with them at Mom's next week.  That way there's no need for one of us to sit outside the house all night like we've been doing these past two weeks."

 

     "Okay, fine," Rick had agreed, before playfully pouting,  "How come you though, and not me?"

 

     "Because Josh is already picking up on all your bad habits.  His mother's hoping to end this business relationship with her child's mental health intact."

 

     Rick had thrown his brother a dirty look for that remark, before the two men moved on to mapping out their strategy for the next week when A.J. would be staying at Cecilia's with their client and her son.  It was then that they decided, in light of the fact that they couldn't go on being Melanie's bodyguards forever, that the woman should have a restraining order put out against her ex-husband.

 

     It was that act that Rick and Melanie were now discussing as A.J. and Josh played tic tac toe.

 

     "So what are your plans now, darlin'?"

 

     Melanie smiled at Rick's term of endearment.  Coming from any other man she would have found it an insult, but with Rick...well, just the way he said it made you know he only used it when he felt a brotherly type of affection toward someone of the fairer sex.

 

     Because of his choice of words, she replied in kind,  "Well, cowboy, I think after this week you and I, and your blond side kick over there, have ridden this range as far as we can go, and about as far as my checkbook can afford."

 

     Rick shrugged.  "We'll work something out if it becomes necessary."

 

     Melanie smiled fondly at the kindness of the Simon brothers.  A.J. had told her the exact same thing the other day when she had discussed finances with him.

 

     "I'm hoping it doesn't become necessary. My company has been so sympathetic about my situation.  I was just telling A.J. on the way over here that my boss found a high security apartment for me in his neighborhood, and is paying for a moving company to relocate Josh and me.  From there, if things stay calm for a few months, I'll begin looking for a new condo or small house for the two of us.  If it becomes necessary, we'll move.  The company I work for owns several other chemical plants across the country.  I'm considering making a major change.  You know, a fresh start for both Josh and myself.  As a chemical research engineer I can easily make a transfer to another plant somewhere far away from San Diego."

 

     "That might be a good idea, but just be careful and don't rush into things," Rick cautioned.  "A.J. and I don't wanna see you or Josh get hurt.  It's like our mom always says, it's better to be safe than sorry."

 

     Melanie smiled once again.  "You and A.J. have been more than kind, Rick."

 

     "Well, you did hire us you know," Rick teased.

 

     "I may have hired the two of you, but both of you, as well as your mother, have done more for me and Josh than I can ever repay you for."

 

     "Aw, me and A.J. are just knights in shining armor at heart, darlin.’  We hate to see a beautiful damsel in distress."

 

     A.J. looked up from the tic tac toe game.  "Don't believe anything he says, Mel.  I'm the knight in shining armor.  His armor, on the other hand, is so tarnished it's rusting."

 

     Rick growled at A.J., only to have Melanie smile at their antics and bantering, while Josh started to laugh from where he still sat on A.J.'s lap.

 

     "Hey, what are you laughing about, squirt?"  Rick asked the boy in a tone of mock anger.

 

     "I like it when A.J. teases you, Rick," Josh giggled.  He found the Simon brothers to be great fun.

 

     "Oh, you do, do you?"  Rick made a big production of advancing toward Josh with his hands outstretched, fingers waggling in the vicinity of the child's rib cage.  The laughing boy stood up in A.J.'s lap and wrapped his arms around the blond detective's neck.  Between giggles he pleaded, "Save me, A.J.!  Save me!  Rick's gonna tickle me!"

 

     A.J. joined in the spirit of the game, holding the boy to his chest while promising, "I won't let that mean old bald man tickle you, Josh."

 

     Just as Rick's fingers almost came in contact with the laughing child's midsection, he moved his hands and dug his fingers into A.J.'s rib cage instead.

 

     "Rick, stop it!  Stop it!"  A.J. commanded while trying to swivel his chair out of Rick's reach, yet ever mindful that he had Josh in his arms.  When A.J. tried to put the boy down so he could better defend himself, Josh only clung to him more tightly, finding great enjoyment in the game the two grown men were playing.

 

     "Josh, let go!  Let me put you down!"  A.J. pleaded between his unintentional bursts of laughter. “Let go!”

 

     "Nope, I'm not going to let you go,”  osh giggled. “I'm gonna hold you so Rick can tickle you." 

 

     "Yeah, partner.  You hold on to him real tight now."

 

     "Rick, stop it!  Come on, you two, have some sympathy," A.J. laughed.

 

     When it looked like A.J.'s chair was about to tip over backwards from all the rambunctious shenanigans, Melanie intervened.  She walked over to the three 'kids' and got a hold of her son.  "Okay, Josh, let go.  Let go of A.J."

 

     "Awwww, Mom," the boy said as he released his hold and was lifted by his mother out of A.J.'s lap.

 

     "Rick, you too," Melanie went on to admonish.  "That's enough now.  Leave A.J. alone."

 

     With one last poke to his brother's ribs, Rick did as he was told, teasing, "Awwww, Mom, you always take his side."

 

     "With good reason," a red faced A.J. panted breathlessly.  Rick hadn't tormented A.J. by tickling him in well over thirty- five years.  The blond man found that he didn't like this type of 'fun' any better now than he had as a child.

 

     "Always some mother's golden boy," Rick muttered with playful disgust.  The dark headed man then looked at his watch and changed the subject.  "Hey, it's after five.  Why don't we all go grab a bite to eat before you guys head back to Mom's house for the night."

 

     Melanie and A.J. were agreeable to that suggestion so everyone headed for the door.  Josh ran to A.J.'s side and took the blond's hand.

 

     Rick saw the soft smile of affection that lit up A.J.'s face as the little boy gazed up at him with an open look of love, trust, and hero worship.

 

     A.J. gave the youngster a big dimpled smile and wink, then picked the boy up and settled him sideways on his hip.

 

     Rick shot a fond smile in the general direction of his brother's back before slipping an arm around Melanie's waist and flirting, "Let's dump these two worthless guys, lady, and go somewhere nice and romantic.  Just you and me."

 

     A.J. turned around with Josh still in his arms.  "I'd better warn you right now, Mel, that Rick's idea of romantic is a table for two at McDonalds."

 

     "That'll never do, Richard." 

 

     "For you, darlin', I'll change my ways," Rick vowed as the foursome made their way to the elevator.

 

     "I'm willing to bet you've fed that same line to a lot of women over the years," Melanie tossed back.

 

     "He has," A.J. confirmed.  "Without much success, I might add."

 

     A.J.'s smart remarks earned him another poke in the ribs and a threat of prolonged tickling much to the enjoyment of Josh, who began to giggle once again at Rick's mischievousness.

 

     As Rick slid the elevator gate shut A.J. said, "We'd better feed these two boys, Melanie, and put them to bed.  The big one with the cowboy hat is really starting to get on my nerves."

 

     A.J.'s words prompted another round of playful teasing and bantering among the four as they rode the elevator to the ground floor, and then walked down the street to a favorite restaurant.

 

__________________________

              

 

 

     Later that same evening Josh and A.J. were playing on Cecilia Simon's living room floor with some old metal cars and trucks Cecilia had dug out of the attic for her young visitor.

 

     Melanie appeared from the basement where she had been putting a load of laundry in the dryer.  "Time for bed, Josh."

 

     "Not yet, Mom.  I'm not ready."

 

     "I didn't ask you if you were ready or not.  I'm telling you that it's time for bed," Melanie said with quiet firmness.  "Pick all these toys up please."

 

     "Oh, all right," the pajama clad boy moaned.  That tone brought back many memories to A.J. of a time when he was five years old and was being made to pick up these exact same toys before he was sent off to bed.

 

     A.J. helped Josh pick up the scattered toys while Melanie sat on the couch, watching the two of them with a smile on her face.  A.J. caught her gaze and gave her his most charming smile and a wink. 

 

     You're a shameless flirt, Andrew Simon, whether you realize it or not, Melanie thought with amusement. 

 

     When the toys were all put back in their cardboard box and stuffed in the hall closet Josh asked, "Can A.J. read me my story tonight, Mom?"

 

     "I don't know.  You'll have to ask A.J. that question." 

 

     The boy looked up at A.J.  "A.J., will you?  Will you read me a story?"

 

     "Sure, buddy," A.J. readily agreed, then waited as Josh gave his mother a good night kiss.

 

     The youngster then ran over to A.J., took him by the hand, and urged him toward the stairway.  The excited boy stopped his progress only long enough to turn and ask, "Mom, can A.J. sleep in my room tonight?" 

 

     By 'my room,’ Josh meant the Simon brothers old bedroom, the room Cecilia had made ready for him while giving Melanie the guest room.

 

     "Josh, I don't think A.J. wants to sleep in one of those twin beds.  He's a little too big for them, wouldn't you say?  He's going to sleep in Mrs. Simon's room since she’s gone this week.  It has a big bed.  You'll see him in the morning."

 

     "But, Mom, I want A.J. to sleep in the same room as me," the tired boy whined.

 

     "Joshua James," Melanie began firmly, intending to put an end to this behavior. Before Melanie had a chance to scold her son, A.J. intervened with,  "I'll sleep in there, Mel.  I don't mind."

 

     "A.J., you don't have to do that.  Josh has been fine in there by himself for two weeks now.  There's no reason for you--"

 

     "I know," A.J. acknowledged.  "But it's okay.  Really."

 

     "Well...if you're sure," Melanie reluctantly agreed, not wanting to put A.J. out in any way.

 

     "I'm sure."

 

     The excited child jumped up and down, whooping with excitement.  "Yay! Yay!" 

 

     A.J. swooped the boy off his bare feet and charged up the stairs with him.  "Okay, pal, let's get the story read and get you in bed before your mom changes her mind."

 

     "Good night, Mom!" drifted down the stairs to Melanie's ears.

 

     Melanie smiled.  "Good night, Josh!" 

 

     Melanie could tell when the two 'boys' reached their destination by the way the bed springs creaked from up above.  Considering the way Josh was laughing she had no doubt A.J. was allowing her son to use the bed as a trampoline.

 

A.J.'s done more for Josh in a month's time than his father did for him five years, the woman thought with heartfelt gratitude as she sat quietly and listened to the animated chatter coming from above.

 

______________________

 

 

     Twenty minutes and one Dr. Seuss books later a tired Josh was leaning against A.J. as they both reclined on the detective's boyhood bed.

 

     Just as A.J. was about to get up and tuck the child in for the night, Josh asked, "You used to share this room with Rick, didn't you, A.J.?"

 

     "Yes, I did."

 

     "And that's his bed right there, isn't it?"  Josh pointed to the empty bed on the other side of the nightstand from A.J.'s.

 

     "Yes, it is."

 

     "Your mom told me that.  She told me this bed was yours.  I asked her.  That's why I picked this one to sleep in."

 

     A.J. smiled.  "You did, huh?"

 

     "Yep.  And you're gonna sleep in Rick's old bed tonight, right?"

 

     "Yes, Josh, that's where I'll sleep if you still want me to."

 

     "I do.  But do you think Rick will be mad if you sleep in his bed?"

 

     A.J. chuckled.  "No, I don't think so."

 

     "Maybe we should call him and make sure it's okay."

 

     Knowing that Rick had an evening on the houseboat planned with a favorite lady and probably wouldn't appreciate any type of interruptions, prompted A.J. to state, "I don't think we need to do that, Josh.  Rick won't mind."

 

     "Well...okay.  If you're sure."

 

     "I am."

 

     Josh bounced from one subject to another for a few minutes, as children often will at bedtime in an effort to stall sleep. 

 

"Rick was a soldier, wasn't he?"

 

     "Yes, he was.  How did you know that?"

 

     "I saw a picture of him in his uniform.  You were in the picture too, A.J.  Your mom showed it to me.  You looked real young."

 

      A.J. laughed.  "Thanks a lot."                     

 

     "Rick looked young, too.  He didn't have a moustache then."

 

     "No, he didn't."

 

     Josh looked up at A.J.  "Were you scared when Rick was a soldier?  Scared that he might get shot or something, I mean?"

 

     A.J. nodded.  "Yes, I was.  Sometimes I was very scared."

 

     "Sometimes I'm scared, too...of my dad."

 

     A.J. gave the boy a little squeeze.  "You don't have to be scared of your dad anymore, Josh."

 

     "He used to hurt Mom."

 

     A.J. rubbed a hand over Josh's arm.  "I know."

 

     "It scared me when he would do that.  Why did he do that, A.J.?"

 

     "I don't know.  Some people...like your dad...have problems.  Problems inside themselves that no one knows how to fix.  Sometimes those problems cause people to do things and say things they really don't mean.  All we can do is try to understand that, buddy."

 

     "Well, I don't understand it!  He hurt my mom, A.J. I'm glad he's gone! I don't ever wanna see him again.  You won't let him come back, will you?"

     A.J. looked down into trusting blue eyes. "No, Josh, I won't let him come back."

 

     "Good."

 

     Just as quickly, the subject changed again.  "You know what I really want, A.J.?"

     A.J. smiled at the ways this bright little boy could find to avoid the sandman.

 

     "No, Josh.  What do you really want?"

 

     "I want a brother.  One just like you have.  One like Rick."

 

     A.J. made a big production at being horrified over this wish.  "One like Rick?  You've got to be kidding me.  Why in the world would you want a brother like Rick?"

 

     "He's fun."

 

     Although there were lots of times when Rick's 'fun' drove A.J. nuts, he couldn't help but smile now and agree, "Yes, he is, isn't he?"

 

     "Yep.  Was Rick fun when you were a little boy, A.J.?"

 

     Thinking of all the mischief he and Rick had gotten into as children as direct results of Rick's countless schemes, caused A.J. to reply with a laugh, "Yes, he was, Josh.  Often to the dismay of our mother."

 

     "Did you guys get in trouble?"

 

     "More times than not we sure did."

 

     "You know what, A.J.?"

 

     "No.  What, Josh?"

 

     "Your mom told me sometimes she still wants to spank you and Rick 'cause of the trouble you guys cause her."

 

     "My mom told you that?"  A.J. asked, wide-eyed with mock fear.

 

     Josh giggled.  "Yeah."

 

     "Well, I guess I'm going to have to start behaving myself, aren't I?"

 

     "Yep," Josh nodded.  "I think so."

 

     A.J. rose from the bed, not allowing the boy to stall any longer.  "Okay, kiddo, let's get you under the covers and get this light off."

 

     Josh snuggled down in the bed as A.J. rearranged the sheet and blanket, then handed Josh a stuffed dog he had brought along from home.

 

     Just as A.J. was about to say his final good night, Josh stopped him with a stage whisper.  "A.J., I've got a secret."

 

     "You do?  Well, you'd better keep it then."

 

     The child shook his head against the pillow.  "No.  I wanna to tell you.  Only you though.  Not my mom, or your mom, or Rick.  Just you."

 

     Josh crooked the index finger of his right hand and motioned for A.J. to lean closer.

 

     A.J. bent down and smiled as he felt two small arms wrap around his neck and warm breath flutter on his ear.

 

     "I want you to be my dad, A.J.  No one else.  Just you.  I want my other dad to go away forever."

 

     A.J. slowly pulled away from the child and sat on the edge of the bed, not sure how to reply to Josh's words.

 

     Two blue eyes held the blond man's gaze, awaiting an answer.

 

     A.J. gave the boy a warm smile.  "You know, Josh, I was only little older than you are now when my dad died, so I know what it's like to be lonely and to miss--"

 

     "I don't miss him!" 

 

     A.J. ignored the outburst.  "I know your dad did some terrible things to your mom, and I understand why you don't want to see him again.  But I think you do miss him just a little bit...don't you?"

 

     Josh hesitated for a long moment before reluctantly admitting, "Sometimes I miss him.  Sometimes he played ball with me and was real nice to Mom.  Sometimes he said he was sorry and that things would change.  But they never did.  Most of the time he was mean.  All I want is a new dad, A.J.  One who will be nice to my mom like you are, and one who likes a kid like me, like you do."

 

     A.J. chuckled at that last remark.  "You're an easy kid to like, Josh."

 

     "So do you think you could do it?  Marry my mom, I mean?"

 

     Not knowing quite how to handle this situation without talking to Melanie first, A.J. pacified the youngster by saying in a gentle, teasing tone, "Josh, it's getting kind of late here.  There's one thing you need to learn right now, and that thing is, that a man should never discuss marriage when it's late and he's tired.  That's a very dangerous situation to find yourself in."

 

     "Why?"

 

     A.J.'s words were lost on the boy as he replied, "Because you might make a decision you'll find yourself regretting come morning."

 

     Josh was no exception to the rule that, at five years old, most children will take the words they hear spoken by an adult literally.  The boy stretched, then laced his hands behind his head. 

 

“Okay, A.J., we won't talk about it anymore tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.  Or another day we can talk about it again.  It doesn't have to happen right now.  But maybe by the time I'm six.  I think that would be good."

 

     A.J. laughed at the boy, thoroughly tossing the strawberry blond hair.  "You're a nut, kiddo, you know that?

 

     A.J. kissed Josh's forehead, then stood. "You know, Josh, just because I'm not your dad, or married to your mom, doesn't mean we still can't have good times together.  It doesn't mean that we still can't be friends."

 

     Josh nodded.  "I know that."

 

     "Good.  Don't you ever forget it either, okay?"

 

     "I won't," Josh vowed.

 

     "Good night."

 

     "Good night, A.J."

 

     A.J. didn't even make it to the doorway before being summoned again. 

 

     "Hey, A.J.?"

 

     The blond man turned.  "Yes?"

 

     "Just think about it though, okay?  If you marry my mom it'll be real neat.  Then Rick will be my brother, too."

 

     A.J. just laughed at the boy, not bothering to straighten him out on that last fact.

 

     A.J. flipped off the light, giving one final, "Good night, Josh."

 

     "Night, A.J.!" came the call the blond man heard as he descended the stairs.

 

     A.J. was still chuckling to himself over Josh's request of matrimony, and his desire to have Rick as a brother, when he arrived in the living room.  He found Melanie standing in front of the fireplace looking up at a portrait Cecilia had hanging over the mantel.  She turned at the sound of A.J.'s approaching footsteps.   

 

     "What are you smiling about?"

 

     A.J. plopped down onto the sofa. "Your son.  He's quite a character."

 

     "That he is.  What's he done now?"

 

     "Oh, he just had a long discussion with me regarding marriage."

 

     "Marriage?  What marriage?  Who's getting married?"

 

     A.J.'s eyes twinkled.  "No one yet.  But if Josh has his way, you and I will be sometime around his sixth birthday."

 

     A faint pink twinge began to color Melanie's cheeks.  "Oh, A.J., I'm sorry.  I don't know where he would have gotten such an idea.  I never, ever said anything to him in that regard.  I thought he understood that you and Rick are two men that I hired to keep us safe from Jim, and that while you've both grown to be our friends, there's certainly nothing more to it than that."

 

     "Don't worry about it," A.J. dismissed. "I know you haven't led him to believe anything that isn't true."

 

     "I'll talk to him about it in the morning," Melanie assured. 

 

     "No, Mel, don't do that.  This was supposed to be a secret between Josh and myself.  The only reason I told you was that I felt you should be aware of the...expectations he seems to harboring.  I don't want to do anything to disappoint him."

 

     Melanie laughed.  "So does that mean you've just proposed to me?"

 

     "Huh?"

 

     "You just said you didn't want to disappoint Josh.  So if you don't want to disappoint him, and if he's counting on us getting married, then I take it that you just proposed to me."

 

     A.J. couldn't help but smile at the woman's teasing.  She'd gotten the best of him this time.  "You know, I just finished telling your son that a man should never talk marriage when it's late and he's tired.  I think I'd better heed to my own advice."

 

     "Oh, so that's how a handsome, debonair private investigator like yourself has managed to stay single all these years."

 

     "That's one way," A.J. acknowledged with a laugh.  "The other way is by pursuing a career that isn't particularly financially stable, is physically and emotionally demanding, and involves a lot of weekend and night hours.  Not many women are willing to hang around too long after you've stood them up in favor of a stakeout three Saturday nights in a row."

 

      "I can see where that could be a problem," Melanie agreed.  "But considering what your career involves and all the sacrifices you've made in order to attain your goal, I would guess that private investigation work is your first love."

 

     "It is," A.J. admitted.  "Though someday, when the right woman comes along, I'll be willing to shift some of those goals on my priority to list in order to make marriage and a family work as well."

 

     Melanie smiled fondly.  "You'll make a terrific father, A.J.  You've been wonderful with Josh this past month.  It's no wonder he wants you as a permanent member of the family."

 

     "I don't know if it's me he wants as a father so much, or if it's Rick he wants as a brother."

 

     Melanie laughed.  "Yes, he's quite taken with Rick too.  Of course, Rick's just a little boy in big boy's clothing, so it's easy to see why Josh loves him so much."

 

     A.J. chuckled.  "A big boy in little boy's clothing.  I don't think I've heard my brother described in quite that fashion before, but it fits him.