I started this little piece back in April but never found the time to finish it. Today's Alameda & Downing post combined with a gentle nudge from Inkling Muse about writing again made me want to go back and look at it again. I don't think it really fits in with what we know will actually happen in the upcoming movies, but it's sort of in the same spirit of Chandel's predictions that she posted today. Anyway - reviews are always appreciated. I hope you like it.

Oliver had wanted to kiss her forever - every time she shot him that smirk or flashed that beautiful smile that stretched not just across her face but to her very soul. The timing had never been right though for a variety of reasons. He was married. Then he was recently separated. Then recently divorced. Then there was Steve. Then there was the question of whether or not they were really on the same page. Oddly enough it was almost easier to accept their mutual physical attraction early on in their acquaintance than now. Now there was so much more on the line.

They weren't just colleagues anymore; they were friends. In fact, she was his best friend, and even though they had been on several dates since Valentine's Day, they had still done nothing to keep them from being able to backtrack to friendship. Kissing her would cross that line. Kissing her would put him in a position of potentially losing her forever if it didn't work out. Kissing her would make it impossible for him to pretend that he had never really cared that much anyway if she decided to leave.

This internal struggle had been on his mind all Saturday afternoon as he worked at his father's home. They were building a dining table together - one of many father/son projects they had tackled over the past year as they worked to rebuild their relationship. Joseph O'Toole knew his son was distracted, and he'd given him several hours to volunteer what was on his heart, but he finally asked when Oliver had measured the same board 10 times.

"What's on your mind son?"

"Sir?" Oliver barely even looked up from the tape measure.

"I asked you what is on your mind. You seem to be struggling with the basics a bit today. That's a 6 foot board. We knew it when we bought it. Yet you continue to measure it, so something obviously is bothering you, and I'm not exactly sure it's safe to let you use power tools when you are this distracted."

Oliver raised his head about halfway through Joe's speech and realized he'd been caught. The smile on his father's face was both reassuring and a little annoying. It's funny how even after all the time they spent apart, his dad was still able to read him so well. Joe continued.

"Look, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want want to, but you know I'm here for you. I'm happy to listen."

Oliver sighed, set down the tape measure, and sat down on one of the stools they had placed next to their workspace.

"I don't even know where to start," he said with a voice filled with exhaustion.

"Is it Shane?" Joe offered with a grin and a knowing look that once again made Oliver wonder if his father had some type of clairvoyant powers. He thought for a fleeting moment about trying to skirt the issue but realized he could really use some advice. His father seemed to know everything already anyway.

"Yes. I just - I don't know how to - I'm afraid that - oh I don't know." Oliver gave up. The words just wouldn't come. It seemed like the words he loved so much always abandoned him when he was confused or upset. He rubbed his temples with his fingers and stared at the ground willing his father to just know what he needed to say without any further cues.

"You love her don't you?" Joe's response was a statement more than a question, but he waited for Oliver to answer anyway.

"More than I can express." There was something uplifting about finally saying that out loud, and Oliver's eyes found his father's.

"Then that's all you need to know," his dad responded. Oliver tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow to indicate that he didn't understand. "Son, this world is full of terrible things to try to avoid. Love isn't one of them. And if you love her, like I know you do, then don't try to hide from it. Take a chance."

"But, what if-" Oliver started, but his dad cut him off.

"That's right. 'What if.' 'What if' she feels the same way? 'What if' she is ready to take that step too? 'What if' you haven't even begun to experience the joy that a life with Shane can bring you? 'What if' works both ways, son."

Oliver had never really thought of it that way. He had focused so much on the possibility of losing her and being hurt again. The idea that if he didn't fully commit to this relationship he would miss out on an entirely different set of "what ifs" made his heart constrict. He knew his father was right.

"For what it's worth," Joe continued, "I've seen the way she looks at you. I don't think you're taking much of a risk."

Oliver grinned slightly and looked back at the ground before replying.

"Really?"

"Really. Now. Can we finish this table before the sun goes down? I believe you were supposed to be helping me today." Joe smiled brightly, and picked up his tools again, happy to know his words had brought some peace to his son's mind.

Oliver stood up and found his tape measure. "This is a 6 foot board, you know," he said over his shoulder to his father.

"Yes. I think I remember that." Joe responded with a laugh.

Oliver was ready to take that next step, and he was hoping to do so as soon as possible. Finishing the table before the sun went down sounded like a good idea to him too. After all, he was hoping to spend some time later that evening on a front porch swing with a beautiful blonde angel.