Title: In Trusting Eyes

Chapter: Eighteen

Author's Notes: Thank you to EVERYONE who has reviewed this fic and made it a fun experience for me. I appreciate all the help, comments, and analyzing I've received from everybody. Thanks to Erin for beta reading chapter's 5-11

When more time comes my way I have a special something planned.

"Look Chief," Dee said, placing one hand against the wall and looking as serious as he possibly could. "I know you can't help Ryo out because of favoritism or whatever… but think about it this way. The twenty-seventh needs Ryo. If you can't find a way to alternate his shifts with mine, then get rid of me. You have to admit we couldn't function without a sniper like him."

"Maybe you should just go on being a full time Mommy then Laytner." The response was brutal, but something Dee had come to expect from his superior.

"Maybe I should," he said quietly, fervently. "Maybe I will."

"I know that Randy is a valuable person," was Chief Smith's unrelenting response. "But it will take a lot of effort to do this. It might not be possible. Sorry Laytner, but that's how the system works."

"I'll resign then," Dee said, shrugging boldly, and almost turning himself around completely. "I have no choice, because – my partner's already given up enough. He sacrificed everything possible for this, winning the case meant everything. I'm trying to be civil with you, but his work means a lot to him."

"Freaking moron," Chief Smith muttered, now looking straight at Dee. "As much as I love the self-pity, sacrificial attitude Laytner, I can't do more than make an effort for you. Just remember you haven't done anything to deserve anyone's respect here. The district knows all about you."

"This isn't about me!" Dee said, almost regretfully. "I wish it was, but it's not. Ryo's the best thing you guys have ever had, and you're not letting him go either way. The money means a lot to us, of course, but we'll take what work we can. You just can't take Ryo's passion from him – it'd be unfair."

"Randy's a good officer… but life tends to be unfair." That was the only reply, and as Dee left, an added, "We'll see what we can do."

Dee walked into the office he shared with his partner, and could only pray that a response would come quick. It was all something out of a sappy romance novel, the stuff he wanted to do for Ryo. He wanted to give up everything, his way of life, his job, and his existence. Yet it felt fulfilling to know that whatever he had to do, he would do it - for the man he loved more than anything else.

He wondered how Ryo was doing. Ryo was staying upstate with the rest of his family, and they were supposed to be visiting a local park today. Dee laughed, hoping Ryo was enjoying the outing as much as he imagined him to be. "He better be enjoying it," Dee said quietly, looking at the framed photograph of the two of them that was sitting on Ryo's desk. He couldn't help look at his partner's smile, and note how beautiful it really was. "Man, Ryo, you're just beautiful…"

About five minutes later, a sudden knock at his door moved Dee away from his private moment. Dee opened the door, surprised to find Drake Parker standing there, looking a bit nervous. "Hey, what's up?" Dee asked instantly.

"Not much really," Drake replied quietly. "I just heard you were back for a couple of days, and I thought I would come over here."

Dee nodded, opening the door to let his friend inside. Drake walked inside, a little uneasy. "Haven't heard from you for awhile," Drake said casually. "Have things been going well since the last time we got to talk to you?"

Dee could not help laugh. Drake was acting so tense, so unlike the man Dee knew. "Calm down," Dee suggested. "Things couldn't be greater. It all went down according to plan, and I think Ryo's happy now."

"Except for not being able to work at the precinct?" Drake asked cautiously. "Sorry if I'm saying stuff I shouldn't be, but the chief's walking around grumbling about it, and you just walked out of his office."

"Well you know how it is," Dee said, sitting down on top of Ryo's desk. "Our job is different than most. We don't have set hours, we're busy, in constant danger… and unless one of us is at home to take care of her, there's a chance Ryo could lose guardianship of his cousin. We're a threat remember?"

"You know how it is," Drake joked, laughing slightly. "Gay cops are the state's biggest threat, right?"

"Some people might say that," Dee said sarcastically.

"Well, I have some good news, I think," Drake responded, his voice becoming a little softer. "JJ heard what the chief was saying and went in to talk to him. He's moving in with me, and everyone knows how far I live. So he's going to try to get our hours cut a bit too. JJ mostly works exclusively daytime shifts, so that might help you get what you're looking for."

"Lord," Dee said softly, breathing heavily. He almost felt tears forming at the corners of his eyes, and laughed at how silly he looked. "Are you serious? What else do you know?"

"I know that if the chief can get word to the right members of the district it could happen."

"This is the best news I've heard in my entire life," Dee said softly, looking away from his friend. "Oh, if this works… life will be on the right track. It'll all work out in the end."

"Yeah." Drake smiled, and then started laughing. "JJ said that it was the least he could do, given that you're always going to be his adored hero."

"Well, if your moving in together already, I'll accept being a hero," Dee said with a kind of sigh. "A lot's happened in the months Ryo and I have been gone."

"Things happen pretty damned quick," Drake agreed.

"It's kind of scary when you rely on slow and steady as a way of life," Dee said laughing. "Oh my god, I hope whatever JJ's planning pushes the chief into the right direction. You're real passionate about what you do, right?"

"Yeah," Drake said casually, shrugging. "Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to help people in some way. I think everyone who works here grew up believing in Superman."

"I agree," Dee said wistfully. "That's why Ryo can't lose his job. It means too much to him. Especially now that we've seen that Superman might not really exist."

Drake sighed, and then looked at the clock on the wall. "Sorry Dee, I really want to stay, but I have to get going. I was supposed to finish filing a report about an hour and a half ago. If I didn't have JJ around, I'd lose track of everything here."

"No problem," Dee said. "And if you see JJ around before I do, I said thanks for trying to help me out."

Drake nodded, and then rushed out of the room. Dee sighed, and slumped back into his chair. When would he find out? When would everything start moving slowly again?

-

Ryo was thinking of Dee that day, as he sat beside a small pond with Bikky and Arianne. Cal and Caroline were on a blanket underneath a tree, having a seemingly deep conversation, and Evelen was sitting in a lawn chair, reading a book.

He wondered how much luck his partner could really have. He also dreaded what Dee would do to keep them in reasonable positions at the precinct. "Hopefully nothing embarrassing," he said aloud, with a short smile.

"What?" Bikky asked, his eyes still faithfully on the little girl, who he had promised to look after while she stayed so close to the body of water.

"Just thinking about what lengths Dee will go to in order to talk the chief into letting me keep my job," Ryo said, leaning back against the solid trunk of a tree. "You know him – he can be really embarrassing when he wants to."

"Which is just about every second," Bikky said, and Ryo laughed to himself as his son reached out to pull the young child back, even though she was probably eight feet from the water's edge. Proudly, he told himself that his personality had rubbed off on the young man.

"I don't think Dee would really do anything too bad," Ryo said quietly. "I'm just glad he went back. I didn't want to do it myself and he knew it."

Bikky and Arianne moved much closer to where Ryo sat, and then Bikky noticed Caroline and Cal sitting together on the blanket, talking. "I wonder what they're going on about," he said aloud, knowing that his father would usually consider what he said intrusive.

"I trust Caroline," Ryo said quickly, as Ari sat down next to him and began examining the tree carefully. "I don't think Cal's aunt really gave her the advice a young woman needs. Nothing against her of course, but she's very old fashioned."

"More like ancient."

"Watch it," Ryo said quietly. "Anyway, I don't think you've got anything to worry about. Caroline's wonderful, and always willing to help."

What Bikky did not know, was that the girl who had cared for him since they were young children, was talking to the woman about him and their relationship.

"You both are very close," Caroline had noted immediately. "How long have you known each other?"

Cal shrugged, sitting up and looking at the woman. "I think Bikky was about eight years old when we met. I didn't see him very much, but when Ryo adopted him … we saw each other all the time."

"Do you mind if I ask you how long you've been together?" Caroline asked, leaning back. She looked a little tired, and this concerned Cal a little bit. "You seem like a very close couple, being so young."

"Bikky was ten when he first told me that I was his," she said, laughing as she noticed Bikky by the pond. "Silly, isn't it?"

"Hey," Caroline said softly, leaning back. "It's not silly if it worked. And it looks like it worked very well."

"Yeah," she said quietly. She looked a little uncomfortable, the fleeting emotion closing her eyes and making her mouth open slightly. "But my aunt doesn't approve of him that much."

"Really?" Caroline said quietly. "Why, sweetheart? He's such a good boy, and a wonderful older brother to our Arianne while we're at it."

"Bikky and I were both street kids," she said, laughing at the generic stereotyping of herself and her boyfriend. "My aunt's appalled that I ever grew up that way, and she wishes I could get rid of every connection to … well the past."

"If you love the connections, you can't let them go, honey," Caroline responded, leaning backwards. "It'll all work out, and you're aunt will see eventually. Is there also a problem involved with your age difference?"

"Kind of," Cal shrugged, wondering why she was telling a complete stranger with this. "But I'll just shut up, this is probably bothering you."

"Not really," Caroline shrugged innocently, lying back on the blanket. She yawned softly, indicating again how tired she was. "How old are you kids anyway?"

Cal sighed deeply. She really found herself admiring Caroline, and the blunt way she just let everything out in the open. It reminded her somewhat of Dee, and that thought made her happy. "I'm nineteen and Bikky's sixteen," she said quickly. "It's not really that big of a difference, but everyone sure acts like it is."

"My dear Steven is three years younger than I am too," Caroline said dreamily. "Maybe that can inspire you a bit. We're going to have a baby, get married, and everything's looking so much brighter."

"Are you excited?" Cal asked, shifting to sit on her knees. "It must be so thrilling to know you're going to have a baby."

Caroline nodded slowly. "Oh yes, it is. But it's also a little bit scary to think of how our future will be. As much as Steven and the kids love my baby, he or she will never be his former wife's child. That really makes me think about the future."

"I'm sure those feelings will…" Cal paused, trying to think of the right thing to say to this woman. "I'm sure they'll go away when you realize how much he really cares about you, and wants you to feel like a member of his family."

"You really are intelligent."

"Thank you."

Caroline nodded, and rolling over, she looked across the park to where Ryo and Bikky floated a small toy boat across the edge of the lake, much to the three year old girl's delight. "Those three are quite the little family," she said, gesturing with her head.

"That girl has everyone drawn in, doesn't she?" Cal mentioned quietly, grinning.

"It's the allure of a three year old girl," Caroline responded. "Nobody can resist her innocent charms, and beautiful attitude. I remember when Rick first introduced me to her, when she was little more than six months old. She's just a good kid."

Meanwhile, Ryo watched as Bikky floated the little toy boat at the edge of the pond, much to the screaming girl's delight. "Go! Go! Go!" she yelled exuberantly.

"The wind pushes it, Arianne," Ryo said softly, stepping closer to his children and then sitting at the end of the pond. "The wind makes it go fast or slow."

"Go wind! Go wind!" The little girl shrieked the new knowledge in delight.

"Geesh …" Bikky said sarcastically. "You're going to make her the smartest kid in the preschool. She's going to know everything before she hits four."

"Good," Ryo said quietly, and then his cell phone began to ring, making Ari stare at him, and Ryo fumble to find the object in his pocket.

"Hold on," he said softly. "That may be Dee, Bikky can you keep an eye on her?"

Bikky nodded, and Ryo scooted a bit further from the water, answering. "Hello?" he said cautiously, delighted to hear Dee's voice on the other end.

"Ryo?" Dee asked softly, and Ryo could hear the mounting excitement in of his lover's voice. "Ryo, are you at the park?" With each word, Dee's voice rose in volume, and became that much quicker.

"Yeah Dee," he said, smiling enthusiastically. "We're at the park. It's brilliant."

"Wanna know what else is brilliant?" Dee said loudly, making Ryo almost pull his ear away from the receiver. "You keeping your job, me keeping my job, and JJ being the saint of the universe that pulled it all off."

"Dee, are you serious?" Ryo asked loudly, forcing himself to quiet as he received some less than pleasant stares from others. "Dee, tell me this isn't a joke!"

"JJ gave up a lot of morning shifts, so you can work in the early shift, while I take mostly mid and late shifts. There will always be someone at home, and we have Drake and JJ's rapid romance to thank for it! Oh my god, Ryo, JJ and Drake are moving in together … and JJ can't get in as early as he used to… and oh my god, if I weren't in love with you I'd kiss him!"

Ryo breathed deeply, trying to collect everything he wanted to say to Dee at that very moment. His breath just left him though, and he found himself speechless. "Oh my god, Dee, you don't know what this means."

"Yeah baby I do," Dee said, laughing. "It means you can stop giving things up and start enjoying your life. I've never been so thrilled."

Dee paused, and then he realized that the noises on the other end of the phone line were his partner's sniffling, and crying. "Are you crying, Ryo?" he asked quietly. "Aw come on, you've got everything you needed."

"I'm just so happy that you… and JJ… and everyone," Ryo stopped, noticing his son's eyes on him, but then he waved his hands signaling that he didn't care. "I'm just happy you did this to get me the one thing I've wanted to hold on to."

"So you don't start crying," Dee said, imagining Ryo's face. He could see the beginnings of tears streaming down his partner's cheek, and he bit his lip with the urge to comfort him, "can I ask you how the park trip is going?"

"Wonderful," Ryo said, breathing heavily. "And since Bikky has no difficulty making fun of my crying, I have no problem telling you that he's watching over Ari like a mother bear."

Dee laughed hysterically. "Figures…"

"Poor kid," Ryo said laughing softly. Under his breath, he whispered, "She can't get within ten feet of this silly little duck pond without being pulled back."

"Where do you think he learned?" Dee asked, still laughing. "I'm going to be seeing you at home really soon, right?"

"Caroline is waiting for her boyfriend Steven and his kids to come here," Ryo said quietly. "Once he does than Bikky, Cal and I are bringing Ari to New York City. Evelen and Caroline are both planning on searching for places out here. A week at the most."

"I think I'll stay and pester Drake about his induction into the precinct's "gay-hall-o'-fame" or something. It'll be fun."

"See you soon," Ryo whispered into the phone. "I love you."

"I love you too; tell the kids I love them."

"Oh my god, we're becoming such a 'family' aren't we?" Bikky asked, the moment Ryo hung up the phone. Ryo nodded, as Arianne brought over her wet boat. He held it in his hands, and almost started crying again.

"Yeah," he said. "It's pretty neat isn't it? I'm a parent, before I know it… you and Cal will be having kids and I'll be a grandparent I bet. Caroline's having a baby, her family and Evelen are moving nearby, and … I don't have to let go of the most important parts of my old life. None of us do."

"It's just tough." Bikky said shrugging. "You told me that when I was fourteen I think. That life's just tough, and we're all going to have to get through it. It's confusing, and not too much of a fairytale, but it's just living – and we're a family. We're supposed to get through everything."

Ryo laughed. "Didn't I tell you that when you got in trouble at school for something you didn't do?"

Bikky nodded. "Hey, it kind of fit this didn't it?"

Ryo agreed. "Yeah, good one. We'll be all right from now on. Our large, rather extended family will survive. Unless of course, another crazed obsticle finds us next week."

"Don't say that!" Arianne shrieked, the words bringing a warmth around them. "Papa Ryo, don't say that!"

"All right then, Miss Ari," Ryo said, grinning. "I won't."

AN: Apology accepted for the lack of goodness in chapter 17? Please let me know what you thought of the final. I have a short, one chapter sequel almost finished that will be so sugary that you might melt.