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"Wonder what this is?" JC said as he made his way downstairs. The girls exchanged excited looks back and forth as JC sat on the couch ripping open the package. A picture of Parker fell out first and JC looked at it curiously. "Who's this?" He asked as he looked around at the faces watching him. They all shrugged even though they knew exactly who Parker was. JC digged deeper into the package and pulled out a piece of paper and the tape. "Joshua Parker Chasez. Born on October 14, 2000. Mother Hal…" JC's voice trailed off as his heart started to beat faster. He looked up after reading the birth certificate for a second time. "What the hell is this?"
"Movie, Movie, Movie!" Kelly shouted from he position on Chris's lap. JC quickly pushed the tape in and sat in front of the T.V eagerly looking at it like a five-year-old. Haley's picture came up on the screen and JC gasped. He hadn't seen her in almost a year and she was still as beautiful as ever. The sparkle was in her eyes as she smiled her wonderful smile.
"Hi JC." Haley talked into the camera. "I just wanted you to meet someone. This is Joshua Parker Chasez, your son. Call him Parker. I'm sorry to surprise you with this sudden news but I thought you should know about his birth. He is a happy baby boy weighing 10 pounds 11 ounces. He wants to say hi." Haley picked up Parker and turned him towards the screen. "Say hi daddy. Hi daddy." Haley moved Parker's hand like he was waving.
"Hi" JC said as he waved back. He sniffled and wiped his eyes before turning around to face everyone else. "He's so beautiful." Sarah smiled and hugged Lance so hard. She was so happy that Haley had finally told JC. Now she just had to stop being scared of Mike and come home.
"He is so beautiful JC." Haley said, she sniffled and wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "He looks so much like you, your eyes, smile, and he loves to sleep." JC placed his hand on the screen and touched Haley's face then he moved it lower onto Parker. He sniffled again and reached through the package. He pulled out all the pictures and other things Haley had put in there. Everyone gathered around to look at all the pictures. JC looked at them quietly keeping his thoughts to himself. He gathered all the pictures and papers into his arms and walked upstairs back into Haley's room. He placed the pictures next to Haley's on the bed stand and put his favorite in an extra frame. He looked at his son and thought about Haley.
She looked so beautiful on the video. Her eyes were twinkling and sparkling and her smile was the same. And Parker, he is beautiful. He is 2 months old now. I wish I could hold him. I wish I could hold Haley. Tell her that I forgive her and still love her. Why did she leave? Why? I don't know! I'll never know! How am I going to live knowing that I have a son and Haley is out there still. And she, ah! Why couldn't everything go back to normal? Why does it have to be so complicated?!
As the tears came to JC's eyes he closed them. Haley's image came into his mind only making him cry harder. He lay back onto the pillow and curled up, his knees close to his chest. He lay there until he fell asleep making his own dream about him and Haley together.
CHAPTER 15

"Come back here, baby!" Haley called as she chased Parker around the Baby Gap display. His laughter filled the store and Haley's embarrassment vanished. He was so cute, she was used to people looking at him or telling her how cute he was. She would just smile and keep on walking. He talked loudly so everyone could hear what he was saying and it was hilarious, people would just start laughing.
"Got ya!" Haley said as she grabbed Parker by his waist. She carried him into the changing room and finished putting on his baby blue jumper.

"He could be my son, or him, him too" JC mumbled as he pointed ruefully at the kids passing by. They were around the age of Parker. Justin noticed the disturbed looks on the parent's faces.
"Ok JC, you can stop doing that it's freaking people out." Justin said as he grabbed JC's hand, stopping him from pointing. JC had to point at every kid that could possibly be Parker. He had started doing in more and more and Justin was afraid JC would snap if he didn't eventually see Parker. They made their way into the GAP and Justin automatically went into shopping mode. JC grabbed a pair of pants, figuring that Justin would be awhile he tried them on.
"Come here you!" Justin looked up as he heard a familiar voice. When he saw Haley's red head pop up over the rack of clothes he froze.
"Hal?" He yelled as he dropped the shirt that he was carrying. Haley's head shot up when she heard someone call her name. Justin was walking towards her and she nervously bit her lip. "What are you doing here Hal?"
"Getting some clothes for Parker." She said as she looked around for him. "He decided to run off into this store. He likes hiding under the racks of clothes." She looked up and smiled at Justin.
"It's good to see you Hal." Justin said as he gave her a hug.
"Good to see you to curly." Haley rubbed his hair like old times.
While Justin and Haley were talking Parker dashed into the changing room. When he saw feet in one of the rooms he crawled under the door into it.
"Hi there." JC said surprised to see a little boy crawl into his dressing room. The boy looked up at him and smiled. He stood up and wiped off his pants.
"Hi" Parker said as he looked up at JC.
"My name's JC. What's yours?" JC asked as he bent down to the boy's level.
"Mommy calls me Parker" Parker said as he shook JC's hand. JC smiled at the boy as his little hand fit perfectly in JC's big hand.
"That's a nice name but where's your mommy?" Parker shook his head and sat down on the ground. "I'll take you to your mommy" JC opened his arms to Parker but he just sat there. Parker could see Haley from his position on the floor. When Justin and Haley stopped talking Haley realized that Parker wasn't with her.
"Parker!" Haley called as she looked around the store.
"Bye JC" Parker said as he crawled out under the door. He quickly ran away before JC could say anything. JC was stunned that the little boy remembered his name. He had only mentioned it once. He opened the door and saw a lady walking off with Parker in her arms. He smiled as he waved to Parker; he waved back and then kissed him mom on the cheek.
That could be my son with Haley. That would be perfect.
Justin walked up to JC breaking up his thoughts. He saw JC looking at the lady but didn't think JC knew it was Haley. Her back was to them as she walked into the adjoining Baby Gap.As Justin and JC walked out of Olympia JC felt something hit his leg. He looked down and smiled as he saw a familiar face. "Hey buddy!" JC said as he bent down to help Parker off the floor. Parker stood up and wiped off his butt.
"Hi JC." Parker said as he looked from Justin to JC. Justin was just staring. That was the kid Haley had walked off with, he was sure of it. The kid looked so much like JC and Haley it was scary.
"Where's your mommy?" JC asked as he picked up Parker, resting him on his hip. Parker shrugged as they started to walk towards the Customer Service Center. Justin looked around to see if Haley was near by but she wasn't.
"You're a runner aren't you?" Justin asked as he reached out for Parker. Parker shook his head and opened his arms to Justin. The shiny necklace hanging from Justin's neck had caught his attention and he immediately started to finger it. JC just laughed as they walked up to the counter.
"May I help you?" The lady at the desk asked as she smiled at JC.
"Yes, we found this little fella running around the mall and I'm guessing his mother is very nervous right now." JC said as he rubbed Parker's head.
"Ok. What's the boy's name?"
"Parker." JC said realizing he didn't know that last name. He turned to Parker who was still intently playing with Justin's necklace. "You got a last name buddy?" Parker just shrugged his shoulders his attention not leaving the necklace.
"That's ok." The lady said as she turned on the intercom. "Will the parents of Parker come to the Customer Service desk. The parents of Parker to the Customer Service." Haley sighed as she heard the intercom. She quickly sped off to the desk hoping that her little boy was ok.
"Ok Let's go JC." Justin said as he gave Parker to JC.
"Man we can't leave. He's a little kid, he can't stay here by himself." Justin frantically tried to think of an excuse to leave before Haley came in search of Parker. He wasn't sure how JC was going to take the news of seeing her.
"Leave him with the lady at the desk." Justin suggested as he followed JC over to the bench. He sat down with a huff as he excepted his defeat. JC placed Parker on his lap facing him. Immediately Parker stood up and leaned in towards JC's face. JC was surprised when Parker's hands started to move around his face, pulling and moving his skin in different directions.
"Ok, I heard little kids do weird stuff but this is bizarre!" Justin said as he started to laugh. Parker stopped when he got to JC's eyes. He looked into them not even embarrassed to stare.
"Same!" Parker exclaimed as he turned to Justin.
"What's the same?" JC asked as he grabbed Parker's waist keeping his balance.
"Same." Parker pointed at JC's eyes and then at his. Justin felt a shiver run down his spine as he saw the likeness again. Parker definitely looked like JC. Parker continued to explore JC's face with his hands. "You're the man in the pictures." Parker said as he sat down on JC's lap looking up at him.
"What pictures?" JC asked as he smoothed out Parker's hair that had fallen across his forehead.
"Mommy has pictures of you." Parker said as he stood up again to look at JC's lion necklace. JC just stared off as he thought about what Parker had just said. "This pretty." Parker whispered to himself, letting his finger run over the small silver dollar-sized medallion on JC's necklace. JC smiled coming out of his dazed and turned Parker over to Justin's lap. He watched as Parker started to feel Justin's face also. Justin was laughing but trying to keep a straight face making a pretty funny sight for a confused JC. He rested his elbows on his knees and then his head rested in his hands as he thought.
As Haley ran to the service she saw Parker sitting on someone's lap. She smiled when she saw him touching the man's face; he always did that to her. When Parker moved his head to the left she recognized the curly hair and walked up casually approaching Justin. Then she saw JC sitting right next to Justin and she panicked. He seemed to be off in his own world, gazing somewhere off in the distance. Haley stopped abruptly causing her heels to click the ground. The noise forced JC out of his daze; his head shooting up to see who or what made the noise. His mouth dropped as he saw Haley standing in front of him. She smiled sheepishly as her fingers played with the purse hanging on her shoulder.
The noise had also caught the attention of Justin and Parker. Seeing his mother Parker quickly jumped off Justin's lap.
"Mommy!" Parker yelled excitedly as he ran to Haley. She broke the eye contact with JC as she bent down to pick up Parker.
"Hey Blue Eyes. Don't you be runnin' away from me like that again ok?" Haley said as she kissed Parker of his forehead. He smiled and wrapped his little arms around her neck. JC wanted to cry when Haley called Parker "Blue Eyes." That was her special name for him, only him.
"Hi Haley." Justin said as he cautiously looked from JC to Haley.
Stop staring JC! Say something!
"Hi Justin." Haley said. She smiled and waved good-bye before turning around.
No don't go! Don't go!
JC's mind was screaming as he saw Haley walking away again. "Wait!" he yelled as he ran after her. Justin wasn't quick enough to stop him. "Haley wait!"
Haley turned around slowly her head lowered to the ground. As JC stood next to Parker the little boy reached to go into JC's arms. Haley reluctantly let go of him, her stare still on the ground.
"Haley we need to talk." JC said as he took Parker into his arms. He noticed how perfect he felt, so normal. Haley's head slowly raised and she looked from JC to Parker."JC I..I can't.." Haley mumbled.
"Haley please! I need to talk to you desperately." Haley felt tears coming to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away.
"JC nice mommy." Parker said as he sensed his mother's discomfort. He reached his hands and wrapped them around her neck. JC let go of him as he felt Haley's arms reach around Parker. She couldn't help but smile as he placed his head on her shoulder.
"Ok JC. We can talk." Haley said after taking a deep breath. "You can come over now if you would like."
"That would be great." JC said smiling widely. He turned and tossed his keys to Justin. "Take the car home J. I'll talk to ya later." Justin laughed at JC's goofy smile on his face and shook his head. He watched JC and Haley walk off and he waved to Parker. He turned around and exited the mall in the opposite direction.

CHAPTER 16

In the car Parker filled up the awkward silence with his endless chatter. Haley talked to him like he was a normal human being having a normal conversation, not a 3-year-old boy. Their conversation explained Parker's unique similarities to Haley. JC just watched peacefully, absorbing ever moment. Haley switched on the radio, and pushed in a tape when the conversation started dying. Parker started to hum to the music when it came to a song he knew. Haley couldn't help but smile her concentration still on the road. JC smiled too, happy that Haley was happy and smiling.
She looks so beautiful when she smiles. Her smile…I think I've missed that the most. No maybe it's the sparkle in her eyes when she laughs or the laugh it's self. Or her touch, it's so gentle and soft.
JC's thoughts suddenly stopped when he heard a loud yawn from the back.
"Tired Blue Eyes?" Haley asked as she eyed her son through the rear-view mirror. JC turned around to see Parker's head slowly fall as he drifted off to sleep.
"Looks like me." JC laughed as he looked at Haley.
"He hasn't had his nap today." Haley replied softly.
"I'll take naps with him." JC whispered. Haley turned to look at JC but he was staring out the window. She quickly turned back to the road, embarrassed even thought JC didn't see her.
JC turned back and looked at Parker again. He smiled as his son sighed quietly in his sleep. "He's great Hal. He's smart too, could pass for a 5-year-old."
Haley smiled and shook her head. "I've been talking to him ever since he was born. And he's talked back as soon as he could walk."
"That must have been just a couple months ago." JC said as he brushed hair away from Parker's face.
"He was a 'ready to learn' baby. Always on the go and always will be." Haley turned to look at JC and for the first time since they first saw each other, earlier that day, made eye contact with JC. She blushed slightly and JC smiled at how cute she looked.
God Haley! You're acting like you're sixteen again!
Haley kicked herself as she pulled into the driveway of her condo. She jumped out of the car and pulled the seat of her jeep forward to get out Parker. JC already had him unbuckled and was supporting his head as he pulled him out of the car. Haley could only stare at how perfectly they looked together.

CONT.

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Page Updated Fri Mar 24, 2000 9:11pm EST