It’s the night before James’s evaluation. He and Melody are cuddling on their bed. Melody is trying to reassure James that he’ll pass.

Melody - James? Honey? You ok?
James - I’m just a little nervous about tomorrow.
Melody - Aww, you’ll do just fine.
James - You’re pretty great trying to reassure me that everything is going to be ok.
Melody - Aww, that’s so sweet.
James - I mean it. I love you.
Melody - I love you too.

They begin looking into each others eyes and begin to kiss. They continue to kiss until Melody gets up to make them a snack. James gets up and goes down stairs and finds Melody in the kitchen making them a couple of smoothies to snack on. James sneaks up behind her and wraps his arms around her as he nuzzles and kisses her neck.

James - Wow, something smells really nice.
Melody - Aww, were you talking about me or the smoothies?
James - You of course.
Melody - Aww, that’s really sweet of you to say James.
James - I mean it. I love you.
Melody - I love you too James.

They begin to kiss again. They go over to the couch drink their banana, honey, and chocolate smoothie. Melody snuggles up to James while she plays Zelda. While she’s playing James tries to distract her by running his fingers through her hair and kissing and nuzzling her neck.

James (Laughs) Nice going babe you just ran into that boulder.
Melody - Only cuz you’re distracting me.
James - (Laughs) Not my fault you can’t resist me.
Melody - (Playfully slaps his shoulder) Hey, shut up James.
James - Come on babe stop playing so we can cuddle before we go to bed.
Melody - Oh ok you win. I can’t resist you when you’re smiling at me.

Melody saves her game and turns off her laptop. They begin looking into each others eyes and begin to kiss. They continue to kiss until James picks up Melody and carries her up stairs. He gently lays her down on the bed and covers her with her leopard print blanket. James goes into Deter’s nursery to check on him. He picks him up and goes over to the rocking chair and starts rocking him as he gives Deter a bottle. James gently burps Deter and puts him back in his crib. He leans forward and kisses Deter on the forehead and tells him how much he loves him. He leaves the nursery and goes back into the bedroom. He sees that Melody is already asleep. He lays down on the bed beside Melody and wraps his arms around her so that they’re spooning with one another. He’s asleep a short time later until the next morning. The child services worker arrives at the house to evaluate James’s parenting skills. James and the worker are in the nursery.

Child care worker - Ok, James show me how you get Deter ready for bed.
James - Ok

He picks Deter up and goes over to the rocking chair and starts rocking him as he gives Deter a bottle. James gently burps Deter, changes his diaper, and puts him back in his crib. He leans forward and kisses Deter on the forehead and tells him how much he loves him.

Child care worker - Wow, that was wonderful. I don’t think I need to see anymore. You’ve proved you are capable of taking care of your wife’s little boy.
James - (Smiles) So does that mean I pass?
Child care worker - Yes, you’ve passed. You are wonderful with that little boy even though he’s not your biological son and that’s rare.
James - I love his mother so much and I knew the two of them were a packaged deal. I’ve been in his life even before my wife gave birth to him. We met when she was 5 months pregnant.
Child care worker - I will take my notes to the judge and your attorney will call you when you’re needed at the court house when the adoption is finalized.
James - Ok, thank you

The child care worker leaves. Melody comes up stairs to find James sitting in the rocking chair. He looks up at her and smiles.

Melody - So, everything go ok?
James - Better then ok.
Melody - So, did you pass your test?
James - (Smiles) I sure did.
Melody - Really? That’s great.
James - That little boy in that crib will be my step son someday soon.
Melody - And I’m so grateful that you’re a part of his life.
James - Did you want to go out tonight and celebrate?
Melody - Who would watch Deter for us?
James - Right, good point. I wasn’t thinking.
Melody - It’s ok honey we can have a quiet night in.

Just then the doorbell rings. James goes down stairs to answer the door. He smiles when he sees his mom. He gives her a hug and lets her in.

James - Mom? What are you doing here?
Deborah - Wanted to surprise my son and my beautiful daughter-in-law.
James - Glad you’re here cuz Mel and I have news.
Deborah - Good news I hope.
James - It’s very good news. We’ll wait for her to come down stairs to tell you.
Deborah - Ok

Melody comes down stairs and smiles when she sees James’s mom sitting with James in the living room. She goes into the living room and sits next to James on the couch.

James - Mom, what we wanted to tell you is that Deter is going to be my step son someday soon and Mel is pregnant.
Deborah - Wow, that’s wonderful news James. (Laughs) Baby must have been made on your honeymoon.
James - Ha ha very funny Mom.
Deborah - I’m sure this will be one beautiful baby.
Melody - You should see James with Deter. He really is good with him.
Deborah - I would love to see my adopted grandson.
Melody - I’ll go get him.

Melody goes up stairs to get Deter. She comes back down stairs and gives Deter to James’s mom to hold. She smiles as he starts burbling.

Deborah - He is so cute. He really looks like his momma with the exception of his eyes since they appear to be blue. Your’s are green right Mel?
Melody - Yes, my eyes are emerald green.
Deborah - It’s funny that he acts just like James was when he was a baby. (Laughs) You sure you two didn’t hook up before then?

James starts to think and then his eyes get really big cuz he remembers hooking up with a girl when he went on vacation to St Lucia when the season ended last year. He then remembers Melody was that girl he hooked up with.

Melody - James? What’s wrong sweetie?
James - I think Deter is my biological son.
Melody - What? That’s not possible. We didn’t meet till December and I was already pregnant.
James - Babe, we met before then. Remember we met in St Lucia and spent a lot of time together before we went on our separate ways.
Melody - Oh my god, you’re right James. If he’s your real son I’m sorry for not knowing. I always thought that Ian got me pregnant.
James - Nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t know.
Deborah - Why not have the paternity tested? Looking at this little boy he looks like you James. I have no doubts he’s your son.

Just then Melody gets up from the couch and goes up stairs looking upset.

James - I think I’m going to go check on her.
Deborah - Good idea cuz she’s going to be stressed out now.

James goes up stairs to check on Melody. He finds her laying on their bed crying. He lays down beside her and wraps his arms around her holding her close to him.

James - Hey, you ok honey?
Melody - No, I’m not ok.
James - Come on honey you can tell me anything. What’s wrong?
Melody - I feel like a horrible person.
James - Why would you feel that way?
Melody - For not knowing that it was really you who got me pregnant instead of Ian. I’m sure you’re mad at me.
James - Honey, I’m not mad at you. How would you have known that the couple times we had sex would have caused your pregnancy? You said the pregnancy symptoms didn’t show up until after Ian raped you correct?
Melody - Correct
James - So it’s only natural for you to think that it was Ian who got you pregnant.
Melody - I should have known though but my body didn’t react right away. Not like this time when I knew right away I felt off. (Starts to cry)
James - (Wipes the tears from Melody’s eyes) Shh, don’t cry honey. Everything is going to be ok. We’ll get the paternity figured out and if I’m Deter’s father then we’ll contact Avery to stop with the adoption process.
Melody - Do you want to be his biological father?
James - You know I do. I love you both and love being part of your lives. Come on baby turn over please so I can kiss you.
Melody - Well ok

Melody turns over so now that she’s facing James. James caresses Melody’s cheek as they begin looking into each others eyes and begin to kiss. As they’re kissing James runs his fingers through Melody’s hair and whispers “I love you so much” in her ear. Melody sighs when she lays her head on James’s chest and goes right to sleep. James smiles as he gives her a kiss and wraps his arm around her. He watches her sleep for awhile when his mom comes up stairs to put Deter back in his crib. She pokes her head into James and Melody’s room too see if Melody is ok.

Deborah - Is she ok?
James - She’s a little stressed out and blames herself for this.
Deborah - Poor girl. I hope you told her to stop beating herself up about you possibly being Deter’s real father and not knowing.
James - Yes, I told her everything is going to be ok. I love her and will make sure she stays calm through this since stress would be bad for her and the baby.
Deborah - If you need me here to help with Deter I can stay for a little while.
James - That would be great.
Deborah - I will see you in the morning
James - Night Mom, I love you.
Deborah - Night sweetie, I love you too.

James’s mom goes into the guest room to sleep. James sighs and thinks about how the little boy sleeping in the crib right across hall could be his son. He closes his eyes and is asleep a short time later until the next morning when he and Melody decide to have the paternity of Deter determined.

Notes