By Amanda Russell

John Koenig closed the door to the room Alex and Emma shared, sighing softly to himself. With Helena still recovering from the C-section that marked Richard's birth, the nighttime chores of getting the two older children bathed, in bed and a story - or ten - read to them had become his duty. It would be at least two or three more weeks before Helena would be medically cleared to return to her normal routine. Until then she was restricted to lifting nothing heavier than the baby.

Deciding to check on Helena before retreating to the other room in the hopes of getting some work done, John quietly opened the door to their bedroom and stepped in. He paused just inside the door, a smile creeping over his face. Helena was on their bed, propped up with pillows, Richard in her arms. She'd been nursing him when John started the baths for the other two. They were finished now, and Helena had dozed off, but his son seemed to be alert and very awake.

Koenig moved over to the bed and gently lifted his youngest son from his wife's arms. He smiled down at the child, automatically checking to be sure Richard didn't need a change of diapers - or nappies as Uncle Alan called them. Richard was dry, and John turned slowly, sitting on the end of the bed as he watched his son closely. He traced a finger down the boy's soft cheek, then caught the tiny fist between his own much larger fingers. Richard made a soft sound of protest, then settled into his father's arms, their eyes meeting, although John knew Richard was too young to really focus on him yet.

"Hey pal, you sure put your mother and I through a lot. But I hope you know how very glad I am that you're here. Your Mom was right all along and I was just being a stubborn ass - but don't tell her I said that. I'll let her know in my own way. Richard, I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise that you won't let your older brother and sister bully you. And I want you to promise me that you'll always be careful. We don't want anything bad to happen to you. Your Mom and I will watch out for you, care for you and love you forever, but you have to do your part young man. I know, it won't be easy, with Alex and Emma to lead you astray. Just don't follow them too far, okay?

There's one other thing you need to promise me, Richard. Don't ever tell your Mom we had this little chat. It's to be kept just between us men."

Richard made a soft smacking sound, as if in assent, then slowly closed his eyes. He drifted into a contented sleep with a full stomach and dry pants.

John smiled and placed a tender kiss on his son's head.

Helena woke, suddenly aware Richard was no longer in her arms. Before she could fully process the fact, she heard her husband's quiet voice talking softly to someone. Helena opened her eyes slowly, seeing John sitting on the end of their bed, holding Richard as he talked to the baby. Helena smiled to herself, all her remaining doubts vanishing as she heard John tell their infant son they would love him forever and wanted noting bad to happen to him.

She watched through lowered lids as John told Richard she was never to know about this conversation. John kissed his son's head, then just sat there holding him as the baby slept.

Slowly, Helena moved into a slightly more comfortable position and allowed herself to drift back to sleep, knowing that Richard could be in no better hands, and that he was indeed a loved and welcome part of both their lives. Neither would ever know she too had been privy to their first man-to-man talk.

  Amanda Russell

July 22, 1999