"Father and Son"
By
JoyLepper

It is December 24 and Christopher is sitting in his room with his door closed trying to avoid his little sister. At 9, Sue thought Christopher was the coolest thing since Barney. She was always bugging him. Man, why couldn't she just leave him alone. A guy can't be seen with his little sister. It is just not cool.

"Christopher, can I come in?" Sue asks sweetly.

"No, get out of here squirt. I am listening to my music."

"Are you sure you don't want to play a game or something?" she asks through the closed door.

"I said no. Beat it."

"Ok, I'm going." she says with a hurt voice. He felt kind of bad for hurting her feelings, but when was she going to learn that he wasn't put on this earth to entertain her?

Chris was sitting in his office which was across the hall from Christopher's bedroom , and he heard the whole conversation. He called for Sue to come see him in his office. "Susie.....hey Susie Rose Lorenzo?" he kind of sang it.

"Yeah Daddy?" the little girl said a little sad.

"Come here Susie. I think your Daddy could use a little hug." he said with his famous Lorenzo grin. A little tiny frame of a girl walked into the room towards her father. Chris couldn't help but grin even bigger as she got closer. She was the spitting image of her mother with long dark curly hair and gorgeous green eyes. She hugged Chris and he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. When she pulled away he looked into her eyes and said, "Is that the best you can do? I didn't even feel that." he stated grinning at her. This brought a smile to her face. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him the biggest bear hug she could.

"I love you Daddy." she stated while giving him a big wet kiss on his cheek.

"I Love you too pumpkin. Want to tell me what is wrong?" he asked while pushing the hair out of her eyes.

"Daddy, why doesn't Christopher like me?" looking up at Chris with a tears welling in her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart, Christopher likes you, he loves you. Why would you think that?"

"He is always telling me to get lost or beat it. He doesn't want me around. He used to play with me. What did I do to get him mad at me all the time?" she was crying now and Chris was trying desperately to think of a way to explain to her what was happening between her and Christopher.

"Susie, Chris is not mad at you. He is 16 and you are 9 and right now that puts you in two different worlds. Trust me in 10 years, you and Christopher will be the best of buds I promise. But for right now, you come to me if he is being mean to you. I will straighten him out. Deal?" he was wiping away her tears and she is smiling at him. He gave her another hug as a 2 year old came running and screaming into the room.

"DaDa, Sissy!" Sammy ran up to Chris and Susie and hugged their legs.

"Look who is up from his nap!" Chris reached down and picked up Sammy and put him on his other leg. There Chris sat with two kids on his lap when Rita walked into the room. Rita looked at Susie's face and can see she had been crying. Rita mouthed to Chris, "Is she ok?"

"Yeah, it is Son number one again." Chris mouthed back with a grin on his face. She nodded her head to acknowledge she understood. Christopher had become a hand full since he became a teenager. He didn't realize that his sister loved him so much that she just wanted to be with him. Both Chris and Rita tried to make him understand how he was hurting her when he would push her away.

"Sam, why don't you handle these two and I will try and talk to Son number one again." he sighed. He knew it wouldn't do any good, but he kept hoping that it would sink in one day.

"Who wants to help Mommy bake Christmas cookies? We need to make some for Santa Claus. He is coming tomorrow!" Rita asked.

"Oh me, please Mommy." Sue begged. Susie was just getting off her father's lap when Chris held her back and whispered into her ear. "Ok, Daddy." she smiled and got down. Rita just looked at Chris with a questioning grin. "Come on Sammy, you can help Mommy and me make cookies for Santa. Hey Mommy, Daddy wants to know if you are going to be kissing Santa under the mistletoe again this Christmas Eve?" Sue asked the question while taking Sammy out of the room by his hand and he was more than happy to go with her.

Rita looked at Chris and laughed, "Chris!" she had that sparkle in her eyes. Chris surprised her when he took her in his arms while grinning like a cat that just swallowed the canary.

"I happen to know for a fact that all Santa Claus wants this year is a kiss under the mistletoe." he whispered before his mouth descended on her mouth stopping her from responding. He was kissing her passionately and she was melting into his embrace.

"Awe man that is gross." when Chris and Rita looked up, Christopher was shaking his head at them. "Parents, I will never understand them."

Christopher walked away and Chris responded, "Trust me Sport, one day you will understand exactly what the right woman can do to you." he yelled to him while smiling and staring into his beautiful wife's eyes. This time Rita reached up and closed the distance between them and kissed him gently with so much warmth. The next thing they knew Rita had a kid on each leg.

"Mommy, Sammy and I are ready. Can we make Santa's cookies now?" Rita grinned at Chris as he released her and watched Rita walk down the hall with a child on each hand singing Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer. "We will finish this conversation later handsome," Rita said while walking away.

Chris winked at her and replied, "You my friend, can count on it!" He had the biggest grin on his face. When he thought back to the past, he never knew family life could be so wonderful. Everything he yearned for as a child had finally come true thanks to this sassy brunette with the emerald green eyes.

Now it was time to deal with the "demon child" as Chris affectionately referred to their teenage son. When Chris found him, Christopher was in the driveway shooting some hoops. "Mind if I join in?" Chris asked wearing his red baseball cap backwards.

"Nope, it is your basketball and hoop." Christopher responded. "Dad why do you always wear that red cap when we play basketball?

"Christopher, you know there is nothing that is mine or yours, we share everything in this family remember? And this cap belonged to someone that meant a great deal to me and maybe someday I will tell you about him," Chris stated as he shoots and sinks the ball in the basket.

"Yeah right, whatever you say" Christopher replied as he caught the ball as it came out of the net (he did notice that his Dad was not bad at basketball).

"Is something bothering you champ? You seem a little upset today?" Chris asked fatherly.

"Nope, not a thing." Christopher thought how would he understand he is just a Dad.

"You do know you can come to me with anything right? I am always here for you Christopher. ALWAYS!" he made sure that Christopher was looking him straight in the face. He wanted to make sure he understood. Christopher just shook his head and was about to ask Chris a question when a few guys from Christopher's school walked by.

"Look at Chrissy playing with his Daddy." they were laughing at him.

"Awe Man, thanks a lot Dad. I am never going to hear the end of this at school. Why can't everyone just leave me alone?" he was mad now and was heading back to his room. Meanwhile Chris is standing in the driveway wondering what he did wrong.

"Teenagers." he just shook his head and started back in the house himself. When he reached the kitchen, what he heard from his son made him mad, not only mad, he was hurt.

"Why don't you just leave me alone you little brat?" Christopher was yelling at his little brother and Rita was just about to say something when Chris grabbed Christopher by the shirt and was standing there just looking at him. Rita in the meantime was trying to calm Sammy down and Susie was just standing there with a scared look on her face.

"Christopher James Lorenzo Jr. You apologize to your brother right now. While you are at it you will apologize to your sister too." Chris was trying desperately to hold his anger in check.

"Fine, I am sorry Susie and Sammy." he stated it without any remorse. Chris was just about to his breaking point. What was wrong with this kid? As he e started to walk Christopher back to his room he stopped to ask Rita if they were all right.

"We are fine Sam, please try not to get too angry at him. This is a phase Chris. We are fine." she smiled at him and this calmed him down a little.

"Christopher and I are just going to have a little talk. Christopher I want you to go to your room and I will be there in a while." Christopher walked away in a huff.

Chris looked back at Rita, "Sunshine, I just don't know what to do about him anymore. I have tried to reach him. I think I need to go for a walk before I try to talk to him. I am to mad to do it right now." he kissed his wife on the lips and his daughter on the forehead and reached down and picked up Sammy. "Want to go for a walk with your pop buddy?" and Sammy shook his head yes. Chris put a jacket on Sammy and then a sweatshirt on himself, he picked up Sammy and off to the park they went.

Chris sat on the park bench as he watched Sammy slide down the slide. He smiled as the little one waved to him and he waved back. He was suddenly taken back into his memories.

< fade to memory > (Christopher is one year old.)

"Come on Chris you can do it." Rita was encouraging Chris to walk. "Come on sweetheart you can do it. Put one foot in front of the other. Walk to me." The next thing you see is Chris getting out of his wheelchair and he is trying desperately to walk to Rita. After Chris was shot, he was in a coma for 7 months and when he finally woke up, he had a new son and he discovered that he would have to learn to walk again.

"That's it Sam you are doing it." Chris is trying to walk to Rita and Christopher is sitting on the floor next to her. Rita is so excited about Chris that she doesn't notice that Christopher is pulling himself up using her leg and that he is smiling at his father. Just when Chris is ready to give up trying, he sees Christopher trying to step away from Rita and he is trying to walk to his Daddy. Chris and Rita stood there amazed. Here is a one year old grinning and laughing taking his first steps trying to walk to his father. As they stand there in awe, Christopher reaches Chris and holds up his arms to be picked up by him. Chris with tears in his eyes picked up Christopher and hugged him.

"Wow Sport, you did it. Are you trying to show up your old man? I am so proud of you Christopher." he hugged him again and looked at Rita. She (who also had tears in her eyes) is a little nervous about Chris trying to walk with Christopher in his arms so she started to take a step toward him, but Chris stopped her.

"No, Sammy. Christopher took his first steps in his life to help show his Daddy how to walk again, and that is what I am going to do." Chris had a determined look on his face as he walked toward Rita. Step by step that day, Chris started his life again. As he reached his wife, she was crying like a baby and Chris was grinning like a cat. The three of them stood hugging, crying and laughing because they knew everything was going to be all right.

< back to the present >

Chris was sitting on the park bench wondering how things could have gotten so bad between himself and his son. Christopher has always been so very special to him. It wasn't only because he was their first born or that he was his first son, they always had a special bond from the day he was born, (no, even before that. even in Rita's womb) and he felt it slipping away.

As Sammy came running up to Chris, he grabbed his legs to hug him, Chris wondered what happened to the little boy that would light up when he saw his Daddy. Now he didn't want to be in the same state as his Dad.

By the time Chris and Sammy got back from the park, Chris had his mind cleared enough to talk to Christopher calmly. He walked down the hall and before he knocked, he let out a deep breath and then reached for the door.

"Christopher, can I come in?" he stated calmly.

"Yeah, its not locked." Christopher has calmed down too. Chris opened the door and closed it and then sat down in the chair facing his son.

"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?" Chris states looking into his son's eyes. Christopher doesn't say a word. He just looked away and started to toss a football in the air. Chris is starting to get a little angry again. "Why can't he just talk to me?" Chris wondered. "Christopher I asked you a question?" no response. "Ok, just listen to me then." this is where Christopher stared to get the glazed look in his eyes. Chris is sure he is not listening to him but he has to try anyway. What he doesn't realize is that Christopher was hearing every last word.

"Christopher, I have never been more disappointed in you in my whole life. I can't believe that you would treat your own brother like that. Sammy is a baby Christopher, why would you scare a baby like that. My Christopher would never think of doing that. Do you have any idea how lucky you are? You have four people in this house that love you with all of their hearts, but pal you just spit on it and throw it away. Don't do it Chris, love does not come around everyday and you could lose them as fast as you got them. Trust me Chris, this world is a very lonely place when you don't have anyone that loves you." Chris thinking he is not doing any good started to walk out of the room, when he heard a response from Christopher.

"You just don't understand what it is like having a little brother and sister that bug you all of the time." he states quietly.

"No you are right Christopher, I never had brothers or sisters. One of these days you will wake up and see just how very fortunate you are. I just hope it is not to late by then." Chris remarked as he opened the door to leave. It was getting late and Chris has said everything he can think of to get through to him, but he just can't seem to break through his wall.

"Good night Christopher, I Love you and please think about what I have said."

"Yeah right." Christopher's response was so low he thought his father couldn't hear him. Chris did and it was like someone put a knife in his heart. Christopher lay back on his bed thinking about his father. He only knew the man that went to work everyday and sat behind a desk and did paperwork all day. It was such a father kind of job. He wished that his dad could be like the detectives that worked under him. There was Tom. He was so cool. They had Tom over for dinner a few times and all of the stories he told were so exciting. The only stories his father told about work were whom he assigned all of these exciting cases to and the paperwork.

His mind drifted back to hearing his father say he loved him. Man he thought that was embarrassing. They were guys they shouldn't say things like that to each other. His father was always hugging him and telling him he loved him. It was so embarrassing. As Christopher lay on his bed, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

"So, how did it go Sam?" Rita asked Chris as he started to undress and get ready for bed.

"Sammy, I am really worried about him. He doesn't seem to care about anything or anybody. I really haven't got a clue what to do next? Rita, I am beginning to think he hates me," he had a frown on his face as he slipped in bed beside her and she went straight into his arms.

"Sshhh Sam, he doesn't hate you. This is normal. Every child goes through these stages. Remember what it was like Chris. Not knowing what or where you fit into the grand scheme of life?" she is trying to calm him as she starts to caress his chin with light kisses.

"I know Sammy, but I am starting to feel like I am repellent. He looks at me like I am from another planet." Chris' words start to fade out as he feels her tongue go into his ear. "Oh, Sammy...." he moans as he tightens his hold around her.

Rita whispers into his ear, "I find you irresistible myself, and I love you very much Sam." she has moved from his ear to his lips and her foot is slowly caressing up and down Chris' leg.

She is battling Chris for control of the kiss while he reaches down to find his way under her nightgown. As he is pulling the nightgown up and off her, she is reaching down to his boxer shorts and pulling them down. "Make love to me Chris. I need you so much," she is kissing his chest and she is teasing his nipple with her tongue while her hand is caressing the other one.

Chris pulled her up to him and looked into her eyes, "Your wish is my command Mrs. Lorenzo," he smiled and then he took her with a passion like that of their very first night. "After 17 years you still make me so crazy Sammy." he stated in between the hot, wet kisses he was placing up and down her neck.

"I drive you crazy Chris?" she said breathlessly.

"Oh God yes Rita, I want you more now than I did on our wedding night. Believe me I wanted you so badly then." he now had her embraced in a deep, slow mind numbing kiss. As he stopped to catch his breath she whispered to him.

"Show me how much you want me Chris." and she groaned as his hand wandered down to caress her breast. Her back arched as his mouth soon followed the path that his hands had taken. He was on top of her and he was nipping and tasting her nipple while his hand caressed its lonely mate. "Oh Chris I am ready for you." she practically begged for him. Her whole body was on fire for him. She called out his name as he lowered himself into her and started a slow, maddeningly hot rhythm.

Just the sound of her voice as she called out his name, sent a shiver down his spine. To hear the love and need she had for him in her voice still amazed him to this day. "Chris, oh Chris…" she was beckoning to him. She needed to kiss him or she would explode. When he looked into her eyes, he saw all of the love, pain and joy they have shared together over the last 20 years. The love he saw there was enough to take him over the edge. He started to pick up the pace and as he did so, the thrusts were deeper and deeper.

"Rita Lance, I love you so much. I dreamed of being with you like this for so many years, I still can't believe that I am here now. I want you so badly that my very soul aches for you." she brought his lips down to hers and she had her tongue searching deep into his mouth. This was all he could take. He started to feel her quiver realizing that she was about to climax when he reached down between them and touched her only where she would let him touch her and she screamed out in pure pleasure. He thrust into her one final time joining her in the ultimate level of their love. He rolled over and brought Rita into his embrace as their hearts started to come back down to normal pace. As he kissed her forehead he mumbled over and over, "I love you." She could sense that he was still very worried about their son.

"Everything will be all right Chris, trust me. I know our Christopher and he is just like his father...."

Chris interrupts her, "oh you mean he is handsome, smart and a god?" he laughed as he hugged her tighter.

With the quick Lance wit she remarks, "I was thinking more like stubborn, pigheaded and obstinate Sam."

"No he gets that from the Lance side of the family." Rita is about to give him a piece of her mind (jokingly of course) when he said, "and if he is lucky he will also be like his mother in many other ways, such as being incredibly sexy and a great kisser," He reached down to give her a passionate kiss.

"Great save Sam." she laughed while he nuzzled her neck. " And if he is lucky he will be like his Dad. Sweet, kind and gentle." she reached up and caressed his cheek and smiled while looking in his eyes. "He will be ok Chris. He is a good kid. Give him some time." she yawned as she laid her head back down onto Chris' chest and they fell asleep in each others arms.

It is later that night and Christopher is waking up because he heard a noise coming from his closet. His first instinct was to hide under his blanket like he did when he was a little boy. But he learned that hiding under the blanket won't make bad things go away. He got up out of bed and slowly walked over to the closet (taking all of his courage with him). When he opened the door, he could not believe what he saw. He started walking into a mansion (standing in front of a grand staircase) and started asking if anyone was there. "Hello, is anyone here?" he turned around very fast because he felt someone behind him. The eyes that greeted him looked very familiar to him. They were soft, loving and as bright as the clear blue sky.

"Don't be frightened boy. I would never hurt you." the elderly woman smiled and again, Christopher thought he had seen her before. Someone he knew looked like her.

"Who are you and where am I? Do I know you?" he stated a little frightened.

"Well, calm down boy and I will tell you. Sit down here with me so we can talk (she pointed to the stairs). I can't believe how big you are getting. No, you have never met me, but your father has told you all about me," the older woman had tears in her eyes as she thought about her Chris, her Boy. She was so proud of the man he turned out to be.

"You know my father? How?" he was getting impatient and was starting to get up from the stairs they were sitting on.

"Christopher James Lorenzo Jr. sit back down here. You are just like your father was at this age," she said sternly, but lovingly.

"How do you know my father? Why am I here?" he asked for a second time.

"Boy, you are here because we need to have a talk. You have been quite a handful lately. I was sent here to show you just how lucky you are. Christopher knew where this was going. "Don't roll those blue eyes at your great grandmother. I didn't let your father do that and I am not going to let you either."

Christopher could not believe what he was hearing. "Grandma Rose?"

"Yes Boy, I am your Grandma Rose (she was smiling at him)."

"My dad talks about you all of the time. I can't believe you are here. Wherever here is. Am I dead? Is this heaven?" he asked nervously.

"No, Boy you are not dead and this is not heaven, but I was sent down here to try and straighten you out. You are dangerously close to loosing your family Christopher and I was sent here to show you what you would be losing. You are going to be visited by 2 other people tonight and by the time the night is over, I hope you will have gotten a little wiser. I was sent here to show you where you come from." Just then Christopher heard a little boy crying on the steps (a little higher than he and his grandmother were sitting). The little boy was maybe 4 years old and he was holding a teddy bear tightly to his chest. All of the sudden he heard two people arguing loudly.

"You should never of had him if you weren't going to take care of him." the man said angrily.

"Well, it takes two to get pregnant. I can't stay home with him. I am starting a movie in 2 days and he will need someone to watch him. You are his father, you can watch him," the woman was just as mad. Christopher looked up at the little boy and felt so bad for him. He was hearing every word they were saying about him.

"I can't have him around under foot."

"Well, neither can I. What are we going to do with him?" the woman shouted.

"Well, there is nothing we can do now. We have to find someone that will want to take him," the man said with a voice void of any love. Meanwhile the little boy just kept clutching his teddy bear and he was sobbing as if his heart was breaking. It was and Christopher's heart ached for him as he sat by watching the ugly scene.

"Grandma, how can they say that about him. Make them stop Grandma. Let's go take him upstairs so he can't hear them." he made the move to get up and go get the boy when she stopped him.

"We can't help him boy. They can not see us or hear us. This event is something from the past. It has already happened. I needed you to see the agony in that little boy's face so you can understand," she now had Christopher in an embrace and he was very angry.

"Why do I have to see this Grandma?" he was asking her when the couple came and stood right in front of them and they were still arguing.

"I am so sick of this. You can not even look after your own son for 3 weeks. I am sorry I ever had him." she stated angrily. Christopher looked up at the little boy. The little boy had his hands over his ears so he couldn't hear anymore. Christopher could not even imagine the pain that the little one was feeling. He wanted so badly to pick him up and just hug him, but he couldn't.

"Grandma, please take me out of here. I can't stand anymore. Why did I have to see that?" he looked into her eyes and begged her to explain what was happening.

"You needed to see that......" Christopher interrupted her, it was starting to dawn on him just what she was doing.

"I know, I needed to see that so I could appreciate my own family." he stated like a teenager who thinks he knows everything. Grandma Rose took his hand and nodded her head no.

"I really don't understand where all of this "I, ME," attitude comes from Boy. You were not raised by a man who thought like that. You were raised by a little boy who never knew what it felt like to have his parent's love. A little boy that desperately wanted a family of his own, a son of his own that he could love with all his heart," she had Christopher's face in her hands and she gently moved his head so he was looking at the little boy that was sitting on the stairs clinging to his teddy bear. The realization that this little boy was his father had a tremendous impact on him. His father never told him about any of this. With tears rolling down his face Christopher went into his Grandmother's arms.

"I never knew Grandma, he never told me anything about his childhood. Why didn't he tell me?" Christopher was now looking in her eyes for answers. Before she could answer, Christopher heard his father's words (from earlier in the night), "Do you have any idea how lucky you are? You have four people in this house that love you with all of their hearts, but pal you just spit on it and throw it away. Don't do it, love does not come around everyday and you could lose them as fast as you got them. Trust me Chris, this world is a very lonely place when you don't have anyone that you can love or that loves you." Christopher now understood what he meant by these words.

Taking him into her arms for the last time, Grandma Rose hugged him. "It is almost time for me to go Christopher..." he leaned out of her embrace and was about to beg her not to leave him. "No, it is all right Boy, you are going to be fine. You have two more visitors tonight, so please try to understand what they need to tell you. I love you Boy and I know you will do the right thing. If you don't get anything else out of our visit, please know that your father has been yearning for you all of his life. He feels a very special bond with you and not just because you are his first born, but because you have made all of his dreams come true," she was backing up away from him now and he was calling for her.

"Grandma don't leave me please. What did you mean I made all of his dreams come true?" he was wiping the tears off his face when he felt another tap on his shoulder.

"Hey Kid, are you ok?" the Jewish man of 50 years asked as he patted his godson's back.

"Grandpa Harry?"

"Yeah Kid, how are you?" he had a glow in his eyes as he looked at Christopher. He always thought of Christopher as his very own Grandson. Christopher can remember Harry coming over and playing ball with him in the back yard. Of course that was 10 years ago and Grandpa Harry had been dead for five years now.

"Oh Grandpa!" Christopher leaped into his arms. He always loved Harry so much. "I've missed you so much. And Mom and Dad are still lost without you. Dad especially. He cried so much at your funeral Grandpa. He told me he felt like his father had died. That is the only time I have ever seen him cry." he looked at Harry with so much love.

"I know kid. He will be ok. Your Dad is a pretty tough guy. You know." as Harry said this he could see that Christopher really didn't have any idea of the kind of man his father was. "I know you haven't heard your father tell you about his early years on the force. He was always into something. It seemed like I was constantly pulling his butt out of trouble." Harry just snickered a little as he thought about Chris' creative police work.

"My Dad in trouble? Nope, I don't believe it. How much trouble can you get into behind a desk shuffling paperwork all day?" Harry never really understood why Chris never talked much to Christopher about his early days on the force, he figured it was just because some of his memories were still painful.

"Let me tell you. Your father is one of the best cops I have ever met. Here let me show you." with that said Harry waved his hand and Christopher started seeing scenes from his father's past.

Scene 1
Christopher laughed as he saw his father with long dark hair and he looked like a bum. He was standing next to this other guy that was dressed just as badly.

"Ok, let go in and nail this guy so we can go home." the man standing beside Chris stated.

"Lead the way Lem." as Chris said this Lem knocked on the door.

"Here is my friend from out of town. He is interested in buying your whole heron shipment." Harry smiled as he heard Christopher gasp. The two young detectives walk into the warehouse and sit down at a table with chairs.

"Where is the goods man?" Chris asked the drug dealer.

"All in good time, I think you should test it first." Chris looked over at Lem with a startled expression. Then he looked back at the dealer.

"No man, I don't deal that way."

"Then I guess you don't deal at all." the dealer had a syringe in his hand and he was handing it to Chris. Chris then looked over at Lem with a questioning look. With his eyes he was asking his partner what to do.

"Do it man, make the bust." Chris could not believe his partner just told him to do the heron. Reaching in his back pocket he said the to dealer,

"I don't share needles so I brought my own." Chris just about had his gun out from behind him when the dealer figured out what he was up to. Before Chris had his gun pulled there was a shot fired. (End of Scene 1)

Harry had waved his hand again before Christopher could see if his dad got shot or not. "Grandpa, why did you do that. Was Dad shot? I never knew he did that and his hair looked so funny."

"No, your dad never got shot because his partner Lem jumped in front of the bullet." he saw a streak of relief cross his godson's face. "It took very brave men to go and do those jobs Christopher. That was back in the days when your dad was in vice."

"Where was Mom?"

"They haven't met yet. Speaking of your Mother, here is the first time they met."

Scene 2
Chris Lorenzo was sitting in Hutch's office wondering why he was there. What did I do now he kept thinking to himself. Deep in thought trying to figure out why he was in trouble again, he was startled when a hand touched his shoulder. When he looked up, he was looking up into the most beautiful pair of green eyes he had ever seen in his life. The feeling of her hand on his shoulder sent a shock all the way down his body.

When Chris jumped from her touch, she jumped too. His reaction startled her. She could not believe the eyes she was looking into. They were as clear as the bright blue sky. When she realized she still had her hand on his shoulder she apologized and smiled. When he returned the smile she thought she felt the room spinning.

"Are you all right, please sit down." he motioned to the seat next to him and helped her sit down. He offered his hand and she accepted it and at that very moment, these two people were never the same.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was just wondering if this was Captain Hutchison's office?" he noticed that she had very sexy legs as he grinned to himself.

"Yep, this is it. I don't believe I have ever met you before, I am Chris Lorenzo. And you are?" he asked with the famous Lorenzo grin. Rita had to smile. This guy was a real charmer. She could tell that already.

"My name is Rita Lance. Hutch asked me to meet him in here at 1 PM."

"Yeah he asked me too. Do you know what this is about?" Chris was starting to get nervous. He must really have done it now. Rita sensing what he was thinking (they had a connection from the very first moment they met) laughed.

"Det. Lorenzo....." she said motherly.

"Call me Chris."

"Ok, Chris....." she stated again with the Lance spark in her eye. The look she gave him blew him away. He was a goner. He knew from that very moment that she was his destiny.

"Oh don't say Chris like that. My grandmother used to say Chris like that and it makes me feel like I am in trouble," he grinned at her.

"Well, are you?" she questioned him.

"Am I what?"

"Are you in trouble?" she smirked at him.

"I hope not," as they sat there smiling at each other, Hutch walked into his office and closed the door.

"Ok, knock it off Lance and Lorenzo." (End of Scene 2)

Christopher looked back at Harry. He was a little surprised. "What Chris?" Harry asked.

"I can't believe that was my mother. Did you see her short skirt? Man she was a babe huh?" Harry had to laugh. It was funny. Like father like son. Christopher was just like his father. "My Dad never had a chance did he Grandpa?" Christopher laughed with Harry as he shook his head no. The next thing he knew Harry had taken him through several of their cases together, but Harry had to stop when they came to the Lampton case. He was holding Christopher in his arms trying to give him comfort as they watched the scene of Charles Lampton trying to rape his mother. It was too much for a 16 year old to see. The look in his father's eyes as he watched the scene unfold in front of him, brought tears to his eyes.

Scene 3
"Coach?" a young man wearing a red baseball cap asked into a phone.

"Yeah, Darrin, is that you? Have you been drinking?" Chris looked at the clock next his bed and noticed it was 3 AM. "Are you all right Darrin?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah Coach I have been drinking. Coach I finally got something decent in my life and I have to go and mess it up. I don't know what to do?" his words slurred.

"Darrian where are you? I will come and pour some coffee down that 3 point frame of yours." he chucked trying to cheer him up. He was really very concerned about the boy's state of mind.

"Coach what am I going to do?" he begged Chris.

"First of all you are going to stop drinking. That will not help, trust me. Where are you man. We can sit down and talk and fix everything ok?" he hoped he wasn't to late already.

"No man not tonight. I'm to tired to talk tonight. I am going to get some sleep now and then we can talk tomorrow at basketball practice ok?" he yawned into the phone.

"Ok Darrin, call me anytime you need me ok. That means anytime day or night and anyplace. Do you understand?" Chris stated sternly.

"Yeah, sorry to wake you up Coach. I will see you tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow Darrin. Promise?"

"I promise Coach." Christopher recognized the red cap the kid was wearing. He had a funny feeling in his stomach as he thought about his Dad and how much he cared for this boy named Darrin. He had a hard time putting a name to what he was feeling, but then he had to just admit, he was jealous of Darrin and what he meant to his father. Christopher is again pulled into the scene playing out in front of him.

"He was not a piece of trash to be thrown out by the side of the curb like garbage Sam. His life mattered and so should his death." Chris stated very upset as he talked to his partner and best friend. The next scene has Chris and Rita looking in Darrin's car. Chris reaches down in between the front seat and pulled out Darrin's favorite red cap. Chris with tears in his eyes looked up at his partner and smiled. She smiled in return as he placed the cap in the back of his belt.

"So that is where he got the cap," Christopher mumbles as Harry walks him into the next scene of Chris' life. He remembered begging his father to let him wear the red cap but his father always said no. Now he knew why. Christopher had no idea of all the close calls and pain that his father had experienced on and off the job. He was finally starting to understand this man he called Dad.

"Your parents have both been through some very hard times Christopher, and I thanked God everyday that they had each other to turn to. In all my days on the force, I have never seen a stronger connection between partners or even best friends for that matter." he was getting teary eyed just remembering.

Scene 4
"Don't you leave me Christopher. I can not live without you," Rita was riding in and ambulance while Chris lay unconscious. Twenty minutes later, Chris lay on the operating table and they were about to give him anesthesia to put him under for the operation. He woke up slightly from his unconscious state and looked at the Dr.

"My partner, is she all right?" he stated very weakly. "I've got to know." he had a panicked look in his eyes.

"Your partner is fine Sgt. Please calm down." the pretty Doctor said. What he did next startled the doctor.

"If I don't make it, please tell her I loved her. Tell her I always have and I always will. I wish I would have told her when I had the chance. Doctor?"

"Yes Sgt.?"

"Tell her in my heart I knew that she was going to be my wife one day. Tell her she will always be Mrs. Christopher Lorenzo in my heart, that she was from the first minute I laid eyes on her. Promise me you will tell her?"

"I promise Sgt." the Doctor had a strange look in her eyes. She knew right there and then she had fallen in love with her patient.

Christopher looked back at Harry and questioned him. "Why didn't she tell Mom? She knew that Dad was in love with her. Why would she purposely hurt Mom like that? I know that Dad didn't die, but she still should have told her." Christopher could not believe people could or would do that to another person.

"Christopher, it hard for you to believe that there are people like that in this world because you have been so blessed with love all of your life." he tried to make him understand.

"So why didn't Dad just tell her then?"

"He didn't remember the incident when he woke up. Christopher, your Dad was legally dead for a few seconds and he lost a little bit of his memory from that. But believe me, he always knew what his Sam meant to him. He was just too afraid to mess up the best friendship he had ever known in his life. They both were. I have one more thing I need to show you. Watch this closely Christopher and then you will never feel jealous of any living creature again. You will understand just what you mean to your father."

Scene 6
Chris is laying in a hospital bed when Rita walked into the room. His face lite up immediately. "Hi there beautiful?" he stated as she kissed him on the lips.

"Hi handsome." she gently caressed his face with her hand.

"How is Christopher?" Chris said a little concerned.

"No, how are you darling or how is your day? I guess I know where I rank in this family. It is Christopher, your charger and then me." she grinned at Chris.

"Sammy, I'm sorry. It is just that I have yet to see my own son. I know you can't bring him in because he has a cold, but I am a little obsessed with him right now. I just want to hold him in my arms. And by the way, you moved up in the ranks when you were smart enough to marry me. It is Christopher, you and then the charger." he teased her. She just laughed as she leaned over and kissed him. He groaned as she turned the warm kiss into a passionate hot embrace. "I love you Sammy, please always know that you mean everything to me. You and Christopher are my whole world." he stated with tears welling up in his eyes.

"I know Sam, I was just teasing you. I have a surprise for you." she grinned with a sparkle in her eyes wiping the tears away from his.

"Oooh, Sammy is it black and lacey?" he stated as his eyes darkened with desire.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Sam." she laughed, trying to cool down the desire his smoldering glance sent through her whole body. "I brought you a visitor today. Guess who it is?" she had something up his sleeve he could see it in her eyes.

"Let me see, Is it Cotton?

"Nope. Try again."

"Ummm Donnie Dogs?" he laughed.

"Ya right Sam try again." she was having way to much fun teasing him.

"Oh I know, it is Shelby. She is here to CHEER me up right?" he teased as he wiggled his eye brows up and down at her.

"Over my dead body Sam!" she said jabbing him in the ribs.

"Sammy, don't say that, I LOVE this body way to much." he pulled her down on top of him and tried to show her just how much.

"I love you too Chris, but we cant do this right now. Your visitor is waiting to see you right now." she was trying to get out of his embrace. She knew is she didn't do it now, she would not be able to resist much longer.

"Make him wait Sammy. I would much rather make love to my beautiful wife." he had her locked into another hot kiss.

Breathless Rita looked into his eyes, "Ok Sam if you say so, let me ask Frannie to take Christopher home and put him to bed then." Chris' eyes got huge.

"Don't you dare. I thought you said the doctor didn't want him out of the house right now. Is he ok Sammy?" he asked with fatherly concern.

She looked at him and shook her head, "You my friend are going to make a wonderful father and this little boy is the luckiest kid in the whole world." she kissed him quickly and headed the door.

"No Sammy, I am the luckiest father in the world because of him." he yelled as she walked out the of door. The door opened slowly and Rita walked into the room with Christopher wrapped in a blanket and he was fast to sleep.

"Christopher Lorenzo, meet Christopher Lorenzo Jr." she then placed the baby in Chris' arms. Chris sat up straight in his bed just looking down at the miracle in his arms.

"Is he ok Sammy?" he looked up at Rita while caressing the baby's head. "He is fine Sam. I took him the doctor this morning and he gave me the green light to bring you your son." she stood back watching the two men in her life get to know each other. She had tears in her eyes when she thought how close she came to losing both of them. "Look Sam, I am going to give you and Christopher sometime alone. I will be right outside and if you need help or anything, just call ok?" she said but he didn't hear her. He was mesmerized by the sleeping child in his arms.

"Hi Christopher Lorenzo Jr.. I am your Daddy." he kissed the sleeping baby on the head and inhaled the intoxicating smell of his baby (if you have ever smelled the scent of a baby right after his bath you would know what I mean). At that moment the baby opened his eyes and Chris saw that he had big blue eyes. "Hi big fella? Did you have a good nap?" Chris smiled as he watched the baby yawn.

"Christopher, I think it is time for our first man to man talk. I want you to know that I love you and that I will always be there for you. You don't know this, but because of you I have everything I ever wanted." Christopher looked back at Harry and questioned him.

"That is what Grandma Rose said. Why did I make his dreams come true. I think I have been more of a nightmare for him." Harry just put his finger up to his mouth to silence Christopher and pointed back to the scene in front of them.

Chris hugged the baby in his arms and started to hum a little tune to him. "Someday I will tell you all about your mom and me, but for right now I want to thank you for being my son and for coming into my life. If it weren't for you, I would never have talked you Mommy into marrying me. If it weren't for you, I would still be all alone, but instead I have a beautiful and loving wife and a very handsome little boy. Thanks to you, I have the family I have always wanted and you have fulfilled all of my dreams." Chris was gently rocking the baby back to sleep when Rita came in and sat down on the side of the bed and took one of Chris' hands while rubbing her son's back gently. (Scene 6 ends)

"Listen kid, it is time for me to go, but remember one thing, Life is too damn short and that you need to live every minute as if it were your last one. Don't waste it worrying what other people think of you. Spend it doing something that you love with people that you love." Harry was waving at him and before he disappeared he said, "Oh yeah, tell your father that I said he worries to much. And to take good care of Willie for little Sammy. I Love you kid. I hope you realize that you are destined to do extraordinary things with your life. Kiss Grandma for me and tell her I am with her always and that I miss her herbs up her in heaven." Harry was waving to Christopher when he disappeared into a mist.

Christopher didn't know what to think. Here he had visited with his dead Grandma Rose and his dead Grandpa Harry. No one would ever believe this. As he sat there on the grand stair case pondering everything that happened tonight, a third person came to him.

"Hi." a cute little girl said to Christopher. He was shocked. She could not have been a day over 6 years old.

"Hi, who are you and what are you doing up so late? You should be in bed." he stated looking around him for her parents.

"My name is Rita Sue and I am here to show you the present and your future." she smiled at him and he felt a strange feeling in his heart. The little girl took his hand in hers and walked him out of the mansion and they were standing in the hallway by his bedroom. All the sudden he heard his father talking as the door to his room opened.

"Good night Christopher, I love you and please think about what I have told you." and he saw his father pause at the door. His father heard his comment of "Yeah right." Chris closed the door and leaned back against it and wiped away the tears coming down his cheek. Christopher didn't realize what he had done to his father.

Christopher mumbled to himself, "I didn't know he heard me." he had a very sad look in his eyes. The little girl then walked Christopher into the den and there he saw little Susie sitting on her father's lap.

"Daddy, why doesn't Christopher like me?" looking up at Chris with a tears welling in her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart, Christopher likes you, he loves you. Why would you think that?"

"He is always telling me to get lost or beat it. He doesn't want me around. He used to play with me. What did I do to get him mad at me all the time?" she was crying. Christopher shook his head and walked out of the den with the little girl in toe. He looked a Rita Sue.

"I don't hate her. She thinks I don't like her." he was now feeling pretty bad. But it was just going to get worse. He is now standing in the kitchen watching himself yell at his baby brother. "

"Why don't you just leave me alone you little brat?" Christopher was yelling at his little brother. Sammy was just excited about seeing his big brother. He ran up to him and grabbed his leg wanting him to pick him up. Just then Rita Sue took his hand and the next thing he knew, they were watching Rita try to calm down the two year old. They were in the nursery and Rita grabbed a teddy bear from the crib and gave it to the crying baby. The little one clutched it to his chest. When Christopher saw tears running down the baby's face holding on to the teddy bear, that is when he recognized the teddy bear. He remembered a little boy sitting on the stairs listening to his parents arguing.

Christopher sat on the floor in the nursery with tears running down his face. "I am such a jerk. How could I do that to him? He just wanted me to hold him." he stated while wiping away the tears. Rita Sue sat down on his lap and hugged him. She was crying with him. He hugged her tighter realizing he made her cry and he tried to soothe her by rocking them back and forth. "Shhhh, it is going to be all right. I promise. I understand now." he pulled back and looked into the little girl's eyes and could not shake the feelings he had for her. It was like no other feeling he had ever had before. Trying to distract her he asked her a question.

"Rita Sue, when we first met you told me that you were sent here to show me the present and my future. I have seen the present. Are you going to show me my future now?" he said lovingly to the child as hugged her again. The child pulled back and smiled at him and that is when he knew. She had his smile and his eyes. "You are my future aren't you Rita Sue?"

"Yes Daddy, I am." she said again as she hugged him again. Christopher returned the hug. "I love you Daddy." Christopher for the first time in his life realized what it meant for a parent to tell his child he loved him and to have that child to say it in return.

"I Love you to sweetheart, I Love you too," he kept saying over and over again. When Christopher opened his eyes, he realized he was laying in his bed hugging his pillow and he had tears running down his face. Was it all a dream? Christopher looked over at the clock next to his bed and saw that it was 5 AM on Christmas morning. He smiled and then got out of bed. He walked down the hall to Susie's room and walked inside. He sat down on the side of her bed and brushed the hair out of her face as she slept. This woke her up.

"Christopher, what are you doing?" she was half asleep.

"I just wanted to be the first one to wish you Merry Christmas Squirt." he grinned down at her. She smiled in return. "What do you say we go wake up Sammy, Mom and Dad and see what Santa brought you?" he said as he poked her in the ribs playfully.

Susie jumped up off her bed into Christopher's arms and hugged him so tight. "I love you Christopher!" she stated with so much excitement.

"I love you too, Squirt." he had her on his back and was giving her a piggy back ride as they walked into the nursery. As he set her down, his sixth sense told him something was wrong. He walked over to the crib and noticed that Sammy was having trouble breathing. "Susie, go get Dad. Something is wrong with Sammy." he looked at her and saw the fear. "Its going to be all right honey, go get Mom and Dad NOW!" with that said Susie was off running through the house screaming for her parents. In the meantime, Christopher wasn't sure if he should pick Sammy up or not. "Sammy what is wrong? The little one just looked at him with fear in his eyes clutching his teddy bear.

Christopher took the teddy bear out of his arms and as he set it down he noticed one of the eyes were missing. "Oh Sammy!" he knew instantly that his little brother was choking on the eye from the teddy bear. Without thinking he grabbed the baby out of the crib and started to do the himlick maneuver on him that he learned in gym class. After the first pump nothing happened. Chris and Rita were now running down the hallway to the nursery when they heard Christopher screaming at the baby. "Come on Sammy, don't do this to me. You can't leave me. I won't make it without you little brother." he pumped the little boy again and this time as he did this the button came flying out of his mouth. Sammy started crying instantly and Christopher had him in his arms rocking him trying to comfort him. Rita and Chris ran in the room and saw Christopher on the floor with Sammy. They took the baby out of his arms and were checking him out. Christopher got up and walked over and faced the wall and leaned up against. Sammy was all right now, he was just crying because he was scared. After a few minutes Susie walked up to Chris.

"Daddy, I think something is wrong with Christopher." she pointed toward her big brother. Chris hugged Susie, gave her kiss on the cheek and then got up to check on him. What he saw when he turned his son around startled him completely. Christopher had tears in his eyes. When he looked into his father's eyes seeing all of the love, he lost it. He immediately went into Chris' arms and cried.

"I thought that was it. I thought I lost him before I ever got the chance to tell him I loved him." he leaned back and looked at his dad. "It was almost to late Dad." and then he went back into his arms. Chris tried to comfort him. As he listened to his son, he realized he finally heard what he said to him last night. He finally understood everything he had tried to tell his son for months.

"It's ok Sport. You saved you little brother's life. I love you so much." he hugged him again and then lifted Christopher's chin with his hand and said, "You have made my dreams come true again Pal." he grinned and was surprised by the look in Christopher's eyes. He understood.

After assessing that Sammy was ok, the Lorenzo family headed into the living room to see as Susie put it, "the loot that Santa brought." All of the presents were unwrapped but one. Susie read the tag on it. "This says to Christopher, from Dad." she got up and handed it to him. Christopher unwrapped the present and what he found moved him beyond words. It was the red baseball cap. He looked up at his father and smiled. He got up and sat down on the couch next to his father and hugged him. "I love you Dad. I will take good care of it for you. I know how much this cap means to you." Chris had tears in his eyes as he hugged his son. Susie walked up to Chris and Christopher and modeled her new dress for them.

"Hey you don't look to bad Squirt." Christopher teased her.

"I hope Josh likes it." she replied as she was spinning around in the dress.

At the same time in the same tone, Chris and Christopher said, "Who is Josh?" they looked at each other and laughed.

"He is my boyfriend. We are going steady." when she looked at her father and brother they had a frowns on their faces.

"Not in this life time kid." a stern voice said. Chris looked shockingly at Christopher. He sounded just like a father.

"Daddy......" she objected at Christopher saying that.

"Hey I agree with him. You can not have a boyfriend until you are at least 35 years old." he stated firmly. Susie ran out of the room yelling, "Mommy........................................" Christopher and Chris just sighed. Chris looked at Christopher and said, "Hey you look pretty good in that cap." he was pushing the cap down over Christopher's face.

"I guess I am just a chip off the OLD block huh?" he laughed.

"That you are kid, that you are," Chris said with a smile and with his arms around him. Later that day Chris walked into the nursery to check on Sammy when he discovered that Christopher was in there rocking him to sleep. Sammy reached up for Christopher's cap when he pulled Sammy's hand down, "No way champ. I need to take good care of this cap. I am going to give it to Rita Sue one day." Sammy looked up and smiled at Christopher as his eyes started to drift closed slowly. When Christopher was sure he was asleep he kissed him on the forehead and lay him in his crib. "I love you Sammy. I'm sorry I scared you. I will never hurt you again. I want you to know I will always be here for you little brother." he pulled up a blanket and set the teddy bear next to him (Rita took the other eye off the bear and took a marker and drew eyes on the bear).

As Christopher turned around he saw his Dad leaning up against the door jam watching him with so much pride in his eyes. As Christopher walked out of the room and closed the door, "Dad want to go for a jog with Me?" A startled Chris gladly accepted. He wanted some time alone with Christopher to ask him what was going on. Not that he didn't like the new attitude, he was a little worried about his quick change in heart.

"Sure Sport if you think you can keep up with me." he teased Christopher.

"You're on Old Man." Christopher punched him lightly in the stomach. After a quiet 15 minute jog, Chris motioned for them to sit down on a park bench. He wondered why his son was so quiet. He did not realize the Christopher was trying to think of a way to tell his dad about what happened to him last night. He was sure he would think he was insane.

"Everything ok Pal?" Chris asked him a little concerned.

"I'm fine. Dad?" he nodded his head yes while looking into his father's eyes.

"Yeah Sport." Chris returned his gaze.

"I need to tell you something, but I need you to promise to believe me. I need you not to laugh at me ok?" his eyes were so vulnerable.

"Chris....I love you and if you say it is the truth, then it is the truth. What is the matter?" he had his arm around him. Forty-five minutes later Christopher told Chris about how he met his Grandma Rose and saw Grandpa Harry. Chris sat there completely stunned. "Wow, you had quite a night huh?" Chris didn't know what to say. He knew Christopher believed everything really happened. Chris thought it was only a dream.

"Well, Dad, am I crazy?" he asked innocently.

"No Pal, you just had a dream, that is all." he tried to assure him.

"No Dad it all really happened."

"Christopher, it couldn't of happened. Your Grandma Rose and Grandpa Harry are both dead." he remarked.

"I know Dad. Ok, if it was a dream, explain this, the day you first saw me, Mom placed me in your arms and then left the room. You told me that it was time we had our "first man to man" talk. You said that I made all of your dreams come true because without me you never would have been able to convince Mom to marry you. How would I know that Dad?" Chris was silent.

"Maybe your mother told you that and you just confused it as a memory." he tried to explain.

"How about this, you had a partner named Lem, and by the way, I cant believe you ever kept your hair long. Really Dad." he stated with a smile. Chris was just sitting on the bench squirming. "You and Lem went to meet a drug dealer when it all went bad and your partner was shot when he jumped in front of the bullet for you." he was looking at Chris seeing if he could get out of this one. Chris had a shocked look on his face.

"You probably heard Grandpa Harry tell that story. You know how he loved to tease me." he rationalized it away. Christopher was trying to think of a way to convince him. "Look Sport I am not saying you are lying about last night. I know that you truly believe it all happened, but it had to be a dream."

"If you can explain this one Dad, I will go with your theory it was a dream, even though I don't think it was. You were playing ball with a kid named Darrin. He just fouled you and you were both laughing as he helped you up. You noticed he had a hickey on his neck and asked him where he got it. You said you knew he could not get it from a woman because he was to ugly." when Christopher looked up at his Dad he saw the pain in his eyes. "Mom was not there, Grandpa was not there. It happened, didn't it Dad?" he was waiting for a response from Chris.

"There is no way you could have known about that. I never told anyone about that." he looked at Christopher and he didn't know what to say. The only thing he could do was accept what Christopher was saying really happened. "How is Grandma Rose? Isn't she the best?" he noticed the relief in his son's eyes as he realized his father believed him.

"Fine. She is so proud of you Dad." he saw the tears that formed in his father's eyes as he heard that. "Grandpa Harry told me to tell you to stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be all right." he laughed as he realized how much trouble his father was having coming to terms with everything he was saying. "Oh yeah, he said to take good care of Wille for Sammy. What does that mean?"

"Now I know for sure it happened, your Grandpa Harry left his baseball collection for his grandsons. It was stated in his will. You never heard his will. Willie Mays was his prized card. I guess we know that he wants Willie to go to Sammy. Huh?" he laughed. "Listen Sport, why don't we keep this to ourselves for a while. Your mother has had a hard day already. We will tell her someday, but for right now let's leave this between "Father and Son" Ok?" he stated while smiling at him.

"Sure Dad. Thanks for listening and believing me." he hugged his father and then kissed him.

"Have I died and gone to heaven?" Chris questioned and grinned because of all the attention he was getting from his son.

"Oh maybe, you aren't a young man anymore." Christopher teased him.

"I can still whip your butt boy!" Chris stated as he took off running toward home. When they saw the house they slowed down to a walk and Chris remembered something he heard Christopher say to Sammy. "Hey you told Sammy that you were going to give the cap to Rita Sue one day. Who is that? Have I met her?"

"Nope, you haven't met her, yet. You will one day." Christopher said with at smile and then sprinted toward the house with his father following close behind.

"Teenagers," Chris shook his head and smiled as he entered his home.

So how did you like it?

I need to thank Charles Dickens for the inspiration behind this story.

Ok, here we go, Chris, Rita, Harry, Grandma Rose all belong to USA. Thanks for letting me borrow them.