"Savannah, honey how was your day?" Chloe asked as she picked up her daughter from the daycare. At seventeen Chloe Lane was what she never thought she'd become: a teenage mother. Three years ago her entire life was about escaping from pain born of loneliness. Drugs and alcohol numbed her emotions and she was quite happy that way. Not quite an addict, just a party-person. Chloe thought that no one would ever love her after her adoptive parents died when she was four, and for the most part she was right. Foster parents didn't care and rarely paid attention to her unless she misbehaved, teachers were the same, and other kids made fun of her because she was so different. She wasn't sure how she was different but if so many people thought so than there must be something. Savannah's father was a hazy memory from a drunken night at some dance club. He'd fucked her against the back alley wall and Chloe was pretty sure his name had been Pete. What Chloe was going to tell Savannah about her father she had no idea but hoped she'd get a few more years to figure it out.

When she became pregnant her foster parents asked to have her removed from their care, after all a pregnant teenager must be a bad influence on the other children in the house. Chloe had a long talk with her social worker, Helen, in which she was pressured to put the baby up for adoption or have an abortion. Personally she knew the she could never do either of those things. After an hour of convincing Helen that she was keeping the baby no matter what Helen finally gave in and began paperwork to have Chloe placed in a boarding house for young mothers. She would receive job training, in Chloe's case as a seamstress, and a monthly "allowance" from the state. Eventually Chloe could apply for emancipation when she turned sixteen but if she didn't there would be assistance from Child Services. She applied anyway, needing her independence. Money was tight and her existence lonely but Chloe had her little girl six weeks after her fifteenth birthday. Suddenly she was loved again and more importantly had someone to love, and that was all Chloe needed to be happy. Savannah wasn't lacking anything necessary and in time they would no longer be living in poverty.

Chloe had begun designing clothes as well as sewing them at the little dress shop where she worked. Many people had been complimenting her on her designs and a wealthy and well connected client had mentioned her to a magazine publisher at a party. Well this particular publisher, a man named John Black, also wanted to get into clothing design and was looking for fresh young talent. He'd set up a meeting with Chloe for that evening at the dress shop. Chloe always spent the evenings at home with Savannah but this was an excellent opportunity to get her and her baby the hell out of Boston and above the poverty level.

Once at her little apartment Chloe fed Savannah and put her down for a nap. Getting ready for this meeting Chloe put on the nicest clothes she owed, or made rather. A calve length, deep purple knit dress with a v-neck and long sleeves that went past her wrists, hiding half her hands. She added no jewelry or make-up to her outfit. Not out of style but because she couldn't afford any. Her hair was tied up as it usually was in a loose bun. Satisfied with her appearance Chloe began packing a bag for the baby-sitter: a lovely old widow across the hall Mrs. Reading.

"Diapers, extra clothes, jammies, baby wipes, Mr. Boo… Mr. Boo where are you hiding?" Chloe muttered while packing. "Damn bear, where are you?" She found him under the sofa just as someone knocked on the door. Chloe suddenly got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew who was at the door. It was the building manager Bill. She always knew who was calling or ringing her doorbell. It was weird but the way she was. "I don't want to answer that."

"Ms. Lane?" Bill called through the door.

"Coming," she pulled open the door. "Yes can I help you?"

"Well I just came to tell you that this afternoon Mrs. Reading had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital where she passed away."

"Oh dear," was all Chloe could think to say. Sad that the woman had died but worried that she no longer had a baby-sitter Chloe began to make a mental list of everything she needed to bring Savannah with her. "Thank you for telling me Bill."

"Of course Ms. Lane. Is everything alright?" Bill always asked if everything was alright when he saw her.

"Everything's fine. I have a meeting in an hour though and need to get ready. If you'll excuse me."

"Yes, of course. Goodnight Ms. Lane."

"Night Bill."

Chloe and the owner/manager of Taylor's, the dress shop where she worked, waited for Mr. Black to arrive after setting up some designs on display.

"So are ya nervous Chloe?"

"Surprisingly no. I should be though, shouldn't I?"

"It's a big thing this. And John Black is a pretty important man. Somehow though I'm not surprised. You've been through a lot in the past few years. Ya got a lot of dignity, probably because you're already a mother. Your pretty damn confidant for a girl your age," Taylor eyed her up and down as if looking for a secret.

"No Taylor, not confidence. Just a well honed attitude of I-don't-give-a-shit. Or don't have the time to. Or can afford it."

"That's practical, ya know? Ya got a little girl to raise, all by yourself. Can't bother with nervousness or worrying what people'll think. Stay like that. It's healthy." Chloe laughed promising to heed Taylor's advice. The door chimes sounded then.

"Chime!" Savannah squealed looking up from her toys. A tall dark haired man in at least his early forties chuckled at the little girls exclamation as he walked in. With him were two people that looked too alike to not be related. Blond hair, blue eyes, similar complexion, both absolutely beautiful. The man was tall with an angular face, like a Roman or Greek statue. The girl was all smiles and kindness and Chloe would bet anything that she was at some point a cheer-leader.

"Hello I'm John Black. I'm looking for Chloe Lane?" the dark haired man said to Taylor when she approached him.

"Yep, she's right here." Taylor flashed an enormous smile to Chloe with a wink.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Black."

"And you. These are my consultants Belle and Brady." Chloe shook each persons hand as they were introduced, instantly liking all three. Though she realized something, the same way she knew who was at the door, something that they didn't mention. She could tell that John Black was the father of both his consultants. Lucky kids, she thought.

"Lily Haversham told me about you at a dinner party last Christmas, she was wearing one of you designs made especially for her. You're quite talented Ms. Lane. I'm hoping I can see some of your other work."

"Of course. Right now every dress you see on a mannequin is something that I designed." Chloe began to go into detail of each dress and then pouring through every sketch and design she had on paper. Mr. Black was an attentive listener and he and Belle asked quite a few questions. Brady was silent, not smiling but not really frowning either. He wandered about the shop examining each piece and looking critically at every sketch. Savannah, playing quietly in the corner, decided she wanted to be part of the meeting and so toddled over to the group.

"Mama?" She asked quietly reaching for Chloe's skirt.

"Hey there angel-face," Chloe swooped her daughter up. "What are you up to?"

"Cookie?" Savannah asked.

"Uh-uh too close to bed time. How bout ants-on-a-log?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Excuse me," Chloe left the Blacks and dug around in the diaper bag for the snacks. "Cheese or peanut butter?"

"Peanutter!" Savannah announced her snack choice. Getting out the raisins Chloe asked, "How many ants?"

"Lotsa ants."

"Here you go. Eat up." Chloe moved to put he down.

"No. Up," the tiny brunette said and cuddled into her mother. Deciding that she preferred holding her daughter Chloe rejoined the Blacks, who had reached a decision while watching Chloe and Savannah.

"Ms. Lane we'd like you to design our new clothing line," Mr. Black said with and enormous smile on his face.

"You're kidding?" Chloe couldn't believe it.

"No, I'm really not." He wasn't either Chloe knew. "However I'm hoping that you can work out of our main offices in Salem. Would relocating be a problem for your family?"

"No not at all. Its just Savannah and I and frankly I really want to get out of Boston."

"What about her father?" Well I'm pretty sure his name is Pete, she thought sarcastically. Chloe cursed silently knowing full well that she blushed a little.

"He isn't around," she replied hoping that would suffice.

"Sorry," Mr. Black apologized. "Out of curiosity, why did you bring her with you tonight?"

"My baby-sitter died at the last minute."

"What?" Belle asked stunned.

"The widow across the hall from us was going to take care of her tonight but she had a heart attack this afternoon."

"Wow. Um, sorry."

"She was 86. No family in town. Nice enough, but always looked at me like I was going to start stealing silverware."

"I really don't know what to say."

"Me either. So subject change? I'd need an advance to get Savannah and I to Salem. Maybe some help finding a decent apartment."

"Actually we'll pay for your move to Salem and set you up with a nice place to live immediately. We have an office daycare so Savannah will be nearby…" That was really all Chloe needed to hear, even though Mr. Black continued with details of her new job and he and Belle told her more about Salem. She half paid attention but mostly she was focussing on Savannah and making a mental list of everything she had to do in her last two weeks in Boston.

"So what did you think of Chloe Lane, Brady?" Belle asked as their plane took off. "You didn't much when we met her. In fact she probably thinks your mute, you were so quiet."

"Belle I think that her designs are the most original I've seen since we decided to start a clothing line. She seems smart, articulate, and very talented. Chloe will do an excellent job."

"Uh-huh."

"What? What's so amusing?"

"That completely professional assessment in a detached business tone. You like her. You got a little crush don't you?"

"No I really don't."

"Yeah right. I think you do."

"I don't"

"Do."

"Don't"

"Do"

"Don't"

"I can't believe I let you two work for me," John scolded his children. He agreed with Brady's assessment of Chloe, she would be a real asset to Basic Black. He was also quite impressed with her personally. She was Belle's age and yet she had a career and a daughter. Talking with her John forgot that she was so young. There was this aura of confidence about her that said she was a survivor and nothing anyone could do would change that or her. It reminded him of his dear Isabella. An inner strength and love that only mothers who give up their lives for their children posses. And given Chloe's age maybe she had.

John snapped himself out of his thoughts and watched his children bicker over whether or not Brady had a crush. Privately John thought that his son did. Every other designer they had met Brady immediately questioned everything and often attacked the designers work. But today, when Brady saw Chloe it was like he forgot how to talk. That amused John more than he would admit to his children.

"I thought she was really pretty. And so poised. Did you guys notice she wasn't wearing any make-up or jewelry? Course she didn't need it. Her own look was so simple, professional, elegant, and seemed perfect on her. And did you see how she moved? Like she was perfectly at home in her own body. Nothing was affected or assumed. She just flowed. Not a trace of nervousness on that girl. I don't think she was wearing any perfume but she smelled great. Maybe that was the baby," Belle rambled letting every impression she had at the meeting out. This was one of the reasons John and Brady had brought her. Belle had a tendency to observe everything about a person. "The baby was so adorable. And what a beautiful name: Savannah. She must be about one and a half? Maybe two? And all those little golden brown curls. She really looks like her mom. How old is Chloe anyway? 24? 25?"

"She's seventeen," John replied absently, focussing on the paper in front of him.

"SEVENTEEN!?! She's my age. Wow that is so amazing!" Belle bubbled excitedly. She had just finished high-school the week before, a whole year early. She'd decided to work for her dad part-time and go to college part-time. "It'll so-o-o nice to have someone at Basic Black my age."

"Well seeing as she's on her own and has a kid, I don't think that mentally and emotionally she's seventeen."

"Yeah I guess your right Brady but still… it'll be nice not to be the only youngest."

Chloe had been at Basic Black for two months designing and producing a spring/summer clothing line. It had to be everything from casual to formal wear. All sizes, all age groups, and both sexes. She was working with both Belle and Brady on the project and the three had become good friends.

Chloe was shocked when she and Savannah got to Salem. The "nice place to live" that John Black had set up for her was a fully furnished, three bedroom house, with an incredible back yard complete with swing-set and sand-box. Savannah was loving living there and the two managed to spend more time together. Nobody minded if Savannah spent half the day with Chloe in her office. The company was very family oriented. On her first day John told her that he had started the company as a legacy for his children.

By the end of her first week Brady had nicknamed Chloe Diva, he said because of her temperament. It was just after they'd had their umpteenth argument. Not that they cared, arguing with one another was fun for them, though Belle didn't particularly care for it.

"You know he likes you right?" Belle said to Chloe.

"What? Who? Huh?"

"Brady. He likes you."

"Yeah, he's a nice guy. I like him too," Chloe was very confused.

"No. I mean he really likes you. Like dating potential kind of likes you."

"Oh." Chloe paused. "I really don't know what to do with that."

"Well you can date him, or not date him. Do you like him?"

"I have no idea." Belle was now the very confused one. Chloe decided to elaborate. "I have a toddler. I had her when I was barely fifteen. Everything I do is for her. I'm on my own, you know? I was on government assistance for awhile but afterward all I did was work and take care of her. It's the way my life is. No friends, no dates, no time alone. Being attracted to someone… I turned that part of me off a long time ago. Besides I can't just date. I'm not going to bring an endless parade of half-anonymous men through my child's life. Savannah is the most important… ANYTHING in my life. If I were to get involved with someone I'd have to know how serious they are and if they can handle being part of a family. I can't just date someone. It's all or nothing."

"I didn't think dating could get so complicated."

"Before Savannah, neither did I."

"Did you love her dad?"

"Let me put it this way; his name may or may not be Pete."

"You didn't know him?"

"Not really. I barely remember what he looks like. God, I was really drunk that night."

"Why? I mean…"

"I know what you mean. Let's see, from the beginning? I was adopted. My real mother just gave me away right when I was born because it would be too much a bother to raise me or love me. My adoptive mother resented me because I took my father's attention away from her. They both died in a car accident when I was four. Bounced from foster home to foster home. Mostly they just ignored me, some hit me; one tried to rape me. Ironically he was too drunk to… you know. No one at school would ever play with me. The other kids called be a freak, or worse. Drugs, alcohol, just numbed the pain. Made me forget for awhile that nobody loved me. Savannah's father, I'm pretty sure was married, was at least 30, and he fucked little 14 year old me against a wall in an alley. Savannah changed everything. This little person was growing inside of me, depended on me. I loved her even before I knew she existed. My life; the sacrifices I've made, aren't out of obligation. I regret absolutely nothing about my life."

"Wow."

Unknown to Chloe and Belle, Brady heard their entire conversation from just outside the door. What he hadn't realized until then was just how deep his feelings for Chloe were. He wasn't sure before if he was willing to get involved with a single mother. Brady was well aware of what it would mean. That he would become part of their little family forever, not just until the relationship ran its course. If he seriously pursued Chloe, it had to be unselfishly. That he would have to court her and Savannah; be someone that they can depend on, trust, and fall in love with.

Brady had known the moment he set eyes on Chloe that she was his soul-mate, his other half. Now he was hopelessly in love with both her and her daughter and couldn't imagine his life without them. Right now Chloe doesn't need a lover, he told himself. She needs a friend. And he knew that he wasn't yet ready to devote his entire being to Chloe and Savannah. He hadn't matured into the man they needed in their lives, but he would.