Summary: This is a one-shot (maybe more, not sure yet) of when Joe sees, how far Cammie and Zach are. He sees that it is no longer some crush, but it is something that he found with Rachel many years ago… love. He is afraid for his stepdaughter and doesn't want to see her heart broken. So he had to have the talk with Zach and warn him, of all the things that he can do if he so much as displaces a hair on her head. But will Zach stay? Or will Joe scare him off? First Fanfic, please read and review.

Joe POV

My Cammie is finally coming home. She was on a 2-month mission with Zachary in California. That is on the other side of the country, and I still don't completely trust Zachary with my Cammie. She has become more like a daughter to me over the years. It has just Cammie, Rachel, and me for a while now, but I get the feeling like very soon Zachary is going to come into the picture, and I am not sure if I am completely okay with that.

Rachel Pov

OH MY GOD. Cammie is finally coming home. WITH ZACH. They make a very cute couple, and every time I see him look at her, I know I can trust him with my daughter. He looks at her like he is willing to put his head to a gun if it means she can live.

I know Joe doesn't really approve of him though. Why? I cannot imagine, but he wants to see Cam happy, and Zach makes her happy. I think he is just afraid that if Cammie is with Zach, then one day she will forget about him. I have watched them over the past 2 years, and I think Joe was the final piece of the puzzle. He treated her like Mat did. They were up to mischief, but he was strict with her when he needed to be. They bonded so well, and nothing makes me happier than seeing the two people I love most get along like that.

Cammie POV

I am finally going home. I am so very excited to spend time with Mom and Joe. Ya, we are on first name basis now. He really did help me get over Dad though, he acted like Dad when I needed it, and acted like Dad's best friend when I needed that. I am thankful for that, but I will never admit it to his face.

I am taking Zach with me when I told Mom she was super excited. When I told Joe, his response was, and I quote, "Oh… that's nice…" I will have to talk to him about that later. Zach is already scared to death of him and that scares me. I really don't want Joe to scare him.

"What are you thinking about?" says Zach, who is sitting next to me. (A/N: They are in the taxi heading home, I wasn't sure where to put that in, sorry)

"Nothing," I lie.

"It's never nothing, Gallagher Girl," He says looking at me with those beautiful green eyes, "Tell me."

It is quiet for a while, then I finally turn to look at him and say, "Are you afraid of Joe?"

"We both know the answer to that Cams," he says, his face is bright red, "He scares the hell out of me."

"Why?" I ask, I really am curious, I mean, of all people to be scared of Joe.

"I don't know, ever since he found out we were dating, he just looks at me weird. It's almost as if he is ready to kill me and is just waiting for the right opportunity," he shudders.

I laugh, "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life!"

"It's true."

I lean over and kiss his cheek, "don't worry, I'll protect you, Blackthorne Boy."

"I know, that is what we do. We protect each other." then he leans over and closes the distance between us.

Zach POV

I really did not know what to make of it, when Cammie told me that I would be coming home with her. I was kind of excited to spend time with my Gallagher Girl, but I was also sort of scared because her parents would be there. I and Joe were kind of like brothers until he found out that we were actually dating. I don't know what he, though we were, probably some high school crush or something. But I was in love with her before I even actually knew her.

FLASHBACK: SOMETHING YEARS AGO

I was around 12 years old and was walking through the kitchen when I saw Joe leaning against the countertop, looking down at a picture frame.

I walk next to him being the curious boy I a, and as I get closer, I see that he is smiling down at the picture. Like, an actual smile. I look over his shoulder an I see a girl, she looks about my age and she is smiling with another woman who looks kind of like him. That is when I realize that he never talks about his family, was this his wife and daughter? Did he actually have children that he left so he could help me? I felt guilty, so I asked him, "who are they?"

His head snaps up, he didn't hear me coming. I am actually surprised. I caught Joe Solomon off guard. "No one," he says quickly and turning the frame over so that I can't see it.

"Don't lie to me Joe," I say.

He sighs, and says, "You remember Mathew Morgan?" I nod he died because of my mom, I will always feel responsible for his death, even though I have never met him, "This is his wife Rachel and his daughter… my goddaughter."

I look at him, "What is her name, the girl's?"

He has a sad smile on his face as he said, "Cameron, Cameron Ann Morgan."

I took a closer look at the photo, she was beautiful. She had eyes that couldn't seem to decide what colour they were and straight blonde hair. She held that kind of grace, that most people don't have naturally. The fact that I collected all of this from one photo was unbelievable. She also looked very vulnerable, and innocent, I felt the urge to protect her.

I must have said at least half of that out loud because Joe said, "watch it, that is my goddaughter, Zachy," I look at him and see the amusement in his eyes, little does he know that I am serious, she looks like she needs protection.

I must have said that out loud to, because Joe then said, "She can protect herself, she will be attending Gallagher next year."

"I know," I say, "But I want to be there if she ends up needing it. If she is Matthew Morgan's daughter, then she needs all the protection she can get."

"Is someone in looooooove?" He said in a sing-song voice

"Shut up!"

"Don't worry, it'll pass. It is just a crush," He says, still trying to stifle his laughter.

FLASHBACK OVER

Never could anyone be so wrong. My feelings did not pass, they only grew.

Now that beautiful girl was sitting next to me, on a cab ride to her house, deep in thought.

"What are you think about?" I ask.

"Nothing," she replies fast. Oh God, what did I do? She isn't having second thoughts, is she?

"It's never nothing, Gallagher Girl," I say, trying to keep my cool.

It is dead silent for what feels like forever, when she finally says, "Are you afraid of Joe?"

Well isn't this great? She knows exactly how scared I am, and can see the tension between me and Joe. I should expect nothing more, after all, she is MY Gallagher Girl. "We both know the answer to that, Cams," I can feel my face flushing, "He scares the hell out of me," I finally admit.

"Why?" she asks.

Because he feels protective over you. But of course, I don't say that. "I don't know, ever since he found out we were dating, he just looks at me weird. It's almost as if he is ready to kill me and is just waiting for the right opportunity," I shudder at the thought of Solomon putting a bullet through my head.

She bursts out laughing, "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life!" she says between fits of laughter.

"It's true," I say, trying to defend myself.

She leans over to me and kisses my cheek, "don't worry, I'll protect you, Blackthorne Boy."

"I know, that is what we do. We protect each other." I know that I will take a bullet for her and she will for me because that is how strong our love is.

Hey guys. I was just writing the first things that came into my head and this seemed a little too long for a one-shot, so I'm gonna aim for a two-shot, maybe three. But please, please, please, review. This is my very first fanfiction and I want to know how I did and if there is anything that I need to change. I am open to constructive criticism.

Thank you!