A/N: Hey guys… look a new story. I'm on a roll. So for this one I decided to go WAYYY back to Season 8. I normally write from later seasons generally starting around Season 10 and up, but decided to go back a little more. Hope you guys enjoy. Remember for more story insight check out my facebook page Facebook/ TheMoonyAngel7.

Also guys don't forget to review!

The Trouble With Love

Chapter One

At this point I'd lost count of how many times I'd checked the time on my cell phone. My flight had landed two hours ago and I was still standing around the airport waiting for my cousin to pick me up. I would have found my own way if I'd known where I was going and at this point I was considering a hotel room. Today was the first day of an adventure and it was starting off in a really crappy way. I'd landed in Las Vegas ready to go and here I was still at the airport. I spent most of life in a small town in California. I was ready to break out of there and find my own way. I'd found a decent job and that job meant moving to Vegas, which was fine with me because I could then reconnect with my older cousin whom I hadn't seen in years. When I was offered the job I was so excited that I had family here because then I wouldn't be so alone, but now that I was here I was staring to regret my decision to lean on my family.

"Hey Cuz!" I heard a male voice call. I then turned to see my cousin. He was obviously much older than when I last saw him, but he also looked worn down and very tired.

"Hey you're here…FINALLY." I said as he approached me. My cousin pulled me into a big hug.

"Cammie I'm so sorry I'm late. Things have been crazy with work and life. I'm sorry, but look at you all grown up. I haven't seen you since…" He said.

"I know since I was 12 with braces. Please don't remind me Warrick." I said with a laugh. "It's cool just been waiting for 2 hours." I then added playfully as he took the handle of my suitcase.

"I'm going to make it up to you I promise." Warrick then said as we started walking.

"You better." I said at once.

"How's Auntie Glenda?" he asked me.

"Auntie Glenda is Auntie Glenda. She was begging me to not go. I feel bad, but I've got to spread my wings and do my own thing. I wasn't going to be stuck in the same place forever." I said.

"Yeah like me." He said with a chuckle.

"No not like you. Yeah you've been here your whole life, but at least you've got yourself a cool job and a wife. You've done well for yourself." I said giving him a smile. He looked at me. I could tell something was off, but I wasn't going to push it. I just followed him into the parking garage.

I chatted with my cousin as we rode through the streets of Vegas. The last time I came here I was 12 when my grandmother wanted to visit her sister and attend some church conference. I was dragged along with her. At least I had my older cousin to show me around a little bit and sneak me out when my grandmother wasn't looking. That had been a great trip and a million years ago. I was now going to live here and that was exciting to me. We pulled into a street and stopped in front of a blue house with a wooden fence.

"Is this your place?" I asked him. "It looks nice."

"No it's the place of a buddy of mine. You are actually going to be staying with him." Warrick then said.

"Wait I'm staying with your friend?" I questioned. I assumed while I waited for my new place to be ready I would be staying with my cousin not some random guy I didn't know.

"Yeah things have been crazy like I said. Tina and I are actually getting a divorce and I've moved out. I really don't have space for you at my new place and I'm barely unpacked. My friend Nick who I also work with is cool and after a big of begging he agreed to let you sleep in his spare room." Warrick explained. I was shocked about his divorce. Obviously he hadn't really told the family yet because they would all be talking about it and my grandma would be the first to know.

"I'm sorry." I then said looking at him with sympathy.

"It's cool." He then said. "You know what they say, The trouble with love is…"

"There is always the chance of falling out of it." I then said finishing his sentence.

"I see Auntie Glenda drilled that one into you too." He said with a chuckle.

"You know women in our family. They've been scorned and don't let anyone forget it." Then said thinking of my grandmother who would tell anyone who would listen about how all her ex-husbands did her.

"Don't I know it. My grandma would talk about her heartbreak all the time and that quote was always on her lips. Now Nick gave me a key for you. He isn't home now, but I'm supposed to take you in and show you the room." He then said. I gave a shrug. I didn't know about staying with someone I didn't know, but I figured if my cousin trusted him then he shouldn't be some sort of criminal or anything. Plus if my cousin worked with him he obviously was most likely also a cop.

We walked into the house. It was cute and clean. It wasn't as bachelor looking as I expecting. I followed Warrick down the hall to a small bedroom with a futon bed all made up. Warrick sat my suitcase down next to the futon. I checked out the small room that seemed to more be used as storage than anything else. I guess this was going to be my home for the next few weeks until my condo was ready for me. Warrick then turned to me.

"Well Cuz I need you get back to work, but here you go. He said the fridge is stocked and you are welcome to anything. The bathroom is the door right next door and here is your key." He handed me the key. I simply held it in my hand.

"Alright thanks. Guess I will see you around." I said to my cousin.

"Yeah for sure. Going to take you out for dinner at some point next week." he said. I gave him a nod and then watched him leave the room. I heard the front door open and close. I was now alone in the house.

I didn't know how I felt about being in the house of someone I didn't know. I slowly walked out of the room and walked down the hall into the kitchen. I opened a few cabinets until I found the glasses. I took a glass and got some water from the sink before returning to my room. I sipped my water and lied on the bed. I didn't know what else to do. I pulled a book from my purse that I'd been reading on the plane. I found where I'd left off and started to read until I slowly drifted to sleep.

Waking up my mouth was instantly dry. I reached for the glass I'd used earlier, but it was empty. I realized it was now dark outside. I stood up and creped into the dark hall and into the kitchen. I got myself more water. I sipped a bit before I started back towards the bedroom when I heard a voice.

"Hi." Was all the voice said. I jumped and dropped the glass of water to the floor. I let out a scream. The light in the hall instantly went on and standing in front of me was a very attractive guy. He was wearing a pair of grey pajama pants, but no shirt. My breath then caught in my chest as I looked at him. "I'm so sorry. I should have turned the light on first. I didn't mean to scare you." The then said as he picked up the glass from the carpet.

"You… you must be Nick." I then said my eyes darting into his. I noted his southern accent; I liked it. I tried my best to keep my eyes on his and not let them travel down to his toned chest and arms.

"Yeah and you are Cammie right?" he asked.

"Yeah Cammie. Umm… thanks for letting me stay here. I didn't know I wasn't staying with Warrick. I would have gotten a hotel room or something." I then said. I wanted to laugh at how I'd forgotten my own name for a moment.

"No it's fine. Stay as long as you need. Warrick says you have a place, but it is getting remodeled?" he then questioned.

"Yeah I've got a condo, but it was in the middle of being remodeled, they are trying to speed up the work so it should be ready in about 3 weeks." I then said.

"That's cool. Yeah… Like I said… stay as long as you need." He said giving me a smile. I couldn't help, but smile back. My heart was beating quick and hard this entire time. This was really not the guy I was expecting, but I couldn't complain. "Well I'm going to get back to bed. My room is down there if you need anything." He said as he pointed up the hall.

"Thanks so much. Umm… see you." I then said.

"Yeah you too. Goodnight." He then said. I watched him turned up the hall and enter his own bedroom. I was simply in shock. He was the finest man I'd seen in a long time. I then shook my head to myself. I was silly thinking any of the thoughts I was having about him, he was obviously a good friend of my cousin and most likely had a girlfriend looking the way he did. I let out a sigh and found my way back into my room.

The morning seemed to seem quickly and I was amazed and how good I slept on a futon. I stood from the bed realizing I was still in my clothes from the day before. I pulled out something to wear from my suitcase and stepped out of the room. I could smell delicious smells coming from the kitchen. I walked up the hall towards the kitchen where I found Nick still shirtless standing over the stove. I watched him for a moment before he turned in my direction. He gave me a kind smile.

"I…I…I was going to take a shower and I realized I don't know where you keep your towels." I then said to him. I cursed myself for stuttering like some love-struck preteen.

"Yeah let me show you." He then said. I followed him up the hall. Across from my room there was a door and he opened it. It was a closet filled with bed sheets and towels. "Those are all the towels. Just throw your used ones in the hamper. All the sheets under the towels fit the bed in your room."

"Thanks." I said giving him a sweet smile as I grabbed a towel for myself

"I'm making some breakfast. It will be done soon. You can join me when you're done." He then said. I gave him a nod and a smile. I then watched him walk back down the hall towards the kitchen.

Upon finishing my shower I changed into what I would wear for the day. I knew today I had to go pick up my new car that I'd bought as soon as I got my new job. I'd been working in Real Estate for a couple years now and had gotten pretty good at what I did. When I was offered the job at a top firm in Vegas I jumped at the chance. I was going to make it out of where I was and I was going to get the chance to advance.

Walking down the hall I found Nick sitting at the dining room table eating breakfast. He gave me a smile as I walked in the room. Since it was daylight I was able to see a lot more of his place than I'd seen when I first arrived. I sat down across from him where a plate sat in front of me with pancakes, sausage, and eggs.

"Do you want my sausage?" I then asked him.

"Umm sure. Is there a problem with them?" he then asked.

"I'm kind of a vegetarian." I said with a shrug. "Sorry."

"No it's fine. I'll take them. More piggy for me." He said with a grin as he took his fork and took the sausages from my plate. "You will have to meet my friend Sara. She is also a vegetarian and will show you all the good vegetarian places in town."

"Cool." I then said. I was excited at the aspect of meeting you people and finding where all the good vegetarian food was. I poured maple syrup over my pancakes and quickly took a bite of them. "Delicious."

"Thank you." He then said. I gave him a smile. I liked his personality and it didn't hurt that he was smoking hot. Living here wasn't going to be difficult at all.

"So…" I started. "After getting a better look at your place and hearing you talk I am pretty certain you are from Texas."

"Ding Ding Ding… you are right." He said. I laughed. His eyes then met mine. I felt a warmth come over my body. I liked his eyes. "Umm…Warrick says you are from California…where?"

"I grew up in a small town about an hour from San Francisco. Living with my grandma." I said before taking another bite of pancake.

"So Warrick and you both grew up living with your grandmas?" he then questioned.

"Yep our grandmas were sisters. Mine is still living. She did not want me to leave, but I had to. Needed to find myself somewhere else." I explained.

"I know the feeling." He said.

I then looked down at my cell phone and saw the time. I let out a gasp and quickly stood from the table. Nick looked at me confused. "Sorry I have an appointment to pick up my car at the dealership. I should really call a taxi to get here."

"No let me drive you. Save you a few bucks." He then said as he also stood from the table.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Very sure. Let me get some clothes on and then I'll take you. No problem." He then said. I just nodded and smiled before he went up the hall towards his bedroom. He was a sweetheart on top of all of it. I'm sure there had to be a girlfriend in the picture somewhere because he was for sure a keeper.

Nick took drove me to the dealership to get my car. I was so excited to finally have a new car. I'd been saving for a while and when getting this job I knew I would be able to afford something a lot nicer than I'd been driving back home. I pulled up to Nick's house in my brand new BMW. His truck was in the driveway. I gave myself a check in the mirror before I got out of my car. I walked to the door and used my key to get inside. The living room was empty when I walked in.

"Cammie?" I heard my name called up from his bedroom.

"Yeah just me." I said. I saw him walk from his bedroom up the hall. He was wearing jeans and a tight grey shirt. My breath was caught in my chest. He gave me a smile.

"So you get your car alright?" he asked.

"Yep I've got it." I then said smiling. He walked to the window and looked outside.

"That BMW is yours?" he asked me.

"Yep all mine." I said happily as I dangled the key ring in my hand.

"Nice." He noted.

"Yeah I love it!" I said happily looking out the window at my new car.

"So are you hungry?" the then asked me.

"Starving." I answered.

"Great. I called up my friend Sara and I told her I had a new friend who was new to Vegas and a Vegetarian. I asked her where was the best place to take this friend with great vegetarian food, but also had food I could eat and she gave me a place. Want to grab some lunch?" he asked me. I couldn't believe he was offering to take me to lunch. I now was sure that he was kind of asking me on a date in a way. There was this something in his eye that said that this was more than two temporary roommates having lunch.

"That sounds awesome." I answered.

"You can drive then. You can learn your way around a bit and I get to ride in your hot new car." He then said. I simply laughed. God I hope there was no girlfriend in the picture.

We sat at a quaint little restaurant having lunch. I already like this place. Their vegetarian menu was amazing and I knew I would be coming back here often. I looked over to Nick who was finishing up his food. He of course being a meat eater from Texas ordered the biggest steak possible. Luckily for me being vegetarian didn't have anything to do with the animals or I wouldn't be able to sit here and watch him demolish the large piece of me that he was on the verge of finishing.

"You'd love this steak." He then said giving me a wink. I laughed and rolled my eyes in a joking manner.

"I'm sure your girlfriend is impressed with your ability to eat a large chunk of meat." I then said to him.

"If only I had a girlfriend." He said. My insides were jumping with joy. He didn't have a girlfriend. I didn't know what to think. Maybe he was gay and had a boyfriend. There was no way a guy this sweet and insanely attractive didn't have a girlfriend. I watched him take a sip of his water.

"Alright boyfriend then." I said. He instantly spit out his water. I ducked as water came flying at me across the table. He was coughing. He then looked at me. It took him a moment to regain his composure.

"Yeah…no boyfriend either…" he then said. "I'm into girls by the way." He then added. I simply gave him a smile. I was hoping I could be a girl he was into though I didn't think my cousin would be too happy with me hooking up with his friend.

"Good to know." I simply added with a smirk.

Returning to his place he opened the door for me and allowed me inside before him. I walked into my room and put down my purse. He'd shown me a little bit more of town after lunch and we seemed to have a good time together. He was sweet and I liked that about him. I liked how he made me laugh. I knew it was wrong to want him in the way I did, but I couldn't help it. Leaving my room I walked to see him in the living room standing in front of the TV turning the channels with the remote. He then stopped on ESPN.

"Of course you would." I then said. He turned to see me standing at the entrance of the living room.

"What can I say. I love my football." He then said.

"Obviously." I added with a chuckle as I walked into the living room fully. I was then standing quite close to him.

He turned to me and looked at me up and down. I felt my cheeks becoming warm as he just stood there and looked at me. He came a bit closer to where I could feel his breath on my face. I then felt his hand on my hip. I inhaled slightly. I shivered at his touch. I couldn't help, but like the way he touched me. He then pulled me slightly closer to him. I gave him a smile as his other hand touched my cheek. I knew what he wanted to do and I wanted him to hurry and do it. I'd wanted this since I'd first met him. He slowly brought his face towards mine. I was breathing hard and then his lips touched mine. My arms flew around his neck and I without any hesitation deepened the kiss. I parted my lips to allow in his tongue. He was holding me tighter as we stood there embraced in the best kiss I'd ever had. My mind was blown just from the kiss, I could only imagine what sex would be like with him. I instantly then wanted much more than this kiss. Suddenly a cell phone started to ring. The sound was coming from his pocket. He broke away. We were both out of breath. He took the cell phone from his pocket.

"Stokes…Yeah… alright… I'll head there now." He then looked at me as he hung up the phone. I was still panting out of breath. "Work… I've got to go, but I'll see you later." He said.

"Yeah…later." Was all I could manage. I watched him go into his room for a moment and come back out. He held his keys in his hand. I gave him a weak smile as he then walked to the front closet and grabbed a backpack. He gave me a smile and a wave before he disappeared from the front door. I just stood there. I couldn't believe that that had actually happened. Things just got a little complicated, but I liked complicated.