Bailey winced as Shelby touched her leg with a washcloth soaked with peroxide. There had been blood all over Bailey's right leg until Shelby had washed it all off. Band-Aids and antiseptic ointment covered the coffee table.

"Ouch!" Bailey cried. "Mommy, that hurts."

Shelby tried to rub the cloth gently on Bailey's leg.

"I know it hurts, baby." Shelby replied. "But we have to clean it so it won't get infected."

Bailey was lying on the couch, while Shelby was sitting at her daughter's feet, trying to be as gentle as possible.

"We're almost through." Shelby said, after rubbing Bailey's entire right leg down with peroxide. "All we have left is the Band-Aids."

Bailey hugged her coffee-colored teddy bear tightly.

As soon as Shelby started to put the Band-Aids on Bailey's leg, Scott walked through the front door.

"Daddy." Bailey said. She gave her most babyish look.

"Hey princess." Scott said. He noticed Bailey's swollen leg, now being covered with Band-Aids. "What happened?"

"Another failed bike ride." Shelby told her husband.

Scott sighed, taking a seat in the recliner.

"I thought we had it down pat the other day." Scott said.

"Well, the training wheels have got to stay on until she's ready." Shelby said. She leaned over top of Bailey. "I'll go get you an ice pack."

Shelby kissed the top of Bailey's head, and then headed towards the kitchen. Scott followed her.

"You can't wait on her every hand and foot." Scott told Shelby, as he watched his wife dig through the freezer to find the coldest ice pack for their daughter's leg.

Shelby turned to Scott after she found the perfect ice pack.

"She's seven, Scott." Shelby explained. "She's a child, not a teenager."

Scott loosened his tie.

"We've been trying to teach her how to ride a bike for months now." Scott said. "You'd think she'd get it by now."

"Don't start this now." Shelby said, setting the ice pack down on the counter then crossing her arms.

"Start what, Shel?" Scott asked. "Start talking about the fact that our seven year-old daughter may be handicapped."

"Don't you dare say that!" Shelby commanded. "Don't say that about Bailey. She's perfectly fine."

"Then why can't she ride a bike like a normal kid?" Scott asked, leaning up against a counter.

Shelby covered her mouth with her hand, and then uncovered it.

"You know who you're reminding me of right now?" Shelby asked. "Do you even want me to tell you?"

Scott shrugged.

"Your father." Shelby yelled. "You're reminding me of your father, Scott. He used to treat you the same way you treat Bailey. Why, why do you do this? Once upon a time you used to love Bailey."

"I still love Bailey." Scott put in. "But I'm not acting like my father."

"What do you think you're doing now?" Shelby asked, walking over to him. "We both said we'd never act like our parents. And we never have until now. Until this very moment."

Scott looked down at the tiled floor, then back at Shelby.

"I am acting like him, aren't I." Scott said, sighing.

Shelby placed her hands on Scott's chest.

"I worry about Bailey all the time, but just because she can't ride a bike perfectly doesn't mean she's handicapped." Shelby explained.

"But that's what all the specialists we've went to have said. "Scott said.

"I don't give a damn what the specialists say." Shelby argued. "Bailey's just fine. She makes good grades, she has good friends, and she never gets into trouble. That's what I call our seven year-old daughter."

Scott smiled.

"I should never talk to my dad on my way home from work." Scott laughed.

"Why?" Shelby asked. "Because he gives you bad thoughts?"

"That, and plus he keeps me out of bed with you." Scott admitted.

Shelby looked confused

"Every time I talk to him, you and I get into an argument and I end up sleeping on the couch." Scott explained.

Shelby laughed.

"Well, as long as we put all the pictures of him down you'll be sleeping just fine with me." Shelby whispered, coming closer to his face.

Scott put his hands on both sides of Shelby's face, and brought it her up to him.

"Why do you have to make me want you so bad?" Scott asked, laughing.

"I don't know." Shelby said. "Maybe it's because I want you."

Shelby gripped the belt loops of Scott's jeans, and pulled his body up against her's. They both began to kiss each other passionately, then they remembered…Bailey.

Authors Note: Do you want what I want? If you do, I need three reviews before the next chapter.

Love,

Amber 