A/N: Finally, after maybe... 2 months, this story is finally getting off the ground. This is the third and probably final story featuring Cara Messer. I'm glad you all stopped by and please, relax and enjoy.

Synopsis: Cara Messer finds that secrets are hard to keep -- especially when she tries to keep it from Danny and everyone around her. When she reaches her limit, what happens in the end?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to CBS.

Rated: T for language

Pairings: D/L, maybe some FAng

So, many things have gone right in my life. Let me list them.

I have a great brother and sis – in – law

I have a chance on getting a scholarship to play soccer at Manhattan College

I only have 7 more months till college…

My dog is amazing

I also have the greatest friends someone can have.

There are also many things in my life that aren't going too well.

College apps. 'Nough said.

Money problems in the family.

Dad is up to something…

Stress…

I try, really hard to keep everything under control, but I sometimes wonder if I can keep it together. My dad… well… he might not have his job by the end of the month. Him and mom have been going at it for the past couple of weeks. Dad doesn't want mom to work, but knowing mom… her being stubborn and such (and Danny wonders were I get it from) she wants to get a job to help the family. My dad wants to be the provider so I've been hanging out with the buddies for a while so I don't have to deal the macho going on.

Gotta love it, huh?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cara closed her locker with a loud bang as she sighed and threw her messenger bag across her shoulder. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned around to see her best friend, Kristin, with a smirk on her face that Cara could tell might be trouble.

"You doing anything this weekend?" Kristin asked admiring her finger nails before looking back up at her friend.

"…Nothing. What are you thinking of?" Cara asked Kristin and she leaned against the lockers to keep herself away from the flow of the student population.

"I've got a bunch of friends who plan to have a party this weekend and you are coming with me so you don't go crazy because of the parentals." Kristin said.

Cara shrugged, "Maybe… whose going to be there?"

Kristin shrugged, "Couple of friends. College guys…"

Cara frowned and the smiled, "Yeah, why not."

"Good, good. Cause you know, I was going to send Elise after ya if you didn't." Kristin said.

"I know you would." Cara said as she pushed herself off the lockers and the friends walked down the hallway, weaving in and out of the underclass men. They entered their science class and quickly took their seats in the middle of the class. Both girls were talking when Elise (a New Zealander who moved to New York in her Junior year of High School) and Luke sat down in front of them and Luke leaned back and with a smile asked, "Messer, you gonna go to that party this weekend?"

Cara nodded, "Yeah, I was threatened with Elise."

Elise smiled and said, "Well, even if you still said no, I was going to go to your house and drag you to the party."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Cara mumbled and Elise gave a smile and sat up a little straighter in her seat.

The science teacher walked into the room and the class turned to pay attention to him, knowing that it was easier than fighting with him. Kristin wrote something on a piece of paper and pushed it in front of Cara.

Come to my house on tomorrow (that's a Friday, btw), after school. We'll make sure you're ready.

Cara looked over at her friend and smiled.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Cara…"

Cara smirked as she placed her phone between her shoulder and ear, "Bad timing?"

"You think?"

"Sorry."

"This better be good." Danny Messer mumbled as Cara heard some movement in the background.

"Yeah, it actually is. This is a phone call with a purpose." Cara said as she looked across the street and quickly ran hoping so she wouldn't get hit by a car.

"Alright. If this is a phone call of importance, you want to get to the important part?" Danny asked his little sister. Cara nodded and adjusted her jacket so it blocked her from the cold wind that was wiping off the coast.

"You mind if I spend Christmas with you guys this year?" Cara asked and she listened to the patting of her feet against the sidewalk as she waited for Danny to answer.

Danny sighed, "Why didn't you just call me tomorrow? When I wasn't busy?"

"You know mom. We have about two more weeks till Christmas and I know today will be the day that mom asks me about Christmas." Cara said.

"Why don't you spend Christmas with the parents?" Danny asked.

Cara sighed, "You haven't heard some of the arguments I've heard." Cara mumbled as she used her shoulder to open the fence door into her backyard and quickly headed to the back door.

"They're going through a hard time, Car."

"I know, I know. But I'm getting sick of going to sleep with mom and dad yelling over money." Cara asked as she opened the door and quickly closed it and tried to warm up in the kitchen.

"Cut them a break." Danny mumbled.

Cara shook her head, "Honestly, I just need to run away for a couple of weeks and then I'll be good."

"Please don't run away. Then I'll be the one to get in trouble." Danny mumbled and Cara pulled off her jacket with a sigh.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't do anything that would get you in trouble." Cara said as she slipped off her converse and slowly made her way to the stair case.

Danny chuckled and then said, "Can I go now? Lindsay and I are spending time together."

Cara smiled and looked down to see her 2 year old Chocolate lab standing by the front door, "Nice. Peppermint wants to know if you guys are at 1st or 2nd base."

"Cara."

"Alright, alright. I'm going. Love ya."

"Love you, too, munk." Danny said before he hung up.

Cara flipped her phone shut and shoved it in her pocket before clapping her hands, which cause Peppermint to scamper up the stairs and be waiting at Cara's bedroom door by the time Cara had hobbled up the stairs. Peppermint wagged her tail and practically sprinted into Cara's room. Cara shook her head and headed toward her room, but stopped when she heard a noise coming from her parent's bedroom. She stopped by the door and leaned closer, trying to hear what was going on inside the room. There was silence and then Cara heard the padding of feet on the floor, causing her to run to her room and close the door.

Licking her lips, she dropped her bag next to her desk and sat down on the old bean bag chair that sat in the corner of her room. Peppermint had settled herself at the foot of Cara's bed and was now watching her intently.

"What are those two doing home early?" she asked Peppermint who just rolled over on her back and tried to scratch it on the bed.

"And you wonder why I never ask you anything."