A/N: Hey all! Sorry, but this one's a little short:( I might have fractured my wrist, so I couldn't make it as long ad I would have liked. I'm having an x-ray tonight, so once all this is sorted, another, extra-long and extra-shippy will be posted:) I promise:)

I sat frozen in the car, my breathing heavy, my body shaking. I stopped the ignition, deciding it was time to go inside. I knocked on the front door, staring at my feet nervously. The door opened, and I felt a tiny body collide with mine. I looked down and saw a mess of blonde hair, and I smiled.

'Hey you...' I whispered into Kylie's hair, kissing it softly. 'I missed you, kiddo...' I felt the tears stinging. Moments like this are precious to me, and I'll be damned to let them pass by. I stood up, her arms still wrapped tightly around my waist. 'Bags all ready?' She nodded softly, dragging me into the kitchen.

'Mom's here... I'm going... bye...' Her grandparents both looked at me, and I gave a weak smile.

'I'll bring her back in one piece, I promise...' They looked away, and I sighed. I picked up Kylie's bags, and led her out the door. Apparently it's my fault that Joe went out the night he was killed. We had fought about me taking maternity leave. Again. I never forgave myself for that, and having those two take my baby away? I hated it. I know, it's safer for her with them... but I'm entitled to raise her, aren't I? I started the ignition, and turned to Kylie, who actually looked happy.

'Mom...' She started, as I drove down the road towards the city. 'Can... can this be permanent?' I glanced at her.

'Can what be permanent, kiddo?' I had an idea of what she would ask, and it broke my heart every time she did.

'Me... living with you...' I saw her look down, her bright blue eyes filled with tears. 'You're going to say no... You always say no...' I pulled over, and gripped onto her.

'Kylie... I promise we'll talk about it, okay?' Why the hell did I say that?! She looked up at me, her eyes filling with hope. 'I promise... We'll sit down and talk about it...' I kissed her forehead, and started to drive again. 'First though, I want you to meet someone...'

'Who...' She whispered, still angry that I hadn't said yes, and she knew that there was a huge chance that I wouldn't say yes.

'His name is Bobby...' She looked over at me, and mouthed 'He?'. I nodded gently. 'He's my partner at work... well... he's more than my partner now. He's... he lives with me...' She looked out the window, and I sighed. 'I'm preparing you here, sweetie... At first he seems a bit scary, but he's not.' She looked over at me, and then out the window again. We were home, and Bobby's car was in the driveway. Damn. 'You'll love him, I promise...' I smiled, and brushed her hair behind her ear. Picking up her bags, I unlocked the front door. Dropping her bags in her bedroom, I walked into the office and nearly died. Paperwork... everywhere... I groaned, picking up the mess Bobby had left in his wake. He was sitting at the desk, his head in his hands. He was thinking, but he knew I was here. He knows everything...

'Hey, Al...' He whispered, as I placed the papers on the desk next to him. I took his hands in mine, kissing them softly. He looked up, and he looked frustrated.

'I know I said 'make yourself at home', but I really didn't think you'd go this far.' I smirked, and he gave me a weak half-smile. I picked up the file he had in front of him, and he almost knocked me out trying to get it off me. I caught a glimpse of the file... No...

'Let me explain!' I stared at him. 'Please... Al, please let me explain...' He whispered, touching my arm softly. 'I need to do this for you...' I sighed, willing myself not to look at the file.

'Why, Bobby?' I said quietly, feeling betrayed. His eyes were focused on the floor, and I sighed again. I know he means well, but sometimes I really want to kill him. Not quickly, either... 'This is my life, we're talking about... not one of your little games!' He started wringing his hands, as if he couldn't think of what to say.

'You want Kylie back... I was... just trying to help.' He whispered, glancing up at me. 'I.. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even thought about it...' I wrapped my arms around him, kissing his forehead softly.

'I know, Bobby... and I appreciate the thought...' His arms wrapped protectively around me, and I stood up, leading him into the lounge room. 'I want you to meet someone...' His arms wrapped tighter around my waist, and I looked up at him. 'Scared, Goren?' I smiled softly, and he nodded gently, his hands gripping onto mine.

'If she's anything like you, I've got every reason in the world to be scared...' I smiled again, wriggling free of his grasp. 'Wha... where are you going?' I kissed his cheek, and took his hand in mine.

'Come on then...' I knocked on Kylie's door, before opening it slowly. 'Kylie?' She glanced up from her suitcase, and froze in place. 'Kylie... this is Bobby...' Her blue eyes scanned him, and they darkened slightly. 'Bobby... this is my Kylie...' He smiled softly, his arms closing around my waist tighter than before. I sighed sadly, praying silently that they could get along. They continued staring at each other, and I sighed again, tears stinging softly at my eyes. 'Bobby... could I talk to Kylie alone for a minute?' I felt him nod, his lips pressing softly into my hair. He shut the door behind him, and I let the tears fall. 'Kylie... I want you to try and get along with him... please...' She looked at me, then looked back to her suitcase. 'Hey... what's with the attitude?'

'Because I come to stay with you and find out you have a boyfriend!' She looked up, her eyes filled with tears. 'Do you know how that feels? Were you ever going to tell me?!' I sat in front of her, taking her hands in mine. I brushed her tears away softly, and pulled her into my lap, kissing her hair gently.

'I was going to tell you, sweetheart...' She looked up, her eyes red from the tears. 'I swear... I was just waiting for the right time... And now seemed like the perfect time...' She sniffed softly, and nodded. 'How about we finish unpacking...' We stood up, and I helped her unpack her things. As I was, I noticed how much she had packed, even for a fortnight. 'Kylie... how long were you planning on staying?' She looked at me, her eyes filling with tears again.

'Please don't get mad...' I sighed softly. 'I thought if I packed all my things I could stay forever...' I pulled her into my arms, tears running down my cheeks.

'I want you to stay forever, angel... But we really need to talk about this first okay?' She nodded, and I opened the door slowly. I felt her hand tighten around my arm, and I smiled. 'Don't be scared...' She smiled bravely, and followed me back into the office. Bobby was back at the desk, still staring at the file. I rested a hand on his back, kissing his hair softly. 'We're back...' I mumbled, smiling as he turned around to face me.

'Everything okay?' He whispered, placing his hands on my hips gently. I nodded, smiling wider. 'Why are you smiling...' I kisses his cheek, taking his hands in mine. I silently prayed to whoever was listening that what I said next was true.

'Kylie's coming to live with us...'

A/N: Reviews make my wrist heal:):) (not really but still...) :):)