Just Next Door

An OTH Jaley Short

By AlexB

-Three-

She wanted to know just who the Sam Hill Jake Jagielski thought he was. If she expected to just walk away after telling her that he loved her then holding her all night, the he was sadly mistaken. He had another thing coming.

"You'd better have a damn good reason for leaving me this morning, Jagielski."

He knew that he shouldn't have smiled, but Jake couldn't help it. Haley James was ready for war.

"I know that I told you that I liked coming after you, but don't make running away from me a habit."

"Yes ma'am."

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't you patronize me, Jake Jagielski." She told him. "I'd hate to have to punch you in the nose, but it may be the only way to make you see reason."

"I see it."

Haley didn't like the way that sounded. "Then what's changed?"

"Nothing." He told her. "Everything is exactly the same."

She frowned. "Then what's the problem?"

"I'm a seventeen year old father." Jake told her. "I go to school, I play basketball, and I take care of my child. I don't have much time for a personal life. I'm not complaining, but it's not fair to you."

"You just let me worry about what's fair to me." She said in an almost hurt tone of voice. "I love that little girl, and fully understand that you come as a package deal. I'm not some little empty headed twit who expects you to spend every waking moment under me. I have a life too. I want Jenny in it. And I want you in it. But not as my friend. As my guy." When he said nothing to that, she added, "Jake, there is no going back."

"I know."

"Then why-"

"I told myself all of that." Jake went on. "There is no going back, and I don't want to. I was determined that we were going to stay just friends. I told myself that I would rather have you in my life as my friend or not at all. But then I kissed you-"

"Damn right."

He blushed from the tips of his ears to his earlobes but went on. "I knew that you and I would never be the same again. I love you, Haley."

"I love you, too."

"That's all that matters."

She crooked a finger at him. "Prove it."

He hadn't meant to give a speech at the top of the steps, but he was glad, that in the end, he had. He never would have been able to say all that he needed to with her standing so close.

He met her at the bottom of the stairs, and Haley took over. He was seriously liking having the girl make the first move.

His girl.

After ending a kiss that went on not nearly long enough to suit either of them, Haley spoke against his lips. "I promised your daughter that her daddy would push her on the swings. My way of making it up to her for waking her up this morning..

Sounded like a plan. He nodded. "Go on and get things started. I'll meet you out there." Haley left him with a promise that she would come after him if he took too long. Jake made sure that he didn't.

When he found them, Haley and Jenny were sitting in the grass playing with the puppy that his dad had gotten Jenny for her almost birthday. When the looked up, they were both smiling.

He sat down next to them and watched. Then, before he could loose his nerve, Jake took the cross from around his neck and put it around Haley's pulling her hair carefully out of the chain when he was done.

"Wha?"

"I want you to have this." He murmured to her.

"But Jake."

"My dad said to give it to someone special."

She chuckled. "Guess he wasn't talking about your daughter."

He smiled. "No."

From the window in the kitchen, Isabelle Jagielski watched with a smile on her face, and tears in her eyes. With his arms around her waist, her husband Peter pressed a kiss into her hair.

"See," the woman smiled now smugly. "All they needed was a little push."