~ Home is where you hang your Headphones ~

pt. 2

-11:38 p.m. Nevada Time-

Paul walks back and forth on his cell phone in front of the huge mantel in the den, listening before talking again.

"…I mean, of course. I don't have a choice Bigg' but I just got home…"

Listening and then responding…

"Come on. I completely understand what the Job calls for. How long have I been deejayin' now? It's just, I also got a gig as a Dad now. I didn't think I'd actually want to spend most of my time at home in my life…but now that she's here…"

He finishes his thought.

"I don't wanna mess this up. The Court order is thrown out now but they're still lookin to see if I'm fit to take care of her. Every other month they are sending a Social Worker out to interview us up until the point she turns two, when the order is supposed to be reevaluated."

He continues.

"It's like probation and gettin let off on good behavior. We're gettin along now so they granted it. If we fuck up…"

After pacing and listening some more, a voice sounds in the room.

"Pauly, it's almost midnight. I went on and put 'Leena to bed…"

Pauly holds his finger up and finishes off his conversation briefly before hanging up.

Attention on Deena now, "Oh man…You said you put her to bed?"

Deena closes her robe and crosses her arms across her stomach.

"Yes. She's been up, had me up in fact, since about seven this morning. (Shaking her head) She couldn't wait for you."

Pauly looks crestfallen. He had wanted to be the one to put her to bed. Deena chuckles a little on the inside. Never would she have pegged this to be the same fist- pumping, grease-head that she crushed on so many summers ago when first arriving at the Shore House. Surprisingly, not much has changed in their relationship since being here. They are no longer at each others throats, like last summer but they are not exactly on top of each other like many would think.

Their feelings are there for each other but they conservatively co-exist in their own space now. They just try not to bring up the past; goodness knows Deena did enough of that in Therapy. That works to keep the harmony flowing throughout.

Pauly, "You goin to bed now?"

Deena shakes her head, "Pretty much. I've had it myself."

He sighs. "Alright. Well I've got one more call to make. You sure you don't wanna hang out for a minute on the couch til' I'm done?"

Deena scoffs a little. Pauly acts like it's a house party sometimes…most of the time. She just has to remind herself that they are both learning to settle into home-life.

Deena, "I'm sure. Goodnight."

Pauly nods and watches her walk away after saying his goodnight. Soon, his phone plays before he can even dial a number. He picks up and makes his way to the couch talk.

-The Next Day-

Deena rests peacefully on her side, when she feels tugging on her sheets. She halfway wakes up and wipes her eyes, looking at the time.

"'Leena…? Oh gosh, did I oversleep?! I'm so sorry honey…"

The little girl stands there in her zebra PJ's, with her stuffed Zebra toy and looks at her Mommy.

Pointing to the nightstand, "Look!"

Deena looks over and sees a bouquet of flowers. Then, it all comes back to her when she hears another voice coming in.

"It's a good time of day for breakfast in bed!"

Pauly is walking in balancing a tray full of various breakfast items. He sets it on the other nightstand and then sits on the opposite side of Deena. Pauleena then goes running to the other side where Pauly is.

Pauly looks at Deena as she replies.

"What are you up to? How come you didn't wake me up or something?"

Pauly looks confused, "Why?"

Pauleena bounces by her Dad, trying to climb his leg. She then responds.

"Appa Sauce!"

Deena looks at her then him, "That's why. Has she eaten yet?"

Pauly is being just about trampled.

Thinking nothing of it, "No. We're gonna eat now."

Pauleena is being ruthless now.

"Dadda, up!"

Pauly laughs a little and picks his baby girl up and play slams her in the bed between them. She laughs immediately. Deena just shakes her head, it's like she just turns into a miniature Pauly when he's around.

Deena sits up and helps Pauleena situate herself so she can help her eat. Soon food is distributed and everyone is enjoying.

Deena, "So, you cooked?"

Pauly, "Hell no. I ordered out and then plated."

Deena, "Alright, so flowers…what's up with that?"

Pauly rolls his eyes in between bites, "You're askin a lot of questions for just wakin up."

He continues.

"I don't know. I thought you might be mad at me or somethin."

Deena, "Have you given me a reason to be?"

Pauly, "I don't think so but you neva know with the hormones and everything."

Deena looks at him sideways.

"What am I? Pregnant?"

Pauly, "I hope not. We haven't done anything."

Deena gets a look on her face that Pauly pays no attention to. He is into his food at the moment. She chooses to move past it and she responds.

"You goin to the gym? Now that you're here, maybe I can get a work out in myself."

Pauly, "Not 'til lata. I got sh…(Noting the look Deena is giving him now) I mean, I got stuff to take care of first."

Deena, "When are you goin back on the road?"

Pauly takes a breath and responds.

"That's the thing. I'm heading out to Cali on the fourth."

Deena, "Of next month?"

Pauly, "Yep."

Deena responds, "That's right after next week? I thought you were takin some time off?"

Pauly, "There is no time off, not with the change since January."

Deena, "Yeah but you're with Haze Night Club now. Why are you still touring? I thought this deal meant more money for you so you can be home?"

Pauly finishes his next bite and responds.

"I signed to do Haze once a month. I'm pullin in a bigger crowd but it's still just one spot, one time. I still got my side gigs that I can't just turn down. That's been my project since day one. The guys need to be paid too."

Deena, "Okay but your Daddy debt needs to be paid now. When are you gonna be there for your daughter?"

Pauly really does not want to get into this in front of Pauleena. He knew it would come to this, which is why he figured he would do something nice for Deena.

"Listen, I don't want to get into anything with you about this. Things have been good. I took Haze with both you and 'Leena in mind but I'm not gonna give up what I've already started. The crew and what we're doin, is gonna be here long after I stop spinnin' at clubs."

Deena continues to eat in silence.

Pauly, "Can you just trust me that everything is gonna be alright in the end…that I will not miss a single beat in 'Leena's life?"

Deena shakes her head, unconvinced.

Pauly, " 'Dee…You're here now so we can heal things. As soon as I'm done traveling, I'm here, you got me."

Deena sighs and agrees. She is not sure what she has to be exact but she knows she is doing this so Pauleena can have a chance at a decent life.

A/N: Greetings! With a *Monday Moment* to breathe, I am posting! Starting to set the stage now to a window of where things are in the relationship. Of course, everything is always subject to change. Not much to say except to keep following and reviewing, and I in turn will make more of an effort to update more frequently (patience).