*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much!*

Rachel and I are driving through my parents' neighborhood hoping to find her. "I don't see her," I say with panic as I drive down every street that I can think of. She's 7 I don't know how far she can get in that little time.

"Calm down, Roman," says Rachel. "We'll find her; she's 7 years old she can't get far. What was she wearing?"

"She had on a pink tank top, white shorts, hair in a bun with one of those flower headband things little girls wear these days," I say. "What if someone kidnaps her or what if someone hurts her?" I ask with fear in my voice. I have so much fear running through me as the most horrible things that could happen to her run through my mind and it would be all my fault because I was so selfish.

"Don't think like that," she says. "You have to stay positive and think happy thoughts," she says as she reaches over and takes my hand to hold. I smile at her taking my hand and continue driving. "Maybe she's at the playground down the street. When I was a little girl I wanted to run away to the playground all the time."

"Okay," I say as I drive to the playground. I pull into a parking space and turn off the car. Rachel and I get out of the car and start to look around the playground. We search all over the place looking in tunnels, checking the swings, monkey bars and the jungle gym. We look all over the playground for her including the benches but we don't have any luck. We can't find her. "Well, that was a bust," I say as we walk back to my car. "Where could she be?"

"I don't know," says Rachel as we get into the car. "Is there something that she loves?"

I think for a minute about some of the conversations we've had and then I remember she loves music. She loves to play music and she told me at one time her mom speaks to her through the music. "Music," I say.

"There is a music store with instruments and all sorts of things 2 blocks away," says Rachel. "Maybe she's there."

"Okay," I say as I back out of the parking space and start off to the music store. I have no idea what Rachel is talking about but she directs me to the store. "I never even knew this place existed," I say as I pull into the parking lot. "When did they put this in?"

"Probably 2 years ago," she says as I park the car.

"Oh," I say as I get out. "Are you coming with me?"

"I think you can handle this one on your own," she says. "I'll wait out here."

"Okay," I say as I shut my door. I walk into the music store and I am in awe at all the records, cassette tapes, cd's and instruments there are. There are instrumental instruction books on the walls, pictures of what I believe are musical composers but I'm not sure because I'm not into all that stuff. The girl at the counter smiles at me and I smile back. "Where are the pianos or cellos?" I ask.

"They are right in the back," she says pointing me to the back of the store. "There is a little girl back there playing her heart out on the piano. I thought it was an adult and then I was shocked to see that it was this little girl. She's a musical genius."

"Thanks," I say. It has to be Skylar. I make my way to the back of the store and as I get closer to the back I hear the keys of a piano playing. It sounds as if Chopin himself or Beethoven came off one of the posters to play the piano. I stop in my tracks as I see Sky sitting on the bench at the piano playing like she is some type of professional. She is hitting the keys hard and playing stuff that I'm pretty sure most adults would have trouble with. The music goes into my ears softly and I recognize the tune she is playing. I don't know the name of it but Jenn used to play it all the time. Sky's beautiful music is all around me and I don't want to stop her because it brings back good memories of Jenn. It brings back memories of us. As Sky plays I see Jenn sitting there and hear Jenn playing the music. Tears fill my eyes thinking about it.

Sky finishes up the song and begins to talk. "Mama, I miss you so much! I thought my dad was some great guy. The way you used to talk about him and how much you loved him but he's not. He's really mean. He doesn't want me. I know why you didn't want me to meet him or why you never told him about me. I understand now. I miss you. I don't have anyone. I don't have a family anymore. I miss you and I wish you were here with me. Why did you leave me? You should have taken me with you," she says before she starts to play again and my heart breaks into a million pieces to hear her say that. I never meant to make her feel that way. I walk over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. She jumps and stops playing the piano. She looks up at me with tears in her dark brown eyes; "Roman," she says as she quickly wipes her tears away. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you," I say. "Can I sit down?"

"I guess," she says as she slides over on the bench allowing me to sit down. "How did you find me?"

"Because I know you love music and I know you said your mom talks to you through music. A friend suggested that you might be here and she was right. Why did you run away?"

"Because you don't want me and I ruined your life. You are better without me and you can live your life the way you want. I'm going back to Chicago to the children's home and maybe one day someone might adopt me and I'll have a good home."

"Sky, I didn't mean what I said. I do want you but I'm not ready to be a father. I don't have the slightest idea on how to be a dad. I'm sorry if I hurt you. That wasn't my plan and I'm sorry. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?" she asks.

"Scared of being a dad. Scared of loving you. Scared of everything I know changing," I say. "I'm just scared."

"I see," she says. "You don't have to change anything I can go back to Chicago and you won't have to ever worry about me again."

"I'm not letting you go back to Chicago," I say.

"So then what am I going to do?"

"You're going to come home with me and we're going to try this out. I'm going to try to be a dad and try to make this work. I can't make any promises but right now we're going to try if it doesn't work out I'll figure something out but right now we're going to try this out."

"We are?" she asks with a smile. "So I'm really going home with you?"

"Yes, Sky," I say but I am scared beyond belief. I still don't know how to be a dad and I know nothing about little girls or how to raise them. I'm in for a challenge but I'm going to try this out. I'm going to do my best to make it work.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," I say.

"Thank-you," she says with a smile as she wraps her arms around me. I freeze at her touch and slowly wrap my arms around her to hug her back.

I break the hug quickly and say, "let's go home."

"Okay," she says as she gets up from the bench.

"Where did you learn to play like that?" I ask as we walk to the front of the store.

"My mom," she says. "She taught me everything I know about music."

"You played beautifully," I say as we walk out the front door.

"Thank-you," she says as I open the car door for her and let her in the back seat. She sees Rachel right away. "Who are you?"

"That's Rachel; she's my friend," I say.

"Oh, Hi, Rachel," says Sky before I shut the door as Rachel says hi back.

I drive us back to my house forgetting that Rachel doesn't have her car with her but I'm already half way to my place. I pull into my gated residence and park my car before we get out and head inside. "Can I show you my clothes now?" asks Sky as soon as we're in the door.

"Sure," I say, "and then it's bath time understand?"

"Okay, Roman," she says as she hurries upstairs to get her clothes.

Rachel and I walk to the living room to wait for her. "Do you want anything to drink?" I ask before she sits down on the couch.

"I'm all right," she says, "she's beautiful, Roman. And she's very polite."

"Thank-you," I say not sure why I take the compliment but I thank her anyway. "She's also some type of musical genius. You should have heard her playing in that store," I say as I sit down next to her on the couch.

"Did you doubt that? Jenn was her mom and she was an amazing musician. Why wouldn't her child be just as amazing?"

"True," I say with a smile. "Thank-you for helping me tonight."

"You're welcome," she says as Sky runs into the living room with her bags of clothes she is really excited about her new clothes. "All right," says Rachel, "let's see what you got! You shopped at Justice so I know you got some really nice clothes."

"Yes," she says with a smile as she starts to pull out her outfits. Trinity went overboard buying her clothes but money is no object for me and Sky is going to learn that as soon as possible. Nothing is too much money for me. She has a whole new wardrobe and some of those outfits are really cute but I know nothing about female fashion but Rachel does and she's telling her how adorable and cute her clothes are. "And last thing; my new bathing suits so I can go to the beach and swim in Roman's pool," she says as she pulls out two bikinis.

"Not appropriate," I say as Rachel elbows me. "I mean they are really pretty. What else is in that bag?"

"Ponytail holders and headbands," she says pulling them out. She has numerous flower and bow headbands.

"You like those things?"

"I love them," she says. "What do you think, Rachel?"

"I think they are awesome," she says with a smile.

"Thank-you," she says as she starts to put everything away. "Roman, can we go to the beach tomorrow?"

"We'll see," I say.

"Please," she says.

"Okay," I say with a smile. "We'll go to the beach."

"Yay!" she says. "You're the best!"

"I try," I say with a smile. "Now it's bath time."

"All right," she says, "But I prefer to take a shower."

"Whatever you want," I say. "Do you need any help?"

"With the water and washing my hair," she says.

"I'll help her," says Rachel as she stands up. She must sense my uncomfortableness and steps up to the task. Rachel and Sky go upstairs so that she can take a shower while I turn on the TV. My life just keeps changing and there isn't anything I can do to stop this change.

About 30 minutes later Rachel and Skylar return to the living room. Skylar has on her pajamas and her hair looks as if it was just washed and is pulled up into a bun. "I bet you feel better now don't you?" I ask as she sits down on the couch between Rachel and me.

"Yes," she says, "but can we get some kid shampoo and detangler tomorrow? Your shampoo burned my eyes and it's easier to do my hair with detangler."

"Sure," I say as if I know what she's talking about.

"And you might want to get her some type of moisturizer," says Rachel, "to help with her hair. And if you need assistance on how to do her hair I'll help you out. I heard about your braid fiasco."

"Yeah I have had some trouble. I could use all the help I can get," I say. "Thanks."

"No problem," she says.

We sit and watch a couple shows together with Skylar. I gave Skylar control of the TV and she chose to watch the Disney channel. Skylar warms up to Rachel easier than she warms up to me. As I look over at her she is resting her head on Rachel's shoulder and Rachel has her arm around her. I guess it's a female thing. I don't know I guess because it was just Skylar and Jenn for so long she's more comfortable around women than men. It starts to get late so I say, "all right, Sky, it's time to get ready for bed."

"Aw," she says. "I'm not tired."

"It's bed time," I say. "If you want to go to the beach tomorrow it's time to go to bed."

"All right," she says, "can you read me a story?"

"I'll be up in a minute," I say with a smile.

"All right," she says as she gets up. "Good night, Rachel."

"Good night, Sky," she says with a smile before Sky runs up to the guest room she's staying in. "She's so sweet," she says.

"Yeah," I say as I get up. "Thank-you for helping me with her tonight."

"It was no problem. I had fun," she says as she gets up. "I guess I should call a cab to get home so you can go read to her."

"No," I say, "you don't have to take a cab. You can take my other car. I don't mind," I say.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Positive," I say as I go to get the keys for her. I am not going to make her take a cab home when I brought her to my house the least I can do is let her borrow my other car that I never drive. It's just sitting in the garage. "I'd ask you to spend the night but I have a new rule as long as Sky is here no overnight guests."

"That's probably a good idea," she says with a smile.

"She met Cynthia earlier."

"Oh yeah how did that go?"

"She told me that she's after my money."

"Glad I'm not the only one that thinks like that," she says. "But I understand. I should be getting home anyway. It is pretty late and Sky wants you to read to her."

"I know," I say as I walk her to the door.

"And if you two need anything or you need any help you know my number just call me and I'll come help you out. You're doing the right thing, Roman. You two need each other. You might even like being a dad," she says.

"I don't know," I say. "I'm giving it a try. It's going to be hard."

"Probably but you can do it," she says as she opens the door. "When do you want your car back?"

"I'll have my dad or mom drive me over to get it sometime," I say.

"Okay," she says as she walks out the door. "Good night, Roman."

"Rachel, wait," I say causing her to stop as I step out onto the porch with her. "If you're not doing anything tomorrow you're more than welcome to come to the beach with us."

"All right," she says. "What time are you going?"

"Probably sometime in the afternoon," I say.

"All right," she says with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."

"Great we'll pick you up on our way."

"All right," she says smiling at me. "Good night, Roman."

"Good night, Rachel," I say as I give her a friendly hug. I watch her walk to my car and then go inside to read to Sky after Rachel leaves.

"It took you long enough," says Sky as she's lying in her bed holding a Ramona book in her hand. "I didn't think you were ever getting up here."

"I was saying goodbye to Rachel," I say as I sit down on the bed, "so what am I reading tonight?"

"A couple chapters of Ramona," she says looking at me.

"What?" I ask as I take the book.

"Do you like Rachel?"

"She's a friend of mine," I say. "Why?"

"Because I think you like her. Is she your girlfriend?"

"No," I say. "I don't have girlfriends. She's just a really good friend of mine."

"Oh," she says. "I like her. She's really nice. Is she coming to the beach with us tomorrow?"

"Yes she is," I say with a smile. "Can I read to you now?"

"Yes," she says with a smile.

I start to read the first chapter of Ramona to her and in no time she is asleep on the pillow. I close the book and lay it down on the nightstand. I tuck her into bed and smile at her as she sleeps peacefully. I turn off the light on my way out and shut the door before I go to my bedroom. I'm so exhausted that I don't even bother to undress. I just fall down onto my bed and before I know it I'm falling asleep.

*A/N: So what did you think? How sad was Skylar's talk with her mom? And do you think this trial period of Roman being a father is going to work out? Also there seems to be some type of connection between Rachel and Roman. Do you think that Rachel will ever be more than his friend? Did anyone get the idea that she just wants the best for Roman? And that she is trying to fit into the picture with Roman and Skylar? Please review and thank-you for reading.