"I thought I told you not to come home."

Paige ignored the rude greeting. "Is Mark here?"

Sara shut the door behind her. "No, he took the kids to see a movie." She watched the young woman plop onto the couch. "What happened now?"

Paige picked at the hem of her shirt. "That's just it. I don't know." Sara cocked an interested eyebrow. "He kissed me again, Sara."

"What did you do?"

"I let him."

The older woman stayed quiet for a quick moment. "You know how Mark feels about him right?"

"I do."

"Is that something you really want to deal with?"

Paige sighed. "I know it's the reason why he won't."

Sara studied her. "You want something to happen." She said it surely.

"No…yes…I don't know." Paige stood now. "I probably hate the man just as much as Mark does, if not more."

"But?"

The young woman swallowed, staring down at her feet. "But…" Before she could answer, Mark and the kids made their presence known.

"Auntie Paige! You're home!"

Mark looked up at his daughter's excitement, to see if it was true. "What happened? What did he do to you?" Was the greeting he gave her.

Paige eyed him, taking the young girl and boy into her arms. "Nothing happened," She lied. "It just didn't work out."

Mark turned to his wife, who in return, just shrugged. "Nothing just doesn't work out with Dave, Paige. Now tell me what the fu-…"

Sara slapped a hand across her husband's mouth. "Kids, let's go get ready for naptime. Paige and Daddy need to talk privately."

Paige waited until it was just the two of them in the room. "Do we really have to make a big deal about this, Mark? Seriously, nothing happened."

"You're like a daughter to me, Paige. I know when you're lying."

"Fine. Think what you want. Whatever I say, won't make a difference anyway."

Mark folded his arms across his chest. "No, it wouldn't."

Paige turned on him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She wasn't liking the look on his face. Not one bit. "Tell me, Mark. What the hell was that supposed to mean?"

"You don't think I've heard things already? I have a lot of people back there, looking out for you."

She looked at him dumbfounded. "Are you being serious right now?"

Mark played cool. "I know how he is, Paige. I couldn't have you not be protected."

Paige mocked a laugh. "Protected? He's not a freaking murderer, Mark." She cut him off, before he could counter with something. "No Mark. Just no."

"You were with him in his hotel room."

"Excuse me?"

"And earlier. You were with him earlier, at the restaurant."

Paige really could not believe what she was hearing. "What is this? Do have the fucking Secret Service following me?"

Mark saw the fire in her eyes, but could've really cared less at that point. "It's for your own good, Paige."

"Really?"

"Really."

Paige walked over and stood her ground. "First off? You don't know what did and did not happen. Second? I'm not a child and you're not my father."

Mark saw red. "Now, what is that supposed to mean?"

Paige brushed past him. "It means back the fuck off."

Mark grabbed her arm. "Where do you think you're going?" Her silence said everything, as she broke out of his grasp. "Paige." He warned, but all he got in response, was the door slamming behind her.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A day wasn't nearly enough. Not even close. Dave hated that he had to go back to work already, the next day. Just when you get used to being at home, back on the road you go.

"Dad, can we do take-out for dinner tonight?"

Dave looked over at his fourteen year old daughter. "What? I was going to cook. Do you not like my cooking?"

The teen shook her head. "No, not really." An all too honest mouth, just like her father's.

"That hurts, Lena."

"You'll get over it." She smiled sweetly. "So yeah?"

Dave gave a playful glare. "Yeah. Go ahead."

"You're the best."

"Mm hmm." He watched her walk out of the room, when the door bell went off. Dave glanced at his watch. "Who the hell?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paige shook out her hands nervously. Maybe this had been a bad idea. No wait, it was a bad idea. Just when she decided to walk away, the door opened and she was face-to-face with him. Him didn't have an all too pleasant look on his face either. "I don't know what I'm doing here."

Dave stepped out, shutting the door behind him. "Then why the hell are you here?"

"Do you always have to talk to me that way?"

The male sighed, rubbing a hand over his scruff. "Paige, it's eight o' clock at night and you're here at my home, which is nowhere near yours. So seriously, what are you doing here?"

"Mark."

"Mark?" Dave questioned, confused. "What about Mark?"

Paige had barely opened her mouth, when she got cut off. She looked at the young girl, who was a total replica of Dave, only female. She could do nothing but nervously put on a smile, as the girl stared her over.

Lena cleared her throat. "Dad, who's this?"

"Somebody that was just about to leave."

Paige glared, before introducing herself. "It's Paige."

Dave was the one who got cut off this time. "Oh, you're my dad's assistant."

Paige grimaced. "Well no-…"

"Dad, you didn't tell me she was coming over." Dave mumbled something under his breath. The young girl just ignored it, turning to Paige. "You wanna come in?"

"Lena…" Her father hissed.

Paige waved a hand. "I actually do have to get going." She locked eyes with the male. "Sorry for the intrusion."

Lena came around to lock arms with the still young, but older than her woman. "Excuse my dad. He's just being rude." Paige gave an 'Oh don't I know it' look. "Come in and have dinner with us. I just ordered some take-out."

Dave just stood there speechless, staring after her, as his daughter showed her into his home. Into his home. She was here at his home. What the hell was really going on?

If things weren't already weird enough, they were surely just about to get that much weirder.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------