After dinner, Rachel and I sat on the front porch swing.

"Have you always done this?" Rachel asked me.

"Done what?" I said staring up at the darkened sky.

"You know, you practically raise you younger siblings . How, ...have you always done it?" She asked me.

"Sometimes it seems like I have but no, I haven't." I told her. "When Annie was about one, my Mom would take care of us. But then... then my dad died." I watched a star fall from the sky, and closed my eyes to make a wish, letting the warm tears fall as I did.

"I'm sorry," Rachel whispered. "I did...I just never thought that, I'm so sorry."

"It was a long time ago," I told her as I turned to face her. "David can't remember him anymore, and Annie didn't know him. I guess we all have our own problems though."

Rachel looked at me in what I interpreted as wonder. "You're defiantly a different kind of person. One with a very optimistic outlook on life," She said.

"People have told me that before, but I never told anyone those things about my father." I said and smiled at her, "You made me realize something about myself."

"What's that?" She asked.

"This," I whispered and gently placed my hand on her cheek. But before moving forward I noticed her expression, her uncertainty. "Its okay." I whispered and pulled back removing my hand from her.

After a moment I heard her sigh, "Your right" she said and laced her fingers in my hair. "It is okay." She moved forward and I swear time stopped. I felt her lips brush against mine, I leaned in to her kiss. She was warm and welcoming, it was the first time I ever felt wanted.