A/N: Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming. I always knew how this story was going to end up, which was how I got it written so quickly, only one more chapter after this! Thanks for supporting!

Disclaimer: I own nothing


Chapter 9: Love

David took a deep breath and rang the doorbell of the Rileys' house. One of the stipulations for dating Eva was that he always pick her up at the house and come to the door, every time.

"Hi there," Rick smiled answering the door. David swallowed and looked at him. "Come on in."

"Mr. Riley," David said walking in to the living room, Rick looked at him. "Look, I know you don't approve of me being with Eva, and you think I'm too old for her."

"David," Rick sighed. "You're almost eighteen years old, Eva is not even fifteen, I don't think you're too old for her, you are too old for her."

"Right," David nodded. "But I want you to understand, that I really care about your daughter, she's amazing. She's smart, and beautiful and talented." Rick nodded. "And I would never ever ask her for anything she's not ready for. I mean, you know my mother, and what her life's been like, I wouldn't ever put a girl in the same situation,"

"You're going from taking my daughter to a movie to getting her pregnant?" Rick said. David looked at him and swallowed. "That's really encouraging."

"I didn't mean," David stumbled over his words. "Look, I really like her."

"David?" Eva came in. "I'm ready now." She was wearing a simple blue polo dress. She looked radiant. "Bye Daddy." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Bye Princess," he said. "Have fun." He raised his eyebrows at David and they walked outside.

"Your dad is scary," David said. Eva rolled her eyes. "Not like in a he could kill me way, although I think he could, he's way smarter than anyone I've ever met."

"You've been around my dad plenty of times before," she said.

"Not as your boyfriend," he shook his head. She laughed and kissed him. "That is so worth it though." She smiled and they kissed some more.

"I like that, boyfriend," she said. He smiled. "Where are you taking me?" She asked.

"It's a surprise," he said and opened her car door. She giggled and they drove for a while and then got out of the car. "Do you know where we are?"

"We're at a playground," she said. "By my grandparent's house." He laughed.

"This is where I met you the first time," he said. She looked at him. "You wouldn't remember, you were one." She laughed. "It was Eden Hall graduation, for our Uncles, and you were in a stroller and I played on the slide." She looked at him. "There's something else here Eva, I don't what it is, but it's here, and I want to find out what it is."

"I'm game if you are," she smiled and kissed him.


A few weeks later at school, Eva walked up to David's locked and pecked him happily on the cheek, he laughed and slid his hand into hers.

"Good morning," he said.

"Morning," she smiled. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No I have not," he said as they started walking, still holding hands. "Why have you?"

"No," she shook her head. "That's why I asked." He laughed and they walked into the cafeteria. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Mikey sitting, as usual surrounded by a group of people. As they moved towards an empty table, she stopped, "David," he looked at her. "Can we go sit with your friends?"

"My," he stopped and looked over, "are you sure?" She nodded. "Eva, he's,"

"He's hurting, David," she swallowed. "He's scared and lonely."

"Mike Gaffney is never lonely," he shook his head. "He's barely said a word to me since,"

"I know," she said. "But he came over, on Friday, and we talked, a lot. The way he's been acting, it's not about us, and it's more complicated than that." He looked at her. "David, come on, those people that he's with don't know, we do." He sighed and touched her face. "Please, do this for me?"

"I'm game if you are," he sighed. She smiled and they walked over to the crowded table.

"Is this seat taken?" Eva said. Mikey looked at her. "What?"

"Um, no," he said. "It's not, but," she sat down. "Evie," he whispered, "what are you doing?"

"Are we only friends at my house when you give my little sister way more money than she deserves for letting you in?" She asked.

"No, of course not," he shook his head. "But I didn't think," he sighed.

"Hey," David said, leaning in, "what are we talking about?"

"Eva wants us to be friends," Mikey said. "I'm not sure why we're whispering."

"Ohh," David nodded. "That's the good thing about younger girls, they forgive, haven't gotten all bitchy yet." Eva pinched him. "Ow."

"You deserved it." She said and crossed her arms. "I'm just glad that you two are talking again. Plus, I did it."

"Yes, you did," Mikey hugged her. "We're very proud of you too." Eva giggled. "Portman, what's the deal exactly? Are you her boyfriend or whatever?"

"Something like that," David said and kissed her neck. She giggled and kissed him.

"Guys, not over breakfast, please," Mikey rolled his eyes. He looked at them for a minute and then smiled, realizing that he hadn't lost her, not by a long shot, in fact she was so happy she was glowing. He liked her better like this. "Evie, please, my stomach." She stuck out her tongue at him. "That's mature."


Later that night Eva and David sat on his bed, snuggling. He smiled as she cooed and curled into him.

"Can I ask you something?" She said.

"Anything," he nodded.

"Have you ever thought about changing your name?" She asked. He looked at her. "I mean, your last name is Portman, and your mom's is Norris, and so are your brother and sister, and your father's last name is Martin."

"Yeah," he said. "I've thought about it," he admitted. "A lot, actually, I mean, especially when I was younger, and I wanted my Dad, Kevin," he specified, she nodded. "He was gonna adopt me, and then Patrick came back, and it got confusing. If he had, I probably would be a Norris." She looked at him. "But I'm not, and I'm not a Martin either, I'm a Portman, when it was just my mom and my Uncle Dean and me, we were the Portmans, I think it's important to remember that."

"I see," she said. He kissed her softly. "Is it too soon to say I love you?"

"I don't think there's such thing," he whispered. "Because I know I do."

"Then say it," she said and kissed him.

"Greedy girl," he teased. She kissed him again. "OK then, I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered and kissed him.


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