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Faith opened her eyes and was shocked to find a very large arm wrapped around her waist.

She remembered that she had fell asleep watching TV with Mark, what she couldn't believe was that he stayed all night with her, she slowly turned and smiled. He was even cuter when he was sleeping, his long hair was loose and she ran her fingers through it, she bent and kissed his cheek and then slid out from under his arms, it was after six and the kids would be up soon.

Faith went to the kitchen and started some coffee and the pulled out the stuff to make pancakes.

About a half an hour later Noah came bouncing into the kitchen and ran over to his mother hugging her. "Morning Noah, did you go potty?"

"Yes Mommy." He said and sat down at the table and Faith poured him a cup of milk.

A few minutes later Isabel came in and leaned against her mother's legs. Faith smiled and bent down to kiss her. "Thirsty baby?"

Isabel shook her head headed into the living room to lay on the couch, it took her a while to perk up in the mornings.

She stopped when she saw Mark asleep on the couch. She walked over and leaned on the couch watching him sleep.

Isabel was the cautious sort, he had been nice to her, but he might yell if she woke him up. Isabel bit her lip, she really wanted to climb up beside him.

She decided to chance it and climbed up beside him on the couch and laid her head on his arm watching him.

Isabel smiled and decided she liked this, she inched her hand up and rubbed his goatee giggling at the rough feel of it.

Suddenly his eyes opened and Isabel jumped, afraid he was going to be mad. But he smiled. "Morning Izzy, you're up bright and early."

Isabel smiled and patted his hand. Mark sat up and stretched and Isabel scooted over next to him. "I smell something good, your mama must be cooking breakfast."

Isabel nodded.

"Well come on, lets go eat." Mark said getting up. Isabel scooted after him.

Faith looked up as Mark and Isabel came in the kitchen. "She woke you."

Mark nodded."Its okay, Breakfast smells great, that would have woke me anyway."

Faith handed him a mug of coffee and Mark sat down. "Mornin Mark." Noah said bouncing out of his chair and onto Mark's lap.

"Morning Noah." He said tousling the boys hair. Isabel stood back and watched. She figured he wouldn't talk to her now, since he had Noah. Mark looked as the little girl backed up. She was watching him and Noah and she looked sad to Mark.

"Izzy come here and sit with us."

Isabel walked over and Mark pulled her in his lap and Isabel quickly hugged him.

Faith turned to set a plate of pancakes on the table and smiled at the twins sitting on Mark's lap. "Okay guys, let Mark have his coffee in peace, its time to eat."

The twins climbed down and got in there chairs and Faith fixed them a plate with a pancake and fruit.

She set a stack in front of Mark and he smiled at her. "Thanks Darlin."

Faith blushed as his words washed over her, the word Darlin was almost like him touching her.

She fixed her a pancake and set down with them.

Noah chattered on throughout breakfast about this and that, Faith was still a little stunned about waking up in Mark's arms this morning.

She thought about the sweet kiss they had shared last night and her her heart raced, wondering if he would kiss her again.

When the twins were done, Faith gathered them up to get them dressed and Mark told her he would take care of the dishes.

He watched her carry the twins out of the room and then turned to do the dishes.

Mark wasn't as nearly perplexed as Faith was, it was simple enough for him. He was attracted to her, he might have been in denial for a while, but he liked the way she made him feel, he had never liked kids, but he liked these two, that just meant they weren't normal kids, these two were special, he was starting to be okay with that. He already figured he would take it slow with Faith, after what she told him about her marriage last night, she was fragile, he would move slow and see where this went.

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Faith drove to work, thinking about her morning, it was all to comfortable waking up with Mark, him and the kids playing. Mark had took the kids saying he would drop them off at Fern's and she had headed straight for work.

Faith tried to clear her thoughts, she couldn't worry about Mark right now, she had to keep her mind on work.

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Mark fielded a thousand questions from Fern with out giving her any real answers. Why was he dropping the kids off, where was Faith, the list went on and on.

Mark just smiled and told her he had to get going, he gave the twins a hug and left. His thoughts were on Faith as he drove home and he realized trying to see her was going to be a challenge, after all she worked one shift and he another, most nights he wasn't going home until three o'clock, he supposed he could get up early and try to spend time with her then, but that meant back to no sleep, Mark grinned, Faith was worth losing a little sleep over.

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Faith had the day well under way, she was serving meatloaf with mashed potatoes and rolls on the side.

The noon time rush was well under way, they had started opening earlier to accommodate the lunch crowd, it required a lot more work, but Faith enjoyed being busy and it didn't bother her in the least.

"Hey honey."

"Hey Jacob, you want some lunch?" She asked her hair escaping her pony tail, she impatiently pushed it behind her ears.

"Sure do..How's those cute babies of yours?" he asked.

"Great." She said going to the back to fix him a plate. She brought it back and set it down in front of him and asked him what he wanted to drink

"Coffee. Mmm..This is great Faith, you're going to run that old hag out of business." He said digging in.

Faith poured his coffee and thought about Lucille Tisdale, not a week passed with out her coming over and making threats, Faith considered them idle threats and she hadn't said anything to Mark, she wasn't that concerned.

Usually she accosted Faith in the parking lot when she was heading for the front door.

Faith put the thoughts behind her and six more people poured through the front door, she didn't have time to dwell on Lucille right now.

Lunch rush was over and Faith took the time to get the dishes washed up and set up the glasses for this evenings rush of people getting off from work. The bar was completely empty except for Jacob and Burton who sat at a far table playing cards and drinking coffee.

She heard the front door open and it was Della. Faith was shocked with herself, with all that had went on with Mark, she had put Della completely out of mind, but she felt terrible, she had kissed Mark , with not a thought to the fact he had a girlfriend.

She seen from the looked on Della's face she was not happy, her blue eyes were practically on fire.

"You little bitch, its been your plan all along to get Mark away from me, make him your meal ticket, well bitch he was mine first and I intend to get him back, he wont stay away long, you're just a little diversion, he'll come back to me." Della snapped.

Faith would guess that Mark had broke up with her from the way Della was talking, that made her feel better, at least Mark wasn't randomly kissing her while he was sleeping with someone else.

Faith glared at the blond. "If Mark broke up with you, thats on him, has nothing to do with me." She said turning away from Della.

Dell a grabbed Faith's arm ."Don't play dumb, you know you want him, you little tramp."

Faith pulled her arm loose and looked at Della. "Touch me again bitch."

Della looked mad enough to kill. "Don't play innocent with me, you're looking for a rich daddy for your kids, me and Mark were fine till you showed up."

The crack about her kids really pissed her off. "If you and Mark were so fine, why did he spend the night at my place last night?"

Burton and Jacob's eyes got wide, they couldn't believe things were moving so fast between Mark and Faith.

Della lost it and pulled back punching Faith in the eye.

Faith saw red she might seem like a pushover but she wasn't, she grabbed a handful of the blond hair and pulled as hard as she could causing Della to scream in pain and anger and with her other hand punched her just as hard as she had been punched.

The two fell into a kicking punching pile in the middle of the floor and Burton and Jacob came over struggling to pull the two apart.

Burton struggled with Faith who was kicking her feet trying to land a kick to a struggling Della.

The two men finally got them separated and Jacob dragged Della to the door. "You better get before Mark gets here." He threatened.

Della looked over at Faith. "Next time, you'll have more than a black eye."

Faith tried to get away from Burton, but he held tight. "Thats enough Faith, stop it."

Faith stopped struggling and Burton let her go as soon as Della was out the door.

Burton and Jacob took a look at Faith. "Honey, you look like hell, you got a black eye thats going to be all colors of the rainbow and your lip is bleeding."

Jacob shook his head. Mark was not going to be happy. "Better go try to clean up some."

The words hadn't left his lips when Mark strolled in and he stopped the smile leaving his face when he saw Faith. "What the fuck happened?" he snapped.

Faith opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Burton jumped in. "It was Della, she came in here, yelling and screaming at Faith because you broke up with her and then she punched Faith, the girl was just defending herself."

Mark was instantly in front of Faith and he pulled her close looking her over. "You okay?"

"Yea I'm fine, just a little bruised up." She said.

Mark took her hand. "Come on lets get you cleaned up." He lead her back to the bathroom and sat her on the edge of the sink while he gently cleaned her bloodied lip.

Mark was furious at Della, Faith was a sweet girl and Della had attacked her for no reason, poor Faith didn't stand a chance against Della.

Mark bent and kissed her cheek. "Go put some ice on that eye." He said setting her back to her feet.

"Mark, I'm sorry."

Mark wrapped her in a hug. "You don't have a thing to sorry for, now scoot, get some ice on that."

Faith nodded and left the bathroom. He was going to give Della a piece of his mind and tell her to stay away from Faith.

He walked out into the bar and walked over to Burton and Jacob. "I'll be back keep an eye on her, in case Della comes back."

The two men nodded as he left. "Boy he's mad."

Jacob nodded. "He's on the warpath, Della better watch out."

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Mark found Della at her house, when she opened the door he was shocked, she had two black eyes a busted lip and a hunk of her hair was missing. He almost laughed at his misconception of Faith not being able to handle Della, looks like she did a fine job.

Della hissed at him. "See what that little bitch did?"

"You started it, I'm warning you Della stay away from her, its over between us, you leave her out of it." Mark said.

Della snapped. "You just go to hell Mark, I cant believe I ever saw anything in you."

Mark just turned and went back to his truck, he hoped he had heard the last of her.

Mark got back to the bar to find Burton watching the bar. "Where's Faith?"

"She went to make the deposit,you forgot about it." Burton said grinning.

Mark sat down at a barstool. "Faith is a lot tougher than I gave her credit for, I seen Della she tore her ass up."

Burton laughed."Yea tell me about it, I'm the one that had to drag Faith off of her."

Mark grinned. "Yea she a spitfire, when she's riled, what the hell did Della say to her?"

Burton shook his head. "I think it was when she accused Faith of looking for a rich daddy for her kids, nothing riles a woman more than bringing her kids into a fight."

Mark nodded. "Faith's a real mama bear when it comes to those kids."

Just then Faith walked in and Mark turned and waved her over. Faith came over and stopped beside him. "How ya feeling?"

"I'm fine, stop worrying." She said, she was a little embarrassed by the whole incident.

Mark couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay Rocky, I seen for myself you can handle yourself."

Faith blushed. "I just let my temper get the best of me."

Mark pulled her against him and hugged her. "Stop beating yourself up, she threw the first punch, why don't you go ahead and take off, get some rest."

Faith shook her head. "I'm fine, I got another hour." and she went off to wait on a few customers that had walked in.

Burton patted Mark on the shoulder. "You know, you could do a lot worse, she's a great girl."

Mark looked up at Burton. "I know she is."

"So are you taking her to Fern's barbecue?" Burton asked.

"Well yea I suppose I will." Mark said watching her.

"Have you asked her yet?"

Mark shook his head. "No, but she'll say yes."

Burton sputtered with laughter. You always were a cocky son of a bitch."

Mark laughed. "Yea, with good reason." He said and turned back to watch Faith.

Mark knew she would say yes, he wasn't worried, she liked him, he knew that too, he wasn't being cocky, but he saw the way she looked at him, the same way he looked at her.

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Faith didn't like lying to her kids, but Noah had asked how she got the boo boo on her eye and she sure wasn't going to tell him in a fight. Isabel had petted her mother and kissed her eye with a worried look on her face and Faith told them she had hit it at work, it wasn't a complete lie, but she didn't want to set a bad example by fighting.

Fern didnt say anything in front of the kids, but while the twins were getting there stuff ready to go, Fern had told her Burton called and told her what happened. Then she had shocked Faith, by telling her she hoped Faith had decked Della good. Faith had laughed, Fern was something else.

After dinner, she worked with them on new words, Isabel still wasn't saying a word, but Faith felt like at least she was doing something to help Isabel as long as she kept trying.

She gave them a bath, and then a bedtime snack and sat and read them a few books till they drifted off.

Faith loved these times she spent with the twins, she knew they would be gone all to fast, children grew too fast, it seemed like just yesterday they were babies.

She walked downstairs and cleaned the kitchen and straitened up the living room and sat down on the couch to watch TV.

She was hyped up for some reason and couldn't set still, she knew why, she missed Mark, him being here last night with her and the kids had been wonderful, but Faith knew she shouldn't get used to it, Mark might be attracted to her, but he wasn't looking for a family or commitment.

She got up and grabbed a cup of coffee and turned on the porch light and sat down on the steps remembering last night when Mark had kissed her so gently.

Faith sighed and gazed up at the night sky, why did she have to fall for Mark of all people, Faith had never been in love, but she was pretty sure of what she was feeling, it wasn't just lust, although that was there too. She cared for him, and every kindness he showed her, especially to her kids, just made her love him more.

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Faith had fell asleep on the couch and was now awakened by a sound, she sat up quickly and then breathed a sigh of relief when she seen it was Mark.

"Faith, why in the hell are you asleep with your door wide open?" He demanded.

Mark's heart had stopped when he seen the door wide open and Faith asleep in just a long t-shirt.

Faith looked up sleepily. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, I was watching TV, and I guess I dozed off."

Mark scooped her up in his arms. "From now on, keep your door locked after dark, that way you wont forget."

He walked up the stairs with her still in his arms and she pointed him to her bed room. "What are you doing here?"

Mark walked in the bed room and sat her on the edge of the bed. Mark pulled back the covers and swiftly lifted her laying her down, really she was to tired to protest, that is until he started undressing down to his boxers, then her heart stopped. Mark laid down beside her and pulled her in his arms. "I wanted to see you." he whispered in her ear.

Faith smiled and cuddled in his arms noticing how good in felt to be surrounded by his big arms.

She had never had this before, this feeling of being safe and cared for, it felt damn good.

"I was hoping you would come by." She confessed. Mark smiled and kissed her lips lightly. "Get some sleep Darlin."

Faith smiled sleepily and drifted off to sleep with Mark watching her, he couldn't pass by her house tonight, he had tried, but it was like he had no control, in the end, he had to see her, he supposed he should be in a panic, but he wasn't, for now it was enough just to have her sleeping in his arms.