A/N: Thanks for the reviews and everything, still just kind of winging it with this story, but I'm feeling like I know the direction it's going in, hope you enjoy it, review if you feel like it. :)


"You are one crazy man!"

"How am I crazy?" Chris called from the roof of Stephanie's house. The rain had let up a couple days ago and now he was out here, in the sweltering heat, trying to fix her roof.

"Because there ain't gonna be no more rain for a while and you're dying yourself up there tryin' to fix my damn roof," Stephanie called up at him. "Would you just get your cute butt down here and come inside where it's at least cool?"

"I'm fine," Chris said even as he swiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. "I want to get started on this 'fore I forget, that's all. I ain't intending to do all the work in one day, it's more than a one day job."

"So wait until it cools off a bit," Stephanie told him, "I don't wanna go to the hospital today because you're dying of heat stroke. Come on, let's go into your house where you got some nice air conditioning, and have lunch. Besides, Court is insisting that he won't eat until you show your face."

"Court or you?" he wondered, walking towards the ladder. There was no winning in an argument with Stephanie, and he knew when he was licked. Stephanie just gave him a coy shrug, smiling at him in a way that made his stomach churn over with emotion. He carefully walked towards the ladder, climbing down as Stephanie waited for him at the bottom. When his feet hit flat ground, Stephanie leaned over and kissed him. "Now what was that for?"

"Trying to fix my roof when you didn't have to do that," she told him, "also because I'm glad you didn't just keel over and die up there."

"There ain't nothing that can tear me away from you," Chris wrapped his arms loosely around her waist.

"Gross, you're all sweaty," Stephanie tried to push him away, but he was having none of that and, instead, pulled her closer. She tried to squirm out of his arms, but he was stronger than her, and she wasn't putting too much effort into her escape anyways. He kissed her cheek as she turned her head and then laughed as he let her go. "You should take a shower before we eat."

"I thought you had everything ready?" he told her.

"I just wanted you down off that damn roof," she confessed, looping her arm through his so he couldn't make an attempt to get back up there. "I know you've got drive and ambition, but you don't need to be killin' yourself fixing a roof when it's not supposed to rain for the foreseeable future."

"I just wanted it taken care of."

"And you will, when it's nice and cool. Do you think I want you to take off on me right after I admit that I love you," she told him, the words lingering around both of them. Stephanie never got tired of saying it, and Chris never got tired of hearing it.

"I would never want that since I love you too," he returned the sentiment without a hint of hesitation. "I guess I could use a shower, wouldn't want you to start thinking me some overgrown idiot."

"I could never," she drawled lazily at him as they walked inside his house. Since the weather had warmed up again, they spent a lot of time in Chris's house since he had air conditioning and Stephanie's house did not. Court didn't seem to mind. Indeed, the boy had taken such a shine to Chris that Trish had taken to referring him as Little Chris.

Stephanie had never really considered what a strong male influence could do for Court; she had always thought she could be enough. She was tough, she was making her way through her life with as much dignity as she could, and she was both a mother and a father to Court, but this was different. She knew that was just the single mother in her talking, the claim that she could be both, and she'd done her job well, she thought. Court was well-adjusted, smart, and as sweet a boy as could be, but she'd underestimated what having a father figure could do for him.

There were simply things Stephanie did not know about that Chris did. Court had always been fascinated by machinery and trucks and building things, subjects of which she knew nothing. She let him indulge in it as best she could, let him watch videos of how buildings were made, what kind of equipment was used to move dirt or lift heavy things, she'd done her best, hell, even Jay had been around, but he was Trish's husband and he wasn't around all the time.

With Chris, he was showing Court all the things she couldn't, and Court looked at Chris like he hung the damn moon. She loved when she would watch them engrossed in some project, whether it was building Stephanie a new TV stand or their new project of a treehouse for Court, they were like two peas in a pod when there was a project to be had, and Chris was giving something to her son that she simply couldn't at this time.

Court's eyes lit up when he saw Chris come inside. "Chris, d'ya think I can help you with the roof?"

"Not now, little man," Chris told him, "I have it on the strictest order from your mama that I ain't allowed to go up there until the weather cools."

"Oh, but after that, maybe I can help?"

"Maybe," Chris appeased him, but he gave a look to Stephanie that said he wouldn't take the little boy on the roof, and she was grateful that he'd had the same thought she did. Court was still a little boy, and he had big aspirations, but he was still small.

"Cool," Court said as Chris ruffled his hair, making it stick straight up. Court looked indignant for a moment, but then let out a little laugh as he tried to fix his hair. "We're gonna eat lunch soon, you joining us?"

"You bet I am, I just need to take a shower first, why don't you help your mama with lunch, I bet she'd 'preciate that."

"Okay," Court said eagerly. Chris winked at Stephanie as he passed her and she took Court into the kitchen to make them some sandwiches. It was funny how comfortable she felt in Chris's home. The three of them had been going back and forth between houses for a little while now, and it was almost natural for her and Court to spend time here, as natural as it felt to have Chris in her own home. They didn't spend the nights together quite yet, but Stephanie was becoming more comfortable with the idea of Chris staying over. She didn't think Court would have any problem with it, and that was really the only reason she was against it right now.

"Feel better?" Stephanie asked as Chris walked out of his bedroom, drying his hair with a towel. It would dry quickly in the hot weather and he threw the towel haphazardly on the couch as he sat down at his kitchen table where Court was sitting up on his knees, already chomping on his sandwich.

"I admit that I do, yes," Chris said, but glanced out the window, "I still maintain I coulda fixed the roof today."

"Yes, but best you save that for a day that ain't so hot," Stephanie kissed his cheek as she put his plate down in front of him, sitting down in the chair next to him with her own plate of food. Chris grabbed a chip and popped it into his mouth thoughtfully. Court saw Chris throw the chip into his mouth and immediately emulated him, which didn't go unnoticed by Stephanie. She smiled secretly to herself.

"Okay, okay, I wouldn't want you to be mad at me," Chris said finally, glancing over at her as she gave him a triumphant look. He just laughed and started in on his sandwich. "So what'd you want to do for the rest of the day?"

"I don't know, I don't really got anything in mind, do you?" she asked.

"Can we go to the movies?" Court asked. "We haven't been to the movies in forever, Mama, do you think we can go?"

"Well, it would be a nice place to go in this hot weather," Stephanie shrugged.

"I think we can swing that," Chris nodded at her, and she liked that they made decisions together. She could consult with Chris over things like this and feel like it was all part of their routine. "It'll be my treat."

"Chris, you don't gotta do that," Stephanie insisted. "I can certainly take care of Court and me."

"I know you can, but I'm your boyfriend, and I want to, end of discussion."

"You do too much for us already," Stephanie protested weakly. She knew it wasn't going to end with her winning. As much as Stephanie knew when she could win an argument, she also knew when she could lose one. Chris was always trying to pay for her, and it was only the rare occasion that she insisted that she pay for them. He almost never relented, but she was strong-willed and sometimes overpowered him.

"I like doing things for the two of you," he told her, "I mean, look, you made this great lunch for me, so I think I owe you two with dinner and a movie. We can go catch an early movie, then we can go out for burgers after."

"Burgers? Yes!" Court pumped his fist into the air. "Can we, Mama, can we, please, please, please!"

"Fine, I don't got enough ammo to fight against the both of you," she gave each of them a stern look, but Chris was already high-fiving Court and so she just shook her head and focused on eating her sandwich and watching the two men in her life talking excitedly about what movie they were going to see later.

Chris was just suggesting they see an action movie (not too violent) when his cell phone rang on the counter. Chris looked at it like he wanted to smash it for interrupting his conversation, but he reluctantly pushed himself away from the counter and went to pick up his phone. Stephanie watched as he stared down at it, his eyebrows creasing in the middle of his forehead.

"I gotta take this, sorry," Chris said, giving Stephanie an apologetic look, but she just nodded her head and watched as Chris quickly went into his bedroom to take the call.

"Who was that, Mama?" Court asked as he took a big bite of his turkey sandwich.

"I don't know, maybe it's one of Chris's friends," Stephanie answered, only then realizing she didn't really know anything about Chris's friends. She assumed he had them, but they must live wherever he lived before. Then it dawned on her that she wasn't even entirely sure where Chris moved from. She bit her lip, maybe she should start asking a few more questions about Chris's past. She was always giving up information, and maybe she just didn't let Chris get a word in edgewise.

Stephanie went back to her sandwich, but could hear Chris's muffled voice rising higher and higher, the door providing very little barrier between Chris and her. She kept looking at it, wondering if it would be inappropriate to go ask him if everything was okay. She even saw Court looking at the door every now and then, confusion written all over his face.

"I'll be right back, baby," Stephanie told her son as she made her way down the short hallway to Chris's room.

"I told you that I didn't want to deal with this anymore," Chris said from behind the door. Stephanie hated to eavesdrop, but she wasn't sure her presence would be welcome right now. "No, I told you I didn't want no part of that anymore, that's why I left, that's why I didn't want to be around there."

Stephanie reached out her hand to tap on the door, but she really didn't want to interrupt what sounded like an important conversation.

"No, I will not, I washed my hands of this!" Chris paused for a moment, obviously listening to the other person on the line. "Fine, fine, but I swear to God, I am not returning because he asked me to, we've got some unfinished business, and I ain't going to give in."

"Chris," Stephanie finally tapped on the door.

Chris opened the door, swinging it lightly and giving her a sad expression. "Steph, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to postpone the movie."

"I understand, is everything alright?" she asked. "Court and I could sort of hear you, and you didn't sound happy."

Chris leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "It's nothing you need to worry 'bout, I just need to go out of town for a few days, but I promise, it won't last that long. Do you think you'll miss me?"

"I already miss you, but is there anything I can help with? I mean, if you need me to come with you, I can, if you needed someone."

"No, no," Chris shook his head immediately, "believe me, I can handle this by myself, but thanks for the offer. I really need to pack, so I'm sorry, I really am."

"No, Court and I can show ourselves out, we'll be next door if you want to say goodbye."

"I will," he told her, "You can finish your lunches though."

"I think we're done," she nodded, "Court, come on, let's go back home."

"But Mama, what about the movie?"

"Sorry, little man," Chris came over and knelt down in front of Court's chair. "Something came up, and I gotta go out of town for a little while, but when I come back, we'll catch that movie, alright?"

"Okay," Court answered, but he was saddened by it. He threw his arms around Chris and Chris gave him a hug. "I'll miss you, Chris."

"I'll miss you too, little man," Chris told him, pulling away. "I promise though, I won't be gone long."

"Chris, is something the matter?" Stephanie asked in sotto voice as Chris came back towards her.

"Nothing, it's really nothing."

After hearing his side of the phone call, Stephanie wasn't so sure about that.