Had huge writer's block but I'm back! Thanks for waiting! x
"I... I kissed her," Rusty admitted quietly as Gus sipped on his morning cup of coffee.
Gus frowned, placing his cup on the counter island just as Sharon waltzed in happily.
"Honey, don't expect me to come home early. Andy's treating me to dinner."
Rusty smiled and nodded at his mother before frowning at his boyfriend. "Well?" He asked him.
Sharon felt the tension rise and smiled. "I'll go and check on Kris and Lauren before I head into work. Love you."
"Love you too," Rusty replied, getting up to kiss Sharon on her cheek. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek which offered support for the growing elephant in the room. Soon after, she left.
"Kissed who?" Gus calmly asked, confusion and betrayal written over his features.
Rusty gave a small shrug. "Kris."
"W-why?"
"Look, I just wanted to tell you because it didn't even mean anything. She just kept on talking and I had to think of a way to shut her up and kissing her was the only thing that popped up in my head. I'm sorry."
"At least you told the truth," Gus smiled, shrugging it off. "Guess I should tell you, I kissed my cousin when I was 4."
Rusty laughed. "That is no way related to this situation!" He rolled his eyes. "Oh, and she and Lauren are moving in today."
Gus's eyes found Rusty's as they widened. "She's moving in? Next, you'll tell me that you're getting married!"
"Look, it's nothing like that. I just said that I'd help her get back on her feet and to be honest, she really needs the help. Lauren's not cheap, you know."
"I know. Kids cost a fortune and I do feel sorry for her but her moving in... I don't know if I'm comfortable with that."
"You have nothing to worry about. Just think of her as my sister."
Gus raised an eyebrow. "You only have one sister, Emily, and you don't have a child with her."
"Legally, I do but not biologically."
"Still. Who are the police going to call if Lauren gets up to mischief in the future."
Rusty sighed. "Me or Kris but hopefully, Lauren won't get into any trouble. I'm going into law and Kris has been looking for jobs into law. If she can."
"I know that whatever is between you guys is simply platonic but... You kissed her and you have a child with her."
"Which all means nothing when it comes to me and you. You're the one I want to be with, not her."
Gus sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't know why I'm so... jealous? It's just that a kid changes everything."
"I know exactly what you mean."
...
Kris packed what was little of hers and Lauren's belongings and exited the motel room, heading downstairs to hand in her keys at the front desk.
"Did you enjoy your stay?"
Kris looked up at the bubbly blonde and nodded mutely, giving a small smile and leaving with her daughter strapped in her car seat.
She flagged down a taxi but remembered how much it was going to cost. Smiling apologetically, she shook her head and quietly walked down the pavement towards the bus stop.
She waited for fifteen minutes. Then forty. Until she realised that there was going to be no luck since it was 8 PM on a Friday night. Maybe the taxi was the better idea.
The twenty-year-old jumped when she heard a car honk at her and shushed the now crying Lauren. She heard the door open and footsteps walk up to her.
"Kris? What on Earth are you doing outside late at night?"
She was relieved to see Sharon Raydor clad in her heels and work suit.
"I was waiting for the bus. The taxi was too expensive." Kris meekly replied.
Sharon sighed, leading her from the bus stop into the car, waiting until Lauren and Kris were strapped in before signalling to Andy to drive on.
"You could have called Rusty to pick you up."
"I didn't want to trouble him."
"Or even pay."
"I don't want to leech any more money from you guys."
Sharon pursed her lips. "Think of it as child support."
Kris prevented the tears which were threatening to fall when she leant her head against the window. "I was such a hard worker. I wanted to be something. A lawyer. A business woman. Look at me now. I'm twenty, a university drop out, a mom and a failure."
Sharon's eyes watered as she looked through the rearview mirror at Kris. She turned to Andy who gave her a sad shrug.
"We'll be home soon."
Kris's heart fluttered when Sharon said that. Her home was theirs now.
...
When they got home, Gus and Rusty were waiting.
"Hi..." Kris quietly said, lifting the car seat up onto the couch.
"Hi," Rusty replied, gently placing a finger in Lauren's hand. "She's asleep."
Kris nodded. "Poor thing's been uncomfortable lately."
Sharon placed a hand on Kris's shoulders and smiled at Gus and Rusty. "I'll go make something for Kris to eat. Rusty, can you show Kris where she'll be sleeping, please?"
Rusty nodded and turned to Gus who picked up his jacket. "Got to go, I have an early start tomorrow morning."
He kissed Rusty on the cheek and smiled at the females before leaving.
Kris finally voiced her weak opinions. "I don't mind the sofa."
"Silly! You'll take Rusty's-"
"Mom," Rusty warned, making Kris giggle.
Kris waved it off. "Please, the sofa's fine."
"Are you sure? Rusty can certainly-" She saw the look her son was giving her and rolled her eyes, smiling brightly at Kris. "Tomorrow, we'll go shopping. You all need a good shop."
"I have a couple of lists for Lauren but I just can't afford them now so all I need is her formula and nappies. I can totally pay for them."
Sharon tutted. "Honey, you're preventing a hands-on grandmother from doing her duties. I want to spoil my first grandchild so I'll buy them."
"I'll just pay you back and be in even more debt-"
"Nonsense. Kris..., I know you're a woman of pride but you don't have to fight the world by yourself. All of those lists that you have, send them my way. If you really want to pay your way then buy yourself treats. "
Rusty picked up Lauren who had now started to cry. "You two argue about money and I'll be in the kitchen actually tending to the crying infant."
Sharon chuckled as she kissed Lauren's cheek and turned to face Kris again. "Please, Kris... Let us help you."
"Fine. But I need a job."
"Fine. As of Monday, you are the Major Crimes Unit official personal assistant."
Kris blushed. "Is that even a proper role?" she asked.
"It is now." Sharon smiled.