A/N: Yay, I finished this chapter already. Hope you all like it!

Kadence

Disclaimer: Camp Rock and its characters are the property of the Disney Channel. I own nothing…I merely borrow for my amusement, as well as yours.

Chapter 10

It was a week after the single release party at Planet Hollywood, and things between Mitchie and Shane had gone from great to awkward in less than 24 hours and had stayed awkward for days.

The short version is Mitchie and Shane had fueled the gossip fire, Shane kissed Mitchie and Mitchie panicked. But for the long version, we have to go back to the party.

Flashback…

Mitchie had stepped outside a side door to call the sitter and check on Sky. Shane had gone with her, not wanting her outside alone, but also because he wanted to see how Mitchie was handling things. It had been a busy day for all of them, but it was new for Mitchie and after what had happened with her parents the morning before, Shane was sure she was more than just overwhelmed. She was feeling alone and abandoned.

"How is she?" Shane asked as Mitchie put her phone back in her clutch.

"Sound asleep," Mitchie replied.

"And how are you?" Shane asked.

"Tired and missing my bed," Mitchie replied.

"I know the feeling," Shane replied. "You get used to the craziness, but the lack of sleep is hard to adjust. The boys and I haven't had a busy day like this in a while."

"If I'm this tired now, how will I handle tour? Especially taking care of Sky on top of everything else," Mitchie said.

"We'll be with you," Shane said. "And Mr. Davison said you could hire a nanny."

"I know. I just don't want someone else taking care of her," Mitchie said. "Sky is my responsibility and I don't want her growing up thinking some nanny is her mother."

"Mitch, are you saying you want to be her mother?" Shane asked. This was the first time that this had come up. Because Sky didn't talk yet, no one had ever mentioned what Sky was going to grow up calling Mitchie.

"I am her mother now Shane," Mitchie said. "When she's old enough I'll tell her the story, but I'm not just her guardian…I am her mother. And I won't abandon her."

"Mitchie, is that how…" Shane began, seeing Mitchie's eyes fill with tears.

"Why don't they want us Shane?" Why won't they come home?" Mitchie asked.

"Oh Mitch, come here," Shane said, pulling Mitchie into his arms.

As Shane comforted Mitchie, neither of them saw the photographer snapping photos of their private moment.

"Mitchie, you've done a great job without them. If they're not around to see all that you've accomplished, with your career and with Sky, it's their loss," Shane said. "You don't need them. You have us."

"Thanks Shane," Mitchie said.

"You're welcome. Now let's dry those tears from your pretty face and go enjoy the party," Shane said.

The two went back to the party, totally unaware that the whole exchange would be plastered on gossip magazines and websites in only a few hours.

**********

"Morning Mitchie," Caitlyn said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Mitchie was sitting in front of Sky's high chair, trying to get Sky to eat the jar of cereal and bananas.

"Oh, you have coffee. Thank God!" Jason said, as he, Nate and Shane walked in the back door.

"So, I take it you haven't seen Perez or E! this morning?" Nate asked, pouring a bowl of cereal before sitting next to Caitlyn.

"Oh God, what happened?" Mitchie asked, wiping Sky's face and hands. Sky had recently started grabbing the spoon and feeding time had become a lot messier.

"Apparently, there was a photographer outside Planet Hollywood when we went out to check on Sky last night," Shane said, then banging his head on the table.

"How bad is it?" Caitlyn asked.

"Mitchie's crying and Shane is hugging her," Nate said.

"Oh man," Mitchie said.

"Mitch, I'm so sorry. I had no idea there was a photographer," Shane said. "I'm used to this…I should have known we were being watched."

"Shane, this isn't your vault. Those paps are vultures," Caitlyn said.

"What are they saying?" Mitchie asked.

"Most of the gossip sites like E! and Perez are just talking about you and Shane being a couple," Jason said.

"But some of the more cruel sites have made up some BS about how you can't take the pressure of taking care of Sky," Nate said.

"But that's…" Mitchie said. "I was calling to check on her."

"We're going to fix this Mitchie," Shane said. "I promise you."

"I, uh, I'm going to go change her," Mitchie said, lifting Sky out of her high chair and walking quickly towards the nursery.

"What are we going to do?" Shane asked. "We spent all day yesterday doing interviews and Mitchie is still having to defend herself."

"I already spoke to your uncle. Mitchie's website is up and running, so she's going to release a statement in her first blog post," Nate said. "Something about how much she's enjoying raising Sky, and her new career, and how the two of you are just friends."

"What if I want more?" Shane asked, softly.

"Shane, maybe now's not the best…" Jason said.

"When will there be a good time?" Shane asked. "I hate this. I want to be with her, but she's scared. We've done nothing but deny it, so if we do finally get together, we look like liars."

"There's no good way to do this Shane," Nate said. "And you have to remember, Mitchie's life has changed so much in a short time. She may not be ready for another new complication."

"Look Shane, I know Mitchie likes you," Caitlyn said. "And I've been telling her from the beginning that you two would be good together. But she has Sky to think about. And you have to think about Sky too. If things don't work between you two, it doesn't just affect you two. It affects all of us…especially Sky."

"I know," Shane said, putting his head in his hands. "I know that, but I…I can't help. I know it will be hard. And I know that Sky will become a bigger part of my life if Mitchie and I get together. But none of that scares me. I just want to be with her."

"Then tell her," Caitlyn said. "Then you can get through this together."

**********

"Mitchie?" Shane asked, knocking on the nursery door.

"Come in," Mitchie said.

As Shane entered the room, he saw a blanket laid out in the middle of the floor. Mitchie was sitting on the blanket with Sky, who was lying on her belly playing with her toys.

"Can we talk?" Shane asked.

"Sure," Mitchie said, standing up.

"I…I know that a lot has changed for you in a short time. And I know your life is already complicated. But I…I like you, and I think we're good together and I…" Shane rambled before he could stop himself. "Aw, hell."

With that, Shane pulled Mitchie to him and kissed her. Mitchie had been shocked at first, but after a second, she responded to his kiss, opening her mouth to him she felt his tongue touch her lips.

"Mitchie, Brown wants to…" Nate said, walking into the room. "Oh, I…uh, sorry."

But that damage had been done. Nate's interruption had dragged Mitchie back to reality and she picked Sky up and hurried out of the room.

End flashback

And that brings us to the present. Since the kiss, Mitchie had avoided Shane at all costs. But this afternoon the group had a rehearsal at Idol and Mitchie would be forced to interact with Shane.

Thanks for reading!

Kadence