"...Why don't you two get going now." Renji turned his back you and Kuroo and went into the living room.

"W-wait!" You reached out towards Renji, I-I won't be out long, I promise! And please put Yujiro to bed by 8:00!"

"I got it...just go already." Renji sounded like he didn't want to talk anymore, so he kept quiet.

"I'll be back before-"

"(f/n)," Kuroo squeezed your hand in his. As you felt the squeeze, you turned your head to look at him. Kuroo gave you a somewhat stern look. He shook his head and began to speak. "Let's just go." Kuroo turned around and started pulling you along through the door. Before you were completely away from the door, you took the door knob and shoved the door back closed.

"Why'd you stop me from talking?" You asked while he continued to pull you off your property and onto the sidewalk. His car was parked right in front of your house.

"I can somewhat feel his pain."

"What?" You didn't get what he was saying.

"What? You couldn't tell?"

"Tell what?" You pulled your arm back so that you wouldn't be pulled by him any longer. You pulling away from his grip made Kuroo turn back and look at you. You both stood right on the sidewalk in front of his car.

"He's pained."

"Pained? What do you mean?"

"Even though it was completely weird yet nice of him to set up this date for us, he's still pained about the idea of his former wife going out with another guy. The after effects of a lost love is torment to the heart."

"W-wait 'going out'?! We're 'going out'!? Since when?" There was blush all over your cheeks.

"Huh?" Kuroo arched a brow. "Well yeah. We are going out somewhere right now, aren't we." Kuroo saw the red that was increasing in your cheeks then smirked when he understood the reason for it. "Oh, did you think I meant as a couple?" Kuroo got closer to you and put his hands on his hips. He leaned down towards you features to cheek you out even more. When he saw you twitch in response to his question, his smirk curled up even further. You quickly shook your head to prove him wrong. "Yes you did." Kuroo placed a kiss on your forehead.

"Kuroo-san!"

"Whether we end up a couple or not, is all up to you. The decision is in your hands but then again, I don't plan on giving up on you, ever. If necessary, I'll chase you down to the ends of the earth."

"Kuroo-san..." You couldn't stop staring at him.

"Come on, we should go." Kuroo walked a little past you to get closer to the car. Kuroo put his hand on the door handle of the passenger side and pulled the door open for you. "After you."

"...Thank you." You glanced his way for a quick second before taking your foot and stepping inside the car. Once you were inside, Kuroo closed the door and went around the other side to hope in the drivers seat. After you were strapped in, Kuroo pulled the seat belt over his chest and waist and started the car, then driving off.

"They're finally gone." Renji mumbled. Renji stood right beside the window with a small part of the curtain raked back for peeping purposes and a piece of his face sticking out the window. As he witnesses the car drive off, he closed the curtain back and put his back to the wall. His arms came up to his chest and folded while he closed his eyes for thought. A short sigh escaped his lips.

"Bed time!" Yujiro shouted.

"Huh?" Renji opened his eyes looked at Yujiro who had just finished turning off the television and putting away any toys he had out. 'I though he was going to want to stay up a bit longer than this. And putting away his toys; he's so responsible, even for his age.'

"Papa, it's bed time!"

"Oh, right bed time. Alright, let's go." Renji leaned away from the wall and stretched out his hands towards Yujiro. Yujiro ran over and took his fathers hand and they went upstairs together. "Did you already take your bath?"

"Yup! I took one before dinner."

"Alright, then I guess all that's left to do is to put you to bed." As the two got on the floor once more, they turned and entered Yujiro's room. 'My son's room. I haven't been up here once. It's rather clean for a young boys room.'

"Papa!" Yujro ran past Renji and over to a blue and wooden short shelf wear it held children's books. "Can you read me a story to put me to sleep!"

"Huh? Oh, sure. Why don't you chose what you like and I'll read it to you." Renji took a walk further inside his son's room and watched as he took a few books out from the shelf and spread them out on the small round rug right next to his bed. Yujiro kneeled down before the books and began to choose which one he'd like to have his father read to him. "Yujiro, papa has a question for you." Renji took a seat on the edge of Yujiro's bed, hunched over with his elbows on his knees and his hand clasped as he looked down at the 4-year-old.

"What is it papa?" Yujiro stopped momentarily from choosing which book to read, to look up at his father, who was overcome by a sullen look.

"Does mama talk about papa, even just a little?"

"Mm..." Yujiro put a finger to his chin and looked up to think shortly. "Nope."

"...Oh..." Renji felt hurt. "The Oniisan that came to pick mama up, are they together?"

"I don't know, but mama smiles way more when Oniisan is around!" Yujiro grinned and resumed choosing.

"I see..." Thought he felt hurt, there was a weak smile on his face. 'At least she's found some type of happiness. A happiness that doesn't involve me.' But though Renji was thinking this, his heart continued to stab him. 'It's way more than fair that I feel this way...' A tear drop ran down Renji's right cheek. 'But this unbearable grief...really is too much. All the regrets that I have are building up and are all hitting me directly in the heart. I wish that I can take them all back! I swear...if I had one more chance to make things right with you (f/n), then I'd do everything within my power to make sure you knew that you were the most beautiful, needed and important woman in this sinful world. Kiss your soft lips over and over again until they felt numb. I'd make love to you, the right way. Caress you as if you were a fragile peace of glass sitting in the palm of my hand. Leave gentle, heated kisses on every single nook and cranny of your small and petite body. A petite body that would make any man in the right mind, go crazy. But all those opportunities have passed now. She's got someone who can do that for her in my stead.'

"This one! Papa read this one to me!" Yujiro held up the book of his chose and showed Renji. He stood up and walked towards him. Renji lifted up Yujiro from under his arms and rested him down behind him on the bed. He stood up so that he could tuck Yujiro in properly. Renji then took the book from him and began to read.

Meanwhile, you and Kuroo had made it to the restaurant and had just finished ordering. "Wow, this place really is amazing." Your eyes were exploring the restaurants features and all, taking in everything. Everything looked really fancy. "Their food looks really delicious as well. I can't wait to try it." After you finished observing the place, your eyes landed right back on Kuroo. When you did, you noticed that his eyes were completely glued to you, most likely from the moment you arrived. His eyes seemed very much dazed when he looked at you. "Kuroo-san? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I'm just taking in your beauty, hope there's nothing wrong with that." He said.

"!" You started turning red again. 'Boy, he really knows how to sweet talk.' After a good minute, you were starting to feel a bit anxious because of his staring, and also because it was so quiet between you two. 'I have to talk about something or else he's just going to keep staring until our food comes.' "S-So! Kuroo-san, how's wo-" Before anymore words came out your mouth you stopped. 'Oh shoot! I'm not supposed to talk about work! That's an absolute no-no!' You remembered from when Sugawara called you and gave you a list of do's and don't on what not to do on date's.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"I was just wondering about what you were like as a kid." You grinned, trying to play off what you were about to say before.

"Huh? oh, well I was pretty much like any other little boy."

"O-Oh..." 'What the hell was I thinking asking him that question!? Koushi would give me a minus 30 for that stupid question.' You looked away from Kuroo. "I-I uh-"

"Your dinner is severed." The waiter that had taken your order earlier came back with both plates of food along with two empty glass cups and a bottle of white whine on a serving dish. He carefully placed them down on the mats in front of you and then the glasses next to them. he then took the whine bottle and popped the cork, pouring the the luscious white whine inside each glass, half away.

"Thank you." You both thanked him. The waiter bowed and then turned to leave for another table.

"K-Kuroo-san." You called him before he could start eating. "I-I'm sorry for asking such an irrelevant question. The truth is, is that I'm nervous right now, and since it was so quiet between us for a while, I just thought that it I should say something to lighten the mood." You confessed.

"You don't need to try or force yourself to talk. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable earlier, I just couldn't help myself. And it wasn't an irrelevant question." Kuroo smiled and tried to make you feel less tense.

"I'm sorry." You bowed slightly.

"Like I said, don't worry about. Just relax and make yourself comfortable, okay?"

"Yes." You managed to put on a smile and from there on out you and Kuroo had an easy flow of conversation for the rest of the time. You both got to know each other more and it was fun. Though the whole time you felt a warm and light fluttery feeling spread throughout your chest. It was so calming but then again it had your heart riled up. 'It's so nostalgic, this exact feeling. It take me back; it was so long ago. Around the time when I met Renji.' Before you knew it your cheeks were hot and your eyes were completely taken in by Kuroo's very persona.

"That was wonderful." You commented as you and Kuroo walked out of the restaurant. "The food, the service, everything."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Kuroo smiled. You both started walking back to the car, continuing to chat. "I had a wonderful time as well."

"I'm glad I didn't bore you." You chuckled. "I was worried that we could get silent again and that I couldn't keep up the conversation. I haven't gone on a date in so long that it seems like my very first. But, spending time with you makes me realize how fun dating used to be. Ah~ I haven't fun like this in a while. I'm really, really happy I went out with you tonight Kuroo-san. Thank you."

"(f/n), you really mean that?"

"Of course I do. Every moment I spend with you make me happy." You blushed. "And if it's alright with you, then I'd like to continue feeling this way with you." You glanced up at Kuroo who had his eyes opened up wide. 'Did I sound weird just now?'

"Yeah, I don't think I can keep up with this friends stuff anymore." Kuroo took a step closer to you and held you close to his body. You could hear his heart beat pounding against your ear. It was racing, fast. His racing heart, had yours eventually ending up the same way. "(f/n)...I really did fall in love with the right girl. Everything about you is so humble. Your reactions to the things I do are sometimes weird, but that one of the cutest things about you."

You could smell his scent and it was the perfect trigger to make your heart speed up even more; so fast your were close to hyperventilating. 'He smells so good!' You shouted in your head. And just as you thought so, Kuroo pulled away from you so that he could take his hands and use them to cup your soft cheeks. 'Is he going to kiss me?' You wondered. You closed your eyes and waited; sure enough you felt a pair of lips cover yours. Your body was feeling tingly. "Kuroo-san." You called his name as you separated. "His kissed always leave me feeling this way."

"(f/n), I have something for you at my house, do you want to come by to get it."

"Eh? You have something for me at your house? 'But I've never went to his house before so how could he possibly have something for me?' "Alright." You agreed. Kuroo pressed a button on his car keys and the car responded. Kuroo then opened passenger door and let you in. You stepped in the car and waited for Kuroo to get in. Once he got in he but on his seat belt and then drove off to his house.

The drive wasn't to far, about 10 minutes long. When the car stopped you looked out the window at the house he he stopped right in front of and your eyes widened. "Wow, so this is his house." It wasn't like his house was big or anything, but the fact that you got to see house, was amazement all on it's own. Kuroo got out the car and closed the door, he went around to your side and opened your door for you. You stepped out the car and onto the pavement.

"(f/n)."

"Yes?" You looked over at him.

"Before we go inside, I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I lied. I don't have anything for you at my house." He smiled.

"What?! Why did you lie to me?"

"Because I didn't want to let you go home yet. I still want to talk with you more and just be near you all in all."

"O-Oh..." You blushed. "Well, you could have just told me, I would have understood."

"Understanding is one thing, but complying is another. Plus, you have Yujiro at home."

"You right." 'I can't believe I nearly forgot about him.'

"Well, I'll drive you h-"

"I'll come in." You cut him off.

"Huh?" He hadn't heard right.

"I'll come in, but just for a while. I don't want to worry Yujiro or keep Renji from doing what he has to do."

"Right." Still amazed by your answer, Kuroo took out his house keys and started walking up the path to the door. You walked behind him while observing the neighborhood. As you got up to the stairs, Kuroo took his keys and shoved it in the key hole, turned it and opened the door. As Kuroo stepped inside, he took of his shoes and put on a pair of sippers. When he turned back, he noticed that there you were still standing in the doorway.

"Come on in, don't be nervous. I'm not going to do anything to you unless you you want to."

"! O-Okay." You took a step inside and took of you shoes. 'This is a bit nerve wrecking.'

"Here, slippers for you." Kuroo had brought over a pink pair of sippers for you and placed down at you feet.

"Thank you."

"Would you like some tea?"

"No, thank you." You shook your head as you put on the slippers and followed him upstairs.

"Let's go to my room."

"Y-Yes." You looked around at the things in his house as you climbed the stairs. Kuroo soon enough stopped in front of a door and opened it.

"This is my room." He said.

'Wow, it's so normal.' You walked in ahead of him and took everything in. 'It's really neat too. I'd never expect for him to be so 'clean'?'

"(f/n)." Kuroo called your name and hugged you from behind. His arms wrapped around your waist comfortably and his chin rested on your shoulder. Kuroo made a slight shift so that his lips would peck you on your neck.

"K-Kuroo-san..." An ever so slight moan escaped your mouth.

"I've never met a girl like you before. You're so rare in my eyes and every time I see you I can't help myself from wanting you each and every time. I want—No...I need you, now." Kuroo leaned over next to your right ear and whispered into your ear. Goosebumps scattered all over your skin as you felt the heat mainly over your ear and partly down the side of your neck. "Is it alright if I get permission to this body?" Kuroo squeezed tighter around you.

Your heart was about to leap right out your chest. You were speechless. 'Please...please don't tell me this is what he invited me for.' Your body was trembling a bit and your mouth was a bit dry. As the more you got anxious, the more your body started to feel as if it were in a furnace. As the both of you stood there outside in front of the restaurant people passed by, walking in and out of the restaurant, you got a few stares here and there. But all there looks didn't matter at the moment. This moment. You took your hands and lightly pushed Kuroo's hands away from your waist. You took a step forward and looked down towards the floor. Kuroo looked at you with a bit of surprise but then chuckled a bit. "I don't know about that." You shook your head. "I don't think I can, not now."

"It's alright." Kuroo put his hand on top of your head and gave it a brief pat. "I guess this was way too soon. *sigh* Shoot, I feel like I messed up our flow." Kuroo ran his hand through his hair.

You turned around suddenly to look at him. "No, it's not you it's just that—I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Please don't feel like I don't like you! I do it's just that-"

Kuroo's eyes shot open as he caught himself. "Wait, you like me?" He interrupted you with smirked.

"Eh?" Your whole face blew up in red. "I-I—N-not like..." Your mind was racing for something to say, but all the while, Kuroo got closer to you and cupped your cheeks.

"So you like, like me, right?" He smiled. "I hope I'm not misunderstanding anything?"

"I...Whenever I'm near you, my heart feels like it get's closer and closer to exploding each time." You began to confess. You looked downward so that you wouldn't have to see his face. "I like it when you touch me. Your touch feels so gentle yet secure and I know I want those hands to hold me; hold me so close and tightly that it feels like I might suffocate. The way you interact and care for my son it just takes my breathe away. And each time we talked over the phone or texted each other, my heart felt all tingly and warm when you would tell me different things about yourself before we met, and there was a real good feeling floating around in my chest whether I talked to you or just came withing a few inches of you. I questioned it a few times, this feeling, and somewhere deep down I probably knew that I was starting to like you. I'm not saying this is love, but it's probably getting there." 'Jeez am I even making sense right now?'

"Wow, I never expected such a confession from you. Though, I'm extremely happy to hear that you feel that way."

"Really?"

"Of course, since I'm the one who's chasing after you."

"Yeah, I guess." You gave a shy smile but then wiped it away. Kuroo found you looking around the room once again. He had lost contact with your eyes.

'She seems really tense now.' "(f/n), if you don't mind me asking, uh, how did you meet Renji?"

"Eh? Why do you want to know...?" You got a bit suspicious. 'Why the heck would he want to know about my past with Renji. Any guy who like a girl usually wouldn't ask them about their past with their last partner, right?' "

"You don't have to tell me, it's just that you seemed really tense and I wanted to say something to get your mind off any pressure."

"I-...I'll tell you." You looked down and clasped your hands lazily together. "I met Renji back when we were in our 2nd year of high school. Back then, Renji was way more nicer and gentle than he was before we divorced."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Renji was on the baseball team back then and I was the manager of it. Renji was the ace pitcher and a lot of the girls in my school were after him. Almost day after day he would get a love letter from someone. Eventually, he ended up dating a girl. They looked like they were a good and functional couple, until they broke up 3 weeks later. Renji then found himself another girlfriend, that one lasted only a week longer than the last. Then Renji found himself dating another girl. He thought she was the one, telling all his friends that he thought she was the one, but he was wrong. She broke up with him within the second week of them dating."

"All the girls who had fallen for Renji started to slowly leave him. Love letters started coming in and rumors started to spread among the 2nd year girls. 'Renji looks sweet, but he's really a wolf in sheep's clothing.' ; 'Renji beat me the other day' Said a girl in tears. 'I can't believe Renji is a woman beater, he doesn't even seem like the type.'; 'Renj-kun has a really bad temper, stay away from him!' All the girls in our year started avoiding him, except me. One day I saw Renji sitting on the benches of the baseball field, crying. I went up to him and asked him:"

"Renji, what's the matter? Why are crying? Did something happen?"

Flashback

"(f/n), all the girls keep calling me a monster. The one's I've dated keep telling me that I'm the 'worst', I'm 'not gentle' and that I'm 'too rough'. They're all treating me like I'm some devil now. Am I—Am I really a monster like they say!?"

"Renji-kun, you're no monster, from the looks of it, I'd say that you're just a big ol' puppy who just needs a hug." You smiled.

"(f/n)..."

"I don't know why those girls would go around and spread rumors around like that. They should keep things like that to themselves. To treat someone like this is just terrible. Don't worry Renji-kun, I would never dream of treating you like that, your someone precious to me after all. To be honest with you, I think the girls only wanted to be with you because you were a jock, and a really cute one at that. But, I'm not like that. If I were them, I'd only be interested in what's on the inside."

"I only saw Renji for who he really was. And who he really was, wasn't a bad person."

'How could I not notice her before. She's like a guardian angel sent from the very heavens. God, thank you.'

"(f/n), I know it's really sudden but...will you got out with me?"

"Of course. I'm so glad you asked."

"After that day, me and Renji had started dating. When people had heard, the girl in and outside my class came up to me and asked me 'what the heck was wrong with me' and 'why would I even go out with a woman beater like him', telling me that I would 'regret it' but I all answered them the same way:"

"You guys don't even know the real Renji-kun because you were too quick to dump him. The Renji-kun that 'I' know, is a very kind fellow at heart. Taking his flaw of a short temper and making it a weapon against him, you all are horrible and should be ashamed of yourselves. Have you ever thought that his anger just might be his 'Achilles heel'? All in all it's my loss and my gain."

End Flashback

"Instead of helping him out with his problem, they all left him. But they only made it worse. I won't say that our relationship was perfect, but it was a joyous one because every moment I had with him was fun. Eventually the girls were shocked about the fact that me and Renji had made a over a year, then graduated high school together as a couple. I could tell that Renji seemed very happy with our relationship as well, even more happy because I helped him out with some of his anger problems. Eventually we went to the same university and finally took our relationship to 'that' level and then a few month later Renji asked me to marry him. It was kinds fast, but I was happy with him and only him and said yes."

"Within the next month I had gotten pregnant with Yujiro. Renji was ecstatic to become a father that he suggested we find a house together and move in. After Yujiro was born, Renji had gotten himself a part-time job and everything was basically smooth sailing, until 2 years later. All of a sudden Renji snapped and started beating on me. I don't know what the reason was. Maybe it was stress over having to pay so much bills, taxes and such, and then school on top of that. Whatever is was, it had finally broken him and he had taken it out on me.

"What?!" Kuroo had gotten angry.

"I tried to get help for him, but he refused and the abuse continued. One day I had told my older brother, about this because he noticed the bruising on my skin when I went to visit him. And then a few day later...No...I won't go that far." You could feel the pain of past memories dwell up within your heart and it felt like a dagger was piercing right through your very heart. Eventually, tears ended up spilling out the corners of your eyes. "Renji promised me that he would never harm me whether it be emotionally or physically...but he ended up doing both."

"When I realized there was no way for us to fix our marriage, I got a divorce. For some odd reason he had suggested that I get full custody of Yujiro, and from there on out Renji had been stalking me and Yujiro. He broke down my doors and kept having to get both them and the locks replaced, but it was no use. I tried calling police, but he had only threatened me even more. Eventually, I realized that I was living in a pure nightmare. I started getting sensitive to even the slightest touch of people. And when I saw his face I just...I just felt so terrified. My breath always felt short and the only thing I could do was prepare for the worst. Just the thought of his next visit scared me. 'What was it going to be today?' I would say to myself. 'How long would we have to live like this?' I felt helpless and small, weak."

"But the times when I felt like pure dirt and completely weak, I thought of Yujiro. Whenever I look at his smiling face or hear him call me, I get this gentle light feeling deep with my heart and think, 'I have to be strong. No matter what he throws my way, I've got to get back on my feet and stay strong. Yujiro's counting on me. No matter how paralyzed my body will become when he comes inside my house, no matter what he may say or do to me, no matter what...I have to remember that I'm fighting for the two of us.' It was a constant battle that I fight, but I had to remember that I'm not alone. Both he and I...we're in this together. And if me, on my last breath, is what it takes for him to have a bright and safe future, then so be it."

"That's right (f/n), you're not alone."

"Huh?"

"I'm so pissed at Renji that I could pummel his face in this very second. For making you feel like that...for doing all those things to you... But you're not alone, neither of you, because you have me now." Kuroo took your hands in his and gave it a good grip. "I promise that I'll take care of you and Yujiro, from here on out. The both of you are two of the most precious people in my life right now, and I'd feel sick if I'd loose either of you. I love the both of you and if you'll let me, I'll show you what real love is supposed to feel and look like. That's all I want for you."

"Kuroo-san...Kuroo-san!" You threw your arms around him and squeezed him like no tomorrow. You started to bawl out loudly in his ear. How long have you been waiting to hear words like those. Words of reassurance. You were going to cling onto those words for the rest of your life.

"You can cry all you need to for now. I'll be here right by your side forever."