It had been a couple weeks since Peter was arrested and John asked for that dreadful space. Joss had cried off and on, missing him like crazy. She felt like she had been dumped with the amount of crying she had done over the man, she was pathetic. Not seeing or hearing him was cutting her heart open, making her realize she had not caught herself in time from falling in love with him. But did she even want to try a new relationship? She did some soul searching and being completely honest with herself, not being with John had very little to do with fear of putting her heart on the line, because she was already in love with the man and his cute as a button daughter. The simple reality that was keeping her from going to him, telling him how she felt, and just going for it with him was that she was scared. Every time she tried love, she lost, and she couldn't bare losing John or Aubrey too. They meant everything to her in such a short time. Joss loved them, but she couldn't shake that fear that gripped her that if she got together with John it would end for whatever reason and she'd never see him again. Joss didn't exactly have the best track record, so she gave John the space he asked for and was miserable without him.

Shaw had tried her level best at cheering her up; the woman's crude humor tended to work but it hadn't this time. Shaw and Lionel now referred to her as Eeyore and to be honest, she felt like it. Without seeing or speaking to John everyday sucked. And she just gave in to the crushing need to see the man because she had learned that Peter Arndt had charges upon charges being brought up against him and the prosecutor felt like they had a slam dunk on every single one. She thought John deserved to know, which was why she was at his place. It was a flimsy reason to be here but she'd take it to see him for a couple minutes. It was Saturday, her day off, and she wore tight jeans and a t-shirt, having to resist the urge to dress up.

Joss hesitated for only a second before she knocked on his door. It took a few moments before the door opened and his smile froze. "Joss, what are you doing here?" he asked gently.

"Is this a bad time?" she asked, feeling now a bit idiotic for being here after he requested space.

He shook his head before stepping back. "No, come on in," he said. She smiled and entered. She looked at him as her eyes ate him up. He looked gorgeous as he stood before her dressed in dress pants and a white dress shirt.

It was her turn for her smile to freeze. "You're going out on a date," she said, not asking.

John looked at her. "Yes," he agreed awkwardly.

She pasted a fake smile on her face. "I-uh, who with, anyone I might know?" she asked, feeling like she was just slugged in the stomach.

He furrowed his brows. "I doubt it, I actually met her through Shaw and Finch," he admitted.

"Who is she?" Joss demanded. If it was who she thought it was she was going to kill Shaw and Finch very slowly and painfully.

"Zoe Morgan," John supplied. Yep, they were dead.

"Zoe Morgan, the fixer?"

He nodded. "You know her?"

"I do," she conceded.

"I met her while Finch, Shaw, and I had lunch together and she swung by helping them with something for one those people they save. We talked briefly, she asked me to dinner and I agreed,"John explained. Of course Zoe would ask John to dinner, probably half the state of New York would like to take John to dinner, but he didn't tend to just go out with anyone. He must be somewhat attracted to Zoe to have agreed. Joss wanted to hit something, hard, and preferably Zoe's face.

"I-I-I'm happy for you, John," she forced out between clenched teeth, trying hard to mean it but couldn't. "But I did come here to tell you something,"she said, switching topics because the one they were on made her want to shoot someone. God, now she felt like Shaw. "It's about Peter."

"What about him? He's still in jail, right?"

But before she could even tell him the good news, her name was called out exuberantly by Aubrey who apparently was still home. "Joss, Joss!" Aubrey cried happily as she took the stairs quickly, carrying a black kitten with her.

Joss smiled as Aubrey rushed over with the kitten. "Ah, this must be Elsa." She had heard all about this cute little kitten when Aubrey talked to her on the phone, and she petted the little kitten on the top of its head.

There was another knock on his door, John immediately answered it. "Hello, John." Zoe Morgan said breathlessly as she stood there with a come hither smile that faded as she eyed Joss. "Detective," she greeted with less enthusiasm, less breathlessness to her voice, and with a not so dazzling smile.

Joss eyed the brunette with barely contained contempt. "Zoe," she greeted with fake cheerfulness.

John didn't recall telling Zoe where he lived, but knowing what she did for a living it wasn't unimaginable for her to have found out on her own. "Zoe, I thought we agreed to meet at the restaurant?"

"We did," she agreed before eyeing Aubrey. "But I was in the neighborhood and figured to surprise you. Who is this-this person that looks like you?" Zoe motioned at the child with the kitten, clearly shocked and a little horrified.

John was going to tell Zoe about his daughter at dinner, but now it seemed he was stuck as he looked down at Aubrey who cradled Elsa to her as his princess looked from Joss to Zoe. "I'm Aubrey," she announced before blatantly ignoring Zoe by turning her full attention on Joss. "Joss I want you to stay here with me, Elsa, and daddy."

"Uh," Joss started, having no clue what to say, but Zoe spoke up saving her.

"I didn't realize you had a child," Zoe said clearly disappointed.

John felt a headache starting to form, not liking the look on Ms. Morgan's face as she eyed his daughter. "I was going to tell you at dinner," he assured her, but glanced down at Aubrey when he felt her tugging on his hand. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Daddy, stop talking to her," Aubrey demanded. John felt his brows crash together, his daughter was never rude.

"Aubrey Rose, don't be rude," John said sternly. Aubrey turned and walked back to Joss who eyed the little girl's look. It looked like John's when he was mad, uh-oh, Aubrey didn't like Zoe one itty bitty bit.

Aubrey looked at Zoe, then back to her. "Joss, who's that old lady talking to my daddy?" Aubrey demanded and Joss snorted with laughter at Aubrey's question because, judging by the look on Zoe's face, she heard her.

"She's your dad's…reason he needs to go out tonight," she muttered, annoyed with Zoe herself. Something flashed through Aubrey's eyes before the little girl handed her the kitten as John spoke with Zoe.

Joss eyed the little girl perplexed before Aubrey turned to look at John. "DADDY!" She shouted and just like that Aubrey burst into tears as John whirled around.

John immediately went to his daughter. "Baby, what's the matter?" he asked as he crouched down, and Aubrey launched herself into his arms.

Joss smirked. Oh John's daughter was good, getting rid of the woman she didn't like with crying. Good girl, Joss thought. Zoe was a viper and John didn't know what he was getting into with her. John rubbed her back and looked to Joss with a confused expression, clearly wondering if she knew what upset Aubrey. Joss shrugged as she held the kitten and petted it sweetly. Elsa meowed happily.

He sighed as he scooped his daughter up, hugging her as she cried in his shoulder, and she clung to him like a vine. He looked at Zoe. "Zoe, can we maybe reschedule?" he asked halfheartedly, really not wanting to.

Zoe smiled politely. "Sure, we'll set something up," she assured him before she turned and hurried away. No sauntering, no snazzy and sly come on. John watched Zoe leave, knowing for damn sure he was never going to call her and she wasn't going to be looking for it.

Joss watched as John closed the door and nearly immediately Aubrey popped her head up with a smile brightening her face as she looked at her over his shoulder, clearly happy with herself. Joss shook her head; John was going to have his hands full trying to date with a possessive little girl on his hands.

"Sweetheart, why were you crying?" John asked gently, rubbing the tears away. Aubrey looked at him. "Aubrey?"

She shrugged. "I didn't want you to leave with the old lady. I want you to stay here with me, Joss, and Elsa." John stared intently into his daughter's blue eyes that mirrored his.

Joss walked up to the pair, handing the little girl the kitten. "Aubrey, you can't just invite me over without your daddy's permission, it's not nice."

"Daddy, I want Joss to stay over, please." John looked at his daughter. He set Aubrey onto her feet, petting the kitten softly before looking at her.

"If you want Joss to stay over and Joss wants to, that's fine. But, baby, if Joss wants to go home she has that right," John said. Aubrey immediately smiled, getting her way as she whirled around to look at her. Joss looked at John, before looking back down at his daughter.

"Will you stay over, please, Joss?"

Tell Aubrey no, say you have to go, he wants space, Joss. "I'd love to stay," she said instead.

John eyed his daughter who was sprawled out on top of Joss asleep. Joss was absently stroking the child's hair as the evening wound down. It was already past nine at night. He cleared his throat. "I'll take her," he said quietly, setting the kitten that was sound asleep on top of him, beside him. Elsa meowed in irritation.

Joss smiled as she shook her head as she stood up with his daughter in her arms. "You forget I had years of experience," she teased. Aubrey had changed into pajamas about an hour and a half before. John wanted her in them while they watched the movie because he had a suspicion his little girl would fall asleep before the credits. John stood up picking up the meowing kitten and carried her with them as they put Aubrey to bed.

Joss smiled immediately as they entered her room. "Aubrey loves stuffed animals," he explained quietly as they entered. Joss put his daughter in her bed, careful to avoid the mountain of stuffed animals, while John took care of the kitten, placing her into her little bed with a bunch of blankets that was seated in the corner of his daughter's room. Elsa immediately curled up to go back to sleep.

John walked over to his daughter, bent and kissed her on the forehead before they exited together. He softly shut the door. He turned and saw Joss watching him. "I'm sorry for saying yes about staying," she apologized immediately.

"It is okay, Joss."

"No it's not, you asked for space for a reason and I should have asked you before I said yes."

He nodded and while it was true, he had been relieved she stayed. He missed her a lot. Even though he knew he needed this, he also needed to be around her. Not calling her and not seeing her, these last couple of weeks was very hard. Joss seemed to brighten up his day. But Aubrey didn't help, she constantly asked about her, constantly wanted to call her, was excited she was coming to her birthday party that was fast approaching. Originally it was just going to be Uncle Lionel, Lee, Anna, her parents, some other of Aubrey's friends, and that was it. Now he had them plus Joss, Uncle Finch, and Miss Shaw. He winced remembering Shaw trying desperately to figure out how to tell his little girl 'no,' but failed when every excuse was combatted by his little pro. It wouldn't surprise him if she became a lawyer when she was older. John was amused at the very idea of Shaw being at a five year old's birthday party, he might take some photos for blackmail purposes in the future.

John forcefully yanked himself out of his musings and eyed Joss who was quietly gazing at him. "You never did get to tell me why you came over, Joss."

"Right, Peter has been arraigned for multiple charges of first degree murder against him, plus conspiracy, and a boatload of other charges. He'll be in prison for life where he can't hurt anyone ever again. Prosecutor is highly confident that he'll be put away, and I thought you'd want to know,"'she said.

He smiled. "I did, and thanks."

She smiled in return. "So, have you and Lionel patched things up?"

He laughed softly. "Yeah, we did. Tell me why you had someone unseal my record, Joss?"

"I wanted to know more about you. It wasn't done with malicious intent and I'm sorry you felt like that," she said and he nodded.

"Do you know about my mother?" he asked afraid that the reason she didn't want to be with him because of his past. He would not nor could he undo what he had done, but he could understand why she, a wonderful cop, wouldn't want to be with him. He had been in trouble with the law as he had pickpocketed, shoplifted, and conned to put food on the table for him and his despondent mother until he was old enough to work for a living. All the money that his mother would receive from the state for him would go to keeping the roof over their head and alcohol.

She furrowed her brows and he breathed in a sigh of relief. She clearly had no idea. "No, what do you mean?"

"Never mind, do you know why Aubrey reacted the way she did with Zoe?" he asked quickly to keep the subject off of his mother and past.

Joss shrugged. "I have a guess."

"Let me hear it."

"You might not like it, John."

John smiled. "Regardless if I like it or not, please, I need to know why she was crying. And I trust your opinion."

"She doesn't want to share you."

Out of everything she could have said he had not been figuring that. "Excuse me?" No, that couldn't be it, Aubrey wasn't possessive like that.

"John your daughter has had your undivided attention for quite a while now, she's been the only woman in your life, and then up walked Zoe who was going to get to spend the evening with you instead of her. Aubrey cried and got you to cancel. Plus she didn't like Zoe at all, not even a teensy bit. I think your daughter doesn't like other women around you."

"But she doesn't mind you," he said confused. "She doesn't even mind Shaw either, finally warming up to her. I think it amuses her that she can make Shaw tongue tied."

"I could be wrong. But your daughter is a sweet little thing and she was not happy with Zoe Morgan, not whatsoever." He saw the look Zoe gave his daughter and it was the same look Jessica gave her and he needed to find a woman that liked both him and his daughter, someone like Joss. The ache that he couldn't have this woman grew a little larger. "So I noticed a lot of your things are in boxes, planning on moving?" she asked gently as they walked down the stairs together, drawing him out of his depressing thoughts.

He nodded. "Yeah, Finch helped me find this amazing place that I just signed on the dotted line for four days ago. We're moving in after I paint the home I don't want my daughter breathing in paint fumes. My lease is up next month anyway so I can take all the time I want to get things squared away before we move in."

"That's great, I'm happy for you John. Where is it at?" she asked gently, hopeful he was still living close.

"In the heart of Manhattan about two miles up from here actually, closer to Central Park which Aubrey is excited about too. It is a nice brown bricked townhome with three bedrooms and a decent sized backyard for Aubrey to play in. It's about ten minutes from your place in fact."

She smiled. "Oh I know those, they are nice, and Central Park is close." And even better was that he was walking distance away, she could see him whenever she wanted.

"Finch knows a lot of people I guess because the seller wanted out and sold the place to me for sixty thousand. Finch's real estate agent said that was like nearly ten times lower than market value."

Joss had a feeling Finch knew the seller extremely well, since he was most likely the seller. Finch was a very giving man and it was obvious her oddball friend liked John and valued his friendship. "I see…"

John furrowed his brows at that. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing, I can't wait to see it when it's all done. I'm assuming you won't have it ready for Aubrey's birthday party next weekend," she said, trying desperately to deflect the conversation away, otherwise she would end up telling him the truth. Joss had a feeling that John wasn't going to be happy to learn Finch was probably the owner.

He shook his head. "You're changing the subject, Joss, what do you mean by 'I see,' you say it like you're suspicious."

"It's nothing."

"Joss, tell me."

She sighed. "It's just that I think the seller is Finch and I think he wanted to give you the home but knew you wouldn't accept such an extravagant gift so he set this ruse up," Joss said slowly.

John stared at her for a moment. "I think I need to call Harold." It all made sense now. The low-ball price, the way the real estate agent kept asking Harold if he was sure. How Harold knew so much about all the details that went into the renovation. He should have trusted his gut that there was something funny going on, that man was like a billionaire! He couldn't even stop the proceedings because the mortgage went through and the seventy-two hour waiting period was already long gone since the signing. The house was his, legally.

"Go easy on him John, he doesn't have many friends and it's obvious he likes you."

"He gave me a house, Joss!"

"Technically you still paid for it," she countered and he glared at her. "Well you did, it was just well below reasonable market value," she added and the man's scowl intensified. "How about you just accept that people care about you, John?"

"I don't like people handing me things."

"Why?" she furrowed her brows.

But John didn't take the bait. "Thanks for telling me about Peter," and Joss heard it. The subtle hint to go home, give him the space he asked for and she forced a smile. Because he deserved this, but her feet felt like they were rooted and she couldn't move. She didn't want to leave him.

"Right, I guess I'll see you next weekend for Aubrey's birthday party."

He nodded slowly. "Yes, next weekend."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Joss." Another hint to leave, yet her feet remained rooted in spot.

"Night," she said, staring at him.

John felt stuck in a crazy eye lock with her. She seemed as unable to move as he was unable to look away. "Night," he muttered.

She cursed herself as she imagined herself launching herself forward, grabbing his cheeks, and tugging his head down so she could kiss him desperately. Just to see if he was still hung up on her or not, which was wrong. However as wrong of an idea that it was, she couldn't fully banish it from her brain as she took an involuntary step forward wanting to suck tenderly on his sexy mouth before she finally broke free of the agonizing staring contest.

Joss whirled around and grabbed her jacket from the hook it rested on before tugging it on hastily. He watched her out like the gentleman he was, waited until she was in her car with the engine on before he closed his door. Joss eyed his closed door, before leaning her head against the headrest and her shoulders slumped. She despised feeling indecisive with one half of her wanting to shy away from him, protect her heart from pain that she didn't want to feel again; while the other half wanted to go for it because loving and losing was better than not trying at all. She looked at his place one last time and for now the half that wanted to walk away won out as she slid the car into drive, and pulled away from the curb.

AN: I had fun writing this chapter. Next one has Iris, so a fair-warning but she is only around for maybe a quarter of it or less and the rest is Joss, then Careese, and some Joss/Fusco stuff. And if you are waiting patiently (or impatiently) for some real GOOD Careese, then chapter 12 is for you let's just say our baes share a moment that's eye-opening for our Jossy poo. I'll be posting the next couple actually kind of quickly just because I know you guys are waiting for Careese, so chapter 12 should be posted on Thursday :)

Thanks for reading XOXOX