OMG OMG OMG! I'M UPDATING!! I'm so sorry that it's taken me more than 4 months to update. I apologize. I'm truly sorry. I hope you forgive me. So here is chapter 9. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think. I don't know when I'll be updating next. This was a spur of the moment thing. Last night I was looking at reviews and the inspiration fairy decided to visit. So I hope this holds you over until she visits again.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Bridget, Melody, and Charlie

Chapter 9

"Where you goin'?" Tim asked Angela as she made her way to the door. Her outfit was pretty mild for her going out. Just a pair of capris and a t-shirt.

"Soda's. I'm gonna go see if Bridget wants to do something today." Tim froze. His little sister was going to see his ex-girlfriend. She couldn't do that, could she? He tried to act casual about it when he asked, "What're you planning to do?"

"I don't know. Maybe hit the Dingo or the movies. Or maybe we could take her little girl to the park." He flinched at the mention of Bridget's daughter. He couldn't believe his beautiful, caring, fun-loving (okay that had to stop) ex-girlfriend had a kid. He didn't think she'd be the kind of girl to get knocked up at a young age.

"Well, don't stay out too long. We got things to do tonight."

"What things?"

"Just things." Yeah, things that consisted of keeping his sister away from his ex. "Be back soon."

"Yeah, yeah," she said, dismissing his words with a wave of her hand. "I'll be back when I'm back."

"Angela!" he said, but she was already out the door. He sighed and sank down on to the couch. He rested his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands, closing his eyes. He couldn't believe his sister was going to get close to his ex. There had to be some rule against that in the sibling handbook. Aren't sisters and brothers supposed to be on your side no matter what? Curly would be on his side on this; he wouldn't disappoint him.

He was only on the couch for about twenty minutes when Angela came bursting back into the house. "She's gone!"

"What?"

"I went to Soda's and some guy answered the door. His name's Greg. He's one of Bridget's friends." Tim felt himself get jealous at that. "When I asked if she was there, he said she went back to California. I asked why. And guess what he said." She paused. "What, no guess? Well, he said that she went back because her jackass of an ex-boyfriend—that means you—didn't believe her when she said she loved him and that Melody was his. What the hell were you thinking Tim? Of course that girl is yours! She looks exactly like you! She's got the Shepard's hair and eyes! It sure ain't Curly she was sleeping with! I can't believe you upset her so much that she had to go back to her dad's just to get away from you!" She screamed. Tim tried to block his ears. She was pissed. He understood. Hell, he was pissed at himself. He thought that it was just a rumor that she was going back. When Dallas told him she was leaving, he didn't believe him. Now, he should've thought better.

Tim started making his way to his room as Angela continued yelling. He slammed his bedroom door to make sure she knew he was done listening. He needed time to think. He didn't need her yelling at him. He already felt like an idiot. Her yelling only made it worse.

He lay back on his bed, resting his head on his arms, with his eyes closed. And he thought. Thought about Bridget. He was still irrevocably in love with her. He knew it, Curly knew it, everyone at Buck's surely knew it. And he knew Bridget still loved him. He saw the heart hanging around her neck. He knew there would be no way that she'd wear it if she didn't.

He'd just been too full of emotion when he saw her in the park that day. Shocked, angry, happy, nervous, scared. He was feeling such a plethora of emotion that he couldn't express the one he wanted: Love. He was too surprised; he felt as though he was seeing a ghost or seeing a scene from the future they could've shared if she hadn't left.

Tim also knew that that little girl—Melody—was his. Angela was right. Melody couldn't have gotten her looks from anywhere else. She was definitely a Shepard. Tim wished he would've acted kinder and more accepting the first time he'd seen his daughter. Instead, he'd acted like an idiot and drove away the only girl he'd ever loved along with their child.

It was still hard to believe. Daughter. Tim Shepard had a little girl. Never thought he'd see the day that he'd actually have a family.

Since that day in the park, seeing Bridget pushing Melody on the swing, he'd had dreams about how he could've done things differently, how things would've gone if he would've been able to talk civilly with her.

Instead of arguing, he would've pressed his lips to hers as soon as he realized it was her. They would've had quite the reunion. He would've gotten to know Melody. A year later, Bridget would've been pregnant with his child again, only he'd be around this time. He'd smile widely at seeing her round with motherhood. He'd be with her through all the cravings and mood swings and kicks. He'd be in the delivery room with her as the doctor brought their second child into the world. He'd be there through the first crawl, first steps, first bath, first word. He wouldn't miss a thing. He'd marry Bridget and they'd have a few more kids because he'd love seeing her swollen with his child. And if it didn't happen…Hell, they'd have fun trying. His life would finally be complete.

Since the day she'd left, he'd felt empty. There was a void that was no longer filled. It was right where his heart should've been. He couldn't fix it. Bridget had taken it with her. No matter what he tried—booze, broads, fights—the hold was still empty. It had been temporarily filled when they met in the park. But once she was out of sight, the hold returned.

Tim knew there was only one way to fix it and he was going to do everything in his power to reach that goal.

He knew his happiness was only a train ride away.

--

Charlie was home alone, sitting in the living room working. Well, not exactly alone. Bridget was upstairs playing her guitar while he was working on a defense position for an upcoming case. He could hear the music coming from his daughter's bedroom as he worked. It had been a while since he'd heard her play. It was nice to hear it again.

The door bell interrupted his listening. He hastened to the door. He was expecting an important file for his case, so it was a surprise when the delivery boy was not on the other side of the door.

"Tim," Charlie said surprised.

"Hey Charlie," Tim said cautiously.

"What are you doing here?"

"I…uh…I came to see Bridget," he said, suddenly unsure of himself.

"I don't think that's such a good idea. You really hurt her, Tim. She's been here pining for you for three years and, when she finally gets to see you, you break her heart. How do I know you won't do that again if I let you go up there?"

"I love her so much. She hurt me too, when she left. When I saw her in Tulsa, I was just so shocked that I couldn't even think straight. I knew that I had to make things right."

Charlie was silent for a moment. He shook his head as he spoke his next words. "You're lucky Dallas isn't here. He'd want to beat your head in. And I don't blame him. You have everything he could ever want. The girl that he wants loves you and only you. You have the daughter that he's grown so fond of. You'll have the family he's always wanted."

"I know what Dallas wants, and, truly, I'm sorry that I can't stay away from your daughter. He's my best friend and I know he loves her. If I could, I'd leave right now and let Dallas work his magic. But I love Bridget and I know she loves me. And I'm not leaving until she tells me she doesn't want me around."

Charlie sighed. "Upstairs, down the hall, last door on the right."

"Thanks Charlie."

Tim walked past him and made his way to the stairs. The music grew louder as he got closer to Bridget's room. The door was open. He leaned against the door frame and watched as she concentrated. She'd play a few chords and then stop to write something down in her notebook. She looked so beautiful sitting on her bed in oversized clothes and her hair a mess. Tim could feel the hole in his heart being filled again.

After a few minutes of watching her close her eyes and play her guitar and then stop to write things down while biting her lip, he knocked on the door. She looked up and her eyes grew wide. "What are you doing here?"

"Your dad really likes to hear you play. You should do it more often. I must admit that I've missed hearing that."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I came to see you."

"Why?"

He walked over and sat down on her bed. She watched his every movement. She glanced over every part of him, committing everything to memory. "I love you, Bridget. I can't stand to live without you any longer. I'm sorry for the way I acted in the park, but I was just so surprised. And then Melody appeared. I can only handle so much at once. That pushed me to the edge. I never meant to make you cry and I certainly didn't want you to leave Tulsa. I needed time to let everything sink in, and, once that happened, I would've been knocking down Soda's door to get to you. I want you so much Bee."

She was crying by the time she finished talking. She threw herself into his arms and hid her face in the crook of his neck. "I love you, too. I missed you so much. Living without you was torture."

He pulled away and took her face in his hands. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs and pressed his lips to hers. "I missed you, too. It felt like there was a hole where my heart should've been. You're the only one that can fill it."

She laughed through her tears and pressed her lips to his again. Their kisses became slow and passionate. They heard the slamming of a door downstairs but they didn't stop. They were together, in the same room, acting civil towards one another, for the first time in three years. Nothing could interrupt them at that moment. They only broke apart from their kiss to remove their shirts. Their lips returned to one another immediately. The rest of their clothes were taken off slowly and sensually, with no rush to get the other's clothes off. They were relishing in the time they had together.

They made love for hours, pouring their hearts into every movement they made. It wasn't like the other times they had spent together. This was more passionate and soulful. He whispered "I love you" into her ear, while tears of happiness silently streamed down her face. He kissed each and every one of them away. They gradually built up all the sexual tension in their bodies and climaxed as one.

When they regained control of their breathing, they broke apart and Bridget rested her head on Tim's chest. He pushed her damp hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. She pressed a loving kiss to his chest. "I missed this, lying in bed with you in my arms. My bed felt awfully empty without you."

Bee laughed. "Well, I was awfully cold without you pressed against me in the middle of the night." He smiled and pressed another kiss to the top of her head. "You're here for good, right? You're not leaving me?"

"I'm here as long as you want me. I'm never going to be away from you as long as you don't push me away."

"Good. You're never leaving again. I love you so much."

"I love you too." She looked up at him and smiled, before pressing her lips to his. She lay her head back down on his chest, and they lay in bed, enjoying one another's company in the afterglow of their love making.