10

Jennifer Johnson was cremated and Taylor, Lissa and Amanda spread her ashes at Long Island. She had always loved it there and said she felt free. Jennifer was originally from that area so it was sort of like coming home, for her. Neither one of the girls cried and Taylor was eternally grateful for that.

Afterward, he took them out to dinner and wanted them to sleep over at his house but Amanda wouldn't have it. Lissa had school in the morning and besides, she didn't want the little girl to get the wrong idea. Taylor wasn't sure what the 'wrong idea' was per say but he assumed it meant that Amanda didn't want to have 'THE' talk with her yet. That amused Taylor. It's kind of hard to have the talk when you've never done the deed. He planned on changing that, and soon, or he was sure his balls would explode.

He had never wanted a woman as bad as he wanted Amanda. Her small uncertain touches and smoldering kisses promised she'd be fiery in the bed. If he ever got her there. He groaned and pushed down his growing erection. It only served to make it worse. Taylor wanted to cry. Like a chump, he had given in and let Amanda and Lissa stay at their place.

"Fuck, I'm so hard it hurts," he said to the empty house. He had called Amanda once to make sure they were settled in for the night. He hated the neighborhood she lived in and he wanted them out soon.

It didn't matter to him that they'd been living there for years before he met them, he knew them now and he wanted them out.

Once again, he pushed at the tight fabric of his jeans and hissed at the contact of his hand. Fuck it, he thought to himself as he unzipped the material and took himself into his hand. He needed relief, one way or another. Since Amanda wasn't there, this was the only way he was going to get it.

He pictured her in his mind, spread across his bed. Her red hair was a fiery halo around her head. He groaned and stroked. Her small perfect breasts, just barely large enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He hissed and twisted. Her brown eyes, warm and loving, looking up at him with innocence and passion. He gripped and came.

-

Amanda was working at Scarpa's when Taylor burst in with a look of panic on his face. The entire dining area feel silent as Taylor and Amanda's eyes met.

"What?" she found herself asking from across the room. Her hand tightened to a white knuckled grip on the glass water pitcher she was holding. "Taylor, what's wrong with Lissa?"

He didn't answer her right away just strode toward her and peeled her fingers off the handle.

"What's wrong with Lissa? Tell me, damn you! Where's my daughter!" Amanda was one second away from hysteria and he took a breath and explained.

"There was a shooting at her school." There was a collective gasp that went though the room.

"What school?" Someone asked as everyone started to take out there cell phones and check on their own kids.

"Malcolm Elementary," Taylor said absently. "I, Amanda, the news said that only one student was shot and they believed it was outside of the building and a male but when I tried to get her, they wouldn't let me in."

"You tried to get her?" Amanda asked numbly.

"I was in the area," he told her. He was checking up on Robby, truth be told, but he left that bit of info out. "I heard the shots. Two. Low caliber, probably a .22." he relayed as he led her out of the restaurant and to his van. On the way out the door, he caught Chris's eye and they nodded at each other.

"Oh my God, Taylor," Amanda was ghost white with fear. She would die if anything happened to Lissa. She was like her own daughter. She may not have given birth to her, but Amanda was the only real mother she'd ever known.

"She's ok, baby. She'll be scared and she's gonna need us. Fuck!" Taylor punched the steering wheel. How much more was that little girl going to have to take? Amanda too? This was it. There was no way in hell that Lissa was going back to that shit hole of a school. He didn't care what he had to do to convince Amanda to move in with him. He was done playing Mr. Easy–Go-Lucky. It was time to lay down the law. He was going to keep his girls safe and that was that.

Taylor stopped the van in the middle of the road and turned to Amanda. He knew it was the most ridiculous time to ask but he couldn't stop himself. "Amanda, marry me?"

"What?" she gasped out and shook her head. "Taylor, let's go. I want to get to Lissa!"

"Say you'll marry me, Amanda. I know you're worried about what I do and I'll try to find something else, but you have to marry me. You have to move in with me, away from this place. The violence. Please, baby. I love you."

"You're crazy, Taylor. Come on, let's go!" Her voice was bordering on panic now but he wouldn't relent.

"Tell me you love me. Tell me you'll think about it. Tell me you'll move in with me. Just tell me something." He wasn't above begging, he found. Not with this small woman that turned him inside out. He would get on his hands and knees if necessary. He had no pride left.

Amanda's eyes were huge as she realized that he wasn't budging until she told him something. "I do love you, yes, I'll think about it and I'll talk to Lissa. Now let's GO!"

He smiled and gave her a quick, hard kiss before he began driving again. They arrived at the school five minutes later and there was a mass of police and ambulances everywhere.

"I thought you said there was only one person hurt, Taylor?" Amanda squealed and jumped from the van almost before Taylor stopped.

"That's what they said on the radio. Over here," he said and led her over to a cop he knew.

"Johns. My kid's in there. Little girl with red hair and blue eyes. She's eleven."

Johns turned and looked at Taylor skeptically. He knew he didn't have a child and if he did, Johns couldn't see her having red hair even though his woman clearly did. "The smaller kids were kept in the gym until their parents got here. Try there, Taylor."

"Thanks man." Taylor nodded and Johns and then led Amanda around the other side of the building. This part wasn't roped off; being it wasn't the crime scene. He opened the door and they were hit with a rush of noise. Crying, yelling and speculation.

Lissa wasn't hard to stop with her red hair standing out among a sea of brown and black. Taylor pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed Lissa up in his strong arms. She clung to him and cried and then shifted over to Amanda who hugged her and cried.

"It's ok baby. We're here now. Taylor's here. He'll keep us safe."

Lissa turned and looked at Taylor. "Will you? Will you keep us safe?"

"You bet I will, Peanut. Come on, let's get out of here." He said as he took Lissa back from Amanda and led the way out of the building. "You're never coming back here, Lissa. Never." He told her.

"Good," she said and buried her face in his shoulder.

Taylor placed Lissa in his van and buckled her seatbelt before he pulled Amanda's trembling body close. He kissed her head and told her he loved her and he would keep them safe.

After he drove for a few minutes he said to Lissa, "I asked your Mommy to marry me."

Lissa perked up and smiled, "Really? What did she say?" Her little voice was breathless and her eyes darted back and forth between Taylor and Amanda.

"She hasn't answered me yet."

"Mom? You're gonna marry Taylor aren't you?"

Amanda turned around and looked at her. "Is that what you want?" Lissa nodded and Amanda closed her eyes. "Taylor's got a dangerous job, baby. You have to be sure,"

"Don't tell her that, Amanda. I told you I'm gonna look into a different line of work." Taylor snipped. He couldn't believe that she just said that.

"She needs to know what she's getting into, Taylor."

"Like hell! We're the adults; we protect kids from that shit. No one gonna hurt my Peanut or you for that matter. It won't touch the two of you."

Lissa wasn't sure what they were talking about or what Taylor did for a living but she didn't care. He was nice and she loved him. She wanted him as her Dad and she hoped to get a baby sister or brother too.

"Are you going to have a baby?"

Amanda gasped and Taylor chuckled. A baby? They'd have to do it first. Soon! He promised himself,again.

"No we are not going to have a baby." Amanda said primly.

"Don't you want to have more kids?" Taylor asked her.

"Yes, I guess. I just never thought about it…"

"Well, think about it. I want one." He smiled and looked at her; "Soon," he watched the blush creep up her neck and into her cheeks and almost wrecked his van. She was beautiful. He threw back his head and laughed at her discomfort.

"So Mommy, you never answered me. Are you going to marry Taylor?"

The air stilled and everyone held their breath waiting for Amanda to give her answer, "Yes," she said finally.

Lissa punched the air and yelled "YES!"

Taylor laughed and pulled over and kissed her deeply until she fussed and pulled back because Lissa was in the car and because she was feeling all hot and tingly.

"When?" Lissa asked, now bouncing in her seat.

"I don't know baby,"

"Tomorrow?" Taylor suggested. "We'll go down the court house tomorrow and get married. I'll have Matty stand up for me."

"I don't have anything to wear," Amanda shook her head in shock.

Taylor pulled out his phone and called Chris. He had a sister and she was always going on about clothes. He hung up and spoke again, "Chris's sister is gonna come meet us at the mall. She'll have you pick something out for you and Lissa. Then tomorrow, we'll get hitched."

"I can't believe this. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, Taylor. It's so soon."

"I know but we love each other, why wait?"