Kathy opened her eyes to the smell of bacon. She pushed the covers back sitting up. At some point in the night Jonathan moved them to the bedroom. She followed the smell to her kitchen. Jonathan stood at the stove, hair a mess, no shirt and loose fitting jeans. A pair of cooking tongs in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other. "Good morning," Kathy smiled.

"Hey," Jonathan looked up. "Sit," he pointed the tongs to her small kitchen table, he had already set it.

"Where did you get the flowers," Kathy asked, bringing them to her nose.

"I picked them from your neighbor's when I went to the market," Jonathan put a cup of coffee in front of her.

"What time did you wake up," Kathy asked.

"Seven I guess," Jonathan opened cabinet doors looking for plates.

"I didn't hear a thing," Kathy took a drink of her coffee.

"Good," Jonathan kissed her head placing a plate full of bacon and eggs in front of her. He sat across from her with a plate of his own.

"I got fired," Kathy laughed, "not told I was dieing."

"Well, really," Jonathan said, wiping his mouth. "Did you get fired? They arrested your boss."

"Yeah, but I work directly for him, and he owned that hotel," Kathy bite into her bacon. "I have never been fired."

"I still don't see it that way," Jonathan wiped his hands, "you didn't know anything and he got arrested, so it is more like you got laid off."

"Well," Kathy had to laughed at Jonathan's ability to put a silver liner on things. "I don't have a job. I am not sure if I can look for one. Or who will hire me."

"You have a good work history," Jonathan said.

"But this, it is huge, plus it has been all over the news," Kathy sat back in her seat.

"It will blow over, by tomorrow someone will do something way worse." Jonathan hated to see her worry.

"Just a lot to worry about," Kathy reached for her coffee cup. "You think everything is figured out. I was going to retire early." She didn't want to talk about it. "My phone is ringing," Kathy got up from the table I search for it. Jonathan started cleaning the plates from the table. "Now," Jonathan heard Kathy almost yelled. "Well yeah if you are here." Jonathan saw Kathy walk back into the kitchen. "Sure," Kathy shook her head.

"Who was that," Jonathan asked seeing she was upset.

"Rachel, he is on his way over," Kathy pulled her fingers through her hair. "He said next week."

"Well tell him no," Jonathan said, he hadn't met Rachel yet, but hadn't heard a good word about him. "You want me to go?" He was pretty sure this would not make a good first impression.

"No," Kathy stopped. "Please don't go." Jonathan nodded.

"I will put a shirt on."

Jonathan watched as Kathy hurried around cleaning up. Her eyes were full of worry, it seemed like a child waiting for their parent. "Can I help with anything," Jonathan asked.

"No," Kathy placed a pillow on the couch. "Is the bed made?"

"Yeah," Jonathan glanced toward the bedroom. Kathy head whipped around hearing a knock on door. Kathy hurried to the door.

"Hi," Jonathan listened, as Kathy walked back into the living room, "Rachel this is Jonathan."

"I didn't know you had company," Rachel looked Jonathan up and down.

"Jonathan," Jonathan stuck his hand out, Rachel took it. "I will let you two talk." Jonathan knew they need privacy and Rachel wasn't there to make friends. Jonathan squeezed Kathy's hand as he passed her.

"We can go in the kitchen," Kathy turned to Rachel.

"So that is the boyfriend," Rachel asked taking a seat. Kathy nodded.

"You could have come next week," Kathy changed the subject.

"Well Piper is upset, I was here to see a friend," Rachel sat back.

"You want some coffee," Kathy asked.

"Sure," Rachel answered, "so do you have a lawyer?"

"They said I don't need one," Kathy poured coffee in a cup.

"Kathy," Rachel's tone was scolding, "this is big. I mean he stole a lot of money. And you were working for him. Hell you went to those events." Kathy placed the cup in front of him.

"I have talked to the people handling the case." Kathy sat back down. "So what do you want to talk about?" Since Piper was an adult now she didn't talk to Rachel offent. She didn't feel the need. Piper was old enough to maintain their relationship.

"Piper has a school bill coming up," Rachel took his cup, blowing into it before taking a drink.

"I know," it made Kathy's stomach turn. Piper had two years left. Kathy had told her she would help her get her Bachelor. So far there had been no loans, and Piper hadn't had to get a job. "I can make it."

"Kathy," Rachel stopped her, "you don't know what's going to happening. It won't kill her to get a job."

"These last two years are the most important plus she will need to do an internship." Kathy wanted to yell, but didn't want Jonathan to hear. "I can make it work."

"Well I can give you about half for this year," Rachel said.

"Thank you that is a help." Kathy won't ask, her head spun. He acted like she was borrowing money, or did something wrong. As if she had called for him to bail her out.

"I don't know why you have to be so stubborn," Rachel shook his head.

"Rachel, she is our daughter, we have a responsibility to her." Kathy could not believe him.

"Oh, stop with this single mom beat the odds things," Rachel huffed, "you got help. She never went without."

"I am not doing this with you," Kathy got up. "I don't know why you came, we could have done this over the phone."

"Oh sorry I cut in time your boy toy time," Rachel snickered.

"You can go," Kathy glared at him.

"Guess this is your mid life crisis," Rachel stood.

"I have never questioned who you dated. I never questioned anything about your life. I raised Piper, I asked you for nothing." Kathy yelled.

"Yes yes good for you, you did it," Rachel mocked, "you did it with my money. I wrote plenty of checks. And don't act like I was never there."

"When it worked for you," Kathy shoot back.

"Hey," Jonathan stepped into the kitchen, "why don't you go. It has been a long couple of days." Rachel looked at Jonathan.

"We are talking," he finally said.

"No," Jonathan stepped forward. "You are running your mouth and for whatever reason belittling her. So why don't you leave." Rachel looked at Kathy. He pushed passed Jonathan on his way out.

"You ok," Jonathan asked Kathy.

"Yeah," Kathy nodded.

"Piper is right," Jonathan wrapped his arms around her, "he is an asshole."

….

"Oh I wish I was there," Piper laughed.

"Piper," Kathy hoped she didn't hear her laugh.

"Don't worry mom, I will be fine," Piper said. "Dad did send the check. So if I have to cut some of my classes."

"No," Kathy stopped her, "look we will talk about it later. I have dinner with Jonathan."

"I like him mom," Piper said.

"Yeah me too," Kathy smiled.

"Enjoy your dinner," they said their goodbyes. Kathy met Jonathan at a quite restaurant. It was his last night home, he had changed his travel plans to spend more time with her.

"He always talk to you like they," Jonathan asked, it had bothered him all day. Rachel spoke to her like a child. Like he was there to clean up some mess.

"I guess," Kathy shrugged, "it is kinda funny. We have never had a real relationship other than the fact we have a kid together."

"Look I have been thinking," Jonathan took Kathy's hand, "I want to help."

"Help," Kathy asked.

"Let me help with Piper's school."

"No," Kathy pulled back, "I can't ask that."

"You are not asking."

"I have it, I just have to move things and," Kathy couldn't let him do this. They hadn't been dating that long. It felt weird and wrong.

"Why can't you let me help you." Jonathan pleaded. Kathy didn't answered. "Alright," Jonathan throw his hands up. "I am not going to bag you." Kathy didn't want the night to end like this. Jonathan tossed money down on the table, "I will be in the car." Kathy watch him storm out.

…..

Kathy slide in the passenger seat, Jonathan held the steering wheel. As he went to start the car, Kathy reached for his hand. "When I was twelve, MTV use to play music videos."

"Yeah, I remember," Jonathan said without looking at her.

"You couldn't have you were two," Kathy laughed.

"We are back on the age thing," Jonathan shook his head.

"No,no," Kathy stopped him, "I would have it on while I did homework. One day my friend calls me yelling, I had to watch this band. So I did, and the first time I saw Rachel." Kathy laughed, "it was like light and sound stopped, and I said I will have his babies." Kathy looked down at her lap. "I had such an image of him in my head. I thought I knew him, I read watched every interview. And when I got to meet him, and he was interested in me. It was unreal, I mean this guy in this band that I loved. He liked me, I believed he was unattainable." Kathy turned looking at Jonathan, "but my image of him was wrong and then everyone had an image of me. I was a slut and a home wrecker. So I did everything I could to prove people wrong. And I swear I would never be had again. I don't trust many and not many get close to me let alone Piper." Jonathan finally turned looking at her. "Mr. Wallus I trusted, I trusted his wife. I believed them, told people all the great work they did. He lied they both lied. It reminded me and brought up a lot of stuff. Stuff you helped go away." Kathy smiled. "I guess what I need is you to be understanding that."

"I get it," Jonathan let out a long breath. "They lied to you. They stole money you didn't. Rachel lied to you, he didn't tell you he was married. This is not your cross to bear. You didn't do anything wrong except believe people. You can't live your life not giving people a chance." Jonathan shook his head, "You know this is new to me. I never wanted a real realtionship. Never wanted to worry about someone, care about somebody. But I am getting use to it."

"I wish everyone saw it like that." Kathy smiled.

"So you won't let me help cause you don't want people to think you are in this for the money," Jonathan started to understand.

"What else would people think," Kathy shrugged.

"I told you I don't care what people think," Jonathan leaned forward, "plus everyone knows you are in it for the sex." Kathy laughed.

"Thank you."

"You," Jonathan run his finger down the bridge of her nose, "have to get use to being treated decent."

"I could get use to it," Kathy leaned in kissing him.