Aaron POV

I woke up at 5:00 the next morning, took a shower and got dressed.

As I passed Amanda's room I could see my mom feeding Amanda.

"Hey what are you doing up so early?"

"I promised Bree I would get her"

"Is she alright?"

"I don't know. She called me last night in tears and she wouldn't tell me what happened"

"Well she was pretty disappointed that her dad wouldn't take her shopping" my mom stated as I nodded and said "Yes she said last night that he must still hate her"

"Hate her? Why would she think that?"

"Because her father has mentioned it to her"

"Aaron please be serious. No parent would do that"

"Must I remind you of Simon?" I asked her as my mom turned pale and replied "Well go get her and make sure everything is okay"

"Okay mom" I said to her before adding "Have I told you how much I love you and how lucky I am that you are my mom?"

"Not today" she replied as I grinned and bent to kiss her on the cheek.

By the time I reached Brianna's home, I could see that her father was not home. I opened the door and disarmed the house alarm and made my way to her bedroom.

Bree was still sleeping. I could see the tear streaks on her face and her shiny hair all over the place. I watched her for a few moments reveling in the fact that she was finally my girlfriend before gently brushing a lock of hair from her cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered open.

"Good morning" I said softly as she smiled sleepily before stretching a bit.

"Are you alright? You had me worried last night" I asked as she nodded before throwing the covers off and making her way to the bathroom saying "I don't really want to talk about it now"

Twenty minutes later she came back out looking more awake in a polka dot sundress. Her shiny black hair was held back by a matching hair ribbon; however her normally expressive hazel green eyes seemed sad.

"What's the matter?" I asked her again as I stood up to hug her.

"My dad told me last night he couldn't love me because I remind him too much of my mother and I am going to hurt him, just like she did" then she promptly burst into tears as I rubbed her back.

"Honey, its okay" I said soothingly as she held back a sob saying "It's not okay Aaron. I was so excited that he was willing to let me live with him but he just told me that he will never love me. Do you know how much that hurts? How much it hurts that he doesn't even recognize the fact that I too was abandoned by this woman?"

"Yes" I replied as she looked at me, confusion in her hazel-green eyes before they cleared "I forgot who I was speaking to. Of course you know how I feel. Simon made you feel this way huh?"

I nodded stiffly as she hugged me and I said "let's go. My mom wants to make sure you have breakfast before you two leave for your day of fun"

We reached my house where everyone was gathered in the kitchen.

"Well here is the newest couple in the family" Uncle Mac drawled as Bree smiled before letting my hand go to greet everyone.

When she reached my mom, I saw that my mom said something and she nodded as my mother took her hand and led her down the hallway.

"She'll be fine" my grandma said smiling as she placed pancakes on the table.

"Think we have to wait for them?" Uncle Mac asked as my dad shook his head slightly laughing.

Grandpa Brewer and Grandpa Camden were at the other end of the table, while Lisa and Larissa were patiently waiting to start. They were in pretty good spirits considering the fact that they still hadn't heard from their mother as of yet.

It was amazing how much Lisa, Larissa, and I looked alike. By the time Bree and my mother returned to the kitchen she looked much better as we said grace and began eating.

After breakfast my mom and Bree stood up and waved goodbye to us. My mom kissed my dad bye and Bree waved at me.

"Hey we have been waiting to see the kiss" Uncle Mac stated as I blushed and my dad said "Leave them alone, besides you'll have plenty of opportunities for that. I believe its Aaron's favorite new past time"

"Thanks dad" I said embarrassed as I looked over at Bree who only smiled.

Two days later when I went to Bree's house to pick her up I asked her "What would you like to do today?"

She smiled at me before moving closer and said "First I want to kiss my extremely sexy, hot boyfriend"

"Hmm…extremely hot and sexy? What exactly do you want to do today?" I asked her as she pouted slightly and I ran my fingers through her silky hair and gently kissed her on the lips.

She murmured her approval as she moved closer to me, slipping her hands underneath my shirt and placing them on my back.

When we pulled apart she smiled happily before admitting "I need to go shopping for some more clothes"

"Bree you and my mom spent six hours at the outlets two days ago and you had at least twenty bags, what more could you possibly need?"

"Shoes?" she admitted as she smiled up at me, batting her eyelashes and I smiled in response "I figured as much" I retorted dryly as we made our way out the door.

Two hours later I was bored out of my mind. We were in some clothing store and I walked over to a line of chairs while Bree went into the dressing room with an arm full of things.

I had a feeling that this would be the first among many trips to the mall. I was surprised and horrified to see Candy looking through some dresses on the rack.

"Why Aaron Brewer if I didn't know better I would say that you were stalking me"

"Trust me, I'm not. I'm here with my girlfriend" I smiled thinking how great it was to call Bree that. At that moment she stepped out in ripped jeans and asked "Brewer what do you think??"

Candy laughed a little before saying "Aaron, really you should join the real world. Brianna Esteban would never date you. She's ten times richer than you"

I held back a retort as Bree smiled wickedly at me before addressing Candy. "Did you hear the good news, Candy?"

"No" she replied as Bree said "I'm going to attend junior year here in Glen Oak"

"Really? That's great" Candy replied a bit stiffly as Bree softly giggled and continued "but you want to know the best part?"

"What?"

"Aaron and I are officially dating. Isn't that great? I'm almost done sweetie" Bree said as she kissed my cheek and went back into the dressing room.

"So I guess Congratulations are in order" Candy finally stated as I merely nodded and Bree stepped back out holding the jeans and a couple of shirts. I stood up to take them from her as Bree smiled at Candy and said "see you at Orientation Candy"

"Yeah see you" Candy replied bitterly. Once we had paid and were making our way to the parking lot we heard thunder.

"I guess I'm mowing the lawn tomorrow" I stated as I opened the passenger door for Bree.

"Movie marathon at your house?" she asked as we were driving back home.

"Are you staying over tonight?"

"Yes, I don't really want to go home tonight"

"Okay"

By the time we reached my house there was a steady rain. "Let's go for a quick walk before we go in"

"Even though it's raining?" I asked her in disbelief.

"Please" she begged pouting slightly, her heart shaped lips quivering slightly.

"I am such a sucker" I mumbled under my breath as she squealed and excitedly clapped her hands.

"Let's go before I change my mind" I finally said opening up her door and taking her hand as the rain pelted us on our heads and arms.

Half an hour later we returned home, soaked to the bone as my dad smiled at us both before looking over at my mom "remember when you use to talk me into crazy things?" as my mom actually blushed and then stood up to hand us towels and led Bree upstairs as I used the shower downstairs.

Once I was finished I walked into the family room where my dad was feeding Amanda.

"Is Bree finished?"

"Yes. She and your mom are talking in the den"

"Oh" I replied sighing as my dad looked at me and asked "How are you dealing with all of this?"

"You mean with what Bree's dad told her?" My dad nodded as I shrugged "I guess I'm shocked. I can't believe any parent would tell their child that, even though Simon basically said the same thing to me"

My dad nodded as he finished wiping Amanda's chin and then began burping her as he encouraged me to go on.

"So what do I do dad? How do I make her feel okay? I don't want her to regret staying here for the school year if this is going to be the norm"

"Well I think everything you are doing now is helping her. I think we just have to be there for her when she needs to talk and keep assuring her that we will always be here, even if you two do break up, she will always have a place in this family"

"Don't jinx us now, we just got together" I said as my dad laughed a bit ruefully before adding "Well Aaron, I'm going to be realistic with you. You are a guy and dating is messy. Your hormones are all over the place and even the best of us fall to temptation."

"Dad" I began as my dad said "let me finish. I love you, you know that, but if you ruin Bree's life by getting her pregnant I will not be happy with you and the consequences will be dire"

I held back a shiver. My dad normally was an easy going guy but he sounded absolutely ruthless as his green eyes flashed dangerously at me. It was at that moment that I realized the week I had been away, my parents had formed an inseparable bond with Brianna and that bond wasn't going to be easily severed.

"You act as though I will be the one to pressure her" I finally replied hurt laced in my tone as my dad responded "Bree has already stated to me that she wants to wait so she will never initiate anything"

I nodded my head as my mom walked in with Bree in tow. Her hair was wet from the shower, clothed in my smallest pair of sweat pants and t-shirt that was still too big for her, her adorable feet bare showing off the new pedicure she and mom had received when they had went shopping together.

"So ready for our movie marathon?" I asked her as she nodded and my parents smiled at us before leaving the den with Amanda.

Bree walked over to the couch and I slipped my arm around her waist as she leaned her head on my chest.

We watched the first movie in silence and when it was finished she asked "How is Simon doing?"

"He was okay. He seemed pretty happy. I have a feeling that I'm missing something but he was ecstatic when I told him about us"

"That's good" she replied smiling as I asked "So how about you? Are you okay?"

"I will be" she said ending the conversation.

After dinner that night Bree's phone rang. As she went to answer it she seemed confused.

"Hello?" and she paused for a second "Hello?" She said again and then shut her phone.

"Who was it?" she shrugged "wrong number I guess"

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Church and then your mom said she would take me to the salon"

"Why? Your hair is perfect" I asked slightly horrified that she might cut off her hair.

"I need a trim. It won't be too noticeable"

"Well goodnight" I said as she repeated it and gave me a hug going into the spare bedroom.