Dave, Marissa and Justice spent the next couple days playing broad games, taking picnics to the park, mainly just trying to be a family and spending time with each other. The next before they had to leave Justice couldn't sleep she was too excited knowing that she was going to LA with her daddy. Marissa and Dave finally got her to sleep around four in the morning only to have to get back up at six-thirty to get ready and be at the airport by eight in time for their flight. When the alarm went off Dave reached over Marissa and Justice and shut it off he left Marissa sleep until he finished getting ready. When he had finished getting dressed he walked over to the bed and kissed Marissa on the cheek to wake her, she reluctantly rolled over to face him and opened her eyes. About a half hour later Marissa was up, dressed and was trying to wake Justice up to get her dressed. Dave walked in the room after loading the bags in the rental car to find Marissa still trying to get Justice to wake up, smiled at her attempts to get her to sit up to only have her fall back on the bed.
"Here why don't we just let her sleep, I'll carry her down to the car I'm sure by the time we get to airport she'll be awake." Dave said as he walked up to the side of the bed. He bent and picked Justice up in his arms and she rested her head against his shoulder. Marissa stood from the bed and smiled at him as he started to walk out of the room with Justice sleeping in his arms.
To Dave's surprise Justice slept all the way to the airport and didn't wake up until he sat her in the seat in between Marissa and himself on the plane, but she soon went back to sleep after the plane took off along with Marissa. When the plane landed Dave gently shook Marissa to wake her then picked Justice up from her seat and carried her off the plane. After getting their bags they headed out of the airport.
"Hey look Dave brought Marissa and Justice with him." Paul said to Stephanie as Dave and Marissa walked out the door just behind them. Dave saw Paul and started to walk over to him. "I see you got her to come this time."
"Yeah well all I had to do was say that she could come to mania with me." Dave replied as they approached them.
"What did you two do to her?" Stephanie asked looking at Justice who was still sleeping in Dave's arms.
"She was too excited to sleep last night." Marissa smiled at the little girl.
"Well we're headed to the hotel to check in then go see some of the sights; you guys want to join us?" Paul asked as he opening the door for Stephanie.
"Sure." Dave and Marissa replied together.
Once inside the hotel Dave and Paul walked up to the front desk and checked in while Marissa and Stephanie walked over to the elevators to wait for them.
"So how have things been between you and Dave since the party?" Stephanie asked as they waited.
"I guess they've been pretty good." Marissa answered looking back at Dave.
"What do you mean 'you guess pretty good' he's been staying at your house a couple days a week hasn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Well I'd say that's better then pretty good, wouldn't you?" Stephanie nudged Marissa slightly.
"I'm just not sure about this whole thing. I mean what happens if I do let him back into my life and Justice's full time and she or someone else comes back into the picture, then not only am I left hurting but Justice is too and she's my daughter I don't want her to have to go through that kind of pain." Marissa leaned against the wall as she explained.
"Marissa I know that you don't want to get hurt or for Justice to get hurt but I have to tell you, your hurting yourself and her by not letting him back into your lives. Dave is a great person and he loves you so much you and Justice are all he talked about even when he was with her. I don't think that Dave would ever leave you if you took him back I would guarantee that he wouldn't leave you, just give him a chance. Have the two of you been out by yourself since you started talking again?" Marissa shook her head as she watched Dave and Paul started to walk back towards them. "You two should go out while you're here, your should go out tonight there nothing going on tonight, actually any night would be good we have things during the day but the night are free starting at like seven, you two should pick a night and go to dinner just the two of you Paul and I can watch Justice for you."
"I don't know, Stephanie."
"You don't have a choice." Stephanie smiled at her as Paul slipped his arm around her waist. "Dave I think that you and Marissa should go out to dinner tonight." Stephanie smiled at Marissa the whole time she was talking to Dave.
"That's not a bad idea; I think Marissa could use a night out with Dave." Paul replied. "We could keep Justice for you guys. You want to come stay with Steph and me tonight Justice?"
"Yeah can I daddy?" Justice lifted her head from his shoulder in excitement.
"I thought you were still asleep. I guess so if you really want to."
"Mommy is it okay?" Justice turned to Marissa and gave her the puppy look.
"I guess it'd be okay." Marissa answered as she pushed the button for the elevator. Once inside the elevator Justice started asking Paul and Stephanie if they could play tea party and dress up and watch Disney movies. "Come on Justice we have to take your stuff to our room you." Dave opened their room door and stepped inside after Marissa and Justice walked in.
"We don't have to go out to dinner if you don't want to." Dave said once they were inside the room.
"I don't know if it would be a good idea or not Dave." Marissa turned around to face him as Justice turned the TV on.
"Why not, it would just be dinner."
"What if it's not just dinner?"
"Wait I get what your saying, you don't want to go out with because your afraid that your going to fall in love with me and that's something that you don't want to happen right."
"It's not that, I'm afraid of getting hurt again, I don't want to go through that."
"Marissa I know that your afraid that I'm going top hurt you, but I wish that you would just give me a chance please Marissa just come out to dinner with me. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, we can go to a café on the corner if that's what you want but please let's go out to dinner." Dave grabbed Marissa's hand as he pleaded with her.
Marissa looked at him for a minute after he finished his spill then she looked over at Justice. 'I guess I should if not for myself for Justice she deserves a father and he has been good to her.' "Okay fine I'll go out to dinner with you" Marissa finally agreed. Dave pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.
"Thank you." Dave pulled back from the hug. "Now what should we do until dinner?"
"Well I do need something nice to wear to not only this dinner with you, but the hall a fame banquette on Saturday." Dave smiled getting at what she was saying.
"Come Justice, let's go see if we can find you and your mom a nice dress to wear this weekend."
Again thanks to those of you who have reviewed to this story.