Disclaimer: I don't own this. You know that. I know that. My stuffed bear knows that.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry. Did I mention I'm sorry? I just was completely unable to write on this story. But I think it's getting better. Please forgive me? Do you have me? Everybody has a reply here, like always. I'm thankful for all your reviews! They make me smile. I'm so sorry it's been so long. Enjoy the chapter. It's longer than the last one. A little. I think. Anyway, I'm REALLY sorry. But now I know where the story is going again.

Replies—

Aznboy714—Thanks!

Paul—Ooh, sorry about you laptop being broken. Bummer. My brother's laptop is always dying. Glad you like the chapter.

HYPERdingdong39—Thanks. Sorry it's been forever since the update. I should smack myself. Bad author, bad author! Go to you room and do your homework 'til everything is updated. Okay. Sorry, hyper right now.

Slime Frog—Thanks. I love Trouble in this one. I'm just afraid I keep making Holly a bit of a brat.

Sweetdeath04—Thanks. I do love Trouble in this one. He's so precious!

Maiden Genisis—Thanks. Sorry this are so short. This story is kind of dying, but I'm trying to revive it.

Grub Kelp—Sorry about the long time it's taken me to update.

SpikeTv58—Thanks. Sorry about the long absence of updates here..

Mad Sam—Thanks.

Chapter 7: Separation

Holly woke up and realized Trouble wasn't next to her. Where was he? The whole mess with the LEP and Willow came flooding back to her and pulled the blankets back over her head, shut her eyes tightly, and willed herself to go back to sleep.

She couldn't sleep.

She just couldn't.

She resigned herself to the day's fate and stood up and dressed. She knew she wasn't going to the office, but she put her work clothes on just in case. Maybe Root would come to his senses and let her go to work and have Trouble home with the baby. Fat chance of that.

What woke her up, anyway? She didn't remember setting her alarm. She strained her ears. Crying. There was a baby crying.

In her house!

Babies did not belong here. Maybe she could get Root to assign somebody else to look after Willow. No, that wouldn't happen. She already knew Trouble was attached to her.

Holly was frowning when she came out and saw Trouble rocking Willow and stopping her fussing.

"Trouble?" she asked.

"Hmm? What is it, Holls?"

"Are you sure you can't call in sick?" she asked, going to the kitchen to make breakfast.

"I tried already. Root wouldn't have it. He said he can't show favoritism and that I have to go in today and you have to stay home and take care of her."

"Did he drop the name of any good babysitters?" she asked hopefully.

"No. Any kids in the area will be leaving for school shortly anyway. Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. Honestly. Babies aren't that hard to take care of."

"You're forgetting the time I watched your brother. And the time I watched Aquarius."

"Neither of them were infants. Willow can't even crawl. She'll behave."

Holly set something to eat in front Trouble and took the seat next to him. He tried to hand Willow to her, but she just eyed the now quiet infant warily. "If I pick her up, she'll scream," she said simply.

"No, she won't."

"Oh, yes she will," Holly said, with conviction. She crossed her arms. "Apparently everyone who can't walk has a sixth sense about them that says 'Stay away from Holly, she'll drop you on your head'."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not. I'm just telling the truth."

"Here, you hold her while I go get ready for work."

"Do I have to? What if I break her?"

"Yes, you have to and you won't break her. Just hold her like you'd hold…" What would she ever hold carefully? "A brand new gun! The way you held your Neutrino when you first got it." He transferred the baby to her arms and miraculously, no tears were shed by either girl.

However, as soon as Trouble left the room, Willow started crying.

"How do I turn her off?" Holly called.

"Rock her. Make soothing sounds," Trouble, half-dressed, said as he came out to look for his boots.

Holly tried. Really she did. But a baby was not like a gun. You could choose when you wanted your gun to go off. Willow cried whenever she felt like it. Also, guns didn't squirm. Willow did. Willow squirmed a lot. She obviously did not want Holly to hold her.

When Trouble came back to the living room again, he picked Willow up and held her over his shoulder and started patting her back. "I just fed her before you woke up. She was fussy because she needed to burp." Just then, a little gas escaped Willow's mouth and she stopped crying. Of course, she'd mostly stopped crying as soon as Trouble picked her up.

Holly's temper did not improve. "How was I supposed to know that?"

"Okay, Holly. When she cries she either wants to be held, wants her diaper changed, wants to be fed, or wants to be burped. Or she might cry when she wants to go to sleep."

"Why when she wants to go to sleep? Wouldn't that just keep her from sleeping?" Holly asked.

"Look, Holly, I've got to get to work. If you have any questions, just call." He gave her a peck on the cheek as he deposited Willow into Holly's arms.

Willow started to scream as soon as Trouble had left and shut the door behind him. Holly tried to rock her to sleep, but it didn't seem to be doing any good.

Holly felt like screaming herself. So she did.

It only made Willow scream even more, but it sure made Holly feel better.

Holly kept on in vain, trying to get her to stop crying. This was gong to be a long, long day.

She sat on the couch in a resigned manner.

Hope you liked this. I swear I won't go so long between updates again. I just had no will to write and no idea what to write. I'm going to try to update all my stories equally now and in order so this should be about every 4th or 5th update. Hope you like this. Thanks for your patience. Again, I'm so sorry for the long wait! But for once, I do have the next chapter started. A whole 2 sentences. I know, I know. Sorry. PLEASE don't hate me.

The next chapter is Holly's morning with Willow. Then, the chapter after that is going to be Arty's lovely little cameo that I promised to put in.