Title: Starting Over

By: Andrea75N

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, storyline, or TW...um...come to think of it I don't own anything except my cat. Haha...Serious note: just being a fan don't sue me. Please.

Pairing: B/F ...later

CHAPTER THREE

Bosco sat the sacks down on the kitchen counter as Faith flipped on the lights. He glanced around the clean kitchen that was decorated in sunflower decor. Faith sat her purse and backpack down by the door softly. She usually throws it down and goes to check on Alexa then strips down and heads for bed. She was watching Bosco with amusement as he mulled around the dining room looking at pictures on the wall, "You can put your bag behind the bar if ya want."

He looked at his shoulder, noticing he hadn't taken off his bag yet. Maybe it was because he felt odd being here. He smiled, it was a fairly small smile, Faith took note of this. He obviously, to her, did not want to be here. She sat his keys on the kitchen counter next to the sink before reaching for the coffee, "Do you want some?"

He nodded as he sat his bag down beside her things and pulled the barstool out, "Sure."

He watched her move around the kitchen as he sat down on the stool. She was beautiful, she was the same Faith as he remembered, but now there were different qualities to her. She turned around to see him starring at her, she gave a sly smile, "What?"

He chuckled, "Nothing."

"Don't give me that, Bos, what?" He smiled sadly as he looked down. He hadn't heard her say Bos in almost five years. It was different, new to him almost. It brought back memories, some good, some bad.

"It's good to hear you say that," he said meeting Faith's gaze as she pulled the extra bar stool opposite of him. "Say what?"

"Bos," he said softly eyes glued on hers. Faith wanted to look away, but there was something there. Something she hadn't noticed before, "It's...I missed that...I um..."

He stopped short and then averted his eyes. Anywhere but not in direct contact with hers. Faith finished his sentenced after a ten second silence that felt like minutes, "I missed you too."

He looked up at her, she was smiling. He figured he better change the subject in order to keep his mind Christian, "How was your first day on the job...again?"

Faith nodded looking disappointed, "It was alright. My new partner, Reese Beckham is a jerk though."

"Yeah...he's a sexist pig. Big jag-off. Becareful around him, he's old and horny."

Faith chuckled a little, "I can take care of myself Bos."

"I know...but still, you should always be careful. You honestly need a good partner to watch your back, they're some good ones out there."

Faith looked over at the coffee pot as the last of the clear water turned into black liquid, "I had one."

Bosco chewed the inside of his lip as she stood up and poured them both a cup of coffee, "How do you want it?"

"Black's fine," Bosco said taking the cup carefully as she delicately handed the sun flowered mug to him, "I like your decorator whoever she is."

"Oh," Faith said sitting back down, "Alexa's favorite flower is sunflowers and she saw these pot holders at a store one day...it was like two years ago or something like that, anyways...she wanted them to put in her room. I told her no, that they belonged in a kitchen and ta-da...sunflower central."

Bosco laughed softly, "She's cute."

"Yeah, I still can't believe she's almost five. Blows my mind. Blows my mind Emily's getting married in four months."

"Em's getting hitched?" Bosco looked at her in shock. He couldn't believe it. How old was she? She couldn't be that old, could she? Maybe 'he' was getting old.

"Yeah, nice guy too, pre-med, Santos...um Anthony Santos. Sweet kid," then at moment Faith's eyes lit up. Bosco leaned back a little. He knew that look, it was the 'Faith's got an idea' look, "What?"

"I was just...naw, never mind," Faith said sipping her coffee innocently. She couldn't do that to him, she knew. He hated it whenever someone started talking and didn't finish, bugged the heck out of him.

"Faith, just say it."

"Would you wanna go...with me I mean?" Faith said quiet but sure. Bosco looked at her for a second, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, I just asked you if you wanted to go. Do you?" Faith said anxious. 'Would he say no or yes?' Bosco nodded, "Sure...I'll go."

"Really?" Faith said brightly, "You'll go? 'Cause you don't have to you know."

"I want to, get to see Emily again. Charlie I presume.."

"Even Fred and his new interest," Faith said dully. She went back to sipping her coffee. Bosco had to admire how beautiful she looked, her hair falling down in her face. They lighting made her look like she was glowing. Bosco sighed as he looked at the clock, "I should be going."

Faith turned to look at it, '3am.'

"Sorry I kept you out to late. At least you don't have to get very far anymore."

Bosco stood up and grabbed his bag and headed for the door. He stopped and turned and came a foot away from Faith, she'd followed him. Bosco swallowed hard and began his small and hopefully flattery speech, well not really a speech.

"For all it's worth Faith, you have an amazing and beautiful daughter. And...you know it's a shame that Miller doesn't care."

"Well...I get a lot of those Bosco, I'm used to it by now, trust me."

"You shouldn't have to even have one of those."

Faith smile slightly, "Thanks for coming in Bos."

"No problem," he said as he hugged her for a long drawn out moment. They pulled back and Bosco fought the certain urge to kiss her. He refrained. She stepped back smiling, "It's really good to see you again."

"Yeah...," he glanced away when he noticed her looking at his scar. Faith shook her head, "I'm sorry, it's the first time I've noticed it."

"It's fine Faith. Really isn't all that bad, it hurts sometimes though," he looked deep into her eyes. She was about to say something when she heard her daughters feet paddling down the hallway, "Mommy..."

Faith turned around instantly, "Hey baby..."

Alexa was now at her side rubbing her eye with one hand and the other stretched out toward her. Faith picked her up and Alexa laid her head on her mom's shoulder. Bosco noticed she was tiny for her age. Bosco smiled softly at her and Alexa yawned big as she cuddled into Faith.

"I'll see ya later Faith," Bos unlocked the door and cracked it, but then turned halfway and whispered, "Bye Alexa."

She gave a small wave and the hugged Faith's neck. Faith smiled at Bos, "She'll get used to ya Bos. Thanks again."

He nodded, "We'll have to do it again sometime. Lock this door okay. Night."

Faith nodded as she watched him head toward the stairs and then closed the door. Bosco stood watching, trying to hear the locks click. They did. He sighed heavily, he was tired. He also stayed too late. He gave a yawn as he slowly made his way down the stairs.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

A few months later...

"Mommy," Alexa was following Faith around the apartment trying to get her to look at the picture she just drew, "Look. Mom! Look at this."

"What honey? Mommy has to go to work," Faith stopped and turned taking the picture. She smiled at the trees that looked like oversized broccoli and some grey circle, maybe it was a rock, "That's beautiful Alexa."

Angela sat on the couch flipping thru the channels. Faith was already looking for a new sitter. It had just been taking longer than she had hoped. Alexa turned her head toward the door, she smiled as the knocking continued, she ran toward squealing. Before Faith could say anything Alexa had the door open, "Bok!"

"Hey, there's my girl," Bosco said picking her up, "What I tell you about answerin' the door."

"I drew you a piture," she squirmed to get down ignoring the question Bosco had asked her. Bosco entered the apartment, seeing Angela on the couch and Faith walking back down the hallway toward her bedroom. Alexa held out a piece of paper and Bosco took it, "You like it Bok?"

Bosco grinned from ear to ear at the round flowers that favored balloons more than anything, "I like it. Their gorgeous, just like you."

Alexa stood up in the chair to try and compensate for the height issue, "Will you put it in your lokor, like mommy does?"

Bosco never thought about that before. It had never come up and he honored the thought of hanging Alexa's artwork up, "Yeah, I'll put it in my locker."

She squealed again, "Mommy!"

Faith came down the hall in a dead run, "I'm late...I'm sorry Bos."

"No problem," he said watching Faith kiss Alexa on the head, "I'll see you later babe, be good for Angela."

Alexa gave a big nod with a huge grin that meant 'yeah right' and they started to leave and Alexa squealed once more, "Bok!"

He whipped around, "Right."

He kissed her on the check, "Bye gorgeous."

She giggled and jumped down running toward her bedroom. Faith closed the door and they waited for the elevator, "She has you whipped."

"That's what you think," he said as they stepped in and Faith pointed down at the picture that Alexa had given him, "She's into landscapes now. Two weeks ago it was cats now it's landscapes..."

"It's that damn discovery channel," he chuckled as he looked down at it smiling, "You know I have like ten pictures of cats that I swear are rats at home."

Faith laughed as they exited the elevator and went to the parking garage to get into Bosco's jeep, "Oh...you haven't seen her room in the past week. Emily came over Saturday and watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and now her walls look like Umpa Lumpa's have been there."

They both hopped inside and Bosco started it, "I think I understand, my fridge is blue now..."

Faith laughed, "You offered to babysit."

Bosco pulled out on the street and headed for Camelot. He sighed, "What did Emily want last night? It's not like her to come over on a Wednesday night."

Faith shook her head, "She and Anthony are changing the wedding date."

"To what...further out?"

Faith shook her head, "Try next week."

Bosco jerked his head around, "You didn't tell me. Next week. What if I can't get off. You know I wanted to come."

"Talk to Emily...don't blow up at me Bos," Faith said turning the dial on the radio. Bosco shook his head in disbelief, "What's the rush?"

"Got me...she didn't say and when I asked she said she wanted to tell everybody when the time was right," Faith finished and then noticed a look on his face, "No...she's not pregnant."

"She told you?"

"I asked besides, this is good, Hawaii is much better this time off year." Bosco nodded and Faith followed suit just as Bosco pulled his jeep into a parking place. They both got out and Bosco glanced at her, "You working late?"

"Nope."

"You wanna ride home?"

Faith nodded as they walked down the halls, "Yeah...that'd be great. I gotta go find Merfy."

Bosco stopped watching her head down a hall. It was too crowded to say anything he was feeling right now, "Becareful."

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Thanks for the reviews ya'll! Fourth Chap to come soon. Anywhoo...love it, hate it, review it.

Thanks ever so much,

Andrea