Authors Note: Love the interest in this story. Updates are going to be a bit slower with the holidays upon us.

Reviews are loved

Happy Readings

/\/\/\/\/\

Hayley was sitting on the front porch swing. Pierce was on his way. Dave and Hunter had agreed he could come so she could talk to him in person. But it was only going to be a short visit.

Pierce was dressed in his uniform for work, but he had an hour till he had to head there he was stopping by at Hayley's first. He knew she was grounded but that she had been allowed to have him come to talk to him in person. And he knew if her parents had agreed to that when she was grounded that it was something big she needed to talk to him about.

He pulled up to the house and saw her sitting on the swing on the front porch and he parked and got out and went and sat next to her. "Hey." he said kissing her.

"Hi." She said softly before kissing him back.

"You okay?" He asked

"No." Hayley said

"What's going on?" He asked

Hayley took a breath. "I have told you pretty much everything there is to know about me. And about my past. But there is one thing. I chose to keep from you. Because I knew you would be upset." She said

"Okay. I take it you want to tell me now though?" Pierce asked

"I have been backed into a corner and someone else who I would -never have told found out and I'm worried it will get back to you and its not fair for it not to come from me." Hayley said

Pierce nodded. "Okay. Tell me."

"Its about Matthew." She said

Pierce nodded. "Okay. He harassing you?"

"Yes but its what he is harassing me about." Hayley said

"Hals just tell me please." Pierce said

"When I was 'with him' he used the same blackmailing to convince me to have sex with him. We used condoms but unfortunately they don't always work. I got pregnant." She said

Pierce took a breath "You're pregnant. Wait you would be showing wouldn't you?" He asked

"I terminated the pregnancy." That was the thing she was most nervous to tell him. It was such a hot button topic, and she did not know where he stood on it.

Pierce put an arm around her and pulled her in close kissing the top of her head. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

"You're not upset with me?" Hayley asked

"Why would I be?" Pierce asked confusion clear in his voice.

"Because I didn't tell you. Because I terminated the pregnancy." Hayley said

"Hals no. I would have been there for you if you had told me, but we weren't dating and even if we were you didn't own me an explanation. And I am pro choice Hals. Your body you get to decide." Pierce said

Hayley let out the breath she was holding.

"Is that why you didn't tell me. You didn't know how I would feel about your choice?" Pierce asked

Hayley nodded abit.

"I know it's a polarizing topic. Like a lot of things. I tend to side on the democratic point of view on a lot of things. But even if we don't agree on things doesn't mean I'm going to have an issue with you just because we don't agree on everything." Pierce said

Hayley nodded. "Agreed. But there are a few things that I feel strongly about that I want the person I am with to agree with me on."

Pierce nodded "I get that. Abortions being one of them?"

"Yes." Hayley said, "And we do agree, pro-choice."

"Good." Pierce said. "What other ones are important to you?"

"Well supporting the LGBTQ but I know you do that." Hayley said

Pierce nodded. "hundred precent."

"Those are the two main ones for me." Hayley said. "You have any you feel strongly about?"

"The death penalty." Pierce said

"Okay. Where do you stand on it?" Hayley asked

"I agree with it. And think there are certain crimes that if you commit it should be an option and its not." Pierce said

"What crimes are those?" Hayley asked

"If you intentionally hurt a child." Pierce said

Hayley nodded "I can understand that."

"So you agree?" Pierce asked

"I do. I think people who abuse children get off far to easy most of the time. I think if they don't get the death penalty they should be in prison for the rest of their life. Medically castrated in the cases of sexual abuse of a child or anyone really." Hayley said

Pierce nodded. "Okay. I think we can say we agree on that one too." He said

Hayley nodded and hugged him tight.

Pierce hugged her. "Why the tight hug?"

"Because I can tell you need it." Hayley said

Pierce let out a small chuckle.

"You know you can talk to me about anything right?" Hayley asked

"Yes." Pierce said. "And I will. But if I start talking now. I'm going to miss work." He said

Hayley nodded. "Okay."

"How do you know Matthew knows about the pregnancy and abortion?" he asked

Hayley showed him the texts.

"Who told him?" Pierce asked

"No idea. The list of people who know is small and none of them would tell him." Hayley said

Pierce nodded "Do you want me to find out?"

"No. Its done. Its being handled. I just want it to go away." Hayley said

"So why are you grounded anyways?" he asked telling she wanted to change the subject

"Long story…" Hayley said

Pierce tilted his head with a raised eyebrow.

"Well deserved." Hayley said

Pierce nodded "It have anything to do with you and Rosie being snippy to each other?"

"Caught on huh?" Hayley asked

"Yes." Pierce said

"Yes." Hayley said

"But she's not grounded?" Pierce asked. He knew she was going on a date the following date with Nolan.

"No. She didn't do anything wrong. She was snippy with me because of things I wasn't doing that I should have been, and she was picking up the slack and such." Hayley said

Pierce nodded. "Ah." He said

"I was in the wrong. She wasn't." Hayley said

Pierce nodded. They talked for a few more minutes before Pierce had to go. He kissed her and left heading to his car. Hayley went inside and went to Dave. "Pierce knows."

"Good." Dave said, "You okay?"

"Yeah. Went well." Hayley said, "Thank you for letting me do that in person."

"You're welcome. And I'm glad it went well." Dave said

/\/\/\/\

Meanwhile at the rock climbing gym.

Hunter and Rosie were getting ready for him to start climbing. She was belaying him.

Hunter was getting help tying everything up, but Rosie had done it so much she knew she was fine.

Hunter looked at her. "You know how to do it that well? No one needs to check it?" he asked her

Rosie smiled "Correct."

"I see." Hunter said clearly not sure he believed her

Rosie looked at the guy who usually belayed her. "Can you double check it so my papa here doesn't have a heart attack?"

The guy chuckled and checked it over. "Its perfect. And she does know what she is doing." He assured Hunter.

"I know." Hunter said with a smile. "I'm just a parent. I worry."

Rosie smiled and looked at the wall he was about to climbing. It was the easiest one in the place. "So the white holds are the easiest to follow if you want to follow a specific path, but you can also just ignore the colors and pick the ones that feel the most comfortable to you." She told him

Hunter nodded. "Okay. What color do you use?"

"I have climbed all of them." Rosie said

Hunter nodded "Okay. So you really know what you are doing."

"This is the easiest of the walls in here. I have not climbed every color on every wall." Rosie said

"But she is getting pretty close to all of them. Just one more. Which she has been carefully avoiding" Her belayer said

"I have no doubt in that. She has spent a lot of time here." Hunter said with a smile.

"It's an effective way to get out frustration and anger. And I have had a lot of that." Rosie said "So why don't you start, and I'll help you find the best holds to help you get up there. And I promise to keep you safe."

"Okay." Hunter said with a smile. "I do trust you." He said as he started to climb up using the holds that felt the most comfortable for him. Rosie below kept his ropes snug and kept him safe.

Rosie knew he was terrified of heights, but she also knew the only way to get over a fear was to face it. And he had agreed to do this. She watched him climb slowly.

He got half way up and needed a second to breath.

"Just don't look down." Rosie said

Hunter chuckled. "Am I that obvious?"

"Yes." Rosie said. "I have known you were scared of heights for awhile. I knew they would help you get over the fear. Its why I have been suggesting it."

"So you tricked me?" He asked still chuckling

"Yup." Rosie said, "And the only way I am letting you down to deal with me is for you reach the top." She said with a smirk.

Hunter shook his head.

"You just have to do what you have been doing." She assured him. He kept climbing.

"Come on papa." Rosie encouraged "You've got this."

He stopped a third of the way up.

Rosie took a breath "If you make it to the top I will tell you and dad how I knew he was going to propose." She said

Hunter laughed "Don't have much of a choice now do I?"

"Of course you do. You do not have to climb anymore than you are comfortable with. Just giving you incentive to keep pushing yourself. Because I know you can do it." Rosie said with a smile.

Hunter took a breath and finished climbing the wall. He hit the top of the wall.

"Good job!" Rosie said.

"Now get me down from here." He said

Rosie chuckled and reminded him what to do and he did it and Rosie slowly lowered him down.

"Good job papa." She said giving him a hug when he was down on the ground.

He hugged her his legs feeling a little shaky. "Thank you. For pushing me."

"You're glad I did?" Rosie said

"Yes." Hunter said "Now I want to see you climbing. Want to see what you can do." He said

Rosie smiled and looked over at her belayer. "You have the time to belay me on the back wall?"

"Yes." He said

Hunter and Rosie put untied what they had on, and Rosie got into the ropes and got hooked up to climb the hardest holds in the place.

"You sure you are ready for this?" Her belayer asked her quietly. "You're not just trying to show off?"

Rosie nodded. "I've been avoiding it because of fear. I need to face it."

"Okay." The belayer said. "When you reach the top you ring that bell. Trust me it feels amazing to ring it." It was the only wall in the place with a bell to ring when you reached the wall. There was only one set of holds. And it was hard.

Rosie let out a breath and nodded.

"You've got this, and I've got you." He said

Papa was standing back watching.

Rosie started the climb. She started slowly. She reached the halfway point and stopped for a moment.

"You've got this Rose." The belayer said

Rosie took a breath and continued the climb. It definitely was hard.

She was almost at the top and was having a tough time reaching the final hold and was getting frustrated.

"You have got to push off." The belayer told her. He knew that was the only think that was holding her back from this wall was that she would -have to push off. She went out of her way to avoid that on every other wall but on this one there were no other holds to help her. "I will not let you fall."

Rosie groaned.

"Come on Rose. You've got this." Hunter said he was filming it. He knew that Dave would want to see it and it was something he wanted Rosie to have too.

Rosie took a breath and pushed off the hold her feet were on and grabbed onto the final hold. Now she just had to pull herself up. She was tired. And she was sore. But she used every last bit of strength she had and pulled herself up and rang the bell.

Everyone in the place at that point had stopped climbing and were just watching her. So everyone started to clap and cheer for her. Her belayer patted her on the shoulder. "Good job!" he said.

"Thanks!" She said before Hunter hugged her. "You did amazing!" he said

"I cant believe I did that." She said, "And thank you." She hugged him back

"I can. I knew you could do it because there is -nothing in this life that you will not achieve if you work hard for it, and I know you have worked hard for this." Hunter said

Rosie smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad you were here for this."

"Me too." Hunter said, "And dad is going to be just as proud of me when he sees it." He said indicting that he had filmed it.

Rosie smiled and hugged him again. "But I am exhausted."

"Come on lets go get food." Hunter said with a smile.

Rosie untied herself and put away all the things the had used. Hunter helped before the two of them headed out and went to grab a burger and shakes.

"How many people have done that?" Hunter asked

"I don't know. Everyone who works there has. It's a requirement I know that. But other than that I don't know." Rosie said

Hunter nodded and smiled "Did dad put you up to making me do it to face my fears?"

"Nope." Rosie said, "I just know best way to get over a fear is to face it."

"Very true." Hunter said, "So. How did you know dad was going to propose?" he asked

Rosie chuckled. "I guess fair is fair. Um. I has skipped school and was shopping downtown. I looked through the window of the jewelry store and saw him looking at rings. So I knew." Rosie said

"Ah." Hunter said shaking his head "You didn't get busted for skipping? How?" He asked

"Never said I'd tell you that." She said before she took a sip of her shake.

Hunter raised an eyebrow "Rosie."

She shook her head.

"If your not willing to tell me it must be pretty bad." Hunter said

Rosie let out a breath.

"Did you forage dad signature?" Hunter asked

"Do I look like I have a death wish? No!" She said

Hunter chuckled. "Okay. Than it cant be that bad."

"I told dad I had a therapy. I didn't tell him it was retail therapy." Rosie said, "He signed me out of school for the afternoon."

Hunter nodded. "Okay. That's not good but I think at this point what's done is done. You're a good student. Missing the afternoon didn't have any affect on your grades?"

"No." Rosie said

"I'm going to tell dad and he might want to talk to you, but I don't think he is going to be to upset at this point." Hunter said

Rosie smiled and nodded. "Even if I do get in trouble. Its worth it. To help you face your fear."

"What was the big fear that you faced? I'm assuming its not the issues with driving?" Hunter said

"Trusting that dad wouldn't be like the people I lived with before." Rosie said

Hunter nodded. "Yeah. Its hard to trust when you spent so many years with people who didn't really love you. Or didn't know how to properly show love."

Rosie nodded. "They didn't love me. I was a means to an end. I was just a convenient cover."

"How long did it take you to trust your dad?" Hunter asked

"Till he spanked me for the first time." Rosie said

"What was it for?" Hunter said

"Lying to him about parents being at a party when there wasn't." Rosie said

Hunter nodded

"I was absolutely terrified. I had tried to convince Spencer not to tell him. There was drinking and drugs at the party and my ride had done both and was in no condition to drive. I called dad to pick me up, but he didn't answer so I called every one of the team till I got someone who answered, and it was Spencer and he came and picked me up and Cass as well. Basically just as the party was being broken up by cops. And he took Cass home and than me and made me tell dad." Rosie said

Hunter nodded.

"At the time I thought I was lucky it was Spencer I got because he would be the easiest to convince not to tell dad. But nope." Rosie said

Hunter chuckled. "Now that you know them all better who do you actually think wouldn't tell dad or I if you pulled something like that again?"

"They all a hundred precent would either make me tell you or tell you." Rosie said, "There are things I know I could go to Emily about, and she wouldn't tell you but things like that she would not let me get away with."

Hunter nodded.

"On to another topic. Your friends all graduating all have gotten into some pretty good schools right?" Hunter said

"Yes. Well Cass is still waiting to hear back from her top choice but everyone else got into their top choice or somewhere high on their list." Rosie said

"Must be hard for Noel being the same age and he should have been graduating this year." Hunter said

Rosie leaned back in her seat with a sigh and closed her eyes.

"What?" Hunter asked

"That's. Probably why he is acting the way he is…" Rosie said

"What do you mean?" Hunter asked

"He has been really quiet and almost avoiding everyone. Including me." Rosie said, "I didn't put it together."

"I know you mentioned he didn't fail the grade due to bad grades exactly. What was it?" Hunter asked

"I don't know if its fair for me to give details, but he went through a dark period and started to skip school more often than he would go. For about six months. Till something snapped him back into himself." Rosie said

Hunter nodded. "That will stay between you and I."

"I appreciate that." Rosie said

"But your top choice still Harvard right?" Hunter asked

"Yes." Rosie said, "Might be changing majors though."

"Really?" Hunter said

"Yeah. I like newspaper but um its given me what I can only assume is a tiny glimpse into what working as a journalist would be and I don't love it as much as I thought I would. And my reasons for wanting to be a journalist from a young age don't actually line up with a journalists job." She said

"What do you mean?" Hunter asked

"I thought that being a journalist would get me in the door of places that law enforcement cant really get invited into and in turn be able to help law enforcement get the bad guys. But that would just be putting a huge target on my back." Rosie said

"Yes it would." Hunter said

"I do want to help people so I'm leaning more towards still minoring in law. But maybe majoring in crime scene investigating or forensic science." she said

"Not thinking becoming a police officer or FBI agent?" Hunter asked

"Nope. But I am curious how quickly dad would lock me up and throw away the keys if I told him I was even -thinking about it." She said

Hunter chuckled. "Dad is going to be proud of whatever it is you do."

"I'm sure he will. As long as it doesn't involve me running after bad guys." Rosie said

"Well I'm sure he doesn't want you doing something that puts you in danger no. And I'd rather you didn't as well. But if you did become something in law enforcement no one would be locking you up and throwing away any keys." Hunter said with a smile.

"Maybe not actually do it. But threaten to." Rosie said

Hunter chuckled "I think you are wrong on that one."

"Want to test that theory?" Rosie asked

"Oh?" Hunter asked

"I tell dad I'm thinking law enforcement and if he even jokingly threats to lock me up you have to help me convince day to let me get my new car wrapped in pink." Rosie said with a smirk.

Hunter chuckled. "And if he doesn't what do I get?"

"What do you want?" Rosie asked

"You have to clean both mine and dads cars. Once exams are done." Hunter said

"Deal." Rosie said. She would do that for them anyways, so it wasn't a huge risk in her eyes. "But you are not allowed to give him a heads up about any of it."

"That would be unfair. I wouldn't do that." He assured her.

They shook on it and finished eating before heading home.