Here's what Carrie's story would have looked like if she chose Robert. Once again, I do not own DDADDS. All rights to all products go to their respective owners. If you have not read the first story covering Damien, no worries! The stories are not chronological, just different perspectives of the same instance, but I encourage you to check that story out nonetheless. I hope you enjoy!

Prologue

I was never good at handling death. The death of my first dog when I was eight was hard, then came the death of my Aunt Christy, who was my favorite aunt. She always respected me and loved me for who I was, even if no one else agreed with my choices or stood by me, she would. I… I wish she had been there with me when Daniel died.

Daniel was my first love. We got married and were together for a short while. Then, one night, he got in a car accident. Since then… I couldn't bring myself out of my grief. It has been two years since his death and I have taken to using multiple avoidance methods as opposed to dealing with my grief. I'm sure I qualified for the good drugs they give those with depression, but… some strange part of me didn't want to admit defeat. Yes, I felt depressed and very little had made me happy without Daniel, but… I always had whiskey.

I felt bad for my adopted son, Andrew. Daniel and I had adopted him at an age when he still remembered his own parents. We had become his parents and had helped him deal with his emotions. We helped him develop himself as a person, no matter what route he decided to take in life. He tried to help me, tried to make me feel better as I had him. He was so strong… I couldn't bring myself to be half as strong. I felt broken, as if the organ beating in my chest were made of glass.

Andrew suggested we move. He picked out a house across town and I agreed. Andrew tried to hide the fact that he had packed Daniel's things for me. I knew he did it out of mercy toward me. His office needed the most cleaning since I hadn't touched it since…

I was glad that Andrew was able to find us a house in a new neighborhood. Maybe I could change here. It also helped that Andrew could stay in the same school. I knew how close he was to graduating and how important this year was for him. He was so bright. He was the only one who could make me smile anymore. If he weren't here for me, I would have shattered long ago.

The cul-de-sac we moved into had a charm to it. The houses were all differently decorated and seemed to speak the echoes of the people who lived here. Andrew shook me out of my thoughts. I had forgotten that he had his license and that he had driven us here… I really was relying on him too much.

"How 'bout some coffee, Mom? There's a coffee shop just down the block from here. It'll help give us energy to move the boxes and stuff inside," said Andrew.

"K," I said quietly.

I didn't really pay much attention to anything. It felt like I was in a black and white world where rain could start at any moment. Maybe I should have taken a prescription for anti-depressants… I thought drearily. Nothing made me happy, most days… and it was only getting worse.

We arrived at the little coffee shop and Andrew ordered for the both of us. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. My eyes locked on a mysterious man across the room. He was the textbook definition of that guy no dads wanted near their girls. He was dark, brooding, and had a look in his eyes that was captivating and full of danger. Plus, the leather jacket looked really cool on him. I don't know what it was about him. A spark? I saw some color again. All I did was look at him.

Andrew handed me my coffee and reminded me of the time. Realizing we had to go, I sighed. I wanted to talk to the guy, learn more about him.

Andrew and I left the coffee shop and walked to a local park. We met a guy and his daughter playing Frisbee with their dog. We didn't stay long.

We got back to the house and started unpacking. When I reached the boxes with Daniel's belongings in them, I… I could barely bring myself to look at them. I knew if I touched his things I'd go back, just like I always did when I remembered him. The rain clouds were coming back. My heart was heavy as I thought of all the things I could never do, never see again. He's not here anymore.

I might have gone into a full slump had it not been for a knock at the door. A neighbor was inviting Andrew and I to a barbecue. I made conversation, but I felt really out of it. I realized, when our neighbor left, just how deep of a rut I was in. I had never given a full, genuine smile since before Daniel died. I went into my room and cried. I was sinking fast.

I emerged from my room sometime later and went for a walk on my own. I met up with my old college roomie, Craig. I think he noticed I was still off. He was nice about it though. I didn't say much to him. There was no point in lying and telling him everything was okay. He knew me too well.

I kept walking, noticing it had reached nightfall. I received a text from Andrew saying that he would be hanging with his friends. I sighed. I kicked a rock along until some different lights drew my attention back up.

The lights came from a little dive bar called Jim and Kim's. I went in and was assaulted with the smells of a low-end bar. I had gotten used to most of these smells. I sat down and called the bartender over. "Whiskey on the rocks, please," I requested. I also gave him a piece of paper with my address on it in case I passed out and needed to be taken home. It wouldn't be the first time.

I was sipping the whiskey slowly, wanting it to last, wanting the fullness of everything to come over me. I started watching the game on the low res tv. I recognized it as Daniel's favorite game. A part of me wanted to stop watching, but our favorite team was doing well, despite the very good efforts of the other team.

I had noticed, at some point, that the man from the coffee shop was there. He's so cool. He happened to be cheering for the opposing team. It came down to the wire, but my team won. Neither of us had been subtle in who we were supporting, but I was happy to notice him raise his glass, graceful after his team's loss. I raise my glass in response and offer a small smile. He motions to the bartender, who refills both our drinks with whiskey.

"The name's Robert," he introduced, sidling closer to me.

"Thanks, I'm Carrie," I said.

He asked if I was new to the neighborhood and I nodded. "Well, you've come to the right place. As slimy as it is, Jim and Kim's is the best in town," he said. "What kinda drinks do you prefer?"

"I'm down for anything," I said, giving a confidant smile.

"You like shots?"

"I love shots."

"Thank God." He gets us each another shot of whiskey. We take them nearly simultaneously. I was starting to feel really good.

I felt the need then to get him to like me. Don't know why. "You look cool," I say.

"Thanks..." Was that a blush from drinking or…?

I don't know if it was just me or my personality and the whiskey combined, but that sounded really cool to me. This guy is seriously cool. He calls another round over for us.

"So, what brings you here?" he asked.

"Running from my problems. The usual."

"I like your style." He gets up. "Be right back." Wow. I was in this stupor I hadn't felt in a while.

"Never seen Robert this talkative. He must like you," commented the bartender, Neil.

If I wasn't already red-faced from drinking, I certainly was red-faced now. That was some good liquor. I didn't feel bad now, but I would most definitely be hungover tomorrow.

Robert came back and grabbed his jacket. "I'm walking home. You heading my way?" he asked.

"I live in the cul-de-sac down the way," I said.

"Same here. Come on." He waves me forward, making me walk out with him. I subconsciously follow him all the way to his house. I find myself pinned between him and the door by his arms. "So, are we doing this or what?" He wasn't being forceful, yet…

I blush. "N-no thank you. I really ought to get home."

"That's cool." He pulls away, but the scent of whiskey remains. I hadn't realized how whet my desire was until then. I pulled away and walked the rest of the way to my house before I did anything rash.

"See ya around!" I call out, realizing only after I spoke that it was my drunk voice.

"Sure," he called out. We both went into our respective houses. When I got in and went to my room, I shut my door behind me and slumped against it. Wow. It was my mind's word for the evening. I hadn't felt this way in a while. It was weird.

The next day was pretty easygoing. I went to Andrew's school and had a talk with his teacher. I found out maybe Andrew wasn't dealing with home life as well as I thought he was… or maybe he still hurt from Daniel's death too?

After that, Andrew and I went to the mall. We went to the goth store and saw a guy in full goth clothing. He seemed really into the Victorian era clothing.

Saturday arrived: the day of the barbecue. All of the guys I had met this week were there: Mat, the barista; Brian, the burly redhead; Joseph, the apparently married blonde; Robert, Mr. Whiskey; Craig, my old college roomie; Andrew's teacher, Mr. Vega; and Damien, the eccentric goth. I noticed Robert had some whiskey in hand, so I went up to him. Andrew went off to be social with the other kids.

"Hey," he greeted with a tip of his glass.

"Hey," I said. A small blush came to my face. "Wanna spot me a shot?" He grinned and poured me a glass. "Thanks."

Brian came up to us and we started a conversation on camping. Brian seemed to be trying hard to impress someone, though I wasn't sure who. Then, Robert made the comment: "I haven't been camping in years. Not since the last time."

"What happened last time?" I asked.

He took a sip of his whiskey and went into his story: "Well, ol' Johnnyboy and me were out in the backcountry. Johnnyboy's a strong kid, met 'im in my army days. Comes from Kansas. They build 'em tougher out there. Anyway, things go south pretty quick: Johnnyboy breaks his ankle when the rope bridge snaps.

"You could see the bone popping out through the skin. Johnnyboy's screaming now. Crying for his mama. We're two days out from the next living soul and here I am with my dear friend bleeding out in front of me.

"I'm able to dress the wound, but now I gotta fireman carry a 6 foot, 180 lb. man over some of the toughest terrain I've ever been in.

"I won't lie to you, there were moments during those two days when I thought about leaving ol' Johnnyboy. But you build a bond with your brother in arms. And that bond never breaks. I got that boy back to civilization. But I lost some of me out there.

"I guess that's camping for ya," Robert concludes his story with another sip of whiskey.

Brian and I stare in disbelief. I take a sip of my whiskey. Shit, man.

Robert added: "I'm just kidding. My friend John and I went inner tubing down a river and he lost a flip flop. Miss that kid."

I breathe a sigh of relief and Brian laughs nervously. Man, Robert's INTENSE. The more I was around him, the more I wanted to hear.

"Or am I kidding?" Robert asks. His expression is dark and I'm really not sure if he's kidding or not. "I'm kidding." I breathe another sigh.

"Well, this was a nice talk," said Brian. He then made an excuse to head away from us.

"Well, now what?" I asked.

"I don't know. I don't usually go to these things," said Robert.

"We should probably try to be social."

"Nah." He grinned and I grinned back. We talked a little bit, but not much. We kinda hung back from the rest of the party.

Near the end of the party, Joseph came up to me and brought up the dating social platform Siingle. He mentioned all of the neighborhood was on it. He waved off my question as to why he was on there since he was married by saying, "It's just a fun little social platform where you can keep in touch with everyone."

"I'll think about it. Thanks," I said.

I didn't think about it much when I got home, but I thought about it more before I went to bed that evening. It was a free site and it really did function more like a social network than a q on q "dating site". I signed up and made a profile, not really thinking much of it.

My profile looked like this:

Name: Carrie Adams

Summary: Hey, guys. Hit me up if you wanna do something fun. I'm up for anything.

On a Friday night, I am most likely to: Mix and try new drinks

If you had one thing to take with you on a desert island, what would it be: An axe

What are your turn-ons: Getting to the edge and hanging there for as long as possible

What did you want to be when you grew up: Writer

What's your favorite movie genre: Supernatural and/or Action/Thriller

What's your ideal date: Just being together alone. No one else.

What do you never leave home without: Wallet, keys, ibuprofen

I spend a lot of time thinking about: Story ideas

It's not like this is gonna really mean anything. It's just for hanging out. Right? I shook my head. Best not think on this too much.

A little different from Damien's route. Stay tuned, there's lotsa good stuff in store. See you same day next week ;) Please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)