Me- *dials phone. phone rings*

Adrian- "Hello?"

Me- "Adrian! My man!"

Adrian- "Oh dear god."

Me- *giggles* "I love you too"

Adrian- "What the hell do you want?"

Me- *pleading voice* "Can you pweety pwease do the disclaimer?"

Adrian- "Hmmmm... no." *hangs up*

Me- *sighs* "I don't own VA." *Starts crying* "It's so depressing!" *sobers up* "Oh...and no matter how wierd this sounds...I don't own My little Pony. Sounds strange now, I know, but it will make sense later." *sheepish smile*

Previously...

"What's your price?" I asked to the two children, and I was actually quite frightened about what they would ask for. Sure, I'm rich and could probably buy Disneyland, but that didn't mean I wanted to. I don't like spending a lot of money because that how I was raised. I didn't agree with that kind of lifestyle.

"I want-" Aisley started but Michael cut her off.

"We want to go to Hawaii!"

"Uh... no," I said like it was a stupid idea, which it definitely was. There was no way in this freakin' world I would take the kids to Hawaii. No way in hell.

Aisley eyes widened at her brothers words and I could see the little gears in her head turning into place. A small smile crawled up onto her lips and her rosy cheeks pulled back. She grinned at me, and I knew without a doubt that I was screwed.

"There is no way in this world that I will take you to Hawaii, or any other place even relatively as expensive."

Aisley sighed, returning to munching on her hamburger.

I narrowed my eyes doubtfully; I found it very hard to believe that she would give up that easily. After what I'm guessing her mother told her, you'd think that she'd know that I would do anything for Tasha, even if it meant sending these to kids to Hawaii. I guess it's lucky for me though because I really don't want to do that. I would, however, do it for Tasha. A look at Michael told me I wasn't getting off that easily though. He was smiling in a way that made me very suspicious and I found myself wondering what he was up to.

"Well, then looks like you won't get Tanya-"

"It's Tasha!" I injected, the need to correct her name almost a reflex.

"-Will you?" Michael finished, ignoring me.

If anyone heard a 'snap' a few seconds ago, that was my control. I will kill him. Michael better hope he can fly because there is no other way he'll get away from me when I'm in the midst of rage. If he says Tasha's name wrong one more time...

But I had to admit, he had me by the neck. I was unarmed in this sense. I had nothing to fight back with. Either I take the kids to Hawaii, and get Tasha, or I'll probably have to pay professional child actors. I didn't want to do that because I thought it would be easier, and therefore more convincing, for Rose to play the mother if they are her real kids.

Then there was the case of me not actually wanting to take Aisley and Michael to Hawaii. I'll have to try and weasel my way out.

"Why do you want to go anyway?"

I was met with silence.

Michael's smile dropped almost instantly. What was up with that? Was he ashamed of the reason? Or was he just playing an evil trick?

There were plenty of reasons for why he might want to go to Hawaii. It is a beautiful place after all; surf, sand, sea... women. What else could you want? Okay, maybe I should be ashamed of that last reason, especially when I'm tricking my girlfriend into thinking I'm married and have two kids.

"I want to swim with the dolphins," he mumbled, not making eye contact with me or his sister.

Well, I wasn't expecting that, especially not after Michael's macho act a minute ago. But why was he so embarrassed? I actually thought it was quite cute. But still, I don't want to go to Hawaii.

"Why are you so embarrassed?" I asked, watching Michael carefully. He was still looking at his food and I could hear him fiddling with his feet under the table. I reached forward to rustle his hair, forcing him to look up at me. It looked like he had tears in his eyes. "Little man, why are you so embarrassed?"

He mumbled something quietly but I didn't quite catch it.

"Sorry, say that again," I said.

He sighed and looked at his sister. Aisley was watching the exchange quietly with a sad expression on her petite face, but she nodded at Michael's silent question.

"Dad says it's stupid. He says that I need to grow up and stop having baby ideas," he muttered, picking up a chip to munch on. He looked away from me but I could tell he was about to cry. In some ways it relieved me. Michael was finally acting his age, instead of trying to pretend that he was ten years older.

It outraged me that Jesse would say such crap. Telling an eight year old to grow up is like telling the sun to stop burning; just plain idiotic. Because, essentially, it's not going to happen for a long time. A really, really long time. Michael won't start acting mature for another few years, and that's not including the essential factor; he's Rose's child and Rose still doesn't act mature. So, Jesse, I don't think you'll have much luck with such a pathetic task.

"Well, you shouldn't listen to your father," I mumbled angrily. Even though I said it, I knew it would never really happen. Jesse had too much of an influence on Michael and-

"I want a pony!" Aisley yelled suddenly. It made me jump a little because I had been so deep in thought.

Where the hell did that come from? I thought.

Michael growled in annoyance. He glared at the bubbly girl, who easily dismissed his anger without a thought.

"Why the heck would you want a pony?" He exclaimed, with an 'are you stupid?' expression.

"They're awesome!" Aisley replied, eyebrows raised and hands on hips. She dragged out the word 'awesome' until I was on the verge of hitting something. Michael rolled his eyes.

Aisley suddenly turned to me with wide eyes. "Do you think you could get me a flying pony?" She asked with utter seriousness. I almost felt bad for ruining her excitement seeing as I wasn't going to get her a pony, especially not a flying one.

"Okay, here's the deal. I'm not taking you to Hawaii and I'm not getting you a pony," I said to the kids. I crossed my arms and leaned back on the chair.

Only for it to fall backwards.

Fortunately, I was able to save myself using the table in front of me. Unfortunately, the kids noticed and burst into fits of laughter.

I'm glad they find my situation so amusing, I thought cynically.

I faced a giggling Aisley. "I'll buy you 'My little Pony', any ones you want," I started.

Suddenly Aisley became very serious and turned to face me. She put on her poker face and laced her fingers together, placing them on the table. 'My little Pony' was a toy franchise that Aisley absolutely loved. I knew she wouldn't turn down that offer.

"'My little Pony' and a pony," she bargained.

I mentally groaned, while keeping my own poker face on. Rose called it my 'guardian mask' because it guarded my feelings. Apparently I use it a lot, and am very good at it.

I knew from the look on her face that Aisley wasn't going to give up the pony idea, but Rose's apartment certainly wasn't suited to housing a pony, no matter how small.

"'My little Pony' and a horse ride at a farm," I negotiated smartly. I'm not getting her a pony but I would definitely pay for a pony ride.

I could tell that I had Aisley wrapped around my pinkie finger with the way her face gradually lit up. She slowly dropped her poker face and smiled a smile that wouldn't stop growing. She jumped up from her chair, knocking it backward in the process.

"Yes!" She grinned leaning over the table to give me a high five. I rolled my eyes at her cute immaturity but obliged to the request. She sprinted off into the playground again, a bright smile hanging on her lips.

Michael, however, looked a little depressed. He was frowning slightly and little wrinkles creased his forehead.

"But I want to go to Hawaii!"

I honestly felt bad for the kid, but I was not taking him to Hawaii.

"Sorry," I said. "But I'll get you anything else you want. In moderation of course," I added, trying my best to comfort him. It seemed like he really wanted to swim with dolphins over in Hawaii. It was curious; Michael always appeared to be the 'bad boy', as Jesse had raised him like that. It was quite cute that he wanted to do something so out there and almost childish.

He sighed loudly. "Fine. I want an Xbox and ten games, plus a fifty dollar voucher for more games."

"An Xbox, two games and fifty dollars."

A smirk climbed up onto Michael's lips.

I expected him to bargain once again, but I was pleasantly surprised when he agreed to my very generous offer.

So, after he agreed, we shook hands and went off to find his sister.

"You did what?"

I stood in the office, leaning against the desk while Rose scolded me from behind the reception area. She stood up very slowly from her position in the desk chair, her face moulded into an expression that would terrify anyone. I'd just told her about the deal I'd made with her children and from what I could see, she didn't like the idea much.

"How could you do that? How could you bring Michael and Aisley into your scheme? Especially without my permission?" She was glaring at me now – a long, hard glare.

"Look, it's only for one day – one day! – and then I'll tell Tasha that they died in a car crash or something."

She sighed and ran her hands through her silky, dark hair. "I don't know... I don't really want you buying my kids off." She seemed uncertain, but it also seemed like she was about to give in. I hoped so anyway. "Plus I don't really want them involved with your stupid scheme."

"What are you talking about? You're the one that told them everything!" I exclaimed leaning further towards her. She rolled her eyes.

"You know I don't have many friends. There's really only you and Lissa. I just don't have the time to socialise."

"What about Christian?"

"I don't classify him as a friend. He's more like an annoying disease."

I laughed at her crude comment, though I knew she didn't really mean it.

She and Christian had a strange relationship, always teasing each other. Their sarcastic nature almost always clashed and so their bickering was a constant aspect in their conversations. I knew that Rose actually did consider Christian a friend.

Our conversation was interrupted by the door being opened and a client walking in. She was in work-out clothes and was carrying a sports bag so I assumed she was here for an appointment. Rose addressed her and told her to take a seat and that I'll be with her in a minute. She nodded and picked up a magazine.

I turned back to Rose. She shoved some paperwork in my face and pushed me away.

"We'll talk about this later," she said frowning at me.

I stared down at her as I pulled the file with the client's information up to my muscled chest.

"I got Michael to talk to a boy his age. I think he actually made a friend," I informed Rose matter-of-factly. She gasped and looked up at me with that cute gob-smacked expression she makes when I do something out of the ordinary.

After we'd found Aisley and were heading out from the indoor play area, Michael bumped into a classmate from school. Michael was going to walk right past but with a little encouragement, I got him to actually start a conversation with the other kid. It was so surprising but Michael actually had pretty good social skills when he wanted to.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Ask Aisley, she'll tell you."

Rose pulled her bottom lip with her front teeth, looking up at me with disbelief. It made her seem innocent as she thought over what I'd said. I let the idea hang a little while longer as my client and I headed into the gym. I hoped for my sake that Rose agreed.

VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE! PLEASE READ:

Hey guys, I am so terribly sorry for the delay! It's a really long story but long story short I had to go to hospital to have an operation. Yeah, I think that's a pretty good excuse.

And for all those people that got emails that I'd updated chapter, only to find the chapter missing...that was my fault. I'd updated the chapter but it was un-beta'd. I quickly deleted the chapter but the chapter alerts had already been sent out to you guys. *Hides under bed covers* Please don't kill me... I'm really sorry. I hope this chapter was good enough to make up for it... :) *awkward smile*

How about we get atleast 100 reviews, yeah?