A/N: Oy, it's been a long time.
Previously:
"Alright, alright. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, Levi. I don't know what's going to happen with me and Adam. I don't know if we're going to try this and it won't work, or if we're going to live happily ever after."
"Do you love him, mama?"
"I love him very much, but adults make things complicated."
Levi chewed on her lip, then nodded.
"Okay, but mama, are you happy?"
"Yes, I'm happy."

I had actually forgotten what happened… whoops.

His lips grazed over hers, gently at first, then more insistent when she responded in kind. They'd spent several evenings like this, cuddled up on the couch once Levi was asleep, neither one of them ready to part until it was late. She was more used to it now than she had been at first, and her insistences that she wasn't good at it had stopped. But tonight felt different than other nights and she found herself almost nervous.

He broke the kiss after a moment and rested his forehead against hers, stroking his hand through her hair.

"I love you."

"I love you too," she replied with a grin. "And I like this dating thing."

"Yeah, it's pretty nice."

They smiled together and he leaned in again, pulling her as close as he could. Her arms settled around him and she sighed into the kiss when his hand snaked under her shirt to rub the small of her back. She loved the way he wrapped around her, how protected she felt, and she was so caught up in the comfort she almost didn't notice that she was slowly sinking back against the pillows on the couch and he was coming down with her, his full weight resting warmly against her. It was comfortable at first and she vaguely wondered if they could lay like this forever, but then his lips moved over to lightly peck at her collarbone and every muscle in her body tensed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, knowing her so well that he was instantly on high alert.

"Wait," she replied softly, pressing her hand against his chest. "I'm not… I can't…"

He didn't move, just brushed her hair back from her face and stayed quiet while she struggled for the words.

"I'm not ready for this. I can't."

"Can't what?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."

"Oh. Linds, I wasn't gonna… I mean, I didn't think that was um… on the agenda."

"You didn't?"

"No. We haven't talked about it in this context, but it has come up in Josh-related conversations before."

"Oh," she said softly, her eyes dropping down from his. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? Why?"

He sat up but she remained where she was, propped up just slightly by the pillows, hair fanned out behind her. She almost shivered at the lack of warmth and she wanted to ask him to lay with her again but she knew the conversation was needed more.

"I'm sorry because we're both adults and I can't even… I can't…"

"You can't say the word."

"I can't even say the word, how am I supposed to do the thing?"

He smirked a little.

"You did it once."

"With massive consequences."

"I know."

"Adam, it's not because of you," she started with a sigh. "And it really has nothing to do with Josh. The situations aren't relative at all and I'm in a different place now than I was back then. I don't know if it's because I'm not ready or I'm scared of something or if fifteen year old me is still my conscience or if I need therapy or what. All I really know is I love you and I want to be with you."

"There's nothing wrong with any of that," he replied after a moment, reaching over for her hand. "I went into this knowing that this was going to be the case. It changes nothing, okay?"

"But doesn't it bother you?"

"No."

"You're giving up something that… Adam, this is a big deal."

"Yes it is, but that just means we both need to be okay with however we go on from here. And I'm okay with what you need. Besides, there are a lot of things in relationships that are a big deal, this is one of them, not the only one."

"You're the perfect man, do you know that?"

"Yeah."

She smiled and sat up, leaning over into his arms and finding that perfect spot where she fit, right underneath his chin.

"I do love you, Adam. Despite all the millions of pieces of baggage that seem to keep cropping up that make it seem like I have no clue."

"I love you despite that baggage too."

"I want this to be perfect. I want to be everything you deserve."

"We're a work in progress and that's okay. More potential that way, you know."

She nodded and snuggled into him, smiling when he lay them both back and pulled the blanket from the back of the couch over them.

"When do you have to go?" he asked, pressing a kiss to her hairline.

"I told Freddie I'd be back by midnight. I don't want to go."

"You don't have to for another five minutes."

"I never thought it would be like this."

"What?"

"A relationship. I know it's not easy, I guess I just didn't expect it to be fun."

"Are you happy?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"Very much."

She smiled and rested against him for a while, wishing she could stay all night.

"Adam?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for being patient with me."

"Thank you for trusting me. I know it's not easy for you to let someone in, especially like this."

"But it's worth it."

"I don't want you to leave."

"I don't want to go either but I have to. You want to come over for dinner tomorrow?"

"Sure. I've been missing that strange kid of yours."

"She misses you too."

"Okay dinner tomorrow. You drive safe, okay?"

"I will."

They sat up and he pulled her in for a kiss, lingering there until the last possible second.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Mama?"

Lindsay cracked her eyes opened and looked at the clock before making out Levi's shape in the doorway. Three in the morning.

"Baby what's the matter?"

"I want to talk to you."

"It's time to be asleep."

"But I need you!"

"Okay, come in here."

Levi sniffled and climbed into the bed, snuggling against her mother and letting a few tears fall.

"Levi, what's bothering you?"

"How come you are with Adam all the time and not me?"

"What?"

"You went there tonight and every night when he is over here you don't tuck me in! I love Adam a lot and I like when he is here, but you were my mama before you were his friend! You belonged to me first!"

"Oh sweetie. I'm so sorry. I didn't realize…"

"You do still love me right?"

"So very, very much. Nothing in the world will ever make me love you less. I didn't know that I wasn't spending time with you honey. I am so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"Tell me why it happened. Is it because you're so excited about being boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Yeah. Sometimes we just get caught up in each other. I didn't realize how much it means to you when I tuck you in."

"It's okay. But would you please tuck me in when he is here? It's okay when you go see him without me because Freddie is very fun and he loves me a lot, but he's not you. So maybe don't go be with Adam every single night?"

"Oh, I'd miss you way too much."

"Do you and Adam like to be away from me?"

"No, it's not that. We just like to be with each other."

"Because it's special?"

"Yeah."

"You won't ever leave me behind right?"

"Right."

"Okay. Then I feel better."

"I love you so much, Levi."

"Oh I know," Levi sighed, settling into the mattress and commandeering a pillow. "So do you and Adam kiss a lot?"

"Yeah."

"Is it nice?"

"Yeah, it's very nice."

"Are you going to have a baby?"

"What?"

"Well that's what kissing and loving is for when you're a grownup right? Babies?"

"There's a lot more to it than that."

"Mama, do you like him more than you liked my Josh-dad?"

Lindsay knew what she was getting at and sighed. She thought this conversation was years down the road.

"When I first met Josh, I thought that what I was feeling was love. And maybe it was a little bit, but whether I loved him or not has nothing to do with how much I love you."

"But if you didn't love him then how did I get here? Grandma said one time that babies come from love."

"They do."

"But how?"

"Oh sweetie, it's time to go to sleep."

"That's how you avoid my questions because you don't feel comfortable answering. I get the hint."

"Good. Go to sleep."

"Goodnight mama. I love you."

"I love you more."