Chapter 6: Long Nights

Cassie held Jenna so I could change into my pajama's. Walking back into the living room Caleb was already in pajama pants and a wife beater. Pogue pajama pants but no shirt. Tyler was in much the same as Caleb. They had set up the pull out sofa and Derek was already fast asleep on it, snoring up a storm. I walked over picking up the play pen, since we couldn't bring the crib the playpen would have to suffice. I set it up in the bedroom, Pogue had made it clear that us girls were to be sleeping on the bed while they boys would either sleep on the floor or on the pull out coach.

"Here you go" Cassie said quietly so Jenna wouldn't wake up. I took Jenna from her and laid her down in the play pen. She wouldn't be happy about sleeping in her play pen but currently she was still sleeping so I was hoping she'd sleep through the night. I sat on the edge of the bed just watching Jenna sleep. Cassie sat next to me and wrapped an arm around me. She didn't say anything, just giving me a sideways hug. I leaned my head against her shoulder and she rubbed my arm.

I groaned sitting up, Jenna had woken up and was currently crying. "Hey, sh. What's wrong Jenna?" I questioned her, she just looked up at me. Tears running down her face, she even had snot bubbles outside her nose. "Daddy" she cried. I groaned and picked her up holding her against me. "Sh it's okay" she only shook her head and started crying harder. I groaned and walked out into the kitchen, the boys were sleeping in the living room. A couple of them stirred at the noise but kept snoring. I opened the fridge looking for some milk. Finding a half jug of it I pulled it out and poured it into a sippy cup and warmed it up. Jenna wailing into my shoulder the whole time.

The microwave beeped and I pulled the cup out, making sure to lock the sip lid on it first before handing it to her. She sipped at it slowly, her wailing slowly stopping. "Everything okay?" Caleb questioned, sleep filled his voice. "Yeah go back to bed Caleb, sorry we woke you up" I told him. He just shrugged. "Don't worry about it, what's going on?" He questioned rubbing his eyes as he walked further into the kitchen. "Nothing just Jenna's missing dad" I said softly, Caleb put his hand on Jenna's back as a sign of comfort only for her to suddenly fly out of my arms and burry herself in Caleb's chest.

Caleb caught her before she fell holding her there. "Jenna?" I questioned her but the tears still rolled down her cheeks slowly, "I'm sorry Caleb, here just hand her over" I told him trying to take her back. Caleb just held her tighter as Jenna's eyes started to close. "It's fine, she just needs a guy to hold her" he chuckled bouncing her softly against his chest. I watched him. "Since when did an only child get good with kids?" I questioned him and he shrugged.

Good looking, an athlete, actually captain of his team, straight A student and good with kids. Did he have any faults at all? "What is it?" Caleb questioned me, I shook my head. "Will you lay her back down in her play pen. She's out now" I told Caleb taking the now empty sippy cup. He nodded leaving the small kitchen and disappearing into the bedroom. I went to the sink and washed the cup out. I rubbed my soar neck, it was already five in the morning. Caleb's large hands moved against my neck kneading and massaging the muscle. I groaned letting my head fall forwards. He chuckled, "stress isn't good for the body" Caleb told me.

"it's not like I can wave a magical wand and get rid of it Caleb" I snapped at him. "I'm not asking you too" Caleb said softly. "Caleb just stop! Just stop!" I told him slamming my hands down on the sink. My shoulders shaking with repressed sobs. "I have a family that's looking to me now. I have a little brother and sister that need me Caleb, I don't have time for this, I don't have time for you! So just stop it leave me alone and go after some other girl" I told him, he tried turning me around slowly but I stiffened.

He added more pressure till the small of my back pressed against the counter's edge so he could look at me. I glanced up to meet his smoldering brown eyes. He held my face so I was forced to keep meeting his eyes. "But that's exactly why I want to get to know you. Why I'm chasing after you as you put it." He said, I shook my head. "You stop it!" He chuckled, "stop pushing me away. Let me help you, I know what it's like to lose your dad. I know what you're going through." He tried to convince me.

I couldn't stop the tear that rolled down my cheek. He wiped it away quickly and pulled me tight against his chest. My hands automatically tightened over his wife beater as I burred my face into his chest and just broke down. I had no idea what was going to happen. Yeah I had been taking care of Derek and Jenna for two years now but I never saw myself as the parent. But now I was forced into that position.

By the time I had myself under control again it was near six A.M. I wiped my eyes, I knew they would be red and puffy. "Sorry about that" I apologized Caleb's white wife beater was see through now with all the tears. He chuckled and just took it off and wiped the rest of my face with it and even let me blow my nose on it. "Wow you must be pretty desperate to get a girlfriend if you're letting me blow my nose on your shirt" I chuckled. "Nah, I'd only let the right girl do that." He chuckled fixing one of my bangs.

I looked up at him, finding it hard to tear my eyes away from his buff chest. "Thanks Caleb, I really appreciate this." I told him, he smiled. "No problem, just let me know if you need those services once again." He teased faking a nobility voice making me chuckle. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes and leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I mean it Caleb, thanks" I told him. "Well in that case" he chuckled suddenly pinning me against the counter. A strong arm on either side of me.

Crap was he going to kiss me now? Wait did I want him to kiss me? "If you want to thank me properly then I suggest you come to the meet after school today." He winked at the blush that was rapidly spreading across my cheeks as I sighed in relief. "I don't know Caleb, I mean there's a lot going on and I have to pick Derek up after school and pick Jenna up from daycare…" I told him his face fell as I mentioned it. "I'm sorry Caleb, I am but I'm the only family they've got and I need to be there for them." I told him. He nodded, "No it's fine. I mean I get it. It's cool." He said nodding his head he moved his arms and started backing up. I caught the top of his sweats, he looked back up at me and I hugged him rubbing my cheek against his bare pectoral. "I'm sorry Caleb, maybe on a weekend meet or something then" I told him. He nodded hugging me back resting his chin on my head. "Definitely" he agreed only for a loud yawn to cause us to look towards the door.

Pogue was standing there scratching the back of his head. "Oh you two up already?" He questioned, "yeah didn't get much sleep" I told him letting go of Caleb. He nodded and looked towards Caleb looking for an excuse but thankfully he didn't have to provide one as a knock on the door sounded through the quite apartment. We all furrowed our eyebrows. Who would be here at seven in the morning?

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long since I've last updated but I sat down to write this and I got a called that my grandmother's house burned down. She's all right but the house is completely gone so we spent the rest of the day with her but I stayed up to specifically write this. Hopefully some more chapters will be out soon! Thanks for all the reviews/ff stories/story alerts/and ff author!

And I know it's a short chapter but in the next chapter it's really going to be hitting Piper and she's either going to make the decision between Pogue and Caleb in the next chapter or after that! Just a little teaser!