"I'm sorry that you had to go through that." I kissed his forehead and then settled back, my back against his chest.

"What about you?"

"What about me? I don't have any stories like that?"

"What about your parents? Your dad?" I froze, I hadn't talked about Dad for a very long time. I looked up into his patient eyes.

"How'd you know about him?"

"I know quite a bit about you actually. I don't want to say that I stalked you, but I found out some things about you, and like I said. You intrigued me. And I just happened to read about your Dad leaving. And I wanted to know what happened." I sighed.

"I don't really want to talk about it." He rubbed my arm encouragingly.

"You will feel better once you do, I promise." I took a deep breath.

"It's a long story."

"I've got nothing but time."

************* *

"My dad got a new job at a law firm, and he met a couple people and began to have friends. My family invited some of them for dinner one night, and that's when she came. Imagine a tall, blonde, beautiful girl that just got out of beauty school.

Mina was her name, she ruined my life. My parents were somewhat well off I guess, we weren't hurting for money. And she took a liking to my dad. By the fourth month of my dad working at his new job, my little brother had caught them "wrestling" more than once. I, being the oldest, saw what it would do to my family through a thirteen year olds eyes, I decided not to tell my mother. I couldn't stand the thought of what it would do to my mom, so I told my little brother to forget what he saw. And to tell no one, it was our little secret.

Two months later, she had wormed her way into my family. How, I do not know. But she used to watch us since Mom worked nights. Dad, I later learned, would sneak through the back to my parent's room and when we went to bed, they would have their own fun.

I had had enough, and I couldn't keep the secret anymore. During breakfast, my mom had just gotten home, and I told her I had something important to tell her. When I got home, she sat me down and I busted in tears, and told her the whole story.

When I finally got my story out, Dad walked through the door. I don't think there was a quiet moment after that. I cried so much that night, and I've never forgiven myself. Because my brother and sister will never have that family, or the opportunity to have grown up with the family that I did.

The divorce was long, hard, and stressful. Mom had a hard time with keeping her job. So the judge made me and my siblings live with my dad and his new live-in girlfriend. We lived there for six weeks, and they were probably the worst six weeks of my life. Mina always yelled at me when Dad wasn't around. She made my life a living hell, because if I had kept my mouth shut then nobody would be suffering. But she was in it for the money.

On the sixth week, I told my mom I wanted to move back in with her. I had become like the parent to both my siblings because I wouldn't let Mina touch them. And Dad just didn't care. My mom went back to the court, demanding they listen to her side of the story. By the end, the same judge said to give us some time to settle down, and if we didn't like the arrangements we could move, if we wanted.

So on my fourteenth birthday, two months of living with them, Mom took us back down to the court. I stood in front of the judge, and informed him that neither my dad nor his girlfriend were compatible to take care of kids. And my mother would be much better for my young siblings. A week later, I had moved back with my mom and babysat my siblings so Mom didn't have to pay for daycare. She worked two jobs and we lived check by check. I began to baby sit other kids in the apartment complex after school to help Mom out.

By my fifteenth birthday, I was saving money for a car so I could get a real job. Our luck changed when my mom was promoted to manager making twice as much as she was before. We struck more luck when Mom ran into Elias, a guy she met at the grocery store. They had been high school sweethearts and married some months later. Elias was a doctor, so the money was pouring in.

We bought a house, and I got a car as a Christmas present. This all happened the year before my sixteenth birthday. So life has been going great now. I got a job as a store clerk. So I guess everything worked out for the best.

My family never heard from my dad and Mina again. I did receive an invitation to their wedding, and in the paper they announced the birth of Conner, my half brother. But I've never seen him, and I don't want to, to be honest.

So that's my story, all done."

************* *

"I didn't realize all that had happened to you. All in a short amount of time. What are your siblings names?"

"My little brother's name is Michael and he's seven years old. And my little sister's name is Jayda and she's nine years old."

"So young."

"They are young. Too young."

"I've always wanted kids."

"Me too."

I had fallen asleep with my head in Garrison's lap. And when I woke up, the house seemed dark, must be night time. When I began moving, Garrison looked down at me. My neck was stiff from laying in the same position for so long. I rolled over and curled into a little ball, I could hear him laughing.

"We need to go to bed." I shook my head no.

"I like it right here." His leg moved, and my head fell onto the cushion.. I whined then buried my head deeper into the cushions. Suddenly arms came around me, and I was hoisted in the air then trapped next to a chest.

"Put me down mister. I'm not going to bed!" I began poking him, my face was still buried in his chest.

"Oh, little Missy, but you are going to bed. With me, because I can't get a good nights sleep without you. And I will not let you sleep on a couch."

"Ugh, fine I guess. But it doesn't mean I like the idea. I'll let you pass this time, but this is the only time. So don't take it lightly."

"Right, I'll watch my step." By this time, we were all ready in the bedroom. He laid me down, and pulled the blankets up to my chin.

"I'm still in my normal clothes, I need to change."

"Would you like me to do that for you too?" My face flushed.

"I think I'm old enough to change my own clothes." I began to worm my way out of the bed, only to have a hand grab my leg and pull me back. I let out a squeak, and tried to claw my way to the end of the bed.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To change? I can't sleep in jeans."

"Oh, I don't think you are." His mouth came upon my neck, making its way past my collar bone. I flushed and wiggled. He looked up, "Are you uncomfortable with this?" He did it again.

"I, uh, well just a little I guess."

"I'll go slow." He continued his decent but over my clothes. He stopped at my stomach, and nuzzled it with his nose. It took all the willpower in me not to make noise. Then I felt cold air touch my skin and the feeling of his face against my stomach was just crazy!! I blushed even more when he sat up with a satisfied grin on his face.

His hair was all in disarray, I didn't even realize that I had done that. He came back up kissing my neck, with his mouth. I kissed back instantly. He pulled back.

"You can go change now." I saw him get up and go towards the bathroom, stopping at his dresser to grab some pajamas. The door closed and I let out a shaky breath. I got up and went into the closer, and closed the door. I was torn; one side was screaming What was I thinking. The other side was saying that it was all part of the plan. And another said, That it was just too good and to just do what my body wants. But as much as I would want to follow my instincts, I couldn't because this wasn't the kind of man I could do this with. But this could be part of the plan, I just had to face that I needed to be ready when the time was right.

I opened the door, and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I crawled into bed, and laid my head down on his chest. Can I do this? I asked myself, the only answer I could figure was You have to.