"How do I get rid of this feeling?" Liberty asked as joining Alex in the dressing room after her turn on stage.

"What feeling?" Alex asked even though she was pretty sure she knew already.

"Like even after I take a shower I'm still not clean. That feeling." Liberty said slipping into her robe.

"This helps." Alex said handing Liberty an envelope.

"Pay day?" Liberty asked.

Alex nodded, "You made it a whole week."

Liberty opened the envelope and sucked in a breath, "Oh my god."

"Small price, Liberty. You need to remember that." Alex said, "It's the only thing that keeps you from doing stupid things for this job."

"Haven't I already crossed that line?" she asked gesturing to her clothes, or lack thereof.

Alex bit her lip, and looked away.

Liberty slipped into bed beside JT, "You're home." He said sleepily.

"Hi." She said softly, "Go back to sleep."

"No," JT shook his head trying to sit up, "I missed you. I've barely seen you at all this week."

"I got paid today." She said.

"Oh yeah? Which bill can we pay this month?" he joked.

"All of them." She replied.

He raised his eyebrow, "Where in the world do you work? And can you get me an interview?"

Liberty forced out a laugh, and tried to remember what Alex told her, "I'm a waitress, at some bar downtown, the people are really generous with their tips and we all pool them and split everything equally. If I keep getting paid this well you can quit your weekend job."

JT looked at her, "I love you."

Liberty looked embarrassed, and mumbled and I love you back.

JT took hold of both of her shoulders, "No, I mean it. You are the best girlfriend anyone could ever ask for, and Ryan has the best mother in the world. I had my doubts when both of our families basically disowned us, but seeing what you're willing to go through for us… I love you so much."

Liberty smiled and held back her tears, "Go to sleep JT. We have school in the morning."

"Hey Mama." Alex said to Liberty in homeroom the next day.

JT was talking to Toby, Emma, and Manny about something so Liberty turned in her seat to face Alex, "Hey."

"Need a ride later?" she asked softly, Liberty nodded.

"Girls, I'm sure whatever your talking about is way more important than what I'm teaching you, but I'd appreciate it if you would pay at least a little attention to me." Snake interrupted.

"Yes sir." Both girls said.

"What were you and Alex talking about?" JT asked once Snake returned to the lecture.

"I already told you, she's the one who got me the job. She just wanted to know if I needed a ride tonight."

"Maybe me and Ryan should come surprise you at work some night. Maybe you could take your dinner break with us." JT suggested.

"No!" Liberty said quickly, "I mean, I don't think that's such a good idea, JT, I just started there, you know how it is."

He shrugged, "I guess. Ryan will just have to get used to my famous macaroni and cheese with cut up hotdogs for dinner."

"JT, you know I don't like him eating things like that. He needs a healthy meal."

"Liberty, I won't ask you again." Snake said.

"Sorry sir." She said and shot JT a look that said this isn't over.

"So I guess I should make dinners before I leave home to make sure both Ryan and JT are eating correctly." Liberty said to Alex the next night as they drove to work. She come home the previous night to find an empty carton of ice cream in front of the tv with two spoons, and Ryan and JT asleep on the couch.

"Maybe you should take JT to a parenting class. Sounds like he can benefit from it." Alex said.

"Yeah, cause that wouldn't be the pot calling the kettle black. 'JT before I go take my clothes off in front of middle aged men for money, let me lecture you on raising our son." Liberty said sarcastically.

"You're doing what you have to." Alex said.

"I know. Doesn't make it any less wrong." She said, "For either of us."

"So Lady Liberty," A drunken man was attempting to have a conversation with her as she cleared his table, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No." She lied for the fifth time that night.

"Cause I was thinking maybe you and me," he started as he put his hands on her hips, "Could find a nice little place to be alone."

"No." she said slipping away from him.

"Aww and he seemed like a real prince too." Alex laughed having witnessed the exchange.

"Oh yeah I'm going home with him. Just gonna grab my purse from the back." Liberty said sarcastically.

"You go get him Mama." Alex said, as Liberty rolled her eyes and poured herself and Alex a shot, she then proceeded to pound it.

It really didn't matter that they were both under age. The only time the bar tenders cared was when there was police in the place, and even then the under age workers could still drink as much as they needed to get themselves up on stage in the dressing rooms.

"What would you be doing right now?" Liberty asked.

It was a game she and Alex liked to play during their down time. What they would be doing if they hadn't sold their souls to the devil.

Alex glanced at her watch, "Sleeping. You?"

"Watching Ryan sleep." Liberty answered, "I used to do it all the time. I'd just get this feeling and I'd have to get out of bed and sit there looking at him for a while. I have that feeling right now." She added wistfully staring at the clock.

"Do anything tonight?" Sean asked Liberty and JT as he waited for Emma to grab her things from her locker.

"No." JT said while Liberty said, "Working."

"Man Liberty, you are like a working machine, or something." Manny said.

"Yeah, we never see you anymore." Emma agreed.

"You never see her anymore." JT laughed wrapping an arm around her waist, "The only time outside of school that I see her is when she slips into bed at one or two in the morning."

"Time is money." Liberty said checking her watch, "You have to be at the pharmacy and I need to get dinner started so you and Ryan don't eat junk food again."

"One time." JT said softly. Liberty glared at him, "Fine two times." He relented but she didn't stop staring at him, "Okay fine more times then I can count."

It'd been a month since Liberty had started her job. They were getting their rent, electric, and phone bills in on time, and even had some money left over for frivolous things like new clothes.

"Look at this," Liberty said walking out of their bed room, in only a skirt and a bra, "brand new and no holes!"

"Uh huh." JT said staring at her.

"For god sakes, JT." She said slipping on her top.

"What I'm allowed to look, remember? It's part of our agreement." He went on to joke as he wrapped his arms around her.

"And what's our agreement?" Liberty asked, suddenly a little uncomfortable.

"When the kid's in bed, the adults get to play." He said leaning in to kiss her.

After a few seconds Liberty broke the kiss with a forced smile, "It's time to get Ryan up and get ready for school."

"We have a little bit of time." He said kissing her neck, "Just enough."

"As lovely as that sounds, JT, we have to get Ryan up, and I worked last night I'm too tired." She said ending the conversation.

"So you didn't sleep with him." Alex shrugged, "I'm sure it's not the first time you've said no to him." Liberty was silent, "Wait was it?"

"I'm sorry did we miss the fact that I have a twelve month old son. Of course I have no will power when to comes to JT and… that. It's just ever since taking this job I've been absolutely repulsed by even just the thought of sex."

"I guess that's just the perks of this job."

Liberty checked her watch, "I'm on."

"Go get em." Alex cheered sarcastically, as she went back to wiping down a table.

Please review. I hope you guys like this.

-Em