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Mark washed up the dishes and put them in the drain, he could tell Sammy didn't want to drive, but he knew the more she had to do it, the more confident she would get at it.

He heard the kid moving behind him. "I told you not to move, back in the chair."

Mark heard the kid sigh and climb back in the chair. Mark finished up and turned around. "In the living room."

Toby got up and followed him to the living room, Mark sat down and turned on espn. Toby flopped on the couch. "I wanna watch Cartoons."

"No, now hush." Toby crossed her arms but didn't say anything. There was a knock at the door and Mark got up and answered it, it was Scott with a couple of policemen. Toby started screaming and tried to run past them. Mark grabbed her. "Hush girl."

"Don't let the cops take me." She yelled kicking and screaming. Mark backed up and urged the men to come in, Toby still kicking and screaming. "I said be quite!" Mark boomed at the kid.

Scott shook his head. "Hey Mark chill with her, she's just a kid." Scott reached over and plucked the girl of of Mark's hands.

Mark rolled his eyes. "I explained to them whats going on, why don't you take them in the kitchen and tel them what you know, till I calm her down." Scott said.

Mark nodded and he took the policemen to the kitchen. "Calm down little girl, the police ain't taking you anywhere, you'll be staying with Sammy for a while."

Toby shut her mouth and looked at Scott. "Who are you?"

"Scott a friend of Sammy's and Mark's" Scott sat down and put the girl on his lap.

"Whats your name?" He asked.

"Toby." She said.

"Well Toby, calm down the police just want to ask you some questions thats it." Scott said.

Toby was sacred, she didn't want to go with the police. "Like what?"

"Like what is your full name, where are you from, questions about you mommy and daddy." Scott said pushing her long dark hair out of her face. "Toby Raylene Johnson."

Scott smiled. "Thats a pretty name sweetheart, wheres your mommy and daddy?"

The little girl looked down. "Mommy dumped me at the beach, she don't have no money to take care of me, I don't have no daddy."

Scott patted her back, trying to keep her calm and talking. "Do you know where you're from, here in Tampa?"

Toby looked up at him. "I'm not sure, we been here a long time, we used to live in a motel and ma got kicked out."

Scott smiled at her. "You're doing a great job" Toby finally smiled at him. "You know what, I can tell the police what you said, you don't have to talk to them, they're going to want to take one picture before they leave, just in case someone's looking for you, Okay?"

Toby nodded, she liked the big man, he was nice and he didn't yell. "Okay."

Scott picked her up and sat her on the couch and he turned on the Disney channel for her. "Now sit tight, be a good girl and tomorrow, I'll take you out for ice cream with my daughter and me."

Toby's eyes got wide and she nodded. "Okay, I'll be good."

Scott winked at her and walked in the kitchen and sat down, he informed the two friends of his what Toby had said. "Have your friend Sammy come in tomorrow and fill out the needed paperwork to be a foster parent, but thats just a formality, she can stay here for now."

Scott thanked them and called Toby in so they could take a picture of her. That done Scott sent her back to watch TV and turned to his friend, who looked very unhappy. "Mark, she's a scared little girl, try being nice to her."

"Scott the little brat bit me and she was trying to steal money from my wallet." Mark snapped.

Scott sighed. "Mark, she's scared, she was dumped off by herself by her mother, she's been living out of garbage cans, Jesus."

Mark sighed. "Okay, I'll try and be nicer, as long as she's respectful." He conceded.

Scott knew that was the best he was going to get. Mark wasn't warm and cuddly and looked like nothing was going to change that.

Sammy walked in to find Toby on the couch. "Hey honey."

She jumped up and ran over to Sammy." I made a new friend, his name is Scott, but he said I could call him Uncle Scott and he's gonna take me for ice cream tomorrow, he promised."

Sammy smiled. "Thats good, Toby, now lets get you dressed, wheres Mark?"

He's in the kitchen making coffee." The girl said.

Sammy took the girl to her bedroom and pulled out the ton of clothes she had bought for her. Toby looked at the pile of short, jeans, shirts and shoes. "All that for me?"

"Yeah, now pick out one and get dressed, then we'll put the rest in the spare bedroom, okay?"

The little girl nodded and grabbed some underwear, she picked out a pink camo short set and got dressed, Sammy took the rest of the clothes to the spare room and Toby helped her put everything in drawers. Sammy brushed her hair and put it in two braids. "Okay all done, you look good."

Toby smiled and skipped off down the hallway and flopped in front of the TV.

Sammy went to the kitchen and smiled at Mark. "Hi"

Mark nodded and handed her a coffee." You have to go tomorrow to fill out some paperwork at the police station, I'll go with you, Scott said Toby could stay with him."

She nodded and watched him. "She give you much trouble?"

Mark just shook his head. "I really hope you know what you're in for Sammy, a kid is a lot of work."

Sammy nodded. "I know, its just temporary, until they can find her a good home with a mom and a dad, I don't want her sitting in some juvenile center, because they cant find her a home."

Mark nodded. "Okay, I'll lend you a hand all I can, though I doubt she'll like that much, you need to get her in school after you get that paperwork taken care of."

"I will." She impulsively set her cup down and hugged him. "Thanks for being so sweet to me."

Mark didn't know what the hell came over him, he would think about it all night and try to figure it out, maybe it was the sweet way she smelled, or the sweet smile on her face, maybe he was just crazy.

Mark slid his knuckles under her chin, tilting her head up and his face lowered and before he knew what had happened his lips were on hers.

Sammy rose on her tiptoes, the kiss was sweet, his lips were warm and firm and there was nothing threatening about the sweet kiss.

Mark tilted his head and used one big hand to cup the back of her head, holding her just so, his mouth slanting over hers so he could really taste her, his tongue nudging at her lips, running along the seam of her lips. Sammy felt dizzy, her hands gripped his shoulders just hanging on. Her lips parted on a sigh and she moaned when his tongue touched hers.

Then it was over Mark pulled back and looked down at her, she was so pretty, her cheeks were pink and her chest heaving trying to breathe. Sammy slowly let go of him and blushed. Mark just lifted his hand tracing one big finger down her heated cheek. "I didn't scare ya did I?"

Sammy shook her head ."No."

Mark bent and kissed her forehead. "Good, I have to go."

Sammy just stood and watched him leave, he left her yearning for more, she wanted more of his sweet kisses, she sighed, she had no clue what had just happened.

Mia came over that evening with Seth and Kevin in tow. Toby was in her makeshift room, reading one of the several books that Sammy had got for her.

Mai sat down beside her sister on the couch. "Sammy do you think you need this right now? I mean having a kid around is a lot of work?"

Sammy nodded. "I know, its just temporary."

Kevin sat and gave Mia a look, he thought it was great she needed to focus on something besides working.

Seth jumped on his Aunts lap. "You gonna be a mommy now?"

Sammy smiled and hugged her nephew. "No, just helping a little girl out till she finds a family."

Toby walked in the living room and she seen Seth and glared, Seth just stared for a moment and then jumped off his Aunts lap. "Its you, you jerk." He yelled.

The little girl just stuck her tongue out at Seth. "Dummy."

"Seth, stop it." Kevin said getting up.

"Papa she's the one that messed up me and Emma's sandcastle." Seth said.

"I don't care what she did, stop name calling." Kevin said sternly. "Toby get over here and apologize for calling Seth a dummy." Sammy said.

Toby shook her head. "He started it!" She shouted. Mark stuck his head in the door when he heard the shouting.

Seth stuck his tongue out. "You dummy, you're ugly!"

Toby stalked closer. "You're ugly shit head!"

Sammy got up. "Toby come here, right now."

"NO!" She shouted and started to run, but Mark grabbed her. "Little brat, you do what you're told."

"Let me go!" She shouted and started kicking and screaming, even Seth shut up to watch her fit. Mark carried her screaming down the hall and Sammy sighed. "She's got a temper."

Kevin laughed. "So does Mark."

Mia looked at her son. "Seth that was uncalled for, you'll apologize to her first thing tomorrow."

"But why.." He started but Kevin cut him off. "Because you'll do the right thing, that why, we don't put up with name calling, you know that."

Seth nodded. "Yes sir."

Kevin picked his son up. "We'll see you tomorrow Sammy, you need anything, call us."

Sammy hugged her sister, kissed Seth and hugged her brother in law. "Thanks."

Kevin smiled. "No problem."

When they left Sammy walked down to the spare bedroom to find Toby standing in the corner and Mark sitting on the bed with his arms crossed looking none to happy. He looked at Sammy. "Don't worry, I didn't spank her."

Sammy knew Mark wouldn't hurt the girl, Mark was just the type that wasn't going to cut the girl any slack as long as she acted up. Mark's eyes softened as he seen the tender look on her face, Sammy was to kind hearted for her own good.

"Why don't you go cut us all a piece of that cake I got, make some coffee, we'll be along, okay?" Mark said.

Sammy nodded, but Mark reached out and snagged her hand and pulled her closer he tugged her down and pressed his lips to hers for a moment, her heart skipped a beat and she pressed her lips back to his.

Mark moved back and smiled. "Go on now." He urged. Sammy smiled at him and turned and left. "Toby c'mere."

Toby shuffled over like she was heading to face a firing squad. Mark pulled the girl to stand in front of him and he lifted her chin forcing her to look at him. "I don't deal well with bratty behavior, as long as you do what you're told, act respectful, especially to Sammy, she's trying to help you, No cursing, do you understand?"

Toby nodded. "I hope so, when Sammy tells you to do something, you do it, anymore cursing, and you going get acquainted with my hand again"

Mark wasn't mean, but he had been raised a certain way and he didn't believe in mouthy kids, he wasn't going to put up with it. "Now go get you a snack, Sammy's in the kitchen, when you're done get your tail in bed."

"But its only seven thirty..." Toby started.

"And you're going to bed early, because you cursed and acted like a brat, end of discussion." Mark said and got up.

Toby ran from the room and down to the kitchen, Sammy turned and pulled the girl into a warm hug."You okay?"

Toby nodded. "Mark said I could have a snack."

Sammy nodded. "How about a piece of chocolate cake and milk?"

Toby nodded and sat down. "Thank you."

Sammy bent and kissed the little girl on top of the head, she just wanted the little girl to feel cared for while she was here.

Toby smiled up at Sammy she was nice, she liked staying here, even Mark didn't seem so scary , she would just have to be good around him.

Mark came in and sat down and Sammy handed him coffee and set a piece of cake in front of him. "Thanks Shorty." He said and winked at her. Sammy smiled and sat down herself sipping black coffee.

"I'll drop Toby off at Scott's before we leave tomorrow, she has to stop by Kevin's and apologize to Seth,"

Toby looked up about to argue, but one look from Mark, her mouth closed, Sammy nodded.

She couldn't get the kiss out of her mind, she had never felt anything like the kiss Mark had gave her, there was no fear of him, she wanted to climb in his lap and beg him to kiss her like that again.

Mark looked over at Toby. "Put your plate in the sink and go get dressed for bed."

Toby nodded and did as she was told and left the room. "Don't you think its a little early for bedtime?"

Mark shrugged. "She's being punished for her behavior, I can always spank her..."

Sammy shook her head and Mark smiled, Sammy was so kind hearted. "I'm going to go tuck her in."

Mark watched her leave, he hoped she didn't get to attached to Toby.

Mark got up to make sure all the doors were locked, and sat down on the sofa to wait for Sammy.

Sammy read the girl a story and tucked the covers around her. "Night Toby." She said and bent down to kiss the girls cheek.

"Night Sammy, thank you for letting me stay here." Toby said yawning, she was very sleepy.

"You're welcome." Sammy stood and turned on the small night light and turned off the over head light.

Sammy walked into the living room and Mark was seated on the sofa watching a movie, he looked up at her and smiled. "C'mere Shorty." he said patting the seat beside him.

Sammy sank down beside him and he put his arm around her and turned to his side. He looked at her, he wanted her there was no doubt of that, but he wasn't sure if she was ready for a sexual relationship. "Shorty I want you to sleep with me tonight, do you want too?"