A/N: Thanks so much for reviewing everyone! You guys are the best. Someone complained about the chapter's being too short, so I tried to give you more here. Plus Bombay! Exciting!

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Chapter 15: Make For The Hills

"I don't quite understand," Bombay said, Charlie sighed on the phone. "You want me to speak at a fundraiser? About what?"

"I don't know," Charlie said, "This is Julie's gig, really. It's for her kid's school."

"So why didn't Julie call me?" Bombay asked.

"Because she knew you could say no to her," Charlie laughed.

"Things good with you two?" Bombay asked. Charlie was silent. "Wow, that good huh?"

"It's hard," Charlie said. "I'm crazy about her. I love Tyler, too," Gordon laughed. "When you and Mom,"

"That was different," he said. "Because I was out playing, Casey and I didn't have a chance to work through the bumps. You know I wish we could have." Charlie was silent again. "You're in love with the kid right?"

"He's amazing," Charlie said softly. "I love her too though. I mean, I really do. I just don't think I can take it anymore." Gordon laughed.

"You need to relax," he said. "You do this with everything in your life, Charlie, the minute things don't go exactly how you see in your head you get scared and walk away." Charlie frowned. "Julie's been through a lot, that kid has been through a lot and I know you're trying to be there for them, so be there for them, but you don't know what they're going through kid. You definitely don't know what she's going through, so be patient."

"Yeah," Charlie said. "I've never been good at the patience thing."

"I know," Gordon laughed. "I'll see you next week at this fundraiser, thing."

"Thanks Coach," Charlie smiled. "I appreciate it."

Julie walked around a dress department with Connie and sighed running her hand over a new dress. It was beautiful.

"That would look nice on you," Connie said.

"I can't afford it," Julie shook her head.

"Charlie could," Connie said. Julie looked at her. "Right, sorry. Clearance rack it is." Julie nodded. "Is everything OK with you two?"

"No," Julie sighed, "I think he's Jerry McGuire-ing out on me." Connie raised her eyebrows. "Staying for Tyler."

"Oh, right, when she kicks him out," Connie said. "I forgot about that part. Maybe you've got a 'you complete me' coming your way."

"I somehow doubt it," Julie shook her head. "I kissed someone else." Connie looked at her. "Tyler's teacher, actually."

"Everyone fucks up sometimes," Connie shrugged. "In college I actually went down on this guy at a party, but Guy and I got past it."

"I'm not sure it was fucking up," Julie shook her head. "That's the problem. I mean, I really like Joe," Connie looked at her. "Mr. Thurston. I should stop calling him Joe, right?"

"You should definitely not call him Joe," Connie nodded. "Tyler's teacher?" Julie nodded. "God, who are you, Lorelai Gilmore?"

"I know," Julie groaned, "but he's so cute, Cons, and really sweet, and," Connie looked at her, "no it's insane, right? I mean, I love Charlie, and he's been so good to us." She closed her eyes. "God, I'm a horrible person!"

"You are not," Connie shook her head. "You're just socially retarded. It's not a big deal." Julie laughed. "Buy the dress," Connie handed it to Julie. "I'll spot you the cash if you're too proud to ask Charlie for it."

Julie sat in the car waiting for Tyler. She got out and walked to the front door and then to the classroom.

"Mommy!" Tyler came charging out of the classroom.

"Hey," she smiled and picked him up. "What've you got there?"

"Macaroni art," Tyler said holding out his paper. "It's a volcano."

"Wow," she nodded. She noticed Joe standing in the classroom. "Sweetie, do you want to go to the playground while I talk to Mr. Thurston about something?"

"Something important?" He asked.

"No," she shook her head, "just boring grown up stuff."

"Oh," Tyler nodded, "OK," she put him down and he ran off. She walked into the classroom and Joe looked at her.

"I like the macaroni art," she said lightly. He nodded.

"Your son's doing very well, Ms. Gaffney," he said softly. She looked at him.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I shouldn't run off like that, that night," he looked at her.

"Do you always do this?" He asked.

"The wrong thing?" She said. "Usually."

"I meant, take complete responsibility for things that are only half your fault." She swallowed. "I mean, I bet when you got pregnant with Tyler you were the girl who sat around crying about how irresponsible you were, when you know it takes two to tango." She raised her eyebrows. "That's a bad example."

"It's a terrible example," she smiled. "But I still wanted to apologize." He laughed.

"I'm sorry too," he said. "So are things better with you and your boyfriend?" She looked at him. "I'm asking as a concerned party for Tyler, you know, it can be very tough on a kid when their parents are having problems."

"Mm," she nodded. "We're handling it, thanks. Are you going to be at a night on ice on Friday?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Joe nodded. "I'm sorry too, for the record."

"I know." She said. "I appreciate it." She smiled walking out and taking Tyler's hand and walking to the car.

That night Julie sat on the couch reading. Charlie walked in from work and kissed her on the head.

"Hey baby," he said.

"Hey," she said. "You're perky."

"Coach is coming on Friday," he said and sat down. "You're in a good mood too."

"I bought a dress that I can't afford," she said.

"Oh," he nodded. "Why?"

"Because you can afford it," she stood up.

"Ah," he nodded as she spread her lags over his lap. "That's a big step."

"Mm," she leaned over him and ran her hands up his legs. "Huge, I'm letting you buy clothing for me."

"Maybe soon you'll even let me chip in for Tyler's tuition," he grinned as she sat down, still straddling and started kissing his neck.

"Don't count on it," she whispered. They kissed for a while. "Mm, I missed you." He smiled.

"I missed you too," he said. "Julie, I'm sorry, for pushing you. I never said it, but I am." She touched his face.

"I think I needed to be push," she whispered. They kissed some more. "Charlie, I have to ask you something." He nodded. "You love me right?"

"Of course I love you," he said. He pushed her hair off of her face.

"No, I mean," she sighed, "if Tyler wasn't," he looked at her.

"This is where I say, 'You complete me,' right?" He teased. She giggled and rolled off of him. "I love you," he said and kissed her, "and yes, it's an amazing added bonus that you happen to be mother to the coolest kid on the planet." She smiled and kissed him.

"I love you," she said, "for loving Ty so much." They kissed again. "I love you for loving me so much." They kissed again. "Let's go to bed."

"You sure?" He said. "We haven't done that in a while." She kissed him and ran her hand down into his lap.

"I know," she said. "I said it before, I miss you." They made out for a while and the Charlie stood up. Julie wrapped her legs around him and they walked back into her bedroom.

The night of the fundraiser Julie walked out of her bedroom fully dressed. Tyler and Charlie looked at her from the kitchen table.

"You look pretty Mommy," Tyler said.

"Thank you baby," she kissed him. Charlie looked at her breathlessly. "What?"

"You're beautiful," he said. "I'm very glad you let me buy you that dress." She blushed.

"Honestly, Charlie," Bombay walked out, "how on earth did you afford the bathroom?" He looked at Julie. "Julie, you look amazing."

"Thank you," she smiled. "Thanks for doing this Coach. I appreciate it." Tyler looked at the grown ups.

"Coach," he piped up. Bombay looked at the little boy and smiled. "When you're talking at school tonight, you'll meet Mr. Thurston, he's my teacher, and you'll meet my Dad."

"I've met your dad a few times," Bombay said and looked at Julie. She'd grown a lot but in that moment he just saw the scared seventeen year old girl who'd cried to him that she needed someone to make sure that she could take care of her son, that no one could take him away, including his father, who hadn't shown any interest in taking him away, yet. "I'm really glad I finally met you."

"Me too," Tyler said. "Charlie said that when he was a kid you were like his Charlie." Charlie laughed awkwardly.

"Yeah, anyway," Charlie said. "We should get going and drop you off at your grandparent's kid."

"I don't want to go there," Tyler pouted. "Can't I go to Sean's?"

"No," Julie said. "You're going to your grandparents, and you're spending the night with your dad and Dawn and Cammie tonight. That's the deal, go get your bag," she spanked him lightly. He stalked off to his room. "He doesn't like it at Scooter's parents."

"Neither do I," Charlie shrugged. "I still have to go."

"I'll pull the car around," Bombay laughed and walked outside. Julie looked at Charlie.

"Will he be there?" He asked simply. She looked down.

"Probably," she said. "I think you'd like him Charlie. He's a nice guy." He snorted. "What?"

"He's not a nice guy," he shook his head.

"You've never met him," she pointed out.

"Nice guys don't hit on single moms at their kids' school," he shrugged.

"Just at their hockey games?" She tried. He frowned.

"That's different," he said. "That was my idea."

"Of course it was baby," she kissed him. "Come on, we'll be late." She slid her hand into his.

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