A/N Remember I wrote this a long time ago. Just trying to get it all on ff.net now. Feel free to read. I miss Days when it was like this.

Chapter Four

Everyone knew something had changed on the way home. Steve did his best to keep Max entertained, hoping the lively harmonica music would keep the little dude happy, but he wasn't fooled. Steve wasn't doing a great job hiding his feelings; he was angry with Kayla. Who did she think she was bringing up his past and telling him he ought to tell the kids?

Not that Steve didn't open his mouth and invite her remarks to begin with… He was still upset that he could so easily bring up the past with Kayla, and it didn't matter that his early childhood was what he guarded the most about himself. He'd rather talk about losing his eye than losing Billy. All his life he bottled up those memories and never shared them with anyone. Bo didn't know. Britta didn't know. Hell, even Marcus didn't know about Billy since he arrived at the orphanage after Billy was gone.

Kayla was different though. He meant what he said back at Shenanigan's; when he opened up to Kayla all the hurt and pain of the past came out at once. Why did she have that effect on him? Steve told himself it was probably because she was a nurse and his subconscious wanted her to heal his soul. For some reason he didn't want to deal with that.

Kayla let them into the Brady house. Her parents had known tonight was the celebration night and knew they could trust Steve to get the boys back home safely. Steve wasn't sure how Frankie had convinced them of that. He supposed it was more of Kayla being with them than actually Steve, but the illusion was nice for now.

"Anyone want anything to drink?" Kayla asked as she walked to the kitchen.

Frankie and Max shook their heads. Max yawned big while still clutching his patch bear.

"Are you ready to go to bed, little dude?" Steve asked. Max shook his head but it was obvious he was ready to topple over any second. Frankie was about to pick him up but Steve shook his head no. "Let me put him to bed. Would you like me to play you a song on my harp, Maxwell?"

Max nodded at they both headed upstairs with Frankie following them. Kayla remained downstairs. Not sure what to do she started to wipe down the counters.

—

Steve played the harmonica for Max; the song started off as a lullaby but became sadder and sadder. Steve didn't like feeling this way and it was coming out in his music. As he played, he thought about Kayla downstairs and he knew he was going to have to walk her home. He wasn't ready to deal with that so he kept playing.

Finally, Frankie put his hand on Steve's shoulder making him quit and said, "I think he's asleep now, Patch."

Steve stopped and saw Maxwell sleeping with his bear in his arms. In spite of his mood, the scene before him of Max holding the bear with the patch over his eye was enough to bring a smile to his face. He was so glad the kids had a good place to call home. Plus they were together. Kayla had arranged all of this, for two kids she hardly knew.

Getting up, Steve turned and looked at Frankie and told the teenager goodnight. As he walked back Frankie called him back.

"Steve," he whispered.

"Yeah?"

Frankie looked suddenly shy which concerned Steve. "What is it, Franklin? Something wrong?"

Shaking his head, Frankie asked, "Does it bother you… does it bother you when I call you Patch?"

Taken aback, Steve muttered, not knowing what to say, "Um, no. I… I hadn't thought about it really. I mean, everyone calls me Patch."

"Okay, I just, I mean if you want me to call you Steve I can do that."

"That's fine," Steve said, "I mean, it's nice to hear. I guess."

Both faced each other awkwardly not sure how to end it. Frankie shrugged and said, "Okay, then. It's just Kayla brought it up and I didn't know if maybe she was right…"

"What did Kayla say?"

"She just said I should call you Steve and not Patch."

"Everyone calls me Patch," Steve said defensively. Not Kayla.

"That's what I said!" Frankie said. "But she said it didn't matter. It wasn't a good nickname or something. I'd forgotten."

Steve nodded as he experienced what felt like a hundred emotions at once. Swallowing while keeping his voice even, he said, "Thanks. It's okay. Just…man, call me what ever makes you comfortable."

With that, he went downstairs forgetting to walk softly since Max was sleeping. Seeing Kayla in the kitchen alone, he ignored the beating his heart took at the sight of her and launched in the question on his mind.

"Why did you tell Frankie to stop calling me Patch?"