A/N: Thanks as always for the reviews, you guys are awesome! I'm glad you're indulging me.

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Chapter 5: Finding Out

"I don't have words," Rick said. Eva looked up at him. "I think we've been pretty clear on the rules Evie!"

"Daddy," she started. Cassie looked at her.

"Eva," Cassie said. "I don't understand why you didn't just tell us sweetie."

"Because, I knew you'd react like this," she sighed, "and the rules were that I couldn't date anybody without talking to you, Mikey and I aren't dating." Cassie closed her eyes.

"That is less than comforting Eva," Rick said. She sighed.

"I wanted to tell you about it's just that," she looked at him. "I didn't want you to freak out."

"Honey, why would we freak out?" Cassie said. "Because he's Julie's brother and that's kind of weird? If it's one thing this family is really good at it's dealing with strange relationships."

"Yes, Mom thank you," Eva said, "I'm aware of that since my godmother is dad's ex girlfriend." They sighed and looked at her.

"Even if we take away," Rick said pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "He's too old for you!" Eva crossed her arms. "He is, he's seventeen years old you're fourteen, Eva!" She crossed her arms.

"Rick," Cassie said. "Evie, sweetheart," she sighed, "I don't think you should see him anymore."

"But you just said," she said, "and I talked to you and that's the rules." Her eyes were tearing.

"Eva," Rick said. "This isn't a good idea."

"Hi," Julie said, leaning against the wall of Jimmy's old room. Mikey looked at her.

"You can start the yelling now," he said.

"I'm not gonna yell at you, Mike," she said. "Come on." He shrugged. "What's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?" He said. She looked at him.

"I mean why didn't you tell me about you and Eva?" She said. He looked at her.

"Have we ever talked about what girls I was dating?" He asked.

"That's a fair point," she sighed and plopped down next to him. "But it's Eva."

"Julie," he said. "If you going to give me the 'we're one big happy family' speech…"

"I gave up on you considering the Rileys family a long time ago," she sighed. "My problem is I love Eva very much and I don't particularly like seeing her being used."

"What?" He said. She shrugged.

"You heard me," she frowned and shook her head.

"I'm not using her!" He practically yelled. "I like her Cat."

"I'm sure you do," she said. "But I know you like lots of girls. Don't tell me this isn't a little bit about driving me and Jimmy crazy." He frowned and looked down. "Caught you."

"It's not like that." He said. "God, Jules, what do you think of me?" She sighed. "I mean, sort of," he said. "That is an added appeal, but she's fun, and beautiful, and I like spending time with her."

"You're too old for her," Julie said. He groaned. "Mikey," she said. "She's fourteen."

"You were fourteen when you met Jimmy," he said. She frowned. "You were."

"Yeah," she said. "I was, but so was he and we were really careful before getting into anything." He swallowed. "I don't think you thought this through, and you know that Rick's not going to let her keep seeing you."

"Yeah, what's with that?" He asked. "Am I not good enough for her or something?"

"It took six years for Rick Riley to stop calling me either 'trash' or 'that girl my little brother is slumming with.'" She said. "So to him, I would say no you're not good enough. Plus you know that whole, she's fourteen thing again."

"It's not that big a deal," he shook his head. "She's very mature for fourteen."

"I bet Elisa has some friends who might like you," she said. He looked at her. "I mean, since that's your thing." He shook his head.

"You're not funny," he said.

"Look, I'm not going to tell you what to do, again, battle I lost a long time ago, I just think that maybe you should get ready for this not to work out." She said. "Because she is only fourteen and she's not the kind of girl who having her dad disapprove of her boyfriend is a turn on for."

"Yeah, I guess she isn't," he said softly.

"Anyway," she said. "I have your birthday present."

"Car?" He asked. She laughed.

"OK," she said. "Sure, whatever," she pulled a square out of her purse.

"Seriously?" He said. "No car."

"Mike, I promised myself that I would not make the same mistakes that Jaime did," she smiled. "I know you love me, I don't need to buy your love."

"I'm not so sure of that fact," he said. "I think you should try to buy my love."

"Open the present," she said, dropping it on his chest. He tore open the paper.

"It's a book," he said. "Why do you always give me a book? You own three restaurants, you can afford to give me more than a book."

"Oh, I'm sorry, do I give you a roof over your head and food to eat?" She said. "Plus spending money and paying for school?"

"OK," he said. "You made your point. What's this one?" He asked and then looked. "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." He laughed. "I remember when we read this."

"It's an autographed copy." She said. "I figured you'd like it."

"You did a way better job of taking care of us than Dave did for Toph," he said. "You know for the record." She laughed. "I miss Dad."

"Yeah, me too," she said softly. "He'd kick your ass for hooking up with Eva."

"I don't think Dad would ever kick anyone's ass," he said.

"Oh sweetie," she said, "he was soo much older when you got to the point where you needed him to kick ass." He laughed. "Come on," she said, "I'll drive you and David back to school."

"You know if you were a normal person and had bought me a car, you wouldn't have to do that." She rolled her eyes.

When they got back to campus David and Mikey walked with their hands in their pockets, not talking.

"I don't get why you didn't tell me," David said.

"What difference would it make?" Mike shrugged. "Would knowing change the way your face looks when she walks in a room?" David looked away. "Whatever dude," he said. They got to the boys dorms and Eva was sitting on the steps.

"I'll let you two talk," David said and walked upstairs.

"Hey," Mikey said. She looked at him and kissed him hard. "Evie," he mumbled, "what did they say?"

"That I shouldn't see you anymore, that you were too old for me," she mumbled and kissed him again. "I don't care though," he could see her straining not to cry.

"Yeah you do," he whispered. She sniffed. "Honey I know how close you are to your parents." She burst into tears and pressed against him.

"I want to be with you," she whispered and kissed him. He held her closer than he ever had before. "I really do." He nodded.

"I know," he said. "I know." She kissed him. "Calm down, we'll talk in the morning OK?"

"OK," she mumbled and they kissed again. He sighed and walked upstairs and landed on his bed. David looked at him.

"What happened?" David asked.

"She said still wants to be with me," Mike said. "It doesn't matter though, I know her and without her parent's approval," he closed his eyes. "You can take your shot if you want."

"I didn't think you knew," David said. Mikey nodded. "And I wouldn't do that. If you're too old for her," he sighed. Mikey looked at him. "And I wouldn't do that to you man." Mikey looked at him. "I've never seen you in a better mood than when you get back from studying lately which I sort of realized must mean being with Eva," Mikey smiled. "I couldn't take that away from you."

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