Note: Sorry it took so long to update. I've been really busy. This chapter has a lot of random stuff in it, but it's setting up what's going to happen in the next few chapters. Thanks for all the reviews! =)

Baze was waiting by Cate's locker, glancing at his watch anxiously, when she finally showed up at Westmonte. "Hey. Was everything OK with Lux?" He'd seen Abby in her second period class, so he knew she was no longer watching Lux. He'd been going crazy wondering if Lux was OK, if Cate was OK. It was a good thing Cate showed up when she did because he was actually about to leave to find out for himself. Waiting was driving him crazy.

"Yeah, I just dropped her off with your mom, Cate replied.

Baze frowned. "Where have you been? You missed second period."

Cate rolled her eyes. "My mom decided this morning was the perfect time to give me a sex talk."

Baze smirked slightly. "Isn't it a little too late?" He asked softly, his blue eyes glittering mischievously.

Cate grinned. "Apparently she doesn't want another grandkid. She wants me to go on the pill."

"Oh. Well, uh, you don't have to if you don't want to. We can, you know, be careful," Baze said.

Cate shrugged. "You can never be too careful. It's not a bad idea. If you don't take the source into consideration."

"The source?" Baze said.

"Yeah, a drunk who is drinking her way through her fourth divorce," Cate replied, her tone snide.

Baze smirked. "Well, if she's had four husbands and only has two kids, she must be doing something right."

"True story," Cate muttered.

"I'm so sorry!"

Both Cate and Baze turned when they heard Abby.

"I didn't want to tell Mom, but she was surprisingly sober for a change and she noticed that you were gone and I was watching Lux," Abby said quickly.

"It's not your fault," Cate said gently. "And thanks again for babysitting."

Abby stared at Cate in surprise before smiling slightly. She wasn't used to Cate forgiving her so easily. "No problem."

Baze walked Cate to her next class. He'd spent the whole night with her. He would have thought he'd be ready for a break from her, but he wasn't. He hated to be apart from her even for a few hours. He just wanted to be with her all the time. He couldn't get enough of her. He didn't think he'd ever be able to get enough of Cate.

As soon as football practice was over, Baze went to Cate's. She was sitting on the couch in the living room writing.

Baze sat down beside her and looked over her shoulder. His forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Why are you applying for a job? Do you need money?"

Cate shook her head. As she did, her soft brown locks brushed against Baze's face. He breathed in her scent. He leaned in and kissed her neck.

Cate closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Baze knew her so well by now. He knew all the right places to touch her, to kiss her. Everything he did felt so good.

Cate set her internship application down and turned to Baze, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her hands through his hair as they kissed.

Abby intentionally coughed as she entered the room with Lux in her arms. "Lux, she, uh, woke up from her nap."

Baze released Cate reluctantly. He took his daughter from Abby and kissed Lux's forehead. "You knew daddy was here and you wanted to see him, didn't you?" He said, grinning broadly at his daughter.

Baze held Lux to his chest as he sat back down beside Cate. "Mommy and I went to your grandparents' beach house. Yeah, we're gonna take you this summer. And when you're older, I'm gonna teach you how to swim and sail." He'd never wanted to be a dad. Well, at least not yet. But somehow he couldn't wait to be Lux's dad. He wanted to teach her how to do things and watch her grow up. She'd already gotten so big. She amazed Baze every day.

Lux instantly cuddled into Baze's chest. Baze smiled down at his daughter. He loved being close to her. She felt so precious in his arms. He was so mesmerized by his sweet little girl, he'd almost forgotten about the job application until Cate resumed filling it out. "Oh yeah…why are you applying for a job?"

"It's not a job. It's a summer internship," Cate explained.

"Do you need money?" Baze asked again. "'Cause, you know, my parents will help you with Lux." He didn't want Cate to have to work to support his kid. He wanted to take care of Lux. He wanted to take care of both of them, he realized.

Cate snickered. "Yeah, right. Internships don't pay. Like, at all. It's basically slave labor."

Baze made a face. "And you're applying for this on purpose?"

Cate laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "It looks good on your resume. What are you doing this summer?"

Baze shrugged. "I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it."

Cate rolled her eyes. "You're eighteen. Not eight. You're a little old for summer camp. You should get a job or an internship or something."

"I'll have football practice," Baze said defensively. "And I'll figure something else out. I mean, how hard can it be to get an internship?"

"This one is really competitive. The radio station gets over a hundred applications every summer and they only choose one intern," Cate said.

Baze studied Cate. She wouldn't admit it, but he could tell she really wanted it. "You'll get it," he said confidently.

Cate looked unconvinced.

Baze shifted uncomfortably outside his dad's home office, his stomach tied in knots. He shouldn't be this nervous about having a simple conversation with his father, he thought miserably.

Things had been touch and go with his dad ever since, well, forever, but especially since his dad found out he'd gotten Cate pregnant and looked the other way.

John had always had a short temper. He could be a great dad-when Baze was scoring the winning touchdown. But one screw-up and John lost it, as Baze had learned early on.

Baze took a deep breath and pushed open the door. John was sitting at his desk drinking a scotch and working on his computer. He looked up as soon as Baze entered and frowned. "Ever heard of knocking?"

"Sorry," Baze mumbled. "Are you busy?"

"What do you need?" John asked.

"I just, uh, I wanted to talk to you. I can wait if you're busy," Baze said quickly.

John looked up in surprise. Usually if his son wanted something it was money. Not to talk. He nodded. "What's going on?"

Baze hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the navy leather armchair in the corner of his dad's office. "I, uh, wanted to talk to you about Cate," he said, blushing slightly.

John's expression softened instantly. He was very fond of Cate. "I like her."

"Yeah, so do I," Baze said. He raked a hand through his dark hair. "Actually, I, uh, think I'm in love with her."

John looked taken aback. He knew his son was dating Cate, but he didn't think it was serious. Baze didn't take much of anything seriously.

"I, uh, wanted to tell her how I felt, but I just, I couldn't," Baze continued. "I don't know why." He shook his head. "Actually, I do know why. I don't know how to say it. I feel so…weird saying it. Because you and I, we never say it to each other."

"I don't know why we don't say it more," John mumbled.

"No, Dad, not more," Baze muttered. "You've never once told me that you love me! I mean, I don't know how you can look at me, your kid, and not want me to feel loved. When I look at Lux…" Baze broke off.

John stared at Baze. "I'm sorry. I don't know why." He shook his head. "I never knew you felt like this. But, Baze, I do love you. More than anything else in this world. All I want is for you to be happy. And if Cate makes you happy, you should tell her how you feel."