I know take forever why don't you. Nevertheless, it's here now and the next one...well I won't make any promises. Please enjoy and let me know what you think. I don't own it.

Chapter 39: I've Got It, You Want It.

The next morning I picked up my cell phone and called Nat. "Hello?" A male voice answered.

"Mr. Reed?" I asked unsure.

"Yes, who is this?" He asked.

"It's Lizzy."

"Hey kiddo, what can I do for you?"

"Although I love talking to you is Nat around?"

"Yeah sure one minute." I heard some fumbling in the background and then Nat was on the line.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hey Nat."

"Hey Liz, what can I do for you?"

"Well I um... I met Mrs. Portman the other day and well it umm... It...it got me thinking that maybe... Maybe..."

"Lizzy..." she prodded gently.

"She made me realize that I didn't ever spend enough time with the one who gave me so much when I was little without asking for anything in return."

"Lizzy, honey, that was my job I didn't need anything in return."

"I still feel like..."

"You really miss Becky don't you."

"Kinda, you've been the only real mom I've ever had and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I came over and spent the afternoon with you. I can understand if you're busy or something, I was just hoping..."

"Lizzy, it would be great if you could come over. I love spending time with you. I'm having a friend of mine come over this afternoon and it would add to our fun if you could come."

"Nat, I don't have to...I don't want to ruin your fun."

"Liz, listen to me I want you to come over. I'd love to have you here."

"Thanks Nat."

"What time will you be here?"

"Ten till two?"

"That will work, be ready to have fun."

"Will do." At breakfast later that day I kept an eye on what Goldberg was eating. He was doing pretty well until Connie got full.

"Anyone want this waffle, I'm stuffed," Connie said. Goldberg looked at it then at me. I shook my head ever so slightly and he turned it down when it was offered to him. "Goldberg?"

"No thanks," he said.

"You sure? You've never turned down free food before," Fulton put in.

"I'm just not that hungry this morning," Goldberg said.

"You ready?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Where you going?" Fulton asked.

"That way," I said nodding to the doors.

"Why?"

"Because we can. Let's go." Goldberg and I trained and skated for a few hours finishing around 12:30. I took a very quick shower, left a note on my dry erase board where I was going, and drove out to Stillwater. When I got out there I knocked on the door before walking in. "NAT?" I called.

"In the living room dear," she answered. I walked in and saw a red head with deep chocolaty brown eyes sitting on the couch next to Nat.

"Star this is the girl I was telling you about. Star meet Elizabeth Jacobs, Lizzy this is a girlfriend of mine and co-worker Bethany Fisher." Nat introduced us. Bethany stood up and I could tell she was a few inches taller than me, perhaps 5' 7, in her late teens early 20's at the most. She was pretty curvy, had long legs encased in black jeans that really fit her. If Fulton had been there he would have said she was beautiful, but I thought she was pretty normal. Then again she hadn't spoken so I couldn't tell her personality yet.

"It's nice to meet you Natalie has told me so much about you," Bethany said sticking her hand out to shake. I shook her hand and noticed that she had soft hands, short nails that were slightly jagged, had a layer of dirt underneath, and realized she wasn't so much of a girly girl. Her voice had an accent to it but I couldn't tell where she was from.

"You too, most people call me Lizzy," I said letting go of her hand and sitting down on the couch. "So Bethany I've heard your accent before but it has escaped me as of where. You're not from around here are you?"

"Nope, I'm a Chicago native."

"Kick in the butt," I groaned. "My boyfriend is from Chicago I should be so ashamed that I didn't recognize it."

"It's alright happens all the time. By the way call me Star, it's the only way my dad differentiates between me and my grandmother," she said.

"How do you know Nat?" I asked.

"She's my boss's secretary," Nat answered.

"Working so I can pay for my schooling. I'm hoping I can get a bachelor's."

"What subject?"

"Teaching; elementary school. Little kids have always been my favorite to work with," Star said. "I didn't really have the money to go at first but with some help from Nat and my two jobs I don't worry about much any more except when my boyfriend is coming home from Detroit."

"He must be something special," I answered.

"Yeah, I think I'm really in love with him. He plays hockey in Detroit," Star answered.

"It hurts doesn't it? My brother plays center for the Redwings... I miss him when he can't come home."

"Yeah, I love him so much but he loves playing and I can't take it from him by trying to keep him here."

"He should have this weekend off though right? I mean my brother is coming to my game Friday night surely your boyfriend could come see you." I said. Star glanced at Nat but shrugged.

"I can try to see if he'll make it."

"I could call my brother see if he could talk your boyfriend into coming to see you."

"Don't worry about it...I'll talk to him tonight and see what he's got planned," she said. "How do you know Natalie?"

"Please Star I've told you...it's Nat," Nat answered.

"Right sorry."

"Anyway she's my son's best friend and my goddaughter. I was best friends with her mother."

"Was?" Star asked.

"Yeah, my mom died when I was a baby; less than ten minutes after I was born. My step-mom didn't really like me or step up to be my mom so Nat did," I said trying to hold back tears. Nat slid over and wrapped me in a hug.

"I'll go get some more chips," Star said softly.

"Honey it's alright," Nat said stroking my hair, "Calm down baby, Becky wouldn't want you to be this upset. Come on you're a lucky young lady. You've got friends and family that love you, a cousin that will support you till this world comes to an end, Fult will probably kill for you if you asked him to, and Dean loves you more than life itself. I will always be here for you."

"I'm sor..."

"Don't apologize sweetheart, it's alright to miss your momma. She was a wonderful woman and I know you're not the only one. I know when Becky was pregnant with you and found out she was having a girl she wondered what you'd be like and hoped you'd turn out perfect."

"Did I? Turn out like she wanted?" I asked looking up.

"Yeah, a bit more rough and tumble than she would have liked and your quick temper would have gotten to her but she'd love you anyway because you're her little girl." Nat answered wiping my tears away.

Somewhere in a not so far off realm
"Becky?" Antonio asked.

"She's perfect, absolutely perfect and she doesn't believe it. That just breaks my heart," Becky answered with tears in her eyes.

"I know darlin' but she's always been like that. Up until now though..."

"How could she? She destroyed my baby," Becky asked looking up at her one time father-in-law.

"I know honey, but she'll be alright. She's strong and she's got good people around her."

"Sometimes I wish he hadn't remarried. At least not so soon and definitely not her."

"Lizzy will be fine, just watch over her and everything will work out in the end."

"You're newer at this than I am how do you know that?"

"Because I'm a father and a grandfather I know these things. Just wait," Antonio answered.

Back on Earth
I looked around the room and sighed seeing Star in the doorway with a bag of chips. "So Star I know I shouldn't ask this but...How old are you exactly?"

"25, my birthday's in a couple of months," Star answered coming back over and sitting down again.

"What's your boyfriend like?"

"He's a nice guy. He's got a handful of siblings; he absolutely loves his baby sister though. It reminds me of my best friend Alyssa and her little brother. They're both pretty lucky their siblings love them that much."

"Oh..." I bit my lip and looked away. "So do you have any siblings?"

"A little brother. He's only 21 and has deemed it his right to protect me, pain in the butt sometimes." Star smirked.

"Be glad he's younger and isn't as threatening."

"You've got an older brother right?"

"Four. Sometimes it seems like six. I swear they'll die of overstressing before any of them turn 30. Either that or they'll go grey. Charlie and Fulton are my two surrogate brothers. Charlie's my cousin and Fulton's my best friend but sometimes they act more like brothers. But I guess that's the way it goes when you're the only girl," I answered. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about just about everything and I think the only thing I didn't learn about her boyfriend was his name. I'd bring it up occasionally but they'd both shrug it off and change the subject. Star also talked about Lissy a lot. Apparently they were best friends in high school although they drifted away when Star moved to Minnesota. We watched a couple movies and Jim took us to dinner before I had to get back to school.

"Thanks for today Nat; you really did make me feel better."

"Sure thing doll, oh and speaking of feeling better Matt wanted me to give this to you about a week ago," she said handing me an eight by ten envelope. I nodded and smiled.

"Thanks again, it was nice meeting you Star. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Absolutely," Star said. Once I got back to school I plopped down on Fulton's bed finding the room empty. I opened the envelope and flipped through the pictures laughing at a few of them.

"I love my brothers," I muttered.

"Why? Besides the obvious of course," Fulton asked leaning over me.

"Blackmail is great," I answered.

"Are they that bad?"

"For you? No, but for someone like Charlie and Adam people will seriously question their sexuality."

"Where were you today? Coach was pretty angry you didn't show up to the Varsity game."

"How long have you known we had to go to this game?"

"Two p.m. today. Coach came around and told us we were expected to show."

"I haven't been on campus since 1:15; if you had looked at my door you would have known that and where I went."

"It said Stillwater but where? You could have gone to your brother's place and cooled off or something."

"Dean suggested I spend the day with your mom and since I had the time I thought I'd do it today."

"Did you have fun?" Fulton asked lying down beside me.

I slid the pictures back into the envelope and rolled over on my side looking at him. "It was a lot of fun, she also cheered me up."

"Because you keep thinking about Becky?"

"Dean told you?"

"Yeah, we're best friends Lizzy; it's hard for him to keep secrets from me and I from him. I try to stay away from subjects I know you don't want me to know about but this was something he told me because he thought I needed to know since you were kinda sad lately."

"Fulton, do you know your mom's friend Bethany Fisher?"

"Yeah I know her, why?"

"We hung out with her today and every time I asked what her boyfriend's name was she'd change the subject."

"It's Matt; just leave it at that Lizzy," he told me. I nodded and sighed. I didn't want to drop it but I knew it'd make Fulton angry if I didn't. Then the door opened. Fulton and I both looked up to see Dean standing there.

"Hey babe, Fult...did it help?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," I answered.

"So what are we doing tomorrow?" he asked.

"I don't know what's tomorrow?" I asked.

"Sunday, the sixth," Dean said.

"Ah...homework, Civics and English Lit homework. I still haven't done them yet and try to figure out why Varsity's been quiet on the pranks." I said.

"Maybe they're waiting till Monday to pull it so they can guarantee they'll hit everyone," Fulton said.

"Maybe," I said. When I woke up I saw that I had fallen asleep next to Fulton on his bed and Dean had just come through the doorway in just a towel. *Must mean it was still early if he chanced walking down here from the shower in just a towel.* I lay completely still until he had finished getting dressed. He sat down on his bed and looked at us before looking at the clock. I looked at it as well and saw it was almost 6 am. *Wow still early.* The squeaking of springs made me look at Dean again and I saw him lying back on his bed. I carefully climbed out of bed and crept across to Dean. I hovered over him running my hand through his still damp hair. His eyes fluttered open and he pulled me into his lap.

"Morning," he said softly.

"He's my best friend baby, I can't always ignore him and neither can you."

"I know but...sometimes I wish we were that close."

"Close enough that had we not been dating anyone who had seen us together just sleeping they wouldn't think something was going on?" I asked.

He was silent for a moment and then he smiled. "Took me a second to figure out what you just said but yes that's what I mean."

"You know I'd never leave you for him," I whispered.

"I know but..." he started.

"But nothing Dean. Fulton has been my best friend since I was in diapers if I liked him like I do you then I would have started dating him before you."

"Feelings can change."

"Maybe but right now I'm sticking with what works and the person I do care about."

"Me?"

"Yes you, you big, loveable, teddy bear named Goose. You're so goofy sometimes," I said smirking.

"Goofy?" he asked. "I'll show you goofy." He grinned and pulled me against him kissing me. I thought he was going to flip me over but instead he tangled his hand in my hair and kept me close to him.

"You know it's one thing to wake up to my best friends cuddled in bed together but it's a complete other to wake up to them making out and his hand wandering into dangerous territory." Fulton said breaking us apart and causing Dean's hand to shoot back up to my waist. I pulled back away from Dean and looked over a Fulton who was slightly glaring at me.

"Morning Fulton," I yawned.

"Morning," he answered. "Been doing that long?"

"A little after six," Dean said.

"You've been going at it for nearly an hour?" Fulton asked astonished.

"I guess," Dean said.

"Something wrong Fult?" I asked.

"No...Well I don't know," he answered.

"Fulton, are you lonely?" Dean asked.

"No," Fulton snapped.

"Wait Fult, that's a good question it just came out wrong. I think he honestly meant that as a question and not as the taunt it sounded like." I said.

"Why are you asking?" Fulton asked.

"Because I think you want what Dean and I have you just don't know how to get it. That's what Dean meant," I said.

"Yeah until you guys start fighting then it doesn't make it seem worth it," Fulton said. I stood up and walked over to sit next to Fulton.

"We don't fight all the time," I said. Fulton gave me a disbelieving look and I sighed. "Come on Fult you know what I want in a guy, Dean knows it to even if he doesn't always acknowledge it. According to Connie and Adam none of Dean's relationships have ever lasted more than a month. Some habits take longer to die and that makes me angry sometimes. Most of this stuff is new to him." I looked at Dean and saw him looking at Fulton. The room was silent for a bit and then Fulton rolled his eyes.

"Fult...I'm crappy at all this but I know sometimes I piss Lizzy off because all the girls I've ever dealt with are high maintenance prissy girls who tell me what they want all the time. Lizzy doesn't always do that and sometimes I'm left guessing," Dean added.

"I hardly doubt you'd ever do something to make a girl mad at you. You're sweet and sensitive to an extent but you still have enough of that bad boy charm that makes a girl want you. Especially a lot of these preppy girls. You know the right things to say to make a girl smile even when no one else does. And you can do it with others and not just me. Connie and Julie told me that as well," I assured him.

"Then why doesn't Alyssa like me?" he muttered.

"Alyssa who?" I asked.

"Alyssa Calloway, she's in my science class and your art class," he said getting a real dreamy look on his face. I cocked an eyebrow at Dean who smirked. I knew I had to do something and couldn't let my best friend pine for a girl who didn't return his feelings and if she did I was going to make sure they got together.

"Sounds like I know this Alyssa," I said.

"She is best friends with Emma Benson. They've been in the same classes since kindergarten when they met because of alphabetical order."

"Yeah, I know her. I met her about a week ago when Dean was acting like a pig."

"Right, I think she said something along those lines."

"Fult, how do you know she doesn't like you?"

"I um..." Fulton said.

"Have you even asked her?" Dean asked. Fulton shook his head. "Come on, let's go get some breakfast. We'll worry about Aly later."

"In case you haven't noticed Fulton and I aren't dressed yet," I said. Dean looked confused so I looked down. "Oh...yesterday's clothes." Dean smirked and grabbed a shirt off his floor. He threw it at me; I caught it, and left to get dressed.

Well there you have it hit the button in the center to tell me what you think.