A/N: The song is called "Something Like Me" by Staind. I own nothing but the idea for the story. I hope you all enjoy. Reviews are nice. :)

I spent the next few weeks looking for a house. I needed more space and I was hoping to find something with a recording studio. I wanted to start working on an album. The reason I was so adamant about the studio being in the home was simple. Selena agreed to amend the custody agreement. She was giving me joint physical custody. I wanted to be home with Stella as much as possible during the recording process. With the studio being at home, she could be here with me while I worked and not feel out of place. Once I found the perfect one, I bought it and made it our new home. Stella loved it. Selena even came over and cooked me dinner one night. She told me that the kitchen deserved to be properly broken in. My habit of ordering take out wasn't going to cut it. I just laughed and called her crazy.

We began to fall into a routine. Every Friday we would have dinner together. We also made it a point to avoid talking about anything that was remotely related to what happened that night at her house. This Friday her parents planned on attending our weekly dinner. I found myself actually looking forward to it. We had already spent Thanksgiving together, and while it was awkward at first, both of our families eventually fell into our old easy pattern with eachother. It was nice.

I sat at the control panel of my studio listening to a couple of the tracks I just finished. They were rough cuts, but I was quite happy with how they turned out. I had two weeks to make the album deadline. The album was set to release in February. I would be leaving Christmas to start rehearsals for the tour. The tour kicks off in January and I finish in April. I was excited and nervous. The road was always a questionable place for me. I decided to do this tour to prove to myself that I could handle it.

I heard my front door open and the sound of little feet running on the floor. I could also hear the unmistakable clicking of heels.

"Demi?" I heard Selena call out.

"I'm back here Sel!" I yelled back.

Stella ran into the studio and jumped into my lap. Selena smiled as she leaned on the doorframe.

"Mama!" She squealed.

"Hey baby! How have you been."

"Good. I missed you a whole bunch." Her little voice answered

I hugged her and sighed. "Me too squirt."

"Can I watch cartoons?" She asked with a huge beaming smile.

"Yeah. Go ahead." And with that she ran off toward the tv room.

"How have you been?" Selena asked

"Good. Just busy working on music and getting the tour organized." I said

I gestured toward a chair. "You wanna sit?"

"Yeah." She said almost blushing.

"You ok?" I asked grinning

"Yeah. It's just been awhile since I've seen you like this." She said

"Like what?" I asked

"Settled. Healthy. Sober..." She trailed off

"Well I figure I can't blame the world forever you know?" I said. "Besides, I have to take care of our daughter. I don't want her to grow up and have to deal with me in and out of rehab, or even worse dead. I don't want that for her. I'm supposed to be an example. You and I might not have been able to make it, but she and I will. She will be a part of me forever."

"Do you think we will be a part of each other forever?" She asked sadly.

"Of course Sel. We have a daughter together..."

"No, I mean seperate from that." She interrupted.

I sat for a moment and considered what she was asking me. As I studied her face, she looked sad. I'm not an idiot. I know why what I said upset her, but it was the truth. We didn't make it. We weren't meant to be. I'm not sure if we would share much besides Stella moving forward. To be honest this is the first time we have talked about anything relating to us in a while. I'm pretty sure there really wasn't an us anymore. There was Demi, then there was Selena. In between we had Stella, without Stella, Selena and I wouldn't have anything to share.

"Selena, I'm not sure what you want me to say to that. I..."

"It's ok."

"Would you stop interrupting me?" I sounded slightly more annoyed than I intended. She cocked her slightly and pursed her lips. She gestured for me to continue.

"I still love you Sel. There's just no where for that love to go. I can't keep hurting you by intruding where I don't belong. Do you understand that? It's hard for me to be around you sometimes. I don't constantly text and call you, even though I want to and beg for another chance. I really just can't put you through that. It's not fair. I've done enough damage. Instead I've been trying to let you go. I'm taking baby steps, but I'm getting there...I think...hopefully."

"What if I don't want you to?" She asked quietly.

"Want me to what?" I was genuinely confused.

"Let go." She stated while looking directly into my eyes.

Thank goodness children have perfect timing. Stella ran back into the room and insisted that I join her on the couch and watch spongebob. I had no objections. Selena left shortly afterwards. I was thankful that we didn't get to finish that conversation. I don't really think it was a subject that we could or even should be talking about. Is getting back together even an option for us? I'm not sure it is.

Selena wanted me to spend Christmas Eve at her house that way Stella could see me before I left. Earlier in the day I had my piano delivered to her house as a part of my Christmas gift. I hope I wasn't being to presumptuous, but I had a plan. One that involved finding a way back into Selena's heart. Once dinner was done everyone moved into the den to start opening presents. Both of our families were once again together. Since I was spending Christmas on a plane to New York, everyone wanted to open presents tonight. I saved one of my gifts for last.

"Listen up everyone!" I said over all the loud voices and laughter. "Follow me to the music room." I smiled.

I walked into the room and sat down at my piano as our families piled in. I watched Selena's face as she realized what piano I was sitting at. She teared up.

"So I know you're wondering what we are doing here. I wrote a song for Stella and I wan to give it to her before I go. Stella, this ones for you baby." She grinned and sat next to me at the piano bench. I pressed down on the ivory bars and began to sing.

Shards and broken pieces
Shattered on the floor
Not big enough to bleed
Tears and angry voices
Cracks around the door
No apologies

Every time you say you love me
I still have to stop and catch my breath
How can somebody love something like me?
If you could only say you're sorry
There's nothing in this world I can't forgive
Waiting here for you to set me free

Toys and colored pencils
Scattered on the floor
Underneath my feet
You're always crying over nothing
Always wanting more
You never go to sleep

Every time you say you love me
I still have to stop and catch my breath
How can somebody love something like me?
Every time I feel I'm falling
You'll be there to save me from myself
Little angel watching over me

My taxi's in the driveway
My bags are at the door
And it still kills me to leave

But every time you say you love me
I just have to stop and catch my breath
How can somebody love something like me
And every time I feel I'm falling
You're the one's who saved me from myself
You give me something to believe

And with you here
These cracks and tears
Fade away

When I finished there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Stella was beaming and my heart felt full. Once the room cleared out Selena walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug.

"That was beautiful." She whispered.

"Do you like your part of the present?" I asked as we parted and she walked toward the piano. I watched as she ran her fingertips across its smooth surface. She simply nodded as she sat on the bench staring down at my piano. For the first time in a long time, I saw hope in her eyes.