AN: Oh my lovelies! I am so excited about the timing on this chapter. Consider it my little treat for the Season 4 premiere tomorrow. Also, a celebration for me. Any Hawaii 5-o fans out there? #Cathisback has me so excited I could scream. If I got Burzek news like that, I would be doing the happy dance all over the place. You might actually get really happy stories out of me.

Well, I said I would comment about the song lyric for this chapter. You could kind of say that this song basically inspired this fic. It just plucked something in my heart when I heard it one night and this story just started to come together. I hope you enjoy!

I had a dream about a burning house
You were stuck inside
I couldn't get you out
I lay beside you and pulled you close
And the two of us went up in smoke

Love isn't all that it seems
I did you wrong
I'll stay here with you
Until this dream is gone

"Burning House" - Cam

The Present

At some point, you have to start looking forward. I mean not just talking the talk, but actually walking the walk. I had to stop looking back at everything Rachel and I had and start looking at what I wanted in my future. Did I really want to be alone? The answer to that one was no. I didn't want to watch Belle grow up without someone to share that with. But, I also knew that whoever that was going to be was going to be one amazing individual. I was not going to settle for just anyone. I knew that the person I was dating would influence my daughter. I'm not saying I've been on a dating spree. Hardly. I've been on a few at this point and they've all honestly been terrible. I am trying to see it as ripping a band aid off. It's going to hurt for a while but at some point… I'm going to find one that doesn't hurt so much.

I am following behind a running Belle. Well, I say running. She thinks she is running. Those 18 month old legs are pumping so hard for all the faster she is going. I should probably be grateful for these moments since I'm pretty sure soon she is going to be able to take off on me. Or maybe sooner than I thought.

"M!"

There she goes. She tries to get away from me, but I scoop her up and look towards the direction she was running. I see Kim and Atwater making their way in my direction. A bunch of us decided to meet up at the FOP picnic this year. The weather is good and for once we are all off. Not sure how that happened.

"Yo, Man! Antonio here yet?"

"Haven't seen him."

Kim was now taking a squirming Belle out of my arms. A smile couldn't help but come to my face to see Belle cuddling up to Kim. She might have been full of energy a minute ago, but now all she wants to do is be hugged by Kim.

The afternoon was full of food, games, and that feeling of family. We're all watching Antonio's kids play some of the carnival games as the day is winding down. I can see now that Belle is starting to hit that time where I'm going to have to get her home for her nap. She, of course, found her way to Kim so she could begin nodding off in her arms.

"Let me take her from you. I should be getting her home."

"How about I walk with you? That way she doesn't wake up."

"Ok. Sounds good. You sure you got her? She's gotten big."

Kim just smiled and started walking. I waved to everyone and jogged to keep up.

"So, how have things been going with you and Steve, right?"

Kim just looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"They went. Why?"

"I was just making conversation. You know. Asking about your life."

"Ok, well then how's things going with Stacy?"

"Um, that was over a month ago and we only went out twice."

"My point exactly."

I had to laugh. Leave it to Atwater to only hand out information in bits. I threw my hands up in defense.

"Ok, ok. Sorry. My bad. How's the new trainee? That better?"

Kim finally laughed and nodded.

"Yeah. Much better. Angela is good. So much better than Wreck it Ralph. I still can't believe he made it through."

"Only because of you. He actually might make a decent cop. Heard he got picked up for the mounted unit?"

"Yes, he did. As it turns out, he has been riding horses since he was a kid. He can drive as long as the vehicle is a mammal and has four legs."

Our conversation stayed light for the next four blocks till we were about three blocks from my building. I had seen the dark clouds starting to build, but had hoped that we would make it home before they decided to open up. So much for that. Belle immediately woke up as the rain started to pour down like monsoon season, so Kim and I ran for it. We made it to my building and stood under the awning for a second. We were all soaked to the bone and Kim went to hand Belle to me as she spoke.

"Ok, you guys head in. I guess I'll run for home."

"Are you kidding? That's crazy. It a spring rain. It'll be done in like thirty minutes. Come on up. I'll grab you some sweats or something and we can dry your clothes."

"You sure?"

"Kim, come on. I gotta get Belle out of these clothes."

I knew that would get her. She was being stubborn for Lord only knew what reason. No sense in her running through the city in this kind of weather. I knew Belle would get her to see reason.

We got upstairs and I left Kim in the kitchen as I took Belle back into her room. I quickly got her changed and once that was done she was more than ready for her nap. I laid her down and then went to get out of my clothes and to find Kim something to change into. I was walking back into the kitchen to find Kim trying to wring her shirt out in the kitchen sink. She was just standing there in her shorts and her bra like she was alone with no one to see her. I was frozen. Transfixed. I guess Kim heard my intake of breath or something. She turned towards me and immediately looked down.

"Sorry. I was starting to drip on your floor. You've seen it all before, right?"

I swallowed. Seen it. Sure. But, that was a long time ago. I slowly made my way to her to hand her a pair of my basketball shorts and a t-shirt I had found. Kim looked up at me and dropped her shirt in the sink.

"I'll go change in the bathroom. I'll be right back."

She walked past me and I just tried to breathe through whatever I was feeling. Who was I kidding? I knew exactly what I was feeling.

Turned on.

That's how I was feeling. It had been awhile. Yeah, it had been a long while. Sure, I had felt attracted to some of the women I had been on dates with, but not like this. No, this was the slapped in the face kind of turned on. I walked to the window and just watched the rain. I heard Kim re-enter the room and grab her shirt out of the kitchen sink. I knew that she would just throw her stuff in the dryer without asking. She knew her way around the place.

I felt more than saw her come to stand next to me. I realized that it had probably been about five minutes and I had not moved a muscle.

"Are you okay?"

No. I wasn't okay. I shouldn't look at her. I shouldn't.

I do it, anyway. How can I not? She's standing there in my clothes and every possessive tendency that had been kept under wraps for a very long time came over me.

I can see when she realizes it. We've been here before, so I know she knows. I can see her breath quicken and I can see that she is trying to make a decision. I wait because whatever happens. I don't want to make it alone.

Oh, to hell with that. I lean forward and take her face in my hand as I smash my lips to hers.

For a second, I think I've made a mistake and I can feel the voices in my head trying to get a hold of me. That is till I feel the sweet, wet, touch of her tongue on mine. Then I just lose my mind. I've got her pulled against me as flush as I can. I know where we are headed. I know it just as clear as I can taste the mixture of water, sweat, and Kim on my tongue as I'm kissing her neck. We're moving, stumbling towards something, but I'm not sure what. What was that? Crying. I'm hearing crying. I pull apart from her and that's when reality hits.

Belle's crying. Kim's lips are swollen and her hair is disheveled. I did that. I look down and my shirt is off somewhere. I run my fingers through my hair and I'm trying to gather my thoughts when I suddenly see Kim take off. Before I even have a chance to say a word, she has her purse and is out the door.

I'm left feeling like my whole world has tilted on its axis and I've got a screaming toddler.

Shit.

Post Note: Hmmmm...I wonder how many people are going to ask for the next chapter?