AN: Happy CPD day! Don't say that I never did anything for you. And now you know approximately when I was thinking of the prologue.

Something like a strong wind is coming over me
It's got a hold of me, yeah
Thinking and doing things I shouldn't be
I really shouldn't be

Give it one more call
It's one more "whatcha doin right now?"
It's one more trip to my side of town and you walk right in
One more here we go again

"Stay a Little Longer" – Brothers Osborne

The best part of my day currently is why I am standing in this doorway waiting. Waiting to see the most precious smile in the world. The whole reason I was still able to put one foot in front of the other after everything that happened. The reason that Kim ended up coming back into my life. I can hear Isabelle's light breathing and see her black hair that already completely covers her whole head. I can't see those stunning green eyes that she inherited from Rachel since she is still deep asleep. What I'm waiting for is what happens after those eyes open up. Her smile is what gives me hope. What makes me even think that I could love again, or open my heart to loving the one person that I never really stopped loving. That I could forgive her and myself.

Yeah, I told you all that. I'm still waiting. It's the morning a couple days after and I'm trying to figure things out. Kim won't return my calls. I knew she had the night shift last night and when I got called in I tried to talk to her, but she just dodged me. I have a decision to make. Do I continue to let her dodge me? Or do I tilt things in my favor? I don't want to do that unless I know what I want.

I know what I want. Am I really ready for that? Am I there, yet? I can remember the conversations that Rachel and I had about our exes and something occurs to me. I never got to the same place as Rachel. I never really wanted to cut Kim out of my life completely. Sure, I was okay with allowing us to exist in separate but connected lives. But move cities and say adios? I'm not sure that I was ever ready to say or do that. I fell out of love with her, but I always still loved her. I just made room in my heart to move on. The questions that I really needed to answer are far harder. Have I forgiven her? Yes. Can I forgive myself? That one isn't so easy. Do I really think going down this road again is a good idea? My brain would say no. My heart has a different opinion. I have a phone call to make. I can hear the person that I'm going to need answer as Isabelle's eyes open and that smile comes. I smile back and speak to my trump card, "I need a huge favor."

It's just after dinner time and I'm standing in front of Kim's door. I'm holding Belle in my arms and hoping my plan worked. I knew I couldn't use Atwater. Kim would see through that from a mile away. I was lucky that Erin decided that she wanted to take pity on me. She didn't ask many questions as to why I wanted Kim at her place at this time. She even offered to take Belle with her when I showed up. I told her that her taking Belle was kind of like going into a raid without body armor.

"Man, that bad. Ok. I'll have her there."

I finally knocked on the door and waited. I had to keep the smile from my face as I heard footsteps and laughing from behind the door. Erin had come through. Kim opened the door and the smile on her face froze.

"Adam. Um…what's up? I'm kind of busy. I've got company."

Erin walked up from behind Kim with a wine glass in hand.

"No problem. I was just leaving. Here, take the wine. I'm thinking the two of you need it more than me. Night."

Erin walked out the door without so much as a look back as Kim went to try and protest. Till, Belle did her thing.

"Kim!"

Kim's eyes rounded at this new development. The delivery was garbled in that toddler way, but you could still tell what she was saying.

"When did that start?"

"This afternoon. She kept asking for you." I was lying. I'm pretty sure Kim knew I was lying. I had been saying her name over and over again praying that Belle would get it. She had been getting close for a while now. I was just trying to speed up the process. I could see Kim side eyeing me.

"She has permission to come in."

"Well, since she and I are a package deal tonight I guess that means we will both be coming in."

Kim took a big gulp of that wine and walked into the apartment. Since she didn't slam the door, I assumed that I was in. I knew I was wrong for doing this, but I had said it before. I was done playing games. I could see that Kim was refilling her wine glass as I sat Belle down on the floor. Her eyes were scanning Kim's place and I knew she was looking at all the pretty curtains and the brick and just taking in all the colors. I figured she would go after the curtains to the kitchen if she had the chance, so I was keeping an eye on her. Kim walked in with another glass besides her own and handed it to me.

"You aren't driving, are you?"

"Nope. I walked."

"You carried her all this way?"

"I let her walk when she wanted to. Which was all of five steps."

"Hmmm."

Kim was sipping her wine and trying to avoid looking at me. She was focusing on Belle who had waddled her way over to her.

"Why did you leave?"

Kim began to stroke Belle's hair out of her eyes.

"She needs to get her hair cut. So she can see."

"Quit dodging me, Kim."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"I'm taking time. I would think you would need it."

"Oh?"

"I can't have this conversation right now."

"Why not?"

Kim looked down at Belle and then back at me. I could feel myself just smile and Belle just made my point for me by yawning.

"One of the nice things about having her on a set schedule with my Pops is that I know for a fact that she'll be asleep in about thirty to forty-five minutes. No matter where she is."

I took a sip of the wine she gave me finally and just waited. We both sat there in silence drinking our wine and keeping Belle entertained till she finally began to rub those eyes.

"Wouldn't she sleep better at home?"

"You are not getting rid of me, Kim. She'll be fine."

I set my wine glass down and picked up Belle and let her lay against my chest. Once she fully fell asleep I knew I could lay her down or leave if Kim truly didn't want to talk. I was taking a risk.

"Why did you leave?"

Kim was looking the other way and would not make eye contact with me.

"It was the look on your face. It was where we were. It was Belle crying. Maybe we should just forget it happened."

"I can't do that."

That brought Kim's eyes back to mine, so I could finally continue.

"When has that ever really worked for us? Huh? I don't recall that working before."

"Adam…"

"I'm serious. That doesn't work for me. It happened. Are you trying to tell me that you were going to stop me if we hadn't been interrupted?"

Kim stood up and began to walk towards the kitchen. I was pushing. I realized to a certain extent that wasn't fair without admitting something myself.

"I wasn't going to stop, Kim. I've never been able to with you. If things have changed for you, that's one thing."

Kim spun around. "Can you really say that you are ready? That's not what I saw on your face."

"Kim, I was thinking a lot of things in that moment. Guilt or whatever you think you saw was not one of them. I dealt with that during the first few dates I went on. But, I already know what Rachel's thoughts would be on that. I'm not asking for us to begin again. I'm asking for a second chance. I'm asking for dinner. Just dinner."

"It wouldn't be just dinner. You know that."

"It could be if that is what you need it to be."

"That would be a lie."

I stood and was able to keep Belle steady with her head resting on my shoulder.

"Then don't lie to yourself. We have history. I don't plan on repeating all of it."

"Are you sure you aren't just wanting company? We don't need to go down this road."

I laughed and then tried to compose myself at the absurdity of that question.

"Kim, if I was just looking for company I would not come to you. Not in a million years. You aren't the only one who is risking something here."

I could see it. She was caving.

"Are we crazy?"

I had her.

"I don't know. I don't really care. Saturday?"

Kim nodded her head. I smiled and lifted the backpack I had dumped earlier up off the floor.

"Ok, we'll leave you for now. Good night."

Kim walked me out and I swear that walk back to my apartment in the last moments of daylight was one of the best I had in a long time.

Post note: Here we go again!