A/N: I am going to mess with Mackenzie and Scott in this chapter… This is just after they moved in together. Freya is still a baby and Mackenzie is still dealing with a lot when it comes to Preston, and Scott is being kind of douchey and a workaholic. Wish me luck? Enjoy :) xx Mariah

Ages:

Scott - 27
Mackenzie - 22
Ned - 35
Katie - 32
Freya - 11 months

Scott slowly pushed open the bedroom door and peered in. He'd just gotten off work and for once Mackenzie was curled on her side, facing away from the door with the blankets pulled up to her chin.

For the last week, she'd been working nights to avoid him when he got home from work. They'd been fighting about if her name should be on the lease or not. He said she didn't have to, it was an upcharge in rent for two people on the lease.

She also felt terrible not contributing to rent, but she was helping with utilities in between paying for Freya and all of her costs. Her parents did help her with some hospital bills and clothes. Katie even gave her a crib and a lot of other baby stuff she had.

Scott helped with diapers and they moved in together now and helped with a lot more. It was an effort from the ones she loved most. Scott has always covered rent because he made more than enough with his double shifts he sometimes did with Ned.

He sighed before he cautiously stepped into the room, remaining by the door just in case she was still angry enough to throw anything at him. He also didn't want to wake the baby, he could see her sleeping in the playpen.

When Mackenzie didn't turn towards him, he said, "So I guess I'm sleeping on the couch tonight?" He was quiet, going over to the bassinet. Eleven-month0old Freya slept soundly as he looked down at her, touching her cheek with his thumb. He'd never loved a little person so much in his entire life. "Goodnight, sweet girl." He squatted down, kissing the baby's chubby cheek before he stood, pulling his dress shirt buttons open as he walked into his closet. "Mackenzie, are you awake?"

She was still quiet in bed, curled up in the blankets. He pulled his belt loose, putting it on top of his dresser as he took his pants off and then got into bed, wanting to try and talk first.

Mackenzie looked over her shoulder at him before she laid on her back. She knew he wouldn't give up. He never had before.

"Talk to me," he said, leaning in close. "Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"

"Not again," the blonde whispered as she stared at him for several long moments before she scooted over on the bed and wordlessly pulled the blankets back. "I want you in bed with me." Scott's shoulders relaxed and he settled into bed next to his girlfriend, sliding his hand around her waist. All was silent between the couple for several long moments before Mackenzie quietly said, "I'm sorry for being so rash last week and then avoiding you all week. I shouldn't have taken you away from Freya. You've been a father to her and I thank you for that." She said to him, smiling. "I love you, Scott. I really do. I'm sorry. I really am."

He nuzzled his lips against her shoulder, touching her braid. It was his kryptonite. "I'm sorry too.. I didn't mean to demean you like that. We can do it. I'll call the landlord in the morning."

Rolling over in his arms, Mackenzie looked up at him. "Scott, I overreacted. You made a very good point. The rent will go up. How about we just split the house bills?" She said, smiling at him. "And how about we start to look at houses? That way we could grow into them someday?"

"Someday?" He beamed, kissing her forehead. He loved her so much, but it was all a learning process with Mackenzie. He'd never had such a real relationship before her. "I like the sound of someday. It feels good. I'd like a bigger house."

She was still so quiet, pulling back and leaning into the mattress. He hadn't seen her like this since the car crash, just before they'd first talked. The silence as she laid there, just looking at him, instead she couldn't this time.

"Tell me what's bothering you," he whispered and she sighed and snuggled further into Scott's arms this time. This was one of the places she felt the safest, wrapped in his arms.

"The custody battle. It's just so terrible," she sighed and Scott's brow furrowed. He hated that Preston was making his girl feel like this. "His lawyers are so cruel. They are attacking me because I wasn't wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, which yes, I regret that I took my seatbelt off, but how was I supposed to know what was going to happen? I wanted to hug my sister and I took it off, but the next thing I knew I was flying through a window and hitting the pavement." She whispered, her tears rolling down into his shirt now as he held her close. "I'd never cried more in my life, Scott, and I was practically unconscious again at that point. That's the last thing I remember from the road was thinking about my baby and my family. I guess that's when I went into cardiac arrest, but how can they hold that against me? I love her. I deserve her more than he ever will after what he did to me… how can they do this to me, Scott?"

Her boyfriend didn't know what to say. He only held her, his arms were all she needed at that moment. She cried silently in his chest, his lips pressing into her forehead.

"You're the best mom, Mackenzie. I'm here every day and I see how you are with your daughter. I will shout it from the rooftops if I have to," he smiled at her.

"She's our daughter," she corrected him and pulled back, his hands touching her face. "I love you, and how much you support me is everything I have ever needed. I don't know how to thank you, Scott."

"You don't have to thank me. I just love you, and I will never be afraid to tell you that." Scott chuckled and kissed her forehead again before moving his lips down to her cheeks. "No one will love Freya more than us and that's how I know that you're an amazing mother." Mackenzie nodded her head slowly. "I didn't have a mother," he began. "Not really. I don't remember her like I should, you know?"

She nodded, wishing she could really understand how he felt, but she didn't. She had a mother and a father who loved her unconditionally. She'd been born early after her mother got into a minor car crash.

The stress had caused her body to go into labor, despite Mackenzie being breeched. It had been three days in the hospital of pain and watching her contractions before they had to rush her into surgery. She'd had two older siblings who loved her right off the bat then, so worried for both their little sister and their mother.

Scott hadn't had that. Even when his parents were alive, they'd been in high school. He was raised by his grandmother until she died when he was eight. His parents had died when he was five, but his grandmother had become his guardian and when she died he was put into the foster system.

He was passed around from house to house and abused by other kids for having glasses and having curly hair. Beat up day in and day out, he wept himself to sleep most nights. When he was in junior high, he was moved to New York from Pennsylvania after a particularly bad home placement.

He was put into a better group home and he began wrestling, bulking up, and meeting friends. He straightened up and joined the army right out of high school before going to college where he met Aaron at a fraternity party and they decided to rush it together. When he'd joined the police academy Ned had been up for a new partner after Jamison retired and he'd gotten Scott. Somehow, that led to him meeting Mackenzie at a wedding party.

"I love you and the family we have," she pressed her finger to his lips.

She leaned up to kiss him gently, wrapping her arms around his neck. She'd never felt more comfortable with him in her entire life.

She loved him. She loved him.

"I know," he whispered, pulling back as he looked at her. "What are we doing here Kenz?"

He'd never called her that before, not that she couldn't remember. It'd always been Mack or Mackenzie, or even some other sweet nickname, but never Kenz. She didn't like it as much and usually didn't respond to it if it wasn't coming from a family member, but she smiled at him and when he leaned in, Scott kissed her again.

His hands were on her waist, moving her shirt up, to see the body she'd just gotten back. The stretch marks, he leaned down, kissing them and she rolled into him, wishing she'd put Freya in the other room tonight for once. She'd never felt so selfish in her life, but she loved it.

"I want you," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. He came up to her face moments later as she licked her lips. "Do you… want me?"

Her breathing was shaken, her eyes meeting his as he kissed her then, his hands on her hips.

"I want you, never think I don't Mackenzie." He pulled back, brushing her face with his hand. "I love you. I love you."

"I know and that's why I'm ready for this." She whispered, smiling at him as he kissed her again a moment later.

Mackenzie rolled over, expecting to find the warmth of Scott's body next to her, but instead found cold, empty sheets. They smelled like him. She leaned into his pillow, almost falling back asleep before a small giggle surprised her.

Freya was sitting up in the playpen, holding blocks in her hands. She tossed one, hitting the netting and she smiled, sitting. A wide smile spread across her face as she thought about last night.

Everything changed between Scott and her. Since they'd become a couple when she had Freya almost a year ago, they had been slowly growing together, leading up to the moment last night, when a pang of hunger took over and there was nothing to stop them.

Mackenzie had never wanted someone as bad as she wanted Scott last night. The relief when he'd kissed her had been so amazing, she'd nearly moaned, but she smiled just thinking about it.

Where had he gone? Had he worked this morning? She couldn't remember.

She slipped out of bed, pulling on Scott's discarded shirt from the day before, buttoning it as she picked up Freya, kissing her soft hair as the baby wrapped her arms around her mother.

"Mama," the little girl whispered, tucking her head on Mackenzie's chest.

"Hey, pretty girl," she whispered, kissing her cheek. "I'll feed you in just a bit, okay?" She started downstairs, clad in only Scott's shirt, and about halfway down the steps was hit with the strong smell of fresh baking.

What was it? Donuts? Had Scott gone for donuts?

What she hadn't expected was Katie and Ned to be in the kitchen, talking to Scott with donuts from the bakery. She should've seen it coming.

Now she wished she'd put pants on. At least she had decent underwear on, not anything too revealing, but still. Pants would've been nice.

Freya itched to be put down and took proud steps to her Aunt and Uncle happily before they realized she was there.

"Morning Mack," Katie grinned, picking up the baby. "Heya Freya. How's my girl?" She kissed the blonde's cheek as Ned rubbed her back, smiling at Mack.

"Want a donut?" Ned held out a box and she took one, walking over to Scott. He was wearing just his pajama pants, drinking coffee while dunking a donut in it. "You look well-rested, Mack. How's the custody battle going?"

"It's crazy, but I have faith. Scott reassured me," she smiled up at him, wrapping her arm around her boyfriend. "Everything will work out."

"Your mama is a smart one," Katie nodded, smiling at the little one before turning to her sister. "We're here for you. Whatever you need."

Mackenzie smiled at her sister, nodding. "What I need is dinner with you. Are you free tonight?" She asked.

"I don't see why dinner tonight can't work," Katie looked to Ned. "Think your mom could take the kids?"

"Yeah. I think she'd do it," Ned nodded, pulling his phone out. "I'll make the call."

The muscles in Scott's back ripple as he picked up Freya from Katie's arm, cradling her close and kissing her head. The little one settled into the man's arms, babbling to him like she always did. Daddy, daddy, daddy.

It made her heart sing.

"What should I make?" Katie asked, looking to her for guidance as she stared at Scott while he bounced Freya. "Chicken? I love any of my chicken recipes."

"I could make some type of cold pasta and you could bring over some wine." She suggested, leaning onto the counter as she talked. "Or maybe mashed potatoes because then Freya can help Scott. You could text me one of dad's gravy recipes."

"Okay. I'm going to check on Ned." Katie said as she turned to walk over to Ned, who was still on the phone.

Scott came up behind her then, "Hey," she could hear the smile in his voice, and then he met the sound with one as she turned toward him and Freya, smiling at her girl. She pressed a kiss to his firm shoulder, wrapping her arm around him. "I think they know about us."

Mackenzie groaned and covered her face with my hands. She should have known better than to think they could keep something from Katie and Ned.

Halfway through his story about how he'd been half asleep when they rang the doorbell, she became too absorbed in his hands. It reminded her of the night before. His hands smoothing over her legs, her hips, and her breasts last night. His lips had only followed. Scott had been perfect.

Her eyes moved up his arms, seeing a small mark on the side of his neck from where she bit him in the heat of the moment. He had told her that he liked it, and when she touched it, he leaned into her, smiling.

"Ned said something about it," he sighed, groaning. "He said it must be a Clancy thing."

She busted out a laugh and shook her head. There were too many times she remembered her own dad's neck or chest having the occasional love bite. "I mean, it probably is."

He blushed as Freya grabbed for his face eagerly. "Hey, little butterfly. What's shakin' bacon?" The baby giggled at her father and hugged him.

"I am so in love with you," she blurted out and Freya looked over at the same time he did, clapping as she saw her mom smile at her father, touching her cheeks. "Hi, pretty girl. Mama loves you too." She kissed her baby girl's chubby fingers and the baby looked back at her father as he began to smile at her.

She watched his smile slowly spread from ear to ear. "I know and I am so in love with you too." She grinned, lifting up on her tiptoes to kiss him then, Freya only giggling more as her parents kissed.