What They Don't Know Won't Hurt Them...

Alex tried to turn over but her arm was stuck. She kept her eyes closed as she kept trying to turn over, pulling her arm free. When she'd pulled it out from the extra body in her bed she sighed, rubbing it in an attempt to get the feeling back. Her eyes opened slowly and she found Dave, sleep with a small smile etched on his lips. She tried to convince herself it was a dream, a very good and bad dream all in one, but she knew better. She rubbed his cheek softly with her fingers, trying to plan out her next course of action. From downstairs she could hear giggles and the TV up loud. Amy, the early riser like her father who had found her way downstairs and had probably made a mess in the kitchen in attempt to make a snack for her morning cartoons. She tried to roll out of bed to check on Amy but arms wrapped around her, pulling her back onto bed.

"Stay."

She laughed, turning to face him and buried her face into his neck. "Amy is probably destroying my kitchen Dave. I like my kitchen. I use my kitchen. You'll owe me a new one if Amy blows it up."

He grunted, tightening his grip taking a deep breath in, "She'll be fine, I've been waiting for this morning, I'm not letting you go so easily."

Alex kissed the base of his neck, her way of admitting her defeat. His hands rubbed her back, making her sigh from the bliss of the feeling. They lay there for a while, listening to each other's breathing, Amy's laughs, the noise outside the windows. Dave watched her lay in silence, thinking about nothing at all. He caught her attention, kissing her forehead, her cheek, her lips. She was smiling, rubbing his chest and returning every kiss to her lips.

The crash broke their silence, Alex's eyes opening wide. "Amy," she said, getting up to pull on her underwear and shirt, walking out of the room quickly.

She found her standing on the counter, apparently in an attempt to pull out a big bowl she couldn't reach at the top of the cabinet. She'd instead hit one of the lower shelves and ceramic bowls had fallen to the floor. "Hey Mom!" she said, a smile on her face.

"You fricken monkey. How the hell you get up there?"

"Chair," she answered, pointing to a stool she'd managed to pull to the counter. Alex was busy closing her eyes, looking up in a feeble attempt to calm herself when hands were placed on her shoulders. "Morning Dave!" Amy yelled, putting her hands up in the air.

"Amy you're too much kid. Come here," he said, walking past Alex, and carefully walked around pieces of the bowl on the floor, grabbing her off the counter. "You have to be careful."

"I'm sorry."

"Not to me silly. Say it to Mom."

Amy reached out from Dave's arms after kissing Dave's cheek, Dave letting her go as she pulled herself into Alex's embrace, "Sorry Mom."

"You're turning into a rebel Bug. You're getting too old."

"I'm four," she said, confused as to how being 4 was old.

"Yep, around the time I started getting into trouble and climbing things too. Go watch TV while I clean this okay? No more climbing on the counter. Got it?"

"Got it!"

She put Amy down, who ran out of the kitchen, leaving Alex to sigh at the sight of her broken bowls. "You owe me bowls," she said to Dave with a small laugh as she felt her pull her into a hug.

"That'll be item one to do today."

"Shouldn't...," she began, looking up at him, but he cut her off as she lacked a end to her statement.

"How about I go get my girls and we go out?"

Alex pulled away, trying to study his face, "Wait... Dave maybe that's not the best idea."

"Why not?"

She raised an eyebrow, walking past him to the storage cabinet and pulled out a broom and dust pan, "You are aware your wife hates me and you didn't go home last night and now you want to show up and bring the girls here to me. Smart move. No, just go change and I'll make you some coffee before...."

Feeling Dave position himself behind her, taking the broom away from her, made her train of thought leave the station. She felt his lips, exploring her neck and the panties were not enough from feeling his cock, growing hard against her body. She sighed, reaching behind her, massaging the growing bulge behind her. He was grunting, breathing deeply into her neck.

"Wait... stop Amy," she said, giving it a small rub before turning around to face him. He was grabbing on to her, closing his eyes and pressing his lips to her forehead. "Let me stay. Today and tomorrow. Sunday we head to RAW. Deal?"

"Dave... seriously it's not a good idea. We've dug ourselves so deep in already, no need to bring the little ones in too."

"Mom?" Amy asked, walking into the living room carrying Goofy in her arms.

"Shoot," she said, looking past Dave's arm, still in his embrace.

"Ella and Jenny coming over too?"

Alex began to think Amy was listening in on the private moment and regretted getting carried away where Amy could easily find them. It was more surprising still that Amy wasn't thrown by the two of them openly in each other's arms. She was scared for a moment that Amy would eventually let this moment slip in front of someone else, but for now she wasn't too worried.

"Don't think so kid."

"See? Amy can hang out with my munchkins and you can spend some quality time with yours truly."

"Dave...," she started, trailing off a little before finding her mind, "seriously... I think it's a bad idea."

"Well unfortunately for YOU, Amy and I think it's a GREAT idea. Right Amy?"

Amy was a little lost, so her just nodded, jumping up and down.

Dave laughed, letting Alex go and clapped his hand, pointing towards the stairs, "Go get dressed Aims. You can go with me to get my other two ladies while your Momma stays here and takes as long as she wants to get ready."

"Lord, Dave you can't take Amy with you."

But Amy had already bolted for the stairs, going on about finding her dolls.

"Come on, why not?"

Alex pushed him, turning away to grab a coffee mug. "You can't use my daughter as a shield from Angela, Dave. I'm a smart cookie, I know what the hell you are trying to pull."

"Look," he said, rubbing the back of his head, "If I show up with Amy, I can grab the girls and bust outta there as quickly as humanly possible. I'll be back in no time and we can get to the fun." He watched her groan with frustration and he laughed, putting his hand on her hip and leaned against the counter with her. "Trust me?"

"No, but my daughter is upstairs throwing clothes around her room and picking the ones that don't match so I can't go up there and tell her she can't spend some time alone with you. Just... Dave if she comes back mentally scared I'm going to literally kill you, then bring you back to life to torture you to a slow and painful death. Then...."

"Got it Alex, I got it."

~~~~

Alex grabbed 3 boxes of cereal and threw them into her cart. She kept waiting for a phone call from Dave or Amy, and in both phone calls she expected to hear her munchkin crying. She grabbed a gallon of milk, since their home was void of it and only contained soy milk. She was pretty sure her daughter was the only crazy one that followed in her mother's footsteps of avoiding dairy milk.

When he phone rang she jumped a little, reaching into her gigantic purse and rummaging through it. She reached it as her ringtone winded down and flipped it open quickly. "Yes?"

"So she cried her ass off and called me an asshole. Then I explained how we both knew it wasn't going anywhere and it wasn't her...."

"It was you," Alex finished for John, grabbing gummy snacks for the girls.

"What are you up to?"

Her heart almost stopped, realizing that John had no idea Dave had spent the night, let alone was he going to be for a night or two.

He'd noticed her silence, "Alex? Still there?"

"Yeah... grocery shopping."

"Oh? Well? What awesome trouble you and Amy getting into?"

"Dave."

"Dave?" John sat down outside his house, watching his brother's pull up to watch a football game with him. His heart felt like it had sunk faster than the Titanic. He listened as he explained, and with each moment regretted more and more leaving her, regretted not listening to her subtle pleas for him to stay a little longer.

"He called and I guess he and Angela got in a fight and well... he ended up coming to dinner and... not leaving. Apparently, I'm housing him and the girls a couple nights."

"Girls?" he asked, holding a finger up to his brothers who were calling his name.

She sighed, placing her face in her palm. "He got it in Amy's head he should bring the girls over and... God John I have no idea what the hell I got myself into."

It was now his turn to sigh, placing his head into his own head and confusing his brothers, "Want me to... I can head back there."

"No... Don't worry about me darlin'. Really. I just... have to learn from my own mistakes then won't I?"

"Well... you know you call and I'm there in a second."

"John...."

"Yeah?"

She tried her best to find words for the second day in a row, but again the words failed her. She wanted to say she wished it was him, deep down inside. She wanted to say that she wished with every bone that he hadn't left, that he'd stayed behind with her. She wanted very much to admit he was what she wanted, no one else.

But words always failed her with him and she knew she could hurt him, without even trying.

"Give me a call when you get to RAW okay?"

"You'll be the first call I make Alex."

When he hung up he looked up at his brothers, all starring at him like he was a sick puppy. He shook his head, putting his cellphone in his pocket, and smiling at their teasing smiles, as they already knew who he'd been talking to by the end of the conversation, "Dude, she's like a cold I can't shake. I don't want anything as much as I want her."

His brother Dan laughed, slapping him on the shoulder and pushing him into the house, "Dumb asshole, it ain't me you wanna tell this to."

~~~~

Alex watched the girls pillow at each other as she shut the door behind her, leaving them to their madness and Dave starred at her from her bedroom.

"So?" he asked, calling out from down the hallway.

She smiled, walking slowly towards the bedroom, "So? What would you like? Oh by the way, that's not YOUR bedroom."

"I claimed it, it's mine," he replied, grabbing her hand once she was at arms length. He threw her onto the bed, making her laugh hysterically.

She shook her head, feeling him settle down beside her, "Doesn't work that way. And don't go getting comfortable, you owe me a story. What happened when you got home?"

He sighed, rolling onto his back and Alex got on top of him, straddling his waist as she assured she could look him in the eyes to make sure he wasn't lying. He was propped up, looking at her study him as he began. "The girls were in the front yard when we got there so of course Amy is out of the car first moment the car stops."

"It's a bad habit of hers," she agreed.

****

"Amy, hold on will you sweetie?"

But Amy was already out the door, barely out of her seatbelt. He sighed, watching Amy and his daughters hug and scream, running back towards the bikes the girls had dropped on the floor. Once he'd turned off the car he hopped out and heard instant screams.

"Daddy!" Both Ella and Jenny squealed, running back towards him, leaving Amy to walk towards him.

"Babies! Go inside fast okay? Pack clothes, no toys though."

He had knelt down to their level, pulling them into his arms. Jenny looked up confused, her nose wrinkling up, "Where are we going?"

"Amy and Alex's. If you want to."

Ella squealed again and Jenny looked confused again, "Not Mom? Just us three?"

Ella had already pulled out of his arms and was playing attention to Amy so Dave pulled his eldest closer, "Yeah, just for a night or two. I barely get to spend time with you two alone. It'll be Daddy, Ella, and Jenny time. Well... with Amy and Alex. You guys can all play and Alex and I will take you out and we'll have plenty of time."

Jenny seemed to be thinking it over and Dave laughed at the look on her face. He felt bad for lying, although part of it was true. He'd spent more and more time going out to bars and the gym when he was home, and less time with the girls because of his fights with Angela. Going home was barely going home. By the time he got back from where ever he went, the girls were asleep and he was left to argue with Angela. Atleast this way, he got everything he wanted in one package, Alex and Amy and his girls. For now, he didn't really care how selfish it made him.

Angela's voice rang loudly as she called out, "Girls, get inside." Ella and Jenny instantly ran towards her, Amy walking slowly behind then stopped, as she saw Angela's angered face who still hadn't noticed the extra little girl. It wasn't until Amy had walked back to Dave, latching onto his leg, that she noticed he had a guest with him.

"Is that Amy?" she asked, crossing her arms as the girls stood by her.

"Yeah," he responded, pulling her up into his arms. "I'm taking the girls on a little bonding trip. You might want to help them pack."

Angela shook her head with a laugh, grabbing Jenny's hand. "You aren't taking the girls anywhere Dave."

"We're going with Daddy," Jenny said, pulling free of Angela's hand and grabbing Ella's to head inside.

Dave wanted to laugh but didn't, knowing full well Angela would flip out if he did. Amy was getting a little tense in his arms, as if she could feel all the bad vibes bouncing between them. He opened his passenger side door, sitting Amy down in it, "Stay here kiddo."

"Okay," she answered, resting back without an argument.

He opened the window slightly and headed inside, walking past Angela without a word. "You can't just take them Dave. Where you taking them? Alexis'? Yeah, because I'm going to let you take them there. So you two can play house with MY daughters."

"I'm taking them because I really can't stand to be anywhere near you right now, and I want to spend time with my girls. So fucking what if I take the girls to Alex's? Atleast there I don't fucking feel like I want to break something every minute of the day and I can just focus on the girls for once.

Angela was still laughing, watching him look up the stairs waiting for his daughters and then turn his attention out the door where he could see Amy pretending to drive the car. He imagined her fiddling with the emergency break and his mind raced, "Girls? Let's get a move on huh?"

Ella and Jenny bounced down the stairs carrying small backpacks filled with clothes (he was sure none of them were weather appropriate, matched, or were essentials) and a doll. They ran out the door laughing towards the car, where Amy was happily pounding down on the horn.

"Sorry Angela. They'll be back soon, enjoy some YOU time."

****

Alex looked at him, a cross look on her soft features, "You left her in the car.... Alone...."

He chuckled at the fact that leaving Amy alone in the car was the only part she seemed to have heard. He reached up to pull her into a kiss when they heard the front door open and close and a voice holler out, "Yo Alex, I'm going to kill your darling sister."

She didn't think twice, leaving Dave and headed downstairs. She stopped a couple steps down, watching Paul lean against the wall next to her stairs, "What happened this time?"

"She's pissed about something I didn't back her up about at dinner with your parents. Where the hell were you and Amy? John's not here so that's not a good excuse. Neither is Dwayne being around, if my sources are correct."

"What?" she said, stopping mid-step.

"Sources?" Dave called out from the top of the stairs and Alex watched Paul's face light up with fascination.

"Mr. Bautista. Pleasure seeing you here," he laughed, getting off the wall with arms across his chest.

"Uncle Paul!" Amy screamed, running down the stairs past Dave and Alex, jumping into his arms and Paul gracefully caught her.

"My Buggie! And look, more rugrats." The girls had appeared behind Dave, latched onto his leg. "Hey girls, come give Uncle Paul a hug huh?"

After the girls had said their hellos, Amy pulled on Paul's hand, getting his sole attention, "Staying too? Tomorrow we're to be at the pool ALL day!"

"Hmmm," Paul began, looking at a still frozen Alex and Dave, "Maybe, why don't you girls get upstairs and let me talk to Alex for a bit."

"Mommy. Her name is Mommy," Amy corrected him, heading back upstairs, followed by Ella and Jenny.

"Paul, kitchen, now," Alex finally said, watching him salute playfully and heading to the kitchen as she turned to face Dave, still at the top of the stairs.

"Dwayne?"

"I've been seeing him," she answered softly. "Since the night I caught you with Rena."

"Ah, here I was thinking you were sleeping with John. Unless you're sleeping with HIM too," he said, a pain spreading inside.

She let out a soft noise, smiling slightly up at him, "Just go watch some TV okay? I'll be there and you can be as mad as you want to be at me. Please Dave?"

She could tell he was angry but he didn't argue, turning and heading back inside her bedroom.

~~~~

"Really Paul, I love you more than anything but that shit really got me into trouble."

"Eh," he began, grabbing her hips and bouncing her up onto the kitchen counter, "He'll get over it. So I want the full story."

She explained, in full detail, watching his facial expressions change from interest to a mixture of bitterness and sadness. She could feel it in the way he touched her, as the hands on her knees held down with close-packed fists. Sometimes she wondered about these moments, if he remembered anything she did, but she let it escape her as he began to talk once her tale was done.

"Okay... so now you're sleeping with Dave AND Dwayne. How about John?"

With that she felt her forehead touch his, their faces so close. It took everything in him not to add to her misery, to kiss her lips. I'd been getting worse, the feeling of want any time he was alone with her, when she talked about any other guy. Jealousy. For years it'd been suppressed but with Alex's now constant string of suitors it'd been growing into a small beast. There were moments he'd see in his head, moments that felt all to real.

"Paul... please don't remind me."

"Okay... avoiding that for a minute, let's talk about your sister."

Alex ran her fingers through his hair, pulling it away from his face with a half smile across her lips. The overly affectionate attitude was a sign of her own frustration so he talked about his instead. "We had dinner with your parents and Vince and Steph were talking business. Linda and I weren't saying much since they were arguing and we like to ignore their arguing whenever possible."

"As we all should," she agreed, rubbing his temple with her thumbs tenderly.

"Well Vince looks at me all of a sudden and goes 'What do you think Paul?' and of course I wasn't paying much attention so I just agreed with him and Steph ends up blowing up at me in the car." He sighed, leaning forwards and resting his forehead against her shoulder. "Mind if I stay?" he asked, taking a deep breath into her neck.

She laughed, pushing on him to be able to face him, "Haven't you noticed the full house? Did you and Dave plan on making my house a hotel or something? Paul last thing I need is Stephanie coming over to look for you and find Dave her with his girls."

"Alex come on, I think if I head home you'll have a dead sister. She was REALLY pissed at me. It's just better I stay here and supervise the sleepover."

Alex laughed, throwing her arms around his neck, "You're exaggerating. Plus it's your dumb ass fault that you got into one of my Dad and Steph's fights. Loser."

He laughed, tickling her sides, making her squirm on the kitchen counter. She was laughing hysterically, bucking against him with each laugh. She lay back on the counter as she laughed, trying her best to grab his wrists to get him to stop but it was no-go. Both were too busy fooling around to notice Dave had entered the kitchen and was watching the whole thing. Alex had thrown her head back in a laugh and then opened her eyes, her laughter dying. Paul noticed looking up with a chuckle, "Hey man, looks like we're sharing a house tonight."

Dave smiled, with a small expression of annoyance, "Oh?"

"Alex?"

Alex slipped off the counter with her hand on Paul's shoulder, sliding down softly until it reached his hand, giving it a light squeeze before answering "Yes?" and escaping past Dave.

Dave leaned against the wall with one hand, holding the empty cup he'd entered to fill. "Seriously, I think you have got to be the world's best cock block."

Paul bowed, looking up with a sly smile, "Dude, you have alot of nerve bringing the girls here."

"I get the best of both worlds."

"Yeah, never mind the wife you left back home. Anyway, that's my goddaughter and sister-in-law up there. I can stay here whenever I want. Hell, I helped Vince pick this place out for her."

Dave raised an eyebrow, a little intrigued by Paul's sudden obvious annoyance with him being there. This was coming from the guy who had always pushed him to tell Alex how he felt. Now his only ally seemed to be slowly becoming competition, whether he knew it or not.

~~~~

Alex sat on the corner of Amy's bed, tucking in the blanket under Ella chin and rubbing the hair away from her face lightly. She and Amy had passed out before Jenny, who was watching Alex with an inquisitive look on her tiny little face. "Alex?" she asked, catching Alex off guard.

"Shoot little lady."

"You spend alot of time with Daddy don't you?"

Alex was a little thrown off, and she got up from Ella's side, going to sit on Jenny's, "Yeah darling, because we work together."

She smiled, sighing a little, "I wish he was home more."

Alex tried to smile at her a little, tucking her in gently, "I think Amy might feel that way about me sometimes too."

Jenny thought to herself a little, watching Alex reach over and patted the tip of Amy's nose with her finger sweetly. "Does Daddy remember us?"

"Of course he does!" Alex responded, warmly cupping her small cheek. "Your Dad talks about you all the time and tells me about how he misses you and Ella and loves you two so much."

"Promise?"

"Scouts honor." This seemed to calm Jenny down, her eyes closing softly. Alex smiled, kissing her forehead. "Night Jen, sweet dreams."

"Goodnight Alex," she answered, eyes closing for the final time.

Alex turned off the side lamp, got up and quietly closed the door behind her, and there she was, between where Paul was and where Dave awaited.

~~~~

"Goodnight," she said, leaning against the doorframe watching Paul rest against the pillows of the guest bedroom with the TV on.

"Get in here," he laughed, patting the bed next to him and she slinked in, curling up against him gently. She could feel him breathing against her forehead, his focus on the TV shattered for a moment. "Dave's probably in there pissed as hell you're not in there with him."

She laughed, rubbing a spot under his chin, "God, I should go before he busts in here bitching." Sitting up she leant down, kissing his cheek lightly. She went to pull herself off the bed but he grabbed her hand, pulling her back down on him and caused her to laugh nervously as her face approached his, her nose brushing his lightly. She could feel his deep breathing, his heart was beating faster than she'd felt before. Alex felt a small panic rise in her, sure that his beer downstairs with Dave was doing the talking and she kissed his cheek quickly, pulling from his arms again. She didn't really bother to to say anything, pulling herself out of the bed as normally as possible, without looking back at his frustrated look. When she closed the door behind her she could hear him grunt.

"Stupid ass, you're such an idiot Paul," he said to himself. She could hear him turn off the TV and settle into the bed. She sighed, resting her forehead against the doorframe. Listening to his deep breathing she worried the secrets she'd fought hard to keep buried below were beginning to seek the surface.

~~~~

"What's wrong?" Dave asked, feeling her tense in his arms.

"Nothing, nothing really." She looked up to see him thrown off by her weak answer and she grumbled softly. "Jenny doesn't think you miss her and Ella when you're away Dave.

He looked hurt by the comment, fingers tensing up on her back. "She said that?"

"Not in those specific words but yes."

"I do."

"I know."

"You told her that?"

Alex nodded, wiping away the tear that had found it's way to freedom from his eye. He smiled, kissing her lips gently and pushing her onto her back. She laughed between his kisses, she could feel him smiling against her lips. "I gatta say sir, you're enjoying this whole me letting you bang my brains out thing far too much."

"I've waiting a fucking long ass time to get you to let me fuck you. You really think I'm going to pass up getting this chance?" Dave pushed down into Alex's body with his next kiss, feeling her shudder a little. He loved the feeling, pushing up her tank top to expose her body to his. He'd taken his shirt off long before, now the only things between them were his boxers and her own boxers and thong. Alex was soon pulling them off though, grunting when he made it hard for her.

"You're an ass," she said, biting down on his lower lip. "We can't fuck with clothes on." He lifted her up, causing her to straddle him as he knelt in a prayer position, his cock exposed through the slit of his boxers from her desperate attempt to free him. She was still wearing the thong, having only been able to pry off the boxers and he smiled feeling her body flash with heat when his bare member rubbed against the thin material of the pink thong.

"We technically can," he murmured. He slid one of his hands down to her hips, tracing it to her front where he began to rub her clit through her thong with him thumb, clutching her thigh. Alex gasped at the motion, her eyes closed softly as her breathing increased. "So?" he asked, taking a small nibble at the hardened nipple before him, "Clothes or none at all?"

"Didn't I just make it obvious I don't give a shit? Fuck me or I'm cuddling with my brother-in-law."

He didn't like the response, biting down on her nipple harder and caused her to let out a sharp cry of pain. She knew it would bother him, and his sudden reaction hadn't surprised her really, only caused her pain she hadn't expected. "Take it back. Take it back or your pussy is just going to have to ache like this all night."

"Paul will fuck me then," she said without thinking, feeling him now slap her ass with a great deal of force and she almost screamed for that one.

"Take it back damn you."

"Jealous much?"

He bit hard between her breasts, making her arch in pain and cry out. When he'd stopped she looked down, finding a small bruise, almost like a hickey, imprinted into her skin. She made a pout, making him smile devilishly at the whole ordeal. "Very jealous. Don't push me Alex. Next time Dwayne sees you naked you'll be covered in these."

"I take it back," she answered quickly before he took another bite. "Damn you!"

"I was giving you one more for good luck," he answered laughing, using his fingers to pull aside her thong, now rubbing the bare skin, "God you're wet."

She sighed from the pleasure, pushing forward so that his cock touched her wetness. "You could be too you know," she teased.

It took no longer than two second for him to lift her up and without effort, slide his cock into the wet folds. They both let out deep noises, their bodies instantly latching onto one another's. He began to rock her hips against him, feeling himself enter and exit the tight hole. Her clit was going insane from the rubbing of his boxers and her thong, not to mention his cock. His lips were busy servicing her nipples, her hands grabbing onto the back of his head in an attempt to not lose the feeling. Her lips were pressed against his forehead, Dave's sweat slipping onto her tongue when she let out a moan. When he bit down onto her nipple she felt a rumble and so could he, pumping her up and down faster.

"Say my name Alex. Just say it. Please."

She knew what he wanted, the pressure in her chest building. She couldn't talk yet, the pressure stifled any attempt to utter his name but he was working at ending the silence, his tongue working her nipple until he finally heard her cry out, "Dave!"

The perfect flush of red burst onto her tanned skin. He pressed his face deep into her chest as soon he felt himself releasing the worked up load into her, her body taking it with a small gasp of acknowledgement. She was laughing, kissing his forehead as he settled her down again, remaining between her legs again. "Let's do it again, but this time let's not wear clothes hmm?" she laughed.

~~~~

Paul could hear it all, a sick feeling creeping into him.

~~~~

Dwayne could feel his temper flaring, the marks on her chest still bright. She had been in the middle of changing in the locker room, preparing to have dinner with him in their hotel room. "I can't fucking believe you Alex."

"Shut up Dwayne. I really can't take your shit right now. Like I don't have enough to worry about."

She'd been able to cover the marks with make up almost perfectly with the help of a makeup lady, but after a shower they were bright as the day they'd been placed on her skin. With it being the last week Dwayne was with them, she was on edge and he wasn't helping with his own nerves and sadness getting the best of him.

"You slept with Dave. Fucking Dave. I can handle John, I won't let it be Dave."

"You don't get to CHOOSE who I see. Hell, if your issue is Dave being married, look in a mirror." The words were like a dagger, aimed directly into his heart. She sighed at the sight of the uneasy feeling she'd given him and she walked to him, looking up into his eyes. "Dwayne, this is it. The last week. You get one more week with me. I won't do this again."

"We don't have to stop."

"No, we do. What are we going to do? Meet up when I head home to be with Amy? Are you going to leave movie sets to fly out to where ever I am for a taping?" She shook her head to fight back tears. "Dwayne, when are you going to realize I'm not 18 anymore? I can't... be that girl who will give anything to be with you. I can't follow you to the end of the world anymore. I can't. I'm not her. I stopped being her the day you walked out that door. I'm not going to tell you I don't love you. Because it's a lie. I love you. That part of me won't leave. But I'm not going to help you continue this past Sunday. I'm not going to put Amy in a place where you can hurt her. I can't let you decide what I do. Only I get to do that. I decide, for me and Amy. Not you."

It hurt, to let the thoughts she'd carried for so long slip out of her. To know admit to herself she couldn't see any way of him ever being a father to the little girl that she loved. Dwayne wanted to grab her and run. Forget anything that didn't have to do with her or Amy.

She was right. She wasn't that girl.

She was the woman who wasn't quite sure where to go from there, but she knew he wasn't the path right now.