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"Thank you." He gathered up his things and then headed for the shower where he actually bothered to look in a mirror and promptly wished he hadn't.

Fortunately, a few minutes of scalding hot water and a liberal amount of soap later, he felt more human, and he stepped out of the foggy bathroom wearing the same clothes he'd had on yesterday--slightly wrinkled. The trench coat would fix that.

Stepping into his boots and fixing them to his feet, he made his way down the stairs, collecting his crossbow at the foot of it and the trench coat once he was in the kitchen.

Dawn was standing over a waffle maker, adding batter to it while Cici made sandwiches. She had six piece of bread and was adding thin pieces of roast beef, mustard and lettuce. She also had three thing of Gushers and three small milk cartons.

Dawn looked over, "Wow! You did stay!" SHe closed the lid and wrapped her arms around him, "This is better than any Christmas ever. Santa can suck it!"

"Dawn! What your tongue!"

Sterling bit back a laugh, but a chuckle escaped him anyway. "It was the least I could do, Dawn. I keep my promises."

He patted her shoulder a bit awkwardly, unaccustomed to being hugged by kids. Thank goodness he'd taken the shower!

"Something smells delicious." He eyed the wafflemaker. "It's been ages since I've had a waffle."

Dawn smiled, "My mom says I made the best waffles ever." She pointed at a plate, "You can have those ones before they get cold."

Cici cut the sandwiches into quarters and got three paperbags, putting all three items into their bag, adding her own name and Dawn's to their bags and looking over at Sterling. Surely he wouldn't want his name added with a little doodled heart.

Her cheeks heated for a moment and she turned back to the bags, handing him the one without a name on it, "I made you something for later."

Sterling sat and helped himself to the waffles, smothering them in butter and syrup. He practically inhaled the pile of waffles.

"Your mother was right, Dawn. They were the best waffles I've ever had."

He looked at the bag and then at Cici. "Cici, you didn't have to." But he took it anyway with a smile.

Cici laughed, "I'd feel bad if I let you leave here without a good lunch. You deserve some good home made food." She rubbed his shoulder, picking up the next two waffles, splitting the four with Dawn, "Besides, you're easy to please, I see."

Dawn put her backpack together, "Are you going to take me to school today? I'm going on a field trip today to the zoo. We're gunna see tigers and stuff."

Sterling leaned back in his chair for a moment, relishing the rare chance to just...sit. "I thought I'd see you both off to school. And then go from there."

He really couldn't imagine tagging along on the field trip anyway. The zoo would probably have issues with his crossbow.

Cici frowned. She didn't want Dawn getting too attached, "This was a one-time thing, Dawn, baby. Sterling isn't going to have anymore sleepovers."

"But don't people who sleep over together keep sleeping over together?" Dawn looked a little heart broken.

Cici frowned, "Sometimes adults have one time sleepovers, like when you had a sleep over with April, but haven't had one since." She was a crappy mother.

Sterling didn't say anything; it wasn't his place. But he stood up and shrugged on his trench coat. "Well, that's not to say we might not run into each other on occasion." He ruffled Dawn's hair on impulse. "Just stay out of trouble at the zoo and make sure to get home before dark."

Dawn nodded, "I won't ever be out past dark again, alone." She smiled at hi, "You should date my mom."

"Dawn!" Cici looked at her, shocked, "Go to the car." She looked at Sterling, "I am so sorry. She's never really been around men." She rubbed her temples as Dawn went out to the car.

Sterling chuckled and shook his head at Dawn's impertinence. She was obviously a handful. "Well, thank you Cici, I had a, er,..." he trailed off not sure how he should describe his time with them, "..Nice time getting to know you. Both of you."

Abruptly he leaned forward and kissed Cici on the cheek before swiftly turning and following Dawn out to the car.

Cici touched her cheek and wished that she could ask Sterling to stay forever. He was addicting, and honestly she wouldn't mind asking him about the scars. She was certain he was either a great story teller or would distract her from asking.

She collected her books and went out to the car, which Dawn had already started. She only knew how to turn it on, not drive it, though Cici was sure if any kid was going to be good behind the wheel it would be Dawn.

Dawn had opened her gushers and had passed one to Sterling, "I'll share with you if you don't tell mom I ate them already." She smiled wide.

Sterling grinned and accepted the gusher, popping it into his mouth and chewing for a moment. Surprise crossed his face as fruity flavor crossed his tongue. And then he swallowed and held his hand out for another.

"I don't know, you might get cavities if you eat too many," he said slyly. "I won't tell, though." And then checked his packed lunch to find a hearty sandwich and more gushers. He closed the pack, deciding to save it for later, even if the lingering taste of the Gusher was addicting.

Cici dropped Dawn off, and then Sterling. She was polite, but didn't draw it out.

As days passed she wished she had drawn it out. Gotten one last kiss. As weeks passed, she wished she had made him stay.

Four months, six days later she was dying to talk to him. What could she say though? "Hey, turns out I got knocked up." "Hey, will you come move in with me and my kid? Oh, and your kid?"

She sat in her car in the heat and slammed her fist on the steering wheel. Wasn't she an adult? Hadn't she already gone through this? Shouldn't she have been given some reprieve? At least this time she was on the pill!

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at the letter from the doctor. This was her third appointment this week. This was the one that confirmed it. She slipped out of her car, wearing a baggy hoodie, looking more like a teenager who came here without permission from mom and dad.

She pulled her little packet of pills out of her purse and tossed them to the ground, grinding them with her boot.

What did she say to Dawn? This would make things worse. The bullying at school would only increase. She would have to stop coming to PTA meetings and hide away when Dawn had play dates.

She would have to quit school and start a second job until the baby was born.

Her life was ruined for a second time.

How DARE he waltz in and out of her life!? How dare he make her fall for him when he wasn't even around!? How DARE he not be here for her, if only to watch him walk away and confirm it once and for all that men were scum. Worthless sacks of skin waiting to destroy her.

It was the only way to let them go back to a normal life, he told himself, turning his back on the town. If he lingered they would be put in further harm. And anyway, a majority of the vampires had been staked and the rest had fled. His job there was done. Over.

So why did he feel reluctant to leave? Surely it wasn't because of Dawn or Cici. He had to leave anyway; his job called him to other parts of the state to deal with other threats. And each night he went out, wondering whether he would be coming back. And when he did, he found himself longing for a familiar face--a packed lunch maybe. And the paper bag that Cici had given him had yet to be thrown away--rather it was tucked into the pocket of his trenchcoat.

Some part of him wished this was a nightmare; that he would wake up in that lumpy bed with Cici next to him. But that was an impossibility. Or so he thought. When he received another call that vampires had been spotted back in the all-too-familiar town.

So he returned, and couldn't help but walk past the house he was fairly certain was Cici and Dawn's. It should have been during school hours, but he'd lost track of time while reminiscing and now he stood outside the house, remembering the door he'd doused in holy water all those months ago.

Was anyone home? He wouldn't check. Cici had probably moved on. And it would be awkward if he showed up randomly. Still, he stood there. Waiting. Watching. Doing nothing but simply remembering the kindness offered him.

Cici got back in her car and drove, fast and hard. Recklessly. She came to her corner, wondering why she hadn't gotten a ticket. She didn't even notice Sterling near her house. She stepped out of the car, slamming the door.

"Update resume, make cover letters, make Dawn's favourite, explain the situation," she mumbled to herself, "Check the thrift store for maternity clothes." She fumbled with her keys, kicking the door in frustration before she bent down to retrieve the keys.

"You know what, universe? You suck!"

He turned at the sound of tires screeching against pavement before a familiar car slid to a halt. He had half a mind to leave, before recognizing Cici. And she seemed distressed--as was apparent by her fumbling the keys.

Sterling took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows he had unconsciously stepped into at her earlier arrival. "Cici? What's wrong?"

That voice! Her heart fluttered for a moment and then it turned to ice, "What are you doing here? Mr. I'll just completely disappear and break a little girl's heart." And a big girl's heart.

She turned so he couldn't see her stomach, shame burning her cheeks and churning her stomach. Or, the churning may have been the baby. She hadn't had morning sickness yet, but she always felt like she was about it.

She laughed out loud, thinking about just throwing up on him, but knew that even if she was about to, she would find a way inside, to do it privately, "I'm kinda busy, if you don't mind." Her voice was alternating between sarcastic, ice cold and hurt.

Sterling tensed at her tone. Why had he expected any kind of welcome here? He'd disrupted their lives after all. But he heard the hurt in her voice, too, and he understood where it was coming from.

He approached her as she turned her back to him. Her words still cut like knives. "I probably shouldn't have come back," he said and paused. "But...these last few months, I've been thinking...about you. I understand if you've moved on already, but perhaps..." His voice dropped an octave. "Perhaps we can start over?"

Cici turned to look at him, "It isn't that simple, Sterling." The hoodie couldn't hide it, not completely. She was after all, a thin woman, not one who would let her stomach bulge like that. She narrowed her eyes, "You know that Dawn still thinks you'll be coming back like in a fairy tale? She figures you're prince charming because we had a one night stand."

Cici's face felt hot, uncomfortable, hoping he wouldn't look down. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't explain.

Who wants a baby? At least Dawn is old enough to take his constant moving about. What am I going to do with this baby? I can't even give it up for adoption, because Dawn will know. I have to keep it, even if I hate it.

She broke down right then. She did not hate this baby. How could she? Even if Sterling was her least favourite person in the world, she couldn't hate his baby. Her baby. Their baby.

She pressed her face into his chest, and cried, like Dawn had done, "I hate you so much. Why did you have to come into my life? If you hadn't, I would have waited until I had a condom. What was it about you that made me act like a irresponsible teenager?" Her sobs came in great hiccoughs that punctuated her words while her shoulders shook, "I can't do this again, Sterling. I don't have the energy to try and start over and work two jobs and raise Dawn. I don't have the time for this. I have to revamp my resume and find a new job."

For someone who didn't want to talk to him, she sure kept going.

*** (BONUS MATERIAL! Since you had to wait so long, have something extra that won't effect what you see now, only maybe later!)

Dawn sat on the swing. Steven wasn't there today and this left her open to attack. No one would hit her first, because she was a girl, but the things they said when her friend wasn't around usually made her hit first.

"My mom told me your mom sleeps with lots of guys." One cocky kid with his hands on his hips, "She said she got preggered again and is gunna have an abortion!"

Dawn didn't even know what an abortions was, but it made her angry that this boy would say stuff about her mom, "Yeah, well your mom's a <retracted>!" Where she learned the language was up in the air, it might have been from other kids, it might be from her mom, who had maybe been using some bad language on the phone when Dawn was supposed to be in bed.

She got up, just as the boy's mouth opened, "Besides, you don't have a dad at all. Or even a second mom."

"I do so have a dad!" Now she really was seeing red.

"Yeah, but he doesn't want to be around you so bad he left before you were born!"

Dawn slugged him, and he went down and she just yell, her legs going when she being dragged to the office.