"But I guess that's what happens when whores sleep with strangers." She stopped and looked up at me as she finished speaking.

We heard them all coming back downstairs making me look away from Stephanie as she placed the grilled cheese on the plates and tomato soup in bowls. She smiled amused walking past me to put the food on the dining table. "Are you hungry, Sweetie? I'm sure it's been months since you've had a home cooked meal." Stephanie said taking another stab at me.

I continued to fill with hurt and hatred directed at not only her but for myself. Knowing I shouldn't let her words get to me. But I couldn't help but fear she was right and that I've taken her away from the people who have been caring for her. Maybe better than I ever could.

"Mommy's a great cook! So is Nathan. He can flip eggs and pancakes in the air! And he makes the pancakes look like pigs." She beamed making Nathan chuckle instantly making me feel slightly better. Nick smiled at her excitement as Stephanie fought her annoyance. "And he once made a pancake shaped like a cactus!" Rose continued making me let out a laugh. My heart warmed seeing how much she enjoyed being with him.

"I don't know how much longer I take of this." I whispered over at Nathan. We all continued to chat awkwardly, and Stephanie would occasionally say something to make me look bad or get a rise out of me. I wouldn't know how to react with the next thing had to say. I had so much pent-up anger and exhaustion from her judging me for years. "It's okay." Nathan whispered as Nick and Stephanie talked amongst themselves.

I wished I felt as confident and optimistic as Nathan was right now. I placed my hand over his under the table. Nathan slid away from under my hand placing his hand on mine. My palm was now on his thigh making my heart race as he interlocked our fingers. We all continued to eat in uncomfortable silence. "Aren't you a lawyer?" Nick asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Why were you invited to the Christmas party? Since when you have been friends with lawyers?" I smiled trying to change the subject away from Nathan. "We went to college together." Nick said making me look away remembering he went to an Ivy League school with Stephanie's money.

"How have you been enjoying your time away?" Stephanie asked snapping me from my thoughts. "I love it! Our house is right on the beach! We played in the sand every day." Rose answered making Nathan and I smile as Stephanie applied a fake one. I could tell Nick was still hesitant with Nathan knowing how well-known Nathan is for being a money hungry player.

"So, all it took was dating a rich lawyer to come back for your daughter? I'm assuming he bought your perfect beach house." Stephanie said calmly making me look up at her as Nathan squeezed my hand. I pulled away from his hand to throw my napkin on my plate. "Stephanie." Nick threatened under his voice obviously embarrassed.

"No, go on. It seems like you have everything all figured out." I stood making the chair scrape their floor. "Come on, honey." I breathed as I grabbed Rose's hand as she finished eating. "She shouldn't get too comfortable though. It's only a matter of time before you'll come back with our help." Stephanie continued as I started leaving with Rose.

"You have no idea what I've been through." I snapped quickly turning to face her as she followed me making her stumble backwards slightly. Thankfully, Nathan walked up to me and took Rose in his arms. I sighed knowing I was about to get into a heated argument. I heard a door close making me continue. "You don't know anything about me. Either of you!" I scoffed looking at Nick.

"You have no idea the toll my job took on me. And you never will. Having to decide to keep her safe away from me unable to quit my job. Do you really think I wanted any of this?" I asked loudly full of anger and frustration as my eyes filled with tears. "I don't care how badly you think of me. But never imply that I don't love her. How I would give anything to care for her myself for all these years." I said taking a step towards her making her flinch quickly stepping back before I scoffed.

I left the house after putting on my coat seeing Nathan's back facing me as he held Rose on his right hip. "Do you put away bad guys?" Rose asked from a distance. "Yes." Nathan answered making her hum in reply. "Mommy says she does too." Rose replied making my smile fade.

"She's pretty cool, huh." Nathan said looking down at her making her chuckle. "Duh." Rose smiled making me clear my throat as I continued to walk towards them.

"You two ready?" I asked walking past them towards his car. Nathan buckled Rose into her booster as I sat in the passenger seat. I thought about everything Stephanie had said to me as Nathan drove with the radio on.

"I heard everything she said in the kitchen. I was giving Nick a minute alone with Rose when I had overheard." Nathan confessed in a low voice not wanting Rose to overhear. I continued to look out the window in silence.

"Why didn't you defend yourself? You let her walk all over you. I expected you to bite her head off sooner." He continued with a hesitant chuckle making me look over at him as he drove. Turning my head noticing Rose staring out the window with her coloring book on her lap lost in space.

"I have. But I'm used to it now. Stephanie has talked down to me ever since I met her. Nick and I were in the same situation our entire lives but since he was taking care of me that made him a hero in her eyes." I began under my breath not looking at him as I watched the road getting lost in memories.

"She came from money. And since I had three jobs in high school while I struggled to maintain good grades it made it easier to pick on me. I've always had something else to bite back with, but Nick would always take her side. Defending her for the things she says, and it got old. So, I just took it all. To me that was better than my Nick hating me and ignoring my pleas to see my side. When I left, I never talked to them again. Until I was pregnant with Rose. Which was an even more reason to keep my mouth shut. I couldn't risk messing up Rose having a normal childhood over a petty argument." I explained quietly never looking over at him.

"Ever since I got pregnant, I wished I never went to work that day. That I never spoke to the creepy old man only desperate for his tip. None of this would be happening. I would give up all of this for those three jobs I had. Not being as well off as I am now would make it all worth it to live in peace with Rose." I said mostly to myself making him grow silent absorbing it all.

We continued to drive in silence silently grateful he didn't reply not wanting to continue with Rose nearby. "What is this place?" I asked as we drove up to a tall old gate. The gate stood standing in front of a large home with overgrown ivy. Nathan pushed a few buttons on the small box before the gate opened.

"I come here when I'm working certain cases. No one knows about this place. We'll be safer here." Nathan said looking at me after he parked. He looked away to leave the car making me hesitantly do the same. I unbuckled Rose before I placed her on the ground walking beside me. She grabbed my hand making me run my thumb softly.

"I keep all of my other documents here also. The ones you filed were only the legitimate people and businesses I've prosecuted and defended." Nathan said making me wonder how many bad people he has put away. And kept from going to prison. He opened the trunk before grabbing our bags making me wonder when he packed our things. I ignored it as we walked into his home.

Nathan activated a security alarm after he shut the door behind us. There were small screens beside the door showing camera footage from outside around the cottage feeling more at ease.

"Would your father hire another person to come find you?" I asked as we laid in bed holding each other. The moon streaming through the window was the only light illuminating the room. "How long have you been awake?" Nathan asked moving to face me as I continued to stare out the window.

"How long have you?" I replied making him sigh. "No one can find us here." Nathan assured. I lifted my head from his chest to look up at him. "How does nothing worry you?" I asked softly looking into his eyes for a moment. Nathan stayed silent making me continue.

"It seems like both of our lives are being turned upside down in the worst possible ways and I can barely keep it together. But you... you have faith things will get better. It's odd. Admirable. I wish I were more like you." I confessed under my breath as our faces were inches apart. I looked away to rest my head to look back at the beautiful night sky.

"That's because you're thinking about the both of you. I don't have anyone to be worried about." Nathan stated the last part hesitantly making look at him. "Oh?" I replied trying not to smile.

"Should I leave then Mr. Vanderbilt? I'm only here because of you. I can easily go back to my life on the run." I said looking down at him amused as he stared up at me. "I'm perfectly capable of changing my name again and leaving-" I continued. I began to pull away from him and move the covers off of me not intending on actually leaving. Nathan stopped me anyway pulling me closer to him as he got on top, towering over me.

"Don't you dare." Nathan growled looking down at me making me chuckle as my eyes looked up at his lip's. I arched my back trying to reach up to kiss him only resulting in him pulling away. Sucking in a small breath feeling his breath against my face.

"And never call me Mr. Vanderbilt again." Nathan growled his face hovering above mine before kissing me passionately. I placed my palm on his face as my other hand raked my fingers through his hair.

I remembered when we had just first met, and he threatened me to do the opposite making me smile as he started kissing along my jaw. "You're sending mixed messages, Mr. Vanderbilt." I teased breathless. Nathan brought his hand to my chin roughly grabbing making me look up. "Is this not clear enough for you?" Nathan breathed in a deep voice.

The pit of stomach filled with butterflies as we continued to kiss and move against one another begging for closeness.

"Be a little clearer." I panted making him grin. Nathan grabbed my waist suddenly making me yelp in surprise.

He pulled me down on the bed, so I was underneath him. We continued to kiss and make love to one another until the sun began to rise a few hours later. I laid on his bare chest as he ran his fingers up and down my spine.

The only thing covering our naked bodies was a thin white sheet as the morning sun began to fill the room. Feeling him run his fingers through my hair. "I care about you. So much so it confuses me. I've never had a real relationship with anyone before. But I want to. With you." Nathan slowly confessed. I looked up at him placing my chin on his chest.

My lips parted trying to reply when I heard Rose scream. My stomach sank as I bolted up from him scrambling to find something to wear. Throwing on his oversized t shirt running into Rose's bedroom to see she wasn't there making my heart race even more. "Rose?!" I sobbed.

"Rose? Where are you?!" I heard Nathan yell for her as he rushed behind me. The bathroom door was cracked opening it. Rushing towards Rose where she stood still, I collapsed onto my bare knees beside her. She was in front of the toilet with her back against the wall in fear. I saw a spider beside the toilet making me turn to Rose again.

"Honey, you gave me a heart attack." I breathed giving her a hug and tucking a strand of hair away from her face. "Kill it!" She begged never tearing her eyes away from it. "It's just a spider, baby." I said making her frown. "Just kill it!" Rose continued. "We will put it back outside." I replied making her frown.

"But why?" She whined nervously. "Because I can only hope that if I would be in the wrong place at the wrong time someone would spare me the same decency." I explained making her look behind me hesitantly. "Put it far away." Rose said. "Promise." I chuckled softly standing up noticing Nathan was in the doorway with only sweatpants on.

I grabbed a piece of tissue paper catching the daddy long leg spider with it. Leaving the bathroom as I walked towards the front door about to open it. "Let me." He said taking the tissue from my hand not wanting me to be out without pants on.

Nathan shut the door making Rose come out. "Are you hungry?" I asked walking into the kitchen. "Can he make pancakes and eggs again?" She asked excitedly as I opened the fridge seeing it was empty with only a few random items inside.

Opening his cupboards when I heard him walk inside. "I'll go grocery shopping. I usually don't eat here." Nathan said making me look down at Rose. "But I'm hungry now." She frowned making me part my lips to reply. "I'll go get some food." He smiled weakly before he left to get changed.

"Let's watch some cartoons." I said making her run towards the couch. He came back out dressed in his usual attire consisting of pants and a dress shirt and coat. "Can't you dress like a normal civilian? It's not even eight in the morning." I teased making Rose giggle as he fought his smile.

"What would you like me to wear?" He asked walking towards me as I sat up from the couch. "A t shirt and jeans maybe? At least to be inconspicuous." I answered making him roll his eyes giving in. Nathan walked away as I laughed. "I shouldn't be taking fashion advice from a woman without pants." Nathan turned his head to me smirking as he left making me chuckle.

I followed him into the bedroom knowing he was right. When I walked into the bedroom, he was putting on his jeans topless making me struggle to pull my eyes away. Walking past him, I grabbed a pair of my maroon sweatpants.

"Are we going to talk about what I said." Nathan broke the silence stepping in front of me as I was about to leave. I was caught off guard making me stutter. "Oh, y-yeah. Of course." I answered hesitantly not looking up at him before moving past him to leave.

Walking back into the living room to sit with Rose hearing the bedroom door close. "I'll be back." He said not looking at me before shutting the door behind him.

I hated the fact I was still so hesitant to be with Nathan. But it was just so hard to trust again. Or to trust myself for what would happen if I let a relationship form between us. It would only make things more difficult and hurt more than it does right now. Especially if things go even more wrong. I decided to look around the home curiously taking advantage of him being gone.

It was a modest home in the middle of the woods, a three-bedroom two bath. I walked through Rose's room looking at the decor and closet. Walking towards another door when I noticed it was locked. I looked over to see Rose was still on the couch as I began to pick it.

The door opened after a few seconds making me walk inside. It was an office with not many decorations as the rest of the home. The hardwood floors creaked as I walked around noticing all the filing cabinets making me frown. There was a bookshelf behind a hair and wooden desk.

After a few minutes of snooping through his books and files on his desk, I heard the front door open. I quickly placed the book back walking away before locking the door behind me. "I'm starved." I stated walking back into the room as he held brown paper bags. We all ate breakfast watching tv as Nathan and I got lost in our thoughts.

But the entire time all I could do was worry about what the future holds with me poking the bear which was my boss. I knew it was the right thing I just wasn't sure if I was something I was strong enough to do.