I glanced down at the Google Maps directions Ryan had sent me to the arcade. He said to go behind the desk, and meet him and Ben in the back room. That wasn't creepy. I finally caught sight of the arcade and I hurried inside the main doors. The place was just as busy as the last time I had visited and I hoped that the back room wouldn't be as loud. I wanted to be able to concentrate.

I poked my head in the door behind the front desk and sighed in relief when I saw Ryan and Ben leaning over a computer. I walked in and set my backpack on the floor by the door. Ryan heard me and swiveled around in the desk chair. "You're here." He smiled and came over, kissing me in greeting. "Why does an evening without you feel like years?" he asked.

I chuckled and we walked over to Ben who's eyebrows were raised high on his forehead. "When was this development? Last time you turned into a tomato with just a kiss to the cheek," he said.

I rolled my eyes and Ryan laughed. "We sorted things out the other day," he explained.

Ben shrugged and turned back to the computer. I watched as he scrolled the screen. "What have you found so far?" I asked.

Ryan looked a little uncomfortable. "Not much really. We found a lot on your court stuff though," he said a little hesitantly. I felt a little nervous about him having seen what had gone on before he met me and looked away. Ryan cleared his throat. "But nothing bad enough to get your mom yet."

I nodded, glad to avoid the topic of my weeks in court. "Then let's keep working. I'm sure there's something that we can use. She's far from innocent," I said.

We sat on computers and any device that had internet for the next three hours, searching and looking for whatever we could find. We found a lot of different things that seemed evidence enough, but upon looking up the requirements to sue, found it only worked if it happened recently, was a more severe case, or had resulted in her being held in a county jail for more than forty-eight hours. You also had to be eighteen or to sue someone which put a nitch in all of our plans no matter what evidence we found. Who was the person that invented that law, I didn't know, but if I did I'd have killed them.

"Looks like a good old fashion sue is out of the question..." I muttered.

Ryan slipped a comforting arm around my waist. "It's okay. We'll figure this out and you'll be okay," he promised.

I sighed and leaned into his hug, though it did little to ease my nerves. "I'm just getting a little tired of the dead ends," I said.

He nodded and kissed my temple. "I know. Wanna take a break? You could use it."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, that'd be good," I agreed.

He pulled me to stand and told Ben we'd be back later and we'd pick him up something to eat while we were out. As we headed out of the arcade, I asked, "Where are we going?"

Ryan held my hand between us, squeezing it reassuringly. "Lunch. I'm going to take you on a date and we're going to laugh and act like stupid teenagers because that's what we are. Sound okay to you?" he asked.

I smiled. "Sounds perfect," I said.

We voted on where to go and finally picked a simple resturant a rew blocks from the arcade. It was a short walk and we made it there in ten minutes. We were seated at a table and given menus to look over while the waitress got us drinks.

I sat back and smiled as I looked at my menu. "So, how many dates does this make?" I asked.

He made a small hm. "Two?"

"Does the arcade count as one?" I asked.

"If you so wish," he said. 

I shrugged. "Then that's three."

We ordered our food when the waitress returned and talked and laughed as we 'acted like stupid teenagers' just like Ryan said we would. It was quite fun and I was a little sad when an hour passed and Ryan suggested we go back to helping Ben. He was right, but I was disappointed to lose the alone time I so rarely got with my boyfriend.

I walked with a slight spring in my step for the first time as we headed back, glad to have some of the weight I had been feeling off my shoulders. I didn't feel like I didn't have a care in the world, but I did feel better with Ryan by my side. He was like my dreams come to life; he was amazing.

I must have been staring because Ryan suddenly asked, "Do I have something on me face?"

I shook my head and looked in front of me. "No," I said.

"Then what's with the looks? You've been giving me eyes for the last five minutes." He grinned. "Am I so cute that you can't take your eyes off me?" He placed a hand on his hip and flipped a fake ponytail behind his head. I started laughing at his horrible impression of a teenage girl and his grin widened. "Or maybe you're a creep. Wanna go back to my house?" he asked.

He wiggled his eyebrows at me and I slapped his arm. "No way! We have to much to do and it's not fair to leave it all to Ben," I said.

He pulled me to a his hip and leaned in for a deep kiss. I leaned in too, and it felt like magic how he could mesmerize me with just a kiss. I loved it. When he pulled away, he smiled. "Yes, Sir," he said.

I was blushing a little and looked away. "You sound too formal," I said.

He chuckled and interlaced our fingers together so he was holding my hand more securely. "Yes, Sir," he repeated.

I was about to say something when we turned the corner to the arcade and Ryan suddenly bent and threw me over his shoulder. I gasped and giggled as I shouted, "Hey! Wait! Put me down!" I said.

I squirmed around desperately and he held me tighter. "We're almost there. No one will see," Ryan said.

"That's not the point!" I said. "Even without anyone around, it's still embarrassing! Put me down!"

He kissed my side when my shirt rode up as he continued walking. I gasped again as it tickled my waist. He chuckled at that and I shot him a glare. "Ryan," I said.

"Oh, using the first name?" he asked with a slight smirk.

I rolled my eyes and let my arms dangle on his back. "Please, put me down," I said.

He paused before setting me down. "Piggy back?" he begged.

I gave him an exasperated look. He stuck out his bottom lip and I sighed. "Fine."

I went around behind him and he helped me onto his back safely. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight as he carried me towards the arcade on his back. I rested my head on his shoulder, listening to our breathing in sinc. He was warm and I felt myself dozing off behind him. His arms around me made it feel like I was swaddled in a cozy blanket, held so soft and careful.

*******

Ryan felt Jacob's head drop onto his shoulder and he glanced at him over his shoulder. His eyes were closed and he was breathing evenly. Ryan smiled softly. He must have been really tired to drift off so quickly. He probably didn't sleep at all last night. Ryan would have been tired too if he was fighting with his dad and avoiding his mom like she was death itself come to call.

Ryan brought him into the arcade and towards the back room. Ben looked up when they walked in, a pencil tucked behind his ear. "What happened to him?" he asked.

Ryan set Jacob down on the small couch and laid him back. "He's just a little tired. Let's keep working and let him sleep," Ryan said quietly and brushed Jacob's hair from his eyes. He stirred, but remained asleep as he leaned into Ryan's touch. Ryan smiled and pulled away reluctantly, going over to help Ben with the research. "So, did you find anything while we were gone?" he asked.

Ben shrugged. "Sort of. There's some stuff here about getting a restraining order. I haven't looked up the age requirements, but if you guys are old enough then you could do that. With all the dirt we have so far, I don't think anything would stand against it."

Ryan nodded and glanced at Jacob. "Okay. I'll see what I can find on age requirements while you keep looking for recent dirt. Try and find anything you can on scams if she's done this before," Ryan said. Ben nodded and Ryan went to the other computer, sitting down with a determined attitude. Let's finish this, Ryan thought, for Jacob.

*******

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