I adjusted my head on the soft yet firm surface it rested on and sighed.

My bed seemed harder this morning.

I turned on my side and exhaled before I felt something move behind me and then an arm was draped over my waist. The person breathed out and my eyes shot open.

This wasn't my bedroom.

I pushed myself up with one arm and then looked behind me to see Calum sleeping peacefully, his arms around my waist.

We had fallen asleep together last night.

I had told him I shouldn't spend the night with his kids here.

After looking back at Calum I carefully slid out of his hold and off the bed, glancing back when he rolled over.

I then tip toed through his house and grabbed my bag and keys and then headed out to my car.

When I got inside I sent Calum a text.

'Sorry I fell asleep, I left before the kids woke up.'

I drove back to my house and let myself in before showering and getting dressed.

I then went to make myself some coffee with my Keurig and a few moments later my phone began to ring.

I saw Calum's name and then answered the call.

"Hey."

"You could've stayed you know." He said.

"No, the kids were there."

"Whatever. Look, i'm picking you up and i'll take you to work this morning."

"But how will I get home?"

"Me." He said.

"Alright then." I chuckled.

"I'll be there in a few."

"Okay, see you then."

I ended the call and then gulped down my coffee, getting my things together, and soon enough there was a knock at my door.

I went to get it and opened the door to Calum.

"Hey." I smiled.

"Hey." He said and stepped inside, closing the door behind him before turning around and putting his hands on my cheeks, pressing his lips to mine.

My eyes went wide but I soon closed them, enjoying his kiss.

He backed me up and my back pressed against the wall and Calum's hands then slid down my sides until they reached my thighs and he hitched one of my legs around his waist.

I gasped while his tongue was invading my mouth, and he then he brought my other leg up so that he was holding me up against the wall.

His hands grasped at my thighs and I moaned as he moved his mouth to my neck.

"Pack a bag." He said between kisses as he made his way down my throat.

"Why?" I sucked in a breath as he sucked harshly on my skin, my hands gripping his shoulders.

"You're spending the night with me. You can leave before the boys wake up, but you're staying."

Now this made sense. I couldn't refuse him now.

"Okay." I said and he kissed my throat once more before moving away to look at me. "You know how to get what you want."

"Yes, I do." He smirked at then kissed my lips before setting me down.

"I need a cold shower." I fanned myself with my hand as I walked back to my room and Calum laughed, following me.

I grabbed a small duffel bag and tossed in some pyjamas and some clothes to change into for tomorrow and then grabbed the essentials like my toothbrush and deodorant.

"Your house is really empty." He commented as he leaned against my dresser.

"Well I haven't lived here that long." I laughed.

"True." He said and then took my bag for me as we left my house.

I thought we were going straight to work but he went back towards his place and stopped next door and honked his horn.

Luke walked out the front door of the house.

"Luke is your neighbour?" I asked.

"Yeah." He smiled and then Luke got in the back seat.

"Good morning Luke." I smiled at the blonde boy.

"Hey." He smiled back.

Calum drove us through the drive through at Starbucks to get us a drink, and then took us to the station.

"So you'll hold her door open but not mine?" Luke asked Calum as we were getting out of the car.

"Yup."'Calum said and I laughed at him before taking his hand.

Calum walked me to my desk and I sat down, winking at him as he walked back to his office.

I did everything I had forgotten to do yesterday because of my frantic state, and was sorting the pileup of mail in the mail room when a few of the officers walked in.

One of them was Captain Sutherlands son.

"Hey, Alex." I smiled at him.

"Hey, Nessa. How do you like working at the station so far."

"It's good."

"Did you hear about yesterday?"

"Yeah I did. That's so scary."

"I know. I'm on my way to go see the two officers now with my dad."

"Oh, will you give them my best wishes?"

"Sure. See you later."

Alex waved as he left and then I continued on with my work.

When I got back to my desk I sat down for only a moment before I heard my name being called by Calum.

I shook my head and stood back up, walking back to his office.

"Yes?" I asked him, leaning against the door frame.

"When do you need to leave?"

"In about ten minutes."

"Okay." He said and I watched him write something down on a sticky note and I went back to my desk.

Ten minutes later Calum came up to get me and then he and I went to his car.

As he pulled out of the parking lot he looked over at me before speaking.

"So tomorrow night I'm going to meet Merediths' parents for dinner." He said.

"Oh yeah?"

He nodded. "I have to tell them i'm seeing someone before Eli slips and tells them first."

I smiled.

"Are you nervous?" I asked him.

"Yeah, actually. Really nervous."

I patted his knee.

When he pulled up to the corner store I unbuckled my seat belt and then moved across the console to kiss him.

"See you later."

"See you." He smiled at me and then I got out of the car to walk inside, waving once more at him before he drove away.

"Hey." I greeted Kate as I walked in.

"Hey. How was last night?"

"When Calum got back I was okay. I burst into a puddle of tears but he said he was fine and then I fell asleep there."

"Really?"

"Yes. And then this morning I left before the kids could see me, but Calum told me he wants me to stay the night tonight. He had me pack a bag and everything."

"Hmm. I wonder how that's going to go."

"I don't know. But he's also talking to Meredith's parents this week and he's telling them that he's in a relationship."

"Yikes."

"I know. I'm hoping that goes okay."

Kate nodded.

My day today went back to mostly its normal routine.

Calum came in for lunch and then he and I went to the daycare to get Eli and Cade before going back to his house where I discreetly placed my bag in his bedroom.

I watched Eli and Cade for him as he went to nap, and at 6:00 he appeared from his bedroom, dressed in his uniform, and then got ready to go.

"Bye Eli." He kissed Eli's head and then did the same to Cade. "You two be good for Nessa."

"Okay, Daddy." Eli smiled at him.

"We are going to have fun, aren't we?" I asked Eli and he nodded before giving me a high-five.

I walked Calum to the door and we stepped outside so I could kiss him goodbye.

"Be safe." I told him as he walked down the steps.

"I will." He turned back to wave at me, Luke waiting by his car.

I waved as the two of them drove off and then went back inside so I could play with Eli and Cade.

After thirty minutes of stacking and re-stacking legos, I went to make us grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, and then put both kids at the table to eat.

"Nessa, I want to take a bubble bath." Eli said.

"A bubble bath?"

"Yeah!" He said and then took a bite of his grilled cheese.

"Okay then." I smiled.

After diner I then brushed the crumbs off of both kids and then they ran to bathroom where I got them in the bathtub, putting in some bubbles like Eli requested.

Cade got soap in his eye which was a nightmare to fix, and finally his tears washed the soap out.

I wrapped him in a towel while Eli wrapped himself up, and then we went to their room where I could put Cade in a diaper and some pajamas, Eli doing the same.

I rocked Cade in the rocking chair until he fell asleep, and then put him in his crib before going over to Eli's bed.

"Goodnight Eli." I kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight Nessa." He smiled up at me, and I patted his arm before leaving their room, turning off the light.

I went out to the kitchen to clean up, and then cleaned up the toys in the living room, before checking on Eli and Cade as I went to Calums' bedroom. I set my bag on his bed and changed into pajamas before going to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take my hair out of its ponytail.

It felt strange to get in his bed without him there.

This was the bed he had slept with his wife in, the one he had probably gotten her pregnant in, and here I was...the woman after.

He had a picture on his nightstand of him and her on their wedding day.

They were both smiling, Calum in his tuxedo and Meredith in her wedding dress. She looked like a princess.

At that I squeezed my eyes shut and turned over so I couldn't see it anymore, trying to get the image out of my head.

Calums PoV:

Luke and I drove away from the station in our squad car after clocking in for our shift, and drove down the street.

"So Nessa spent the night?" Luke asked me.

"Yeah. We didn't mean for it to happen, we just fell asleep. But she's spending the night tonight."

"Did you ask her to?"

"Yes." I chuckled. "I can be pretty persuasive."

He laughed.

"So did you get all of your paperwork filled out this morning from yesterday?"

"Yeah I did." I sighed. "Reports are the worst."

"Dude, I had like ten missed calls from Kate yesterday asking me if I was okay." He then changed the subject.

"Yeah, same with Nessa. Apparently she was listening on the police radio and heard me say I was going in and heard the gunfire and then heard an officer had been shot. So when I got home last night she just started sobbing."

"That freaked out huh?"

"Yes, she was hysterical. My phone had been off so I didn't get her calls and she thought I was the one who had gotten shot. Took me forever to get her to calm down." I sighed. "But in a weird way it was nice to know she cared so much."

"Yeah. She's a nice girl." Luke said. "So how was your weekend in Atlanta? Did you finally break the two year dry spell?"

"Um," I laughed awkwardly. "Almost. We were interrupted by Meredith's parents calling me, and I then I had her down to just her panties when her friend knocked on our door."

"Her friend?" He looked confused.

"Yeah, she had run into a friend the night before."

"So you just had the panties and you were golden. Wow. So don't punch me for asking this but how is she once you take off her clothes?"

"Yeah, I mean she's hot as hell. Nothing for me to complain about."

"So are you two going to do it tonight?"

"No. She wants to wait and I told her thats fine. I mean we really have'nt been together that long and I don't want to check every box in the first week, maybe in a couple weeks but for now I think we are just going to take our time."

"You're such a girl sometimes." Luke rolled his eyes and I did punch his arm at that.

It was nice to have a break from yesterdays chaos as we patrolled the streets, looking for suspicious activity.

But for six hours there was nothing more than a few traffic stops and writing some tickets and then at 2:00 we clocked out and headed back our houses.

When we arrived my house looked dark.

"See you later, man." Luke waved at me as he walked towards his place, and I nodded at him, locking my car before heading up the sidewalk to unlock the front door.

Inside, Nessa wasn't in the living room, and all the lights were off, so I walked down the hall to my room, poking my head into the boys room to find then both fast asleep as well, and then continued to mine where my breath caught in my throat as I stepped inside.

Nessa was under the sheets, her eyes closed and chest gently rising and falling as she slept.

I smirked like a teenager and then went to my closet where I locked up my gun and belt in the safe, and then went to the bathroom to change into basket ball shorts. I brushed my teeth and made sure I still smelled okay before going to the bedroom and lifting up the blanket, sliding in next to Nessa.

I laid down and then wound my arms around her waist.

Her head then turned to the side and she opened her eyes, giving me a sleepy smile.

"Hey." I whispered.

"Hi." She whispered back. "How was your shift?"

"Good." I smiled. "How were the boys?"

"They were good." She smiled back at me.

I leaned in to kiss her gently and she brushed her fingertips across my cheek.

"Goodnight." I kissed her cheek.

"Night." She breathed and closed her eyes again as she moved closer to me so that we were pressed together.

She was facing me and I couldn't stop myself from kissing her cheek a couple more times before laying my head down on the pillow.

Falling asleep next to Nessa was easy.

I liked being close to someone when I slept, and when I had been married, Meredith wanted her space.

I heard my alarm go off and grumbled as I went to turn it off.

There was movement in my arms and I could feel Nessa turn over in them, her ass now pressing into my front.

I tried not to groan and pushed myself up.

When I sat up she turned over to face me and I chuckled at her before getting out of the bed so I could take a shower.

I tried not to take too long, and when I came back in the bedroom Nessa was still asleep.

I smiled at her, leaving my room and going to the kitchen to make coffee for both of us.

Taking the two mugs I walked back to the bedroom and set them on my nightstand before sitting down on my bed.

"Nessa." I leaned down to speak in her ear and she moved her head before slowly opening her eyes. "Good morning."

"Hi." She croaked out.

"I have coffee." I said and she sat up and stretched her arms before I handed her a mug.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked her after she had taken a sip.

"Good. And you?"

"Perfect." I smiled and she giggled as I leaned down to kiss her.

Her lips tasted like the coffee she had just drank and I swiped my tongue across hers. Nessa's kiss was something I could happily get drunk off of.

She was the one to break the kiss and we both began to drink our coffee.

Nessa then reached across me to set down her cup and then laid back down but put her head in my lap.

"Tired?" I asked her.

"No, I actually slept really good last night." She said. "Like really good."

"Me too." I placed a hand on her head and she closed her eyes as I touched her hair. "You know...you could stay tonight if you wanted to."

"You're having dinner with Meredith's parents tonight." She said.

"Oh yeah." I sighed.

"Daddy?"

My head snapped up to see Eli standing in the open door and Nessa sat up as well, her eyes wide.

"Nessa!" He then grinned and ran into the room and jumped up on the bed.

"Hey, Eli." She said as she hugged him but gave me a nervous look.

"Did you spend the night?" He asked her.

"Oh, no I just came by this morning." She said.

"But you're in your pyjamas." He pointed out.

"That's because its wear your pyjamas to work day." She quickly thought up.

"Can I wear my pyjamas to daycare?!" Eli then asked me.

"No, it's not pyjama day at daycare." I laughed. "Now why are you up?"

"I heard laughing." He said.

"Oh. Well you can go back to bed."

"I want to stay with you and Nessa." He said and put his arms around Nessa's neck.

"Let's get your Daddy to cuddle with us, does that sound fun?" Nessa asked him.

"I'm too big for cuddles." Eli said.

"Hmm... I think you are just the right size for cuddles." Nessa smiled at him. "Will you cuddle with me?"

He acted like he was thinking before nodding at her with a smile and Nessa cheered before laying down in my lap with Eli in her arms.

It was cute to see Eli getting along so well with Nessa, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling at them.

Nessa and Eli laughed as she hugged him and once I finished my coffee I set down my mug and placed my hand on Nessa's shoulder.

"Alright you two cuddle bugs, it's time to get up."

The three of us got out of the bed and I sent Eli to the kitchen to make himself some cereal while Nessa went to the bathroom to change clothes.

"I guess I should've left a little earlier." She said as I walked in to see her buttoning her shorts.

"Yeah, but he seemed happy. I think you'll be okay if you stay over and he sees you. He'll probably like that actually."

"Then I can come over tonight if you want me to."

"I'll see how it goes tonight and then let you know."

"Okay." She smiled at me.

I watched as she brushed her teeth and then let me step up to my sink so I could do the same.

After dressing in my uniform I went to get Cade and Eli ready for daycare, dressing and feeding them with help from Nessa before heading out.

I dropped Nessa off at her place first so she would have her car today, and then took the boys to the daycare.

After I got to the station I noticed she wasn't there and so I sent her a text as I sat down at my desk asking her where she was.

'I'm at the salon. Sorry! I forgot to tell you!'

'It's fine!' I sent back.

'So if I come over tonight I might need your help getting hair dye off my skin.'

'Sounds like a plan haha'

The rest of my morning was kind of lonely since Luke was taking a vacation day to go see his parents.

At lunch I met Michael and Ashton in the parking lot.

"So I heard Nessa spent the night the last two nights." Michael smirked as we walked across the street.

"Yeah, she did." I smiled.

"She staying tonight too?"

"Well i'm meeting with Meredith's parents tonight so I was planning on seeing how that goes, but i'll probably just have her spend the night anyways."

"So it's going good?" Ashton asked.

It still felt a little weird to talk to him about Nessa, but he would get over her.

"Yeah, it's going good. We're having fun and we like spending time with each other."

"That's good." He smiled at me.

When we arrived at the corner store Nessa was on top of the counter, changing one of the hanging lights that hung above it.

We walked in and I strolled up to her.

"Hey. Your boyfriends here." Kate said to her.

"Hey." She then said to me and then finished screwing in the light and gave me a smile.

"Need some help getting down?" I asked her.

"Yes please." She said and crouched down, wrapped her arms around my neck and I put my arms around her waist before helping her down.

"Thank you." She leaned up to kiss me once she was on the ground.

I looked at her hair, noticing the roots that were once light were now dark again.

"The blonde is gone." I said.

"That's kind of the point." She laughed. "Now tell me what you want for lunch."

"Well since i'm dating an Italian i'll take the Italian sub."

"Smart choice." She winked and I kissed her once more before she went back around the counter.

Her hair looked a little bit shorter as well as I watched her work and and then stepped up to her to pay for my lunch.

"It's shorter too." I said.

"Why are you so concerned about my hair?" She looked up at me.

"You know, most men get in trouble for not commenting on their girlfriends hair and now you're mad that i'm commenting on it?"

"I'm not mad. I'm just reflecting on the fact that you are commenting."

"Sure you are." I rolled my eyes as a joke.

"Shut up. Okay, now good luck with Meredith's parents tonight. Let me know how it goes."

"I will." I smiled.

"See you later."

We shared a kiss and then I left.

The rest of my work day was nothing special, and once I left the station I had to go pick up the kids and take them home to get ready before going to meet her parents at one of the local restaurants in town.

When I arrived they were already there and had a table, so I said hello and had Eli sit before setting Cade in the high chair that was there.

"Hello, Calum." April, Meredith's mother smiled at me.

"Hey. Sorry we're late, Eli didn't want to get dressed." I gave her an apologetic smile, and then looked to Dan, Meredith's father. "How are you guys doing?"

"Good. Good." Dan said. "Business is well."

"How are you Calum? We haven't heard from you in a while."

"I'm okay." I nodded. "There's just been a lot happening lately."

"Oh is work okay? We saw the bank robbery on the news, were you there?"

"Yeah. I was actually the one who took him down."

"Ah." Dan nodded.

I nodded.

I looked at April who was smiling at Cade. Her hair was blonde and perfectly styled. She had changed her makeup, and I noticed that she was wearing a new wedding ring.

Dans brown hair was growing more grey and his eyes had a few more creases in the corners.

I needed to tell them, but I knew it would be tough for them.

"Look, there's actually something I need to talk to you both about..." I said and April and Dan both looked up at me.

I took a deep breath as they looked at me, waiting for what I was about to say.

"I know that this won't be easy for you to hear, but I need to tell you...I have started to see someone."

"See someone?" April asked.

"D-dating...i've started to date, again." I stuttered.

They looked at me with blank faces.

"H-her name is Nessa, she works at the station and also at Connie's...she's babysat the boys a few times and they love her... and she's a nice, uh she's a nice girl."

"So she's your girlfriend?" Dan asked.

"Yes." I answered. "It's really new...but I wanted you guys to know."

They didn't say anything.

"Look I know this isn't what you wanted to hear and i'm sorry...but I have to start getting my life back and I enjoy being with Nessa, and I hope you can understand where i'm coming from."

"No we understand." April said and then cleared her throat. "So um, how long have you been seeing her?"

"Um, well we went on a few dates, and I just recently asked her to be my girlfriend a couple weeks ago."

"That's a bit quick don't you think?" Dan asked.

"Well I-"

"Did you even think about what the children might think?"

"I-"

"I find it a bit irresponsible as well that you go out to date some home wrecker and bring her around our grandchildren."

"She's not-"

"No, I think we're done here." Dan then stood up and I looked at him in surprise. April slowly stood as well and gave me a sad look.

"I believe we expected more from you Calum." April said solemnly and then I watched as they left.

I knew they were going to be upset, but I was not expecting this.

"Daddy where did Grandma and Grandpa go?" Eli asked me and I exhaled.

"They went home." I said.

We ended up eating at the restaurant, and then we went home where I got them into bed as fast as I could before calling Nessa.

"Hey, how did it go?" She asked as soon as she answered.

"Not good. Um, can you come over."

"...am I coming over for you to break up with me?"

"No. No. I just need you here, now, please."

"Am I staying the night?"

"Yes."

"Okay...i'll be there in a few." She said.

I set down my phone and then went to change into my pyjamas before waiting for Nessa to arrive.

When there was a knock at the door I opened it to see her standing there already in her pyjamas with a sweater over her.

"I came prepared." She bit her lip and I gave her a small smile. "Come on."

She took my hand and I shut the door and locked it before we walked back to the back bedroom, the two of us laying down on the bed.

She pulled me down so I could place my head on her chest and then wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"So they didn't take it well?" She asked me in a soft voice.

"No..."

"What did they say?"

"Her dad said that I didn't even think about the kids, and that I shouldn't have brought- I won't say what he called you- but someone into my home in front of my kids."

"What did he call me?"

"Nessa-"

"Calum."

"A home wrecker."

I looked up at her and saw her wince but then she composed herself.

"They said I was irresponsible and didn't think, and that I took this too fast."

"I'm so sorry." She rubbed my arm. "I know that's not what you were expecting."

"I knew they would be upset, but I didn't think they would be so angry..."

"She was their daughter Calum."

"And she treated me like shit!"

"They weren't in the relationship. They don't know what you went through. But give them a bit of time and maybe they will come around."

I nodded.

"I guess that's all I can do."

"It will get better." She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"I hope so."

She continued to rub on my arm, trying to make me feel better, but something about the way Meredith's parents had reacted tonight seemed so weird to me.

Their blank expressions, her fathers lifeless anger, her mothers blind agreement...it seemed so off.

I sighed loudly and then sat up, Nessa looking at me with confusion written on her face.

"I'm just going to check on the boys." I said and she nodded as I left the room.

Eli and Cade were sleeping soundly, and then I came back getting in the bed with her.

She laid down as I turned off the lamp and then laid down as well, feeling her move to press herself right up against me.

Nessa placed a hand on my chest and then nestled her head next to me.

But after tonight, as much as I wanted and needed her here, I didn't have the energy to hold her the way I had the last two nights.

After awhile she turned on her side to face away from me and I knew she was hinting for me to hold her.

But something inside of me was now broken, and I couldn't make myself hold Nessa the way I had before.

--

Oh poor Calum :(

Did you expect Meredith's parents to act this way? Did they make any points?

Will Calum be able to move on from this or do you think this will continue to bother him and change his relationship with Nessa?

And what about Nessa? How do you think she feels, and what do you think is going to happen between her and Calum?

More to come xx-m