I heard the honking of Calum's car horn as I rushed around my house (which was not very rushed on crutches) as I tried to get ready.

I was in the bathroom quickly brushing blush on my cheeks when I heard the front door open.

"Ness?" Calum called.

"Sorry! I'm hurrying!" I called back and then he came walking in.

"Need help?" He asked.

"I just need to put on my shoes." I said.

"Okay. Don't rush. Take your time. Well, not too much time of course because we do have to get to work."

I rolled my eyes at him as I sat down to put on my shoes.

"Come on, we may have just enough time to go through Starbucks." He smiled as we left my house, him locking it for me before helping me get into the car.

Luke was sitting in the back.

"Do you know how embarrassing it is to ride in the backseat while he sits in the front with the passenger empty? Really embarrassing." He muttered as Calum drove away from my house.

"A cute girl was in the car next to us and laughed at me." Luke continued, Calum rolling his eyes at his best friend.

We pulled up to a red light and Calum leaned over to kiss me good morning.

"And now I get to sit here and watch you make out. Fantastic."

Calum looked away to shoot Luke a glare before kissing my nose.

"Don't be jealous." Calum said, glancing at Luke. "You'll find someone soon enough."

Luke gave Calum an ugly look before we continued driving.

After we had gotten coffee and arrived at work, my morning was spent party planning for the return of the two officers who were shot in the bank robbery.

I had a list of things I needed to get but Calum had left for patrol and as I was sitting there thinking of who to ask to help me when Alex, Captain Sutherland's son walked by.

"Alex!" I called out to him and he turned around, heading over to me with a smile.

"Hey, Nessa."

"Hey. Are you busy right now?"

"Not particularly, why?"

His lopsided grin was massive.

"I need to go shopping for the welcome back party, do you think you could go with me?"

"Sure!"

I took my list and the two of us went out to his car, Alex driving us to the closest party supply store.

"So how much longer will you be on crutches?" Alex asked as he grabbed a cart and we began to walk down the first isle.

"Hopefully just a few more weeks." I smiled.

"That was a pretty scary accident. You probably don't remember but my dad and I visited you in the hospital. You were on a lot of pain meds."

"I've been told." I laughed. "Calum's told me all kinds of stories."

"You're coming over to dinner on Friday, right? With Calum?"

"Yeah. I'm excited. It'll be nice to get to know your dad better."

"He likes you. He always says you have a great work ethic."

As we walked down the isles I threw streamers, balloons, plates and plastic wear, and a welcome back banner.

As I was debating on whether or not to get a large welcome back helium balloon, my phone rang in my purse and I fumbled for my phone to see it was Calum.

"Hey, Cal." I answered the call.

"Hey! Where are you?"

"I'm at the party supply store with Alex."

"Alex?"

"Captain Sutherland's son. He drove me."

"Oh, okay. Well I was on my way back to the station and I was gonna pick you up and drive you to Connie's."

"Alright. I'm checking out now and i'll meet you at the station."

We hurried to check out and get back to the station, Calum leaning against his car when we arrived.

"I'll take these in." Alex offered and I told him thank you before going over to Calum.

He immediately put his hand on my waist and leaned in to kiss me.

When we broke the kiss I noticed Alex walking off with red cheeks.

"Why'd you have to embarrass him like that?" I gave Calum a look as we got into his car.

"Because he has a crush on you and he just needed a little reminder that you're mine." He smirked.

"I think he was well aware beforehand."

"Eh." Calum shrugged before kissing my cheek.

As he drove us to the corner store I noticed he was a bit more quiet and reserved.

"What's on your mind?" I asked him.

"The insurance company called and your new car is ready." He said like it was a horrible thing, which I realised to him it was.

He liked being able to drive me around.

"Oh." I said, trying to seem a bit sad even though I was very happy to be getting a brand new car.

"I like taking you places and having you with me all the time..." He mumbled, "I know it's stupid but I want to be around you constantly."

"Calum, I don't think that's stupid, I think that's natural."

"I wouldn't know."

"What do you mean you wouldn't know?"

"I never felt like this with anyone else."

After that it was quiet until we arrived at the corner store, Calum stopping the car. I unbuckled my seatbelt before leaning over to capture his lips in a kiss.

"Hey. I like you so so so so much, okay? Don't forget that." I smiled when I broke the kiss and he nodded almost childishly.

"I know. I like you so so so so much too."

He sealed it with a kiss.

"I'll head back to work and pick you up after so we can pick up your car, alright?" He touched my cheek.

"Mkay. See you later."

We kissed goodbye before I hobbled out of the car and made my way inside to see Kate behind the counter.

"Hey, bestie!" She called at me, a massive smile on her face.

"Hey." I laughed.

I joined her behind the counter, sitting on a stool behind the register.

"So how's Calum?" She asked, jumping up to sit on the white wooden countertop.

"He's alright. They said my new car is ready so he's sad because he likes driving me around, I think it makes him feel like a good boyfriend for checking on me, but we've planned on finally consummating our relationship this weekend so..."

"Seriously?!" She squealed. "That's such a big step for Calum!"

"I know, that's why i've been waiting and putting it off because I want him to be sure of us, but I think this is what he wants."

"Honestly, Nessa, besides Eli and Cade, your the only thing he's sure about."

"I just care about him so much, and I really don't want to let him down."

"Aw, Ness!" She jumped off the counter to
hug me. "You're so happy!"

Calum and the boys came in for a quick lunch before leaving and I worked an extra shift so I would be busy until Calum was off from work.

As I was wiping off the counter the front door opened and I looked to see Eli and Cade running inside in front of Calum.

They both screamed my name, big smiles on their faces before the made it around the counter to me where they latched onto me.

"Hey!" I laughed before bending over to kiss the top of their heads. "How was daycare?"

"Fun! We got to make ants on a log!" Eli said.

"You'll have to tell me all about it, okay?"

Calum came up and kissed my cheek before we said goodbye to Kate and then went to his car.

Eli and Cade sang along to the kids station Calum was playing, and soon we arrived at a car dealership, the two of us stepping out with the kids.

Inside we waited until the insurance man Calum had been dealing with and the insurance man for the guy who had hit me appeared and showed us to a black jeep wrangler unlimited.

"Look, baby. You'll have so much room in this."
Calum smiled as he checked out the brand new car.

I was able to drive since I had only broken my left leg, and I went home that night with a brand new car and and amazing relationship.

The next morning I was able to drive myself to work despite Calum's many offers to take me. I told him I would get us coffee to pay him back for all the times he had bought it for us.

So when I got to the station I went straight to his office since he wasn't here yet and perched myself of his desk in wait for him.

I felt a little awkward being here surrounded by pictures of his dead wife but I knew he wanted me and needed me.

Soon enough he walked in, smirking when he saw me.

"This is an amazing start to my day. Thank you, baby." He leaned in to kiss me.

"You're welcome." I smiled. "So I have an appointment today."

"An appointment? What for?" He asked as he sat back in his chair.

I bit my lip before leaning forward to whisper in his ear.

"Birth control."

"Ah, yes." He nodded. "Do you need me to take you?"

"No, that's weird. I can go by myself and i'll be back in time to watch Eli and Cade tonight. I promise."

"Okay." He winked as he sipped his coffee.

After my morning shift and my shift at Connie's I made my way to the doctors office. As I waited in the waiting room for a while I texted Kate about random things since I knew Calum would be sleeping before his evening shift tonight.

"Rothchester?"

I looked up to see a nurse at the door and I went to follow her back to a consultation room.

After waiting another ten minutes the doctor came in.

"Nessa? Hi, I'm Dr. Bailey." She smiled at me, her red hair pulled back into a pony tail.

"Hello."

"So I see you're wanting to get on birth control?"

"Yes. Well, I was on it before I moved here and I just didn't have the time to restart it."

She had me answer some questions and then did a pelvic exam before clearing me to take the birth control shot I had been on before.

I got the shot and made an appointment three months from then to get my next one.

I then left the doctors and stopped for coffee before heading over to his house to watch the boys.

When I arrived I knocked awkwardly without dropping my crutches and coffee and Calum answered the door.

"Hey, baby." He kissed my cheek, taking the coffee from me.

"Hi."

"How did your appointment go?"

"Good. I got the shot and it takes a few days to set in and then we should be good to go." I winked.

He laughed before setting the coffee down and taking my crutches, leaning them against the wall.

"What are you doing?" I giggled before he lifted me up into his arms making me shriek.

He carried me to his bedroom before falling back on his bed with me in his arms.

"I don't have to get dressed for another ten minutes and i've missed you all day." He mumbled as he began to kiss my neck.

"Okay. I could use some cuddle time with you."

He laughed before wrapping me up and burying his face in my neck.

"Hmm, you smell really good." He pressed his lips to my throat.

We laid there until Calum finally had to get up and get dressed so I went to play with Eli and Cade, beginning to build lego towers.

Calum kissed us all goodbye before he left, our rule about not kissing in front of the boys now done away with, and I had them both to myself.

Eli and I stayed up after Cade went to bed and talked about toys and Disney movies because he wasn't tired or ready to go to bed, but I didn't mind the company.

He was like my best friend, and I wanted to be there for him, like I would be there for Cade and Calum.

This was my only family now.

Calum's PoV:

As I walked into the house at two in the morning I was expecting Nessa to be on the sofa asleep, or waiting up for me, not the sound of Eli crying.

I knew my boys cries, and it was definitely Eli.

Nessa was nowhere to be seen but I heard her voice and followed it and the sound of sobs to my bedroom where Nessa was holding Eli up in her arms.

She was standing on both of her legs and I could see her healing one bent slightly as she tried to stay upright.

"It's okay, love." Nessa patted Eli's head as he cried into her neck. "It was just a bad dream I promise."

"Don't go." Eli continued to cry and I saw Nessa shoulders drop as she frowned, not noticing me yet.

"I won't leave you, okay? I'm here to stay."

"Momma don't go, okay?"

I felt a twist in my chest as he called her mom...something I hadn't expected him to do so soon.

I was watching Nessa for fear or surprise on her face but she just looked sad for him.

"I won't baby. I won't."

All I heard were his sniffles and cries until he spoke to her again.

"Momma, I love you."

"I love you too, Eli."

As I stared at them I felt a new emotion rising in me. It was worry.

At a time like this I should be happy and blissful at the fact Nessa and Eli are so close and she's bonding with my kids, but the fear of she and I not making it as a couple was real.

I had screwed up before and though I was determined for that not to happen again, I couldn't predict the future.

But I also knew I couldn't let fear rule my life, because if I did I would never get anywhere.

So bravely I took a step forward, and then another, until I was in the room. I approached Nessa and put a hand on her shoulder, having her turn her head to look at me.

"Hey, is he okay?" I played dumb.

"Yeah, it was a bad dream." She explained and I nodded before lifting him from her arms.

Eli then held onto my neck.

"I'll take him back to bed." I told her and she nodded, anxiety now plastered on her face.

I took Eli into his shared room with Cade and laid him in his bed, kissing his cheek before going to the living room where Nessa was gathering her things.

"Stay the night." I said as I walked up to her.

"Are you sure?" She asked as she set her bag down.

"Yes, come on."

I led her back to my room where she changed into a pair of my boxers and one of my tee shirts before taking off her brace and getting into bed next to me.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her back into my chest.

"Thank you." I said into the quiet and dark room.

"For what?" Nessa turned her head to look at me.

"For being the mom they never had."

She smiled at this and turned around in my hold so she could wrap her arms around my neck.

"He called me Momma." She began to laugh into my neck.

"I know, it was pretty cute." I smiled against her hair.

I squeezed her waist, letting myself become a bit more serious, because I couldn't let this continue if I didn't know where she stood.

"Do you think we're going to make it?"

Her body moved at my question and I noticed she looked up at me and I daringly looked down at her.

She looked calm and confident. Her New York confidence obviously making its return.

"Of course we will." She smiled. "We're Calum and Nessa, we can make it through anything."

--

Awww Calum and Nessa moments are my fav moments!

More to come and there's a drama storm brewing in the distance ;)

Much love xx-m