I awoke to a hand touching my face, but it wasn't Calum's big and strong hand, it was small and smooth and a little lax at the art of stroking a woman's face.

I opened my eyes to see brown ones staring back into mine, my lips turning up in a smile when I saw it was Eli who was right in front of me.

He stared at me with a curious kind of wonder, so childlike and sweet, and as I smiled at him his cheeks blushed red before he grinned back at me.

"Good morning." I whispered.

"Morning." He said so bashfully. "Can I stay with you and Daddy?"

I nodded my head and then brought him into my arms, Calum shifting behind me as I moved.

He let out a soft groan as he adjusted his arm around my waist and sighed into my neck.

"What time is it?" He breathed.

"I don't know. The alarm clock is on your side." I mumbled and he turned over to look before turning back around.

"We have fifteen minutes till the alarm goes off." He sighed, nuzzling his face into my neck. "And hello to you too, Eli."

Eli laughed at this and snuggled up into my arms.

I could feel Calum smiling against my skin and his thumb stroked my collar bone while we waited until the alarm went off.

When it did Calum turned it off and then got out of bed, Eli taking the opportunity to roll on top of me.

I laughed but wrapped him in my arms anyways, Calum looking back to smile at us and then he sat back down on the bed.

"Eli?" He started off. "Do you remember calling Nessa "momma" last night?"

Eli slowly nodded and blushed.

"Was that bad?" The little boy asked him, in fear he had done the wrong thing.

"No it's not bad, but tell me why." Calum have him a gentle smile.

I felt a little awkward as I laid there with Eli's head on my chest as he and his father talked.

"Because I had a bad dream and she made me feel better, that's what mommies do, right?"

His words were so innocent, and I looked at Calum with anxiety.

"Yeah, that is what mommies do." Calum patted Elis hand. "Nessa is kinda like your Mommy huh."

Eli nodded.

"I'm not in trouble?" He double checked with Calum.

"No, you're not in trouble." He chuckled. "Now go get ready."

Eli slid off of me and then the bed before running out of the room.

I stayed in the bed while Calum showered and once I heard the water turn off I decided to get out of bed and go brush my teeth.

Opening the door I squeaked when I saw him standing there in all his glory, running the towel through his hair.

His body was so muscular and defined and heavenly and I probably looked like an idiot gawking at him with my jaw dropped.

Calum caught my eyes and immediately covered himself.

"Sorry, I..." I trailed off before saying the first thing that popped into my head. "You're really hot."

He blinked before bursting into laughter.

I blushed at this but Calum just wrapped the towel around his waist before walking forward and dropping his arms around my hips.

"You're pretty hot too." He breathed into my ear and I gripped his arms for support so I wouldn't fall over because of his sultry voice and my broken leg.

He leaned in to kiss me but I turned my head away.

"No, I haven't brushed my teeth yet." I whined.

"Neither have I." He pulled my face back towards his before kissing me on the lips.

"Now get ready so I can take you home and you can grab some clothes." He laughed as he made sure his towel was secure.

We both brushed our teeth and I pulled my hair back into a half ponytail before re-dressing in my clothes from the day before.

"You know, you could leave some things here." Calum said as he was grabbing his uniform.

"I think I might." I smiled.

"Since you're staying tonight you can bring some things over. I'll make some space in the dresser."

We headed to the kitchen, Calum stopping by the boys room to get Cade while I made us coffee, Eli already at the table eating cereal.

Calum walked in with Cade and I went to grab some orange juice from the fridge.

"This is nice." Calum smiled as I poured some into a sippy cup for Cade.

"What?"

"Waking up with everyone here. Having breakfast together." He shrugged. "I wouldn't mind if this became a daily thing."

After breakfast Calum and I got in the car to take the kids to daycare before going to my house.

I changed clothes while Calum grabbed one of my bags and put the clothes I had picked out to keep at his place in it.

"Do we want to get ready for tonight here?" I asked him as I laced up my shoes.

"Sure." He smiled. "It'll be easier."

Work was slow and steady all day, and after my shift at the corner store, Calum picked me up and we headed back to my place.

Calum moved a chair to the bathroom so I could sit while curling my hair, and then began to re-do my makeup.

"Okay, blue or grey?" Calum walked in the bathroom holding two button ups.

"What colour pants are you wearing?" I asked.

"Uh, black."

"Then do the grey."

"See, what would I do without you?" He grinned as he kissed my cheek.

"Hmmm...I don't know." I smiled, Calum hugging me around my waist and kissing on my neck making me giggle ridiculously.

"No more makeup. You already look gorgeous."

"I think it would look weird if I showed up with mascara on only one eye." I laughed and he pulled back to look at my face.

"Yeah, maybe put it on the other one too."

I rolled my eyes before finishing my makeup and then going to pull out a black dress from my closet to wear.

Calum zipped me up and since I couldn't wear heels I put on some black flats.

"You look beautiful, Ness." Calum grinned at me as he buttoned up his shirt.

"You look very handsome yourself."

When it was time to go we took my new car, Calum driving it all the way to a neighbourhood across town and pulling up to an older house.

"Ready, baby?" He asked as he helped me out of the car.

"Yes." I took his hand as he helped me walk up to the front door.

He rang the doorbell and we waited until the door opened and Captain Sutherland opened the door, dressed in a blue button down and tan slacks.

"Hey, come on in!" He grinned at us and opened the door, letting us into his home.

The Sutherlands home was very old fashioned and vintage but absolutely spotless. The living room was filled with pictures, lace doilies, wood pane led walls and dark green velvet sofas.

"David, are they here?" I heard a woman's voice call and soon a woman walked out from the dining room.

She was in her late 50's or early 60's with light brown hair all done up and a navy blue dress on, accompanied by a pearl necklace.

She had the same eyes as her son Alex.

"You must be Nessa, hello." She came forward to hug me, her expensive Chanel perfume filling my nose. "I'm Susan. I've heard so much about you, it's wonderful to finally meet you."

"It's lovely to meet you as well." I smiled.

Susan then hugged Calum before leading us to the dining room.

Calum pulled out a chair for me and I sat down, smiling as he sat next to me and took my hand under the table.

Captain Sutherland took a seat at the head of the table and then Susan sat across from me.

"Calum, tell me, how are the boys?" Susan smiled at him.

"They're doing great." Calum squeezed my hand. "Happier than ever, all thanks to her." He nudged my shoulder with his own making me laugh.

"That's wonderful. So Nessa you love kids as well?"

"I do. That's actually why I got my degree in paediatrics. But Eli and Cade are just the sweetest boys and I love them both, it's impossible not to."

"And they love her right back. Eli called her "momma" last night." Calum smiled proudly.

I blushed heavily.

"He did?" Susan looked surprised.

"He'd had a bad dream and I was holding him and he just said it. And then this morning I woke up to him touching my face, it was so sweet." I admitted.

Susan just beamed at this and sent a wink to Calum.

"It's nice to see you so happy Calum." She smiled.

"It's good to be happy." He leaned over to kiss my cheek.

A timer dinged and Susan stood to go get the food and I offered to help.

"Nessa, sit, you're injured." Captain Sutherland laughed.

"I'm supposed to walk for a few minutes a day. I'll be fine." I winked before going to help Susan carry in dishes.

She made everyone's plate and we began to dig in, and this was honestly the best home made meal i'd ever had.

It was fun to exchange stories with the Sutherlands and Calum, though I had to edit many of mine to not reveal who my father was and that my brother was a gang member.

Susan asked me about my paediatrics degree and I told her I had just finished med school and done two years of my internship when I left New York.

When she asked if I was interested in continuing my paeds study I said maybe, my degree was in my old name and I'd have to see what Dawson could do to change it.

After dinner we moved to the living room for coffee, Calum and I sitting on the sofa with his arm around my waist.

"So are you ready to testify next week?" Captain Sutherland asked me.

"Calum said he's going to help me prepare, but I should be okay. Do you know how long the guy will be in for if he's convicted?"

"Well he's guilty no matter what. I mean we have the phone. It's just a question of his time behind bars."

I nodded.

"Should've seen your boyfriend, Nessa, he scared the life out of that guy when he came in screaming. Had to drag him out." He laughed while Calum blushed.

"What did you do?" I gasped at Calum.

"Might've barged into the room they were holding him in and yelled at him a bit." He said and I frowned. "But in my defence he had almost killed my girlfriend."

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyways.

Captain Sutherland and Susan were so sweet to Calum and I and at the end of the night they walked us to our car, sending us on our way with smiles and leftovers.

"That was nice." I commented as we drove away.

"I know. That food was amazing, holy crap i'm glad she gave us leftovers." He laughed.

When we got to his house I grabbed my bag from the back and he helped me inside where we went to the bedroom.

"Okay, lets see." He spoke to himself as he opened his dresser.

He pushed aside some of his tee shirts.

"Ah, i'll make some more space tomorrow but this will do for now." He chuckled and I placed a pair of shorts and a couple of shirts, pairs of socks and underwear and a bra.

The two of us then changed into night clothes before getting into his bed.

"I'm glad we went tonight. It makes us feel like a real couple." I said as he pulled the blanket over us.

"A real couple?" He laughed.

"Yeah. Like people ask Calum and Nessa, Dahlonega's hottest couple to dinner because we're awesome and official and a bomb ass girlfriend and boyfriend."

Calum completely burst into laughter at this point, me joining in.

"See, this is why you're my girlfriend. You make me laugh like no one else can." He smiled.

"And you make me smile like no one else can."

He grinned before leaning in for kiss, the two of us having a little make out session before curling up together to fall into slumber.

I was ripped from my sleep by the sound of a ringing phone.

Calum groaned next to me, shifting in his sleep.

"Baby, turn it off." He mumbled.

I whined as I stretched across the bed for my phone but it wasn't mine that was ringing.

"It's not mine." I whimpered and he groaned as he turned over to answer his phone.

"Hello?" He asked in a tired, sexy, sleeping voice. I went to rest my head against his side, looking up at him.

"He's what? Oh, yeah yeah just recently. Okay we'll be there soon." He ended the call and sighed before running a hand over his face.

"Eli is asking for you. He had a bad dream and won't let my parents near him. Said he only wants you."

My jaw dropped at this.

We quickly got dressed and then took my car over to his parents house.

Why would Eli be only asking for me. I mean he had called me momma but I wasn't his mom and surely he'd had a bad dream at his grandparents house before.

Calum didn't seem angry, he just seemed tired as he drove but I couldn't help but wonder if this whole Eli calling me mom thing bothered him.

When we arrived at his parents house, Calum's dad answered the door.

"He's back here. Joy's trying to talk to him."

We followed him back to a bedroom where I assumed the kids slept and where Joy stood there at the closed door.

"He won't open it." She shook her head and Calum sighed.

"Eli. Open the door right now." He said in a strong voice.

"No! I want Momma!"

Calum turned to look at me and I bit my lip before stepping up.

"Eli, open the door baby." I placed my hand against the wood.

"Momma?" His voice was so small and I felt my heart break in my chest a bit as I heard it.

I looked back up at Calum who just nodded at me.

"Yeah it's me."

Slowly the door opened and Eli's face appeared, his lip trembling.

"Hey." I said softly. "Come here."

He stepped out and went straight to my arms, allowing me to hug him.

"Tell me what's wrong." I rubbed his back.

"I had a bad dream, and I wanted you but you weren't here."

"I know, but i'm here now." I hugged him tighter.

"Momma, I missed you."

My leg was hurting from being in this position but I didn't care, I needed to be here for Eli.

I felt Calum crouch down next to me and place a hand on my back. He leaned in to kiss my forehead before placing his other hand on Eli's back.

"I want to go home with you." He looked up at Calum.

"You don't want to go to the zoo with Nana and Papa?" Calum frowned.

Eli bit his lip at this because he was still six and wanted to go to the zoo.

"Here, why don't you go to the zoo so you can tell me all about it, and then on Monday I can come pick you and Cade up and we can go to the park." I suggested.

He nodded.

"Okay. But it's late now and you need to go to sleep."

Calum lifted him up and we took him into the bedroom where Cade was sleeping.

I kissed Eli's cheek and forehead.

"I love you, Eli."

"I love you, Momma." He smiled.

He laid down in the bed and Calum kissed
his cheek as well before we turned out the light and walked out.

The moment the door closed I sucked in a sharp breath before a sob escaped me.

"Hey, it's okay." Calum pulled me towards him. "Why are you crying?"

"I just- I feel like he expects so much of me and I don't want to let him down. I'm so scared."

"He loves you, Nessa. He has since the very first time you baby sat him. He sees you as a mom yes, but that's okay. You're not going to let him down." Calum pulled back so he could look in my eyes as he spoke to me.

"I don't want to let you down." I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks and Calum gave me a soft smile, his hands coming up to rest on my cheeks.

"You're not going to let me down."

He looked so confident.

"I know that this is scary and it feels like it's all going so fast, but maybe it's not going fast it's just going right. It's all okay, I promise you."

I buried my head in his chest, suddenly remembering that his parents were probably watching us.

Calum just shushed me and told me it would all be okay.

Finally after I had stopped crying, Calum pressed his lips to mine in a sweet kiss.

"Let's go home, okay?"

I nodded.

He said goodbye to his parents and began to lead me to the door but Joy called after us.

"Nessa!"

I stopped and turned to see her walking towards me before pulling me into a tight hug.

"I know you must be scared at this new responsibility, but i've been waiting for the day those boys would have a mom who would love them as much as Calum and I think that's you."

A few tears slipped from my eyes at this as I pulled back to look at her.

"Thank you."

We left their house, Calum driving us back to mine. He kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other held my hand.

When we arrived at my place we changed back into our night clothes and laid down in the bed.

Calum and I were on our backs, neither of us knowing what to say, but he was the first to break the silence.

"I'm not angry that he calls you mom, if that's what you're thinking. Im surprised it happened so soon but i'm not angry or upset about it. If anything i'm happy. Im happy that he's found someone to love him like I do. I'm happy that he's happy. And i'm happy that you care enough that you cry because you're scared to let him down. That's what a parent does, Ness. A parent doesn't know if they're doing anything right, and they're terrified of failing their children and letting them down, but they love them and try their best anyways. Tonight you were a parent Nessa, a freaking good one, and I want you to know that."

As I bit my lip I turned my head to the side to see him already looking at me.

"Do you really think that?"

"I really know that." He nodded.

I smiled before turning over so I could wrap my arms around his neck.

"Thank you."

He just kissed my face and smiled at me before cuddling me into his side so we could get some more sleep.

--

Eli!!!!!

Enjoy the fluff for now, it won't always be happy ;)

much love xx-m