-Fallin' For You by Colbie Caillat-

Denise might have been feeling better lately, but boy was her appetite growing. She couldn't stop eating to save her life. Her recent craving has been crumbled potato chips in rocky road ice cream.

Sweet and salty all in one. And every bite felt like a taste of Heaven.

She sat on the couch, happily eating her delicious concoction as she watched Liliana play with her dolls on the floor.

She was babysitting for Ana. Since she would also be filming with Adeline and Samantha, Ryleigh would come over and watch Liliana until they finished.

Getting up, three-year-old Liliana stood in front of Denise with her mouth wide open.

"Please?" she said, adorably.

"How could I say no to that face?" Denise gushed, pushing some shards of potato chips away so that she would get mostly ice cream.

With her mouth full of the chocolate dessert, Liliana happily went back to her toys.

Barely a second later, Mark came into the living room, scooping the three-year-old up and spinning her around.

Liliana laughed as he tickled her until she almost couldn't breathe. Mark put her on her feet, keeping her steady so she wouldn't fall over. "You got it?" he chuckled.

Liliana answered by opening her arms to be picked up again.

Mark complies, putting her on top of his shoulders.

Safe to say, Mark had built a bond with her as well, earning the title of a godfather. He treated Liliana like she was his own.

He was another male figure in her life - a good one too.

It was a relief to Ana, considering Liliana's biological father hadn't reached out to meet or know anything about her since their break up almost four years ago now.

"I'm heading out to meet Cole and Ronnie," he told Denise, who had just scraped the bottom of her ice cream carton.

"Can you buy me some more ice cream and potato chips? Please?" she said sweetly.

Mark puts a wiggling Liliana down, and she goes back to her toys.

"Babe, I just went to the store like yesterday."

"Oh, please, it was like two days," Denise rolled her eyes.

He tilted his head at her.

"What? I eat my vegetables, and I take my supplements. Give me some credit; I'm eating for two. A big two, by the looks of you."

With a smirk, Mark shakes his head and kisses her. "I love you too, D."

"I love you, too," Denise smiled, giving him another kiss. "And thank you."

As he was pulling away, the doorbell rang.

"That must be the girls," Denise got up from the couch. "Come in!" she goes to the kitchen to throw away her empty ice cream carton, leaving Mark to greet Ryleigh.

And the fifteen-year-old did not look happy.

"Hey, you!" her uncle greeted with a smile.

"Don't 'hey you,' me," she snapped. "I'm mad at you two."

"What did we do?" a frowning Denise returned from the kitchen.

"You guys totally didn't have my back the other night."

The couple exchanged a look of confusion.

"You mean the Charlie thing?" Mark questioned.

"Yes!" Ryleigh said in an 'obviously' tone. "Why didn't you back me up?"

"Back you up?" it took everything in Denise not to scoff. "Ry, we love that you can come to us about anything and that you value our opinions, but we are not your parents. We can't just be on your side all the time."

"Especially not when it comes to boys," Mark added. "We understand you're upset, but we agree with your mom and dad. They should meet this boy's parents. It's for your safety and puts your parents at ease."

With an eye roll, Ryleigh looks away.

"Honey," Denise says. "If you like the boy so much, then why don't you just ask if he's okay that you guys' parents meet? I'm sure if he really likes you, he won't mind."

"You guys don't get it! He doesn't have parents!" Ryleigh slumped on the couch with a heavy sigh.

"What do you mean by that?" Denise took a seat beside her along with Mark.

"I mean, his mom is dead, and his dad's a drunk. He kicked him out recently, and he's kind of just been floating around from place to place."

"He doesn't have anywhere he can go? A guidance counselor that he could talk to?" Mark asked.

"I've tried to convince him to talk to our guidance counselor, but he's so stubborn and embarrassed. He doesn't want anyone to know and thinks he can take care of himself."

"Right," Mark nodded understandingly.

"I didn't want to tell mom and dad because they'd just try to help. And Charlie's not a parents type of a guy."

"Understandably so," commented Mark again.

All while Denise hadn't said anything. She had this pondering look on her face that made Ryleigh nervous.

"Say it," the fifteen-year-old crossed her arms over her chest.

"It's nothing bad," Denise was honest. "It just seems like this kid is going through a lot."

"Yeah, so?"

"By the look in your eyes, you're not looking to stay in the friend zone."

Ryleigh raised her eyebrows, still not getting it.

"Ry," Mark spoke up. "What D is saying is that . . . maybe it's not a good idea to date a boy with so much baggage. Being his friend, yes, but his girlfriend, that's a lot for someone your age."

"But I like him," Ryleigh whined. "And he doesn't have anyone else in his corner."

"That's what I mean, Ry," Denise explained. "It's not your job to take care of this boy. Help him, yes, but to be his only source of comfort and consolation. That's a lot for a person, especially at your age. Do you understand?"

Ryleigh's eyes shift. She heard Denise, but her teenage instinct to do what she wants was active and strong.

"Ryleigh?" Mark raised an eyebrow.

"I do. I hear you," she nodded.

The couple titled their heads at her.

"I promise you I do," she assured them. "I just . . ." Ryleigh sighed desperately. "I really like him, guys."

Mark and Denise looked at each other.

They were young once, so they understood Ryleigh. Like most teenagers, this was something she was going to have to see through on her own.

Technically they weren't officially a couple, so maybe, she would keep him as a friend. For now, butterflies were influencing her every move.

"What do you want us to do?" Denise asked. "Your parents said no, and you didn't want to compromise."

Ryleigh's shoulder slumped as she thought about a plan.

"Okay," she clapped, already excited. "We'll do this. I'll tell my parents the truth about Charlie, and that instead of going to the movies, Charlie and I will watch a movie here with you guys' supervision. If you guys don't mind, of course."

Denise looks at Mark, who on the fence.

"Do you really think you're parents will go for that?" he asked.

"Well, it's a compromise. Isn't it? Besides, they'd rather me be under your roof than in the dark at a public theater."

"True," Denise nodded. "Why are house, though?"

"My parents and my siblings are embarrassing. There are more kids at Aunt Addie's house, and then there's grandpa and grandma. They're great, but their grandparents. They'll talk him and feed him to death. All I want is Charlie and me. Here, I know you guys trust me, and you won't bother us."

Ryleigh was pretty spot on.

She might have been crush crazy, but she was a good girl and wouldn't do anything inappropriate under their roof - that they knew for sure.

"So? What do you say? Please?" she clasped her hands together, begging.

"Alright, alright," said Mark. "We'll do it."

"Oh, thank you!" Ryleigh hugged the two.

Denise patted her back, "but you have to talk to your parents."

"Of course," Ryleigh pulled back, putting a hand over her chest as the doorbell rings. "You have my word."

"That's probably the girls. I'll let them in on the way out." Mark kisses Denise on the temple. "I'll see you later."

"Love you," Denise smiled. "Don't forget the ice cream!"

"I won't," Mark disappeared into the foyer.

"Hey, mom!" Ryleigh greeted her mother brightly as she walked into the living room with Adeline.

"Oh, you're talking to me now," Samantha was surprised. "And you're smiling. Did something happen?"

"We'll talk about it later," Ryleigh pats her mom on the shoulder and gets on the floor to play with Liliana.

Adelina and Samantha look at Denise for answers.

"What she said," Denise points to Ryleigh. "You guys ready for these questions?"

"Nope," Adeline was honest.

Denise purposely hadn't looked or showed them the questions because she wanted to capture their natural reaction and response.

"Don't worry, it'll be fun," Denise leads them down to the basement.