As soon as Oaklynn pulled into the gravel driveway of the double wide trailer she knew as home, her nephew, Ryder, ran up to her and jumped in her arms.

"Sissy!" exclaimed the small boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, he was tall for a three year old and skinnier than most kids.

"Hey baby," she wrapped him in a hug and kissed his head, "why are you outside by yourself? Where is Mami?"

"Inside. I pwayed wif my trucks waitin fer you on da steps," he smiled so big not realizing that he wasn't even four yet and really didn't need to be outside by himself.

"Ok. What did you eat for lunch today?" She said trying to sound enthusiastic but behind it I could hear concern as if the toddler may not have eaten today.

"Fried boney samitch an gol fish." I think he meant a fried bologna sandwich and gold fish crackers.

"That's sounds yummy."

"Yeee, I ates it all done." She smiled at him widely and tickled him to make him laugh.

Oaklynn carried Ryder inside and I walked up the steps of the covered porch to the back door when the spine chilling voice was back.

"How sweet, even if you didn't love her at least she has little Ryder," cackled Asmodues. The demon was now 7 feet tall with broad shoulders, the dress formally wore was gone and replaced with shorts and no shirt. The breast were gone and and Asmodues now had a six pack.

"What happened to you and when the fuck did you get back?"

"Oh I'm always watching, mortal."

We both followed them inside, Oaklynn's mom was in the living room with three or four empty beer bottles and a half empty bottle of tequila.

"Now that you're here you can watch Ryder and go get dinner started AND GET THOSE DAMN BOOTS OFF IN MY HOUSE," yelled her mother.

"Mom, it's only 3:45. Daddy won't be home until 4:30. I don't want the food to get cold," Oaklynn said to her.

"I said go make dinner!"

"Sissy, tan we drill?" Ryder asked her.

"What do you wanna grill tonight? Burgers or chicken?" Oaklynn said so sweetly to the child.

"Chiten."

"Grilled chicken ok with you mom?" Oaklynn rolled her eyes.

"Yeah whatever," her mother took another shot from the bottle.

Oakley went to the freezer and grabbed a bag of chicken breast. She laid it in the sink with hot water to thaw. "What you wanna make to go with it, baby?"

"Stuffin an Mac n cheese an fried taters."

"How bout green beans instead of Mac and cheese? I'll put bacon in em."

"Ok sissy."

Oaklynn got a box of chicken stuffing mix, a can of green beans, and potatoes from the potato box. This honestly sounded like an awesome dinner but why does Oaklynn have to cook and watch her nephew when her mom has been here all day?

She opened the can, rinsed them in the sink, and dumped them in a small pot. She filled it with water and grabbed a pack of thick piece of hog jaw from the fridge, I had only seen my grandmother use hog jaw in green beans before. She cut off a good size piece of meat, put it in the pot, and place the remainder in a zip up bag in the refrigerator. Oaklynn put the pot on the shove and turned it on.

"That will cook down for a while. Wanna help Sissy get the charcoal for the grill?" Oaklynn said Ryder.

"Yeah."

They walked outside to get the bag of charcoal and light the grill. Oaklynn carried the bag while a lighter stuck out of her back pocket. She dumped the smooth black stones in the grill and held Ryder up to see her light it. As the fire rolled above the grate, Ryder watched the flames amused.

They went back inside to clean and peal potatoes, well Oaklynn pealed them and Ryder pretended to with a plastic knife. By the time they finished with the "taters", Oaklynn's dad pulled in the driveway.

"Papaw!" yelled Ryder as he excitedly ran the back door.

"Hiya bud," he carried Ryder into the kitchen.

"Hi Daddy how was work?"

"It sucked. How was school?"

"It was ok."

"Looks like dinner is coming along. If you want I'll grill the chicken with little man so you can cook sides and relax some."

"If you're not to tired."

Her dad grabbed the bag of chicken and took it outside with Ryder.

"Got to love a woman who can cook and raise the offspring like a true woman should," Asmodues hummed.

"Oaklynn works too, you know that right. She works her ass off at McDonald's. Not to mention she is gonna have a good job in construction and probably make more than me," I growled pissed at Asmodues.

"Wives were so much better before," Asmodues huffed.

Oaklynn let the green beans boil down, refilled them with water, and repeat. She cut the potatoes into thin circle like chips and through them in a huge cast iron skillet with a stick of butter. She poured the stuffing mix into boiling water and mixed it until it got thick. Everything smelled so good. She did all of this with music playing from her phone in her back pocket humming, dancing, and singing, she was so cute and would've probably been embarrassed if she knew I was watching her.

The entire time Oaklynn's mother yelled at her from the living room. "I need more beer damn it." "Turn that fuckin music down." "Oaklynn June why is dinner not done yet?" "Where the hell is Ryder?" "Don't get smart with me." "I'll come in there and bust your ass little girl." Oaklynn would just roll her eyes, answer her mother, and continue with what she was doing previously.

When dinner was ready, Oaklynn made Ryder a plate and sat him in a chair. Oaklynn's dad made a plate and took it to his wife who didn't join the others. They ate and talked quietly as to not be to loud for Mrs Coal.

After dinner Oaklynn cleaned the dishes and gave Ryder a bath.

"Ryder, stop splashing me," Oaklynn scolded.

"But sissy you still need a baff," he giggled.

"Yes, but your making a mess in the floor and I have enough messes to clean around here."

"I sowwy."

"It's ok baby. Just stop doing it ok?"

"Otay."

It honestly made me start to truly think about having kids and a family with her. Three kids, two boys and a baby girl. Dirt bikes and race cars in the garage. Mudding and BBQs in the backyard. An at home gun rage. We could have the dream my dad wanted and that I want. She's gonna be such a good mommy. I'd be the parent to fuck it up.

At 8pm Oaklynn tucked Ryder into bed after getting into his pajamas, kissed him, then after making sure he was asleep when to take a shower herself.

"Let's go in," Asmodues smirked grabbing the doorknob to the bathroom.

"No you fucking perv," I said. Honestly yes I do want to see here naked, the hot steamy water running over her body. I just didn't want the demon dick seeing my girl.

"I don't have to come in," Asmodues said.

"No. I'll see her when she wants me too."

"How sweet." Asmodues rolled their red glowing eyes.

I heard the water turn off and her singing something softly. She walked to her bedroom in a black lace bra and tight gray shorts which was enough to get me hard, so there was truly no need for me to have watched her in the shower.

She sat down on her bed and pulled on a shirt. I sat down next to her and watched her, all I could think is how I wish she was in my bed right now.

She called Bear. He answered immediately. I'm not a huge fan of how close they are but everyone needs someone they can talk to.

"Hey Oaks, what's up ya two dollar whore."

"Not much bub, you?" She sounded tired and depressed.

"Playin video games. You ok? You sound upset and you didn't call me a dick after I called you a whore."

"Been thinkin bout what you said earlier, bout Darius. What if you're right? He's barely spoke to me since the shit a year and a half ago. At one point he didn't have a shift with me for three months. Plus, if I take this job with you, I'm moving out but I don't know if I'll be able to."

"Why? Your mom is a fuckin alcoholic who treats you like shit and it only got worse after the accident. You need to get outta there," Bear argued with her.

"What about the baby? He starts school next year and I can't just leave him here, but there's no way in hell moms just gonna let me take him. Plus if I take this job I'll be goin out of state. He'd be movin schools so much and I'd miss my friends and coworkers and... Darius."

"We can keep you in Kentucky. Plus if your stayin here we can get you in a house in the housing project that you wouldn't have to pay for."

"I'm not asking for a handout bro."

"I'm just tryin to help you out."

"I know."

"Just curious. If Darius asked you to go out with him, move in with him, and offer to take the baby with you: would you take the offer? Be honest."

"No. I wouldn't be able to do that to him. If we were together for a while,  and I mean like a year or so, then, maybe. But I won't just let Darius take on raising a child, helping me financially, on top of my mental problems, and homing me and the baby. I love him to much to just let him do that."

"A year?"

"Damn, she's afraid of you," hissed Asmodues.

"No she isn't." She's not right? Why would she be?

"Then why else would she not want to move in with you. Maybe she doesn't love you as much as you though," Asmodues smirked.

"If it was just me then bout six months but it's not just me, it's the baby too," Oaklynn continued.

"That's fair. So what are you gonna do?"

"I just... I don't know, Bear. Daddy said I need to take the job. I just can't find myself being able to leave Daddy to pay all the bills by himself or leave the baby or... my big baby at McDonalds." Ok yeah her calling me her big baby is  a little cringy but it's still sweet and I kinda like it.

"Oaklynn, stop thinkin bout how it's gonna effect everyone else and think about what's best for yourself for once. All you ever do is try to take care of everyone else, take care of yourself for once. It will make your life so much better, it could make Ryder's life so much better."

"Yeah I know. That's only if I get Ryder though." Take the job Babygirl.

"Look you don't have to choose right now. I don't need an answer until Friday of next week." Next Friday? That's one week from today. I don't want her to leave that soon, I'd rather her not leave at all, but I suppose it's better to just rip of the bandaid but what does that mean for us as a couple.

As sweet and well behaved as Ryder is and how much it would mean to Oaklynn I'd strongly debate letting them move in with me as long as all my pets wouldn't be an issue.

"You heard her. She will not move in with you," Asmodues scolded.

"Maybe I can get her to change her mind."

"Oh yeah tomorrow I'm goin ridin with Tex and Chev at Wildcat. You wanna come?"

"Can't I gotta go to Mamaw's for a BBQ. I am glad to hear you're finally goin back to ridin, I know you used to love it before your brother..."

"I still love it. I still love goin to the gun range, it's just not the same without Bub."

"Yeah, I get that."

She likes to ride motorcycles, likes my pets, can draw, and shoots. I just keep falling for her more as the day goes by.

She said good night to Bear and hung up the phone. She melted down into the bed and I just simply wrapped my arms around her as she peacefully fell asleep. I loved holding her like that and I only wish it could've lasted, but maybe, with Asmodues' help, I'll be able to hold her for the rest of our lives.