Rick's p.o.v

I enter our bedroom and see Layton sitting on the edge of the bed, guitar in hand strumming away. She hadn't even noticed my presence, she was wrapped up in her own little world.

I used this opportunity to take a mental image of my amor, how her hair fell delicately to the side of her face, how her fingers skillfully danced on the guitar strings, how her lips ever so slightly pursed and how beautiful she looked even in my oversized jacket.

My little songbird hadn't sung in a while, with the ever so busy schedule life plans out for us, it leaves little time do to other things. Luckily for Layton she has me on her side, willing to fight life bare knuckled to make sure she gets a chance to do what she loves.

A karaoke night with our friends sounds quite ideal right about now so I needed to make it happen.

I'm falling in love with Layton there's no doubt about that, if she'd let me I'd move mountains to see her happy but somethings telling me 'don't do it, don't love her, remember the last time you gave your heart to a women, she crushed it'

Sometimes our own thinking truly does ruin our happiness, these thoughts are thieves, little devils sitting on your shoulder whispering in your ear, they are false prophets using the alias 'I'm here to protect you' meanwhile they want you to suffer and drown in them.

Is this some sick trick made by our subconscious to punish us for our wrong doings? I'd really like to know.

However as a detective, I use a little thing as my gut and well evidence. Both clearly tell me Layton is nothing like Amelia and I don't want to rush our relationship, we only recently found each other and we will have forever.

End of p.o.v

Saturday night at the Karaoke bar

"Come on you guys have to get up there." Layton and Tess beg their men to perform as Jamie just gets of the stage from his turn

"I'm definitely not going up there sober." Cass protests

"Come on man, we can't disappoint our ladies and Jamie will join us so we won't look like fools alone." Says Rick

"Thanks for asking by the way." Jamie jokes

"Fine let's get the embarrassment over with."

The three of them made their way to the platform as Layton and Tessa cheered.

The music began to play and automatically every girl in the bar knew what song was been performed- 'Story of my life' by One Direction. They began rushing to the front of the stage to swoon over the guys.

Rick and Cass stared at their girls as they performed while a pretty blonde had caught Jamie's attention- guess we know who he is going home with tonight.

"What are two beauties doing alone in a place like this?" a random guy who was obviously a few beers down from the smell of his breath along with his friend came up to the girls.

"That's actually our boyfriends up on stage, so if you don't mind you can leave." Tess speaks up

"Well they aren't here right now, let's go have some fun out back." Said the sleaze ball

The song was coming to an end and the girls knew they just had to wait a few more moments until these douche bags would be dealt with.

Layton felt a warm presence come up and hold her from behind and she was relieved.

"Everything alright here?" Rick asked

"Woah, what's a young beauty like you doing with an old geezer like him?" the stranger directs a question to Layton

"Oh I know you didn't just say that, I mean you can't be that stupid." Tessa laughs

"Come on girls we are the better options, not these one direction rejects you came with."

Rick, Cass and Jamie looked at each other and laughed, they didn't want to start a fight in front of their girls so it was decided- just walk away.

"Let's go amor." Rick takes a hold of Layton's hand as the group leave

"Hate to see them go but love to watch them leave."

Cass turns around and shoots a deadly look back "Hey Jamie, you and Rick can't beat these twats up been officers but that doesn't stop me right?"

"Oh shit they're cops." The sleaze ball and his friend scatter in panic like rats and disappear, it was quite funny to watch, not such a bad ending to the night.

Back at the loft

Layton had noticed that Rick was quite the entire ride back, something clearly eating away at him. Once the couple entered their home, Rick planted a kiss on Layton's cheek.

"Goodnight." He somberly says before walking off

"Amor wait." She grabs his hand "What's wrong?"

"Does the age thing ever bother you?" Rick mumbles

"What of course not, it's a few years Rick not decades." She reassures him

"7 years, maybe if I shaved off my beard I'd look younger."

"The beard stays okay, it accentuates your handsomeness and don't let those asshat's get into your head." She places a hand on his face and looks into his eyes

"This is a nice change, normally I'm the one complimenting you." Rick jokes before leaning in and kissing Layton.

The following morning at Cassidy's apartment

There was persistent knocking at the door, Cass rolls over and cuddles Tessa.

"Argh its 7.30 on a Sunday morning, why the hell would someone be at my door." He cusses

"Go see who it is babe, it could be important." Tess nudges him before stealing all the blanket for herself

Cassidy wherry eyed makes his way to the door and got the shock of his life when he opened it. There stood Rose with a baby.

He rubbed his eyes hoping they were playing tricks on him.

"Nice to see you to Cass." Rose broke the silence

"What are you doing here?" he asked

"I'm here to see my best friend, I was hoping Layton would answer the door."

"She doesn't live here anymore, if you really were her best friend you would've known that, but I can see you have your hands full at the moment." He gestures towards the baby.

"Oh well, just give me her address and I'll be on my way."

"Works for me." Cass goes back inside and writes Layton's address on a piece of paper then hands it to Rose.

"Thanks, it was good to see you." Rose fumbles with the babies' stroller and bag

"Do you need some help getting to the car?"

"We took a cab here."

"Give me 10 minutes I'll drive you over to Layton's"

Rose gives him and shy smile and nods.

In the bedroom

Tessa peeks from under the blanket and sees Cassidy getting changed.

"Everything okay babe?" she tenderly asks

He makes his way over and kisses her cheek.

"A friend just needs my help, go back to sleep I'll be back soon."

Cass emerges from the room

"Ready?" Rose questioned

"Yeah, I was just saying goodbye to my girlfriend. We can go now." He picks up one of the babies' bags and the car keys before walking towards the door.

"Your baby is cute by the way." He sincerely mentions

"Thanks her name is Violet."

"Huh Violet and Rose, I see you are sticking to a floral theme."

Cass makes a joke and they both laugh, things seemed almost normal before tension clouded the air once more and the two stayed in silence while driving over to Layton's.