"I have to run a few errands. Make sure Killian gets to bed. It's going to be a long night for him tomorrow." My uncle said as Killian slid out of the car from behind me. I gave my uncle a curt nod and then walked into the front lobby with Killian following close behind.

We waited for the elevators and then made our way up to the top floor. I kept looking at him, opening my mouth to say something, but coming up with not a single word each time. It was a struggle.

"Killian-" The doors opened and he was gone. I shook my head with a soft sigh and walked straight to my room, peeling the turquoise dress off my hot skin the second I could. A cold breeze flew in through the cracked window, licking across my bare skin. A shiver rushed my entire body, forcing me into the closet and into a large, black, graphic T.

The T-shirt hung mid-thigh, covering just enough to walk out of the room. After pulling my hair into a bun, I grabbed my phone and left the room. The screen on the iPhone showed that I only had two missed messages. One from Veronica saying that she was going to be picking me up at five, and the other from Jessica asking me to call her whenever possible. I thought about the call for a good second before something by the bar caught my attention.

"Are you okay?" I asked Killian as I walked up to him. There was a beer in his hand, a look etched across his features that I had never seen before. He chuckled and looked up, his eyes dropping to the shirt.

"I'm pretty sure that's mine..."

"What if it is?" It was. He'd left it at my house years ago. I tried to give it back multiple times, but each attempt was denied. I was told to keep it.

"Why are you wearing it?"

"I didn't want to wear pants."

"Of course you didn't..."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, irritated by the drunken tone of voice he was using.

"Just you Mia."

"What about me?" The fight had started. I could see it in his eyes that he had something mean to say, and I saw ready for the counter.

"Is this how it is when you're in Florida? Just walk around with no pants on, kissing random men you don't know?"

"Is this because of the club!?"

"I'm surprised you haven't gotten pregnant yet...how many time-"

"I swear to God," his face was inches from mine, his collar wrapped around my fist, "If you keep talking I'm going to beat the living hell out of you and then drag you back to the slammer and leave you there!"

"Good," he hissed, the alcohol swamping me with each breath, "At least I'll be away from you." Shoving me away from him, Killian grabbed his beer and walked to his room, slamming the shut behind him hard enough for me to get the picture.

"What the hell is your problem!?" I shouted from the living room. There was no response, and I didn't want to chase after him, so instead I went after the objective that suddenly popped into my head, and grabbed one of the white wine bottle from the shelf. With a glass filled to the rim, I simple moved my party of one up to my room.

With my phone in one hand, and a glass of heaven in the other, I crawled onto my bed and dialed Jessica. Like always, she picked up immediately.

"How is my beautiful BFF doing? Do you miss me yet? Cause I miss you!" The last part was deadpanned making me chuckle.

"Of course I miss you Jess, how could I not?"

"Just making sure...you've been quieter than usual..."

"Just busy." I said.

"Busy aye?" If we were together, I would be getting the look.

"Shut it! So, did you want me to call you just because you are going through Mia-withdraw or did something actually happen?"

"No," she sighed, "Something did happen..." Jessica sounded exhausted. Biting my bottom lip, I waited in silence for her to continue. It was a good minute, but after a shaking breath, she started talking, "The past few weeks I've been feeling under the weather, so I went to see one of the Docs off ship."

"And?"

"Remember how I canceled our girl's night like two months ago because Josh was leaving for his little deployment."

"Yes...the next day you were crying none stop about how much you already missed him..."

"Shut up." She snapped with - I knew without even being there - a grin on her face.

"You can't make me, but so yeah, you canceled to get your freak on...what's the point?"

"Well I found out today that...well...h... he...I won't be the...you know...only one he's coming home to anymore..." It took me a second to understand what she was telling me. I stared at the wall for only a moment, and then squealed like a cheerleader who just got asked to prom by the star quarterback.

"Oh my god Jess! He's going to be soo happy! I have to schedule a flight back to Florida!"

"I don't think he will be..." The sadness in her voice stripped away all the excitement in the air. I set my wine glass on the nightstand and moved over to the window. The moon was full, casting a beautiful glow across the gleaming city below.

"What makes you think that?"
"We had this discussion before Mia. He told me he didn't want children. I can see it whenever the word child itself is mentioned. He's going to hate the little guy."

"That's not true Jessica...it will be different."

"How?"

"Because the kid is his, and he loves you, and I hardly doubt that man is going to walk out on a three-year relationship because a little human is growing inside your uterus."

"But what if he does?" I could hear the fear in her voice. She was terrified; it hurt to hear how scared she was.

"Pack your bags and move to Washington! Your baby is going to be neighbors with his or her awesome aunt!"   

"Would you really be okay with that?"

"Please...I love children."

"You do too much for me, you know that?"

"It's what friend are for-" My words cut off the moment my door hit the wall. I looked up, eyes wide, as Killian stalked his way across the room until he was at the edge of my bed. His eyes were glassy, a bottle of whiskey replacing the beer that had been in his hand earlier, "I have to go." I hung up before she would respond and met Killian's angry gaze. "What do you want Killian?" I met him at the bed.

"You...gone..." I rolled my eyes at the two slurred words. Great, I now have to deal with a drunk man whore...

"Killian, you're drunk...remember, you have that big speech tomorrow? I think it's time for you to go to bed so that you are all good to go later."

"Out...meow!"

"Did you just meow at me?" I asked a little stunned. He shook his head with a grin, the anger gone so fast it was like he was never even mad in the first place.

"My skirt!" He dropped the bottle and instantly reached for the T-shirt covering my naked body. I screeched and jumped onto the bed, his fingers just grazing the fabric.

"What the hell Man-Whore!? Just because other women let you take their clothes off doesn't mean I will!" Why am I fighting a drunk Killian right now? And why the hell is he trying to take my clothes off? Can't I have one man in my life that isn't a pervert?

"Fault...ours!"

"Don't place blame on others Killian! It's not nice!" I laughed. I sounded like a first-grade teacher scolding one of her students.

"Come ere!"

"No!"

"Come ere right meow!"

"Are you a freaking cat!? Why are you meo-" He lunged, his hand wrapping around my ankle and pulling me towards his end of the bed. Unable to stop the sound, a small squeal broke free. I went to pull away when suddenly he was on top of me, his hands on either side of my head. My face went red in anger; this game was over. "Get. Off. Now. Killian."

"Give me back mi skirt!"

"For one," I growled, trying to decide where I wanted to knee him, "It's a shirt, not a skirt...and two," my knee slammed into his stomach, "It's mine!" Killian rolled off the side of the bed and onto the floor. I poked my head over the side and raised an eyebrow. "You're drunk Killian. Go back to your room."

"I want my skirt!"

"Why are you up!? Get out of my room! Go to bed!"

"Not without my-"

"Fine!" I shouted ripping the shirt off and throwing it at his face. It hit his head, sliding to the ground without a sound. His eyes darted up and he froze. A Cheshire cat grin slowly forming on his face. I stared at him for a good minute or two before it hit me why he was smiling the way he was.

Shrieking, I grabbed my blanket and sent my foot flying into his face. His body hit the ground with a thud, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Mia-"

"Get out now! I don't care if you're drunk or not! Get out!"

"Boobies..."

"GET OUT!" Grabbing the closest thing I could, I chucked my phone at his face. The small rectangular box hit the side of his head and crashed onto the floor.

"My boobies..."

"Killian-"

"Play with boobies..." He reached forward and I ran. The blanket wrapped around my body as my only protection. I ran into the living room, my ears tuned to the found of Killian's stumbling feet. I skidded around the couch, the ends of my blanket tangling around my feet, tying my legs together, my balance gone. I started to crawl when I felt a pair of hand wrap around my ankles and suddenly I was moving backwards. My body flipped, my eyes landing on the grinning man towering over me.

"I win-" Killian went flying. Looking into calm, aged hazel eyes, I let out a relieved sigh. Lucian held out a hand and pulled me to my feet.

"Are you alright my dear?"

"Yeah..." A little shocked, but good all together...

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, but I did kick him in the face earlier, better check to make sure I didn't break anything."

"Caring for him even after all this?"

"He's drunk...I can't place all the blame on him..." I knew what it was like to drink and lose control. The alcohol helped with the problem at hand, but what it allowed you to do was never funny.

"Would you be more comfortable staying at my place until he sobers up?"

"He...he...Killian needs someone here to care for him. Can you just like...I don't know...lock him in his room?"   

"Door doesn't lock from the outside?"   

"Then why don't-" Something behind Lucian cut me off. I stepped to the side of Killian's father and smacked my face. Lucian turned and sighed. "He's asleep?" I questioned.

"Apparently so..." Both of us watched him carefully until my uncle walked in through the entry room. His eyes darted form me to Killian and back before he smacked his own face; one of the few traits the two of us had in common.
"I thought I told you to put him to bed?"

"You try putting a grown, ass, drunk, giant to bed when he doesn't want to!"

"Easy as pie!" He grinned.

"Aren't you curious as to why I'm in a blanket uncle?" If he's drunk too I swear...

"I try not to question your ways Mia. It hurts my head."

"How old are you again uncle? Twelve!?"

"Old enough..." He chuckled. I glared at him for a second before rolling my eyes and stomped off, pulling the blanket close to my knees, making my way up to my room. I was at the top of the stairs when Lucian started talking to my uncle. Even though I knew it was rude, I froze and listened.

"I know he's your son Lucian, but if he touched her..."

"She said everything was fine. Why would Mia lie about that kind of stuff?"

"He could have threatened her-"

"You really think Killian would really threaten her? Of all people?"

"It wouldn't surprise me. This whole month he has been acting strange. Did you know that not once has he stayed at one of his other places? He never does that...you and I both know Killian likes his women."

"Maybe he does...but we also know he looks up to Mia."

"I'm sure that's what it-"

"Watch yourself Roger!" My heart raced, Lucian sounded pissed, "Killian is still my son. If you really think he has Mia in the same category as those other women, then you clearly don't know him very well."

"I just don't like this-"

"Then leave it alone. It's none of your business-"

"She is my business!"

"She is a grown ass woman who can care for herself!"

"Really, because last time I checked-"

"Stop focusing on that day Roger. It's done and over with." Fire. "You will not be here forever," Blood, "Let her learns to fight on her own!" Screams. "If you don't, then the moment you are gone she will be done for. You can't keep coddling her."

"Lucian you don't-"

"You never had children of your own, she's your baby, I get it...Just give her space...Let her go..."

"Maybe you're right..." His words faded out the moment my door clicked shut. Covering my mouth to keep the sobs quiet, I collapsed onto the ground. Fire burned through my mind, the familiar pressure of a set of firm hands holding me down.