FicWad

"Soooo," Pete said as he drove down the driveway from Collette's house.

"So, what?" Patrick asked trying to hide the huge smile that was on his face.

"You know," Pete said trying to catch glimpses of Patrick.

"Know what?" Patrick asked being a smart-ass.

"You kissed her," Pete stated.

"See, I never have to tell you anything because by some force unknown to man, you always know!" Patrick said laughing.

"I knew it! Dude, it was written all over your face," Pete said laughing loudly.

"What ever," Patrick said sitting back in his seat.

"So, now what? Are you guys like boyfriend girlfriend?" he asked in a playful manner.

"I dunno. I said we were going to take things slowly because she seems to be mending some serious wounds," Patrick said sounding concerned.

"Yeah, what is the story with her?" Pete asked obviously missing the informational conversation due to entertaining Jackson, or Jackson entertaining him.

"She said that her sister passed away and Jackson's father is apparently a dead beat, so Collette got custody of him," Patrick said shrugging.

"That's all she said?" Pete asked.

"Basically," Patrick nodded.

"Well, there is obviously more to that story," Pete said incredulously.

Patrick just nodded. He was deep in thought. What if what she was hiding was too much for him to handle?

-----

"Go on a date with me," Patrick said as he sat across from Collette at the coffee shop.

It had been two weeks since that evening at Collette's and they still haven't done anything together other than meet at the coffee shop. It was time that they started acting like a dating couple.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" she asked playfully.

"Both?" he asked simply scrunching up his face slightly.

"When?" she asked trying not to sound too eager.

"Friday," he blurted.

"I don't have a babysitter," she said simply shaking her head no.

"Pete will baby-sit," Patrick said hoping to God that Pete didn't have any plans for Friday.

"Right. The man who needs a babysitter himself, watching my child? I don't think so," Collette was only half kidding.

"What if Andy and Joe babysat too?" Patrick offered. He would do everything in his power to get this girl on a date; a real date.

Collette was seriously considering allowing the boys to watch Jackson. What was the worst thing that could happen? She found herself cringing at the thought. She heard stories about those boys and she didn't really trust them with Jackson's life.

Her negative thoughts were quickly replaced by happy thoughts when she saw the look of hope on Patrick's face. Her heart melted as it had done so many times before. This boy really wanted to take her on a date. How could she say no?

"Alright, but if one hair on his head is harmed, I'm blaming you," Collette said pointing her finger at him.

"I take full responsibility," Patrick held his hand up in the air as if he were swearing on the Bible.

Collette smiled warmly, but couldn't shake the feeling that something bad may happen. Pete is practically a child himself, and what do Joe and Andy know of child care? It will be more like Jackson babysitting them.

-----

"Guess who has plans for Friday," Patrick said happily as he walked into the living room where all his band mates sat doing various activities.

"You," Pete said not looking up from his sidekick.

"Yup, and you three as well," Patrick said nodding with a closed smile plastered on his face.

"Really? And what would that be?" Joe asked with the gaming system controller gripped tightly in his hands as he tried to beat Andy at what ever game they were playing.

"Babysitting," Patrick stated.

As if on cue, all boys' heads shot up and looked at Patrick with shock. Pete's sidekick buzzed and a crash and scream was heard on the TV signaling someone just died.

"Fun, huh?" Patrick said trying to break the silence.

"I'm not babysitting," Pete said laughing slightly thinking it was a joke.

"Well, not just you," Patrick said explaining the situation. "Joe and Andy too."

"No way, I'm too old to baby-sit," Andy said shaking his head and leaning back into the couch.

"Yeah, man. What are we? Thirteen?" Joe asked throwing his controller down.

"Come on you guys. I want to take Collette out on a nice evening, alone. We need a babysitter. Please," Patrick whined.

"Dude, I'll baby-sit for you. Just stop with the whining," Pete said going back to his sidekick.

"There, now you have a babysitter," Andy pointed and positioned himself to begin to play video games again.

"Well, actually, Collette doesn't trust Pete to baby-sit by himself," Patrick said quickly.

Again all the boys' heads popped up at this and gave Patrick another look of shock.

"Well, can you blame her?" Patrick asked shocked that they were shocked.

The guys looked around at each other and ended up shrugging.

"Not really," Pete said focusing on his sidekick once again.

"So, will you guys do this for me? Please?" Patrick asked sincerely.

"Sure, Patrick. We will help you out this time," Andy said quietly.

He didn't know much about this Collette girl, but he knew that Patrick was finding a liking for her. He also knew that if he were in that situation, Patrick would be there to help him out as well.

-----

"I don't wanna die!" Joe yelled as Simba and Nala continued their barking at the four boys who stood back with fear.

Jackson ran out of the house with treats in his hands making sure to reward the dogs for being good.

"Hey Jackson," Pete said happily that the two dogs were sitting and eating their treats quietly.

"Hi Pete!" he said happily unlocking the gate and allowing the boys to come in.

Everyone started to enter except for Joe who stood back with fear in his eyes.

"Hey Pete," Jackson said grabbing Pete's sleeve.

"Yeah?" he asked looking down at the boy.

"Is that guy gonna come in?" he asked giving Joe an odd look.

"Joe, come on. Stop being a wuss," Pete said in a commanding voice.

Jackson giggled loudly.

"What are you laughing at?" Pete asked picking up Jackson, flinging him over his shoulder, and running towards the house with Jackson squealing loudly.

Joe slowly and cautiously walked into the gated area and quietly closed the gate thinking that if he made any sudden movements or noises the dogs would attack. Patrick noticed that Joe was not with them, so he looked back to see Joe practically tip-toeing around the dogs. He just laughed to himself.

Joe didn't move too fast, but when one dog let out a sound he ran as fast as his legs could take him making it to the house before anyone else.

"What is he running for?" Andy asked Patrick as Joe ran into the house.

"God only knows," Patrick muttered.

The boys walked into the house to see Joe with his hands on his knees breathing deeply.

"Joe, I know the answer already, but are you on drugs?" Andy asked him.

Joe just looked up at him out of breath not answering.

Rooger came bounding into the entryway with a loud single bark as he always did.

"GOD NO!" Joe yelled running behind Andy.

"What's going on?" Collette asked walking into the entryway slowly.

Patrick looked over at her and almost let his jaw drop. She was dressed in a cute red strapless dress with a black shall over her arms. She wore her hair down letting it cascade down her shoulders.

"Joe's afraid of your dogs," Andy explained.

"Joe, they won't hurt you," Collette said laughing at the look on his face. "Especially this one," she said taking Rooger's head between her hands and rubbing his ears.

Joe slowly moved from behind Andy and smiled slightly.

"Just let him sniff you," Collette offered. "Go say hi to Joe," Collette said to Rooger pointing to Joe.

"Hey Rooger," Joe said holding his hand out.

Rooger, of course, avoided Joe's hand and stuck his head into his crotch.

"Whoa!" Joe said jumping back.

Andy, Collette, and Patrick just laughed.

"Not funny," Joe said sternly.

"Sorry, Joe. He's got a mind of his own," Collette said grabbing Rooger by the collar and pulling him away from Joe.

"It's fine," Joe said brushing dog drool off his pants not sounding amused.

They heard Jackson squealing from inside the house, so Joe and Andy followed the sound to see what was up.

Patrick stood back and looked at Collette. She was gorgeous. Collette noticed that Patrick was staring at her.

"Am I too over dressed?" she asked.

"No, you look great," he gushed.

Collette blushed and looked to her side.

"Thanks," she said smiling.

She looked back at Patrick taking notice that he didn't look so bad himself. He had on some dark slacks with a white polo, a black coat, and of course a black hat. Collette took notice of how he always seemed to where multiple layers, even in L.A where it was warm.

"So ready to go?" Patrick asked feeling self conscious that Collette was staring.

"Just a second. Let me talk to the boys and lay down some rules," she said walking into the living room where all four boys were playing Playstation.

"Jacks, can you pause for a second?" Collette asked looking into her purse making sure she had everything.

Jackson pushed pause which cause a chorus of "awes" from the "grown-ups."

"Yeah, CoCo?" he asked walking up to her.

"You be good for the guys tonight, ok?" she asked kneeling down to be eye level with him.

"I will," he said nodding.

"You know where all the emergency numbers are and I will have my cell phone on all night. Please call for anything, ok?" she asked grabbing the front of his shirt slightly.

"I know," he said rolling his eyes.

"It's alright, Collette. We'll be fine," Pete said still sitting on the floor in front of the TV waiting for the game to continue.

"Alright, I left money on the counter, so you guys can order pizza," Collette said loud enough for the guys to hear.

"Ok," Pete said simply.

"Don't let them turn on the oven," Collette said quietly to Jackson.

"Alright, CoCo," he said laughing and nodding.

Collette hugged Jackson tightly to her.

"I love you," she said squeezing harder.

"CoCo, you have to let me go," he said quietly.

"I know," she said and let go to look at him.

He just smiled at her and made her melt with his big blue eyes. She couldn't help but be reminded of her sister every time he gave her that look. It was a look that asked 'what are you thinking?' Her sister always gave her that look.

"Have fun," she said ruffling his hair and standing up.

"Ready?" Patrick asked staying back a ways, so Collette could say goodbye to Jackson.

"Yup," she said smiling.

"Be good you guys," Patrick said in a low voice.

No one said a thing for they were too involved in their game.

-----

Patrick took Collette to the old part of L.A. by Union Station.

"Do you like Mexican food?" he asked as they walked along the street.

There were stands all over where people would sell little trinkets and such that they had made. There was a mariachi band playing in the background outside one of the little restaurants.

"I love it," she said simply.

"Good, I like this part of town because it is away from all the Hollywood hype, you know," he said smiling over at her.

"It's very relaxing," she said nodding.

Patrick led her to a restaurant where they were seating in the outside patio. There were some people there, but it was quite enough for them to talk to one another. They could still hear the mariachi band playing in the background. The atmosphere was very romantic.

Collette looked all around taking in all the sites.

"I can't say that I have ever been to this part of town before," she said looking at Patrick now.

Patrick just looked at her in hopes she was enjoying herself.

"I like it," she nodded approvingly.

"Me too," he smiled at her.

Collette could only smile back at this point because Patrick was being so adorable. He had opened every door for her and led her around by gently putting his hand on the small of her back. He made sure to pull her chair out for her before sitting in his own. It had been a long time since she had been treated in such a way and she kind of liked it.

They spent the evening sipping on margaritas and talking about anything and everything. Patrick talked more about his past and childhood back home in Illinois. Collette felt freer to talk about her sister and her childhood as well being that Patrick knew that her sister had died.

"It sounds like you two were quite the pair," Patrick said laughing after Collette had told the story about how she and her sister had dropped a six pack of Dr. Pepper in the store having all the cans burst open showering them and everyone else in soda.

"She was my best friend," Collette said quietly.

"You must miss her a lot," Patrick said noticing that Collette had gotten a distant look on her face.

"I do. Even though it's only been about a year and half since she past away, I felt like I lost her a long before that," Collette said taking a big sigh.

"How so?" Patrick inquired.

"Kiefer, Jackson's father. She was head over heels for this guy, and he just whisked her away from me. I remember my birthday one year," Collette started to reminisce.

"CoCo, don't be angry with me," Morgan sighed into the phone.

"Angry? How could I not be angry? Mo, this is my birthday. I've never had a birthday without you," Collette said sounding disappointed into the phone.

"Listen to me. Something came up and I just can't make it, but I will make it up to you. I promise. You know I wouldn't miss this unless it was important, right," Morgan said trying her best to sound as though nothing was wrong.

"I know. I'll miss you," Collette said taking a big sigh.

"Me too. Have fun," Morgan said shutting the phone off before she broke into tears.

"I found out later that Kiefer had hit Morgan for trying to leave to come to my birthday. Something always "came up" and I never knew it was because he wouldn't let her near her family. He was an evil man," Collette said quietly shaking her head.

"Collette, I am so sorry that you lost her," Patrick said sympathetically.

"Me too," she said looking into his eyes.

Patrick just grabbed her hand from across the table and squeezed it tightly. He had a feeling that Kiefer was the cause of more pain than Collette was letting on. He had a thought that perhaps the reason Collette was in L.A. with Jackson was because of Kiefer.

Soon their food came and the conversation took a turn to a lighter side and they spent the rest of the evening eating good food and laughing. It was everything Patrick had hoped for in a first date.

-----

Collette quietly opened the door in order to not wake up anybody that may have fallen asleep. It was already midnight.

After eating at the restaurant, Patrick and Collette drove down Ocean Avenue and found a place to park and talk. There may have been a little bit of making out as well.

Rooger came into the entry way, but didn't bark when he noticed it was Collette at the door.

"Do you think they are sleeping?" Patrick asked quietly.

"I don't know. It's pretty quiet in there," Collette said slipping off her shoes.

They tiptoed into the living room and saw that all of the boys had fallen asleep.

Pete was laying on the floor with his head propped against the couch with Jackson sleeping with his head on Pete's stomach. Pete rested his hand on Jackson's back. Joe and Andy laid at opposite ends of the couch both with their mouths wide open. The TV was bright blue showing that the movie they were watching had been turned off.

"Oh, cute," Collette said mainly to herself.

"I'll put Jackson to bed for you," Patrick said walking into the living room and picking the boy up quietly.

Pete's eyes flew open and he breathed in deeply. He gave Patrick a confused look as Patrick smiled down at him with Jackson draped over his shoulder.

Pete looked around confused and sat up still with a clueless expression.

"You didn't burn the place down. I'm impressed," Collette said quietly as Patrick walked into Jackson's room.

Pete smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, it was tough to resist, but Jackson said we couldn't play with matches," he joked. His voice was scratchy showing signs that he had just woken up.

Patrick came back out and smiled at Collette.

"He didn't even wake up," he said putting his hands in his back pockets.

"Yeah, he's always been a heavy sleeper," she smiled and walked to turn the TV off.

"So did you guys have a good night?" Pete asked picking himself off the floor.

"It was nice," Collette smiled towards Patrick.

"Yeah, it was," he smiled back.

Pete noticed that they looked like two teenagers in love. He smiled to himself almost feeling a hint of jealousy tug at him.

"We better get dumb and dumber up here," Pete said walking towards Joe and Andy.

He shook them awake and they both looked around confused.

"Did you all have fun?" Collette asked as they sat up rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.

"He has the coolest toys," Joe said keeping his head in his hands.

"He was very well behaved. He's an angel," Andy said standing up and stretching.

"He is," Collette agreed.

Everyone slowly walked into the entry way as they were still fighting the sleep off of themselves.

"Thanks you guys for everything," Collette said sincerely.

"No prob. I'll watch that kid anytime if I get to play with his toys," Joe joked.

Andy opened the door and started to walk out followed by Pete who was being followed by Joe, but he stopped abruptly and turned around.

"They won't eat me right?" he asked referring to Simba and Nala.

"No, they won't eat you," Collette laughed.

"Good, because if they," Joe was cut off by Pete grabbing him by the collar and pulling him out the door.

Collette laughed loudly and looked over at Patrick who was just shaking his head.

"I had fun," Patrick said edging towards her.

"Me too. Thank you," she said back. Suddenly both were nervous.

"I'll call you, ok?" he asked grabbing one of her hands.

"Ok," she nodded.

He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. Collette felt the shivers run through her whole body intensify as the kiss did. Patrick put his hand on her jaw and deepened the kiss with his tongue emitting a moan from Collette. They broke apart and looked into one another's eyes.

"Goodnight," he whispered.

"Night," was all she could muster out.

-----

Collette sat in her office smiling as she looked out the window. It had been a week since her date with Patrick, and she still had the butterflies in her stomach when she thought about him and the kiss.

"Do you still work here?" Wren asked as she walked into the office and sitting down.

"Shut up," Collette laughed.

"No really. Every time I see you, you are either running out to go to the coffee shop or staring out your window," Wren smiled at her friend.

"Get off me," Collette laughed.

"So how is Mr. Wonderful?" Wren asked folding her arms across her chest.

"Wonderful," Collette sighed.

"You are hopeless girl," Wren laughed.

"What ever. How are things with Joe? I know you went out with him a couple of times," Collette countered.

"See, here's the difference. Joe and I go out, have fun, drink some drinks, then go and have some good sex, where you and Patrick do none of that stuff," Wren said looking at her friend evilly.

"We have fun," Collette protested. "Just because we don't have sex doesn't mean that we don't have fun, Wren. Let's get some priorities straight, shall we?" Collette said leaning back in her chair.

"But you wanna have sex with him, right?" Wren asked with a smirk.

"Would you keep your voice down?" Collette asked looking at her open door.

"You do. Admit it," Wren said ignoring Collette's request.

"I don't know," Collette said looking down and blushing.

"You do! You slut," Wren said quietly.

"Oh right. Look who is talking," Collette said not really shocked by her friend's attitude.

They stopped their conversation quickly when one of the boy's came in with a magazine in his hand and plopped down in the chair next to Wren.

"What's up Corey?" Collette asked the boy.

"Nothin'" he said unenthusiastically.

"How was the run to the store?" Wren asked of the weekly store run the boys get if they are under good behavior.

"Fine," he said simply.

"Did you get anything good?" Collette asked.

"Just this," he said holding up the magazine.

"Good reading?" Wren asked him.

"Not really. I guess Fall Out Boy has a new girlfriend," he said pointing to the cover.

Wren grabbed the magazine from his hand and looked at it closely. Her mouth formed an 'O' shape as she looked up slowly into Collette's eyes.

Collette reached across her desk and ripped the magazine form Wren's hands. She looked closely and saw a picture in the bottom left corner of her and Patrick at the restaurant last week sharing a smile with one another.

This can not be happening.

-----

"Hey there," Patrick answered his phone happy to see it was Collette.

"Where are you?" she asked not sounding quite as happy.

She was in her car speeding down the freeway towards L.A. with the magazine in her passenger seat.

"The studio, why?" Patrick asked but got no response.

Collette had hung up the phone and pushed the accelerator down. Patrick had taken her to the studio once for her to look around, so she knew exactly where to go.

"Collette? Hello?" Patrick asked into his phone worried.

"Everything ok?" Pete asked from behind Patrick.

Patrick just shrugged and put his phone back into his pocket.

The boys sat in the control room listen to some playback when Collette had stormed in and slammed the magazine down on the table causing Pete and Patrick to jump a mile.

"Collette, hey," Patrick said happily and standing up to hug her.

He quickly noticed the anger in her face and decided against getting too close. Pete noticed to, so he quickly got up from his seat and left the room.

"We've got a big problem," she said as her voice began to quiver.

AN: Thanks for all the great reviews! And thanks to all the DOJ girls and their craziness that keep me sane....if that makes any sense at all. ALSO, thank you Crystal for being my cheerleader through this. Oh and Alex, I'm so not ready for this!