Second Chance Mate [Completed]

Chapter One

Keeping the identity of your child's father in a small town tends to earn you a reputation. I live in a small town, where everyone knows everyone. It's not that I don't know who my daughter's father is, it's the fact that him and I were a secret. He's two years older than me, but I was only sixteen when we started secretly seeing each other. Now, I'm a twenty-one year old bartender, single mother of a one year old, and her father doesn't know about her.

My best friend, Ino, is the only person in this town who knows who Azula's father truly is. My parents have been begging me to tell them the truth since they discovered I was expecting, but I couldn't risk it. He joined the Navy when he graduated high school, then shipped out when I learned that I was pregnant. I haven't heard from him since. I was madly in love with him, so when I realize he was talking to his parents and his best friend but not me, it hurt.

I live in a two bedroom house, alone with my daughter. She's growing so fast, and doing everything myself is exhausting. I work nights, and wake up with her around eight every day. When my parents take her, I get a little extra time to sleep. Ino on the other hand, leaves early for work.

"Hey, Karin, what's the update today?" Ino called as she walked into my house. Tonight, Ino is coming to watch Azula for me while I work.

I walked out of the bedroom adding my necklace to my outfit. "She just ate lunch before going down. When she wakes up, she's going to need dinner. Also, she's cutting another tooth so be aware that she may spike a fever. Which also means she has a rash forming, just put fresh cream on every diaper change."

"This poor kid, is she almost done cutting teeth?" Ino signed.

"Doctor said it looks like she has all her teeth after this as it's her two year molars coming in. She's barely sleeping from the pain, you know how much Tylenol to give her before bed, right?"

"I got it momma. Aunty Ino has her munchkin, you go to work." Ino said taking a seat on the couch. I handed her the baby monitor and headed out the door.

I drove the ten minutes to work listening to the radio. I stepped out into the parking lot greeting my boss, Kakashi, on my way into the door. I checked in with the cook, and set all the tables for the night. By the time the bar opened, it was the normal Friday night crowd. Couples coming in, people having a couple beers after work, it's a small town but a large crowd. I make my way around the bar serving drinks and food to people I know.

"Karin, you're looking good tonight." Danzo, one of our regulars called out. "When are you going to let me take you out?"

"Danzo, we both know you're married to your work." I laughed as I handed him his beer. Danzo was the town flirt, but a very happily married man.

"How's your little girl doing?" Tsunade as I approached her table, as the towns local relator.

"Doing good. Turns two in two weeks." I replied setting her food down.

"Wow. How time flies." Tsunade smiled as I moved through the crowd.

"Karin, remember the band is coming in at eight." Kakashi called out of the office. I nodded as I went behind the bar to pour some more drinks for my customers.

This is a crazy night. A local band coming in to play tends to draw bigger crowds. Juugo is manning the bar, but I get the  drinks for my own customers to help him out the kitchen is bustling in the back as I go in to grab more food that my customers are waiting on.

"Great. I need a Heineken and a Budlight bottle." I sighed. He placed the bottle on my tray, as I lifted it off the table and walked over to deliver the order to table 12.

I walked over to table 2 and saw two guys talking and looking around. "What'll it be boys?" I asked in my usual manner.

"Two whiskey neat's, and a side of you." One of the guys answered grabbing my ass. I push him off with a glare.

"Two whiskey neat coming up. Touch me again and you'll be tossed out of here on your ass." I replied. Juugo had called Kakashi out of the office to observe the situation. Kakashi has a ser-tolerance policy for rowdy patrons. He always has my back. I went to the bar to make the drinks.

"Hey bartender! Can I get 3 Miller Lights on draft?" A very familiar voice called out making my heart stop. It's been almost three years stop. It's been almost three years since I heard his voice, and yet it still had the same effect on me.

"Coming up!" Juugo answered going to the taps to pur the drinks. I grabbed my tray full of drinkd, giving Juugo a smile and continued to make my rounds.

When I got back to table two, a few more guys had joined the table. I put the drinks down with a smile. The young man from early decided he was going to slap my ass as I began to walk away. I spun around and ounch him in the face, as Kakashi came over to escort him out of the bar.

"Karin, you know punching customers isn't smart." Kakashi scolded with a smile. "Are you good, or do you need a minute?"

"I'm fine. Despite my reputation, I'm here to sell alcohol and food, not myself." I snapped back. I went back to the kichen to grab more food for my customers. I continued my rounds, as the band began to set up for the night. "Juugo, any idea where all these out of towners are coming from tonight?" I asked as I grabbed my customers some drinks.

"No idea, but try not to punch anymore. Kakashi will send you home if you do, you know better." Juugo warned. I rolled my eyes as I walked away.

The band started playing and the night continued without incident. The usual customers have all begun to trickle out to go him around 11 when the kitchen closed. I made my way over to a table with drinks that someone ordered when I almost ran into him, Sasuke Uchiha.

"Sorry." He smiled as he helped steady my tray.

"Thanks." I mumbled as I continued on my way.

"Karin?" Sasuke called as I emptied the tray at the table.

I spun around with a smile. "That's me. How are you?" It was hard to pretend I wasn't out of sorts, but seeing him after so long.

"I'm good." He replied. "Wasn't expecting to see you in here, never mind working as waitress."

"Bartender, waitress, whatever needs to be done on the night shift." I replied. "Excuse me, I have tables to clear." I walked away to continued my shift. Midnight rolled around and the band began to pack up. I signed when the music stopped, and my ear stopped buzzing.

When Juugo called for last call, most our customers cleared out. I finished my shift by cleaning all the tables, sweeping the floor. I walked out with Juugo as we went to our cars.

"Karin, I wanted to talk to you." Sasuke's voice called out. He walked over to me as I unlocked my car.

"There's nothing for us to talk about." I replied opening my car door.

"I've missed you. I was hoping we could hang out for old times sake."

I laughed, "That ship has sailed almost three years ago. I'm not interested."

"Word around town is your quite the tease. I was hoping you and I could get together like we use to." He said, reaching for my waist.

"Don't believe everything you hear. Not everything is true." I snapped getting in my car. I pulled the door closed, started my engine and went home.

At home, I took a shower, checked in on my baby sound asleep in her crib. I sighed as I walked into my room, and crawled into bed. It was two in the morning, and I know my baby will be up in a few hours. I closed my eyes trying to clear my head from the events of the night.