The Butler's Babysitter |Shaytards|

Three

A/N- Three words: If I Stay

-

It's been five months since I've started babysitting for the Butlers.

Five months of joy.

Five months of something to look forward to.

Five months of a family.

Until I have to go home, that is.

My mom, if we want to call her that, has been at her all time low. And no, I don't mean the band. She's at a rehab center as of now, and no, Colette doesn't know. No one does.

The government tried to put me in a child care center, but I told them I had a place to stay. Which technically, isn't a lie. Shay and Colette always tell me that if something ever went wrong, I could always go to them.

But I didn't.

I stayed at my house, luckily having enough to pay the rent. It's better this way, I can be home without the smoke and stentch of wine filling my airways. I even got my drivers liscense, not that I have enough for a car.

But, it comes in handy when the kids want me to drive them somewhere, or Gavin has a football practice. Shay and Colette have another car now, which they say I'm always free to use when I want to. It's a nice gesture, but I don't want to risk getting it ruined. That would suck.

"Faith!" Emmi yells for me. She looks precious, standing there in her purple dress and freshly cut hair. Her, along with Avia, had gotten their hair cut short again. It's hard not to completely fall in love with the kid, she's adorable. We've become especially close, for reasons unknown. They've all become such a family to me, it's unreal. But, I'm used to the hurt, so I'm not allowing myself to fully fall. I can't. What happens if, God forbid, it all stops? I won't have anyone, and I'm not taking the chance of falling, just to get hurt in the long run.

I snap my head towards the staircase, where the seven year old stands. "Yeah, Em?" She grins at me, as if what she's about to say would be the best idea on the planet.

"Can we go sledding?" She pleads. "Please?"

I glance to the window, the fluffy Februray snow gently falling from the sky. Avia and Gavin are already out in it, making snow angels in the cotton-like frozen water.

"Yeah." I say. "Go ahead, you have a bunch of hills to use right outside."

"Okay!" She grins and runs off for her snow gear.

I grab my winter coat, which Shay and Colette insisted they get me for Christmas, and find my boots. Emmi comes down seconds later, clad in her pink snowpants and matching coat. I help her with her mittens and she runs outside, and I follow. Brock and Daxton are both napping, so I make a note to check on them every so often.

"C'mon, Faith!" Avia calls from the top of the snowhill. "Come sled with us!"

-

"Thanks again, Faith." Shay says to me as I'm walking towards the door.

"It's no problem, just like the last five months." I giggle, opening the big door. Colette grabs my arm before I exit, and I turn to face her.

"You're sure you don't need a ride?" She asks me, looking genuinly concerned.

I nod, hoping it's convincing enough.

"Okay, thanks." Colette smiles. "Be safe."

I smile gratefully and begin the walk down the street. I don't have enough for the bus, so I have to make the walk home in the snow.