It's You

Nine

Camila felt a familiar sense of comfort being in his arms in this moment. So much had happened in 6 years and it was overwhelming to think about sharing all of it.

Shawn softly rubbed her back and placed his other hand on the back of her head as he held her. His fingertips gently slid into her hair and massaged her scalp.

Camila felt a chill run through her entire body and it terrified her.

To his dismay, she stepped back and out of his arms.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

Shawn looked her at her curiously. "Why not?"

She waved it off. "We can't just pick up where we left off, Shawn."

"I'll ask the same question...why not?"

She shook her head then sat on the couch leaning her back against the arm rest. Camila glanced back towards the archway to the other room where Isa and Paula were. "Did you forget?"

Shawn walked over and sat beside her turning his body so they were facing one another. "I can't ever seem to forget moments I've spent with you."

Camila's facial expression relaxed and Shawn knew she was calming down. They might even be able to talk, which is what he had wanted for the past 6 years. Now that she was here...he not only wanted to talk...he needed it more than anything.

"In all honestly, Mila...I don't want to forget."

She looked down trying to mask her blushing cheeks.

Shawn softly caressed her hand that was resting on her leg. "Tell me about her." He said with a genuine smile.

Camila couldn't help but smile. "She is my everything. She is such a sweetheart and a kind soul. She certainly did not get that from her father."

Shawn felt a pain in his heart knowing that Austin shared something so special with her. "How are they together?"

"He is a good dad, when he is around. It got to the point where he'd be gone for months and come back...not in a good place. I couldn't let Isa be around that."

"What about you? You shouldn't have to be around that either, Mila."

She sighed. "I know that. I mean with Papa'a anniversary and Austin's shit, I just wanted her to be around this...what we grew up with...ya know?"

Shawn smiled. "I understand completely."

"Maybe it will help..." She stopped herself.

"Help?"

Just then Isa came running and climbed onto Camila.

Camila's worried expression immediately turned happy as to not alarm her daughter. "Looks like it is somebody's bedtime."

Isa nodded then hugged her.

"Sorry. I have to put her down. I'll be right back."

"Goodnight Issabel."

Camila gave him an apologetic look. "I'll be right back."

Shawn watched her walk Isa up the stairs. His lips formed a smile at hearing her beautiful voice attempt to sing her daughter to sleep.

"So it's you, huh?"

Shawn turned to Paula standing by the doorway. "It's me?"

"You are the one for her."

Shawn blushed. "How could you possibly know something like that? Did Rosa say that to you?"

Paula chuckled. "She hasn't said anything of the sort. If my man looked at me like you just looked at her, I'd be calling him the one as well.

"What is he then?"

"He is the one...until I find the actual one." She said with a laugh.

Shawn appeared shocked by this.

"I am just teasing. He is the one...for now."

Shawn smiled and nodded. "Perhaps Isa's father ought to be 'the one'?"

"Well, he isn't. I blame him for Isa not talking at all."

Shawn's eyes widened and Paula quickly realized that, once again, she put her foot in her mouth. "She doesn't talk?"

"Thanks, Paula." Camila said as she walked down the stairs.

"I better leave you two alone." Paula said then quickly got out of there.

"Isa won't talk and Paula can't stop herself from talking." Camila said then shook her head as she sat back onto the couch.

"Was she always this way?"

"Who, Paula? For as long as I've known her."

"No, I mean Isa."

"Oh. We'll she was talking fine until Austin and I started fighting a lot. He would leave, like I said and the doctor seems to think it is the uncertainty of his presence or something. I feel like I've failed her." She said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You could never do that."

"Well, I have, Shawn. Maybe if I would have supported his career more. I just didn't think she belonged traveling around so much and being in bars after 9pm." She explained.

"Hang on. What about YOUR career?" he asked in defense.

Camila bit her bottom lip. "It sort of didn't happen like I thought. I got pregnant sooner than I thought I ever would and..."

"But Camila...I thought you left with him to pursue your careers?"

"Sometimes things don't work out the way we plan, Shawn!" She said louder than she intended. She couldn't help it. She was feeling judged and attacked by him in this moment.

"I see that!"

Camila pressed her lips together in anger. "Sometimes FRIENDS should be there when they say they will be!"

Shawn's mouth dropped open. "Is that what you think?"

Camila felt her body trembling with emotional anger that she had kept locked up inside all these years.

"Is it?!"

Camila squinted her eyes at him. "Yeah, it is!"

"Shhhhhh. Some of us are trying to sleep, including your daughter." Paula said quietly as she stood in the middle of the staircase.

"Shawn was just leaving...weren't you, Shawn?"

Shawn could not believe it had escalated so quickly.

Camila walked over and opened up the door for him. "In fact...I am surprised he even showed up at all."

Shawn looked extremely hurt by her words. It was clear he was struggling to say something, but he couldn't quite get it out.

"Nothing to say, huh? Wouldn't be the first time."

Shawn nodded then headed for the door. He gave a quick look to Paula who appeared sorry for him.

Camila waited for him to leave then slammed the door and locked it.