Just as I Begin to Fade

Forty Four. Rules

Later that night, when Stevie had gone to sleep, Lindsey decided to get up and get clothes on so that he could go to his office and just work on some things regarding a few of his students.

Although he rarely worked at home, having learned to not do so years before, he just felt some things needed to get out of the way.

As he finished up his work for the evening, he noticed that it was going on midnight and Gwen was not back yet which had him slightly upset.

Even though he had promised the girl her life as usual, he didn't really approve of the lack of discipline; Stevie had no rules and it sort of bugged him just because the girl was in and out at all hours of day, coming and going as she pleased. He wanted her to be a normal teenager, doing things like homework, studying---not out with her boyfriend or friends all night drinking or partying.

He didn't exactly know why it bothered him so much when she wasn't even his daughter, but in trying to respect Stevie as a mother, he was having a hard time only because she had no structure.

Just a moment later, he saw his office door opening slowly and the blonde peeked in.

"Am I interrupting you?"

"No, of course not, come in," he assured, gesturing for her.

"I didn't know where to find you, so I went roaming..." she furthered in, revealing the fact that she was wearing an oversized, long sleeved tee shirt---one of his---and its length hit the curve of her butt. "So, why have you locked yourself away in here?" she approached him, straddling his lap comfortably and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Were hiding from me?"

"Didn't lock myself away, and no, I'm not hiding," he smirked, letting his hand settle on her hip. "I was just working and then just thinking... Y'know, Gwen's not back yet?" he glanced down at his watch once again.

"So?" she leaned forward just to kiss him.

"Stevie, it's almost one, doesn't that bother you?" he questioned.

"As long as she is being safe, in every aspect of the word, no," she shrugged. "What she does is her business, what I do is mine. It's been that way for a long time. It shouldn't bother you either."

"Well, it does," he claimed. "I just feel like we should be looking out for her more. And if you don't feel the need to, maybe I should be so you don't have to worry about it."

"I don't worry about it... But if you really feel the need to, knock yourself out. She listens to you anyway and she still isn't very happy with me, per se."

"Knock myself out, huh?"

"Whatever floats your boat," she nodded in agreement with a small laugh. "If you want rules for your house, I can understand that. There are just none in mine. If we moved in and you had a child of your own, I know there would be some rules... Discipline at your own discretion, but don't be crazy or I will kill you."

"No, I won't," he chuckled. "Just like one or two. She already does her own chores, so that is no problem for me. But things like staying out at night, spending the night at places without us knowing, stuff like that. Other than that, she's a great kid and if she had some rules, she'd be golden."

"Us Nicks gals don't really like rules, Lindsey," she leaned forward, barely settling her lips over his as a sort of tease and she pulled away before doing it once more and then actually kissing him quite passionately.

"I've gathered," he kissed her again.

Pulling away, "Hence this relationship," she whispered. "No matter what she says, she's very much my daughter, so go easy on her."