“You’re doing what?” Maggie shrieked on the other end of the phone the next day.

“I’m staying. Josh and I….made up.” Annie looked over at JC, who was smiling in bed at her as she talked on the phone.

“Annie, what about school? You’re giving up a graduate degree?”

JC squeezed Annie’s arm. “Tell her you’re young. And I didn’t go to school and I’m doing fine.”

Annie shushed him and then went back to her sister. “It’s not a huge deal, Maggie. You can withdrawal up to two weeks after classes start. I’m calling the registrar on Monday.”

Maggie was quiet. Then, “Ok. If this is what you really want. I mean, are you sure this time?”

Annie looked over at JC and grinned. “I’m more than sure.”

JC tugged her arm, pulling her back down into bed. “Get off the phone. Tell your sister you’ll call her later. Emma’s gonna be up soon.”

“Maggie, I need to go. I’ll figure out getting my stuff back and let you know.”

Maggie heaved a sigh. “Ok, Ann. I trust your judgment. I just…I want you to be sure.”

JC was kissing Annie’s neck and her shoulder and Annie was having a hard time concentrating on her sister’s voice.

“Uhh..uh huh. I know, I know. Maggie, I gotta go, okay? I love you! Bye!” Annie hung up and leaned back into JC. His hands moved up and down her arms and his lips sucked gently on her neck.

“Mm.” Annie closed her eyes and relaxed against him.

“You’re here.” JC whispered into her ear, biting it before pulling her hair back and kissing the back of her neck. “I can’t believe you’re here again. I mean, it feels so normal. But at the same time…I don’t know. I kind of feel like I’m gonna wake up and you’re going to be gone.”

Annie turned around and faced him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, their foreheads touching. “I’m not going anywhere.” She kissed him. “But don’t give me a reason to go anywhere.”

JC rested his hands on her bare waist, his fingers gently pressing into her skin. “Baby, I swear. I think I’m done with the girl band thing. I need to focus on Emma. And I need to focus on you.”

Annie’s eyes met JC’s and they stared at each other for a few moments.

“Really?” Annie whispered.

“Yeah. Really.” JC smiled at her. “Kiss me.”

“She’s still asleep?” JC asked Annie, when they had emerged from the bedroom. Emma-Claire’s door was still closed and it was now much past the time she normally awoke. “Oh god she’s not starting to sleep in til noon is she?”

Annie chuckled. “No, she’s five, not fifteen.” She knocked on the door. “Emma-Claire?”

“Yeah?” The tiny voice behind the door answered.

“You’re awake?” JC asked and turned the knob.

Annie and JC smiled at what they saw behind the door. Emma-Claire was sitting up in bed with five or six books piled around her. She had one opened and was reading quietly in bed.

“You didn’t go downstairs?” JC walked into her bedroom, Annie right behind him.

“No. I wanted to read.” Emma-Claire put the book in her lap and looked up at JC and Annie. “Annie, are you wearing Daddy’s t-shirt and shorts?”

Annie blushed and looked down at the oversized t-shirt and boxer shorts that were rolled at the waist so they wouldn’t fall off of her.

“Yes.” Annie cleared her throat. “Emma, guess what?”

“What?” Emma-Claire asked.

“I’m not going back to Ohio. I’m gonna stay here. With you and Daddy.” Annie sat down the child’s bed and Emma-Claire jumped into Annie’s lap, her arms thrown around her neck.

“Really? And are you Daddy’s girlfriend again?” Emma-Claire clung to Annie tightly and looked from Annie to JC and back again.

“Yeah.” Annie grinned at JC and kissed Emma-Claire’s cheek.

“And you’re not leaving again?” Emma-Claire placed both of her hands on Annie’s cheeks.

Annie glanced up at JC, then back at Emma-Claire. “No. I’m not leaving again.”

“I won’t let her.” JC spoke up and moved closer to Annie and Emma-Claire.

“Good!” Emma-Claire squealed and kissed Annie’s cheek. “Can we have breakfast now?”

Annie laughed. “Yes. We can have breakfast now.” She stood with Emma-Claire still in her arms, the little girl’s legs wrapped around Annie’s waist. Annie put her down and she ran towards the stairs, bounding down them and beating the adults to the kitchen.

“I meant what I said.” JC pulled Annie aside before they went downstairs. “I’m not gonna let you leave this time because I’m not going to give you a reason to want to go.”

Annie smiled. “I believe you, Josh.”

JC pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Too bad five-year-olds can’t make breakfast. I’d like to take you back to bed.”

As if on cue, Emma-Claire bellowed from downstairs. “Daddy! Annie! I’m hungry!”

Annie giggled into JC’s mouth, pulling away from JC. “Well, they can’t. Come on. I think we’re going to have plenty of time for all of that.”

“Good.” JC kissed her once more. “C’mon, Annie the Nanny. Let’s go have breakfast.”