As Alexa went to bed that night she felt safe, she had gotten to Johnny’s house in tears and asked to come here to Josh. Why she didn’t know, all she knew is that with him, she just felt safe. And even though she hadn’t known him for along time, there was something about him that made her feel at home.

            They had gone back to her house to pick up some of her stuff, including the old shoebox under her bed. And as they’d packed her stuff, they’d realized that Alexa’s mother had gone, for good.

            “Alexa?” JC’s voice said from the doorway. Alexa looked up and smiled at him.

            “Hi Josh. Thanks for letting me stay here,” Alexa said looking around the room that JC had made up for his daughter. JC smiled and walked into the room.

            “How are you finding things?” he asked sitting at the end of the bed. Alexa smiled at him and nodded.

            “Good thanks,” she said, there was a brief moment of silence before JC spoke.

            “Well I just came to say goodnight,” he said and leaned over to hug her.

            “Good night Josh,” she said hugging him back. Then she crawled under the covers as he got up to leave the room. “Josh?”

            “Yeah?” he asked stopping in the doorway and looking back at her.

            “Thanks again. I’m sure Alexandra would be happy that you’re her dad, she’s really lucky,” Alexa said, JC nodded and smiled.

            “Thank you Alexa,” JC said. “Good night.”

            “Night Josh,” Alexa replied and closed her eyes, knowing that Josh would keep her safe.

            JC smiled as Alexa closed her eyes and fell asleep. For a few minutes he didn’t leave, he just stood there watching her sleep. The girl seemed so peaceful and serene, he wondered what she’d done to deserve a mother like hers because she was one incredible girl.

            He sighed and finally let himself leave, walking slowly to his own room. He walked into the room and flopped face down on the bed yawning. He couldn’t believe at what happened today, but he was now too tired to think about it. He smiled and tried to get up so he could go to the bathroom to but to no avail, he was too God damn tired. He let his eyes close then, and as he did so a feeling of relief came over him. He may not have Alexandra with him, but he had Alexa and something about that girl made everything okay.

            JC walked quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen, it was still early but he couldn’t go back to sleep. He Yawned as he walked into the kitchen and was about to turn on the coffee machine when he stopped in his tracks.

            “Morning Josh,” Alexa said quietly from her stool by the center island.

            “Morning Alexa,” JC said smiling at the girl’s presence, he was shocked to see her up. “Did you have breakfast already?” Alexa shook her head a no and smiled a t him.

            “No I just woke up myself,” she said, and JC nodded.

            “Cool,” he said regaining himself and walking over to the coffee machine, and turning it o. “So what do you want to eat?”

            “What do you have?” Alexa asked, already getting comfortable with JC.

            “Um, coffee?” JC asked laughing and opening up the fridge. “What about, let’s see, eggs? Toast?” He came back up with a tray of eggs in his hands and put it on the counter top.

            “Yeah sure,” Alexa agreed. “But do you have any tea? Or juice? I don’t drink coffee.”
            JC looked again in the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice. “Will this do?” he asked and Alexa nodded.

            “Yeah thanks,” she said and JC smiled.

            “Okay then,” he said pulling out a glass from the cabinet and pouring some juice into it. “Let’s get this thing started.” He put some bread in the toaster and started to prepare the eggs. “How you like your eggs?”

            “Um, sunny side up?” Alexa asked JC nodded.

            “Good, because that’s all I know how to make. That and pop tarts,” JC said and Alexa laughed. “Hey come on now it’s not that bad!”

            “No, its kindda nice,” Alexa said, “I feel at home here, thanks again.”

            “No problems,” JC said smiling at her politeness. “So what’s the plan for today?” Alexa shrugged and looked down at the table.

            “I think Johnny wants me back in the studio today,” Alexa said softly and JC nodded.

            “Okay, well why don’t we go over there after breakfast? Maybe then we can work on some of your songs I’m going to produce,” JC said finishing off making the eggs and putting them, along with the toasts, onto a plate. “Here you go, enjoy,” he said putting a plate in front of Alexa along with the juice. He poured himself some coffee and sat down with her.

            “You’re not eating?” Alexa asked and JC shook his head.

            “Nah, I’m not a breakfast person,” he said and she smiled.

            “Neither was my dad,” she said softly.

            “Not many men are,” JC said, then glanced at her. “Hey, after work today why don’t we go over to Justin’s? I think he’s having a barbeque, you can meet the other guys.”

            “Sure, I’d like that,” Alexa said shyly, and JC smiled. “I’d like it a lot.” Alexa smiled back at him, he already made her feel at home and she liked that.