The movie just finished and the kids bid us goodnight. They both hugged and kissed their dad, but it surprised me when they hugged me. I bid them goodnight and listened as they walked down the hall and closed their doors.

"So?" He asked me.

"You have two amazing kids Ope. Really you and Donna did great." I told him with a soft smile.

"They seemed to really like you." He said to me quietly.

"I'm really glad. They're really sweet Opie." I laid my hand on top of his gently.

He met my eyes and something unspoken passed between us because he leaned over my way and took my cheek in his hand and kissed me. He slid his hand to the back of my neck as moved mine to his cheek. He pulled away first and looked into my eyes for a moment before kissing me again. This kiss was much different than the first. It was needy and urgent. The way his lips claimed mine was possessive.

He tugged on me telling me to come closer and I obliged, never disconnecting our lips I moved so I sat across his lap, not straddling him though. He wrapped his arms around me and I draped mine around his neck. "Opie." I whispered pulling away. "We should stop." I mumbled.

"Yeah... I guess so." He replied moving his hand to scratch the back of his head.

"I KNEW YOU TWO WEREN'T JUST FRIENDS!" Kenny's voice yelled from the entrance to the hallway.

I jumped off Opie and blushed furiously like a teenager. Ellie came running out to see what the commotion was. "No son, it's not what you think." Opie tried to deny.

"Don't deny it to me dad. I watched you try to eat her face." He rolled his eyes but smiled.

Ellie shook her head and smiled too. "What are you two smiling about?" Opie asked, meanwhile I'm still blushing bright red.

"You two look cute together." Ellie answered.

"But we aren't together." Opie clarified.

"Why not?" Kenny asked.

Opie looked up at me expectantly. I knew he couldn't answer that question, only I could. "You're dad and I used to be together, but we were kids and he made some mistakes. I wanted to wait and give it time." I explained.

"Wait, mom said she was the only one you had ever been with." Kenny said confused.

I couldn't help it but I busted out laughing. "No. I was with Alyssa from fifteen until we were nineteen. Your mom just hated her." Opie rolled his eyes.

"Seriously? Why did she hate you so much?" Ellie asked as both kids sat down on the couch.

I sat down on the arm of Opie's chair and he wrapped an arm around my waist. "Because when Alyssa moved away I was miserable. Even though I had just started dating your mom, I found out Alyssa left and I blamed myself. Your mom hated her for making me so upset." Opie explained.

"Why did you two even break up?" Kenny asked inquisitively.

"Well... That's a really long story..." I replied.

"One we will tell you another time." Opie said.

Both kids nodded. "Are you guys gonna get together again?" Ellie asked.

"That's up to Lyss." Opie replied.

Both kids looked at me. "Probably." I replied.

Opie shot his eyes to me shocked. Both kids grinned and excused themselves back to bed. "What?" He choked out.

"I said probably." I smirked at him.

"Why probably?" He asked.

"Well, it wasn't just about your kids being okay with me. There's a lot of other factors that I'm trying to sort through." I explained.

"Like what? Maybe we can figure them out together." He suggested.

I was shocked he would want to but nodded anyways. "Well, for starters, I know men of the club aren't exactly faithful. I don't put up with that shit. Zero tolerance for even touching another woman in an intimate way. Second, last time we were in a relationship, you took off when things got rough. You shut down. How do I know that won't happen again? I don't want to end up getting my hopes up or getting close to those kids only for you to take them away because things got too much for you." I started with the first two that bothered me the most.

"Okay." He nodded and took a breath. "Well, I never cheated on you or Donna. I will admit to cheating on my last relationship. But, that was just a shit show to begin with. As for your second concern, I have been working on that... I'm not perfect so I won't say I won't at least take off for a few days but, if I get another chance with you Alyssa... I won't fuck that up." He told me.

"I wanna believe that Opie. I want to give this a try again, I just don't know... We've both changed a lot in the last eighteen years. We aren't the same people we used to be." I said slightly exasperated.

"Then let me take you on a real date. You and me, we will get to know each other again. So tell me Alyssa. Can I take you out on friday night?" He asked.

"I'd like that Opie." I told him.

He smiled at me. "I've really missed you Lyssa..." He told me gently.

"I missed you too Opie. I think these eighteen years were good for us. Gave us time to really find out who we are and what we want." I said softly.

"That's a nice way to look at it. I have to agree with you." He nodded. "When does the studio open?" He asked me.

"A little under two months. We'll be opening for registration for classes to begin at the beginning of the school year. I just need to find a secretary and train her then we'll be set to go." I told him excitedly.

[Opie's P.O.V]

I watched as her whole face lit up with excitement when she talked about the studio opening. I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face seeing how happy she was. Eighteen years I haven't seen this woman and she still makes me feel like a love struck teenager.

The way she was always so animated and never had a harsh word to say about anyone made me smile. She grew up around the club so, she knew every in and out. She wasn't the type of woman who could be kept out of the loop. She had to know everything.

It took all I possessed not to kiss her again. Not to pull her into my lap and hold her. I remember so much about her, yet it still feels like I'm learning new things.

When I left her for Donna, it wasn't because I loved Donna. Over time I did fall in love with her but when I left Alyssa it was in fear. Fear that she blamed me for Caylee's death. Fear that she would think she wasn't good enough. Fear that she would find someone so much better than me...

The day I was supposed to go with her to get our daughters ashes, I was drunk under a tree in a park. Not able to bring myself to go with her, or be there for her. All of her appointments I missed because I didn't want to face reality over what we were going through.

Ever since she gave me the necklace with her ashes in it I haven't taken it off except to shower. It's kept safely tucked away under my shirt.

"Everything okay Opie? You look upset." She asked concern washing over her soft features.

"Yeah, I was just thinking." I told her shaking it off.

"Okay." She replied timidly. She looked at the time and sighed. "I guess I should head home. It's already passed midnight."

"You can stay here if you want, you can take my bed, I'll sleep out here." I offered.

"No Ope, I couldn't." She said quickly.

"Yes you can. I just bought that bed two weeks ago so it's still really comfortable." I countered.

"I can't make you sleep on the couch in your own house Opie." She told me.

"I don't want you driving by yourself this late Alyssa." I told her.

"Then let me stay on the couch." She said.

"No." I answered.

"Then we split the bed. We did it before we ever got together we can do it again. I won't take no as an answer." She said sternly.

"Fine." I relented.

I got up and gestured for her to follow me. She trailed behind me into my bedroom and stifled a laugh. "What?" I asked with a chuckle.

"It's just so plain and very you Opie." She giggled.

I shook my head and laughed too. I was never one to decorate shit. I liked keeping it plain. I opened my dresser drawer and handed her a pair of boxers and a tshirt. She thanked me quietly and slipped out to change. I took off my jeans and laid them over the trunk at the foot of the bed before climbing in.

Alyssa returned moments later, she look amazing in my clothes. It took all I had in me not to pick her up and make her wrap those legs around my waist. I screwed my eyes shut to rid myself of the dirty thoughts going through my head.

Alyssa climbed in on the opposite side of me. And laid down facing away from me. "Goodnight Opie." She whispered.

"Goodnight Lyssa." I told her quietly before rolling over myself and falling asleep.