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Normally I don’t have time for this type of thing. I work full time driving a forklift and part time at a fast food restaurant just to make the pitiful income I do each month. Normally when I’m not working, I’m either relaxing or sleeping. I rarely see my daughter Emmy, so when I promised to take her for a walk by the lake, I didn’t intend on breaking that promise.

So here I am, walking alongside a polluted smelly body of water that in my opinion could hardly pass itself off as anything more than a waste dump. It’s located under a bridge, surrounded by factories and busy streets. It’s not the most beautiful place in the world, nor the most attractive, but it is the closest thing to nature around here that I can think of. Emmy seems to have a soft spot for anything natural, anything that doesn’t involve people or city life, much like myself. Maybe that’s one thing she got from me, having taken everything else from her mother.

“Timmy Carlson said he caught a seven foot fish out of this lake,” She began, swinging her arms as she ambled along, kicking rocks along the way, eyes locked on the gravel below our feet. “I don’t believe him, do you believe him, daddy?” She looked up at me and that was the moment I realized she was speaking, and I had to pause to think over the simple question I’d been asked.

“You never know, Emmy,” I looked out over the lake. “You might never find out either, but that’s a good thing, it’s good to have some mystery out there. To not know how things will turn out,” I was talking more to myself by the end, thinking of her again, she was always on my mind.

“You mean like how we didn’t know mommy was going to die?” Her voice saddened, losing the usual childish cheer it usually had.

“Yes,” I sighed. “I guess that would be an example,” I ran a hand through my hair, sneaking glances at Emmy as we walked side by side, she and Samantha look so alike. Both with blond hair, bright green eyes, Emmy’s nose was all her own, but every time I looked at her face I couldn’t help but be reminded…

“Daddy!” Emmy’s excited screech snapped me out of a trance. “Oh my gosh Daddy, look!” She pointed out in front of her with wide eyes. A black cat had just stepped out from behind a tree, and before I could say anything, she ran straight after it.

“Emmy!” I called out, rushing after her. She didn’t hear me, obviously already too far away, chasing after that cat that was running toward the bridge. Normally I wouldn’t worry so much, she was a careful, responsible girl, but she was headed right under one of the arches below the bridge, and I knew exactly what was over there.

“Emmy!” I yelled. “Emily, don’t go there!” The words left my mouth just as she disappeared behind the arch’s wall. “Emmy!” I called once more, hoping she’d come back. Damn it, this is not good, who knew what a bunch of desperate whores, fags, and prostitutes would do to a little girl. For that was what lurked on the south side of that bridge.

When I finally made it to the other side, I slowed my pace to a walk. I seemed to catch a lot of interested eyes, both women and men looked over me as if deciding how much I was worth. Some winked, some tried to catch my attention with a lick of their lips or a squeeze or pat of one of their private areas. Very few minded their own business. If I was this terrified by the manner of these people, I could just imagine how scared my Emmy is. I needed to find her, fast, before some pervert got to her first. I scanned the area around me, searching for someone short, pink, and blond, and it didn’t take long to spot her.

She was talking to a tall black-haired stranger with the same black cat in between his ankles. He looked more clean cut than the others, more normal, but that definitely doesn’t mean he can be at all trusted. Though, he was actually sort of handsome even from the distance. I shook my head and started toward the two of them.

“Hey!” I hollered on my way over. “Emily Jessica Melina, get over here right now!” I ordered. I saw her tense up, shoulders rose and her neck cringed, she knew she was in trouble. She turned and started walking back to me slowly, like a shy dog that knew it was going to be punished.

“What did you think you were doing!” I grabbed her arm and tugged her right in front of me, forcing her chin up so she was looking me in the eyes. “You know better than to talk to strangers!” I scolded and she looked down in shame.

“I’m sorry, dad, I was just asking the nice man if I could hold his cat,” She pointed at the guy and I looked up. Our eyes met and he smiled, giving me a short, almost shy wave. I glared at him and guided her away.

“These aren’t nice people, Emmy, I don’t ever want you to come here again,” I warned.

“They seemed pretty nice to me,” She shrugged. “He said he thought you were cute,” She started walking in front of me with a little skip in her walk. I made sure to stay close behind her, eyeing the people around us.

“Do you think he’s cute, daddy?” She asked. I wrinkled my nose and glanced back at the man, he was still standing there, watching us, hands in his pockets, at least he was keeping his distance.

“No sweetheart, men aren’t supposed to say those kinds of things about other men,” I put my arm around her shoulder and smiled once we were back to the safe side of the bridge.

“Why not?” She ran her finger along the metal railing between the lake and us.

“Because it’s just not normal, you’ll understand it when you get older,” I gave her a kiss on the head and we began heading back to the car.

“Is it okay for a girl to say that about a boy?” She asked. I nodded. “I think he’s cute,” She began to skip. I sighed and sped my pace, I had to keep reminding myself that she had a lot to learn.

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The next morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm going off at 6 AM. I had to force myself not to just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep, I have too much to do within one hour to waste even a minute sleeping. So when the alarm goes off, I hit the button to shut it off and throw the covers off of me.

Make and eat breakfast, twenty minutes. Drink coffee, five minutes. Shower, fifteen minutes. Dry hair, get dressed, and brush teeth, wake up Emmy so she can catch the bus, ten minutes. Which leaves only ten minutes to get to work, luckily that’s just about all I need to make it on time. Going to work in the morning is like experiencing de ja vu over and over again, it’s just the same thing every day, and that’s the way I like it. That way, I never fall behind.

I checked in or work two minutes before eight, which meant I was two minutes early. As soon as I stepped into the back half of the building my eyes met a pair unfamiliar, but interesting ones.

“Hey,” She said with a smile. She was gorgeous, black hair, green eyes, a nice curvy, but not unhealthy body.

“Hi,” I breathed out, not realizing I’d been holding my breath until then. She had dark, tan skin, but not like a sun tan, like a natural pale tan, I couldn’t decide if she was Spanish, Hispanic, or perhaps even Arabian, but she was beautiful.

“You must be Ian,” She said. “I’m Chandler, Mr. Higgins said you’d be here around eight, I need someone to help me drive the forklift, and he said you were the man,” She shrugged.

“You want to drive the forklift?” I asked incredulously. I mean, I didn’t mean for it to sound insulting, but she didn’t look like someone who should be behind the wheel of one of those big rusty, dirty vehicles.

“Well,” She shied back a little. “I sort of have to, this is going to be my second job, but I need it because my brother just moved in,” She shrugged.

“Your brother?” I began. “Why did he move in with you?” I mean really, I any of my siblings ever tried to move in with me, I’d kick them out on the spot.

“He lost his job…” She explained. “He didn’t have anywhere else to go, I couldn’t say no,” She seemed a little nervous about the subject. I suppose I was asking too many questions, but it irks me when people who are too lazy to take care of themselves hang on the arms of those that aren’t. My sister used to do that to me.

“Why not?” I asked, promising myself it would be my last question.

“Well, because he’s such a sweetheart I guess. And he was a hard worker, the only reason he got fired was because he…” her breath hitched and she stopped. “I shouldn’t be going on about it,” She blushed. “Can you teach me how to drive the forklift or not?”

“Of course I can,” I nodded, having to tear my eyes off her as I turned around, heading to where the forklifts were parked, gesturing her to follow with my hand.

There were two of them, parked in the back of a large garage with a very narrow path between all sorts of boxes and tools leading out of the garage. It was tough to maneuver them out so you didn’t knock anything over on your first try, but I was a pro at it. After all, I’d been working there for two years.

I jumped up into the passenger seat of one of the vehicles and switched it on. Chandler stood next to it, looking up curiously as I started up the machine, pointing out what I was doing to make sure she knew.

“You just have to hold this black button down for about three seconds and it’ll turn on,” I explained. “There’re petals down by your feet, they work like a car’s, one’s the breaks, one makes it go,” I pointed to them. “This one…” I put my hand on the larger petal. “…Is to stop, and the other one’s to go,” I felt like some of this was a little obvious, but I figured I’d tell her everything to make sure she got it all. She smiled and nodded after just about everything I said.

I pointed out knobs and buttons and explained what they did, telling her which ones she should use, and which ones she wouldn’t have to. I showed her the lever that makes the forklift rise up and down, and then that was that. I pulled out of the garage, thinking it’d be easier for a first timer if it were already out in the open. That way she wouldn’t knock anything over either.

“You wanna try it out?” I jumped down from the seat. She nodded, still smiling as she climbed up into the passenger seat. I grinned myself a little, watching her count the three seconds when she pressed the button, and watching her cheeks turn red every time she hesitated to do something. She was cute, and she was obviously a good listener, and a fast learner. She had it going and was driving around the room in no time.

I laughed when she finally lost control of the steering and ran into the wall. Good thing she wasn’t going very fast.

“Oops!” She shut off the machine and jumped down from the seat and went around to the front to see if everything was okay.

“It’s all right, it’s been through worse,” I said smiling. “Just go back and put it in reverse, after that we should get to doing some real work,” I suggested. She nodded, looking down at the floor as she headed back to get into the forklift. “We’ll take turns, Higgins doesn’t like two forklifts going at the same time,” I said, heading over to load some boxes with the packaged paper and nameless books that went in them.

“Why not?” She asked.

“Well,” I laughed a little. “When I first started working her, a co-worker of mine and I decided to play bumper cars while the boss was out,” I shrugged, smiling. She laughed aloud.

“Sounds like fun,” She smirked almost mischievously.

“Hey now, don’t even think about it, the other guy got fired for it and I almost did. Had to beg Mr. Higgins just to keep my job,” I started putting the books into one of the half-empty boxes.

“Hmm,” She folded her hands in her lap. “Sounds like something Charlie would do,” She tilted her head, still wearing the same bright smile.

“Charlie?” I asked.

“My little brother… he’s quite the trouble maker,” She sighed and turned back to the controls on the machine. I shrugged when the forklift started up and started moving again, I guess that’s the end of the conversation.

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We worked together for the next two weeks, laughing and getting along great. We didn’t get into anything too personal, and the subject stayed mostly on what was going on at the time, but it was great spending time with someone I could relate to. By Friday of her second week working, I decided I wanted to ask her the question.

Five minutes before work would have been over, Chandler and I were busy cleaning up the back so things were ready for tomorrow. I’d already pulled the forklift back into the garage and all the boxes were stacked up, there was only one thing left that I wanted to do.

“Hey,” I stepped up next to Chandler, scratching the back of my neck. “I was wondering, do you want to so something sometime. Like, go out?” I asked. She turned to me with an unreadable expression, mouth hanging open a tad, maybe I’d laid it on her a little too quick… but what’s done is done I suppose.

“I’d like that,” Her lips curled into a smile and she nodded. I let out a relieved sigh and smiled back, chuckling a little.

“So, how about that little breakfast place around the corner from here?” I suggested. “I mean, if tonight is okay?” I shrugged. She giggled, most likely at how anxious I knew I was sounding. What can I say? I like her, and it’s about time I start looking for someone else, I’m not even twenty-seven years old yet, I can’t spend my whole life alone with just my daughter.

“That sounds nice,” She nodded.

So that was that.

We both arrived at the restaurant at about the same time, and she parked right next to my car. We were close to each other as we walked toward the entrance, not holding hands or anything, but close.

“So, how are things going with you?” Chandler started a conversation after a long awkward silence as we sat on opposite sides of the table.

“Okay,” I shrugged. “We’re getting by, my daughter and I. I don’t see a lot of her during the day lately, but things are going good,”

“You have a daughter?” Her eyes lit up. Like I said, we hadn’t gone very far into our personal lives during work, I knew she didn’t know about Emmy yet. “What’s her name, how old is she?” She obviously likes kids, which is a definite plus.

“Emmy, She’s six,” I said. “She’s pretty independent too, takes after her mother,” My voice fell flat by the end of my statement. I shouldn’t have brought up Shannon, not now, it’ll just make me look like an idiot.

“What happened to her?” Chandler asked, almost shyly, frowning now. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking,” she rubbed her hands together nervously.

“She died,” That’s all I could say, I just stared intently at the salt and pepper, my mind was off somewhere else. Our waiter snapped me out of it.

“Hey, name’s Ben, and I’ll be your waiter, what can I get you to… Channy!” He grinned widely when he got a better look at Chandler. Chandler smiled back, apparently they knew each other.

“Benny!” She exclaimed, similar to the way he had. “How’ve you been? I didn’t know you worked here!” She stood up half way and they hugged, I tried not to look jealous.

“I’m good, and I’ve worked here a long time, this is where I met your brother,” Ben replied. “Who’s this?” He turned his attention to me.

“Ben, this is Ian, my date,” She told him in a teasing voice. They both laughed and I looked down blushing, thinking maybe I was in over my head with these people.

“Well hey, I’m Ben, or more well known as Charlie’s friend” He stuck out a hand for me to shake. I nodded and shook the hand that was offered. “Say, you should invite him over to the party tonight, everyone else has a date… ‘cept Charlie of course but you know him,” Ben suggested. I wanted to protest, but Chandler seemed to light up at the idea, so I suppose she liked the suggestion.

“Yeah, uh, Ian,” She started. “My aunt’s having a little family reunion at seven, come to think of it I usually go alone, but I’d love it if you’d come with me? Unless you have something else to do?” She asked. I sighed, thinking about Emmy, and of course, my second job started at seven. But I suppose I could take just one day off and still survive, besides, it would be kind of nice to get to know her family.

“Sure, why not?” I shrugged. “I’ll have to call home so Emmy knows where I am though…”

“Bring her along,” Chandler suggested. “My cousin’s probably going to have all five of her kids there, plus the dogs, she can play with them,”

“I guess,” I said. “I’ll have to get ready though, I’d really rather not meet the family in this,” I looked down at my cheap white slightly dressy shirt and brown jeans.

“Hah!” Ben laughed. “Trust me, they don’t care at all, it’s completely casual, you’ll probably get barbecue sauce all over whatever you wear anyway,” He said. “You two just finish up here, and then we can all head over there. I get off at seven anyway,” He suggested. I lifted my arm and looked at my watch, it was six o’clock.

“All right,” I shrugged. Both Chandler and Ben smiled in the same way. I couldn’t help thinking they were related by the way they were so similar in personality. But then again, Ben had blue eyes and blond hair, and Chandler had green eyes and black hair, they didn’t look alike at all.

“Good, good,” Ben gave me a toothy grin. “So, what will you lovers be having today?”

“I’ll have the sunny-side-up eggs with white toast and bacon,” I ordered timidly.

“Pancakes,” Chandler said. “Four of them, syrup, no butter, and bacon and hash browns on the side,” She nodded. I raised my eyebrows, remembering how Shannon always got something small like one egg or a salad, I’m not used to being out-ordered.

“Yes Ma’am,” Ben saluted as and then walked coolly back toward the kitchen. I watched him with a raised eyebrow, thinking he was just a little bit strange.

“Don’t worry about him,” Chandler told me. “He’s a little high-strung but he’s really sweet,” She nodded assuring. I nodded back, though I was not so assured.

The food was good, as it was every time I came. I didn’t like the fact that we talked mostly about Ben, well, Chandler did, I didn’t say much at all. I couldn’t help but be a little jealous of it, she talked about him as if he was the most important thing in the world, when apparently he wasn’t even a good friend of hers. Apparently he was closer to her brother Charlie, but the way she talked about him… I had to think she had something for him.

When we were finished, and the bill was paid, Ben met us by the exit. He’d changed out of his uniform and into so-called casual clothes. They didn’t look too casual to me though, he was wearing rather tight pants, and a really clingy black shirt. He also had a lip ring in, he looked like some sort of punk. I didn’t really notice that I was scowling at him, and when I did I didn’t give a shit. He seemed to be ignoring me now, must have caught the disproving vibe I was giving off.

Chandler and I decided it would be better to only take one car, and we decided to take hers. Ben had left in the direction of the party already, and I was headed back home to pick up Emmy with Chandler in the passenger seat beside me. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw my daughter on the porch with crayons and paper scattered around her.

“Emmy,” I called, getting out of the car and shutting the door behind me. “Emmy, come here,” I said. She got up immediately, a paper in one hand, and a green crayon in the other.

“I made this for you,” She smiled and handed the picture to me. I looked over it for a moment, it was the lake we’d visited two weeks ago, and the black cat she’d chased to the south side of the bridge.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart,” I smiled and put a hand on her head, messing up her hair. “How’d you like to go to a party tonight? There’s going to be a lot of other little kids there,” I asked. She got an excited look on her face right away, I thought she might start jumping up and down.

“That would be fun!” She nodded her head quickly up and down.

“All right, get in the car then,” I told her, following behind her as she skipped to the door that led to the back seat. I folded up her picture and put it in my jacket pocket.

“Who are you?” Emmy said, looking straight at Chandler with an unimpressed expression on her face. Chandler smiled at her, but Emmy kept on the same frown.

“Emmy, this is Chandler, one of dad’s friends,” I explained.

“You mean girlfriend?” Emmy spat, crossing her arms and looking out the window, there was death in her normally cheerful innocent voice. Chandler looked at me, wide-eyed.

“Don’t worry about her,” I laughed a bit. “Emmy doesn’t approve of any girl I like, thinks she’s the only woman in my life,” I looked in the rear-view mirror to see Emmy glare at me. I just smiled a little.

“Oh,” Chandler said slowly, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. I sighed, deciding that I’d have to have a talk with Emmy about this later.

Chandler told me the direction to the house where the party was held, and for the most part, it was pretty close to my own home. There were many cars parked along side the street once we got onto one of the neighborhood roads, and that was always a sign of a party near-by. However, unlike in the past, we were actually attending this party. I drove along to the end of the line of cars, watching for a place to park that may have been close to the house. Then again, that’s not very possible because I don’t know which house it is, but I did it anyway. In the end I just ended up pulling up at what could be called the end of the line. All three of us got out of the car, and we started toward the house where the party was, Chandler and I side by side, and Emmy holding my hand, but trailing behind me, looking at the ground.

“ChaCha!” Chandler was greeted with a hug as soon as we stepped into the house. A man with the same black hair and green eyes that she had, I had to assume this was her brother.

“Charlie?” There was a small, excited voice from behind me, and the man named Charlie looked up to see Emmy running toward him. Did I miss something here?

“Hey! I remember you!” Charlie smiled, patting Emmy on the shoulder. Suddenly, I remembered him too, the same hairstyle, same general clothes. He was the man Emmy had been talking to on the south side of the bridge two weeks, ago. My eyes narrowed.

“Charlie,” Chandler tapped her brother on the shoulder. “Charlie this is Ian, he’s shy but he’s sweet, I met him at work,” She introduced me. Charlie looked up and as soon as our eyes met, I think he recognized me too, but he continued to wear a frown, probably because I was all but glaring daggers at him. Any respectable person wouldn’t be caught on the south side of that bridge, and therefore, he could not have been respectable.

“Nice to meet you,” He stuck out a hand. I debated on whether to shake it or not for a moment, but I wasn’t that rude, so I did, half-heartedly though.

“If you say so,” I said.

“Sweet, huh?” Charlie said almost sarcastically to Chandler and then turned to leave. I watched him go over to Ben who was sitting on the couch and plop down next to him, I was still glaring. At least he knew right away that he wasn’t welcome to speak to me.

“Don’t mind him… he’s…”

“Dad!” Emmy cut Chandler off. “That was mean!” She yelled at me.

“Emily, come here,” I told her. She just scowled at me and race off, straight over to Charlie, who laughed and let her sit on her lap. I clenched my fist, Emmy had never been so disobedient in the past, it’s hard to stay mad at her, but right now I’m pissed.

“Ian, come with me, you should meet my parents,” Chandler took my hand and started tugging me along. I went with her, glancing at Charlie and Emmy once in a while as we made our way through the crowd of people. His eyes were locked on me.

A/n- Originally this was going to be a one-shot… but then I got all these other ideas and plot bunnies that would fit right in with it, so I continue to fail at one-shots. Or even anything that’s less that five chapters by the end . . Oh well, I like how it’s coming along. I will be changing points of view now and then, mostly just between the two main characters, but I may give Chandler or Ben a first person depending on how the story goes. Most of the important characters have been introduced… except one. He won’t come until about chapter three though…

…haha, I said come.

Anyway… reviews fast updates -.

…I think o.o.