*~*Chloe's POV*~*

"Zack! Jayden! I'm back!" I called out as I came into the house.

"Shhh... I just got him to go down for a nap." Zacky said from the couch where he was cradling a sleeping Jayden in his arms.

It had been a week since Zacky found out about his son, and he had been helping me with him every day since, even staying over most nights. Jayden had started to come down with a cold two days ago, and having Zacky help out with a cranky 3 year old, while I tried to get some work done had been a godsend. I knew our son had been testing Zacky's patience today as he looked so relieved to hold the sleeping child. He silently got up from the couch and walked by me, pausing to let me kiss Jayden's forehead before padding up the stairs to go lay him down in his bed. I quietly walked further into the living room, picking up the scattered toys they had been playing with when I heard Jayden start crying again. I carried the toys upstairs and stood in the doorway as Zacky rubbed his face with both hands, frustrated before lightly tugging on his black hair.

"Alright, Jayden... shhhhh.... It's alright. Come here..." Zacky said calmly picking up his son again, Jayden's arms wrapping around his neck as Zacky gently laid Jayden's head on his shoulder, stroking his hair soothingly.

He walked around the room as he tried to soothe the sick boy until finally Jayden stopped crying and fell back asleep. I set Jayden's toys down in his toy box softly as Zacky watched me.

"He just doesn't want me to put him down..." Zacky whispered.

"He gets like that... if you want to you can take him in my room and lay on the bed with him there..." I said quietly as I left the room.

I headed down the stairs as I saw Zacky walk down the hall and into my room, carrying Jayden. I made my way back to the living room, plopping down on the couch and finding the remote for the TV. I cut it on, not even watching, instead thinking of the nice conversation I had with Corey at the coffee shop just 15 minutes ago.

He had sent me an invitation to coffee with him and after talking with Valary and Michelle, I decided to accept. I told Zacky that I was going out to meet a friend for coffee and he didn't seem to mind or ask questions about who it was, only asking if there was any medicine he should be giving to Jayden while I was out.

I had a really nice talk with Corey that lasted over 2 hours, where we got to know each other a little. He was very kind and worked with my brother part time at the tattoo magazine as an editor as well as at the coffee shop. He knew I had a son, my brother constantly talking about his nephew, Corey telling me that Jake had a picture of me and Jayden on his desk. I thought for sure that Corey would have a problem with it, but surprisingly he was completely fine with it. He told me more about himself and we found that we had quite a few interests in common. At the end of our little date or whatever, we decided to meet again for lunch next week.

A soft knock on the door caught my attention, and I jumped up to answer it before it could wake up Jayden again. Opening the door to my brother, he walked in, kissing my cheek as he removed his sunglasses and looked around the house.

"Well hello to you too..." I said sarcastically as I motioned him towards the couch.

"Where's my nephew?" Jake asked sitting.

"He's sick. Zacky is trying to get him to go back to sleep. You know how Jayden gets..." I told him.

"He latched on to Zacky and isn't letting go huh?" Jake laughed lightly.

"Yup... so what are you up to? I know you aren't here for no reason..."

"I told you I wanted to talk to Zack. He told me to come over earlier..."

"What?! You called him?" I exclaimed.

"Yeah. I ran into his sister at the supermarket and asked her for his number."

"Please tell me you didn't say anything about me or Jayden being here in Huntington?!" I said as I clutched the collar of his shirt and pulled his face to mine.

He grabbed my hands off his shirt, "No. Geez... why would you care if I did?"

"Because Jake, none of his family knows I'm here... and I'd like to keep it that way until we figure stuff out. Please just if you see them don't say anything." I replied smoothing out his shirt where I had bunched it up.

"Fine I won't but you know they will find out eventually. Especially if you are hanging out with all the old crew... Heard you saw Papa Gates and Suzy already..." Jake said.

"Yeah we did. They know. They promised to keep it quiet until Zacky and I figure out what's going to happen."

"What does that even mean?" Jake asked.

"Well, you know I don't want to tell Jay until I'm sure Zee wants to stick around for him. I'm just being cautious. Maybe in another couple of weeks we'll tell him if everything stays like it is. I'd rather my son hate me for not telling him then have his father break his heart by leaving because he can't handle being a rockstar AND a dad."

"So a few weeks?"

"Yeah. A few weeks." I replied.

"Where'd you come home from?" Jake asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Wha- what? How do you know I came from somewhere?" I stuttered surprised.

"Well, if Jayden is attached to Zacky that means you weren't here. Where'd you go little sister?"

"I'll have you know that Jayden adores Zacky and those two are practically inseparable whether I'm here or not, but I did go out. I went out for coffee..." I trailed off.

"With Corey?" his eyes going wide with excitement.

"Yes, with Corey. We had a nice conversation." I answered closing my eyes, awaiting the 20 question assault.

"Annnnd?..."

"And what Jake? He's nice and we have some things in common."

"So are you going to see him again?" Jake asked scooting closer to me on the couch eager to know more.

"Yes, he asked me out for lunch next week. No pressure and nothing serious Jake... calm the fuck down. You're acting like a pre-pubescent school girl." I answered.

"What did Zack say?" he asked ignoring my insult.

"He doesn't know. I told him I was going to have coffee with a friend, and that's what I did." The feeling of guilt I had before talking with Valary and Michelle coming back.

"You're going to tell him though... right Chloe?"

I sighed deeply, "I guess so... I feel like it's jumping the gun to say something right now..."

"Eh... maybe a little." Jake shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

Feeling awkward I stood from the couch, "Let's go see what's going on up there... those two have been rather quiet. I'm curious to see if Zack succeeded."

Jake followed me up the stairs as we silently padded down the hall to my bedroom. Lying on my bed, propped up on some pillows, Zacky was laying there gently rubbing Jayden's back with Jayden's arms wrapped around his neck, his little head lying on Zacky's chest, drooling onto Zacky's shirt. He noticed us after another minute and smiled, waving at my brother. I went into the bedroom, picking up Jayden and holding him to my chest as he started to wake and cry.

"Shhhhh.... Shhhhh... my little love.... my little Jayden... mommy's baby boy... mommy's pride and joy..." I sang to him quietly as he fell back asleep on my shoulder.

Zacky got up from the bed and looked at the drool mark on his shirt, before greeting Jake silently, as I laid down taking his place.

"Do you want a blanket?" Zacky whispered and I nodded.

He went to the chair by the window in my room and grabbed the blanket off the back of it, spreading it out over Jayden and I on the bed. He looked down at us for a moment, a warmness in his eyes before he leaned down and kissed Jayden's head gently.

"Love you son." He whispered before turning to Jake, "Let's go outside. I need a cigarette so bad."

I watched the two of them walk out of my room, silently hoping that my brother would be cool about everything and not drive Zacky away. Jake and Zacky always got along before, Jake seeing that Zacky wasn't like the shady guys I was associated with before him, but things were different now. There was a child involved now. My son. Zack's son. Jake's nephew.

*~*Jake's POV*~*

Seeing the way Zacky held Jayden on his chest was just how I had imagined it to be from day one. I had expected my sister to find Zacky and tell him years ago, and tried to talk her into it numerous times. She always claimed she didn't want to hold him back from his potential. I told her she was stupid. Zacky loved her and I felt bad not being able to tell him the numerous times I had seen him since the birth of his son.

We headed outside into the backyard, sitting on the patio furniture as he pulled a cigarette out, handing me one. We lit up and stared out to the small garden my sister had started.

"I should be really pissed at you. You know that right?" he said after another minute.

"Yeah. I don't blame you if you are. I feel shitty about it too." I replied.

"I'm not though. I know how Chloe felt. Now that I'm getting pressured into telling my parents, I understand how she felt. It's a little different, but I get it." He said exhaling his smoke, "She didn't want you to tell me and of course you're going to be loyal to her, she's your sister."

"I'm sorry man. I really am." I started before he put his hand up to stop me.

"Don't apologize. I've heard enough apologies from Chloe already. As shitty as I feel about not knowing about my kid or being there for Chloe when she needed help, I know she feels guilty about not telling me. I'm not mad anymore. I'm just trying to make things right by being there for my son." He said taking another drag of his cigarette.

"Well that's good. I'm glad you want to be there for Jayden. You understand her reasons for not telling him yet?" I asked.

"I do... it's hard. I want to tell him so bad. He told Chloe he missed his daddy the other day and it killed me to not tell him then and there... It's only been a week but I knew since the first day that I loved that little boy with my all my heart." Zacky said wiping the tear threatening to fall from his eyes.

"What about Chloe?" I asked taking another drag.

"What about her?" he inquired.

"What about Chloe? You told her you want to try again... Your life has changed a lot Zacky and it's only going to change more. I don't know what my sister thinks is going to happen if you and her get back together, but it's not going to be the same as in high school. You're a rockstar now. You go on tour for months at a time. I'll tell you now, I know what you've been up to out on tour Zacky and I won't have my sister deal with that shit and be heartbroken."

"I know I did some shady shit but that was before. I have a kid now. If I had Chloe, that shit would never happen again."

"How is she supposed to trust you?"

"Well, I want her to come with me so I can show her. Her and Jayden."

"You want to take my sister and your 3 year old on tour?! Are you fucking retarded?!" I yelled at him.

"Not the whole time. Just for a few weeks here and there. I'd fly them out and back home." He said putting out his cigarette in the ashtray on the table.

"How Zack? I heard you're still living on your mom's couch." I said monotone.

"Right now, yeah. It's not worth it for me to get an apartment that's just going to sit empty for months while I'm gone. I don't have anyone at home waiting for me. Why waste my money on a place when I can just keep my stuff at my mom's for now?" He said defensively.

"What about when they are with you on the road? You guys still go from gig to gig crammed in a van!" I exclaimed extinguishing my own cigarette.

"I... I... I don't know. I'll come up with something." He said looking down and picking at his fingers.

"Zacky, I know you love my sister. I know you love your son. You want to prove all of that to Chloe, then you have to think ahead. She's gotta know that she can depend on you to think of Jayden before yourself. I know that Chloe still loves you and she's thrilled to have you back in her life and wanting to take a part in Jayden's life, but she's scared. More like terrified really. She doesn't want you to change your mind."

"I'm not going to change my mind Jake. Jayden's my son, my flesh and blood, and I'll do anything for him. I'll do anything for Chloe too. Why do you think I'm here? I love them and that's not going to change." He said looking up at me again.

"Even if Chloe meets someone else?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" He asks curiously.

"What if Chloe starts seeing someone else? Are you going to be okay with that?"

"If that's what she wants and he makes her happy then I'm okay with it. No matter what Chloe will always be special to me, she's my son's mother." He said but I could hear the hurt in his tone.

"You're okay with someone other guy around your son?" I ask raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"I'd have to meet him first. I would hope you would want to as well." He shot back at me.

"But of course. I've been looking out for Chloe and my nephew this entire time, I wouldn't stop now." I stated.

"Why are you asking me about if Chloe meets someone else?" He asked suddenly.

"I have to know if you're willing to let my sister have her own life." I answered.

"What is it Jake? Don't lie to me." He said suspiciously, "Is Chloe dating someone?"

"Not dating... yet." I replied hesitantly, "Today, when she went out for coffee, she went to meet my friend. He asked her out for coffee and they have another date next week."

"Wow... really?" he said incredulously as he nodded his head and took a deep breath, "Okay..."

"Zacky, maybe I should have let her tell you, but you need to know..." I said as he stood up and began pacing around in front of me.

"No... no... it's okay. I have to be realistic..." he said as he ran his hands thru his messy black hair.

"She said it's nothing serious though. Just that he's nice and they had a nice conversation..." I told him, hoping it would calm him down some, as this was not the reaction I was hoping he would have.

"Nice conversation... okay... yeah... so what you're telling me is that while I was here taking care of my sick kid, she went out to have coffee with your friend that's trying to hook up with her?" He said raising his voice before taking a deep breath, "Let me guess you hooked this up?"

"No I didn't I swear. I didn't know she knew him until she told me on the way home from the bar the other night. I mean, I did tell her she should go out with him but..." I started before his head snapped around at me.

"Are you fucking serious? Why are you telling me this Jake?! Do you just want me to lose it?!"

"I know you're going to find this hard to believe but my beautiful sister has never gone on a date with another guy since you and she's confused."

"She's confused?! How the fuck do you think I feel?!" He yelled.

"I figured if she went out with him, it'd help her figure out what she wants. Come on Zack, she's only been with you, she deserves to see what else is out there..."

He looked at me crazily before taking another cigarette from his pocket, lighting it and sitting back down on the chair, "Yeah. She deserves to be happy, whatever that is."

"I don't want you to think I'm against you and her getting back together, because I'm not..."

"Really?! You sure do have a funny way of showing it Jake." He snapped at me.

"I'm only looking out for my family Zee. I don't want them hurt because you can't handle having a kid or because you can't keep it in your pants on tour."

"That's not going to happen. I love Chloe and I love Jayden. My life changed when I saw that little boy look up at me with his green eyes and his black hair. What happened on tour is done." He said exhaling the drag of his cigarette.

"So what about Chloe?"

"She's the mother of my kid and a grown woman. I can't make her stay with me if it's not what she wants. I've always given Chloe what she wants like when she wanted me to leave her alone in New York, I did. I would give her the world if I could. But maybe she wants something I can't give her... like a stable life. I know mine is crazy right now. The past week, with her and Jay have been the most stability I've had in a while..." He said putting his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry Zacky. I shouldn't have said anything..."

"No, it's okay. I'm glad you did. I have to think more about this. I see why your parents hated me now... I'm pretty much just a loser in a stupid band." He said not bothering to look up at me.

"Nah, that's not true Zee. You and the guys are great. You guys have talent and my little sister saw that in you a long time ago. That's why she did what she did. She didn't want you to focus on her or a baby... My parents didn't see what she saw in you. What she still sees in you. Chloe believes in you Zacky, she just needs time to figure out what to do for herself. She's never been able to think of herself and just herself. She's never gone on a date with anyone after you because she never had time. She has the time now and I think she should try it out a little." I explained to him as he listened and smoked.

"So who is it? Is it that guy Corey?" Zacky asked defeated after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah. He works with me and at a coffee shop where she first met him." I answered.

"Well, I'm better." Zacky said confidently as he stood up stretching his arms out.

I smiled at Zacky's sudden change of tone and attitude. I didn't tell him to make him feel hurt. I told him because I was done keeping things from him. If my sister was going to keep him waiting around for an answer, he deserved to know why he was waiting.

"You better prove it if you want Chloe."

"I plan on it." He said stamping out his cigarette.

"Zacky, do me a favor?"

"Yeah."

"Don't hurt them. Jayden doesn't know you're his father yet but Chloe said he already looks up to you. Just please don't hurt them Zee." I told him.

"I won't. They mean the world to me." He replied getting up from the chair and heading inside.

Notes

Alright my little stallion duckies... here is the third chapter for today. There will probably be another update this week so make sure you catch up! As always I love all your comments and votes and subs! Much love and aloha!! <3 <3 <3 XoXo