Follow Your Instincts.....

"Thanks for the knife and everything Mr. McRose." Zack said hefting up the knife Roy had given them has they left Chloe's home.

"It's the least I could do." Roy answered the boy.

"You earned it son." Gregory Bishop said placing a hand on his son's shoulder, "You did good the other day, I'm really proud of you." Zack looked up at his father and smiled at the unexpected praise coming from him after hearing what he said that morning.

"Yea that was some really quick thinking you did." Damon Woodsen said. "You must have been moving even before that kid hit Gavin."

"I don't think I really did think," Zack said sheepishly, "I kinda knew he was going to hit Gavin when I saw the look on his face and... I guess I just ran at him. I don't even know how I got over there."

"You got some pretty good instincts Zack." Roy said. "You follow your instincts; they won't let you down."

"Yes Sir." Zack said proudly.

Zack and his family turn to head back home along with Gavin. It had been easy for Monica to convinced Diane to let Gavin sleep over that night but Chloe had decided to stay home and spend more time with her grandparents. Roy guessed it had more to do with her feeling embarrassed from the other day than anything else 'Girl can be stubborn' he thought to himself 'But if Char and Kayleigh can't help her what can I do?'

"I'll be over in a few minutes to bring your PJs." Diane said,

"Mom" Gavin whined, his face burning red with embarrassment.

"Don't worry Di." Monica said. "I'll fix him up with something."

"It's no problem," Diane said, "I'll be right over."

"C'mon, we’ll walk you." Charlotte said wrapping an arm around Roy's waist has they all said their good-byes. The Bishops and Gavin went one way while Chloe and Holly went back inside with their grandparents. Charlotte and Roy walked next to Diane; their arms wrapped around each other’s waist.

Roy could feel Charlotte's nervousness and he was starting to feel it to. He didn't know what made her feel soo nervous but knew she would let him know when it was time, just like the other night. Halfway to Diane's house he sensed a shift in Charlotte's mood. He felt her come to a sudden resolve and out of the corner of his eyes he saw her reach out and take Diane's hand in hers. 'Something else must have happened' Roy guessed. 'I hope it's just Diane feeling a little down and not that bastard again.'

For a moment Diane stiffened in surprise, and quickly glanced around. Seeing no one else was out Roy saw her relax and looked over at her friends with a sheepish grin on her face, her cheeks had turned pink and she blushed when she met Charlotte's eyes. Out of the corner of his eyes Roy saw the blonde and redhead friends share a glance or maybe it was a moment that ended with both of them blushing and giggling.

Roy tried to keep a straight face while his eyes stared forward but he could feel the heat rising inside and knew his face must have been the same color of his hair with how he was blushing. 'What is she planning?' Roy wondered.

Once inside Roy quickly made his way to sit on the sofa and watched his wife and their friend walk over 1to the staircase. He saw Charlotte smile back at him, tilt her head and wink before climbing the stairs.

He was still processing everything that happened this week. Diane's **** and her refusal to press charges made him furious. His job frequently put in contact with the lowlife in the area and while those cases helped put food on the table it only made him more determined to help those who truly needed help with his private practice. But this was different, He didn't just want to help Diane, he wanted **** for her.

Ironically the way Monica and Charlotte had 'helped' Diane had left him more confused and uncertain. Not knowing where this was going had him uneasy and insecure. He knew his wife loved him, and boy had she shown him how much she loved him. She was a great wife and an even better mother. she truly was a woman like they said a wife should be 'A Lady in the Street and a Freak in the Sheets.' He trusted Charlotte and yet...

Roy took a deep breath and tried to relax. He could feel the butterflies in his stomach. 'I haven't been this nervous since the first time I went and asked Char out for a date,' he thought briefly remembering that time back in collage. His friends had told him he didn't stand a chance with the busty redheaded bombshell that everyone talked about, but something inside him had told him to go ahead and ask her out and that's exactly what he did. The same happened latter that night, their first night together. Ever since meeting Charlotte, she and taught him to how to follow his instincts and they almost never failed him.

He kept telling himself this was dangerous, his mind played over and over with the legal ramifications that could come out of it. Roy laughed to himself. ‘I just told the kids to follow their instincts and here I am afraid to follow mine’. He chided himself ‘What a fool I am.’

He sensed it now. He could sense Charlotte's desire upstairs and knew she wanted him. Roy stood up, took another deep breath and squared his shoulders has he walked up the stairs. He knew it was time to face what Destiny had set in motion.