Extending her hand, she picked up her small cup of milk and took a sip. Kevin had let her keep the cup for a little while, drinking her milk very slowly. Sarah had never liked rushed breakfasts. Biting just the corner of her chocolate chips cookies, she smiled. She missed chocolate chip cookies. It wasn't like her mother used to make, but it was good. She smiled as she bit almost half of it. It was really good. Maybe Kevin knew how to make cookies. Or maybe Nick did.

She almost shrugged, but instead, her eyes drifted over to the living room, falling onto Kevin's turned back as he leaned over the table, talking softly with Allyson.

Squinting her eyes slightly, she tried to hear the conversation. Sighing softly at the barely audible murmurs between the two of them, Sarah turned around once again and settled for watching the girls going after Amoeba Boys, knowing they were following Mojo Jojo's plan to destroy the girls.

*****

Numbers blurred together as Kevin picked up a glass of water from the table, taking a long swallow. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. His eyes drifted over to the little figure sitting on the couch, her eyes fixed on the TV. Three little girls were flying through the sky in the TV screen and Kevin couldn't help but smile.

"You don't seem to be paying much attention?"

The voice made him turned around as it brought him back from his reverie. He smiled at the woman. "Sorry."

Allyson jerked her head towards the child. "Something in your mind?" she said with a secretive smile. "Or should I say someone -- a little someone at that."

Kevin couldn't help but blush slightly, a dreamy smile making its way to his lips, his eyes finding Sarah once again.

"You're becoming smitten with her, aren't you?"

"She's lovely, how can I not?"

Allyson smiled at him with a small shrug. "There really isn't much I can say about that." Indifference seemed to reflect in her features, when it was only sheer un-knowledge about the subject.

"There is so much I don't know about her."

Allyson tilted her head to the side, the inquisitive part of her brain kicking in as Kevin started speaking.

"I don't know what's her favorite show, or her favorite cereal. I don't know if she likes dresses or pants better. I don't even know how her voice sounds like," Kevin said, a pained expression in his face as longing was heard in his voice. "I don't know if she likes being with me or would rather be left alone.

I have no idea why she won't talk to me, why won't she just do it." He sighed, his eyes shifting from the little girl in question to the woman standing by his side, and green eyes were clouded from pensive thoughts. "But I do know I want her here, with me."

Letting out a long breath she hadn't know she had been holding, she could only nod. She had no idea he felt so deep for the little girl. Allyson had guessed Kevin's natural instinct would reach out for Sarah -- parenthood had always oozed out of him -- and now it was even more visible than usual. Allyson had known he would take care of Sarah from the moment he introduced Allyson to the little girl. Allyson had known he would care for Sarah, that he would love her and raise her like she was his own.

"Just give her time," was all she could say in a moment like this. "I can't really answer all your questions, but I can tell you that, right now, the best thing to do, is wait. You'll learn everything you need to know about her. You're good at that."

Regarding Sarah with a quizzical look, Allyson shrugged. "And about her talking to you, I think you're a lot closer than you would believe."

Kevin chuckled, shaking his head. "I know this must be uncomfortable for you. You've always had to pick up after our messes. And this is just--"

Allyson raised his hand to interrupt his ranting. "This is nothing of the sort. A mess is when Alex gets in a fistfight after having a couple of drinks in a bar. A mess is when Nick and Brian decide playing Basket in a public court is fun. This..." She sighed, shrugging. "This isn't. We can manage this, we can give the information the way we want it." She paused. "Once you're ready."

Kevin nodded, fully knowing where the matter was heading. "It won't be much longer, I promise."

"I wouldn't mind keeping it as secret for as long as we can. It's not me who'll have to stay inside."

His mind shifted lanes, as his eyes gazed down at Sarah's sweats. That had been the last set of clean clothes found in her backpack. They were all sweats, which he was sure was very practical, considering kids loved getting dirty on a daily basis.

"She needs clothes."

Allyson was thrown of guard by Kevin's statement. "What?"

"Clothes. Sarah needs knew clothes. There were only two change of clothes in her backpack and she's already worn both." He paused. "Do you think you could get clothes for her?"

Allyson raised her left eyebrow at him.

"I would do it, but I don't really have any idea what size she is, and I don't want her going with me. I don't want the media to find out like this."

"I don't have any more knowledge about kids clothes than you do, believe me."

"But you are a lot more inconspicuous than I'll ever be."

Allyson sighed at Kevin's excuse. He was right. "I'll try my best, alright. But I'm not getting anything in pink."

Kevin grinned. "Thanks. I just... I want her inside as much as possible until we tell the media."

"And when exactly do you think that will be?"

There was a long sigh. "I don't know."

*****

Allyson shook her head. There were times when she wondered if she was getting paid enough to do the things she had to do for her boys. Getting Howie out of jail had never been in her contract; neither was paying off a bartender from telling the press about an under aged Nick drinking his but off; or kicking out a half naked girl from Alex's bedroom when he was supposed to be heading for a TV interview. Certainly, keeping an eye on a four-year-old girl wasn't in the clauses of her two hundred pages contract.

She sighed once and blinked twice, picking up the bottle of water she always kept at hand and drinking almost half of it in one gulp. It wasn't that she didn't like the girl. She had no reason not to like her, but then again, she had no real reason to like her.

Kevin had asked her to keep an eye on her while the guys had an autograph signing. She had complained, ranted for good five minutes before nodding grudgingly and sitting in one of the offices, Sarah across from her.

And while green little eyes stared at her, Allyson's only reason to still keep her little patience intact was the fact that the girl hadn't been a bother so far. Of course, if by not being a bother meant staring at Allyson for the past five minutes.

"Alright," Allyson said finally, tired of this whole charade and wanting nothing more than to go back to her hotel room and take a long bath with scented candles all over the place, "lets get something straight. I'm not really good at this taking care of kids business. I'm so not getting paid enough for this. I am, however, good at taking care of grown up boys. I can do that. I've been doing a pretty good job with the guys for the past five years let me tell you. I think you can see that for yourself." She paused, eyeing the little girl carefully; brown eyes squinting as they met with clear green ones -- familiar green ones at that. "You, on the other hand, are all new to me. I've seen Triple Integrals that seemed more familiar to me than you. Kevin has instincts; I don't. He knows stuff I don't, stuff I don't even want to know. So, bare with me, will ya?"

Sarah seemed to think about Allyson's words, ponder them slowly, carefully, before nodding.

"Good, so lets start with the basics. Do you want something to eat?"

Sarah shook her head.

"Drink? No, huh?" She sighed, scratching her right eyebrow with her left hand. Her puzzled face, the left corner of her lips quirking up in a funny way, made Sarah smile.

Suddenly and out of the blue, like good ideas always come, Allyson seemed to have another question in hand. "Do you want to see Kevin?"

Sarah nodded enthusiastically, a big grin on her lips.

And at this, Allyson had to agree with Kevin. The girl, she had to give her, was lovely. "Well, then, lets take a peak, shall we?"

Allyson turned around, grabbed her clipboard and was about to make her way towards the door when a little hand took a hold on her own. Eyes wide, she looked down to see Sarah staring back at her, her hand tightly held in between Allyson's own fingers. She sighed. She was really not getting paid enough. "You wanna hold hands, sure, no prob."

Showing Sarah the way out of the office, down the hallway and over to the small door that led to the outside store, she paused for a second, thinking of a plan of action. Sure, Sarah wanted to see Kevin for a minute, that was fine. But she wondered if the fans would see her -- if they would care. Allyson shook her head. No way the fans would relate this little girl holding hands with Allyson back to the boys.

With that certainty in her mind, she placed her free hand on the doorknob, turning it around slowly as she peaked her head outside.

The place was nicely decorated and wide open for the public. There was a busy counter on the right side of the space, rows and rows of CD, cassettes and memorabilia distributed all around the center while the guys sat at the table running along the left side of the room. The five of them, ever so cheerful and comfortable with the girls that just seemed desperate to get their hands their autographs, just smiled in returned.

Allyson moved to the side, allowing Sarah to take a couple of steps into the room. She was so little, Allyson realized, probably no one would see her.

Standing in front of the nice lady, Sarah looked ahead, curious green eyes searching for dark ones, finding them lowered at a something in his hand. Sarah smiled sweetly, her dimples showing and the few teeth she had so far twinkling under the light. There he is, she thought, and Nick is with him. Her smiled widened.

Allyson placed both her hands on the little girl's shoulders, smiling to herself. All right, so they weren't paying her enough to be a babysitter, but it didn't seem so bad from this point of view. She squeezed Sarah's shoulder slightly, her own eyes following Sarah's.

Feeling eyes on his persona, Kevin lifted his gaze, finding himself staring at precious green eyes and a stunning smile. As inconspicuous as one can be while signing autographs to at least fifty girls, he smiled back.

He signed his name quickly, gave the girl a tight smile and handed the pictured back. The girl, whose name he couldn't remember, giggled embarrassed.

"I see someone's watching," was whispered into his ear.

Kevin chuckled slightly, nodding at the next girl that appeared in front of him, saying her name -- which he didn't catch.

Kevin turned around, smiled at Nick, shaking his head in amusement and the blond only shrugged. He glanced over at Sarah one more time before lowering his eyes, singing his name with the usual "Lots of love, Kevin."

He handed the picture as well, giving the girl a smile.

*****

Allyson grinned slightly, leaning over, whispering softly in Sarah's ear. "We should get back inside." She paused for a second, the words leaving her mouth before she could even think about them. "Why don't you wave Kevin goodbye?"

Sarah turned around, wide, stunned green eyes staring at dark brown ones, watching the woman shrug with a small smile and Sarah could only smile back. Turning once again, her gaze finding Kevin for only a split of a second, she waved, her small tubby hand barely above her shoulder.

Allyson squeezed Sarah's shoulders once again, signaling for them to head back. Sarah did as silently told, turned around and went through the door, Allyson going right behind her.

*****

Kevin's smile tightened as he watched his little girl going back inside, missing her from sight the minute she entered the door.

"I wish she was here," he whispered as he watched Sarah leaving, the girls in the line waiting for them.

Nick nodded at Kevin, smiling gently. "Then you know who you gotta tell."

Kevin nodded, not seeing yet another girl in front of him. "But first," he said quietly, Nick barely hearing him, "I gotta tell someone else."

*****

Kevin placed her on the bed slowly, carefully, not wanting to disturb her sleep. He wasn't sure if it was healthy for her to fall asleep on the couch in their dressing room and then being moved back to the hotel room in Kevin's arm. But if he had to change things, if he had to leave her here in the hotel, alone, without him, he didn't know if he could handle it.

He lowered her, pulling back the covers as she turned around and snuggled into the pillow. Kevin's heart soared, her tinny hand reaching out for him. "In a minute sweetie," he said softly. "I gotta do something before."

Sarah seemed to understand -- or just fall back asleep, he wasn't sure -- as she turned around, her hand going at its volition under the pillow, her face relaxing.

Kevin sighed softly, turning around and walking over to the door. Just as he reached the doorknob, his gaze fell on Sarah, sleeping contently in the big bed that seemed to engulf her. He sighed once again, turning the doorknob in his hand and he walked into the living room area.

Making his way towards the couch, he sat down heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew he had to tell the media. They would find out eventually, and things wouldn't be as manageable as they were at the moment. No, the info had to come from them. They had to control it, otherwise it would become a circus and that was something he wasn't going to allow.

However, first there were other things to be done. Another person to tell before everything hit the papers.

He reached for the phone, his hand shaking slightly. He bit his lower lip, not knowing if he was doing so out of nervousness or fear it might tremble as well. He dialed the right numbers, memorized after all the time he had called her.

It rang once, twice, three times. He was about to hung up; tell himself that he had tried, that he should probably do it another day, when it was answered.

"Hello?"

Kevin sighed, swallowing the knot that seemed to have formed in his throat.

"Hello?"

"Mom, hi," he said slowly.

"Kevin! Darling, it's been so long since I last heard from you, I was staring to worry. How are you honey? How are things over there?"

Kevin smiled tightly at her, even though she couldn't see him. "I'm fine momma, thanks. How are you? How are the boys?"

"Oh, your brothers are great. Tim is trying to teach Steven how to read. So far he can only recognize the A and D." She chuckled and Kevin tried to ease himself into the conversation, smiling as comfortably as he could.

"There's something I gotta tell you momma."

He could almost see her concern. "Is everything alright darling? What is it?"

He shook his head. "No momma, everything it's fine. Don't worry. It's nothing to worry about."

She sighed. "Oh dear, that's good. Now tell me, what is it then?"

Kevin paused. He bit his lip. He blinked. And he couldn't stall anymore, he sighed softly, his voice almost cracking.

*****

Opening her eyes slowly, she blinked a couple of times. With hands in fists, she rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes. What had woke her up? She turned around, her eyes going over to the window. The curtains were drawn, but she could see darkness outside still. It was night. She frowned slightly. Then, what had wakened her?

She didn't need to ask herself anymore, as there was yelling, catching her attention as her eyes went over to the source. She stared at the closed door.

There it was again.

Sarah thought for a second.

It was Kevin. She was sure it was Kevin.

She moved her legs over to the side of the bed, climbing down in a quick jump. She trotted barefooted over to the door. She opened it slightly, just a crack, peaking her head inside.

Kevin was standing in the middle of the room; auricular in hand, walking wildly from side to the side. He seemed to be ranting, not even making sense at all -- not that she could understand. And, what surprised her was that he was yelling.

"Mom! No, listen to me please!" Kevin sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "No, you're not listening!"

He paused.

"It's nothing like that! You should see her mom..." He gasped. "No! There's no way-- I don't care momma, I really don't. Well, she's better here than wherever she would be!"

Sarah's frown deepened.

Yelling was never good. Her mother had yelled -- never to her, of course -- but she had yelled on the phone a couple of times; especially when it had to do with her job, but she had yelled. Then, she would go over to Sarah, pick her up, give her a wet kiss on the cheek and they would go over to the kitchen and have ice-cream.

She tilted her head. She wondered if Kevin would give her ice-cream this late, because, after all, he was yelling.

"Momma! How can you--" He sighed, turning around, his back to her as he walked over to the window. He leaned over, phone between his ear and his shoulder, hands on the windowsill, his head lowered, his lips in a thin line. "Look, I really don't wanna fight with you momma. I don't. But please---"

But his pleading went unanswered, as Kevin turned around once, fury in his eyes. "No! Look, I really don't care--" He let out a long sigh. "I'm not yelling momma."

Sarah wanted to chuckle at that.

"I'm not. I just don't understand--" Kevin nodded, apparently agreeing with whoever that was on the other line. "Alright momma, alright. Just... No, I won't. Just... I'll go home to talk with you." He shook his head. "I can't now. Why? We've got concerts schedule. I really can't. As soon as I have an opening, I swear--" Kevin sighed, biting his lower lip vehemently. "Yes momma. Yes. I'll go. Until then..." He shook his head, seeming to bit back whatever it was he wanted to say. "She's staying with me momma. No! I don't--" He sighed. "I don't want to start this over, alright? Just... we'll talk when I go back home."

He nodded here and there, anger seeming to ease its way out of Kevin, tiredness being replaced instead. "Yes momma. I love you too."

Sarah almost gasped, and she moved quickly, closing the door soundlessly, toddling her way over to the bed, jumping inside and pulling the covers over her face. She lay there, her breathing evening as her heart de-accelerated, and she waited for Kevin.

*****

Kevin shook his head once again, walking over to the small table by the side of the couch, placing the receiver in its cradle.

Sitting on the armrest of the couch, he sighed softly, rubbing his face with his opened palms. He bit his lower lip slightly, wondering if he had drawn blood all through the conversation.

It had been too much. Telling his mother, he knew wouldn't be easy, but this had been too damn much. He just...

A girl? What do you mean, a girl?

He sighed once again, his mother's words ringing in his ears, pressing against his chest and making his breathing even more labored than it already was.

Kevin had known she wouldn't approve. He knew her mother left and right, and knew her way of thinking. Maybe it was wrong to put it like this, but she had always been from the old school. Things were supposed to be done a certain way, and that way alone.

Things had an order: marriage, children, family.

It was that simple.

And that had always been the way she had wanted Kevin to run his life.

She's not your child.

He sighed once again, closing his eyes in pain.

Kevin hadn't fulfilled that plan. Tim and Harold both had. They both had gotten married and had children afterwards. Kevin was even two years older than when Tim had gotten married.

Kevin shook his head. He didn't care about planning; he didn't care about order. Sarah was now with him, and he loved it like that. He just

Can you call your lawyer, say you've changed your mind?

wanted to keep it that way. And he was. He stood up with heavy feet, and even heavier heart, he made his way towards the door that would lead him into the bedroom.

He had heard her mother's words, he could still hear them going on

You can't keep her

and on in his mind, but he wouldn't listen. Not now. He wouldn't deal with that right now.

Kevin entered the bedroom, pausing for a second as his eyes fell on Sarah's sleeping figure, her back to him. A smile made its way to his lips and Kevin wondered if his mother would watch them sleep when they were boys. He was sure she did.

She's not your child.

Kevin shook his head in denial. Blood wasn't the concern at this moment. He didn't care if Sarah didn't have his name, or his features, or his blood. She was his. Now. Ever. She would be his.

Walking slowly over to the bed, he took of his clothes, picking up a pair of sweats that lay against the chair. Putting them on, he pulled the covers back, just enough for him to climb into the bed and not disturb the little girl's sleep.

He placed his arm around her, pulling her to his chest. She turned around half asleep, snuggling her face into Kevin's chest.

He sighed in content, placing a small kiss on her head. He laid his head on the pillow, not hearing anything anymore, except her even breathing in the silent room.