Kendall was fuming.

She'd snuck out on him. Again.

He revved the engine, pulling ahead of her. He drove to the end of the block and parked the car. Then he sat on the hood and waited for her little legs to carry her down the block toward him.

She was scowling the entire way.

He was pissed, but he still thought she looked adorable.

When she passed him, he reached out and grabbed her. She pulled against his hand so he pinned her against the side of the car.

That’s great Kendall. Add assault to the list of stupid things you were doing.

“Stop wiggling around! I don’t want to hurt you!”

"Let go of me."

“Jess, please just listen to me,“

He stared down into her face while he held her wiggling body against the car. He pressed forward, holding her still with the weight of his body. Finally she stopped struggling, staring up at him resentfully.

He stroked her face gently.

“I just want to talk.”

“Fine. Talk.”

"What are you so afraid of, anyway?"

She lifted her chin and stared at him.

"I'm not afraid."

He knew she was lying. Worse, he could see it in her big, beautiful eyes. She rapidly blinked back tears. He released her abruptly.

"Fuck, did I hurt you Jess? I forget how tiny you are sometimes."

She was rubbing her shoulders and staring at the ground.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine."

"Jess, please. Don't do this. I want to be with you."

She shrugged, refusing to look at him.

"Yeah, but for how long? I don't feel like being your girl of the month. Better to just- end it now."

He leaned back over her, lifting her chin. He used his hips to push her back. He wasn't rough, but he wasn't letting go.

"Is that what you think? That I want another flavor of the month?"

She looked away but he brought her chin back up.

"Jessica. Is that what you think?"

She was swallowing convulsively. He could feel it on the back of his hand. He realized he was manhandling her again. Maybe she was actually afraid of him. He cursed and pulled her into his arms, kissing her neck and shoulders.

"Please, Jess… don’t do this. Give me a chance.”

She made a suspicious sniffling sound. Crap. She was crying!

“Give us a chance.”

He felt her little hands creeping up his shoulders. He heaved a huge sigh of relief when they snaked around his neck. She was holding him back.

“Just talk to me, Jess.”

“Okay.”

She wasn't going to send him away. She just stood there and let him hold her. Finally she took a deep breath and started talking.

"My dad wasn't around. I guess he had- lots of girlfriends. He took off when I was still a baby. It made my mom sad. When she was sad, she drank. And when she drank… she forgot to make dinner. Or breakfast. Or do the laundry. Or pay the electricity bill. Or get out of bed. Or-“

She trailed off and he kissed her soft hair. She felt so delicate in his arms. So fragile. He wanted to take her pain away.

He wanted to protect her.

More than anything else in the world.

"Shhhh- it's alright."

“No. It’s really not.”

Jess wasn't crying anymore though. Her eyes were dry against his chest.

"That's awful, Jess. No wonder you're so self sufficient."

"It's no big deal. I just got my life lessons a little early. I can take care of myself. I like it that way."

He squeezed her tighter. She'd been through so much. But he was going to take care of her now. He leaned back to look at her.

"That's not going to work forever, Jess. We’re human. We need each other.”

He felt her shrug in his arms. He lowered his head to her ear and kissed it.

"What is it going to take to make you trust me? Do you need to be with me all the time to see that I'm not like he was?"

“All the time?”

“How would you feel about taking a sabbatical from work?”

She opened her mouth but no words came out. He gripped her hand and led her to the passenger side of his car.

"Okay, that's it. Come on."

"What? Where are we going?"

He lifted her up and put her in his car. Then he got in and buckled them both in.

"We are going to your place. To pack. And feed the cats.”

"What?!?"

"And then you are coming to New York with me."

"Kendall I can't. I have a life you know-"

He grinned at her.

"Yeah. With me. I think they can work around you a little bit. It doesn't matter anyway. I decided I'm keeping you."

"Kendall, I'm not a puppy!"

He slid his eyes over her body.

"No, you're not. But weren't you the one who told me that pets are people too?"

“But, New York is so far!”

“Not as far as London or Tokyo.”

“What?”

“Those are the next stops on the tour.”

“You are joking. You don’t expect me to-”

“Oh yes, I do.” He kissed her quickly. “I hope you have a passport.”

He grinned at the outraged look on her face. But she didn't say a word to argue. Because there was nothing more to say.

He could feel it in his bones.

He'd won.