Renae looked down at Hailie sitting in the chair and forced a smile so that Hailie wouldnt get worried. She stood up and glanced through the doorway, seeing Marshall hop over the back of the couch and go into the hallway to answer the front door.

She heard voices, a guy and a girl, both were unfamiliar. Hailie got up quickly, curious to see who was at the front door, and skipped into the hallway. Renae took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling and closed her eyes briefly, before following Hailie out to meet Kenny and his girlfriend.

"Hello...?" Marshall looked at Kenny first and then at Laura. He looked back at Kenny and a wave of familiarity hit him. Where had he seen him before? He could have sworn that he had seen him somewhere before...

"Hey, Im Kenny, This is my GIRLFRIEND, Laura." Kenny said. Laura glared at Kenny but quickly replaced it with a smile when Marshall looked at her.

"How you doing?" She said politely. Marshalls eyes wandered her body, the sandals, the baggy jeans that hugged her hips just so right, the inch and a half of stomach showing, the bellybutton ring, he stared at that for a few seconds, almost intrigued. Her shirt was green and tight, showing off her figure. It was low cut in the front and she had a tiny heart shaped locket around her neck. Her lips were thick and full, lipstick was applied to it flawlessly. Her nose looked perfect, he thought such perfection was only done when a nose job had been applied. Her cheeks were round and naturally pink, a little bit of sparkles were spread just under her eyes, and when the light hit it the right way, a beautiful glare showed off from it. Her eyes were oval shaped and green. The green eyes matched almost perfectly with the shoulder length blonde hair that was layered and angled in the front. He bit the side of his cheek as he looked her over again. She wasnt too skinny, but she wasnt fat either. She was perfectly in the middle, just the right amount of everything it seemed. Perfection.

He felt a hand on his shoulder from behind him and he turned around to look at Renae. Oops, he thought. He had forgotten about her for a second. He grinned, thinking just how mad she would be if she knew what he was thinking.

"Hey," Renae smiled and shook Lauras hand and then looked at Kenny.

"Hey girl!" Kenny exclaimed stepping forward and hugging Renae. Renae wrinkled her nose, smelling alcohol on him. She hugged him back, and then pulled away quickly.

"Hey Kenny." She opened the door wider, letting them all inside and then closed it again and ran her hand through her hair nervously as she tried to think about what to do next. She looked around at everyone. "Uh, Kenny, this is Marshall, and that," She pointed to Hailie who was hiding behind Marshalls legs, peeking out shyly, "Thats Hailie." She looked at Laura and smiled. Since Kenny was to rude to introduce Laura, she figured she would introduce herself. "Im Renae."

"Hey, Renae. Im Laura." Laura grinned, already liking Renae alot more then she liked Kenny. Maybe acting like an asshole didnt run in the family after all... She looked at Marshall and sighed. Kenny was telling the truth. This WAS Eminem and Renae. Kenny had told her the whole way up what she was suposed to do. She had to flirt with him constantly, everytime he was near her, and make him want her, or else she wouldnt get her money. She smiled at Marshall and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you." She said sweetly, as Marshall took her hand.

"Likewise." Marshall nodded and they shook hands. He couldnt help but stare at her, she was beautiful, so near to perfection. His eyes fluttered as he felt her fingertips touch the palm of his hands lightly. He felt Renae watching him and he pulled his hand away quickly, much to the delight of Kenny, and shoved his hands in his pockets before clearing his throat and shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"Hey Hailie." Laura knelt down and waved at Hailie. Hailie just stared at her and then waved back after a second. "How old are you?"

"Six." Hailie said proudly. "Im gonna be 7 on December 25th!"

"Wow, and you look SO much older!" Laura laughed. Hailie grinned, beggining to like Laura. She was nice, she was pretty, whats not to like? "What a pretty shirt!"

Hailie looked down at her own shirt, pink with teddy bears on the sleeves. She looked back at Laura and nodded. "My daddy bought it for me!" She was holding onto Marshalls jeans with one hand, but had come out from behind him. "My MOMMY likes it too." She emphasized 'mommy'.

"I like your shirt, too, Hailie." Renae said, feeling sort of excluded. Hailie looked at Renae and then back at Laura, tottally ignoring her.

"Hey Laura, do you want to see the puppy?" Hailie asked happily. Laura nodded and Hailie let go of Marshalls jeans, to reach up and take Lauras hand, and then led her up towards the stairs. Renae frowned and glanced at Marshall. He shook his head and put an arm around Renaes shoulders comfortingly.

"She'll come around." He said reassuringly.

"Yeah, sure." Renae grumbled, not believing him. "So, Kenny, how was the drive up here?" She tried to make conversation.

"Long." Kenny sighed. "It was VERY long. You got a nosering?"

"Yeah, I did, remember how I used to always say that I wanted one, but you kept telling me that it looked stupid? Well, I wanted it so I got one, finally. Do you want something to drink, or eat? I was about to get Hailie something, but she must not be hungry anymore." Renae looked down.

"Um, maybe just a beer." Kenny nodded.

"Okay, come on into the kitchen." Renae nodded towards the kitchen and they walked towards the door.

"So, you look familiar. Have we met before?" Marshall asked casually, he KNEW that he knew Kenny from SOMEWHERE.

"No, you havent." Renae said quickly. She honestly didnt think that he had seen him anywhere before, she had always been careful to keep Kenny away from her, and that meant Marshall as well. "He probably just looks like me, we ARE brother and sister you know." She went over to the fridge as Marshall and Kenny sat at the kitchen table.

"Yo, we dont look alike at all." Kenny said as Renae took 2 Buds from the fridge, and then the bottle of Bacardi from the cabinet above the stove, for Marshall. Renae rolled her eyes and closed the cabinet door.

"Well, then where has he seen you before?" Renae asked, not expecting an answer.

"Last year, Arianas balcony, I was on my way up to see Diego. You were in the house, it was around 12 o clock, I had a whole conversation with him." Kenny said. Renaes jaw dropped and and she set the Bacardi down in front of Marshall, handed Kenny a bottle of beer and set one down at the place where she was going to sit.

"You shitting me?" She asked in disbelief.

"Nope. You remember it?" Kenny asked Marshall.

"Yeah, thats why you asked if I was taking care of Renae...I was wondering why a fan would ask that." Marshall nodded, finally realizing it.

"Okay, um, what will Laura have?" Renae asked, getting a glass from the cabinet.

"Uh, I dont know, just get her a Bud too. I guess." Kenny nodded. "Anyways, yeah, that was me. I guess thats why I look so familiar." He nodded.

"Ah Ha!" Marshall laughed, "I knew I knew you from SOMEWHERE, I was just trying to think of where. How come you didnt tell me who you were?"

"You know." Kenny shrugged and opened his bottle with his bottle opener keychain. "I just, I didnt think it was the right time, and I didnt want you to tell Renae, I dont know."

"Why not?" Renae asked, setting Lauras beer down at the table and handng Marshall the glass, and then proceeded to get the can opener to open her own beer.

"I dont know." Kenny admitted. "I thought that you might be mad at me, since like, me and Mike had problems." "

Well, you and Mike has nothing to do with me and you." Renae said, sitting down in the chair across from Kenny and next to Marshall. Kenny grinned, and Renae raised her eyebrows. "Im mad at you for my own reasons."

"I knew you would be mad at me." Kenny smirked. "Ive changed, gimme another chance?"

"Yeah, fine." Renae waved her hand as if it were nothing and took a sip from her beer. "I shouldnt let you have another chance, but, I am going to."

"Thanks sis." He smiled, sincerely. "You wont regret that."

"Why is it that for some reason, I think that I will?" She asked. Kenny rolled his eyes.

"You wont. I changed. Trust me. How else would I get a good girl like Laura? You ask Laura what Im like, she'll tell you." Kenny had talked to Laura on the way up, she was to say nice things about Kenny, even if that meant that she had to lie. So he wasnt worried about her.

"Yeah, Im not gonna ask her." Renae said. "Im gonna trust you. Please dont make this be a big mistake ok?"

"Ok." Kenny smiled, his plan was working out well so far. As he said that, Laura and Hailie came in the room and Laura sat down where her beer was. Hailie climbed up into Marshalls lap and leaned back against his chest, staring at Kenny. Kenny smiled at her. "Hi, Hailie, is it?" He asked, sounding friendly.

"Hi." Hailie said shyly, and then looked at Laura. "Is he your husband?"

"No, my boyfriend." Laura replied. Hailie nodded.

"Ohh. My daddy married her." She pointed at Renae, still keeping her eyes on Laura.

Marshall glanced at Renae and then down at Hailie and nudged her arm. "Shes got a name, Hailie. You dont call her, 'her'. You hear me?" He asked.

"Yes Daddy." She said quietly.

"Good." Marshall said, putting his arms around her and hugging her tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"My daddy and RENAE," She emphasized Renaes name, "had a baby." Hailie watched Laura. So far she liked her, alot better than she liked Renae.

"A baby, huh?" Laura grinned and looked across the table at Renae. "Hows he doing?"

"Good." Renae smiled and nodded. "Hes sleeping."

"Thats good. I love babies." Laura said cheerfully.

"Marsh is SO cute!" Hailie said, leaning forward, pulling away from Marshalls arms, without noticing. "You want to see him?" She asked eagerly.

"Sure!" Laura grinned.

"Hailie, you can show Laura, Marsh when he wakes up. Hes sleeping, I just dont want anyone to wake him up, okay?" Renae shook her head. Hailie just stared at her and then looked back at Laura.

"Come on! I'll show you him! Hes like a baby doll or something." Hailie moved to get up off Marshalls lap, and Marshall put his arms around her again and pulled her back into him.

"What did Renae just tell you?" Marshall asked quietly in Hailies ear.

"I dont know." Hailie shrugged.

"I think you do." Marshall insisted. "About Marsh being asleep."

"Oh." She said quietly.

"Yeah, oh. Hai, we need to talk. S'cuse us." Marshall said, picking up Hailie as he stood up and carrying her into the other room.

Renae glanced around uncomfortably. "She uh, doesnt like me all that much. But shes really a nice little girl." Renae sighed.

"Why doesnt she like you?" Kenny asked.

"Who knows?" Renae replied, leaning back in her chair. "She doesnt like me, because she thinks Im trying to steal Marshall away from her."

"Ohh, Im sorry." Laura said, feeling bad for Renae. This whole, sleep with Marshall and break the marriage up thing, was going to be harder then she thought. She was starting to like Renae, and she felt bad that she had to do this, and that Hailie didnt like her. "Why dont you try and find something that you both like to do, and then, maybe you guys can have something in common?" She suggested.

"Uh, actually thats a really good idea. But like, she doesnt seem to want to do anything with me, and she wont even talk to me hardly at all. I cant really blame her though, I can understand why she hates me, I just wish that she didnt." Renae looked down.

"Kids used to love you though. She will too once she gives you a chance." Kenny reassured her.

"Oh yeah, kids loved me. Thats why Ri's little brother threw that can of artificial snow at me and fractured my arm." Renae said sarcastically.

"Well, he doesnt count, remember that time that you guys dressed him up in Arianas mothers clothes, and locked him out of the house?" Kenny laughed. Renae smiled at the memory.

"Yeah, but still. Other kids didnt like me."

"Course they did."

"Nah. It dont matter anyways. Ima keep trying to get hre to like me, but I just dont know." Renae shrugged.

"Babe." Marshall said from the livingroom, setting Hailie on the couch and sitting beside her. "What is the matter with you today?"

"Nothing Daddy. How come you dont marry Laura, shes really pretty. Alot more prettier then Renae." Hailie asked. Marshall frowned and exhaled loudly. He felt horrible for Renae, he knew how much she tried to get Hailie to like her, and how important it was to her, and how hurt she was when Hailies feelings didnt change towards her.

"Hai, Renae is pretty too." He defended.

"Yeah, I guess, But Laura is REALLY pretty. I think you would like Laura better. Shes awfully nice!"

"So is Renae. You know Hails, I really want you to give her a chance. A fair chance. Please?" Marshall asked. Hailie sighed and rolled her eyes. "You know, she tries to get you to like her, and shes really a nice person, I feel bad because she really wants you to like her. Shes really nice, would I marry her if she wasnt?"

Hailie shrugged.

"Well, I wouldnt. And she likes you. Come on, shes really nice, shes pretty-"

"Not as pretty as Laura." Hailie mumbled.

"Renae is just as pretty as Laura, if not prettier. Now come on. Your going to apologize to Renae for ignoring her." He said, standing up.

"Dad!" Hailie protested and crossed her arms.

"Lets go Hai." He said firmly, taking her hand and pulling her out to the kitchen. She walked sulkily beside him and stared at the floor. As they entered the kitchen, everyone looked up, and then Renae looked back down at the table, avoiding eye contact with Hailie. "Hailie, what do you have to say to Renae?" He asked, looking down at her.

"Sorry." She mumbled, staring at her shoes.

"What Hai?" Marshall asked, a little louder. Renae was looking up by this time. "Look at her, and say it louder so she can hear it."

"Im sorry." Hailie repeated, looking at Renae.

"For what?" Marshall asked.

"Marshall, you dont have to-" Renae started.

"For WHAT Hailie?" He asked, intterupting Renae and ignoring her.

"For not listening to you when you said no." Hailie said.

"Thank you Hailie." Marshall said, sitting down at the table. "Now, do you want to come sit with me or do you want to watch tv in the other room?" He asked.

"I want to watch tv in the other room." She said, glaring at Renae and then turning around and leaving. She had gotten in trouble because of Renae, now she REALLY didnt like her.

"Shes mad at me now." Marshall said, shaking his head.

"At least she doesnt hate you." Renae said, playing around with the antenna of the baby moniter.

"Yeah, shes gonna hate me eventually though." Marshall smirked.

"Little girls always hate their daddys when they get older." Kenny said. Immediatly Renae looked up and glared at him, trying to figure out if that was a dig at her or not. Marshall looked between the two, and sensing tension, changed the subject.

"How about we go sit outside?" He suggested.

"Ah, the baby aint awake yet, so Ima stay in here." Renae shook her head.

"Okay." Marshall said slowly. "Well, uh, Kenny, you want me to help you get your shit from the car?"

"Thanks." Kenny nodded and they stood up and went outside. Renae looked across the table at Laura and forced a smile, even though she wasnt in the mood to smile at all.

"So, your Kennys girlfriend huh?" She asked. Laura hesitated and then nodded back at her.

"Yeah...I am." She replied.

"So, how long you guys been going out for?" She tried to make conversation.

"About, 2 and a half years." Laura lied.

"Thats awesome. Is it getting serious do you think?"

"Uh, no, not really."

"Why not?" Renae asked.

"I dont know, we just havent really been that serious, I guess." She shrugged.

"Oh, so how did you meet him?"

"We both work down at the bar." Laura answered. This time she wasnt lying. She did work at the bar with Kenny, and at the restaurant on weekdays, and then everynight after work she found some guys who had no where to go and she slept with them for money. She didnt have any other choice. She had moved to NYC when she was 23, and since then she had worked minimum wage, at dead end jobs. She could barely keep her apartment with the salary that she made form working, she needed more, food and clothes and heat and electricity, and she made good money sleeping with guys. She was careful about it, of course, but how careful could you possibly be at a job like that?

"Thats Cool." Renae sighed. "You know, I heard from my brother, Mike, that Kenny was an alcoholic, but he didnt want to get help for it."

"Thats true." Laura nodded. "He doesnt even think that he has a problem, and he obviously does, I think he knows that he does but doesnt want to admit it. He rarely drinks anything besides beer."

"I really hope that he gets help for it. Maybe I can talk to him." Renae said. Laura forced a smile, already feeling bad for what she had to do to Renaes marraige, but she really did need the money. As she ended that sentence she heard the baby start to whine through the baby monitor. "I have to get Marsh, want to come with me?"

"Sure!" Laura stood up and so did Renae. Renae led her through the house to the stairs, walked up them and all the way down the hall to the 4th door on the right and opened it to the picture perfect nursery. They walked up the tiny steps carefully and then over to the crib.

Laura glanced around the nursery, the toys lined up perfectly on shelves and tables, the blankets hanging over the crib side, the rocking chair, the curtains, it looked like no one lived here. It was so neat and clean and just simply perfect, she was almost in awe. She looked at Renae and touched the side of the wooden crib gently, as if it would break at any minute.

"Wow, this is the most beautiful room I have ever seen in real life." She commented. Renae giggled and turned around.

"Real life?" She questioned.

"Well, you know, I see things ths beautiful in like, magazines and catalogs but, oh my god, its just so, beautiful."

"Oh, thanks." Renae smiled and looked down at the baby. "Whats the matter with you, huh?" She asked it, reaching down and putting her hands under its arm pits and lifting it up. She held it against her and rubbed its back in tiny circles, as she always did when she held him.

"Aw!" Laura squealed, walking closer to her. "Hes so beautiful!"

"Thanks." Renae smiled. "You want to hold him?"

"Sure!" Laura grinned and Renae handed her the baby carefully. Laura cradled it and looked down at him. He stared up at her, with big blue eyes, and she smiled. "Oh my gosh! I have always wanted a baby! He is just TOO precious!" She started talking in a baby talk voice and Renae laughed.

"I have to get his bouncy seat." She said, walking over to the closet and picking up the blue bouncy seat by the handles and taking a few stuffed animals and a passifire off the dresser top. "Come on, you want to bring him downstairs?"

"Sure." Laura said, she followed Renae out of the nursery and down the long hallway towards the stairs. As they descended the stairs they saw Kenny and Marshall, carrying bags in the front door from the car. Kenny stopped and looked up as Laura walked down.

"Whos this?" He asked, touching the babys hand. The baby just stared at him blankly, probably to afraid to move. Kids could tell what people were like, if they were assholes or not. It was a part of them that must come with their innocense, and Marsh could tell that Kenny wasnt nice. He just stared at him, his big blue eyes, wide with fear.

"Thats Marsh." Renae said, watching Kenny carefully. She wouldnt for a second leave any kid alone with him, she knew what he was like around kids, he was abusive, he was an asshole and he did not know how to take care of them at all. When she was 9, he had given her a ciggarette, and when she was 12 he got her beer. Sure, when she was around 16, and 17, she wanted to have parties and she thought it was cool that her older brother bought her beer and ciggarettes, but now that she was a parent, she knew that it was not cool. It was irresponsible of him, and she wouldnt trust him with any child.

"Hes cute." He commented, picking up the bags and following Marshall up the stairs to the guest room.