Life was hectic but thankfully Ozzie and Harriet were there to ease a little bit of the stress. They helped with the arrangements for my parents, and continued to encourage me when things were tough. Having David and Ricky live across the hall was nice too. We would play cards until Ozzie would come in and declare bedtime.

I handed my cards over to David who put them all back in the box. I said goodnight to the boys and a goodnight to Ozzie, who began to perfectly fill the empty space that my father left.

"Sweet dreams, kid," he smiled and walked out of the boys' room.

I walked to my room and closed the door. Shutting my light, and got into bed. I laid there for a minute or two before rolling over and closing my eyes. My door opened which caused me to jump, but was relieved just to see David standing there.

"Sorry to disturb you, mom just asked me to send water up to you." He put the glass down on the nightstand.

"Oh-don't worry, I really appreciate it, thank you. Please tell her goodnight,"

"I will, goodnight y/n."

"Goodnight David." He shut the door. I laid back down and Ricky walked in this time without knocking. He looked around at the room with his hand behind his head, almost like he walked in here on accident.

"Rick?"

"Huh? Oh," he walked over to sit on the empty side of the bed.

"What's up?" I sat up and leaned against the pillows.

"I can't sleep,"

"Did you try?" He nodded. I didn't believe him one bit, but still, I lifted up the sheets to the other side of the bed. He dropped his robe and laid down under the covers.

We laid there facing each other in comfortable silence. His beautiful blue eyes gazing into mine, he lifted his face and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"Ricky, I think I love you,"

"I think I love you too," he smiled. He opened his arms for me to lay in. I felt so safe wrapped against him. He pressed kisses to my forehead and we just laid there, not falling asleep, but enjoying each other's company.

The next morning I woke up still in Ricky's arms. I pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder, he must've gotten warm in the night and took his nightshirt off. He began to stir, he yawned and slowly opened his eyes.

"Good morning Ricky," you ran your hand through his hair.

"Good morning," he grumbled. He rolled over to get more sleep and unlatched his arms from my waist. You pressed tender kisses behind his neck and shoulder before getting up and grabbing your robe to go help with breakfast.

You walked downstairs to find Ozzie and Harriet reading the morning paper.

"Good morning," you cheered.

"Good morning! How'd you sleep?" Harriet asked.

"Wonderfully, just wonderfully."

David and Ricky got downstairs not too long after to have breakfast. You sat between the two of them at the table.

After breakfast, you and Ricky took a walk to the record store. All the employees knew his name as he went there so often.

"Someday I'm gonna have a record of my own here."

"I have no doubt about it."

You looked at the bins filled with records. Ricky placed his arms around your waist and rested his head on top of yours.

"I'm in love with you," he said before he turned you around to face him. He loved the sight of you in his favorite place. The record store was his go-to spot. His escape. This particular one didn't seem to get crowded. It made him like it even more because of that.

"I'm in love with you too, babe." He seemed to like the pet name. He smiled while biting his lip and kissed you right in the middle of the store.

When we returned home, I found myself confiding in Harriet. I thought of her more as a mother than ever, and she made girl talk so easy. Ricky was my first love and I was scared of getting my heart broken or doing something wrong.

"You know he won't do a thing like that." She put her hand on my shoulder.

"It scares me. All I know is what's in the movies and I just don't want to mess up." She chucked and shook her head.

"It'll be fine, Rick's turned out to be a very-well mannered young man. You have nothing to worry about, honest."

"Thank you Harriet, for everything." I pulled her in for a hug and she hugged back. Ever since moving in, we've gotten closer, truly like mother and daughter.

At night, Ricky and I were sitting in the backyard talking. We were sat on the plush grass. He had his arm wrapped around my shoulders and I had my arm around his waist. David and Ozzie were playing basketball and Harriet was inside knitting but still watching everyone.

"I heard you talk to mom today. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you." he said quietly.

"I know you wouldn't, but this is my first relationship." he held onto my cheek gently. He treated me like I was porcelain.

"Just trust me, okay? We could take things slow. I've never been in a relationship either. We can learn together, okay?" I nodded. He leaned down and pressed a soft yet gentle kiss to my lips. I didn't want to pull away but I remembered Ozzie and Harriet could be watching. I pulled away and laid my head on his shoulder.

"I love you."

"I love you too."