He Wants To Help

                                    

                                          
Eight Years ago
Turning over in his sleep Mike feels someone grab his hand and giggle as he soon opens his eyes to see Frankie smiling at him and laughing. It had been six months since Stef and her little girl had been staying with him as he smiles wide at the little girl who adored him.
"Hey there. Escape from the crib huh?" He laughs sitting up now as he grabs the little girl holding her as she rests her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, you seemed like you were gonna escape any minute from that crib little one."
"No, no." Frankie babbles as Mike laughs and heads over to the little changing station he had set up.
"Lets get you changed and heat up a milk bottle for you. Let's let your Mama rest some." Kissing the little girls forehead he lays her down changing her diaper and quickly heats up a milk bottle as the two sit on his recliner and watch the snow fall from his apartment window. The St. Louis winters could be brutal and it made his job of being a cop sometimes tough. But he worked hard regardless and even more now if he was honest, but had switched off nights a few months ago to make sure he was home with Stef and her daughter.
Sure, he had always wanted a relationship, every part of him, but he had never expected this. He never expected to have a beautiful woman living with him who he had feelings for. But he enjoyed every minute of them being there even if Stef was, well different, and very quiet about her past.
"There you are! Babygirl did you wake Mike?" Stef says coming out the bedroom as baby Frankie giggles and smiles sliding down from Mikes lap as Stef picks her up.
"Nah, she's a sweetheart. I don't mind. But I think she escaped from her crib."
"Yeah? You escape? What are we gonna do with you now, huh?" Kissing the girls forehead Stef takes a seat on the couch which served as Mikes bed as she looks at the man who is staring at them both in admiration. "Sorry she woke you."
"Don't worry about it. Hungry? Was about to make some breakfast." He says getting up and starting the coffee pot and taking out the frying pan. "Can make you an omelette or pancakes? What do you feel like this morning?"
Stef smiles at Mike as she softly kisses the back of Frankie's head who was still enjoying her bottle.
"You really don't have to cook everyday you know? I can eat whatever Mike."
"Nonsense. You know I enjoy cooking. Plus little miss there loves the eggs I make."
"That she does." The blonde smiles as baby Frankie slides down from her lap as she continues to drink from her bottle now playing with the little toys Mike had gotten her. Smiling at her little girl, Stef winks at her, and stands walking over to the cop who she realized had not made one single move on her since her and Frankie moved in six months ago.
Grabbing his hand and staring deep into his eyes she stands right in front of him, as he seems rather taken aback for Stef had not made a move on him either.
 Mike was not the type of guy to take advantage at all but he'd be lying if he said he felt nothing as the blonde runs her hand up his chest and moves even closer to him closing the gap between them.
"You're a good guy Mike, you never made a pass at me ya know?"
"I'm not that kind of guy Stef. I would never do anything to make you uncomfortable. I just wouldn't." His dark eyes are sensitive as Stef smiles at him and regardless of the fact that she was gay, she didn't want to remember Lena. Nothing as she presses her lips on his and Mike can't help but gently push her closer to him pressing his own lips softly on hers.
From that day on Mike took on the role of Frankie's father even more as he moved back in his bedroom sleeping close to Stef every night. They made love heavily as Stef pushed all her feeling for Lena out of her mind and thoughts of her in general as months turned into a year. 
She had even gotten a little job even if none of them panned out well for her, and Mike never made her feel badly about it. He was in his glory of taking care of her along with Frankie but when Stef found out she was pregnant a year later she knew she couldn't stay with Mike no matter how good of a guy he was. 
FLASHBACK ENDS
Coming out of his memory Mike walks into Stef's hospital room as he sees her looking at a photo of her kids. Glancing over at him she smiles softly and places it on the nightstand as Mike rests her sandwich and drink on the tray in front of her.
"Thought you might like something to eat."
"Thanks. I'm a tad hungry." She smiles softly as Mike takes a seat beside her opening his own soda. "My mother still in jail?"
"Yeah, I checked in with a few of the guys I know to make sure that she stays put."
"Eh, Mitch will probably bail her out. My father." Stef shrugs taking a bite of her sandwich as Mike pours some soda in a cup of ice for her.
"I'm sorry he wasn't there for you Stef. That you had such a hard childhood."
"Oh, it's okay Mike. I don't dwell on it. Ya know?"
"Ah, I know but, you didn't deserve that. I've seen so many cases like that on the job and, I hate to think what you dealt with growing up.  Sharon didn't deserve you, and neither did this Mitch. You deserved better. And I hope you know how much you are worth and that there are people out there that care about you." Mike smiles softly as Stef returns it sipping the drink he had poured her, for deep in her heart she partly wished Mike wasn't such a good guy. Then maybe she wouldn't feel so terrible about how she broke his heart considering she knew he still carried strong feelings for her.
But on the other hand she was grateful that he was a good guy because she knew he would be an amazing father to both Callie, Jude and even Frankie.
"Thanks Mike. Listen, um, I um, Mike, Callie knows." The blonde says looking right at the dark haired man and his eyes meet hers.
"Knows what?"
"I think she knows you're her father. She figured it out on her own which she should not of because I should have told her, and you. I'm sorry I did that to you both Mike. It was really selfish of me." The blonde says sadly as Mike reaches over and gently grabs her hand holding it.
"Listen Stef, things happen in life. I get it, you thought I wasn't going to be a good father. I get it you were scared and you were trying to protect Callie and Jude. Mitch wasn't really a stellar example." He soothes as Stef lets out a laugh shaking her head.
"He wasn't the worst, but yeah. It's no excuse though Mike. It's not. Hell, I knew you weren't an ass like him. You were always good with Frankie when we first came to live with you, you were good with Callie and Jude. You knew how to put Callie in her place, you still do. And they all love you, and Callie and Jude deserve to know. Callie deserves to know what a wonderful man her father is." She smile as Mike blushes.
"Thank you Stef. Look, we will talk to her, but I called work and asked for some time off to help you. I told you I want to be there for your court date, and I want to help you after that as well. You are welcome to come back to live with me in St. Louis. No strings I know you are not interested in a romantic relationship, I get that fully but no matter what the court says I will make sure that you will always see your kids and be with them. Even if you need to live with me."
"Thanks. Um, I'm gonna check on the babies."
"Course, I'll give you some privacy." Stef stares hard at Mike now as his facial expression continues to soften and he gets up heading out the room. He was a good man, she knew he was going to be a good father but the thought of living with Mike wasn't something she really wanted. In her heart she wanted to live with Lena because that woman was her entire heart, and she wanted to try to make a life with her but at the same time Stef believed she didn't deserve her. Not one bit.