NeedNotNoName: haha! Thank you! There's still no Jeremy yet, that's the next chapter. But i still can't decide if i want him to recognize her at first. What do you think?

Ravenclaw Slytherin: Thank you! I'm trying to make this character super real, ya know? Thanks for the review(:

OKAY! FINALLY CHAPTER 1!

No warnings for this chapter :( that's for later in the story(; buuuuut, this chapter has some fluff(;

Oh! I personally don't care about Jeremy's age, but, in the story, i'm saying he worked on the Avengers when he was in his mid thirties, ok? It just works for the story a lot more. Sorry :( I also don't know all of his background story, but i hope i don't offend anyone...

Oh, i also don't own any of the Renners. Just Skylar, and Casey so far. And the storyline. With that being said, ENJOY CHAPTER 1!

4 months in Modesto was not proving the way I had hoped. Instead of getting a job as an athletic trainer, or high school coach; I was now a bartender at the most popular bar/club in Modesto. Yippee. Working at Tonic was definitely not where I wanted to be, but my job was the result of an unresolved favor from a family friend. Sure I eventually found people who knew me as a child, but none of them seemed too inclined to help me out. All except my old nanny, Georgia, but she was now reaching her mid 70's and could only offer me some Sunday dinners. I had also run into a childhood best friend, Casey. She had definitely grown up on the wealthy side of life; sporting her Prada handbag and True Religion jeans. Her long fake-blond hair cascading down past her fake boobs and not so impressive ass. But yet, she still seemed to enjoy my presence. Often asking if I wanted to join her for the night's festivities. Once I found that she wasn't atrocious company, I discovered she had a great a sense of humor, but, no matter what we seemed to talk about, the conversation always steered back to my previous relationship with the handsome actor, and I constantly rolled my eyes.

"No. I have not seen him since I've been back," This night out at another club, G&R, was no exception to her annoying prodding. "Besides, he lives all the way in LA now. It's not like he'd come back to Modesto if he didn't need to,"

Casey flipped her blond hair at some young, attractive onlooker. "Umm. His family's still here. He comes back to visit every so often. And why are you so appalled at seeing him again, huh?"

I sighed, and stroked my finger on the rim of my glass of Jack Daniels. "I'm not. Not really. It's just I think that would be a super awkward encounter. I mean, I'm 26 now. He's like in his mid 30's. The only reason he ever babysat me as a kid, was because our families were inseparable, and so even in his 20's, he felt inclined to watch me,"

"Wow. You've got it bad,"

I looked up into her sea green eyes. Probably the one thing that wasn't fake, and crunched my eyebrows in confusion. "Got what bad?"

"You're in love with Jeremy Renner! I just knew it!" she was now slightly bouncing with a giant grin on her face in enjoyment. "Did you not know that you were like his favorite person ever?"

Once again, I scrunched my eyebrows, and tried to control the giddiness rising up in me.

"Yea. He didn't dread spending time with you. He loved you in his own separate way. I can still remember the smile on his face last time he asked your parents about you some little while ago," she was now staring off through the ceiling, as if trying to recall the conversation.

"He asked about me?" I whispered.

"Yea. That one year your parents came back to visit, but you were to sick to come with them. If I was 20, that would mean you were, uh, 18? Right?" I nodded. "Well anyway, we all got together with your parents and had a nice dinner. Jeremy was all smiles every time your parents would mention what you were up to. He asked what you grew up to look like, and your parents happily showed him a photo on their phones. He smiled and mumbled something, but at that point I was so overcome with jealousy that I didn't bother to pay attention to him the rest of the night,"

I tried to hide my smile by taking another swig of alcohol, sending shivers down my body. "Jealous?"

"Well yeah! He's hot. Pretty much the entire night, I was trying to get him to go to bed with me, but he was other wise distracted by your 'pretty face' and so I finally gave up on him. So, yes Skylar, you can have him. No competition here,"

"I'm not trying to 'go after' anyone anyways. Like I said; it would be an awkward situation if we were to meet again,"

With that being said, Casey perked up. A brilliant idea obviously running through her one-track mind. "Hey! How 'bout we go visit his parents?! They haven't seen you in sooo long, and you were practically another one of their daughters. We can swing by my place and visit my parents too," she rolled her eyes at that. "I guess all 3 of our families were like one giant one back in the day, but ever since your parents died, it kind of killed the mood between all three. No pun intended,"

I shrugged and stood up. "Sure. I guess a little visit wouldn't be that bad. Besides, seeing as I didn't take my parent's deaths very well, I should probably apologize for my previous behavior,"

Casey clapped her hands in excitement, and pulled me from my state of restlessness, and walked with me to her car, throwing some cash at the bartender on her way out.

After several minutes of driving in silence, Casey cleared her throat and glanced at me. "Nervous?"

"Uh… a little, I guess?" I mumbled.

"Why? Jeremy's not going to be there,"

The tension in my body released when she shared this news with me, and I sighed in relief.

She chuckled a little, and steered the car down the familiar street. "And why did you sound relieved?"

I rubbed unshed tears from my eyes as I stared out into childhood memories. "Well, I guess I'm just not emotionally prepared to see my childhood sweetheart, second parents, and best friend's parents all in one day. Him not being there, takes a burden from my shoulders,"

I saw Casey gulp a lump from her throat, and I cocked my head slightly at her nervous actions.

"Oh look! We're here!" She turned her Mini Cooper down the gravel driveway of the farm house. From the looks of it, Valerie and Lee had kept just a few animals on the property, and I looked forward to spending a few minutes in the presence of unmarred nature. Casey stopped the car, and immediately ran up the porch to embrace a few of the children. I awkwardly shuffled out of her car, and slowly approached the front door. A small copper haired woman emerged from inside the home, and her eyes instantly lit up when she made eye contact with me. I felt the tears streaming from my eyes as I ran to her embrace. We both quietly sobbed into each other's arms for a few minutes until she ushered me into the front room. The first thing I saw was a gold paisley couch, and I grinned as I remember Jeremy helping me build a tent on that very sofa. I glanced further into the room, and saw blue-green eyes staring back into my blue-brown ones, and the tears started all over again.

"Lee!" I ran into his open arms, and sobbed into his shoulder.

"Hey kiddo," he smiled. He pulled me away and looked into my eyes. "Let's get a look at ya," he eyes scanned me up and down and his grin grew larger. "You look just as beautiful as your mother, but your daddy's eyes still look as though his excitement burns into yours," he smiled.

I swear my eyes probably looked like I had just been doing a shit load of pot with someone. I could feel their stinging from all the constant crying. I nodded to him, and he gestured me to the sofa as Valerie handed me a glass of what looked like tea. I smiled back at her and sat down on the couch, followed by Val and Lee. Valerie wiped a tear from my cheek and tucked a strand of my brown hair behind my ear. "No more blond hair?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Nah. Remember I used to get teased for how white it was!"

Lee laughed and patted my knee. "Oh I remember. Jeremy used to call you his little Aryan,"

I smiled at the memory, finally being able to understand what he meant by that.

"You've grown into a beautiful woman. Almost too perfect for any man… Well, everyone but Jeremy of course," she winked and I chuckled, but I couldn't fight the blush that seeped into my cheeks.

"So Skylar, I'm gonna go. You can call a cab to take you home, yea?" I looked up to see Casey leaning in the doorframe, and mentally slapped myself for forgetting she was here.

"Uh, yea. That's great,"

Casey smiled and walked out the front door.

I leaned back into the couch and took a sip of my tea.

"So Skylar, tell us about the past 16 years, yea?" Lee smiled.

I continued to tell them about North Dakota, my friends, schooling, work, and eventually got in my apology about my parents funeral and how I acted. They in return told me about their lives, how Jeremy's been doing in the movie business, and how all the other kids have been. I found it funny that, whenever I'd bring up something about my life, they would somehow inject what they think Jeremy would do in that situation, or how they were so happy I was back in town and should "definitely catch up" with him. I found myself laughing harder than I ever had in the past few years. All the stories they told me about Jeremy; a tree falling on his house, the horrible toilet incident when he babysat his goddaughter, and found myself almost crying from laughter at the Viagra story. Before I could even register it, the sun had fallen behind the mountains, and I sighed in disappointment.

"Why don't you stay for dinner, than stay the night with us?" Valerie suggested.

I shrugged. "I don't have any night clothing,"

"I'm sure we could find an old shirt of Jeremy's that'd fit. Come on! Let's make some of your father's famous lemon chicken!"

Before I could protest, Lee had hauled me to my feet, and dragged me into the kitchen.

We enjoyed an evening of delicious lemon chicken and white wine and laughter. After a few minutes of friendly chat, Valerie escorted me up the stairs to the room I'd be staying in. I secretly crossed my fingers that it wasn't Jeremy's. I don't I could sleep with his smell engrossing me in the night. Instead, she led me into a small, quaint guest bedroom. She let me look at my surroundings while she went and got me a shirt. The room was a soft cream color, with tan carpet. Soft yellows and creams created the curtains and bed sheets. There was also a large bay window that looked out into the backyard. This tiny room somehow felt more like home than any place I've been in the last 16 years. My thoughts were halted when Valerie tossed a soft, blue t shirt towards me. She smiled and sat on the bed, patting the spot next to her. I quietly sat next to her, and clenched the shirt a little tighter in my hands.

"Are you ever going to talk to him?" she whispered.

I sighed and fixed my gaze on the ground. I knew exactly who she was talking about, and I didn't really want to talk to her about my feelings for her son. That just seemed a little awkward to me.

"No, probably not,"

"And why not sweetie?"

I sighed again, and got a small whiff of cigarettes and cologne from the t shirt in my hands. "I just don't think he would care to see me. I was just some annoying brat he was forced to watch as a young adult,"

"Oh no no no. He loved every second he got to spend with you. He misses you Skylar,"

I scoffed at that. "Yea. You're only saying that because you want us to date,"

"Partially yes," she smiled, "But, it's not only for his benefit. You loved him when you were little, and you still do,"

My gaze shot up to her, surprised at her boldness. "How could I still love someone who abandoned me when I needed him most," I know it wasn't right to accuse him of betrayal. It wasn't his fault I shoved everyone away when my parents died, but even when I moved, he didn't bother to keep in touch. He didn't even try to contact me when he found out about my parents.

"Skylar Alpine Parkinson. Do not judge my son for his previous faults. I'm sure he greatly regrets the decisions he's made in the past, but if you truly love someone, you'll give the chance they need to explain their actions. Even if he doesn't love you back, which I know he does, you should at least give him the decency of admitting his presence. If not, then you're just like him, correct?"

I shrugged. "I guess. I'm just scared to see him again," I whispered.

"You've been keeping up with his movies, right?"

I nodded and Val grinned back at me. "Then technically, you've seen him more than you realize,"

"Well, that's just on screen. He's a completely different person in his films,"

"Yes. But you want to know something? He acts for you," I scrunched my eyebrows, and scooted a little closer to ask her continue. "His Oscar speech he was planning if he won for the Hurt Locker, he mentioned who he had to thank for influencing his acting career, he named 3 people; me, God, and you. He went on to mention that through mistakes he's made in his life, he realized that his heart had only belonged to one person his entire life, and that he wasn't sure if she knew it, but that I didn't matter. Just that he had met her, and was able to share a part of her life with him. That was you Skylar,"

Tears lifted to my eyes, and I gazed at the woman before me in awe. She just simply smiled at my expression and patted my knee.

"Well, just think on it dearest. Have a good sleep. We'll see you in the morning,"

I nodded as she clicked the door shut. I ripped my clothes off, and put Jeremy's shirt over just my underwear. I threw my body onto the bed, and let Jeremy's shirt and smell lull me to sleep.

Awwwee! :3 he's so precious! Oh, and Jeremy will make his "grand" appearance in the next chapter(; stay tuned!

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XOOO BethanyLeeRenner(;