I was NOT going to post this until JakeHarrisLover made me. So here it is. I think it may be a one shot so let me know what you guys think. :) Any way, disclaimer: I don't own anything except Dakota Tsosie. Hurray. (Oh, how I wish I owned Josh...) Enjoy! :)

Dakota stood behind the bar of the Elbow Room and wiped down the counter top. She glanced up when she noticed some one sit down in front of her. A smile spread across her face when she saw that it was Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie. "What can I do for you, Captain Harris," she asked as she leaned on the counter.

"Oh," he laughed, "there's a whole list that goes with that, baby. But for right now, you can just hand me another beer and a shot for Johnathon."

Dakota laughed and grabbed a beer first then poured Johnathon Hillstrand's shot. She set it in front of him and looked over at where Jake Harris, Freddy Maugatai, and Ryan Simpson were sitting. Looking around the table, she noticed some one was missing. "Where's Josh?"

Phil looked over at the table and shrugged, "Probably with Julianne. He'll probably be in later or at home."

The young woman rolled her eyes, "He's always with her."

"Actually," Phil said, lighting his cigarette, "he spends more time with you than he does with her. You're his best friend after all."

Dakota sighed and looked at him, "But she gets him a totally different way than I do. She's the girlfriend and I'm just the best friend."

Nodding, Phil sighed, "I know, baby girl; just a best friend who's in love with him. Maybe one of these days he'll get smart."

She blushed and rolled her eyes, "Don't get my hopes up, Phil." She saw Johnathon walk up and grab his shot. He smiled at Dakota when he handed her the empty glass. "Got tired of waiting?"

"Yep," John smiled at her and patted Phil on the shoulder and sat down. "Can I get a beer, honey?"

"Sure thing, Hillstrand." Dakota turned around and grabbed a beer from the cooler and set it in front of him.

"So what was taking you so long, Phil?" John asked.

"Oh," he said taking a drag off of his cigarette, "Dakota and I got to talking about something."

"About Josh?"

"Why do you figure that," the young woman asked.

"'Cause," Johnathon said, "I was watching you two as I was walking over here and I saw you blush at one point. So I just guessed it was about Josh and the fact that he's not here."

"I just think you just know me too well, John," Dakota laughed.

"Or that."

Phil smiled and tossed his empty bottle into the big trash can behind the bar. "Why don't you just come over after your shift?"

She glanced at her phone for the time, "I get off in ten minutes which puts it at about midnight. Are you sure that's okay?"

Phil nodded, "I could care less. You basically live with us any way and I'm sure Josh'll be home by then. He was pretty tired from working today."

She grinned, "Okay. I wont stay long, I promise."

"Hell," Phil said taking his house key off of his key ring, "I don't care if you spend the night. You're an adult and I've known you for your whole life. I know you wont do anything stupid like burn my house down or steal from us."

She smiled and took the key from him and put it on her key ring, "Thanks, Phil."

Johnathon chimed in, "Do I not get a key?"

Phil looked at him, "Hell no! I know you would take my bike!"

"Why would I need to? I have one of my own!"

Dakota rolled her eyes as the older men argued. She smiled when Jake Harris walked up to the bar and ordered another beer. "Here ya go, kiddo."

"Thanks," he smiled at her. "So I saw pops handed you a key. What's up with that?"

"Nothing," she shrugged. "I'm just gonna stop by your house after my shift and see Josh for a little bit. I may stay the night."

"Cool," he smiled and winked, "You're welcome to stay in my bed."

She smiled and ruffled his hair, "Thanks for the wonderful offer but I think I would rather sleep on the couch."

"One of these days, Kota, I'm gonna get you in my bed," Jake grinned.

"Jake!" Phil scolded a few seats down.

"What? You know its true, dad."

Dakota laughed, "You need to control your son, Phil!" She turned back to Jake and winked, "You're gonna get in trouble one of these days."

Jake shrugged, "And look how much I care." He leaned over the bar and kissed her on the cheek, "See ya back at the house." He smiled as he walked back over to his table.

She shook her head and started picking up empty bottles and throwing them away. After a few minutes, her phone started ringing. She looked at who was calling and raised an eye brow. "Hey, Josh."

"Dakota," his voice cracked, "when do you get off?"

Her heart sank as she glanced at the nearest clock, "In about four minutes. Why?"

There was silence on the other line as Josh took a deep breath, "I need you. Now. Please, Dakota."

She nodded and walked to the back. "Hang on, Josh," she put the phone to her chest and poked her head into the office. "Hey, Jason?"

The manager of the Elbow Room looked up and smiled, "What's up?"

"Do you mind if I leave now? I have to go help a friend. Something happened and they're pretty upset."

"Not at all," he smiled, "Just be here by ten in the morning."

"Thanks," she nodded and put the phone back up to her ear to hear Josh crying. "Josh," she soothed as she walked out of the back to her Jeep, "what happened, honey?"

"I'll tell you when you get here," he sighed. Silence fell over the phone and finally he mumbled, "I love you, Dakota."

She shut the door of her Jeep and cranked it, "I love you too, Josh." And she meant it. But she knew that she meant it a totally different way than Josh did. When she was sixteen, she realized that she was ass over tea kettle in love with the man. Finally one weekend, when she was staying with the Harris', she had gotten the courage to have a heart to heart with Josh and tell him how she really felt about it. He gently told her that he didn't return said feelings. She was crushed, but being the tough daughter of a skipper that she was, she sucked it up and kept her feelings for Josh buried. Of course, over the years they never went away; only got stronger.

During the whole fifteen minute ride to the Harris' house, her mind kept racing with all of the different things that could have happened to somehow make Josh cry. Maybe I just thought I heard him crying. But then again, I did hear his voice crack when I answered the phone... When she finally got to the house, she parked behind Josh's truck and let herself in the house with the key that Phil gave her. She walked into the living room and found no one. She then walked down the hallway into the kitchen and looked out of the back door and found Josh sitting by the fire pit on the back porch.

She walked out and put a hand on Josh's shoulder, "Josh? What happened?"

Josh stood up and pulled her into a tight embrace, "Julianne and I broke up."

Dakota took a deep breath, "I'm sorry to hear that. Why?"

"She said she couldn't be with a fisherman," he shrugged, "and that we didn't have a future together. But it doesn't matter."

She looked up at him and put a hand on the side of his face, "Then why are you so upset?"

"Because I finally realized something after all of these years and I'm pissed at myself that it took so long." He leaned down closer to Dakota and brushed his lips against hers. At first she as shocked and hesitant but finally she melted at his touch. Their lips moved in unison and finally she broke the kiss.

"Josh, what's going on?"

He smiled down at her, "Don't you see? I finally realized that the only person that I want to be with is you, Dakota."

"But you told me a few years ago that you didn't feel the same way as I did."

"I was lying," he pulled her closer, "I've been in love with you for years now. I didn't want to admit it to myself and ruin what we had and honestly, now I don't give a damn. And I've never had the chance to tell you until tonight. The only reason I staid with Julianne so long is because she reminded me of you."

Dakota buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent, "Josh, have you been drinking or is this a dream?"

He laughed, "Neither. This is real, Dakota. I promise you." He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face up toward his, "I love you, Dakota. I know I've said that before but I mean it tonight. I really mean it."

She smiled, "I love you too, Josh. I have for years." She stood up on her toes and kissed him again. As the kiss became more passionate, they some how made their way inside to the kitchen. Josh picked her up and carried her up to his room, kicking the door shut behind him.