Ike was exhausted. He had been working extra hours at both jobs, trying to help with his mom's medical bills. She had come down with a serious case of pneumonia and he wasn't about to let something like money stop her from getting the help she needed. As he climbed the stairs to his apartment, he tried not to think about Zelda. He tried his best, until he saw her slouched down outside her front door, the baby carrier next to her starting to wiggle. It had been a month since the night she had kissed him. One month of silence between them. She never returned his text, and he had taken up avoiding any contact with her. He knew a sign when he saw it.

He was about to walk right past her. He should, after everything. Then she looked up at him, tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, and that option flew right out the window. "What's up?" he asked in a neutral tone, worried when she looked down at her feet.

"I locked my keys in the car." It was so simple Ike had to suppress a snort.

"Get your spare."

"It's in my apartment, which I can't get into without my car keys," she shook her head sadly and pulled out her phone.

"Well-" Ike was cut off by Colin's wail, making him frown. Zelda let out a groan and began unbuckling him.

"I know baby, I know the teeth hurt," she cooed down at him and Ike let out a heavy sigh. Damn kid was a weak spot for him. So was Zelda, but he wasn't about to admit that. Without another word he stomped to the door of his apartment and unlocked it.

XxX

Zelda felt Ike's door closing like a slap. He had always been so nice to them, and her panic had shoved him away. She clutched the now screaming infant to her tightly, kissing his soft hair gently. Not two minutes of screaming later and Ike reappeared in his doorway, a scowl on his lips as he looked at her. She looked away, unable to look into those deep blue eyes without getting lost. She heard his footsteps as he approached and she tensed. "Move," he said firmly and she looked up at him curiously. He let out a sigh, gripped her shoulders, and moved her gently from the doorway.

A slight scoff left her lips at being moved, but she grew silent as Ike pulled a lock pick kit from his pocket. It took him about a minute and then he had her door open. "Ike, thank you I-"

"I can pop the lock on your car too if you want," he cut her off coldly. "You know, give you time to get him some medicine for the teething."

"That would be fantastic Ike, thank you-"

"Save it," he cut her off again and vanished down the stairs quickly, leaving Zelda to stare after him curiously.

"I guess momma owes him an explanation huh?" she said to her son, realizing that when Ike was talking he had eased up on the wailing. She shook her head and moved into her apartment, going straight for the baby safe pain medication on the counter. As soon as she set her son on the carpet he began screaming again, making her sigh. "I know baby, I'm working on making it all better."

As she filled the dropper with the correct dosage her mind went back to the night she had told Ike to leave. It hadn't been his fault, she was the one who had kissed him, but the simple act had scared her. Her ex was supposed to have been the one, and he had left... A tear rolled down her cheek as she turned to her son, giving him a gentle smile. "Come here sweetie," she scooped him up and carefully poured the medicine into his mouth, smiling through her wet eyes at him. "There we go, that'll help my baby."

A knock on the door made her pause. She knew it was Ike, and she knew she had to answer it. Just like she knew she had to explain the way she had told him to leave... if he would even listen. As carefully as she could, she stood up and moved to the door.

"Here," Ike held out her car keys and she took them gratefully.

"Thank you," she mumbled over Colin's fussing, watching as Ike looked down at him.

"Hey buddy," he used that even tone he had spoken to him with that night a month ago. Colin turned his little head and Ike gave him a small grin. "How's your teeth huh?" Colin tried to lunge for Ike and Zelda gripped her son tighter.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly and Ike shrugged.

"Do you want me to hold him for a minute?" he asked, his tone wary. She nodded and Ike held out his hands. Colin once more lunged and Ike scooped him up. "Hey there," Ike said in a gentle tone. She watched as her son got settled on Ike's shoulder, trying to ignore the squirming feelings in her gut.

"He has a toy he chews on," she turned to the baby carrier and scooped up the round textured disc that had been in her son's mouth since his first tooth had started giving him trouble. "And I'm sorry I know he's drooling a lot-"

"He's got his very first tooth coming in, of course he is," Ike defended as he took the toy from her hand and gave it to Colin. Her baby immediately began chewing on it, making Ike smirk. "That's the good stuff huh?"

Zelda watched as her son once more got settled on Ike's shoulder, then turned her attention to Ike. He looked exhausted as he stood there. Dark circles clung to his eyes and the light dusting of blue hairs along his jawline suggested he hadn't shaved in a day at least. She wanted to ask if he was okay, but worried about what he'd say in response to that. There was also an awkward amount of tension between them that she knew was her fault, and while she wanted to fix that, she was unsure how. Just opening up to him about that night seemed like more than she could do.

"How do you know about lock picking?" she asked and he looked up from her son to her.

"I work part time at a locksmith," he explained as he shifted Colin on his shoulder a little. "Half the time it's keys locked in cars, the other half is houses." She nodded and he let out a sigh. "Not exactly a glamorous job but it helps pay the bills."

"Do you have two jobs?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah, I work at the body shop my dad used to co-own with his friend. Don't worry," he said quickly, "I'm grease free and not staining your carpet or kiddo." She smiled at that and he chuckled.

"I work an office job from home," she said softly, her eyes finding Colin beginning to fall asleep on Ike. "I can't really afford daycare for him plus rent, food, and bills so they let me do this. It works for the most part."

"Yeah my sister had trouble finding an affordable daycare for her daughter when she got off maternity leave," Ike said gently. "Those places are pretty pricey."

"Especially the good ones," Zelda griped as she stood there, unsure whether she should offer him a seat.

"Where's his crib?" Ike asked and she motioned for him to follow her. They walked back to her bedroom, Ike immediately moving to the small dark oak crib in the corner. She watched as he eased her son from his shoulder and laid him on his back, a small smile on his lips. "Sleep tight little dude." He turned and their eyes met, making Zelda swallow nervously.

"I uh-"

"I'm gonna go," he whispered and began to move past her. Zelda grabbed his arm, silently begging him with a nod of her head to just go out to the living room. He nodded and they left her bedroom.

"Look Ike," she started nervously as she sat on the couch, "about what happened-"

"I get it. You got caught up in the moment of seeing a man take care of your son. I meant my text to you about what happened. I didn't make a move, I just kissed you back. You're not interested and that's fine-"

"I am interested," she corrected and his jaw snapped shut. He stared at her for a silent moment, obviously waiting for her to continue. "I just panicked Ike. The last time I felt anything for someone I ended up a single mom. What happens if I get used to you being there? What if Colin gets used to you? I can't handle losing someone again that promises to be there. He promised, and where's he now?"

XxX

Ike had mixed emotions about her explanation for pushing him away. On the one hand he understood that the wounds of her ex were still fresh. On the other? He was a little offended that she had assumed something so wrong about him. He wasn't her ex, and she would know that if she gave him a chance. She finished talking and looked at him, tears shining in her eyes. "I get it." His words were simple as he shifted on her couch, trying not to get too comfortable lest he fall asleep. "I do, and I mean that. I've been there... well, minus the kiddo obviously. Zelda, I am not your ex. Yeah, he left, and I'm not as sorry about that as I maybe should be. The facts as I know them are this," he tapped his chest with his hand, "I am not the kind of person, the kind of man, to just up and leave. When I find someone to care about I give them my all. I won't lose interest, I won't stop caring, because that's not me."

"How can you even be interested?" she asked softly, her eyes on her lap.

"How can I not be?" he counter asked. "Zelda you're an amazing person. And Colin? I'm crazy about the little guy." Her lips twitched into a smile at that and Ike leaned over and took her hand gently. She looked up at him then, worry blatant in her beautiful eyes. "I promise I'm not going to rush anything okay? We'll go as fast or slow as we need to." She nodded, looking like she had something she wanted to say.

"Are you sure?" she asked and Ike couldn't help but chuckle.

"Come here." He gently tugged her to his side and pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "The first thing you need is a reminder that you're incredible. Lose the low self esteem Zelda, you definitely don't deserve to have it." She huffed and he kissed her temple again. "I mean it. Now, since he's down and you've got all your keys back, I'm gonna head back across the hall and pass out."

"Are you okay?" she asked and he nodded with a yawn.

"Just been working a lot lately, trying to help my mom out with some bills." He stood up and she followed suit, holding her arms out for a hug. He gave her a tired grin and stepped into the offered hug, loving how she felt in his arms. He pulled back first, unsure of what to say. "Text me later yeah?" She nodded at that and he turned to the door, feeling better about everything.

XxX

Zelda felt better than she had in a very long time. It had been a week since she and Ike had talked, and things between them were great. He came over for dinner, with something to add to the meal always in hand, and helped her cook. More often than not he ended up with Colin in his arms, talking and playing with him as he moved around her kitchen. Things between them hadn't progressed beyond a quick peck on the cheek and she appreciated that. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in more from Ike, she wanted him more than she wanted to admit, but the thought of getting that close to him still kind of scared her. He had been nothing less than perfect in the week of them pseudo-dating, but she was still nervous.

"Hey," she answered her phone on the second ring, happy to see Ike's name.

"Hey gorgeous," he greeted back. "How's my two favorite people?"

"Well one of us has been fussy all day."

"I don't know why you'd put Colin through that," he teased and she laughed.

"Did you want to come over for dinner tonight? I was thinking about making spaghetti."

"Actually it's my friend's birthday and we're bar hopping." He said it with such a casual air, but Zelda couldn't help her slight stab of panic. What if he met someone? She was just beginning to let herself look forward to seeing him- "Zelda?" Ike's voice cut through her panic and she cleared her throat.

"Yeah no that's cool," she said in a forced light tone.

"Hey, I know that fake crap talk to me."

"Ike..." she trailed off, not wanting to admit to her insecurities.

"Look I'm almost back to the apartment. I'll come up and you can tell me what's up okay?"

"Sure," she nodded, wincing at how uncertain her voice was. "Bye." She hung up quickly, trying to brace herself for the upcoming conversation. Would he be upset? Would he not want to continue with this whole thing?

XxX

Ike had a feeling he knew what was going through Zelda's head when he said he was going to bar hop with his buddies. She was probably worried he was going to do something he found absolutely stupid. Hooking up with some random chick when he had Zelda and a semi-relationship with her was not going to happen. The fact of the matter was he would rather wait on her to be ready than get a quick fuck. Maybe he was odd in that regard, but he wanted this with Zelda. He wanted to be with her, wanted to eventually wake up next to her, wanted to show her with every kiss that she was perfect.

As he climbed the stairs up to his floor he cursed her ex. The bastard had done a number on her self esteem, and she didn't deserve that. She was gorgeous, post baby and all. And Colin? Don't even get him started on how adorable and perfect that baby was. He made it to her door and knocked, ready to tell her she had nothing to worry about. The door opened and he gave the frazzled mother a grin.

"Even when you look two seconds from pulling your hair out you're gorgeous. How many women can say that?" She rolled her eyes while a blush crawled up her cheeks and he chuckled. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and stepped inside.

"Look Ike," she sighed and he pulled her to him.

"Zelda listen," he cut off whatever she was about to say, "I'm going bar hopping with my friends tonight. It's happening. I will have less to drink than any of them, they'll call me a lightweight even though they know better, and while I'll have fun hanging out with them I know I'm going to miss you. You're worried that I'm going to meet someone at the bar right? A quickie and I'll stop being here for this?" He watched her lower her eyes and he pulled her chin up. Her eyes were wide as he gave her a grin. "I'm not ever giving up on this. Nothing is going to tempt me away because to me? There's nothing out there that can ever hope to come close to you."

Her lips quivered with a small smile and he pressed a gentle kiss on them. He moved back slightly, surprised when she followed him and kissed him harder. They kissed until she had to pull back for much needed proper breath, her cheeks flushed as she looked up at Ike. He gave her a grin and pressed a soft kiss to her reddened lips before stepping back. "I'll call you when I'm heading back okay?" he asked and she nodded, still blushing. "No worries allowed babe."

"Okay," she said with a shy smile at him.

"I'm gonna grab a shower before I meet them, but I promise I'll stop by before I leave." She nodded and he gave her a hug before leaving, a smirk on his lips at the way she clung to him.

XxX

Zelda couldn't help the laugh that left her lips as she looked at the picture from Ike. It was him and a few other men, all obviously inebriated as they tried to make serious faces for the camera. She rolled her eyes and continued to wash the rice cereal from Colin's cheeks. He fussed at her, a soft sounding whimper that made her want to stop. "Don't make me feel like a bad mommy for trying to clean up your messy face," she said to the squirming baby in her arms. "I was aiming for your mouth and you kept dodging me."

She smiled down at her son as she finished getting the last of the dried cereal from his cheek, setting the used washcloth in the sink before leaving the bathroom. When she set him on his blanket spread out across the living room floor he immediately attacked his stuffed bear, making her laugh at the adorable noises. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, smiling at the text from Ike.

'Well this isn't as fun as I thought it would be. I think we've all kinda outgrown this whole bar thing.'

'Are you turning into an old man?' she sent back with a smile as she picked up the pajamas she had set out for Colin.

'We all have. One of us is married now, another has a kid on the way... we're definitely not the rebels we once were.'

'I don't think anyone minds that :P' she sent and set her phone aside. Colin bubbled at her as she knelt before him, unsnapping the little buttons on his onesie to wiggle him out of it.

"Let's get you ready for bed huh?" she cooed and he gurgled at her as he shoved his fingers in his mouth.

XxX

Ike was in a perfect state of buzzed as he paid his taxi driver and stumbled his way to the stairs. "One at a time," he said to no one as he started up. He focused on getting one foot in front of the other, not quite sure when the stairs had become so difficult. "Might've overdone the last round," he mumbled as he finally reached his floor. He glanced at Zelda's door, tempted to knock, but decided against it. He didn't want to make an ass of himself and the lack of crying made him hope she was getting a decent night's sleep.

He got his keys out of his pocket and stuck them in his door on the third attempt. He heard the door across the hall open and turned with a grin in place. "Hey beautiful," he greeted and Zelda rolled her eyes. "Is the little man passed out?"

"Yeah he's starting to sleep really well at night," she said as she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. Ike took a moment to appreciate her in all her sweatpants-and baggy-shirt glory, absolutely loving the sight. "How was drinking?"

"Not what it used to be," he admitted as he leaned against his own door, his eyes on hers. "I found myself not quite able to shut up about you and Colin, which led to me of all people giving my buddy with a kid on the way parenting advice."

"You're a good person to get it from," she complimented. "It somehow comes naturally to you which is pretty rare to find." He grinned at her for that, trying not to puff with pride.

"It's easy to do when the kiddo's so cute. I actually felt really bad about missing laying him down... Did he eat a good supper for you?"

"Most of the rice cereal went everywhere," she laughed and Ike chuckled.

"He needs to get that down, then veggies, and then he finally gets the good stuff like fruit." She nodded and moved from the doorway. Ike watched her approach, wanting nothing more than to grab her and take her into his apartment. He held his ground though, giving her an easy grin as she stopped before him.

"I'm glad you're back safe," she spoke gently and kissed his cheek. He pouted when she pulled back.

"I'm not safely in my apartment yet though," he pointed out and she narrowed her eyes. "I mean, I could trip right inside the door and hurt myself... wouldn't be very neighborly of you to just let me go in alone in this state."

"Ike," she blushed and shook her head, "I can't. He could wake up."

"Babe if he wakes up and needs something trust me we'll hear him." She blushed at that and Ike took her hand. "Just for a minute?" He opened his door and grinned to himself as she let him pull her inside.

XxX

Zelda felt nervous as she stepped inside Ike's apartment. It was tidy, with a decent leather couch and a coffee table littered with video game and movie boxes. He turned to face her as they reached his couch and she gave him a small smile. "You're inside safely," she said and he chuckled.

"You're my hero." She rolled her eyes and stood on her toes to press her lips to his. She felt his arms wrap around her and she pulled back slightly.

"Ike."

"I'm not up to anything," he said quickly, "just trying to get a few good kisses in before you have to vanish back to your place."

"Uh huh," she narrowed her eyes up at him and he chuckled as he leaned in again for a soft kiss. Soft kisses quickly turned into her back against the wall, both of them desperately gripping each other. His shirt had ended up on the floor some time ago, compliments of her needing to get her hands on as much of him as she could. When he tried to pull her shirt up she shied away from his hands.

"What's wrong?" he asked against her lips.

"I'm nervous Ike I..." she trailed off and caught his eyes, how they were dark pools of want. Her eyes trailed down to his reddened lips, the way they shook with uneven breaths. It hit her hard in that moment that he wanted her. He knew about Colin, knew that her body wasn't exactly picture perfect, but he still wanted her. Not just physically either. He wanted to be in a relationship with her, wanted to help her raise her son...

"You want to stop?" his voice was pained as he asked the question, and that just made her fall a little bit more for him. He'd stop right now, apologize profusely, and never do anything like this again if she said so.

"Not at all," she said firmly. A devilish grin spread across his lips before she reclaimed them.

XxX

Ike was exhausted at work the next day, but felt energized in a way that he'd never experienced before. They'd made love in his living room the night before, there was no other way for him to describe it. He had had to work on convincing her to let him see all of her, and the work was more than worth it. She was beautiful, perfect with the faded stretch marks she had been so self conscious about, and he had to force himself not to just attack every inch of her.

When they finished he had walked her back to her apartment on shaky legs, unsure how he had been able to. Together they took care of Colin when he woke up, and together they had laid in her bed. Waking up with Zelda in his arms had been bliss, and the quick shower together that left him smelling like flowers had been even better. He had never felt this happy in his life, even as he downed more than his normal share of coffee at the shop.

"Someone had a rough night," Cloud joked as he came into view from the main part of the shop. "You went home alone last night so why are you chugging down coffee like a man that was out too late?"

"Because I didn't end up alone," Ike said with a proud grin as he raised his mug to his lips.

"Who?" Cloud asked suspiciously and Ike chuckled. "Oh... the chick that you wouldn't shut up about last night huh?"

"Mhmm," Ike nodded and poured himself another cup of coffee. "Let's get started on the day huh?"

XxX

The night before had made Zelda feel amazing. Not only was Ike better than she had ever hoped, but the way he had followed her back to her apartment, helped her take care of Colin, and how she woke up in his arms? Heaven didn't come close to describing it. A small part of her mind tried to warn her against letting him in. After everything with her ex she was understandably nervous to even think of going down that road again. Ike though... he made her want to believe in herself and love again. The thought made her pause halfway through stirring the rice cereal for Colin. Could she love again? After falling so hard for her ex who had abandoned her she had sworn off the whole ordeal. Yet Ike was making her rethink all of that.

Zelda shook her head and continued making her son's lunch, listening to him gurgle from his high chair. "Who's hungry?" she asked with a smile over at him and he gave her a smile back, his new little tooth making her giggle.

XXX

Yes I'm alive, and I'm sorry for the awful hiatus but my life goes to shit sometimes and the first thing that flies out the window is being able to sit down and write. What happened? Well, a lot of it is personal but I will say that my grandma died and the fallout from that was enough to make anyone go crazy. So I'm sorry this update took forever, and I promise I'm going to make it up to everyone by rebooting some of my ongoing stories! That's right, I'm going to take them down and rework them to bring you guys the absolute best I can because you all deserve it. Anyway, I hope this chapter was okay. Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh