"You guys, what's wrong?" Leslie asked.

"Alec just remembered before you came out that he forgot his…um…medicine at his place," said Kevin.

"Medicine? Alec…are you okay?"

"Yeah he is, he just needs his EGO meds!" said Kevin, who laughed along with Leslie. Alec rolled his eyes and looked out the window. "Oh come on, it was a joke!"

"Yeah? So is your life, Kev!" said Alec, jokingly. All three in the car laughed (while Kevin only just chuckled), and Kevin pulled around to Alec's apartment building. Leslie slumped back in her seat as the car came to a stop.

"Oh no!" she said. "Now I won't be able to get up!" she yelped. Alec bounded out of the car and started getting Leslie to her feet. It was getting harder sitting down and standing up again by the day. Leslie would be glad once this kid was on the other side. She missed looking down at the ground and being ably to see her feet. Leslie was taken into the building by Alec while Kevin parked the car. The three of them used the stairs because the elevator always was stalling in the middle of a ride (Alec and Leslie had been caught for 2 hours at one point on New Year's Eve). Alec's apartment was second from the top, so it was quite a climb for poor Leslie. She was huffing and puffing by the time they reached Alec's doorstep.

"Been sneaking at my cigarettes?" asked Kevin.

"Well YOU try going up 7 flights of stairs with a 10-pound load strapped to your chest!" Leslie protested. Kevin considered this and nodded. Alec took out his key slowly and turned the knob. He jiggled at it for a second, which perplexed Leslie.

"Isn't it open?" she asked.

Alec let his hand slip on the doorknob, opening it. Kevin and Leslie walked inside the dark room, followed by Alec. Alec flipped on the switch…

"SURPRIIIIISE!"

"GAH!!!" The startling noise set Leslie off-balance, making her fall into Alec's arms, which in turn caught her with ease and set her back up straight. Leslie laughed and looked around. Alec's entire apartment was decorated with baby shower décor, a pile of gifts were stacked on the counter, barbeque was smelled cooking on Alec's stove, and everyone was there. Kirbo held a shot glass and wore a baby bib, hollering in delight. Wendy and Jules held balloons and cards and ran up to Leslie, hugging her. Kevin and Alec grinned, Kevin giving Alec a thumbs-up. After Jules let go of Leslie, Billy gave Leslie a surprise hug. Leslie gasped.

"Billy! When did you get here? WHY are you here?" Leslie started asking.

"I called in a few favors and got a bus out here. After Alec called, I knew I had to come out and see how Momma Leslie's doin' now!" Billy said. Leslie laughed.

"I'm doing great, how are you?"

"I work at a independent record company," said Billy. Leslie rose her eyebrows. "Oh yeah," Billy continued. "When someone comes in to record a demo, I'm in the backup band with the ol' sax and that kinda shit. It pays alright, and I've been able to hold onto it for five months..."

"A new record!" toasted Kevin.

"The apocolypse is coming! Billy Hixx kept a job for more than a week! Everyone to the fallout shelters!" teased Kirbo.

"Ah, bite me!" laughed Billy, not offended but more amused. "I live down near Greenwich Village in a crappy place, but it's better than living under a newspaper," Billy said.

Leslie nodded.

"Any names picked out?" asked Billy.

"Not yet, but I DID find out today it's a girl!" Leslie proudly announced. Wendy cheered. Jules smiled. Kirbo gave a whoop. Leslie blushed.

"Daughter, eh? Geez, where have I heard THAT before?" Billy remarked. Alec gave Billy a 'look' which he ignored. "I'm sure you're life will be much better than my hell of a family life, brief as it was."

"Billy, working as a garbage man living out of his truck is better than YOUR family life was. I think Les is all set," said Kevin. Billy stuck his tongue out joking. Jules grinned and handed Billy a shot, he rose it in toast to Leslie. After drinking it quickly, he suddenly dropped it to the floor, making Leslie jump back. Wendy let out a brief yelp and went to get a dustpan to clean up the shards of glass.

"That'll be the first of many MANY things broken in your house once the kid is born, take it from the voice of experience!" said Billy. Alec rolled his eyes, staring at his broken crystal shot glass, one of his favorites.

"Yeah, when the voice of experience gets here, I'll let him know you stopped by!" Alec said.

"Haw. Haw. Haw," Billy gave his sarcastically slow laugh. "I really miss you guys. I wish i could stay for more than one night, but I swear I'll come out again once he's-"

"-She's!" Leslie corrected.

"Right, once SHE'S born, okay? And i just wanna letcha know i got your back if either of these two," Billy indicated Kevin and Alec, "if either of them start ripping you apart again."

"Thanks Billy, but I really can't see myself raising a child in a 2-room flat in Hicksville!" said Leslie.

"Hey! Hey! It's NOT Hicksville, it's Greenwich Village and it happens to be the center of artistic life in New York City!" Billy defended.

"Yeah, and instead of perfume, she'll be running off to private school smelling like pot leaves and incense!" Alec said bluntly.

"Private school! Hardly!" said Billy (who'd come to the party already a bit on the tipsy side). "The only 'private' ANYTHING in Greenwich is the Mason Temple on 23rd!" Billy laughed. Leslie was just glad to see Billy back for a short while.

"So, which of the two of these bozos do you want to be Mr. Dad?" asked Billy. Leslie bit her lip. THE question again. Leslie was beginning to LOATHE the question because it reminded her how in four months she'd have to disappoint one of her two best friends by telling him he wasn't the father of her daughter. Kevin immediately intervened.

"So Billy, wanna go see how the steaks are doing?" asked Kevin. Leslie wanted to drool. She might have needed the bib Kirbo was goofily wearing around, had Alec not grabbed her arm.

"You surprised?" he asked.

"Of course I am!" Leslie squealed.

Billy laughed. "Les, are these two making you eat like a Buddhist monk or something?" Leslie nodded and grinned. "Damn, I've never met the pregnant woman who went two trimesters without partaking of any form of red meat! You've got moxie!"

"Thanks so much, everyone!" Leslie glowed.

Alec smiled. Anything for the mother of what could be his daughter.

Jules did a double-take. "Whoa…Billy! What the hell is moxie?"


Over the next few hours, everyone ate their dinner (Leslie ate two steaks and wanted more. Kevin wondered if Leslie was carrying a baby or a garbage disposal), and watched as Leslie opened her gifts. Wendy gave Leslie an antique bassinet/cradle that was white and lacy. Billy didn't have much money, but he still got his hands on a small baby swing (how, Billy never said, which made Leslie wonder) for her. Kirbo got a couple of stuffed animals and baby toys, and Jules gave Leslie a whole pile of designer baby clothes (which was only to be expected from Jules). Kevin and Alec presented their gift last: a gorgeous cherry-wood crib with hand-carved bars and lined with pink-spotted linen. Leslie felt like she wanted to cry.

After awhile, Wendy and Billy slipped away from the party to catch up on their own. Kirbo was sucking down coffee so he wouldn't have to bum a ride. Jules was showing off the baby clothes she gave and their designer labels to Kevin. Leslie sat off on her own, rocking the bassinet/cradle back and forth, humming to herself. Alec smiled and tapped her on the shoulder. Leslie looked up at Alec and struggled to her feet.

"The night's warm out," he said, turning his head to the porch. Leslie smiled and followed him outside. Kevin looked up just in time to see Alec put his hand on Leslie's back and take her out on the back porch. Kevin sighed and quickly turned away.

Alec had been right. The night was warm and comfortable for a night in early March. Leslie sighed and stretched.

"This has been such an awesome day! I owe a lot of it to you, Alec!" Leslie said.

"Yeah," Alec said simply.

"Thank you very much, Alec. Tell Kevin thanks for me too," said Leslie.

"Yep," said Alec.

"You wanna know something?" asked Leslie. Alec looked up at her and smiled. Leslie placed her hand over Alec's.

"Shoot."

"I'm scared," she said, small tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. Alec gave a sympathetic smile and went to embrace Leslie for comfort. "I'm so scared, Alec!"

"Why? Why, Les?"

"Of everything! Of raising this baby all by myself, of disappointing one of you when she comes in July, of all the financial trouble being a single mom goes through, of all the pain, of everything!" Leslie blurted out like a confession.

"Les, you're gonna be a great mom. And you won't be single! You'll have Kevin and me!"

"You? But what if she's Kevin's?" asked Leslie, pulling out of Alec's grip.

"Even if she's Kevin's, I want to be a big part of your daughter's life. I'm sure if she's mine Kevin would want the same privilege. We'll both be there, because no one can do it all by themselves. Even single parents have support systems."

"Like your mother!" Leslie remembered.

"Yeah. If it weren't for Aunt Sophia, mom would've turned me into a Hell's Angel!" said Alec. "Had it not been for my dad bailing on us on my 7th birthday..."

"Your dad never BAILED on you totally. He still sent you presents every few years…he gave you the car, remember?"

"But he was never THERE!" said Alec, hanging his head. Leslie put her hand on his back and rubbed it in comfort.

"But you'll be there for me?" Leslie asked. Alec nodded.

"Yes." Leslie leaned up and kissed Alec's cheek. "Les, I have a question. When you get the paternity test results, will you get involved with whoever it is?"

"Involved?" asked Leslie.

"Like…will you try and make things work with the father for the baby's sake? Move in with him, and marry him so she can grow up with a 'traditional' family?"

Leslie rolled her eyes. "Alec, it's so like you to be a perfectionist! No. I will love who I want to. Both of you promised me you'll stay in her life, and that's all that matters. As for the 'traditional' family, that's an old notion that came out of the 50's with the homemaker mom and the workaholic dad who still found time to play football with the kids in the park on Sundays. Times have changed. My daughter won't care if her biological father is her mother's husband," she reasoned. Alec smiled.

"If she's lucky, your daughter is going to be as wise and brave as you are," said Alec.

"Oh, Alec!" Leslie blushed and patted her stomach. Alec intertwined his fingers with hers. Unrepentantly, Leslie didn't pull away.

"Les, I wish I'd never kicked you out of the apartment," Alec confessed. "I was being a jerk. I was looking like a bad guy in front of everyone, and you know me. I never really apologized for that. May I now?"

"I guess so," said Leslie.

Alec nodded. "God I love you! I'm so sorry for pressuring you into marriage!" Alec scooped Leslie in his arms and kissed her passionately. Leslie actually kissed him back.

"Alec, you're wonderful. What can I say? But what's done is done. I can't get back with you for Kevin's sake. Kevin will be devastated and if it turns out you're the father, he'll be heartbroken…and he won't need you to throw him off a fire escape!"

Alec laughed, recalling the now-stupid memory.

"You understand I have to be fair. Truth be told, I think I love you too. But nothing can happen between us anymore. We have to move on for his sake, because I don't want another explosion occurring, especially now. You know?"

Alec looked at his feet as he began to turn red. Oh shit. Kaboom. Alec was going to explode again. Leslie braced herself for a huge fit.

But to her surprise, Alec choked back any anger he had and nodded. "I agree, Les."

"We can do it, Alec. It's for the good of my…our baby."

"Ours?"

"You KNOW what I mean!" said Leslie. Alec smiled and nodded. "We're going to be strong, okay?"

"Yeah, of course."

Leslie took her hand out of Alec's and walked back into the party. Alec waited a moment for Leslie to move across the room before he came in. Alec knew Leslie was right. If they got involved again, everyone's lives would be screwed again. No one wanted that. It was dangerous.

Alec just wished he could turn back time.


A/N: I put Billy in just for you, Kristen! This won't be the last of him, I assure you he will reappear later on!