I've wanted to do one like this for a while and ideas carried o building so turned out longer than intended. I want to apologise for the mistakes in my found chapter of this collection as well. Oops. Hope you enjoy!
1 year, 2 months and 2 days since she'd left to go to work abroad. He should've said something, anything to make her stay but he knew that would've been futile, she had already signed the contracts. And so Lee had resigned himself to the fact that she was leaving. He never did say I love you.
The night she had packed he had helped her. They didn't speak as they filled her suitcases up before placing them next to the flat door. When they had sat at the edge of the bed, knees knocking after they'd finished packing she had placed her hand on his knee. Sadness filling the air.
Lucy had been the one to initiate the kiss, her mouth desperate against his as they clutched at each other. They both knew this was goodbye. They'd spent years as flatmates and friends and had shared good and bad memories, this was closure. He knew. Once he woke up the next morning, Lee wasn't surprised to see her side empty and the suitcases gone.
Tim had helped him keep the flat, it had been and still was an integral part of his life and he couldn't bear to give it up. Not yet anyway. He'd gone on a few dates but none clicked, none made him want to do what he'd done for Lucy and none had made him feel what he felt when Lucy had been around. God he couldn't believe he was still pining after her. They emailed now and again about the bills but nothing more. He would tell her over email that he missed her but that seemed impersonal.
Things had gotten strange the past few months. Tim had been skittish and secretive, not willing to hang around for long and always changing the subject when Lee began to ask questions. He'd get worst when Lee would ask how Lucy was doing and would always have the reply of why don't you just ask her yourself? Lee couldn't do that. They hadn't spoken in months and the last time they had it was when Lee had curled up behind her and whispered compliments and stories into her ear. Lee was suspicious, there was no doubt about it.
So when he'd been invited to Tim's surprise birthday party by Wendy he'd been slightly shocked. They'd hardly spoken or seen each other since Lucy had left. That's how Lee had found himself standing in front of Wendy and Geoffrey's front door in a suit, waistcoat and tie. It hadn't occurred to him at that point that Lucy might be there and that's what had made him hesitate.
"You'll spoil the surprise if you stand there," Lee's head snapped up to meet Geoffrey's, a slightly startled look on his face. He'd been in a world of his own.
"Right, sorry. How are you Geoffrey?" Lee questioned politely as he made his way into the house.
"As well as can be," Geoffrey answered although there was no returning question. That wasn't much of a surprise there then, "everyone's in the garden."
Nodding his head Lee gave a small smile before making his way through into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of whatever bubbly that was placed on the counter before making his way into the garden.
No one acknowledged his presence. Well Wendy did but she simply smiled before continuing to talk to one of her friends, Geoffrey joining quickly. She'd be over in her own time. Scanning the crowd Lee sighed as he took a sip of his champagne. Lucy wasn't there. That was a good thing, right? No awkward conversations or greetings. Why did he feel so disappointed then?
Shaking his head Lee finished the rest of his glass quickly before placing it down on the table stood next to him. Tim would be another half an hour yet and he needed the loo. Walking back into the house he pointed upstairs to a Wendy who wasn't really paying attention. He made his way up the stairs, a frown on his face. Lee wasn't really sure why he was there. Sure he was Tim's mate but they could have done something down the pub that was even if Tim had wanted to.
Lee stopped in his tracks when he heard the sounds of wailing coming from a room and of someone trying to quieten a baby. What he assumed was a baby anyway. Frowning he walked closer to the door. The crying wasn't going to stop anytime soon, maybe he could help. Not that he was any good with children but the person inside was probably pulling their hair out by now.
Knocking and poking his head through the door he questioned the same time, "need any help?" He hadn't realised who it was until they spoke.
"Lee?"
"L-Lucy," his breath caught in his throat as he his eyes fell on Lucy. She was currently bouncing a baby up and down in her arms as she peered at him with a slightly shocked expression.
"Um...I didn't realise it was you."
"What were you going to do? Avoid me all evening?" She replied as Lee shuffled nervously on his feet.
"I didn't know you'd be here," he explained as Lucy nodded her head. She should've guessed that her parents wouldn't have mentioned anything to him.
"Came back yesterday. Think I'm going to stay. Naples isn't really going too well," she smiled weakly before huffing. The baby wasn't really letting up. Lucy had a baby. A baby! She had finally had what she had wanted but he couldn't help the small twinge of sadness that washed over him.
"Oh. Um, do you mind?" Lee questioned as he held out his arms. He could still help.
Lucy looked slightly perplexed as she looked at his arms. Sighing, she knew it would happen eventually so she handed him to Lee who immediately put him to rest on his shoulder. The cries immediately died down as Lucy sighed, tears springing to her eyes as she watched Lee murmur quietly to the baby as he bounced slightly on his knees. Just as she opened her mouth to speak Wendy called up the stairs.
"Tim will be here now!"
Smiling nervously at Lee, Lucy smoothed her hands over her dress as she pointed towards the door. It didn't look like she'd be getting her son back anytime soon. Nodding his head Lee followed as he held onto James carefully as he descended the stairs behind Lucy. Wendy face turned into a frown as she saw Lee carrying the baby, he missed the look Lucy gave to her mother. The eyes everyone was giving him were slightly worrying but he ignored it.
"What's his name?" Lee questioned as they settled themselves in the front of the happy birthday banner.
"James," Lucy answered as she placed a blanket over her now dosing son.
"Suits him," Lee murmured as he managed to turn his head enough to look at his face.
"Yeah I thought so."
"How old is he?" Was the next question just as the distant voices of Geoffrey and Tim could be heard. He didn't want to ask who the father was and by the looks of it he wasn't around.
"5 months," Lucy muttered quietly, "let's hope this doesn't wake him up."
Not five seconds later were there shouts of surprise, streamers being popped, champagne bottles being opened and a baby's wails filling the air. Lee immediately began bouncing on his knees as Lucy rummaged through the baby bag for James's dummy. Lucy didn't like him having it but it was her last resort to get him to stop crying.
"Lee?" Tim questioned as he moved towards his nephew and him.
"Happy birthday," Lee replied as he smiled up at Tim, James cries now turning into whimpers as Lee whispered a shushing sound.
"Lee, why don't you take James to be under the tree? Get some shade from the sun," Lucy interrupted as Lee nodded his head.
"You've still not told him!?" Tim questioned as they both watched Lee sit under the oak tree, placing the blanket on the floor and putting James to lie on top of it.
"What was I supped to do? Go up to him and go hey here's your son. Sorry I didn't tell you that you're a father but things happened. And anyway he didn't even know I'd be here today. I thought one shock was bad enough," Lucy whispered angrily back.
"Yes! That's exactly what you're supposed to do," Tim answered.
"He's scared about having children. I can't just dump it on him straight away," Lucy reasoned.
"Doesn't look like it, "Tim answered with a nod of his head in Lee's direction who was playing with James' feet, "I'm giving you until the end of the party. My birthday present will be to see my nephew and his father together. If you don't tell him I will."
"Fine," Lucy huffed like a teenager as she rolled her eyes.
"You could never say you're a mother," Tim answered as he nudged her.
"Thanks," was her sarcastic reply as she strode away from him and towards Lee.
Picking up two glasses of champagne on the way she made the rest of the way over towards Lee. Smiling she handed him a glass before perching herself on the floor, the other side of her son. They sat in silence for a while as they watched James coo as he grabbed a baby grow clad foot and brought it up to stick in his mouth. Lee chuckled as he gently pried it away.
"You're a great dad," Lucy muttered as she took a sip of her champagne, ignoring Lee's head snapping up to meet hers as she stared down at James.
"What?" Had he just misheard?
Turning her head to face him she smiled weakly as Lee's eyes widened and his head snapped between Lucy and James. Wordlessly he searched for his glass and finished off its contents before turning back to Lucy.
"You're serious?" The nod he had in reply answered his question, "but...how?"
"I'm pretty sure I don't need to explain that."
"We were safe."
"Well things happen," was Lucy's reply as she let her hand take his, "sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"I would've been there."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Lucy watched as Lee extracted his hand and picked up James, settling him on his bent knees, one hand tracing his face as blue eyes stared up at him. She watched as a beaming smile spread across Lee's face and tears collect in his eyes but she knew he wouldn't let them fall.
"I have a son," he stated loudly as Lucy shuffled closer to him, her hand going to cover his again, "we have a son."
"Yeah," was her reply as she let her head drop onto his shoulder," I missed you."
"I missed you too," he answered as he went to kiss the top of her head.
Unintentionally Lucy turned her head upwards to speak to him, unaware of his actions. Before either of them knew it Lee's lips touched hers as she squealed slightly in surprise and his eyes widened. As Lee was going to pull away Lucy's eyes fluttered shut as her hand went to the back of his head, Lee's ending up at her waist, still aware that James was balanced on his legs.
"Lee, Lucy everyone's watching you," neither paid any attention to Tim.
Sighing he picked James up and tickled his stomach before walking away to help calm Geoffrey. As soon as Lee felt the weight off of his legs Lee let his other arm bring Lucy closer so she was practically on his lap.
Lucy sighed as he pulled away but kept his face close, their noses over lapping, "one year, two months and two days."
"Since what?" Lucy whispered as she draped her legs over his thigh.
"Since I've been waiting for you to come back."