by iluvaqt
Disclaimer: as per default chapter.
A/N: punkcatwitissues, don't take this the wrong way but I was so glad to read that this made you sad. Hopefully the following will make up for the frustration elicited by the previous chapters. ;) Thanks for the kudos Lexie.
Epilogue -
Mid morning, December 7th 2020
Wallace High School Idaho
Zack rang the bell and waited at the desk. There was a man standing over the copier with his back to him. He was relatively tall, with a strong build. From the look and confident air about him, Zack guessed that this guy didn't take orders often. His posture said School Principal or Vice-Principal. He could be either or he was just a self-assured schmoozo. He was about to call out to the guy, when the receptionist appeared.
"Can I help you?" she asked with a smile.
From her body language and appraising gaze, Zack could tell she was sizing him up. Usually, he ignored those inviting looks. Today, he wasn't annoyed by it. He could do with the confidence boost. No doubt the woman he was about to see would give his self-esteem a good workout.
"Yeah, I need to speak with Syl Jenkins. It's important."
With a tilt of her head, the secretary gave him an apologetic smile. "She has a class at the moment, but you're welcome to wait here. Lunch is only…"
No doubt she would be more than willing to entertain him till them, Zack thought. Her offer was clearly evident in the sultry curve of her lips. "I'm her brother," he interjected. He hadn't travelled four and a half hours to get stalled by a secretary with an agenda.
The words had no sooner left his lips than a loud slam caught their attention. Zack and the secretary both looked over to see that the man using the copier had jammed his fingers inside the paper tray. Silently, he pulled it open again, rescued his bruised fingers and retreated to his office - without his paperwork. The second the door was closed, he let fly with a string of curses.
"Fk'n shit, rotten piece of…!"
Zack had to struggle to hold back his laughter. "Obviously he thinks his office is sound proof," he quipped with a smirk.
The secretary giggled. Opening a drawer, she took out a Visitors Pass and put it on the counter for him. Sliding over the Visitor's Log, she opened it and placed a pen in the binding.
"Sign here and just drop by when you're done."
Scribbling in an entry, Zack swiped up the pass and gave her a dazzling smile. "Thanks."
As he walked away, he could almost see her swooning behind her desk. Maybe things everything wouldn't turn out so bad today. He had one woman going for him.
He found her on the football field. Standing at the base of the grandstand, he saw her by the bleachers across the field. He was feeling confident until she spotted him, and all his positive energy drained away with the look on her face.
Syl's momentary shock turned into a half smile, and she watched Zack straighten. So he hadn't turned his back on them after all. But what was he doing here? He should be in Las Vegas with Jondy. Or didn't he know that she hadn't moved. Maybe he couldn't remember the address. Had the guy never heard of a phone?
'Well it doesn't look like she's going to maul you.' Then again, this was Syl he was referring to. He had to be ready for anything. As he walked across the field and passed through her class, it didn't take long for all of them to have their attention fixed on him instead of their activities. And Zack did his best to ignore the blatant ogling of the teenage girls, and the assessing stares of the adolescent males. He was trying to read just what was simmering beneath the cool gaze of their teacher. A lot could be hidden behind those blue eyes and that perfect gloss smile of hers.
It was no wonder she had her students hanging on her every word. The boys probably wanted to devour her and the girls wanted to be her. He would have like to see a man try to woo Syl. It would have been real entertainment to watch their approach and endure the consequences of unwanted attention. Then perhaps it had already happened. It would explain why Mr. Vice Principal was so jumpy when he'd mentioned that he was Syl's brother.
She watched him shove his hands into his pockets and walk over from the grandstand. Syl did her best not to roll her eyes as Megan, the head cheerleader, tried to intercept him. She smiled flirtatiously at him and straightened, pushing her chest out, her generous bosom straining against her child-sized Sports Ed top. Zack completely oblivious, breezed right by Megan without even the slightest glance in her direction. Syl smirked to herself. Megan huffed, turned on her heel and went back to cajoling Jake, the school quarterback. Good to know her confidence hadn't suffered in the slightest from her brother's lack of interest.
Zack reached her side and took her elbow. "I need to talk," he said under his breath.
Syl found his frank nature a welcome change to the beating-around-the-bush of her co-workers. You'd think she was the serial snob of the School Faculty, with the way most of them walked on eggshells around her. However, unlike most men and women, Zack wasn't afraid of her. What did irk her was that he turned up in the middle of her class and expected her to drop everything. She was about to tell him it could wait but what he said next peaked her interest.
"It's about Jondy and it's important."
Syl closed her mouth and relented. She would have had great satisfaction in making him wait, but since it was about Jondy, her gloating session would have to hold for another time. If there ever was another time. Syl got the feeling this was a one off. Zack and talking, the two didn't quite go together, it had to be serious.
"Walter and Jesse, referee. First half starts now. Boys vs girls and no-'Miss, I'll break a nail'. Get going." And with a blast of her whistle, the class took off for centerfield. Turning back to Zack, she said, "Okay, let's walk."
Now that he had her attention, all his speeches seem to have deserted him. And nothing he could draw on spur of the moment seemed right. She was the last person he wanted to laugh in his face. Out of all of the others, Syl was the most dedicated to playing soldier. She knew the rules and was always ready for the game. Even though she liked to test his limits, she never challenged his orders. She was strong, opinionated and tactically defensive. It was why he felt he could easily relate to her. She was his mirror in female form. Which was also why he believed she'd best understand the situation and speak his language.
Despite what Krit might think about him, Zack had known for a long time that there was something between them. The only reason he didn't split them up was because of Syl. Not only would it have been the one time she would have told him where to stick his orders, but also perhaps because he was secretly envious that she'd found someone she could let her guard down with. So long as they kept safe, he was happy to let them be. It was rare for people like them to find something good. Far be it from him to take that away from them.
"If you're going to see her, you're going to have to work on your approach. Confessions usually involve talking, you know," Syl said slightly teasing hoping to draw a reaction out of him. So far he hadn't said anything at all, and they'd already walked half the field.
Zack nodded, but didn't respond for a moment. "Is Jondy really happy where she is?"
"Do you mean is she rooted there?" Syl asked squinting against the sun. Shaking her head, she said, "I don't think so. I think she'd be happy anywhere if…" She almost let slip her sister's true feelings but then clamped her mouth shut.
"If I asked her," Zack finished softly. He wished it were true. It would make all his other plans so much easier. Jondy in love with him… yeah and pigs fly. He had to work hard to earn her trust again. He'd abused her faith in him. When she had needed his support and understanding the most, he had brutalised her feelings and treated her worse than he would a stranger. He knew to better than to expect her forgiveness, but if she would hear him out and let him be a part of her life, then maybe he could make it up to her. Absorbed in his thoughts, he didn't notice Syl glaring at him until she tugged on his jacket.
"Earth to Zack? Did you hear anything I said?" Syl asked. After realizing that he hadn't heard a word she'd said for the last few minutes, she thought that maybe by not talking he was in fact confessing that perhaps he cared for Jondy after all. Or maybe it was all about Leo. There was no way she was going to let him near her sister if that's all he was after. She'd organize neutral meeting grounds if it came to that. Jondy was too vulnerable right now to be left alone with him.
Zack cringed. "Sorry."
Syl smirked. She'd caught him off guard. It was a rarity and she found herself relishing the moment despite being annoyed that he had ignored what she'd been trying to ask. "I just wanna know one thing. Who are you doing this for? For Jondy or for Leo, 'cause if it's for Leo that's fine but don't go trying to romance your way into their lives. Just be honest. She would never stop you from being a father to Leo if that's what you want."
Zack wanted to interrupt but held his tongue. 'Only for Leo?' He wanted to scream and curse that it was Jondy he wanted, but he understood what Syl was trying to tell him. That's how Jondy would feel. She had just told him that he had a son, and he hadn't said anything or stopped her. She had taken it as him not caring. Now all of a sudden he wanted her. How else was she supposed to feel?
The past two weeks had been the longest two weeks of his life. And that was saying something, for someone who spent two months of rigorous torture and interrogation at the hands of a madman. The day he told her what he really wanted for them couldn't come soon enough, but he had to do it right.
When Jondy had told him that Leo was his, he had been shocked, overjoyed and then uncertain. Why had she not told him before, he had wondered. Why wait so long? Because of what you did, his reasoning argued. You told her to get rid of it, what was she supposed to think? That you'd be crazy over the idea that she was having your son? Crazy was certainly one way to describe it. Then crazy was too mild a word. In hindsight, he concluded that he probably still would have reacted the same way - pushed her away, told her to terminate the pregnancy. They couldn't afford to bring a life into their world. It was too dangerous. But after seeing Leo, he was immensely releved and glad that Jondy had thought differently. That she'd defied him and kept her baby. Zack realized that he would rather suffer Manticore all over again than let any harm come to Leo now. By the time he'd figured out what he wanted to say, they had already long gone. It was then that he had thrown himself into finding away to bring her back.
Jondy deserved no less than everything he could give, his heart, a promise and the best dad he could be for Leo or he'd die trying. However, all that hinged on what he could expect from Jondy. Which was why he was probing Syl now. He had to know how Jondy felt, and if there was even a chance for them. Otherwise, painful as it would be to accept, but he would leave her be. And just playing the role of father to the son of the woman he loved. It had taken him a long time to acknowledge that fact, and he knew in his blood that he couldn't go forward without knowing for certain, the real reason she came for him. And if she still felt the same. She had loved him once, his heart knew that, but did she still? Or had that door closed, when he let her leave?
"Jondy means more to me than I ever thought I could feel for anyone or about anything," Zack confessed. "Tell me the truth, Syl. Am I too late or…"
Syl punched him in the arm. Her eyes shining with unshed tears. Men could be so thick sometimes. She had never heard her brother sound uncertain or afraid, and even if he had in the past, he would not have shown it. This was the new Zack and she really liked him. On any other day she would have loved to tease him and stir him up, make him squirm, but her excitement for her sister won out. "She loves you, you idiot. And if you hurt her again, I'll tie you up, maim you, extract your toenails one by one until you…"
"Syl, sis, I get the point," Zack cut in chuckling. He surprised her then by pulling her into a tight hug. "Thanks," his said, overwhelmingly relieved at Syl's violent, yet welcome rejoinder. He then released her and grinned, tussling her hair. "Same goes for you by the way. You know Krit's a big softie, and he the baby of the family."
She shoved him playfully and smiled. It felt great to have him back. Together they walked back to the bleachers, and sat down to watched her class finish their game. 'I did you a favour today, Jondy. And I'll be expecting a huge basket of your blueberry muffins as thanks.'
Late afternoon, December 8th 2020
Jondy's apartment, Las Vegas
Jondy felt the warmth of the sun bathing her skin. In her dream, she lay down on the lush green grass and stared up at the bluest sky she'd ever seen. Not a cloud in sight, and it seemed like the blue went on forever, because nothing precluded its expanse. No trees dotted the horizon and there were no the hills in the distance. All of a sudden wildflowers sprouted up beside her, daisies, miniature orchards, dandelions, and then a deeply fragrant scent drifted past her nose and she closed her eyes letting the smell soak into her senses. There was a feather light touch, just brushing the surface of her face, its gentle sensations rippling over skin, sending waves of pleasure washing over her.
Her consciousness brought her slowly out of her dream, when she got the inkling she wasn't alone. She opened her eyes to see half a dozen red velvet roses resting beside her on the settee. The long stems were wrapped in forest green tissue paper, and the buds were two inches from her nose. Tilting her head, she saw a man with striking blue eyes watching her.
"How long have you been there?" Jondy asked quietly.
Zack shifted his arm a little, so Leo was settled more comfortably against his chest. He gazed down at the sleeping child's face, with a look that stole her breath away. When he met her eyes, Jondy was sure that her feelings were written all over her face. She berated herself for not masking it. Feeling certain he noticed, she was sure she'd find rejection and judgment in his eyes, but there wasn't any. What she read moved her more deeply than any, 'you're a soldier' speech could.
"Long enough to see you sleep. You were tired Jondy," Zack answered gently, coming closer towards her.
Watching him with Leo, Jondy felt her breath catch in her throat. Tears sprung into her eyes, and she turned her head, attempting to blink them away. Dare she believe what she was feeling from him? Did he really care? All she had ever felt from him before was brotherly concern, but this was something more. Last time it had been lust and the heat that had made him respond to her. She couldn't put it down to that now. She hadn't been in heat since she had Leo. Krista had said that she probably wouldn't cycle again until she stopped nursing, it kind of made sense. So she wasn't a norm, but maybe her body was responding in a similar way. Most regular women didn't ovulate until they stopped nursing. She hated that she went into heat. It served as a reminder that she was anything but a normal girl. She was a freak, a genetic experiment, something cooked up in a lab. The last few weeks of her pregnancy those very thoughts had caused her many sleepless nights. Fears for her baby, doubts about herself, and worrying that even if Leo turned out to be the perfect child, knowing he would never have the perfect life. At least not while Manticore and the people behind it wanted her.
Her heart weary and feeling vulnerable, Jondy studied him with an assessing gaze. If he was here to scrutinize the way she was raising their son, she wouldn't let him off lightly. So he'd lost his memory, and he'd spent months in Manticore suffering re-indoctrination and torture – that still wasn't a defense against how he treated her and his unborn son. "What are you doing here?" she asked carefully. For a moment she saw a flicker of uncertainly cross his face. It made her nerves dance even more wildly. Zack was never unsure about anything. It was a sign of weakness. A soldier never showed weakness. The enemy preyed on weakness. Was he opening up to her? Was this his way of showing her how he felt? Her heart soared at the thought. Damn it Jondy, keep your head on straight. He never cared before, why should he now? It's a game. If you don't keep a clear head, he'll run circles around you before you know it.
At her frown, Zack knew things were going to be difficult. She wasn't going to make this easy on him, and he didn't expect her to. After what he'd done to her, he expected to have to earn her trust and respect all over again. When they were kids it had been no sweat. They'd looked to him as a leader, and he never disappointed them. He'd let Jondy down in a big way since then, and they certainly weren't kids anymore. "I wish I could have been there for you," he confessed, his voice breaking.
Jondy felt tears in her eyes again; there was sincerity in his voice and she felt the tenderness in his gaze. Her fingers itched to touch his face, and ease the lines that were furrowing that brow of his. He carried too many burdens over the years. They had aged him. She wanted to be the one that lessened that burden, someone that he shared his troubles with. Jondy smiled at him, seeing him looking at her like that gave her hope. "I know you would have, but we're okay Zack."
Zack shook his head, and swallowed thickly. He felt those wayward emotions wash over him again; uncertainly, fear, and helplessness. Under her gentle, storm-colored, gray eyes he managed to find his voice again. "I had a dream, Jondy," he started slowly. "You were in trouble, and I couldn't help you. I didn't understand it. I saw you alone in the subway, and you were in pain. I wanted to help you but I couldn't."
Jondy shivered. Her heart erupted into a chaotic rhythm in her chest. Leo stirred in Zack's arm, as though sensing the tense moment between his parents. Too many questions sprung into her thoughts at once. How, and why? The most prominent of all, was it real? Leo had woken up and his eyes were fixed on her, striking blue eyes so much like his father's. He studied her with an expectant gaze, as if to say, 'Tell him what you're thinking.'
"I wanted to see you so much, you always made me feel safe. I was so scared, when if felt the first pains. I knew we were in trouble and I wanted you so badly, that I thought I imagined you there. For a brief moment I could feel you near me, and I wasn't so afraid. I thought it was a dream…" Jondy bit her lip and hung her head.
"It wasn't," Zack whispered. Shifting closer, he lifting her chin so he could see her face and with the pad of his thumb, he brushed away the tear that had slipped down her cheek. He gave her a heart-warming smile. "I want us to be together, Jondy. I'd like us to be a family."
Jondy's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her skin tingle with excitement, but the sensation was quickly quenched but a nagging doubt. He was doing this for Leo. Of course he'd want them together. Leo was his son. She had known deep down that Zack would never turn his back on his own. Not even if he threatened too. It wasn't in his nature. His family was everything to him.
Zack saw the warring emotions in her eyes. "Who are you really doing this for, Zack? For Jondy, or for Leo?" Syl's words came back to him and he knew what Jondy was thinking. He wanted to reassure her of his feelings, but he didn't know where to start. Didn't she understand what she meant to him? Couldn't she see the change? He had never shown this side to anyone before. Well there was Syl, and only because there wasn't another soul he'd dare ask. It certainly helped that Syl was Jondy's closest sister too.
Turning slightly, Zack put Leo down on his blanket and gave him his plush monkey. He then turned back to Jondy and took her hands in his. "I want you to be happy, Jondy. Maybe losing my memory for a while was a good thing. It made me realize how much I'd lost. If that makes any sense," he said with a weary smile. "I hope one day you'll trust me again. I need you to believe in me, Jondy. I was so afraid of how you made me feel that I wanted to push you as far away as possible. But I can't run anymore." He took her hand and placed it against his chest, over his heart. "Because you're right here."
Jondy couldn't help it any longer. Moisture blurred her vision and tears streaked down her cheeks. She smiled, her bottom lip trembling, and leaning down she retracted her hand from his and wound her arms around his neck. Burying her face in his neck, she cried, "I've never stopped loving you, Zack."
Lifting her off the sofa and into his arms, Zack hugged her tight. It felt so good to hold her. It was though a lifetime had passed since he'd felt whole. That's what had been missing, all this time. Since that night they'd spent together, he'd tied to run from it, deny it, and bury it. When in truth, it what he craved. It's what he needed. This woman had dared him to let his guard down, and shown him everything he'd ever wanted. She had given him, her heart and her body, and even though he'd tried to ignore it, he couldn't forget how she'd made him feel. And now there was no doubt in this heart that he loved her too.
"Come back with me, Jondy. I need you."
Hearing all she'd ever hoped for, from the man she loved, how could she disappoint him? Leaning back a little, Jondy stared up at him. "Will you need me forever?" she asked softly, slightly teasing.
Zack grinned, and pulled her palm back to his chest. "And always, Jondy." Seeing her smile, Zack felt like he was floating on air. Watching her lick her bottom lip, he couldn't resist any longer. He tilted his head and captured her lush mouth with his.
Behind them, Leo gargled happily. He'd long since abandoned his monkey, and was innocently pulling away at the rose buds, little fists scattering rose petals in all directions. He was making short work of his father's expensive and carefully sort out gift. As a child, he had no idea how hard roses were to come by, or how outrageously priced they were. To him, they were just a new toy.
From the corner of his eye, Zack saw what had become of his flowers. He sighed inwardly. Jondy followed his gaze and groaned in dismay.
"Oh Zack, your…"
"Never mind," Zack said with a chuckle. "Things still went in my favor."
Jondy hit him playfully. "So it was bribery, just to soften me up?"
Zack hugged her and kissed her forehead. "No. Syl just said I'd have better odds if I came with a peace offering."
Jondy sighed. She should have guessed that her scheming sibling had a hand in this. Syl was the expert at manipulation. Krit gave into her on a daily basis. Not to mention all the students in her class. She'd been voted the most popular teacher for the second year in a row. She aught to watch all the publicity she was getting. So far they were off the radar. It'd be nice to keep it that way.
All of a sudden a jive tune broke the comfortable silence, and Jondy dove to answer it. It was her cellular phone and even before she saw the number, she knew who to expect on the other end of the line.
"If the answer you're looking for was a yes, you've got it," Jondy said with a roll of her eyes.
"He asked you to marry him?" Syl squealed.
Jondy almost dropped the phone. Her mouth fell open and her heart skipped another beat. She hoped to heaven that Zack hadn't heard what Syl had just said, but then even the average person could have picked that up. Regaining some measure of composure, she snuck a peek at Zack. He had a bemused look on his face. He certainly hadn't missed it, but he wasn't acting all that annoyed.
Syl's house, Wallace Idaho
"Say something?" Syl demanded with a hint of impatience. She rolled over on the bed, and waited a few seconds longer. She trained her ear, trying to pick up words, but nobody was saying anything. All she could hear was breathing – albeit slightly heavy breathing for an X5 – and Leo chattering in the background.
Suddenly there was a shifting sound. The phone had changed hands, and a familiar male voice filter into her ear.
"She'll call you when she has news to share."
After that she was greeted by a less than friendly disconnection sound. She gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to hurl the phone at the wall.
"The nerve of that…" Syl stopped short, something in Zack's tone flipped a switch in her brain. Replaying Zack's last words, Syl cursed. "Syl, you idiot. You blundering…" she slapped herself on the forehead and buried her face in the pillow. She'd just blown it. She didn't need to look in the mirror, she knew she was red to the roots of her hair. Zack hadn't exploded at her for Jondy's sake. Obviously he thought the situation was still salvageable. For her life, she hoped so too.
Jondy's apartment, Las Vegas
She didn't need to read his eyes, she knew from the underlying note in his voice that Zack was angry. Not angry enough to want to kick someone's ass from here to next Tuesday but angry enough to want to crush her phone. She quickly pried it out of his hand.
How to diffuse the situation, without making it worse? Had he planned on proposing to her? If he had, wouldn't it be good to act naive? But damn it, she was dying to know.
Zack picked her up, and deposited her back on the couch. For a moment he stood there awkwardly, with his hands by his sides. Jondy was tempted to reach out for him, but then he started pacing. He was beginning to make her nervous.
All of a sudden, he stopped. "This is stupid," he muttered. Coming back to her, he took her hands and pulled her up. Bringing her to the window, he pointed outside.
"Out there, anything can happen. I know I've always held it together, maybe sometimes ordered you to do things you really didn't want to, but it's only because I wanted to protect you. The others too. You've always listen Jondy, but this one time, I'm glad you didn't. I would have regretted it the rest of my life." He leaned down touching his forehead to hers. Looking into her eyes, he spoke softly. "I don't want to be the C.O. anymore, Jondy. I don't want to be the one everybody thinks of as the bossy and uncaring one of the family, especially not you. I know you love me, Jondy, and I swear for the rest of my life I'll prove to you that I can be worthy of that. If you accept, I want you to wear this."
Zack pulled a ring off the picky finger on his left hand. Jondy didn't know how she hadn't noticed it. He'd been wearing it all this time? As he turned it in his fingers, the diamonds caught the sunlight, and a rainbow of color glittered over the walls of her tiny sitting room. Watching him slide it onto her ring finger, she felt breathless.
It was a platinum band studded with dozens of small brilliant cut diamonds. They were virtually flawless and had barely a tinge of color, it had to have cost him a small fortune. He hadn't fenced for it had he? How could he afford it on a cattle hand's salary? Manticore certainly hadn't left him with anything…
"I did trade for it, but it's nothing I couldn't part with."
Something about his half smile gave him away, and Jondy instantly knew what he'd done. "You fenced it didn't you?"
"Fenced what?" Zack asked lightly.
"Your motorcycle. You fenced it for my ring?" Jondy said accusingly. How could he do that? Even she loved that bike. She'd be lying if she said she never envied him over it. Sure she had an apartment, furniture and a few other things to her name, but she couldn't afford a bike. Not without doing a bit of cat burgling, which she swore off at the age of fourteen. There was a certain satisfaction in earning your own way in the world. And then there was that brief stint in Juvenile Detention that she never wanted to experience again.
When he saw her about to pull the ring off her finger, Zack closed his hand over hers. "Don't. It's yours. It's a promise, Jondy. We can't get married in the traditional way, but Mary's organizing something else. The way her grandparents were married. You can invite anyone you want. I can't promise you a big house, or that we'll never have any problems. But I promise that I'll always love you, and Leo."
Jondy squeezed his hand gratefully, and cupped on hand around his neck to pull his head toward hers. She kissed him softly. Her eyes glittering, she leaned against him and gazed into his eyes mischievously. "Can I put her out of her misery now?"
Grinning, Zack nodded. "You sure you don't want her to squirm a little longer?"
Syl's house
Syl was in the kitchen when the phone rang. She'd been busying herself cooking up a storm as a distraction.
"You are!" Syl said with relief when Jondy told her the news she'd been sweating to hear. Spotting a head dark head wonder past the kitchen window, Syl dashed for the back door, and swung it wide. Bounding down the stairs, she launched herself at Krit.
"They're getting married," she squealed.
Catching her and hugging her back, Krit chuckled. "And hello to you too." Setting her on her feet, Krit managed to persuade her to surrender the phone. "Congrats to you both. So when do we see you?"
Jondy's apartment
"We'll be headed back to the ranch as soon as Jondy finalizes everything this end," Zack answered confidently.
Jondy wanted to swat him for sounding so confident about his plans, but she didn't. There wasn't anywhere else she'd rather be than where he was. Besides, out there was a much better atmosphere for Leo to grow up in. And Mary and Buddy were good people. And there was that added bonus of being near his favorite uncle and aunt.
There was a clatter from nearby, and Jondy turned to see Leo by his toy box. He'd just taken his biggest building block and thrown it on the floor. He wanted their attention, and now he had it.
Zack quickly finished up the call, and walked over to Leo. He beat Jondy to picking him up. "So what's new? Those roses taste good?"
Leo clapped proudly and grinned, showing a half chewed petal stuck between his two front baby teeth. So this was what fatherhood felt like, Zack thought to himself. Playfully squeezing one of son's cubby legs, Zack smiled. He definitely wanted more of this.
