Chapter Thirty-nine

"…so Quinn and I thought we'd take Ty for pizza tonight." Billie finished as she continued to absentmindedly sketch on the pad in front of her.

Lia smiled widely, finally deciding to comment. "That's the third time – you know that?" She said with a laugh.

"Huh?" Billie replied.

"That's the third time today you've uttered the phrase 'Quinn and I' in my presence." Lia continued to chuckle.

"It is not!" Billie protested, blushing a bit.

"Is so." Lia countered. She glanced down at the pad of paper Billie was drawing on. "And not only that – that's a lovely sketch of my dear brother you're working on there."

Billie looked down and finally focused. She hadn't realized what she was even sketching. But there it was – right in front of her in black and white. Quinn's face. As hard as she tried, she could not get him off her mind.

She knew Lia saw right through her. It wasn't even worth it to protest. "I don't know what I'm doing, Lia." Billie admitted as she dropped her pencil, a bit frightened by all the emotions flooding over her. "I'm scared to death."

"From the looks of things you're doing just fine." Lia assured her.

Billie shook her head. "No. I'm not. Lia. Quinn's been so amazing. So sweet. He's so good with Ty."

"That's nice." Lia replied. "Belinda. What about you?"

"What?"

"How is he with you? That's the important thing." Lia asked then.

"With me?" Billie sounded a bit shocked.

"Yeah, silly." Lia had to laugh again. "With you. I think I already know the answer because Quinn's obviously smitten."

Billie blinked back at her. "Smitten with me or with Ty?"

"Oh God, Belinda." Lia rolled her eyes. "Let me explain this to you. My brother loves kids. I know he'll be an amazing father. But he has a brother Ty's age. He coaches Little League so hanging out with eight year olds is a normal occurrence to him. Billie. Please. You have to know. Ty is not the reason he's spending time with you."

"You know what? That's what he says…" Billie said softly.

"But you don't believe him?" Lia asked.

"I…" Billie whispered as she picked up her pencil and began to doodle again. She was trying to calm her nerves. "Lia. I've been alone for a year now. Before that I was with someone who promised me the world and left me with nothing. I know Quinn won't steal from me – I know that – but…"

"You're scared." Lia finished for her.

"Yeah. No. Scratch that. I'm terrified." Billie said as she took a deep breath.

Lia smiled as she took her friends hand. "This is difficult for me – so I'll only say this once." She said with a laugh. "My brother can be unbelievably dense and thoughtless at times but he's got a good heart and he's terribly sweet when he actually stops to think for a second. He won't ever hurt you intentionally Billie. And if he falls in love with you I guarantee you you'll be completely swept off your feet. One thing's for sure - Quinn doesn't do things halfway. It's all or nothing with him."

Billie was trying to make sense of it all when Lia's pager beeped.

"That's the station." She said with a sigh. "I gotta go in. Just relax Billie and enjoy yourself. And if Quinn treats you badly you just let me know and I'll kick his ass."

Despite the thoughts swirling in her head Billie let out a laugh. "You will won't you?"

"I certainly will – and I'll enjoy it." Lia laughed back as she made her way out the door.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ty swung the bat and it fanned wide. From where he stood on the mound, Quinn took a deep breath and tried again, puzzled. When you threw him a good pitch, Ty always made contact. Always. It was one of the things that made Quinn ninety-nine percent sure Ty was destined for the big leagues.

He watched as Ty shuffled off to the bleachers after striking out again. "OK. Good job kids. The game is Sunday. You all ready?" He asked, laughing as they all – except Ty – gave a roaring cheer. "I guess so. I'll see you all then."

Quinn kept an eye on Ty as he said hello to Cam when he came to pick up Ella and Aidan. He took his time as he waved the rest of the kids off, bending to pick up the bats and extra balls and stuff them in a bag. He saw Ty sitting with his head down, kicking his feet out in front of him.

Quinn finished packing the equipment and moved to sit beside him. "Not your day was it, Slugger?" He asked softly.

"Don't call me that. I didn't even hit one today." Ty replied.

Quinn smiled as he tugged the bill of Ty's hat. "You're a great batter, Ty. Everyone has a bad day now and again."

"Whatever. Practice is over. Can you take me home now?" Ty asked exasperated. "Just drop me off. You don't need to come inside." His voice was tense and he sounded angry.

Quinn blinked in surprise. "You want to go home? Ty - Billie and I were going to take you for pizza."

"I don't want pizza and I don't want you." The little boy jumped off the bench and started to walk away. Stunned, Quinn dropped the equipment bag and went after him.

"You angry with me, tough guy?" Quinn asked, catching Ty's arm and turning him to face him.

Ty yanked his arm away and muttered. "Don't call me tough guy, either. Don't pretend to be my friend when you're not."

Quinn wondered what this was all about as he fought to convince him. "Ty. I am absolutely your friend. I care very much about you."

Ty's little voice was full of tears as he started to yell. "No – you don't. You don't care!! You're just pretending!! It's going to be like the last time. I know." His bottom lip quivered as he stared up at him. "I'm not letting you do it. I'm not letting you hurt her. We're fine. We don't need you. We don't need anyone." Ty turned around and tried to run away.

Quinn ran after him and grabbed him by the shoulders. He should have realized. He was so caught up in getting Billie to open up and trust him, he forgot about how what had happened affected Ty too.

"Hey. Tyler. Hold on…"

Ty stopped in his tracks. It seemed he wasn't finished. Now that he'd started he had things he needed to say.

His words came tumbling out in a flood. His little face was red and his voice was choked and broken. "I saw you. I saw you kiss her and that's what he did. He used to give her kisses. He used to be nice to me and play games with me and take me to the zoo. And then he made her so sad she cried for days and days. He took all our money and all our stuff. I had to move and leave my friends. I have new friends now and I don't want to have to leave. I want to stay here. So you need to stay away from us. Stay away because I don't want Billie to cry anymore."

Quinn sighed as he crouched down to look into Ty's eyes. Tears flowed down the little boy's face as he squared his shoulders and glared at him.

"Listen to me. I promise you. I'm not going to hurt her, Ty." Quinn whispered.

"Yes – you are." Ty nodded, sure that he had it all figured out. "That's how it works. You bring her flowers and tell her she's pretty. You're nice to me and then one day you'll say you want to marry her. Billie will make me get all dressed up and she'll do her hair and look really fancy and then you'll tell us to meet you someplace and you'll never come. And then we'll have to move away because we won't have any more money."

This poor kid. Just another reason Quinn wanted to rip Mark apart with his bare hands. He struggled to convince him he had it all wrong. "Ty. I would never do that to you – or to Billie. I care about you both way too much."

Ty wanted to believe him, but he was really scared. He shook his head at him. "No. You don't. It'll be just the same. Like with him. He said he cared about us but then he just disappeared. He made her cry. After he left she cried every day. Sometimes she still does when she doesn't think I see it."

Quinn was determined to make Ty see. He was so proud of him. He was trying to defend Billie and take care of her. It must have been so rough on him and he was so little. He fought to reassure him. "I promise you. I won't. I know all about Mark – Ty. I know how he hurt you and how he hurt Billie. But let me tell you something. You know my sister…"

Ty was still wary but he couldn't help hoping. He really liked Quinn. Billie laughed when she was with him and she didn't laugh a lot. When she was with Quinn she laughed all the time. Maybe he would be different.

"The quiet one or the loud one?" Ty interrupted with a sniffle.

"Lia – the loud one…" Quinn smiled as he used Ty's description. "She thinks she's tracked him down. It might take a while but we're going to find him and make him give back what he stole from you guys. And then – after I beat him up…" Quinn said with a grin, "…Lia's going to lock him in jail."

"You're going to beat him up?" The prospect thrilled Ty to no end. It was something he'd always wanted to do himself. "Really?"

"Yeah. Really." Quinn promised, already looking forward to it. He realized then that when the time came he'd have to try and restrain himself. The way he felt right now, he wanted to pummel Mark to death.

"Billie is my best friend." Ty said softly, rubbing at his eyes and finally calming down. "She's not my mom but she kinda is my mom – you know?"

Tears welled in Quinn's eyes as he stared at the little boy. "I know, buddy."

Ty took a deep breath and continued. "Even though sometimes I make her mad, she's still the nicest person ever. Sometimes it takes a while but she always gets me everything I ask her for and she never buys herself anything. Sometimes I see her look at stuff like she really wants it but she always puts it back." Ty said thoughtfully as he wiped his runny nose with his sleeve, "And you know what? She never eats at a restaurant with me either. She only does when we get pizza because it's cheap. She tells me it's because she's not hungry but I think it's because we're poor – and that's his fault."

"Yes. It is." Quinn agreed.

"One day soon I'm going to get a job so I can buy her the stuff she wants and take her to a restaurant. She can order anything and I'll pay for it all. I'm almost big enough now." Ty's voice was determined.

"Almost." Quinn fought back a smile. What a fantastic kid. He thought to himself.

"I don't like it when she cries…" Ty said. His voice shook as he stared up at Quinn and pleaded. "Please don't make her cry Quinn."

Quinn's heart hurt as he looked straight into the little boy's eyes. "Oh Ty. I'll try my very best not to. I don't like to see her cry either. But I have to tell you. Sometimes I might do or say something stupid and make her sad. I won't mean it – but it might happen."

"You're not stupid." Ty shook his head. "You're real smart."

Tell that to Lia, Quinn thought with a grin. "Thank you." Quinn laughed. He sighed and tried to find the right words to make Ty understand.

"Ah Tyler. This grown up stuff is complicated. Billie and me – right now - we're just trying to figure out just how much we like each other. I know it's hard for you to believe me – but I promise you this. No matter what happens, I will never try and hurt her. I will never make a promise to either of you that I won't keep."

"You won't?" Ty asked, trying with all his heart to trust him.

"I won't." Quinn replied. "But I'll really need your help Ty. I don't think I can do this alone – you know? Billie's used to taking care of people so it's going to be tough. You and me – together. We'll have to make sure she doesn't cry anymore." He held out his hand and offered it to Ty to shake. "So what do you say? Is it a deal? Will you be my partner?"

Ty grinned widely and put his small hand in Quinn's. "OK. Deal."

Quinn tweaked the bill of Ty's cap and smiled back at him. "OK. So. Let's go get Billie and go out to celebrate. But – you – know – this thing – me and you working together to take care of her? That's just between us OK? You know - top secret. We have to take care of her without her knowing it."

"We can do it." Ty said, nodding in agreement. "I know we can."

Satisfied, Quinn moved to stand. As he did he felt Ty pulling at his sleeve. "Hey Quinn?" The little boy called softly.

He crouched down to his level again. "Yeah, Slugger?"

Ty leaned close and threw his arms around Quinn's neck - hugging him tight. "I believe you." He sniffled. "I know you won't hurt us. I'm sorry I got so mad."

Quinn fought tears of his own as he held Ty close. "It's OK." He whispered as he rubbed a hand over Ty's back, hoping to soothe him.

"I didn't mean it. I'm really glad we met you." Ty added as he pulled away and wiped at his eyes again.

Quinn fought to find his voice. "Not half as glad as I am that I met you." He said with a smile as he stood and took Ty's hand in his. "C'mon. Let's go find Pretty Belinda."

Ty giggled as he followed along beside him. "You know what Quinn? She doesn't tell you but she really likes it when you call her that. I can tell. She smiles when you say it and she thinks no one's looking."

Quinn laughed back at him. All at once he knew that this was going to work out just fine. "You know what Ty? You and me – we're going to make a great team."

Ty beamed with pride as he asked, "You really think so?"

"I don't just think so." Quinn nodded. "I know so."