A/N: So here I am updating again - aren't you all lucky devils. Anywho! Being absent minded, as I am, I forgot to reply to a question asked by someone back when they reviewed chapter two. Cade is pronounced "Cay-d" .. as in 'made'. But with a 'C'. Make sense? Good. On with the update!

Leon couldn't help but smile as Cade clung to his neck, the warm ocean water lapping at his waist.

"Daddy!"

He pried Cade's fingers loose and managed to move him away from his body. "Come on now, it's alright. I've got you." He held him a little ways away from him, the little boys legs kicking wildly. He'd never been in the ocean before, nor had he ever been swimming. That was why Leon had taken him to the ocean baths instead of the beach itself. So he could teach him to swim. He had a lot of free time on his hands now he was jobless and he figured he would do something productive with his time.

Cade was crying and clinging to Leon's arms, struggling to get back to his father.

Leon sighed. "Cade, I will drop you."

"No!" the child screamed, wriggling even more. Leon tightened his grip slightly, not enough to hurt him, just enough to keep a good hold on him.

"If you keep struggling I am going to drop you, Cade! Now stop being silly and calm down! You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you!"

He winced as Cade's short fingernails dug into his forearms. He was starting to get irritated now. Taking a deep breath, he drew him back to his chest. Immediately the little boy latched on tightly and squeezed his arms around his neck. His tears were hot against Leon's skin and a heavy guilty feeling washed over him. He started for the edge of the pool, wading through the clear blue water. Small guppies darted around his feet and he squirmed. That was the only thing he hated about the beach. The fish. Ok, two things. The fish and the sea weed.

"Having trouble?"

Leon looked up as he neared the edge and saw Ruby standing there. She wore her hair in braids on either side of her head and the straps of a blue halter bikini top peeked out from underneath a gauzy white peasant top. One hand was holding the strap of her bag and the other was held over her eyes. Strangely her sunglasses sat on top of her head instead of over her eyes.

He gave her a tired smile. "First time at the beach."

Ruby grinned. "Aww – you don't like it, baby doll?" she knelt at the side of the pools, her cutoffs creeping a little higher on her thighs. Leon looked away. He couldn't help but feel guilty every time he looked at a woman. It was betraying Letty. Even if Ruby was only a friend, it was still wrong.

Cade snuggled against Leon, trembling. "..No." he mumbled. He was fine in the water until he was held away from something secure – in this case Leon's chest. Ruby's hand ghosted over the top of his damp head.

"Would you like it if I got in with you and daddy?" she asked. "See my bathing suit?" she lifted her shirt so Cade could see her bikini top, "This is a magic bathing suit. If you stay near me you cant drown."

His big brown eyes widened in awe. "In the water?" he asked her.

Ruby nodded, smiling brilliantly at him. "In the water. So how's about I come in there too?"

Cade looked at Leon. "Can she?"

Leon looked at Cade, then at the waiting Ruby. He sighed. "If that's going to keep you happy – sure she can."

Both Cade and Ruby clapped their hands. Ruby hopped up and started walking backward toward the covered tables and chairs.

"Could you give me a hand with my back, gorgeous?"

Leon nodded silently and walked out of the pool, Cade still clinging to him. Once he was on dry land the little boy fought to get down. As soon as his feet hit the hot concrete he took off running towards Ruby, giggling.

Leon followed at a more sedate pace, watching to make sure Cade didn't fall in his haste to get to her. Cade was busy chattering to her by the time he got to them, his little legs swinging back and forth off the edge of the bench.

"Wha's your name?"

Ruby shucked out of her cutoffs and stepped out of them. Picking them up to fold them, she set them down on the bench beside Cade and her bag.

"My name is Ruby. What's yours, honey?"

He was gazing at her bikini in wonder. The electric blue was swirled with greens and white in a tie dye pattern. When he didn't answer, Leon did for him.

"His name is Cade, and he's a rude little snot."

"M'not a snot!"

Leon folded his arms. "Are too."

Ruby grinned, lathering on her sun screen. Being so pale she had to use a lot of it and frequently to prevent burning or excessive amounts of freckles. So far she had managed to escape being burned too bad. As she watched Leon and Cade bicker she could see how much Leon loved his son and vice versa. Absently she wondered where the mother was in all this.

She held the tube out to Leon and turned around, pulling her braids to the front and tugging the ties across her back undone. Her arm held her top in place across the front. She saw Leon's tanned arm sneak past her and wipe his hands on a towel, then she felt the cold sensation of the sun screen streak across her back.

"Thankyou for helping out." He said over her shoulder, rubbing the cream all over her back. Her shoulders rolled forward slightly so he could get an even coverage.

"It's nothing, Le. He looked terrified in there." She beamed at Cade. "I just couldn't let a gorgeous man like yourself be all scared like that."

She very nearly moaned at the feel of Leon's callused hands rubbing her back, but she bit down on her tongue and kept her cool. She couldn't help but notice his touch was a bit off, like he wasn't comfortable putting his hands on her. He had been a total gentleman when he was younger, so she figured he must still be the same.

The tube dropped down on the table and she giggled when she felt his fingers rubbing some of the lotion onto her ears.

"Sun burned ears suck." He explained simply.

Cade pointed at her bathing suit. "Why do you wear them? Why no shorts?"

"Cade."

Ruby laughed, waving Leon's objection off. "Because I'm a girl, honey. Girl's wear different things to swim in."

The little boy nodded, pretending he understood. "Is very pretty."

She almost melted at his sweet, sincere tone. "Thankyou baby." She looked down suddenly, feeling Leon's fingers brush at her sides just near her breasts, then she felt the ties being re-fastened across her back.

He stepped back. "All done."

Ruby spun around to face him. "Thankyou!" she pulled her sunglasses down and held her hand out to Cade. "Shall we?"

The little boy's face went from confident to frightened in a second. He gave her a shaky nod and held his arms out. "Swim.." he said hesitantly. Once he was on the ground again he took Leon's hand in one hand and Ruby's in the other.

Leon watched Ruby climb into the pool first, then hold her hands out to Cade.

"Come on, sweetie." She called, carefully holding onto him as he slid into the water. He was quiet now – not a peep out of him. He even had a little smile on his face.

Leon scowled and stepped off the edge, dropping into the water. "Traitor."

Ruby was already in the middle of the pool by the time he reached them and Cade was still clinging to her. As soon as Leon got close enough, Ruby turned him in her arms and slowly edged him away from her.

"Alright, Cade. I want you to kick your legs for me alright? That's it, good boy!" She smiled at Leon who was waiting anxiously, "Now I want you to go to Daddy."

Cade immediately started to whimper. "Daddy – here!"

Leon held his hands out, but didn't step closer. If Cade wanted him bad enough he would have to make it across the small gap between them.

"Come on, kiddo." He said softly. He realised he was being a little hard on him. After all, he probably did the same thing to his parents when he was little. It had to be daunting for him. "It's alright." Leon reassured him, seeing the tears in his eyes. He stepped a little closer.

Ruby watched Leon's face transform with the tender expression he took on, the love on his face as Cade clamoured into his arms as soon as he was near enough. It warmed her heart to see a parent who cared for their child so much. After growing up being bounced from group home to group home, no real parental guidance in her life at all, it was nice to see one who actually cared. She waded closer to them and planted a chaste kiss on Cade's head.

"See, now that wasn't so bad was it?"

He shook his head. "Didn't drown."

Leon chuckled. "That was because Miss Ruby's bikini saved you." He told him, flicking some water at him. Cade spluttered and glared indignantly at his father.

Ruby grinned. "How about next time we come swimming I wear a different bathing suit and we see if you can still do it?"

Cade nodded at her, enthused. Leon quirked a brow. "Next time?"

"Well of course next time – I can't exactly change them right now can I? That would be indecent exposure," she got a thoughtful look on her face, "-again."

Leon stared at her. "I don't think I want to know."

"You have no sense of adventure, Leon."

He scoffed, holding Cade out in front of him. The little boy splashed about, his fear practically non existent now. "I have a sense of adventure – I just choose to remain clothed in public."

"It's a boring life you lead, Mr. Orello." She tutted. "Boring."

He looked at her then hooked his leg around hers and knocked her off balance, his face the picture of innocence as she suddenly dropped beneath the waters surface.

"Oops."

Cade looked down at her from his perch on Leon's shoulder. "Wha' happened?"

Leon shrugged. "I think she slipped." He replied lightly as she surfaced, spluttering.

"You big shit!" she shouted, wiping the water from her eyes with one hand.

Leon smirked. "Now, now – no swearing in front of the kids."

Ruby grinned and stepped toward him, then, without warning her hand shot out and stuffed something down the front of his pants. Leon howled and pretty much tossed Cade at her.

Cade watched his father jumping around and swearing for a moment, leaning his head against Ruby's cheek.

"Wha's he doin?"

"He's trying to get the fish out of his pants that I just put there." She replied easily. She turned away from the scene and lowered Cade back into the water. "Ok, sweetie. Take a biiiig breath and hold it."

He looked at her, splashing his hands and feet. "Why?"

"Cause," she grinned at the sound of Leon's muttered swearing, "I'm going to dunk you."