A/N: Thanks to betty-boo, leslienicolespeaks, Dani and Torquebabe for reviewing the last chapter - i know it wasnt fabulous, but hopefully this one makes up for it.

Ruby panted softly as she lay against Leon's chest, her hands tucked between her and Leon. She nestled in closer to his warmth, shifting to bring her legs together and lay fully on top of him instead of straddling him. His big, rough hands were idly stroking her back, the calluses dragging against her damp skin. She could feel the warm puff of his breath against her hair as it slowed from its fevered panting moments earlier and could feel his heart thundering beneath her cheek.

When she spoke, her voice was quiet and breathy, almost a whisper.

"Do you want me to get off you?"

At her question Leon's arms tightened around her slightly and his hips flexed, his thick length still buried inside her. She gasped at the action, not expecting it and jerked against him, a startled whimper slipping past her lips. He chuckled dryly, low in his chest and a hand came up to brush her hair away from her neck.

His lips dragged across the skin, open mouthed and wet kisses left in their wake. He could feel her starting to wriggle against him and he slid a hand down to cup her ass, fingers digging in as he slowly forced her back down onto his hardening length.

Bringing his mouth up close to her ear, he flicked his tongue out to trace a line across the flesh just below her lobe. "Not yet."

Ruby could feel eyes on her as she measured out the oils she'd be using for her eleven o clock appointment. Stilling, she glanced back over her shoulder to see one of the elder women that worked for the spa watching her with a small, enigmatic smile on her face. Feeling the heat, Ruby's cheeks flushed pink under the weight of the woman's gaze.

"What?" She looked herself over critically, thinking something was out of place. "What are you looking at?"

The older woman, Cecile, came over to sit by her as she worked. She was a larger woman, black as night and just as fabulous to behold. She had a presence about her that lit up any room she walked into. She was in fact the one who had encouraged Ruby to apply for the job at the beauty spa, something Ruby would be forever grateful for. She was a motherly woman who had taken her under her wing on day one – the only one there Ruby really liked.

"You in love, girl." She stated with a smirk, "I saw you this morning with that hot boy of yours. The one in that flashy car with the fine rear view."

Ruby felt her cheeks heat and tried to pretend she hadn't. "He's not my 'hot boy' Cecile – he's just a friend." She argued weakly.

The big black woman quirked a brow and scoffed. "If that boy aint yours then my mama was white, sweet thing. I saw the way he put his hands on you."

Thinking back to earlier that morning when Leon had dropped her off, a silly grin spread across her face. He'd gotten out of the car before she'd had the chance to even open her door and had opened it for her, helping her out of the car. He'd then near backed her into the side of the car and had laid one of the most dizzying kisses on her she'd ever experienced.

Over the past few weeks he'd been surprising her left, right and centre. He'd been warm, affectionate and something that completely shocked her – open. He'd not been as closed off around her as he had been in the previous months. He no longer shied away from her touch at all, in fact he often sought it out himself and she often found herself waking in the middle of the night with his leg slung over hers and his face buried in her neck, mouthing the skin there in sleep. He and Cade were practically living with her now. The boy merely stayed with Angie during the day whilst they were both at work.

He'd gotten the graphics design job he'd wanted and she'd not seen him so happy… well.. ever. His art truly made him happy, which in return made her and Cade happy.

Cecile cleared her throat and gave Ruby a superior look that said 'I told you so' and folded her arms across her chest.

"Judgin' from that look, I'd say he's more than just your boy," a wicked grin curled her lips, "-he's your man." Her tone implied so many things that Ruby was unable to keep herself from erupting into giggles.

"I can't believe you just said that!"

The older woman laughed lightly, patting her on the arm. "Well honey, if you're so adamant about him not bein yours," she wiggled her brows, "- you just send him on over to Cecile, baby. She'll give him some of that sweet brown sugar he needs."

Ruby grinned and nodded her head. "I'll be sure to let him know it's an option, but don't hold your breath."

Taking Ruby's face in her hands, Cecile smiled down at her. "Baby, with a woman like you as competition, I'm bound to come in second place when it comes to this one." She pressed a firm kiss to her forehead and took a step back, only just removing her hands seconds before they shot back toward the petite red head as she wavered on the spot. She'd barely caught her before Ruby was collapsed against her, unconscious. Easing her onto the nearby bed, Cecile unbuttoned the collar of her shirt so she could get some air and then rushed to the door.

"Somebody help me – Tinkerbell's just fainted!"

Ruby sipped at the water that had been offered to her, her fingers rubbing her aching head. The last thing she'd remembered was Cecile giving her a little kiss and then stepping backward, then the world had skewed and everything had gone dark. When she'd woken up she was laying on her massage table with Cecile by her side holding her hand and talking over her to someone – her boss. As soon as they'd noticed she was awake both had immediately started firing questions at her, some she could answer, some she couldn't.

She could feel a hand stroking over her hair and closed her eyes, leaning into the feeling. Only two people she'd ever known did that to her – Cecile and Leon. It had always calmed her, someone playing with her hair. It was just a shame she'd never really had anyone to do so until now.

"You gave us quite a scare, baby." Cecile's big brown eyes were even darker now with worry as she sat beside her on the bed. "Do you have any idea what brought that on?"

Ruby shook her head slowly, still not yet quite stable. She still felt a bit off. "I have no idea – I was fine one minute, then the next.." she trailed off. Cecile already knew the story. She pressed a hand over her belly as it rolled slightly, a nauseated feeling swelling up into her throat and she groaned slightly. She felt like crap. As far as she could remember though she hadn't eaten anything funny over the past twenty four hours.

Cecile's hand rubbed over her back in soothing circles until the wave of nausea subsided and when Ruby turned to thank her, she caught the faint glimmer of curiosity in the darker woman's eyes.

"What is it?"

Lips pursed, Cecile looked at her critically. "Baby, is there any chance that you might be pregnant?" At Ruby's stricken look she rushed to calm her. "Shh – calm down – I just asked because you've been a little off lately is all. I remember how it was, baby." It may have been a good twenty years since the birth of her last child, but Cecile still remembered that ill feeling she'd gotten during early pregnancy.

Ruby looked thoughtful for a moment. "I can't be – I didn't feel sick like this last ti-" she stopped herself, her hand flying to cover her mouth when she realised what she'd just admitted. The look on Cecile's face was one of dawning understanding and even as the first tears started to pool in Ruby's eyes she found herself cuddled into the big woman's side. As soon as her head hit her shoulder the tears came with a vengeance, spilling from jewel green eyes and soaking the fabric of Cecile's blouse.

"No," Ruby mumbled, "-not again, I can't lose my baby again." She sobbed into the older woman's shoulder, taking comfort in the affection she gave. This was the last thing she wanted now, not so soon after last time. There was a brief flicker of excitement and then it was crushed when Leon's face popped into her head. He wasn't going to like it at all if she was indeed pregnant – again. Not that he knew about the first time and if she got her way, he never would. He didn't need the added stress of that knowledge in his life. Things were already a jumbled mess as it was for him.

Cecile's hands smoothed over the fiery sheet of Ruby's hair as she rocked her in her arms, her cheek pressed to the top of her head. Gently easing her backward, she grabbed a tissue from nearby and carefully wiped Ruby's face clean. Her tears had stained her cheeks as well as her mascara and eyeliner. She had a classic case of panda eyes and her nose was red from crying.

"How about I take your appointment for you and you go to the doctors, baby? Then when you're done there you come back here and let me know how it went, ok?"

Ruby sniffled, nodding slowly as she tried to compose herself. "O-ok." She mutely accepted her bag from Cecile and gave her a meek smile. Another pregnancy was the last thing she wanted at the moment, but if she was indeed to have another child, there was no way she was getting rid of it. Now way in hell.

She laughed humourlessly, looking up at Cecile. "You know, things were just starting to go so well between us." She wiped her eyes again. "I always find a way to ruin things."