A/N: Big ass thankyou to the following for reviewing: Tallyz, leslienicolespeaks, betty-boop, taker lover, Misty, Amarantha, Dani and Ms Fi. Bless you all for taking the time to let me know what you thought of the last chapter!

"You'll have to come in, Le – I can't hear you through the door!"

Leon quirked a brow but did as he was told. Vince and Tala had taken both Rory and Cade out for the day to the circus, giving Ruby and himself some time alone with the baby. The past four weeks had been hectic enough, what with little Amelia being introduced to all her surrogate uncles and Grandpa Mark down at the shop and Vince constantly wanting a cuddle, the kids all over them and the constant noise in the firehouse.

He peered around the door apprehensively and smiled to himself when he saw Ruby's naked back, her hair wet and pulled to one side over her shoulder. The tattoo he'd designed for her was prominent, eye catching in all its glory in the centre of her lower back and she had her knees bent. Amelia was laid back on her thighs, the warm water lapping at her little limbs, arms waving excitedly. She was a total water baby and loved her baths – Leon had a feeling he'd never get her out of the pool when she was old enough.

He sat beside the bath on the floor and dipped his fingers into the water, rubbing them over Amelia's belly much to her delight. He got a gurgle from her and what looked to be a smile. She was three and a half months now so it was more than possible.

"Mornin' baby girl," he cooed softly, eyes fixated on her little face. She turned at the sound of his voice and kicked slightly, watching him with a definite smile on her face.

Ruby giggled, bouncing her knees ever so slightly, cupping some water in her hand and dripping it over Amelia.

"Someone loves her daddy, doesn't she?" she bent and kissed her nose, Le's eyes catching hers as she started to sit up. "What?"

Leon was staring, he knew that much, but he couldn't help it. After all he'd put her through Ruby had taken him back and stuck it out with him. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her in his life again and everyday he still thought about his monumental fuck up. The two girls in front of him, his lover and his daughter, could have been lost to him due to his foolish pride and inability to think before he spoke.

He reached out and brushed her fringe out of her eyes with damp fingers, resting his chin on the side of the bathtub. She was looking at him now, slightly apprehensive.

"Leon? What's the matter?"

He shook his head, smiling to himself as he turned his attention back to his daughter. She was still watching him, her mouth just open, eyes wide and starting to turn a greener shade of turquoise. He'd known somewhere deep inside that they would turn green at some stage, but the mystery yet was whether they'd be a pale green like his or a vibrant shamrock green like Ruby's. He was hoping for the latter – for all she looked like him, he wanted her to have something of her mother in her. Ruby had beautiful eyes and it would be a crime for at least one of their children not to inherit them. He dipped his fingers in the water again and lifted them over her face, her eyes following them the whole time. She grinned and kicked happily when he shook his fingers, sprinkling water over her face.

"Not that I don't love your company, Le," Ruby began, gently running the washcloth over Amelia one last time before handing her over to Leon, "-but what was it that you wanted?"

He carefully took Amelia and wrapped her in a soft towel, his big roughened hands wiping her face with the corner of the towel. He kissed her chubby cheek before looking back down at Ruby, now reclined in the tub and adding more hot water. There were a few lingering stretch marks from where she carried Amelia on either side of her belly and every fibre of him wanted to lean down and kiss them. He was so proud of her and everything she'd battled through.

"Nothing," he replied lightly, carefully bending with the baby in his arms to kiss her forehead, "-take your time in here, ok? You deserve it."

Ruby smiled quizzically. He was acting strange but if it meant she could stay in the bath longer and have him take care of their daughter, then she wasn't about to question it.

"Alright then." She couldn't keep the bemused look off her face and dipped her head beneath the water, wetting her hair. When she came back up Leon was still standing there, just watching her with an odd look on his face, seemingly deep in thought.

"What's on your mind, precious?" She asked, patting the side if the tub. He shook his head and made for the door, not sitting.

"Not a lot," he mumbled, "-just struck me how much I love you is all." He left the room bouncing Amelia in his arms and talking to her in gibberish, both father and daughter grinning the whole time.

Ruby sat up straight in the bath. "Did he just-?" she craned her neck to look out the door but couldn't see past it and wrung out her hair before standing up and tying a towel around her haphazardly. She was still tucking it in as she walked the length of the landing, then up the last few steps and into Leon's room.

He was sitting on the bed with all Amelia's baby things around him, fighting with a diaper as he chattered along to her, explaining the difference between X-men the cartoon and X-men the movie to her. It was playing on the television even though nobody was watching it. Cade must have left it on when he'd left.

"- see, but I myself always liked Rogue. The sassy redhead. Now she kicked some serious ass in the cartoon, yet in the movie… pfft! Ooh – and Gambit! He was always a favourite of mine, but they didn't use him in the movie – they used Colossus instead. What the fuck is up with that?" He paused. "Don't tell your mother I said that in front of you."

"Did you mean it?"

He looked up toward her, brows raised, hand holding the diaper mid air. "What? That Rogue is my favourite X-man? Or.. woman, as it were.." he looked as if he was even confusing himself.

Ruby glared at him. "No, you moron! When you said you love me." Her voice was considerably quieter toward the end of the sentence, insecurity bleeding into her tone.

"Oh, that." He shrugged flippantly, lifting Amelia by the legs to put her diaper on. "Would I have said it if I didn't mean it?"

"Leon! Stop playing with me – I can't take much more."

He stopped what he was doing and rose from the bed, double checking to make sure Lia was safe before he walked over and took Ruby's face in his hands.

"You have given me a beautiful daughter and so much more, Gemstone." He kissed her sweetly. "Of course I meant it. I love you now and have done for a while. I can't breathe without you and if I lost you again I couldn't go on." By the time he was finished Ruby was in tears, her hands over his on the sides of her face. "I love you, Ruby Jane Garrison." He kissed her again. "And you're never getting rid of me."

There was a cry from the bed and both mother and father turned to look. Leon grinned.

"You either, Lia! You're mine and nobody's ever taking you away from me." He picked her up and held her up to his face. "Isn't that right babe – all mine. Well, I suppose you're kinda your Mommy's too."

As Ruby stood there and watched Leon interact with Amelia she couldn't believe what was happening. She finally had him, heart and all.