I want to apologize for taking so long to get this chapter out. It's been written for about 5 weeks, but it was handwritten in a notebook and I forgot all about it. One of the main reasons that I forgot about it was because of writer's block. Which I still have...so it may be a while before I get the next chapter (it may be the final chapter) written.
Rae
The first thing Silk saw when she woke was a black-clad figure. "What are you doing here, Kelly?" she asked, pushing herself into a sitting position.
Rae pushed the hood of her black cape back. "China came to see me."
"Did she tell you?"
"Yep," Rae said, dropping into the overstuffed chair and draping one leg over the side.
"I can't tell him, Rae..."
"Why ever not?"
"He's just waiting for me to be able to walk again so he can leave..."
"You're wrong there, Silk."
"How would you know?"
"He and I have been friends for a long time. I can tell what he's thinking. He may be an idiot, but he's not dumb. He has too much honor to leave you."
Silk snorted.
"If he didn't, he wouldn't have taken care of you the way he has."
Silk fell silent for a moment. "I still can't tell him."
"Tell him what?" Spot asked from the doorway.
"This should be interesting," Rae muttered gleefully.
"Scram Kelly!"
"Oh no! I want to watch..."
Growling he stormed across the room and lifted her out of the chair. He carried her to the door and dumped her in the hallway, quickly closing and locking the door.
"That won't keep her out," Silk said.
"It will slow her down," he replied, leaning against the door. "Now, what is this thing you were going to tell me?"
Silk hung her head.
"Come on, Silk...I'm not gonna hurt you...you can tell me..."
Rae banged on the door. "You aren't playing fair, Conlon! Stop leaning against the door!"
He threw the door open. "Go away!" he growled, his nose inches from hers.
She pushed him away and poked her head in the room. "Do you want me to leave, Silk?"
Silk nodded hesitantly.
Rae kissed Spot's cheek. "Good night Conlon," she said saucily as she walked down the hall.
Spot slammed the door behind her. "She's really getting on my nerves..."
"She only does it because she can..."
He rolled his eyes and walked over, sitting next to her. He took her hands and gently rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "Tell me..." he said softly.
"Remember that night..."
"Yes..." he whispered, brushing the hair from her face.
She was quiet for several minutes. "I don't know how to say it..."
"Just say it, Silk."
She hesitated. "I'm...gonna have a baby." She closed her eyes and braced herself, waiting for his temper to explode.
"Baby?"
She nodded.
He continued to rub his thumbs on the back of her hands. "Lessa..."
She glanced up at his use of her real name. He gazed into her eyes, his eyes searching hers. "Please say something," she begged.
He leaned forward and gently kissed her. "I love you, Lessa Conlon."
She buried her face in his shirt.
He gently rubbed her back. "Are you happy?"
"I...I...I don't know...Are you?
"Yes...I am..." He moved behind her and pulled her back against him.
She was quiet for several minutes, just letting him hold her. "What do we know about being parents?" she finally asked. "I don't even know who my parents are...Lessa may not even be my real name."
"Look at me..."
She shifted so that she could look up at him, yet still be in his arms.
He stroked her cheek gently. "None of that matters. You are my Lessa..." he said, kissing her.
"It's not fair," she said, resting her head against his chest.
"What's not fair, sweetheart?" he asked, running his fingers through her hair.
"You'll teach this baby to walk...because I'll never walk again."
"Lessa, honey...the doctor told you that...he also told you that you'd never stand on your own again. You've done that, sweetheart. YOU WILL walk again."
She sighed deeply.
"Do you want to try tonight?"
"Not really," she whispered, snuggling against him.
"Oh," he said, cracking a smile. "Just what do you want to do?" When she didn't answer he glanced down to find her sound asleep.