Chapter 9

"I've been thinking about something." Said Leon as he paced the exam room waiting for the doctor.

"What's that?" chuckles Haley watching him.

"What if you let me…." He paused stopping and facing Haley nervously. "What about letting me take claim as the babies father?"

Haley's mouth dropped. That was not what she was expecting to hear.

"How are we feeling today Haley?" asked the doctor walking into the room. "And what on Earth happened to your face."

The doctor did not look happy and gave Leon the look of death. Leon immediately raised his arms and shook his head.

"Nu uh. That's all her." He said.

"I wasn't paying attention at work and walked into one of the poles." Lied Haley. "Mrs. Johnson, he would never. No one takes better care of me than him."

"And who might this him be?" asked Mrs. Johnson getting the ultrasound machine ready.

"This is Leon..." started Haley looking into Leon's eyes. "The baby's father."

Leon smiled and dropped his head grateful.

"Ah. Nice to finally meet you." Said Mrs. Johnson shaking Leon's hand. "Alright let's get started. Haley lay back and bare your belly. Leon cut that light switch right there and let's see what we're having.

"Now I know where her doctor is. She's bound to be alone eventually." Carter said to himself.

Now he waited… and waited… and waited. He looked up at the sound of a laugh. He knew that laugh.

"Why the hell is she laughing so damn much. He looks like a tool."

Carter growled at how happy she looked. She never looked that happy with him. She never wrapped her arms around him like that. She always kept a distance between them like she was waiting for their relationship to fail.

"I gave this bitch more thank he ever could. I treated her better than every other whore. I gave her a baby. She is giving this tool access to my baby. I'm going to make her pay."

"Can we go to the store before we head home?" asked Haley looking at Leon sweetly tp push him toward yes.

"Where do you want to go?" he chuckled and rolled his eyes.

Haley squealed happily and hugged him arm tightly. Leon was enjoying his lone time with her. He couldn't help the feelings. He loved her and her alone. He kicked himself in the ass every day for screwing up and letting her get away. No one ever came close to her but he knew she didn't need a new man, she needed a friend and he would be whatever she needed him to be. He'd do anything for her.

"I want to go to Target. How can we let them know what I'm having in a creative way?"

"You're really getting into this now." Said Leon patting her knee.

"I feel safe and I know what I'm having so I can start to prepare… I'm getting excited." she explained with a big smile.

"We've got you… I've got you."

"Thanks LeeLee."

Leon gave her a shy smile and blushed.

"Ok." He started clearing his throat. "To Target we go."

Carter followed them around Target at a safe watching distance. They walked next to each other. Nothing special. Then she slid her hand into Leon's. The entwining of their fingers forced more rage to build inside Carter.

How long has she been fucking him? He thought as he moved behind a shelf. Did she ever stop? Is that baby even mine? Did this slut cheat on me!?

The thoughts in Carter's head were pushing him closer and closer to the snapping point.

"We are going to need a cart." Chuckled Haley.

Carter snapped out of his daze at the fact that he could hear them. Immediately he turned down the next isle and watched Leon pass him.

Not yet. Carter thought.

Carter had seen as much as his rage could handle. He headed toward the exit, making sure to be in view of Leon.

"Dude what's your problem?" asked Leon as Carter practically tackled him by running into him.

They stared each other down before Carter said a word, just looked at him with pure evil in his eyes.

"My bad." Carter said walking passed.

They both watched over their shoulders at each other as they moved further and further away from each other. When Carter was out of the building he moved to the side as quickly as possible and pulled Leon's keys out of his jacket pocket. He pulled off the key he assumed and hoped was the house key before sneaking back into the store to hand them off to customer service as missing keys.

"Where are my keys?" asked Leon patting his pockets as they stood in the check out line.

"I don't know. Did you hand them to me?" asked Haley starting to look through her bag.

"I don't think so." Answered Leon.

"They aren't in my purse."

"I'm going to see if someone turned them in to customer service."

Haley nodded, watching him walk away as she started putting her items on the conveyor belt.

"Thank God." He said a few moments later jingling his keys. "Someone found them outside and dropped them off at customer service."
"That's great." Said Haley finishing with her transaction.

"Let's get out of here." Chuckled Leon putting his arm around her shoulder as she pushed the cart full of bags.

"Where is Haley and Leon?" asked Dom pacing the living room. "They should have been home by now. What if something happened? I knew I should have taken her."

"She's with Leon, Dom. She's fine. Sit down and enjoy your Saturday." Said Mia flipping through a magazine.

Dom groaned and dropped into his chair, only to bolt back up at the sound of Leon's car pulling up. A few moments later Leon and Haley pushed through the door with arms full of bags.

"Where have you been? Why haven't you returned my calls and texts?"

"You called?" asked Haley dropping her bags at the bottom of the stairs and pulling out her phone. "Oh, it's on silent."

"And your excuse?" Dom asked Leon.

"I was with her." Leon answered sarcastically while putting the rest of the bags down.

"Just try to keep contact with me." Sighed Dom hugging Haley.

"Will do." Said Leon and Haley simultaneously.

"Well?" asked Mia.

"Well what?" said Haley knowing what everyone was waiting for.

"What is it?"

"Can I make dinner tonight?" asked Haley

"I don't care but stop trying to change the subject missy." Chuckled Mia waving her little finger at Haley.

"I'm going to get dinner started." Said Haley walking away toward the kitchen, leaving both Mia and Dom stunned.

Leon just laughed and started carrying the bags upstairs.

"Haley that was so delicious. I think I'm having leftovers for lunch tomorrow." Groaned Dom sitting back in his chair and rubbing his belly.

Everyone agreed as they looked at what was left of the stuffed shells, salad and bread.

"So good." Said Letty pushing her plate away before she burst.

"I still have dessert." Announced Haley.

"I don't think I can do dessert yet." Whined Mia.

Leon and Haley both started clearing everyone's plates.

"Well it's a special dessert." Explained Haley.

Leon and Haley started putting little black boxes with blue and pink bows in front of Dom, Letty, Mia and Vince. Everyone opened the little boxes and inside was a chocolate cupcake with a white question mark on top.

"Is this some kind of riddle?" asked Vince as they all looked dumbfounded at the cupcakes then at Haley who was now sitting on the counter with her arms wrapped loosely around Leon's shoulders as he rested against her.

"Bite into them." Said Leon shaking his head.

They all looked at each other before picking up their cupcakes and took their bites, revealing a colored crème inside.

"Pink." Said Dom swallowing his bite.

"It's a girl!" squealed Mia with her mouth full.

"Not another girl in the house." Groaned Vince.

"Congrats on a girl Haley. I'm glad to be having a niece." Said Dom getting up and hugging his sister.

"Thanks guys. You've all been great through this whole thing." Said Haley trying to hold back the tears. "I couldn't ask for a better family. I really appreciate it."

Everyone talked over each other and pulled Haley into a big group hug.

"You awake?" asked Haley softly from the bathroom entrance.

"Come here." Mumbled Leon sliding over and lifting his cover for her to move in next to him.

Haley slid in next to him and cuddled into his side. Leon wrapped his arm around her shoulder and rested his head against the top of hers.

"You sure you want to take responsibility for a child that isn't yours?" asked Haley against Leon's bare chest.

"Haley, I want to be there for you and now our baby. Giving it my last name will hopefully protect her from him." explained Leon looking down at her.

"I just…." Started Haley.

"Let me do this." He pushed.

Haley couldn't help herself. She put her fingers in his hair and pulled him to her lips and rolled to her back, leaving him resting on her side. It felt good feeling his lips again. She slid her nails down his back. Leon groaned against her mouth. He kissed down her jaw and neck, letting his free hand slide down her hip and rest on her bare thigh. He pulled her thigh over his hip, pulling her tighter against him. She moaned against his lips. She never forgot how great of a kisser he was, how surprisingly soft his lips felt even during rough, aggressive kisses. Kissing was one thing he could do with her forever.

BOOM