June turned into a sweltering month. Just ten days after Kevin's confrontation of both Alec and Leslie, the thermometer rose thirty degrees and now daily hit 90 degrees with ease. Alec had luckily installed an air conditioner so other than the doctor's appointment she had on the 9th; she stayed in the apartment so she wouldn't boil. Alec and Kevin both felt a need to stay secluded in the apartment with her and continue with being her helpers, so Kevin temporarily made a home in the apartment as well, setting up a cot near the sofa, which Alec slept on now (Leslie was getting too big, she slept in Alec's bed). Alec felt like he was running a boarding house, and he was the maid. Alec was up half the night, waiting in anxiety in case Leslie popped up at his side with a suitcase saying "Alec, it's time." Leslie assured both men that Dr. Standish said, if anything, she would be late with the delivery, as the baby hadn't even flipped yet (neither Kevin nor Alec knew the significance of 'flipping' so they just smiled and nodded). As far as the battle for apartments/loyalty battles between Alec and Kevin, Leslie had begged both men to forget it all, it was the LAST thing she needed, more stress. Leslie still hadn't told Alec about her home in the back of Mr. Katovitch's piano store, and Kevin vowed to keep quiet. So for the next ten days, all was quiet.
June 18th was an average (if not stifling hot) day. Leslie wanted to keep up her strength in spite of the heat, so she was walking around Alec's apartment as much as she could. Leslie could have sworn that she felt like she was carrying the baby lower than before. It felt almost as if her skin would rip and the baby would come tumbling onto the floor. It felt weird. Alec and Kevin still kept beside her, in case she was in need of absolutely anything.
Leslie happened to catch a glimpse of Kevin, sprawled out on Alec's bed, out like a light with papers scattered all around him. Leslie smiled and sighed. Suddenly, Alec burst into the apartment, home from work. He threw off his jacket and loosened his tie, heading straight to Leslie.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't I be? Alec, I still have two weeks to go, I'm not going to have the baby today," she said. Leslie took a minute to look at Alec. Bags were developing under his eyes. His muscles were tense, his hands were shaking. Kevin ran in between them.
"Good, you're home. We need to get Les some dinner…" Kevin said. Leslie grunted. She felt so needy! She thought for a moment. Alec and Kevin really needed some time for themselves. Luckily she already had a surprise in the works for them…and it should be arriving any minute now.
"You guys, there's still some leftover lasagna in the fridge, I can get it myself," Leslie insisted. Alec sighed.
"Hoggin's re-election campaigning is firing up, and he himself asked me to be his campaign manager's right hand. It'll bring in a lot of cash for the baby, but it'll mean a lot more time away from you, so I might have to turn it down," Alec said. Leslie shook her head.
"Alec, no! Don't give this up on a count of me! Please take the job! The election is in NOVEMBER, and I'm due in JULY! It'll be a waist of a good paycheck; the baby will be four months old by then!" Leslie kept looking in the way of the door. She finally heard the knock she'd been waiting for. Alec rushed to open the door. Billy and Kirbo stepped inside. Leslie smiled.
"Billy? You came back!" Kevin remarked.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Alec.
"Eh, knowing Momma Les was due in a fortnight, I took two weeks PAID vacation that I actually EARNED and came back up to, ah, you know. Help out in any way I could," said Billy. Leslie beamed.
"But tonight, it's men's night out!" added Kirbo. Kevin looked at Alec.
"Um…what?" Kevin asked, looking at Leslie.
"I called Finnegan's and reserved a table for the four of you guys for a testosterone-filled night without a single pregnant belly in sight!" Leslie said happily. "Surprise!"
"Finnegan's Bar?" asked Kevin. Leslie nodded happily, rubbing her stomach.
"The one we could never get into because it was always booked?" asked Alec.
"I called in a few favors, and it's all paid for, on me!" Leslie said.
"C'mon you guys, I asked Tony to have a pitcher of beer waiting for us so I could suck off the head!" Billy said.
Alec and Kevin smiled at each other, but then Alec shook his head.
"No, I can't go," he said. "Les, no one will be here in case you go into—"
"—Al! I JUST said a minute ago that I can pretty much guarantee no action is happening tonight!"
"What about if you need anything?" asked Kevin.
"You have my number and I have the number of the bar in case you need anything!" said Leslie. "Go, Alec. Go have fun, please? You've done so much for me and this is how I wanna thank you! Please go, or else I'll feel bad!" Leslie begged. Alec thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Then let's get wasted!" cried Billy. Leslie laughed. Billy and Kirbo headed out the door. Kevin stopped in the doorway and turned. Alec bent down so his head was equal-height with Leslie's belly. He whispered into her belly button as if he was talking to his daughter.
"Promise to be good for mommy and to not make any trouble? Trust me, it's better in there than it is out here, okay? You're not missing shit!"
"ALEC!" Leslie gasped, amused. Kevin smiled weakly. They really did have a certain bond between them. It made his heart feel hollow knowing they were breaking it for him. Alec kissed Leslie's cheek and dashed out the door with Kevin. Leslie smiled as she rubbed her stomach and watched the door close softly in front of her.
Now, about that lasagna…
"Fred! Another Long Island Iced Tea over here!" called out Billy. A tall, husky man nodded and went to get his order. The atmosphere was crowded and intoxicating. It was exhilarating for Kevin and Alec, neither of whom had been free to have an evening for themselves for a long, long time. They'd been wasting themselves (Kevin a LOT more than Alec) at Finnegan's for nearly 4 hours, and it was now totoally dark outside as it came on 8 PM.
"Billy! You've had plenty!" Alec warned. "You'll knock yourself out if you have much more!"
"I meant for you, jackass! You look like you need another!" Billy laughed. Kirbo snorted. It sucked being the designated driver, especially after a 7 out of 12 Rock/Paper/Scissors competition with Billy to see who was stuck with that particular honor. Kirbo grabbed his Shirley Temple glass and took a sip, feeling like a baby.
"Is anyone else seeing in shades of blue?" asked Kevin, who probably had more booze than Billy and Alec combined. "Wow…I feel like my nose is missing!"
Alec gave Kevin an odd look. "I really wanna find a way to repay Les for this. I mean, Finnegan's is so hard to get into!"
"Al, the whole point of this is Les repaying YOU, and you're talking about repaying HER?" asked Billy, finishing a mug of beer.
"Well, I feel like I really owe her, you know? I mean, she's having my baby and yet she's insisting on giving back to me!" Kevin was too drunk to note that Alec said 'my baby' instead of 'mine or Kevin's baby.' Instead, Kevin was rambling without even thinking.
"So Alec, what will you do with yourself when Les moves out?" Kevin asked. Alec spit his gin back into the cup.
"Les isn't going anywhere. She's staying with me after she has the baby!" he said.
"She didn't tell you yet?" Kevin blurted out. The words coming out of his mouth actually seemed to sober him up…and he instantly regretted what he said. Alec's face turned red almost instantly…then purple. Alec's face was like a huge mood ring. Alec stood up, which made Kevin want to disappear.
"Tell. Me. What?" Alec asked firmly. Kevin knew something. And Alec was still sober enough to kick Kevin's ass if he DID know something…
"Oh, nothing. Uh, FRED? I need a cup of coffee over here please?" Kevin shouted. Alec's nostrils flared…Kevin was tempted to shove a quarter up his nose to see how much of it would fit.
"WHAT did Leslie say that she didn't want me to hear?" Alec said through gritted teeth. Kevin looked around and shrugged. Kirbo and Billy remained silent and motionless….for their own safety.
"Nothing," was all Kevin could say with a shaky voice. Alec could see the lying in his eyes. He lost a bit of control and immediately grabbed Kevin's collar and hoisted him to his feet.
"TELL ME!" Alec demanded. Kevin had no choice. It was he and his big mouth.
"Les got a place behind Katovitch's Piano Store for her and her baby because she didn't want to pick sides!" Kevin spoke a mile a minute. But unfortunately for him, Alec had heard every word…and he grew a whole new shade of red…an inhuman shade of red. Alec threw Kevin to the floor, causing chaos in the bar. Alec began throwing a fit.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER? SHE WAS GONNA STAY WITH ME! YOU SAID SOMETHING TO MAKE HER CHANGE HER MIND!!!! TELL ME, YOU RAT BASTARD!!! THAT'S THE SECOND TIME YOU STOLE HER FROM ME!!" Alec screamed.
"I didn't do anything to persuade her!" Kevin tried to cover himself. Billy and Kirbo leapt in the middle to try and hold Alec back. They're attempts were for naught. Alec kept fighting against them. Things were getting out of hand as Kevin tried to scramble away from Alec as he continued his melodramatic rage.
"Alec, you're making a scene!" Kirbo warned.
"I'm not getting a scene, I'm getting a Broadway Musical!" said Kevin, covering his head with his hands and Alec got ever so much closer to putting his lights out...
Suddenly, an overweight bald bartender, holding a phone in his hand, yelled, his voice booming loud. It was loud enough to silence even Alec and the chaotic bar fight that was breaking out.
"SHUUUUUUUT UUUUP!!!" he yelled. The bar went silent. "There's a lady on the phone for…hold on…who are you calling for? ALEC NEWBURY? ALEC NEWBURY! There's a call for you! Some girl named…Leslie!" Alec immediately regained composure. Kevin scrambled to his feet and followed Alec to the bar (at a safe distance…and of course, behind Billy and Kirbo for protection). Alec grabbed the phone from the fat bartender.
"Leslie? Is everything okay?"
"Alec?" Leslie sounded winded. "My water broke!" Alec's eyes went wide. Didn't Dr. Standish say something about breaking water?
"What does that mean? Is it bad?" Alec sounded confused.
"Yeah, it is, Alec. It means—GAAAHHH!!!" Leslie screamed right into the phone. Alec bit his lip and threw a worried look at Kirbo and Billy. He didn't look at Kevin.
"What? What's going on, Les? You need me to come home?"
"Yes! Alec, I'm having the baby!"
"WHAT? Les, are you sure?"
"Alec, it's time! I'm in labor, the baby's coming no—OWW!"
"How are you feeling?"
"Just get home…it hurts like hell and I don't think it's supposed to this soon!"
"Okay, Les, baby! Hold on! Kev and I will be right there!"
"HURRY!" Alec hung up the phone and looked at Kevin with a horrified look.
"The baby's coming!" he announced.
"Are you sure?" asked Kevin, rubbing a spot on his cheek where he felt a tooth Alec knocked loose.
"Common Kirbo!" Alec tossed his car keys to Kirbo. "You're driving!" Kirbo caught the keys and ran outside along with a panicking Alec and Kevin. Billy remained in the bar. Everyone was staring at him. Billy smiled.
"Fred! Pour a round of Bloody Maries for everyone on me! Here's to Momma Les!" The room erupted in cheers as Kirbo drove the old Cadillac out of the parking lot at breakneck speed.