A.N: I had to split this and the last chapter up, technically, because too much happens. So, yeah. Hopefully you all like it...

Disclaimer: Nothin! Nothin I say! or somethin like that.

(Updated 3/1/11)

Chapter 3: Unwilling Circumstances

Teri watched as Walter removed his clothing.
The two had left Alice to her sleeping, fearing that she'd be awakened by her parent's talk. But it was late, and as Teri had an early meeting tomorrow, they decided to call it a night.
She wavered in taking off her own attire, her eyes glued to the chiseled upper torso that Walter bore as his shirt went up and over his head. Her breath caught in her throat. Teri had gone too long without a mans touch, and would have jumped him were it not for the self-conscious thoughts that trembled through her mind.

Walter discarded his shirt, his eyes scanning her surrounding bedroom, his mind still reeling from the thought of having a daughter. Him. It brought a small smile to his lips. Who would have thought.
Teri's room was spartanly designed, a few framed pictures upon the white walls, a wooden dresser graced one of the corners, a night stand with a shaded lamp sat beside her bed, and carpeted floor beneath it all. Standard.
His gaze fell on Teri; she slowly removed a damp outer shirt, holding it in her hands. As she glanced down at herself, a gradual blush rose to her cheeks. Walter blinked at her. "Something's wrong." He came towards her, lifting his hand and cupping her chin. Walter gently made her look at him.

Teri nervously worried her bottom lip. "I… I just haven't–" Teri closed her eyes, taking in a needed breath. "I haven't lost all of the pregnancy weight." She confessed in a whisper; the weight was something she never really worried about, at least until Walter had walked through her front door and was now standing in her bedroom–half-naked…
Teri opened her eyes as Walter pried the shirt from her hands and carelessly tossed it to the floor. His calm eyes never left her face.

"Healthy weight." He whispered, pulling her to him, his hands steady on her obliques: She didn't feel that much heavier than Walter had remembered. "Well fed and healthy." He comforted, catching her eyes within his. It felt odd to be reassuring the one person who never had been this self-conscious around him. It felt odd to be reassuring another human being–period.

Teri felt her blush darken in her cheeks. How nice it was to feel those butterflies in her stomach again. She hesitantly ran her hands up and down his well-formed arms before leaning forward and gently touching her lips to his.

The sugary taste of her lips struck him hard, and Walter pulled her firmly against him. An electric shock ran between her fingertips and his skin. Walter wrapped his arms tight around her, feeling her damp clothing beneath his hands. He feared that this would all be a dream, that he should wake up in an alley tomorrow, a few coins in his outstretched hands from passerby's.
His chest tightened, but not from the lack of air.

Teri's hands went to cup the sides of his face as their kiss took off, their tongues dancing and exploring in ways they hadn't remember they could do. The firm hold that Walter had on Teri didn't bother her, for she feared exactly the same as he: that Walter would disappear once more from her life–and from his daughters life–in the mere blink of an eye… she kissed him back with a passion that had been building up over the twelve long months–all of her pain, sadness, loneliness and joy exploding into it, finally released from their confines.

Leaning down and engulfing her in his embrace, Walter hiked Teri up into his arms. He guided her legs around his waist and carried her over to the bed: Now that her body was wrapped around him, he could barely feel the weight she insisted she'd gained.
But Walter didn't dare break their kiss to tell her that as he lowered her to the mattress.

Teri let go of him long enough to scoot herself back on the bed. She wanted to feel him on top of her, to feel his weight–as if kissing him was not enough evidence to satisfy her psyche of his existence. But as her hands searched his upper body for something to grab a hold of to draw him nearer, she remembered–with an unsteady shock that waved through to her core–that he was shirtless.

Soft hands gripped the side of his face, pulling him down upon Teri as she moaned into his mouth. The sound sent painful messages below his belt as Walter became suddenly aware of the confinement of his pants.
It had been too long since he felt her. He had missed the muffled noises that emerged from her throat when they made love, or the curling of her fingers around the sheets as she reached her breaking-point.
Walter broke their kiss to trace his swollen lips down her jaw, tasting the sweet skin, as he made his way down her neck.

Teri gasped as his lips took in the sensitive skin around her collar bone. His hands started to wander up her shirt, and she relished the feel of his calloused hands against her stomach. Air rushed in and out of his lungs, tickling the hair on her neck, cooling her hastily-reddening skin.
She closed her eyes as his hand reached the cup of her bra. She ran her fingers through Walters hair, his touch enough to send her tumbling over the edge. His knee found it's way between her legs, grinding against her, showing her his intentions.

"Get you out of these wet clothes." He growled finally, bringing himself up and off of her.

Wait. That voice screamed in the back of her head as Walter started to unbutton her pants. Teri wanted to protest against her mind, but her head turned to the side, unintentionally letting her gaze rest on the baby monitor; its bright, red light steady. Regretting every move, Teri placed her hands over his, stopping him. "Wait." Teri whispered.

He did, and patiently waited for an explanation.

"This is what got us into trouble the last time." Teri lightly commented, thinking of Alice.

Walter frowned, trying to understand, but the blood had left his head to go a bit lower. "Not following." He shifted his position above her, his hands on either side of her.

Teri cleared her throat, propping herself up on her elbows; the soft bed compensating beneath her. "I haven't been with another man." Walter sat back on the mattress, still between Teri's legs, but now resting his weight upon his ankles.

He blinked at her. It was a relief to hear that, but Walter struggled with the relevance. "Haven't been with another woman. Shouldn't affect performance." He stated.

If it wasn't for the fact that Teri knew him better, she would have insisted that he made that reply unemotionally. But there was a tint of annoyance behind it, with a possible pairing of impatience.
Teri rolled her eyes. "Walter, I don't have any condoms."

He froze. Of course. "Ennk," He shifted uncomfortably, his hands on his knees. Wont risk another accidental pregnancy. Rorschach muttered, shrugging. Smart of her. Walter took in a deep breath before Teri sat up–fully–and placed a gentle kiss on his nose.
"Not helping." Walter mumbled, averting his eyes as he tried to take his mind off of the tightness of his waistband.

Teri started to laugh before a high pitched sound emerged from the baby monitor beside the bed.

Walter nearly jumped out of his skin. "What is that?"

Biting her lip to keep from letting out a roar of laughter, Teri placed a soothing hand on his arm. "At ease, soldier: It's just Alice." She slid herself off of the bed. "I'll be back." She easily disappeared out of the bedroom door, like an experienced mother.

Twisting and sitting back down on the mattress, Walter placing his head in his hands as he leaned back against the headboard. He tried to calm himself, to calm his aching needs, when Teri's voice came softly through the baby monitor.

"Hey, babe, what'cha doing up, huh?" Teri cooed, "Aw, sweetie, shhh…"

Walter turned his gaze to the off-white walky-talkie. Her voice was so soothing.

There was slight creaking noise, as if she had sat down in a rickety chair. "Hush little baby, don't you cry…"

His heart stopped: Teri was singing? He had never heard her sing. He closed his eyes as he listened to the lullaby. His mother used to sing to him–not for long periods of time, mind you–but every once and a while, just to get him to quiet down. He sighed, Teri's voice was more pleasant than his mother's, more comforting. He felt a little jealous that Alice was getting sung to; Teri never sang to him.

"…Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird…"

Walter licked his lips, still tasting the sweet sugar cubes that were on Teri's breath. He stood up suddenly, walking with Rorschach's ease through the hallways to the room where Teri and Alice were. The door was open, Teri sitting in a rocking chair, holding a bundle close to her body.
He leaned against the frame of the door; she hadn't heard him approach, which worked wonders for him, as he watched the mother and daughter. Teri's eyes were closed as she sung. Walter relished her voice, it was pleasant–not like the ones you heard on the radio, but it was motherly–kind.

"…Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring, and if that diamond ring don't shine…"

Walter felt his lips start to quiver again. How could he have missed all of this? Teri was a mother. With a baby in her arms. His baby. His jaw clinched, watching her benevolent form rocking back and forth as the crying child in her arms quieted. Walter crossed his arms. Teri was grown up–no longer the young woman he met a year ago. She'd grown nicely into her role as a mother.

Frowning, he couldn't help but wonder just how much of that forced development was because of him not being there for her.

He wouldn't leave Teri's side again. Not if she would permit it.

Teri's eyes opened as she noted the baby in her arms had fallen back into a deep slumber. It didn't startle her when she discovered Walter's presence, his fit silhouette in the door frame.
Teri gently stood up, supporting Alice with caring hands as she went to lay her back into the crib, tucking the child in before giving her a kiss goodnight.

When she turned back around, Walter was no longer in the dark doorway. Curious, Teri trailed back into the bedroom where Walter was sitting on the bed; almost as if he'd never left. She'd have to get used to that again; it never ceased to be a little unnerving, though.

She frowned at him, there were so many things that she wanted to tell him, so many things that he'd missed over the past year.
She sighed, sitting down on the plain bedspread beside him.

"I missed so much…" Walter whispered–distracted–almost like he had been reading her mind. He stared down at his callused hands; He had killed people with those hands, broken fingers–was he even capable of being a father?

Teri slid her fingers into his, gently squeezing his hand. She could almost feel the immense doubt wave over him. "She's got a long way to go." Teri answered, expelling a lungful of air. "Before we know it, she'll be a teenager, and then an adult." She gave Walter a smile in her side-long glance. "She'll get married, and you'll give her away." His eyes slowly trailed to hers. "We still have a long way to go. And I can promise you, you didn't miss the most important day in her life."

Walters heart faltered. Teri obviously believed in him. "I'm not leaving you."

A twinkle passed over her eyes. "I didn't figure you would."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Teri dressed for bed, tossing her wet clothes to the side before she sat on the edge of her mattress and adjusted her alarm clock for the mornings proceedings. When she was finished, she barely had time to place the little metal clock on the nightstand before an arm snaked around her stomach and pulled her into bed, under the covers. Teri giggled as Walter conformed around her, her back to his chest.

His nose rubbed against the back of her neck as he settled into the comfortable pillow behind her. How long had it been since he slept in an actual bed? "Don't mind if I hold you?" He tried to make it sound in the least bit, romantic, but it came out a little raspier than he'd intended.

"Mmm," It was all that Teri could get out. No words could describe how good she felt. So instead, she closed her eyes. Teri had hoped that the fatigue wouldn't put her to sleep; she wanted to stay awake all night in his arms. But slowly, the sandman sprinkled bits of his dust over her eyes.

Walter breathed her in scent as his arms held her tightly to him. He hoped that he wasn't hurting her, but if he was, she gave no indication of it.
Her breathing was slow and steady; sleep had already taken her. And in some fit of unconsciousness, Teri snuggled closer to him. He hadn't quite met someone who slept as easily and soundly as her-not that he'd been looking though.

Had tough day. All of us. Rorschach commented, Should be tired too. True, he should have been, but everything seemed so unreal to him. Even his feelings seemed so different. He was actually a little excited about the prospect of having a child–excited about finding Teri alive and well.
Walter placed a tender kiss on the back of her neck. He had her back. Now, they could start where they left off. And Walter could plot Veidts demise without emotional distraction.
Hopefully. Rorschach mumbled.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The alarm clock rang its usual chime at 5:30am, reminding Teri of the mornings events. The couple groaned together as Teri reached out and shut it off. She tore the warm, thin comforter from herself and started to wriggle out of Walters arms, but he held tight. "Walter," She yawned, her hands kneading his arm. "I have to go to work…"

Walter, his face buried in the pillow, moaned. "Five more minutes." He gently tugged on her in attempt to entice her back into the warm, cozy bed.

Teri laughed, trying the rub the grit from her eyes. "No, I gotta get up."

His arms refused to relinquish their hold around her. "No." He grunted, firmly.

"Ugh," she huffed, falling back and adjusting into a comfortable spot against his body. "Fine, but just five minutes."

Walter smiled, victoriously; She was no match for his sheer strength. His eyes still closed, he rubbed his bristly chin against her neck, ensuing a short giggle and a shiver from her. She said something, commenting on his unkempt five-o-clock shadow, but he didn't pay attention. The way she reacted, though, brought unwanted thoughts into his mind. "Teri?"

"Hmm?" She murmured, enjoying the warmth of both Walters' arms and the bed.

"Wouldn't have held it against you," Walter whispered, uneasily. "If you'd moved on."

Teri rolled her eyes, scoffing. She couldn't believe that he was bringing that up–at five in the morning nonetheless. "You probably would have beaten the shit out of him."

Walter paused, considering this. He shrugged; Teri was right, he probably would have.

"Look, Walter," Teri started, slowly, after another yawn. Figuring that now was as good a time as any to talk about it. "If an alcoholic quits cold turkey, all they crave is that one drink. Food, water… it never tastes the same." Her voice was lined with sad innuendos as her hands worked steadily on her eyes. She'd stayed up too late last night.

Walter frowned. "But if they take that one drink back, they fall off into a rut. One where they can't get out." He didn't want to be here if Teri wished him to leave. He didn't want to be a burden on her, despite his longing to be with both of the women in his life, now.

Teri turned in his arms, facing him as she brought a hand up to rest on his face. "Shouldn't that be my decision?" Teri asked, she took a moment to catch his eyes; he nodded. "Then let me fall. Let me enjoy that fall." Walter nearly stopped breathing, that is, until Teri sat up. "Five minutes is up; I have to go to work."

Walter groaned as she disentangled herself from his arms. He buried his face back into the pillow as he smiled, contentedly.

Though her words didn't sooth the fact that he still hated mornings.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Ashley should be here any minute."

Walter stared, confused, at the baby in the high chair. She was in a pink jumper with a white bib. Walter held the glass jar of baby food, a small spoon in his hand. "Er, Teri-"

She tamed her hair with a few bobby-pins before striding back to Walter. He looked up at her, pleadingly. Teri smiled at him, taking the spoon from his hand and dipping it into the food. "Num, num." She cooed before sliding the spoon easily into Alice's mouth; who thrust her little fist into the air as she chew happily on her 'tutti-fruity' breakfast. Teri handed the spoon back to Walter. "See, it's easy."

He eyed her, in her black business suit; the skirt going barely past her knees. Teri straightened out her jacket, smoothing it with her hands. "How do I look?" she asked, nervously.

Walter frowned, the spoon of baby food in his hand. "Professional." he stated, plainly. "What do you do?" he asked, bringing the full spoon to Alice's mouth.
"Gah!" her chubby little hands caught the spoon and pulled it downwards.

Walter bit his lip, jerking the spoon back as he sighed. They'd been at this for about an hour now. She just flat out refused to eat for him. It was rather tiring–especially adding to the fact that it was nearly 6:30 am–and Walter was anything but a morning person.

"I'm sorta in the marketing business."

"Always dress like that?" Walter asked, not really liking the business woman look on Teri; he preferred the newsvendor look much more.

Teri shook her head, snatching up a pair of earrings from the counter. "Not usually, but I've got a meeting today."

Walter brought his attention back to the redheaded baby girl that was bouncing up and down in her little seat. Why won't you eat this from me?… He furrowed his eyebrows, peering down at the tiny jar of orange goop in his hands. He stuck his finger in it, bringing a small amount to his lips.

"Okay, so when Ash gets here, you can leave-" Teri turned to see Walter tilting his head down at the baby food. He licked his lips. "I should be back around six." she finished, suspicious.

"Hurm," He stared at Alice, pointing to the food. "This is good." He could practically feel Teri eyeing him, thus his switched his attention. "I'll be here." he reassured her.

Teri inhaled a deep breath of air. They were getting along. This was good. It helped the butterflies in her stomach. Sort of.

"Hey, Mrs. K." Ashley came bounding in from the hallway that lead to the kitchen.

Walter looked up at the older teen, curious. Either the door was left unlocked, or she had a key. His protective side kicked in, and he hoped that Teri didn't leave the door unlocked at night, especially considering that she'd been parading around like him lately.

"Mr. K." Ashley nodded in recognition of the man that sat at the kitchen table, dumbfounded.

"Walter." He corrected, his chest tightened as he remembered what Ashley said in reference to Teri. Mrs. K? How could he have missed it? He stood up handing the food to Ashley, the chair scrapping loudly on the linoleum flooring. Kovacs. Rorschach whispered. Was she so foolish as to take your name?
His eyes caught Teri's, but she brushed by him in the small kitchen and headed back into the bedroom for something. Walter followed her, ignoring the roll of eyes from Ashley.

Walter closed the bedroom door behind him: Teri was in the corner of the room, gathering papers from the top drawer of her dresser. He took her in his gaze–in her black shirt and jacket, her curves were accented, making her look a lot less boyish. Rorschach growled at Walter to keep his bearings. He swallowed back that knot in his throat, remembering what he was here for. "Kovacs." he clarified, trying to ignore the bit of satisfaction that he felt with her. "You took my name?"

Teri turned to face him, a black folder in her hands. She stuffed a few white papers into the pockets of the folder. "It seemed fitting." she answered.

"Dangerous." Walter said, his voice low. "I have enemies, they could be led here."

Teri sighed, staring at her watch. She was going to be late. "I can take care of myself." she started to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm.

He knew damn well she couldn't, at least not in the sense he was talking about. "Could have easily killed you last night." Walter whispered.

Teri bit her lip. He was right on so many levels, but she didn't like to think about the things he was bringing up. "I wanted our daughter to have your name." She told him, truthfully.

He loosened his grip on her, his eyes falling onto the bruise on her cheek. It had become a more dominate purple since last night, clashing with her paper white skin. He didn't want to think about what someone might do to her if they knew that she was his.

Teri sighed again, looking at her watch once more. "I have to go, Walter, we can talk about this when I get back."

"They're not going to ask about…?" he reached up, lightly tracing his fingers over her right cheek, a pang of guilt shooting through his veins.

Teri leaned in brushing her lips against his. "Mugging." she replied with a smile. She already had a cover story worked out in her head.

As she had leaned in, the folder that she was clutching in her arms, shifted, providing him with a nice view of the logo on the front; a purple pyramid. Walter stiffened before snatching the folder from her hands.

"Walter-"

"Veidt?" he hissed, "You work for Veidt?"

Teri tried to retrieve the folder, but he held it out of her grasp. "Give it."

"Are you clueless to what he did?" he growled, furious.

Teri stopped, catching the anger in his eyes. "Of course I knew, I'm not stupid." she shot back. "I didn't have a choice."

"Don't tell me that," Walter hissed, "Everyone has a choice. You choose to work for a murderer."

Teri got a hold of the folder, but Walter's hand remained on the end, refusing to relinquish it. "I have a daughter." Teri replied–coldly–trying to jerk it from his grasp. "I have to support both of us. I didn't have a choice." He let the folder go, the words hitting him hard, Teri smoothed it out with her hand.

"Everyone has a choice." he repeated, softer this time.

Teri shook her head. "I don't know what your smoking, but that's bullshit." She crossed her arms, the folder clutched close. "You think I like working for him?" Unwanted tears started to come to her eyes. "You think I like working for the man that took you away from me?"

Walter's jaw tightened. He didn't want to hear what she said. "Could worked elsewhere. Plenty of jobs. Newsvendor jobs…"

Teri merely stared him down, frowning. The mention of her newsvendor job saddened her. It was true; she missed working for Bernard… she missed it terribly.

Taking a moment to gather herself, she sighed. "Will you just listen to me?" There was a definite pause from his end as he waited. "I'm not as naïve as you think." She hissed, "I have a plan to take Veidt down." she shook her head, "It wouldn't have worked from the outside," Now she had Walters attention.

Walter furrowed his eyebrows. There was something in Teri's eyes, something foreign: It told him that she'd been peculating with this revenge scheme for some time.

"I needed the money at first, but the more I thought about it," Teri started, "The more things came to me. The more they made sense."

Everything came to him; she had ulterior motives for running around like him. It wasn't just to spread the message, she was going to take out revenge. She knew that she couldn't have taken him down physically; she couldn't just sneak up on Veidt. Walter took a deep breath, feeling a deep sense of admiration for Teri, that same feeling that he felt when he'd learned of her involvement with the Detroit murders. "You planned to destroy him with his own company."

Teri smirked. He'd gotten it. "Yes." She leaned forward then, placing a small kiss on his cheek. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to work." she patted him on the chest. "I'll run by the drug store on my way home." She commented, casually, as if they hadn't had an argument.

Teri winked at him before leaving the bedroom. Walter stood there, staring at the wall. All this time, Teri had been plotting against the same person he had. She had planned to exact revenge… It was beautiful.

He took a few minutes to gather his shattered conscious before sauntering back into the kitchen. He had everything backwards with Teri. And once again, she had surprised him.