I had managed to part with four pairs of shoes and some outfits over the course of three hours and we were all hot and sweaty after trying to squash the remainder into my wardrobe.

"Okay, I think dinner. Anything in particular you guys want?" Joe asked as he pulled his jacket on again.

"Fried chicken!" I answered immediately and Billy laughed.

"Fried chicken it is." He shrugged and Joe left, a happy bounce in his step.

"Thanks for staying to help, Billy." I said, I really did appreciate the help he and Joe had given me. It would have taken me forever to do it by myself.

"It's nothin', I can't think of a way I'd rather spent my day than sifting through mountains of shoes." He replied sarcastically and I grinned, getting some plates out for when Joe got back.

"Were you alright this morning? You sounded strange on the phone." He said, getting up and leaning against the counter as he spoke to me.

"Yeah of course!" I shrugged trying to be dismissive, but he made me turn around.

"Look I know you heard Marni's voice, I didn't mean for you to." He said and I shifted uncomfortably.

"It's fine, honestly. You're allowed date whoever you want!" I replied.

"I'm not dating her." He said.

"Well, you're allowed to sleep with whoever you want in that case. I just felt bad for disturbing you." I shrugged.

"Leah –"

"The baby's kicking again!" I said suddenly, cutting him off. I took his hand before he could react and placed it where the movement was, hearing him suck his breath when he felt it.

"Oh my god... That feels fuckin' weird... Wow..." He said, looking from the bump to me as I smiled.

"You have no idea." I answered. He looked back down at the bump, smiling again and I just watched him. He looked so happy, his green eyes lighting up every time he felt it. I wiped away the tear I felt forming quickly but he noticed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, "Am I touching it too hard?"

"No, no of course not. You're being really gentle. I just – I'm pregnant Billy. These things happen." I sighed and he frowned.

"Come on, you can tell me. I've seen you naked and I've known when you were constipated, you can tell me anything at this stage." He said and I laughed again, suddenly understanding why Joe had told Billy about being gay first. He could make you feel comfortable about anything if he wanted to.

"I just... I wish you were here when it first happened, that's all. You're so excited now and that's how I was this morning but I had no one to share it with. I'm... I dunno, tired of being alone." I huffed. He rubbed his hand along my arm and I looked at him.

"You're not alone, Leah. You can call me any time to come over; you don't have to worry about disturbin' me for Christ's sake! That's my baby in there, no one takes priority over that!" he said and smiled a little. I nodded and he sighed before doing something that truly surprised me; he pulled me into a hug. His arms wrapped around me gently but securely and I sighed, breathing in his smell as my face pressed against the soft material of his shirt.

"See? Not alone." He repeated as he looked down at me. I nodded and just then, Joe arrived back with buckets of chicken for us all, cheering me up slightly.

0000

The door flew open and Billy skidded in making me roll my eyes.

"Sorry I'm late." He said.

"Jesus you could have waited outside!" I hissed as the nurse watched us.

"I didn't want to miss it!" he shot back.

"You already have!" I replied waspishly. He had been late for the scan and I had hopped in a taxi in order to be on time. He made to retaliate but I cut him off. "Just shut up and be quiet now that you're here, the nurse was explaining something." I said, not looking at him. It wasn't until we got into the car afterward that we spoke again. The air was tense and angry.

"What the fuck was that?" Billy asked, referring to my behaviour.

"You were late!" I snapped.

"For the first time ever! Jesus it's not the end of the world, I got there didn't I?"

"That's not the point! You need to take this seriously, Billy."

"I am! Fuckin' hell it was one appointment. And they're all the fuckin' same anyway!", our voices were getting steadily louder and we snapped back and forth the whole way back to my apartment.

"Well maybe you need to get your priorities straight and make sure you're there for appointments instead of staying up drinking and fucking random girls!" I roared as we pulled up, him pulling viciously on the handbrake.

"I told you I was stuck at work! Maybe it's you who should be fuckin' random people, might loosen you up a bit and stop you from being on my fuckin' case the whole time!" he yelled but I was already halfway out the door.

"Fine!" I screamed and slammed it, stalking up the steps to my apartment feeling angry. He got under my skin like no one I had ever met. That evening I was still pissed when he arrived at my door.

"I didn't mean what I said.", even though I had an inkling Joe had put him up to it he did look sorry and I softened.

"Me either. You've been great." I sighed and stood to the side allowing him to come in.

"And I know you don't believe me but I really was at work." He added.

"I know, I was just angry. It's none of my business where you are! My hormones just got the best of me. They're doing that lately." I said as I fixed him some tea. "Plus I'm just jealous at the thought of you having dates and a life in general. It's been almost a year since I had a date!" I replied, half pouting.

"Hey we had dates!" he objected but I looked at him.

"We did not have dates, we hooked up. There's a difference." I smirked and he grinned.

"I guess. I wonder which time made the baby." He said thoughtfully.

"Jesus!" I laughed, putting my hand to my forehead.

"I bet it was the second time." He continued and I looked at him.

"Why is that?" I asked, amused.

"Because the first time was great, but the second time... wow. I think I'm gonna have to say it was my best, actually." He grinned.

"Really? Wow. I'm gonna take that as a complement. Coming from a guy as practiced as you it means something!" I remarked and he made a face.

"Well you must be pretty practiced too to be that good! There was a reason I called you, ya know. I rarely call girls, they always call me." He said with a cocky wink.

"You're so full of shit!" I laughed and he chuckled along.