AN - Hey everyone! Thanks for all the kind words regarding the story :) This is my first attempt at a multi-chapter fic, so I'm glad to see it's being well received. 3

Chapter 7 - Dinner and a Show

"So…that's how it all happened?"

"Yup," said James, staring out towards the kitchen where Camille and Henry had started cooking. "And…now I'm a dad."

Kendall, too, looked out to the mother and son as they played together. "Wait, when did it all go south, then? You never got to that part."

James looked back at his friend with a stern expression. What was he supposed to say to Kendall, this beacon of decency? Kendall was always the type to stay on the straight and narrow, do the right thing. How could James possibly say that he walked out on Camille when she needed him the most? Kendall would never understand. Thoughts swirled through his mind as he contemplated what to say until finally James settled on silence, at least for now.

Kendall patted the tall brunette on the back, understanding that all would reveal itself in due time. "Just don't wait four years to tell me this time," he told James as he got up. "C'mon. We should get a good meal in us. Then maybe we can start figuring all this out."

It was difficult having Camille around the house. James found himself glancing in her direction more than once, taking in every turn in her curly locks and drinking in her slender frame, searching for that spark to return. After recounting everything to Kendall, he realized that it wasn't entirely his fault that this all happened, but that didn't make it any easier. In fact, it made things even worse. While he wasn't completely to blame, James never did own up to his mistake, and that killed him more than anything. Even more than that, though, was that another life was at stake. He had brought Henry into this world and even though it wasn't planned, he still felt responsible for his son. Every day he wondered about his child, whether Camille had kept it, if he or she would be healthy and happy, if they would ever meet. James considered himself lucky to have a chance to be in Henry's life, but the prospect still scared him out of his mind.

James was pretty lost when it came to children and though he loved his parents, the Diamonds were far from the best example. The one thing James did know when it came to parenting? Don't be like your dad. So far, he wasn't even doing a stellar job following that. With an absentee playboy father and over bearing mother, James was a recipe for parenting disaster. At least Brooke Diamond meant well with James.

Another thing that got to James was how much Henry looked like him. Sure, Henry was obviously a Roberts with his pale skin and huge curls, but those eyes were all Diamond. They were the one thing James had inherited from his father that he appreciated. And those cheekbones? Grandma Brooke would be proud.

That was always the hardest part about the whole situation. As much as James talked to his mother, in four years he had never told her what happened. Brooke knew something was wrong when she found out that the boys' trip back to Minnesota before starting school had been his idea, but it was imperative to James that he kept this particular secret from her. Brooke had made a name for herself as the Estee Lauder of the Midwest, but not without some struggles, and he didn't want to add to the list. In a lot of ways, James' story was similar to Henry's. Unfortunately, James got to see firsthand the effects of an unplanned pregnancy on a young couple and after ten years, his parents finally called it quits. James was glad to have spared Henry the nightly arguments and the grueling custody battles, but he couldn't help but wonder what his son had gotten in return.

"Hey, you coming?" Kendall peeked his head out from the kitchen.

"Yeah, be there in a second," said James, snapping out of his thoughts.

The four of them crowded around the small table built for two, adding some barstools for the guys while Camille and Henry sat next to each other in chairs. As Camille and Kendall tried to get Henry to eat his salad, James watched in awe. Being an only child, James didn't have a lot of exposure to younger kids. Even when they lived with Katie at the Palm Woods, it wasn't anything like being a parent because she was able to take care of herself, plus she had her mom there if she needed anything.

Engine noises soon surrounded the table. "Henry, look! Here comes the airplane to deliver goodies to your tum-tum!" the young mother said as she waved a forkful of salad around her son's face.

"But it's GREEN, Mama. I don't eat GREEN. It makes me go HULK SMASH."

Kendall raised an eyebrow. "How does your four year old know about the Incredible Hulk?"

"He found an Avengers comic book in the back of a theater and grew really attatched to it, so I started reading it to him. For some reason, he really likes Bruce Banner. I think it's because he has some trouble controlling his emotions too."

James' expression wrinkled with worry. "What do you mean he has trouble controlling his emotions?"

Camille's head quickly whipped around to look at the man who had been rather silent throughout most of their meal. "So now you're invested in him?" she snapped.

"I can see where he gets it." The two glared at each other for a while, Kendall and Henry a captive audience for the show they hadn't expected to see. "You know what? Forget I asked," James followed after a few seconds, hanging his head as he took his plate to the sink.

Kendall waited until James had left, listening for his footsteps up the stairs. "Cam, I know it's not really my place—"

"You're right, Kendall. It's not. I am very grateful that you were able to give Henry and me a home for the time being, but I still reserve my right to be angry with James."

Kendall stood up, gathering his flatware. "I get that some bad sh—STUFF went down with you and James, but for your sake and his," he said pointing at Henry, "talk it out. We're all in a tough place right now, but until you have other options, I suggest you try to make this one work as best you can."

Camille stared into Kendall's eyes, their usual bright green darkened with fury. As she broke their gaze, she felt a lump growing in her throat. "Come on, Henry. Let's get to bed."

"YES!" the little boy jumped out of his seat and ran off towards the kitchen, his mother following closely behind.