Chapter Thirty: Nothing Never Mind

The Dining Room: 7:15PM

Everyone sat around the dining table as the dinner was served. Teddy sat in between his father and Tam. Tamera mood was lighter but still carried a solemn expression because her mind was still trying to work out some of the confessions she'd made today and her next course of action. Ava sat across from Tamera, but wasn't really paying her any attention. Blane was there so that's who she was focused on. They were so wrapped up in each other. They weren't saying anything to each other; they were staring at each other sharing some unspoken message. Tamera watched them and for the first time wasn't grossed out. She understood that when you're with someone that's the center of your universe, you get tunnel vision, no one else around you matters. Even though she understood the feeling better it was still annoying to watch.

After a few minutes Tamera's plate was placed in front of her she frowned. The plate contained a grilled chicken breast, roasted potatoes, and carrots. She was not a fan of carrots, she glanced over at Teddy's plate and he studied it too. He reached over and grabbed her plate and switched it with his. He was mainly after the chicken breast, but he knew she'd rather have the asparagus than the carrots. "Good looking out Grey," she whispered and he smirked.

"Anytime, try the potatoes you'll like them." Tam did as he advised and of course he was right. She glanced at him and nodded. These were seasoned really well. "I know you like the back of my hand Black," he whispered and his tone affected her. She knew he didn't mean anything by it but her senses were heightened to him the whole thing made her anxious. She shifted in her seat as she picked at her plate. The asparagus was good too; she'd wished that they'd served something else. Asparagus makes your urine smell weird; she chuckled at her odd thought. Then it dawned on her what if Ted wanted to come back to her apartment and things were to escalate like they do, would eating this make her smell bad? She put her fork down abruptly. She was glad she had eaten too many of those things. She instead reached for the glass of wine in front of her and took a couple of sips. She was so tense and needed to calm down. Ted and Blane were talking about some sport she didn't really follow. She watched football occasionally and that was only for business purposes. It's good to have a commonality with people that you're doing business with. She leaned back and realized that Ted had draped his arm over the back of her chair.

"No, I don't think the right play was called. The dude wasn't fouled that's why!" Ted fussed and Tamera chuckled. Ted looked down at her for a moment and then back to Blane to make his point. He rubbed his thumb along her shoulder and it made her body tense again. She went to grab her glass once more and this time she downed the whole thing.

"So I guess I'm driving home?" Ted murmured and Tamera realized how much she was behaving like a lush.

"It's only one glass Teddy," she said dryly, she was just drinking aggressively so that she could be social.

"Okay now that everyone is about finished with their dinners I have a bit of an announcement," Mia and Ethan stood. "As you all know, Ethan and I have wanted a baby for some time now. We've tried everything to have a sweet little baby of our own, but for some reason … we just weren't blessed with one." Mia looked down at her fingers and then back to her family. "Long story short we've adopted. We should be bringing our little baby girl home the week before Christmas and we just wanted to let you know that gifts are expected!" She teased to make the situation lighter.

"Oh sweetie congratulations!" Grace cooed. "How old is she does she have a name?"

"She's six months. Her mother died giving birth to her. The hospitals have tried to reach out to the paternal father but neither him nor his family claim the child. We've been spending time with her and caring for her with the foster mother while we got everything in place. Her name is Sofia Michelle Grey Kavanagh, our little Sofi." Mia smiled with love in her eyes as she thought about the child. All of the women in the family flooded Mia with questions and Mia shared some of the pictures that were on her phone. The little baby had big green eyes and dark hair. She was already acting like a proud momma. Tamera didn't get up to look at the pictures she felt like this was a family moment and didn't want to intrude. "The only sad thing is that she'll be the only little kid running around here. All of you kids have grown up and she'll have to play alone."

"I'm sure she'll have all the toys in the world so it won't matter," Ana got up and hugged Mia as the others talked Teddy looked at Tamera's plate.

"I thought you liked Asparagus?"

"I do, I'm uh … I'm full. Did you want it?" He shrugged and scooted what was left onto his plate. After a while a round of chocolate cake and coffee went around the table.

This was more up Tam's alley she loved chocolate and the coffee killed her buzz so she would get to drive the Mercedes back after all. "I thought you said you were full?"

"There's always room for chocolate Teddy you know that!" She said and she shoveled more of the icing onto her fork and slowly slid the fork out of her mouth enjoying the sweet creamy task. Ted went into a trance watching her. He was wanted in that mouth, he wanted to share her icing, and he wanted to know what she tasted like. He took her fork she would not be torturing him in public like that. "Hey!" She pouted and went to reach for it but she knew that at the end of the struggle she'd lose, like she always did. So she improvised and used her finger to scoop up the last bits of icing, which to Teddy was far worst.

"Tam, stop it!" He whispered and she looked at him confused with wide unknowing hazel eyes. He'd thought she'd been driving him crazy on purpose, but Tamera just didn't know her own appeal.

"What'd I do now?" She looked at the hooded look in Teddy's eyes and she knew what he wanted and it heated her all over. She was whispering too and she felt herself becoming lost in the sea of blue that was Teddy's eyes. "Teddy?"

"I don't know Tam, I need some fucking air," Teddy had said for the second time today. "If you'll all excuse me."

"I'll come with you," Tamera offered and quickly grabbed his hand. Teddy took her the backyard. He released her hand and stood in the middle of the yard with his hands over his head. Teddy looked up at the sky full of stars and a bright moon. He was about to say something stupid, he had no choice this indecision was making them both behave strangely. Before he could speak Tam interrupted and reminded him their earlier argument.

"I'll see what I can do about Thanksgiving or Christmas. I'll talk to my dad," she muttered softly as she looked up at Teddy.

"Tam I'm over that," he dismissed it.

"No you're not. You'll bring it up again. It'd be easier for me just to ask." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't want you to do it because it'd be easier. I want you to want to be there Tamera. I want you to want to be with me." Teddy was alarmed by how his statement had come out but it was true. There was no other way to phrase it.

"Teddy of course part of me wants to be there, but I also want to be loyal to my family. We have traditions too. You're asking me to uproot those things so that I can join you. That's a lot of flack you're asking me to endure. I'm the only immediate family my dad has in the area and I just feel wrong doing that… leaving him." Teddy listened to Tamera some of the things she'd told him before but it didn't make him want her there any less.

"Like I said don't worry about it. It's not important," he lied and he tried not to be angry with her but he was pissed as hell he wasn't going to get his way.

"I hate when you're mad at me Teddy," Tamera confessed.

"I'm not," he lied again and the sighed as he gave some more thought to the circumstances. "It's the situation … I really wish you could split yourself so that I can have you to myself all the time and you can go about your daily business. I know that's never going to happen so I have to learn to be a little less selfish." He shrugged. "Let's walk." He took her hand and they walked through Grace's garden area and talked about business and school work mainly their last semester.

"So how many classes are we taking together Tam?" Shit, now he was going to be angry.

"Teddy, I can't make any business classes fit into my schedule. I've tried and tried but it won't work." Teddy let out a huff and clenched his teeth. Tam clamped her eyes shut and got ready for Teddy to start yelling.

"Are you trying to get away from me?" He asked with frustration and hurt in his voice and quiet, too quiet. Tamera quickly opened her eyes shocked that Teddy could even think such a thought.

"No, Teddy, no I just … I want my degree in journalism and I need to take these classes now so that I can graduate on the same day that you do." She poked him in the chest playfully and then led her hands along his chest and captured his cheeks between her hands. She angled his face to they were now looking eye to eye. "Lately I can't get enough of you Grey. My classes are all about practical forward movement to achieve certain goals, MY goals. If I could, I'd be closer to you than your shadow. I'd be with you every minute if that'd make you happy." Teddy closed his eyes he liked when she talked like this. It was reassuring; to him it meant that he was important in her life, and that she needed him as much as he felt he needed her. Ted wrapped his arms around Tamera and held her to him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Thank you Tam," he whispered and then kissed the top of her head.

"Teddy, I …," she started with a heavy unsure heart to speak the words that were circling them, binding them ever so tightly together.

"Yeah Tammy?" She opened her mouth to say the words but nothing came out fear surrounded her even though she was wrapped in his arms. He can't feel the way I do. I'm just going to end up hurt she thought as she nuzzled closer to him.

"Nothing, never mind." She closed her eyes and lived in the moment. It was beautiful and romantic even if she was the only one that felt those things. Teddy continued to rub Tamera back and he felt as she began to relax against him. Teddy was freaking out on his own; he was ready to admit the thing his dad was so quick to throw in his face. The question was now how did he go about this? How did what would he have to do to get what he wanted?

Author's Note: Hi all! Hope you enjoyed the little chappie! Great news I've got a new banner! Check it out on the website and let me know what you think. Dntcallmelleelee created it for me! You can see a little be on this site but trust me you want the full effect. Sorry that I have been MIA, I've been super tired lately. Anyways, interested what you think may happen next. As always, please read, review, and no flames.