Warning: Extreme language

Chapter 17

Mike pulled his pick-up into the driveway of the Lopez residence. It was nearly 2:00 am and he had not intended to keep Lexi out this late. However, their conversation had gone much better than he had initially thought. Although she had not expounded on why she needed so much money to resolve her current crisis, he had agreed to assist her in her efforts to earn the money she needed in a legitimate manner. He shifted into park and stepped out to open her door for her.

"I'll talk to my landlady tomorrow," he said, closing the truck door behind her. "About you cleaning apartments."

"It is tomorrow," she said, wryly.

He snorted at her remark, appreciating what seemed to be the return of the Lexi he remembered. "Yea, I guess it is."

They walked in silence to the front door. He waited for her to unlock it and walk inside, unsure of how to end the night. A kiss seemed too intimate but a simple 'good night' didn't seem appropriate either.

Lexi walked through the open doorway, turning around and looking into his piercing blue eyes. "Thank you, Michael. I know I don't deserve another chance, but… I promise you… I'm not going back out there," she said, nodding her head in the direction of the street. She knew he would understand her comment.

"I'm glad," he said, pausing. "And I'm happy to help you out."

She offered him a slight smile, followed by a stifled yawn.

"Get some sleep, Lexi. I'll call later with an answer for you," he said, taking a step back as she closed the door.

He walked back to his truck, pondering all that had happened over the last few hours. How had he gone from paying her a bribe to attend Johnny's party to agreeing to help her find steady work? Lexi had a way of getting what she wanted from him, and he shook his head. It was not like him to do anything without thoroughly thinking it through. So why had he so readily agreed? He knew the truth was that he cared deeply for Lexi, maybe even still loved her. And he couldn't deny how much he loved little Antonio. He slapped the steering wheel with his hand, mumbling a curse before cranking up his truck and heading home with a niggling voice whispering in the back of his mind. She still wasn't telling him the entire truth. So, what was she hiding?

E!

Lexi quietly walked up the stairs to her bedroom, slowly closing the door behind her. She hadn't intended to get home so late and did not want to awaken the rest of the house. She began to undress to prepare for bed, reaching up to remove the items she had hidden away inside her bra. She clutched them in her hand, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She had done so many things she was ashamed of in her life, why did this one hurt so much? The answer was obvious. She had violated the trust of a family friend. She opened the top drawer of her desk, removing the trinket box containing her heirloom rosary. She gently added three more items to the box, then closed it and returned it to the drawer. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to earn enough money from housekeeping over the next few weeks and wouldn't need to sell her ill-gotten gains.

She removed the folded bills from her back pocket, slipping them inside her diary. She felt guilty for accepting Mike's bribe for agreeing to go to the party. She never would have done it had she not been so desperate for the money. Time was running out for her and her plan had to come together perfectly, or… She refused to think of the 'or else' scenario that was always at the forefront of her thoughts. Soon, she thought to herself, soon this will all be over.

She changed into her nightgown, but before she climbed into bed, she did something she hadn't done since she was a small child. Kneeling down beside her bed, she clasped her hands beneath her chin, closed her eyes, and prayed.

"Oh, Father God, if there is any other way to do what must be done, please show me. I don't want to continue hurting the people who truly love me. So please, God, please… make a way… Amen."

E!

Across the hallway, Bri lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She had gone over all the reasons why she should tell Sam that she couldn't accept the job offer, but she had also gone over all the reasons why she should. She knew that her decision to decline the offer was made by her emotions. Now that she had thought about it, she knew she really didn't have many other options. She needed the money, and she knew that she couldn't stay with the Lopez' family indefinitely. Without an income, she couldn't pay the rent on the apartment she was subleasing from Beverly, but if she moved in with the Bennetts she wouldn't need an apartment. Like so many times in her life, she was going to have to set own desires aside and do what she had to do to survive. Maybe it would be best for her to accept the proffered job, no matter how much it hurt her when Sam brought his future girlfriend home to meet his mother. She was merely a domestic worker, nothing more… but it would still be the best job she had ever had.

She rolled over in bed, still feeling sore from the mishap at the Pourhouse, but realizing that she was certainly able to move forward in her life now. She snuggled into the sheets, pulling the blanket up beneath her chin. As she drifted into sleep, her subconscious mind carried her back into the presence of Samford Bennett, and how it would feel to wake up in the arms of a man as wonderful as the handsome arson investigator.

E!

Johnny snuggled closer to the warm body lying beside him, nestling his nose into her dark tresses, inhaling her scent; her soft snores indicative of her fatigue. He glanced down at her left hand, admiring the ring that he had placed there the night before. It glistened in the early morning light, sparkling against her mocha-colored skin.

While he had hoped to enjoy a night of intimacy with his beloved, she had been completely exhausted from her day of flying and the long night at the DeSotos' home. When she had yawned in the middle of a deep kiss, they had both fallen into bed laughing. There had been no passionate love-making, but there was both passion and love between them. He had provided her with a tee shirt and a pair of his boxer shorts for her to sleep in, and he had to admit she had never looked sexier.

Her head had barely hit the pillow before she rolled over onto her right side, allowing him to spoon her with his own taller body. There, feeling safe and secure in his arms, she had quickly fallen into a peaceful slumber. Johnny had lain awake, caressing her soft skin beneath the tee shirt, feeling her relaxing in his bed until her breathing became deep and even.

He had slept well, nestled against her. Now he was awake but did not want to disturb her slumber. She needed her rest. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone else in his entire life. In fact, he loved her so much that his own body ached when they were apart. The weeks away from her had been difficult, but they had served to confirm what his heart had known since he was only a young teenage boy. She was truly his other half; she completed him… and he completed her.

Carefully, so as not to disturb her, he gently pulled her closer to him, quietly whispering into her ear.

"I love you so much, Baby."

"I love you, too, Thorn," she giggled, a bright smile adorning her face.

She twisted in his arms, feeling him rolling onto his back. She lay her head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Silently, she ran her fingers along his hairless chest, knowing that her light strokes were stoking the flames of desire in the man she loved.

"I thought you were asleep," Johnny joked, kissing her forehead. His hand, resting on her hip, slowly slipped upwards, taking the tee shirt with it.

"I was… but now I'm rested… and hungry," she said with a knowing growl as she used her tongue to bath his taut nipple. She allowed her fingers to venture southward, feeling the tension in his body.

Johnny felt as if his abdomen was on fire, his groin burning hotter than he had ever felt before. "Mmmm," he moaned as she continued her ministrations. "Hungry for… breakfast?"

"Nu-uh," she said, planting kisses along his bare chest.

"Oh, baby… I like how you think," he responded, shifting his position as he removed the tee shirt from over her head.

Half an hour later, he lay in bed, completely satiated. One arm was bent behind his head, a crooked grin on his face. "You know… I can't wait to wake up with you every morning," he said, running his fingers through her hair as she once again curled her body next to his, her head resting on his chest.

"Well… Nobody says we have to wait long," she replied, propping up on one elbow to look into his rich brown eyes. "All we need is a blood test and a marriage license. We can be married by next weekend," she announced with a twinkle in her eye.

Johnny allowed his hand to gently caress her naked back, removing his other hand from behind his head and using it to cup her cheek. He enjoyed the way she nestled her face into the curve of his hand. "No…"

"No?" Lily questioned, alarm evident in her voice. While they had not made love in a very long time, she did not think that he was so disappointed with her that he had suddenly changed his mind about his proposal of marriage. She knit her eyebrows together, feeling the backs of her eyes stinging.

"Shhh," he crooned, hoping to settle her anxiety. "I don't want to rush this, Lily. You deserve so much. I… I want our wedding day to be a big celebration with all our friends and family sharing the day with us. I…" He looked deeply into her eyes before continuing. "I don't want us to have any regrets. I want you to… I want us to… What I'm tryin' to say is…"

Lily couldn't stop the bubbling giggle that made her face light up with delight. "You're saying that you are a hopeless romantic, right?"

Johnny gave her a wistful smile, running his thumb across her plump lips. "Yea… I love you, and I want you to have your day as Princess Liliana Campbell."

"Princess Liliana Campbell Gage," she mumbled, kissing his thumb.

"I like the sound of that," he growled, rolling her onto her back before kissing her deeply. When the kiss finally broke, he looked down at her, her rich skin in stark contrast to the white pillow case on which her head lay. "God you're beautiful." He watched her blush, realizing that she never thought of herself as beautiful. "You're gonna be the most beautiful bride that ever walked down an aisle."

Lily adjusted her head in order to see him more clearly. "Hmmm, I was kind o' hopin' to get married outside… no aisle, ya know?"

"No aisle?"

Lily blew a stray tuft of hair that had fallen onto her nose. "Well… My Dad is gone, and… I don't really have anyone to… you know… walk me down the aisle," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"So, you wanna get married outside, huh?" He asked, a huge grin tugging the left corner of his mouth upwards.

"Yea… I don't know where, but… I've always loved being outside… I mean, I really wasn't unhappy living at the Holistic Unity Gardens… Other than the fact that they were all… well, nuts."

Johnny rolled his eyes, pushing the same strand of hair back behind her ear. He didn't need any reminders of that place. He had nearly died there. "Don't remind me, Lil."

"I know," she added. "I hated keeping all that from you, but… it's all in the past now." She leaned down, kissing him on his nose. "So… are you okay with getting married outdoors?"

"I love the idea of uniting our lives in Mother Nature… Hey," he said, his eyes growing wide. "You and I aren't just uniting our lives… We're uniting three different races and cultures. Wouldn't it be great if we could incorporate elements from all three into our wedding?"

Lily sat up, pulling the sheet around her torso. The thought of such a unique ceremony intrigued her. "Oh, Johnny… That's a wonderful idea!"

Johnny joined her in a sitting position on the edge of the bed. "I've always loved the way my father's people celebrate wedding ceremonies, but there are things that white people do that I like too."

Lily stared at the striped bedspread, obviously searching her memory. "With my mother being a florist, I've helped decorate for lots of weddin's, but… I really don't remember anything unique about weddin's for colored folk," she said, biting her lip.

Johnny smiled, realizing that the time she had spent in Alabama had left a definite mark on her accent and choice of words. "We both know someone who could help us with that… and she needs to know about our upcoming wedding, don't you think?"

Lily's eyes twinkled as she watched Johnny reach for the phone on his bedside table.

"She's up," Johnny quipped, handing her the phone.

Lily dialed the number, thankful that it was the weekend, so the charges would be reduced. "I'll be quick," she whispered.

"Take your time, babe," Johnny offered, holding up his hand with his palm out. He didn't want to rush her. He could faintly hear the sound of a telephone ringing on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"

"Grandma Kizzy, it's Lily," the younger woman said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Hey there, child. 'S e'rything a'right?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am. Mom and I made it back safely last night, but… I've got some news to share with you," she remarked, her cheeks turning pink as she realized she was sitting naked on Johnny's bed talking to her very traditional paternal grandmother.

"Is that so? Well, speak it, child. Don't keep this ol' woman waitin'," Kizzy snickered.

"Johnny and I are gettin' married!"

Johnny and Lily held their breath, anxious to hear Kizzy's response. The silence on the other end of the phone was alarming.

"Grandma?" Lily said, her voice sounding weak and tiny.

In Selma, Kizzy Campbell had lost her voice. Her eyes were growing misty as she thought about the wonderful young man she had cared so deeply for, for so many years. Now, Johnny was going to be joining her family. She sniffled, wiping her damp cheeks, realizing that she had to say something. "Oh, baby girl… I'm so 'xcited for y'all. This is jus'… 't's the bes' news I've heard in a long time."

"Are you happy, Grandma… Really happy?" Lily asked, relieved by the reaction she was getting.

"Sho 'nuff!" Kizzy exclaimed. "But… Does this mean I'm gonna have to fly on a plane?"

Lily and Johnny chortled at the older woman's question. Lily, using her fingers to swipe away her tears of joy from beneath her eyes, smiled. "Yes, Grandma."

"Oh, Lord have mercy on my old fat soul… I ain't never had no intensions o' flyin' on no airplane, but baby girl, I'll do it for you. I wouldn't miss your weddin' day for nothin'."

"That means so much to me, Grandma, and… I have a question for you."

Lily went on to explain to Kizzy how she and Johnny wanted to incorporate traditions from the three cultures that they represented. She asked her grandmother what she could do to represent her paternal relatives in a wedding ceremony to unite the cultures. Suddenly, she pulled the phone away from her ear, cringing as Kizzy squealed with delight into the phone. "Oh, baby girl… You and Johnny jus' gonna hafta jump the broom!"

E!

With the A-shift back on duty at Station 51. Captain Stanley had completed roll call, assigned chores, and was sipping his coffee while working on the never-ending paper work piling up on his desk.

Mike was making a list of grocery items needed for the remainder of his shift as he had been given the task of feeding the crew for the next 24 hours. He jotted down a few notes on a scrap piece of paper and placed it on the kitchen table. He knew the paramedics would most likely be making a supply run to Rampart as the squad had been called out on multiple medical runs according to the C-shift report. They would be able to pick up the few grocery items he would need while they were out. It was much easier to maneuver the squad in a supermarket parking lot than the engine. He snickered at the thought of piling shopping bags in the hose bed of the larger vehicle.

"Somethin' funny?" Chet asked, returning to the kitchen for a warmer for his half-empty coffee cup.

"Not really," the quiet engineer replied.

The sneaky Irishman cast a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure no one else could hear what he was about to say. "Well, I've got something funny for ya," he offered, pouring the rest of the coffee into his cup. He returned the empty percolator to the back of the stove without even thinking about making another pot. He barely noticed when Mike rolled his eyes and began the process of making more.

The lineman leaned closer to the place where Mike stood scooping coffee from the canister. He used his fingers to wax his mustache, unable to hide his mischievous grin. "Remember that damn alien balloon thing Gage planted in that ice chest?"

Mike chuckled at the memory. "How could I forget?"

"Well, that's just it, Mike," Chet snickered, slapping his engineer on the shoulder. "Gage DID forget!"

"What do you mean?"

"Lily got his mind on… shall we say, other things…," he said wryly, giving Mike a knowing wink. "He forgot all about that little Martian."

Mike glared at his lineman, shaking his head. "Chet… Whatever you're planning on doing with it… Don't!"

"Oh… Don't worry… It won't be here," Chet laughed, sipping his coffee. "Cap'n Stanley would give me latrine duty for the rest of my career if I brought that thing into the station." He leaned against the counter, his blue eyes dancing below his curly dark hair. "Oh, no… I've got bigger plans for that little guy… Jus' you wait… When Gage least expects it-"

"When Gage least expects what?" Johnny asked, pushing his way through the kitchen door. He had overheard the end of Chet's comment and knew the Phantom was up to something.

Chet smiled, walking slowly past the inquisitive paramedic. He could feel Johnny's eyes following him as he silently made his way to the dorm to work on his assigned chores.

Johnny stood in the middle of the kitchen, one hand propped on his hip. "What was that all about?"

Mike retrieved the grocery list from the kitchen table. "Let it go, Johnny. He's just yanking your chain," Mike replied, handing the slip of paper to Johnny who quickly pocketed it in his shirt pocket.

"We're on our way to get supplies. You need this stuff for lunch or dinner?" Johnny asked, patting his shirt pocket.

"Both."

"A'right… So… What'll we be eating?" Johnny asked, the thought of food quickly derailing his train of thought about what the station prankster might be cooking up.

Without missing a beat, the clever engineer leveled the paramedic with an unreadable expression on his face. "I'm cooking tuna casserole for the crew… but you'll probably be getting a nice big slice of humble pie."

Johnny's eyebrow quirked in confusion as he silently repeated Mike's last phrase. He was about to ask the other man what he meant when the tones went off calling out the engine, the entire exchange quickly forgotten.

E!

Later that afternoon, Mike was cleaning up the kitchen when the station telephone rang. Knowing that their Captain was in his office, he made no effort to walk across the day room to answer it. Momentarily, Hank stuck his head in the kitchen doorway.

"Stoker, you seen Lopez?"

"I think Chet's showing him something in the back of his van."

Hank groaned, rolling his eyes. He wondered what type of retaliation the junior lineman might be planning for John's clever Martian attack on Halloween. "Ok, thanks, Pal."

Mike had just finished putting away the clean dishes when Marco walked into the kitchen with a puzzled look on his face. "You got a minute?"

"Yea, what's going on?" Mike asked, reaching for a damp dishcloth to wipe the crumbs from the lunch sandwiches off the table.

"That was Beverly on the phone just now," Marco explained, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the dorm room where he had taken the call. "She said that Lexi called her and wants to meet with Bev and me as soon as I get off shift tomorrow."

Mike's face reflected his confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"I was hoping you might know what's going on. I know you two talked for a while after you left Johnny's party… Did she mention anything to you?"

Mike was about to say something when he heard Johnny whistling as he walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door.

"Hungry again already?" Mike asked.

"Just lookin' for some milk," Johnny replied, his head stuck into the refrigerator. "Oh, and some of this leftover cheesecake C-shift left us," he mumbled, removing the dish and carton of milk, using his hip to close the refrigerator door.

Mike looked over at Marco, shaking his head. "C'mon, let's go shoot some hoops," he said softly, leading his lineman out of the dayroom and across the apparatus bay to continue their conversation.

"She's up to something, Marco," Mike said, not being one to mince words. He picked up the basketball from the base of the goal and attempted a hook shot. "She needs money and… And I agreed to talk to my landlady about allowing Lexi to clean apartments in my complex." Mike didn't dare tell his friend about paying Lexi to attend Johnny's party. "She said she had some street debts to pay off," he said, sending the ball to his lineman with a chest pass.

"Humph," Marco scowled, dribbling in place. "What kind of street debts?"

"She wouldn't say… But she did promise me that she isn't returning to prostitution, Marco… and… I believe her," Mike added, hoping his friend might give Lexi the benefit of the doubt, too.

"How much?"

Mike knew what Marco was asking. "$300."

"Damn it," the lineman cursed, bounce-passing the ball to Mike before rubbing his forehead with his fingers. "Drug debts?"

Mike shrugged his shoulders. Truthfully, he had no idea what the money was for, but the thought of drugs had crossed his mind. "She hasn't been on drugs in a while, at least, not that we know of."

"Yea… that we know of." Marco leaned his forearm against the basketball goal post, the basketball completely forgotten as it rolled against the back of the retaining wall. Where his sister was concerned, he always had more questions than answers.

"I take it that Lexi didn't tell Beverly what she wanted to talk to you two about?"

Marco merely shook his head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you out," Mike offered, knowing that his friend was going to worry the remainder of the shift, and truthfully, so was he. The mysteries of Alexia Lopez were many… and seemed to be multiplying.

E!

The following morning, Lexi waited on the front porch for Marco to pick her up. She had requested that their meeting occur at her brother's apartment. She didn't want to discuss such a serious issue within hearing range of her mother or Antonio, since both were the subject of the meeting. When she saw his burgundy sedan pull into the driveway, she quickly went out to meet him.

"Thank you, Marco."

"No problem, sis. What's going on?" he asked, hoping she wouldn't notice his fatigue. Even though the shift had been steady and nothing out of the ordinary, sleep had been elusive. His mind had been busy trying to figure out the purpose of this meeting.

"I'd rather not get into it until we get to your place, please, but… Nothing is wrong, okay?"

Marco cut his dark eyes at her in a sideways glance. He wanted to give her a smart-aleck retort but decided to remain silent. He didn't want to anger her before the meeting began.

When he and Lexi walked into his apartment, they were greeted to the smell of freshly baked banana bread muffins and coffee.

"Mmmm, smells good, Bev," he said, greeting his fiancée with a chaste kiss.

"I figured you'd be hungry," Beverly replied, wrapping her arm around his waist. "How are you, Lexi?"

"I'm fine," the younger woman replied. "Won't be long before the big day, you know?"

"I know… I'm so ready to become your sister-in-law," Beverly said, ushering them both into the kitchen where she had the table set waiting for them. It was clear to Marco that Beverly was as anxious about this meeting as he was.

As soon as the coffee had been poured, Lexi began to nibble on her muffin, licking her fingers before beginning to explain why she had requested to meet with them.

"Um, I have a really big favor to ask the two of you."

Marco and Beverly exchanged worried glances.

"See… I know that Antonio loves both of you so much and… Well, I was wondering if… I mean… Mama isn't getting any younger and…"

Beverly felt Marco's leg begin to bounce in his chair. She knew that she needed to help Lexi say what she was trying to say before Marco lost his mind with worry. "Lexi… is everything okay?"

"Yea… I'm just… I'm trying to make plans for… You know… In case something happens to me before Ant becomes an adult."

Marco felt his heart skip a beat. "Plans?"

"Yea… You know, for his future. I mean, I'm a single parent and… Well, Mama's been doing a wonderful job raising him, but I don't think it's fair to expect her to continue if… if something happens to me and… I was wondering if the two of you might agree to… you know, take him and raise him… if… If I can't."

"Lexi… are you planning on not being around to raise him yourself?" Beverly asked, trying to decipher the younger woman's true intentions.

"NO! Of course not… I just… think that the responsible thing to do is to make plans for his future. In case… you know… the worst happens."

Marco and Beverly again exchanged worried looks. Beverly reached beneath the table and grasped Marco's hand. She could feel him trembling.

"Where is this coming from, Lex?" Marco asked. "You know that your family will always be there for Antonio… for you too, for that matter. Why are you asking us this now?"

Lexi slowly chewed the bite of muffin she had placed in her mouth while she sought a way to explain things to her brother. She had not counted on him asking so many questions. "I know you think I'm planning on going back on the circuit," she said, reaching for her coffee. Between the muffin and the conversation, her mouth was growing dry. She took a tentative sip before continuing. "I'm not… But it would be a huge relief to me to have something in place in case something happens to me."

"Are you afraid that Ricardo will come after you when he gets out?" Beverly asked, knowing that Marco was wondering the same thing. It was a very legitimate concern.

"A little… maybe… but that's not the reason I'm asking you to do this for me." Lexi knew she needed to change tactics; she had to get the focus off her. "Beverly, I know you've always wanted to be a mother and Marco, I know how close you and Antonio have been since he was born. I would just feel better knowing that he could live with you two… if he had to."

"Have you talked to Mama about this?"

Lexi shook her head at her brother's question. "No," she said, using her fingers to pick up the remainder of her muffin. "I wanted to see if you two would agree to it before I told her." She used her napkin to wipe her fingers before continuing. "But I can see that this was a mistake." She stood up then, knowing that she was manipulating their feelings, but sensing that she had no other choice. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you wouldn't want to do this for me. Just forget I asked," she said, standing up and heading for the door. "Marco, will you take me home, please?"

"Wait just a minute," Marco said, following her into the foyer. "We didn't say we wouldn't do it. We're just… it caught us by surprise, that's all."

"Of course, we'll do it," Beverly added. "We love you and Antonio and if, God forbid, something should happen to prevent you from raising him, then we'd be honored to step into that role."

Lexi smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Really? Oh, thank you," she said, quickly enveloping them both in a hug. "I'm so relieved to know that if I can't raise him, then he'll have what he wants most – a mother and a father."

"No… He'll have an Uncle and Aunt who love him enough to provide for him if his mother is not in a position to do so," Beverly corrected. "I would NEVER try to replace you as his mother."

Lexi felt her heart leap into her throat. "I… I appreciate that, Beverly."

There was a moment of awkward silence, finally broken by Beverly. "Marco, would you mind giving Lexi and me a few minutes alone… I'd like to talk to her… you know, woman to woman."

Marco's dark eyes moved back and forth between Beverly and Lexi, and his mustache seemed to twitch nervously. He could tell that Beverly suspected something, and he fully trusted his fiancée, which was more than he could say for his sister. "Um… yea… sure… I'll just go get a shower," he replied, taking a few steps towards the bedroom he now shared with Beverly. "I'll, uh, take you home when I get out, Lex."

"I can take her," Beverly quickly responded. She needed to be assured that she had enough time to have what was sure to be a very unpleasant conversation with Lexi.

Beverly waited until she knew Marco could no longer hear her before she turned to her younger guest. "Okay, Lex… cut the shit… What're you up to?"

Lexi's eyes widened. She hadn't heard Beverly swear in a long time. Then the full weight of her question landed on Lexi's shoulders. Her eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms across her chest, assuming a very defensive stance. "Nothing," she said flatly.

"You might be able to bluff the rest of your family, but I know that life just as well as you, and I'm calling bullshit on your little game!" Beverly was standing toe to toe with the shorter woman, her green eyes glaring. "He's gotten to you, hasn't he?"

"Who?"

Beverly rolled her eyes. "You know who. It's no coincidence that you're making these plans for Antonio a month before that sonofabitch gets out of jail. He's either threatened you or you're planning to go back to him."

"Neither!" Lexi spat out. "Just because I'm trying to take good care of my son, you think I'm planning on going back to hooking?"

"Are you?"

Lexi felt as if her head were about to explode. "NO!" She growled through gritted teeth.

"Then you must be going into hiding," Beverly suggested; there was no hint of judgment in her voice now. She knew what it was like to truly be in fear for your life. Her comment drew no reaction from the younger woman, which confused Beverly. Her future sister-in-law was truly one tough nut to crack.

"No," Lexi replied calmly, trying her best relax her muscles. She had to keep her cool; she knew that if she gave any hint of her plan away, Beverly would be the first one to pick up on it.

Feeling the need to keep the conversation going, Beverly continued with her line of questioning. "How many 20-year-old mothers are making plans for guardianship of their children?"

"All the good ones!" Lexi brushed past Beverly, intentionally nudging the other woman with her shoulder. She spun around, glaring at the older woman. "Why the hell can't you trust me, Beverly? What've I done to piss you off? If you don't want to take care of Antonio for me, then don't! I'll ask Carlos and Juanita to take him. He does have another aunt and uncle, you know?" Lexi scoffed.

"Knock it off, Lex…" Beverly was seething. "How dare you treat your son like he's a pawn in a game?"

Lexi was taken aback by the realization that Beverly was right. She stood in the middle of the living room, breathing hard. She could feel sweat beads forming on her upper lip. She refused to look at Beverly. She needed them to agree to do this… Without asking so many questions.

"He is, isn't he?" Beverly asked.

"He's what?"

"He's a pawn in some fuckin' game you're playing," Beverly spat out. She was seething and could not keep her tongue in check.

Lexi felt the backs of her eyes beginning to sting. Beverly had no idea just how much truth there was in her statement. "He isn't a pawn, Beverly. He's a…," she sniffled, hating the fact that her weakness was spilling onto her face. "He's a pre-precious little boy who… who deserves… to be… loved."

"By his mother," Beverly added.

Lexi dried her cheeks with the backs of her hands. "I do love him! I love that little fellow more than anything on earth. And… and that's why I would really appreciate it if you and Marco would agree to take care of him… if something happens and I can't."

The two women stood in the middle of the room, each looking away from the other. Moments ticked by while they both considered the position of the other. Lexi was afraid that if she continued talking, Beverly would soon piece together the truth. She wanted to run out the door and never look back, but she couldn't. Antonio's future was at stake, and no matter how frightened or angry Lexi might be, she had to secure his future before she carried out her plans.

Beverly exhaled loudly, frustrated by her inability to get to the truth. She wished she could speak to her future self, the one with a graduate degree, because Lexi seemed very determined to keep her demons inside her soul. The counselor cleared her throat when she heard the shower water turn off. She only had a short amount of time. She stepped closer to Lexi. "Ahem… of course we'll take care of him if you can't, but… but I want you to agree to a couple of things, too."

"W-what?"

"I want this to be completely legal. Marco and I will pay the attorney fee to draw up the papers."

Lexi breathed a sigh of relief. "Of course," she agreed. Perhaps having the paperwork to show would be best for her situation, too.

Beverly knew there was one more thing she needed the young mother to agree to. She stepped over to the kitchen table and retrieved her purse and keys. "We'll talk about the other part in the car."

E!

As Beverly and Lexi began the eight-mile journey from Marco's apartment to the Lopez family home, both of them felt anxious. While the traffic seemed to inch along the freeway, Beverly saw Lexi twisting her hair around her finger – a nervous habit she had displayed many times before.

"So… you're gonna tell Mama Lopez about this arrangement?" Beverly asked.

"Yea."

The older woman inhaled deeply. Lexi was not only anxious, she was angry. Beverly knew she needed to go ahead and say what was on her mind.

"Okay, I know you're pissed off, but I've only got Antonio's best interest in mind," Beverly began. "The other thing that I want in the guardianship paperwork is… is that Marco and I will get custody of Antonio if you are ever deemed an unfit parent." She cringed a bit, expecting an outburst from Lexi.

Lexi paused, closing her eyes. It was hard for her to hear, but she understood Beverly's concern. She had every right to feel that way. "Okay."

"Okay?" Beverly cast a glance at her future sister-in-law. "That's all you have to say?"

"What can I say? I've seen women drag their kids through hell only to lose them in court. That's traumatic for everyone." Lexi shifted her position, staring out the window at the city passing by. Only a few women ever got off those streets and lived a productive life. Of those who did manage to do the impossible, too many had lost their children to the foster care system along the way, rarely were they able to regain custody without social workers watching their every move. She knew that Beverly was even more keenly aware of those statistics than she was, so she was grateful that Antonio had an aunt who loved him enough to step in and prevent that from even being a possibility – even though Lexi knew that being judged to be an unfit mother wasn't going to happen. "I don't want Antonio going through anything like that. This way, he won't have to… Besides," she said, turning to look at Beverly. "I'm NOT going to be an unfit parent, so I have no problem signing paperwork to that effect."

Beverly couldn't believe what she was hearing. Had Lexi just agreed to her conditions? She had already been dreading telling Marco about this conversation, but now, it seemed that everything just might work out for the best. And if Lexi knew that she could lose custody of Antonio based on her behavior, then perhaps that would be just the impetus she needed to remain on the proverbial straight and narrow. But Beverly had spent most of her life learning to recognize manipulative people… and Lexi Lopez was one of the best she had ever met. Beverly's heart wanted to believe the young mother, but her years of experience warned her that this was exactly what Lexi wanted them to believe… and Beverly Marsh was not one to be easily fooled. She knew she would have to keep her eyes and ears open because whatever Lexi was planning to do had to happen soon, before Ricardo was released from jail, and that meant that she was running out of time.