Pamela stood and walked to the window. "That doesn't change anything." She whispered.

"I know." He replied softly and went to stand beside her. "I just wanted you to know."

She sighed forlornly and shut her eyes. "I wanted to get out of this life so bad. I can't believe I'm back here." She looked at him and heaved a heavy sigh. "Why is this Fener back? I thought all of these was over."

"Far from it. And I had to step in because I just couldn't sit back and do nothing knowing Fener is out and about. He'll jump at any chance to hurt you especially now that you're..." He trailed off.

She turned away from him. "How long have you known?"

"Since before the divorce."

She looked at him with surprise. "How? I didn't show any signs."

"Cody found the test kits."

She scoffed. "That nosy bastard."

"Don't blame him, blame me."

She hugged her middle. "Why didn't you say something? I feel stupid."

"I wanted you to make your own decision. You wanted me out of your life and I was willing to give you that. Even if it meant being away from our child's life."

She laughed sarcastically. "Look at you sounding sincere and nice when you had explicitly told me you hated kids. I was afraid for my child's life and the influence your presence might bring. I didn't want you punishing this child because you never wanted one."

"I was wrong. I want kids. By some weird chance, I have one with Sarah, and now with you. What more could I ask for? All I want is to be in our child's life, if you let me in."

She groaned. "I hate the fact that you're being nice. You should be mad. You should give me an excuse to hate you and hate you all the more."

He remained quiet. Pamela studied his look and for the first time saw how hopeless he looked. Homeless too. Beards of God-knows-how-many days were scattered unattended to on his chin. He seemed to have lost a lot of weight and didn't look like he ate well. It was as though he was punishing himself for his mistakes, over and over. Her heart reached out to him.

"I won't keep you out of her life." She said.

His eyes lit up. "She's a girl?"

Pamela hesitated for a while, then put her hand into her pocket for her phone then handed it to him. On the screen was a black and white picture. It was blurry and looked like a big ball, but it was his girl. He was shocked to find his face wet. "She's beautiful."

"Oh, come on she's not even whole yet. Well, as at the time I went for the ultrasound."

He nodded and hung his head. "Look Pamela," he began, his voice as rough as sandpaper. "I have done nothing to deserve you or this baby, and if...if you decide you want me to leave, I will, but please," he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Please don't keep me away from her."

She broke eye contact and didn't speak for seconds, and when she did, she surprised him - and herself - by saying, "Do you want to feel?"

At first he was confused because he didn't understand what she meant and when he understood, was hesitant, unsure if she'd be okay with him touching her.

"Come on." She prompted.

Slowly, he moved towards her and he knelt beside her, placing his hand on her belly.

"Hey princess." He whispered. His eyes filled and tears ran down his face without restriction. He placed his ears on her stomach.

He felt Pamela stiffen. He stepped back. "Are you okay?"

"She just kicked."

"Really?"

"Yeah." She laughed, tears in her eyes. "Come, feel."

Devlin touched her stomach again and they both giggled as the baby moved.

"Hey, I'm your daddy." Devlin said. "You have a big brother just about a year older. You also have a big step sister. Also, you have a friend. They'll be your playmates. Come soon princess. I'll teach you how to be strong  and how to fight and shoot -"

Pamela slapped his head. "Hey!"

They both laughed. He sat on his heels and kept starring at the belly, his face turning serious.

"I love your mommy so much." He spoke the words so quietly that he expected Pamela not to hear him, but her sharp intake of breath indicated otherwise. "I never stopped loving her. Ask her, does she want me back?"

Panel shoved him aside and moved away from him. "I need to leave."

"I'll be a good father and love you both to death."

"That's not the issue."

"Please, take me back. I miss you."

"Devlin you don't understand."

He took her hand and made her face him. "Help me. Help me understand. I'm not perfect and I'm willing to make all the efforts for you."

"I don't know if I want that life back."

"I think you have to admit that you'll always be in this life. And I'll be here to protect you both."

She sighed. "Give me sometime to think about it."

He smiled and nodded. "I'll be waiting. Even if it takes forever, I'll be waiting."

It didn't take forever. Or perhaps, forever was a few days. After their discussion, Pamela began to understand he'd done everything for her and their daughter's safety.

She and and Pil warmed up to each other and literarily became best friends. She was able to settle into her new surroundings because of him.

Over the next few days, she and Devlin kept making eye contact at intervals. It made Devlin hot inside whenever it happened. Yes, she was pregnant and had gained a lot of weight, but she was sexy. Pregnancy suited her so well. He wanted to hold her close and taste her tongue. He wanted her. That was when he made a promise, one fateful day, that the next time they made eye contact, he was going to take it as a sign that she had accepted him back.

Two minutes later, he glanced over at where she and Pil were playing scrabble and caught her eyes on him. Was it because he was shirtless or because he was newly clean shaven? Whatever the reason was, she'd given him the sign but his confidence failed him. He found it hard to walk up to her.

One more time, he told himself, look at me one last time.

She didn't though, and when Pil left to get a hair cut or buy some clothes - he didn't pay attention because he didn't care, he walked up to her and hugged her from behind, then whispered, "I love you."

She stiffened, unclasped his hand from her body then turned around and hugged him. "I love you too."

"That is so uncomfortable." He said and they both laughed.

"I know, my belly won't let us do anything."

"We'll have to work our way around it won't we?" He hoped she got his double entendre and was satisfied when a blush crept it's way up her cheeks. He didn't break eye contact with her until his phone rang. It was Cody. Of all the times to call. He chose now. "Great timing Cody."

"Sorry, this couldn't wait."

"What is it?"

"Fener is under control."

He frowned. "So fast? That's suspicious."

"I thought so too, but seeing that everyday since the moment he got out he goes to a run down bar and drinks himself to stupor, I'd say he's given up and we can breathe easy."

"That's probably what he wants us to think. He wants us to let down our guards so he can strike at an unexpected moment."

"I'll keep watch on him, but my guess is, prison did him bad. He seems not to be right in the head."

Devlin chewed over this piece of information then sighed. "Since it's you saying this, I'll take your word for it. Thank you Cody."

"Anytime, boss."

"Alright."

"Sir?"

"Yes Cody?"

He hesitated. "It's nothing. I just wanted you to know that I'm thankful for everything.

"Don't go all mushy on me, man. By the way, Pamela says hi."

Pamela leaned in. "Hi Cody."

"Hi, Ma'am."

Pamela frowned. "Cody are you alright? Your voice sounds weird."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm fine."

~

He wasn't fine. The phone still held to his ear, Cody tried to put some life into his voice. "I'm fine Ma'am."

"How Sarah? And Alex? I haven't seen them in a long while."

His throat tightened and tears rolled down his eyes. "Alex is..." in trouble. He's been taken hostage. And Susan too. "Fine. And so is Susan." Susan is cuffed to a chair and a duct tape has been placed over her mouth. She's crying too.

"That's great! Take care of yourself. And I must see you all when I give birth. Have I told you it's a girl? I'm so excited and so is Devlin."

"I'm so happy for you ma'am, and yes, we'll come to see her." If we aren't dead by then.

He hung up and looked up at the angry looking man that held a gun to his face. He wasn't the only one. They were surrounded by five other hefty gun-totting men, while Fener sat with his legs crossed in front.

"Good job Cody. You were helpful."

His voice sent chills down his spine. Cody gritted his teeth. "Let my wife and kid go. Your fight is with me."

"Why waste your breath asking when you know that's not possible?"

"I'll do anything you want." He was desperate. Fener, the beast, had locked Alex up in a dark room and had starved him of food and water for hours. Cody had reached breaking point. He could survive not eating, but not the little boy! "I swear, I'll do anything you want. Just let them go."

"Anything I want?" He teased.

"Yes."

"Kill Pamela."

He went shock still. "What?"

Fener laughed. "Just kidding. All I'm interested in is the money. If I can get that, everyone walks. Nice and happy."

"I don't have the money."

"I know. But thanks to that call, I can get it. We've been able to track their location. That's more than enough to let you go. But... I won't. Yet." He barked a snide laughter. "Don't look at me like that, big man, I have to do this to ensure you don't snitch on me."

"I swear I will not. Just let them go, please."

"Tape his mouth. He's too loud."

"Wait! I can make you a deal. Something even better than just knowing their location. I bet all you know is that they're in Tokyo but I can give you the exact place. Just let my wife and kid go."

Fener narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Cody for what seemed to be a long time before a slow, creepy smile crept up his lips.

"Now we're talking."

~

Thank you for reading! Thank you for 1k followers! I'm so sorry for the late upload. Being in college is the most stressful thing ever, but I'm so thankful for the holidays! Compliments of the season guys!🌲💕