"We can't keep it", Damon breathed out and the second those words escaped his lips, Layla's face went pale before she took a step back from him

"There's just too much happening, and it just complicates things", he explained and Layla kept walking back until she stopped when she felt the table behind her and leaned on it, looking like she was still processing everything with her eyes fixed onto the ground

"Layla", he titled her face up so that she could look at him and tears were already building in her eyes. "If Daniel found out you're pregnant, he would make my life a living hell"

"So this is about you", she looked at him deep in the eye, daring him to continue justifying his actions to her

"No, it's about doing what's right", he said, and she laughed in disbelief

"Which is what?", she challenged him to carry on, and he shrugged his shoulders helplessly

"We need to get rid of it"

The fuck?

Layla looked completely horrified at his words before her chin started quivering and her lips trembled as she shook her head, barely able to say anything

"If Daniel found that you're pregnant, he would go out of his way to make sure he really hurts you this time because you'll be carrying an heir to the Kingsley and Jones legacy"

The fuck?

Both of them turned to look at me. Oh, shit I must have said that out loud. I cleared my throat and whistled, pretending to be looking at something. This was just bullshit. Damon was just using Daniel as an excuse.

Layla drew in a sharp breath, as if she was gathering some courage. "Can you please stop making this about Daniel while we both know this is about you"

Damn right

"What are you talking about?", he acted confused like he didn't know what she meant

"We both know you don't want kids Damon and the only reason Dylan is in the picture is because it was already too late for Scarlett to get rid of him", his face showed no emotion at her words, she was right, and he didn't even put efforts to deny the accusations being hauled at him

"There's just too much going on in our lives right now to bring a baby into it", he raised his voice a little, paused to look at me and I turned to look away. "I wouldn't have to worry about your safety and the safety of-"

He paused when his eyes dropped to Layla's stomach

"Go ahead and say it", she dared him to continue

"Layla, this is not easy for me"

"Do you think it's easy for me?", her voice started breaking. "Especially now that I hear you talk like this?"

He kept quiet, shrugging his shoulders a little with his eyes dropped to the floor

"I've realized that Daniel isn't the real threat here. You are", she said and his brow rose. "As for trying to convince me of getting rid of my baby, you're sick and twisted"

She walked past him, telling me it was time we leave

"I'm not ready to father another baby, Layla", Damon said aloud behind her and his words made her stop in her tracks before she turned to face him again

"And I'm not denying myself another shot at happiness Damon, so I'm having this baby, and I'll raise this baby, with or without you"

She turned to walk towards, and motioned we leave. "Let's go Troy. I don't have time for this".

"You're already choosing that baby over me" he called out again, walking closer to her

"Do you blame me for choosing this baby over you?", she turned to look at him and his eyes dropped to the floor. "How do you expect me to choose you after everything you've just said to me? It goes without question Damon, you're leaving me no choice but to always choose this baby over you"

He looked at her in disbelief. "Layla, are you even listening to yourself right now?"

"Are you?", she quirked up an eyebrow. "Clearly if you feel like being a part of this baby's life is going to be difficult for you to handle then I apologize Damon that I can't make you something you're not, I'm sorry that I can't make you a man".

"Layla-", he followed after her as she walked out of the warehouse

"You really need to grow the fuck up, Damon and set your priorities straight", she jumped into the car and locked the door before Damon could try to yank it open, and he turned to me. I'm not going to lie, I was tempted to punch some sense into him right now.

"Please try talking to her for me", he asked desperately and. I shook my head before getting into the car and Bucks drove off, leaving him there all by himself.

"Layla, are you okay?", I looked at her via the rearview mirror to see her wiping away the tears that were streaming down her face

"I'll be fine", she forced a smile and I kept looking at her, I wasn't buying her little act

"Listen, if there's anything I can do for you-", even before I could finish she interrupted, like she's been waiting for me to offer

"I want you to take me as far as possible from Damon"

I turned to look at her. "What?"

"I need to be far away from Damon as possible", her tone changed, and she sounded really serious

"We're moving to another safe house, don't worry"

"He'll still know where I am. I want to be far, far, far away from him".

"You know I can't do that, as much as I'd love to, but we have to be under the police protection"

"It's fine if you don't want to help me, Troy"

"It's not that I don't want to, all I'm saying is that-"

"I'll have to do it on my own then. If Daniel finds and kills me, then so be it", she sunk into her seat and looked out of the window.

Oh, she is good with the emotional blackmail

"Are you sure about this?", I drew a breath, one thing I hated was letting her down because I wanted to be there for her now that Damon wasn't. I didn't want her to feel alone.

"Yeah", she sounded certain

"Okay I'll help you", I heard her sigh a breath of relief. "But on one condition"

"Which is?"

"Bucks and I are coming with you"

Weeks passed without talking to Damon. He tried to reach out to me, but I ignored all of his calls because I didn't want to talk to him, he really pissed me off. A soft knock was placed on my door before Troy walked in, closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

"What's wrong?", I asked, and he started to walk towards me and sat on the edge of the bed with me

"It's nothing. I just have tons of work to do and right now I'm exhausted, I could do with a bit of me time for once", he laughed softly, and I smiled at him.

"Isn't this affecting your work?", I sat next to him, folded my legs, and he turned to look at me

"What?"

"Looking after me?", I questioned, and he shook his head in response

"No, not at all"

"Okay", I smiled at him before turning on a page on this new book I had started reading about expecting mothers and babies

"What are you reading, it looks interesting", he peeked in and skimmed the content. "Isn't it a bit early to be reading this stuff?"

"Isn't a bit too early for you to be getting on my nerves? ", I rose a brow at him, and he jumped back, pretending to be in shock

"I get on your nerves?", he laughed. "I never get tired of annoying you"

He grinned, and I shoved him backwards before standing on my feet to go read privately somewhere else, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me

"What?"

"We need to talk", he went serious all of a sudden, gently pulling me to sit back on the bed with him

"What's up?"

"I have to go away for a couple of weeks", he said and my heart dropped, he noticed this and shrugged his shoulders a little. "Work stuff"

"Go away?", I repeated, as a sob threatened to leave my lips from sadness

"Yeah but I'll be coming back as soon as I'm done", he took my hands in his and caressed them softly

"So you're leaving me here, alone?"

He chuckled. "You won't be alone, Bucks is here"

"I know that, but it won't be the same"

"I know that", he heaved a deep sigh before turning to look at me. "That's why I've decided to send you back home"

I had lost my ability to talk, staring at him with my mouth hanging open

"Home as in back with Damon?", I croaked out, and he slowly nodded his head in agreement

"At the safe house we were supposed to go to in the first place, the both of you will be safe there"

"Over my dead body", I quickly stood up from the bed to leave the room and within seconds he was at the door frame blocking me from leaving

"Layla, it's the only way"

"Well that way sucks to be honest", I tried to push him out of my way, but he was just too strong for me, it seemed I was trying to push a wall

"Get out of my way Troy", I started hitting him on his chest, instead of wincing in pain like a normal person he just grabbed both my wrists with one hand, stopping me so that I could look at him

"Listen to me"

"No", I tried yanking my hands from his grip, but he was still too strong

"Layla, stop it", he raised his voice a little and that immediately grabbed my attention and I stopped fighting him

"I'm sorry", he let go of my hands and held me by my shoulders. "I didn't mean to shout at you but there's nothing I can do", he locked eyes with me. "I have to take you back"

"Take me with you", I asked as tears had already stung my eyes. The thought of going back to Damon was nerve wrecking a little.

"I can't", he pushed past me and walked back into the room

"Why not?", I walked towards him, and he just shook his head. "Troy, I can't go back, please don't make me go back", I begged desperately as tears escaped from my eyes and his features softened

"Please don't make me go back", tears slid down her cheeks as she said those words to me, holding me by my shirt on both sides of my waist. "Please"

"Layla, I have to", I mumbled, looking into her teary eyes, and she shook her head, wiping her tears off

"Okay", she nodded her head. "Then I guess I'll have to make another plan then", she turned her back on me and walked towards the dresser table where her phone was.

"What are you doing?", I asked when she dialed a number

"If you're not willing to help me anyone, I'm sure Stacy or Lelo will", she placed the phone on her ear and I jumped to take the phone from her, but she had a strong grip on it, and we ended up struggling for it as we pulled the phone on both it's ends

She pulled. "Let go"

"No", I pulled back before using my height to my advantage and I held the phone above her because I knew she was shorter and won't hold on to it much longer if I held it on top of her head. My trick worked for a moment, before she stumbled and lost her balance. I didn't want her to have a bad fall, so I tried holding her by her waist. I didn't actually see that she was falling back on the bed, resulting in me falling on top of her.

We stayed in that position for a little while, grazing into each other's eyes and my eyes dropped to her lips when she nervously a bit on her lower lip

I wonder what would happen if I just leaned and claimed her lips with mine. Would they taste as sweet as I always imagine they would taste like?

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I felt her hand around my neck, pulling me onto her and claimed my lips with hers

Our lips moved in sync as he kissed me slowly, tenderly as his he sucked slowly on my bottom lip, I smiled during the kiss because I always imagined him kissing me like this in high school

He licked my bottom lip, asking for permission and as I soon granted him because he thrusted his tounge into my mouth, softly and I gently a bit on his lip, causing him to groan in pleasure. He went back to kissing me again before breaking away from me abruptly, looking deep into my eyes before whispering,

"I can't do this"

He moved away from me, getting up to pace to-and-fro, running his hands through his hair. It suddenly dawned on me what was really happening as I sat up on the bed. I actually initiated the kiss, I kissed him.

"I'm so sorry about that", I fiddled with my fingers nervously. "I don't know what came over me"

"It's okay", he stopped pacing, and he just stood there, looking at me. "I can't do this Layla"

"I know, and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you-"

"I'm not talking about the kiss", he interrupted and my brows furrowed in confusion

"What do you mean?"

"I can't be around you anymore"

Ouch

"Troy, I said I was sorry, it won't happen again-", I started apologizing again but that just set him off as he drew a sharp breath as he ran a hand through his hair furiously

"I'm in love with you", he blurted out, interrupting me from apologizing yet again and the second those words left his lips, I froze and just stared at him

"There you have it", he heaved a sigh. "I'm in love with you", he repeated, much softer than the first time. I just shook my head while laughing nervously.

"You don't mean that"

He laughed a little, almost like he didn't believe just told me like that. "Oh trust me, I do"

"Troy-"

"After all these years Lay, I really thought I was over you, I really did. The day I bumped into you at the music store, it bought up feelings I thought I buried for you and now that we've spent the last few weeks together, they resurfaced all over again".

"What are you saying right now Troy? What feelings are you talking about?"

"I've always like you Layla, from the 6th grade", he shrugged. "Sure I didn't know what that meant at that time but when we went to high school together, I really knew how I felt about you. I fell in love with the little things about you; how you laughed, how you would sip your morning coffee, how you would bite your bottom lip whenever you focused intensely on what you were reading. You and I used to talk everyday Layla, and most of the things we talked about didn't even make sense, but we were close, but then you just changed, you started ignoring me, avoiding me and to the point that you didn't even want to share a seat with me anymore. The worst thing is I didn't even know why".

"You had a girlfriend Troy"

"What girlfriend?"

"Sasha. She was new in our class when we were in the 11th grade".

"What made you think I was dating Sasha?"

"I don't know, maybe because you ditched me in one of the projects we were assigned to do with me and ended up partnering with her"

"I was just being friendly"

"Well it wouldn't hurt if you explained that to me"

"Wait, is that why you became distant all of a sudden? Because you thought I was dating Sasha?"

"Partially"

"Partially?"

"You liked her, didn't you?"

"Yeah I did"

"Then-", I gave a long shrug, I didn't know what to say next to him

"But not in that way because I loved you", he said and my eyes widened. "Then you moved for varsity and I tried to call you, but you had changed numbers. I realized that I wasted so much time trying to find the perfect moment to tell you, but it never came, and so I tried to forget about you. It worked for the first couple of years until I saw you that day in the music store and I thought my eyes were deceiving me, you looked so beautiful, I could hardly believe that it was really you, the only difference is that this time you had a ring on your finger", he sat down on the edge of the bed, looking sad and defeated.

"I didn't know you felt this way"

"It doesn't matter anymore because you're happy Layla. That's all I want, for you to be happy".

"Troy-"

"I had my chance with you and I blew it, so I can't let my feelings get in the way of your new life with Damon. I know you're probably going to try and deny it, but you love him, you're just angry with him for wanting you to get rid of your baby but that still doesn't change that you still love him, so does he because you mean everything to him. He's acting like an ass right now, but I believe it's all from a good place. You've found a man who loves you just as much as I do, and I can't get in the way of that".

"You're leaving because of me?", I asked, and he nodded his head.

"You're better off without me", he said, and I couldn't say anything. How does one react after finding out that your crush was in love with you like the way you were with him? Then pops out years later when you've already moved on with your life and building a new life with another person?

"I appreciate you, Troy", I took his hands in mine. "And I'll forever be grateful for everything you did for me, but I still need you", I gently squeezed his hands. "I'm not ready to lose you again, as a friend"

He looked away

"Layla, I just want to make sure you're safe at all times", he looked at me. "Because really, I don't think I'll ever love another woman the way I love you"

"Don't say that", I laughed nervously, but honestly I was trying to hold back a sob

"It is what it is", he chuckled as a tear escaped from his eye and he quickly wiped it away

"I have to go Layla, but I'll always be here with you here", he pointed at my heart. "Just as you'll always be with me here", he pointed at his rib cage where his heart was placed before cupping my face in his hand and slowly kissed my forehead.

"It doesn't have to end like this"

"I asked Damon to come and pick you up", he notified, and I slowly nodded my head, watching him as he walked out of my room

Troy called me to join him downstairs, only to realize Damon was there with him

"Are you sure everything is in there?", Damon asked Bucks when he was carrying my bags to the car

"I think this is it", Bucks responded and Damon nodded his head at him, dismissing him before raising his eyes, and they caught mine as I slowly walked up them

"Layla", he opened his arms wide in order to hug me, but I took a step back. When he realized I wasn't going to hug him, he reclaimed his position again by pocketing one hand.

"I don't know how to thank you, Roberts", he and Troy shook hands before Troy turned to look at me

"It's only a pleasure", he let go of Damon's hand and walked towards me to engulfed me in a hug and gently squeezed my tiny figure

"I'm going to miss you", he whispered against my ear softly before breaking away from me to hold me at arms length. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"Okay", I air kissed his cheek, and smiled at him. "Thank you"

The eye Damon was giving us was burning a hole in my back and I turned to see him focusing intensely on us, he probably sensed that something was up between Troy and but decided to remain quiet

I waved Troy and Bucks a goodbye as the car's ignition was turned on, and they waved back. Troy smiled at me as he saluted me goodbye and placed his hand on his heart, reminding me of his words.

"Just as you'll always be with me here"

I kept looking back at them until they were eventually out of sight and I sighed, continuing to look out of the window and I could feel Damon looking at me, but I wanted to ignore him until we got home

"I'm really sorry Layla", he finally said, but I still didn't look at him and I heard him draw a deep breath. "The things I said to you the other day, I was a complete jerk and I realize I hurt your feelings"

I kept quiet