Something was bothering Amy and I knew it. She was acting really strange lately. Especially whenever I was around, she would be so jumpy. And not to mention the fact that she was no longer being the flirty woman she had become a few months ago.

Somehow we had came to an unspoken establishment of sleeping together in each other's bed. We started doing that fir a while, but a few days ago, it was like she was scared of me again or something. First, she had locked herself in her room which I hadn't thought much about then. Then I realized that she was actually trying to avoid me. I tried touching her a few days ago and she all but freaked out, then made up an excuse saying she had to go to her mom. I had picked up on her sudden weird behavior of late and I was wondering if it had anything to do with Seagal. I heard about the incident the other night at Inferno with Marvin Seagal showing up there and manhandling her. Knowing about her past and her history with him, I figured he was someone who would always be a bad memory to her but as long as he stayed away, everything would be okay.

Apparently, Seagal was a very pushy man and decided he wanted to push things with her. He and I had always not been on good terms as a result of business- with is failing slowly and me gaining most of his former business clients. Therefore, he would always try everything to get back at me. So knowing that Amy and I had a connection, it was without a doubt that he would try to mess with her. Seagal had absolutely no idea of the things I was capable of. We already hated each other, then I found out that he was a dirty old man who had been a customer at Alfredo's. I also learnt about his abusiveness towards Amy and that made my hatred for him worst. But for him to go and pull the stunt he did with her again at the club, that made things ten times more unfortunate for him. I would just have to send him another form of warning.

Amy didn't want me to hear about what happened and I knew it was probably because she was scared of my reaction and what I would do once I found out. I hadn't made her aware of the fact that I knew. I had wanted to be able to keep track of her for safety and concerned reason but I hadn't gotten a chance to do so until recently. I noticed that her phone was a old model and so I bought her a new one and had it bugged. I had also bought her a necklace and had a tracking device installed. I knew if I had given her a gift like this sooner and told her never to take it off, it would raise some red flags. However, since things changed a bit between us and we had gotten closer, I knew she wouldn't have much of an issue with it now.

It wasn't that I didn't trust her. As hard as it was, I had actually started trusting Amy and hoped that she wouldn't betray my trust but I had to ensure that she was safe especially being with me and my feelings for her.

I even allowed her to keep the keys to one of my cars so she could use it to go wherever she wanted but I'd still be able to keep track of her.

At first I hadn't expected to have feelings for her. Especially considering what she was in the past but getting to know her and knowing that the only reason she had such a past was because she was sold and forced into such life, somehow things started changing. I started developing feelings for her and with time, those feelings had intensified and I knew that I would kill for her within a heartbeat. I may not have admit it out loud but this girl was mine and that was how it was going to stay as long as I was around. I often feared that bringing her further in my world might have put her at risk from time to time, that was why I hadn't made a move to take things further and make it more public that Amy was mine. I feared that the enemy always try to prey on your weaknesses, and most times the weakness is that person who is most special to you.

She had been through a lot in her years and she deserved someone who would be willing to protect her and make her feel special. I took it upon myself to be that guy. Most importantly, I think we both understood each other, that was why I could tell that something had changed a few days ago.

Instead of us taking a step forward, things seemed to be going backward and I didn't like it one bit. Amy was being weird around me. She was no longer allowing me to touch her or anything. It was either she didn't feel the same way about me -which I doubt was the case because Amy obviously liked being around me and in my arms- or this was probably as a result of Seagal frightening her the other night. Whatever the issue was, I needed her to work on it because her running about like a headless chicken whenever I'm around, was getting annoying.

Amy had been doing pretty well with her hiding from and avoiding me for the past few days. I could have caught up with her long before but decided that I would give her some space and not frightened or scare her off more. I hadn't push things too much, but I have had enough now. This was getting ridiculous and she was going to tell me what the hell was up one way or another. Usually I'd be gone to work already and Amy would most likely come out after I was gone, but this morning I had decided to stick around longer. I was sitting in the living room when Any came out dressed. Seeing me sitting there, her eyes went wide in surprise as she most likely thought I was gone by now.

"Morning Amy. Are you ready for us to have a chat?"

*****

****

I thought I was doing so well with staying out of Lucas's way and keeping this secret from him for as long as I could until I figured out what to do. Lexi and I were meeting up for breakfast and maybe I could talk to her and gather some advice.

She had told me to meet her at this restaurant called Réunion. I had gotten ready early this morning since it was breakfast and she was pregnant. She had to eat early as eating late wouldn't be good for her and the baby. It was then that I remembered I was now pregnant too and that some of my eating habits would have to change as well. I had decided dressing casually and comfortably. I wore a tight fitting jeans, a lose fitting blouse and a pair of high brown boots.

Somehow I kept worrying that even though I was still too early to show, people may be able to tell I was pregnant. And as stupid as I know that was, I couldn't help it. So I grabbed a jacket to go along with the outfit. I had grabbed my bag and phone deciding to leave but was shock when I came face to face with Lucas who was sitting in the living room. My eyes almost bulged out of my head. I had been doing so well with not running into him for the past couple days now and I thought he already left. I wasn't expecting him to be here.

"Morning Amy. Are you ready for us to have a chat?" He said to me.

Oh no.

"Lucas, hi." I greeted smiling so that he wouldn't notice my nervous state. "I thought you left for work already."

"No. You and I need to talk and you've been doing so well at hiding from me." Lucas said to me standing up.

"I'm supposed to be meeting Lexi for breakfast." I told him taking a step back as he walked towards me. "C-cant we talk later? I don't want her to wait long. Eating late isn't good for the baby."

"Are you nervous Amy?" He asked taking a step closer to me as I took another step back.

"W-what? Why would you think that?" I swallowed nervously as I stepped backwards.

"I'd love to know the reason you're running away from me." Lucas said taking another step forward.

"I'm not running away from you." I said to him as I took another step back.

"You are!" Lucas said reaching out for me.

Frightened, I tried stepping back again but find myself tripping over a small table. I let out a scream preparing myself to crash over the table and onto the floor, when Lucas grabbed me pulling me to him before I could fall. It took me a second to realize that he wasn't lunging at me to hurt me but to save me from falling over the table I hadn't seen which was in the way behind me.

"Look at that, you almost hurt yourself because of this nonsense of you running from me." Lucas said obviously angry. "I want to know, are you suddenly scared of me again now? Do you think I'm going to hurt you or something?"

"No, no it isn't like that. It's just that..."

"It's just that what Amy? You don't want to be near or around me anymore? I really want to know." Lucas said as he let me go. "Sit, we need to talk. You need to explain to me what's going on because for the last couple of days don't think I haven't noticed the change. I want you to tell me why."

"Lucas, it's not like that. Lately I haven't been- I haven't been myself. I just had some things on my mind that has been bothering me, that's all. Some things from the past had..."

"Does this have something to do with that idiot Seagal?" Lucas asked me cutting me off.

"What?" I asked surprised "They told you."

"They didn't have to. The club has cameras surrounding it and I have dealings at that club." Lucas said to me. "I know you ran into the bastard the other night and I know he manhandled you. Is that why you've been acting so weird and distant lately?"

"I never want you to worry about Seagal or get mad because of the whole situation. He may have recognised my voice from back at Alfredo's when..." I paused deciding not to say anymore. This was so embarrassing.

"Amy I know what you had to do being at that place. I know you're ashamed of some of these things but I never once judged you or it hasn't helped determine my feelings for you." Lucas said to me. "I know that you only did what you could to avoid the abuse and punishment. You didn't willing go seeking that life but that's all in the past now and Seagal maybe a brute that is going to get what's coming to him sooner than you know. However, you need to quit this nonsense of running and hiding from me because I maybe be ruthless but I'm not like him. I'd never hurt you or another innocent woman for that matter. I am here and you know that I'll protect you and make sure that Seagal..."

Okay, so at first I thought that maybe Lucas had found out my secret and I was actually fretting when he said we needed to talk but this wasn't what I thought he was going to talk about. I didn't even think that he knew, but I should have expected it. I was glad Lucas still didn't know the real issue but I guess I could play it off so he would just let things go now.

"I didn't want you killing him because of me." I said cutting him off.

"He deserves just that." Lucas said angrily. "He's a sorry piece of...maybe death is even a bit too good for him."

"I don't like when you're like this, when you're angry and... That is why I never wanted to tell you and why I've been so weird. It scares me." I told him.

It was half truth. He did scare me whenever he was like this and talking about killing but that wasn't why I was scared of being around him for the past couple days. I was scared of the fact that I was pregnant with his child and didn't know how to tell him or how he would react to such news. I was scared of the fact that being close to him was what got me in this dilemma right now.

"Amy, you need to trust me okay. I'm not going to hurt you." Lucas said as he took my face in his hands. "I'll always do whatever it takes to protect you. And I don't want you continuing to run and hide from me alright? It's really irritating. If something bothers you, I don't want you acting all weird with me. You come to me and you tell me, understood?"

"Yeah. Okay." I nodded looking into his eyes.

I wish I really could just come to you and tell you.

Lucas leaned in and our lips were on each other's. As Lucas kissed me, I couldn't resist returning the kiss willingly even though my mind kept telling me to resist.

"Where are you meeting Lexi for breakfast?" Lucas asked me as soon as he pulled back from the kiss.

"She said the restaurant is called Réunion." I told him.

"Alright, let me drop you off." Lucas replied.

****

"You know I was actually really surprised when you called me wanting to hang out." Lexi said to me as she speared a piece of chicken with her fork.

"I know it may seems a bit out of the ordinary but I just felt like I needed to talk to and hang out with someone. And you were fun to hang out with." I told her.

"Aww, you think I'm fun." Lexi chuckled. "I thought I'd lost my touch with being good company, apparently not."

"Not from what I had experienced. You still got it." I said smiling at her.

"Well I'm glad to hear that because I was starting to think that since I ...oh!" Lexi said causing me to be alarmed.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked wondering what was wrong.

"No, I'm fine. Really it's just that I felt my baby kicked." Lexi informed me with a smile.

"Oh? Really? When did you start feeling him?" I asked her. "How does it feel? It doesn't hurt or anything right?"

"I started feeling him kicked last week." Lexi told me excitedly. "It was awesome. It doesn't hurt it just felt a bit weird at first but it doesn't hurt. It's like... I don't even know how to describe it to you. It's like he's so active."

"He did it again?" I couldn't help but chuckled as Lexi jumped slightly.

Just watching her and how happy she i

was about being pregnant, made me feel like maybe pregnancy wasn't such a bad thing as I believe it to be.

"Yeah, here." Lexi said taking my hand and placing it on her belly. "He was really kicking on this side. Looks like he's being shy now."

"Yeah, maybe he's only reserving those kicks for you." I smiled at her. Just as I was about to remove my hand from her belly, I felt him kick. "Oh! Oh my gosh, his kick is strong."

"You felt him?" Lexi chuckled. "He's being really active ever since we first felt him. It's like he's showing off."

"I guess it's about time now for him to do so." I smiled at her. "So are you anxious or anything? About giving birth?"

"I am. I can't wait for him to be outside in the real world, so I can meet him. Can't wait to see his little face and hold him in my arms." she smiled.

Hearing Lexi talk about her baby and how excited she was to meet him, made me smile. She was so happy to be a mother while I was there dreading it, but maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. I just know that I'd have someone else who would love me very much, someone who I would give my life for.

"What is it like being pregnant? Like how does it feel in terms of morning sickness and uncomfortableness?"

"Well for the first three months, I was fortunate enough to not have any morning sickness. But then a few weeks later it started. There came the nausea, the vomiting and those were the worst but it didn't last long." Lexi told me. "And then there was the slight discomfort from the stretching of my stomach as the baby grow. It sometimes causes a little back and muscle pain but most times Gio would just massage the area and a warm bath helps too."

"So what about now? Are you feeling any pain or discomfort?" I had to ask her.

"No, not right now. The pain usually comes on when I over exert myself. Or in the evenings- after a long day."

"Well I guess that isn't so bad then since it's not all the time." I said to her. "But when you had the morning sickness, how did you deal with that? Were there anything that you took that helped with easing it?"

"Mostly ginger tea or ginger ale and crackers. I'd eat in the mornings and food like pizza and such, is usually best choice for breakfast. Pepper mint also worked wonders in keeping it at bay." Lexi responded.

"Oh, I didn't know that food like pizza would help." I said to her. "I'm curious about something, but it may be a bit too personal."

"Just ask me Amy. I don't think it's nothing I can't answer." Lexi assured me with a smile.

"I know but this is kinda your private life so I have no business asking..."

"Whatever it is, just ask me already Amy. I am the one who gave you the go head to ask me anything. " She said to me.

"Alright, uhm... seeing that you're this pregnant, do you and Gio still... you know?" I trailed off uncomfortably.

I was asking a very personal question, one I'd never ask under normal circumstances but I was curious to know if this was possible or how it worked.

"Do we still make love?" Lexi asked raising a brow when I hadn't continue. "Yeah we still do."

"Isn't that a bit dangerous? Or harmful, won't that harm the baby?" I asked her.

"No, not if you're taking your time and in the right positions. It's only harmful if the person is too heavily pregnant and you're a high risk patient with other health factors." Lexi informed me. "As long as both partners knows what they're doing, it's perfectly safe. It's actually encouraged by doctors for some mothers. A pregnant woman having sex actually helps with releasing tensions and freeing up muscles. It also help the birth process to be much easier at the time of delivery."

"Oh, I just always thought that sex could be harmful to the baby." I replied with an innocent shrug.

"What do you think? The guy is going to poke the baby's head somehow?" Lexi laughed.

"No, it's not like that." I couldn't help but laugh as well. "I just didn't know."

"Don't worry, if and whenever you get pregnant, you'll see that you don't have to worry about that." She said to me.

Her saying that made me nervous again. Instead of answering, I just put on a smile looking down at my plate.

"What? You don't want kids?" Lexi asked looking at me.

Oh God, this was a bad idea.

"I- I really don't know I-I..."

"Relax it's just a question." Lexi said stopping my stuttering. "You know at one point, I hadn't thought I was fit to be a mother and then another time I didn't want to think about having kids."

"Really? But how come? You're married and you're successful. You have what it takes to be a mother." I said to her.

"This isn't my first pregnancy Amy. The first time I got pregnant, Gio and weren't even together at the time." She told me.

"What?" I asked surprised. Was she ever in a similar situation like me?

"Yes, Gio and I started messing around before we even got to know each other that well." She said to me.

Wow, sounds quite familiar.

"And then certain things came to light and Gio thought I had betrayed him because he found out that I was from another mafia family-The Luciano's. He confronted me about it and I had shot him because..."