Café du Monde

[GGJ5]

OOC: Yay for Erin/Yumi! And Juliet? : DDDD BIC:

Erin Spenser

With schoolwork a constant again now, Erin had learned the value in relishing Saturdays. But the Saturdays were also dampened with grown-up and responsible things, like grocery shopping. On the plus side, she actually had experience with that, actually getting some weird enjoyment from shopping for and planning meals. Erin used to go with her parents and take half the list and do her own thing with it, so it wasn't like it was a new skill she had to acquire when she moved in with Yukito.

But she still wasn't going to go shopping for groceries at seven thirty in the morning like her parents liked to do. No, she waited until sometime after two to head out. Now that she had completed her shopping successfully, and had even took everything home and put it away, she decided to reward herself with the extra money allotted for groceries that she didn't have to spend. It wasn't much, but she was sure she could find something cute that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Maybe just a pinky. Every once in a while, Erin would stop at stores along the sidewalk and window shop, but with no success. Slightly disgruntled at her failure to find something thrifty, she decided as she headed in the direction of Cafe du Monde that the leftover money could just go to an overly priced sandwich instead. It was better than nothing, anyway.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

Yumi didn't know how almost a whole year had flown by so fast.

Following the incidents with Erin, Yukito, and Kagayaki, Yumi had taken a step back from that front and started to think about what she really wanted to do now that she was in America. She had discovered quickly that she liked New Orleans, and a few phone calls to her dad over in Kyoto, where he lived with his new family and saw Yumi at the most once a year, had proven useful, as he had somehow managed to fork over the money necessary for a year studying abroad. Sunny and her parents had pulled some strings with the same foreign exchange program that had sent Sunnychan to Japan in the first place, and Yumi had been enrolled as a student at Sunny's school, Audubon Public, just after Thanksgiving--strings had been pulled for that too. She had spent the majority of a school year learning English, making friends, and trying to stay on top of her classes, with different results. And somehow, they had made it to the month of May.

With less than four weeks until Yumi's "exchange program" would let up, Yumi was once again forced to think about her future. She of course wanted to go back to Japan--she missed her friends back home, and her mother. But there was some part of her that didn't want to leave the new life she'd made for herself in New Orleans.

Yumi shook her head, bringing her back to focusing on the task of getting ready. She was going down to the French Quarter coffee shop to meet some friends, to do a combination of exam studying and planning for the upcoming prom at Audubon, who Yumi would be attending with another exchange student, one who most people lovingly referred to as "Mark from Finland." She straightened the yellow camisole she wore before pulling on a tank top over it, straightening her jean shorts and adding a couple of cute necklaces. Finally, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

As she neared the cafe, she stopped abruptly, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. Her friends weren't there yet, but that wasn't what caught her attention. There, apparently headed to her same destination, was undoubtedly Spenser Erin. Fancy meeting you here.

Even as her instincts told her to just leave things alone, Yumi found herself calling out, "Well, hello there, Erin." Her eyes met Erin's brown ones, almost smugly.

[GGJ5]

OOC: super sorry about the names Erin will call her... >_< BIC:

Erin Spenser

Walking without her music in her ears, Erin's attention had fallen on the people milling about the streets. She was people-watching. There was some college guy heading into the store that looked like a hipster reject, which was a pretty bad rejection. There was some tiny girl that was dressed way older than she was talking on the phone dramatically, gesturing all the meanwhile. There was a group of kids heading into the coffee shop, too-- three really tall girls and a curly-headed guy carrying a guitar case. The image made Erin smile. There was a familiar looking Asian girl who-- No way. Erin stopped, her expression fading into blandness and then a few shades darker. What are you still doing here? No, no, she was supposed to be gone. Long gone, away, defeated.

But there she was, in her disgusting man-hunting glory.

She was probably one of that Amane chick's besties, operating the website and spying on them like the sicko she was... that's why she'd stuck around. The thought twisted knots in Erin's stomach, and her memory flashed back to Yukito's news about her. She'd actually had the gall to try to kiss him, to win him back. What kind of a mental case was she?!

"Well, hello there, Erin." Yumi's voice carried over to her, and since she was already frozen as the angry thoughts stirred up in her, Erin could only widen her eyes at the new lessened accent and acquired colloquial sound in her words. She freaking learned the language? What, to impress him with how smart the ditzy thing is?

Well. Since she spoke perfectly fine English now, no need to sugarcoat her opinion on the girl anymore. It was about time. "Oh, don't start that bullcrap where you pretend to talk like we're best friends just because you can't handle a bit of honest rejection," she retorted, stalking towards here. "What are you still doing here? Huh? Was his complete lack of interest in you not obvious enough? Oh, I know, maybe I should shove water in your face!" she said in a mock-happy tone, dripping in heavy sarcasm. "That's not a bad idea at all now that I think about it." She crossed her arms, glaring at the girl. "What part of no didn't you understand, the N, or the O? Or maybe you're just too much of a slut to care."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

She felt a strange sort of satisfaction as she watched Spenser Erin's expression cloud over with recognition at the sight of her. Oh yes. I'm still here--just because the two of you drove me out of your lives doesn't mean you have the right to drive me out of your country. Isn't that why America was founded, anyway? I can stay here if I want to, and I did. Not for him, and not for you. Not for anybody else except me. Can you believe that, Spensersan? Or are you too selfish to consider anything that you don't cook up yourself in your twisted little mind could be the truth? Hmm?

"Well, hello there, Erin," she cried before she could stop herself, watching as Erin met her gaze. Her tone was almost mocking, and she smirked to herself. This should be fun.

She wasn't trying to provoke Erin--at least, that's what she told herself. Yumi was going to set the record straight, for once.

If she angered Spenser Erin in the process, that was just an extra bonus.

"Oh, don't start that bullcrap where you pretend to talk like we're best friends just because you can't handle a bit of honest rejection," Erin hissed, advancing towards her. Yumi held her ground against the taller girl, meeting her eyes defiantly. "What are you still doing here? Huh? Was his complete lack of interest in you not obvious enough? Oh, I know, maybe I should shove water in your face!" Her tone was dripping sarcasm, but Yumi merely smirked again. "That's not a bad idea at all now that I think about it. What part of no didn't you understand, the N, or the O? Or maybe you're just too much of a slut to care."

Yumi gave a mocking laugh. "I am not the one who goes out and gets drunk at parties or whatever, making a fool out of myself waiting for Yukito to rescue me, like a prince in a fairy story. Pathetic. I have my sources. I know things." She gave yet another smirk. "So that is two points against you there. And I've been studying here in America all this time. Being on exchange. Going to high school. Learning English. Learning" she emphasized, sinking to a dangerously low level that was for some reason too tempting not to risk. "But I guess you just wouldn't understand that, would you? Especially considering...well, you know. I wonder if I can read better than you now, do you think?"

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"What are you still doing here? Huh?" Erin snapped at Yumi, all the pent up resentment against her welling up again, stronger from being bottled so long. "Was his complete lack of interest in you not obvious enough? Oh, I know, maybe I should shove water in your face!" She felt her teeth clinch at the know-it-all look on Yumi's face. "That's not a bad idea at all now that I think about it. What part of no didn't you understand, the N, or the O? Or maybe you're just too much of a slut to care." Her hands were shaking by her side, and her mind was listing all the reasons she hated Yumi. You hurt Kagayaki. You played with his feelings. You followed Yukito here. You won't leave him alone. You tried to kiss him. YOU TRIED TO KISS HIM. You're still here. You act like you're better than me. You act like I'm not worthy of him. You act like a total holier-than-thou. You think you're so prim and cute and shiny, and you're nothing but a slut that screws with guys' emotions. You're....

Yumi interrupted her thoughts with a sardonic laugh. Erin wish fervently that the girl had never learned to properly use the English language, so she wouldn't have to understand her. Or hear her obnoxious know-it-all voice. "I am not the one who goes out and gets drunk at parties or whatever, making a fool out of myself waiting for Yukito to rescue me, like a prince in a fairy story. Pathetic. I have my sources. I know things."

"You don't know crap," Erin retorted through a tight jaw, teeth aching to grind against themselves. She actually did know something, and that was another thing Erin could hate about her. And the idea that this might pose another Amane issue ate at the back of her mind, making a sick feeling swirl in the pit of her stomach.

Yumi just smirked at her again, and Erin's teeth gnashed, one side biting down hard on the inside of her cheek. A metallic taste filtered into her mouth. Number I-lost-count: she's self-righteous, too. "So that is two points against you there. And I've been studying here in America all this time. Being on exchange. Going to high school. Learning English. Learning." Erin's glared just deepened. Mostly from the fact that she didn't know then what Yumi was getting at. Which only angered her more. Then, of course, she had to add, "But I guess you just wouldn't understand that, would you? Especially considering...well, you know. I wonder if I can read better than you now, do you think?"

Before she realized what she was doing, Erin reached out and gave a solid slap against Yumi's face. "Shut up!" Her hand came away burning, but she didn't care. "Shut up, you stupid know-it-all! I hate you!" She gripped the necklaces dangling from Yumi's neck, giving them a sudden twist and pull, then pulled again until they all snapped. "You don't know anything about me!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

Yumi had to fight the urge to laugh at Erin's anger. "What are you still doing here? Huh? Was his complete lack of interest in you not obvious enough?" Oh, it was. You have no idea. "Oh, I know, maybe I should shove water in your face!" That would be refreshing, wouldn't it? In more ways than one. "That's not a bad idea at all now that I think about it. What part of no didn't you understand, the N, or the O? Or maybe you're just too much of a slut to care."

This time, Yumi couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips. "I am not the one who goes out and gets drunk at parties or whatever, making a fool out of myself waiting for Yukito to rescue me, like a prince in a fairy story," she retorted. "Pathetic. I have my sources. I know things." More than you'll ever know, Spenser Erin. So let's just accept that and move on?

"You don't know crap," was Erin's very smart reply. Yumi gave another smirk, feeling more sure of herself than she could ever remember being. Even though Erin had won Yukito, Yumi was winning this encounter. And that gave her a feeling of power that was too delicious, to mesmerizing, to pass up even for one moment.

"So that is two points against you there," she taunted. "And I've been studying here in America all this time. Being on exchange. Going to high school. Learning English. Learning. But I guess you just wouldn't understand that, would you? Especially considering...well, you know. I wonder if I can read better than you now, do you think?"

Before Yumi knew it, Erin had struck her hard across the face, sending her head flying to one side.

"Shut up!"

What? Her eyes widened despite the pain, and she turned to face her attacker. I never knew you were violent. Spensersan wasn't done yet though, as she screamed a few more things into Yumi's shocked face. She'd never been hit before...not like this. This had been the last thing she'd expected. "Shut up, you stupid know-it-all! I hate you!"

Erin lunged for Yumi, taking her necklaces in a death grip and yanking until they came away in her hands, scratching and snapping at Yumi's skin and causing her to cry out in pain. "You don't know anything about me!"

She felt something wet on the back of her neck, and she knew she was bleeding. Suddenly too angry to even see straight, Yumi shoved Erin backwards, hard. She hadn't been in a fight since the days of bullies on the playground, when her mother had taught her to fight back and stand up for herself and others, but she still remembered what to do. She grabbed a handful of Erin's thick hair and yanked as hard as she could, watching with satisfaction as the force of her attack pulled Erin's head back. "Well, you don't know anything about me!" she screamed back. "Or Yukito! You're just a stupid American brat who is so spoiled she's willing to make the person she loves go broke by moving in with him because she's too pathetic to be alone!" She pulled her hair again before reaching out a hand to scratch down Erin's cheek.

[GGJ5]

OOC: soooo sorry for what Erin says here.... BIC:

Erin Spenser

"I wonder if I can read better than you now, do you think?"

The comment was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Out of nowhere Erin found her hand smacking hard against Yumi's face, and even that didn't seem to be enough. "Shut up! Shut up, you stupid know-it-all! I hate you!" She tore forward, yanking Yumi's necklaces, twisting them in her hand until they all finally snapped. "You don't know anything about me!" she shouted over Yumi's cry.

Yumi's immediate retaliation was to shove Erin backwards, hard. She sent her stumbling, even struggling to maintain upright, despite feeling like Yumi knocked the breath from her. Or at least half of her breath. Oh, no, she didn't... She reeled around shoving Yumi back with equal, irate force, both her hands slamming against her shoulders. Yumi turned back with an unfortunately well-practiced grab at Erin's hair, and she contorted her face at the shock of pain as Yumi sent her tilting back. Frantically she twisted to get out of the hold, but pulling hurt worse. She clawed at Yumi's fingers, tugging and pulling and hoping she could break them. "Slut! Whore!"

"Well, you don't know anything about me!" she was shouting. "Or Yukito! You're just a stupid American brat who is so spoiled she's willing to make the person she loves go broke by moving in with him because she's too pathetic to be alone!"

Yumi's grip lessened enough that she could turn around. "I hope you die! I hope you eat your load of horse**** and---" Her words were cut off by the shriek of pain she suddenly felt in her cheek. Her hands shot up to clamp around Yumi's hand, and she pulled back on her fingers tightly, bending them backward sharply, and then using her side to give Yumi a severe shove backward. She then tore at her hair, close to the root, yanking hard with only the thought of making her go bald in Erin's mind. Her fingers tore at Yumi's ears, then scraped cruelly along the scratches she'd opened earlier on her neck. "I hate you! I HATE YOU!!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Yumi Saito

The sting of Spenser Erin's slap didn't hurt Yumi nearly as much as it hurt her pride. Who did this spoiled, stuck up Amerikajin think she was? Yumi had accepted defeat in regards to Yukito. Why couldn't Erin see that? What gave her the right to push Yumi around? As far as Yumi was concerned, the only thing she'd done wrong was to keep a torch lit for Yukito, to kiss him when he was clearly perfectly happy here with Erin. It was Erin who'd taken it one step further. Erin who'd dealt the first blow.

Which made fighting back perfectly acceptable in Yumi's world.

Erin wasn't done yet--she brutally ripped the necklaces off of Yumi's exposed neck, opening up cuts along the skin there. Alarm bells went off in Yumi's head and she let out a cry of pain as Erin screamed, "You don't know anything about me!"

Trying to serve Erin a taste of her own medicine, Yumi shoved her backwards, thinking back to her days on the playground. She watched in satisfaction as the self-assured Erin stumbled, nearly toppling over to the ground. Erin regained her balance, though, shoving Yumi back equally as hard. Yumi's neck hurt even more from the force of that, and she could feel the blood beginning to soak into the fabric of her tank top. Nobody does that to me and gets away with it. Not anymore. Images filled Yumi's head, memories she had long attempted to keep locked away...her surrounded by kids on all sides, laughing at her for having a father who'd run off and left her. And abandoned her and her mother for some other woman--not even the woman who would later become Yumi's stepmother, which would have made it slightly more bearable. She recalled the brutal shoves and pushes, the name-calling, her face being shoved into the dirt on the playground. I'm not going to let her win. Not this time.

Not when she's already won everything else.

She grabbed a handful of Erin's hair, yanking back hard enough to send Erin's entire head reeling back. Now it was Erin's turn to scream in pain, and Yumi hoped it hurt even more than the pain that she had just caused her. "Slut! Whore!" the Amerikajin cried, trying unsuccessfully to get away from Yumi's tight grip. Her fingers tore at Yumi's own, but she refused to let go. This time, Yumi would hold on even if it killed her.

"Well, you don't know anything about me! Or Yukito! You're just a stupid American brat who is so spoiled she's willing to make the person she loves go broke by moving in with him because she's too pathetic to be alone!"

Unknowingly, Yumi had allowed her hold on Erin's hair to slacken during this speech, and Erin finally broke free. "I hope you die! I hope you eat your load of horse**** and---" Yumi cut her off with a scratch down one cheek, watching tiny beads of blood well up from the lines her fingernails left behind. Spensersan grabbed a hold of Yumi's hands, bending her fingers as if she meant to break them. Yumi screamed in pain, certain that Erin had succeeded, and fell to the ground as Erin shoved her over. Now more vulnerable than ever, Erin grabbed Yumi's hair and tugged, far harder than Yumi felt she had done. Yumi covered her face, cowering on the ground as Erin scratched mercilessly at her ears and neck. "I hate you! I HATE YOU!!"

"We hate you, Yumi! Does your daddy hate you too? Is that why he left you all alone, because he never loved you?"

It was too much. Yumi got to her feet quickly, tackling Erin to the ground and returning the scratches dealt to her. She heard fabric tearing, but didn't know whether it was her shirt or Erin's that was being destroyed. The blood was flowing much more freely down her neck now, but she hardly noticed. She gave another yank at Erin's hair before releasing her grip just slightly. "I am not going to let you win," she hissed, close to Erin's ear.

[issie]

OOC: Bwahaha Bic:

Jessica Seeley

Jessica looked at her watch for the millionth time, he was already five minutes late for their meeting. She had been sure not to mention Quinn, just in case he decided that that was a valid reason to not come. She rolled her green eyes again, inwardly griping about how people being late was annoying and other things.

Quinn was asleep in her carrier by her side at the table, being blissfully quiet. It was a nice contrast from earlier that morning when she wouldn't stop crying no matter what Jessica did to sooth her. She fed her, changed her diaper, and burped her. And she couldn't see how she could still possibly been tired, because she had had a long nap right before the crying began.

She looked at the watch again.

She had taken extra care for her appearance, like she always did. Her hair was straightened and fell evenly on both of her shoulders, her make up done so that it looked like she didn't have any on at all, her clothes matching and not wrinkled. To her, wrinkled clothes were not okay. It was a sign of laziness, in her eyes. Overall, she looked great, except for the extra pounds from her pregnancy that she and her baby were both trying to get rid of in their own ways.

Looking down at her child, she felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of of her. She was beautiful, and adorable. All the things a baby should be, she was. Jessica smiled, brushing the little hair Quinn had to the side. It was blonde, like both her and the father, and it fit her cute face in a way that had strangers stopping and admiring her.

She glanced down at her watch again. Eleven minutes.

[More than Music]

OOC: Oh, now I'm all giddy again. xD
BIC:

Clarence Morgan

He'd almost decided not to come.

What could she want anyway? Why on earth was she calling him and telling him to meet her at the cafe?

Jess. Jessica Seeley. The cheerleader who was too good for everyone. The one he hadn't spoken to since last April when they split up.

She'd always made him feel tense. Her standards were so high for everything and he couldn't stand how perfect she was all the time. He'd only seen her relaxed when she slept, and it felt like an exception to the rule. He'd seen that peace a few times when she was awake, hiding beneath her tight little smile and her blankly disappointed frown. He'd liked her then.

It was the rest of the time he couldn't stand. Luckily, they'd severed every string that could have been attached by the time they broke up, so he felt no shame in leaving her when he had.

It'd been over a year since then. Something just didn't feel right about her calling him now.

But he'd come anyway, mostly because Raiu reminded him he shouldn't skip out on girls he was pretty sure could maul him with a plastic spoon. Taking that with a 'good point', Clarence had pulled himself together and gone down there at the last minute.

He was definitely nervous. Jess wasn't the type to just randomly call someone.

She wanted something. She definitely wanted something.

Clarence could see her sitting in the cafe from the front window, and he second-guessed coming again as she checked her watch.

'D***, she probably knows exactly how late I am. I hate it when she does that.'

Taking a deep breath, Clarence tried to bring back his confidence as he went inside and made his way over to Jessica's table.

"Hey," he said, managing to sound pretty suave considering how admittedly worried he felt about her motives. His eyes fell on the baby sleeping in the chair next to her. "No way," he laughed. "You've got a kid? Never would've thought, Jess. Never would've thought."

Well, that made him feel a little better. He sat down. "So, what you want from me? I know you want something, Jess. You always want something."

[issie]

Jessica Seeley

Jessica looked up from her little angel as she finally caught sight of him. Clarence. The father of her sweet little Quinn. She arched an eyebrow; she knew that he knew he was late, but she was trying to be as civil as possibly. Even though he was being impossibly rude. She doubt that he would even apologize.

"Hey," he said, giving her his best 'suave boy' impression. She was only slightly impressed by this, she was more amused. Mainly because he had no idea that the bundle of joy close to her side was his too. Silently, she debated with herself on whether or not she should even tell him. She narrowed her eyes at him, thinking that just maybe she'd be better off raising Quinn herself, away from the man standing in front of her. "No way," he laughed. He actually LAUGHED! "You've got a kid? Never would've thought, Jess. Never would've thought."

Her eyes narrowed even more as her hand flew to the side of the carrier protectively as he sat down. She was not at all amused by the face he was making and his laughter. "So, what you want from me? I know you want something, Jess. You always want something."

She grimaced and looked down at Quinn one more time, deciding that she should just tell him and get it over with. A smirk lifted up the left side of her glossy mouth and she grabbed the carrier, set it on the table in front of him and spoke with words she knew would shock him and possibly have him crying like a baby and running out of the cafe like a bat out of hell.

"Meet Quinn... your daughter." And she waited silently for his reaction, her frowning face completely serious.

[More than Music]

OOC: *SQUEENESS EXPLOSION*
BIC:

Clarence Morgan

"Hey." He was trying to be smooth and it actually worked a little, but Jess didn't seem impressed. She rarely did. Trying to grasp for a topic, his eyes fell on the baby. "No way," he laughed. "You've got a kid? Never would've thought, Jess. Never would've thought."

He sat down, ignoring her ever-narrowing eyes of suspicion and judgment as she put one hand on the baby carrier.

"So, what you want from me? I know you want something, Jess. You always want something."

She frowned at first, but that slowly broke with her smile. Clarence tensed a little more, his previous charisma fading into concern. "What?"

Jess put the carrier up on the table in between them with a look of absolute victory. Clarence's eyes widened.

'OH SH--'

"Meet Quinn... your daughter."

Clarence jumped backwards, knocking over his chair and earning to looks from everyone in the room. He looked at Jess, finding a solemn look on her face.

Several words came to mind that he refused to yell in this crowd of people, since he'd been working so hard to cut that habit.

"J-Jess...!" He put his hands on his head, breathing fast.

He was a father. He was a freaking father and he hadn't had any idea until just now. If he'd known... if he'd known he never would have come down here.

The only thought going through his head was 'RUN, JUST RUN' but he was stuck in place.

Clarence pointed at the carrier with a slightly shaking hand. "That... that baby..." He was unavoidably trembling. "That... that little girl, that..." He met Jessica's eyes, saying the only thing he could think of anymore. "You named her Quinn, just like I told you I would name my little girl."

He didn't cry. Clarence Morgan, the fighter, the survivor, the wanna-be jock and show-off since age three. He didn't cry.

But this brought tears to his eyes as he picked up the chair and made himself look the baby on the table in her little, pudgy face and her green eyes that were just like her mother's. Swallowing hard, he managed to whisper: "That's my daughter?"

[issie]

Jessica Seeley

"Meet Quinn... your daughter." the words came out easily for her as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking straight at him as he started to freak out.

At first he jumped backwards, like someone big had thrown him, causing everyone to look, but she didn't care about them. Not one bit. They were all giving HIM funny looks, not her so it was absolutely none of her concern. In fact, she even waved at a table of wide-eyed teens that were whispering with one another like they had a bomb on the table. She laughed.

"J-Jess...!" He exclaimed while putting his hands on his head like a psycho. She frowned. It was beginning to be humiliating, having everyone watch his reaction to her little Quinn as if she was deformed or something. Her eyes gave him a warning and she swallowed a few choice words as he stood there. She could tell he was thinking about running, and that was fairly okay with her. If he did that she would never have to see him again and he wouldn't taint her baby.

She scowled openly as he pointed at the carrier with a wussy's shaking hand. "It's rude to point."

"That... that baby..." He was unavoidably trembling like he had just seen Jesus. "That... that little girl, that..." He met her eyes in an almost pleading way and she arched an eyebrow at him again, wanting to tell him to just spit it out already. "You named her Quinn, just like I told you I would name my little girl."

"Way to go, smart one." she said sarcastically, but with a smile on her pretty face. And like she guessed he would, he started to cry. It was just so like him to completely freak out like this. It partially annoyed her and partially amused her.

"That's my daughter?"

"For crying out loud, YES!" she exclaimed as she rolled her eyes.

It was then that little Quinn started to cry again, probably wanting to be held and she was more than happy to do it. Picking up her small piece of heaven, she held it close to her and muttered 'it's okay's and other soothing words and when she had stopped she looked up and started walking towards Clarence, her eyes shooting out another warning.

"Would you like to hold her?"

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

After successfully making a fool out of himself and blubbering like someone who needed to be committed to an insane asylum, Clarence sat down and looked at Quinn straightly for the first time. "That's my daughter?"

"For crying out loud, YES!"

He shrugged a little, staring at the baby as she began to cry.

Okay, so he thought he'd cleverly avoided this situation with every one of his girlfriends. Turns out he hadn't, and he was finally being made aware of this fact.

'I just hope this is the only kid I've fathered. God, I'm such a jerk.'

Jess cuddled the baby, making Clarence stare a little. She was loving to Quinn, loving like he'd never seen her act.

They'd both changed a lot, hadn't they?

If she'd told him this when they'd graduated, he would've told her he had his own future to worry about. If she'd told him this last Christmas when he was living in the car with Timmy, he would've told her he already had one baby on his mind.

But now? He was working on getting Timmy living with Yukito and Erin, and he had no plans for his future otherwise. Except the idea of going off to the military. That had come up more than once.

He'd spent the last couple weeks avoiding his relationship problems, walking around Raiu's house in his boxer shorts and creeping out the neighbors, accomplishing nothing other than some research on enlisting.

But, watching Jessica with her baby -- his baby... their baby... -- , he was starting to second-guess the way his life was going.

His relationship with Cassie would probably cave when she found out he had a kid anyway.

"Would you like to hold her?"

Clarence nodded and rising to his feet, noting her sterile, unforgiving glare as he took the little girl. She was so beautiful... He felt a little unworthy to hold her.

This was his baby. His daughter. His Quinn. That was such a weird feeling, one he'd never planned on having.

She stared up at him like she knew, green eyes watching him with awe. Then she smiled, staring up at him. He couldn't help but return that little smile, blinking his eyes to get rid of the tears he'd never let fall.

"She's got some serious talent, babe," he said with a little laugh. "Melting hearts of stone like ours." Clarence looked over at Jessica, still smiling a little, but that look faded as he met her eyes. "I want to help, Jess. I want to be there for her." He couldn't help but stare down at the girl again. It was like he was under a spell. "I know I never was really mature and all that crap, but I'm getting better now, and I..." He took a deep breath and let it out, bringing the content little Quinn just a bit closer to his chest as he closed his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she never feels like I don't care... if you'll let me."

[More than Music]

OOC: Catching up on a few posts we couldn't put up while the internet was down...
BIC:

Jessica Seeley

"Would you like to hold her?" Jessica asked, warning him with her eyes that if he tried anything funny, she would kill him. She hadn't let anyone besides her and the doctors hold her, ever since she was born. She just didn't trust anyone but herself. And if anything ever happened to Quinn, the one responsible better run and run far. Not that it would help them because she would hunt them down. There would be no 'accidents' with her baby. She always made sure of that, so it was difficult to hand her over to Clarence.

She could see the effect her baby had on him instantly. It was the same effect she had on everyone who saw her. She really was an angel. Her little smile completely melted him and Jessica relaxed a little bit. Just a very little bit. As far as she knew, he had never held a baby before so she didn't know if he might accidentally hurt her or not. It felt odd, seeing her bundle of joy in someone else's arms. But she had to get this off her conscience or it would bug her until she died. Because as much as she wanted to deny it, he WAS the father of Quinn and he had a right to hold her and see her at least once.

"She's got some serious talent, babe," he said with a little laugh and she nodded in agreement. "Melting hearts of stone like ours." He looked over at Jessica, a smile still on his face until he met her eyes. Then the smile faded and she wanted to reach out and take Quinn back, not liking the look on his face.

"I want to help, Jess. I want to be there for her." His eyes fell to Quinn again, who seemed comfortable enough in his arms. "I know I never was really mature and all that crap, but I'm getting better now, and I..." She arched an eyebrow at this, not believing him for one second. She heard him inhale deeply and let it out and she completely noticed how he brought her closer to his chest. Her lips formed a tight line at this and she kept stealing glances at Quinn as his eyes closed, ready to jump in at any moment. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she never feels like I don't care... if you'll let me."

She was stunned by this, which made her angry. She should always know what to do and say and how to act. Always.

“And how would you go about doing that, huh? Use her to get closer to other girls? Bring her around your people whenever your partying so she can get hurt?” Usually she would sound more snarky when she said this, but something just didn't feel right. She saw her baby girl in his arms and they just fit.

She bit her lip in frustration and glared at him. “Fine. But I swear on my life if you ever hurt her in any way, shape, or form I will personally tear you into tiny unrecognizable shreds. And if you think you're going to go away and come back just every once in a while, don't bother coming around her at all. It's better to have no father than one that you never see. Got it?”

Putting her hand to her forehead, she closed her eyes for half a second. “She likes you.” Jessica stated, looking at her Quinn. Her baby she would have to share.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Clarence Morgan

"I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she never feels like I don't care... if you'll let me."

Jessica hesitated at that. Clarence stood firm. 'She's my kid too, so don't give me that look. Just because you took your sweet time telling me she was mine doesn't make it any less true. I wanna help. I really do. I don't want this kid to live without a father – or worse, live with a father who's only there to hurt her. I'll be better than that, Jess. You've gotta believe me.'

“And how would you go about doing that, huh? Use her to get closer to other girls? Bring her around your people whenever your partying so she can get hurt?”

His eyes narrowed. “For your information, I am not about to stoop so low as to use her as a chick magnet.” He puffed up his chest, making Quinn stir just a little. “I'm enough of one on my own. I don't need help.”

'Not to mention I have a girlfriend, so stop biting your lip like that, sexy. Stop it!'

Jessica's eyes burned by her voice was surprisingly soft. “Fine. But I swear on my life if you ever hurt her in any way, shape, or form I will personally tear you into tiny unrecognizable shreds. And if you think you're going to go away and come back just every once in a while, don't bother coming around her at all. It's better to have no father than one that you never see. Got it?”

He let out the air he'd been keeping in his lungs, leaving a better spot for Quinn to nestle against him. She'd said he could be a part of his daughter's life, even if it was a bit harsh and delayed.

He had a daughter. And he was going to help raise her.

And he still didn't have a job. Well, he'd just have to fix that, wouldn't he? Couldn't have his kid thinking he was one of those lazy dads who were good for nothing more than opening up the occasional jelly jar!

Even if she technically couldn't think that yet. The first five years of a child's life determined their morals and values for their whole life.

He certainly couldn't have this kid using the same moral code as he did now.

God, this was gonna be hard, wasn't it?

“Thank you,” he said with a little smile in Jessica's direction. “And look, I don't plan to mess this up. I know how hard it is... the idea of trusting someone who can't protect themselves to someone else...” 'Timmy.' “But I'll make this work somehow, Jess. I will.”

'I won't be able to live with myself if I duck out and don't take care of my kid. You'll be just the person to remind me of that.'

Jess looked a little distressed, closing her eyes. “She likes you.”

Clarence looked down at their baby. “I sure hope so, I'm her father, after all.” That felt so strange, the way it rolled off his tongue. He took a deep breath. “So, how are we gonna do this?” He made himself meet Jessica's eyes. “What do you want me to do?”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Jessica Seeley

“And how would you go about doing that, huh? Use her to get closer to other girls? Bring her around your people whenever your partying so she can get hurt?”

His eyes narrowed almost as much as her's were. “For your information, I am not about to stoop so low as to use her as a chick magnet.” He puffed up his chest, successfully making himself look like a complete jerk. “I'm enough of one on my own. I don't need help.” She rolled her eyes, but she also smiled slightly at him.

Her voice was softer than she originally wanted it to be as she said, “Fine. But I swear on my life if you ever hurt her in any way, shape, or form I will personally tear you into tiny unrecognizable shreds. And if you think you're going to go away and come back just every once in a while, don't bother coming around her at all. It's better to have no father than one that you never see. Got it?”

Clarence sighed in relief and she couldn't help but to relax a little bit, he looked happy to hear that he could have a part in her daughter's life. Even if she still worried about everything, it was nice to see that she would possibly have a dad. And she did look so at peace in his arms.... What was she thinking? All of this was going to backfire in her face, she could tell already.

She could tell that he was deep in thought for a minute and she rolled her eyes lightly, annoyed at having to wait for him to pay attention.

“Thank you,” he said with a little smile in her direction. The kind of smile that used to make her smile back, but she was too busy arguing with herself to think about how seeing him again made her feel. This wasn't about her. This was about the baby, and it would always be about the baby. “And look, I don't plan to mess this up. I know how hard it is... the idea of trusting someone who can't protect themselves to someone else...” She glared. “But I'll make this work somehow, Jess. I will.”

How could she believe that when he ducked out of so many things before? It just wasn't logical in any way. But again, something about the expression in her daughter's eyes made her voice get caught in the back of her throat.

Jessica put her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes, trying to think of what would be the right thing to do in this situation. Was there a right thing to do? “She likes you.” she managed to say. “I sure hope so, I'm her father, after all.” It was odd, hearing him say something she knew was the complete truth but didn't exactly want to hear it out loud and from him.

“So, how are we gonna do this?” He said, reluctantly meeting Jessica's eyes. “What do you want me to do?”

She bit her lip again, something that was completely not common for her, mainly because she had never argued with herself this much before. “Honestly, I came here to tell you she was yours. That's it. I fully intended on just letting you know and not letting you see her again... but she likes you.” Jessica looked down at her little angel and her expression softened and she gave her mom the strength to say what she needed to. “I don't know what to do.”

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Clarence Morgan

“Thank you.” He felt so relieved she was letting him do this. If he had to live with the fact he had a kid, the least he could do was act like it made a difference to him. “And look, I don't plan to mess this up. I know how hard it is... the idea of trusting someone who can't protect themselves to someone else...” Her glare was expected but he managed to take it. “But I'll make this work somehow, Jess. I will.”

“She likes you.”

“I sure hope so, I'm her father, after all.” He was sure they were both pretending that didn't sound as weird as it did. “So, how are we gonna do this? What do you want me to do?”

She bit her lip, and Clarence had to look back at the baby to get his mind off of what they used to be. They had a baby together, after all. “Honestly, I came here to tell you she was yours. That's it. I fully intended on just letting you know and not letting you see her again... but she likes you.” He saw the softened look in her eyes as she looked down at Quinn. 'Yeah, I guess plans change.'

“I don't know what to do.”

He held Quinn a little closer. Somehow, he'd managed to get her to agree he could be around her and help raise her. But he didn't know how to do it. “Well, one option is that I come with you and taking care of the baby like a normal father, but I'm sure you'll disagree with that.” He shrugged. “Or I could just come over and watch her on certain days, to give you a break. Whatever works for you.”

'I know you don't trust easy. I get that. I don't either. But, if only for Quinn's sake, let's get along, okay?'

'You're still just as beautiful as you were before. I wonder if you know that.'