Chapter 24

"Hey, I have a surprise for you," Brady yelled from the couch to Chloe as she came out of the washroom.

"What is it?"

"Grab your jacket, and I'll show you," he told her enthusiastically, bouncing up from the couch and grabbing his own jacket and two helmets.

Chloe and Brady drove off on his motorcycle to their destination. When they pulled up, Chloe pulled off her helmet and started to laugh. "An amusement park? Really, Brady, I thought you were more mature than that."

"I haven't been to one of these since I was a kid," he laughed with her.

"So then, why now?" Chloe asked, taking the hand he offered to get off the bike.

"I thought we should get a feel for the place."

"What do you mean?"

"All these kids running around, having a good time, I just thought it was the right atmosphere."

"Right atmosphere for what?"

"If I'm going to be a father, I thought I better know what it's like," Brady told her, smiling down at her.

"Well, Black, I guess that makes sense. You'll be a great father. Kayla will be very lucky to have you in her life."

Brady took her in his arms, wrapping in her in a tight hug. Chloe sighed. All she could hope for was that Brady was this little girl''s father. She could already see the excitement in his eyes. And even if he didn't know it, the very thought of being a father had changed him. "I'm proud of you," Chloe whispered into his chest.

Brady took a long, steadying breath. Hearing that had almost knocked the wind out of him. There were not many times in his life that anyone had told him that, and coming from Chloe, it just meant so much more. "Come on." Brady grabbed her hand in his and led her off into the mixture of rides, games and food.

"Bumper cars!" Chloe yelled excitedly.

Brady laughed at her as she ran over and got into line. "Really, Chloe, I thought you were more mature than that," he said sarcasticly, using her own sentiment from earlier.

"I have never been on one of these." She smiled, clearly excited. "I've seen them on TV, and I just always wanted to do it."

Brady handed the man their tickets, watching as Chloe ran hurriedly past him and planted herself in a blue car.

"I'm so going to get you," she called to Brady, who was stuck with the flourescent pink car.

"Dream on!" he called back mockingly. The ride started, and Brady had trouble driving his car. He couldn't seem to move the steering wheel. Looking down, he didn't even see Chloe's car come straight for him, but he definitely felt the impact.

"Gotcha!" Chloe called behind her, making her way around the track.

Finally, Brady got his car to move, and just as he had caught up to Chloe, the ride stopped, and people began to exit their cars.

"Too slow, Black!" Chloe called to a stunned Brady who remained in his car while Chloe ran down the ramp and exited the ride terminal.

Brady got out of his car and ran towards her. "You better run, Lane, because when I get my hands on you..."

"Empty threats!" she laughed, dodging between children.

Finally Brady caught up to her and grabbed her from behind, picking her off the ground. "Empty threats, huh?"

"What are you going to do?" she asked, panting.

"First, I'm going to make you play a bunch of carnival games. And then, I'm going to force feed you non-nutritious carnival food. And lastly, the biggest torture of all, I'm going to make you go on all these rides with me."

"No, Brady! Anything but that!" she laughed. "You're such a pushover. I'm really having a good time."

"So am I," he laughed fondly. "Weird, huh?"

"Yes, you are, Brady. Very weird."

They laughed together and headed over to the games section.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Okay, so we've done the frog toss, whack a mole, and darts. What's left?" Chloe laughed at Brady, who carried a handful of stuffed animals with him.

"Food!" he grunted.

"Okay." She smiled and navigated their way to the food court. They sat down on a bunch, and Brady finally dropped all the prizes they had won. Brady practically inhaled his burger and fries, while Chloe watched, smiling. "Hungry?" she asked mockingly.

"I'm a growing man," he retorted playfully.

They sat there for a while, watching the children play, and they laughed at their enthusiasm. "It's going to be great, isn't it?" Brady said absently, more to himself than Chloe.

"It'll be wonderful," she told him, taking his arm in hers and leaning her head on his shoulder.

They strolled the park hand in hand. Brady carried some of their winnings in his other hand, giving the rest away.

"Cotton Candy!" Brady said as he approached the booth, ordering a large bag full. He tore off the wrapping that held the bag closed and pulled out a fistful, instantly devouring the sugary substance. "Want some?"

"What is it?"

"Please tell me this is a joke. Are you saying you've never had cotton candy before?"

Chloe's face blushed. "No. I mean, I've never really been to a fair before either."

"Here!" he told her, holding up some of the spun sugar to her.

Chloe took it in her mouth and smiled. "Whoa!"

"What'd I say? Good, huh?"

"Very," she laughed.

He leaned down and kissed her sticky mouth, smiling into the kiss. "You taste sweet," he whispered.

"So do you."

"What do you say we get out of here?"

"What about the rides? It was part of my punishment, you know."

"I think you've been a good girl, and we could let that slip just for today. Besides, I don't think my stomach could handle it with all this crappy food we've eaten."

"You're probably right."

"Come on," Brady told her, taking her hand once again, after tying up the rest of the cotton candy. They put the stuffed animal and the sweets into the small compartment on the motorcycle and hopped on. Brady sped away, feeling lighthearted and relaxed. He seemed to be getting that feeling often when he was with Chloe.

Underneath the surface, both of them knew what he was doing. Biding his time before he had to go to the medical office, to get the important paternity test. Neither one of them had forgotten that the test was today, but Brady didn't want to talk about it, and Chloe knew better than to push the matter. They arrived just after three in the afternoon to the large, windowed building.

"I guess this is it," Brady told Chloe, staring at the tinted skyscraper.

"I guess so," she said quietly.

They entered the elevator and made their way to the medical office. Outside the door, Brady noticeably tensed. "I can't do it," he told her, turning away from the door.

"You have to."

"Chloe, when I go in there, my whole life changes. Everything I've done up to this point has been a failure, and now I have a second chance. I could be the father of a beautiful little girl, but what if I'm not? I don't want to even think about it." He turned away to look out of the windows of the high rise. A noticeable slump came to his shoulders.

"But you have to, Brady. You have to face it, one way or the other, and you're not going to know until you take this test." Chloe came behind him, rubbing his back.

"I know you're right, but it still doesn't change the fact..."

"What? Say it."

"I'm scared," he told her, turning to face her. "I didn't want to admit it, but I feel like running and hiding. What am I going to do if she's not mine?"

Chloe cupped his face gently in her hands. "Either way, we'll deal with it." She lightly brushed her lips against his cheek when he bent down, resting his head on her shoulder.

"This isn't fair to you," he whispered. "We've just started together. We've finally gotten past our anger, and now I'm dragging you into this. I'm sorry."

"Don't say that! I'm here because I want to be. You mean more to me than I can even explain, and I accept you and everything that comes along with that," she told him softly, rubbing small circles on his back to sooth him.

They stood there for a while, just wrapped in each other''s arms, before they made their way through the wooden doorframe and into the waiting area of the office. After what seemed like forever, Brady's name was called, and he stood from his chair, letting go of Chloe's hand and following the nurse into the examination room.

The test only took a few minutes, and it was just a simple as Lisa had explained. Brady walked back into the waiting room, watching Chloe put down her magazine and slowly rise. "It's over. All we can do now is wait," he told her solemnly.

His features had noticeably dropped, and Chloe could tell the worrying and frustration was already getting to him. "How long before we know?" Chloe asked the receptionist.

"Usually within a week."

Chloe nodded slowly. "Thanks." She took Brady's hand in hers, now a custom for them, and walked through the doors to the elevator.

Brady was silent the entire time, and Chloe didn't know what to say to him. Nothing she could say would be able to comfort him until he knew the truth. She realized it was difficult for Brady to express his emotions, and she would give him time until he was ready. The last thing she wanted to do was push him.

"I think I'm just going to go to the shop and work on some cars. Is it okay if I drop you off at your place?" Brady asked when they got back to his bike.

"Sure, whatever you want," Chloe told him, knowing he needed to be alone to sort some things through.

Brady pulled up to Chloe's building and cut the ignition. "Do you want me to walk you up?"

"No, I'll be fine. Call me tonight?" Chloe asked. He nodded, and she gave him back her helmet, placing a kiss on his cheek. She turned to leave, and he sped away, going excessively fast. Chloe's heart felt heavy. She couldn't help but be worried, and knowing Brady, he might do something stupid.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brady parked his motorcycle outside the shop and went into the change room, putting on a pair of overalls. He wheeled the cart of tools over and sank under a Ford Mustang.

"Why are you here so late?" Jared asked, startling Brady.

Brady stood and wiped off his dirty hands. "Just came here to think. Why are you here?"

"Just finishing up some orders for those foreign parts. It's not like I have anything else to do."

"I guess," he shrugged and returned to toiling over the car.

"Soo...what are you thinking about? Is it Chloe?"

"No, not this time," he chuckled softly.

"Then what's up, man?" Jared continued, passing Brady a socket wrench.

"I had a visitor the other day," he told Jared absently.

"Some old fling back for more?" Jared laughed, knowing that had happened more than once before.

"Lisa," Brady told him quietly.

Jared's features visibly hardened. "What'd she want?"

"She came here. She said she had to tell me something. Something important. You know Lisa, so melodramatic. I didn't think anything of it."

"But it is something important, isn't it?" Jared frowned.

"She told me she was pregnant. No big deal, right? Tyler's baby, of course. Pass me the square head screwdriver over there, would ya, please?" Brady indicated over his shoulder.

"They're still together?" Jared asked nonchalantly, handing him the tool.

"Apparently. That's not all though. We were arguing. No big deal. Just like old times. But then, this little girl comes running in here. Chloe and Tyler were running after her. She was no more than two, and she had the blondest hair and bluest eyes, so right then, I'm suspicious. But I got so angry when I saw Tyler I couldn't think, you know?"

"Did you get into it with him?" Jared asked, casually handing Brady tools in perfect guy fashion. Not looking at each other when they talked to avoid the emotions that were so close to the surface. Jared suspected what was coming and knew Brady was taking a long time to get it out because he was still coming to terms with it.

"Nah. We went into my office. Lisa knew it wasn't a good idea to have us in the same room. Grab me the socket wrench again? So anyway, she tells me that she's been lying to Tyler for years, and the kid could be mine."

"Jesus, Brady!"

"I know. So Chloe and I watched her the other night. Jared, she so smart and beautiful," Brady told him, looking up from the hood of the car, meeting his friend''s eyes.

"I'm sure she is." Jared smiled warmly.

"So today, I took this test to see if I was the father."

"So that's why you're here?" Jared said flatly. It wasn't really a question, but more of a statement.

"Pretty much. The waiting is killing me. And even more than that, if she does turn out to be mine, the very fact that Tyler has been raising her all this time, kills me."

"She'll never learn," Jared said quietly. "She's playing with you all over again. I watched her do this to you for years. Are you sure this isn't another one of her games?"

"I thought that at first," he sighed. "But if you could see her...I just feel so connected already."

"What's her name?" Jared asked tensely, seeing the emotions written all over Brady's face.

"Kayla," he whispered.

"It's a good name," Jared told Brady, and he nodded in response. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you, and so is Chloe."

"I know, but I feel guilty. Chloe doesn't deserve to go through this. I treated her like crap because I was trying to deny that I cared, and now she's been there for me without question. It doesn't feel right." He crossed his arms across his chest insecurely.

"That's what love is, Brady. She's not going to abandon you, no matter how much you push her away."

"Okay. Enough about me. How's Meems?"

"Typical Brady, always trying to change the subject when it gets too personal. But I'll let you get away with it this time." Jared smiled widely.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Mimi? How are things going?"

Jared couldn't turn the smile off of his face for all he was worth. "She's good," he said shyly.

"Belle tells me you two are always on the phone togther. Sounds like things are getting a bit serious."

"We have a lot in common. I like to listen to her. She makes me laugh." He blushed.

"I can see that," Brady laughed, lightly punching Jared in the arm. "You dog! You're totally stuck on her."

"I wouldn't talk, Brady. I've seen you and Chloe together lately. There doesn't seem to be any bad vibes there any more."

"I thought we dropped that subject."

"We did. I'm just making a point. Well, looks like things are under control here. I guess I'm going to head home."

"All right. See ya, man."

Jared grabbed his coat and headed for the door, stopping before he walked out. "Oh, and I meant what I said. Whatever the outcome, I'll be here for you. Don't forget all the things we've helped each other through. There's no reason why this shouldn't be one of them."

"Thanks," Brady told him sincerely.