Chapter Text
"...that… was fun…" Leo's chest heaved.
Natalie laughed breathlessly. She rolled over to face the man next to her.
"Absolutely. This is the most that I've really enjoyed myself in… a long time, if I'm being honest."
Leo pulled Natalie close to his bare chest. "Well, there's plenty more where that came from, Clocky."
Natalie closed her eye and nestled close to him. He felt warm, and smelled like cinnamon and smoke.
"What are you doing?" Leo chuckled.
Natalie simply hummed and wrapped her arms around the man. Leo took the hint and enveloped her in a hug that seemed to engulf her.
And for a few moments, everything felt perfect.
But then, that moment ended.
Natalie's eye widened at the sound of her ringtone blaring.
"What the Hell…?" Leo groggily asked.
Natalie pulled herself away and answered the call.
"Hello?" She asked. "Oh, hi, Nico."
Leo bolted upright at the mention of Nico’s name.
"What? You want me to watch Teddy?"
Natalie paused for a few seconds to let Nico explain.
"Sure, I'd love to watch him," Natalie smiled. "I mean, he is my only nephew."
Leo looked at her in confusion.
"Okay, that's fine… how long do I have to get ready?" Another pause followed. "Well, text me when you're dropping him off. I've got him some new toys from last time, so he'll be excited to see those."
Leo could faintly make out a few words - with "spoil" being the one that stood out most to him.
"I know, but how many kids do I really get to hang around with? I mean, it's not like I really have my own. Although, maybe some day..."
Leo nearly choked on his own spit at that. He tried his best to keep silent.
"Alright, fine," Natalie said. "See you later."
Leo stared up at her.
"Family emergency?"
"Death on Toby's side," Natalie said calmly. "A great aunt of some sort. They're going to Florida for the funeral."
"Florida?" Leo scrunched his nose in confusion. "Not really the place for remembrance of the dead."
"It was where she lived," Natalie explained. "Anyway, you will have to either hide or get out of here."
"Why?" Asked Leo.
"I just… I want us to actually have time together before we tell anyone about… this," Natalie said. "I mean, we've only been together for a month, and-!"
"And?" Leo asked.
"I don't know, I just… think it would be better for us to wait."
Leo sighed.
"Alright, conejita ," Leo said calmly. "I'm gonna get dressed. You want anything?"
Natalie stared at her boyfriend and simply shook her head. She watched him pick up his t-shirt and flannel from the floor.
Leo quickly walked over to the bed to press a kiss to Natalie's cheek. Natalie smiled.
"Love you," Leo said. Then, he froze. "I mean…"
Natalie looked at him blankly.
"I… care about you?" Leo suggested awkwardly.
Natalie chuckled quietly and shook her head.
"I care about you too, mon ours en peluche. " Natalie calmly said.
Leo didn't know what she meant, but he understood that it was meant to be affectionate.
As Leo took himself into the bathroom, Natalie was left alone to ponder the events of the previous night.
She didn't expect to run into him at her favourite bar. She didn't expect to sit next to him and talk about life, and she definitely didn't expect to go back to his apartment that night.
She didn't expect to go back to him a number of times, or even bring him into her own space.
All she really expected was something meaningless, empty.
But what she expected wasn't what she got.
Instead, fate had blessed her with someone that seemed to care. Someone that made her heart flutter.
For the first time in her life, she had found someone that genuinely made her life better.
As she put on her Canucks jersey, she thought about what their future could be like. They'd never be able to live a normal life - she had made sure of that in her youth - so what would it be like?
She adored the idea of seeing him in a suit; the idea of vowing himself to her. Leo seemed to give her some sense of normality that her life completely lacked, and made her believe in what was yet to come.
Her phone beeped; Nico was about to drop off Teddy.
She set up her spare room with Teddy's stuff - a large collection of toys and activities for the little boy.
Her dogs looked up from their beds as she walked past. She knelt down to the pair.
"What is it, boys?"
Roscoe stared up at her with his large, brown eyes. He got up and padded along with her. The smaller dog waddled at a much faster pace.
"I'll take you out in a bit." Natalie scratched them behind the ears. "Promise."
Nico knocked at the door, and Natalie swung it open.
"Hey!" She cheered. "There's my favourite little guy…"
Teddy smiled and waddled into the house. Nico shifted his weight awkwardly.
"Thank you for watching him on such short notice."
"It's okay," Natalie waved him off. "I don't mind having him here. Keeps me from being here all by myself."
Nico nodded. He looked behind her suspiciously and raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?" Natalie asked.
"Nothing." Nico handed Teddy's bag over. "Tell Leo that I say hi."
Natalie froze. Her eye widened. She then looked back, and saw Leo with Teddy clinging to his leg.
"Nothing happened." Natalie promised.
Nico folded his arms. "And I'm the Pope. Anyway… uh, I've gotta go."
Natalie nodded.
"Got a funeral to attend, and a husband to console."
"Speaking of him," Natalie said. "Tell him I say hi too."
"Will do," Nico gave her a faint smile.
"Where's Maxie?" Asked Natalie. "He getting dog sat by someone?"
"No," Nico said. "We're taking him with us. There's a dog sitting service at the hotel, so…"
Natalie nodded. "Saves the old guy from being stressed out with Roscoe and Jeremy here. How old did they say he was?"
"Eh… about five, or so."
"So, he's not a puppy, but he's no old man either," Natalie pondered aloud. "Well, give Toby and Connie my condolences for their loss."
Nico nodded. He then turned to Teddy and bent down.
"Bye, Teddy, Papa and I'll see you in a couple days."
Teddy looked over and waved. Leo copied the gesture himself.
"See ya, Ghosty," Leo called out.
Nico waved back and walked away. Then, as he walked away into the woods, he shadow-travelled away.
Natalie closed the door, and turned to her male companions. She clasped her hands together and looked between Teddy, Leo, Jeremy and Roscoe.
"So… who's up for a boardgame?"