C4 Chapter 4: Rekindling

When Liam woke up Roman and Seylah went into the spare room to get him.

"Hey, buddy." Roman cooed.

"Hello, Lovie." Seylah said sweetly as she picked Liam up.

"Did you get good sleeps?" she said softly as she brushed some of his hairs off his forehead. Liam just snuggled into her. They walked to the living room, and she began to nurse him while Roman made lunch.

"You know, I never remember you being able to cook." she said to him teasingly as she watched him cooking from the couch while Liam nursed.

"Had to learn sometime." he chuckled out.

"Do you need any help? Liam should be done nursing soon." she said softly.

"No, I got it. You two just hang out. Unless, you want to bring my little buddy in here to hang out with me." he said playfully.

"When he's done nursing we'll come in there." she said sweetly. She stared at Liam playing with his hair as he stared back at her with his loving, big, hazel eyes. After he was done nursing, Seylah pulled the baggy t-shirt down and brought him over to Roman.

"There's my co-chef." Roman cooed as he grabbed Liam from Seylah's arms.

"I don't remember you being good with kids." she said seriously.

"I never knew I was good with them until last night. Now, this guy has me wrapped around his finger." he said seriously.

"You mean you haven't done this before? Like being around kids?" she asked shocked.

"No, never wanted any. Now, I want a whole bus load." he joked.

"I don't know, Liam warmed his way into my heart when he fell asleep in my arms." Roman said lightly in his low voice.

"Well, it seems like he's pretty smitten with you too." she said softly in a happy tone.

"More of a reason for another sleep over tonight." Roman said cockily.

"And it'd be nice having an experienced mother to help with those kittens." he said honestly.

"Speaking of kittens, they need a bottle and to potty in twenty minutes." she said seriously.

"Why don't you start on that? I'll keep Liam and finish cooking up lunch." he said nicely.

"Sounds good." she said as she walked up to the master bedroom and began getting the kittens taken care of. By time she was done, Roman finished cooking and was helping Liam eat some food.

"So, what did you make?" she said kindly as she sniffed the air.

"Just some chicken pesto pasta." he said plainly as he concentrated on feeding Liam.

"Are babies always this messy when they eat?" he asked curiously.

"Here, let me take over. You go eat." she said kindly as she started in towards the table to sit by them.

"No, show me how to do it." he said bossily.

"Okay." she laughed.

"Take the spoon with a small bite, always check there is nothing big enough to choke on because he doesn't have many teeth. After he takes the food into his mouth take the edge of the spoon and catch any that came out on the sides of his mouth and chin." she said softly as she demonstrated it for Roman.

"Okay, I got this." he said confidently.

By the time Liam had enough of eating he and Roman were covered in lunch. Liam took turns between his bites trying to feed Roman.

"You two are dirty." Seylah said as she laughed.

"He'll need a bath, thankfully I have baby wash in the diaper bag." she said cheerily.

"Do you need help?" Roman asked sweetly as he walked Liam and Seylah to the spare bathroom since the kittens were occupying his.

"No, you go get cleaned up." she said softly as she started drawing a bath and took a rag and towel out of the cabinet in the bathroom.

Roman's POV

It is so nice having them here. I'm dreading for when they will go back to her parents house. I never thought I'd like it or want it for myself, but having them here is like they're my family and he's my son. It's really such a great thing bonding with Liam and getting closer to Seylah. Also, making the both of them happy. I only hope I'm able to convince her I am worthy of being a part of their lives. Watching how great of a mom she is keeps me in awe. She is so protective and loving for him, she's always loved fiercely but never as much as she loves her son. I see why. That little boy is so sweet. I want to stay in there lives and be the man she needs and the father he needs.

Seylah's POV

I can't help but smile as I give Liam a bath. Seeing him interact with Roman really has been too cute for words. Roman handles Liam so well. Liam has always been a really easy and happy baby, but he seems to really enjoy Roman. It might not be too bad letting Roman around every now and then. I feel some what guilty for sleeping with Roman. Especially knowing what he wants and knowing what I want, then the fact it is two completely different things. He wants to be there for Liam and me, I don't want anything serious because I don't want to risk disappointment and heart ache in our lives. Liam won't always be oblivious as to why he doesn't have a dad. I don't want to put a father figure into his life just for them to leave. Protecting his heart from broken feelings will always be my biggest priority.

Roman finished in the shower and walked into his bedroom to get dressed. He heard Seylah on the phone and dressed quickly to see who she was talking to. He over heard a name.

"Yeah, sorry Elijah, there was an emergency." she said lightly.

"No, I don't think rescheduling will work. I have a lot going on lately that I need to center my focus around." she said softly.

"Okay, goodbye." she said lightly as she hung up the phone.

Roman walked around the corner pretending like he wasn't just spying on her conversation.

"So, do you two want to stay again tonight?" he asked sweetly.

"I don't know." she said unsurely.

"Did you have plans?" he asked lowly.

"No, but I don't want to give you the wrong idea." she said softly.

"Seylah, I know you say that you don't want anything serious. Please, give me the benefit of the doubt that I won't hurt you or Liam." he said seriously.

"Roman." she said lightly as he eyes started to glisten over.

"I don't think you understand, what a life with me and my son would mean. Sure, you had fun playing house today. Acting like we're a family, but how long until that wears off?" she asked sadly.

"It won't wear off. Please, just give me some time to prove it." he said lowly.

"I don't know." she said lightly as she looked to her son who was playing happily on the rug.

"Please. I've already won Liam's approval. What do I have to do to win yours?" he asked seriously.

"He's a baby, it doesn't take much to win them over." she laughed.

"Let me prove it, six months. You two move in. Stay with me, I'll show you how serious I am." he said lowly.

"Six months? Living with you? Are you crazy?" she asked in shock.

"No." he said lowly.

"No, we can't live with you or give up six months of our time to you, Roman. That is insane." she said seriously.

"Okay, half the week you two stay with me." he suggested.

"Maybe, I don't know." she said flustered.

"That wasn't a no, so I'll take it. I'll Liam some stuff for him while you two are here." he said sweetly.

"Roman, that's not." she started saying before he stopped her with a kiss.

"I'll take care of you both. Now, what are the three of us going to do for our sleepover tonight?" he said playfully as he got down on the rug and played with Liam.

"I never agreed to that." she squeaked.

"Well, then you can go. We'll have a man's night. Huh bud?" he said playfully to Liam.

"He is still breast feeding, so we are a packaged deal." she said seriously.

"Looks like your mommy is staying tonight too!" he said playfully to Liam.

The three hung out playing, Seylah and Roman talked about life since she left. After an hour it was time for Liam's afternoon nap.

"Okay, baby. Let's nurse you and get you down for sleeps." she said sweetly as she picked him up and sat on the couch and began nursing.

"Does that hurt?" Roman asked curiously while he watched Liam nurse.

"It did for about the first month after having him. Now it doesn't unless he bites." she said softly as she played with Liam's hair to help him to fall asleep.

"What was it like?" he asked lowly.

"What was what like?" she asked curiously.

"Being pregnant alone and having him by yourself this whole time?" he asked lowly.

"It, uh, it was hard. I cried every day of my pregnancy, I felt selfish for my whole pregnancy. Bringing my son into this world without a father. It broke me. I knew I couldn't let him go though. The moment they handed him to me in the hospital after I delivered him all that guilt and sadness washed away. I knew I could be enough for him. It's been hard being alone while adjusting to be a mom. We got through it though." she said bittersweetly.

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that would be like." he said honestly.

They stayed silent for a minute before Roman spoke up.

"Did it hurt to have him?" he asked curiously.

"No, not really. I had the epidural, so I didn't feel pain until it wore off." she said lightly.

"I'd do it all over for him though. He's everything I needed." she said softly.

"He is amazing and you are an amazing mom." Roman said lightly.

Seylah fell asleep with Liam as he nursed. Roman, took his bedding from the dryer and made his bed and cleaned up from lunch. He took care of this kittens and reset the timer for their next feeding and potty time. A couple hours went by and Seylah and Liam were awake.

"How long was I asleep for?" she asked Roman as she felt around the couch for her phone.

"A little over two hours." he said lightly looking up from his laptop.

"Do you still like steak?" he asked lowly.

"Yeah, I love it. Why?" She asked curiously.

"I'm having some groceries and things delivered." he said lowly.

"Let me see my buddy." Roman said sweetly as he made room next to him. Seylah carried Liam over to him and the two sat together playing.

"I'll go fix your bed and clean up the kitchen." she said lightly.

"I took care of it, just relax." Roman said lightly.

"Okay, I'll go check the kittens." she said softly.

"I just fed them and helped them potty thirty minutes ago." he said lowly as he played with Liam.

"Okay, I guess I'll just hang out." she said lightly.

"Actually, if you want to get on the computer, I sent some files to you that need editing for the closing deals." he said lightly.

"I can do that. I'm not used to having down time, so sitting here will drive me crazy otherwise." she said softly.

Seylah read over files while Roman tended to Liam. He fed him snacks and played with him. After an hour, the doorbell was ringing and Roman took Liam to go get it. Then two men came inside and began bringing in groceries, a crib, baby toys, baby clothes, diapers, wipes, and everything else needed for a baby. Seylah looked to him in shock.

"You got baby stuff?" she asked in shock.

"Yeah, how else can I convince you to sleep over when my house isn't really equipped for you two?" he asked cockily.

"Roman, this is too much. How much did all of this cost? Let me give you money or something." she said flustered as she went to get her purse off the counter.

"No, I did this because I want you both here." he said lowly.

"Roman." she pleaded.

"No, I know you don't think you want this but I'm proving to you I won't hurt you and your son." he said lowly.

"Yeah, but this is too much." she said flustered.

"It's not." he said lowly as he set Liam down with some of the toys he bought.

He pulled the crib and baby furniture into the living room and began assembling it all as Seylah and Liam sat on the floor playing with toys. Seylah, picked up Liam and went to the kitchen and began packing Roman's groceries away so they weren't sitting out. She kept the steaks out and seasoned them and let the rest to soak in the seasonings. After she was done she asked Roman if he has a grill or smoker.

"Hey, do you have a grill or smoker or something?" she asked softly. Roman looked up briefly. Yeah, there is a grill off the sliding door her said lightly and went back to building. Seylah took Liam out on the back deck to play as she grilled the steaks. When the steaks were done she wrapped them in foil to rest as she prepared a salad for a side. She called Roman into the kitchen so he could get his plate together and eat some food.

"Okay, I hope you still like you steak medium." she said softly as she began to nurse Liam.

"Medium is perfect. I almost have everything put together." he said happily.

"Do you need any help when were done with supper?" she asked sweetly.

"No, let me help you cut your steak though. I can't imagine it's easy to do with one hand while your feeding him." he said lightly as he nodded to Liam nursing.

They enjoyed supper and Roman got the crib put together and into his room, he washed the crib bedding and baby clothes, then sorted everything he got Liam today. Soon it was time for bed. The three went into Roman's bedroom. Seylah got Liam to sleep while Roman fed the kittens and took care of them. When he was done, he walked back into the bedroom and saw Seylah replying to messages on her phone while Liam slept peacefully in her arms.

"Here let me move him into the crib." he said softly as he gently picked Liam up.

"Thank you." she whispered. After laying Liam in the crib, he got into his bed next to Seylah. They talked for a minute before Seylah fell asleep. A little bit later there was knocking at the door with the doorbell ringing in between knocks. Roman got up and went to check it, it woke Seylah and she followed him down a minute later to see the woman Roman cheated on her with at the door.

"Please, baby. Just let me come in, I need you." she said as she started rubbing against his chest.

"You need to leave." he said coldly to Bree.

"Please baby. I want to feel your body against mine." she pleaded as she pulled him in to her and began kissing him. Seylah saw more than she needed to and walked back into Roman's bedroom. She packed her diaper bag and grabbed Liam, she snuck through the kitchen and grabbed her purse and car keys and left out the back door avoiding Roman, she wasn't going to let him see her crying. She quietly got Liam into the car and started it and headed back home to her parents.