have_no_mercy | Truce with cuttingedge

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Truce with cuttingedge

Tess hasn't been to the Ace of Clubs or seen Ryan Edge in person since she delivered the news of her pregnancy some months ago. She's been too busy being mad at him, among other things. Right now, however, she's too tired to be angry and too smart to keep a potential ally at odds.

So late this afternoon, she finds herself at aforementioned club, mood slightly brightened by the knowledge that a glare can still get her past all but the innermost security. And she even brought a peace offering.

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Tap, tap, tap, tap -- taptap -- click. He leans away from the keyboard and lets out a breath before turning to look in his guest's direction. Surprise flickers across the mobster's face. Apparently weekly updates are a far cry from actually seeing the progress.

"Wow." Pause. "Can I get you anything to drink?" BUT NO ALCOHOL.

"I'll take a scotch on the rocks," she deadpans. "Actually, make it a double." No, she can't help herself. She really, really can't.

"A glass of water would be lovely, thank you."

Ryan is clearly unamused. Teasing if for people not expecting kids, no matter that neither is married to the other, or in a long term relationship.

Not that he would mind either option, but he's already married and one doesn't just set up Tess in a mistresses apartment. Not without loosing a lot of blood.

"Water it is." He'll even stand up and pour her a cup from the water cooler, before poking his head out of the office and requesting two cups of decaf coffee.

Ryan can be unamused all he likes. It's the little things like this that get Tess through the day. The water is appreciated, however, and she takes a long sip before setting it aside on the table and starting to rummage through her briefcase.

"I have something I thought you might like. Want. Whatever."

Which is guaranteed to get his full attention. Not that she didn't have it as soon as she walked through the door, despite appearances to the contrary.

"And that would be..."

She finally pulls out a large-ish white envelope and passes it over to him.

"I had the official sonogram a few weeks ago." Tess is so very much not looking at him as she speaks. "That's a picture. Of her."

Ryan stills, utterly. His gaze fixates on a point above her head and stays quiet for a few minutes. When he's ready to look at her, his eyes are a mixture of sadness and hope.

"Thank you." It takes another minute before his gaze drops to the medical print, and it would not be an exaggeration to say the as-yet-unborn baby wraps him around her finger right then and there.

"Have you thought of names?"

Oh, look. There's water. Tess is going to have some. After a moment, she shakes her head.

"I've been somewhat preoccupied." She finally glances up at him. "I thought we might schedule some time to discuss that, actually."

Crickets. Chirping. Somewhere not in his office.

"I'm all ears."

"Now?" Tess had been expecting to arrange an appointment, not do this immediately. She's not exactly prepared for this, but it's probably best to take advantage while she's here.

"Okay... well, if you have any suggestions that's good, but um, I really more meant about the last name."

"It's as good a time as any." There isn't anything currently so important on Ryan's schedule that he can't spend a few minutes seriously conversing with her. And his staff know to knock if an emergency does come up.

"Last name?"

She thought it would be rather self-explanatory. Apparently not, so she sits up a little in the chair, leaning on one of the arms. "Yes. Whether she should have yours or mine."

"Oh." He looks honestly surprised. "I assumed the child would have your name. We're not legally wed."

"Not illegally, either," Tess remarks dryly. Although the legal ramifications of marriage isn't something she'd really thought about. Something she'll have to look into. Soon.

"I suppose that's that, then."

"I guess it is." Ryan falls silent for a minute or two, idly rearranging things on his desk and getting up for a glass of water. This baby is obviously important enough to wreck his concentration.

"My father's name was Morgan. Since our child is female -- Morgana?"

Her eyebrows lift briefly at that in vague amusement. Like she needs to be told what his father's name was. "I think I can work that in somewhere."

Then she grimaces slightly and pushes herself up to her feet. "She's kicking. Did you want to...?"

It's a guy thing. Shush. Of course, he's around the desk fairly quickly, a hand splaying gently against the area of belly she indicates.

And, really, it's hard to contain the smile when he feels his daughter move.

Tess isn't used to anyone other than herself doing this, and she certainly hasn't offered anyone else the opportunity, so she looks down at his hand for a moment. It's an odd sensation, combined with being punted from within.

Then she lifts her gaze to watch his face curiously, still half amazed how calm and happy he seems about all this.

Oh, he's anything but calm. It's just years of training to show only the positive aspects of his personality, something that his father wasn't quite as good at. People tend to trust this Edge, something he occasionally takes shameless advantage of.

Okay, more than occasionally.

As it is, he straightens up after a moment. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." It's the happy that confuses her more, but she's not about to question him on it.

Tess steps away and starts to gather her things, as it seems all their business has been concluded. "Oh. I'm possibly taking a trip in a few days. I'll have George fax you the details when I get something confirmed."

And just like that, Ryan settles behind his desk in the guise of a mild-mannered mobster whose almost girlfriend is currently pregnant with their child.

"Going where?" Oh so casually.

She shrugs, finishing off her water. "I haven't quite decided yet. Somewhere warm with an ocean where all I have to do is lie on a beach."

"Okay. Would you fax me once you get wherever you're going? So I know the both of you arrived safely."

Calm, cool and collected yup. It beats demanding she stay in town where his personal physical is only a pager away. Tess isn't the sort to put up with that, unlike his wife.

Tess half smiles, though not quite directly at him. "You'll get a full itinerary and I'll make sure you know we're safe."

"Good." He sounds vaguely relieved, aware that she could simply take off at any moment and never return. Even aside from the child issue, he likes Tess.

There's a moment of silence and then Tess starts to turn toward the door. "So, I'll talk to you later, then."

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