If She Gives You Her Heart Don't You Break It || Kate & Leo Oneshots

12.A.M.

New Year's Eve infused our living room with a serene ambiance, where the echoes of festive joy lingered like a gentle melody. Kate curled up to my side, her eyes half closed, and her arm splayed over my chest, her hand curled on my t-shirt. The soft glow of holiday lights bathed us in a warm embrace as we relaxed, wondering if we could stay up until midnight.
Yet, this idyllic scene shattered like fragile glass when the doorbell's chime disrupted our sanctuary.  She opened her eyes and frowned. A shared glance between us held both curiosity and caution, and as I pressed a tender kiss to Kate's cheek, I could feel the anticipation of an impending storm. I stood up, and walked towards the door, seeing the outline of a plaid t-shirt and scraggly blonde hair.
“Oh for fuck’s sake.” I mumbled, fishing the keys from my pocket and ripping the door open.
Jim loomed on the doorstep, a figure tainted by the haze of intoxication. The pungent scent of alcohol wafted from the bottle he clutched, bitter and acrid, a stark reminder of the tempest about to descend. The house’s warmth seemed to dissipate as his unsteady figure crossed the threshold.
“What?” I sighed, smelling his breath as he pushed past me.
"Well hello to you too, Leo. Where is she?" His slurred words resonated, a discordant note in the previously harmonious atmosphere.
"Who?" I replied, already sensing the storm gathering force.
"The whore who lives here. Where is she?"
“If you mean Kate, you are a bastard for calling her that. Oh, and if you don't mind being quiet, your daughter is asleep!"
"Who fucking cares?"
"You should," I retorted, my voice firm, a shield against the discord that threatened to engulf us.
"Kate! Your side piece is being a bellend!" Jim barged past me and I walked behind him into the living room, seeing Kate stand up drowsily.
"Jim? What are you doing here? Are you drunk?" Kate's voice held a mixture of disbelief and weariness.
"No," he slurred, "I just wanted to see my daughter." I moved to Kate’s side, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"Well, she’s asleep. Leo told you that. I don’t want to talk to you."
"Why?"
"You left me—us. You left your own child. Does that mean nothing to you!?"
"Why would it?"
"She’s your daughter! She’s a baby! She—" Kate's voice faltered, and she walked away, her hand covering her mouth as she fought to suppress tears. A knot tightened in my chest as I watched her retreat, turning to the wall as the weight of her emotions palpable in the room. Concern etched lines on my forehead, and I instinctively moved to follow her, my steps deliberate and gentle.
"Mia needs you!" My voice cut through the tense air, a plea tinged with frustration and disappointment. "Kate needed you, and you left them."
Jim staggered closer to Kate, and I moved discreetly toward her, holding my hand back towards her. "Well, I didn’t think I could do it, but I’m ready now."
A bitter laugh escaped me, the irony of his newfound readiness cutting deep. "Oh, how convenient. How about every weekend, we’ll drop her over then."
"Really?" His tone held a hint of hope, a spark of expectation that I had no intention of fulfilling.
"Of course not! I’m never letting you anywhere near Mia or Kate again. Get out." The words spilled from my lips, fueled by a protective instinct I hadn't known I possessed.
"Oh, come on, she’s my daughter." Jim's attempt at justification echoed in the room.
"As if that mattered before. It’s as and when it suits you Jim. I don’t want you near them. Get. Out." Kate took my hand, gently squeezing it in an attempt to calm me down. I brushed my thumb over her knuckles and bore my teeth.
"Who made you boss, hm? Mia’s my daughter, and Kate’s my wife!" His defiance clashed with the reality unfolding before him.
"Not anymore!" Kate's voice, fueled by a newfound strength, cut through the tension. I looked back at her, watching her lips part with silent breaths and her eyes dilate. "I don’t need you anymore. Mia doesn’t need you."

"Really?" His question, a feeble attempt at disbelief, hung in the air.
"Really. You know what, just get out. I’ll message you if I change my mind." Kate's resolve remained unyielding, her gaze unwavering.
"Oh wow, thanks. Sorry for calling you a whore, and sorry for calling you a bellend, Leo."
"Just go." She gritted her teeth, her hand on her head as she staggered towards him to the door.
"Bye."
As the door closed behind him, a heavy silence settled in the wake of his departure. Kate stood with a mix of weariness and newfound strength. The room held the residue of the emotional storm that had just passed through, yet in its aftermath, there was a palpable sense of liberation. Our eyes met, and I could see in Kate's gaze a blend of relief, determination, and a flicker of vulnerability. The weight of her decision hung in the air, and in that moment, she seemed to reclaim a piece of herself that had long been overshadowed.
We exchanged a glance, a momentary exhale, and Kate, her shoulders no longer burdened by the weight of a fractured relationship, sank back against the door, her body trembling with the silent sobs she fought to contain.
"Tough guy to crack, hm?" I offered my attempt at a comforting smile tinged with concern.
She chuckled through the tears. "Yeah. Sorry you had to deal with him." She wiped them with the cuff of her jumper.
"Don’t be. It’s not your fault."
"It’s my fault I decided to marry and fuck the pisshead."
"Well, tonight we’re gonna forget about him and have a brilliant New Year. You want some wine?"
"I can't. Remember?"
"I got non-alcoholic."
A grin spread across her face. "You’re such a gem! Go on then." I helped her up, my arms still encircling her.
"So how long before Mia wakes up then?" I joked, breaking the contemplative silence that had settled like a delicate mist between us.

"I don’t know… I’m surprised she didn’t when Jim was… I’m glad she didn’t when he was here. I don’t want him to see her. It sounds horrible, but he—" Kate's voice wavered, the weight of unspoken emotions lingering.

"I know. Me either. And it doesn’t sound horrible. He doesn’t deserve to see her after he abandoned her."

"I just don’t want her to grow up without a father."

"I know you don’t. But she won’t ever go without. You’re a wonderful mother, and I know I’ve only been here for a week, but I’ve seen a new side of you that I love to pieces. You with Mia is somewhat of a miracle, something I never expected to see, let alone experience in my life. You’re so good with her, oh my god, so good. You’re perfect, she’s perfect. I’m never leaving you. I’m gonna help raise her… if you like"

"Never?"

"Never."

She placed her wine glass down, and her arms enveloped my neck, seeking refuge in the warmth of our shared embrace.

"Can I confide in you?"

"You know you can."

She pulled away, biting her lip. "I’m finding it hard to only think platonically about you."

My mouth dropped open, and my eyebrows arched.

"A-and I hope it doesn’t sound cliché with it being New Year's, but I really do love you. I always have."

A genuine smile adorned my face, as I held hers in my hands, taking her in. "I really love you too, sweetheart. And Mia too. I– I don’t think I will ever be able to be apart from you."

She smiled too, looking down as she laughed under her breath. She then looked back at me, her eyes reflecting a subtle invitation, and every delicate feature seemed to conspire in a silent seduction. The soft curve of her lips, the way her eyes sparkled, and the gentle tilt of her head created a magnetic pull that left me desperate to bridge the inches and taste the sweetness of a kiss.

“Leo!”
“Hm?”
Come on, there's 2 minutes until midnight. Do you want to grab our coats and watch the fireworks?"

I nodded. Rising from our cocoon, I fetched the coats and the baby monitor, and we ventured outside onto the porch. It was pitch black out, with only the soft rustle of the wind in the leaves accompanying us. She settled in my lap, sitting side-saddle, as we counted down the seconds.

“3,2,1!”
The velvet night sky unfurled its cosmic tapestry, and with a resounding explosion, a symphony of radiant colours painted the heavens above. The fireworks danced in an ethereal choreography, each burst a spellbinding display, as if the universe itself had orchestrated this magical spectacle exclusively for us.

"Happy New Year, Kate. I love you."

"I love you, Leo. Happy New Years."

Submerged in the dazzling display, the radiance of the fireworks reflected in our eyes, we leaned into each other. As our lips met, a gentle explosion of warmth and tenderness cascaded through me. Her fingers delicately traced the contour of my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine. In response, my hand found the small of her back, pulling her closer, trying to bridge any remaining space between us. My arm encircled her waist, and the sensation of her lips moving against mine was a delicate dance, a rhythm only we could hear amid the cacophony of the bursting fireworks.

The baby monitor's cry pierced the celebratory air, prompting Kate to withdraw, her lip ensnared between her teeth as our gaze locked in a moment charged with newfound emotions. The residue of that spellbinding kiss lingered in the air, an indelible memory etched in the canvas of the night.

"T-that’ll be Mia. I guess she doesn’t like the fireworks."

"No.” I breathed. “Come on, we’ll get her and take her to bed, hm?"

"Sounds like a plan. Can you get me a glass of water, please?"

"Sure. I’ll see you up there."

"Okay. Happy New Year, my love."

"Happy New Year."

***

HAPPY NEW YEAR KLEO PEEPSSSS!! HERE'S TO A HAPPY AND SAFE 2024! 🥂
CHEERS, SANTÉ, SLÁINTE, SALUD!