One night in Manhattan

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. "If we get a DNA test and Seven turns out to be your.. to be Brianna, are you going to try to take her from me?"

**

Zac took a step towards Fatima. It was hurting him to see her so scared. He waited to see if she was going to retreat before he got any closer. When she didn't move, he continued going toward her until he could take her hands in his. "As weird as this sounds, the thought hadn't crossed my mind. You're her mother and I would never dream of taking a child from their mother."

Fatima let go of the breath she didn't even realize she was holding. "Zac. My Seven is my entire world. I will go scorched earth to protect her."

"Fatima you don't have to protect her from me."

"Zac."

"You don't."

Fatima searched his eyes for any signs of untruths and found none. "so what's next?"

"I'm working on a plan but Fatima I have to warn you, I think once I go to the police about this it's gonna get really big. That's what I wanted to talk to you over dinner about. I just need a bit more time to get this all together." He answered her being as forthcoming as possible.

Fatima nodded her head letting him know that she understood. "This is so crazy."

"Yea I know." Zac pulled Fatima in for a hug. They were both lost in their own thoughts just standing there holding one another.

After a few moments, Zac cleared his throat. "I'd better get going."

"umm ok." Fatima said letting him go as his arms fell to his sides as well. "Zac, I'm sorry that this happened to you. I can't imagine how you're feeling right now."

"Thanks. I'm really happy it was you who saved her."

"She saved me." Fatima said as she fought back the tears again but ended up losing.

He hugged her again and wiped the tears from her cheeks before heading back to the door.

"Zac." She called out to him.

"yea?"

"Can you stay? I could really use my bestie right now." she said letting the tears fall freely.

Zac smiled softly and walked back to where she was and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Love it or list it?" Zac said referencing one of their favorite shows?

"yea." She said nodding her head wiping away the remnants of streaks on her face. They walked hand in hand to the living room and Fatima laid her head on Zac's lap after he got comfy in his seat. He threw her favorite blanket over her knowing that she'd be freezing under the AC in under five minutes. She handed him the remote and he went directly for the HGTV app. They sat there quietly for hours watching reruns of their show until Zac heard the familiar sound escaping Fatima. At some point she had fallen asleep. He let her sleep not wanting to disturb her for as long as he could but he needed to use the bathroom and his leg was beginning to fall asleep. So he tried sliding gently from underneath her replacing his lap with a throw pillow from behind him, but by the time he was done she was beginning to stir awake.

"sorry. I was tying not to wake you."

"its ok." She said stretching. "I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep. What time is it?" she said looking around for the time.

Zac looked down at his apple watch. "It's just after 10." Just as he answered, both of their stomachs growled. "Don't worry. There's Chinese on the way." He said between their laughter.