Beyond The Leather

Chapter 165: A Question Of Confidence

The scent of garlic and onions filled the kitchen as I stirred the pot on the stove, occasionally glancing over my shoulder to check on Julius. He lay on a soft baby blanket on the floor, giggling to himself as he chewed on a colorful teething toy. The sight of him always made me smile, a warmth spreading through my chest that I never thought I'd be capable of feeling. Motherhood had changed me in ways I hadn't expected, grounding me while also opening up a part of me I never knew existed. I adjusted the heat on the stove and leaned my head back slightly, keeping Julius in my line of sight. His tiny hands clutched at the toy, eyes wide with curiosity.

Footsteps echoed through the house before Nikki appeared in the doorway. His presence always had a way of shifting the energy in a room. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But today, his expression was unreadable.

"Hey," I greeted, stirring the sauce in the pan. "You hungry?"

He walked up behind me and wrapped an arm loosely around my waist, pressing a quick kiss to my temple before pulling away.

"Yeah, but that's not why I came in here," he said. "Tommy and I faxed our plea deal for the riot incident." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it like he wasn't entirely sure how to feel.

I turned the heat down on the stove and faced him fully. "So, it's done?"

"Yeah." He said, running a hand through his hair. "Now we just wait to see what happens."

He walked over to where Julius lay, scooping him up in his arms effortlessly. Julius cooed, his chubby fingers reaching for Nikki's necklace, fascinated by the shine. Nikki let him play with it for a moment before carrying him back into the kitchen and sitting down at the table. Watching them together was always something special. Seeing Nikki like this, soft, attentive, so completely in love with our son. It was a stark contrast to the man the world thought they knew. He wasn't just the bassist of Motley Crue. He wasn't just the wild rockstar with a past full of addiction and destruction. He was a father. A damn good one.

"So," I said, turning back to the stove. "How do you feel about it?"

Nikki let out a breath. "I don't know. I mean, it's been hanging over our heads since last year. Feels weird to finally be at this stage."

I glanced at him over my shoulder. "You think they'll accept it?"

He shrugged, bouncing Julius lightly on his knee. "Who knows? But we're not exactly in a position to fight anything if they don't. We just have to hope for the best."

I stirred the sauce a few more times before stepping away from the stove and wiping my hands on a dish towel. "Well, whatever happens, at least you're handling it like an adult," I said, giving him a small smirk. "That's growth."

Nikki chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Look at me, being all responsible."

I walked over to where he sat, reaching out to stroke Julius's cheek. He blinked up at me with those big, innocent eyes of his, completely oblivious to the weight of the conversation happening around him. That was the beauty of childhood. No worries, no fears. Just the moment.

"And Tommy?" I asked. "How's he handling it?"

Nikki rolled his eyes. "Same as always. Acting like it's no big deal, cracking jokes about how we should've worn ski masks or something. But I know he's worried."

"Of course he is," I said, leaning against the table. "But at least you guys are in this together."

I walked back to the stove and checked the pasta, fishing out a piece and biting into it. Still a little firm. I turned to face Nikki.