Beauty and Rage (Leverage Fan Fiction)

24. Swear We Drive Each Other Mad

When the door closed behind Blythe, Eliot grabbed Andy's arm and turned her around to face him.

"Why the hell didn't you give me a freaking heads up before she dropped in and surprised me like that?"

"Because I didn't want to. Now let me go and don't grab me like that again." Andy pulled her arm out of his grip and slipped past him.

"How long have you known about it?"

"About her being pregnant? Day before yesterday. She came over to see you and it took all of the self control I do not have to not punch her in her stupid face." Andy grumbled as she sat down heavily on the sofa.

"If you still don't like her, why are you wanting to help her so much?"

"Because she said she was thinking about putting the baby into the foster system because having a baby is expensive." She looked down at her hands and bit the inside of her lips.

"You know that the whole system isn't bad, Andy. You know that."

The blonde didn't say anything for a few moments. She only thought about which story to tell Eliot.

"I remember one foster home me, Nick, and Parker were put into. It was one of the first memories I have of living in a home with a bunch of other kids.... It was just before Nick died.... before everything went south." Andy lifted her gaze and brushed her hair back but never looked towards him. "It was a really nice place. The house was so big and the rooms had so many windows.... It was nice. The foster dad was a good guy. He cared about the kids, he really did. But his wife was a real bitch."

Andy shook her head gently.

"I remember how she would just constantly yell at all of us. It was like she didn't know how to talk to kids, like she thought that was all we understood. And I know doing chores is a part of growing up and all that stupid crap but when I was assigned to wash dishes and whatever, she'd make me turn the water on as hot as it could go and then she'd make me wash dishes like that. It burned my hands so many times, Eliot. And I remember this one boy, this poor boy, he dropped one of her coffee cups and it shattered into so many pieces.... I don't think I've ever seen welts as big as the ones on him."

"I do not want that baby to be put into the system if I can prevent it, Eliot." Andy finally brought her gaze up to meet his. "I know that not all homes aren't bad. I met Hardison in one of the best foster homes I had ever been to. But you can't say for sure that the baby will go to a good home. And if it really is yours and she doesn't want it.... I'm okay with adopting it."

Eliot nodded his head softly.

"So Andy Spencer...." Andy hummed, changing the subject. "It does have an.... okay ring to it."

"Now we're talking about getting married?"

"In the future, Eliot. In the future." She stood up and made her way towards the kitchen. "Things change."

"We literally talked about this just earlier today and you said—,"

"Why are you never happy with what I say?"

Eliot raised his brows as he followed her. Andy went to the cabinet located in the island that held the alcohol.

"Is that how it is?"

"Yeah. You know, I think you try to pick fights with me." She pulled out a bottle of bourbon whiskey and turned around to face him. "I think that you like when I'm rough with you."

The corners of Eliot's lips turned up in a sly grin.

"You think?"

"I know." She nodded her head.