Ocean's 8 1/2

Bombshell

"Whoa whoa wait..." Lou stepped back and looked at the brunette woman as if she had just said the sky was falling.

"Why? Is that not what you want?" Debbie asked. She immediately began to panic. Had she said too much? Had she scared Lou away?

"Deb, you're not thinking straight right now. You're infected with baby fever and a lot of other emotions that you still won't admit you have. I don't think right now is the greatest time for this conversation," Lou said as she took Deb's hands in hers.

"No, Lou I am," Debbie said a little too harshly. "I know what I want. I want a kid with you. Actually, I want 3. Maybe 4 but no less than 3."

Lou just stood there unable to find any words at all. She never imagined this conversation going down like this. Nor had she really even imagined Debbie would be the first one to bring up the topic of kids.

Deb took this silence the wrong way and stormed out of the hospital. How could she be so stupid, she thought to herself. She had shared a very vulnerable wish with the woman she thought was on the same page only to be rejected. Tears flooded her eyes and a lump grew in her throat. She clenched her hands into fists and kept walking.

About 30 minutes later, Amita and Constance came through the doors to find Lou standing by herself looking out toward the exit sign.

"Hey Ma, where's mom?" Constance asked as walked up beside Lou.

"I don't..." Lou fumbled over her words. She was still trying to wrap her head around what just happened. Debbie just explained to her that she wanted kids and she couldn't say anything back but to tell Deb that she was crazy. What in the world was she thinking? She obviously wasn't because if she was she would have said yes in a heartbeat and began planning names right then and there. She had wanted this since she was a teen and when it finally happens all she manages to say was no. God, she could punch herself right now.

"You okay Lou?" Amita asked softly. Lou shook her head to snap out of being inside her head and nodded at the girls.

"Yeah, sorry. Umm Deb went to go grab coffee," Lou said.

"Oh okay, cool," Constance said as she sat down.

Nine Ball came through the doors and told everyone to go home. Tammy was resting well and that they could all come back tomorrow. She promised to update them if anything happened. The 3 women who were left agreed and all drove back to the loft.

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Nine Ball returned to the hospital room and saw Tammy admiring her newest bundle of joy.

"He's sure going to be spoiled rotten," Nine Ball said quietly.

"Oh I know, he is one lucky little kid," Tammy said and then smiled at Nine Ball. Nine pulled up a chair and sat beside Tammy. They both watched Lucas's eyelids flicker and his mouth occasionally open. They both reached to caresses his cheek when their hands touched. Neither of them pulled away, instead, Tammy's hand held Lucas's head and her thumb stroked his cheek and Nine placed her hand on top of Tam's. They sat there in silence just watching the little boy dream.

Tammy's heart was calm, but her mind was racing a million miles a minute. She hadn't felt like this since she had met her ex-husband. There was something about Leslie that she was drawn too. She felt safe and calm yet excited and full of energy all at the same time. She wanted to be near Leslie at all times, but she wasn't sure she was ready for a new relationship after just splitting with her ex.

Nine Ball's thoughts were running even faster than Tammy's. They had to with her being a hacker. She also felt at home with Tammy. She felt safe and like she could finally be herself. She wasn't used to that. She always was the one taking care of everyone. She practically raised Veronica. She also took care of their deadbeat drunk of a dad while their mom worked 3 jobs trying to make ends meet. Nine Ball made enough money for her mom to not work all that time, but if she if she told them, all of that money would be wasted on alcohol or other frivolous things. She always made sure Veronica had what she needed. Though Roni could take care of herself, Leslie would still always provide her with new clothes, school supplies and any gear she needed. There was always food in the fridge and enough money for the bills if her mom came up short. When she was with Tammy she finally felt like she could relax. She felt guilty, but she enjoyed being taken care of by Tammy. Though in the beginning, Nine was taking care of Tam.