I rap my knuckles against Piper’s apartment door. I know I have to do some serious damage control because chicks always get their feelings hurt so fucking easily, it makes my head spin.

Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a fucking asshole who’s totally devoid of any feelings whatsoever, and I don’t want to see Piper hurting.

Admitting that I actually fucking care about her feelings, proves that I’m not a complete douche, but it also scares the fuck out of me because it means I must actually have growing feelings for her after all.

I hate it when my mind plays tricks on me and I can’t figure out what decisions to make. I don’t even fucking care about the blackmail right now, I just want to make sure Piper’s not hanging from her fucking shower rod or something.

She answers the door, and I notice immediately that her eyes are puffy and dark, and her hair is unkempt and askew.

“Is that really what you’re wearing to the gala tonight?” I ask.

“What the fuck are you talking about? What gala?” Her eyes grow wide with fear.

I shake my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m only kidding, there’s no gala.” I laugh a little, but she breathes fast and puts her hand over her chest.

“You fucking jerk,” she says shakily, but she allows me into the apartment anyway, much to my surprise.

“I thought you’d get the joke,” I say.

“Why?” She sniffs.

“You know, because you obviously don’t look ready to go to any gala this condition.” I wink.

Fuck, now she’s really hurt and upset. What the fuck is wrong with me? Her eyes puddle with fresh tears.

“I’m only teasing you,” I say and rub her wilting back. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m used to it by now with you.” She blows her nose into a tissue.

I can hear sad music coming from her bedroom. I raise an eyebrow and she closes the door quickly.

“Sorry, I’m just really upset about the fact that I’m not pregnant.” She flops onto her couch and sighs dramatically.

“It was only the first month,” I say and pat her knee. “There’s always next month.”

“Yeah, I guess,” she says and shrugs.

“I have to tell you something,” I admit.

She looks up at me through glassy, watery eyes.

“What is it?”

“You still look hot as hell. I was only joking with you earlier.”

Piper laughs and waves her hand dismissively.

“You don’t have to do that, I know I’m a fucking train wreck.” She stares at the floor.

“No, you’re not,” I say adamantly and turn to face her, taking her tiny hands to cradle within my own.

They’re soft and warm and make my insides tingle. I’m fucking losing it with her; she just has a magnetic pull with me or something.

“I’m sad,” she sighs.

“I know you are,” I rub her thumb, “but don’t be.”

“Oh, thanks I feel all better now.” She gives me a feeble smile with sarcasm.

I roll my eyes.

“Let me finish, it’s really going to be okay. Everything that’s meant to be will happen.”

I squeeze her hands together, and she stares at me as if she’s just seeing me for the first time.

“What’s gotten into you? Are you sure you’re really Zane, and not some clone pretending to be him?”

“Yes, why?” I nod my head, confused.

“The Zane Tanner I know does not give advice or show emotions,” she laughs.

“I’m giving myself a makeover,” I joke.

“Well if it’s any consolation, you look fucking sexy as hell too,” she says.

“Thanks.” I beam at her compliment, even though I already know she’s right.

“I really want a baby,” she whispers.

“Don’t beat yourself up,” I say. “There’s plenty of time.”

I hate seeing her so miserable like this. I wish there was some way I could console her, but I’m a failure of fucking epic proportions right now.

“Thanks for comforting me,” she says and smiles at me sheepishly. “I promise I won’t be a total basket case every month.”

“It’s okay,” I say and continue to rub her hand. “I know it’s disappointing, but do you really have to listen to Kenny G?”

This gets her to laugh, finally. She explodes into fits of laughter and tears spill from her eyes that have nothing to do with her melancholy mood.

“It’s not Kenny G.” She shakes her head.

“Oh, sorry…” I grin. “I just think all sad music has a sappy saxophone or some shit in it,” I say and shrug.

I’m not great at being there for her, but I’m fucking trying hard as hell to succeed. The fact that she’s laughing now shows me that I’m on the right track.

“Why is having a baby so important to you?” I ask.

She takes a deep breath and leans back in the couch.

“How much time do you have?” She chuckles and looks up at me.

“All the time in the world,” I offer, and I actually fucking mean it.

“Well,” she says. “I want a baby because when I was growing up, my mom worked like crazy. She was a criminal defense attorney, and neglected me more than she probably realized at the time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I admit, although I’m happy that Piper is opening up to me about her life. I know it’s not something she does regularly, and it’s nice that she trusts me with things like that.

“It’s okay,” she says and picks at her thumbnail. “Anyway, she died right before I graduated high school.”

“Holy fuck!” I gasp. “I’m so sorry Piper.” I give her a hug.

“She got stage four breast cancer and it took her pretty quick,” Piper admits. “A few nights before she died, she told me she regrets how she was never involved much in my life, and that she wishes she had focused more on her family than work.”

“That’s fucking deep,” I say with a shake of my head.

Piper takes a swig from her water bottle.

“I want to have a baby, so that if my mom is watching me from Heaven or wherever she is right now, she’ll know that I forgive her and I’ll do my best at giving my own child everything that she couldn’t give me.”

Piper’s eyes have tears in them again and one single tiny tear dribbles down her cheek and lands in her lap.

I’m so overcome with emotion too, but don’t get me wrong, I’m still burly and fucking macho as hell. I’m not going to cry, so don’t wait around for that to happen because it won’t.

My mind is made up now, though. I want to make Piper happy and give her everything she deserves: a family and a child.

The blackmail is the furthest thing from my mind right now, after I see the light and the legitimate reasons Piper has for wanting a baby so badly.

“I want to give you this baby,” I say with vigor.

She looks up at me.

“Thanks.”

I look deep into her eyes for a quiet moment.

“Piper…?” My voice is a whisper.

“Yes?” Her breath is on my neck.

“I love you.”

I can’t even fucking believe it myself. It’s crazy. Insane, right? Me, Mr. Fuck ‘em and Leave ‘em, in love. But it’s fucking true as shit.

And there it is, out in the open now. I feel so much better, now that I’m purging how I really feel about her and there’s nothing left to hold back.

“I love you too,” she says and places her hands on my chin.

And they’re the most perfect fucking words I’ve ever fucking heard.

We wrap our arms around each other and the sensual kissing begins.

We’re hungry and desperate for each other, and this time it’s different. There’s actual passion and emotion involved as we touch each other.

My hands go up her shirt and I feel her juicy breasts. Every tender moment is magnified by a million and I never want to fucking let her go.