He settles back in the chair, blowing out a nice big breath of air and closing his hazel eyes. "Then let me have it, holding it in will only cause you pain." His eyes open slowly as now they rest on her. He hated conflict, fighting wasn't something he enjoyed, but if it had to be done, it had to be done.

She is shocked and blinks twice before responding. Was he giving her permission to be angry, to want to yell, scream or otherwise berate him? Just who did he think he was? "You're giving me permission? How very thoughtful." Sarcasm dripped from her words.

He stood up from the chair, rather quickly at that and stood there. Hands go deep in his pockets. "I'm giving you permission to hit me, yell at me, do as you please with me. I have wronged you, I do not deny it one bit. I deserve whatever you deem fit. But do not think for one moment I will do the same."

Confusion sets in and is evident on her face. His flat out refusal to not only not argue but to not defend himself took the wind from her sails quite a bit. The anger leaves her eyes and she begins to talk in her normal tone again. "Babe, we worked so hard to get the Deli to where it is. I don't want it's reputation, nor ours, marred by some indescretion."

"I only did what I thought was best..I admit maybe it wasn't the best of ideas. I take full blame for it." He nodded, then was back down in the chair. Hands clasped on the table. "I thought it better that he didn't bring the women here, I was wrong."

She listens, her jaw set stubbornly. :You're right, it was a bad idea. Why on earth would you send him there? He has a room here!" Her voice crescendoes as the pent up anger is finally being released. "Why, Dean, why'd you do that?"

"I have said what I have said, I refuse to let this go any longer." Now this was his way of fighting, saying what he has to say and then being quiet. He hated fighting with a passion in his soul and he refused to let it continue. And with her current state he knew it wasn't healthy for her or the baby.

She shakes her head, he wasn't going to get away with that, no way "I don't think so. You give me one good reason why he should take women to our Deli? Is it now our whorehouse too? Perhaps it's where you take yours?? To her credit, she felt an instant pang of regret at saying that last bit. She knew better than to accuse him of such a thing. But there was no backing down now. Foolish, stubborn pride would not allow it.

Thankfully he hadn't been facing her, because there was finally a look of anger, though it was only for a moment. He took in another deep breath and calmed himself. He refused to give in. Hands clasped even more tightly together but his mouth held shut.

So, it was an old fashioned Mexican stand off. She reaches across the table and pokes him in the arm. "You owe me an explanation. I deserve that much."

"I have already given it." Is his only response, he stands from the chair and heads to the counter opposite of it. Leaning against it, his hazel eyes close and stay closed. Lips pursed together with force.

A heavy sigh escapes her lips. She's frustrated and it's quite possible she's met her match when it came to stubborn bull headednes. "Perhaps I am asking the wrong question. What put it into your head that the Deli was the place for... 'getting your groove thang on'? as his whore put it?"

His eyes stay shut, and now he sighs heavily as well. "I wasn't thinking. Besides it is where I take my own right?" His right hand went to his forehead, sliding through his hair. She had gotten to him, inside he was furious with himself that he allowed it to happen. He was taught better then this. He turns quickly, a light bang of his head on the cabinet. But he kept quiet, hoping to the gods maybe it came out as a whisper and she hadn't heard it.

Her jaw drops and she sits back in her chair, emerald eyes cloud, and she bites her lip to keep it from quivering. She'd heard what he said and it stabbed her in the heart to have it thrown back at her like that. She remained quiet, not knowing what to say.

He kept his face emotionless as he watched her not only turn her back on him but walk out as well. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. He was taught all manners of staying calm in situations, but never when it came to relationships. Does he follow her, or give her space? All these questions kept popping in his head. He knew one thing, he refused to leave her. Only at her wish would he do so, and maybe not even then. A nod of his head and he does indeed follow, but leans in the wall to the side. "What do you want Rosie? Tell me what you want." Arms are brought up once again, crossing over his chest.

"What do I want?"She stared into the fire, would not look up, could not look up or she'd lose it again. "What does it matter anymore? You refuse to discuss it further." Her shoulders slump slightly, and her sigh is audible, even from behind. The fire pops softly and sparks shoot up into the chimney.

"Do you want me to leave?" He kept to the wall, his gaze staying on her. His head tilted to the left as he began to play with his lip piercing. He was nervous, upset, sad, worried. You name it and it was happening inside him. It was building and building, you can only stay calm for so long.

She turns slowly and looks up at him. She had been crying the entire time, her eyes red and puffy, tears streaked down her face. "How dare you ask such a thing? Do you wish to go?"She closes her eyes and puts her hand over her face. "I will not try to stop you, if that's what you want. Her hand travelled down to her belly, gently caressing the tiny swell.

He had once again said it the wrong way. He closed his eyes for a moment, the look on her face was causing his whole being to ache. "I..meant to leave you alone right now. I would never leave you Rosie." His arms fell to his sides as he watched her once more.

She turns and looks back to the fire."No, I don't want you to go. I don't want to be alone. I just..." She sighes heavily, and the next words come out quietly. "We worked so hard, Dean. Do you think you're protecting me by having Gage take his girls to the Deli?" She leans back against the back rest of the couch. "It's not protecing me. If the wrong person sees, I'm running a bordello."

"Hindsight is twenty, twenty. I can not take it back, I did what I did Rosie. And when I find Gage I will speak with him as well." He pushed off the wall and began to pace next to it instead, head held down as he did so.

Leaning forward, she clasps her hands together, elbows on her knees and she looks straight ahead. "Do me a tiny favor, please?"

"Yes?" He kept on pacing, not one glance up. But his pace did slow. Soon his hands found his pockets. Until finally he did come to a halt.

She Finally comes to a stand and walks over to him, stopping two paces in front of him. She does not reach out for him, she simply stands there, tears still softly tracing down her cheeks. "Stop looking at me like I'm a child or a porclain doll. I won't break and I'm not a baby."

His gaze comes up and finds her face once she is infront of him. "You may not break Rosie, and yes I know you are not a baby. But.." His hand reaches out just enough to be held infront of her stomach but does not touch. "There is one there, and it will break if we are not careful. And I know you could not handle that, not again." He never spoke of the other child before, but he needed to get his point across.

She takes a step forward and allows him to touch her. She'd never deny him that. He was right, of course. Her previous pregnancy had ended badly, and she knew it was due to the stress that she was under at the time.

His hand giving her stomach a small gentle squeeze. A piece of him was in there, and he couldn't help but be proud. "I didn't think it would be healthy for you and I also didn't want a whole bunch of strange women knowing where we live. With all the crazy women around here, you never know.."

She steps forward again and leans her forehead against his chest. "Thank you" She slides her arms around his waist and keeps her face hidden.

Both tattooed arms wrap around her and hold her close, as if that is what they have always been meant to do. His chin rested down on the top of her head. He closed his eyes, her touch was all he need, and he was calm once again. She just always had that affect on him. He gave her a gentle squeeze, and then kissed the top of her head. His hand brought up to go under her chin, to look in those eyes of hers. "I love you to no end, Petal. You are the only one for me, never will I let anyone hold my heart as I do with you. I am yours until I am no longer." His eyes soften as he looks at her, his thumb caresses her small chin.

She smiles for the first time that day. "I love you too, Cookie Monster."