#cole ff

-Lola is nonbinary and aroace, but doesn't tend to mention her gender identity unless asked. She's seldom felt quite comfortable with they/them pronouns, but considers herself human before she considers herself in any way female. Though she's ace, she absolutely adores gossiping about others' love lives, and has made every effort possible to nudge Cole closer to Terry.

-Lester is nonbinary and transmasc (he/they pronouns). He and Lola spend a great deal of time making music after hours at the Aopteryx club.

-Pauleen and Dina are lesbian. Oh so very lesbian. Dina is usually entirely oblivious to any male expressions of attraction towards her. Pauleen is not oblivious when men adore her, but tends to be upfront about seldom returning feelings.

-Rupert and Dino are gay. Oh so very gay. From a marketing perspective, Rupert's father didn't disapprove of his son's sexuality—rather, he despised his son's choice in partner, and feared that Rupert and Dino's public affection for each other would drive away potential clients for FossilDig. Rupert managed to allay most of his father's worries by pointing out that FossilDig could likely buy into rainbow capitalism more now, but look less conspicuous doing so. Nevertheless, Rupert's father remained too stuffy to follow through on such a business venture, and pride month sales remain anodyne. Joe Wildwest, meanwhile, not only dotes on his son, but has been absolutely vocal about LGBT rights since he noticed that Dino was gay. 'Noticed', rather than 'was told', since Dino never really came out—he just happened to have a first crush on a male, rather than female, classmate, and the family rolled with it from there.

-In the Patrol Team, Todd is the token straight on thin ice.

-P. A. Leon is gloriously and gorgeously aroace. Though she dated as a young woman, she came to realise she better enjoyed time spent alone with her Kraftwerk and Gary Numan records than time spent together with partners. Her team comprises solely dromaesauridae, and as such, long before she used the term 'asexual' on radio, many celebrated her apparent queerness.

-Diggins and Beth are both trans, and Diggins was the first person to popularise Aopteryx as a symbol of transness.

-Joe describes himself as straight, but also swoons over 70s & 80s rockstars. He's as straight as a 70s rockstar can be—that is, functionally bicurious at minimum. An, uh, 'extremely devoted ally'.

-Though Stryker gives extremely little away to the press, he's always been openly gay. It's not something he's ever wished to conceal; as such, he's the first openly queer head of the Wardens.

Jermaine sighed, taking a stand as he grabbed his phone and keys off the desk.

“Yo!”

“What’s up? So look I got the dudes number.”

“Really?” Destiny’s crying seem too seized as she stood up and looked over at Ibrahim. Her surprised expression caused Jermaine to frown. Why is she so surprised now? By now how his teams works shouldn’t be a surprise.

“Yeah. Here’s his number, address, and Cole I’ll send the background information to you.”

“Cool. I’ll call you later man.”

“You got LaToya waiting don’t it?” Mike asked and Jermaine nodded. There was shit for him to be doing.  He gave both of them a quick salute before they walked out. His eyes traveled to Destiny who had taken her seat back on the crème tone seat. “Destiny I have go. Now.” 

All morning Jermaine had shit going on around him. Meetings, interviews, phone conferences, video chats, and he even had to fire two people this morning, which only adds more to his plate. The last thing he wants now is to waste time around her also. LaToya would be looking for him maybe, but regardless he needed to be there for himself. Today was important for him and he didn’t want to miss it just because of her and this baby daddy drama.

“Jermaine for once just help me. Please.”

“Help you how? How else can I help you, Destiny?”

“Being there for me. Shit I’m going through a lot right now. I just want someone to be there for me.”

“That ain’t my role. Never has been.” Jermaine’s voice was full of venom. He felt like he was being used right now. So much was put on the line for her and this mess, he already has lost so much.

“Jermaine-“

“Destiny, look alright? I did my part. You asked me to take the damn test, matter-of-fact, you forced me. Regardless though, I did. I have done my part. Now when that test came back negative and you were looking like what the fuck, I should have left then. Why I didn’t still runs through my mind because it was the biggest mistake. I’m doing shit all wrong for you and it don’t feel right. I’m sorry you can’t find the man who is your daughter’s father, but I am not him. Stop making me feel bad because I won’t be involved in her life. That’s not my place. I have my own child coming into this world in three months. I have their mother to stress over. You and Lola will be fine, trust me. Now can I please leave my office without you being here to pressure me? Ib gave you another man’s number. Use it!”

As he spoke, he didn’t stand in one spot, making sure he said the right things, but he walked the office space. Picking up things, shutting down things, closing up things, making sure his space was spotless for when he returned. Once he finished his eyes wondered to her, seeing the tears built up at the brim of her eyes.

“You really don’t care about us do you?”

“No. I don’t because this doesn’t concern me and it never will.”

“Jermaine don’t you have a heart? Don’t you care about someone about other than yourself?”

No and yes was the answer to those questions. No the heart that was once growing to love people was gone the day he walked out of LaToya’s condo. To see her in the light of only being his “baby mother” is hard for him, but with her tough exterior he has to put up some kind of façade that will protect him of being hurt again. Does he care for someone, love someone other than himself? Beside his mother and sister? Of course. She’s caring his child and of course there their child that growing in her daily that holds a part of him. LaToya will always have some hold on him and maybe that’s why he isn’t committing again. Sex here and there, sure. But he won’t even commit to a submissive at the time afraid that this will only be a cycle.

“Get out.” His eyes moved from her to the door before he walked to the back of the office for his coach. The black cargo pants were worn with a KPOP BTS Sweater, even that wasn’t enough. Miami coldest times are December and January. December seems to sneak up on you and that’s what’s going on now. The coldness is coming and going. Today is in the high forties, but just yesterday it was seventy degrees. Jermaine slipped the ililily Heathered Varsity Blouson Track Jacket on, sashing his keys in the side pocket.

Back in his office there was no sound coming from annoying visitors. It was clear of everyone which only caused him to smile. His thumb hovered over the numbers of his passcode for his iPhone 6 Plus as he walked out the glass door of his office. Jermaine locked the door using his master key before pressing against the elevator call button. As he entered, Jermaine entered the four digits for his password then went to the messaging applications. There was stuff from his mother, sister who had been cursing him for five months, but he didn’t blame her. Letting LaToya slipped through his grip was the stupidest thing that he has done. What’s even stupider is the fact that he can’t get back.

There was nothing new from LaToya, which wasn’t surprising to him. She doesn’t call him first, doesn’t text first, nor does she respond as quickly as he’ll like. But it’s not his place to make her pick up the phone and talk to him. Jermaine doesn’t have the right to text her a thousand times, trying to catch her attention. If she doesn’t respond after his third attempt then he moves on and hopes for her reply, if not, he just prays everything is okay. There’s no stopping by her house whenever he feels like it. LaToya made that clear within the first week. As she said “you weren’t stopping by a week ago, you were hiding out. Do that now.” And that’s what Jermaine tries to do. He’s not controlling her and what goes on, no matter how fucked up it makes him. He likes to control and makes sure everything around him is okay and protected at all times, but that too is shut down. Her life. Then she calls the shots.

Jermaine’s 2015 R8 car got him to the UM hospital on the other side of town. Here LaToya got her monthly check ups and meds. In a week she’ll be graduating from University of Miami, hoping she’ll be able to start work for at least a month before Dr. Curry put her on bedrest. She and Jermaine had the conversations, wondering if it’ll be smart, but that’s what she wants and he can’t stop her.

In ten minutes he was walking the sixth floor of the hospital, Jermaine entered through the doors, looking from left to right then to the nurse’s desk. The same nurse always sat behind the glass of the office whenever LaToya and Jermaine entered the room. By now she knows the two of them.

“Hello, Mr. Cole. I didn’t see you come in with Miss. Williams this afternoon.”

“Yeah I had a meeting run over.”

“Well I’ll show you to the back where she is. The nurse has already been with her. There’s just the wait for Dr. Curry.” So he missed the introductions of how healthy the baby still is, but that was fine to the least. It was important that he knows how healthy and fast his baby is growing. That’s a moment in life that no one should have or want to miss.

Room B4 was the station that they occupied for this particular checkup. The baby monitors sat around the room, pictures of child birth, help line tips, and random tips on how to be healthy for yourself and your baby during the pregnancy. Three set of bottles sat on the counter for once the baby was born as LaToya had request from the last appointment. She didn’t know if Dr. Curry would be able to get them, but once she saw the boxes it was conformed that it was possibly.

When Jermaine walked in her body was laid out on the patient table her Louis Vuitton Vernis Alma GM bag was on the counter along with her Christian Louboutin “Fierce” six inch boot heels. The groan that left him wasn’t one that went unheard by her. LaToya dropped her iPhone 6 Plus on the bed beside her, as she pulled herself up. Her hand rubbed over her six month pregnant belly. A confused look set on her face until her eyes traveled to Jermaine’s than the marble counter top. LaToya wanted to laugh at him, but that would only push him more. The heels came in handy today. It was the first time in the month that she even looked at heels. Different combat boots and sneakers had been her best friend, but with graduation coming up she needed to put herself in practice with walking in them once again.

“Hello, Cole.”

“Why LaToya?” His eyes hadn’t left the shoes yet. LaToya shook her head as a small giggle left her. Why are men so concerned with the shoes that women wear? Especially men who aren’t a main figure in the women life.

“They were cute and caught my eye while I was looking for shoes. Besides I’ll be fine. There has been no heels on my feet all month long. I need to practice for next week.”

Jermaine shook his head, clearing his mind of thoughts, as he turned to her. His hand reached out to help her off the bed before wrapping his arms around her body and embracing her. It’s the only affection that she gives off to him. That’s all he needs in reality. Their days of kissing and touching is now dead and has been so for five months.

“You know you’re late right?” LaToya asked as she took a step back, stepping on the stole to get back up on the patient bed.

“Yeah. I’m sorry the meeting ran over later than it should have.” LaToya gave him the “yeah right” face before look down at her phone. The latest on the team, graduation requirements, who’s not and is coming, and friends had her attention right now. Her nights are longer than they should be, but its fine for now. She knows after the baby comes a lot of this has to slow down around her. Graduating will be out the way, but her mother and father’s bickering won’t. “What have I missed?”

“Pretty much everything. The only thing Dr. Curry is doing today is distributing the bottles and given us the sex. Her schedule is booked like crazy so the nurse took up much of the slack.”

“I didn’t know the nurse could do that.”

“If your doctor gives you the order, than you have no choice but to.”

Jermaine nodded eventually taking a seat in the chair beside the patient bed. His eyes went back to the boots, a smirk finally leaving him. He should have expected her to try something like that. Her closet is full of heels there’s no way she could go throughout this entire pregnancy without wearing one pair at least once a month.

His mouth open to ask her question just as the door open Dr. Curry walked. A female OBGYN who LaToya choose with the help of Shay. Dr. Curry was in her early thirties and had over five verifications in her field. How Shay founded her is beyond LaToya, but it didn’t matter. From the moment LaToya came in the first time in August, they have grown a bond.

“Hello LaToya and Jermaine.” Both Jermaine and LaToya greeted the doctor as she applied hand sanitizer to her hands and arms.  Her Spanish accent was on a high at the moment letting both of them know that she had just finished with a Spanish speaking native. Usually within a few minutes the accent would go away because both of them were English speakers helping her to enhance her native language.

“So Natasha should have already went over normal produce right? She checked the baby’s heartbeat, made sure that the baby was developing smoothly, and took ultrasound pictures to examine? You should also have some for yourself and of course you know those are you bottles. Did she get the pediatrician information to put on file also? We need to know have you decided if you are going to get an epidural or going through it natural.” All this was said as Dr. Curry set up the ultrasound machine to showcase the baby. Natasha could have told LaToya what to expect today, but it was something that Dr. Curry had to put her stamp of approval on.

“Um….she did pretty much everything.” LaToya laid back, unbuttoning her pants before zipping them down. She moved her lace panties down along with her pants just enough for the doctor to apply the jelly and rub on her belly. “I was told to give you the information it’s in my bag for you and I think I’m going with the injection.”

Regardless of the stories and myths to never let a pregnant watch other pregnant women give birth, LaToya did it. She watched a variety of epidural injection births and natural births. While both looked painful and made her want to fall asleep while they gave her a cesarean section birth, the one that helped her the most would have to be the epidural. LaToya’s mother told her about having her natural because she was too young to legally have the shot. Even though her story is dull and sounds painless doesn’t mean that LaToya’s story is going to be the same way.

“Now I must warn you that with the epidural. The process can slow down a lot. That’s one reason women don’t choose it and the main reason many do. Some don’t want to think about it, while some just want to get it over with.” Dr. Curry squeeze on the bottle, some of the jelly like substance cooling LaToya’s belly down as she laid back. The lights were low now and Jermaine’s eyes were going back and forth between LaToya and the machine.

“I mean. I’m ready to meet my baby, but I don’t want it to be too painful.” The doctor took note of that as she moved her transducer probe around LaToya’s belly. A sudden kick caused both of them to look down. LaToya laughed it off while the Dr. Curry shook her head. “Pretty active baby.”

“You could stay that.” LaToya replied as she remember last night. None of her school notes were rewritten as she had planned because of the kicks and turns the baby was doing. The baby was constantly moving around in her and that made her wonder what was she having. A girl or a boy?

“So today we are seeing what baby this will be, right? Girl or boy?” The doctor tapped on the keyboard a few times, the display of the machine going from full to minimize as the printer started. LaToya turned her head, looking up at the machine then to Jermaine whose eyes were glued to the display.

“Healthy.” Was Jermaine response as he looked over the screen once more. His body leaned back into the chair as he looked over LaToya. His eyes trailed her body, in a sensual and protective matter. He can promise every time he sees her, her stomach has grown and he may not be wrong. Her thighs have expanded some, her breast have grown more, and her ass is fatter. Every change leaves him hard and alone. LaToya makes sure to walk at least once a week, sometimes with Vanessa and sometimes not, but she does. It to make sure her body is still getting it exercise in. She doesn’t want a hard delivery and it’s bad enough that sex is out of her life.

“Okay. Daddy says he want the baby healthy which means it doesn’t matter to him. LaToya?”

“I don’t care. Just tell me.”

The doctor laughed and soon the full screen was up again. She pressed on a few buttons then zoomed in, the entire time the probe moved around LaToya’s belly.

“And it’s a……………………………..boy!”

“Thank you GOD!” LaToya let out a huge sigh, falling back against the bed. Both Dr. Curry and Jermaine looked at her, smiling, then bursting out into a fit of giggles and laughs.

“Something you were planning, Miss. Williams?” The doctor took two more screenshots before printing them. She turned off the machine, removing both the jelly and the probe from LaToya’s belly.

“Yes! I wanted a boy and I got a boy.” Jermaine stood up coming to stand beside the bed.

“Well you definitely have you a boy.” The doctor handed over the pictures, than took some with her placing them in LaToya’s folder.

“Thank you, Dr. Curry.”

“No thank you needed, Mr. Cole. This is my job.” She gave Jermaine a smile before turning to LaToya. “Now you miss lady. I need you to make sure you slow down on any activity. I know graduation is coming up, but don’t stress too much okay. Jermaine if she does, get on her. You are six months in with healthy, baby boy, and he needs to feed off mommy’s energy. March you are definitely given birth from what I’m seeing. And slow down also on the potatoes. That baby boy is already six pounds.” LaToya laughed at her last statement as she looked down at the pictures.

“Will do, Dr. Curry.”

“Okay. Make your next appointment to see me, LaToya and have a nice day you two.” She gave her goodbye hugs and left the room.

Jermaine helped LaToya down once again, grabbing the heels to place on the floor for her. Surprisingly Dr. Curry didn’t see them or she too would have given LaToya an earful on the pain that she could receive or how dangerous they were. He settled one on the floor, before helping put her foot in then repeating the process with her left foot. While he zipped her in, LaToya buttoned and zipped her pants up. She took the piece of paper out of her bag, sighing.

“Why you wore lace panties?”

“Huh?” Jermaine question caught her off guard for a second.

“Why you wear lace panties?”

“I can’t wear lace anymore, Jermaine?” LaToya dropped her phone in the bag, gripping on to the paper as she walked to the door.

“I mean you can…..I just…….”

“What? You think because we’re not seeing each other that I can’t wear lace anymore or feel sexy?”

“I didn’t say that.” His eyes pierced hers, causing both of them to stand in one spot for a minute before LaToya ripped her eyes from his. She backed up some to open the door of the room, stepping out into the hallway.

Around the counter the nurse’s desk was and where LaToya scheduled her appointment for next month January on Jermaine’s birthday, of course with the request of him to place it on the 28th, and she also gave the nurse the pediatrician information. The two walked out the door into the December winds, while Jermaine’s hand rested on her lower back.

“I have an idea if you care to listen.” LaToya turned to face him sideways as they walked the sidewalk to her 2015 “Bumblebee” Corvette z06.

“Like what? I never know when it comes to you and your ideas.”

“It’s one you may not like, but I still want to suggest it.” Jermaine stopped them right at the driver’s door of the car. LaToya settled her weight on the side of the car along with her bag. She didn’t know how long it’ll take him to tell what was on his mind.

“So……………”

“Once the baby comes right?” Jermaine started.

“Yeah, once the baby comes.”

“What do you think about the both of you coming to stay with me for the first six to seven months?”  LaToya side eyed him as a small giggle left her. He was actually serious.

“What you plan on getting out of this?”

“Nothing. I just want you to have someone to help you out with anything you know? Being able to take a nap while the baby is getting a bottle or something. I could do that and I believe I should be the one to help. I am his father.”

“You sure about that?” Jermaine was now returning her look.

“I’m positive about that.” LaToya shrugged it off. She was only joking.

“Regardless the answer is no. If I need help I know how to call you and ask.”

“Are you really going to call though LaToya?”

“Maybe not. But it’s good to know I can.” She stood, giving Jermaine a fake encouragement pat before unlocking the driver door.

“LaToya that’s fucked up and you know it.”

“Really?” She replied as she was dropping her bag on the passenger seat. “That’s fucked up?”

“Hell yeah. I mean I’m trying here. I want my family in the house with me.”

“Jermaine we aren’t a fucking love story. This isn’t us and never has been. You never even intended for us to be a love story so why are you pressuring it now?”

“LaToya, people can have a change of heart at any time of day.”

“You have to have a heart for that to be a case don’t it?”

“I have one for you and my child. So stop playing me, LaToya.”

“I’m not. It’s just all of a sudden you want to be committed to your family, but five months ago you didn’t give a fuck.” Jermaine sighed, rubbing his face.

“Not this again.”

“Why not? It’s the reason we are in this bullshit of situation now. Your family could have been home with you. Your wife could have been home with your child, but you felt other things were more important so you don’t have a family, Jermaine. You have a child and that’s it.”

“Really? Nothing else huh?”

“Nope not from me.”

“So that’s a no to my idea? Just like that? You not even going to go home and think about it?”

“No. What is there to think about?”

“At least think about it LaToya. You have an entire three months to do so.”

“Alright. I’ll see, but just to warn you I highly doubt it.”

This wasn’t their story and Jermaine knew that. No love story, no picket fence with the pool, and two and a half kids running around. They weren’t that couple nor were they living the American dream. Jermaine still had play in him. Jermaine still needed to learn the concept of communication. There was still growing that they both needed to do. Maybe in a few years they could get their acts together and make their family one, but for now its co-parenting and making sure their child is okay.