So I was going to wait to post this story, but it was KILLING me to wait, very impatient I am. This is an AU sequel of sorts that goes with Almost Perfect II. This little idea was just begging to be written, so I hope you enjoy it. Get ready for another roller coaster ride!
Thanks to TJ Sparkles for being my super awesome beta! Loves her!
Aiden Martin was downstairs in her by kitchen with her nine month old daughter Lexie, feeding her banana baby food.
"Guess what pretty girl? Daddy's coming home today, are you excited?" she asked.
The little girl's brown eyes sparkled as she smiled.
"You look just like him when you do that." she laughed.
Lexie was her pride and joy; she was the one thing that always made sense to her. Lately the little girl had been the only thing that made her happy.
After all of Aiden's problems during her by pregnancy and labor, she had seen a new side of Alex. That Alex was tender and loving and attentive and protective. The first six months of Lexie's life had been stress free for Aiden due to Alex's devotion to their family. The past three months he had been slipping. When he would go to tapings he wouldn't call like he usually did, he had begun drinking more frequently and going out to bars.
Aiden tried not to worry; she tried not to question her husband, because when she did it always escalated into a fight. He felt like she was nagging him, so he would lash out and say hurtful things or retreat to the guest room and lock himself in. He always knew how to hurt her the worst. She would go upstairs and cry and eventually fall asleep and in the morning sometimes it got better, others it didn't, and he would be gone. She just wanted the old Alex back and couldn't figure out why he was so distant.
Aiden pulled off Lexie's bib and wiped her mouth, "Come on and let's change before daddy gets home."
The little girl kicked her feet as she was lifted out of her high chair.
Around five in the afternoon Alex came trudging into the house. Aiden and Lexie were waiting at the door in cute little dresses.
Aiden went to him and stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek, "Hey baby, I missed you so much."
She held out Lexie who was holding her arms out to her father, opening and closing her fists.
"Not right now babe, I've got a splitting headache." he dismissed.
Aiden bit her lip as she cradled her baby back to her chest.
"What's for dinner, I'm starving?" he asked.
Aiden swallowed her sadness and followed him into the dining room. She had just set out their plates of food on the candle lit table.
"I made your favorite; I even called your mom and got the recipe for her baked macaroni and cheese." Aiden smiled sitting at the table with Lexie on her lap.
Alex went to the fridge and grabbed a beer and came back to pick up his plate. He went into the living room without a word and turned on the hockey game. Aiden sat in shock at the table. She'd gone through so much trouble to prepare his favorite meal while taking care of Lexie and for him to not even acknowledge her efforts stung to say the least. She ate in the dining room with Lexie, blowing out the candles when she was done, and laid her daughter on a blanket on the floor while she cleaned up the dishes. Unfortunately, Lexie did not want to play on the floor and began screaming.
"Hold on, let Mommy finish this last one." Aiden said to her.
Alex came into the kitchen with a disgusted look on his face, "Damnit Aiden, what the hell about me having a fucking headache did you not understand?"
"Just pick her up, she's sleepy." Aiden said fighting tears.
He stepped over his daughter and grabbed another beer, "I'm going to lay down before I get a migraine."
He grumbled a few choice words as he went back out of the room. Aiden dried her hands quickly and lifter her daughter from the blanket.
So much for the romantic evening she had planned. He was very obviously not in the mood.
They went into the living room and rocked in the rocking chair until Lexie fell asleep. She took her upstairs and placed her in the crib and got in the bed with Alex who was already asleep.
He was in arms reach of her but he felt a million miles away. It was like she was in Paris again wishing on a star that they would be together again. She wanted the old Alex back so badly. It broke her heart to feel the division between them, but she just didn't know what else she could do about it. Nothing seemed to aggravate him more than when she tried to please him so she was at a loss. She hadn't told anyone about their problems, hoping they would fix themselves, but it was apparently going to be much harder than that.
She covered his hand with hers, not wanting to wake him in fear of another argument. In his sleep he pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Tears stung her eyes. Why couldn't he do this when he was awake?
She had fallen asleep apparently, because in her foggy mind she could hear Alex calling her name and shaking her. She sat up quickly when she heard Lexie screaming through the baby monitor.
"Geez you sleep like a fucking rock. Will you go see what's wrong with her?" Alex asked.
"Why can't you do it?" Aiden asked sleepily.
"Because she wants her mommy, fuck Aiden, will you go get her, I'm trying to get ready." he growled going back into the bathroom.
She glared at him as she left, hearing him mumble "lazy" under his breath. Aiden rushed down the hall to her daughter's nursery and plucked her from her crib. She whispered in French to the baby to soothe her and she stopped crying almost immediately. Aiden changed her diaper before going back into her bedroom. She sat back on the bed, softly singing a French lullaby as she glanced at her husband who was in their walk in closet getting dressed.
"Where are you going?" she called.
"Out." Alex retorted.
"With who? Where?" Aiden asked.
She always got the worst anxiety when he went out. He came out of the closet looking like pure sex in his jeans that could make a woman's mouth water and a tight dark blue shirt. His hair was gelled perfectly, the mere sight of him made her heart skip a beat. "With James to a couple of bars." he sighed, "Should I wear my black or brown belt and shoes?"
He turned his head back to his cooing daughter and his wife who sat silently on the bed.
"I wish you wouldn't leave Alex, I mean you just got back a couple of hours ago. We miss you when you're gone." Aiden said quietly.
Alex rolled his eyes, "Here we go…I work very hard to support both of you, so you don't have to go back to work and can stay at home to raise our baby. If I want to go out with my friends I see nothing wrong with that. I wish YOU could realize that I don't get the chance to sit around on my ass all day and play with Lexie."
"You haven't even held her or kissed her since you've been home Lex. I just don't understand how you can do that." she said.
"Oh, because I'm a bad father now huh? Is that what you're saying?" Alex lashed out."
"No." Aiden whispered.
"See? You wonder why I leave, it's because of you. I can't do anything without getting grilled like a damn teenager." he shouted.
Lexie startled and began whimpering.
Aiden lowered her eyes to shush Lexie.
"Black." she muttered.
"What?" Alex snapped.
"You should wear your black belt and shoes." she said, hesitantly looking at him with tears in her eyes.
He put on his belt and sat on the edge of the bed to put on his shoes. He pulled on his leather jacket and looked at his reflection.
"I'll see you later." he called over his shoulder as he went downstairs.
"Love you too daddy." Aiden whispered letting her tears cascade down her face.
