Title: I Can't Be Without You
Author: TakerTakeMe
Disclaimer: I own no one and (as usual) everything that happens is fictional.
Summary: When Chris won't leave his wife, Stephanie does the unthinkable!
Chapter: 1
"Look, Stephy, I can't leave Jessica," Chris said.
"And why the hell not, Chris?" Stephanie wanted to know.
"She's the mother of my child!"
"But you don't love her the way you love me."
"I know..."
"And she doesn't love you the way I love you."
"I know, but that's beside the point. My son... I can't leave my child."
"Fine, Chris," she said in an abnormally quiet voice. "I love you."
"And I love you, too," he assured her. "Now I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Goodbye," she whispered, then hung up her phone before she could hear him return the words.
The Next Day
Chris pulled up at the secret beach house that he shared with Stephanie the next day, replaying the previous night's conversation over and over in his mind. Stephanie had quite a few valid points. Last night after they'd hung up, he'd lain in bed next to Jessica trying to get his thoughts together.
He loved Jessica as the mother of his child and as a friend, but nothing more. Any feelings he had once had for her that were of a romantic nature had long ago disappeared. He only loved Stephanie, and he realized it. Their love was pure, new, and exciting. He would be a fool to stay with his wife and pass up his chance with his one true love.
It was at that moment that he had made his decision. He'd gotten up quickly and scribbled his wife a note. He'd laid it, along with his wedding band, on the bedside table. She would see it first thing in the morning when she woke up. He would not be lying next to her in the bedroom in their Tampa home when she found it.
He had thrown some clothes on, then grabbed his wallet, cell phone, and car keys. He didn't have to bother with bringing extra clothes. There were clothes at the beach house and besides, he could always come back and get them at some other time. He'd gone into his son's room and said a tearful goodbye to the sleeping child, promising that he would come back to see him although he knew his son didn't hear him. He'd kissed him softly on the forehead, stood up, and wiped the tears from his own face. And then he was gone without a look back.
He had driven all night, nonstop, and finally here he was, at the beach house. He knew Stephanie was there. He sat in the car, nervous. He hadn't told her that he was coming. He hadn't told her his decision.
Just then, his cell phone rang. He picked it up and flipped the screen up. Stephanie's beautiful face flashed across the screen of his T-Mobile Sidekick 2, and he smiled, thinking back to when he had taken that picture. "The Morning After Sex" picture, that's what he'd named it. She never even knew he took it...
"Hey, baby," he answered.
"Chris," Stephanie breathed into the phone. She sounded like she was crying.
"Stephy, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Don't ever doubt my love for you," she whispered. "I love you more than life itself."
"I don't doubt your love for me, sweetie," he said, confused. "Why would I?"
"Life isn't worth living without you," she said dully. "I can't be without you and if you're still with your wife then I'm without you and I can't be that way!"
"Stephy, just calm down," he said, alarmed at her "life isn't worth living without you" statement. He got out of the car, heading for the front door. He licked his lips nervously. "Where are you?"
"In our bed at the beach house," she said, her voice getting dreamy. "We've made so many memories here, Chris..."
"We're still going to make memories there," he said, slipping through the front door. "Countless memories. A lifetime of passionate and beautiful memories."
"Not while you're with her," she said bitterly, and then she started sobbing again. "I left Hunter for you, but you won't leave her."
"But I-"
"Maybe you don't want me like I want you," she said.
"I do. Never doubt-"
"Shhh, Chrissy," she said softly. He obeyed her, silently climbing the stairs. "I love you... Maybe you'll understand how much I love you afterwards..."
"After what?" he asked, his voice a pitch higher as a feeling of dread seized him. He made his way down the hall to the bedroom.
She was silent. He could hear her moving around.
"After what?" he repeated louder, worried.
"Never say I didn't love you, Chris," she whispered, and hung up the phone.
Chris made it to the bedroom just in time to see her. She was sitting in the middle of the bed. She slowly raised the gun up to her head. He locked eyes with her.
"NO!" he yelled, his phone clattering to the ground.
She pulled the trigger.