*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
Audrey was in her office getting her things ready for court that morning because she had a big case she was defending. She spent her entire weekend with Joe that after he left the night before she finally sat down to prep everything she needed. She was looking over the case one last time before she was going to the courthouse. She looked up when there was a knock on the door. "Scott," she said. "I don't really have time to talk right now," she said as she started to pack things up. "I have to get to the courthouse."
"Did your boyfriend leave?" he asked.
"He's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend, my best friend. Why does it matter anyway?"
"I'm just curious," he said. "I'm sorry about the other night, Audrey."
"I'm sorry too," she said, "but I meant what I have been saying all this time. You have a problem, Scott and you need to get some help. You want more and you want all this from me but you have a drinking problem, Scott. I'm not getting involved with that or you. I don't want more, I never did want more. I like things the way they are."
"Please just give me a chance to prove to you that I can be more," he said. "I promise, Audrey I will be everything you ever dreamed of."
"That's the problem, Scott. I never dreamed of having that life. I never wanted a relationship, I've never had one and I don't plan to have one now. I don't know how many times I have to tell you this and why you keep pushing it. I don't want a relationship and if I did I wouldn't have one with a man that can't figure out he has a drinking problem. That was embarrassing the other night and you offended Joe," she said, "now I have to get ready to go or I'm going to be late."
"Audrey, why are you getting so upset?"
"Because you aren't taking no for an answer. This is the last time I'm going to say it. I don't want a relationship and the only thing I want is what we already have. It's less complicated and I'm tired I barely got any sleep this weekend and I was up all night prepping for this case. I have to go, Scott."
"Audrey, can we have dinner tonight? Let me make it up to you," he said.
"Scott, I guess. I have to go and we have things to talk about anyway," she said grabbing her things. Audrey hurried passed Scott and made her way out of her office building where she caught a cab to the courthouse. She arrived in time just as they were being called into the courtroom. She didn't like not being able to talk things over with her client first but Scott delayed her and the daily traffic in the city held her up longer than she wanted to be.
Audrey spent most of her day at the courthouse defending her client and successfully her client was found innocent of the charges against him. Audrey was one of the most powerful and successful attorneys in the state of New York. She had a very good success rate when it came to getting her clients off. It was a long day for her and she didn't feel like spending the night with Scott after everything that happened over the weekend, he was too possessive of something he didn't have but she needed to talk to him to let him know what her plans were with Joe. He did have the right to know and the sooner he knew the better it would be. Audrey made her way back to the office to pick up her car from the parking garage and then made her way to Scott's house just outside of the city. She pulled into his driveway and parked her car before she got out. She let out a deep breath before she made her way to his front door. She rang the bell and shortly after Scott opened the door. "Audrey," he smiled.
"Scott," she said as he let her into the house. She took off her jacket and hung it by the door in the foyer and laid her purse down on the table by the foyer. "It smells good in here, what's for dinner?"
"I decided I was going to cook for you," he said surprising her.
"You cooked me dinner?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes I have to make up for the other night. I was completely out of line," he said as they walked to the dining room they were going to share dinner together. "I was an ass and I'm sorry."
"You were a pretty big ass," she said, "but we really have things to talk about."
"We'll get to that," he said, "would you like some wine?"
"Please," she said with a smile as she looked at the dining room table. He was doing too much. He had made them alfredo fettucine for dinner, two candles were lit at the table and two wine glasses were sitting on the table. Scott walked over and poured them each a glass of wine before he pulled her chair out for her. She took a seat as he took a seat across from her. "Dinner looks good, I didn't know you knew how to cook Italian."
"I did my best," he said, "but I must confess I actually got it from a box and followed those instructions I'm sure it's nothing like you can make."
"Probably not," she said with a smile, "but you put effort into it and I'm starving it's been a long day."
"Tell me about it," he said as they put fettucine on their plates. "How did court go today?"
"It went well, we won and my client was found innocent. It was a pretty good day. The judge was tough," she said before taking a sip of her wine before digging into her dinner.
"Which judge did you have?"
"O'Hara," she said.
"Ooh, she is tough," he said as he ate. "Did you enjoy your weekend?"
"I did. Did you enjoy yours?" she asked.
"It would have been better if we spent some time together," he said, "but it was pretty good."
"That's good and I'm sorry. I had a friend over and we haven't seen each other for a while. He's actually coming back tomorrow," she said, "He's going to stay a day or two and then we're going to Pensacola for Thanksgiving next week. This is really good by the way."
"Thank-you," he said, "why is he coming back tomorrow?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," she said. "He will probably be visiting a lot."
"You're together aren't you? That's why you're going back to Pensacola for Thanksgiving so you can tell your parents and have him meet your parents right? And you're telling me that our time is done right?"
"It's a little more complicated than that but we aren't together we're just friends, best friends actually. He's been my number one go to and best friend since high school. He has already met my parents and I have met his. His parents love me and my parents love him. I'm going back to Pensacola because I haven't been there for years and I would love to see my family and also because Joe and I have some things to tell our parents."
"What's going on, Audrey?" he asked as he throws back the wine in his glass. "What aren't you telling me?"
Audrey takes a sip of her wine she wasn't sure how Scott was going to react to her news about having a baby. She knew it wasn't going to be a good reaction because she was telling him no that she didn't want more but she was willing to have a child with her best friend. "I just want you to keep an open mind," she said.
"What is it, Audrey?" he asked and she could hear the temper rising in his voice and she gave him a look. "Sorry," he apologized.
"You see," she began before taking another swig of her wine. "I got this idea over the weekend that I wanted to have a baby. I'm in my 30's and I'm not getting any younger and I want to do this before I get too old to have kids and I have this timeline that if I would get in a relationship we would have to be together for a certain amount of years before we got married and married a certain amount of years before we had children by that time I would be nearly 40 years old and almost too old to have a baby so I decided I want to have a baby now, no strings attached. I want to do artificial insemination so there's no drama, no relationship just a baby," she said. "I decided I am going to be artificially inseminated and of course I was a little weirded out by the idea of having a stranger's sperm inserted inside me Joe and I decided we were going to do this together. We decided that he would father my child and there are still things we need to work out but we're doing this."
"Wait," said Scott, "all this time you're sitting here telling me you don't want a relationship but you want a baby? Isn't a baby a commitment?" he asked. "And a baby lasts a lifetime and with your best friend?"
"I know it sounds crazy," she said, "but this is what I really want to do. I don't want everything that comes along with having a baby with the relationship but I want a baby. I make enough money to be a mom and I know that I can do it all myself. I'm not worried about that at all. I know it's a commitment but it's something that I really want."
"It's confusing," he said, "And if you want a baby I can have a baby with you, we can start tonight if you want."
"No, Scott. I don't want a baby with you. I don't want anything with you, no relationship, no baby, no marriage. I like the way things are between us. I am not going to change my mind Scott. I'm in it for the sex nothing else."
"But you committed to have a baby with your friend from Florida but you won't have a baby with me?" he asked. "I'm confused."
"Don't be confused. I have known Joe for years, I know his family and I know where he comes from. He's my best friend and I trust him more than anyone. Just because we're having a baby doesn't mean anything. We're making an agreement that we're going to follow through with. There will be no strings attached unlike if I had a baby with you. I don't want any strings, Scott."
"IF this is what you want but do I get a say?"
"Not really no, Scott," she said before finishing up her wine. "I just need to know if you're okay with me having a baby and continuing whatever it is we're doing."
"I don't' really get a say," he said with a shrug. "You made that clear. Why does my opinion even matter?"
"Fine," she shrugged. "Do you want me to leave? Because I can leave."
"I would prefer if you stayed," he said with a smile, "but if you want to leave I won't stop you."
Audrey knew things were going to be complicated if she kept up the No Strings Attached, Friends With Benefits lifestyle with Scott and she was carrying Joe's child but she didn't care about how complicated things would be or didn't realize how complicated they could actually become so she chose to stay with Scott. Audrey got up from her chair and walked over to Scott. He pushed his chair out and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "I'm going to stay," she smiled before kissing his lips softly and deeply.
"I was hoping you would say that," he said wrapping his arms around her waist before kissing her back. He stood up with skill and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom without breaking their kiss. He kicked the door shut behind them as he carried her over to the bed. He laid her on the bed gently and she smiled up at him as he started stripping out of his 3 piece business suit. She started unbuttoning the buttons to her white blouse and took it off exposing her black cami. She stripped out of her blouse and cami exposing her black lace bra. She started to unbutton her pants and pulled them off after pulling off her heels. Audrey laid back on the bed as Scott crawled over her in his briefs. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down as he kissed her lips softly and deeply. Audrey knew what she wanted and she knew what she didn't want. She enjoyed sex but never wanted a committed relationship. She had one sex partner which was commitment enough for her but it would never be more. Scott's lips found her neck and he kissed it softly as she let out soft moans as he nibbled on her neck. His kisses trailed down her body over her breasts, down her sternum over her belly and down to her thighs. He kissed each thigh softly before kissing her sex through the lace of her black underwear. He pulled them off quickly and kissed her naked sex. She let out a cry of pleasure as his mouth found her clit as he sucked on it softly and slid his finger inside her making love to her with his finger as he sucked on her sensitive clit.
"Fuck, Scott," she said in ecstasy as he replaced his finger with his tongue, making love to her softly as she groaned out in pleasure. The pleasure ripping through her body, she arched her back up offering him more, taking his tongue deeper as he licked inside her sex and sucked her sex softly. "Scott," she moaned before she couldn't control herself anymore, she couldn't hold back the pleasure and cried out as she hit her climax. "Scott," she said breathlessly. "I want you to fuck me," she begged. Scott smiled and removed his briefs. "Condom," she said.
"We never use condoms," he said as he stroked his thick erection.
"Usually I am on my pill and I haven't taken my pill for three days," she said honestly, "and I don't want to risk having a baby with you."
"Right," he said, "check the drawer on the nightstand." Audrey sat up and got into his nightstand drawer. She pulled a condom out and smiled and gave it to him. "Thank-you," he said ripping open the foil. He quickly put the condom on before towering over Audrey. He teased her with his cock, grinding and rubbing it against her sex before he slid into her softly and gently. They both let out a moan as he filled her. He began moving slow and deep, hitting every spot of her sex. She moved with his rhythm, his lips on hers, kissing her deep as he had sex with her. She slid her nails up and down his spine for being as old as he was he could still bring the most pleasure to her. The passion tearing and ripping through their bodies, Audrey's toes curled and her nails dug into his spine as she reached her climax, crying out in pleasure as he continued thrusting softly before he found his own release and groaned out in pleasure as he filled the condom with his seed. He kissed her lips softly before he removed himself from her. He pulled the condom off, tied it and tossed it into the trashcan. "So you're really doing this baby thing huh?" He asked as he laid beside her.
"Yeah," she said, "Joe and I are doing this. We have an appointment on Wednesday afternoon with the doctor to see what all we have to do but we're doing this."
"I would have donated my sperm if that's what you wanted," he said.
"I know but it wouldn't be right," she said.
"Why wouldn't it be right?" he asked as he rubbed her thigh with his hand.
"Because you're in love with me," she said.
"Damn right I'm in love with you," he smiled.
Audrey sat up and started looking for her clothes. "I'm not in love with you," she said.
"Where are you going?" he asked as she started to get dressed.
"I'm going home," she answered.
"Why?"
"Because it's time for me to go," she said, as she pulled on her underwear and her pants.
"I want you to stay," he said, "have some more fun."
"Scott, you and I both know it's time for me to go this is fun what we have but it's never going to be more than sex. I have to go," she said putting her white blouse back on and buttoning it.
"I just want a chance, Audrey," he said as he got out of bed and pulled on his briefs and then his slacks. "Just one chance."
"Scott, please I don't have the energy to deal with this tonight. I told you what I wanted and I meant it. Please don't make this more difficult than it has to be," she said. "I have to go."
"Fine," he said. "I'll walk you to the door."
"Thank-you," she said as she put her heels back on. She walked out of his bedroom as he held the door open for her. He led her down the stairs and to the foyer. She grabbed her purse and her jacket from the hook. He opened the front door for her. "Goodnight, Scott."
"Goodnight, Audrey," he said with a soft smile even though he was dying inside she would never be the woman he wanted her to be. He kissed her cheek softly. "Drive safely."
"I will. I will see you tomorrow," she said before she walked out onto his porch and then to her car. Scott watched as she started the car and pulled out of his driveway. He shut the door and went to the dining room to clean up from dinner. He just threw the dishes in the sink, grabbed a couple bottles of beer out of the fridge and sat down on the couch in his living room.
Tuesday morning at work was a bit awkward between Scott and Audrey. They barely even talked and Tuesday night Audrey never went to Scott's house she went home to hang out with Joe while he was in town. Wednesday morning was the same way. Scott usually would bring Audrey coffee but he didn't that day. He didn't even stop in to see her which was weird to her. Audrey was packing up her things for the day because she took a half day when Scott appeared at the door to her office. "Hey," he said, "did you want to go get some lunch?"
"I can't," she said, "I have to get ready to go. I took a half day today. I'm going to my appointment."
"I see," he said, "So that's today?"
"Yeah," she said as her phone buzzed. "Yes," she said.
"Ms. Romano there is a Joe Anoa'i here for you," said the receptionist.
"Tell him I'm on my way down," she smiled.
"Okay, Ms. Romano," said the receptionist.
Audrey packed up the rest of her things and as she was getting ready to carry her briefcase Scott stopped her. "I got that," he said with a smile.
"I can manage," she said.
"No, allow me," he said, "I'll walk you down."
"Whatever," she said, "I don't have time to argue." Scott walked her down to the lobby and the elevator ride down was awkwardly silent and they stepped off the elevator she began walking as he placed his hand at the small of her back. She cleared her throat and said, "I've got it from here." She took her briefcase from him and thanked him before she walked over to Joe who was standing in the lobby dressed in blue jeans and a jacket with his long hair in a bun. "Hey," she said with a smile.
"Hey," he greeted her. "You ready for this?"
"Yeah I am," she said with a smile, "are you?"
"I guess as ready as I can be," he said as he held the door for her to walk out of the building. They got into Joe's rental car and headed off to the fertility doctor.
When they arrived at the fertility doctor Audrey filled out some insurance paperwork and some new patient paperwork as they sat in the waiting room. Joe played on his phone to avoid looking around the waiting room of all the pictures of babies and to avoid reading the magazines. They called Audrey back and they stood up together and made their way to the back. They were just meeting with the doctor to go over everything so they knew what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. They were told to take a seat at a desk and wait for the doctor to come in. "Are you nervous?" asked Audrey.
"Not really, it's just we're actually doing this. You're going to be a mom and I might be a dad," he said.
"Right, we have to set up an agreement on how all that's going to work. I want you to have a part in the baby's life. How can you not have a part you know what I mean? We're best friends unless you want to keep the paternity a secret."
"I don't know," he said. "What do you think will be best for us and for the baby?"
"I think it should know you're their father. I mean there's nothing wrong with that. We won't be in a relationship or anything we'll just co-parent how does that sound?"
"Sounds okay to me," he said with a smile. "I never thought this would happen."
"Me either," she said with a smile, "but you're nervous and I can tell you are."
"A little what if this whole procedure doesn't work?"
"Then we will try again," she said. "Sometimes it takes at 3-6 cycles before this actually works unless I have my mom's fertility then it should happen right away." They both let out a laugh knowing that Audrey's mom was very fertile. Audrey took Joe's hand into hers as the doctor came into his office.
"Hello, Ms. Romano, I'm Dr. Richards," he introduced himself.
"Hello, please call me Audrey and this is my friend Joe," she said, "he's going to be the father."
"I see," he said. "Nice to meet both of you," he said shaking their hands before taking a seat. "So what brings you in today? Fertility problems?"
"No," said Audrey. "I want to have a baby but I want to be artificially inseminated with Joe's sperm."
"I see," he said with a nod. "Have you ever experienced pregnancy before?"
"No," she answered.
"And your periods, are they regular, irregular?" he asked.
"I'm pretty regular," she answered. "I would say my periods on average are 28-30 days apart."
"I see," he said taking note, "and Joe would be the donator?"
"Yes," she answered.
"When is your next period due?" he asked.
"It is due next Wednesday the 22nd," she answered.
"So we've already missed your ovulation period," he said.
"Yes."
"If we go by your expected period we would say that you're ovulation period would be that first week of December, December 7th I believe is the date."
"Sure," said Audrey. "I think that's about it."
"Are you familiar with the procedure of artificial insemination?" he asked.
"Yeah, I've done some research," she answered, "but I'm not an expert on it or anything."
"Okay," he said, "what will happen is I will prescribe you fertility drugs for you to take the week before ovulation to help you release more eggs and it will help to increase your chances of becoming pregnant. You'll also want to get an ovulation kit to keep track and make sure you're near ovulation. When you're close to ovulation or the day you're ovulating you will call me and I will bring you in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound will be to check to make sure an egg has been released. We will then take a sperm sample from Joe, clean it and then insert into you. Then we will wait for two weeks to find out if you're pregnant or not," he said.
"That sounds easy enough," said Audrey as she kept Joe's hand.
"It sounds easy but sometimes it doesn't take the first time," he said.
"Well," said Audrey, "if I am anything like my mom there won't be a problem with conceiving the first time."
"I take it that your mother is a very fertile woman?"
"Very," said Audrey with a smile.
"You may very well be like her or you may not be. We will do this first procedure and see what happens. Don't be upset if it doesn't happen right away. Sometimes it takes a couple tries before it happens."
"I know," said Audrey.
"And if this happens then what?" asked Joe.
"Then you are lucky and you two are going to have a baby," he said with a smile. "After hearing everything today are you both sure this is what you're interested in doing, it could be cheaper if you did it the natural way," he joked.
"Yeah," said Audrey, "this is how we want to do it. Joe, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes," he said, "let's do this," he smiled at her.
"Wonderful," said the doctor with a smile. "I just have some papers for you to sign and then I will write your prescription."
"Okay," said Audrey with a smile.
After their appointment they walked out to Joe's car and he opened the car door for her before he got into the driver's side. "I guess we're doing this," said Joe.
"We are," she said with a smile as she looked at him with her dark brown eyes. "I'm excited."
"Me too," he said as he pulled off into traffic. "And we're going to tell our parents next week?"
"Yeah so it's not a big surprise when it happens," she said. "Thank-you, Joe for doing this."
"You don't even have to thank me, what are best friends for?" he asked with a smile.
*A/N: What did you think? What do you think of Audrey? Please review and thank-you for reading.
