Previously in A Second Chance

He did not know how long he cried for, the only thing he knew is that when he finally stopped and he regained some of his sanity, he was holding on for dear life, to his mother. He did not notice her coming into the room. He couldn't remember the moment he hugged her body and rested his head on her stomach, while she caressed his head trying to soothe him as if he was a child again. All he knew in that moment was that he was about to loose the woman he loved and there was not a damn thing he could do.

CHAPTER 7

SPOV

It was a Tuesday when Eric just called to let me know that he needed to go to Sweden for business and I felt my heart ache. We see each other almost every day after work and we spend the weekends together, from Friday to Sunday night, either his place or mine. Finding his clothes around my apartment, having a place for his things in my closet, his own toothbrush in my bathroom and stocking my kitchen with food that he likes makes me feel like we are sort of a married couple, without the actual marriage. And that feeling makes me so happy! We have not talked about moving in together, let alone marriage, but it is something that I would consider in the future.

Eric called yesterday, Wednesday, to chat and he told me he wasn't sure when he is coming back. He sounded a little off, like sad. I guess he is missing me because he told me not to forget that he loves me. So, in order to keep myself busy while Eric is away, I decided to deeply clean and organize my apartment. I still have a few moving boxes that I have not opened and my closet needs serious organizing. I think I have accumulated too much stuff through the years.

While cleaning my bathroom on Thursday after work, I came upon an unopened box of tampons that I had in the back of the sink cabinet. In that moment, I felt my stomach turn and I felt sick. I realized that I haven't had my period in a while. I realized that I am late, very late. I hold on to the sink because suddenly I felt like I was about to pass out. As soon as I recover my equilibrium, I went to my bedroom, sat on my bed and close my eyes trying to remember when was the last time I had my period. Oh dear God! It has been over a month!

I felt like somebody dropped a very heavy stone on top of my chest and I started to freak out. I didn't need to ask myself "How did this happen", because I knew very well how it happened, when and with who. Oh my God! When did I lose my fucking common sense! I tried to calm myself, taking deep breaths and I felt the need to know if I was really pregnant. In auto pilot I went to my closet to get some decent clothes to go to the pharmacy and buy a pregnancy test.

As I am leaving the building I see Amelia walking towards me, coming back from work I guess. I try to keep my eyes to the ground, but there is no way I can avoid her. I guess the expression on my face gave me away because as soon as we saw each other I started to cry and her expression changed from bored to horror. She ran towards me, hold me by my forearm and asked me "Sookie, are you ok? What happened? Why are you crying?"

I couldn't hold it. I was crying in the middle of the street while my friend Amelia hugged me trying to make me calm down. "Ssshhhh, Sookie it is ok. Calm down; breathe so you can tell me what is it. Breathe with me."

I did as she said and looking at her eyes I said, "I think I'm pregnant." Amelia's face showed no surprise. I guess she prepared herself to hear the worst. "OK. How late are you?" she asked me.

"Weeks, I don't know!" and I started to cry again…

With a very low and calm voice she told me "Let's get a pregnancy test". We were in the middle of the sidewalk, and people started to look at us funny.

"Yes, I was on my way to the pharmacy, it is just a couple of blocks away."

"Come on, let's go." And we started to walk while she was hugging my by my shoulders.

I kept weeping quietly and we did not talk while walking to the pharmacy. Once we got there, Amelia said, "Wait here, I'll get it."

"OK" I responded and stayed out by the door. My head was spinning and I could not put any thoughts together. My heart was pounding in my chest and my hands were sweating.

After a few minutes, Amelia came out and we started to walk back home. I was quiet, I felt like a zombie, walking without thinking. My stomach was a big knot and I was crying again, but quietly. We entered our building and while we were going up the stairs Amelia showed me the pregnancy test box and asked me, "Have you ever used one of these?".

"No. Never had the need before." I responded with a very little voice.

"All right. This is what you need to do. Got to the bathroom, open the package and you will hold the end of the stick white stripe right underneath your pee for 5 seconds, then we wait. If it is 1 line is negative and if it 2 lines then it is positive. Ok?"

"Ok." Then I went ahead to open the door of my apartment and taking the pregnancy test I walked towards the bathroom.

"Don't worry, everything will be ok." Amelia said to me as I closed the bathroom door. I did everything she said and I opened the door to find Amelia sitting in my couch. I walked towards her and she got up to hug me. She kept saying that everything would be ok, but I knew better. I kept looking at my watch, pacing around the room. Waiting.

Finally the time was up and we went to the bathroom to see the result. I saw two red lines. I cannot describe what I felt, because I felt everything at the same time. I was scared, I was crying, I was happy, I was worried, I was Pregnant.

"Oh Sookie. Come here." Amelia said to me as she hugged me one more time. I let all my worries and fears flow inside me. We walked to sit in the couch and I kept staring at the plastic stick that just minutes ago changed my life.

"What are you going to do?" Amelia asked me.

Taking a deep breath I said, "I am going to be a mom. I am having Eric's baby" and in that moment, when I mentioned his name and I saw his face in my mind, smiling. Right then I felt happy. I smiled and look at Amelia and she had the biggest smile in her face. "That's right Sookie, you will have Eric's baby, and he is going to be so happy because he loves you!"

"Yes, I know. But I am still a little scared. Nervous. How I am going to tell him?"

"Well, do something special. Let him know that you love him and you are happy to have his baby inside you. If you tell him in a negative way, being sad, crying and all, he may be disappointed that you are not happy being pregnant with his child."

"Oh no, but I am happy!" I interrupted her.

"I know Sookie, so think about it and in mean time you need to find a doctor, a OBGYN to see you during the pregnancy."

"Yes. I will." By this moment I had a headache and I started to think about my job, the people at the office, Eric's possible reaction, daycare and 1000 more things. "OK. I have a headache and I want to lay down."

"Sure honey. I am going home and if you need anything, just call me or come over, OK?" Amelia said.

"Yes, thank you Ames." I got up and started to walk to my bedroom.

"You are welcome." Amelia said to me, and right before closing my apartment door she called me, " And Sookie." I turned around to see her and she said, "Congratulations!"

I slept like a rock after all the crying. I was so drained physical and emotionally that I must have missed Eric's phone call. I woke up at 6:30 am and I was ready to go to work. I needed to keep my mind busy. I was eager to talk to Eric. Not that I was planning to tell him over the phone that I was pregnant, but I wanted to know when he would be back.

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EPOV - Thursday.

I couldn't sleep. I was confused, scared, mad, cowered. My being is a knot of contorted emotions and I have not been able to separate my thoughts from my feelings to decide what do to. I never thought I would find myself in this situation. I of all men, the great Eric Nothman, always so confident in my decisions and myself; and with an ego bigger than life. Well people, I have some news. I am between the wall and the sword. I am a man like any other and at the same time different from any other.

I ask myself, if I own my actions and I am so self-confidant, what is my fucking problem? Why in hell I cannot say no to my father? The answer is no easy and not the one I want to give. You'll see, when you are born and raised in a wealthy family, you grow with the idea of responsibility, you know that at some point in life, you will have to do whatever it takes to protect your family and its' interests.

And this idea, as crazy as it sounds, it is tattooed in your brain, in your heart, and sometimes in your skin. For me, the problem is not that I have not accepted this idea since early age, but the fact that I never thought I would actually fall in love and that I would be the one to do the deed in favor of my family.

Sacrifice myself for the family's interests. Any sane man would have dismissed my father orders without even blinking. Well, not me. I grew up with a different set of values of any men. I know of responsibility and loyalty to my family, and lately I just learned about love. I am not scared to loose my social position or to be fired and disinherited. What roots inside me is more than that, is a matter or pride and responsibility. My father has been good to Pam and me. There was no secret to what would be asked from us at some point. So, I don't feel cheated in that way. I knew there was a possibility of this happening, is just I did not see it coming.

Now, I am torn between the loyalty to my family and the love for Sookie. My father and the BOD have been working in this project for a long time, and I now find it ridiculous that the culmination of it, rest in a marriage. But believe or not, this is how it works sometimes in the circles we move. Forget the love, look at the benefits of an arranged marriage can bring. This association is the angular stone for what is to come for Nortcomp and I have no right to ruin it. I cannot ruin it. I need to find another way to make it happen without marring Sophie Ann. Fuck, I can not stand the bitch!

I've decided to stay here a few more days. I need to clear my head. I need to think carefully about what I am going to do, about Sookie and my conditions for the marriage contract.

I got up and found my father having breakfast. "Eric, good to see you. Are you feeling better? I heard you got a bad headache last night."

"Yes. I am fine. I just need to think over a few things. You said that we can negotiate some conditions to the marriage contract. I have some conditions of my own, but I am not ready to talk about it just yet."

With that, I walked out of the morning room and went to my room to call Sookie. I need to tell her that I will not come back until the following week. It will buy me some time to sort out this mess and figure out how to tell her about my plan, once I find one.

"Hello, Eric?"

"Hi Sookie."

"How are you baby? I miss you"

"I miss you too. I am busy, I have quite a few things here I need to take care of and I will have to stay longer. I won't be coming back until the following Monday."

"Oh, no. I can't wait to see you. I trust everything is ok with work?"

"Yes, just a lot of meetings and paperwork. Pam is behind and I need to help her with some unfinished business from my time here."

"Ok. I understand. So you will not be present at the gala."

"No. I definitely will not be there. Are you going?"

"No if you won't be there. I really do not have any business with all the rich people who attend this event."

"I am sorry. I wish I could be there and show you off! My beautiful lover".

"Oh Eric, you are so sweet!"

" Well lover, I've got to go. I have a meeting in a few minutes and I need to get ready. I miss you and I love you."

"Ditto. I love you Eric."

Good, how I am going to survive what is to come. How I am going to look at her and tell her that I must marry another woman when it is her who I desire for my companion. It took all my self-control not to blur what is really going on over the phone. I need to keep it together if I want to get the most of situation. God, have mercy on me….

It was around noon, when I came looking for my father…. "Father, when can we talk to Andre LeClerq? I need to take care of this business so I can go back to New York."

"He is in London as we speak. Maybe we can meet him tomorrow morning. Let me arrange the meeting."

Later that day…. "Eric, I spoke with Andre and we will be receiving us tomorrow at 8 am. Get ready, we are leaving tonight."

"Very well then."

"Do you mind sharing with me your conditions to the marriage?"

"As a matter of fact, I do mind. At this point I can tell you that it is only my business since it is me who will be doing the deed."

Eric's father did not responded to Eric's harsh comments. Just looked at him knowing that Eric was not happy at all about the forced marriage. It was in his best interest not to push Eric too much.

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SPOV

Eric just called to let me know he will be coming back in a week. I can't wait to see him and tell him that we are having a baby! The more I think about it, the more excited I get. The fear of having a baby is completely gone and I am sure Eric will be delighted to learn about my pregnancy.

I need to find a special way to let him know. Maybe dinner and I will drop some hints during dinner. Maybe I should wrap the pregnancy test as a gift? No, it is gross. Maybe a congratulations card? Oh My god. I don't know. Well at least I have a week to think about it.

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Hello readers, sorry it took me forever to update, this chapter was very difficult for me to write because it was Eric POV and him trying to explain why he feels obligated to marry Sophie Ann. I know many of you do not agree with him (and me) but trust me, at the end it will be worth all the angst and the pain! I will be updating at least weekly, I just hope my Beta, My dear sister in law Amy will keep helping me to correct my orthographic horrors. Ha! Please review and let me know what do you think! Thanks!