Welcome to short story month! Twenty-five straight days of short stories, revolving in order! Check the DeGrassi Saviors website and my page for the calendar.

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Another short chapter but this time it was all work's fault.

Ch. 8 The Rose in this Storm

(CLARE)

"Hey Clare me and some of the girls wanted to throw you a baby shower," Mandy says as I'm leaving work Tuesday afternoon.

"Thanks that's very sweet of you," I smile.

"We were thinking next weekend if that's okay? Natalie said we could have it her place," Mandy tells me.

"Sure that sounds great, just no silly games okay," I grin.

"I'll tell Natalie and we'll arrange everything you just show up at Natalie's at two on Saturday," Mandy tells me.

I smile and continue down to the garage, fishing for my keys in my purse. At 28weeks and officially in my third trimester I'm quite big now. Because I'm quite pregnant my work duties have changed some. I'm still a field reporter but right now I'm stuck doing fluff pieces, parades and pageants, lost pets and such. Basically anything where I can sit down, I hate being back on fluff pieces but I didn't want to start my maternity leave yet and it's for the health of my daughter. Natalie promised I could do some hard hitting in depth interviews with people but none have come up yet.

"Clare wait," Justin calls after me and runs over. He's barely looked at me since the incident at my house a few months ago, which I'm sure in no small part is due to the fact that Drew threatened him. "Clare I'm sorry, for what happened between us," Justin pleads.

"If by what happened between us you're referring to kissing me in my own house and proposing I cheat on my husband I don't forgive you. We've been friends a long time, I thought I could trust you and you completely betrayed that. You know I am madly in love with and totally devoted to Drew, I know for a lot of people love at first kiss is a fairy tale but not for us. I've been in love with Drew since our first kiss and he's been in love with me and nothing will ever change that. I thought you knew that, I thought you respected it and I thought that Drew was just being paranoid when he was convinced your feelings for me were more than friendly."

"Well I honestly hadn't really thought about you until that day in the hospital, and then I couldn't get you out of my mind and I haven't been able to since," Justin tells me with a pleading tone.

"That sounds like obsession not love and I am in love with Drew. You should know that by now and how you thought kissing me while I was pregnant with my first child was a good idea I will never know."

"You said you were horny."

"I was making a comment to a trusted friend; I would have made the same comment to Adam, Owen or even Eli. It was not an invitation to try and take care of it; it was not an invitation to kiss me or touch me in any way it was merely a comment. I thought you were like them, I thought I could trust you but I was very wrong."

"Clare I…"

"HEY!" Drew yells cutting Justin off. "I thought I told you to stay away from my wife," Drew growls pushing Justin against a pillar.

"Drew let him go," I demand.

"Is this talk work related? Because you are only supposed to be talking to her if it's work related," Drew tells him still pressing Justin into the pillar.

"Drew he was just apologizing, let him go," I insist to Drew.

"If it's not related to work then stay away from my wife," Drew says again and then releases Justin before coming over to kiss me. Justin runs away while Drew is kissing me.

"Aside from threatening Justin are you here for a reason Husband?"

"Yes I came to take you to dinner, I went to your office and found out you'd just left and then I found you talking with Justin. I had to remind him that you were off limits. So shall we go to dinner Angel?" Drew asks.

"I'll follow you so we don't have to come back," I reply.

Drew grins; we agree on a restaurant and get in our cars. I follow him and we go in, we have to wait a few minutes and then get a booth.

"So are we celebrating anything?" I question.

"More like an apology," Drew says and I look away from my menu.

"Why what did you do? Aside from assaulting my co-workers," I comment.

"I have to go out of town tomorrow morning; it's the last time I promise. It was an emergency Hal is sick, he has the flu and Bob wants me to go. He promises it will be the last time, he said he wouldn't send me unless he needed to. He wants his best person to go and he said that was me. Last time I promise and I already told Owen, Fitz and Adam to check in on you and I'll have them swing by your office to make sure Justin is staying away from you."

"I think he got the message and shouldn't I be the one that's jealous? After all I've see the girls at your office not to mention the cheerleaders that you often work with and I'm getting as big as a house," I comment.

"You my Angel are gorgeous and sexy as always," Drew replies taking my hands across the table.

"You are very biased but I love you for it. Let's just hope you feel that way in a couple of months when I can barely walk."

"I will always feel that way Angel," Drew replies kissing my hand.

"The girls at work want to throw me a baby shower this weekend, Saturday at two but it's girls only. I can get myself there and back but if that's the time of your flight you'll have to get Owen or Adam to pick you up."

"My flight comes in at ten but I can still have one of them pick me up," Drew offers.

"No I'll pick you up but this better be the last time," I assert.

"Last time I promise and Bob promises too, actually he's paying for dinner and told me to tell you he wouldn't send me if he didn't need to. Adam and Ash will stay over a night or two and so will Fitz and Jenna I think," Drew tells me.

"Just so long as you know you'll be making it up to me when you get back," I grin.

"Of course Angel."

(DREW)

"Happy Christmas Eve Angel," I wake my wife up with a kiss.

"Happy Anniversary Husband," she smiles when she breaks the kiss.

"And a wonderful one, eight years ago today I asked you to marry me," I grin moving down in the bed and kissing her belly. Clare is thirty three weeks pregnant today and when I kiss her belly I feel our daughter move in her belly. "You know we should probably decide on a name for her," I say to my wife after kissing our daughter through her belly a few times.

"Well I was thinking Rose since it's your mother's middle name and my grandma's name, and I like the name Velicity which means truth," Clare tells me.

"Velicity Torres has a nice ring to it, I like that Velicity Rose Torres," I grin kissing her belly. "A few more weeks and I get to hold you Velicity Rose Torres," I smile and kiss her belly again.

"We can tell everyone at dinner tonight but if we don't get up and start to get ready we'll never make it to dinner," Clare says.

"My parents live ten minutes away I think we have time," I respond.

"Okay well I'm hungry, your wife and daughter need to eat," Clare quips back.

"Why didn't you say so Angel?" I grin moving up to kiss her lips. "Stay here I'll make us some breakfast," I tell her.

I steal another kiss and then go downstairs to the kitchen. I make a quick breakfast of cereal for Clare because she can't eat much in one sitting anymore and eggs and toast for me. We eat breakfast in bed and then Clare goes to shower, since we don't have to be there until dinner we take a leisurely day and spend most of it in bed. We're expected at five so Clare starts getting ready at 3:30 and I get ready at 4:30. When we're ready we drive to my parent's house arriving at the same time as Adam and Ashley. It happens quite frequently when the four of us are expected somewhere that we all arrive at the same time. As soon as we walk in Mom gushes over Clare's stomach, even though she saw Clare a few days ago. Then Mom gushes over Ashley's ring even though she saw Ashley last week. While Mom is fawning over the girls, Adam and I hug Dad.

"Well sit down we have lots of food," Mom says and then hits my arm, "pull out a chair for your wife."

"I was going to do that," I comment pulling a chair out for Clare and giving her a gentle kiss. I sit next to Clare and across from Adam; once everyone is seated Mom starts serving us and then sits down. "Well we decided on a name this morning," I enlighten my family.

"So what's the name?" Adam urges.

"Velicity Rose Torres," Clare tells them.

"That's a beautiful name," Ash smiles, "we have news too we set a date. We'll be getting married next August on the 30th. We wanted an outdoor wedding and it will be warm then but not too hot."

"Sounds beautiful," Clare grins.

"Yeah our wedding on the beach was great," I smile and kiss Clare's cheek.

We continue talking about Velicity and Adam and Ash's wedding all through dinner. After dinner we go downstairs to the basement where Mom still sets up the tree every year. There's lots of presents but not all are for us, tomorrow Owen, Paige and Andrew will come over. So will Glen and Jake, as well as Darcy, Peter and Krystan. But we have a tradition of always opening one present Christmas Eve and Mom always chooses which ones we'll open. She gives us our presents all at once and we all open them at once. The girls get fluffy new robes and Adam and I get new pajamas. After presents we do dessert and then it's time to go home.

"You know," I comment locking the door and then putting my arms around Clare's waist, "eight years ago at nearly this very moment I was asking you to marry me."

"One of the happiest moments of my life," Clare smiles looking at her ring.

"I think we should go upstairs, I will undress you and rub you, kiss you from head to toe and I would love to make love to you but only if you're up for it."

"When have I ever," Clare replies turning in my arms and putting her arms around my neck, "not been up to making love to you?"

Punctuating her question by placing her lips on mine and giving me a heatedly passionate kiss and then we go upstairs. I turn her around and unzip her dress, gently slide it off each of her shoulders and kiss the top of each shoulder. Gently gliding the dress down her back and kissing her spine as I go. Then I move around to her front letting her dress fall to the floor I kiss her belly several times. While she's still standing I shimmy her panties down and when they're at her ankles I sit her on the bed and take them off. Next come her shoes and lastly her bra. Now that she's all naked she moves back on the bed and I get undressed.

Crawling back on the bed I begin at her feet, kissing the top of each and then I rub her feet. Continuing up I rub and kiss her legs all the way up to her thighs. I caress her belly but not rub and kiss all over. I move up to her breasts, gently caressing and kissing lastly I sit her forward a little so I can get behind her and rub her shoulders. Thoroughly rubbed and relaxed Clare gets up on her hands and knees which is the most comfortable position for her. I go up on my knees, softly caressing her velvety pussy lips and rubbing her clit with my thumb. Clare moans, her back arches and I stroke myself a couple of times before gliding into her.

Clare moans again and her back arches even more, I slide all the way in, my hand gliding along her spine. She grips the bed spread and her neck cranes back. I thrust slowly keeping a steady rhythm I watch my wife's beautiful body begin to tremble and quiver with every thrust. When Clare's hips start bucking I increase my pace a little. My hands caressing her skin, I kiss her back, reach around to caress her stomach and gently massage her breasts.

"Ahmm Drewwww ohhhhhhhhhhhh yessss ahmm," Clare screams out as he climaxes. I cry out her name at nearly the same second as I too climax. Slowing down until we ride out our orgasms I pull out of her slowly. I lie down and Clare lies with me, lying on her side and pulling my arms around her.

"Happy Anniversary Drew I love you," she grins.

"Happy Anniversary Angel, I love you more."

(CLARE)

"It's the BBF and Fitz," Owen hollers after coming in with his key.

I had been reading in bed upstairs and when I heard the front door assumed it was Drew. I waddle down the stairs, I'll be 38 weeks pregnant tomorrow and I can barely move at least that's how it feels.

"What are you guys doing here?" I inquire.

"Drew called, he has to work later and he didn't want you to be alone. Especially with the way it's snowing," Owen informs me.

"It's snowing?" I question going to the window.

"Yeah a lot they're predicting a storm, don't you work at a news station?" Fitz teases.

"Yes but I don't pay attention to the weather. Wait if they're predicting a storm how is Drew going to get home?" I inquire.

"I'm pretty sure he intended on sleeping there which is why he sent us here," Owen explains. Adam and Ashley took a trip to New York for his birthday which is he called Owen and Fitz.

"What about Jenna, Paige and Andrew?" I inquire.

"They're all at Paige's parent's house; they're staying the night there. Drew said you probably wouldn't have eaten yet so I'll start some dinner," Fitz tells me.

"No I haven't eaten yet, why didn't Drew call me?"

"Because he knew you'd want him to come home," Owen replies.

"Damn right," I reply taking Owen's phone from his pocket because I sure as hell am not walking back upstairs to get my phone.

"Hey did you two make it there alright?" Drew asks upon answering his phone.

"Yes they made it here just fine. What do you think you're doing working late during a snow storm?" I inquire.

"I'm sorry I have to finish this, Bob is giving me an entire month off to be with you and Velicity but I have ton of work to finish. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know you were in good hands," Drew says with a slightly pleading tone.

"Yes I am but just be careful okay? Don't try and drive home if it's snowing too much," I tell him.

"I promise, Owen and Fitz will take good care of you. I love you Angel."

"I love you more Drew," I reply and hang up handing Owen back his phone. "Drew promised not to drive if the snow was too bad. Thanks for coming over guys."

"Of course," Fitz smiles from the kitchen.

"I am the BBF," Owen grins going to the kitchen to help Fitz.

"Why are you still the BBF? Shouldn't you be the BBH now?" Fitz inquires.

"No BBF it sounds better and I couldn't exactly marry him he's about to marry Paige," I point out.

"I could totally handle two wives," Owen boasts and Fitz hits him with a dish towel.

I lie back on the sofa and watch the guys make dinner. We eat on the sofa watching TV and after dinner Owen calls Paige and Fitz calls Jenna. Paige puts Andrew on the phone he's six months old now and he coos a lot and loves to babble to his dad. It's adorable to watch, Owen will hold him and say something and Andrew will babble right back. Jenna and Paige both say they're doing fine and they miss their men but to take care of me.

"Oh," I exclaim feeling a tinge in my stomach.

"You okay?" Owen asks.

"Yeah just indigestion I think, I've been getting it almost daily," I reply.

"You want some water or something?" Fitz offers.

"No I think I just need to lie down," I tell them.

"I'll help you upstairs," Owen says taking my arm and pulling me up.

He holds my arm and puts his hand on my lower back and we begin walking up the stairs. I suddenly feel a popping sensation and then a trickle of fluid running down my leg.

"Uh Owen I think my water just broke," I inform him.

"Fitz we have to get her to the hospital she's in labor," Owen tells him.

"I don't think that's possible it's snowing pretty bad, we've gotten at least an inch in the last hour and I'm finding a bunch a bunch of road closures," Fitz says as Owen helps me back down the steps. We just about make it to the sofa when the power goes out.

"No this is all wrong, I'm supposed to be giving birth in three weeks with Drew at my side in a hospital," I complain.

"Okay lie down on the sofa Fitz call an ambulance I'll get the flashlight," Owen orders taking charge.

"Dammit Drew why aren't you here," I complain as a contraction hits.

"Yes I've got a woman in labor…thirty seven weeks…I don't know…I'm not doing that," Fitz exclaims into the phone. Owen turns on the flashlight and comes over to us.

"Are they coming?" I question squeezing Owen's hand.

"Clare get Owen's phone and time your contractions. Owen we should make her comfortable on the floor and we need lots of clean towels," Fitz tells us.

"Okay I'll grab the futon from the garage and clean sheets," Owen says handing me his phone.

I find the timer and wait for another contraction. Owen runs into the garage and brings out the futon; he and Fitz move the coffee table. Then Owen runs upstairs and gets clean sheets and every clean towel we have. They start making the futon up and I get another contraction just as Owen runs upstairs to get pillows from my bed.

"My contractions are seven minutes apart," I inform Fitz as they move me to the futon on the floor and he relays the information.

"Yeah okay thanks," Fitz says into the phone and then hangs up with a worried look.

"Why do you have that look on your face that's not a good look," I comment.

"They're aware of the situation but there was a bad accident on the freeway and with the storm it could take an ambulance up to an hour to get here. They said at seven minutes apart the ambulance should be able to get here before you're crowning," Fitz informs me.

"An hour you're kidding, we better call Drew," Owen remarks grabbing his phone. "It's me are you still at the office?" Owen asks putting the phone on the bed on speaker.

"Yeah we can't leave the road is closed," Drew replies.

"Yeah well Clare's in labor and they said it might take the ambulance an hour to get here," Owen informs him.

"Guys I don't think," I pause breathing through another contraction and gripping Owen's hand, "we have an hour!"

Now aren't you glad with a cliffhanger like that you don't have to wait a month for the next update? The next update will be Tuesday picking up from right here.