Well everyone, we're not getting the feedback we'd like! Don't forget that reviewing is how we authors get better and tailor our stories to what YOU like to see! This chapter is a very important piece of the story, the real crux of the drama. From here on out, it's going to be nothing but pleasure ;).
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Have a wonderful weekend,
Marina & James
Silence.
It was deadly quiet as Gabriel slipped into the cab beside Laura. He stayed on his side of the cab and she stayed on hers; the battle lines had been drawn. Leaning up against the window, Laura watched as snowflakes drifted lazily onto the street; it was a beautiful, crystal clear night. She and Gabriel should've been enjoying it by the fireplace, talking about the future and making love until after midnight. But that whole dream had been shattered...why would he want to make love with her when she looked like a beached whale? Why would he want a future with someone he didn't even respect? She let out a short sigh as she stepped from the cab, not even waiting as Gabriel paid. Since they'd gotten 'back' together, she'd taken to always holding his hand, taking his cue...but not tonight, he probably didn't want to be seen with her anyway.
At least she held the elevator for him and they rode up to the apartment in silence. Moving before him, she waddled into the bedroom and pulled out the largest flannel nightgown she owned before stepping into the bathroom and turning on the shower. Letting the hot water soothe her, she spent several minutes washing the tears away and the day's grime off her body. Washing her hair with the coconut shampoo she knew Gabriel liked, she rinsed it out before stepping out of the shower. Brushing out her hair, she braided it and donned the nightgown. Looking at herself in the mirror, she rubbed away some of the steam off the mirror. Her belly pressed firmly against the nightgown she wore, making her feel even worse about herself. When she tried to pull it away from her belly she was disheartened to find that it didn't stretch anymore...she had grown out of yet another nightgown. Stepping back into the bedroom she decided there was no way that she was going to walk around with her belly straining the fabric of her nightgown to draw attention to the swell where her waist used to be. Tossing it aside, Laura put on a pair of maternity sweatpants and a giant black t-shirt of the New Orleans Saints that BellaDonna had given her. It still showed the swell in her belly, but at least it was a little more slimming. Making her way out into the living room she plopped herself down on the couch and folded her arms. That was that…
Gabriel sat silently through the whole ride back to the apartment. He was trying to think of how to apologize, but then kept reminding himself that he didn't need to apologize. It wasn't his fault she was hormonal and took everything the wrong way. But when they got out, and she went on without holding his hand, as was normal for them, he almost broke down and begged her. Instead, though, he steeled his resolve and kept himself centered. When she went to take her shower, Gabe sat on the couch. As soon as she was out, he went in, without a word. Ten minutes later he came out in a pair of loose sleeping pants and no shirt. Flopping down on the couch, Gabe sat there staring at the blank TV. He wasn't going to make the first move. Nope, she'd been the one to take it the wrong way, she could say something first.
Damn, that Gabriel summers did not fight fair. He was the one who had called her fat, he was the one who insulted her...why was it that he thought he could just let that sit and not say anything? And then he decided distraction techniques might be best and came out wearing no shirt. Luckily he had started a fire in the fireplace before he left to take a shower or he would've been mighty cold. Folding her arms, she let one rest over the place where her tiny son was writhing and kicking within her; he didn't like this tension either, she could feel it. Still ignoring him, she leaned over him to grab the book of baby names from the end table where she'd left it before she took a shower. "If you're done playing stupid game you want to try giving this little boy a name? By the time I hit nine months I'll probably be too fat for you to even look at and I'd like to consult you before I give name him." There, eat that.
That was it. Like a bad game of Mortal Combat, the contestants had been called to fight. And fight they would. Gabriel slowly followed Laura's path back to her spot, and glared at her. "I'm the one being stupid? You're the one who can't take a joke. I was trying to be funny, trying to get a laugh out of you because God forbid you genuinely laugh once in while instead of the little giggles and chuckles you normally give me. I like seeing you happy. It's not my fault you took it the wrong way and blew your lid."
"Oh yeah, it's so funny to call a pregnant woman fat." Laura snapped back, "Because I've felt so attractive as of late. I can't fit into any of my clothes, there's a kid in here who likes to wiggle around and keep me awake, I have to pee every ten minutes...and all you do is crack jokes about it!" She had resolved not to cry and so far she was doing just fine; she was just angry, pure and simple. "Do us both a favor, you're not married to me so go screw your skinny whore and stop bothering me about it. We both know that me being this large disgusts you. So, just get that tension out somewhere else and stop bringing it home. I don't need your pissy mood making my blood pressure rise and endangering my son."
Gabe shot to his feet when she mentioned Jubilee. She was the one who never wanted to talk about Jubes. She was the one who growled when she heard the name, and now she was bringing her up? "I'm not fucking Jubilee. How many times do I have to tell you that? Nor would I want to! Use those senses you praise so much. Do you ever smell arousal on me when I'm around her? No! Unlike you and Logan I'm not fawning all over her and flaunting it about for the whole world to see!" Chew on that, candy stick!
Laura snorted, "I'm not accusing you of doing it, babe, I'm telling you that you should. After all, why screw the pregnant one? You already got me knocked up, what the hell else am I good for?" At the mention of Logan she nearly got sick, "Oh you think Logan and I have got something going on?" That was ridiculous...he was her flesh and blood. "First of all, I'll have you know that two alphas are not romantically compatible in any way!" She snapped, "Both want to have total control. The only thing they're good at is fucking each other's brains out!" Uhoh...she shouldn't have said that.
Gabe's face deadpanned. All emotion lost from it, like staring at the blank page of a book yet to be written. Some people talk about the mythical straw that broke the farmer's back, others about the shot heard round the world. Welcome to the Laura and Gabe version. "…F-Fucking each others brains out…" His voice was calm and steady as he said it. No anger…nothing. That was possibly what made it all the worse. "So, you're fucking his brains out then. No wonder you've been so cold to me lately. Why you've been so head over heels over him: Logan said this...Logan did that. I don't give a shit what he's said or done." The emotion was starting to return. His system had just needed a restart after that shocking statement. "Must be nice, you can go fuck the guy who understands what it's like to be feral, while you're leading on the guy who's been waiting on you hand and foot because he loves you and wants to make you happy. Sorry I couldn't be gruff enough for you. Maybe I should have stopped shaving, or let some clandestine group put knives in my arms. Maybe then you'd see what I try to do for you, how much I want you. Instead of just throwing every wrong statement back in my face." Gabe moved over to the hall closet and pulled out some blankets and a pillow, then tossed them on the couch. "I'll stay out here tonight. I wouldn't to take Logan's place in the bed. He might get territorial on me." As he flopped down onto the blankets, felt sick, like he wanted to throw up. She'd lied to him yet again. And he wanted her to hurt as much as he was hurting. Under his breath, but loud enough hat her enhanced senses would pick it up, he said, "I wonder if you gave him a feral discount."
They'd had tiffs before...but nothing of this magnitude. And they had never slept separately. In the months she'd been living with him no matter how angry they'd gotten, they'd still made up before bed. But this was no 'you're invading my personal space' sort of fight...this was an all out war between them. She flinched at the calmness of his voice as he spoke, "Gabriel," She whimpered, "I'm not sleeping with Logan. I've only been to the mansion to talk to him twice and you can ask anyone there, we sat in the kitchen and talked. That was it." Why was she bothering? He wasn't going to listen to reason; he'd probably already tuned her out. Standing up from the couch, she stepped toward the room when she heard him whisper his final blow. Laura froze; her entire body tensing as she stood there in the doorway. Her arm came to wrap around her waist as her skin burned with the heat of his comment. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry again...but this was another promise she'd have to break. Hurrying into the room she slammed the door with such fury that the windows rattled. The sound of the light clicking off was followed by the dark, depressed sobs of a broken woman. Oh, she tried to muffle them by curling up in the blanket...but it was a little bit difficult seeing as she couldn't roll onto her tummy to bury her face in the pillow. Everything ached, her head, her belly, her heart...and she wondered if anything would ever be the same again.
Gabriel lay there on the couch and flinched when she slammed the door. He was right in this, vindicated in his anger. It was her that was sleeping around; she'd all but said it. And the way she tried to cover her tracks by backpedaling and denying it. He wanted to fly out the window and join Alex right then, but he'd promised to stick around for the baby. And he was a man of his word. Of course, he could fly out the window and vent some anger. Then her broken cries reached his ears through the blankets, pillow, and door. His immediate reaction was to get up and go to her, to hold her, comfort her. He was halfway to the door when he stopped. No, he wouldn't do it. He would not back down. He was right. He was…a weak fool and deserved her cheating on him for breaking down so easily. The door opened slowly as he padded into the room. Gabe sat down on her side of the bed, next to her shaking form and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Laura, I'm sorry." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have said those things."
Why had she pushed him so hard? Okay, so maybe he thought his stupid joke about her appetite was funny, he often joked about dumb stuff. It was one of the things she loved most about him; he could find the humor in everything. But he'd embarrassed her tonight in front of strangers and she'd lost her temper. And then she'd let it escalate, she hadn't let it go...she'd ruined everything. Sobbing harder, she almost felt as if she would vomit from crying so hard. Through the blur of tears she saw Gabriel open the door; for a moment she thought he had simply come for his pillow but as he touched her shoulder she felt her heart melt. Sitting up she threw her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder, "I-I'm sorry too." She hiccupped, holding him as tightly as her belly would allow. "I was just e-embarrassed and I was h-hurt..." Sniffling, she tried to dry the tears but they kept coming in waves. "And I just thought, you h-have so many pretty women just t-throwing themselves at you," She cried, "Why would you want m-me when I look like..." Another sob tore through her, "THIS?"
Gabriel sighed sadly as she hugged him. He wrapped his arms loosely around her as she cried into his chest. "I don't care for some dumb, pretty face. I want a woman with personality, with character, with similar interests. Jubilee doesn't give a damn about fighting oppression, as long as she gets her next shopping spree and a pat on the head." He bit back the bile at the thought of the man on top of Laura that immediately arose when he said the name. "You care… because you've been oppressed like I have. You've seen the nasty side of the world that so few have had to see and hopefully never will. And this is my baby inside of you. That makes you more beautiful than any of them can ever hope to be. I don't care if you get so big that you look like you thought a tank would fit under your clothes, I'll still love you and find you attractive."
He always said that, that he wanted her no matter how she looked. But how could he ignore it? She could barely hold him because she was getting too big; none of her clothes fit, she cried at the drop of a hat, everything was out of synch with her. Sarah had told them time and time again that it was normal...but Laura had never felt this way before. When she was at Weapon X she never cried...or if she did, she couldn't remember it. And she hadn't cried after her escape either. And yet somehow in the last six months she had cried enough for twenty lifetimes. Holding him tighter she sighed, "Let's just forget them." She said softly, looking into his eyes. Her dark hazel eyes were bloodshot and her nose was red from crying, "I love you, I love you so much it hurts." Her tears were waning but she still didn't have the blessed relief she needed. Leaning into him, she gave him a soft kiss on the lips, "Show me." Over the last few weeks they hadn't been doing much lovemaking. He'd been pissy, she'd been moody...it just didn't work out. But tonight she needed it, she needed him, "Please, Gabriel."
Gabriel closed his eyes when she kissed him. Forget them? How could he forget the mental image of Laura and Logan? It disgusted him. He'd been faithful… but then, she was right. He could have had any number of pretty girls fill his bed at a word of encouragement from him. But he never did. He loved her, and he wouldn't do that to her. But she had done it to him. She had gone behind his back. She had, as she said, fucked Logan's brains out and he'd done it to her. What hurt worst of all was that Gabe had looked up to Logan; the man was an astounding fighter and he never backed down. Gabe had admired him, despite the comments Logan always made about anyone named Summers. He had respected the man in a way he'd only ever done with the Professor and Scott. He'd practically put him on a pedestal…and he'd done this to Gabe. It was more proof that Gabe was cursed to a painful existence. But he wouldn't deny Laura. No matter how much he didn't want to get intimate with her after her revelation. Nodding to her, he kissed her lips and slowly pressed her back into the bed.
The pent up pain, passion and fury exploded outwards, heating the room and bringing Laura and Gabriel to the heights of pleasure. As difficult as it was with Laura so big, she was able to seat herself on top of him and ride far into oblivion. By the time they were finished it was just after midnight and they cuddled together, sated. With his hand resting over the swell he'd put in her belly and the whispered promises that they'd make it through this, Laura and Gabriel fell asleep to the feeling of their son kicking lazily inside her.
Gabriel Summers woke up early as usual. After nearly two weeks, he was still sore about the Logan issue. He hadn't gotten over it and in the back of his mind he still had the nagging suspicion that Laura was sleeping with Logan behind his back. Of course, after their initial fight Gabe had forgiven her—mainly because he couldn't stand seeing her crying like that. It wasn't good for her or the baby. So, like the weak fool that Gabriel was, he'd forgiven her and continued sleeping with her. But he'd never forget. It was ironic really, Gabe was one of the most powerful mutants alive, yet he was a weak willed fool who forgave a girl who was cheating on him. Yeah, the fates had a sense of humor.
For two weeks Gabe had been trying to get his mind, and Laura's, off Logan. He figured if he could accomplish that, then maybe they had a chance at something. He just needed to get the Alpha male out of their lives. He'd wanted to do something today with her: go to a movie, see a play, have a nice romantic lunch. But, she'd said she already had plans to go out to lunch with a friend. Gabe figured it was lunch with one of the other mothers to be that they'd met at Lamaze class, or maybe even Jenny Giovanni. So he'd let his idea go and was currently sitting on couch in the living room of the apartment watching TV. It was some stupid reality TV show about people who want to act like pirates. Could these people be any lamer?
Laura grunted as she pulled on the last pair of maternity pants that fit her. She was still trying to make do with the second trimester clothes she'd bought but she was most certainly not in the second trimester anymore. As of tomorrow, she'd be exactly seven months pregnant...which meant it was technically Gabriel and Laura's seven month anniversary and she wanted to so something special. Logan had asked her out to lunch and Laura saw it as the perfect ploy. She was going to stop at the jewelers and pick up the watch she'd had specially engraved for him reading: To Gabriel, all my love, Laura & Baby. She'd cried for nearly an hour after she'd thought of it...she was sure he would love it.
The doorbell buzzed and Laura swore, "Gabriel?" She called, pressing a hand to the aching stretch of her lower back as she poked her head out the door, "I've still got to find a shirt that fits. Can you get that?"
Gabriel clicked off the TV and stood from his seat on the couch. "Yeah, I'll get it." He had been curious to know who she was going to lunch with today. It wasn't like her to make plans and not tell him about them. Well, unless they involved Logan. He never found out about those until after they happened; which was one thing that fueled his cheating suspicions. If they weren't doing anything wrong, then why did she never just tell him what they were really doing together? Oh well, she knew better than to have Logan at the apartment especially after the fight that she and Gabriel had had a couple weeks ago. As Gabe answered the door, a greeting halfway out his mouth, he realized that apparently she didn't know better. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Logan stood in the hallway, his hands hooked into his belt loops as he rang the doorbell again. He was slightly wary of this whole situation...when she'd called saying they needed to talk about Gabriel, he had insisted on at least feeding her. Why, they hadn't seen each other in months! Laura was nearly in tears as she told him that Gabriel didn't want her to see him anymore...and that had just pissed the feral off even more. When Gabriel opened the door and started the conflict, Logan frowned, "Don' be taking that tone with me, bub. I'm here ta pick up the little lady for lunch..."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed as his anger rose. Oh hell no, he was not trying to pull that alpha male crap with Gabe. He did not just tell him what to do in his own home. "I'll take whatever tone I want with you in my home...bub!" Logan's signature word was spit out of Gabe's mouth. "Get the hell out of here! You're not welcome." Gabe glared at him for a moment longer before turning around and stepping back from the door to close it behind him. Mistake number one, turning your back on a feral alpha that you you've just started a confrontation with.
"And I'll say it again, I ain' here for you." Logan wasn't sure where this hostility was coming from, but it was slowly waking the sleeping beast inside of him. Stepping in just slightly, he called out, "Hey, Laura, I'll wait downstairs...I'm not going to get in your way." Turning his angry eyes onto Gabriel's, he folded his arms.
Laura stepped through the door again, the only thing between her and her naked flesh was her bra and a towel she had grabbed off the bed, "I'll just be one second. Gabriel, why don't you just invite him in?" Men, she just didn't understand what their problem was. "I'm still changing," She closed the door again and that was that. But this was far from over.
Gabriel listened to the way Logan brushed him off as insignificant. Typical alpha male crap. And then he saw Laura come out in damn near nothing at all, like she was used to Logan seeing her like that, or with less on. That was it, he lost it. Gabe spun around and glared at Logan, "I don't give a shit who you're here for, old man. This is my apartment and I said you aren't welcome here." He took a couple steps toward the man, his anger rising to a level he hadn't felt since the night the big fight had gone down. Over his shoulder, he addressed Laura. "I will not invite this...mongrel into my home." His head spun quickly to look back at Logan. "Get the fuck out of here. I don't want you anywhere near my girl."
There was no way that some runt was advancing on him, "What the hell is going on up there?" Logan snapped, motioning to his head. "You don't talk to your girlfriend that way and you sure as hell don't talk to me that way." Stepping forward, he pointed a finger right in the center of his chest. "You think you're such a big man? If I ever hear you made her cry like you did before, I'm going to knock the shit right outta you."
The moment the finger hit Gabe right in the center of his chest…that was it. Like the referee Mills Lane used to say, let's get it on! Gabe grabbed Logan's finger and bent it back at an odd angle away from his chest. "Don't ever decide that you have the right to touch me Logan. The next time it happens, I'll snap your finger off and use it to beat you to death." The hostility in his voice was hard to ignore. "And you're one to talk about my girlfriend. Sneaking around with another man's girl behind his back! I knew you were into the seedier things in life Logan, but I never imagined you were so low." Releasing Logan's finger, Gabe growled out once more. "Get out!"
"Sneaking around? Gabriel I came here to pick her up, you're standing right there!" He fired back, his eyes flashing dangerously to match Gabriel's, "What more could I have done, called an' asked your permission first? To take a lady to lunch? It ain' some kind of date if that's what you're thinking, we're going to that place Giovanni's on fifth street." Something was wrong; he could smell the fire in the air. "Laura, like I said, I'll wait for you downstairs."
He was taking her to their place? THEIR PLACE?!?! That was his and Laura's, no one else's. He wasn't allowed to take his girl there. Did they really think he was so stupid? They were going to go there, and then somewhere secret to 'fuck each other's brains out', as Laura had so bluntly described the mating habits of two feral alphas. "I don't think so. You're gonna stay the hell away from her." No, words didn't work with Logan, Gabe should have remembered that from the get go. He was a feral, he was a fighter. Actions spoke louder than words. "Maybe I have to beat it into your head." Gabe lunged at Logan, fists clenched, ready to punch the man in the face.
"Gabriel, no!" Laura cried from the doorway, tears burning in her eyes. "What are you doing? What is the matter with you?" Swiping at the tears she waddled over to him, she stepped between the two men, one hand on each of their chests. "Stop it! I'm so sick of this! Why can't we all just get along? I just want my whole family to get along, is that so much to ask?"
Logan was finished, he let Laura step between them and didn't say a word until she was finished. "That's it; I'm out of here..." He stalked out of the room, his anger leaving a heated scent lingering in the room. Laura turned to Gabriel again, "I can't believe you..." Turning, she grabbed her purse and wiped more tears from her cheeks, "I love you...but I can't even look at you right now." It wasn't until she was out of the apartment before she yelled, "Logan, wait for me!"
Gabriel was pissed off even more. Family? What the fuck? She considered Logan part of her family? Gabe didn't know how it was done in feral society, but he didn't want to share. She couldn't have him AND Logan. She had to choose. "He's not your goddamned family. I am! That baby is!" And then she left. She just...left after Logan. Gabe watched from the doorway as she ran after the feral alpha male. He closed his eyes, and let out a sigh as he turned away. "So that's it. You choose him over me." At least he knew where he stood with her now. So much what she said about two alphas couldn't have a romantic relationship, it was only sex. If it was only sex, why was she choosing Logan over Gabriel? He closed the door softly and went back to the couch, flopping down on it and turning the TV on. He didn't care what was on; he just needed noise to drown everything else out.
It was really hard for her to hurry...especially heavily pregnant and already out of breath from crying. "Logan," She warned, "If you don't stop right now I'll kill you. Don't you ever doubt it." Wiping the tears mingled with sweat running down her face she leaned against one of the brick buildings just down the street from her and Gabriel's apartment. "Logan, I have to tell him...it's killing me; he thinks we're sleeping together!"
Logan stopped on a dime and closed his eyes. He scrubbed a hand over his eyes and then turned to face the feral female mutant that had caught up to him. She hadn't told Gabriel yet? He was almost certain she'd have gone running off the Gabe to tell him once she found out. It was hers to tell, so he didn't really care, as long as people didn't start calling him 'Daddy' or anything like that. "I thought you had already told him, Darlin'. I couldn't understand why in th' world he wanted to fight me." He watched her for a second, her dark hazel eyes with their constant piercing gaze. "Makes sense now. If I was him, and couldn't smell it on someone, I'd probably jump to the same conclusion, 'specially after my girl doesn't clear it all up for me. Come on, let's go eat like we planned, and talk this over. Give tough man back there a chance to cool his heels."
"For the first time in my pregnant life, I really am not in the mood for eating, Logan. I'm fat, my back aches, and I've had a terrible nauseous feeling since two weeks ago when Gabriel and I started fighting like this...I'm so tired." Running her hand over the swell in her belly, she sighed heavily. "I told him a thousand times there's nothing going on...but I couldn't just blurt out that you're my father or my genetic template. That's the kind of stuff that can get really skewed in the heat of an argument...and I wanted to make sure it was okay with you first, I wanted to clear the air." Closing her eyes, she shook her head, "And I wanted to use this as an excuse to get out of the house, I bought Gabriel an anniversary present and I didn't want him to know about it..."
Logan shook his head. This was just one big mess. It would have been comical if it had been in a TV sitcom. But it wasn't, it was happening in their lives. And it was screwing things up for his 'daughter' and the love of her life. "Darlin', it's your secret to tell. You can let anyone you want in on it. I won't stop you or begrudge you that. Especially if it's Gabe you're tellin'. He should'a been the first. You realize this was a bad choice right? Using me as an excuse to get outta the place to get a present for him, when he thinks the worst o' us right now? What do you think he thinks it meant when you ran after me and didn't stay with him?"
Burying her face her in hands, Laura let out a sob. "I just don't know what to do anymore, Logan. I have barely any friends, I only have you and Charles and Hank. If I want motherly advice I go to BellaDonna...but there's no one in this world I love more than Gabriel. I need him. I can't live without him..." Crying harder, she leaned against the building, "And how am I supposed to know these things? How do you tell the father of your baby that the man he thinks she's fucking is her father? This isn't a soap opera, this is my life and I can't handle it!"
Logan took a few steps toward Laura, and placed his hands on her shoulders, a gentle look in his eyes that was usually only seen when he was with Jubes and Kitty. "You're right. I understand you need him, Laura. I can smell it on you. You need him like plants need sunlight. I've told you before… I'm here to give you what you need. Fatherly advice included. If you were unsure about what to do, then you could have come to me beforehand and told me. I'd have helped ya out. I honestly thought the moment you found about you and me, that you'd have told Summers." Logan pulled her into a fatherly hug, letting her cry it out on his shoulder. "How do you let the father of your baby go on thinking that the man who he doesn't know is your father, is just some man you screwing behind his back? Shh, it'll be ok darlin'. We'll go back and talk to him. Let me know what's really what, and get this settled."
Hugging him tightly, she shut her eyes and let the scent of him envelope her. "I'm just crazy, Logan...I am standing here on a street corner in the middle of New York City seven months pregnant with the love of my life's child and all I can think about is whether or not he even misses me. Maybe he's better off without me...I cause nothing but trouble." For several minutes they stood in silence, her shuddering sobs dissolving into heavy breathing as she leaned against him. "Thanks, for everything," She said softly. They were only a block and a half from the jeweler; taking his hand she led him down the street. "Come on, I want to show you what I bought for him." She'd had a few dollars saved from when she sold her furniture and other possessions to the landlords that now owned her old apartment...and this thousand dollar watch was most of that money. Stepping in the door, a young boy, barely out of high school smiled, "Hi, Mrs. Summers, I have it right back here. Is this the lucky man?"
Laura laughed softly, "This is my father..." It felt natural, it sounded natural...and it was less suspicious than 'he's my genetic donor'. He laid out the watch on a black velvet cloth, the tiny diamonds glittering in the hazy March sunshine. Laura turned it over and sniffled again, "To Gabriel, all my love...Laura & Baby. I wanted to give him something that would last forever, something that would remind him of all the good things..." She sighed heavily again, "I really blew it."
Logan liked the sound of her calling him her father. It felt...right. Not like if Jubes or Kitty called him dad. That was just two girls hoping for someone who understood the mutant plight, unlike Kitty's real parents. Or in the case of Jubilee hoping for a father at all after her parents were killed. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she showed him the watch. "He's a lucky man. And no, you didn't blow it. You still have a chance to make everything right. Be thankful darlin', not everyone in the world gets a second chance to correct their mistakes. We'll go back, and tell him the truth. I'll wait outside so he doesn't get all territorial and not listen to you because he's too busy trying to kick me out."
Smiling, she told the assistant to wrap it up as she turned to Logan. "Alright...then maybe we can just get on with the rest of our lives. I'm so sick of this fighting, I'm too stressed and Sarah said that it could really hurt the baby..." Nobody wanted that. Grabbing the box from the jeweler who bid her a good day, she walked side by side with Logan back to the apartment. How could she ever have known what she'd see once she got up there?
It was settled, Jubilee was kicking her plans to win Gabriel back into high gear. Kitty, her traitorous best friend, was actually helping BellaDonna plan that wench Laura a baby shower. But she had caught sight of her earlier that week when she stopped by to pick up some old baby clothes that Evangeline had grown out of already. The girl was enormous, how could Gabriel be anything but desperate? Donning her tightest skirt which hugged her slender waist and a tank top she grabbed her purse and headed for Gabriel's apartment. It took a little weaseling but the front desk attendant finally let her up. Adding a tinge of lipstick before she got out of the elevator, Jubilee knocked on the door lightly. This would work...it just had to.
Gabriel had been thinking of nothing at all. His mind was completely blank. After all, what was there to think about? If he thought of Laura, it hurt. If he thought of Logan, it angered him, and then led to thoughts of Laura, and it hurt. But the knock on the door tore his mind out of itself and brought him back to reality. Slowly, Gabriel rose off the couch and made his way to the door. "Coming," He was trying to hide the defeated tone in his voice. It wouldn't do to let company think him down and out. Opening the door slowly, Gabe came face to face with one of the people he didn't want to see right now: Jubilation Lee. "What do you want, Jubes?" He knew it wasn't a polite greeting, but he wasn't in the mood for polite greetings today.
A simple 'you' would've done it...but she read in Cosmo Girl that a girl had to be flirty and not too forward. Men didn't like too forward when it came to choosing a girl to spend the rest of his life with. "Oh I just wanted to see if Laura was here..." It was silent around the house except for the blaring of some show on television. Pushing her way in, she set her purse down, "I see that she's not." Grabbing her purse she pulled out a loaf of pound cake that she'd stolen from the pantry and some condoms. "Poor girl probably needs some comfort...and since Kitty and Piotr have sworn to wait until marriage, I decided you might be able to get more use out of them..." She gave a wicked smile, "I mean for after the baby is born."
Gabriel eyed Jubes warily as she forced her way in and started to set up shop. This was dangerous ground here, her alone with him. Before Laura, they had been good friends. She was content to be just his friend as long as it was her or Kitty who might one day end up with Gabe. After Laura came along though, it was like she shifted into overdrive. She thought there was some kind of contest for his heart...there was no contest. She was a sweet girl, but she didn't hold a candle to Laura. "Why would we wait until after the baby is born? The midwife said it was safe to…well…you know. But thank you, the sentiment is appreciated." Gabe walked into the room after closing the door and sat on the arm of the couch. The thought was nice, but Gabe had a feeling that there might not be a next time with Laura, so those condoms would probably not be getting any use n this house anytime soon.
Jubilee gagged, "Oh come on, don't tell me you'd want to do her when she looks like that. I mean she's even bigger than she was at your party!" Men did not like fat girls...at least not in Jubilee's world. The skinnier the better; that's what magazines and TV told her and she was going to believe them. "It's so sweet that you put aside your disgust to give the poor woman some pleasure." That must be it, he was just too nice. He couldn't say no now that he thought he'd knocked her up. She walked over and switched off the TV, "So, how have things been going between you two? I heard Laura crying when she came to get those baby clothes..."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes at Jubilee's insult of Laura. Even though he was almost certain the fight earlier had caused a break up with them, he still felt the need to protect her. "Don't talk about her like that Jubes. It's not disgusting. One day you'll be big as a house with someone's kid in you and you'll understand what she's going through." When she mentioned Laura crying while picking up the baby clothes, he lost his anger. He felt like shit again. "Not so good. She's been spending a lot of time Logan. It was always Logan blah, blah, blah. I was getting worried...and she all but admitted she's been screwing him behind my back." Gabe wasn't sure why he was telling Jubilee any of this. It's not like it was her problem, or even her business. But, it felt good to openly talk about some of his insecurities, and have someone there to listen and not fight with him over it.
"That bitch," Jubilee snapped, "Why would she ever cheat on a guy like you? You're like...perfect, Gabriel. I told you that slut was bad news. You should've told her to get out of your life and if that baby really is yours, it'd be better off with you anyway." In her twisted teenage perspective she thought her words would help him...but she could see that they weren't. "Anyway, let's forget it." She smiled softly and moved closer to him. She heard the elevator doors open and the sound of Logan's laughter carrying down the hallway. "I can make it better..." Leaning into him, she threw him off balance, landing over him spread eagle on the couch. Her skirt rode up over her thighs as she laughed, "You won't even remember there is a Laura."
Keys jingling and talking with Logan still didn't cloud Laura's hearing...Gabriel wasn't alone. Walking to the door, she put her key in the lock and flung the door open to find that Gabriel and Jubilee were on top of each other, her skirt riding up indecently to reveal she wasn't wearing any underwear. A gasp tore from her throat as she reeled back, being caught by Logan only seconds before she fell. Grasping her belly as she felt like the bottom dropped out of her world. Several moments passed in silence before Laura exploded with rage, "You bastard! I've been on pins and needles for weeks on end waiting to tell you that Logan and I aren't fucking, that he's my father. And all this time I hesitated because I was afraid of how you would react. I wanted to tell you at the right time. And you go jumping to conclusions and now..." She nearly collapsed as the room spun around her. Grabbing onto Logan for support he half-carried, half-dragged her to a chair and sat her down. "I can't believe you did this to me..." She whispered plaintively.
It had all happened so fast, that Gabe's head was spinning. One minute he was sitting there talking to Jubes. The next she had quite literally pounced on him and the moment Laura and Logan were there before he could even attempt to throw Jubes off him. He quickly pushed her unceremoniously to the floor and stood up glaring daggers at Laura. Wait...Logan was her father? That was why they...oh god he felt sick. He felt like he was going to vomit the guilt was so intense, "Oh God, I...I-I didn't do anything. I was sitting there and she jumped on me and then you walked in. Nothing happened." Oh he was screwed now. He was so very screwed.
"Gabriel, I have eyes…and I can smell her arousal. I can smell everything that's going on in this room right now!" Including pound cake...damn, now she wished she had let Logan take her out to lunch. Then at least she'd have something to vomit when her stomach revolted like this. "I can't believe you'd do it here of all places. We sat on that couch, Gabriel, when you told me you loved me and no one else...we sat on that couch and you felt your child kicking within my womb." Her voice was raw with pain, "Maybe I should've come clean sooner but there's no excuse..." She buried her face in her hands but the tears wouldn't come; this was her curse, her punishment for keeping her past from him. "Why should I even be surprised? This was all just a huge mistake but don't worry, I'll stay here until the baby is born and then you'll never have to see us again..." Standing, with more than a little help from Logan, she made her dramatic exit into the bedroom and slammed the door.
Jubilee made a move to speak but Logan was faster, "Don' even think about it." Grasping her arm so hard she protested, he gave Gabriel a short nod before pulling out the door and closing it behind him. This was a moment that the two lovers needed to be alone...they needed to work things out.
Gabriel could stare dumbfounded as Laura stormed out which was followed soon after by Logan dragging Jubilee away. He stood silent for a moment before all but running to the bedroom. Knocking he called out to the woman inside. "Laura. Open the door. You smelled her arousal, but since when isn't she aroused around me? Did you smell arousal on me? I wasn't aroused. Come on, love. Open the door." He didn't want to do it, but he'd bust the door in if she didn't open the damned thing for him.
"Gabriel don't be ridiculous, we don't have a lock on the door!" She called from her place on the bed. "I just have to put my feet up before I pass out..." Placing two pillows under her feet she laid back on the bed and put one her arm over her eyes and the other rested across her large belly where her son kicked and squirmed inside of her. He didn't like all this excitement either, "I knew you wanted to get back at me...but did it have to be now?" She asked softly, her voice cracking, "Gabriel I can't get through a shower without shedding a few tears, I can't even watch television anymore because I get weepy just watching the news." Dragging her arm from across her eyes she sighed heavily, the only thing that shone in her eyes was hurt.
Gabriel felt a fool. He had forgotten they didn't have a lock on the door. Stupid emotions getting in the way of rational thought. Opening the door, Gabriel walked into the room and sat on the bed beside her. "I didn't do anything Laura. I didn't want to get back at you. She just showed up and jumped me. Do smell like I'm lying?" He reached his right hand out to her, running it over her belly where their baby lay. "I was angry with her when she got here. She started bad mouthing you and as mad as I was at you...I still couldn't let her do that. That's when she jumped me, saying she'd make me forget about you. And then you came in before I ever got a chance to push her off and tell her to go away."
Laura gently rubbed her thumb over his hand as he placed his hand on her belly. The baby had been moving for months but he was still enraptured every time the little boy kicked or hiccupped or moved within her. "I want to believe you, Gabriel...but I can smell guilt on you. It's overpowering, how do I say I know you're not lying to me when everything points to it?" Why was he feeling guilty if he hadn't slept with Jubilee or lusted after her or done something terribly wrong? "Please, make me believe you..."
Gabriel sighed and closed his eyes. "I feel guilty because this entire time I was an arrogant ass. You could have told me he was your father right from the start, and none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have said those things. But I treated you no better than dirt on my shoes. I feel guilty about that. Because I hurt you with what I said and all because I was so angry; all that time that I didn't believe you."
"You're right, it is my fault; I should've just told you when we found out. It was at your birthday party we started piecing things together and then when we started meeting we pulled the file Remy copied from the base in Maine and it matches, I'm his clone. I was made in his likeness and I was supposed to take his place..." Looking over at him she shook her head, "I was planning on telling you today all along, I just wanted to tell Logan before I did...and I wanted to use seeing him as an excuse to pick up an anniversary present for you. It was a stupid excuse. I know that but…" A tear worked its way down her cheek, "Tomorrow we'll have been together seven months. I wanted us to celebrate for once instead of being so goddamn depressed all the time!"
Gabriel really felt like shit now. He had been such a jackass to her and to Logan. She had gotten him a seven month anniversary present? He had been so angry all this time he had forgotten that the day was coming up. He wanted to find a barren stretch of land, blast a hole in it, climb in, and never come out again. "Now I feel worse. I completely forgot. I didn't get you anything. I-I…you didn't need to get me anything, love. Your forgiveness for my stupidity would be more than enough...if I could have even that." He looked at her a little sheepishly. Gabe was very doubtful that she would forgive him. Hell, he wasn't sure that if the roles were reversed he could forgive himself.
Well, she had promised Marcus she'd forgive him..."Go get it, please Gabriel...I think I dropped it on the way in but the way they packaged it, not even a nuclear explosion should do it any damage." The black box had fallen and rolled onto its side just feet from the door. She scooted herself back up to sitting as best she could, stuffing a couple of pillows behind her and placing both hands back on her belly. "I hope you like it..."
Gabe got up and did as she told him to. He found the box and brought it back before sitting on the bed again. He stared at it for a few moments before opening it to reveal the watch she had gotten for him. It must have cost a few hundred dollars at least. He flipped it over and read the words there. He wanted to dunk his head in the toilet and drown now. She was so kind and loving to him, even after he'd treated her like shit. He looked up at her, his eyes suddenly watery. "It's beautiful." Gabe grabbed her up in a tight hug, before pressing his lips to hers. Now, all he needed was for to not push him away like he deserved.
Watching in anticipation, she smiled when she smelled the joy bursting through him. "I'm glad you—" She was cut off by his lips on hers. Smiling into the kiss, she wrapped her arms tighter around him and deepened the kiss. It was several breathless moments before she pulled back, "There's something else I wanted to discuss with you...I couldn't sleep last night so I went through more baby names." She bit her lip, "I think I found one I really want."
Gabriel smiled as Laura pulled away. He quickly undid the watch and put it on his wrist, before closing the clasp again and admiring it, "Looks good there. Well, I guess this means I have to find a gift for you then. I've got an idea though. Just give me a couple days to get it ready." He smiled at her, and hopped over onto his side of the bed. "Alright, tell me this name that you can't live without."
Smiling, she leaned over him and grabbed the book off the nightstand, "The first time I read it I just thought it was perfect, Gabriel." He was giving her that look that said 'get on with it'. "I love the name Owen. It means desire born...and I know that for the both of us this child is everything we've ever desired." Shyly, she looked down at her belly, "And then I thought maybe we could give him Scott as a middle name. Owen Scott Summers, do you like it?"
Gabriel stared at her for a few moments after hearing the name. Owen Scott. She was honoring his brother with the middle name of their child. A slow smile crept across his face, as Gabriel lunged at Laura and captured her lips with his again. His tongue battled hers for a bit before he finally pulled back smiling. "It's perfect. How did I ever get so lucky to end up with a woman as perfect as you are?" It was truly amazing. Maybe the gods didn't have it out for him after all. Maybe things would work out between them. He still needed to learn more about her before he would able to give her the anniversary present he'd thought of, but that should be easier now.
Laughing and crying, she kissed him back fervently. "I'm glad you like it, I was afraid that I'd have to twist your arm and play the 'I'm carrying this baby' card," She teased. Slowly she ran her fingers over his slightly messy hair. "What do you say you get me some of that pound cake and then we'll spend the rest of the afternoon working up an appetite? I want to try cooking that chicken tonight..." Ever since the second trimester she'd been going through a really interesting 'nesting' period. She'd cleaned the house top to bottom; it just never seemed clean enough. She'd started making a space for the baby...and now she was trying to cook. Kissing him fervently, she gave him a soft smile as he jumped up to do her bidding. Finally all was right in the world…except for her hormones had her feeling very aroused at the sight of him.
Well, she supposed, it could be worse...she could be howling at the moon and ripping the stuffing out of the mattress.
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