Disclaimer: I own nothing but my girlish dreams and aspirations.
A/N: Okay. OKAY. I've got a muffin, and juice and I'm listening to music and I'M GONNA WRITE THIS CHAPTER!
Thanks to Diamond and Stars, PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, dares to dream (lol, if you can find him, you can keep him :P), inlo, and animegrlsteph for reviewing.
Enjoy:
Hayden sat down heavily on the bed and put his face into his hands. What was he, drunk? Where the hell did all that come from?
Soft sobs floated down the stairs and through the open door, causing Hayden's own eyes to water up. He blinked the tears away before they could even fully form.
He stood quickly and walked towards the front door, hoping some fresh air would do him good. He shut the door quietly behind him and was walking across the lawn when a thought stuck him: where the hell was he going? Shouldn't he be comforting Amy instead of walking away from her? He took a step backwards, turning slightly before pausing again. She needed time. He needed time. There was no way they'd be rational if he went to talk to her now. But what if she thought he didn't care? What if she thought he left because he didn't really love her? But what if she hated him for saying that? God, what if she hated him…
Hayden froze, stuck between turning back and going forwards. Anger rose up inside him at his own inability to make a decision. Grunting with anger, he lashed a fist out and pushed it into the tree in front of him.
It was a momentary relief from his inner turmoil, all of his anger and sadness melting into pain. He bit his lip, cursing, and flexed his hand slowly. He stifled a yelp at the pain the movement caused.
Hayden swallowed hard and looked sky-ward, as if asking for a sign of some sort. He did not receive one.
--
Joe was lying on the couch when Amy ran by in a flurry, climbing the stairs and fleeing into the bathroom. He lay still for a moment, about to get up when Hayden stormed out of the house, shutting the door quietly behind him. The young Hardy got to his feet in a hurry and glanced out the window. Hayden was standing on the front lawn, glancing back and forth between the house and the street.
He jumped back in shock when Hayden swung a fist out and punched the tree. Joe was just about to go outside and see if he was alright when the soft moaning sound that had been floating around his ears registered as tears. He looked up the stairs worriedly before following the sound to, sure enough, the bathroom.
Joe hesitantly reached out a fist and knocked on the door.
"Amy?" he said quietly. "Are you okay?"
No answer.
"Amy, it's Joe," he called a little louder. "Let me in. I mean, unless you're in the middle of something, in which case I'll wait, but otherwise…"
The door swung open and he looked way, way down to see Amy, red-eyed and shivering.
"Oh, God," Joe whispered, reaching out a hand slowly. "Are you okay?"
Amy looked up at him. "I d-don't really know you that well…"
"And I fully understand if you don't feel comfortable talking to me," Joe assured her quickly.
Amy nodded, pressing her lips tightly together. The tears brimmed up in her eyes again, and she couldn't help but throw herself at him, squeezing him as tightly as she could.
Joe stumbled back a step, surprised, but his arms rose up quickly, engulfing her. He hoped she couldn't tell he was kind of freaking at the feel of her hard, round belly pressed against him.
"I just don't k-know if I can take this anym-more!" Amy sobbed, pressing her cheek to his chest.
"Take what?" Joe asked in a quiet voice, rubbing a hand up and down her back.
"Hayden!" Amy screeched, causing Joe to wince. "I don't want him here anymore! I can't figure out what's going on with him! Make him leave! Tell him to leave, please!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Joe said in a calming voice. "What did Hayden do?"
"He asked me why I didn't get rid of my baby when I had the chance," Amy said in a scathing voice, "after I told him that I loved him."
Joe didn't know what to say to that, so he just pulled her a little closer and kept rubbing a hand up and down her back. He shook his head slightly. Things were so complicated lately. So much love. He exhaled deeply.
"If you want him gone," Joe said slowly, "I'll get him to leave."
Amy's tears slowed. "I…I need to talk to Nancy."
The feel of her stomach disappeared along with the rest of her as she backed up and turned to knock on Nancy's door. The door opened a minute later and Amy disappeared behind it, leaving Joe alone in the hallway.
In awe, he pressed a hand to his stomach, remembering the strangeness of what was undoubtedly a baby pressed up against it. A chill ran through him and he dashed downstairs into the kitchen, grabbing the phone as he skidded to a stop.
Dialing a number he knew by heart, he pressed the phone up against his ear trying to calm his racing heart.
"Hello?"
"Vanessa!" Joe cried out, feeling the warmth of her voice cascade over him.
"Joe!" Vanessa cried. "What the hell is going on? I called your cell phone so we could talk about what…happened…and some freak answered it!"
"Did he saying anything to you?" Joe asked, suddenly alarmed for his girlfriend.
"Only that I should find some way to get a hold of you, because you probably wouldn't be around much longer," Vanessa cried, sounding totally freaked. "And that if I called again, he'd make it his mission to track me down!"
"That freaking bastard," Joe spat. "Van, look, don't call my phone again. In fact, just delete the number, and tell everyone you know to delete it too, because I'm gonna need a new one."
"Who has your phone, Joe?!" Vanessa asked again. "Who was I speaking to?"
"Umm," Joe coughed. "That was Seth Roberts, rapist and murderer."
"Oh, my God!" Vanessa cried. "God, Joe! Why does he have your phone?"
"After he…knocked me out and kidnapped me…he took it?" Joe offered, wincing in anticipation.
"Are you…alright?" Vanessa said after several deep breaths.
"I'm totally fine," Joe assured you. "I got a little banged up in the car accident, though…"
"WHAT?" Vanessa cried, all her composure gone again.
"I'm fine, and it's a long story," Joe told her, keeping his voice totally calm. Vanessa took another deep breath.
"Joe, I'm really glad you called," she whispered into the phone.
"Me too," Joe replied, sitting down in a chair. "And I'm really sorry about freaking you out."
"I'm pretty used to it by now," Vanessa gave a little laugh.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I'm just calling to say that I'm sorry I freaked when you called me the other day. I didn't mean to get mad…"
"Joe, I'm sorry. I should have waited until you got home to tell you, but I was just so relieved that I was dialing before I could stop to think about what I was doing," Vanessa gushed, sounding close to tears.
"Van, listen. I shouldn't have yelled. I was just freaked about narrowly becoming a father and I took it out on you. Frank completely spazzed when I told him, too, and he gave me the safe sex talk…at quite a loud decibel. But anyways…I just wanted to say that I would have been okay if you were…you know, pregnant."
"Oh, Joe," Vanessa sighed. "I know you would have been. But it means a lot that you're telling me now."
Joe smiled. "Okay...so…that's all I have to say. Oh, and I love you."
"I love you too, Joe," Vanessa said quietly, and Joe could almost hear her smile.
"Well, I'm glad," Joe proclaimed, leaning back in his chair.
"Hey, is Frank there?" Vanessa asked. "I want to say hi."
"Uh," Joe cleared his throat. "Frank went for a walk…"
"What happened?" Vanessa asked bluntly, sighing.
"He kinda made a boo-boo," Joe hesitantly replied.
"How so?"
"He…punched Nancy's ex-boyfriend," Joe said quietly, looking up towards the stairs to make sure Nancy wasn't secretly listening to his conversation.
"…Why?" Vanessa asked incredulously.
"Hon, that's a question I don't think even Frank could answer," Joe sighed. He looked behind him when the door slammed and saw Hayden standing in the doorway. "Hey, Van…"
"You have to go," Vanessa said knowingly.
"Sorry," Joe apologized, standing up. "Talk to you later."
"Okay," Vanessa replied. "Love you."
"You too," Joe smiled before hanging up. Taking his time, he turned towards Hayden with a cold look on his face.
"I think," Joe said pointedly, "that you shouldn't be here right now."
"Joe, I need to talk to Amy," Hayden said, ignoring him.
"I don't think she really wants to talk to you right now," Joe replied.
"I need to talk to Amy," Hayden re-phrased, crossing his arms.
"Hayden," Joe bit out. "I know you're a giant and everything, and you're doing a really great job of towering over me intimidatingly, but I'm telling you that Amy is really upset and probably does not want to see you right now."
Hayden let his arms fall, and turned on his heel. He took a step and his foot landed on the stairs.
"So much for using your height for good," Joe called after him, running behind him. However, Hayden leapt over four steps at a time and was up the stairs in about two bounds.
"Hayden," Joe cried, following as closely as he could. "Leave her alone!"
Hayden looked around, first at the open bathroom door and the at Nancy's closed one before swinging a fist out and knocking on the latter's door.
"Amy!" he cried, through the wood, knocking fiercely. "I'm sorry! Open the door, please!"
"No!" Amy cried through the door. The door swung open halfway through her cry and Nancy stepped out. Hayden's fist couldn't stop fast enough and nearly knocked her in the chest.
"Hayden, I think it's best if you left," Nancy told him, anger burning in her eyes.
"Not until I talk to Amy," Hayden told her, forcefully knocking her out of the way and pushing through the door.
Nancy stumbled hard and Joe caught her quickly. When Nancy regained her balanced, there was a slight hint of fear in her eyes.
Joe followed Hayden into the room. He was kneeling next to the bed, trying to get Amy to look at him. When she wouldn't oblige, he reached a hand out and tried to turn her cheek towards him. Joe stormed over to him and using all his strength pulled Hayden to his feet. Joe pushed him out of the room, leaving enough room for Nancy to scamper back in and lock the door behind her.
"Hayden," Joe said in a low, menacing voice. "Leave now, or I'm gonna call the cops. Go for a walk, go back to California, I don't care. You can get your stuff later."
Without a word, Hayden turned slowly and dejectedly walked down the stairs. Joe stood at the top of the stairs until the door closed loudly before turning back to Nancy's room. He knocked on the door and said, "He's gone," before returning to the living room, plopping tiredly on the couch.
He had barely been down for a minute when the doorbell rang. Groaning, Joe got up and walked slowly to the door. He looked through the keyhole, making sure it wasn't Hayden-or worse, Seth-and laughed. He pulled the door open and grinned.
"Hey girls," Joe cried, wrapping them in a massive bear hug.
"Hey…Joe…" Bess struggled against his grip. "Love you too and all, but I've grown accustomed to air and would really love to get some into my lungs right…now…"
"Sorry," Joe laughed, pulling back and running a hand through his hair. "It's just been a really rough day."
"What's going on?" George asked worriedly. "Is everyone alright?"
"More or less," Joe told her tiredly. "Come in."
He stepped out of the way and George extended her hand. Bess grabbed it, teetering in carefully on her heels. George rolled her eyes, tugging her hand back and causing Bess to stumble forwards.
"Bess," George cried, exasperated. "Why did you wear heels? I mean…why?"
"Because," Bess said defensively, leaning on the door and making it shut, "they looked cute with my skirt."
"I swear to God, Bess! This is River Heights! Who are you trying to impress?!" George ran a hand over her face.
"Me," Joe answered with a cocky grin.
"Well, always," Bess replied with a sweet grin. "Also Hayden and that cute guy we saw at the park."
"Thou shalt not mention the H-word," Joe warned them seriously, leaving no room for discussion.
"Then just Joe and the cute guy at the park," Bess grinned, staggering into the living room and plopping down on the couch heavily, making her skirt ruffle up a bit. "Oh, my God, Joe, he was so hot. Blond hair, a little taller than you. He was out jogging, and when he bent over to stretch, I swear, you could see a bit of a tattoo on his back. So, so hot."
That statement struck a cord in Joe's mind.
"Um, did he look a little worse for wear?" Joe asked cautiously. "Like, bruises on his face?"
Bess nodded slowly.
"And that tattoo, it looked kind of…new?" Joe took in a deep breath.
"Well, there was a bandage over it but you could totally tell it was a tattoo," Bess explained.
"Holy shit," Joe breathed. "That was Seth! You saw Seth!"
"Oh, my God!" George cried, sitting down next to Bess. "He totally looked like the guy in that picture Nancy showed us. How did we not notice?"
"I wasn't paying attention to the photo!" Bess cried. "Pictures of rapists don't really get me hot!"
"Yeah, but seeing them in person does, apparently," George spat out, putting her hands over her face.
"Which park did you see him at?" Joe asked urgently.
"Nicholson Park," Bess told him slowly.
"Nickerson?" Joe broke concentration for a moment.
"Nicholson," Bess pronounced. "Maybe he's staying around there!"
"That's just what I was thinking!" Joe cried. "Can you take me there? Like, now?"
"Of course," George told him, standing. "But we should probably get Bess some different shoes."
"Don't be silly," Bess cried, standing. "I've got flip-flops in my purse."
"Then change, and let's go!" Joe cried. "Come on!"
Bess changed her shoes as quickly as possible and then they were gone.
--
Frank took his hands out of his pockets and opened the door to Nancy's house slowly. He shut it and locked it behind him.
He took a deep breath and climbed the stairs slowly, stopping outside the door. He was reviewing what he was going to say in his mind when the door swung open.
"Oh!" Nancy cried, surprised. "I thought I heard the door…was that…?"
"Yeah, it was me," Frank told her quietly. "I locked it behind me. Where is everyone?"
"Amy is asleep, Joe is out," Nancy told him with a wave of her hand.
"Hayden?" Frank asked. Nancy's face hardened.
"We're not talking about it right now," Nancy told him.
"I see," Frank said, confused. "Listen, Nan, can I talk to you?"
"Sure Frank," Nancy said warily, stepping back and pushing the door aside for him. Frank smiled shakily at her and entered the room. Nancy shut the door and went over to sit on her bed.
"So, what's…"
"I punched Ned," Frank blurted. Nancy's eyes widened. "I heard that he made a move on you, and I couldn't contain myself, and I punched him."
"Frank!" Nancy cried, standing up. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"I was mad, and I thought you were too and I really wasn't thinking at all," Frank admitted.
"Maybe next time," Nancy said furiously, running a hand through her hair, "you'll ask what happened instead of acting on Maybe's and Almost's."
"Nancy, I'm sorry," Frank told her honestly, putting his hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing. "But I love you, and I can't help it."
"I wish you would STOP SAYING THAT!" Nancy cried, ducking out of his grasp. "It's putting so much pressure on me and that's not fair, Frank!"
"I'm not asking you to love me back!" Frank cried, his stomach twisting. "I just want you to know how I feel, Nan. I love you, I really do. I love you so much it hurts."
"I get it, Frank!" Nancy shrieked, pacing faster. "I've heard you and I understand, but there is so much going on and every time I turn around, you're THERE, telling me that you're in love with me and it's getting on my freaking nerves!"
"God, sorry, Nancy!" Frank cried, crossing his arms. "I'm sorry that I'm in love with you, but it's not like I can help it!"
"Yes, Frank, I know you can't help it, but you do have the ability to close your mouth and make words STOP coming from them!" Nancy cried. "I've been trying so hard not to hear you, Frank, and most guys would take that as a sign that I'm not interested. I've spent the night with your brother, I've made out with my ex-boyfriend but you don't care! You can't hear me! Frank, I asked you to come here to help me put someone in jail. That wasn't exactly a marriage proposal!"
"I KNOW!" Frank cried, taking a step towards her. "I can't believe you're actually getting mad at me for being in love with you!"
"I am not MAD because you're in LOVE with me! I'm not even that mad that you punched Ned!" Nancy screamed. "I'm MAD because I'm trying so hard to resist you, but I can't! I'm MAD because you've told me that you've loved me so many times without any response on my part that it's started to lose meaning! I'm MAD because you're so freaking CONFIDENT that I love you back! Didn't you even think for one moment that I might be in love with someone else?"
She stood there, breathing heavily and watched his face change from anger to pain and sadness.
"I have," Frank told her sadly, looking at the ground. "Every day and every night."
His face was so hurt and his eyes so sad that Nancy didn't even realize what she was doing. One moment she was standing there, perfectly furious and the next…the next minute she had propelled herself over to him, pulling him down roughly and pressing her lips desperately against his.
He responded with surprise, and then passion. He pulled her flush against him, hips to hips and knees banging together.
Her mind went blank as she felt him against her. She ran a hand through his hair and pushed him backwards until they finally hit the bed.
And then… then they went down…
A/N: Was that big enough? Did it live up to its promise? I promise bigger things are coming, and…well…you'll see!
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