Chapter 12: Safe or "I Will Never Let You Go."

Disclaimer: I own only what Rowling doesn't. :P
Songs:
Can't Stop the Rain by Cascada-Phoenix
Sorry by Buckcherry-Ian
Best I Ever Had by Gary Allan-Ian ABOUT Phoenix
Never Too Late by Three Days Grace-:D
Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood-Phoenix

11:30 PM, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 2940 38th St. Apartment 202, NYC, NY, America

Phoenix stirred in her sleep, waking up to find her room was completely black. She felt next to her and froze when she found Ian wasn't next to her.
"Ian?" she called, breathless as an unnatural feeling of abandonment filled her. "Ian?"
There was a rustle from the living room. She jumped out of bed and out of her room.
He sat with his back to her in the big laz-y-boy she loved. When she called his name again, he didn't respond and she stepped around him. His eyes were closed and he had ear buds in, effectively keeping him from knowing she was calling him. She reached out to touch his hand when she noticed the mostly empty brandy glass and pack of cigarettes next to him. Ian rarely smoked, it was a stress-reliever for him rather than an addiction and she had never seen him actually carrying a pack around with him. He had occasionally stolen one from her, but she was sure he didn't usually buy them himself. Then, she noticed the blue recorder in his hand. Feeling as if she was in a trance, she reached out and unplugged his headphones, grabbing the recorder from his limp hand. He opened his eyes and studied her for several minutes.
"Ian, where..." she finally started, only to be cut off by him.
"Something you need to tell me, Phoenix?" he said softly. She flinched at the cold edge of anger in his tone. He pulled the buds out and watched her. She swallowed several times, unsure where to start.
"Ian, I...I don't know what you want me to tell you," she began, forcing herself to not whisper. "I..."
"Why don't you start with explaining the contents of that recording," he snapped. Phoenix flinched again, but stood her ground. "How about, who is it for?"
"Explaining? Alright, it's for my baby. I'm pregnant, Ian, as I'm sure you've discovered if you've listened to these recordings. They're for the baby, because I feel that a child should have some idea of where they came from. I am planning to keep this baby, even though I don't necessarily believe in single-parent households. And just to let you know, I don't expect you to do anything, because I doubt you are ready to be a father. And even if you were, I'm not going to use my pregnancy to bind you to me, so you don't have to worry about that. I..."
"Phoenix..." Ian stared at her, eyes wide as she paused. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "I'm going to spend the night at my flat. I need time to process the...ideas that you have come up with. We should both sleep on this and finish this conversation in the morning." He picked up his jacket from the back of the couch and stuffed the cigarettes in his pocket.
"Ian..." Phoenix deflated as he opened the door. He paused but didn't turn around. "I'm sorry for not telling you."
"I'll see you tomorrow," was all he said before he stepped outside and softly closed the door. It felt as if he had slapped her and slammed the door. She stood in the middle of the room, silent tears running down her cheeks. She fled to her room and hid under the covers, letting the tears turn into hysterical sobbing.

333

Ian let the top of the Corvette down, allowing the cold winter air to cool his flushed cheeks. He wove in and out of traffic, deftly avoiding numerous near-collisions. He turned onto the turnpike to Jersey and just drove, allowing the mindless driving to numb his thoughts. It worked for a while, but before long, the voices started.
"How could she just brush our feelings off like that?" Draco demanded, anger tinting his cold voice. "Didn't want to distract us? Didn't want to force us into anything? Who does she think she is?"
"You have to see her point, though," Chase put in. "We do have a reputation for lovin' 'n' leavin'. Why should she expect any different from us, especially since she's pregnant."
"Shut up!" Draco and Ian shouted at him. Ian sighed and started looking for a gas station. He knew he wasn't going home before it was strictly necessary and he needed caffeine.
"Why are we letting the witch get away with this?" Draco asked. Ian growled.
"Because we aren't going to hurt her for being cautious. She has every reason for reacting the way she did. Like Chase said, we don't exactly have a reputation of sticking around for very long. I'm not surprised, not really, that she didn't say anything. I'm not happy about it, but I understand."
"The baby won't be hurt, will it?" For the first time, Clay spoke, his voice soft and childlike. Chase shook his head and his response was gentle.
"No, the baby won't be hurt. We won't let it."
"We won't let her give it away," Ian said, resolve strengthening his voice. "We want to marry her and we will. We'll find a way to show her we love her."
"Speak for yourself," Draco drawled. "I want nothing to do with her. She's a Weasley!"
"Was a Weasley," Chase corrected. "She's Gallagher now."
"I know that!" Draco snapped. "I'm just saying..."
"Stop it!" Ian shouted and swerved sharply, tires squealing as he pulled into a gas station. The Corvette fishtailed, rubber burning, kicking up a shower of small rocks before he regained control and slammed on the brakes and stopped in front of a pump. "We all know your opinion of the Weasleys, Draco. Now shut up and let me get my damn caffeine."
The others were silent as Ian gassed the 'vette and went inside to get a cup of coffee, a bottle of liquid energy, cigarettes and a cheap snack. The girl at the register, she looked about sixteen with mouse brown hair streaked with neon green and sticking out from her head at odd angles, stared at him as she rang up his purchases, obviously wondering what the ice blonde man in expensive clothes and driving a new Corvette was doing in her little hick-store. Ian nodded to her and handed her a twenty.
"Keep the change," he said and gathered his things, walking out. Draco started muttering about being a sucker, but Ian chose to ignore him, closing the door and swallowing the energy drink before starting the car. The engine revved and he smiled before zipping out of the parking lot.
He drove all night, making it down to Maryland before stopping in Annapolis at an IHOP at 2:30 AM. Draco and Chase were still arguing, but Ian made them do it silently as he poked at his eggs and pancakes. He considered calling Phoenix, to see if she was okay, but he restrained himself. He had said they would talk about it in the morning and she needed to sleep if the baby was going to be healthy. He wanted to marry her, he had already picked out the ring, hadn't he? But she didn't know that. How was he going to convince her that he wanted to marry her for her and not because he felt like he had to because she was pregnant?
I don't see why we are even bothering to marry her, Draco muttered. Ian hissed.
Because we are in love with her, he snapped. Draco chuckled.
I am not in love with her. You and Chase and Clay are, I just think she's a good shag. It doesn't matter what she changes her name to, she's still a Weasley and Malfoys don't marry Weasleys. I am pretty sure that kid she's carrying is a freak of nature to, it shouldn't be possible for Malfoys and Weasleys to breed. How do we even know it's ours?
Phoenix wouldn't lie to us and I'll bet everything we own she wouldn't lie to her child. The recordings say we're the father, Ian retorted. Draco snorted.
She lied to us, why wouldn't she lie about this?
She didn't lie! She didn't tell us, that's not the same thing as lying!
Yes it is. She didn't tell us, with-holding the truth from us and lying when she said she was sick. She. Lied. To. Us.
What are we going to do? Chase murmured. Draco snorted.
WE aren't going to do anything. You two can do whatever you want. I want nothing to do with this.
You're a fool, Draco, Ian snarled. How can you not see what she is? How brave and strong she is? Are you really so blind?
It is you who is blind, Ian, blinded by lust and the fact that she carries our heir. I have no desire to be bound to her for eternity and beyond. Do you?
Oh, hush, Draco, Chase said wearily. There is nothing wrong with Phoenix. She is a...
I DON'T CARE, DAMN YOU! Draco roared, punching the seat. Ian shuddered and called the waitress over, handing her a fifty and fleeing the restaurant without waiting for his change. Once he was safely in his car and speeding back towards New York, he glared into the rearview mirror.
"Hear me now, Draco, and hear me well. I am dominant, me, Ian, and I am going to propose to Phoenix Gallagher and I will marry her. And by all that is holy, that is final. So get the hell out of my business and go find a hole to die in."
"That's rich, coming from you," Draco snorted. He swerved to avoid colliding with a gray Mazda and fell silent, thinking. After a while, he sighed.
"Alright, alright. Marry her, fuck her, I don't care anymore. As you said, you are dominant and I am not going to fight you about this. But..." he waited until Ian was paying close attention before continuing. "...when she turns you down or betrays us later, remember that I objected to the whole thing."
Ian chuckled and slowed from 150 mph to 90. "I'll be sure to remember."

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One more chapter!