The court room was beginning to fill back up after the short lunch break that the judge had ordered everyone to take. Tempers were high after a heated testimony from the chief of Police in which Bombay had grilled him into admitting that he didn't even attempt to follow up on Linda's report of the rape weeks earlier. He had simply chalked it up to a fight between couples after seeing the scratch marks on Tyler's face the next afternoon at a meeting. Charlie could still hear the cops sitting in the back of the courthouse mumbling threats under their breath about his step Father and even himself. He tried to ignore them as best he could as he silently waited for the trial to resume. He hadn't eaten all day, his stomach reminded him with a loud grumble of protest but food would have to wait. Charlie shifted uncomfortably on the bench, trying to muffle the groan with his hands. He rather would have got his testimony over and out of the way like Tammy had that morning and not been stuck waiting for everyone to return and left to think about all that had happened. He didn't want to think about all those days he spent with Linda, locked up in his room away from the world just watching her slowly lose her mind and him being helpless to do anything about it. It was a new feeling for him to be completely useless. He had always had a purpose. He had always been the leader, the one everyone turned to but this was one situation he didn't have the resolution to. He couldn't triple deac his way out of this one. Softly resting his head in his hands he waited for the gravel to signal that it was time to restart the trial. The doors shutting behind him caused him to turn to look at the armed guards closing the court room to the mass of reporters that were swarming outside, their cameras flashing inappropriately on the courtroom while their counterparts yelled questions over one another. Charlie turned back to see Linda and Bombay entering from the side room. She tried to smile softly at him but it looked more like a grimace before she sat in her chair to face the judge. Watching her soft brown hair fall against her shoulders; Charlie tried to remember the good times. The times when they'd both been so happy and the only obstacles they were faced with was themselves. He had never longed for high school but in that moment he did. He wanted a do over, he wanted to try again and make things different for them. This time, promising himself that he wouldn't let her go ever again. He wouldn't let her walk out of his life the way he had before. Linda's eyes glanced back at him, almost knowing he was thinking about her before she stood with the bailiff's instructions. Her eyes telling him the same thing he was feeling. He would get them out of this, if it was the last thing he did, he would fight until the end.
Adam's hand softly reached out to the shoulder of his sister's weeping form from the other end of the couch. He had never been good at crying girls, even Julie was a challenge for him when her hormones got the best of her. The worst part was that he didn't even know what she was crying about this time. He could assume it had something to do with Portman but she hadn't said that. She'd been waiting at the door when he arrived home from the cafe earlier, clinging to a stack of drawing he'd never seen before. Ashlee softly mumbled, "I was such an idiot..." while he led her into the living room. That had been almost 20 minutes ago and she had yet to let up. Adam's main job as a big brother was to always protect Ashlee, to always shield her from the bad stuff in the world. It had worked for a while until Dean Portman had come into her life. Somehow, Adam wasn't convinced this had anything to do with him though. Glancing quickly down at the pages and pages of unbelievably good sketches, Adam wondered who had done all this work. He could clearly see that his Sister seemed to be the star of each one of the new frames, whether she was fighting villains or studying school work. Adam's fingers grazed over the pencil before looking back at Ashlee with questioning eyes.
"Ash, are these what's making you upset? Is someone stalking you?" He asked. Ashlee mumbled incoherently before shaking her head negatively and putting her face into her hands. Adam sighed, resting his hand on the back of her head as she cried again. This was getting him nowhere fast, he thought with a grumble. Maybe he should get one of the girls, Tammy might be home or Julie could talk to her. He was a second away from standing from the couch to go retrieve one of them when she said the first thing he'd understood all day.
"He's in love with me..." She whispered softly. Adam had heard her words clearly but was slightly confused as to why his sister was balling her eyes out over a man, not the likes of Dean Portman, being in love with her. He forced her to sit up and look at him, placing a reassuring hand on her face.
"Who's in love with you?" He asked gently. Ashlee didn't really answer, just simply looked down at the pages in front of her and the hard work that Averman had put in to each and every drawing.
"Adam, I'm such an idiot. He was in love with me the whole time and I treated him like dirt." She cried, reaching for the page closest to her to grip it in her hand. Adam watched the caring way she held the pages in her palms to look at the work.
"So we're not talking about Dean, I assume?" Adam asked before Ashlee's eyes shot up to look at him. She shook her head adamantly, a small smile on her lips well tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Dean could barely write his own name, do you think he could create something as wonderful as these?" Ashlee asked, again admiring the work with appreciation. Adam laughed as well before picking up a page for himself to look at.
"I just don't know what to do; I didn't know how he felt. I should have and I still don't know how I feel, I just know I owe him something. A chance at being together, maybe?" She tried to think of how to fix this but she was unsure of what to do. Adam shook his head slightly, placing the drawing back into the pile before taking his sister's hand in his own.
"Ash, you've been through so much this past few weeks, I don't want you jumping into something else on a rebound or because you think you owe this guy some debt..." Ashlee was about to protest when Adam silenced her with an index finger. "Ash, I know you want to find someone and you want it to work out but just, take some time and figure out what it is you really want before you make any decisions..." Adam asked. Ashlee looked down again before nodded. She had been thinking about it for a while before Averman had dropped this bomb shell in her lap.
"Dad pulled some strings and got me into one of the business programs at NYU. He thought a transfer would be good for me. A new city and a new start. I've been putting off giving him an answer but I guess it would be a fresh start for me." She thought with a soft shake of her head. Adam silently agreed, pulling her into a hug.
"I love you, Ash. I only want what's best for you." He promised. She smiled again, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
"I love you too, Adam." She whispered into his chest. They stayed in that embrace for a moment longer before Ashlee pulled away to collect her drawings and return home to pack. She stood slowly, walking to the hall and looking longingly at the closed door that belonged to him. She wondered if he was home and just ignoring her or if he was at the diner, working to make the money he could be making selling these comics. She sighed as Adam came up next to her and opened the door to let her out. She hugged Adam one last time before turning to leave just as Dean and Belle were walking up the stairs. Her skin froze in shock for a moment watching them as they carried a pack and play up the stairs together, laughing like idiots. She never had that with him. She was sex or lies to him. It was in that moment that Ashlee Banks forgave Dean Portman. She would never have what they had and it was alright, she just needed to find that with the one she was meant to be with. She felt her skin return to normal and turned to Adam as his face was heating up with anger at their sudden arrival.
"Don't just stand there, Adam. She's pregnant..." Ashlee blurted out once Dean and Belle had made it to the top of the stairs. Adam was shocked out of his anger before rushing forward to take Belle's end from her. Belle immediately backed away, thinking there was going to be another fight but instead he simply took the end of the collapsible crib and lifted it over the banister and into the apartment. Dean was slightly confused too, once he saw Ashlee holding the door open for them. He hoped he wasn't about to get wacked in the head once he set the piece of furniture down. Belle entered behind them, her playful mood gone as she gripped her swollen belly in protection. Ashlee waited for her to enter before she said her goodbyes to Adam and left through the open door. Belle and Dean just looked at each other before Adam shut the door and nodded once at them before going to his room to get ready for his date with Julie in a little while. Belle walked silently over to Dean before looking towards Adam's closed door.
"What was that?" She asked, slightly confused. Portman just shook his head.
"I don't know but I say we find cover before one of them comes back..." He said quickly pushing the crib into their room and closing the door.
Tammy's eyelashes fluttered open from sleep, a new found calmness behind them as she watched the setting sun outside their window for the last time. She blinked closed her eyelids before realizing the strong arms wrapped around her weren't a dream she had been having. Her hands softly brushed over the rough skin of his forearms, engraining to memory every inch of his body as it touched hers. His reaction was to tighten his grip around her naked stomach and pull her closer to his bare chest to keep her there for as long as possible. He knew he'd have to let her go eventually but he didn't want to yet. His mind raced to their last conversation before they had been too caught up in getting each other undressed to form a full sentence. Fulton's lips found her shoulder without much struggle and placed soft kisses against her skin to fully wake her from her slumber. Tammy smiled, a sad smile, enjoying the few moments she had left with him. She'd realized shortly after he'd fallen asleep hours earlier that she needed to let him move on. They'd both made mistakes that would haunt them forever but at least they wouldn't be reminded of them daily. If they ended now, on a good note then at least she'd be able to look back and smile on what they were. Maybe her Mother had been right on some level, that she wasn't ready for this kind of relationship or maybe she didn't have the experience to make it work. Being apart would surely give her the answers she needed on if they were supposed to be together. She didn't expect Fulton to come running after her like a knight in shining armor but at least she'd find out if she could live without him. Fulton continued his series of kisses across her shoulder and down her arm before he rolled her over on her back to look at him. Tammy's bare chest lay in front of him but he didn't look away. His fingers grazed the mark with love instead of anger and he dipped his head to softly kiss away the reason the mark was even there. Tammy closed her eyes to his touch, softly running her fingers through his hair like she knew he liked. His mouth continued up her throat and to her lips before he wrapped his arms around her and pressed their bodies together once more. Tammy kissed him softly before he looked down upon her in the soft glows of the disappearing sun. He knew this was the last time he would look at her this way, they would never have this exact moment again but somewhere deep down he hoped this wasn't the end for them. Tammy smiled at him, silent tears collecting in the corners of her eyes as she reached for his face once more to bring his lips to hers. She kissed him with everything in her before trailing her lips to his ear, feeling the first of many tears to fall.
"I love you, Fulton Reed. Forever and always..." She whispered softly before kissing his cheek once last time. He closed his eyes to her words but felt her body slip out from under his. The bed felt suddenly cold, his skin turning to bumps before he opened his eyes to the empty pillow below him. He pulled it tight against his chest as he heard her packing her bags and putting her clothes back on. He couldn't watch. He knew he'd promised not to protest and not to beg her to stay and he was a man of his word. Her eyes were dripping silently as she pulled on the first clothes she found, shoving all the rest into her suitcase without bothering to fold any of them. She left all her stuff in the bathroom, she'd just buy new when she got where ever it was she was going. Looking back to his form, turned away from her on the bed they once shared, Tammy's eyes filled with tears. She knew she had asked him not to stop her and he wouldn't but she wished he would. She wished he'd get up from that bed and yell at her, call her names, make it easier for her to walk out the door without any regrets but he wouldn't. He loved her too much. She finished packing quickly, not bothering to say a word before she left the room quickly. Fulton heard the door shut behind her and closed his eyes to the world, letting one single tear slid from his closed eyes.
The playful mood had returned for Belle and Portman as they tried to put together the baby swing they had also purchased that day when they stopped at the local babies r us. Portman pretended he knew what he was doing and in typical man style had not followed the directions as all. The swing was almost together but now sat with the right side closer to the ground than the left. Belle laughed silently behind the direction booklet from where she sat on their bed. Portman grumbled slightly under his breath before looking over at the Mother of his child with playfulness.
"You think this is funny, do you?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Belle tried to respond with a shake of her head but couldn't find the words before Portman tackled her and pinned her hands above her head.
"I'd like to see you try..." He said with that goofy grin on his face. Belle smiled slightly,
"At least I would use the directions provided..." She back talked with a giggle, looking the directions gripped in one of her hands. Portman took both her hands in one of his and began to tickle her senselessly when her face turned to one of surprise.
"What, what did I do?" He asked, sitting up quick to give her space. Belle just smiled, taking his hand to place it on her swollen stomach where she'd felt the last one. Not to be one to disappoint, the baby kicked again, right into Portman's palm. He nearly fell off the bed at the pressure he had felt pushing back at him. He'd never felt anything like it before in his life and quickly put his hand back again to see if it would do it again. Belle smiled up at him, watching his astonished face when he felt the baby kick again.
"She's a strong one..." She commented softly, happy he had been here to share in this with her. Portman nodded slightly,
"She's got good genes..." He responded back, not looking in her eyes for fear of ruining the moment. Belle smiled and moved his hand once the baby stopped kicking. She sat up with a clear of her throat and handed Dean the directions.
"Here, this might help." She said awkwardly, handing him the piece of paper. He took it and looked down at the photos while he thought of something to say. He wanted to say the right thing for this situation but didn't know what that would be. His fingers grazed the pages for a moment before he quickly reached up with his right hand and pulled her face towards his to kiss her. They'd only kissed a few times before and they'd agreed it couldn't mean anything since this would all be over in a couple months anyway but this kiss felt different. It was spontaneous and passionate. It was everything Belle had remembered a kiss with him felt like. She gripped his face with both her hands, unwilling to let him go until the need for air over ruled her senses. He pulled back; slightly shocked she had pulled him closer and for so long. Her eyes immediately looked down to the ground in embarrassment before she let him go and turned away. Her lips were swollen and red, making Dean immediately think of other things he'd like to do with her. Her face was flushed and pink as she placed a hand to her cheek to cover her obvious embarrassment.
"Why'd you stop?" Portman asked softly, taking her hand in his. Belle looked up at him with wide eyes.
"It's all just a lie, right? Sooner or later all this has to end and we'll go back to our old lives..." She mumbled, rubbing against her lips. Portman shook his head slightly,
"There's no going back for me. I'm not going back to who I was." He mumbled, tracing her hand with his fingertips. Belle watched him for a moment. "Do you want it to end?" Portman asked, looking into her eyes. Belle was caught off guard by his questions and couldn't find the words. Of course she didn't want it to end, she wanted this, whether they were living in a one room shack, she would always want this over anything else. She thought she must have conveyed something with her eyes because the next thing she knew, his lips were on hers again. This time she didn't push him away.
The park was lit up for the annual fall festival. The vendors selling fried dough and popcorn to the people passing by with happy smiles on their faces. Julie watched the people pass by as she sat next to the greatest man in the world and sipped on her hot chocolate. Adam's arm was casually thrown over her shoulder as he kissed her ear and whispered to her about what they were going to do in the future. The white picket fence, the swing set in the back yard. He wanted it all and she did too. It didn't matter anymore that this baby wasn't his, in his mind, it was. Julie smiled to herself, holding his hand close as the baby wiggled in her stomach. Life could not get better in that moment. Adam smiled to himself, kissing the shell of her ear before smelling her hair lightly and turning to watching the people around them. He had no idea how much he had been missing by allowing his Father to run his life. Maybe he could have had this all along. None of that matter now, because he had everything he wanted right here. The world was right in Adam Banks' mind. Their giggling was cut short by Julie's sharp intake of breathe. Adam immediately tensed up.
"What is it? Is it the baby?" He asked, touching her stomach. Julie didn't respond so Adam followed her eye line to where she had been looking. Approaching from the lake were two people Adam did not want to see right now. He was sure Julie felt the same way when she finally looked away. Rick Riley and Scooter approached with large grins on their face, a girl on each of their arms. Julie tried to fight the hurt she felt at seeing Scooter with someone else but her eyes began to burn.
"What do we have here?" Rick taunted, glancing back at Scooter. Scooter nodded with a grin but when Rick turned around, his face immediately fell. "Congratulations Banksie, finally knocking up the Prom Queen..." Adam stood to shut him up but Julie held unto his arm,
"He's not worth it..." She whispered, standing beside him. Adam immediately calmed as Rick and Scooter laughed.
"Don't talk about Julie that way..." Adam threatened. Rick taunted him again,
"I'm shaking with fear..." He laughed again. "Besides, it didn't take long for her to find someone else's bed after Scooter kicked her out..." Rick laughed. Julie tightened her fisted, obviously Scooter had been covering his tracks and telling his friends a different way their break up went down then what had actually happened. She supposed she didn't blame him, who would really want anyone to know the way he truly had acted.
"Come on, let's go..." Julie urged, pulling Adam in the opposite direction. Rick just laughed at the couple before he opened his mouth again.
"It's alright as long as Adam knows what a whore he's got mothering his children..." Rick had finally done it. Julie stopped quick and turned, punching Rick in his big fat mouth. Rick didn't have time to react and fell to his back on the pavement. The angry tears streaming down Julie's face blurred her vision but she could see Rick adjusting his jaw after her punch.
"Why don't you ask your boy here what really happened, instead of sounding like an idiot with every word that comes out of your mouth." Julie said before storming off passed Adam. Scooter looked shocked before bending to help Rick up. Adam followed Julie quickly out of the park before catching up to her just before the street entrance.
"Jules, wait!" Adam called out, gripping her upper arm and turning her towards him. She buried her face in his jacket to not let him see her cry over that idiot. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, rocking her to a silent beat only he could hear. Julie quickly recomposed herself before looking up at Adam's caring face.
"I'm sorry, he just got me so mad with his lies." Adam cut Julie off with a soft kiss and smile that made her smile.
"That was awesome, Jules..." He whispered with a chuckle. She smiled again.
"I think I hurt my hand..." She mumbled as he brought her hand up to his lips to kiss it.
"All better..." He mumbled, tucking her hands against his chest to warm them. "Besides not all of what he said was a lie..." Adam mumbled. Julie looked up at him shocked that he would think such things of her before he smiled.
"That baby is mine and yours. No one else..." Adam whispered. Julie's face lit up once more before she kissed him heatedly on the lips. When they parted Adam, touched her face with his gloved hand. "I love you, Julie. I mean it, I'm in for everything." Julie nodded once.
"I'm ready to get out of here if you are... I'm thinking maybe breakfast in bed?" She asked a slight hint of things to come. Adam smiled coyly at her before hailing a cab to go back to the apartment. He didn't care if they just spent the night holding each other; to just be with her was the best part of any day.
Hi everyone! Thank you for all the reviews in my absence. It's been a rough few months but things are finally turning around. I am now 17 weeks pregnant with my first child, it was a total surprise to me and my husband and I'm happy to report that my Brother is doing much better, he's working his way back from the dark place he was in and I see more and more of my kid brother as new day passes. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I will be working to update again soon and hopefully be able to get this story finished before the baby arrives:) Please check this and my other stories for updates, until then, hopefully I'll get to her what you guys think through the reviews and PM's. Thank you so much for your continued support:)