"Okay, first of all calm down." Alex said.
"Answer my question!" she demanded.
He looked at Chris hesitantly, "I got some papers drawn up to legally adopt the twins after they're born and papers for Adam to sign over his parental rights."
"We haven't discussed this." she shook her head.
"What's there to discuss baby? Adam's obviously not planning on being around, and I want to be able to make decisions for you and for them if something happens to you." he explained.
"You don't know that for sure Adam's not going to be around." she argued.
"Look around Aiden; he agreed that it was best to leave anyways." Chris blurted out.
Alex rolled his eyes in disgust as he threw the papers on the desk.
"He agreed? He agreed with the two of you? You put this idea in his head?" she almost screamed.
"Can you like sit down or something babe?" Alex interrupted.
"Do NOT touch me right now!" she hissed snatching her arm away from him, "I want the truth right now!"
"Fine, yes we mentioned that maybe he should leave so that he wouldn't cause you or the twins anymore pain. I'm not sorry for that. He's been gone and you've been doing fine." Alex smarted off.
Aiden stared at her husband for a moment, shocked by his confession.
"We may have over exaggerated a bit, but honestly Aiden, he has no business in your life." Chris said.
"He's their father!" She said hysterically.
"He's Joeys' father too and he's perfectly fine without him. You're getting mad for no reason, so lets get you back into bed so you can calm down some." Alex prompted.
"I said don't touch me!" she snarled, "Adam may not seem like the greatest guy in the world, but neither of you know him like I do. He was putting forth his best effort for me and these babies. He wanted to be a father."
Chris scoffed, "He was only doing that to piss Alex off. Adam isn't father material, look at what he did to his own son."
"You know I'm pretty sick and tired of everyone throwing that in my face. He's apologized several times, he's made peace with the situation and if he could change it, I know he would. He should be given a second chance just like Ajay was given. That's only fair." Aiden said narrowing her eyes at her friend, "And what happened to you minding your own business Josh?"
Alex stepped in quickly, "I asked for his help."
"No…she needs to hear the truth Alex." Chris said staring directly at her, "This was my idea. I started this because I can't stand the fact that Adam was ever in the position to hurt you. Alex was helpless in this whole situation so I stepped in."
Aiden shook her head at him, "How could you lie to Ajay's face like that? You said you were going to focus on her and your family."
"And I did., but there was no way that I wasn't going to help Alex get rid of that asshole." Chris sneered.
"Get rid of him? What did you do to him?" she cried, almost afraid to ask.
"We just told him to get lost so he wouldn't fucking kill you. He was seriously like one accident away from 'Final Destination. He's careless and reckless and needed to leave. He'll sign the papers like he said he would, its all taken care of Aiden. This is a necessary evil that you're going to have to deal with." Alex sighed, wishing that she would just accept what they had done.
"He's not signing anything until I've spoken with him." she finalized.
Chris snorted under his breath, "He's not going to talk to you…we made sure of that."
Aiden stomped her foot in frustration, "Why would you do this? How could you bully him into giving up his parental rights?"
Alex was getting more furious by the second, "Picture this alright, you're lying on the bed in a coma and one or both of the twins are having fatal complications. Adam's nowhere to be fucking found…who makes any difficult decisions about the babies huh? Riddle me that Batman…that's why his ass needs to sign these papers and get the hell on somewhere."
Aiden folded into herself, the weight of his words hitting her full force. A soft sob escaped her as she turned to go back upstairs.
Chris took the manila folder and threw it across the room; the documents floated everywhere, "Explain to me how after everything Adam has done he still is given the benefit of the doubt by her?"
Alex was staring up the stairs, "Do you think we were too hard on her?"
Chris fell onto the couch, "I don't know. This is for her own good. It's for her own protection. We're doing the right thing."
"Are you still going to think that when Ajay finds out?" Alex asked, finally looking at him.
"Can I stay in your spare room?" He asked, already knowing how Ajay was going to react.
"You didn't even have to ask." Alex sighed hearing the front door open.
Ajay, Jay, and Gran all came in with grocery bags.
"What happened while we were gone?" Jay wondered motioning to the papers strewn everywhere.
"Ajay came back in from the kitchen and picked one up.
The color drained from her face as she read it, "Tell me you didn't. Please tell me you didn't."
She glared at Alex hatefully, placing all of the blame on him.
"You're brother is a dickhead, it's the right thing to do." Chris rolled his eyes.
She turned to him trembling in fury, "You promised me that you would stay out of their business!"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sorry but I'm not letting Aiden get hurt again."
"I really just don't even matter to you do I? Me, Joey, Kenzie, our new baby boy, we all come second to your 'Aiden Crusade' don't we?" she stated loudly.
He sighed, "That's not true Ashton, you're over exaggerating. I don't get how you can't see this is what is best for your niece and nephew. Adam's out of the picture, they need…"
"They need for you to stay out of it! It's already complicated enough with the three of them, you just make it worse." she screamed, tears streaming down her face, "Does Aiden know what you've done?"
Alex nodded solemnly.
"I'm done with this shit Chris. I refuse to be second in your life, I deserve more than that." she cried.
"It's not like that Ashton…I'm trying to protect our friend and her kids." he argued.
She raised her hand, "Don't…okay? Just don't."
She went up the stairs intending on talking to Aiden.
Gran frowned at Chris and Alex, "This is pretty low, and definitely the last thing Aiden and Ajay need to deal with right now. I'm very disappointed in both of you."
Ajay came back downstairs, "When did she leave?"
Alex sat straight up, "She didn't, she went upstairs."
"She's gone with Lexie to Savannah." she handed over the scrawled note to Alex.
"Fuck! She's supposed to be on bed rest! What the hell is she thinking?" Alex roared, rushing to get his keys to catch up with her.
Ajay stopped him, "Let me handle this. If she feels anything like I do I know she won't want to be around either one of you."
She kissed Joey and Kenzie goodbye and made sure Jay and Gran would watch after them.
Chris stopped her at the door, "Ajay, please don't go chasing after Aiden like this all by yourself. It's just not safe."
"Now you want to worry about me? Are you kidding? I'm not buying it Josh. Go lie to somebody else, because I'm done with you." she cried.
"Ajay…" he tried again, but got the door slammed in his face.
"I hope both of you are happy with yourselves." Gran said stiffly.
The next afternoon Aiden pulled into Adams' drive in Florida. She had dropped Lexie off with her parents and took a quick nap before she continued on her journey despite their protests. She let herself in after knocking several times. He apparently wasn't at home. The house was neat and tidy as it always was.
She inhaled deeply, taking in the masculine scent that was surrounding her. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered always falling asleep against the pulse of his neck because she loved his scent so much. She dropped her purse onto the couch, making her way through the living room. She smiled at how he always lined his remotes up on the coffee table just like she did. He had his little OCD tendencies as well. She went to the kitchen frowning a little at the scarce contents of the fridge. Mail was tossed on the table haphazardly. She took it with her to his office. She flipped on the light in one of his favorite rooms.
He had kept the décor of the rest of his house modern and minimal; this room was his haven however. Guitars and action figures were displayed on the walls. Framed photographs were hung on almost every surface of him and several of his idols. Adam's very essence was saturated in the room. She smiled at the pictures of him, Jay, and Ajay, they all looked so happy. She went to his desk to put the mail down and saw several pictures of herself and Adam in collages on the desk. She laughed remembering some of the photos they had taken.
She didn't realize she could miss him so badly. He was right though, they could have been great together. She bumped the computer mouse making his screen come on. She sat down in the chair slowly as the tears fell. He had put the sonogram of the twins as his background. She sat staring at the image of the children they had created together, all of those emotions rushing at her suddenly.
"Aiden? What are you doing here?" Adam appeared suddenly in the hall.
She had been so caught up she hadn't even heard him come in.
"I had to talk to you. "She whispered feebly.
"You need to leave. It's not safe for you to be here." he told her.
"I know that Alex and Chris said a lot of things to discourage you." she began.
"It doesn't matter who said what. You shouldn't be here. You need to leave now." he frowned.
"What are you talking about? Nothing is going to happen to me. You're not a bad person Adam." she said.
He was getting antsy, she could tell, "Does Alex even know you're here? Seriously, Aiden, we have nothing to talk about. I'll call him to come and get you."
She went to him and took his phone from him, her heart twisting when she saw the picture they took at Lamaze class on the screen. He was sitting behind her with his hands on her stomach and his lips on her cheek. It was the last time she had genuinely smiled in months.
"I thought we were going to do this together." she whispered still looking at the screen.
"We were until I started messing up. We've got to face the truth; I'm not able to be a good father. All I've done is cause you stress and pain and that's just not fair to you. Alex and Chris were right, I needed to step away from the situation." he said.
She looked up at him, "No they aren't. I know an Adam no one else does. I fell in love with you because of the person you truly are. What they did to you was cruel and unfair. They played on your insecurities and made you believe their lies. You can be a great father, I know you can."
He backed away from her, "No, I've made up my mind. If I'm involved, things will only go badly for you."
"You're wrong. They said those things to make you leave Adam, they aren't true." Aiden argued.
He took her by the arm, and began walking her back to the front door. He grabbed her purse and handed it to her as he opened the door, "Go back to Alex and don't come back here."
"No! You're not listening to me! I love you Adam and I promised we would make it through this together. You can't just leave us!" she cried.
He pinched his eyes shut not able to look at the heartbreak on her face, "I'm not good for you Aiden, I never was. Just go."
He tried to pull her closer to the door, but she dug her heels in and did something he hadn't expected her to do.
She kissed him.
When his brain comprehended what she was doing it was like a million volts were coursing through his body. He took her shoulders and pushed her away from him. He was gasping for air she had caught him that off guard.
"Please go. I don't want to hurt you, but I know I can't say no to you." he begged her.
She gently put his hair behind his ears, "Then don't. I'm not afraid of you Adam. I'm not afraid to be around you."
He flexed his jaw, "We can't do this baby…"
She untied the flowing halter dress and let it drop to the floor, her sunset eyes daring him to make the next move. He wet his lips taking in her form as she stood in nothing but her heels. It was clear he was indecisive as he stood there looking her up and down.
Did she not hear what he was saying? Was she really that naive to think that he wasn't capable of hurting her more than he already had? Why did she have to be his drug?
Finally, he couldn't stand the temptation any longer. He ripped his shirt over his head and closed his mouth onto hers. He lifted her into his arms and took her into his bedroom to claim her once again.
yeah...lol...
Thanks to my fantabulous beta A Midnight Vixen! And thanks to all of the kickass peeps that reviewed, sorry for not getting back to some of you the link was messed up(again...)
*Kennedy's Friday Night Delight, Alice Jericho, avchocaholic, xSamiliciousx, Sarcastic Nightmare, and Babykiad(I would LOVE for this to be a movie...or a soap opera lol)
Thanks lovlies!
