Transmission Re-established. . .

Posted: July 13, 2004

Chapter Three:

Later that night Hoagie pulled up into Abby's driveway. He went up the porch stairs and rung the doorbell. He could hear Abby run towards the door. She swung the door wide open and had a huge smile on her face. "I thought you would never get-" When she realized who it was, the smile disappeared from her face. "Hoagie."

"Where you expecting someone else?" He looked concerned as he felt a sting in his heart.

"Only the pizza guy." She held up a twenty dollar bill. "I've been waiting for an hour." She smiled coyly.

He stood there a moment. "Can we talk?"

"That would be the adult thing to do, huh?" She stepped out of the way. "Come in." She cast her head down as Hoagie entered into her home and she closed the door behind him.

"I just need a straight answer from you, Abby," Hoagie said with his back to her as he got right to the matter at hand.

"Okay." She leaned on the door for support. "Go on."

He then turned to her. "First off, know that I love you, but if you're tired of me, if you want to end our relationship, let me know now, because I won't play games."

"Hoagie," she began softly as she shook her head, "I don't want to break up." She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry about what happened. It was an error I won't make again, okay?"

Hoagie slowly smiled. "Really?" he whispered. She only nodded as she pressed her lips against his. Why do I always give in so easily to this woman? He thought as he happily wrapped his arms around her and kissed her more passionately as any and all doubt washed away from him. It was as if the other night never happened at all.

And as their kiss became more urgent, Abby slowly led Hoagie towards the stairs as she tried to undo his belt, but was having difficulties. So much so that Hoagie took the matter into his own hands pushing hers out the way as they went back around his neck. So neither were paying attention to where the stairs began and Hoagie tripped on the first step, taking Abby with him.

"Ow," Hoagie said comically.

Abby laughed. "Are you okay?" She then tried to get up, but Hoagie pulled her closer.

"Only when you're close." He kissed her hand as she was trying to sweep his hair out of his face and she smiled at him lovingly.

How did I ever convince myself I wasn't satisfied with this? She thought before the door bell rung. "That should be the pizza." she told him as she got up and found the money she had dropped on the floor when she had reached for his belt. She then fixed her shirt and pushed back her hair before answering the door.

"Thank you," she said as she closed the door. Hoagie was already in the kitchen; he had grabbed a few plates and was heading for the table. Hoagie had worked very hard on his body, but he was still never one to pass up a meal.

When they were done eating they headed up to Abby's room. Hoagie completely collapsed on her bed, thinking he had maybe over done it with his workout because he was still sore. He then looked over at Abby's alarm clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was only a little before eleven.

Abby had left the room, so Hoagie decided to make himself comfortable. He kicked off his shoes, took off his shirt, and then got down to his boxers. He climbed under her sheet and before he had realized it, he had drifted off to sleep.

Strange things flashed in his dreams. First he saw himself as a child. Then the man he meet at the gym looking very young. Next was Abby, the way she used to look before he met her. She was screaming and fighting. Someone was holding her back and strapping her down into a seat. "Numbah Five!" Hoagie jumped up out of his dream breathing hard and disoriented. What the hell was that? he thought. Numbah Five? he repeated it in his head, but still nothing came to him.

He looked at the clock it was seven in the morning. He was still in Abby's bed and though she wasn't there, he could tell that she had slept next to him. He got up to look for her. He stepped out the door and could hear her downstairs, most likely making breakfast. It is way too early, he thought as he headed towards the bathroom.

Hoagie checked out the bruise on his chest in the mirror before he reached for his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth. Abby had once shared this bathroom with her older sister Cree; when she moved out it was all Abby's. Her parents noticed the second toothbrush, but just figured Cree accidentally left it behind.

After washing his face Hoagie went to put the towel in the laundry basket behind him. "Shit," he said when he knocked over the liquid soap. It had fallen behind the small trash can and so he bent over to pick it up. His head jolted back when he caught a glimpse of the pregnancy test box. He then put the soap back where it belonged and walked out the bathroom.

He slid his hand along the wall as he walked down the hallway towards the stairs. Hundreds of questions seem to run through his head. Is she pregnant? If she is, how come she hasn't told me, yet? He then answered himself. Probably, because the two of us have been fighting. He then smiled to himself. I should ask her to marry me. The thought excited him. I wonder if we'll have a boy or a girl?

All of a sudden his heart felt heavy, as he tried not to think it. Is it even mine? The weight of the question had dropped him to his hands and knees. He felt ashamed that he had even thought about it and angry at the same time because it was a possibility. Sure, of course Abby had told him she hadn't cheated on him, but how could he be sure? Hoagie then heard the sounds of footsteps coming towards him and slowly lifted his head.

When Abby came upstairs and saw Hoagie on the ground, she ran towards him, until she looked into his eyes. The glare he gave her made her blood run cold. "Hoagie?" She approached him with caution.

Transmission Interrupted. . .

A/N: I need help, could someone please tell me in the review, if the name of Kuki's little sister is Mushi. Thank you.