A/N: Thanks for the reviews. BTW, did the show ever say the names of Madison's parents? coloado2: Heh...Well, Madison can't just "be over Ephram" in a "poof" way. They did have a child together and even though Ephram's heart is with Amy, I can't say that Madison won't have some troubles. Her daughter is a constant reminder of what she and Ephram shared and clearly, that can't be earased so easily. I have a feeling that you won't really like this next chapter, so I apologize in advance. But trust me, this won't turn into an Ephram & Madison fic. I'm a die hard Ephram & Amy fan, so that's how things will stay. But I love drama and angst (as long as it turns out the way I want)! So I hope you won't be too upset with me.
4.13 Forbidden Fruit
----December 10, 2004----
Amy's eyes tiredly flickered as she tried to stay awake for her last class of the day. Her face was pale, her eyes glassy, and her hair was a rumpled mess. Her fingernails were chipped and broken and her body frail. She wanted so much to collapse at right now and just drift into the world of sweet dreams about her and Ephram, before they had slept together. I wish we could just get away from it all. It was good, when it was just him and I. She thought, longingly. She quickly pinched herself for thinking thoughts like that. I can't believe I'm even having thoughts like that! I love Ephram and I love our daughter! She's a miracle, that we created together! But.... She let out a ragged sigh. It's just so hard, now. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and raked her left hand through her hair.
"Something wrong, Ms. Abbott?" The Teacher, Mrs. Branson, inquired.
Amy quickly shook her head. "Uh, no. I'm just....a little worn out." Amy replied, lamely.
Mrs. Branson gave Amy a beady eye. "Well, that's what having children will do to you." She sniped. "When teenagers have sex, they must deal with the consequences. Unfortunately, they still must pay attention in class." The 60-year-old-something woman, bony and taut, gave Amy a harsh look and returned to writing on the white board.
Amy sunk her head lower into her arms. She knew that people in the classroom were continually taking glances at her. She could hear the snickers and whispers. Thanks, Mrs. Branson. She thought, angrily. It's people like you who just won't let the gossip die. She wrinkled her nose and sent a few firery glares at the people around her. She so should have retired already....back in the stone age.
----
Madison slowly rocked Kelly in her arms. She had just gotten Julia to sleep, when Kelly decided to awaken and start fussing. "Shh, baby. You're okay! Everything's fine!" Madison began to sing quietly, to her daughter as she softly assuaged her daughter's back. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna by you a mocking bird. And if that mocking bird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama's gonna buy you...." Her melodious voice trailed off, as she realized that her daughter had drifted to sleep. "Good girl." She murmured, as she softly padded into the nursery and placed Kelly in her bassinet. She softly pulled a cotton baby blanket over her daughter, to cover her from the winter chill. "I love you, dearest." She cooed, to the sleeping child. She stared longinly, a Kelly's tiny hands and tuffs of blonde hair. "You're already so much like your Father." A small tear slowly formed in her eye, she tried to blink it back, but it left her eye, and seemed to roll down her cheek in slow motion, before smacking onto Kelly's baby blanket, and being absorbed by the soft material. She placed a finger to her cheek, feeling the still warm trail of salty liquid, that was still fresh upon her face. She quickly fled the room, shutting the door behind her.
----
The final bell rang through Ephram's classroom and everyone, except for himself, jumped up in excitement. It was Friday and they had the entire weekend to do whatever. Unfortunately, Ephram had to be to work soon, which meant the long drive up to Denver. He sighed, as he heaved his backpack that might as well be filled with rocks, over his shoulder. This is going to be a long day. He thought, grimly.
"Ephram?" The Teacher, Mrs. Amarez, called out.
"Yes?" Ephram asked, as he turned to face his teacher.
"Is anything wrong? He seem very worn out." Mrs. Amarez asked, concerned.
Ephram smiled at his favorite Teacher. "No, it's just been a long week..." He paused, trying to decide if he should further her knowledge about his personal life; not that all of Everwood didn't already know he was a teen parent, to two daughters from two different women.
Mrs. Amarez arched her eyebrows. "Is there something else on your mind?"
Ephram frowned. "Uh, no.." He lied. His head was beginning to hurt, but he couldn't afford not going to work today.
Mrs. Amarez sighed and walked over to Ephram, giving him a reasurring pat on the shoulder. "You're a good young man, Ephram. You'll go far in life." She gave him a warming smile. "And although you're very talented, I know that rasing two infants at the same time must be physically and mentally exhausting."
Ephram merely nodded.
"Look, I usually don't do this, but in your case, I'll make an exception.."
Ephram's eyes widened, as he looked up, waiting for the woman to continue.
"The project I assigned today..I said it was due on Wednesday, but with everything you're going through..I feel that it's fair to extend the due date to Friday." Her eyes held an apologetic look. "Does that sound good to you?"
Ephram could feel his lips curve into a smile. "How can I thank you enough, Mrs. Amarez?" He asked, sincerely. "You have no idea how much two extra days means!"
Mrs. Amarez looked around, seeing that it was just herself and Ephram in the room. She pulled up a vacant chair and seated herself before the 17-year-old. "Actually...." She replied, quietly. "I do." She pulled a small laminated picture from her shirt pocket, next to her heart, and placed it face down in Ephram's palm. "Take a look at that, Ephram."
Ephram stared at the hard plastic for a moment, soaking in the warmth that it had absorbed from being in Mrs. Amarez's pocket, then he turned it to its reverse side. His eyes squinted, as he pulled the old photo closer to his face and then he let out a small gasp. "Is..is that you?" He questioned.
Mrs. Amarez nodded. "I, too, had a daughter when I was young; barely seventeen." Her lips curled into a small 'o' shape. "Her..her name was Gabrielle." Tears formed in her bright eyes, darkening them considerably. "Her Father left us, when he discovered I was pregnant, so I planned to raise her on my own. She was so perfect and I loved her with all my heart. But it was hard. I worked all the time to keep food on the table and clothes on our backs. I didn't have help from my parents of course; they wouldn't speak to me, after learning that I was determined to keep her." Her voice faltered, as a few streams of black mascara ran down her cheeks. "But she caught some type of flu, a few weeks before Christmas. I..uh, I took her to he hospital and they tried the best they could, for about a month.."
Ephram could feel his heart pouding, as he forced himself to become ready for what he thought was next.
"But she passed on, about a week before her first birthday." Mrs. Amarez's hands were trembling and she shut her eyes, to force back the tears.
Ephram placed the picture of Mrs. Amarez and Gabrielle on the table and wrapped his arms around his Teacher. "I'm so sorry." He cajoled.
Mrs. Amarez gave her caring student a light hug in return, then pulled away, and blotted her eyes with the sleeve of her dark shirt. "Thank you, Ephram."
Ephram shook his head.
"So I do understand what it's like." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Be careful, young man. Watch them and make sure they always know that you're there." She pulled the picture from the table and placed it back in her shirt pocket. "I should probably get back to work." He replied, as she tried to regain her composure. She snatched a few tissues from her desk, wiped her eyes and face, and then tossed the black tissues into the trash. "Ha-have a good weekend, Ephram."
Ephram nodded. "You too." He whispered, solemly. He turned and was about to walk out the door, when he heard her voice again.
"Ephram?"
"Yes?"
"Can you..well..keep..umm.."
"Don't worry, you're past is safe with me." Ephram replied.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you." Ephram replied, before leaving the room.
----20 Minutes Later----
Ephram burst through the front door, with a heavy heart and weighing mind. He noticed that everything was unusually quiet. "Hello?" He called, absentmindedly. "Amy? Madison?" He let his backpack slip to the floor, as he made his way down the small hall. "Hello?" He looked around, finding nobody. Then he thought he heard a soft moaning sound, coming from his ex's room. "Madison?" He asked, as he cross to her door and gently knocked his knuckles against the wood. "Madison, are you in there? Is something wrong?"
----
Madison heard the knocks, followed by Ephram's caring voice. God, how I love his voice. She thought. She slowly pulled her head from her pillow, wiped her wet eyes, and pulled her hands into fists to hide their shaking. She took a few deep, clearing breaths, then opened her mouth. "Yes?" She asked, aloud.
----
"Are you okay?" Ephram asked, with concern for the Mother of his eldest daughter.
----
"I'm fine." Madison replied, with as much of a calm tone as she could muster. "I was just trying to take a quick rest, during the unusual calm." She lied.
----
Ephram rubbed his temples. There was something hidden deep in her tone that told him that this wasn't true. "Are you sure?"
----
"Of course!" Madison snapped.
----
That's it, she's not being honest with me! Ephram thought. He grabbed the handle, turning it tightly, then enter Madison's room. His eyes became huge as he saw his ex. She looks like she just cried a river! He thought. "Oh my God, Madison! What's the matter with you?!" He rushed to her side, wrapped his arms tightly around her frail form, and embraced her tightly. "You look terrible!"
"Thank you." Madison replied as harshly and sarcastically as she could. But inside, she was melting at Ephram's embrace. She missed him so much. Memories of them together instantly flooded her mind, followed by the first time they slept together, ending with the last time they had slept together; Madison was sure that was the time that their daughter had been conceived. She let her hands roll out of the firsts and let her body relax, leaning into her ex and Father of her only child.
"What's wrong, Madison?" Ephram asked, again. He reached up, tucking a stray strand of slightly wet hair behind her ear, as he'd done so many times before.
"I.." Madison quickly stopped herself. "It's nothing, Ephram. Nothing is wrong with me."
"Don't give me that crap, Madison. I know you better than that and we both know it!"
Madison locked eyes with Ephram. His eyes are so calming. She thought, as she stared into them and felt a peace flow over her. "Ephram.." Tears brimmed in her eyes and her face moved closer to his. She dipped her fingers under his chin, gently tilting his head to hers, and she covered his lips with her own. She felt a sense of adrenaline rush through her, as their lips pushed together. She placed both hands on the sides of his face, feeling her heart beat with the same excitement she got whenever she was with him. Alas, she pulled away and began to search his eyes for something; anything. "Ephram?"