Chapter Four: Baby, Talk

Nathen Rodman was a small man who wore one off designer pieces that no-one else would touch and managed to drop Ava into every conversation he had, even when he was speaking to his mother. He hated Gloria and she hated him too. So it was a surprise when they showed up together at the resturant the next day (Gloria in yellow lycra pants and a matching jacket, Ava shuddered). She did her whole 'mwah' routine with the both of them before sitting down and grinning , her collegen injected lips looked like they had been smeared across her face.

"Look at you. Just look at you! Two beautiful people with beautiful careers."

"But," Nathen opened his leather briefcase and pulled out a magazine. "Competition. who is our competition?"

Who talks like they're in a classroom or planning a war?

He threw a glossy magazine on the table.

"Brad and Jen and now they've got one step up on us."

Neither Ava or Josh looked at the magazine and they didn't need to. When you've got enough money people will do everything for you.

"Yesterday, Jennifer Aniston announced she was pregnant. How do we retaliate?"

Don't you think it seems a bit much like a baby was a bomb, especially designed to destroy lives, or in this case dethrone the Carson's as Hollywood royalty?

"You should start a family."

Gloria said this like she had just told them they had won the lottery and where allowed to keep all the money. Josh smiled.

"Wow, thay's big news. We hadn't even thought about it."

"Well now you have. This can only do good for both of you. You'll both have more in common with average Joe, Ava can tell the whole world how she lost her baby weight."

"I see a diet book." Nathen chimed in.

"And you'll be the envy of everyone because there is no way you'll have an ugly child."

The first time you ever doubt something that up until that point you've had a 100% faith in, is terrifying, believe me. Your stomach drops like you're on a rollercoster and although it may be a little thing, although it may eventually work out, if you've had unwavering belief in something and for a brief second that belief goes, it shakes you to the very core. That's what happened to Ava, she had never thought twice about anything Nathen or Gloria had told her. But hearing about having a baby made her throat dry and she didn't think it was right, even though it lasted for shortest time period, it was there.

"Nathen, a baby would be great but not right now. We both have movies to shot and there isn't time." Ava said.

They all looked at her, even the waiter who was serving their drinks.

"I mean me and Josh would obviously love a baby, but this is very sudden."

Gloria was nodded, picking up a story that wasn't there. "Right. Get the public involved. Circulate some stories about how they've been trying for months. I can see the headlines, The Carson's secret heartbreak. Then when you do feel it's time and you do get pregnant it will be the biggest story of the year."

It makes you wonder doesn't it? How low can somone actually sink without reailsing it? What will some people do for fame? Is there even a price? Nathen was clapping as though Gloria had just said something terribly insprirational. Ava and Josh where smiling.

"Brilliant idea." Josh said.

You have to ask yourself, what sort of people agree with those who sink?

Later that day, Ava found herself lying on the bed watching Josh carefully pick out what clothes he would take away with him. They would both leave tomorrow for different places to start filming. Josh was off the China for a science fiction and Ava to Florida for her 50's thriller.

"They have a point." Josh told her as he folded a shirt.

"Who?"

"Gloria and Nathen. A baby isn't such a bad idea."

"Easy for you to say." Ava replied picking up a mirror from the bedside table and examining her eyebrows. "You don't have to give birth."

"There are hospitals these days that will cut it out then give you lipo at the same time."

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Really? No horrible pushing?"

Josh smiled and kneeled in front of her. "Really. It can't do our careers any bad can it? Look at how many times they mentioned Gwenyth when she gave birth."

Ava contemplated this. He sounded so certain that she could already see the headlines:

Baby Joy For Ava And Josh

Then came that fear she experienced in the resturant, Ava had never questioned Josh, not even when he told she needed plastic surgery. Why should she question him? He was her husband.

"I never asked you last night, how was the wedding?"

Ava groaned. "My new step-daddy looks like he was beaten with the ugly stick and Justine get's more jealous every time I see her."

Josh laughed and kissed her hand. "Why shouldn't she? You are gorgoues and your sister is a single mom. She wishes she was you."

"Justine said I was playing charades."

"What?"

"She implied I was something I'm not, you know?"

"Ava, jealousy is an ugly thing, and so is your sister."

She smiled and Josh kissed her again.

"A baby." he continued. "Won't it be amazing. For a boy I'm thinking......Carson Josh Ashcroft."

"That doesn't make sense since I've taken your last name."

"Alright, what about Ash Joshua Croft Carson. See, we split your maiden name up."

Ash-Croft Carson??? Ash-Croft Carson. What sort of person inflicts the pain of giving their child the name of Ash-Croft? Why can't celebrities give their children normal names like Sara, Mandy, Harry or John? John. It was the first time she'd thought about him since yesterday when she gave him her e-mail address and promised to keep in touch. Ava excused herself and went into home office, the computer had been left on and it took just a few clicks to get into her account. There was an e-mail waiting

Saw u on the news this morning. Donatella wud of died if the dress wasn't perfect. Luckily it was. Hope u're ego didn't deflate too much after being
here-John

Ava wasn't sure how to take that last sentance. She didn't have an ego, John was talking out of his ass. What eles was new? She was just about to reply when the door opened and Josh came in.

"Ava, come on, we have a photo shoot in a hour, and you can't go like that."

The studio lights where blinding and burning hot. Ava couldn't see the photographer beyond them or anyone who stood in the background watching. She was having lipgloss applied while a stylist was doing Josh's hair.

"Ava, we need to know who you're wearing." a middle aged red head asked.

"Excuse me, you refer to her as MRS. Carson." Nathen called from somewhere she couldn't see.

She glanced down at herself and reeled off the names automatically.

"Shoes by D&G, skirt and top from Armani."

She nodded. "Perfect, and you look amazing Mrs. Carson."

They all scurried away and Josh looped his arm around her waist.

"Ok, smiles everyone!"

BANG

The camera went off and they shifted positions.

BANG

Once again.

Hope u're ego didn't deflate too much

Where did that come from? She didn't have an ego. She commanded respect, she had expectations and people had expectations of her. She was talented and people praised her. There was nothing wrong with that.

"Erm.....Ava?"

"Mrs. Carson!"

"Sorry. Mrs. Carson. Can you smile please?"

She didn't need to see the person to know that it was the photographer, and from his shaking voice he was an amature.

"I am smiling."

"You're not."

"Are you calling my wife a liar?" Josh demanded.

"No...I......"

It never takes much to ruffle a stars feathers. Ava did indeed have a big ego, and when you do they slightest thing can make you feel treatened. Unluckily for the photographer a big ego also meant great power.

"I refuse to work with someone who calls me a liar! Either he goes or I do!"

She stormed off the set and back to her dressing room which had been prepared to her specifications. 100 white candles, 50 pink roses in a crystal vase, a stereo system with a classical music CD that wasn't allowed to have Mozart on and bottles of Evian with a treadmill. This was nothing. When working on a movie Ava put J-Lo to shame. In her view she was justified. She was an Oscar winner (you'll find out that she often used the oscar to get her own way) Ava slammed the door and turned on the CD. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Let her try and tell herself that she doesn't have an ego now.

It was late that night when an e-mail from Ava arrived in John's inbox and instantly begged for his attention. The subject was 'bastard photographers'

Why must people insist on question others who have more knowledge than
them? I have done a million photo shoots and I know when I'm smiling or
not. You'd think they'd be grateful to have an oppotunity to photograph someone of my calibar. I'm going to Florida tomorrow. Josh is taking the
jet so I'll have to sit with everyone else in first class. Great- A x

John remembered how he use to call Ava 'Asscroft' as a joke. He was beginning to think it wouldn't be such a bad idea now, seeing as she was so full of shit. She just had to know that how she was talking just wasn't normal. Talk about ungrateful. Wasn't in the fans who'd put her where she was? Shouldn't she be kissing then ground they walked on, or at least paying someone else to do it. Asscroft was going to lose it all. It was true, she was, just not in the way John meant it.