*I do not own the rights to Stranger Things
*I do not own the rights to any characters from Stranger Things
*I am not the creator of the character Autumn
*I do not own the rights to ANY music used or mentioned in this fan fiction
*This story is an extended ending to California Dreaming by brittyaustin89, please read her fanfiction first. Otherwise this might not make sense.
*Im so sorry this chapter took so long. I didn't intend for it to take months. I simply couldnt get the story right. I couldn't make it make sense. But at long last I put it all together. Please enjoy this final chapter.
Monarch: Autumn's Butterfly Effect
Chapter 10: I Got You Babe
Billy moved his stuff back into the house rather quickly. He didn't have a lot to bring back since he didn't take a whole lot when he left. Billy wasn't the type to keep a bunch of unnecessary trinkets. So it was mostly his clothes and hygiene products. Once he was fully settled, he and Autumn started making plans for a do over wedding. This time they were going to do things right. Only problem was, they had to beat the baby to the altar. They planned for a spring break wedding, on the beach in March. Baby boy Hargrove was due in April of the new year, 1990.
Autumn sat in the middle of the living room floor, finalizing details for the wedding. She had papers and receipts spread everywhere. "OK, so catering. Check. DJ. Check. Ladies have their dresses, and guys have their button ups...hmmm. What am I missing?" She spoke aloud to herself. Billy strolled in and flopped down next to her. "Relax. You're forgetting to relax." He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, then rubbed her very pregnant belly. "I'm trying, but we are a week out and I don't want to forget anything." "You won't, I promise. You did a wonderful job putting all this together in such a short amount of time." Autumn smiled at Billy, and leaned her head against his shoulder. The two of them sat quietly for a few minutes before their phone startled them. That's when it hit them. They did forget something. "OH SHIT!" Autumn screamed as she waddled to the phone. She quickly grabbed it fumbling around. "Autumn! Where are you?" "MAX! Im so sorry! I knew I was forgetting something today. I'm sending Billy right now!" Autumn was snapping her fingers at Billy for him to go faster. He was trying to quickly put his shoes on. They had both forgotten that Susan and Max were flying in early to help get things in order for the wedding.
Billy raced across the city to pick up the ladies. He raced through a few stop signs on the way, but in no time Max and Susan were in tow on the way back home. "Hey, sorry about all this. With the baby and wedding shit. We just don't know whether to scratch our watches or wind our asses." Billy jokes to the women as he drives. "Well we are just happy to help. You didn't give Autumn any hints about the surprise did you?" Susan asked. "Naw, not at all she just thinks you guys are here for the wedding then heading home." Billy smiled at his step mother. "And, you're sure it won't be a huge imposition, us staying until the baby is born?" "Oh come on now Susan. The past is the past. Right now the most important thing is that Autumn has her family. You can stay as long as you like. Besides, I could imagine how awful my sperm donor father is right about now. After the divorce and then getting married about. I'm sure he's ready to breathe fire." Susan sighed. "Well you're right about that. He indeed had some very ugly things to say before we left." "Yea! Only I reminded him about that time you put a gun in his face!" Max blurted out. Susan shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Billy winked at his kid sister through the rear view mirror. Susan didn't have much else to say, after her daughter brought up that horrible incident. The rest of the ride was quiet.
It didn't take long for everyone to get settled in. The guest room upstairs was already made up for Max and Susan. Billy politely helped the women unpack then ordered them take out for dinner. Soon everyone was seated at the kitchen table laughing, and having a good time. "OK, Autumn. Max and I have something to tell you." Susan reached across the table and lightly squeezed Autumn's had. "What? What is it?" Autumn asked nervously. "WE'RE STAYING UNTIL THE BABY COMES!" Max blurted, for the second time that day. Autumn's jaw dropped and she leaped from her chair to hug her cousin. "OH my gosh! Shut up shut up! I can't believe you're staying!" Autumn shouted with glee. She released her cousin and went to hug her aunt. "Well technically we are staying for longer than that." Susan said, as she embarrassed her niece. "We'll be here at least the first month. To help out and get you guys readjusted. Having a newborn is no cake walk." Autumn was so overcome with joy, she couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face. She turned towards Billy, who was still calming sitting at the table. Smirk on his face. "Babe, did you know about this?" Autumn asked excitedly. "Know about it...I planned it. I don't know shit about babies. I had to call in reinforcements."
The next few days passed in a blur, and before long it was time for the wedding. It turned out to be a beautiful spring day at the beach. Besides a horrific breeze coming off the ocean that blew away guests and some decorations, everything went off without a hitch. Autumn walked down the sandy aisle barefoot in a lace white halter dress from J.C. Penney. She was literally glowing in the setting sun with her enormous baby belly adding to her beauty. Billy would never admit it, but Autumn swore she caught him wiping away tears as she walked towards him. The couple danced the rest of the night away at their small VFW reception hall. And even when Autumn's feet were too swollen for her to move, Billy carried her around to talk with friends and family. After the partying was over, Susan and Max helped unload the gifts at the house then spent the night in a hotel. They wanted to give the love birds their space. It would be their last night as a single couple. Soon the baby would arrive and life would get hectic.
Autumn and Billy laid sprawled out on the couch looking at all their gifts. They had asked their guest for baby presents instead of wedding stuff, since they already lived together. "Can you believe all this babe? We are married...like really married this time, and we are gonna be parents!" Autumn exclaimed with glee. Billy placed his hand on Autumn's stomach. He gave her a loving gaze. "I know. It's pretty crazy. Who would have thought. Hargrove the keg king to be daddy material. It still doesn't feel real." Billy suddenly got quiet and zoned out. "What? What's wrong?" Autumn asked, concerned. Billy slowly rose from the couch and walked over to pull a beer from the fridge. He popped the top and took a long swing. "It's just...Autumn, I don't wanna end up like my old man. I don't want to be a drunken deadbeat who hits his kids and cusses at his wife. I'm not changed like everyone thinks I am. Deep down, I'm still Neil. I still have his genes coursing through my veins." Autumn jumped up from the couch and rushed over to hug Billy in protest of what he was saying. She wrapped her arms around him as much as she could, with her belly in the way. She spoke softly into his chest with her forehead pressed against his pecks. "You aren't him though. You know when to stop, you know how to control yourself. And even if it does get to be overwhelming I've got your back. We are in this forever. No turning back this time." Billy gave Autumn a gentle squeeze then lifted her chin and kissed her soft lips.
The weeks leading to the wedding went by quick, but the weeks leading to Autumn's due date dragged on painfully slow. The longer Autumn stayed pregnant the more irritable she became. She was snapping at everyone in the house, then crying about getting upset. She was happy, sad, sleepy, hungry, and cranky all at once. But the person who drove her up the wall the most just so happened to be Billy. They promised each other things were going to be different, and Billy tried to be patient but he was losing his cool.
Billy slammed the passenger door of his Camaro. He was fuming as he got in his seat and started the engine. "Jesus Billy! Watch what the fuck you're doing! You almost slammed my foot in the door." Autumn snapped. "Well if your Donald Duck ass would have got ready when I told you, we wouldn't be in a hurry to this damn appointment!" Autumn gasped, at the Donald Duck comment. "Oh real nice Billy! It's not my fault that I'm about to explode carrying your child! Besides, I can hardly fit in this stupid car as it is. We should have taken the Explorer." At this point, Billy was squealing out of their driveway and through the neighborhood trying to make it to Autumn's last baby appointment. "Well God damn, excuse me if I don't want to look like a complete dipshit driving that POS. I hate your fucking car. Besides, you said you wanted me to drive princess! So that means I'm driving my car." Autumn threw her hands in the air, then folded her arms across her chest. "Well you're so smart Billy. All the baby stuff is in MY car. This is the last appointment. What if my doctor wants to induce me or something is wrong. You'll have to go back home and get my car. What's the point of all that!" "Billy reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pack of smokes. He put a cigarette between his lips and started to light it. "You just got it all figured out don't you? You're so smart Autumn. If something were to happen, WHAT THE FUCK ARE SUSAN AND MAX GONNA DRIVE? Fucking idiot. Not my Camaro. They would need your vehicle!"
Autumn simply sat there and stared daggers at him. "You know I hate that you still smoke. It's disgusting and it's bad for me and the baby." Billy took a long puff off his cig, leaned over, and blew it right in Autumn's face.
Autumn quickly gave Billy a fist to the ribs as she started coughing and crying. "Why would you do that! I fucking hate you! Just pull over! I'll walk from here!" Billy ignored Autumn and kept on driving. "Did you hear me? Pull over!" Before she could stop herself, Autumn had reached over and yanked Billy's arm. He quickly lost control of the car. His Camaro jumped the curb and hit the pole of a stop sign on the driver side headlight. At the moment of impact everything went black. When Autumn and Billy came to a few seconds later, their ears were ringing. In a slight fog, Billy stumbled out of the car. He walked around to the front and surveyed the damage. Billy slammed his fist down hard against what was left of his crumpled hood. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!" He screamed towards Autumn through the windshield. She was too afraid and dazed to get out of the car, and soon there was a crowd forming to make sure they were ok. By the time police and EMS arrived 10mins later, bystanders were helping Autumn get on her feet. The police were taking Billy's statement, and a lovely woman named Rosie talked with Autumn. "It's ok honey. These nice EMTs are gonna get you taken care of." One of the paramedics brought over a stretcher to lay Autumn down on. He strapped her in and wheeled her inside the ambulance. "OK ma'am, Im Mark. I'm gonna be getting your vitals before we get going. Are you feeling light headed, nauseous, body aches, anything like that?" he asked, as he wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm. "Yes...I uhhh…." Autumn suddenly felt warm fluid seeping from between her thighs. Her first thought was that her water was breaking, when she looked down she was taken aback by a pool of blood. In the blink of an eye the ambulance was rushing down the busy streets to make it to the hospital. She began to doze in and out of consciousness. The last thing she remembers was Billy screaming at someone to "let him by", and seeing the different colors of the ceiling tiles.
"She's going to be OK. We had to do an emergency cesarean section, but we got the baby out safe and stopped the bleeding. She is going to be sore for a while, and she'll need lots of rest. Other than that she is doing well. The baby is perfectly healthy, and the nurse can bring him in soon." "Thank you doctor! That's wonderful news." Autumn slowly opened her eyes when she heard the voice of her Aunt Susan. She tried to clear her throat to talk, and let whoever else was in the room know that she was waking up. Susan didn't skip a beat. She heard Autumn stir, and rushed to her side. "Autumn...Autumn sweetie. Are you alright?" "I...I think so." she answered. Autumn glanced around the room. Billy was sitting at the foot of her bed holding her left hand, Max and Aunt Susan were on her right. "Billy...oh Billy I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. This is all my fault. It's just all my fault! WHERE'S THE BABY IS HE OK?" Autumn was hysterical, but Billy wouldn't allow it. He gave Autumn a firm, but gentle hug. "Don't you blame yourself. Don't you do it. I shouldn't have been acting like such a dick. It was all my doing. Don't you dare put this on yourself. I'm the hot head piece of shit. Not you babe. Never you." Billy let go of her, and put sweet kisses all over her face. Autumn swallowed the lump in her throat before she tried to talk again. "Where is he? Where's my baby? What happened?" Susan started to answer. "Well sweetheart the impact from the accident caused the placenta to darn near detach from your uterus. You lost a lot of blood. They had to do a C-Section to get him out. But you're ok. The baby is ok. That's all that matters. You've been out of it for a few hours. I think the nurse should be bringing in the baby soon."
Autumn just shook her head. She was trying to process everything she just heard. "Well has anyone seen him yet? What does he look like?" "We don't know babe. After they brought you here, you were wheeled off rather quickly. I couldn't even be in the operating room, because of my damn arm." Billy replied. It was just then that Autumn even realized that Billy's arm was in a sling. "Oh honey! What happened?" Autumn said, getting choked up again. "It's nothing I can't handle dollface, I didn't feel it at first because of the adrenaline. But once we got settled down it started to hurt like a bitch. A simple fracture is all." Billy was soon interrupted by a knock at the door. Then in walked the nurse carrying the most precious bundle that any of them had laid eyes on. "Hello momma! Glad to see you're awake. Right on time to meet your little man!" the nurse cheerfully walked over and handed Autumn her son. "I'll leave you all alone. Just push the call button if you need anything." After the nurse left, everyone was completely silent. You could hear a pin drop. They were all 4 of them in awe of the baby. There was not a dry eye in the room. Max was the first one to speak, as she wiped her face with a tissue. "So...what are you guys gonna call him?" Both Billy and Autumn looked at each other and smiled. "Samuel…Samuel David Hargrove" Autumn replied. "Oh that's great! Little Sammy!" Max said. Billy kissed Autumn on her forehead, he then whispered in her ear "He's perfect...just perfect."