A Fresh Start
Chapter Thirty
About a minute later, Jeffrey knocks on Ava's door. Opening it, she looks at him and Sam before she steps back and lets them in.
"What did Olivia tell you?" Ava asks, as they walk over to the couch and sit down.
"She met us outside the gala last night with the story that you're pregnant and that you went to San Cristobel because of that."
"You didn't believe her." Ava says, sitting down in one of the chairs
"I believe that you went to San Cristobel, probably to see William. The pregnancy, no, I didn't believe her." Jeffrey replies, sitting down on the couch beside Sam.
"She was telling the truth. I'm pregnant and it is William's."
"And that's why you went to San Cristobel."
"Yes, he had to know." Ava says, getting up again and walking over to the balcony.
"You're sure that it's William's?"
"Yes." Ava says, turning to look at him.
He can see the worry and even a little fear in her eyes. Getting up, he walks over to her and putting his arms around her, he draws her to him. "It'll be alright." He says softly
"I'm scared. And I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
"I'll be here, and so will Sam and your mother. We will be here to help you through this. And we'll support any decision you make."
"I'm not even sure what I want, except that I do want this baby, even if I'm a single mother." Ava says, stepping back and releasing him before walking back into the suite and sitting down in the chair again.
"You realize that William will have a say in this as well as San Cristobel." Jeffrey says, following her and sitting down next to Sam again.
"Yes, and that worries me a little bit. Right now the issue of the heir is taken care of with Will, but this is William's child and if something should happen to Will, what will happen to this child? I know he could become the heir, but that's only if William and I are married before the child is born and I don't know that I want to marry him, not just because of the fact that I'm pregnant, and I do know that I don't want the pressure of being a princess." Ava says, as someone knocks on her door.
Ava starts to get up, but Jeffrey stops her. "I'll get it." He says, getting up and walking over to the door. Opening it, he sighs when he sees Olivia standing in the hall "What are you doing here?"
"She's my daughter too." Olivia replies, pushing past him.
"Who is it?" Ava asks.
"It's your mother." Olivia replies. "How are you?" She asks walking over to her and hugging her, completely ignoring Sam when she sits down in the chair next to Ava.
"I'm fine." Ava says
"What did William say?"
"We didn't really get into it."
"What do you mean you didn't get into it? You told him you were pregnant. He had to have something to say."
"He was naturally shocked and he's letting me decide what I want to do."
"He didn't offer to marry you."
"No, he didn't. And I'm not sure that I want to marry him. He did offer to take care of us." Ava says, noticing the look on Olivia's face. "And besides that, how did you know that I was pregnant?"
"But he's not willing to marry you." Olivia says
"I'm not really sure I want to marry him."
"You're having his child. You have no idea…."
"Olivia, back off. It's hers and William's decision to make." Jeffrey says
"You have no idea how hard it is to be in her situation. You have never been there, alone and pregnant."
"She's not you."
"I know, she's not me, I don't want her to be. You have to do something. She's your daughter."
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Make William marry her."
"Wait a minute. I don't know that I want to marry him. We meet two weeks ago." Ava says.
"But yet you slept with him." Olivia says, turning to Ava.
"I believe you did the same thing." Ava replies
"That was…."
"You were drunk when you went up to that room. You were drunk when Edmund raped you, but I believe my father when he says that you willingly sleep with him that night." Ava says, glancing at Jeffrey.
"He was the one that got me drunk." Olivia sputters.
"We need to stop this. She…." Sam says
"You need to mind your own business." Olivia says, turning to Sam.
"And you need to remember that she's pregnant. She doesn't need this around her." Sam replies, looking at Olivia.
"And you love making yourself look good in Jeffrey's eyes, pretending to care for his daughter."
"First of all, I don't have to make myself look good in Jeffrey's eyes. I'm already there. And secondly, I do care for his daughter. I'm a doctor and even though she's not that far along and stressing her out doesn't help her or the baby. I agree with Jeffrey, what Ava and William decide to do is their decision."
"Well, your opinion matters a whole lot. What do you know about being a single…?"
"Okay Olivia, you need to go." Jeffrey says, standing up and taking a hold of her arm, pulling her out of the chair and walking her to the door. Opening it, he leads her out of the room and closes the door behind him. "Do not attack her because you're jealous. She cares about Ava. Ava is a grown woman, what she decides to do about the baby and William, will be her decision."
"She has you fooled Jeffrey, why can't you see that? It should be us and…."
"Olivia, it will never be us." Jeffrey says, opening the door.
"Jeffrey." Olivia says, as he closes the door.
"Are you okay?" Jeffrey asks, walking over to Sam.
"I'm fine. She doesn't intimidate me." Sam replies, before he turns to Ava.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But she didn't answer my question. How did she know I was pregnant? I didn't tell anyone but you and William."
"She saw you leave that night and she came in and searched your room." Jeffrey says, as Ava looks at him. "I know, and I'm sorry."
"I'm a little tired."
"Then we'll leave, and you go lay down."
"You don't have to go."
"You need to rest Ava. It's been a full day for you, coming from the doctor, not your father's girlfriend." Sam says.
"Okay." Ava replies, standing up, followed by Jeffrey and Sam.
"I'll call you later." Jeffrey says, hugging her.
"Okay. I love you Dad."
"I love you too." He says, kissing her forehead.
"Thanks Sam."
"You're welcome." Sam says, hugging her quickly. "Take it easy for the rest of the evening." She says, as Jeffrey opens the door.
"I will, I promise. I'll go run me hot bath and then I'll turn off the lights and just veg out."
"That would be good." Sam replies, walking out into the hall followed by Jeffrey.
"If your mother comes by…."
"I won't answer the door."
"Are you going to be okay staying here with her downstairs?"
"I'll be fine. She's not going to hurt me, not right now anyway."
"You'll call me if you need me?"
"Yes, but I'll be fine, I promise." Ava replies, reaching to hug him again.
"Alright." He says, hugging her and then stepping back. "I'll see you later." He says, as Ava begins to close the door.
"I'll be fine." She says.
Standing around the corner from Ava's door is Olivia, watching as Jeffrey and Sam walk away. Looking at her daughter's door, she almost knocks but she's not really interested in what's going with her. Jeffrey and Sam are a more appealing problem for her. Following behind them as they walk downstairs, she feels overwhelming rage fill her when Jeffrey puts his arm across Sam's shoulders and draws her closer to him as she slips her arm around his waist.
After stopping at the store, Jeffrey and Sam go back to the loft. Sam walks into the kitchen, putting the grocery bags on the counter.
"Are you okay?" Jeffrey asks, leaning against the door frame and watching her put things away.
"I'm fine, why?"
"Because you've been quiet since we left the Beacon."
"I was enjoying being with you."
"What Olivia said, did it upset you?"
"No. I expect nothing less than that from her." Sam says, looking at him.
Putting the frying pan on the stove, she walks over to him and puts her arms around his waist. "Did it upset you?"
"I don't like her attacking you."
"She wasn't really attacking me. She's attacking the situation."
"She put herself in this position." Jeffrey says, releasing her and walking over to the refrigerator. Opening it, he pulls out a soda and pops the top.
"You know that you don't have to protect me from her." Sam says, turning the stove on and putting the hamburger meat in the pan to fry.
"I feel like I have to run interface between both of you. I'm the one that brought her into your life."
"You can relax. I'll handle anything that Olivia wants to say to me." She says, turning to look at him before she returns to browning the hamburger meat.
After a few minutes, Jeffrey walks over to her. Putting his arms around her waist, he kisses the side of her neck. "I like this." He says.
"You like what?" She asks, leaning back against him.
"You, here, with me, cooking, us dinner."
"I'm only making Spaghetti." She says, smiling
"Yeah, but you make great Spaghetti, I remember." Jeffrey says, kissing the side of her head before he releases her and moves to stand beside her.
"Well, I hate to break your bubble. My spaghetti is curtsey of Ragu and a seasoning mix. You want to make the garlic bread, while I start the pasta."
"Okay." He says, walking over to the other counter and getting the bread, butter, garlic powder.
Walking back over to the counter beside the stove, he starts to butter the bread before picking up the garlic powder, shaking some on each slice before he puts it on a cookie sheet and slips the sheet into the oven, leaving the door open so Sam can keep and eye on it while she finishes the sauce and stirs the noodles.
"You want me to start the salad?" He asks.
"No, I got it. Why don't you go into the living room and relax." She says, taking the stuff out of the refrigerator for the salad.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, go on. I know you want to catch the baseball scores."
"I love you." He says, leaning over and kissing her.
"I love you too." She calls, as he walks out of the kitchen.
She starts fixing the salad, keeping and eye on the pasta and the sauce. A few minutes later, she takes the garlic bread out of the oven before she takes the noodles off the stove, drains them and then puts them in a bowl leaving a little bit of the water on them to keep them from sticking together while she finishes the salad.
Jeffrey is sitting on the couch when she walks out carrying the bowl of pasta and salad. "You need some help." He asks, never taking his eyes off the TV.
"No, I got it." Sam replies, going back into the kitchen
Taking the sauce and other stuff to the table, she goes back to the kitchen for the wine, and candles along with the plates and silverware. Sitting the table before she walks over to the couch, "it's…." She looks down and sees that he has fallen asleep. Smiling, she watches him for a few seconds before she wakes him.
Looking up, he smiles at her before he pulls her down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her softly. After a couple seconds, she leans back and asks. "What was that for?"
"First, I wanted to and second because you're beautiful." He says, leaning over, he kisses her again.
Leaning back, she smiles as she glances at the table. "Dinner's ready."
Releasing her, she stands up and taking his hand she leads him over to the table. "This is beautiful." He says, kissing her before they sit down. About an hour later and after two plates of spaghetti and finishing what Sam didn't eat, Jeffrey pushes his plate back. "I can't eat anymore." He says, reaching for his glass of wine and leaning back.
"Are you sure?" Sam asks with a smile.
"Yes." Getting up, she starts to clean the table. "Why don't you leave it?" Jeffrey says, watching her.
"Because it'll only take me a few minutes to clean it up." She replies, taking their plates into the kitchen with Jeffrey following behind her with the salad and the wine.
Going back to the table, he brings the rest of the food and then he goes back to the living room, while she finishes cleaning up. When she walks out of the kitchen she finds him with his guitar. Walking over to the couch, she sits down listening to him play. After a few seconds, she lays down on the couch, closing her eyes.
About ten minutes later, Jeffrey looks up and sees her lying on the couch with her eyes closed. He watches her for a few seconds before he puts the guitar down and he walks over to the stereo. Pushing the play button on the player, the room fills with soft jazz as he walks over to her.
When he stopped playing, she opens her eyes. Watching him as he walks over to the stereo and then her, she looks up at him as he holds out his hand. "Can I have this dance?" He asks, bowing slightly.
Reaching for his hand, she gets up and moves into his arms. Wrapping hers around his waist as she lays her head on his chest over his heart, they begin to slowly dance. "I love you." She whispers.
"I love you too. I'm so happy you're here." He says, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm happy to be here." She says, moving closer to him.
"Do you remember the first time we danced?" Jeffrey asks leaning back to look at her.
"In London, at the party Lord Wellesley threw for the Director. He insisted that we go. We had a huge fight that afternoon and I wasn't speaking to you. You were stiff and cold when we danced that night. It hurt because I looked forward to that party all week and then you were so distant."
"I was pushing you away. I didn't want to admit that I had feelings for you."
"I couldn't understand why you were so open and free the weekend before when we were at the inn in the Lake District."
"You have no idea how hard it was not to take you and love you that weekend."
"I wanted you too, and then at work, and during the week, you were so hard. I finally lost all patience with you and we had that huge fight in front of the hotel. And when you picked me up for the party you were so cold and distant."
"And when you asked me about it, I told you that it was because of the argument that afternoon."
"That was just before you left for Belfast. You were at least talking to me again by then. I did a lot of thinking the weekend after you left, and then you went missing a few weeks later. I thought I was going to die when they told me you were missing. But I have never been happier than when I walked into your hospital room after they rescued you."
"I felt the same way when I realized who you were in Washington. I knew, I knew you, but I couldn't figure out from where until I realized I had looked into your eyes before. When I realized that and the more I thought about it, it finally hit me. I must have scared Noah half to death that day."
"Why?"
"Because I know I went as pale as the sheets on Richard's bed. I know he thought I was crazy, when I said that I had looked into your eyes before."
They had danced a couple dances when the CD changes and starts to play the Eagles. Releasing her, he walks over to the stereo, flipping it off he turns to look at her. Walking back to her, he stops in front of her.
Reaching out, he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before he steps closer. Leaning over, he kisses her softly. Pulling her to him, he deepens the kiss, his tongue slipping inside her mouth when she sighs softly. Wrapping her arms around him, she moves closer to him. "J" she whispers.
"Sam." He replies, laying his head against her forehead
After a few seconds, he starts to kiss her again but she lays a hand on his chest. "Take care of things down here. I'll be upstairs." She says looking at him and feeling him take a deep breath and then hold it, releasing it in a slow whoosh as she walks away.
Walking into the kitchen, she grabs the chocolate syrup and then walks over to the stairs, heading upstairs. Jeffrey watches her until she disappears. When she reaches their bedroom, she starts taking her clothes off. Lying down on the bed, she takes the bottle of syrup and begins to pour some over her body, running it between her breast and down her stomach. Sitting the bottle on the bed table, she lays back against the pillows, waiting as she listens to him as he walks around downstairs, making sure everything is locked up before he starts to slowly walk up the stairs. When he reaches the door way, he stops. Staring at her lying on the bed, completely naked and covered in chocolate. "Are you ready for dessert?" Sam asks softly watching him in the door way.
After a couple seconds, he starts across the room as she dips the tip of her finger in the pool of chocolate that is in her belly button. He watches intently as she puts the finger in her mouth sucking off the chocolate. When he reaches the bed, he starts to sit down but she shakes her head no.
"What?" he asks, staring at her?
"You have to pay if you want this." Sam replies softly, slowly running her eyes down his body
Standing back up, he reaches for his t-shirt and pulls it over his head. Tossing it to the floor as she dips another finger in the pool of chocolate and sucks it off while he stares at her. Watching her intently, until she pulls the finger from her mouth making a soft popping noise as her eyes drop to his jeans. She can see his erection pressing against them, as he reaches for the first button and pulls it open. Sighing softly as some of the pressure is relieved. Tugging on the rest of the buttons, he stops watching her hands run down her body, slipping between her thighs before dipping them back into the pool of chocolate before she sucks the chocolate off her finger.
"Beca." He sighs, watching her for a couple seconds before he begins to push his jeans down.
Tugging them down, as she dips her fingers back into the pool of chocolate and then slips her fingers between her thighs, touching her self as he pulls the jeans down including his boxers. She smiles as he sighs softly. Standing up, the first thing he notices is her hand between her legs, touching herself. Moving over to the bed, he leans over her. Kissing her, as he reaches for her hand pulling it away as he moves to straddle her. Reaching for hand again, he lifts it to his mouth. Taking each finger, he licks it clean while he stares into her eyes.
"J". She sighs, watching him until he releases her hand and leans over her.
Kissing the side of her neck, he moves down slowly. Licking the chocolate off her body, he stops for several seconds to lick the chocolate from her breast. Sucking each of them into his mouth, he caresses each of them until they are hard pebbles probing his mouth. The heat from his mouth makes her want him so much that she arches her back, struggling to catch her breath as he releases her left breast and begins to move down her stomach, dipping his tongue inside her belly button sucking the last of the chocolate from there before he moves on as she begins to open her legs, revealing her body to him.
Kneeling between her legs, he watches her body open to him, watches the moisture flow from deep inside her. He can see remnants of chocolate clinging to her skin. Leaning over, he softly licks her.
"Oh J" She cries, reaching for him with one hand and reaching for the comforter with the other.
Moving back but making sure that he never moves away from her, he lays down between her legs. Kissing her softly, slowly running his tongue over her body. Licking the chocolate from her body, slipping a couple of finger inside her as he begins to concentrate on her desire, caressing her as she begins to push against his hand, pulling his fingers deep inside her while he continues to caress her.
"Oh, oh, oh J, YES!" She moans, feeling desire filling her. "Oh darlin, please!" She begs, as he moves closer to her.
"Beca." He sighs.
Tapping his tongue against her desire, he feels her passion roll through her as her back arches and she holds him against her, arching her hips while waves of desire wash over her. When she relaxes he moves away from her, kneeling between her legs as she reaches for him. Leaning over her, she pulls him down into a kiss.
After a couple seconds, she begins to pushes him over onto his back as she moves to straddle him. Reaching for the bottle of chocolate, she tips the bottle and watches a thin stream of chocolate flow out and land on his chest. Putting the bottle back on the table, she sits back for a couple minutes, watching his breathing become even more ragged. She feels the heat begin to fill her again, listening to him, makes her want to love him. To make him feel everything he has just made her feel. Reaching for him, she slowly begins to run her hands down his chest, rubbing the chocolate across his skin. Sitting back, she watches him as she slowly licks the chocolate off her hands and fingers before she leans over and kisses him.
"Sam." He groans, reaching up to slip his fingers into her hair. Holding her tightly, as he takes control of the kiss until they break apart.
Sitting back, she watches him for a couple seconds until the desperation burning in his gaze forces her to move. Leaning over him, she kisses him softly. Moving down his neck to his upper chest, leaving little kisses as he feels his need increase tenfold, to him at least.
"Beca, love me!" He whispers, arching his back. Slowly she moves on, gently licking the chocolate from his chest. Stopping when she reaches his navel, she looks up at him, watching him as she licks the chocolate from it. Sitting up, she watches him, watching his need increase. "Sam, please." He sighs the need burning inside him makes him almost hurt.
Reaching for the bottle, she tips it and watches a thin stream of chocolate flow out and over him. It feels cool against his skin and the contrast of the heat burning through him and the coolness of the chocolate makes him almost desperate. Closing the bottle, she drops it to the floor before she sit back and watches the chocolate trickle down his body. Leaning over him, she takes him inside, sucking the chocolate off him before she begins to caress him. Slowly running the tip of her tongue around the tip of him before taking him inside again, taking him as deep as she can.
After a few seconds, he feels himself loosing control. Reaching for her, he pulls her off him, kissing her as she moves to lay down beside him. Wrapping his arms around her, he rolls her to her back. Breaking the kiss, he kneels between her legs, slipping inside her.
"OH! Beca." He growls, feeling the heat close around him. "OH, you feel so good." He gasps, struggling for control.
Looking up, she watches him for a couple seconds before she lays her hands on his chest. Slowly running them down his chest, she reaches between his legs, gently caressing him.
"Beca." He groans, thrusting hard as she reaches for his hips.
Holding him tightly, as she pulls him to her. Arching her back, taking him deeper. Leaning over her, he thrusts deeper. Pushing them higher and higher.
"J, oh, oh, oh!" She cries, feeling her body surrendering to him. "Oh, darlin. OH, OH, OH, YES!" She screams, arching her back as he thrusts a few more times and then collapses in her arms as he feels his body begins to shudder, waves of desire burning through him as they both struggle to catch their breath.
Rolling to his back, Jeffrey tries to catch his breath as Sam looks at him. "Are you okay?"
"I am wonderful." He says, smiling as he turns to look at her.
"Does that match with Texas?"
"That surpasses Texas, London, Paris, Israel and Hong Kong." Jeffrey replies, leaning over and kissing her.
"All those." Sam says, leaning back.
"Yes."
Moving onto his side, he watches her until she turns her head and smiles as she moves closer to him. "I love you." She says, as he lays his head on her shoulder.
Laying his arm across her waist as she slowly ran her fingers through his hair. They lay there for several minutes, listening the sounds from the street outside and the silence in the loft after a car passes. Listening to each other's rhythm of breathing.
"You know, I just thought about something? Sam says, after a while.
"What was that?" Jeffrey asks, pulling her close to him.
"That you're going to be a grandfather."
"Oh."
"I didn't know grandparents did what we just did." Sam says, teasing him.
"I certainly never thought my grandparents did that." Jeffrey says, leaning up and looking at her.
"Me either." She says smiling. After a couple minutes she asks. "How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. You know what else this means?" He replies, laying back down beside her.
"What?"
"You're a grandmother at 35."
Sam looks at him for a few seconds before she asks. "What are you saying?"
"I'm just saying that you're with me and Ava's my daughter; that makes you a grandmother."
"Oh, I guess you're right."
"What did you think I meant?"
"I don't know." Sam replies, moving away from him.
"Sam." He says, reaching over and turning her face back towards him.
"I thought maybe you were talking about us getting married, like before." She says softly, as he leans up again and looks at her.
"I would love to marry you, but I don't think right now we're ready for that. You're still in Washington."
"It's okay, you don't have to explain. I'm not sure I'm ready for that either. We can wait till after I move here." She says, kissing him softly before she starts to sit up.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get a shower. I'm all sticky." She replies, getting out of bed. Jeffrey watches her walk across room and when she reaches the door, she looks back over her shoulder. "You can come if you want." She says, before she leaves the room. A few seconds later, Jeffrey follows her.
30.11