Chapter 27: Jay and Amber
Amber stood in the doorway to the room once given to herself and Jay. A single tear trickled down her cheek as she remembered they had never even slept together there once. "The problems began the moment we arrived," she whispered, staring at the crib where her son slept peacefully. "Did you still need me to keep an eye on Bray?" Salene asked as she came down the hallway behind Amber. Amber nodded, smiling faintly at her friend. "Yes, please Sal. There's something I need to take care of." Salene smiled back. "Where's Trudy?" she asked. "She and Brady stayed overnight in the city with a friend," Amber answered. "Lex is with them."
Salene looked confused but didn't ask anything else. "May stayed in the city as well," she said. "With Gray." Amber smiled. "So they're a couple?" Salene laughed. "It depends on who you ask. If you ask anyone but May . . . yes, they are." She motioned towards Baby Bray. "Did he just go to sleep?" she asked. Amber nodded. "Yes. He should be out for a while. He's just had his breakfast." Salene walked over and patted Bray's little bottom. "He's so cute," she smiled. "Mallrats have such cute babies. Brady's adorable, and so are Cloe's two." "How's Cloe doing?" Amber asked, feeling guilty that she hadn't spent much time with the girl. "She and the babies are doing wonderfully," Salene answered. "So is Ved. They're planning the naming ceremony for the babies. Ved's so swelled with pride that I wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly burst." Amber laughed. "I never would have thought it of him," she said musingly. "He must really love Cloe to go from asshole to doting husband and father." Salene nodded.
"I believe he fell in love with Cloe after she played that prank on him so long ago."
"I remember that," Amber laughed. "Didn't she drug him or something, and dress him up in a diaper in front of everyone in that casino?" Salene chuckled. "Something like that. She and Dee planned the whole thing out." The two women sighed as they thought of another friend lost. "Well, I had better go," Amber said finally, leaning down to kiss Baby Bray on the top of the head. Salene nodded as she sat in a chair, picking up a book.
"Take as long as you need," she told Amber.
Minutes later, Amber was standing in front of Jay's door. She composed herself for several minutes before knocking. Jay opened the door, looking surprised when he saw who was standing there. "Amber?" "May I come in?" Amber asked, trying to put on a cheerful face. Jay hesitated for a moment before moving aside to let her in. "Do you want to sit?" he asked after he closed the door. Amber nodded and sank down into a chair. "There's something I need to tell you," she said. Jay sat down on his bed, opposite Amber. "What is it?" he asked politely. Amber took a deep breath. "Jay . . . I'm pregnant."
Moments passed, and still Jay sat there, staring at Amber with a white face. "Jay?" Amber asked finally. He blinked. "You're . . . you're pregnant?" he asked. She nodded. "Yes." "Why are you telling me this now?" Jay asked. "We haven't slept together for a month. When did you know?" Amber looked down at her hands. "I suspected . . . while we were in the boat." "But you didn't say anything," Jay said accusingly. She shook her head. "No. I wanted to be sure. Then everything that has happened . . ." "How far along do you think you are?" Jay interrupted. "Three months, at least," Amber said quietly. He nodded and stood up, going to look out of the window.
"What do you want to happen?" he asked after a long silence. "I don't know," Amber said truthfully. "I just thought you should know about the baby." Jay laughed coldly. "You just thought I should know . . ." he repeated. "Your priorities are rather mixed up, aren't they?" Amber looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Nothing," Jay answered, turning to face her. "Amber, I will be part of this baby's life, but I no longer want . . ." "A relationship with me," Amber finished. "I think we have different ideas about many things," Jay said. "Way too many things." Amber nodded, remembering the argument they had when they first arrived in Genesis. "Who else knows?" Jay asked.
"Trudy, Iris, and Bray," Amber answered. Her eyes widened and she clapped her hand to her mouth. "Bray?" Jay asked. "He's too little to understand." Amber hesitated for a moment before deciding to come completely clean. "I'm not talking about Baby Bray," she said quietly. Jay looked shocked. "You mean . . ." "Yes," Amber nodded. "Bray is here in Genesis. But only you, Trudy, and Lex know. Bray will tell the others when he is ready." Jay snorted. "So is this why you . . ." Amber gasped. "No!" she cried. "I'm telling you about this baby because you should know, not because of Bray." Jay began to laugh. "Congratulations, Amber," he said derisively. "I'm glad for you."
Amber glared at him. "How dare you!" she cried. "Bray doesn't even like me right now because of you!" Jay glared back. "Because of me? What the hell do you mean?" "He told me everything that happened to him and the others when they were taken by the Technos!" Amber shouted. "You . . . you and your sadistic tribe!" "I'm not a Techno any longer!" Jay shouted back. "You're still dressed like one!" Amber told him. "You still paint on that ridiculous T every morning! What is that saying to everyone, Jay?" Jay's eyes narrowed. "I . . . I . . ." Amber laughed. "You can't even come up with an excuse for yourself, can you?" she asked.
"What I do is no longer your business," Jay snarled. Amber nodded. "That's fine." She walked over to the door and put her hand on the doorknob. "I came to tell you about your baby. Now you know." "It's too bad you won't be able to convince Bray it's his baby, isn't it?" Jay asked, staring hard at her. Amber froze for a moment before striding over to Jay and slapping him hard in the face. "How dare you!" she cried. "How could you think I could be so . . . so . . . so like Ebony?" "You're ridiculous," Jay snapped, touching the bright red mark on his cheek gingerly. "No, you are," Amber shouted. "You . . ." She was interrupted by someone knocking loudly at the door. A servant stuck his head in the room. "Jay, the Queen would like to see you," he said before slipping away as quickly as he came.
"I have to go," Jay said, sitting down to pull on his boots. "Of course," Amber replied, angrily wiping tears from her face. "If Iris calls, you run." Jay stood up and went to the door. "I admire Iris," he said. "She is a wonderful woman." "Then why don't you go be with her?" Amber asked angrily. Jay looked back over his shoulder. "I love her," he said quietly. "She is the perfect woman. If I can convince her to be with me, I will." Amber stared at him as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. "Who will be next?" she asked. "Ellie? May? What about Gel, or one of those stupid girls who is always hanging around Iris?" "What do you mean?" Jay asked, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You've had Ebony and Trudy and me," Amber snapped. "You've still got a few more hearts to break." Jay's lips pressed tightly together. Without another word, he turned and left.