Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and/or review this story.
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CH 9
Ethan would have gone home after his shift but something was bothering him. By now Krissy would have at least texted him goodnight, so far he hadn't heard from her. He knew that she would have napped after he left, but there was just something off. He arrived at Harbor View Towers just after 3 am. He called but she wasn't picking up, he knocked on her door, but didn't get a response. He couldn't explain what was causing him to panic. Calling Alexis and asking for Kristina was a bad idea but he still did it, leaving both of them in a panic. He started imaging the worst, pregnant women sometimes had complications, what if something was wrong with the baby and she couldn't reach the phone, what if she'd fallen? The what-ifs piled up as he made his way to Mrs. Maraschino's apartment (the landlady).
"I'm coming. Hold your horses."
"Sorry to bug you but I seemed to have locked myself out of the apartment, could you let me in"
"If my memory serves me correctly your name isn't on the lease Mr. Lovett."
"You're right, but my fiancée is pregnant and I fear she could have fallen or something, she's not answering her phone and I've tried knocking. If you could just…"
Mrs. Maraschino took note of the panic that started to leak into his voice and decided to escort him up to Ms. Davis's place.
Ethan burst into the apartment the moment the door was unlocked causing the chain to break.
"Kristina!! Where are you? Are you here?"
The place was so dark, Mrs. Maraschino cut on the light. "Oh dear."
Kristina was lying in a corner in the fetal position
"Ethan" She looked up and blinked several times letting her eyes adjust to the light.
Ethan saw her face was puffy, her eyes swollen and red-rimmed, "What happened? Are you okay? Is it the baby?" Ethan asked cradling her into his embrace
"Do I need to call for an ambulance?" Mrs. Maraschino asked
"No, I just had a bad night" She answered noticing the landlady for the first time
"You sure."
"Yes ma'am"
"Well I'm going to leave; I'll send maintenance up to fix that chain in the morning"
"Thank you" Kristina responded. After Mrs. Maraschino left, Ethan spoke, "What happened?"
She didn't want any lies between them so she told the truth, "Kiefer he stopped by."
"Did he hit you? Are you hurt?"
"No, just small bruises on my arms"
"We need to get you to the hospital."
"No, just hold me for awhile." Kristina clung to Ethan, afraid of loosing him. Afraid of being with him, she didn't want to risk Kiefer's wrath but she also knew that she couldn't live her life in fear.
"What did that prick do?"
"He said that he wanted me back. He wants me to leave you and get back together with him."
"What'd you tell him?" Ethan asked stroking her hair. A small part of him feared that she was still in love with Kiefer. She'd said it herself, she'd always love him.
"I told him the truth. Whatever this is between the two of us, I'm not ready to end it. I love the way you make me feel, and I don't want to loose that. I refuse to give up being happy without a fight." Sitting up she looked him in the eyes and said "I refused to give you up without a fight."
Threading his fingers threw her hair Ethan kissed her. Hearts beating fasts, breathing became panting, Ethan pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"Let's get you to bed, you need sleep."
"Sleep?" Kristina asked, her mind had been on other forms of comfort.
"Just to sleep. I'm staying the night, our first time with each other should be special."
"You're right. Carry me?"
Lifting her up, he asked "Is something wrong with your legs?"
"No, I realize how great it makes me feel to be in your arms." Kristina said draping her arms around his neck.
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Alexis showed up at her daughter's apartment first thing the following morning. Ethan called her in the middle of the night and never got back to her, so being the worrier she was Alexis assumed the worst.
Ethan opened the door at a half past six am and saw former DA Davis.
"What brings you by this morning?"
"You're kidding right," she asked entering the apartment "You call me at three o'clock in the morning looking for my pregnant teenage daughter, who just so happen to have recently acquired her own apartment, in a panic."
"I wasn't panicking"
"Maybe not but I was. If you didn't know where she was? Who would? I called her sister, brother, and almost called her father."
"I'm sorry I overreacted."
"Good morning, mom" Alexis turned, tossed her purse onto the couch before hugging her daughter.
"I'm fine mom. Ethan overreacted. I was so tired; I didn't hear my phone or anyone at the door."
"That's a relief. Ric said I slept like the dead when pregnant with Molly, maybe you get that from me."
"Must be."
"Well since we're all up at this ungodly hour, anyone wants pancakes."
Kristina managed to talk her mother into staying for breakfast. After Alexis left, Kristina loaded the dishwasher and Ethan showered.
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"We need to talk about Kiefer."
"I know. I'll understand if you want to break up with me. You didn't sign on for all this drama."
"That's not it. I did agree to be with you, I'm thinking we should let your dad or Jason in on what's going on."
"What? No, they would kill Kiefer!"
"Would that be such a bad thing?" Ethan said cautiously
"Of course, No human being deserves their life to be taken away from them."
"Fine, even though the bodyguards would be helpful."
"Kiefer was just upset. I doubt he'd be stupid enough to harass me again. And it's my fault I should have been more careful checked to see who was at the door before I opened it."
"None of this is your fault. The guy obviously has a screw loose." Wrapping his arms around her he said "maybe you should stay with your mom or sister until he goes back to Boston."
"I can't go crying back to them, they'll think I'm too immature to handle this on my own. And I can, I am quite capable of making my own way."
"With the help of your trust fund." Ethan joked
"Yeah, but I have a job too."
"Definite not the spoiled little rich girl."
"You think I'm spoiled?"
"Um…Yes, but not in a bad way. Okay um, how about I stay over"
"That's a great idea."
"You sure, I mean I don't want to intrude."
"Why did you offer if you didn't want really want to stay?"
"I want to just want to make sure this is what you want."
"I want you. You make me happy, and having you here will make me feel safer."
"Then I guess we've solved one problem. Now this dinner at Mac's is it formal."
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