Chapter 9

Author's Note: Hey guys, I dont know if I should continue this. I mean I have no idea if you like it or not. I'm not one to fish for reviews but I would like to know what you guys think of the story. Should I add something, Change something, dont even bother. give me something to go on. thanks

It had been a month since the incident as Manny called it. Craig watched Manny like a hawk. It was scared something might happen to her. So far they received no more threaten letters but Craig was still scared to let her be alone. Ellie and Jimmy's relationship seem to flourish really. They were always making love and giving each other looks. Emma and Sean spent most of their time together as well. Emma was working on getting her degree online. Sean surprised everyone as well and also registered for classes online. He said that he would have a wife to support and he wasn't taking any chances with their future. Emma gushed at that. Manny also began writing more. She wanted to get started on their second album. She had a couple of songs written down. In fact she was working on one particular song when Craig walked into the studio.

"Hey baby", said Craig.

Manny looked up at him smiling.

"Hey what's up", said Manny putting down her pen and facing him.

"Umm the police called there is a couple of people that they suspected to have written that note. But they still haven't pinpointed it down yet", said Craig.

He saw her sigh and run her fingers through her now longer hair. He saw her trembling hands. He knew that she was trying to be strong but he also knew that she was scared. He took her into his arms then and rocked her back and forth. They sat in silence for about ten minutes before Craig spoke up.

"Its okay to be afraid", whispered Craig into her right ear. It was then that she broke down.

She sobbed in his arms. He just held on.

"What if he comes after me, what if this person comes after you. He knew where we were staying. Craig why is this happening to us?", asked Manny.

"I wish I knew baby, I wish I knew", whispered Craig stroking her hair and kissing her forehead.

She felt tears coming to her eyes but she just couldn't shed them. She looked straight ahead instead and let Craig the love of her life comfort her instead.

"So what song are you working on?", asked Craig.

She lifted her head and grabbed the piece of paper showing him the lyrics.

"What to sing it for me?", asked Craig.

Manny nodded her head. She closed her eyes and sang. It was her escape.

"Jaded"

Isn't it cold outside?
When it feel like no ones loving you
But I'm watching you
And I'll never hold you down
And they say
That souls can never fade
But along the way
It seem your shadow was erased

Life is jaded, love had faded
Let me take you away from here oh
Let me kiss you, they won't miss you
Let me lift you away from here

Aren't you paranoid?
When it feels like someone's watching you?
But I'm protecting you
And you need not be afraid
And they said
To follow voices in your head
And that's where I fed
My soul when I was dead

Life is jaded, love had faded
Let me take you away from here oh
Let me kiss you, they won't miss you
Let me lift you away from here

When Manny finished singing Craig looked at her.

"Wow", was the only word that he could possibly say.

That song was amazing.

"It's about you know", said Manny.

Craig nodded his head and pulled her closer to his body.

"I won't let anyone ever hurt you, you girl are my life and no one is going to hurt you", said Craig.

Manny looked at him kissing him softly on the mouth.

"Craig Manning I love you", whispered Manny.

"Manuela Santos, I love you too", whispered Craig before taking her lips.

He ran his fingers through her long locks and kissed her with everything in his whole body. He felt it. She was the one. He knew, he always knew.

"Craig", whispered Manny looking at him.

Craig nodded his head. It was crazy and impulsive to make love on the studio floor but it was the best place for them. It was the place that they loved. It was the place the they made music together. Craig looked at her with her hair spread out on the cool floor. She looked at him with all the love that she felt in her heart. She was his Venus, his Helen of Troy. Manny reached up and cupped his face. Craig turned his face into her palm kissing it softly. She felt that kiss all throughout her body. He had this way about him. He was beautiful to her. He drew you in with his eyes and you could lose yourself in them. Manny gasped as he entered her body. He held her waist as he thrust into her whimpering body.

"Craig", whispered Manny with her eyes closed and her back arched of the ground.

He held her tighter, making love to her sweet body. She was his and he loved her.

"Open your eyes baby", whispered Craig.

Manny opened her eyes and connected. It was beyond anything she ever felt before. It was like her soul sought out his and joined. She could see everything in his eyes. They were right the eyes are the windows to the soul.

"Craig", moaned Manny grabbing his back and raking her finger nails down it making him shudder and tremble.

He was close but he would not let go until she did. He felt her inner walls contracting against his erection. She was cumming, he knew that and he felt it. He arched his back and drove once more into her quivering body.

"Manny", yelled Craig latching onto her neck and sucking hard. It would leave a hicky but they didn't care.

He returned his lips to her trembling mouth and felt her scream out her orgasm against his. Craig shuddered once, twice, three times against her body. Manny did the same. It was a while before they calmed down.

"I love you", whispered Craig looking down now at sleeping Manny.

Manny sighed in her sleep, smiling. Craig smiled too before lay his head on her chest. They never knew that they were being watched. They never knew that the person that they were afraid of was closer then they ever thought possible. They never knew that they person that threw the rock was someone that they knew that they trusted with their lives and careers.

"Enjoy him now", whispered the man before shutting the down quietly behind him. A sign behind him read.

"Quiet Recording in Progress".

Ellie rolled Jimmy down the familiar hallway.

"You ready?", asked Ellie.

"No, Yes", said Jimmy shaking his head.

"I don't know, Ellie", said Jimmy looking into her eyes.

"I know you can do this", said Ellie kissing his forehead.

Jimmy sighed. He reached over in his pocket removing the key. He unlocked the door. What he say inside was amusing to say the least. His usually impeccably dressed father was running around with an apron and a bib against his shoulders. A baby was in a crib crying it's eyes out.

"Shh baby daddy's here", whispered Mr. Brooks.

"Need any help", said Jimmy.

Paul looked at Jimmy. He was surprised he was here. Jimmy said that he would come over but how everything had been for the past two months he really didn't think that Jimmy would. Paul saw Ellie giving Jimmy a smile and encouraging him to be okay with the situation. Paul sighed. Because of his stubbornness, he hadn't gotten to know that girl that his son was in love with. He knew that Jimmy was a good judge of character and he should have trusted Jimmy's word about Ellie.

"Yeah I need all the help that I can get", said Paul

"Can I", said Jimmy holding out his hand to hold his baby sister.

Paul nodded his head and gently places her in Jimmy's arms. The baby stopped crying as soon as Jimmy held her. Jimmy smiled at her. The little girl seemed to understand that with Jimmy she was safe. She gave Jimmy what would be toothless smile.

"I guess she knows her big brother already", said Ellie smiling.

She reached over and rubbed the little girl's fist gently. Jimmy smiled and touched the little girl's cheeks and smiled down at her.

"She is beautiful, hey little sister", whispered Jimmy.

Ellie smiled and giggled as Jimmy made cooing sounds. Jimmy looked up at his father.

"What's her name?", asked Jimmy.

"Alexis, Alex for short", said Paul.

"Hey Alex", whispered Jimmy.

The little girl just smiled and closed her eyes and went to sleep. Jimmy smiled.

"You can't treat her like you treated me dad?", said Jimmy.

Paul flinched at that and knew that it was time for him and his son to finally have that talk. Paul went and sat down.

Marco sat down and looked at the pills in his hands. He had been good at hiding his addiction, but he had a feeling that both Emma and Sean were getting nosy. Emma would look at him concerned and Sean too. But he had to do it. He didn't know why he was abusing these drugs. But the more famous they got the easier it was to get them. Marco closed his eyes after inhaling 5 pretty pills. His mind drifted towards the lunch he had with Dylan about a month ago. It was weird to be there with him. Marco missed Dylan. Dylan hadn't said much until Marco straight out asked him what this was about.

"I I'm getting married to someone, a commitment ceremony", said Dylan looking at Marco's reaction.

He saw the hurt but Marco masked it fast.

"That's great congrats", said Marco.

"Look I got to run, umm meeting with the manager, umm good luck", said Marco getting up and throwing money down on the table.

He ran out of there. He heard Dylan yelling his name but he never stop running. He felt the tears in his eyes and that night he took the pills again. They dull the pain. Ever since then he took them three times a day. Marco was organized. He had to be. He couldn't get caught. Sometimes the pain was too much and he needed something to make it go away. He closed his eyes and felt pain shoot up his arms. He gasped.

"Emma what is taking so long?", asked Sean from their bedroom.

"I'm coming baby, just washing my face", said Emma.

That was not what she was doing though. There in front of her was a home pregnancy test, actually three home pregnancy tests. Her hands were trembling. She closed her eyes and counted to five.

"One, Two, Three, Four, Five", whispered Emma.

She opened her eyes.

"First test", said Emma.

She looked on.

"Positive", whispered Emma.

She closed her eyes again and then looked at the second test.

"Positive", whispered Emma.

She closed her eyes again. She opened them slowly.

"Positive", whispered Emma.

She closed her eyes and fell to the ground.

"Emma", yelled Sean when he heard her fall.

He ran into the bathroom to find Emma fainted on the ground and three boxes of pregnancy test.

"Oh my God", whispered Sean looking at Emma and then at the boxes.

"Emma, get up baby", whispered Sean.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Sean", whispered Emma with tears in her eyes.

Sean looked back at the tests, Emma followed his gaze.

"I'm pregnant", said Emma.

Sean felt his heart stop.

"Marco?", said Ellie walking into the room.

The lights were on. She walked slowly to Marco and saw the bottle of pills. She reached over and grabbed the pill bottle that was empty.

"Marco", said Ellie once more.

She shook him but his body was not moving. She checked for a pulse. She found none.

"Marco", yelled Ellie.

"Someone help", yelled Ellie looking at the unmoving body of her best-friend.