Disclaimer: I do not own HOA or the characters.
Eddie's P.O.V
I wake up to an empty bed. I assume Patricia was downstairs cooking. I roll out of bed and decide to shower.
After the shower, I brush my teeth. My eyes roamed around the room until I see something that stuck out from everything else. A box. Not just any box, a pregnancy test box. My nerves were high. Patricia was pregnant. I was going to be a dad.
I get changed and stuff the box into the pocket of my hoodie. I was so overwhelmed, how was I going to tell her I knew? I rush downstairs to the kitchen. Patricia stood there, making breakfast. I smiled at her. She was so perfect. I'm sure we'd make beautiful children. They'd have her eyes, my hair, they'd be beautiful. We're screwed if they have her attitude.
I'm sure we were using protection. Either way, I was chuffed. I was going to be the best father I could be. Better than my father. Sure, he stepped up in the end but he missed the milestones. My birth, my first birthday, my first steps, my first day of kindergarten, my first day in high school, my first everything. There was no going back from that. He missed those things and nothing could change that. I wasn't going to be him. I was going to be better. I'd teach them how to say daddy, teach them how to ride a bike, teach them right from wrong, teach them soccer. They'd be awesome. Patricia would make an amazing mom too. Sure, she acts tough but deep down she's a totally different person. She'd protect our child, no matter what. If anybody bullied them, she'd show the kid who was boss. Not that she'd harm a child but you catch my drift. I couldn't think of having children with anybody but Patricia. We were made for each other.
Patricia snapped her fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my fantasy.
"Sorry, I was just thinking."
"About?" She raised an eyebrow. I smiled.
"About how perfect you are." I kissed her. She kissed back, making me smile.
We pulled away and she gave me my breakfast. I sat down and began eating. I felt as if I were dreaming. Everybody soon joined me at the table. I was so happy, everybody asked if I was okay. All I could do was nod. I was over the moon. One thing did cross my mind. Why hadn't she told me yet? Was she planning on keeping it a secret?
I let it slide, maybe she was finding the right way to tell me.
"Babe, I'm thinking we should have a little get together tonight? Just the Anubis lot and a few family members maybe? I'm sure Piper would be happy to come over."
Maybe this was when she would announce it.
"Sure, I can call up a few people too." I smiled.
She began calling them and I called a few of our friends.
I pull everybody apart from Patricia aside. I wanted them to help me with the surprise.
"Okay, I'm about to tell you something but you can't tell Patricia. Okay?"
They all agree. I grab the box from my pocket.
"Patricia's pregnant." They all gasp, Nina just chokes on her drink.
"How are you so sure that's hers?" Nina asks. "We're the only ones that have done anything, remember."
Nina opens her mouth to say something but closes it again.
"I want to surprise her with something. Tonight, at the get together. I want you all to go out and find a stroller, clothes, blankets, anything you can. I want it to be perfect."
Everybody rushes out and I prepare everything here.
Patricia starts preparing a small buffet for the guests and I sort out music to play and tidy up the place.
Everybody comes back and we sneak everything upstairs so I can look it over. It was perfect. Everything was so tiny. I couldn't wait to surprise her.
After everything was organised, we all got ready. Guests soon started arriving.
"Okay, when she announces it, you wheel it in. Got it?" Jerome and Alfie nod.
"Nina, why are you so quiet?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"I just can't believe you're about to do this."
I smiled. "I can't wait."
Soon enough, everybody was there. I stayed by Patricia's side with my arm around her, protectively. Tonight was going to be a night to remember, I was sure of it.
She excused herself and went to the kitchen to get a drink. This was my chance. I gather everybody and get their attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would just like to say I love my beautiful girlfriend more than words can say. She's the love of my life. At first, we didn't really see eye to eye. She was feisty and I was stupid. I was fighting for her attention. I was drawn to it. I felt like I had to tease her, just to get a reaction. The first time I met her, I knew I was in love with her. There was no doubt about it. We were placed into the same house. It was fate. We've been through a lot and saved each other in ways nobody else could ever understand. She's the other half of me. The better half. The half that completes me. I wouldn't be who I am without her. Patricia Williamson, I love you."
She walks out with a beer in her hand. She took a sip and smiled. "I love you too."
"Patricia, what are you doing?" I ask, taking the beer from her.
"I was enjoying a beer. Now, give it back." She demanded.
"It's not good for the baby!" Everybody gasped and Patricia stepped back.
"What baby?" She asked. Just then, Jerome and Alfie pushed the stroller in and congratulated us.
"Eddie, what the hell is going on?"
"Wait, what do you mean? You're pregnant, aren't you?" I mumbled.
"What gave you that idea? I am not pregnant!" My smile dropped.
"I-I found a box in the bin. If it's not yours, then whose is it?" I asked.
"I-It's mine…" I heard a voice say. I turn to see who it was. Nina.
Nina's P.O.V
"It's mine. It's my box. I took the test." I stated.
"But Nina, that means…" Mara started but I interrupted her.
"I know what it means, Mara."
I look over at Fabian. He seemed glued to the spot. He looked hurt but angry at the same time. I tried to avoid his gaze.
"I'm sorry for all of the misunderstanding. Eddie, I'm sorry you thought it was Patricia." He also looked hurt.
"You stood there. You let me get my hopes up and you didn't say a word. You saw me get so happy, I almost cried. You went out and bought baby items. You didn't think to tell me? You let me make a fool of myself. Why, Nina? That's low, even for you. I can't believe you'd do this to me." Eddie walked away and I felt like I'd been punched a million times.
I turn to Fabian. "I can't believe it, Nina. You didn't even tell me? Was you ever going to tell me?"
"I-I…" I tried to talk but my voice broke.
"Forget it, Nina. I expected more from you. This is exactly why I broke up with you in the first place! You spent a whole day lying to me. You had plenty of chances to tell me, why didn't you? I have a right to know! You know what, forget it. I thought we were finally getting somewhere. I'm done. I don't want anything to do with you or the baby. From now on, stay away from me."
Fabian walked away and left me standing there. Everybody stared at me. All I could do was run. I ran upstairs and into my room. The tears finally escaped. Eddie and Fabian hated me.
I decided it was time for me to go. I had stayed here long enough, I needed to get my own place.
I throw my clothes into my suitcase, the tears still streaming down my face. It was killing me. I grabbed everything else I needed and sat on the bed, staring at it.
Eddie was one of my best friends. He was my Osirian. Now, I've ruined everything. I hurt him. I hurt everybody.
There was a knock on my door, leading me to jump up. I quickly wipe my tears away and open it, revealing Amber.
"Can I come in?" I nod and let her in.
"I know you don't really want to see anybody but I came to see if you were okay."
"Well, I'm not. They hate me, don't they?" I asked, regretting the answer.
"They don't hate you, they're just upset. They'll come around. Trust me." She reassured. She looked over at my luggage. "You're not leaving. You're not allowed to! You can't just run away from all of your problems."
I sigh and she hugs me.
"I'm gonna go see the others, don't go anywhere!" She slips out of the room and I throw my head onto my pillow. A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door. I sigh and answer it. When it swings open, my heart drops. Fabian was standing there.
"You can't be serious, Nina. You're just going to leave with the baby?" Great. This was all I needed.
"You said you didn't want anything to do with it!" I snapped.
"That doesn't give you the right to leave! You are so stupid, Nina. I wish you could see what you're doing to everybody. Eddie is so upset! You should've told him. Most of all, you should've told me. You're pregnant with my baby and you didn't think to tell me? Was you just going to run away and never tell me? All you do is run. You run from all of your problems. It's stupid. Now, you're running away with the baby. Denying access. What's next? I may not want anything to do with it but that doesn't make what you're doing okay."
I just stared at him. For once, I didn't care what he had to say.
"Nothing to say?" He asked, slightly mocking me.
"I'm not pregnant."
"What?"
"I said, I'm not pregnant. I took the test, it was negative."
"Are you kidding me?" He laughed. Not a humoured laugh. More of a mad laugh.
"I would've explained if you'd given me the chance to. I'm not pregnant, I thought I was. That is all. Last time this happened, I was so scared. I had nobody. When you found out, you told me I should've told you. This whole day, I've tried to tell you. I have been so scared this time too. Not that you care, you're more than happy to come in here, accusing me of denying you access and calling me stupid. You're right, Fabian. I am stupid. I was stupid enough to sleep with you, after all. I was stupid enough to start trusting you after you treated me like a piece of crap. I was stupid enough to come back here after you broke my heart for your own selfish reasons. I was stupid." I felt myself getting angrier.
"And most of all, I was stupid enough to fall in love with you all over again." I finish. He stared at me, blankly. He opened his mouth to speak but I shut him off.
"Don't bother. Just leave me alone." I said, bitterly. I grabbed my stuff and called a cab. I needed to be away from here. Until it calmed down, at least. I was hurt but I knew Eddie was even more hurt. All I do is hurt people. It killed me.
When it arrives, I load my stuff into the boot and he drives me to the nearest hotel. I pay him and jump out. After booking a room, I drag my luggage into it and flop onto the bed. My phone rang over and over again but I ignored it. I couldn't face them.
Patricia's P.O.V
"She still isn't answering! Who the hell let her out of sight?" I yelled.
It had been 30 minutes since we discovered she had left. Nobody knew where she would go. Most of her stuff was still in her room. Everybody was in my room, worrying . Everybody, except Fabian. I assumed he was sulking in his room.
Eddie had calmed a little. After he told me how upset he was, I felt bad. Did he really think I was pregnant? He got his hopes up but that wasn't Nina's fault. She didn't know any better. I'm sure she was scared and felt as if she was alone. Poor Nina.
Everybody flipped at her. That probably made her feel a million times worse.
"Are you feeling okay now, Eddie?" I asked.
"I feel a lot better, I'm still a little bummed but I think I was stuck in the moment. Now I look back, I'm a little glad. We're only eighteen. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I'm sorry for flipping at Nina. I feel so bad." He admits.
Everybody attempts to call her again. Obviously, there was no answer.
I didn't know what to do. We drove her away. This was all our fault. I just wanted to know she was safe.
We heard the door slam and I ran to the top of the stairs. "Nina?" I called out. A car started outside and I realised somebody had left. It must've been Fabian. I sigh and go back to Eddie. Everybody else went to their rooms and went to bed.
"Eddie, I'm worried about her."
"I know, Yacker. She'll be fine. She's tough." He reassured. I agree and snuggle into him. He soon fell asleep. I didn't. I couldn't. Instead, I lay awake the whole night.
Fabian's P.O.V
After driving around for what seemed like forever, I check the last hotel.
"Is there a Nina Martin staying here?" I asked the receptionist.
"Let me just check the system." He taps at the keyboard a few times and looks back at me. "I'm afraid not, sorry."
"Thank you anyway." I turn to walk away but something made me turn back.
"How about a Sarah Frobisher-Smythe?" It was worth a shot.
"She arrived an hour ago, room 205."
I smiled to myself, I knew it. I had to apologise. I walk myself up to her room, wondering what I was going to say. I finally arrive at her room. I knock on the door, nervously.
"Who is it?" She asked.
"Room service?" I panicked.
She opened the door and as soon as she saw me, she tried to close it. I put my foot in the way and made my way in.
"I needed to apologise. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted that way. I was scared. I can't be a father at this age. I have my career to focus on. I didn't mean to come across as a jerk. I'm glad you're not pregnant."
"Is it really that bad to have a baby with me?" She asked, looking everywhere but me.
"No, I didn't mean it like that. If I were to have a baby with anybody, I'd want it to be with you. Just not right now, we're young."
She was silent for a minute or two until a small sniffle broke it. When I looked up at her, she was crying. My first instinct was to pull her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around me and we just stood there.
"I'm sorry, Nina. I really am. I overreacted, I treated you like crap. You aren't crap, I can assure you. You're the most beautiful person I've ever met." I tried to calm her. "I'm sorry I've been all over the place with my moods. The fame is too much to handle. It's getting the better of me. I don't know how to express my feelings."
She pulled away and looked at me. "I've been all over the place too. It'll get better, I promise. You'll reach the top and you'll be an amazing performer. Just don't forget us when you're hanging with the celebs."
"I could never forget you all. All them late nights, sneaking around. Finding the Cup of Ankh, defeating Senkhara, everything Sibuna. Most of all, I'll never forget you. I'll never forget falling in love."
She smiled and wiped her tears. "Fabian, please don't tell anybody I'm here. I just need to be by myself for a while."
"I promise I won't tell anybody. They're all worrying though."
"I'll come back when I'm ready." She admitted.
"Okay. I'm leaving for tour in a week. Will you say goodbye to me before I leave?" I ask.
She nods. "You're more than welcome to come here anytime. I could use the company. Even though I'm still kinda mad, you always make me feel better somehow. We're all over the place, aren't we? One minute, we're about to kill each other. The next, we're like we used to be. I don't get it."
"I think there's a lot of emotions. Problems that still need to be solved. I broke up with you, you were heartbroken. Things can't go back to how they were before. There's been a lot of drama. I don't know how or when we'll solve this but I know one day we will. We'll realise how much we really do need each other. We'll find our true feelings and everything will be put to rest. Until then, it'll have to be complicated."
"I understand. Just one thing…" She hesitates.
"What is it?"
"Please don't play with my feelings too much. Either love me or don't. Please don't confuse me."
I kiss her forehead. "I love you more than anything in the world. I just can't be with you right now. I don't know when it'll change. If, it'll change. I'm going on tour, this'll change everything. For now, we're just friends."
She nods and I sigh. "I better get going."
I walk out, feeling more confused than ever and I'm pretty sure she was just as confused as I was. Things really were all over the place.
Hey guys, sorry this chapter is all over the place. I didn't know what to put, I'm trying not to cram everything in now but at the same time, I want it to be a little exciting. Not boring, you know? I'm sorry it's so bad!
