A/N: Hey, hey, sorry for not writing in a long time. My laptop busted up and it took ages to buy a new computer, and I've been so busy with school and everything. But I hope this'll be up to scratch! I forgot to tell you this before, but I basically modelled Dr Kelanski on Rick Moranis' character from 'Ghostbusters II'. Sort of his nervous disposition and his appearance, spectacles and neat crew cut. I know anyone who found out that one of their family had some life-threatening disease, would probably be more upset, but I just wanted to make Will stronger when he needs to be, even in such a upsetting situation. And yes, it is the Paul Anka song; you'll know what I'm on about soon. Anyways, here is Chapter 10 of Torn in Two.
Chapter 10: Adam Ant and Broken Hearts
Elizabeth clutched her stomach and wiped the tears from her eyes. The vomit surged inside of her and she cautiously took a strand of loose, tangled hair, leaning over the toilet bowl. She silently lifted her bare feet from the tiled floor of the bathroom through to the warm, soft carpeted floor of her bedroom which she shared with Will. Will's eyes flickered open as she kissed him softly on his cheek. Elizabeth sat with her legs crossed and her arms spread out behind her. She slowly rubbed her hand over the prominent bump that had become a cosy home for their child for the past seven months. A small curve sprung from within and Elizabeth watched it slowly disappear within her skin.
Today was their 28 week scan, it had been eight long months and the baby was growing immensely. Will had often complimented her on coping for so long and for taking all the back pain and anguish on the chin. Will turned over and smiled, putting his hand against his fiancée's stomach. Elizabeth felt the warm hand against her bump and smiled maternally. She lifted up her vest and took her cornflake bowl from the bedside table and rested it firmly on her stomach. Will took her spoon and ate some Flakes from the bowl without Elizabeth realising. Elizabeth lifted the bowl from her stomach and stroked her stomach, smiling proudly.
'You're beautiful' Will whispered softly, into her ear.
'You're cheesy' Elizabeth whispered, smiling as Will held her hand.
'I know, but you like it' Elizabeth led his hand up to his stomach and smiled softly.
'Hey little Abraham…' Will rubbed her stomach and began to coo over their child. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and swept her hand over the large, protruding bump that was peeking over the duvet.
'Well, Mr Turner, we've our scan in forty-five little minutes and we're not even dressed yet' Elizabeth stood up regally from the bed and twisted her hair, gently fastening it with a slide. Will smiled as he let his hand wander across her stomach. Elizabeth took a plain black jumper from the closet and took a pair of her maternity tights from the lampshade. Pulling the tights round her ankles, she pursed her lips and clutched her stomach. Will pulled her off the bed and held her gently in his arms.
"I can't do this, Will. It's like there's a melon stuffed down my pants" Will smiled as Elizabeth continued to dress herself in her black jumper, dark denim skirt and her thick maternity tights.
"Elizabeth, you're beautiful and having my baby. What a lovely way of saying how much you love me" Will took his dark grey jeans from the wash basket and his favourite 'Beatles' t-shirt from their closet. Elizabeth smiled as she zipped up her boots and slipped her feet into them before calling for Will.
"Have you seen my…" Elizabeth held up Will's keys and threw them into his chest. Will hissed as the sharp end of his car key tore a minute piece of skin, leaving a streaky line of blood. Elizabeth ran towards the kitchen and pulled off some paper towel, dabbing the wet tissue cautiously on the minor flesh wound. Will smiled as Elizabeth smoothed the scar with her tender fingers.
"Sorry about that, I should be more careful next time" Elizabeth giggled as Will took her hand, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Oh I can think of a way you make it up to me" Elizabeth smiled as her eyes slowly drifted to the clock hanging on the opposite wall. Her lips pursed slightly, Will ran his fingers through her hair seductively.
Elizabeth sat in the car slowly, cradling her bump cautiously. Will smiled as he twisted the key in the ignition switch. The roads were especially crowded, the pavements were packed with lost tourists, clutching onto their large Kodak cameras and maps the size of sandwich boards. Elizabeth smiled as the cars surrounding them were waiting patiently in what was now a well-formed traffic jam. Will tapped at the steering wheel impatiently, his other hand swept across his minor wound.
"Do you know that the baby is able to recognise our voices? It has eyes, the eyebrows have formed, and the baby actually weighs 2.2 pounds and is 14.8 inches tall. The miracle of life is amazing" Elizabeth stroked her bump protectively; Will laughed as the jam moved slightly and the cars beside them, sped forward with elation.
"This is bloody brilliant" Elizabeth smiled as she felt her stomach. She smiled excitedly, nudging Will in the arm harshly.
"Ow, what was that for?" Will rubbed his arm; Elizabeth felt a sharp jabbing pain pulsate down the side of her now prominent stomach. Will did an incidental double take; Elizabeth smiled as he gently squeezed her hand.
"Jesus Christ, here's another" Will waited as the traffic light turned amber and seeing that no other pedestrians had bothered to cross the busy road, this would the opportune moment to accelerate.
"It can't happen now, it's been seven months, and I've two more to go! Just wait, please!" Elizabeth panted heavily as the car pulled up to the hospital car park. Will held her hand carefully as they walked up the steps; Elizabeth pulled her bag carefully over her shoulder. Elizabeth made the slow walk towards the lift and starting pressing tediously at the buttons. Will hissed as Elizabeth gripped his hand tightly, sensing her anguish she enveloped her tightly in a hug.
Elizabeth smiled; Will's reassuring face looked down at her. They suddenly grinded to a halt, the doors opened and the flurry of busy porters and apprehensive patients quietly exited the cramped, congested lift.
They slowly made their way towards the Maternity Ward; Elizabeth clutched Will's hand warily. Will held her waist, supporting her lower back and stomach with his firm, strong hands. They neared the corner towards the Ward; Dr Kelanski looked up from his notes and hastily deterred himself from reading further, but instead helped Will pull Elizabeth into a nearby examination room.
"How far along are you?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrow to this extremely odd question for a practiced physician to ask. Dr Kelanski began to stutter nervously. Elizabeth held both hands up and put down three fingers down slowly. Will smoothed out her hair, smiling gently.
"It's been seven months, my waters haven't broken yet. The baby can't be coming yet, Dr Kelanski? I read the books; I know that it can't be now! I won't have my baby now, I demand we wait!" Elizabeth watched as Will kissed her hand gently. Dr Kelanski overlooked his notes and swept his brow thankfully.
"Braxton Hick's" Elizabeth looked up wearily; her hair tangled from the perspiration culminating round her forehead. Will watched with a look of gratefulness, gracing his worn, tired face.
"What? W-what do you mean?" Will smiled hesitantly as Elizabeth began to aggravate herself further. He placed a hand firmly on Elizabeth's shoulder, trying to calm her down.
"Braxton Hick's contractions are a tightening of the uterine muscles for one to two minutes and are thought to be an aid to the body in its preparation for birth" Elizabeth let her head fall aimlessly onto the pillow behind her, with her head in her hands.
"Liz, did you hear that? Just false contractions, you weren't in labour" Will pulled Elizabeth's hand to his chest and smiled. Dr Kelanski had disappeared for a moment to gather the equipment for their scan which had been delayed for a further 20 minutes. Elizabeth sat herself up with great difficult, gripping either side of the bed with her trembling hands.
"I'm glad I'm having this baby with you" Will nodded as Elizabeth smiled, squeezing his hand tightly. Will leant in to touch her gentle face as soon as Dr Kelanski opened the door, wheeling the ultrasound scanner behind him.
Dr Kelanski smoothed the jelly over Elizabeth's stomach and placed the instrument on it carefully, waiting for a picture to appear.
"There's your baby, its little heart beating away" Will gripped her hand tightly; Elizabeth swept her fingers over the monitor.
"The baby weighs 2 and ¼ pounds, and measures 14.8 inches" Dr Kelanski muttered informatively.
"Do you want your picture now? The scan's finished" Elizabeth looked to Will, who nodded quickly, shaking his wild hair over his face.
"Thank you, Doctor Kelanski" Will held out his hand, Elizabeth picked up her bag and slipped of the bed carefully.
"Here's your sonogram" Elizabeth smiled as Will took it, slipping into his wallet. They both retreated towards the door, hand in hand.
Brrrrriinngg! Will took his phone and began to be answer, only to greet by Anna's loud sobbing. Passing it Elizabeth, he sighed quietly.
"Anna? Is everything okay? What's the matter?" Anna took a letter from her pocket and began to read it, although Elizabeth found it hard to understand through all the continuous crying;
Dear Anna,
I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry but I'm in love with someone else. I'm leaving for America with her; you need to find someone new. I don't deserve you; you're the most crazy, wacky person I've ever come across. Sorry this is so short notice, I'll call as soon as I've landed in Vegas.
Yours Sincerely,
Jack x
"Anna, I'm so sorry. D'you want me to come over?" Elizabeth shut down Will's phone, passing it to him without as much as a 'Thank you'.
"What did Anna want?" Will opened the car door and slid inside, closely followed by his loving fiancée.
"She's really upset. Jack dumped her for some girl and now they're going to America together" Will shook his head, twisting the key into the ignition.
"Stop it! She wasn't to know, she's my cousin for Christ's sake" Liz thumped Will hard on the shoulders and crossed her arms angrily.
"Look, I'm sorry I'll drop you off. I need to stop off to see Stan anyway" Will kissed her forehead carefully, still keeping his hands firmly on the steering wheel.
"Thanks, this child does need her godmother after all" Elizabeth patted her stomach slowly, smiling adoringly. Will held his hand over his mouth and began to protest the disadvantages of having Anna as their child's godmother.
"No, no, no, you can't possibly be serious about this?" Elizabeth sighed and shook her head, the long tendrils of hair that had not managed to be contained her bun, flailing wildly. Will turned the corner harshly and braked fiercely stopping outside Anna's flat. Elizabeth threw the door open and collecting her bag from the foot well.
"See you back at the flat" Elizabeth shouted with an austere tone, Will stared at the dashboard grimly, turning on the ignition.
"Anna?" Elizabeth crouched to the letterbox, waiting for a reply from within.
Anna unlocked the door, pulling the large, over-sized dressing gown round her shoulders weakly. Elizabeth hugged her cousin warmly, smoothing her hair out tidily. They both seated themselves lazily against Anna's worn, tattered sofa. Elizabeth took her coat from her tired shoulders and sighed tiredly. Anna took the large box of Kleenex tissues from the small table beside the sofa, blubbering loudly.
"It just hurts so badly, you know?" Anna whispered timidly, Elizabeth took another two-ply tissue from the box and handed it to her cousin gently.
"I know, I know, but it can only get better" Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, Anna let out a small sarcastic laugh.
"And you're sure, are you?" Anna sniffled nasally.
"Yes, Jack was an idiot. You need to move on with your life" Elizabeth smiled, placing a comforting arm round her cousin's shoulder, only for it to be shrugged off violently.
"I can't" Anna threw her arms round her cousin's shoulders; Elizabeth smiled as she whispered softly into her ear.
"Shh, it's gonna be alright, Anna...Banana" Liz rubbed her stomach softly as the hug was broken. Anna smirked at the revival of her old childhood nickname.
"You haven't called me that in years" Elizabeth smiled, taking her bag from underneath the cramped table.
"Look at this" Anna took the small sonogram from her hand and gazed awestruck at the grainy picture.
"There's its feet and its hands" Anna smiled, sweeping her trembling fingers over the picture. Elizabeth laughed as her cousin began to ask the most absurd questions concerning her baby.
"How does it feed? Will it be like one of them things you see in really old B-movies? Taking over your body and stuff?" Elizabeth pointed towards her round bump, smiling brightly. Anna stuck out her tongue, waving her arms about wildly, trying to impersonate an alien.
"It already has. I can't eat, drink or sleep without one of its arms or legs prodding me" Anna giggled a small bump protruded from her cousin's stomach. Elizabeth nodded her head, raising herself from the sofa comfortably.
The pair spent most of the afternoon chatting and giggling like they had used to, back when their lives were extremely carefree. Anna took a large photo album and they began glancing through some old, fading photographs. Elizabeth picked one from all the rest, a small photo booth reel; her, Will, Anna and her then boyfriend, Kyle. Kyle didn't seem to date after that, at least not partners of the female variety. Anna had heard from him only a few weeks ago when he was on his honeymoon, traveling around Dollywood with his partner, Stefan. Elizabeth laughed at her acquired fashion sense back then, bright neon bracelets, and semi-permanently dyed hair. Will didn't seem to have changed a bit, with his wild hair and piercing brown eyes. Liz had taken to doing her trademark 'I'll grin till I die' poses for the camera, whilst Will and the others and opted for the Dr Evil 'finger to the mouth' menacing glare. Anna had kept her shorter back then in just a short bob with a thick fringe, covering most of her freckled face. Kyle leant against the back of the booth, with his hands firmly round her waist. Will had crouched down in front of the camera with a gleeful look on his face; Elizabeth locked her arms around his neck tightly, but not enough so that he would choke. They all looked so happy in their younger years, when they weren't having children, getting dumped so horrifically like Anna. Times had changed as had their hairstyles and their slightly weird and bright choice of makeup.
Elizabeth smiled as she slipped the photograph back into the card and covered it with the plastic film. Anna closed the book and tucked it underneath the sofa. Elizabeth stretched out her arms and gave out a yawn before taking her bag from the table. Anna opened the door, sending Elizabeth on her way with a fond farewell. She waved fondly back towards the door, with a broad smile gracing her beaming face.
She crossed the street opposite their flat, after traveling numerous modes of public transport just to get home which was twenty minutes away from Anna's. It had begun to get dark when Elizabeth boarded the large double-decker along past Green Park. The lights appeared to be on in both the bedroom and the living room, Will was obviously home and putting his feet up comfortably. She tucked her hair behind her and opened the door. She wandered towards the reception desk and smiled at old Mr. Blarney or Ron as he liked to be called.
"Can you tell Will that I'll be up in a sec please?" Elizabeth asked politely, Ron smiled and lifted up the telephone to his ear and began to dial.
Elizabeth began to climb the stairs wearily, dragging her hand across the banister. Reaching out for the end, she pulled herself up steadily. She walked along the corridor slowly, being sure not to wake anyone up, although it was still six o' clock. She knocked slowly and tapped her foot against the floor impatiently. Will wandered over to the door, being sure to unlock it carefully. Elizabeth smiled; Will greeted her with open arms, covering his muffled sobbing with her dusty blonde hair.
"What's wrong? What's happened? Will?" Elizabeth took him to the sofa and fastened the robe tightly around her shoulders. Will looked up through his wild, tangled hair.
"My mum...my mum has...c-cancer" Elizabeth gasped suddenly, the weight of such news dwelled heavily on her heart as she slowly exhaled. Will patted his eyes dry and squeezed her hand warmly.
"I'm sorry I would have come sooner if I'd known" Elizabeth kissed Will gently on his cheek, which was solemnly reciprocated. Will held her gently in his arms and rested his head against hers. They both sat silently, before Elizabeth got up to get Will a large glass of water. Will took it graciously, enveloping her tightly.
"Will, you need some sleep" Elizabeth pulled him from the sofa, letting his weight lean against her and his arm rest precariously around her neck. They both wandered towards their room, Elizabeth pulled the covers from the bed. Elizabeth undressed and changed in her nightgown, taking her nightgown and placing it into the jewelry box. Will slipped in silently, followed carefully by his fiancée tiredly.
"I'm so sorry, I left in such a bad mood when I shouldn't have done" Elizabeth felt Will's arm round her shoulders and her body being pulled towards him slowly. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Will spoke softly to her but with a harsh undertone.
"Now, you listen here, you weren't to know. It can't be helped, my mum will get the treatment she needs and she'll get better" Elizabeth ran her hand against his chest. Will shuddered under her soft touch, his hands still clasped firmly round her waist.
"How can you say that? She's your mum" Elizabeth edged herself up and across Will's sprawled body spread out amongst the covers, her arms resting firmly on either side.
"And that's why I'm saying it. Think positive, Liz" Will smiled warmly, Elizabeth rested her chin against his chest and exhaled thoughtfully.
"I was looking through a lot of old photos and I came across some very nice ones of you" Elizabeth took the photo booth reel from the bedside table and showed it to Will, who took it from her hand for a closer examination.
"Oh God, I can't believe she kept it" Will smiled as Elizabeth rolled over carefully to her side of the bed. Will pointed to one of the small pictures on the reel.
"Did you know you were wearing that top?" Will asked disgustedly, Elizabeth snatched it from his hands, squinting to see the small detail on her t-shirt.
"I knew I was wearing it, Mr. Adam Ant Impersonator" Elizabeth placed the photograph firmly on the bedside table. Will leant against the headboard, slipping his arm round her waist comfortably.
"Hmm, I'm really sleepy" Elizabeth shifted her body down amongst the covers. Will promised he would follow after her, he needed time to think.
Elizabeth listened closely to Will, whose whimpering had turned into something more...he couldn't control.
"Will"
"Y-es?"
"I love you" Elizabeth gripped his hand tightly, taking it under her arm.
"I love you too"
A/N: Hope you liked it! If I was a little rusty then I apologize, I have just listened to 'No-one but you' sung by Kerry Ellis. It made me want to cry!! Anyways, read and review XD