Chapter 22- If I just lay here

Hey guys. Sorry about the wait for this chapter but my internet wasn't working now. I've been having such bad luck lately! Especially with technology. Anyway, a big thank you to everyone that reviewed the last chapter. I know it came completely out of the blue. It was something I just decided as I was sitting down to write the chapter. I was really curious to see how the readers reacted. The end bit of this chapter was inspired by the song Chasing Cars by the epic band Snow Patrol. If you haven't heard it before, you should give it a listen . Hope you enjoy this chapter! Xx Lo

April was numb as nurses and doctors hurried into the room to try and save Xavier. Gina and John quickly moved out of the way to let them get in. Dr Walker started doing compressions while the nurse began charging the paddles. They alternated for about five minutes before they reluctantly stopped. Sid sighed defeatedly and looked at his watch. "Time of death, 7:15 pm." He said clearly and looked at Gina. "I'm very sorry." Sid placed his hand sympathetically on her arm before exiting the room with his staff. Tears were running freely for everyone at that stage. Ruby was crying on Casey's chest and Dex pulled April close to him. The sight of Gina was heartbreaking. She held Xavier's hand tightly and sobbed. "My little boy." She cried. "You can't be gone! You just can't!"

John held his wife tightly. "Shh." He soothed her. "He's gone Gina." John whispered softly. His eyes were red and puffy aswell, but he had to be strong for his wife.

"We should give them some time." April said lifelessly and walked out the door, casting a brief glance back at her ex boyfriend's lifeless body. Everything that was happening was like an out-of-body experience. She couldn't believe that this was real. It seemed like a bad dream that she could wake up from any minute. When April walked out into the corridor, Bianca immediately pulled her sister into her arms. She was crying aswell. April couldn't hold back any longer. She rested her head on her older sister's shoulder and started sobbing. "He's gone Bianca." She choked out.

Bianca tried to hold back the tears as she stroked her sister's hair. "I know. I know."

"We had a fight today. He died thinking that I hate him. He probably died because of me." April sobbed. The reality of what was happening was just beginning to sink in.

"What did you say?" Gina said suddenly. There was no emotion in her voice, it was just weak. April turned around to look at her former principal. "You said you had an argument with Xavier a while ago. Is that the reason he and the car ended up upside down in a ditch?"

April looked at Bianca. "No. Of course it isn't. It was just a little fight. Everyone has a falling out now and again." The older Scott told her colleague. She didn't want April to feel as if all of this was her fault. God knows she had been through so much lately and April didn't need to bear the guilt of this aswell.

Gina frowned. "What was the argument about?" she wondered impatiently.

At this stage Casey, Ruby and Dex had exited the hospital room and were eyeing the situation warily. They knew Gina was upset and so was April. April hesitated for a moment and then sighed. "It was about this." She said and placed her hand on her baby bump.

Gina gasped. "You're pregnant?" she wondered disbelievingly.

April nodded. "That's what our fight was about."

"Was Xavier the father?" Gina asked straight out.

April shook her head. She really didn't want to be dropping the bombshell on Xavier's mother at a time like this. She had enough to contend with as it was. "No he isn't. He was just angry at me because... well because I'm pregnant."

"He still loved you, you know. That's why he reacted so badly. That's why my son is lying dead in that hospital bed. It's because of you April." She said harshly.

Bianca shook her head. "That's not fair. It's not April's fault. As I said, people argue all the time. How could April have known that this was going to happen? I understand that your devastated and angry Gina and I'm really sorry but April isn't to blame. She wasn't driving the car." She stood up for her little sister.

"I think it would be best if you left. " Gina said coldly.

Bianca couldn't believe that she said that, but understood that her colleague was not in a good place. She thought that it would probably be better for April and Gina if they left. "Come on April." Bianca said lowly and the three began walking away.

Casey followed. "Wait, I'll come with you." He offered.

April gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for offering but I'm fine. You stay here with Ruby. She needs you." She said weakly. "Do you know if Heath is at home?"

"He should be. Are you sure that you don't want me to come with you?"

April nodded. "I'm sure. I'm going to head over to yours so I'll probably see you later." She told Casey before she left with Bianca and Liam.

When the pulled up outside the Braxton house, Bianca wasn't too sure about letting her sister go. "April are you sure this is where you want to be right now? You're tired and upset." She pointed out. "You should come home and get some rest."

April tried to fight the tears. "I'm sure Bianca. I just need Heath right now. I'm probably going to stay the night here. Don't wait up." She said as she opened the car door and got out.

Bianca got out aswell and gave her little sister a tight hug. "Gina is just grieving. It's probably easier for her to find someone to blame. Not to say that blaming you is justified, but you just need to understand. If you need anything, I'll be at home." she said and released her sister.

April nodded. "Night." She said to both Bianca and Liam before walking up to the Braxtons' front door. She knocked and Brax opened the door.

"Hi April. Come in." He invited her and closed the door again after she walked in. Brax took one look at the state of the teenager and knew something was up. "Is everything okay?" he wondered concernedly.

Heath heard Brax talking to someone and walked into the hall to see who it was. He was surprised to see that it was April. Heath noticed that she was crying and pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong babe?" he wondered worriedly.

April rested her head on his chest. "It's Xavier. He's dead."

The two Braxton brothers exchanged shocked looks. "Well I guess that's where Casey disappeared to."

Heath's heart broke for his girlfriend. "What happened to him?" he wondered, still in complete and utter shock. Heath had never been Xavier's biggest fan and vice versa, but he was still a bit upset by the news.

"He was speeding in the V8 and lost control of the car. It was my fault Heath. He found out about us and the baby and we got into a fight. I was the reason that he even took the car out in the first place. Gina thinks it was my fault and so do I. It's my fault he's dead." April sobbed.

Brax put his hand on her back aswell. He had no idea what to say to her. He also knew that it wouldn't be easy for anyone to comfort her now.

"Shh. It wasn't your fault April. It was just an accident. Please don't blame yourself." Heath begged her. "Xavier wouldn't want you to." Despite his words, he also felt slightly guilty about what had happened to April's ex.

"I just need you Heath. I need you to hold me as tight as you can and tell me that everything is going to be okay."

Heath kissed the mother of his unborn baby's head. "I can do that. Come on, let's go lie down." He said and led her into the bedroom that they now shared most nights. Heath wasn't quite sure how to fix her, but he knew he had to do his absolute best. He held her in his arms as they lay together.

"Please don't ever leave me." April whispered through her tears.

Heath was in tears because she was. He couldn't bear the thought of ever being without her now that he had found April. "I won't babe. I swear." He promised her.