AN: the suspicion and drama continues

Chapter 43

Courtney's POV

5:00 pm

I open the oven to take out the vegetables I roasted to go with dinner, I always try to incorporate good things and make sure Serenity has a habit of trying new things all the time. For tonight's dinner, I made steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and roasted vegetables.

Looking at the time I figured Duncan and Serenity should be arriving any minute or now just as I hear the door unlock...

" Mommy we here " announced Serenity making me smile hearing her " Hi Princess we're back " follows Duncan's voice as I roll my eyes hearing my nickname.

Walking to the door I couldn't help but get happy seeing them they are coming back from a hard day's work. " How did everything go with Daddy? " I asked looking at them both "It was fun Daddy has a cool job " Serenity explained rushing up to me "Oh yeah " I reply crouching down to her "What's this? " I ask wiping something off her cheek.

Duncan laughed a bit "That might be wax " he answers taking his jacket off "Should I ask? " I replied standing up, " Tye thought he could slack off a bit and he had Serenity polishing a car " he explained shaking his head "Oh child labour nice," I said mentally picturing Serenity polishing a car.

" Yeah I made him polish 3 more cars for that," said Duncan walking over to me "Nobody makes my little girl work " he adds.

I leaned in to give Duncan a quick kiss on the lips "You are an amazing daddy " I said but not hearing a response from Duncan he grins instead which is kinda weird " your both here on time dinner is ready " I explain.

" Great let's go clean up " answers Duncan looking at Serenity and smiling "Yeah dinner time," she says before running to the bathroom as he was about to follow I ask "Are you okay Duncan? " looking concerned at him "Yeah I'm fine " he replies before walking away.

I couldn't help standing still as I watched him walk down the hallway and feel uneasy.

7:30 PM

During dinner Serenity shared her day with Duncan at the auto shop making me happy knowing she had fun, then later she had a bath and got put in her pjs followed by getting a story read by Duncan.

While I finished the dishes I couldn't help but sigh in relief. I'm not sure what it was but it's possible I could be genuinely happy for the first time since total drama...

" Okay I read her a story, she's tucked in with a particular deer, checked for monsters and now she's asleep," said Duncan coming into the kitchen as I turned the tap off.

Turning to face him I smile " your the best " I reply " I know," he says back grinning.

Even though I see Duncan giving me his famous grin for odd reason that I couldn't put my finger on something was off...

Picking up the dish towel to dry my hands I just needed to get this off my shoulders " What's wrong? " I ask concerned catching Duncan off guard " What do you mean? " he asks back.

Crossing my arms over my chest I inhale before I exhaled heavily "There's something off about you today I noticed you were behaving differently when you arrived " I explained looking straight into Duncan's eyes " damn it " he mutters under his breath.

" Duncan talk to me if something is wrong or bothering you...if there is I wanna know " I said unsure what could be happening "Maybe I can help you but please no more hiding things " I added standing in front of him.

Duncan walks out of the kitchen and to the living room but I follow close behind him. Reaching into his pocket he pulls out a letter and then hands it to me as he sits on the couch not saying anything...

Unfolding the letter I read what it says and I suddenly get mad...

" Your joking right? " I asked looking up at Duncan who stares at me "This is a freakin joke...you don't believe this do you " I add waiting to hear his answer " Of course I believe it's a joke " answers Duncan standing up " I don't know who sent it or where it came from but it was sent to mess with me " he added sounding upset.

How dare a person to have the audacity to write this, especially saying Duncan is not Serenity's father.

" Where did this even come from? " I ask looking at the letter " I don't know Tye found it on the ground at work " explains Duncan pacing the living room " Is this what's been on your mind? " I said staring at him.

But when I didn't hear Duncan say anything back I started feeling tears in my eyes...

Duncan's POV

I knew this wasn't going to be easy telling Courtney but it was harder than I would have thought...

But when I couldn't come back with a response to the question she just asked I went silent...

I was trying to think of something to say but I couldn't and when I looked back at Courtney she had tears in her eyes.

" I've been trying all day to not let what they say get to me, " I said taking a deep breath " Then why are you letting this get to you? " Courtney asked very upset " I don't know maybe it's because in the past others have been unfaithful to me and a part of me didn't want to add you to that list " I answer sounding angry before I realized what I said.

Stepping back from me Courtney looks pissed "You didn't just say that...did you just say that to me" she says " I didn't mean to say that " I answered trying to fix this "Do you honestly think I would be unfaithful to you after everything Duncan we've been through" said Courtney furiously " I know you wouldn't " I reply attempting to calm her down.

Turning away from me Courtney takes a few breathes " I know you've been through a lot Duncan but you knew it was different with me " she breathes trying not to cry " I've always been faithful to you even when you were away in jail " she stated before turning to look back at me " especially when I was so angry at you for not even telling me anything on the day you went to jail " Courtney adds as I realize she just made a valid reason.

" Look I'm sorry for what I said I just didn't think this would get to me so much, especially when I'm not Serenity's father " I explained holding my head " Duncan your the only one I've been with... for god's sake I lost my virginity to you " cried Courtney as tears fell " how could you think I would cheat on you? " she continues " Duncan you want to know what I realized while I was pregnant...is that if I could move on and forget you I wouldn't be able to because Serenity is the living reminder I have of you " she finishes before crying heavily and I caused it which just hit me hard like a rock hitting my skull.

" Courtney I'm sorry...I wasn't thinking... " not letting me finish what I was going to say " GET OUT!!!! " yells Courtney glaring at me "Please let me talk before you... " I said taking a step forward to her " I SHOULD have NEVER LET MY GUARD DOWN!!!! DUNCAN JUST LEAVE!!! she screamed pointing to the door " ARE YOU GONNA LET ME SPEAK OR NOT!!! I respond now feeling my anger rise " YOU SAID EVERYTHING AND DON'T COME HERE TOMORROW!!!! " says Courtney this time I froze " WHAT?! YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET ME SEE SERENITY OR TAKE HER TO SCHOOL NOW!!! I yelled squeezing my fists " NOT WHEN HER SO-CALLED FATHER IS BEING AN ASSHOLE!!!! ' she replies this time I snapped " THIS IS BULLSHIT BUT FINE...CIT BITCH!!!! " I said quickly grabbing my keys from the table and then to the door where I opened it and slammed it behind me.

But as I walked down the hallway to the elevators even though it was faint I could hear Courtney crying hard.

9:00 PM

Once I got home I couldn't stop getting angrier I wasn't only angry about how things ended but I was angry for letting that stupid letter get to me, it made me destroy the bright side of my life that brought me joy.

I was currently pacing back and forth in my living room with a bottle of whisky on the table every so often I'd take heavy chugs to calm down.

Fuck how do I even fix this? Or can it even be fixed?

* Knock * * Knock *

Turning my head to look at the door I raise an eyebrow and exhale heavily before lazily walking over to the door " Who could that be at this hour? " I ask trying to make sure I wasn't too drunk.

Looking through the peephole I saw Geoff, DJ, Trent and Tyler standing on the other side.

Unlocking and opening the door just as I was about to greet them out of nowhere I'm greeted by a fist hitting my cheek along with me falling flat on my back " WHAT THE FUCK!!! " I yell processing what just happened.

"Just be lucky it wasn't DJ's fist " answers Trent as him and Geoff walk in to help me stand " Who punched me anyway? " I ask as we all go into my living room " That was me " Tyler answered trying to look tough but to tell the truth it wasn't that hard of a punch then again I mentally agreed with Trent that with DJ having a big hand it probably would kill in one punch.

Reaching for the whisky on the table I take another swig " Could I get a warning next time " I breathed staring at them who now all expressed a not-so-happy expression meaning one thing "You all know what happened tonight? " I breath about to take another swig but before I could Geoff took the bottle away from me "What is the matter with you dude," he says in a pissed-off tone of voice instead of his usual chill voice " what would make you get to such a low level " he adds taking a swig from the bottle.

" Duncan she was crying so hard on the phone that both me and Geoff came running from the deck thinking it was Bridgette crying " explains DJ frowning at me "Then after hearing what was said between the two of you got me mad because there's a little girl that's going to suffer " adds DJ which struck a nerve.

" Duncan man you can't let the judgement of others get to you especially when it comes to your daughter," says Trent leaning forward and resting his arms on his knees.

" I don't know how I could have let this stupid letter get to me, " I said pulling it out from my pocket and then passed it to DJ "This thing pissed me off so much especially the part saying how Serenity isn't mine " I add sitting up " fuck that part she is yours and always has been, " said Geoff looking at the letter from the side.

" No doubt those pretty eyes of hers are just like yours," says Tyler only to get us to look weird at him "Thank you for complimenting my pretty eyes," I said blankly "Dude might wanna chose what you say carefully," said Trent looking at Tyler as DJ and Geoff chuckle.

30 Minutes Later

We talk more about the fight between me and Courtney, and I gotta admit that it was an ugly fight but I was also starting to realize that I wanted to fix this.

Geoff also mentioned that before they all came to my place Bridgette was dropped off at Courtney's to comfort her and to make sure she was okay including Serenity.

How could I let something like this get to me? And hurt those I love?

Looking at the bottle in my hand with its contents currently halfway " I think you've had enough " said DJ taking the bottle away from my hand, maybe he's right and I was not going to fight him back for the bottle.

Meanwhile, Geoff was flipping through the channels on the TV, Tyler eating a bag of chips and Trent was reading the letter.

" This letter is weird," says Trent currently looking at it while holding it up against the light "What do mean? " I breathed feeling the effects of the whisky "You know how you can transfer letters or transcripts onto any surface " he explains looking over at us all and suddenly the alcohol effects went away.

" What are you talking about? " asks DJ standing behind Trent along with Geoff, Tyler and myself "It's very faint but if you see right here the placement is off " explains Trent as he points it out " So you mean to say this was originally written on another paper but then transferred to a new paper? " asks Geoff " exactly " answered Trent nodding his head.

Someone was really messing around with me and just when I thought I had calmed down now I'm not only pissed off but I seriously want to hurt the piece of shit.

* ring * * ring *

Geoff's phone goes off, " it's Bridge," he says answering the call...

Geoff: hey babe everything okay?

Bridgette: Yeah...I calmed Courtney down and got her to go to sleep. Can you put me on speaker?

Geoff raises an eyebrow looking our way...

Geoff: Okay you're on speaker babe

Bridgette: Hey Duncan you there?

Geoff hands me his phone taking a breath I try to keep calm...

Me: Hey Bridgette, how was she?

Bridgette: * upset tone of voice * she was a mess when I got here...you know the last time I saw Courtney broken was when she found out you went to jail...I can't believe you would be like this Duncan...

I shut my eyes momentarily regretting what happened tonight, it was all on me...

Bridgette: but there are more important things give me a minute...

The guys listen and wait I'm unsure what Bridgette was doing but we could barely hear what was going on...

phone: it's okay...he's there

I wait in anticipation unsure of what was happening on the other line...

* sniff * * sniff *

Phone: Daddy * weeping voice *

My heart broke hearing Serenity's little voice she has been crying for some time and there was no doubt she heard our fight.

Me: hi honey I'm here

Serenity: * sniff * Daddy...you..and mommy * sniff * were loud

Me: I know I know. I'm so sorry honey

Serenity: it was scary * whimper *

Bridgette: it's okay cutie keep talking to your daddy

I'm mentally picturing the scene at this very moment, Bridgette is hugging Serenity and no doubt tears are just coming down the sides of her face.

I couldn't be kicking myself harder than to have caused so much pain to my innocent little girl...

Me: Serenity I want you to know that neither me nor Mommy wanted to make you get scared...sometimes grownups say things we don't mean to say

Serenity: * hic * will I see you?

Me: * sigh * I'm not sure honey...I think right now Mommy and I need stay away from each other for a little bit

Serenity: but I wanna see you * cries *

Me: I know and we will soon for now I need you to be a big girl...promise me that you will listen to Mommy...can you do that for me?

It was taking all my strength to hold my tears back if it weren't for Trent putting a hand on my shoulder I think I'd have lost it, he's a dad too and he knows that connection between parents and their child...

Serenity: okay Daddy

Me: that's my girl...now you need to go back to bed okay ...can you give the phone to Bridgette, please

Serenity: Okay Daddy...good night

Me: Good night honey sleep tight

Taking a deep breath I felt that was the hardest conversation I've ever had to have...

Bridgette: Hey

Me: can you please make sure you tuck her in, she won't sleep without her favourite toy beside her

Bridgette: Yeah I'll be sure of it and I'll stay with her til she's asleep

Me: Thanks I owe you big for watching them both

Bridgette: you're welcome, get some rest Duncan good night

Me: good night Bridge

After hanging up I held my face in my hands, this stuff was both heavy and painful...

" It's obvious but I'll ask are you okay? " asks Tyler followed by DJ coming forward " I know I took this away from you for good reason but one more won't hurt," he says handing me the whisky bottle which I needed " thanks," I said before taking another swig.

10:00 PM

The guys headed out a while later they made sure I was okay and I reassured them that I'll most likely just head to bed to sleep this day off.

It's what I needed maybe after a couple of hours of sleep I can try to get my mind together and figure something out...

Putting the whisky away I clean up a bit before going to the living room, the tv was still on.

Picking up the remote I roam the channels for a bit but I wasn't interested in watching anything.

" Coach you would have been pissed at me for what I did," I said out loud still changing channels " I fucked it up today if you wanna give me a hardcore message about my baby mama I'd appreciate it " I add looking up at the ceiling.

( AN: when I first saw this clip I was like woah, it's so intense and powerful that I couldn't help but get emotional hearing it but also because it's a reality )

I stop changing channels when suddenly I hear a woman yelling...

" I'VE HAD IT ALL THIS BULLSHIT IN MY HOUSE!!! "

Opening my eyes I stand still listening it must be a movie and then it got real.

The woman went off who I'm guessing was the son and ex-girlfriend.

The speech she gave about the baby's mother was so intense that I couldn't stop listening but when it came to hearing her saying everything made a few things clear to me amongst them was...

I want Courtney forever and I want us both to raise Serenity together...without either of them, my life is nothing.

Turning the TV off I realized I had more to do than I thought but I'm gonna do it so that I'm ready and so that no one or any force destroys what is most meaningful to me.

AN: let me know what your thoughts are, ttyl