"Do I look different to you?" Lucy asked, examining herself in the full length mirror attached to the door of the hotel room as James stepped out of the bathroom early the morning of Lucy's first concert. "This," she pointed to her belly, "wasn't there last night."
"You were pregnant last night," James said.
"Yeah, but…" she lifted her night shirt up and then put it back down running her hands over her stomach. "It was there, but now it's just…" She sighed deeply.
"No hiding it now." James wrapped his arms around Lucy from behind placing his hands on her belly. The couple locked eyes in the mirror.
"I have to tell them," she said softly. "I'll announce it at the concert." She turned to face James. "You think that would be okay? Not cheesy or anything?"
"It might be a little cheesy. But, you do what you want."
"This isn't what I want. This isn't at all what I want." She threw her hands in the air.
"We didn't plan this, but it's happening." James grabbed Lucy's arms to try to calm her down. "Frankly, I'm thrilled."
"What are you talking about? This is a baby. It's going to change the rest of our lives. No longer will we be able to do what we want when we want. We'll have to think about the baby. No more sleep. No more free time. No more being able to think on our ow—" James cut her off with a kiss. "No more being able to do that when we want to," she continued once they broke apart.
"I'm scared," James admitted pulling Lucy down on to the bed with him. "I've never been a father before. I've never taken care of a baby. The closest I've come is Kendall and Carlos's siblings. But, I'm excited to take this journey with you."
"All right, stop being a sap." She patted his knee. "I have rehearsal and sound check in a bit. You're welcome to come but it might be a bit boring." She tugged at her pants as she stood up. "I hope my clothes still fit."
.O.
"Damn it!" James pounded his fist when the limo pulled up to the venue.
"It's okay," Lucy said running a hand over his arm.
"It's like a freakin' protest or something. Who would've thought there'd be this many paparazzi in San Diego?"
"This is their first glance at me since the rumor started. I mean, we've been really good at hiding things with my doctor's appointments and now is their surest bet of finding me."
"Why are you so calm?"
"On the inside I'm freaking out. Trust me." She pulled his hoodie off him and put it on herself leaving him in a plain white v-neck. "Now, we run."
When the limo door opened James and Lucy bolted from the automobile. Lucy pulled the hood over her head and ducked under James's arms. Running while pregnant wasn't easy, but since she wasn't big yet, it wasn't that hard. Flashes went off around them. Questions were thrown left and right, but no one answered.
"Made it," James said once the two stepped in the backstage door.
"Don't stop," Lucy's bodyguard ordered pushing them to continue. "We need to get her to the dressing room."
"It's just rehearsal," Lucy complained as she hurried. "Why would anyone be back here anyway?"
"Just go!" The bodyguard shouted.
"You okay?" James asked Lucy as they both collapsed on the couch in her dressing room.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good." He kissed her forehead.
"Lucy," a stagehand opened the door a crack. "You're needed on stage in five minutes."
"Rehearsal," Lucy sighed. "You'll be all right here by yourself?"
James gave her a look.
"I'm James Diamond; I'll be fine." An eyebrow shot up. "Or maybe I could watch your rehearsal."
"Oh gosh, it'll be so boring."
"Fine, if you don't want me there."
"I do, but I kinda want to surprise you."
"Oh, is that it?" He waggled his eyebrows.
"Yeah."
"Fine."
"I won't be long and when I get back we can go get lunch." Lucy bit her lip. "We can have Eddie get it for us." Eddie was the bodyguard.
James pulled out his phone and began typing on it. Lucy headed for the door.
"Are you sure you're okay here?"
"I'm fine! Go rehearse!"
.O.
"Good night, San Diego!" Greg Brown, the lead singer for From This Town, the warm-up act, shouted. His band left the stage and the roadies began setting it up for Lucy.
"Oooh," the crowd cheered as the lights darkened.
"Good job," James said patting the singer on the shoulder as he passed by.
"Thanks. I hear your girlfriend is really good."
James nodded.
The lights turned back on to reveal only a stool, microphone in its stand, and a guitar sitting on a guitar stand. The crowd cheered. Then the lights went out again. James felt someone rush by him. He had a feeling it was Lucy, but it was a bit dark and he was staring at the stool waiting to see what happened.
The lights rose to reveal Lucy in all black holding her guitar in front of her, the strap around her shoulder, pick poised in place. She strummed a note and then sang an acoustic version of one of her songs on her album into the microphone. Once she was done a stagehand handed her the electric guitar.
"Thank you, San Diego, are you ready to rock?" She hit a loud note on the guitar to go along with the hooting and hollering from the crowd. James joined in and cheered from the wings.
After a few songs she switched guitars again and began a soft melodic tune.
"I'd like to bring out someone very special for a moment," she spoke into the microphone. Her gaze turned to James in the wings. He shook his head. He always made sure to look his best but he hadn't planned on going onstage tonight. "He's being shy."
That did it. James Diamond was not shy. He walked out onstage as the keyboardist started his own soft tune…was that a lullaby? Oh, dear, this is what she wanted to do. Someone handed James a microphone. He stared at it strangely not having prepared anything. Lucy joined in on the same tune urging James to sing.
"Rock—" Lucy began.
"R-rock-a-bye baby," James joined in feeling a bit silly. But, if this was what Lucy wanted…
"James and I have an announcement to make." She placed the acoustic on the stool as the electric was in the holder and stood up. "Who's ready for some big news?" She shouted into the microphone. The fans cheered. "How about a baby?" The fans cheered louder. Lucy took a deep breath. "That's right," she said not shouting this time, "James and I are expecting a baby come this fall."
The crowd quieted to go with the mood. A few coos and aws could be heard. Then, the audience broke into more cheers. James and Lucy shared a smile. OK, well, at least it looked like Lucy's fans were happy with the news. Satisfied, James left the stage so Lucy could continue with the show.
"This is a lot harder than I thought it would be." Lucy pulled off the black leather jacket she'd been wearing for the final three numbers and took a long gulp from the bottle of water one of the assistants handed her.
"Do you not think this was a good idea?" James asked kissing her on the forehead and leading her to the couch in the dressing room.
"Oh no, this is a great idea, just harder than I thought." She placed a hand on her belly and another on James's hands which were touching her legs a bit seductively after tossing the now empty bottle on the floor. Turning to him, she placed a kiss on his lips.
"As much," James tried backing away but found it hard to resist, "as much as I'd like…like to continue this…I have a plane to catch…"
"Forget…about…that."
"I…wish I could." James pushed Lucy down on the couch still kissing her. "But, Gus…tavo would…kill me and…a dead…James is…not a good…one."
"That effectively ruined the mood." Lucy sat up. "Thanks for bringing your overweight manager into this."
"No problem." He tickled Lucy. "I really have to go now." He looked at his watch. "Yeah, I gotta go."
"You really look like it," Lucy joked.
"I know. I don't want to leave you."
"Hey, the sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back, right?"
James was about to say something when Lucy's phone, which resided on a table next to the couch, rang.
"My brother," she mouthed as she answered it. "Hey?"
"Is it true?" Linus asked. James leaned in closer so he could hear both sides of the conversation.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You—you're mad. How did you find out?"
"Really, Lucy? It's all over the entertainment shows and blogs. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Are you mad?"
"That you didn't tell me! I'm your brother. How can you keep something like this from me?"
"I didn't mean to. I forgot. I just—Mom and Dad didn't handle the news very well and I just—I'm sorry."
"I really have to go now." James kissed Lucy on the cheek and stood up. "Call me when you get off the phone with your brother. "
"Hold on, Linus." Lucy put the phone down. "I want to take you to the airport."
"It's going to be a madhouse out there. You need to just stay here. I'll see you in a few days. I love you."
Lucy stood up to give James a kiss. On the lips. Deep.
"Mr. Diamond." A knock on the door interrupted their time. "The car's waiting for you."
"I really have to go now," James said again.
"Yeah, I gotta get back to my brother." Lucy waved her phone where hopefully Linus hadn't hung up on her.
"Bye, Babe." He rubbed Lucy's tummy and headed for the door. "It's only a week."
Once he stepped out of the dressing room he was ushered down the hall, out the back door of the building, and into the waiting town car, almost knocking his head as he was pushed inside.
"James! James!" Shouted paparazzi.
"Are you excited to be a dad?" A reporter asked.
It didn't stop when he got to the airport. Somehow some of the paps were able to get into the terminal, past security.
"What was the band's reaction to the news of you becoming a father so young?"
James wanted to scream. He knew they'd be after him, but he didn't know it'd be like this and he could not have imagined them getting so close. They'd have a field day if he had a break down, though. He hoped and prayed it would all die down when he got back to LA.
RBSCDC: What couple do I like the best? Well, on the show I like Jendall, but in this story it seems Carlexa and Jucy are easiest to write.
Rusher Driver: Thank you! And thank you for your idea in the other review. I will consider it. Run-on sentence, schmun-on sentence, I liked your review.
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a wonderful new year!