Dec 1 2015

As long as I have Fergal, I feel like no problem is too big for me to conquer," I think maneuvering to the back staircase. "Oh, how things can change in two weeks."

It all started at TV tapings and a match with Dana. A disastrous match with Dana. The woman was very stiff, so stiff I was literally bouncing off the woman with my offense. I had landed hard quite a few times before she tied my leg in the ropes. I scream as something pops in my knee. Everything after is a blur. Being carried to the trainer's room. Fergal, in his ring gear, by my side. "Go. You have a match. You can meet me at the hospital later," I smile more confident than I actually feel. "I love you," I whisper.

"Love ya," he mumbles against my lips. "I'll be as quick as possible."

"Go."

The ride to hospital is quiet before being wheeled directly into x-ray then over to MRI. The results making my heart sink. Torn meniscus. Surgery is needed. The tears are streaming down my cheeks when Fergal finds me. His arms immediately wrapping me up.

"And that was the last time he even touched me," I grumble hopping one legged up the stairs. My injury causing a physical and mental distance between us. Fergal had taken to sleeping on the couch giving me the bed and a pile of pillows. The whole situation making me feel smothered in loneliness.

The stair cracks beneath my foot and I sit down on the next step heavily.

"Arianna? Are you okay?"

Glancing up I find Fergal's friend, Rami, with a box in his arms.

"Fine," I mutter. "Where is he at?"

"Said he had to talk to your dad. He went in the bar."

"About," I question pulling my good leg beneath me.

"Didn't say," he shrugs as I pull myself up.

"Last time he and Dad were in the same room it was tense. I don't even want to know what's going on down there. Plus, there is no way in hell I'm hopping my ass back down the stairs."

"Need some help?"

"Please," I sigh.

He shifts the box in his arms, propping it on his hip as he steps over the broken step joining me on my step. He wraps an arm around me to support me as I hop up the steps. "What about that broken step?"

"I'll call the repairman later."

"Shouldn't the bar…"

"Outside stairs are my responsibility. Plus, it's on the top third of the building so it's mine anyway. What would really be nice right about now is an elevator," I chuckle digging my key from my pocket.

"How are you going to get around after the surgery," Rami asks balancing the box on his knee before taking the key from me. Opening the door, he guides me in before following me.

"My sister is going to bring me a week's worth of groceries at a time. Mom recommended a physical therapist that will come to the apartment for me. Apartment is small enough I can get around easily," I shrug shuffling around the living room straightening the piles of comics and boxed Lego sets. "I just have to worry about my check-ups. Can I get you something? Water? Anything?"

"I'm fine," he smiles. "You should get off that leg."

"I can't sit around any longer. I'm going stir crazy."

"I'm worried more about your physical health," He states tucking the box in a corner.

"I'm fi…" I start before the apartment door slams open.

Turning we find Fergal fuming there.

"Hey man. What's…"

"Shut up," Fergal growls.

"What…"

His glare turns to me silencing the question. "Shouldn' ya be off tha leg," he questions me instead. "Did you see tha doctor taday?"

"Yeah," I nod.

"When 's yer surgery?"

"He pushed it back a couple weeks. I have had a slight fever the past few visits. He's hoping my body is just fighting off a mild infection."

He runs a hand down his face.

"I'm going to just go," Rami states after a few tense seconds.

"Thank you, Rami."

"Anytime," he smiles.

"Be careful of that step."

The room is silent after Rami leaves.

"When are ya goin' ta tell me," Fergal asks finally.

"Tell you what?"

"Still?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ya know what I'm talkin' about," he growls.

"If I did I wouldn't ask. Please. Tell me what I did to make you so angry."

He disappears further into the apartment.

"Fergal," I call. "I can't chase you."

"T'is. T'is is wha' I'm talkin' about," he growls slamming a box down on the coffee table.

Glancing down, I find the pregnancy test box. "Fuck"

"When were ya goin' to tell me about tat?"

"I guess when Amber told everyone. It's hers, Fergal. She didn't want Mom or Dad to know. You seriously thought I would keep something like that from you. I tell you everything."

"Do ya?"

"What have I ever kept from you?"

"You and Calvin."

"What about me and Calvin?"

"You're seeing him again."

"The hell I am. Who the fuck put that lie in your head."

Suddenly the anger from him made perfect sense.

"Dad," I growl. "He told you I was seeing my cheating ex and you believed him. Why?"

He drops his head.

"No, you tell me what I did to make you ever believe that I would ever do anything like that? You thought I was pregnant, did you believe it was his?"

His head drops even lower.

"What did I do?"

"Nothin'."

"Why then?"

"I don' know."

"Then get out."

"Ari…"

"You obviously need time to think," I interrupt, blinking back tears. "So, go. Think. When you come back from the overseas tour maybe you can tell me how exactly I messed this up."

"I will be back," he whispers.

"We'll see," I whisper back.

X

"What is going on," Amber asks sliding into the apartment.

"Where's Mom and Dad?"

"They stopped by the bar to talk to one of the girls," she motions to the door she just entered through. "They'll be up shortly."

"You need to tell them, Amber."

"I know. I will, soon."

"Tonight. Fergal found the test. It caused some problems between us."

"Ari, I…"

"It's a combination of things. It's not just you."

"I'm still sorry."

"We'll be fine," I sigh, lowering myself gingerly into our recliner. "Just hurts right now. I'll…"

"Arianna," my mother smiles as she enters with my father. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I tore out my knee."

"You're going to need surgery."

"Have a fever I can't seem to shake. I have a checkup in a couple days, if I still have it he's putting me on antibiotics. Then surgery."

"So, what is this little meeting about then," Dad asks.

"You."

"Me?"

"And your lies."

"Ari, what are you talking about," Amber questions.

"What did you talk to Fergal about this afternoon, Dad?"

He stares back at me silently.

"Ken, what is going on," Mom turns to her husband.

"Are you too ashamed to say it in front of me? I would be too."

"He is not good enough for you," Dad growls.

"So, you tell him that I'm screwing my cheating ex?"

"Ken," Mom gasps. "You didn't."

"Did you know that she was pregnant," he snaps, his eyes sweeping over to the woman. "That's why that Irish bastard came to talk to me. He asked me for permission to marry her. When I said no, he told me he just wanted to do the right thing."

"Ari?"

My eyes swing to Amber before meeting Mom's. "I'm not."

"Now who is lying," Dad smirk.

"She's not," Amber states. "I am. There was a misunderstanding with Fergal."

"Amber Lynn," Dad barks.

"Don't you fucking change the subject. You told Fergal that I was seeing Calvin. Why would you do that? Why do you want to hurt me like…"

"You want to talk about hurt? How about watching your daughter…daughters," he corrects turning his gaze to my sister, "throw their lives away. One gave up school to abuse her body for a living."

"You didn't waste any time jumping on my popularity for your own gain. I mean once I got a fanbase you wasted no time renovating the bar, plastering my picture everywhere you look and renaming it Ariel's. The fact that I abuse my body didn't mean anything then," I snarl.

"And you," he turns to Amber.

"Stop trying to change the damn subject," I snap slamming hand on the coffee table.

"Watch your language," Dad growls.

"Or what? You've taken everything from me, Dad. What more can you take from me?"

His eyes sweep around the living room before landing back on me.

"Oh, I see."

"Everyone just needs to calm down and think before anything else is said," Mom states trying to soothe the situation.

"No, he wants me out. I'll get out…for now. I'll stay at Amber's through my surgery and recovery. Afterwards I'll decide if I want this place anymore."

"This is will always be your home, Arianna," Mom whispers.

"And it will always be his property. Something for him to hold over my head."

"Arianna…"

"I'll be out by the end of the week," I sigh, pulling myself gently to my feet. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to start packing."

"Arianna…"

"Don't waste your breath. Let her have her fit. Come on."

"Ari," Amber calls following me.

"What?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I told you. We're moving in together."

"Yeah, just one problem with that plan. I still live with them. I'm still working on saving up."

"I got you. Your big sis is great at saving her money. Just give me a number. Until then come help me pack."

X

"Are you sure you don't want me to call Fergal?"

"No," I sigh, shaking my head. Glancing at my sister, "I'm doing it for him. He needs to concentrate on his championship match."

"He's been calling you all morning."

"I'll send him a text when I get out."

"You need to call him. Maybe he just needs to hear your voice."

"Maybe you need to tell your baby daddy that you're pregnant now that you've told our parents."

"I can't," she mutters.

"Why is that," I smirk trying to readjust in the bed.

"I don't exactly know who he is."

"Ummmm…what?"

"He was a one-night stand. Didn't exactly get his name and number."

"Huh," I huff, leaning back against the pillow. "I thought I would be the one picking up randos and disappointing our parents. You're such an over-reacher," I smirk.

"Well you disappoint Dad in your own ways," she grins. "Besides once you locked down that gorgeous Irishman, I thought the randos were up for grabs."

"Well, I'm sure you're going to have to share again soon," I sigh.

"You really think Fergal is going to leave?"

"I obviously did something for him to believe Dad's lie without a second thought."

"You don't know…"

"He came into the apartment furious. He never asked me if it was true. Obviously it was in his mind. I lost his trust somehow. Without trust, there's no relationship. He'll come to that realization soon if he hasn't already."

"Ms. Dean?"

Glancing up I find a large display of roses with a pair of legs beneath.

"Yes, talking flowers?"

A head pokes from around from behind.

"Where would you like these?"

"Umm…Anywhere, I guess," I state bewildered. Looking over at the six white roses from my mother on my bedside table before turning to my sister. "Who?"

"On it," she states heading for the giant bouquet of roses. Plucking the card from the center, she reads silently for a few seconds before handing it over. "I've got to run back to the apartment for some things. You need anything?"

"No."

"Your phone is on the table there if you need to call," she calls disappearing around the door.

Flipping the card in my hand.

Love,

Please consider talking to me. That is all I need from you. Please.

Love Fergalicious

Smiling softly, I pull my phone to me. Come home safe and we can talk. Promise. Love you.

Some of the tightness leaves my chest as I stare at the roses across the room. "He always has to go big."

X

"Ari? Love," his voice breaks through the fog of pain medicine.

"Ferg," I mumble trying to force my eyes open.

"Love?"

"It's the pain pills. It takes her a minute to wake up from them."

Finally, I get my eyes open to find Fergal kneeling beside the couch. "Hey," I smile. "What time is it?"

"Three a.m.," Amber groans heading for the bedroom.

"I just got home, he mumbles, falling to his ass to look up at me. "I missed ya."

"I missed you. Did you win?"

He drags the title from his bag by the coffee table, holding it between us.

"Knew you would."

"I'm sorry, Ari. I'm an arse."

"Okay, we're just going to jump right into this."

"Didn' wanna giv' ya a chance to change yer mind abou' talkin' ta me."

"Fine. Let's do this. What did I do to damage your trust?"

"Nothin'."

"Something did. Otherwise, you would never…"

"Ya got hurt."

"What?"

"Ya got hurt an' I couldn' fix it. I fel' useless. So, I put space 'tween us. It didn' seem ta botha ya."

"It did. I felt so alone. I didn't want to seem whiney about it."

"I found that tes' and I waited for ya to say something. Tought ya wanted ta surprise me or somethin'. I wanted ta surprise ya too. Bought a ring. Asked yer da for permission. Ten he said…wha' he said. I was too shocked ta think straight. I knew betta than to believe…"

"Yes, you should."

"I can't apologize enough."

"No, you can't."

"Nothin' I kin say will fix tings."

"Try."

"I know ya would neva do anyting like he said. I was too angry ta think straight that day but I've 'ad some time ta think."

"And?"

"I've neva been so stupid in my life. I promise ta not do tat to ya again."

"All I'm asking for is for you to talk to me. Even if you're angry. Even if you don't want to see my face…"

"Tat will neva happen."

"Just please talk to me. Tell me what is going on in that handsome head of yours."

"Promise."

"You're forgiven."

A smile spreads across his face. "Can I?"

"Please," I nod.

His lips press to mine gently. "I'm so sorry, Love," he whispers against my lips.

"Already forgiven."

"No sex on my couch," Amber calls.

"Technically it's my couch," I call back giggling. "And we already have."

"That was quick."

"Not tonight, ya pregnant arse," Fergal chuckles. "I'm takin' ya sister back home."

"About that," I sigh. "You might want to get comfortable here."