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Chapter Eight

Jill knew she couldn't avoid Jesse forever…as much as she would have liked to. Lissa set up a lunch for them a few days after the new 'deal' was in set. She scooted her chair into place after Jesse had pulled it out for her. She took a sip of water from her glass. She wasn't sure if she should bring up the baby or…

"I must admit a summer wedding will be much nicer than a winter one," Jesse commented as he took his own seat. "Good thing you can't keep your legs closed."

Jill choked on the water going down her throat. So much for this conversation going civilly. "It wasn't like that," she said when she found her voice again.

"No? What was it like then, princess?" Jesse asked, tilting his head to the side. "Because it seems to me that you are a slut."

Jill's face flushed. "Then why do you even want to marry me?" she asked.

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" he asked her. "You're a Dragomir. Your sister is queen."

"Okay, so you want the power," Jill said to him. "But what hold do you have over my sister? Why does she want you to marry me?"

"Connections, money…it's all very cut and dry," Jesse said. "She scratches our backs and we scratch hers."

"She's never been like that," she muttered.

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Jesse said. "There are a lot of hard choices she's had to make because of her status. But don't worry, everyone will be happy in the long run."

"Is that some kind of threat?" Jill asked him.

"Not at all," Jesse assured her, but she definitely didn't feel assured.

"And why don't you want Adrian involved with the baby?" she asked him.

"Because I say so. It's as simple as that," Jesse replied.

…

The next few months passed in a blur. Jill dutifully made wedding plans (she mostly just nodded at what Lissa suggested) as the baby grew bigger and bigger inside of her. The only saving graces were that Jesse was away from Court quite often on business and that despite what Lissa told him Adrian had been sticking by Jill. The more time they spent together the more Jill realized her feelings for Adrian were more than just friendship. But because she knew he didn't think of her in that way she didn't say anything to him.

"How can you tell? I don't see anything," Adrian insisted as he looked at the ultra sound monitor.

"Right there," the tech pointed to the screen. They had been trying for the past several visits to determine if the baby was a boy or a girl. It appeared today was their lucky day as the baby was in a good position. "It's a girl. Believe me. I've been doing this for years."

Jill giggled. "I think Adrian just wants it to be a boy," he said.

"I didn't say that," he huffed. "I just don't see anything."

"Right, you don't see anything. That's how we know it's a girl," Jill snickered.

The tech printed out two new pictures for them and sent them on their way after Jill was dressed. Jill couldn't help but laugh again as Adrian scrunched up his face as he examined the picture. "It's not like those hidden image things," she said.

"I guess we'll just have to take her word for it then, huh?" Adrian said looking over at Jill.

"She has been doing this for awhile," Jill said with a giggle.

"A baby girl…wow. I don't think I'm mentally prepared for this," he said with a sigh. "We'll have to think of a name. Unless, of course, Lissa has already picked that out."

Jill frowned. "It wouldn't surprise me," she said.

Adrian leaned down and kissed her bump. "Don't worry, butternut squash. We'll think of a good name," he said.

Jill laughed at the term of affection. The tech had told them earlier the baby was about the size of a butternut squash. "Hopefully something non food related," she replied.

"Fine. Shoot down all my awesome ideas. What do you want to do tonight?" Adrian asked her, looking up at her.

"I could use some help with the nursery," Jill said. "Do you think you can build a crib?"

"I can barely open a jar of peanut butter," Adrian replied.

"Well, we can look at all the cute clothes and oo and ahh them," Jill reasoned.

"Sold!" Adrian exclaimed. He straightened up and wrapped his arm around Jill, guiding her towards the new house she was going to share with Jesse and the baby. "Where's Prince Charming?" he asked.

"He's at St. Vlad's doing…something," she said. "I don't exactly remember."

"You mean you don't care," Adrian amended.

"That too," Jill snickered.

Upon arriving at the house Jill unlocked the door and led him up to nursery.

"I'm going to do a mural," Adrian announced after studying the blank wall.

"You are?" Jill asked with a chuckle.

"Yes," he confirmed. "It'll match the animal theme you have going on." He gestured to the mobile and sheets she had already purchased.

"I'm sure it will be beautiful," Jill said with a smile.

Adrian rubbed his hands together. "Now let me see this crib," he said.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon and part of the evening trying to piece together the wooden contraption. They spent more laughing than actually doing anything productive.

"I need to take a break," Jill said to him.

"You've been sitting there the whole time...what exactly are you taking a break from?" Adrian asked.

"Shut up. I'm carrying your child," Jill huffed.

"Yeah, yeah...hollow excuse," he teased her. He took her hand and helped her up. They walked into the living room and settled on the couch.

"What do you think of this place?" she asked him.

"It's big," he replied.

"Yeah, it doesn't feel very homey to me either," Jill said with a sigh.

Adrian looked over at her. "Once the baby gets here things will be better," he said.

"Once I figure out how to run away from here I'll feel better," she said with a chuckle.

"Ooo where are we going?" Adrian asked her.

Jill smiled when he used the word 'we'. "Palm Springs," she joked.

"A little too dry for my taste, but it'll do in a pinch," Adrian replied.

Jill swallowed at the sincerity in his words. Maybe if she told him how she felt... "Hey, Adrian," she said.

"What's up, Jailbait?" he asked her.

"Have you ever thought about really running away?" she asked softly.

"The three of us?" Adrian asked her.

She nodded her head. "I think we could make it work..." she said, leaning in closer to him.

"You'd leave everything here behind? I mean I know you don't want to marry Jesse, but it's not like you're in love with me..." Adrian said softly. Their faces were inches apart now.

The rest of the world seemed to disappear in that moment. The only thing that mattered was the two of them (well three). Jill licked her lips and just as she mustered up the courage to tell him she was, in fact, in love with him the phone rang. This broke them both of out of their momentary trance.

"You should get that," Adrian said, shaking his head slightly. "I'll see about dinner."

Jill nodded dumbly. What had she almost done? She knew for a fact that Adrian didn't think of her in that way. The phone ringing had been a blessing.