I don't own anything.
A/N: Alright it's time for another update but first I want to thank the reviewers from last time; HeartsWereNeverMeantToRace, chaylorXtraylorlover, traylorlove, Erieaud, and BabyGlover. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and please remember to Review.
Baby S
Chapter Eighteen
"Taylor, what in the world is this I'm seeing about you performing at the Grammy's?" Troy exclaimed as he entered their bedroom. Taylor looked up from the book she was currently reading and looked sheepishly over at Troy who stood at the foot of the bed patiently awaiting an answer.
"Oh so they released the information huh?" she asked while trying to hide the small smile that was threatening to break through. Troy now truly upset over what had happened frowned at her for a long moment before speaking.
"Taylor...you're pregnant...and you've been on bedrest for most of the pregnancy...this...this isn't a good idea at all."
"I haven't been on bedrest for most of the pregnancy I just did it because it made you feel comfortable and I knew you were worried and at the time so was I." she stated before he could cut in. "Look, I'm not going to dance or prance around on stage. I'm just going to sit and sing my song that's all, besides Julius made me promise."
"Julius?"
"Shit." she stated before placing a hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to drop his name, and judging by the look on Troy's face he was certainly going to receive an ear full from Troy. "Baby, please don't be angry with him...I made him not say a word."
"So you two are keeping secrets?" he asked with a huff as he sat down on the bed and looked over at her for a moment. Taylor just sighed and nodded her head before speaking up.
"I'm sorry," she murmured with a sigh. "I just wanted this to be a surprise for you. I didn't want you to get upset with me." Troy laid back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling while Taylor watched him silently.
"I'm not mad at you." he finally admitted after moments of silence. "I'm just...well you know I worry about you and the baby." he finally stated with a small sigh. "I just don't want anything to happen at the award show...I don't think I'd forgive myself."
"Nothing will happen...we can't have that in our minds. No negative thoughts." she finished with a small smile as she shifted so that she could reach out and touch his hand. Troy turned his head and looked at her as he grasped her hand within his.
"No negative thoughts." he repeated as if affirming the order in his mind. He didn't want put any negative energy out there for her or the baby. No. He would think positive thoughts for them. Taylor smiled at his words and then settled back.
"And no going after Julius."
"Not even to talk?" Troy asked playfully as he turned his voice and force in a childish infliction that had Taylor rolling her eyes.
"Well, you can talk about other things but not about him...helping me. I promised he wouldn't get on your bad side and he won't."
"He isn't on my bad side, Taylor."
"Good." she stated with a small shake of her head, as she settled back on the bed. Troy turned and propped his head up on his hand and looked at her, before reaching out and lying a hand on her thigh.
"Does this...this performance mean you're going to start recording again." he asked with what appeared to be a serious expression on his face. Taylor took in the look, and then stilled herself against whatever Troy was about to say to her answer.
"Yes...yes I am." he frowned for a minute before pushing himself up and off the bed. Taylor watched him silently before speaking up.
"Do you mind telling me what's wrong?" she called out from her position on the bed, Troy paused at the foot of it and then looked at her as if he didn't really want to tell her what he found so upsetting about her getting back into the music business. Taylor looked at him pointedly for a moment before sighing. "Troy, please tell me what the problem is?"
"I...I...don't know if I'm comfortable with you performing like you used to do." he finally admitted, "I don't want to see Tay-Anne again and-."
"Who said anything about Tay-Anne...I'm...I'm putting that behind me. This album is about me...Taylor Anne McKessie. I'm going to perform new material and hopefully the fans will love it and I won't lose to many people." Troy took in her answer for a moment before nodding his head and then sighing.
"So what music will you be doing?" he asked bluntly, Taylor just shook her head at him and smiled a secretive smile that she knew he loved.
"I can't tell you that...it's a surprise, but if you will take me as your date to the Grammy's I guarantee you that you'll find out." Troy smirked at her statement and looked at her briefly before crossing his arms over his chest and tapping the bottom of his chin.
"Take you as my date...I don't know...I'm pretty popular now, and I'm sure the media would just be dying me to take so beauty queen," he paused and looked at her and then carefully got on the bed. "Hmm, I guess you're it then...you're beautiful...the media knows about you and I love ya...I guess I can take you."
"You are a trip." she murmured as Troy just rested his forehead against hers.
"Umhmm." he whispered before leaning forward and capturing her lips in a soft kiss. Taylor lifted her arms up and wrapped them around Troy's neck and held on tightly. Rolling over onto his back, Troy pulled Taylor onto his chest and carefully held her to him. "I still think we should stay here...and you can give me a private performance and-."
"Troy I really want to do this." she replied back with a sigh as she looked down into his blue eyes. For a moment Troy just nodded his head before lifting up and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Fine...if that's what you want then I'll support you." he murmured softly as he looked up into her eyes. "Just remember I love you." he whispered as he brushed another kiss against her lips before smiling and leaning back. Taylor smiled and rested her head on his chest listening to the soft and comforting sound of his heart.
The next day when Troy entered his office, he was greeted by Julius who was looking at him as if he just knew how angry his boss and friend could be. Troy paused at the door and just looked at him before allowing a smile to spread across his face. "If you weren't my friend." he murmured with a shake of his head. Julius slightly relaxed and then sat down in one of his chairs.
"I'm glad you're okay...Taylor called me after you left this morning and gave me a heads up." he admitted with a chuckled. Troy rolled his eyes at the dramatics that Taylor was known for and just moved to his desk and sat down.
"I'm okay with it...just make sure the set has her sitting down. I don't want an accident to happen on national television." he stated firmly as he bore his eyes into the other man. "That's my only concern. If this is what she wants to do...I won't hold her back. I can't be that type of man to her." he replied softly as he placed his hands on his desk. Julius nodded his head in understanding. He always found himself in awe over how Troy constantly put Taylor and her needs first. He was pretty sure that if Troy would drop anything for her if she was in trouble and needed his help. He would probably drop and interview...a concert...anything just so he could be by her side in her time of need. He admired that about Troy. He admire the sense of duty the other man had for his love ones.
"I promise...heck I made her promise me that when she roped me into helping her." Troy just chuckled and shook his head for a moment.
"I see," he murmured. "She has us both wrapped around her fingers huh." he stated with a shake of his head. "I guess we're in trouble."
"Unless we help one another out."
"Next time...we'll do that." Troy stated with a small chuckle as he leaned back in his chair and thought some things over. "So have you heard anything lately...on the music front of course."
"Nothing much, why?"
"Just wondering if you knew what was going on with Dee records...Darius approached me not to long ago in the parking lot. He was really angry and I'm thinking that things are tanking over there." Troy replied with a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Julius studied him for a brief moment before nodding his head.
"Yeah, things are tanking...after you and Taylor he became even more overbearing and basically pushed away the rest of his good talent or he ruined it himself by forcing certain songs and styles that just aren't selling." Julius replied. "I kept tabs on what was happening because well basically I helped start that company...and it's still very much apart of my life."
"Okay then." Troy replied, Julius studied him for a moment before speaking up.
"You know I was thinking...Ideal records is doing great and maybe we could buy up Dee records make them one of our smaller companies." Troy shook his head and pushed back from his desk. "What it's a good idea."
"Business wise...yes I have to agree with you there, but seriously Julius...Taylor and I are trying move on from Dee records and everything that went on there. Buying the company is like inviting the memories in. Ideal records is a restart for us all. I didn't leave the company only to invite back into my life later on. I'm sorry but that...that won't be happening." Julius nodded his head and sighed.
"I guess you're right."
"I'm sorry if my answer upset you."
"No, you're right it's time to move on from Dee records...I guess I haven't really let go. I mean Darius and I did start that from the ground up. I mean Dee records was like the working man's company. We held every position in the beginning." he mused as he looked across at Troy who sat watching him silently.
"Look, man I'm really sorry. I know that you loved that record label, but you made a decision."
"And I'm going to stick by it. I'm not going to leave you guys hanging. Darius lost his way...and dragged me down with him. I'm okay...just...just thinking about things." He admitted softly as if he were ashamed of his thoughts. Troy just smiled and waved his hand in the air as if he was waving away Julius' words.
"Don't worry about it. I understand what you mean. It's hard to let go sometimes, but when you do you never know if something better is coming up soon or if you're experiencing something better anyway."
"Yeah, like here." Julius replied with a soft smile. "So are you really okay with Taylor performing, at the Grammy's?"
"It's what she wants...just make sure that she doesn't walk around on that stage alright." Troy replied with a sigh. Julius nodded his head and pushed himself up from the seat he was currently occupying.
"Alright then...I'm on it boss." he stated with a mock salute before laughing and walking out of the office. Troy smirked and leaned back in his chair as he turned on his computer and checked his schedule for the day. He really wanted to get back home and chill out with Taylor, because he knew for a fact this weekend would be a trying one...especially since she was making him take her shopping for a new dress for the award show. Normally he wouldn't mind but he knew what he was going to be in for this time around.
Taylor was sure what to expect the that afternoon when she knew Troy wasn't going to be back for another hour. Maria had gone shopping and had left her home alone after much reassurance from Taylor that she would be fine. Moving carefully she walked down the stairs and headed towards the front door. Once she opened the door, she gasped in surprise and stumbled back but kept herself upright by holding onto the doorframe. "Darius what are you doing here?" she asked sharply as she protectively placed a hand over her stomach. Darius noticed the motioned and raised his hands up as if telling her not with sign language that he wasn't going to do anything to her. "You need to answer my question?" she snapped as she looked at him while still clutching the door handle ready and willing to slam it in her face. Darius studied her for a moment before speaking up.
"I just came to see you." he replied smoothly as he looked at her, she studied him for a moment as a wave of uneasiness settled over her. Shaking her head in disbelief she looked at him as if he had actually lost his mind.
"Darius you know good and well that I don't want you here." he chuckled and placed himself within the doorway letting her know very aggressively that she wouldn't be closing the door on him anytime soon until he was done telling her about how he felt.
"You don't want me here because Troy doesn't want me here...you were never one to follow your own mind." he replied with a shake of his head. "You latch onto anything and anyone that can lead you." he stated with a frown as he looked at her with a shake of his head. Taylor frowned at his words and simply shook her head.
"You're wrong?"
"You left the label." he pointed out. "Don't tell me that this wasn't what that white boy had planned all along." he snapped now becoming quite irate as he looked at her from his position in the doorway.
"He didn't plan anything...and of course I would have left after your little speech in the restaurant." she pointed out with a shake of her head as his words from that night played through her mind again. Upsetting her over her stupidity for ever believing him to be someone she should be around, for being someone she trusted so blindly. "You used me."
"We used each other...don't tell me you didn't enjoy the years you had at my label. Hell, you were my best selling artist. In business people use each other everyday...nothing is different about what happened between us."
"You used me...and you never presented it as a business relationship only. You constantly told me that no one cared about me like you did...that you were the only family I had left. I let you tell me those things and I allowed myself to believe your lies but if you think I'm going to be doing that again...you are seriously twisted." He frowned at her words and then shook his head as he stepped into the house.
"Troy is no better."
"He may not be perfect to you...but he is to me...and that is all that matters." she pointed out angrily as she looked up at him. "Why are you really here...how about you try some honesty for once and tell me why you're really here."
"Don't talk me like that. Have you lost your fucking mind?" he shouted as he looked at with open contempt. "Try some honesty for once huh...here it is then. Troy is using you for his own personal celebrity boost. He's simply using you to make himself more famous. You know you two are like the it couple right now right."
"He isn't using me for that. If that's how the public wishes to see our relationship then they can." she finished with a shake of her head. "I can't believe you are standing here trying to tell me this." She stated with a shake of her head. Darius moved towards her and then grasped hold of her shoulders with a open frown on his face.
"You know I'm quite tired of you sitting there telling that Troy isn't using you...I know he is." he yelled as he shook her furiously. Taylor screamed in shock, as Darius seemed to snap right before her eyes. Lifting her hands she grabbed hold of his wrists and then balled her fist up and pounded down on them again and again. Darius, however didn't release her. He held her onto arms and then shook his head as he looked down at her.
"You think that he actually loves you." He shouted with a shake of his head. "You're nothing more than a commodity, an ATM machine that is now exclusively his." He replied with a shake of his head as if he should have realized what Troy was up to all along. Neither one of them noticed the door opening or Troy standing there his eyes narrowed in white hot rage as he viewed the grip that Darius had on Taylor.
"You need to let her go now, before I remove you my damn self." he snapped out cutting off Darius' continued speech. Both turned to look at him as if he was a figment of their imagination or nightmare in Darius' case. Stepping fully into the house, Troy settled his eyes on Darius and then spoke up.
"You know I'm trying to figure it out...what gets you off on messing with women?" he asked as he stepped towards Darius who still had a hold on Taylor but was looking fully at Troy. Troy had to admit the other man would be a fool if he didn't give him his full attention cause he was ten seconds away from making this a brawl.
"You know I'm onto you."
"On to me...what in the hell are you talking about. On to me in what way?" he asked with a shake of his head. "On to the fact that I actually love and care about Taylor...is that what you're onto." he asked bluntly as he looked at him as if he was a small child that was going through a fit. "You need to let her go right now." Darius frowned at him and then look at Taylor and released her with a small push, that sent her falling back onto the floor. The surprise and terrified look on her face instantly made Troy move into action. He grabbed hold of Darius and slammed him into the wall.
"You want to me let Taylor...Tay-Ann," he spat the name out with all the hatred inside of him dispute the fact that he was actually struggling with Troy. Drawing back his face, Troy slammed his face directly into his face. Darius grunted in pain as he felt his nose break beneath the impact of Troy's fist.
"You stupid bastard." Troy shouted out angrily as pulled back again, but stopped as he heard Taylor scream out his name. Turning he looked at her and saw a sight that made his entire stomach drop to the floor. Taylor laid on the floor, a hand over her belly as a small pool of blood grew beneath her. He instantly looked between her legs and saw that her pants were wet with blood as well. Pushing Darius away from him, he rushed to her side and picked her up cradling her like a child as he held her protectively to his chest, without another word he turned and rushed out of the house heading towards his car. He knew he had to get her to the hospital he was scared for her and his child. All he knew was that they had better make it through this or else as far as he was concern Darius was dead.