Chapter 11.
The bright morning sun filled the room and gently warmed Avery from his sleep. He opened his eyes and realised that they had both been sleeping entwined with each other, blissfully unaware. Juliette was lying right next to him, his arm was underneath her back, wrapped around her, with her head resting on his shoulder. He was lying slightly on his side. He suddenly remembered what had happened in the middle of the night. He had been ripped from his sleep by what he came to realise was Juliette crying out in fear, she had begun sobbing and he was quick to console her and calm her down. He wasn't even sure that she had woken up. He had gently soothed her and she had soon returned to sleeping calmly. He couldn't remember much after that, so assumed he had drifted off shortly after.
As he was thinking this over, he looked at her sleeping peacefully there in his arms. He couldn't get rid of the thoughts in his head, how right it felt, that she belonged there and all that mattered at that moment was how much he loved her. As he lay there she began to stir and opened her eyes. She looked disorientated at first. He watched as the realisation set in and she gave a small smile as she looked up at him.
"So what am I doing all the way over here? I thought we agreed that we should stick to our sides?"
He grinned, "Technically, we just said no sex. All we are having is a little cuddle, and I think really close friends do cuddle."
"I'm pretty sure that close friends don't cuddle in barely any clothing, in bed."
He laughed. "Okay, maybe you're right. But what if one of those friends was having a nightmare in the middle of the night and woke the other, and the only way to calm her down was talk to her and cuddle and reassure her?"
He looked at her and awaited her response. He was a little worried, as he didn't want to embarrass her.
"Oh, I'm really sorry. I don't even remember," she said. She looked thoughtful for a moment.
"It's fine, really. I'm glad you weren't alone."
She smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "Me too. I guess I am feeling anxious about today."
He continued to cuddle her and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"It's ok. I'll be with you the whole way. Whatever happens."
She slowly rose to sitting and gently pulled away from his embrace.
"Thanks. I better get ready. I'll have to get to the next venue for the tour, straight after the appointment."
Juliette really struggled to eat lunch. Avery tried to coax her, and reassure her, but it was no use. She felt like her world was ending. She couldn't bear to think that the father of her baby could be her worst enemy. It was bad enough that she was having a baby in itself.
"I'm too young to have a baby. This should not be happening, I am always so careful with birth control. This is just not fair. I should be suing the manufacturer, goddammit!"
She slammed her fist down on the table.
"I know it's not great timing but I think we just need to figure out what we dealing with and then go from there. This is happening, and it will be ok. You will make the best of it, and work it out. You always do."
There was that reassuring smile of his again and Juliette fought with all her might against it.
"If it's not yours, Avery, I don't know what I am going to do," she shook her head.
"I told you already, I'm not going anywhere. You believe me don't you?"
She looked up at him. The sincerity in his eyes, his calm, collected voice. She wanted to just lay in his arms and think of only him. She had wrecked it all, it would never be the same. Hell, she would never be the same, she could never forgive herself for this.
The scan appointment flew around too quickly. They climbed the steps in the back entrance of the hospital, both disguised; her in her hat and glasses, him in glasses. Once inside, the staff ushered them through a back corridor to the sonographer in a room. She was shaking a little and looked so pale. Avery was so worried how much this was affecting her. He was so worried for the outcome, not for him, but for her. If it was Jeff's, he was so scared about what she would do. He knew she wouldn't handle it well at all. She had been through so much recently, he wasn't sure how much more she could take. That was why it was so important to him that she knew he was going to be there for her.
The sonographer asked her to pull up her shirt and put the gel on her tummy, ready for the ultrasound. She didn't waste any time getting started.
Avery reached out to Juliette and held her hand and gave it a squeeze. He didn't let go and she suddenly clenched it back. Both their eyes locked on the screen as they suddenly saw movement on what had been a blank screen. There was a baby.
The sonographer chatted away to them whilst making the appropriate measurements and pointing out body parts. Head, spine, arms, legs, even a little foot.
Juliette's eyes didn't leave the screen as the sonographer spoke. She took it all in and let the tears form in her eyes. She didn't fight it, as a couple of them made their way down her face.
Avery also stared at the screen, mesmerised. His mouth slightly open, his eyes wide. He had been wondering if there would be much to see at this stage. Now, he could see it all, there in front of him. All he could think was, please let this perfect little thing be mine.
The sonographer looked to Juliette and broke both of their thoughts.
"So, I understand you don't have a last menstrual period date, so haven't been able to date the pregnancy?"
Juliette couldn't speak.
Avery leaned forward, "yes that's right."
"Ok, well, judging by these measurements, you are 11 weeks 6 days pregnant, so 12 weeks tomorrow!" The sonographer smiled, she had no idea what news she was bringing.
Juliette's eyes still glistened with tears but suddenly grew wide and alive.
"So conception would have taken place about 9 weeks ago?"
Juliette could not hide her delight. She looked to Avery who was grinning back at her, his head slightly leaning to one side.
"That's right, Miss Barnes. In a normal cycle, 9 weeks ago would be spot on."
Avery helped Juliette down from the bed and didn't hold back in giving her a huge hug.
"I guess that means we are going to be parents in 6 months time then?"
Juliette took in a breath. "I can't believe it," she whispered, stroking her tummy.
"I can't believe that little baby is growing inside me right now. I just have so much running through my head! I have to talk to Rayna, I have to prepare a nursery, and the baby will need loads of stuff that I need to buy…" she rambled on and on, with each sentence cementing in her head, that this was really happening. They were going to be parents.
Once in the car, Juliette noticed that Avery had suddenly become very quiet.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure why?" he avoided her gaze. She knew something was up, and she began to feel worried. Was he having second thoughts?
He dropped her off and said goodbye, but something didn't fit. Was she being too sensitive?
So many thoughts were running through her mind. She waved him off and entered her house. She'd give him some space. See what happened. She couldn't expect him to be there all the time anyway, she had to depend on herself. She had done this all of her life, so she could certainly do it again. She knew that she couldn't expect too much, he still had to lead his life. He didn't want to be tied to someone he couldn't be with. He deserved better. Maybe some distance wouldn't hurt. Seeing the baby, their baby, her baby on that screen, had kicked her into survival mode. She was going to do this.