Chapter 6

"It is far too early to tell if she is pregnant or not," Foster frowns at the door in front of him, arms crossed, matching the man standing beside him. Will doesn't say anything. It had been a week since the dreaded call from Ellie changed his life. He was slowly bringing himself out of his funk…yes, he was drinking more, but his heart felt like it was beating again. Now, he was back at square one. His hair was combed back. He wore a black dress shirt and black pants. Was this depression? Probably not. But this destructive, yet normal behavior felt right.

Will invited Ellie to move in with him. He refused to have the mother of his unborn child living in a dingy apartment, when he could supply the world for her. Eventually, deep down, he knew that he would also have to marry her. It was the right thing to do. Will rubs his black gloved hands together behind his back. In his fucked up world, he was going to do the right thing, even if it meant killing himself from the inside out.

Maddi, when he finally found her, had taken the news disgustingly well. She even dared to smile, when he told her his intentions with Ellie. Maybe her crush was gone. Maybe that was what the weeks of avoidance meant. She was training herself to move on. Will decided it was for the best and…

The doorbell rings. The men share a look, before Will walks towards the door and opens it. Ellie stands there with another man. Both hands are on her stomach and a large smile is plastered on her face. The man beside her is nowhere near as cheerful. Multiple bags surround the pair.

Will feels ill.

Will smiles back at Ellie.

Will takes some of the bags and so does Foster.

Will leads the group to his private quarters and they all place the bags down.

Will leads them to the dining room.

Will leaves them in the dining room and rushes to the bathroom.

Will vomits.

Will falls to the floor and lies there, staring up at the white ceiling.

A knock on the door breaks him out of his despair. The door opens and closes. The new occupant sits on the floor beside him. There is a moment of silence. Both stare at an empty spot. Hours feel as if they have passed, but in had only been second. The silence says so much and so little at the same time. Foster is the first one to break it, "That woman knows pink clashes with her hair, right?"

Will forces a laugh, "You would think someone would have told her by now."

"Her brother seems normal," Foster supplies, hoping to keep Will talking.

"Everyone seems normal compared to that woman."

"You don't have to do this."

Will sits up and looks at his friend, "But I do."

"Sometimes you don't always have to do the right thing," Foster replies, still staring somewhere off in space, "You can hardly stand to be in the same room with her. How do you expect to share your life with her?"

"I will learn to love her," Will replies, "I have to. It is the right thing to do."

"And what of Madison?"

Will scoffs, "what of her? She isn't part of this equation."

"You love her."

"I also love cookie dough, but I know not to eat it," Foster quickly turns his head towards Will, "That wasn't meant to be an innuendo."

For the first time in a while, they both actually laugh. They laugh at his words. They laugh at their situation. They laugh at the future. They laugh at Will's mistake. They laugh, because they can do nothing else.

"She has been looking at schools," Foster suddenly says, stopping Will's laughter.

"Oh?"

"Fashion schools, to be exact," Foster continues, "I believe she has even been applying. Will you let her go?"

"If you love something, let it go. If you don't love something, let it go. In fact, everyone should just let everything go," Will rambles, scratching his hands together, before standing up, "Of course, I will let her go, Foster Wilkinson, because that is the right thing to do."

Both men make their way back to the dining room. The siblings sat at the table, already partaking in the dinner Kelly supplied. Maddi had joined them. Foster sits next to her and Will sits at the head, between Ellie and Foster.

"I believe a congratulation is in order," Foster says, all eyes turning to him, "Even though this unplanned event has been thrust into Ellie and Will's hands, I believe both occupants will make amazing parents. A child is a miraculous creature. Their smile can turn a bad day upside down. You will never sleep again, but you will be so happy that it does not matter. They will make you hate and love your life. Will. Ellie. Your red-headed bastard will be the most loved child in existence. Life happens and there is no reason to not be happy about the gift you are about to receive. So congratulations."

Will felt ill again. He knew this was Foster playing nice for his sake. Yes, Will had always deep down wanted a child of his own. Foster knew this. Maybe he was right. He is going to be a father, whether or not he loves the upcoming mother, and he should be happy. He looks over to Ellie, to see tears had fallen down her face. She smiles at him, and then looks back at Foster, "Thank you, so much. I know this wasn't planned, but you're right. Willy-Poo and I have no reason not to be joyous about our future."

Ellie takes Will's hand then, "Baby, I can't wait to share this new life as being parents with you. You couldn't possibly understand how excited I am."

"I seem to be speechless," Will replies, feeling his stomach knot up, and picks up the glass of rum in front of him. He runs his gloved thumb around the edge as everyone returns to their meal. His eyes grace over to Maddi. Her hair was partially pulled back by a grey ribbon. A curl falls in front of her eyes. She doesn't move it. Will's fingers itch. Quickly, he chugs down all of the liquor in front of him and places the glass down. He keeps his eyes on her, watching as she pushed her food around on her plate, not once bringing any of it to her mouth. Her eyes never meet his.

Will looks over to his other guest. He doesn't look a thing like his sister. His hair is dyed a dark green. A ring is in is eyebrow and another attached to his mouth. Will suddenly decides he doesn't care much for this man. He is evidently older than Ellie, possibly the same age as Will, if not a few years older. His name is Nile. Perhaps he is in de-Nile about how poorly he is pulling off the green hair. Will chuckles to himself.

After dinner, Nile and Foster leave, while the other separate to their opposite rooms. Ellie sits upon his bed, hands on her stomach once more and a large smile on her mug. Will turns from her and walks to the bathroom, grabbing a half empty bottle of rum off of his dresser on his way. He locks the door behind him and turns on the shower. Before stripping down, he finishes of the bottle. His shower is quick, happy that his mind has finally reached the alcoholic induced blur.

Once done, Will walks out of the bathroom, with a towel around his waist and another in his hand, drying his hair. His eyes lock on Ellie. She was now relaxed against his bed- her eyes wide, taking his half naked form in front of her. He drops the towel that was in his hand onto the floor and walks to the side of his bed. Ellie quickly sits up and pulls herself closer to him. Will grabs hold of her tan thighs and pulls her even closer. She wraps her legs around his waist. With his left hand rubbing circles around her thigh, his right hand clasps around the zipper in the back and he pulls it down. Slowly he leans in. Her eyes close. He pass her lips and he whispers into her ear, "Go take a shower."

Will then untangles her legs, walks over to his dresser, pulling out a grey pair of sweatpants, and puts them on, knowing Ellie's eyes never leave his form. He turns to her, and crosses his arms, "Seriously, go."

"Will, it's my first night here…I was hoping."

"It is your second night here," He replies turning away from her once more, putting on a pair of bunny slippers. He should really get a new pair.

"Willy-kins, are you going somewhere?"

"Yes," he replies, making his way to the door, "I will return later. Don't stay up waiting for me."

"But Willllssss," Ellie whines, making her already high pitched voice even higher, "I was hoping we could you know…make love."

Will leaves then. Make love? What the hell did he get himself into?

He makes his way to the kitchen in search or another bottle of…something. A smile fills his face when he sees another person was already in the room, but then quickly turns into a frown. Maddi is sitting on a stool at the island. Her pale legs are crossed and dangle down, feet nowhere near the floor. Replacing her heels, where a pair of slippers similar to his, but pink. She is wrapped in a short silky pink robe and her hair is flowing free. Without noticing him, she takes another bite of ice cream.

Cautiously he makes his way towards her. When he leans beside her, she finally turns her head towards him, acknowledging his presence. Her eyes don't meet his however; they grace towards his well defined freckled chest. Slowly her eyes travel back up to his eyes, as she takes another bite of ice cream.

"I don't believe ice cream substitutes as dinner," he says.

"Neither does alcohol," she retorts back, taking another bite.

"You noticed that?" He says, laughing.

Maddi nods her head, then takes the spoon out of her mouth, "You have a problem, Will."

"Oh," he says taking the spoon from her and places it in the ice cream, taking some for himself, before continuing, "I have many problems."

"You're turning into an alcoholic," she replies, taking the spoon back.

"I don't think the word 'turning' qualifies my actions anymore," he answers, "I pretty sure I have earned my fully fledged alcoholic badge."

Madison does not smile at his quip, "Will, you have a child on the way. You need to stop before you add any more badges to your collection."

"I know."

A silent moment passes over them. Neither quite sure where the other stands in their relationship. Neither knew if the other still wanted to be friends. Will watches as she takes another bit of ice cream.

"Why haven't you been eating real food?" Will suddenly asks.

She turns to him and places the spoon on the counter, "Because I can't drink."

"That's silly, Maddi," He takes the spoon and twirls it around in his left hand as one would a pencil.

"No, it's not," she looks at him now, really looks at him- around her dull green eyes, he notices the red surrounding them, "What am I suppose to do, Will? The man I have been in love with for years has just entered a permanent relationship with another woman. They're expecting a baby."

"You'll fall in love again," He replies, finally allowing himself to push a lock of hair behind her right ear. His hand lingers on her cheek for a second to long, before he removes it and continues, "You'll fall in actual love, not just a crush that had grown into infatuation. An actual love. One that consumes you. One that makes you think of the future and it makes you excited. You will fall in love with a man that deserves your love."

"You think this is just some crush?" her eyebrows lower and pout falls upon her lips.

"Of course it is," Will replies as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.

"No," she says, "When I first met you, it was just a crush. When we played Candyland for the first time, it was just a crush. When you took me in, it was just a crush. When we built a fort that stretch from your room to my room, it was just a crush. When I broke my leg, and you picked me up and took me to the hospital, it was just a crush. On my sixteenth birthday, when you left for a month to take care of business, I became lost without you. In that short amount of time, I knew I loved you. I knew it was wrong. I knew I was too young. I knew that you would never return my feelings. But they wouldn't go away. I tried, but every time you smiled and your dimples showed, or when you skipped around the house when a new candy idea finally came to life, or when you would just hold me, when I was feeling sad or mad or… I knew the feelings would never leave. Will, I am in love with you. I know that is wrong. Trust me, I know. I know that you will never love me. Especially now. But just because you are older than me, it does not mean you can judge me or determine what my feelings are."

"Don't," he says, his arms crossed and his hands balled into fists, "You shouldn't love me. Please, please don't."

"I know," a tear falls down Maddi's cheek, her accent becoming thick, "You must be so disgusted with me. I don't blame you. I would be too."

Will begins to shake slightly, "Please, stop."

She doesn't really hear him, however, and continues to scold herself more than converse with him, "You think I'm stupid. Everyone is dumb compared to you though. Ellie is smart. She could probably help you with the business more than me. She's also much more beautiful than me. She looks like a Disney princess and I look like a dwarf. My ears are too big. I'm too pale. I'm ugly."

Will loses it then. He places his hand on either side of her face and gentle pulls her head up, forcing her to look into his eyes. More tears had fallen down her porcelain face, staining her pink cheeks. His eyes bore into hers, hoping to see something…there was no way she really thought this about herself. Another tear falls and he finally opens his mouth, "Maddi, please, please, please, please don't ever talk about yourself like that. Don't think of yourself like that. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known, inside and out. You're also one of the smartest. Please, darling, please don't think so poorly of yourself."

"You're lying," she replies, "You're saying that to make me feel better. I'm just some stupid, ugly child that you got stuck with."

"Darling, please stop."

"I've ruined your life, Willy. You didn't date because of me, right? Because what woman would want to be here, when I was? And now you found someone who makes you happy, because I'll be leaving soon, right?" her eyes close and Will's heart breaks just a little more.

"You're right," he replies, "You ruined my life, but in the best possible way. Spending my life with you was never a choice for me. I needed to spend time with you. Because being with you, I was able to be myself. Being with you has made me so ridiculously happy. I didn't date, because I didn't want to."

"I ruined our friendship," Maddi states.

"No, darling," Willy says, engulfing her into a hug, "I did."

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