Chapter 9

"Good luck with that one, Will," He turns around to see Maddi stomping into his office. She was sans heels at the moment and replaced them with a pair of sneakers. Instead of a dress, she wore skinny jeans and a striped tee-shirt too large for her frame.

"Good luck?" he questions, a grin pulling at his features.

Maddi walks closer and sits on an empty chair. She brings her legs up and wraps her arms around her shins, "If you weren't in love with her…"

Will doesn't correct her.

"I would have slapped her silly. She went on and on about you- 'Willy-kins did this and Willy-kins did that.' Stupid pet names- is that a turn on for you?" Maddi ends with a laugh.

"Not in the slightest," Will replies, laughing along with her.

"Really, Willy-Bear?" She asks, her giggles faded, but her eyes shined bright, "It does nothing for you, Will-Silly? Willy-Billy? Willy-Pilly? Willy-Fi- Fo-Filly?"

"Well, coming from you it's pretty damn adorable," He replies honestly, "But I sincerely wouldn't say it is a turn on."

"Oh come on, Willy-Poo Poo Head," Maddi unwraps her arms, places her hands upon her knees, and her chin upon her hands, "It has to be the pet names, Willy-Will. If not, it must be the red hair. You're really into red heads?"

"I…"

"Fire-crotches," Maddi interrupts him, "That is what does it for you, Willy-kins."

"No, it really doesn't," Will interjects, "What's going on, dear?"

Maddi drops her legs, leans back, and crosses her arms in front of her. Her smile falters for a second, but quickly returns to her face- her eyes no longer bright. Will holds himself back from standing up and taking her into his arms. Finally she answers, "I was just curious. You could have any girl in the world and you choose her. I just wanted to know what you see in her. I don't mean that in a petty way. Truly, I'm just curious."

He really shouldn't be surprised by her inquiring, but he was still taken back. The answer was that Ellie was not special- it was harsh but true. This entire situation was based around one self-loathing accident. Will could not tell her that; however, neither could he lie to her. Maddi stares at him waiting for his answer. Looking down at his hands, he realizes there was no possible way to answer her. At least not now.

"You know what," Maddi says, standing up, "I shouldn't have pried. You don't have to answer. Have fun on your date."

"I…Thank you," Will says, standing up as well. Maddi takes a step towards him, before shaking her head, and quickly leaving. Will runs a hand through his curly strawberry blonde hair, before following her out and walking to his room. He takes a cold shower and then shaves whatever stubble had appeared. Wiping his face, he is suddenly hit with a mass of self-hatred. He pulls his face from the plush purple towel and looks at the razor balance upon the edge of the sink. Hesitantly, he drops the towel and reaches for the razor. Memories of his childhood fade in; his mother dying, his father becoming an alcoholic, his father beating him, telling him he was worthless…nights spent in the bathroom taking a razor to his wrists.

Quickly he places the razor back in its box and walks out of his the room. His feet pad across the cold tile as makes his way into his closet. He pulls out a charcoal grey three piece suit and a green tie. As he gets dress, he hears his closet door opening. After buttoning his vest, he turns around to see Ellie, slipping on a pair of cream pumps. He takes in her appearance. She swore a tight dark blue dress, which ended under her knees, with a slit in the black. She also had on a gaudy cream necklace and her hair is pulled up into a high bun.

"Hi," she smiles and straightens her position, while bringing her hands to her hips.

"Hi," he replies, a smile forms on his face, as his pulls his jacket on. Ellie takes a few steps towards him. Closing the distance, she places her hands upon his chest. She looks up at him with expectant eyes.

"You look lovely," Will says, placing his hands on the small part of her back.

Ellie rises on her toes, her heels no longer gracing the floor, "You look very handsome yourself, Willy-kins."

Will tries not to laugh, remembering Maddi's words; therefore, he leans his head down and captures her bottom lip with his- hoping she takes the gesture as romantic. She replies eagerly, sliding her hands up his chest and around his neck. Will pulls away then, removing her hands, but holding onto her right with his left. He pulls her out of the closet, out of the room, and towards the foyer. Instead of taking her to the front door, he leads her down a corridor and to another room. The lights turn on the second they enter.

"Pick one," Will tells Ellie as he watches her eyes widen.

"I didn't take you as a car guy," Ellie replies, dropping his hand and walking towards the vehicles.

"I've never been a fan of being chauffeured," He replies, sticking his hands in his pockets and following her. Ellie makes her way to a black Porsche. She trails her fingers around the hood, before turning around towards Will, a grin stretching across her face.

"A little bit Batman, isn't it?" She teases, crossing her arms across her chest.

"That's because I am actually Batman," He replies walking towards her. This time is Ellie who wraps her arms around his waist, as he places his hands behind her head.

"Does that make me Catwoman?" She whispers. Will makes a sound in agreement, before kissing her once more. Ellie's hands travel to the front of his jacket to pull him closer, as he pushes her closer to the car. It was a meaningless motion. Here he has a beautiful woman and yet he felt nothing.

Will pulls away from her, "Are you ready to go?"

She looks up to him, her muddy eyes darker than before. She licks her lips before nodding her head. Then he walks away from her then, to fetch the key. He tells himself he can do this. Maybe the more he kisses Ellie, the less she would talk. Could affection actually render her speechless? In the front of his mind it was a joke, but deep down he hoped it was true. Will did not plan to drink tonight- hence why he decided to drive. He knows this night would determine if he could actually spend time with this woman- alone, sober time.

Ellie is smoothing down her dress, by the time he returns. He unlocks the car and walks her over to the passenger side, opening the door for her. Then he makes his way to his side, get in and starts the car. He takes them out of the garage and to one of the most well known restaurants- famous for their jazz band, expensive food, and privacy. Cher Pierre was a perfect place to not be interrupted by paparazzi. He didn't want to consider the possibility of being seen. Not because he didn't want people to know that he was on a date, but that he didn't need everyone and their grandmother to know. He could see the news title's already. In a matter of an hour, his private life could turn upside down. To insure that, that did not happen, he paid of the owner to not only have multiple people stand guard around the restaurant, but to him to be allowed to park in the back.

Will frowns. A few years ago, he wouldn't have to go out of his way hide from the public eye. After his factory and candy blew up, people started to become more and more interested. When he was younger, Foster and himself would go out on nights. He wasn't lying to Ellie, when he said it had been a while since he had been with someone. Will had also dated, unbeknownst to Maddi. These relationships were just never serious enough to have them meet her.

The couple pulls up into the parking spot that had been left empty. Will gets out and opens the door for Ellie. She takes the crook of his arm and he leads her inside. They are quickly greeted by a hostess, who appeared to be waiting for them. She leads them to a table close to the back. The sheets are cushioned, there is a candle on the table, and the sounds of soft jazz travels to the air.

A waitress comes up to their table- she is dressed in all black, her blonde hair is pulled into a side ponytail, and there is a large beauty mark upon her chin. She smiles at them and then takes their drink orders, as well as telling them that the chef had prepared something special for them. Will groans internally. This was not his type of scene. Though he knew the food would be amazing, he would rather be at a pub and not wearing this monkey suit. He lets his mind wonder off to what it would have been like if he and Maddi were the same age when he was in his early twenties. Would he have taken her with him and Foster when they went out? Or would he have the similar notions that he has now and would be correctly courting her? As much as Will hates to admit it, despite his ambition, which lead to his success, he was like any other young adult. After his last breakup, he decided to give that life style up. He spent more time at work, at the factory, and with Maddi. Then a thought comes to his mind that he immediately wanted to banish. Say he never met Maddi. Say her father didn't die. Say they were the same age. If they were to meet when he was younger, he wouldn't have given her a second glance. Had he had not fallen in love with her under these circumstances, he would have not fallen in love at all.

Due to his previous dating history he preferred tall brunettes. Confident tall brunettes, who wore red lipstick, pencil skirts, and black stilettos. Women who knew how to handle whatever was thrown at them. Women who held impressive work positions. Women who knew what they were doing, not only in their life, in their job, but also in bed. So what had drawn him to Maddi? Was it the familiarity? The comfort of knowing she would be there when he got home? When she leaves, will he still love her?

Yes.

These circumstances did occur and he did fall in love with her. It was more than that she was there for him. When he stopped going out, they spent many nights together. They would sit in the kitchen, eating candy, talking about their opinions on life, the future, space, chocolate…everything. He fell in love with her mind. Then, as if the fates decided that they wanted to punish him for running away as a child, they made him attracted to her. He began to appreciate every curl in her hair, every expression that would fall upon her small mouth, every color the danced through her bright eyes. When she began to trade in her sneakers for heels and the pants for dresses, it killed him a little inside, because no longer did she look like a child. Everything inside of him that told him to stay away was gone. However, he still had a little control over his actions…until that damn night, where she kissed him. He realized that was the night that destroyed what little control he had. The damn kiss is what destroyed him. All of the depression that had been building up from not being able to confess his feelings finally came overflowing out when he thought that she had been repulsed by him.

"Will," Ellie says, bringing him out of his thoughts, "Are you alright?"

"Peachy," He replies, forcing a smile upon his face. The food arrives and they have small talk. It isn't awful, he decides. Spending time with Ellie was bearably to say the least. Towards dessert, he finally decides to share some light on some information.

"Ellie," Will says, after taking a sip of his water to clear his throat.

"Yes, Will-Bear?"

"I had Foster make a doctor's appointment for you next week," He replies.

"For the baby?" She questions, her eyes going wide.

"Yes."

"Okay."

Reviews are LOVEEEEE. Sorry about the last chapter. I had to add it though. If you remember the movie, you know which door that is. I decided to change my original plans for this story and make this a prequel for the movie. Again, for those who remember the movie, I am sorry for the upcoming ending to this. Once I have finished this story, however, I do plan to maybe make a sequel or oneshots that don't relate to the movie at all. Either way, I love the reviews I receive- even though they shouldn't have an affect on my writing process, they do inspire me to write faster. SO if you read and want more chapters quicker, do the wise thing to review. No matter what, I will still upload. ALSO, do you guys like the new cover? or should I change it back to the original?