~ Between Reality & Home ~

Deena turns around again. Pauly has stood up now and he repeats himself.

"I'm leavin' tomorrow."

Deena dare asks.

"To go where?"

Pauly, "Back to Vegas."

Deena feels the back of her ears and face get hot. She doesn't know if she should feel bad for going off on Pauly or to go off some more.

Deena responds as calm as she can, "Your daughter has only been on this Earth a count of almost three weeks. You said you're going where?"

Pauly stands firm, "To Vegas…to WORK."

Pauly waits for Deena's response and when it doesn't come, he takes that as his cue to continue.

"I wanted to tell you for a while, but there was never a good time with us being so busy with Pauleena."

Deena, "It takes a few seconds to let me know that just like you did now."

Pauly, "The time presented itself."

Deena, "Yeah I guess so since you would probably be telling me at the Gate."

Pauly continues, "Look, I'm not stayin out there forever. I just need to be there this week. From then on I'll have a set schedule of every weekend, probably every other weekend."

Deena, "…and how long is that gonna be?"

Pauly, "You know we start filming season six soon. It can't be longer than that."

Deena, "So just say you'll be gone about three months."

Pauly shakes his head. He really doesn't want to continue this conversation here.

Pauly, "My show airs at the end of this month so it's important that we promote it. Like I said, after this month, I may not be gone that much but I have to start my residency at the Palms. They're payin me for a job to do and they don't have to do that…I'm going Deena."

He expects that to be the end of it but Deena doesn't give up.

"What about your Daughter? Don't you think it's important that you be there for her?"

Pauly is irritated now. "To do what?! She has you, she has your Mother, your Sister, your Aunt, Grandmother…Deena, I am not walking out on her. I'm goin to work so that she has an extra paycheck payin for whateva she needs. I can't believe you're tryin to use a guilt trip with her for something you're dealing with between us."

Deena, "What are you talkin about?"

Pauly, "Stop denying shit. I'm not going to talk about it anymore, this is it. I'm done."

Deena is confused, "Done with me?"

Pauly, "That right there should answer all your questions just now."

Pauly leaves Deena standing there.

On the way past, "See you back at the house."

-Later on That Evening-

Pauly is all packed and is just waiting to leave. He will drive back to Rhode Island first that way he and his boys can all round up and head to Vegas. He and Deena have not spoken since their dispute at the Reunion.

The Housemates decided to go to dinner before everyone would leave Jersey to go back to their lives for the time being. Vinny called Pauly and he agreed to go. When asked if Deena would be with him, he didn't have an answer but he would ask her.

Now, Pauly is getting dressed while Deena sits on the bed nursing Pauleena.

Pauly, "Sam has been callin your phone, did you call her back?"

Deena, "…."

Pauly continues, "Everyone is going out to dinner tonight. I told Vinny I would go."

Deena's answer…? Switching breasts.

Pauly shakes his head and continues to get ready. After putting on his chain and earrings, he comes back to where Deena is now burping her.

Pauly tries again, "So you're not going?"

Deena, "…."

Pauly sighs, "Well have fun here then, 'cuz I'm goin out to have a good time."

Deena doesn't even look at Pauly. She just continues her silent treatment. Pauly checks himself once more in the mirror and then he walks over to say goodbye to his daughter.

She has her head lying sideways on Deena's shoulder facing him. He leans down and gets her cheek. His kisses it twice and then he stands up.

He responds, "Last call. I'll wait for you to get ready."

Deena at least makes a noise this time. She sighs but still doesn't say anything. Pauly shakes his head. He is not going to let it bother him. Deena will come around. He grabs his cell phone and keys and leaves out the room.

-At Dinner-

Everyone sits around waiting for their food to come and is having small conversation about the Reunion earlier.

Ron, "So no Mike again? I thought everything was cool."

Jenni, "He said he's okay he just wasn't feeling up to coming out tonight. Nothing against any of us."

Ron, "Did he mention anything to anyone about Rehab?"

Everyone shakes his or her heads no. Vinny responds.

Vinny, "I just don't know how true it is. I mean, based on today, look at how he acted just to get attention."

Jenni, "So you're sayin he may be putting that out there so that everyone looks to him for a story or somethin like that?"

Vinny, "I would hope not. A drug addiction, even to painkillers, is nothin to take lightly."

Ron, "Yeah, I had a cousin who died from an overdose two years ago."

Vinny continues, "I wouldn't put it past him. Mike…I just don't understand him sometimes. I know I can be complicated a lot of times but I don't need to make up stories to win people over."

Nicole, "That's probably why he didn't come tonight because he didn't want to be called on it. I'm still pissed at him for trying to call me out."

No one really responds to that, not wanting to touch the subject matter again.

Jenni, "I guess we'll know the truth when we get to the Shore House, if he comes back."

Everyone soon moves on. Sammi just got a text from Deena to call her later on. She looks at Pauly who has been quiet for the most part of the night.

Sam, "So how come Deena didn't come tonight? Is she okay?"

Pauly, "As far as I know she is."

Sam, "Well I'm bummed she didn't come. I wanted to see Pauleena."

Nicole knows something went down earlier. She is partly to blame for telling Pauly anything. She just hopes they didn't get into it too bad.

Pauly continues.

"She probably wouldn't have brought her anyway. She's onto this new thing where she doesn't want to take her out of the house too much."

Nicole, "Well she's only three weeks old. I can understand that."

Ronnie speaks to Pauly now, "So I just want to know really what are your plans? Are you stayin in Jersey until we film? I mean, it's okay Deena's not here so you can tell us the truth."

Pauly, "Why would I lie? I meant what I said about going back and forth to Deena's house. If you mean as far as me Deejaying? Yeah, I'm going to be doing some of that in between Jersey. When it comes time to film, I'll be in Jersey the whole time."

Sounds reasonable enough. Vinny however senses some tension.

Vinny, "So Deena already knows you're leavin?"

Pauly, "We talked."

That is all Pauly says. It was short and to the point enough to let Vinny know that the conversation probably didn't go smoothly. He would talk to Pauly about it later.

Ronnie now adds input even though no one asked.

"Well I'd be careful to keep what happens in Vegas there. (Laughing a little) Judging by the looks Deena was giving you the whole time on the set, I think she's gettin the ball and chain ready for you."

Nicole, "Oh my God. Shut up Ron!"

-Later On-

"You came up in the conversation at dinner tonight."

Deena, "How so?"

Sam, "I asked why you didn't come to dinner and it went on from there."

Deena rolls her eyes, "So was Pauly talkin shit about me?"

Sam, "No but there were some things said…not from him though."

Deena moves some hair out of her face and responds.

"Well I could care less. I'll tell you that I didn't come tonight because Pauly pissed me off earlier."

Sam, "I kind of figured that from the text you sent. What happened though, you guys were like perfect at the Reunion?"

Deena, "After the Reunion I just couldn't take it. Do you remember…when they showed the bonus clips of the show at the end?"

Sam nods her head yes and Deena continues.

"It was the part when Pauly talked about us sleeping together."

Sam gets it right away, "Ohhh…Yeah, it was a little harsh."

Deena, "Thank you! I'm glad you understand. (Thinking about it) Why would he put all that out there like that? It made me look so bad."

Sam, "Well, I just don't think he should have said some of the things like he did. If he was going to put it out there, it shouldn't have been in a confessional. Everyone knew after the show aired that you two hooked up. He should have come out to the house, since we would have watched anyway."

Deena, "Exactly, or not at all. It was like he was mocking the situation and it was embarrassing to me."

Sam, "So was this a mutual thing?"

Deena, "What, us sleeping together?"

Sam, "Yeah."

Deena continues, "No. Pauly came home from the club that night when you all were still gone, as you know; I talked to him on the couch because I knew he was down about Vinny leaving, we all were. Next thing I know, he's all like, let's cuddle…I'm like, not knowing what to do."

Sam smiles, "…but you did it?"

Deena, "Yeaaaah…but cuddling is innocent. We all cuddled in the house at some point."

Sam, "Okay, but we know what happened when Nicole cuddled with Vinny after so many times, so on and so forth. I think the only time that never resorted to anything was when Mike tried to cuddle with you in Italy."

Deena scoffs, "Don't even bring that shit up. You know that's the only thing that makes me take Nicole's side. You could clearly see on the show that he did try to cuddle with me and then he turned around at the table and said he didn't."

Deena continues.

"He always tries to tell the truth and clear the air with himself, but is it ever the truth coming out of his mouth of what happens behind closed doors."

Sam, "I want to take Nicole's side but I don't know…I think Mike may be telling a little bit of the truth this time. I've never seen him consistently go on about something and get upset about it like he did today."

Deena waves it off, "It was all for show."

Sam, "That's what everyone is saying…but I don't know…"

Deena, "Well like everyone said, he has a track record and if he doesn't want to be that person, then he needs to turn over a new leaf."

Sam, "…but he won't. He might for a little while, but Mike loves trouble. I would never trust him, especially after the shit he stirred up between Ron and me."

Deena thinks back to Italy. It's funny because she got mad at Pauly then also for running his mouth. Sammi soon snaps her out of her thoughts.

Sam continues, "Well Dee'. I'm not going to say you're half to blame…but you went along with it. What did you think was going to happen if you got into bed with Pauly? You've had mad feelings for him since Italy and a crush I'm sure as soon as you got into the house."

Deena, "Well I tried to ask him if it was what he really wanted. I didn't just jump him."

Sam, "I'm sure he didn't have to put a gun to your head either."

Deena already knowing, "What are you trying to say Sam?"

Sam, "I just think…both parties were willing."

Deena, "…but he made it seem like it was one-sided and that he gave in to me or something."

Sam, "I think you're thinking too much into it. It happened, no one can turn back time, and look what you got out of it. A beautiful daughter that no one would deny."

Deena, "The reason we argued is because he wouldn't admit that he regretted his decision. He did use that as a point to say, he never regretted it even before he knew I was pregnant but I don't care, you wouldn't just come out and say something like that, if you didn't mean it deep down inside."

Sam, "Look who we're talking about. This is Pauly! He wouldn't intentionally hurt you Dee'. Sometimes he can be a little immature but that's just him. We all love each other, it wasn't personal trust me."

Deena, "Then he shouldn't have said it."

Sam, "I'm not going to get involved in it but I think you should reconsider staying mad over this. He's leaving tomorrow. Do you really want to leave things on a bad note? How you do anything is how you do everything, I should know."

Sammi has a point. If anyone should have advice on bad relationships, it's her. Deena in no way wants to end up like her and Ron.

At that moment, Pauleena cries. Sammi smiles.

Sam, "Can I get her?"

Deena, "Yeah. It's probably time for her bottle."

Sam, "I thought you nursed?"

Deena, "I do but I prepare bottles so that she can have them in the middle of the night. I'm not going to be bothered with that shit and I'm tired. Plus, it makes it easier for Pauly if I don't feel like getting up."

Sam laughs a little, "Pauly gets up in the middle of the night to feed a baby, who would have thought that possible."

Who would have thought Pauly would be a Father period and a good one at that? Deena did. Maybe she has been a bit dramatic regarding the situation. Pauly has not come back to the house yet but when he does they should talk about it, this time without yelling.

For now, she goes to get Pauleena's bottle so that Sammi can feed her.

A/N: Whew! It's Monday already?! Busy week ahead so I wanted to give you a longer post than normal. There was a lot of content in this Chap. What do you think and who's side are you on? Hold that thought though, there's more to "chew on..."