40
A/N: Hi guys, sorry It's taking me so long to update. A lot has been going on in my life. In February of last year I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, so needless to say it's been a challenging year. I haven't really had a lot of time to write, but I knew I couldn't leave you hanging any longer. So I posted this new chapter and I hope you enjoy it. A little note of warning it may not be my best work, but I hope you can forgive the long hiatus and I hope you can for give any mistakes. So here its is. Enjoy! And remember to review and let me know what you think. All reviews are welcome.
Shane's POV
It had only been a few minutes since we'd come home and found that someone had broken into the house and destroyed the nursery. Claire had been the one to discover the gory mess and she hadn't spoken a word since I had taken her back to our room. She just lay there, in my arms, in our bed, with her face buried in my chest, crying softly.
"Baby, do you have any idea who could have done this?" I asked gently.
It took a while but she finally answered, "No."
She lifted her head from my chest and looked me in the eye.
"Are you sure?" I asked, once more.
"Yes…I don't know who would do this, Shane."
Just then there was a knock on the door followed by the sound Michael's worried voice.
"Shane, can you come out here? I need to talk to you, man."
"Yeah, be right there," I shouted towards the door, then turned my attention back to Claire, "I'll be right back okay. I love you"
"I love you too."
I gave her lips a quick kiss, then gently slipped my arms from around her and got out of the bed.
I walked over to the door and as I opened it Michael shoved a bloody piece of paper into my hands.
"What is this?"
"Just read it," he instructed.
At the urgency in his voice I immediately looked down and read the words on the sheet of paper. It said, "Die Bitch! You know who I am! The blood on my hands will be yours, your baby's and your boyfriend's!" and it was written in a dark red ink.
I could feel the hate and anger radiating off the page and it made me feel sick inside, because whoever wrote this wanted Claire, the baby and I all dead. I couldn't let that happen.
"Where did you find this?"
"Take a guess," he replied and shifted his eyes in the direction of the nursery
"I found it on the floor next to a recent picture of you and Claire. Your faces had been scratched out and so had Claire's stomach. The frame it had been in was smashed and on the floor next to it and so was this."
He handed me a black shoebox, the same black shoebox that Randi had handed me earlier that night, when she had showed up at our door unannounced. Right then I knew that the girl that Randi had seen leave the box on the doorstep had to have been the person that destroyed the nursery.
"I know who did this," I stated.
"Who?" I heard Claire say from behind me.
I turned to see Claire standing in the doorway to our room.
"I-" I stammered.
"What's that?" She asked, staring at the piece of paper in my hands.
I reluctantly handed it to her. She took it and quickly read the words, then looked back up at me.
"You said you knew who did this…who?" she asked and I could hear the fear in her voice and see it as she stood there looking into my eyes.
"Earlier w-when we were interrupted and I left you upstairs in the shower and went to answer the door…before all of the craziness. It was Randi at the door. She had come to see you, but I sent her away," I started to explain, "Anyway, before she left gave me this box and told me that she had seen some girl dressed all in black with short, curly, blonde hair leave the box on the front steps and run away, before she could confront her."
Claire stood there looking as if she someone had just knocked the breath out of her and stared down at the box in my hand. A single tear fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheek as she reached out and touched it.
"What's in it?" She asked.
"I don't know. I haven't looked," I replied.
"Well I have and it's not good," Michael chimed in.
"Let me see it," Claire said finally.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Michael insisted.
"Maybe he's right, baby."
"I don't care. Let me see it," Claire said and put her hand out.
I reluctantly put the box in her hand. She took it and opened the lid. As she did she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh my God," She said, horrified.
Her hands began to shake and she dropped the box, when she did, out rolled a mangled up baby doll. Its head was separated from its body and its eyes were gouged out. It's body had been slit open and it was covered in something that resembled blood. Attached to it was a little note that said, "Tick, Tock. I'm coming for you, these are the thing that I will do, to you, your, baby and your boyfriend too."
I looked back to Claire and she was still standing there in shock, I called out to her, "Claire."
When she didn't respond I walked over and pulled her into my arms.
"Baby, It's okay. No one is ever going to hurt you or the baby. I promise."
I heard her sniffle but she still didn't say anything.
"Did you her me? I promise, no one will ever hurt you. They'll have to kill me first.
"I heard you…and I know who did this, " She responded finally.
"Who?" I asked, surprised.
"It was Judith."
"You really think it's her?" Michael asked her, obviously in on something that I hadn't been a part of.
"It has to be," she said, pulled away from me and continued to talk to Michael, "She's the only one I know who is this crazy and hate's me this much."
"Okay, she's fucking Looney Tunes. We have to call the police," Eve, said as she walked up to us, finally becoming a part of the conversation.
"Wait a minute! Who the hell is Judith and how does everyone know who she is except for me?" I asked, raising my voice in frustrating.
"She's Lee Wilcox's Fiancé." Michael informed me.
"What?" I shouted, raising my voice again," Since when does Lee Wilcox have a Fiancé and when did she decide to show up?"
It was bad enough that someone had broken into our house, destroyed the baby's room and threatened our lives, but to find out that it was Lee Wilcox's Fiancé that was terrorizing us, had me livid.
"The night before you were released from jail, Eve and I had asked Claire to meet us at Common Grounds. When Claire got there she ordered some tea and then headed over to us. She was about half way to our table when Judith stepped in her path and started going off on her. Sometime during this crazed confrontation she lunged at Claire. Claire lost her balance and fell backwards onto a couch and just as Judith was about to pounce on top of Claire, with the intension that I'm sure was to choke the life out of her, I grabbed her and held her off until Oliver came over, fired her and threw her out."
"Okay, so, why is it that I am just now hearing about this?" I asked angrily, "Claire, why didn't you tell me?"
She looked up at me, hearing the anger in my voice and after a moment responded, "I'm sorry…I forgot. You had just gotten out of jail. I-I was so happy that you were home that I didn't think about it."
"What about after that? You had two months to tell me, all of you did and you said nothing until now."
"We're sorry, man," Michael said finally, "There has been a lot going on in this last couple of-"
"No," I interrupted Michael. Not wanting to hear his excuses, "You waited until after this psycho breaks into our house, threatens our lives and destroys OUR baby's nursery, to tell me this."
I said the last part looking straight into Claire's eyes and I could see how bad she felt and how scared she was and normally I would have backed down but I was so angry, at her, at Michael, at Eve and at this Judith person, mostly at Judith, that I just kept yelling.
"This bitch practically attacks you and you don't tell me! How am I supposed to protect you if you do stupid shit like that! Huh? What If you had been home alone and in the condition you are in now or worse what if the baby had been born and in there sleeping and that crazy psychopath had broken in and hurt her, what would you have done then? Huh? Whose fault would that have been?"
"Are you finished?" Claire asked, pointedly, giving me a hurt, angry glare.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Well, fuck you!" She yelled, then turned, walked into our room and slammed the door.
I stood there staring at our closed bedroom door and the realization that I had gone way too far and not just pissed Claire off, but really hurt her, hit me hard.
"Fuck!" I yelled and kicked the wall, doing more damage to my foot then to the wall, "Shit!"
"You alright there, Man?" Michael asked, startling me.
I had forgotten that they were still standing there.
"Why am I such a fucking idiot?" I asked, not really wanting an answer.
"Well-"Eve started to reply, with what I'm sure was a smartass remark, so I cut her off quickly.
"Don't even say it."
"You should go see if she's okay," Michael offered.
"I'm pretty sure she's not and I'm also pretty sure that I'm the last person she wants to talk too right now."
"You are probably right, but even so, don't you think you should go apologizes and try to make things right."
"Michael, I don't think I can make things right. I don't think she'll ever forgive me for the things I just said to her."
"It's gonna take a lot of groveling, but she'll forgive you," he assured me.
"With what you said A Lot of groveling and be prepared for things to be thrown," Eve added.
"Thanks for that Eve," I remarked sarcastically, "I think I'll go try and work things out with Claire… you guys go call the police."
I turned and walked back over to our room and knocked on the door.
"Baby, can I come in?" I asked hopefully.
"No, go away."
"I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but we need to. So, please let me in," I pleaded.
"No! You're right. I don't want to talk to you and I probably wont for a very long time…so go away and leave me the hell alone."
"I'm not leaving until you talk to me," I informed her.
"Fine, but, you'll be standing out there for a long time."
"Come on Claire, let me in," I pleaded again, then decided to try the knob.
Sure enough it was unlocked. I pushed it open and walked in. Claire was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed in front of her. I walked over to where she sat and sat down across from her, facing her.
"Claire-,"
"Did I say you could sit down," she said, interrupting me.
"No, but-."
"That's right, because you didn't ask and if you had I would have said no," she interrupted me again.
"Look, I know you're mad at me and you have every right to be. I never should have said those things that I said to you, but you really should have told me about Judith."
"You're damn right I'm mad at you…you insinuated that it would be my fault if something happened to our baby, because I didn't tell you about Judith," she yelled, tears filling her eyes and anger and sadness strangling her voice, "Do you really think it would have mattered… that it would have changed a damn thing if I had remembered to tell you? You know how much I love this baby and you know how much it would kill me if something happened to her. Especially if it resulted from something I did o-or didn't do."
"I know… I'm sorry. I was mad and I took it too far. I'm really sorry."
"Well sorry is not good enough right now Shane, because I'm so mad at you that I can't even stand to look at you," she replied and looked away.
"I understand."
"No, I don't think you do or you never would have said those things. That's why I think it would be better if you found somewhere else to sleep tonight, like down stairs on the couch."
"I understand why you're mad at me and I even understand why you don't want to share the same bed as me tonight. I am willing to give you your space, but you're crazy if I'm going to leave you alone after everything that's happened tonight. So as far I'm willing to go is the floor."
"Fine, Shane. If that will make you feel better…fine," she agreed.
*Ding-Dong*
"Well I guess that's the police. You'd better go. If they need me you know where I'll be."
"Okay, I'll go, but I'll be right back," I assured her.
"Alright, when you come back there be a pillow and a blanket on the floor waiting for you," she informed me.
I smiled at her as I got up and walked towards the door, but she didn't return the smile, so I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me, and headed down stairs.
It was an hour later when the police finally left and I was able to go upstairs to bed or what was to be my bed for the night, our bedroom floor. I was eager to get back up to our room to check on Claire. I was probably more eager to see her than she was to see me. She was still really mad at me because of what I had said to her earlier and I couldn't really blame her.
So when the police got here and I brought them up to talk to Claire, I stood back and let her fill them in about the events of the night, only speaking when spoken too. She told them about the night that Judith had attacked her and about how she had broken in and destroyed the nursery. She couldn't even bear to look at me and she didn't even say so much as a word to me the entire time they were here. I assumed it would be that way for the rest of the night.
When they had left and I came back to our room to find the light off and Claire either asleep or doing a good job of pretending. I decided not to disturb her. I left the light off and fumbled my way across the room to my sad little make shift bed on the floor. I spread out the sheet that Claire had left for me, then grabbed the pillow and lay down, unfolding a nearby blanket and pulling it over me.
I was just about to roll over and go to sleep when I heard Claire's cries of distress.
"No…No, please, no!"
I sat up and looked towards the bed. It was dark but I could still see Claire flailing around in then bed as if she was struggling with someone that wasn't there. I realized then that she was having a nightmare.
"No…no… don't take my baby! Don't hurt her!" she cried, her screams becoming louder and more intense, "Noooooo! Shaaaaaaaaane!"
I stood up, got on to the bed, and grabbed Claire's wrists just a she unconsciously swung out at the air.
"Claire…baby, I'm right here," I yelled, trying to wake her, "Wake up. You're okay."
Her eyes shot open at the sound of my voice and as soon as she saw it was really me she stopped struggling, collapsed against my chest and began to cry.
"Hey, it's okay…it was just dream. It's over now. You're safe," I assured her.
"Shane, it was horrible," she whimpered, "She-."
"She who?" I asked, interrupting her.
"Judith. She had a really big kitchen knife and stabbed me in the stomach. She was trying to cut the baby out of me. You were there. You were trying to help me, but you couldn't because someone was holding you down. I was so scared."
"I know, but it was just a dream, baby. You're okay now. The baby's okay."
"No, she is going to come back and she is going to hurt us. She's going to take her. She is going to take our baby," she cried, her voice strangled by grief.
"Look at me," I instructed, releasing her from my arms, enough so that she could see my face and just how serious I was.
She lifted her head from my chest and looked into my eyes.
"What?" she asked sniffling softly.
I reached out and wiped her tears away and said, "If she ever comes back, she'll be sorry. She'll never hurt you as long as I'm alive. I told you that earlier. She'll have to kill me first and I promise that won't be easy for her. I won't let anything happen to you or this baby," I assured her, then added, "I promise….okay?"
"Okay, it's just- I know she hasn't been born yet, but I feel her growing inside me and it's like I already know her and I love her so much," she confessed.
She laid her head back against my chest and I wrapped my arms around her, then kissed her temple softly.
"I love her too and I love you."
"I love you too."
"How about you lie back down and try and get some rest," I suggested, "Being this worked up and stressed out can't be good for you or the baby."
"Okay, you're right," she agreed.
I let go of her and she lay back on the bed and rolled over onto her side.
I pulled the covers up over her and she turned her head slightly towards me so that I could give her a kiss and I did. Then as I reached over to turn off the lamp and started to get up, she grabbed my arm.
"Don't go," she pleaded.
I stopped and looked down at her, confused. She looked so scared and broken and it broke my heart to think of everything she had been through.
"Okay, I won't, but I thought you couldn't stand to be near me," I teased.
"Shane, just get in the bed…please?" She pleaded again, and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice.
I didn't say another word. I just crawled into bed, pulled her into my arms, reached over and turned off the lamp. She cuddled up to me, laid her head on my chest and not long after fell back to sleep.
I lay there for a while listening to the sound of her soft snores and thinking about everything that had happened to us lately. I wondered how I could ever make up for the hurtful words I had said to Claire tonight. I had not only humiliated her, but I had hurt her. I couldn't lie, I had surprised myself with the things I had said to her and I felt so guilty. Of course She would never do any thing to intentionally put our daughter in danger and I knew that. But in a moment of anger and complete stupidity I had lashed out at her and now I could never take it back. So, I lay there for a little while longer thinking about how stupid I had been before falling into a restless sleep.
###
I was waked up early the next morning by the sound of my Cell phone vibrating loudly on the nightstand. I blindly reached out, grabbed it and flipped it open. The call was coming from the Morganville police station. It was probably one of the cops from the night before with an update. I answered the phone in a groggy haze.
"Hello," I said groggily and cleared my throat.
"Hi, Is this Shane Collins?" The voice on the other line asked.
"Yes," I replied, still half asleep.
"This is Officer Towler, We questioned Judith Gaines and she has an alibi, it could not have been her who broke into your house last night."
"What? Who? That's not possible," I said sharply, instantly waking up.
"Her sister Carly, who says she was working all night at the Burger Bin," He responded coolly.
"That new burger place on the out side of town?"
"Yes."
"And you believe that?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes I do."
"She's her sister of course she's going to give her an alibi," I Spat.
"Carly owns the place and a few of her friends that were working last night confirmed her story."
"This is bullshit! You are taking the word of her sister and her friends? Really? It was Judith that broke into our house last night and destroyed our nursery. She attacked Claire not that long ago and told her that she and I need to watch our backs. She is pissed that we put her fiancé in jail. She wants to get back at us and this is her way of doing it and if you don't do something someone is going to get hurt or worse," I said heatedly.
Claire who was now awake, I'm guessing because of how loud I was being, was sitting up staring at me with a worried look on her face.
"Look, Obviously someone broke into your house but it wasn't Judith. We will find whoever it was, and they will pay for what they did, But-,"He started to assure me before I interrupted him.
"No, YOU look, Judith has a motive and Claire's cousin Randi saw her running away from our house earlier that evening. That proves that her sister and her friends are lying because she obviously wasn't there all night. So what else do need?" I shouted furiously.
"Yes, it does show some possible dishonesty on their part, but it doesn't prove that she was the one that broke into your house. As you said last night Randi saw someone that may or may not have been her running away from the house hours, before the break-in even happened. So until Randi comes down to the station to give her side of the story and she can make a positive identification that shows that she was definitely there some time that night or we get some solid proof, I have nothing more to go on. I'm sorry Mr. Collins, but my hands are tied, as far as Judith Gaines is concerned and I am forced to look in other directions," He stated.
"Let me asked you this, is every officer in your department this incompetent or is it just you?" I asked pointedly.
"I-"
"That's what I thought," I replied, not giving him time to fully respond, "If you continue to drag your feet on this and anything happens to Claire or our baby, than you wont have to worry about arresting Judith Gaines, because SHE WILL BE DEAD."
"Is that a threat Mr. Collins?"
I only but barely heard him ask as I slammed shut the phone.
I looked up at Claire and she looked back at me horrified.
"Shane, do you realize what you you've just done?" She asked, in a shaky voice, "If anything happens to her they are going to come looking for you."
"I know."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Because maybe, just maybe they will begin to take this whole thing seriously and go and arrest her crazy ass," I reasoned.
"Or maybe they will arrest your crazy ass. Did you think of that…huh?" She asked, pointedly.
"No but-."
"You do remember that I'm pregnant, right? And how hard it was for me last time you were in jail? Shane, I don't think I can handle that again. I can't do this with out you," she said and looked at me with tear filled eyes.
"I know I probably shouldn't have said it baby, but he was pissing me off. He told me that there was nothing he could do because Judith had an alibi, which of course was her sister and her friends. I just want them to get her off the streets and put her in jail where she belongs, so that you can, you know, feel somewhat safe again."
"I know and I love that you want to keep us safe," she said and put her hand on her belly, "But you saying that to that police officer isn't going to accomplish that. It's just going to make things worse for you and for me."
"I know you're scared and you're worried, but everything is going to be okay. I'm going to make sure of it," I assured her.
"Don't say that. That scares me even more."
I chuckled and pulled her into my arms, "I'll try not to do anything stupid, okay."
She giggled halfheartedly against my chest, "You better not."
"Are you hungry?" I asked, suddenly remembering that she really hadn't eaten much yesterday.
"I could eat."
"Good, I'll go down stairs and make you some breakfast."
"I'd rather you stay here with me," She said snuggling closer.
"I know, but you need to eat, so I'm going to go and make you breakfast."
"But Shaaane," She whined.
"I'll be right back… I promise." I said then let go of her and got out of bed and started to get dressed.
"What will I do until you come back?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something," I told her, smiling to myself as I walked over to the door.
I stopped when I saw the remote on the desk, picked it up and turned back to her. She hadn't taken her eyes off of me.
"Here watch TV,"I suggested and tossed her the remote, then turned and walked out of the door.
I waited outside the door until I heard the sound of the TV come on. I couldn't tell what show she was watching but I heard her chuckle and satisfied, I walked towards and down the stairs to the kitchen and began to get the ingredients together I needed to make Claire a kick ass breakfast.
###
I was finishing up making Claire's breakfast and was about to crack an egg into a skillet to scramble her some eggs, when it occurred to me that maybe, I should ask Claire If eggs was one of the new foods that made her sick now.
Should I take my chances and make them anyway or should I go upstairs and make sure?
*Pause*
I looked from the bowl to the egg in my hand, and thought for a second of the repercussions of making Claire the eggs and them making her sick.
Yeah…better go ask.
I put the egg back into the carton and closed it, then started towards the kitchen door.
As I walked through the door I ran into Eve on the other side.
"Walk much," Eve said sarcastically.
"Yes, but you might want to check into getting some lessons," I shot back, and continued towards the stairs. As I reached the bottom I turned back to Eve.
"Hey, Eve?"
"What?"
"Do you remember if eggs is one of the foods that makes Claire sick?"
"Actually, I think it is, but I'm not sure. You might want to go up and ask her, why?"
"Uh, Maybe because I'm making her breakfast."
"You sure you want to do that to her?" She asked, with a smirk.
"Shut up," I replied and rolled my eyes, then turned and walked upstairs.
I was standing outside our bedroom door, with my hand one the knob, about to open it, when I heard the faint sounds of Claire crying.
I opened the door quickly and walked into see Claire sitting there on the bed watching Forrest Gump and sobbing.
Thinking that the movie couldn't possibly be the reason that Claire was crying and that something else had to be wrong, I walked over, sat down on the bed next to her and wrapped and arm around her comfortingly.
"Hey, are you okay, baby? What's wrong?" I asked, gently.
"Lieutenant Dan got new legs," She sobbed.
I couldn't believe it. Was she actually crying because of this movie, a movie that she and I had watched a thousand times together and she had not once even so much as shed a tear over before.
"Really?" I asked, incredulously.
"What?"
"You are crying because Lieutenant Dan got new legs?"
"Yes…it's beautiful."
"Oh…well Thank God, because I thought something REAL had actually happened," I said sarcastically.
"Shut up Shane, You better not tell anyone."
"I have to tell Michael and Eve about this. It's too funny to keep to myself," I joked.
"Shaane," She whined and elbowed me in my side.
"I'm just kidding," I chuckled, "But I am going to tease you relentlessly.
"Hey, where's my breakfast?" she asked, and wiped her tears away.
"It's in the kitchen, waiting for me to go back down there and finish making it. I came back up here to ask you to ask you if you wanted scrambled eggs. I wasn't sure if they make you sick now or what."
"No I don't and yes they do."
"What about pancakes and bacon?" I asked.
"That sounds yummy," she said with a smile.
"Okay good, I better go down stairs and get it before it gets too cold," I insisted, then leaned over and gave her lips a quick kiss, " Be right back."
I got up, walked over and opened the door, then turned back and looked at Claire. I chuckled to myself, shaking my head at the humor of the situation as I shut the door.
###
Claire's POV
After Shane had left the room I turned of the Television and sat there for a moment thinking about what had just happened.
Had I really been sitting here watching Forest Gump and crying my eyes out Because Lieutenant Dan got new legs?
Oh My God that's so embarrassing! Who does that?
Shane probably thinks I'm crazy.
If he tells Eve and Michael I'll die.
He wouldn't.
If He does I'll kill him.
I finished having my pregnancy hormone driven moment, then got up and started to get dressed and ready for my day. Even though I was going to be stuck in my room all day, I wanted to be clean and presentable in case someone decided to pay us a visit. I grabbed some clothes and a towel then walked across the bathroom to take a shower. When I was done and had gotten dressed and brushed my teeth, I walked back across the hall to my room.
When I opened the door and walked in, I was greeted by the smell of warm maple syrup and bacon. I looked over at the bed saw the plate of pancakes and bacon that Shane had promised along side a glass of orange Juice, a bottle of maple syrup and empty vase sitting on a tray table on my bed. Shane was nowhere in sight. I wanted to wait for him to come back but I was suddenly starving and all I could think about was devouring the pancakes and bacon, after pouring on tons of yummy maple syrup.
I walked over to the bed and sat down. After pulling the tray in front of me I picked up the bottle of maple syrup, opened it, and began to pour it on the pancakes and bacon, then I put the bottle down, picked up the fork and began to eat.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and looked up to see Shane standing in the doorway.
"Hi."
"Hi. So, do you like you're breakfast?" He asked, smiling. Obviously already knowing my answer.
"Yes, It's SO delicious," I gushed.
"I'm glad you like it."
Taking a break from stuffing my face, I finally noticed that Shane was standing with his hands behind his back.
"What do you have behind your back?" I asked curiously.
As I finished the question he brought one of his hands around front. In it was a single red rose.
"Is that for me?"
"What do you think?"
"I think you better get over here and share this with me," I replied.
"Well, I think that YOU are the one that's pregnant and YOU need to eat. So, THAT is all yours," he said as he pointed from me to the food on my plate.
"Yes Sir," I teased, " Will you at least come over and sit with me?"
"That I will do, But first…"He said, then went over put on some music, before coming to sit across from me on the bed and putting the rose in the empty vase.
As I recognized the lyrics to the song that played, I'll Be by Edwin McCain, I smiled at Shane.
"Romantic music and breakfast in bed. You're so good to me," I said, then leaned forward and kissed him. "I Love You."
"I Love you too."
"And I love this song."
"I know you do. That's why I played it," He said grinning that grin I love so much.
He started to softly sing along with the music and I smiled.
"And I know you also know that I love it when you sing to me."
He gave a knowing nod and continued to sing.
"You don't do it very often, but I wish you'd do It more," I told him, as I took the last bite of my pancakes and sat the tray aside.
Shane looked into my eyes and smiled, moving a stray piece of hair out of my face, not missing a single beat in the song.
"I'll be captivated. I'll hang from your lips," He sang the words sensually as he reached out and traced my bottom lip with his finger, "Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above."
I was about to lean forward and Kiss Shane when the baby decided to start kicking. I gasped, looked down and put my hand on my stomach.
"What?" Shane asked.
"She's kicking," I said as I looked up at him and smiled, "Give me your hand and keep singing I think she likes it."
He reached out, gave me his hand and I put it on my belly. We waited expectantly for her to kick again.
"Sing," I said, urging Shane to continue.
Shane cleared his throat and started to singing and almost as soon as he did she started to kick again.
"See, I told you she likes it when her daddy sings," I gushed.
"Either that or she's trying to get you to tell me to shut up." He teased, pausing only for a moment then continuing on.
He smiled at me and from the look in his eyes I could tell that he was really happy.
I sat there until the end of the song listening to him sing and feeling our unborn baby girl squirming and kicking at the sound his voice. It was a beautiful moment between the three of us and I didn't want it to end, But I suddenly had all of these thoughts running through my head, about how soon the baby would be here, my ability to be a good mother, etc., and before I knew the words were spilling out of my mouth.
"Shane?"
"What?" he asked, his hand still on my belly and looked up at me.
"Do you realize that it will only be three short months until she's here?"
"Yes, I do…why?"
"And you're not scared?" I asked.
"Of course I am," He said then sat up and shrugged his shoulders, "Why all of the questions?"
"Because I'm scared Shane. What if I'm not a good mother? I'm mean you put me on this pedestal and you have all the faith in the world that I'm going to be this great mother but what if I'm not? What if I screw this kid up? We are both still so young. What if I can't do this?" I asked tears filling my eyes.
"You will be a great mother and you can do this," He said with a confidence that made me nervous.
"How do you know?" I asked, frustrated, "It's like you think I'm perfect or something."
He chuckled and shook his head, "I know you're not perfect. Nobody's perfect and I know It will be difficult at first, but we can do this and you will be a good mother…When you first told me about the pregnancy I was terrified, I had the same questions about myself. Sometime I still do and I'm still scared, but I'm happy. Very happy. Because I love her and I know you do too and even though we're not perfect and we may make mistakes. We have each other and we'll learn…together."
He leaned in and kissed my lips softly.
"I love you," I told him as I kissed him back.
"I love you too."
"Oh my God, I just thought of something else," I said, freaking out again.
"What?"
"How am I going to get this…out of there," I said, gesturing from my stomach to my lady parts.
Shane looked at me incredulously and laughed.
"Hey," I said and hit him on the shoulder, "It's not funny."
"I'm sorry," He said, unable to control his laughter, "But you are freaking out about nothing.
Baby you're body is made for this. You CAN get the baby out of there…I promise."
He made the previous gestures I had made.
"Easy for you to say. You don't have to push a seven pound baby out of your penis," I whined.
"No, because that would kill me," Shane said with another small chuckle, "but you can do this that's what's the contractions are for, to stretch or contract and dilate you're lady business so that the baby can make it safely out and you will be just fine. You're supposed to be the smart one. Aren't you supposed to know all of this?"
"I do know all of that. It's just that as It gets closer to time for me to have her I get more and more freaked out, because I know that it's really going to hurt and I don't know if I can do it," I admitted sheepishly.
"You can and you will, because you have too, and I will be right there with you holding your hand, okay" He assured me.
"Okay, but can't she just stay in there for a little while longer? I don't know for an extra year or two, until I'm ready?" I asked, in a pouty tone.
"No, baby, she can't," he chuckled once again, wrapped an arm around me and kissed my temple, "And I'm sure you'd very uncomfortable."
*Knock, Knock*
There was a knock on the door interrupting us.
"Come in!" Shane shouted in the direction of the door.
A few seconds later the door opened and Eve walked in.
"Come on Slacker Boy, get dressed. Time to go grocery shopping," Eve, instructed.
"Actually, it's my last day off for a while. So, I think I'll stay here with Claire," Shane said, with out looking up at her.
"Come on…I need you to go with me. I need help carrying the groceries," She pleaded.
"That's what baskets are for."
"Look I know you want spend time with Claire, but this won't take that long. Just come and help me."
"It's not just that," He started, finally looking up at her, " I got a phone call this morning from Officer Towler. He said that Judith has an alibi. Her sister of all people…so they say she couldn't have broken in here last night. I don't believe that for a second. So until they lock that psycho bitch up I'm not going anywhere and leaving her here alone unless I have too. I don't have to go to work until tomorrow. So I'm not going…Sorry."
"While I agree that it's pure bullshit. Claire IS a big girl she can stay here for an hour or two by herself, but she wont have to because Michael is right downstairs. She'll be fine. So, come on," she assured him.
He looked over at me like he was unsure, so I took his face in my hands and gave his lips a soft kiss.
"Go, it's okay…I'll be fine," I assured him as well.
He turned back to Eve, "Let's go."
He got up and followed Eve to the door. I watched them as they left, then reached over to the night stand and grabbed the book that I started ages ago but never finished and settled down in bed. Preparing for my afternoon alone.
###
Shane POV
The grocery store wasn't very busy, which was a good thing since I was eager to get back home to Claire. Because we hadn't been shopping in a while we had a long ass list of things to get. So, in an effort to save time, I suggested we each take half and meet back up at the cash register when we had gotten everything on our half of the list. Eve agreed, so, I tore the list in half, gave half of it to her, grabbed a cart and went to work finding the items on my half list.
I was almost finished and was trying to find the last item on my list, Claire's herbal tea. I found it on the bottom shelf and as I reached down to get it I heard an unfamiliar female voice commenting on my ass as a hand made contact, "Nice ass…Momma Likes."
I grabbed the Tea, stood up quickly and turned around. The woman standing there was just as unfamiliar as her voice. I didn't know her, but she had no problem standing there openly undressing me with her eyes. She was about Claire's height, maybe a little taller with short curly blonde hair and blue eyes. She was older, maybe in her late twenties and had a smile on her face that said she had me in her sights and wasn't leaving until she got what she wanted. She wasn't unattractive, but she wasn't my type and her aggressiveness was turning me off, plus I had Claire at home, whom I loved and was as just as, if not more attractive than this woman, so there was definitely no way this lady was getting anywhere with me today or any other day.
"Hi, There gorgeous," she cooed, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.
"Can I help you?" I asked, annoyed. Knowing exactly what she wanted.
"You doing anything tonight?"
"Actually yes I am. I'm going to go pay for my groceries and go home to my fiancé."
"So, you're not married?" She asked coyly.
And with that suddenly Eve was standing beside me staring dagger back at the other woman and as she began to speak her tone was angry and cold, "Stay the hell away from him Judith. He's taken."
I looked over at Eve and then back at Judith as the realization of who this woman was, who had just hit on me, set in. The anger I had been holding in for days began to rise up in side of me. My body tensed and I began to take a step forward, but Eve grabbed my arm holding me back, "Calm down Shane. She's not worth it."
"And who would you be?" she asked, an amused look on her face.
"You know who I am. I was there the night you tried to attack Claire," Eve stated, pointedly.
"You've got that all wrong girly, because I have no idea who you are and I did not try to attack your friend. I'm not Judith, but I am her sister, Carly. So, maybe you better get your facts straight before you go accusing people," She said.
"You lying bitch. You are Ju-,"She started to protested but I interrupted her.
I knew at the moment that she was indeed telling the truth. Officer Towler had mentioned the fact that Judith had a sister, but he had failed to mention that her sister was her twin.
"Her Twin," I stated.
Eve turned and looked into my eyes and cocked her head to the side in confusion.
"Remember what I you told before we left about Judith having a sister."
She stood there for a second as if contemplating what I had just said. I saw the exact moment when my words rang true to her.
She turned back to Carly, "She's still a lying bitch. She lied to the police about her sister not breaking into our house last night, because she's knows damn good and well she did."
"No, I didn't and no, I don't, because Judith was never there. Think about it…anyway I do know who you are cutie," she said with a sly smile and turned to me. "It's good to finally put a face with a name and I do have my eye on you, but now that I know who you are for a different reason. Such a shame."
She shook her head feigning regret that we were enemies, then pushed past Eve and walked toward the front of the store, switching her hips as she went.
" I hate her," Eve said, loud enough for her to hear, "Wait a minute…did she just basically admit that it was her that was at our house last night not Judith?"
"I think so…did you get everything on your half of the list?" I asked, changing the subject, ready to leave and not really wanting to talk about it.
"Yah, You?"
" Yah, Lets go pay for this stuff and get the hell out of here."
I walked over, grabbed my cart and followed Eve to the front of the store.
When we got home I helped Eve put the groceries away. I had decided to let Eve fill Michael in on the details of what happened while we were gone, so, after I thanked him for staying with Claire while we went to the store, I hurried up stairs.
I opened the door to our room and found that Claire had fallen asleep. She was propped up against the headboard with a pillow behind her. The book she had apparently been reading was lying open on her belly and her head was lying to the side. Her hair was in her face.
I smiled, walked over to the bed and got in beside her. Then took the book from her belly and lay it on the nightstand and with my hand moved the hair from her face. I softly kissed each of her eyelids, then her nose and lips. Her lips slowly began to move against mine as she awakened from her sleep and kissed me back. As I pulled back, she smiled and opened her eyes.
"Hi," she breathed softly, "I missed you."
"I was only gone for a couple of hours," I replied, trying not to smile.
" I still missed you," she replied, "I always miss you when you're gone."
"I missed you too," I admitted, then looked away from her, struggling with whether or not to bring up the subject of crazy Judith and her EQUALLY as crazy twin sister Carly.
"What's wrong," Claire asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Nothing," I said and looked over at her.
"You can't lie to me Shane. I always know when something's wrong with you. So, spill it," She demanded.
"I met Judith's sister at the grocery store earlier."
"What do you mean you met her?" She asked.
" I mean she was at the store, she hit on me, gabbed my ass and I turned around."
"What!" Claire exclaimed, "I hope you smacked her."
"No, because I was too stunned and I had no Idea who the hell she was."
"Well, How did you figure it out?" She asked, a hint of anger still in her voice.
"As she stood there still openly hitting on me, Eve came a round the corner and shouted, 'stay the hell away from him Judith.'"
"So it was Judith?" she asked, confused.
"You'd think, because from Eve's reaction she looked exactly like her, but no, it was Judith's twin sister Carly," I informed her.
"Twin?"
"Yah and as if Judith wasn't bad enough we also have to deal with Carly, who may even be a worse brand of crazy."
"Oh god, there are two of them." She said, a look of fear and surprise playing across her features, "What are we going to do?"
I ran a hand through my hair before answering, "I'm not sure, but I do know I'm calling the police."
"What? Why? They already said that their hands were tied, unless and until we have more proof and we don't have that."
"Maybe we do."
"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.
"When we were at the grocery, Eve confronted Carly about lying to the police about Judith breaking in here last night."
"Okay, so What? Did she admit to you that she lied?"
"No."
"Then I don't get it, because it sounds to me like we're right where we started," She said.
She was getting frustrated and I knew that it was about time I got to the point.
"Just let me finish. She didn't admit it. What she said was she didn't lie, because Judith was never there. Then she said think about it."
"So?"
"So, think about it," I said, excitedly, getting frustrated now myself, "If Judith wasn't here last night, then someone who looked exactly like her was."
"Oh my God! It was Carly," She gasped.
"Exactly."
"So, what do we do?"
"You already asked that and I told you I'm calling the police."
"After you're last conversation with them I don't think that that's a good idea," she concluded.
"Well somebody has to."
"You're right, somebody does have to and I think you should tell Michael and he should call them."
"Tell Michael what?" Michael asked, startling both of us.
We both jumped at the sound of his voice and then turned to see him standing in the doorway. Apparently I had forgotten to shut the door.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with you and Eve running into Judith's TWIN sister Carly at the store earlier would it?" He asked, curiously.
"Eve already told you?" I asked in return.
"Yes she did and while you were gone Claire told me what you said to officer Towler and I happen to agree with her that it's best that I call him and inform him of this new turn of events. You also need to the realize that Carly could have been trying to throw you off and it could still very well have been Judith."
"Yah, I know…I thought of that."
"Did you also think of the fact that even though he may investigate he will probably still see this as nothing more than circumstantial," he asked, in a fatherly tone.
"Yah, I know that too," I replied, annoyed, "Look man, you don't need to talk to me like I'm a child, alright."
"I wasn't. I just wanted you to make sure you understood. So, that you would keep your cool if things don't go the way you want then to. This is me and I know how hot headed you are Shane."
"Fine, I got it… I wont lose my cool. Now, go call him," I insisted.
He gave me a, "Do anything stupid and I'll kick your ass look," then turned and walked out of the room.
I rolled my eyes before getting up and going over to shut and lock the door, then turned back around and walked over and sat down on the bed beside Claire, who was sitting there with a worried look on her face.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Michael IS right Shane. You can get hot headed sometimes and the fact that you often do things without thinking about them first scares the hell out of me," she said and looked into my eyes.
"Don't you think you're over reacting just a little bit?"
"No I don't, I just don't want you to go do something stupid if this doesn't go the way we want it to, because there is a good chance it wont. I need you Shane…we need you. So, please promise me that you won't do anything stupid," she pleaded.
"I promise," I said, not sure if I was making a promise I couldn't really keep, then reached out, pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head, "I love you."
"I love you too."
I lay back on the bed with her still in my arms and we stayed that way for the rest of the afternoon.
I got off work at nine-thirty and walked into the house at about ten. I had driven home in hurry because, one: On the way I had stopped and gotten Claire her favorite meal, of the moment, Chicken Alfredo, with a Cesar salad and a side of Cheesy bread, which was sure to score me points and I didn't want it to get cold. Two: I was just eager to get home to her. I knew she didn't like being cooped in our room out all day, with nothing to do, which was in her words, " pure hell," and I hated leaving her alone.
I knew she was safe because Michael was somewhere in the house making sure, nothing happened to her, but it still drove me crazy that "I"couldn't be there with her.
Being a guy there was also another reason I couldn't wait to get home to her, lately we had been fooling a around a little bit, well, a lot. Even though the doctor said we couldn't have sex, she didn't say we couldn't do "other stuff," and both of us were very horny, for lack of a better word.
It had been six weeks and the last time we had been to Claire's OB/GYN She had said that since Claire had done every thing she was supposed to, one of those things being, refraining from sex, that Claire's Uterus had healed nicely and if things still looked good on the next visit, than she would give us the go ahead to have sex again.
Needless to say we were both very excited because we only had to wait one more night.
I walked into the living and Eve and Michael were sitting on the couch watching something that had them both laughing hysterically. I was surprised that they even noticed me.
"Oooo, Valentini's. Is that for us?" Eve asked from her spot on the couch.
"Uh, No, It's dinner…for Claire," I informed them.
"Fine, I see how you are," Eve said, feigning hurt.
"Okay, see you later," I said, ignoring her attempt to make me feel guilty and continued on my way up the stairs.
I was on my way to our room when Claire stepped out of the bathroom and into the hallway, in her robe.
She smiled when she saw me, walked over to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a long passionate kiss. I nearly dropped her dinner on the floor as I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her back. I managed to hold on to it and as we broke the kiss we were both out of breath.
"What was that for?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too.
"So, what's in the bag?" She asked curiously.
"You're favorite dinner from Valentini's," I informed her.
"You got me, Chicken Alfredo and Cheesy Bread?" She asked, excitedly."
"Yep, and don't forget Cesar Salad."
"Baby, you're so good to me."
" I know," I said, with a smile and leaned in for another kiss.
"Mmmm…you know what would go great with that?" She asked and looked into my eyes.
"What?"
"A big slice of their cheesecake with fresh strawberries."
"But, I didn't-, "
" Can you go get some? Please?" She asked, giving me those sad puppy dog eyes.
" You want me to go back out there…into the dark...onto the vampire super highway."
She didn't say a word but shook her head, still giving me those sad puppy dog eyes.
" Okay, for you, I'll go," I told her, "So, take this into to our room, enjoy and I'll be back in a bit."
I handed her the Valentini's bag with her dinner in it, gave her a quick kiss on the lips, then head towards and down the stairs.
When I walked into the living room, Michael and Eve were walking back in from the kitchen.
"Hi guys, how was your movie?" I asked. A little too nicely.
"Huh, uh," she said, shaking her head knowingly, "You are being way to nice. You want something…what is it?"
"What make's you think I want something? Can't a guy just be nice?"
"Not you and not that nice."
"I-,"
"Hi guys, how was our movie? Like you give a crap," she interrupted, and folded her arms across her chest.
"Hey, I'm a nice guy, but you're right. I do want something…from Michael and you, if you want to go with him," I started, "Claire want's some of that Cheesecake from Valentini's with the strawberries on top, Will you go out and get it for her Michael?"
"Why should I?" Michael asked.
"Because you're my best friend and because Claire is pregnant and hormonal and you know how she can get when she has a craving for something and she doesn't get it," I reminded him.
" Okay fine I'll go, but Eve and I were having a night to ourselves…you owe me."
"Here," I said, and held out the fifty, "Take Eve with you and have dessert on me, okay?"
"Okay, we're leaving," he said, took the fifty, pulled his keys out of his pocket, then turned and followed, Eve to the door.
I followed behind them so that I could lock the door as they left.
"I take it you and Claire also want some alone time?" He asked over his shoulder as he followed Eve out the door.
He turned back around as he stepped out onto the porch waiting for my answer.
"Yes, but not exactly for the reason you think, because as you know that can't happen until tomorrow after Claire's appointment," I reminded him, giving him a sly grin, "But after that you guys might not want to come home until-."
"Very late," Michael said, finishing my sentence, giving me a sly grin of his own.
"Or the next morning."
"God Shane! You are such a horn dog… come on Michael," She said pulling him in the direction of her car.
"It's Claire and it's been awhile…can you blame me?" I smiled, then shut and locked the door, and hurried back through the living room and up the stairs to Claire's and my room.
When I got there I found that the door was open and Claire was standing in front of the mirror, in her nightgown, brushing her hair. I walked into the room, shut and locked the door behind me. When Claire heard the click of the door closing she looked up at me in the mirror and smiled.
I smiled back, then walked across he room to her, and once I was behind her I put one arm around her body and with other hand I moved her hair aside and sensually kissed her neck.
"You look beautiful baby," I half whispered, half growled as I continued to kiss her neck.
"Thank you," She said, then turned and putting her hands on my face pulled me in and kissed me hard and fierce.
Her smell was intoxicating and her mouth tasted of mint and cherries. I wanted to take her right then and there, but I knew I couldn't take it that far. Not right now. Not tonight. But tomorrow was a different story. Tomorrow she was mine. Tomorrow we would do things that we had only dreamed about for the last few weeks. I could barely take it. So before we let things go too far and I couldn't stop myself I pulled back.
She looked at me confused and asked, "What is it?"
"You know we can't do this tonight," I reminded her.
"Why can't we? It would only be one night early. I don't see what would be wrong with it," she said, and dropped one hand down to my dick and caressed me teasingly through my jeans "Come on, you know you want to."
"Mmm, yes you know that I do Claire," I said placing my hand on her wrist and removing her hand from my crotch, "But you also know that we can't."
"Yes we can Shane, I feel fine and I need you. I need this. We both do. I am extremely horny right now," she informed me as her eyes fell to the ever-growing bulge in my pants, "And since little Shane is standing at attention, I assume you are too."
Damn it! My dick had betrayed me.
"I-"
"Come on baby, let me help you release a little of that frustration," she said and kissed me hungrily while unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans.
"Turn around," I growled, very aroused.
Claire turned her back to me and I pulled her to me, pressing myself against her as I kissed her neck, so that she knew just how aroused I was.
She gasped, "Fuck me, Shane."
I was in no shape to deny her what she wanted so instead I gave in and we made love like we hadn't seen each other in days, forgetting about everything and everyone and when we were finished, we were both exhausted, out of breath and completely blissed out and euphoric. We lay there under the covers in each other's arms staring into each other's eyes, hands intertwined. Claire smiled at me and I softly kissed her lips.
"You're so beautiful," I breathed sweeping the hair out of her eyes with my fingers.
"I love you," she said still smiling
"I love you too," I replied, smiling back at her.
"You were amazing."
I chuckled lightly, "I know so were you."
"Want to do it again?" She asked, making me chuckle yet again.
"As tempting as that is, I think maybe we should wait until tomorrow and not push our luck," I said and kissed her forehead.
"If we must," she said then rolled away and sat up, letting her legs fall over the side of the bed.
"Where are you going?" I asked, confused, "Oh, and where is your food."
"I put it on the desk and you have noticed this huge beach ball sitting on my bladder, right?" she asked sarcastically, while slipping her gown over her head.
"Gotcha," I replied, realizing what she needed to do, was pee.
"So, I'll be right back and maybe we can share the dinner when I get back," she said, pulled on her robe, stood and started to walk toward the door. I smiled at her.
As she did I noticed a small bloody spot on the bed where she sat and gasped, "Oh my God."
"Wha-,"She started to say as she turned and looked at the bed, seeing what had caused my reaction, "Oh my God."
"Okay, let's stay calm. Are you okay? Do feel okay?" I asked, crawling across, jumping out of bed and going over to her.
"Yeah, I feel okay, I'm just scared. Oh my god, what if something is wrong with the baby?" she asked frantically.
"It's going to be okay, baby," I assured her, "I'm going to call the doctor and I'm going to take you to the hospital."
I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and hurried Claire toward our bedroom door.
"Wait!" She yelled.
"What?" I yelled back still in a state of panic.
"We can't go to the hospital like this."
"Why?" I asked trying to figure out why the hell we still standing there and not going.
"Because I'm still in my nightgown and y-you're naked," she replied looking at me like I was crazy.
I looked down and realized that she was right and I was indeed very naked.
"Okay, well you see if you can find your pajama pants and I'll get dressed."
"Okay," She said, a worried look in her eyes.
I watched for only a second as she walked over the dresser and opened the drawer, to look for a pair of pajama pants, before walking over, picking up my jeans off of the floor and pulling them on. I didn't bother putting on my boxers. There wasn't time.
I reached down, grabbed my shirt and quickly pulled it over my head, then walked over to the door where Claire was waiting for me. Pajama pants and coat now on. I noticed she had also changed out of her gown and pulled on a t-shirt.
I looked into her eyes and saw how scared she was and it almost killed me. I never should have given in no matter how badly I had needed it, because somehow now she was bleeding and I had possibly caused harm to her and the baby and it was my fault. I'm the man I should have stood my ground and said no, but there was no time for me to stand here beating my self up, there would be plenty of time for that later. So, I shook the thoughts of self-hatred out of my mind, grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.
"Let's go," I instructed.
We hurried down the hall and over to the stairs as we reached then Claire stopped suddenly grabbed her belly.
"What?" I asked, concerned.
""It hurts," she replied.
"Come on, let's get you to the hospitals," I insisted and turned to walk down the stairs, but stopped as I felt Claire's resistant tug on my hand.
"No…I can't."
"Yes, you can Claire, Breath through it. We have to get you to the hospital, okay."
"Okay…Let's go."
Still holding her hand I led her down the stairs, through the living room and to the front door.
I opened it and almost ran smack into Michael.
"Whoa! Where are you going?" He asked confused.
"To the hospital."
"What? Why? What's wrong?" He asked, his expression changing form confused to concerned as he looked from me to Claire.
"She…I don't have time to explain, man. I gotta go."
"I'll drive. We'll take my car."
Just then Eve came walking up to the porch.
"It's cold out here. Why are we standing outside?" she asked.
"We're not…we're leaving," Michael said hurrying her towards his car.
Claire and I followed close behind.
"What? What's going on?"
"No time to explain. Something's wrong with Claire. We are going to the hospital. Now get in."
We all piled into the car. Eve up front with Michael and Me in back holding Claire.
Michael didn't waste time; as soon as we were all in he pulled away from the curb and sped towards the hospital.
###
At the hospital things went quickly. As soon as we got there they ushered Claire and me back into an examination room and began prepping her for an ultrasound and examination.
Eve and Michael stayed in the waiting area. I'm sure, waiting nervously for our return.
Claire lay in the hospital bed, her stomach and lower extremities covered by a sheet, holding my hand tightly. While stood next her watching nervously as the doctor performed the ultrasound.
The quietness in the room was driving me crazy. No one talked including the doctor and the longer things went on that way the more scared I became. Finally when I couldn't take the suspense any longer I spoke and to my surprise so did Claire. Asking the same question as I did.
"Is everything okay?" Claire and I asked simultaneously.
"Yes, everything looks fine," Dr. Henton, conceded, "Claire, you and the baby will be just fine. The abruption healed up nicely. The only thing I saw was the vaginal irritation I told you about during the exam."
"So, I didn't hurt her or the baby?" I asked nervously.
"No, Shane you didn't. As I said before they are going to be just fine," she assured me with a small chuckle.
"But the blood," I said, still trying to process the fact that Claire was going to be okay. Part of me was relieved. The other part of me, however, still wasn't sure that what the doctor had just told me was true.
The rational part of me knew that it had to be, but there was still part of me that was scared that I had some how caused harmed to Claire and the baby and that was the part that wouldn't concede with reality.
"It was from the irritation caused by sex," the doctor stated, pulling from my thoughts.
"So, I did hurt her."
"No, Claire is fine and I see no problem with the two of you continuing to have sex. I would wait a few days for the irritation to go away, but after that you are free to continue," She reassured me, while packing up the machine, "However, next time I give you instructions to wait…wait and this confusion may be avoided."
"Okay, we will. Thank you Dr. Henton…for everything," Claire told her.
"Your welcome…now get dressed so the two of you can get home," she instructed, then smiled and left Claire and I alone.
I reached back to the chair and grabbed Claire's pajama pants and handed them to her.
Claire took them from me, then sat up straight and let her legs fall over the side of the hospital bed.
Obviously still seeing the worry in my eyes she stood, looked in my eyes and said comfortingly, "Hey, it's okay. Didn't you here doctor Henton say that I'm fine?"
"Yes, I did…but it doesn't make me feel any less guilty."
"Why? You have nothing to feel guilty for. You didn't hurt me or the baby, Shane," She assured me, as she took my hand and put it on her belly to make her point, "We had sex. You didn't purposefully hurt me. Things happen, okay."
"Okay."
She kissed my lips lightly then finished putting on her pants. After she was done the doctor came back and gave us her release papers and we left and headed to the waiting area to meet up with Michael and Eve.
When we walked out into the waiting room Michael and Eve were standing there by the doors with worried expressions on their faces.
"Finally," Eve breathed, "So, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, we are both okay. There is nothing to worry about, we thought there was but there isn't. So, can we just go home? I'm tired," Claire informed her.
"Yah, Sure…but you do realize you are going to have to fill me in later," Eve said putting an arm around Claire's shoulders and leading her towards the exit.
"You alright man?" Michael asked as we left, noticing my current mood.
"I'm fine."
"You sure? You seem-"he started, but I interrupted him.
"I don't want to talk about it," I said, brushing him off, "Let's just go home."
I walked over to the car and got in the back seat with Claire. Michael got in a few seconds later, started the engine, pulled away from the curb and headed for home.
###
Claire's POV
After we left the hospital we went straight home. I went up to bed and even though I could see he was exhausted Shane decided to stay down stairs and watch a movie. When I woke up the next morning Shane's side of the bed was empty. He had never come to bed. I went down stairs and found him asleep on the couch. His excuse had been that after the movie was over it was late and he didn't want to wake me, so he slept on the couch. Something about that didn't sit well with me. He wouldn't even look me in the eye when he said it. I knew something was wrong.
Over the next two weeks this happened several times. I'd go up to bed and he would stay on the couch watching a movie and never come up to join me. I'd always find him asleep on the couch the next morning and he'd always have the same excuse. There were nights when he would come to bed, but even though he was there I still felt alone, because he would sleep all of the way on the other side of the bed with his back to me and would never touch me.
Needless to say our sex life was suffering as well. I would try and he would always turn me down. He'd say he was too tired or he just wasn't in the mood. Which was strange for Shane because he was always in the mood. I was beginning to think that he just didn't want me any more or that something was wrong with me. Some nights I would cry myself to sleep, but tonight I refused to let that happen. I had convinced him to stay in our room and watch a movie with me. I let him choose the movie. So, we ended up watching Fast Five. Which was fine by me because even though I loved that movie, I hadn't actually intended on watching much of it, because I had made up my mind, either he was going to make love to me or he was going to explain his sudden change in attitude over the last two weeks.
So, As we lay there in the dark watching the movie, I began to lightly run my fingers down his chest and stomach, stopping only for a minute at the top of his boxers and played with the hair there, before slipping my hand inside and beginning to gently stroke his cock. I heard him moan softly.
He began to protest, "C-Claire…d-don-…mmm."
After a few seconds I felt his body relax and then his hips fell into a rhythmic movement with the pumping of my hand. I gently nibbled on his ear and he turned his head and kissed me passionately, pulled me closer and put his hand in my hair, holding me there as his kiss grew more fierce and intense.
I moaned softly then and whispered against his lips, "Shane,"
"Uh-Huh."
"Make love to me."
Suddenly the kissing stopped and I opened my eyes to find him staring back at me.
"What? Why'd you stop?" I asked.
"I can't," he replied, then removed my hand from his boxers.
"Shane, please," I pleaded, reaching form him to pull him back to me, but he pushed me away and go out of bed.
"I can't…I'm sorry."
He pulled on his jeans fastened them and then pulled on a t-shirt. And headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Down stairs."
"Is there something wrong with me?" I asked, with tears in my eyes, as I got out of bed and followed him to the door.
He swung it open and turned around.
"No, there is nothing wrong with you," he said sounding annoyed, then turned back around and walked out into the hallway.
"Well then why won't you make love to me?" I shouted as I followed him out into the hall.
"I don't think this is the time for this," he said, glancing towards Michael, who was now standing at the top of the stairs.
"I think this is a damn good time for this," I spat, barely acknowledging Michael.
"Can't we do this later?"
"No, I want to know, and I want to know now," I informed him, "What is it Shane? Do I disgust you? Can you not stand to make love to your big fat pregnant, fiancé?"
"Claire, stop it. You know that's not it."
"Do I? You wont come to bed at night and you won't touch me. So, if that's not it, then what is it? What am I supposed to think?" I pressed.
He stood there looking shocked by the amount of hurt and anger in my words.
"Did you fall out of love with me? Do you just not love me anymore Shane?" I continued to yell. I couldn't stop myself
He turned and headed towards the stair, where Michael stood.
"I angrily shouted after him, "That's it isn't it! You don't love me anymore!"
Shane spun around and walked towards me, the look in his eyes scared the hell out of me. They were filled with pain and anger and it was directed at me in a way that it had never been before.
I backed up as he walked towards me until my back was against the wall. He hit the wall hard on either side of my head with his open hands.
I flinched and gasped. Scared.
He leaned in so close that I could feel his warm breath on my face as he began to speak, "You can yell at me. You can cuss at me, throw thing at me or even call me names, but after every thing that we have been through, don't you ever say that I don't love you, because I do. Damn it! I love you. I love you so fucking much. Don't you know that by now?"
"I'm sorry," I said, trembling.
He looked at me confused, then after a second realization swept over his features.
I looked down the hall at Michael, who was standing there watching everything.
"Don't you look at him. Look at me," Shane snapped, angrily.
I turned my eyes back to Shane, almost afraid not too. I knew he would never hurt me but at the same time I had never seen him this angry with me before.
"Did you really think I was going to hit you?" He asked and the anger in his face changed to pain and his eyes were filled with tears.
"No," I replied.
"Then why did you flinch and look at Michael," When I didn't answer he continued, "I would never hurt you and you know that. That's why I can't make love too you, because I don't want to hurt you. Don't you know it kills me every time you beg me to make love to you and I say no, then you get this hurt look in your eyes and start to cry, because you think that I don't want you? Did you ever stop to think that I couldn't make love to you because I'm scared to death of hurting you like I did last time? That I love you that fucking much?"
Seeing him like this and knowing that I had really hurt him brought tears to my eyes and as my tears spilled over and down my cheeks, so did his.
I reached out and wiped his tears away and he did the same to mine. I placed my hands one the sides of his face and looked deep into his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Me too," He replied gentler.
"I love you."
"I Love you too."
I looked into his eyes for a second longer then leaned in and gave his lips a soft kiss; he kissed me back but only for a second and then turned his head.
"I'm sorry, I can't do this right now," and glanced up at me.
"You are not going to hurt me, Shane," I assured him.
"Maybe not, but you hurt me," he said, his eyes now burrowing into mine, "For you to even think for a second that I don't love you, that hurts and for you to think that I would hit you, that kills me. So forgive me, but I can't be up here with you right now. I'm not trying to hurt you, but I need time to think. SO, I'm going to go downstairs and hang out with Michael.
With that he turned and headed towards Michael, who was still standing at the top of the stairs watching everything.
I called after him, "Shane."
He turned back to me, "I'll be up later…I promise.
He turned back around and followed Michael downstairs. I stood there for a second and then walked back into our room, shut the door and got in to bed and started to cry into my pillow. I had hurt Shane and in doing so I had hurt myself. I hated my self for hurting him and I didn't know what to do to fix it. I was wrong it looked like I would be crying myself to sleep yet again.
As he promised Shane did come up to bed. It was late but he did as he promised and to my surprised he put his arms around me, pulled me close and kissed my neck, before whispering, "Goodnight…I love you."
The next morning I woke up and I noticed that Shane's arms were no longer around me, but instead of being worried about that the first thing I did was reach for the necklace that my father gave me, which should have been around my neck, but it wasn't there. Just before I woke up I had had a dream about my father. He had come to tell to be very careful, but everything will be okay. That he loved me and wished he could be here, then he wiped away my tears, kissed my cheek and I had woke up.
The first thing I thought about was the necklace that he had given me and I had to find it. I slipped out of bed quietly trying not to wake Shane up. I looked on the nightstand by the bed, the dresser and the computer desk, but it wasn't there. I stood there wondering where I could have left It. Did I lose it or did I put it somewhere and can't remember where I put it. Then it dawned on me, I remembered wearing the other day in the car. It has to be there.
I looked over at Shane and saw that he was still asleep. I knew that I could quietly leave the room quickly go down to the car (well as quickly as a pregnant woman could) get my necklace and hopefully get back into bed before Shane woke up.
I quietly walked over to the door, opened it, slipped out and shut it, then waddled over to and down the stairs. I walked through the living room then over to and out the front door. The sun was shinning but the wind blew cool and welcoming, so the suns rays felt wonderful on my skin. I smiled then and stepped down off of the porch, walked across the lawn, over to and around my car, to the driver's side, opened the door and got in. I took a quick scan of the car wondering where to start looking, but I knew the only place it could be was the passenger side, so I leaned over and looked down at the floor and that's when I saw it. Lying there on the floor mat. I remembered that the clasp had broken, yet again. So I had put it in my pocket and it must have slipped out when I was getting out of the car.
I picked it up off of the floor, gave it a quick kiss, then got out of the car and shut the door.
That is when I heard Shane's voice as he yelled my name, " Claire!"
I looked up just in time to see him running towards me, motioning towards something to my right and yelling at me to get out of the way. I turned my head and as I did, I saw a car speeding right for me. There was no time to move. In that split second I looked out and saw the angry eyes of the driver as her car barrel towards. I closed my eyes preparing for the impact, knowing that this was it. That I was going to die. The last thing I saw was my father's face.
E/N: So what did you think? Let me know. Please leave me a review.