Did you all get tonight's twitter clue?
Ch. 11 Out of This Swan Dive, To Your Arms
(DREW)
I park at home and rush around to the passenger seat to help Clare out of the car. She gives me a bit of an annoyed look but doesn't say anything; she does kiss my cheek when we're out of the car.
"What did the doctor say?" Mom asks as soon as we're in the house.
"I think we'd better tell everyone at once, I assume Eli, Owen, Adam, Bianca and Dallas are all still here?" Clare comments.
"Yes they didn't want to be up here with Dad and I talking so they're watching movies in the basement," Mom tells us.
"You sit on the sofa I'll go get everyone," I command. Clare sits down; Mom goes to the stairs and yells upstairs for Dad to come down. I open the door to the basement and go down halfway until I can see into the basement. "Hey you guys want to come upstairs," I announce and they all look over at me. The five of them follow me upstairs and I sit on the sofa wrapping my arm around Clare. Owen sits on the other side of her, Adam on the arm next to me, Bianca on the arm next to Owen. My parents stand while Eli and Dallas it on the coffee table. "Clare's sick…" I start and Clare interrupts me.
"Not sick, I don't have a virus Drew. The doctor said I do have a heart mummer, mitro-valve prolapse actually, which means one of the valves on my heart doesn't sit quite right. She told us it was nothing to worry about, I could live a perfectly long and happy life but I get palpitations sometimes and dizzy because my heart is working so hard. She also said I have anemia, another reason I get dizzy, she wants me to watch my diet and prescribed an iron supplement which we picked up, along with some nutrition shakes since I don't usually feel like eating. She was concerned but told me take it easy and listen to my body, know my limits basically. She also said preeclampsia was a risk but my blood pressure was very low so she wasn't too worried about that. We'll call the clinic she works at on Monday and make an appointment for two weeks from now. It's things that need to be monitored and I can't over exert myself but nothing that's life threatening for me or the baby."
"We'll all help," Adam tells me after everyone is silent for a minute.
"Yeah of course we will," Owen agrees.
"Clare you should go rest downstairs and I'll start thinking about dinner, are all you kids staying?" Audra asks.
Everyone nods and I stand helping Clare off the sofa, I walk with my arm around her all the way down the stairs.
"You should lie down and get some rest, try to nap an…" Clare puts her hand at the back of my neck, stands on her tip toes and silences me with a kiss.
"I'm not tired Drew I don't want to nap, I want to spend time with my friends. I know you're scared but none of this is life threatening, stop treating me like I'm made of glass, or too fragile to do anything," she admonishes.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried, I just got you back I don't want to lose you," I confess.
"You won't," she says taking my hand and pulling me to the sofa.
We sit down, surrounding her, and Adam turns on the TV, we don't say much just sit there watching TV for a while. Then Eli finds an old B movie and we all start making fun of it, Clare included. When she suddenly gets up I grab her hand and cock an eyebrow at her wondering why she's trying to do something for herself.
"I'm thirsty," she responds.
"Sit I'll get you some water," I insist pulling her to sit on the sofa again while I stand.
"Drew I can get water," she responds in a slightly annoyed tone.
"I know but you're supposed to take it easy as much as you can, so when you're with me I don't want you lifting a finger," I inform her kissing her forehead before I go upstairs. Mom's cooking dinner, casserole of some kind, she looks at me and gives me this sympathetic smile. "Clare's thirsty," I tell her as if I need to explain my reason for going to the fridge.
"We'll have to make sure she's drinking plenty of water and getting enough nutrition. She should get her appetite back soon, probably some cravings too. Make sure she's getting her vitamins every day and some exercise," Mom says in the slightly frantic yet take charge voice she always uses when she feels helpless.
"Mom I'm scared, I have no idea what to do or how to help her. I know I walked away and left her but I regretted that the minute I did it and now I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. I don't know how to protect her," I confide in my mom.
"Oh honey," Mom says putting her arms around me for a tight hug, the kind only a mother can give. "Love her, be there for her, listen to her, do your best to get her anything she needs, hold her and be her rock. That's what you do for her, how you protect her. You can't do anything about what's happening in her body but you can make her life easier and happier. Now that you're back together you both seem much happier and the less stress she has the easier it will be on her body and the baby," Mom advises.
"I know, I'll do all of that and do everything I can to make sure that she's not stressed anymore. I better get this water down to Clare or she might think I ran off again," I remark and Mom smiles. "Thanks Mom, for everything," I kiss her cheek and go downstairs with Clare's water.
"You go to the Yukon for that water?" Owen jokes when I get back downstairs.
"Sorry I was talking to Mom," I explain opening the water and handing it to Clare.
She kisses my cheek and takes a few sips of water; we continue watching TV with everyone, mostly making fun of really bad movies from the 50's, 60's and 70's. When dinner is ready we go up and make ourselves plates but eat in the basement watching movies. Anyone that doesn't live here leaves a little before midnight. Clare and I say goodnight to my family and Dallas then start getting ready for bed. She begins to undress and then stops, sitting on the bed with her hand to her chest.
"Clare?" I question in a worried tone rushing to her side.
"I'm okay Drew just palpitations, they'll pass in a minute," she assures me.
"Can I do anything for you? Water? Get your pajamas? Anything?" I ask quickly.
She smiles at me and strokes my face, "Just sit with me and hold me."
"As long as you like," I grin sitting next to her on the bed and putting my arm around her.
She lays her head on my chest, takes my other hand and stays that way for a few minutes. Then lets out a breath it sounds like she's been holding for several minutes, she puts her head up, kisses my cheek and stands up. We finish getting ready for bed and when we're in bed I wrap her in my arms and hold her close.
"Good night Drew, I love you," she says cuddling into me.
"Good night My Shining Jewel, I love you," I reply.
I feel her smile against my chest and soon she drifts to sleep, I lie awake worried about her. I can't help it; everything the doctor said is going through my head and making me distressed with worry and "what ifs". What if it's too much for Clare's body? What if the heart condition is more serious than she thought? What if Clare stressed out or over does it? Eventually I do fall asleep but wake up a short time later after a nightmare. My eyes shoot open and I gasp but I don't wake Clare. Gently getting her off me I get out of bed and go upstairs sitting on the sofa.
"Drew?" My brother's voice makes me look over my shoulder at the stairway.
"What are you doing up?" I question.
"I could ask you the same thing," he counters as he sits next to me on the sofa.
"I was asleep but I had a bad dream about the pregnancy going bad and losing the baby," I tell him.
"The doctor said this stuff was normal right? None of it is life threatening and we just have to watch her, and we will. She's not alone Drew, you're not alone, you never were. Me, Eli, Owen, Bianca, Dallas, Mom and Dad, we'll all watch her and make sure she doesn't over exert herself . We know what's going on now, all of us and we can help her and you. You've always been strong for everyone else but if you're scared let us help, let us be your strength," Adam tells me.
"Thanks Adam," I grin hugging my younger but wiser brother.
"Yeah now get back to sleep I just came down for some water," he says.
I get up and go back to the basement, opening our bedroom door and crawling back into bed with Clare.
"Drew?" Clare yawns turning over a little when I get back in bed.
"Go back to sleep," I tell her lying down next to her and putting my arm around her.
She puts her forehead on my chest and nuzzles into me a bit, "Where were you?"
"Sorry, had a bad dream and I didn't want to wake you," I apologize combing my fingers into her hair and kissing her forehead.
She puts her hand on my chest and drifts back to sleep after a few minutes. I hold her until exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep. We sleep late, only waking up when I smell Mom making breakfast, Clare gets up to use the washroom and I toss some clothes on waiting for her. Actually ready to rush to her side if she needs me, gets dizzy, starts throwing up or anything else, but she exits the washroom a couple minutes later and smiles at me. She goes to the little closet that Glen made for us, her clothes take up 99.9% of the closet, I only have a couple dress shirts hanging in there, and she starts getting dressed. I wait for her and we go upstairs together, Mom made pancakes and Clare actually nibbles at one after she has some tea. We spend the rest of the day hanging out with Adam, Dallas, Bianca, Owen and Eli, just watching TV and playing video games in the basement but I don't want Clare doing anything. She doesn't eat much but I make sure that she takes her vitamins and iron supplement and that she drinks a nutritional shake. She does pretty well but of course we barely let her get off the sofa, tomorrow we have school and I don't know how she'll do. At least we both sleep through the night but she wakes up Monday morning by rushing to the washroom to throw up her dinner from last night, what little she ate anyway.
"We can stay home," I offer handing her some water.
"No we can't, I've been feeling this way for almost three months now Drew and I've been going to school. Now at least we know what's going on, I promise to eat and take it easy, and I know that you, Adam, Owen and everyone else will keep a close eye on me and make sure that I do. You should go up and eat breakfast, I'm going to start getting ready," she tells me kissing my cheek.
"I'm not leaving you, we'll get ready together and you need to eat too," I remind her.
She smiles and we walk to the bedroom again, once we're ready for school we go upstairs to eat breakfast. While Adam, Dallas and I eat bagels and cereal for breakfast, Clare has a piece of toast and tea but at least she ate. I grab her prescriptions before leaving and her backpack so she doesn't strain herself. We get in my car and I drive us to school, pulling into the parking lot just after Owen. He and Tris get out of the car and Owen opens Clare's door, she hugs him and Tris while I get out and grab her backpack. He asks how she's feeling and she tells him fine, we start walking into school together and when we get to the steps Katie and Fiona grab Dallas.
"Hey Clare, how do you feel?" Fiona asks.
"Fine," she responds.
"That's what she always says but the doctors worried about some stuff," Adam informs them.
"It's not a big deal; she said both things were very common for pregnancy. I'm anemic and I have a heart mummer, I just have to take it easy," she responds.
"Well I'm sure Drew and everyone will make sure that you do," Katie says.
"All of us will," Fiona speaks up and Clare smiles at her then Fiona looks at Dallas. "Dallas we thought we should have a victory dance, not like Friday's after party but an actual dance. We were thinking we'd theme it 40's like the victory dances after world war II but everyone has to come in Ice Hounds colors," Fiona announces.
"Sounds great, I look mighty sexy in a suit," Dallas grins and Clare giggles, "when are we having it?"
"Friday," Fiona responds.
"Sounds like fun, maybe I can get Drew to swing dance," Clare smiles.
"Not likely," I shake my head, "anyway you're supposed to take it easy."
"Yeah but I can attend a dance, it's not a marathon, can I have my backpack now I need to get books before class," she requests.
"No I'll carry you're backpack," I insist and put my arm around her shoulders.
"See you guys later," Katie says.
Adam, Owen and Tris walk in with us; Tris leaves us when he sees his friends. When we get to Clare's locker we find Becky, Luke, Dave, K.C. and Connor. While I open Clare's locker and get out her books she tells them what the doctor said and they all promise to help look out for her too. She doesn't want to come to my locker so I give her backpack to Adam.
"Be careful, if anything happens…"
"Drew I'll be fine," she says with an annoyed tone as she cuts me off.
"I just got you back and now I might lose you, you can't blame me for being worried," I defend myself.
"I think it's sweet that you're worried but I'm not going to break just being at school and you're not going to lose me Drew I promise," she grins standing on her toes to give me a chaste kiss, "unless you do something stupid again."
"Never again My Shining Jewel, I love you," I tell her.
"I love you too," she grins kissing me once more before walking off with my brother and her other friends.
"I'm worried too but Clare's strong, she'll be okay and we're all looking out for her," Owen says as we start walking to our lockers.
"Plus I think you're getting on her nerves," Luke chides as he follows us.
"Yeah I know I am but I can't help it, I'm in love with the girl."
(CLARE)
"I'm surprised Drew let you out of his sight," Maya comments as Bianca parks downtown.
"He's just worried," I respond getting out of the car.
It was Wednesday and the dance was in two days so Bianca, Becky, Maya and I had decided to come shopping in the vintage/thrift shops downtown so we could find something appropriate to wear.
"He broke up with you and got all pissed off, he didn't seem to be too worried at that point," Becky retorts.
"He was pissed because he was scared, he didn't know how to deal. He was still worried," Bianca says in Drew's defense.
"He knows he made a mistake and he's making up for it," I tell them as we walk into the first store.
"Are you guys going to get married?" Becky questions while looking at a black and white striped dress that can pass for 1940's style.
"We haven't talked about it, I think we're just concentrating on the pregnancy for now," I reply.
I look at a few dresses but none of them will fit over my chest and none of them are black, red or white. Becky ends up getting the striped dress and Bianca buys a hair pin but that's it so we move on to another store. This one has a black dress with white polka-dots and ruffled cup sleeves which is very 1940's style and buttons up the front. When I try it on it actually fits so I get it and start looking at the shoes but don't find anything I like. Maya is trying on a white dress and Becky is looking at the jewelry so I sit down with Bianca.
"So do you want to get married?" Bianca questions.
"Yeah one day but I never thought about getting married at 17, of course never thought I'd find myself pregnant at 16 either. Drew always wore a condom, it never even crossed our minds," I confess.
"Have you thought about marrying Drew?" She inquires.
"I had in the past but for a while I thought we might never get back together and now we're just worried about getting through the pregnancy. Until a couple of weeks ago all I wanted was to be Drew's girlfriend again. I haven't thought about the possibility of being his wife in a long time," I respond.
"But you're happy with Drew? Still in love with him?" She queries.
"Yes I never fell out of love with him and I'm happy with him. He's making up for what he did and being very nurturing and attentive now," I tell her.
"So if Drew asked you to marry him you'd say yes," she states and I pinch my eyebrows together.
"Why? Has Drew talked about proposing?" I ask.
"Not that I'm aware of but I can talk to him if you like," she offers.
"No we're happy right now and Drew's worried about me and the baby so much I don't want to throw a wedding into the works," I reply just as Becky and Maya come over so we cease our conversation.
"We're done let's go to another store," Becky announces.
We check out several more stores and all of us find outfits that will work for the dance. I have the black and white dress and found a pair of scarlet colored Mary Jane's I'll wear with white socks. Becky has her striped dress and she's going to wear white flats. Bianca found a red dress that is 1940's style and says she's going to wear black heels. Maya got a black dress and a little black hat, the kind with a tiny veil that you pin on. Bianca drives each of us home, she lives closer to Maya but she still drops me off last.
"So after the baby is born you'll talk to Drew about getting married?" She asks when we're alone in the car.
"I don't know Bianca, really I haven't thought about it, I am in love with Drew but we weren't talking about marriage before I got pregnant, we were just high school sweethearts," I point out.
"Yes but having a baby together is a bigger step than getting married, a whole human being is bigger than one day to affirm your love and commitment in front of friends and family," Bianca counters.
"You have a point but I still want to just concentrate on being pregnant and having a baby," I tell her just as she pulls up to the Torres house.
I say goodbye to Bianca, grab my bags and get out of the car, I don't need to get my backpack because Drew took it home with him. I go through the basement and Drew is sitting on the sofa doing homework. He looks up, smiles and hops up to grab by my bags.
"Looks like you found some stuff," Drew says taking my bags into our bedroom.
"Yep I have my outfit, where's my backpack I need to start on my homework," I comment.
"You can start on your homework after dinner, which should be ready soon, for now you should rest. You were out walking around all afternoon after a full day of school," Drew says pulling me to the sofa.
"And I feel fine," I argue.
"Good but you're still going to rest," he asserts putting his arm around me.
I give in and lean against him, he turns on the TV and we watch for a short time before Audra calls us up for dinner. Everyone talks about their day, we tell Audra and Omar about the dance. Dallas says Owen and the rest of the guys, including Drew, Adam and Eli, will be renting 40's style clothes from a costume shop downtown and most of them are going tomorrow after school. I'm not that hungry but I eat a little chicken and a little salad. After dinner Drew and I go down to our room so he can finish his homework and I can do mine. I get my parenting homework done pretty easily and then start on my native studies homework. However I soon get bored and that seems to lead to horny, I begin to shift as a tickle builds between my legs. After a few minutes of trying to get my mind off of it and squelch this desire I give up, setting my book down and looking at Drew, biting my lip as I picture him taking me and ravishing my body. He's lying on his stomach typing on his laptop and doesn't realize I'm looking at him. I turn and crawl across the bed on my hands and knees, closing his laptop while he's looking at a reference in his book.
"Uh what are you doing?" Drew questions.
"Distracting you from your homework," I reply standing on my knees and unbuttoning my blouse.
"I like distractions," he grins turning on his back and taking my waist so I'm straddled over him.
Reaching up he begins unbuttoning the rest of my blouse, helping me get it off and tossing it against the wall in our small room. He unhooks my bra with one finger, and drops it to the floor. Gripping his shirt I get it over his head, then open his fly and unzip his jeans. Grabbing my hips he turns us so that I'm lying on my back and he begins unzipping my skirt. Pulling it down my legs and tossing it behind his head, then he swiftly removes my panties, hopping up so he can get off the rest of his clothes and leaves them in a pile on the floor. Pouncing back on the bed between my legs, his lips ensnare mine as two of his fingers wriggle into me; I moan and deepen the kiss.
After working my hole with his fingers for a few minutes he pulls them out, licking them clean while I whimper. A breath hitches in my throat as he thrusts into me, he moves slowly for only a few seconds and then his pace becomes rapid. I pull out of the kiss to breathe as my hips start bucking and moving in tandem with him. The aching build to orgasm is becoming nearly painful, I bend my knees and grip his back digging my nails into him a bit. Drew lifts one of my legs over his shoulder, pushing him in even farther and I let out a long purring moan as I orgasm but we are far from done.
He slows down just a bit, turning me on my side with my leg still lifted. This is new and he's hitting all kinds of new places. I grip the bedspread and moan on a whimpering quivering breath. My whole body starts trembling and I don't know how long I can keep this up, I feel the need to orgasm again but I can feel Drew's body start to quiver just slightly, I tighten around him and feel him grow just a slightest bit. Both our body's go rigid and still for a few seconds and then we both move again, rapidly, and frantically to reach climatic orgasm. We both cry out in rapturous relief, Drew slows down and turns me to my back again, stealing a kiss before we both collapse. We lay together in a breathless naked pile for a few minutes, Drew is able to move first and he sits up to get my water bottle from the nightstand handing it to me. I take a few sips and then sit up looking around for my clothes.
"Don't get dressed again," Drew whines wrapping his arms around me and kissing my neck.
"I need to wear something," I laugh.
"Why no one will come down here and everyone will knock before coming in our bedroom," he argues.
I giggle and grab his football jersey from the closet putting that on. We finally do finish our homework; Drew actually stays naked the whole time and occasionally caresses my leg. It's a little after eleven by the time we actually get ready for bed. I get in bed first and Drew joins me when the light is off, still naked of course.
"So," I speak up rolling over to cuddle with him, "Bianca was asking if we're going to get married."
Update next Tuesday probably starting at the victory dance.