AN: Splitting D&E up for a few chapters. Also going to starting having them around more people. Angie, Kendall, Ryan, Greenlee, Jesse, etc. Little Embryo's very existence is going to shake the very core if PV.
D&E will find themselves with unexpected allies and also we will see them being their own worst enemy again. Their sharp tongue and a lot of years will come out. It won't all be sweet and understanding. I am going to rip off all the band aid's, even some from before they were together.
Chapter 12
Fusion was quiet before 8am and it was Erica's favorite time of the day to be at work.
No one to bother her. No one trying to tell her how to do her job.
She was standing behind her desk, back to the front entrance, as she sampled the new fragrance's Research and Development had left for her.
She blew out a shaky breath and gripped the edge of her desk, a wave of nausea and dizziness washing over her.
Dr. Anderson and David were adamant that she not test for at least two more days. She understood, they didn't want any false results.
She knew herself, her body and she was confident she would already get a positive test.
Her hand drifted to her stomach and she blew out a steadying breath. She would try to wait and do as they asked, but she knew.
"I can't wait to meet you."
A copy of the current edition of the Exposer landed to her left.
"Were you going to tell me about this?" Jack's voice bummed from behind her.
"Tell you about what?" She hissed, turning to face him.
"You and Hayward spending the night together in New York." He motioned to Exposer cover. "What the hell were you thinking? Are you thinking?"
"I think..."She started grabbing the Exposer from her desk before shoving it against his chest. "It's a great photo."
She pushed past him and shook her head.
"It's bad enough that you're trying to have his baby but now you're sleeping with him? Is that your backup plan in case the transfer doesn't take?"
"How dare you come to my place of work just to throw horrible accusations at me."
"Accusations? There's photographic evidence of him going into your room and not coming out until the next morning. And you deny it?"
"Nothing happened," She yelled back at him. He had no right to question her. He no right to anything to do with her transfer or the days since.
They were hardly a couple any longer. They passed each other during the day. Had dinner in silence, if they were home.
They were in separate rooms, though that had started before Josh's death.
Most nights she didn't even sleep in her room. Instead finding herself at Wildwind with David.
Nothing was happening between them, nothing physical anyway. Though would freely admit that they were having trouble staying away from one another.
"That's where you go at night isn't it? To him." He understood now. Where she disappeared to at all hours of the night.
"Where I go and what I do is none of your business," She reminded him. "You told me you wanted nothing to do with any part of embryo or the transfer. So you have no say in what I do."
"You're sleeping with Hayward. I think I have a say in that."
She stepped toward him, eyes locked with his. "There is nothing happening between David and I. I do go there when I can't sleep. He did stay in my room in New York. I hardly understand it myself Jack, but I feel myself bring drawn to him and being in his company calms me."
Jack scoffed and shook his head. "I should have never let it get this far. I should have found away to stop you from going through with that transfer. I should have convinced Jesse to lie to you, keep you from knowing that embryo ever existed."
"You should have lied to me? Kept life changing information about my life, my body, from me? Who do you think you are?"
"The man who loves you. Who has loved you longer than you've even known Hayward. All I want to do is protect you, Erica. You're not thinking rationally."
"I have never been more sure of myself or the decisions I'm making. I know what I'm doing."
"How could you possibly?" Jack shot back shaking hid head. "I know how much you loved Josh. I know you're grieving. But you are not thinking rationally."
"I will not do this with you again," She started. "Greg Madden stole my DNA. He used David to create embryos and then he gave away our children. This one, this one is mine. This one is my chance to take back my body. Make my choice. I always wanted another child, you know that. And I have a chance now. I want this child."
He scoffed and shook his head at hers. "David Hayward's child. Why would you do this Erica?"
"Get out," She told him motioning for the door.
"Sweetheart, I'm just trying..."
"Get out!" She repeated more forcefully this time. She wouldn't continue to do this. To listen to this or him.
"I don't want to see you hurt."
"For the final time. I know what I'm doing. I can handle David. I want this transfer to take more than I can put into words. Nothing you can say or do is going to change my mind. You can leave now."
Jack sighed and opened his mouth to counter, but shook his head at her instead. "I won't wait around to pick up the pieces after David tries to take the child from you."
"I don't care what you do or don't do," She shrugged and waved him off.
How many times was she going to have to do this? Her pregnancy hadn't even been confirmed and the town had her and David fighting for custody.
She knew what she was doing. How to handle David.
She was different and they both knew it.
Jack shook his head in disgust and headed for the door. She was making the biggest mistake of her life and he could do nothing to stop her.
Her eyes squeezed closed and forced back a wave of nausea as she gripped the desk.
Obviously this child didn't like stress, she rationalized.
This was ridiculous. She knew her body. Knew what she was feeling. Why should she wait any longer to confirm the pregnancy?
She left a hand drift to her stomach, a small smile tilting across her lips.
"Let's go tell your daddy about you."
She took another steadying breath before grabbing her purse and heading for the door.
TBC
