A/N 1 - hey guys! This is the second to last chapter of junior year.
A/N 2 - I don't own the lyrics to As Long As You're Mine or Burn. They belong to their respected owners.
A/N 3 - I will write more of The One at Horse Camp - just having some writer's block.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
(chapter title - Conflict and Mistrust)
Everything seemed to be going well for Gretchen Wallace and Barney Stenson, that is until Gretchen had to go out of state with her mother - there was a family emergency.
Barney cared for their two girls, along with his aunt Matilda.
It was hard for Barney to go to school without Gretchen. Cassandra was in day care and Stephanie was being watched by Matilda.
In Science class, the students were paired up to do their science projects.
To Barney's dismay, he was paired with Rosie - the girl that weaseled her way into his and Gretchen's relationship.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Rosie asked as the two of them exited the school once classes were over for the day.
"She and her mom had to go to Oklahoma - there was a family emergency" Barney said, "she'll be back next week."
"What happened?" Rosie asked, getting in the front seat.
"Her cousin killed himself" Barney said.
Rosie frowned, "I'm so sorry."
Barney pulled into the driveway of Gretchen's house and turned to face Rosie, "we now have two girls - a 2 year old and a 5 month old. My aunt Matilda is here, just letting you know."
Rosie nodded and followed Barney inside the house, which was crowded with toys of every shape, size and color. She followed Barney downstairs where Barney & Gretchen's room was, along with the nursery.
Barney sat on the bed and got his Science Book out, feeling Rosie sit next to him.
Rosie put the book aside and gently kissed Barney, cradling his face in her hands.
Barney couldn't resist and kissed Rosie back with hunger and passion. He slipped her shirt and bra off, kissing her skin. He felt Rosie take his shirt off.
"You have protection?" Rosie asked.
Barney nodded and took his jeans and boxers off, slipping a condom on. He took off Rosie's pants and undies off, gently fingering her before entering her roughly.
Rosie moaned as she and Barney made love for a while. They climaxed together and panted. Barney kissed Rosie's neck.
The two of them showered quickly, then went back to work on their science project.
After Rosie left, Barney felt sick about what he'd done. He was tempted to call Gretchen and let her know what happened, but the small town of Horse Rock, Oklahoma didn't get cell reception.
I'll have to come clean when she comes home Barney thought to himself as he spent time with his daughters before he and his aunt Matilda put them to bed.
Every day that week, Barney and Rosie had sex at Rosie's house.
"I hope I don't get you pregnant" Barney said as he held Rosie in his arms.
"Then leave Gretchen and stay with me" Rosie said.
"No - I love Gretchen too much. This needs to stop. I'll see if I can get a different partner" Barney said, getting dressed.
Rosie watched him from the bed, "you don't deserve her."
Barney put his shirt on, his back to Rosie.
The next day at school, Barney went to his science teacher - Mrs. Figg.
"Um, Mrs. Figg, I have a problem" Barney said.
Mrs. Figg looked up from grading the last science tests, "what's up, Barney?"
"I need another partner for the science project. Rosie and I aren't getting along" Barney said.
Mrs. Figg nodded and looked at the list, "you can work with Ted and I'll put Rosie with Melanie."
"Thank you" Barney said.
"By the way, how's Gretchen?" Mrs. Figg asked.
"She's in Oklahoma for a family emergency. I think she's okay" Barney said.
Mrs. Figg nodded, "anything else?"
"No" Barney said, walking over to Ted, "dude, we need to talk."
"Um okay" Ted said, following Barney into the hallway, "what's up?"
"I slept with Rosie" Barney said.
"What?" Ted asked, his heart dropping. He loved Barney and Gretchen together.
"She and I were doing studying, then one thing led to another, where we studied each other's bodies. It's been happening for a week" Barney said, "I don't know what Gretchen will do when she finds out."
Ted sighed, "I think you should tell her when she gets back. If you don't tell her, she's gonna find out."
Barney nodded, "she and I tell each other everything" he had tears in his eyes, "what if I got Rosie pregnant?"
"Did you guys use protection?" Ted asked.
Barney nodded, "but Gretchen and I used protection and now we have 2 kids."
Ted sighed, "I don't know what to tell you, other than tell Gretchen the truth."
Barney nodded, wiping the tears out of his eyes.
The following Wednesday, Gretchen was back in school. Her teachers had emailed Gretchen her homework, so she was able to do it at the motel with the spotty Wi-Fi.
Gretchen kissed Barney's cheek, "hey handsome."
"Hi sweetie" Barney said, kissing her cheek, "how are your aunt Betty and uncle Raymond?"
"Devastated and they don't know what to do" Gretchen said, hugging Barney.
Barney hugged Gretchen back, "we need to talk" he said breaking out of the hug. He led her down a quiet hallway.
"Barney, you're scaring me. What's up?" Gretchen asked.
"I slept with someone" Barney admitted.
"What? Who?" Gretchen asked.
"Rosie" Barney said, "she and I were paired together for our science experiment. We were at our place studying and one thing led to another and we were studying each other's bodies. It's been going on for a week."
Gretchen looked upset, "I hope you guys used protection."
"We did" Barney said honestly. He reached for Gretchen's hands, but she pulled them away, "I told you what happened and I don't get why you're upset with me."
"Because when you proposed to me, you said that I was the only girl for you. Maybe I'm wrong. Your aunt Matilda can stay, but I want you out of the house by Friday. It's gonna take a lot to get me to trust and talk to you again" Gretchen said.
"What about the girls?" Barney asked.
"I'll tell Cassandra that you're staying at a friends place for a while - mommy and daddy are having a fight" Gretchen said, hearing the warning bell ring. She slipped off her engagement ring and handed it to Barney, "later Barnabus."
Barney tried to hide his tears as he watched Gretchen walk to her next class.
After school, Barney and Gretchen went to the house in silence.
"Gretchen, I'm sorry" Barney said.
Gretchen looked out the window, facing away from Barney.
As they pulled in the driveway, Hannah arrived home with groceries.
"Mom, Barney and I need to talk to you and Matilda" Gretchen said, getting out of the car and helped her mom bring in groceries, along with Barney.
"Okay sweetie. Did something happen?" Hannah asked, getting the last bag of groceries.
"Yeah" Barney said as they entered the house, "aunt Matilda, can Gretchen, Hannah and I talk you?"
"Sure" Matilda said, exiting Cassandra's room, "both girls are down for a nap."
The four of them quickly put the groceries away before sitting in the living room.
"Tell your aunt and my mom what you did" Gretchen said, staring daggers at Barney.
"While you and Gretchen were out of town, I got assigned a girl named Rosie for our science experiment. She and I were studying here when one thing led to another and we ended up sleeping together" Barney said.
Matilda looked at her nephew, "one - did you use protection and two - how many times did you and this girl sleep together?"
"Yes and four times" Barney said, "I talked to the science teacher about getting a new partner, which I did."
Gretchen turned to Matilda, "I told Barney that you could stay, but I'm kicking him out for a while. I'll tell Cassandra that daddy is visiting a friend for a while."
"I think that's a good idea" Matilda said.
"Really?" Gretchen, Barney and Hannah said in unison.
Matilda nodded, looking at Barney, "this girl has given you two beautiful daughters and has been with you since freshman year. Then she goes out of the state for a family emergency and what do you do? You sleep with another girl. I am so angry with you, Barnabus."
Barney looked at the floor.
"I told him he needs to get his things out of our room by Friday" Gretchen said.
"I think it should be earlier" Hannah said, "like tomorrow."
Matilda nodded, "agreed" she turned to Gretchen, "can I hug you?"
Gretchen nodded, sobbing into Matilda's shoulder, feeling her stroke her hair and rub her back.
"You broke her heart. I'm disappointed in you, Barney" Hannah said.
"I'm so sorry" Barney said, feeling tears stream down his cheeks.
"Go away" Gretchen sobbed.
Barney went to their room and flopped on the bed, crying. He then pulled out his phone and texted Ted Can I stay with you for a few days? She kicked me out and I need to be out of here by tomorrow. Gretchen and I are taking a break.
Of course Ted replied a few minutes later.
Barney got off the bed and began packing his things into his five suitcases, feeling tears stream down his cheeks.
Gretchen texted Barney I'll be sleeping in the upstairs guest room - you can have my room tonight
Okay Barney replied, nearly done packing his things.
At dinner that night, Barney sat with a TV tray in front of the TV while the ladies sat around the table.
"Why is daddy over there?" Cassandra asked.
"Daddy's in trouble" Gretchen said, eating her salad.
"What did daddy do?" Cassandra inquired.
"He broke mommy's heart and is going to stay with a friend for a while" Hannah said, "eat your green beans, honey."
Cassandra ate her green beans with her Hello Kitty fork, "can I go with daddy?"
"No, sweetie - daddy needs to go by himself" Matilda said.
"Can I say goodbye to daddy?" Cassandra asked.
"Before you go to bed you can" Gretchen said.
True to her word, before the girls went to bed, Gretchen let Barney spent time with each of them.
"I love you girls and your mommy so much" Barney told his daughters, holding them on his lap.
"When you get back, can we watch Bluey together?" Cassandra asked.
Barney nodded, kissing the top of her head, "I would love to watch Bluey with you and your sister."
Gretchen carefully picked up Stephanie, "okay Cassie, go with grandma for a bedtime story while I put Stephanie to bed."
"Okay mommy. Love you daddy" Cassandra said, blowing Barney a kiss.
Barney smiled and put it on his cheek, "I love you too, baby cakes" he looked at Gretchen, "can I help, please?"
"Okay" Gretchen said, going to the nursery, hearing Barney behind her.
Gretchen changed Stephanie's diaper before nursing her.
"Gretch, I'm sorry for what I did. What will it take to make it up to you?" Barney asked.
"I'm not sure" Gretchen said, gently patting Stephanie's back when she was done nursing, "but it will take a lot for me to trust you again" she laid Stephanie in her crib and turned on the mobile. She then put her shirt and bra back on, "I'm going to get my pajamas then I'm going to the upstairs guest room. Good night."
"Night" Barney said, getting into bed and turned off the light.
Gretchen laid in the upstairs guest room, curled in a ball. She had cried herself to sleep.
Barney snuck upstairs once he was sure that everyone was asleep. He found the guest room where Gretchen was and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise
But you've got me seeing through different eyes
Somehow I've fallen under your spell
And somehow I'm feeling it's up that I fell
Every moment as long as you're mine
I'll wake up my body and make up for lost time
Say there's no future for us as a pair
And though I may know, I don't care" Barney sang quietly in Gretchen's ear.
"Go away" Gretchen muttered.
Barney frowned and exited the room, heading back downstairs. He closed the door to Gretchen's room and got into bed, fighting back tears as he fell asleep.
The following day after school, Barney and Gretchen went their separate ways - Barney went to Ted's house and Gretchen went to pick up Cassandra from daycare.
I may never forgive him Gretchen thought as she drove. She turned the radio onto the Broadway station and let out a snort of irony - the song Burn from the musical Hamilton was playing.
"I'm erasing myself from the narrative
Let future historians wonder
How Eliza reacted when you broke her heart
You have torn it all apart
I'm watching it
Burn
Watching it burn
The world has no right to my heart
The world has no place in our bed
They don't get to know what I said
I'm burning the memories
Burning the letters that might have
Redeemed you
You forfeit all rights to my heart
You forfeit the place in our bed
You sleep in your office instead
With only memories
Of when you were mine
I hope that you burn" Eliza sang, her heart full of hurt.
I feel ya girl Gretchen thought as she pulled into the parking lot of the daycare that Cassandra attended.
Once Cassandra was in her carseat, Gretchen turned on the radio to a kid friendly station.
"How was daycare, butter bean?" Gretchen asked her eldest.
"Good mommy" Cassandra said, "momma, are you and daddy getting a 'vorce?"
"A what?" Gretchen asked.
"A dee vooorce" Cassandra said, sounding out the word.
"A divorce? No, honey - daddy and I aren't married, so we can't get a divorce. We're just spending some time apart, but daddy will come back" Gretchen said.
"Promise?" Cassandra asked.
"I promise" Gretchen said, pulling into the driveway 30 minutes later, "mommy has a lot of homework, so are you okay hanging out with aunt Matilda?"
"Uh huh" Cassandra said, watching as Gretchen undo her carseat and get her out of the car, "what's homework?"
"It's school work that I do at home, then take it to school when it's due" Gretchen explained, "wanna see mommy do homework?"
"For a little bit, then I wanna play with Tilly" Cassandra said.
"Of course" Gretchen said, getting her school bag out of the front seat and walked inside with her daughter.
After Cassandra had a snack, Gretchen and Cassandra headed downstairs.
Gretchen listened at the nursery door, smiling as she heard Matilda humming a lullaby to Stephanie.
Gretchen spread her school work on her bed after getting Cassandra on the bed, "we'll start with something easy" she looked at the school work around her, "English. Mommy needs to write an essay on her favorite book."
"My favorite book is Cinderella" Cassandra said.
Gretchen smiled, "why is it your favorite?"
"Because she's a princess and is very pretty" Cassandra said.
"Well, Belle, Aurora, Tiana, Moana, Ariel, Rapunzel and Snow White are princesses. Why is Cinderella your favorite?" Gretchen asked.
"Because she's always kind to everyone, like you" Cassandra said.
Gretchen smiled, "wanna know what mommy's favorite book is?"
"What?" Cassandra asked.
"It's called Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by a man named Gregory McGuire" Gretchen said.
"What's it about?" Cassandra asked.
"You know The Wizard of Oz, right?" Gretchen asked.
Cassandra nodded, "I don't like the monkeys."
"I know" Gretchen said, "this story is about the two witches - Elphaba and Glinda and before the events of The Wizard of Oz."
"Are they nice?" Gretchen asked.
"Glinda is the Good Witch of the North, so yes she is, but when she and Elphaba were at school at Shiz University, the two of them didn't like each other" Gretchen said, "Elphaba - the Wicked Witch of the West and her sister, Nessarose - the Wicked Witch of the East - were completely different as sisters could be. Elphaba had green skin and Nessarose was in a wheelchair."
"Do you have a sister, mommy?" Cassandra asked.
"Nope - I'm an only child" Gretchen said. Clearing her throat, "one day, a prince named Fiyero Tiggular arrived at Shiz, catching the attention of both Elphaba and Glinda."
"A prince? Are Elphaba and Glinda princesses?" Cassandra asked.
Gretchen chuckled, "no, they're not princesses. Glinda falls in love with Fiyero, which makes Elphaba sad."
"How does the story end?" Cassandra asked.
"Dorothy arrives in Oz and melts Elphaba with water, which makes Glinda sad to know her friend is not with her" Gretchen said, "there is a movie called Wicked. Would you like to watch it with me?"
"Yeah" Cassandra said, "I'm gonna go play with Matilda. Is that okay, mommy?"
"Yeah, let me walk you upstairs" Gretchen said, helping Cassandra off her bed and walked her toddler upstairs.
After dinner, Gretchen put on some music and dove head first into homework, ignoring all the notifications on her phone.
Gretchen had just showered and got into bed when a text from Barney came through.
Gretchen, again, I'm so sorry I was an idiot while you were gone. I was lonely and needed some compassion. Rosie was there, but I shouldn't have done what I did. I wish I could take back what I did, but I can't. You don't deserve me, but if there's any way you could take me back, I would appreciate it. I can't eat, sleep, breathe or live without you or our beautiful girls. I love all 3 of you so much and I'm so sorry for breaking your heart Barney texted Gretchen.
You must think me an idiot for wanting to take you back. This will do us some good - spending some time apart from each other. We'll be going to different colleges after high school, so we should start now.
Please don't contact me again - I'm tired and have a long day tomorrow Gretchen texted. She was about to get comfortable when her cell phone dinged.
Do you still love me? Barney texted.
Yes Gretchen replied, yawning.
I love you, Gretchen Joy Wallace Barney texted.
I love you, Barnabus Collin Stinson Gretchen replied, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The following day at school, Gretchen tried to avoid Barney, but they had most of their classes together.
At lunch, Gretchen sat with some of her friends - Sara, Amber, Jenn, Summer and Danielle.
Sara had a 2 month old son named Jack. Sara had been raped at a party, resulting in Jack.
Gretchen smiled at Jack, then at her friends, "how are you guys?"
"We're good" Amber said, squeezing Gretchen's hand, "I'm so sorry about Barney."
"I'll get over it" Gretchen said, watching Barney sit with their friends.
"He's a scum weasel" Jenn said, eating her sandwich.
Sara, Amber, Gretchen, Summer and Danielle burst out laughing.
"Can I hold him?" Gretchen asked Sara, looking at Jack.
"Of course" Sara said, carefully handing Jack to Gretchen.
Gretchen smiled as she held Jack, "he's so handsome."
"Thanks" Sara said, "when I became pregnant with him, my parents wanted me to get an abortion. I couldn't go through with it after hearing his heartbeat. I worked my butt off at my uncle's office and eventually made enough to afford an apartment. I'm living there. My aunt helps me pay bills and watches Jack when I can't bring him to school."
"What's gonna happen to him when you go to college?" Summer asked.
"I actually got a full ride to Hayden College - it's about the size of Harvard and has several different campuses. I'm going into teaching. You should think about applying there" Sara said, looking at Gretchen, "I'll send you their website and their Facebook page."
Gretchen nodded as she kissed Jack's cheek before handing him back to Sara, "I'm gonna head to my next class. I'll talk to you guys later."
"Bye!" Gretchen's friends chorused as she left the cafeteria. She headed to her locker, getting out her books for her afternoon classes. She saw a flyer in her locker for a party someone was having. She threw it in the garbage and headed to her next class.
After school, she headed to her car, watching Barney with Ted, realizing how much she missed him.
"Barney" Gretchen called, walking over to him.
Barney looked over and smiled, "hey."
"I can't stay mad at you forever - it was just one stupid mistake" Gretchen said, "please come home."
Barney pulled Gretchen into a hug, "only if we can have the best make up sex ever."
"We can" Gretchen purred in his ear.
After Barney and Gretchen got home, they wasted no time going to Gretchen's bedroom, kissing each other passionately.
The two of them flopped onto the bed naked. Gretchen pulled Barney on top of her, spreading her legs wide, then wrapped them, along with her arms around Barney's torso.
"I've missed this, and you" Barney said, looking into Gretchen's eyes.
"I've missed you and this too" Gretchen said, kissing Barney's chest, neck, collarbone and shoulders.
"Let's not fight ever again" Barney said, holding Gretchen close after they made love for the sixth time that night.
"Okay" Gretchen said, kissing his neck.
"I love you" Barney said, kissing her forehead.
"I love you, too" Gretchen said, cuddling into Barney.
Barney smiled and turned off the light, going to bed naked with the woman he loved, "you still have your engagement ring?"
"Yes - it's in my jewelry box" Gretchen said, getting comfortable, feeling Barney spoon her from behind.
"Okay" Barney said, kissing her back and shoulder blades, "tomorrow's Saturday - I think we should spend the whole day in bed."
"You wish - we have 2 little girls to take care of" Gretchen said, laying on her stomach next to Barney. She fell asleep, dreaming of her life after high school with the man she loved and her two little girls.