Okay so don't murder me! I'm sorry this is just getting posted . I'm going to be honest, I've been sitting on this one for a while. Work is insane and my schedule has changed so I'm on night shift now and we'll... Life lol. Hope you understand. Enjoy and review
"If you eat another one of those-" Chris threatened
"Not my fault your mind is in the gutter." Yelena laughed, peeling open another banana.
"Woman-" he growled, taking the fruit from her.
Yelena could only laugh at his aggressiveness. Her mother had send her back to the condo with a bag full when she had discovered she had a craving for them, much to Chris's pent up dismay.
He retrieved a knife from the block and diced the perfectly ripe banana into smaller pieces, putting them into a bowl and handed it to her along with a fork
"Who eats bananas with a fork, really?"
"You do now. If I have to watch you eat another one almost whole, I might not take no for an answer from you ever again."
She bit back a laugh, choosing the smart response, which was no response at all and ate her fruit "It helps with the swelling." She finally said matter-of-factly
"I can assure you, you're swelling in all the right places sweetheart." he said mischievously, his blow eyes flickering to her cleavage in her tank top
She poked at the banana slice with her fork and grimaced "You threw off the texture."
She got up, pulling a box of Frosted Flakes from the pantry and the half gallon of whole milk from the fridge, mixing everything into the bowl before returning to the bar stool to watch Chris move about the condo, packing his belongings. He had an important meeting back in Orlando and had to fly out in a few hours. She tried not to let her sadness show. They'd decided to stay a another week and surprisingly enough, they were having a great time. Her mother cooked almost every night for them. Her father was recovering at an inhumanly speedy rate and was allowed to return home just yesterday, his spirit, strength, and newfound happiness seemingly spreading over them all. Even Irina was on her best behavior.
The only person who wasn't feeding off the rare positive energy was Valilisa, no matter how hard Yelena tried to smooth things over. She was as distant as ever, for obvious reasons. She didn't want her father to see her bruises and send him into a blind rage while he was still recovering.
After being discharged from the hospital, she'd returned to her house with an officer's escort to collect most of her things to put into storage and checked into a hotel on the other side of town, only telling their mother where she was.
Yelena tried hold on her frustrations at her sister's response when the officer asked if she'd wanted to press charges
"-No."
"Yes."
The officer only looked in between the two women
"Val, you can't just let him get away with this again. After everything he's done to you-"
"You have no idea what he's capable of."
Yelena looked over her sister's battered face "What is it going to take Lisa? Huh? If you don't put the bastard away, I don't think you'll live to regret it next time as long as he's walking around free."
"You don't have to decide now, but eventually we'll need to take the proper steps forward to build a case. Right now it's your word against his. If he really left the scene of the crime, that's all we need to confirm and have him indicted."
"Can I have a bit more time. Please?" Val said, twisting her wedding ring around and around on her finger
"Of course." the officer handed her his card "With all due respect, I think you should at least put out a restraining order on him for now. I really want to believe he won't be that stupid to try to contact you or talk to you in person, knowing that we're looking for him but..."
Yelena didn't miss the way the older man's brown eyes swept over Val's bruised neck. He looked about their father's age. Something in Yelena told her that he's seen one too many cases like this before. She wondered how many of them waited until it was too late.
Val took the card bowing her head, her dark hair falling into her face.
Yelena swept her hair away gently, green eyes to hazel. Valilisa's weary eyes filled with tears and she only nodded and Yelena squeezed her hand in understanding "She'll do it first thing tomorrow when she's out of here."
She could almost see the officer physically sigh in relief
That had been the last time she'd seen her sister and it's been days. She was worried that Frederick would somehow track her down and finish what he'd started. Now Chris was leaving her and the sense of loneliness she hadn't felt in quite some time was rearing its ugly head.
Chris clipped her under the chin, bringing her back to the present "Don't look like that, it's only three days."
She couldn't suppress the frown that followed "I really wish you didn't have to leave."
He stood in between her legs and tipped her face upward to brush her lips to his "Enjoy your time with your family. This will probably be the last time you can fly out here to see them."
He was right. The finish line to her pregnancy was getting closer and closer with each passing day. It seemed like time was flying and like he'd said, it wasn't going to be safe for her to fly once she was officially in her third trimester.
Chris must have picked up on her conflicted thoughts and rubbed her belly on both sides to soothe her "I'll be waiting for you at home by the time you get there." he assured her
She nodded and he placed a kiss in between her tensed eyebrows. Home. She liked the sound of that.
"Finish your breakfast and I'll be done packing in a few."
She obliged, spooning at her cereal with less enthusiasm. Food wasn't what she wanted at the moment but she finished it and cleaned her bowl and spoon, putting them away just as Chris was wheeling his luggage to the front door.
The drive to the airport was quiet. Yelena leaned her head against the cool glass, feeling glum.
Chris placed a hand on her thigh, stroking it softly before turning his hand palm up and as if on its own, her left hand slipped into his, lacing their fingers.
They arrived and he put the car in park, neither of them moving, delaying the obvious.
"You're going to be late if you don't hurry." she told him
With a sigh he got out of the car and she followed, watching as he retrieved his suitcase, swinging a duffle over his shoulder
"Come here." he said, opening his arms to her
She obliged, letting him fold her into a warm embrace. She felt like an idiot when they pulled away and her wiped her wet eyes
"Stop it." he groaned catching a stray tear with his thumb "Your hormones are going to be the death of me woman. You know I hate seeing you cry."
"I know." she laughed tearfully "I can't control it."
"If you really don't want me to go, I can call and cancel right now."
"No." she said almost instantly. She knew how important this meeting was. He was so close to tying up loose ends on his podcast, she didn't want him to delay it further for him "It's just three days." she said, trying to muster up a brave front. She was being silly, crying like a baby.
Chris's face softened and he placed another kiss to her lips
An older woman walked by and smiled "Awww" Yelena heard her mutter in passing which made her blush a deep red
"Three days." he said, tucking her hair behind her ear
"Three days." she repeated to affirm
Kissing her one last time, he stroked her belly, his hand finding hers, giving it a squeeze. He didn't let go until the distance between them forced him to. He turned back one last time and she waved until he disappeared in the sea of people.
"What's wrong honey? Do you not like your food? I can go get you something else if you want." Emilia asked as she unpacked the rest of the takeout boxes from the bistro her father loved
Her mother had been running herself ragged, taking care of their father and making sure she stayed fed and comfortable. She honestly wasn't used to this being waited on hand and foot treatment
"No, no. It's fine mom really. I'm just..."
"Sulking that Chris had to leave." Nik said from his favorite spot on the couch in the living room in from of the tv
Irina looked up from her phone and rolled her eyes "He's been glued to your hip since you got here, let him breathe a little."
Yelena fought a smirk and stuck her tongue out at her "Green does nothing for your skin tone."
"Or maybe he made a quick escape after spending a day at the gun range with your father."
Yelena fidgeted with sunflower pendant at her throat. Chris had been acting a little weird after that day "Daddy..."
"I didn't do anything. I showed him how to shoot, that's all. He's a pretty decent shot to say it was his first time. I was actually impressed."
Irina scoffed
"What did you talk about?" Yelena asked nervously
Nik smiles at his youngest daughter "Nothing of great importance."
Yelena narrowed her eyes, getting up. She plopped down next to him, cuddling into his side like she'd done so many times since she was a little girl in that very spot "You'd tell me if it were important right?"
He kissed the top of her head before he tucked her head under his chin "Of course I would."
"Did he say anything about how he was feeling about all of this?" she asked, touching her belly
"He's very excited and nervous. As he should be. First time parent and twins all at the same time."
Yelena sighed. Chris was always putting on a brave face, it was hard to tell if he was genuinely ready to tackle all of this. She hated the fact that she still wasn't sure if he was in it for the long run.
"All he talks about is you. You've got quite the grip on him. I haven't seen anything like it since..."
"Since what?"
Nik smiles up at his wife as she brought in his dinner and his medication
Yelena watched as she opened all the bottles for him and adjusted his pillows before kissing him lovingly. The adoration between them was almost thick enough to inhale.
"Something about you Giovanni women." he said when she'd went back into the kitchen "Once the hooks are in... Chris is a goner."
.*.*.*.*.
Yelena flipped her head upright, turning off the blow dryer, soaking in her lush brown locks. She felt slightly weird, seeing herself with her normal hair color. She'd forgotten the woman in front of the mirror.
Irina walked in wearing a silk PINK bath robe in baby blue, holding another one just like it, brand new in the packaging "Oh thank god. I was getting tired of your emo hair."
Yelena rolled her eyes
Irina ruffled her hair "What made you change it back?"
"Chris likes it better." she said, putting her hair in a high ponytail
"Hmmm..."
There it was again. That awkwardness rising.
"This is for you." Irina said, breaking the awkwardness the best way she knew how, offering her the new robe "it runs a little big so... it should fit." her celery green eyes fell to the bump in her sister's naked middle
Yelena didn't feel any need to cover herself for once, clad only in her sports bra and sweats. She rubbed her belly "Want to feel them move?"
Irina looked skeptical, drawing her bottom lip in between her teeth "I shouldn't..."
Yelena look the robe from her, setting it aside before taking her sister's hand, placing it on the curve of her belly. Violet was awake and stretching, her foot digging into her side at the weirdest of angles and Irina gasped, her face lighting up ever so slightly
"Woah. She's really getting a work out in there."
"Tell me about it. I guess they're getting just as uncomfortable as I am."
"I'm still in shock to be honest. I can't believe you of all people, pregnant. Twins" she said the last word like it was foreign.
"Believe it or not, I'm still in shock myself."
Irina leaned in the doorway, folding her arms, watching her baby sister closely "You both seem happy... together."
Yelena knew this was Irina's way of smoothing out the awkward situation between the three of them in her own little way and she took it for what it was, enveloping her into a hug "Thank you."
Irina rubbed her back softly "Mom's gonna be gone for a bit, I was thinking we could bake dad some bonbolone.
The thought of the Italian donuts made her mouth water and didn't sound like a bad idea and she was more than sure her father wouldn't object. Their mother had him on a strict diet, cutting out all the sugar she could. Hell why not. She'd feed on the warm and positive energy as much as she could before she had to fly home. She rolled her eyes playfully at her big sister "Which means I'll be doing all the work."
"You know he loves when you bake for him. I'll cut the fruit and man the mixer, that's all you're getting out of me." She offered
Yelena sent a silent prayer that the house would stay in one piece.
"You can drop me on East fifth and Madison." Chris told the taxi driver
"No problem." The driver said, his Jersey accent thick
Chris sighed, closing his eyes, his heart drumming. What had prompted him to book a flight to New York after his meeting was beyond him. He could have went anywhere else to find what he was looking for, but he knew there was no other place he'd find and or create the exact replica of what he had in his mind for weeks now.
Arriving at his drop off, he tipped the cabby and walked the block, taking his time amongst the hustle and rush of the New York residents. By the time he'd reached 727 Fifth Avenue, his nerves seemed to evaporate almost completely, almost as if the universe was sending him a sign that this, in this very moment, was what commanded of him and he welcomed it more than willingly. It was time.
Three days later
Yelena re-dialed Chris's number for the fourth. After ringing five times, yet again, she got his voicemail
"Hey... I'm at the airport, where are you jerk? You were suppose to pick me up?" She grabbed her suitcase "Guess I'll catch a taxi home..." she sighed heavily "I can't wait to see you. I'll see you in a bit. Bye." She hung up, her face slightly flushing at her admittance. She'd missed him greatly the past three days. The flight wasn't so bad, but she hadn't slept a wink during, too antsy to finally get home to Chris and her beloved Great Danes.
Deciding she was perfectly capable of getting herself home, she requested an Uber. She was practically bouncing in the back seat the closer to his place they got. The driver was nice, asking her how her pregnancy was going. Turns out the woman had twin boys of her own and they fell into an easy conversation. Tina, the drivers name was, kindly helped her retrieve her luggage, looping her carry on around the handle of her suitcase and sitting it on top so she couldn't have to carry the bag. Yelena thanked her, making the trek up the driveway. She could here the dogs barking in the backyard, but it wasn't their usual excited barks. It sounded alarming, almost on the border of threatening...
Yelena stopped in her tracks when she noticed the front door was open, the security alarm blaring "What the hell?" she whispered, entering the foyer. The alarm was deafening now that she was inside and she could vaguely hear what sounded like yelling coming from upstairs.
Yelling?
Casting her luggage to the side, she didn't bother to punch in the code to stop the security alarm from going off, mounting the stairs. At the very top, broken glass crunched under her skyscraper shoes, causing her to skid the tiniest bit and her eyes followed the ocean of broken glass, Chris's framed plaques for his platinum records and albums that once adorned the walls now face down and shattered. Her brow furrowed at the plethora of holes smashed into the walls as well as she crept towards his closed next door, the yelling seeming to drown out the alarm now. Without even a second thought, she turned the knob and pushed the door open and walked into the chaos.
The first thing her eyes fell on was the woman she'd run into at the arena standing in the middle of Chris's bedroom, a bat in hand. At a safe distance on the other side of the room was Y2J himself, his back to her, a towel around his waist, his cellphone in hand
"This is the last time. I'm warning you Jess. Get the fuck out of my house before I call the cops." he threatened
"You can't do this to me Chris. I'm not gonna just hand her everything we've built on a silver platter. I didn't spend the best years of my life grooming my husband for another woman, I'll be damned if I let you keep playing house with her."
Yelena was reeling. Jess? As in Jessica? As in his ex wife? No wonder she'd had such a bad feeling from her the moment she'd seen her back in California. If she'd run into that easily, there was no way in hell Chris hadn't.
"You're a delusional psychopath. We got a divorce Jessica, it's over. Move the fuck on and let me have my happiness."
"Do you love her?" Jess demanded
"Stop this shit Jess-"
"Tell me, I deserve to know!"
"Yes! I fucking love Yelena! I love her! She's who I want."
Yelena was floored, her mouth falling open
Jessica scoffed "You said that about the last one too."
"She's not Barbie. Yelena is different."
In that moment, Jessica must have noticed her standing in the doorway and sneared "Then why continue to sleep with me if you wanted me out of your life?"
A gasp fell from Yelena's lips, her world spiraling. This was too much. Her heart seemed to catapult into her throat at everything that was coming at her.
Chris went rigid and whirled around, shock written all over his colorless face "Yelena." he managed to choke out
Her feet stepped backwards as he moved towards her to get out of reach.
"Yelena, please. Let me explain." Chris begged
Tears rushing to the surface, she could only shake her head at him, her throat closing by the second to hold back a threatening sob
Jessica folded her arms across her chest, a satisfying grin on her face "You might want to explain to her how we're all going to be a big ass happy family and sister wives too, because I'm pregnant and I have no intentions of going anywhere."
She vision blurred and her hand shot out to catch herself from falling to her knees. She had to go. She needed to get out of the hell that she'd walking into, backpedaling, she did just that
Chris was rooted in place, not even remotely capable of going with the first instinct to run after her after the bombshell his ex had just dropped.
Collecting himself, Chris let out a heavy sigh. This was a fucking shit show, but it would end today. He went to his drawer and grabbed whatever clothes he could get his hands on before calmly taking his crazy ass ex wife by the elbow, snatching the bat that only moments before, she'd been swinging like a madwoman and tossed it away.
He somewhat dragged her downstairs and disabled the alarm that was still going off and dispositions the status from the app on his phone, alerting the police that all was well before pushing her out the front door onto the porch m
"You're just gonna put a pregnant woman out like that-"
"Jessica." he growled, setting her with a frosty glare "Shut the fuck up and get in the damn car."
Her mouth snapped shut and she wordlessly did as she was told for once. It was only when they merged into the busy street did she speak again "Where are you taking me?"
"To the neared convenience store. You're going to take a test and you'd better fucking pray that you're pregnant."
Oop DON DON DOOOOOOOOOON! And the plot thickens. So the next chapter isn't going to be this long but I can proudly say it IS finished. I might post it Friday if I get decent views and review. YES MY GOOD PEOPLE, THAT IS A SHAMELESS BRBE. As always, thank you for reading and you know what to do from here