By: Ari
"Yes Miss Holliday, your appointment is for
1pm Wednesday" the receptionist informed her cheerfully, scribbling down
the date and time on the back of a business card. "Remember you must fast
12 hours prior to the procedure and no medications 48 hours prior" she
warned, handing her the card.
"Thanks" Ari
said faintly, restraining herself from running from the clinic. She finally
made it to her car, letting her head rest against the steering wheel.
"You're what???" His face had been almost
comical. All of the blood had drained from his face, his normal tan became a
rather ashy complexion. His eyes were as big as saucers and his jaw on the
floor.
"I'm pregnant! In
about 7 months you're going to be a Daddy!" she continued excitedly. She
was waiting for the words to sink in and that huge smile to overtake his face
like it did whenever he got excited. But what she was expecting was far from
what actually happened.
"Hey, you're back
early" Lara smiled, looking up from her computer as her friend slumped
through the room.
"My appointment
didn't take as long as I thought it was going to" Ari mumbled, trying to
escape to her bedroom as quickly as possible.
"So what did you go
for again?" Lara asked, turning back to her computer.
"Nothing major, just
a check up" she lied quickly and high tailed it back to the guest room
where she had crashed.
And I'm sorry for the
things I did / For your teardrops over words I said / Can you forgive me and
open your heart once again?
"Come on J, stop hogging
the TV, why don't you go home and harass Ari for a while" Kevin grumbled,
snatching the remote control and plopping down in an overstuffed recliner.
"What?!?" he demanded, seeing Lisa giving him a disgusted glare as
she breezed into the living room. Surprising him further, Aj bolted up from the
couch and stormed out.
"Nice one slick"
Lisa muttered dryly, raising her eyebrow. "Ari left him a week ago, she's
been staying at Nick and Lara's for the time being."
"And why didn't
anyone bother to tell me about this?" Kevin growled, jumping to his feet
in preparation to rush after the younger man.
"They had a fight
over something or another and she left. That's all any of us knows, now go find
him, he really needs someone to talk to and you know how he is, he won't open
up to you unless you ask him first...now go!" She slapped his ass as he
hurried by as if to punctuate her words. He rushed out of the house, almost
tripping over the young man who was perched on his front steps.
Kevin stared at him in
silence, watching Aj stare off into space, occasionally pulling up his
cigarette for a brief second.
"It's all my fault
man."
"What happened
J?" Kevin sank to the steps, waiting for him to continue.
Whatever happened / I
know that I was wrong, oh yes / Can you believe me / Maybe your faith is gone
"How in the
hell could you let this happen!" he bellowed, ignoring her cringe.
"What happened to you making sure this was avoided! I have a fucking
career to worry about! And how do I even know if it's mine?? I've been off
touring for two months and the night I come home, 'Oh honey, you're going to be
a daddy!' I don't believe this shit!"
"How dare you"
she hissed, the initial shock of his accusations gone. "How fucking dare
you imply this is my fault, I thought you'd be happy! And even more so...how
DARE you imply that I've been sleeping around behind your back!" She kept
balling her hands into fist to keep from hitting him, deciding that this didn't
need to get any worse then it already was.
"How can I keep tabs
on you while I'm half way across the world? You could have been fucking half of
the county and I would probably never know.."
"Two months ago
Alexander James...if your neanderthal brain can remember back that far,
remember what we did the entire two days prior to you leaving? I can honestly
not remember seeing anything but our bedroom until you left, 'Something to
remember me by those long nights that you're all alone' as I recall you
saying" she threw at him. "And something came out of that, something
that will make me remember you every time I look at his or her face."
"No, it won't,
because we aren't keeping it." he answered flatly. Her jaw almost hit the
floor as he glared at her. "The press will have a field day with this, it
will ruin my life as well as those of my fellow band members when the fanbase
is turned off by Aj McLean and his bastard child and loose girlfriend..."
His sentence ended abruptly with a loud crack as her hand met his cheek.
"What about MY life!
You think I planned this out? I didn't want to even consider children until
after I got married...not to mention that this is a human life Alexander, not a
puppy we found wandering in the street! I will NOT get rid of my child! And I
seriously doubt that Denise would stand for you aborting her grandchild as
well..." This time it was her who was cut off by his hand cracking her
face.
"Don't you even think
of blabbing this to anyone..." he threatened her, menace contorting his
voice. "You tell ANYONE this brat is mine and you'll have a rude
awakening...I...I...I don't know what I'll do, but whatever it is, it will not
be a good thing for you dear" he sneered, boring his eyes into her own.
His anger washed away as soon as he saw the fear and hurt that shone through
his girlfriend's eyes. He let go of her, as if touching her physically hurt
him.
"Oh God
babe...I'm.." He never got to finish before she ran out of the room.
But I love you and I
always will / So I wonder if you want me still / Can you forgive me and open
your heart once again?
"That
bastard" Lara hissed, clenching her hands into fists under the table.
"I had no idea, Ari hadn't said anything about it..."
"Down girl..."
Nick chuckled, patting his fiancée’s hand trying to calm her down. They had all
met for their Wednesday afternoon lunch at the Paper Moon.
"Can you blame her? I
wouldn't want to talk about either, I mean shit..." Kelley pointed out,
reaching for her drink.
"Come on, you guys
know how Aj is, he freaked out..." Kevin started, but squirmed under
Lisa's glare.
"But that's still no
excuse, that went way beyond too far, even for Aj" Brian put in.
"Where are they
anyway?" Lisa wondered.
"I have no clue where
Aj is, probably holed up in his house with a few bottles of Jack Daniels"
Howie offered.
"Ari's still at our
place, she rarely comes out of her room. I mean, Monday was the first time I
had actually spoken to her in days, she's better off alone for now, when she's
ready to talk she'll talk but no sooner" Lara sighed.
"Hey, look what the
cat drug in.." Nick whispered, nudging Brian. They all watched as Aj made
his way over to the table.
"Hey guys,” he said
quietly, plopping down between Kevin and Howie. They all mumbled a greeting.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Aj started to squirm under their
accusing glares.
"Yo Kev, remind me
never to confide in you again, k?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
When no one smiled, he sighed. "How is she?" he asked almost timidly,
glancing hopefully towards Nick and Lara.
"She's hurting man,
but that’s to be expected" Nick answered, taking pity on him.
"I didn't mean to
guys, honestly I didn't, but my mouth ran off before my mind could catch
up" Aj whispered, turning his eyes to the floor.
It's true / I mean it /
From the bottom of my heart / Yeah it's true / Without you I would fall apart
"I don't know about this..." Aj worried
as he followed Nick down the hallway.
"Look, you two need
to talk this through, you're both miserable as hell. Besides, things can't get
any worse."
"But..."
"No buts McLean, and
if you upset her again, I will personally kick your scrawny ass" Lara
added cheerfully, stopping in front of Ari's bedroom. "Honey, can I come
in?" They waited for a few minutes before Lara knocked again. After
another try she checked the door handle. Unlocked.
"That’s odd, she
usually lets me know when she's going somewhere, and there was no note in the
kitchen" Lara thought aloud.
"Perhaps there’s
something on her desk..." Aj offered, flipping through a few papers that
were laid out. He paled visibly as he skimmed over the top sheet.
"Aj...what is
it?" Nick demanded as Lara strode over, snatching the papers from his
hands.
"Holy shit" she
inhaled sharply, glancing up to meet Aj's wide eyes.
"What time is it
now" he demanded.
"12:30, why?"
Nick glanced between the two of them.
"Shit, we got to go,
NOW" Lara ordered, grabbing Nick by the arm and yanked him out of the room
behind her, Aj following close behind.
"Where are we
going?" Nick asked still confused.
"Honey, just drive,
we need to get to the Mayberry Clinic, and NOW" she ordered, snapping her
seat belt. She turned to glare at Aj who had slid into the back seat.
"If she goes through with this, I will never
ever forgive you" she breathed dangerously.
"You won't have to
worry about that, because I will never forgive myself if she does" Aj
whispered.
I'd
do anything to make it up to you / So please understand / And open your heart
once again
"Ok Miss
Holliday, if you just relax, we'll get you all wired up and set up on an IV and
then we'll get started" the doctor informed her cheerfully. "The
procedure itself should take roughly an hour without any complications. Do you
have anyone waiting here for you? You will not be able to drive after it's all
over..."
"I've arranged for a
taxi to come for me" she whispered, turning away from the doctor. She
couldn't stand to look at him anymore than she had to, she just wanted to get
in and get this over with, it would be better for them all in the end.
"Shit, there’s her
car, it's 1 now" Nick breathed as they squealed into the parking lot. Aj
bolted from the Jeep before it had even stopped moving.
"Sir, can I help you,
Sir, you can't go back there!" the receptionist hollered as he bolted
through the doors blocking off the restricted area.
"Ariana!" he
hollered, jogging down the corridor. He almost collided with a stretcher as he
rounded a corner. He quickly regained his balance, about to resume his search,
but stopped, blocking the attendant from moving any further. "Ari
baby?" he said softly, coming up beside her.
"Hmm?" she
slightly turned her head towards his voice, the anesthesia quickly overtaking
her.
"Oh God sweetie, I
found you, please don't go through with this" he whimpered, grasping her
hand tightly in his own, stroking her cheek with his free hand.
"Aj? What are you
doing here?" she whispered, trying to make her eyes focus.
"I'm so so sorry baby,
I didn't mean any of it! If you go through with this, I'll never forgive
myself, not to mention what the others will do to me" he tried to joke. He
snapped his head up to trap the attendant in his gaze. "Isn't there
something you can give her to stop her from going under?" he demanded.
"No, it has to run
through her system. I'm sorry sir, but you have to leave, the doctor is waiting
for her."
"I'm not leaving here
without her or our baby" Aj growled, fixing the young man with a glare
that made the small hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He turned back to
Ari, softening his look.
"But you don't want
it, it will screw everything up, better off this way" she whispered, her
eyes getting heavier with every passing moment.
"No, Ari, wake up dammit!"
he ordered, gently slapping her cheek.
"Tired....sleep
now" she mumbled.
"Ari, please, I love
you, I love our baby, please, wake up, tell them you don't want to do
this..." he pleaded, trying to keep her from going under. "I'm
nothing without you Love, this week has been hell, I can't live without you, or
our child, now that I know. I'm a dumbass, for saying what I said, for acting
how I did, for everything...Please baby...."
"Ahem" Aj
glanced up to see the doctor all scrubbed up and looking down at him
disgustedly. "Jim, please escort this gentleman out, we have an operation
to perform." he said coldly.
"No..." they all
turned to see Ari reach for Aj. "No...won't do it....I want...live"
she whispered, trying to fight off the anesthesia.
The doctor rolled his eyes
as Aj fell to his knees next to the stretcher.
"Babe, I swear, everything is going to work out perfectly, I will
make this up to you I swear, I swear upon the life of our unborn child, I will
do everything in my power to make this up to you" he whispered, pressing
his lips to her palm.
"Lots...ass
kissing..McLean" she attempted to smile.
"Just sleep hun, let
that stuff run through your system and when you wake up we'll be home and I'll
be right beside you when you wake up." he chuckled, kissing her forehead
as she finally fell asleep.
It's
true / I mean it / From the bottom of my heart / Yeah it's true / Without you I
would fall apart
*Six and a half months later*
"But
I look like a whale!" Ari wailed as she modeled in front of her mirror.
"Honey, you are the
most gorgeous woman in the world" Aj praised her as he came up behind her,
adjusting his tie. He wrapped his arms around her extended waist, pressing soft
kisses along her neck.
"If you keep that up
McLean we'll never make it downstairs" she murmured.
"So?" he teased,
nibbling on her earlobe. He slid his hands down to caress her stomach through
the white satin gown. He froze as he felt the baby kick, smiling against her
neck. "Our little man has some strong little legs" he chuckled,
looking down at her stomach in awe.
"Come on sweetie,
let's get this over with, my back is killing me" she laughed, trying to
disengage herself from his hold.
"But..." he
pouted.
"No buts" she
smiled, pressing a finger to his lips to silence him. "If we didn't have a
crowd down there waiting for us, I'd gladly like to stay up here for the rest
of the day, week or forever, but Doctor Sypek says that it could be anytime and
I would like to have this child in wedlock" she smiled up at him.
"Your wish is my
command Love" he grinned, bending down for a quick kiss before leading her
downstairs.
The End
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