J2 - An Unexpected Love - chapter 4A/16 - MPREG
Title : An Unexpected Love 4A/16
Rating : R
Word Count : 12,602/21,248
Disclaimer : Really if they belonged to me do you think I'd have time to be posting.
Warnings : Talk of past abuse, Mpreg
Author : angels3 aka Angela
Beta : munibunny
Art and Soundtrack : ldyghst
Additional Art : wincest_drarry
Characters : Jensen/Jared, Steve/Chris, there may be more pairings along the way I'm not sure at the moment.Mike, Tom, Chad, Sandy, Sophia and Joshua Jackson will all be in this fic. There may be others as I find myself needing more characters.
Summary : Grief stricken over the death of his brother, cynical movie maverick Jared Padalecki did the unthinkable - he sought comfort in the arms of his brother's fiancee. The morning after, they both realized their mistake and left for their separate lives. Only Jared can't forget Jensen's soft lips and beautiful eyes. Even as Jared was beginning to think he had to see him again, Jensen came to him.
Jensen was pregnant with his child. His - not his brother's. Jared knew he wanted Jensen more than he'd ever wanted any other woman or man.
First he had to marry him.
Then he had to make Jensen love him.
Author Notes : I am basing this story off a book I read fourteen years ago. I do actually have the book but I will not be using it to write this story. I will be going from my memory of what happened in it, there will be some things that run the way the book did and lots that will not as this is a J2 and mpreg on top of that. The only thing that will be word for word, and then not really, will be the summary since I couldn't do it justice any other way.
Based on the book Scandals by JoAnn Ross
Harlequin Temptation Sept.1994 #506
Chapters 1 2 3 4A 4B 5A 5B 5C 6A 6B 7A 7B 8A 8B 9A 9B 10 11A 11B 12A 12B 13A 13B 14 15A 15B 16
Art and Soundtrack
Additonal Art
Jared called his parents the morning after his dinner with Jensen. He hesitated to call it a date even though that's what he really wanted it to have been, but with so many things having to be decided and agreed upon, negotiations was probably a better choice of word.
His parents were understandably confused. It wasn't often he called in the middle of the week, much less requested they have a private dinner at home, and on that very same night. Usually, dinners and get togethers had to be planned days and sometimes weeks in advance just to work around his production, filming and office schedules. He'd had to reassure them several times that he was fine and that nothing was wrong even though he was positive they still didn't believe him, if his mother's calling back an hour later to verify the time was anything to go by.
Jared barely had time to take a seat behind his desk before Chad was parking himself stubbornly across from him.
"Okay spill. I've been patient and you know that's not my forte. It's been a week since your brother's fiancee came to see you, and you've acted even jumpier than you were before he stopped by. I mean, I can't float you a loan if you decided to crawl into bed with the mafia or maybe do a little too much gambling and go to Vinnie the loan shark, but I could help you fake your death or something." Chad trailed off at Jared's attempt to stifle a snorted laugh.
"I didn't crawl into bed with the mafia Chad, and I don't know anyone named Vinnie. I swear, one of these days you're actually going to stumble across a real live conspiracy and then your ass is going to be toast. You'd never make it in witness protection because your first phone call would be to your mom and the second would be to your hair stylist. What's his name again?" Jared asked, teasing Chad.
"His name is Trevor, and he is not just a hair stylist he is a god and, no, that does not make me gay, that makes me smart. I'm secure enough in my manhood to not only appreciate but uphold talent and greatness in all forms, thank you very much!"
"Whatever you say Chad," Jared agreed, laughing at Chad's indignant look.
"You know that's not going to work. I'm not leaving this office until you tell me what the hell is going on."
"Yeah. I know," Jared sighed.
He figured he might as well practice this particular conversation, since he was going to be having the same one that evening with his parents. Turns out not the exact one, thank God, because that would just be too embarrassing.
"Funny thing you should mention getting into bed with someone though," Jared paused to see if Chad would catch the hint.
Chad sat looking at him for a minute, just blinking. Jared could see when the play on words caught his attention, and it sparked in his head.
"Oh my God you didn't! Jared what the hell were you thinking?" Chad croaked.
"Obviously, I wasn't." Jared answered calmly.
"So what? He's threatening to leak it to the papers? Your parents? How much does he want? I'll kill the little shit!" Chad fumed.
"Chad he's bigger than you," Jared pointed out, both amused and touched by Chad's protectiveness.
"Won't be when I take out his knees," Chad mumbled. "All right, so we need to prepare a statement..."
"Chad, wait a minute," Jared interrupted.
"We don't have a minute. You've been sitting on this a week when I should have been doing damage control. There's no telling what else he's got lined up," Chad sputtered.
"Chad, it's not like that. I need to tell you something else and then I need you to listen to me okay?" Jared leaned forward, looking Chad in the eye.
"Oh God, there's more. How could it be worse? It's worse isn't it? Jesus he taped it didn't he? Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"Might remember it better if he did," Jared grumbled under his breath.
"What? He drugged you?" Chad's voice had reached an all time high and Jared was pretty sure he was close to hyperventilating. It would have been pretty funny if he didn't think Chad was about to go looking for weapons.
"Chad, sit the fuck down and listen to me for two seconds," Jared demanded.
"Jensen isn't trying to blackmail me, nor did he tape us or drug me. I got drunk after Jeff's funeral and was going to drive up to the cabin. He was kind enough to drive me up there so my parents wouldn't be planning another funeral."
"Okay, so I'm confused. Where did the sex come in? What's with all the secrets and what's with the passing out the other day?" Chad asked, perplexed.
"I took some of the good stuff with me, and I got a little more wasted and Jensen decided to imbibe a little as well. One thing kind of led to another and well anyway, Jensen came by the other day to let me know something important and I had some decisions to make. Until I made them, it didn't seem like a good idea to talk about it," Jared explained.
"Does it have to do with Jeff or is it dealing with why he passed out? Is he sick? I mean, he's not terminal or something is he?" Chad asked, starting to feel like shit for over reacting.
"No, but it crossed my mind when he did the swan dive too and don't you ever repeat that last part, he'd kick my ass."
"Okay, so what is it then? It's had you in a twist, and not many things can do that.
"He's pregnant Chad. Jensen's pregnant, and it's mine."
Chad just stared at him like he'd said he was going to film the next Paris Hilton sex video for prime time TV.
"Excuse me, I thought I heard you say Jensen was pregnant."
"That's because you did."
"Okay, and you're sure it's yours how?"
"Chad, lets just say it's one of those things I know and leave it at that," Jared said.
"Shit," Chad exclaimed sagging back into the chair. "Blackmail would have been easier," he bemoaned.
"Why's that?" Jared asked, quirking an eyebrow in question.
"Eighteen years of child support, dealing with another parent, and then the wonders of step-parents that you don't like nor want raising your kid. I mean, hell, the list is endless."
Jared hummed thoughtfully.
"Come on, you can't tell me you haven't thought about this. I mean, you look at crap from every angle before you take on a project and that's your job. There's no way you haven't done it with your kid."
"No, not really," Jared confessed.
"Well, why the hell not!"
"I was too busy trying to figure out how to get Jensen to marry me," Jared stated.
Chad's response was delayed as he'd been sipping his coffee when Jared delivered that piece of information. When he was able to breathe again around the painful constriction in his throat, brought on by what he swore was Jared's attempt at trying to kill him.
"Please tell me you're joking."
"No."
"No, you won't tell me, or no, you're not joking?"
"No, I'm not joking?"
"You do realize you don't have to marry someone just because they're pregnant. It's not the fifties anymore."
"You know, Jensen said the exact same thing," Jared said brightly.
"Well, hell, at least one of you has some sense. I may like him after all," Chad mumbled. "So what's the plan now that he turned you down?"
"I didn't say he turned me down."
"You just said..."
"No, I said Jensen made the same remark, I never said he turned me down. He actually told me he saw no reason to, and that he thought I hadn't had enough time to think things through, at which point a week was decided and I told him I'd be calling him."
"The week’s up, right? So, what happened?" Chad asked, massaging his temples. He was getting a hell of a headache. "I mean you're not all mopey and shit, so he must have accepted right?"
"We went to dinner last night, talked about a lot of things including what we expected, but in the end, yeah, he accepted, which kind of surprised me."
"Why?"
"I was positive he was going to say no and come up with some alternate plan for me to spend more time with the baby."
Chad shook his head, still trying to wrap his brain around Jared having a kid, and with his dead brother's fiancé, no less. "Do you think it's the money?"
"No. I mean, when he came here last week, Jensen was ready to go it alone. He was just doing the right thing, said he didn't think this was something that he should keep from me. I mean, really, he could've never told me, and as far as he would've known, I'd have never found out. It would’ve been a hell of a lot easier on him, I'm sure. I know there's a reason he changed his mind. It wasn't the money, and I'll find out eventually, but right now this gives me time to work with."
"What do you mean as far as he'd have known and time to work with for what?" Chad asked, completely confused.
"I'd been trying to figure out how to see Jensen again for a month, Chad. That's why I've been all over the place. I wish like hell I could say it was all just because of Jeff, and it makes me feel like shit that it's not, but I'm not going to lie to myself about it. I need time for him to get to know me and the only way for that to happen is for him to spend it with me."
"Shouldn't you already know each other? I mean, he was engaged to your brother."
"Hell, we grew up together too, but that doesn't mean anything. I know he hates to eat green things, loves animals except snakes, lived for art class and went away to Paris to study in college. After that, pretty much nothing. I mean, I know everything and nothing about him."
"That's an oxymoron."
"I'm aware, thank you Chad." Jared continued, "I mean, it's just I hung out with my friends and Jeff had Jensen. They were in their own little world."
"Didn't that make you feel bad?"
"Not really. It actually kept me from feeling guilty. Me and Jeff hung out a lot when we were younger but then Jensen came, and I was able to go out and do things that mom and dad never would have let Jeff do because of his age, and he never threw a fit because it just didn't matter. It let me off the hook. I mean, sometimes they would have their inside jokes, or they'd finish each other sentences and that'd sting but they never did it to be mean. It just was what it was. I guess you have to pay a price to get what you want and that was mine."
Chad sighed. "So what do you need from me?"
"I need you to find out about a marriage license, and where they do it now. If it's at the court house, or if I can get someone to come out to my parents house, and how soon I can get an appointment."
"How quick are we talking about?" Chad asked.
"Friday."
"Jesus Christ, Jared that's two days! Have you even told your parents yet?"
Jared flinched. "No, I'm doing that tonight. Oh, and that reminds me, I need you to cancel everything the rest of week and only leave the emergencies on the books."
Chad just gaped at him like he'd grown a third eye.
"I can't marry him, move him into the house and abandon him," Jared reasoned.
"How the hell am I supposed to manage canceling all your appointments without getting my head ripped off?" Chad asked, exasperated.
"Chad, you know you're the best. You can do anything," Jared replied, stroking his friend's ego and issuing a cloaked dare at the same time.
"Fucker," Chad mumbled, knowing no matter how he answered, he was screwed. "Fine, but I swear I better see one hell of a raise and my Christmas present out of this world awesome," he huffed, grabbing his notes and stalking out of the office.
Jared slumped back in his seat, one thing off his to do list and a dozen more left. He picked up the phone and called the next person. He needed to accomplish the impossible in a very short amount of time.
"Hey Alona, how's business?"
"Busy! Thanks for sending me Mrs. Atkinson. It took me a while to find the right place, but she loved it," Alona said.
"I had no doubts. Alona, I need a favor."
"You know all you have to do is ask. Is everything all right?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Yeah, I just need a quick consultation with a designer," Jared explained.
"How quick?"
"Before Friday."
"Shit! When you ask for one you make it count, don't you?" Alona said, laughing.
Jared never would have asked if he didn't think she could have pulled it off. He liked to set his standards high, but he never set people up to fail.
"Well, I know how you like a good challenge."
"Give me an hour. Let me see what I can do," Alona said, still laughing as she hung up.
Jared had no idea what Jensen would like, he just knew there was no way he was bringing him home and putting him in the guest room the way it was now. It wasn’t that the room wasn't nice or that it was impersonal per se because he'd gone out of his way to make sure all the rooms in his home were not only comfortable, but warm and welcoming. However, this would be Jensen's room, at least for now, and while it was good enough for company, wasn't anywhere good enough for his husband.
He was tempted to talk to the designer about the baby's room too, but he really hoped that Jensen would want to do their child's room together. Jared contented himself with Googling anything and everything ever painted by Jensen for the hour he waited on Alona to call him back. He felt like if he could get a feel for how and what Jensen painted, he'd be able to get a glimpse of the man himself. Plus, it would hopefully help him with his choices for the room.
He steered clear of all the websites offering personal information which, curiously, were only one or two and had such words as private and reclusive as their search prompts. Jared wanted anything personal that he learned to come from Jensen himself.
Jared finally found an online catalogue for an upcoming show Jensen would be having, his first solo show at that, according to the header. He waited for the images to load, his excitement and nervousness growing as he waited. He had no idea what he'd do if Jensen painted abstract art or the paint splattered canvases he saw in all the galleries, because he honestly didn't get the appeal. Jared hoped Jensen would tell him about the show, but he realized they really hadn't had a lot time to spend together and that the next week or so would be just as hectic. He really did want Jensen to take that first step.
The first painting flashed on the screen, catching Jared's attention and taking his breath away. The mountains rose majestically in the background, snow clinging to the peaks, fog floating intermittently across the face of jagged rock. There was a dense forest that encircled the base of the mountains, but as the view moved outward, it opened into an open field just starting to break free of winter’s cold embrace. Jared caught himself reaching out to touch the screen where a small blue flower was peeking its head out past the remnants of melting snow, its petals stirring in a breeze Jared could almost feel.
He clicked to the next page and the next, breath catching at each new picture in the front of him. He stopped on one that seemed familiar. The more he looked at it, he realized it had to have been painted somewhere near Jeff's beach house. He recognized the pier and the placement of the dunes, but what drew his eye was the way the painting seemed to have a life of its own. Jared kept waiting for something to move or shift. He would swear if he stood up and moved forward, he could walk from his office into the painting and be transported to the places Jensen had painted, in this case a mile down the beach from where his brother had lived.
Jared could see the shifting sands on the dunes, and further down at the waters edge, a small crab danced to the side as a wave rushed in. The sun was starting to set, dipping down into the water, reflecting back in orange, pale yellow and pinks, the surface rippling outward as if it actually broke the surface and was slipping into its depths. Jared could feel the sand clinging to his skin, the taste and smell of salt at the back of his throat. Jensen's pictures didn't just stimulate your sight they touched every sense you possessed, wrapped themselves around your heart and squeezed.
He didn't care how much this one cost, he was going to have it. The need to share this with someone was driving him nuts, not to mention the fact that he was far from objective when it came to Jensen. He was pretty damn sure the man could slap stick figures on construction paper, and he'd drop a million on it and not blink an eye. He finally buzzed Chad and waited impatiently for him to answer, never taking his eyes off the screen..
"Jared, it's been ten minutes. I'm never going to get anything done if you keep calling me," Chad answered exasperated.
"Forty five."
"Huh?"
"It's been forty five minutes not ten, and I need you to look at something."
"Fine, give me five minutes. I have one more call to finish for this week’s cancellations, and I'll be in."
Chad was an absolute Philistine when it came to the cultured things in life, but the man had an amazing talent when it came to appraisals. He could tell you whether an object was worth spending money on, not that Jared was a slouch himself, but a second opinion never hurt. He'd asked Chad once why he never pursued a career at an auction house or a job along those lines. Chad had just blinked at him a few times before pulling out a particularly awful script that had been sent to Jared in hopes that he'd produce it. By the time Chad had finished critiquing it, Jared was in tears from laughing so hard, and he'd made his point, tact nor patience was one of his finer traits.
Chad came in a few minutes later, a stack of papers in his hands, which he dropped on Jared's desk.
"All your appointments are cancelled for this week," he heaved a sigh, flopping down in a chair.
"Okay, what about the marriage license?"
Chad pulled a document out of a folder and handed it over.
"Fill that out, sign it and then get Jensen to do the same. I made and appointment for you for Friday 3:00 at your parents house. They don't usually do it at houses anymore, but I laid on the charm and pulled some strings. If you need to change it to your house, let me know tomorrow so I can call."
"Thanks, I'll run by Jensen's tonight or tomorrow, depending on what Alona comes up with for me."
"Now, what did you want me to see?" Chad asked.
"I want you to look at these paintings and tell me what you think," Jared answered, hitting the link to start the catalogue from the back, since he hadn't made it that far yet.
"You thinking of investing, or you looking for a present for somebody?" he asked as he moved his chair around beside Jared.
"Investing."
"Hmm, well let's see what you've got," Chad said, turning the laptop, so he could see.
"Jesus Christ."
"What?" Jared asked.
"These are.... I don't even know what these are" Chad breathed, pulling the laptop in front of him, scrolling to the next picture, and then the next.
He stopped at a painting of a waterfall cascading over the face of a cliff, water pooling at the base, lush plants covered the banks, a butterfly sitting on a flower poised to take off. Jared could see the individual water droplets in the spray hitting the rocks and the foam floating outward to the shoreline.
"Damn."
"You know, it would help if you said something constructive," Jared grumbled.
"Well excuse me for being a little awed," Chad huffed. "Where the hell is the zoom on this damn thing?"
Jared reached across, hitting the button, staying silent as Chad scanned what seemed like every square inch of the picture.
"There you are," he whispered.
"There what is?" Jared asked.
"The artist’s signature," Chad explained.
Jared squinted at the screen but he couldn't make out any signature.
"I don't see a name anywhere," he confessed.
"That's because it's not a standard signature. This artist went with a symbol, not commonly used nowadays, because lets face it, everyone wants to be famous, and if you don't stick your name on it, no one will know it's yours. Way back, when all the big name artist that are dead now, were doing their thing, there were a few that used symbols instead of signatures. They each had reasons why. Some liked to goof around and play tricks, see if anyone would recognize their work without their name attached to it, some didn't want to mess with the paintings aesthetics by scrawling their name across it, and some didn't care about their name at all, just their work," Chad explained.
Jared just gaped at him, as he rattled off facts.
"What?"
Jared shook his head, "I just don't understand."
Chad frowned, "Do you need a refresher course on why I work for you?"
"No! So show me the signature."
"See right there in the far left corner," Chad said, pointing at the spot he was talking about.
"At the bottom?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"Wings."
Jared sat staring for a second, letting his eyes adjust to looking past the water and at the very small strokes of paint left behind by brush and hand. Once Chad pointed them out he could see them. They had to be the tiniest pair of wings he'd ever seen put to paper, well in this case canvas. However, the detail was still there, each feathery wisp, every fine line and the color he thought at first was silver was actually changing. He caught Chad out the corner of his eye, moving his head back and forth, and realized he was doing the same thing.
"What color is that?" Jared finally asked.
"Shit if I know. I'm still trying to figure out how the water is hanging in mid air. I swear I could reach out and grab it."
"It’s almost pearlescent," Jared mused.
"Is that even a word?" Chad asked.
"Shit if I know," Jared mimicked Chad's earlier words.
The phone rang, causing both of them to jump and curse. Jared glanced down at the display, grinning at Alona's name flashing back.
"Took you long enough," he said by way of answer.
"Would you like me to hang up and take my designer home with me and not play anymore?" she sing-songed.
"No, when and where," Jared asked laughing, as he grabbed a pen and paper.
"Tomorrow, 6:00 over on the strip, there's that Italian restaurant and you’re buying."
"Okay, who am I meeting?"
"Her name is Kristen Bell. I've worked with her several times now. She's really good, so do not even think about dabbling in that pool," Alona threatened.
"You have nothing to worry about," Jared answered seriously.
"Hmm. I will expect lunch and a full explanation next week."
"No problem, I'll give you a call as soon as I know what day, and Alona, thanks, you have no idea how much I appreciate it."
"You’re welcome. Kristen will take care of you. See you next week," Alona promised before ringing off.
"Dinner date?" Chad asked as Jared hung up.
"Yeah, I have to meet the designer."
Chad just gave him a blank look.
"Never mind, I need you to call Eric and have him do a financial work up on the artist for me."
"You want everything?"
"No, just the basic income of a show, what his paintings normally sell for, how much demand. I don't want anything outside of business financials."
"Okay. You know he won't be able to get it all to you this week right?"
"Tell him just the quick report will be fine by Friday. He can give me the whole rundown next week," Jared said.
Chad stood there waiting for Jared to tell him the artist’s name. When none was forthcoming he sighed, "Jared, I have to know who Eric is looking into."
"Tell him Jensen Ross Ackles," Jared answered, eyes glued on his computer again.
"Jensen, your Jensen?"
Jared looked up and blinked. He wasn't sure why Chad was so surprised, but what had caught his attention was Chad calling Jensen his. The pure possessiveness that shot through his body at Chad's question made his breath stutter.
"Yeah, my Jensen." Jared agreed.
"You know I really hate you," Chad grumbled, leaving the office.
Jared just grinned. Looking over at the clock, he saw he had an hour before he needed to leave for his parents’. He also had to call Jensen and find out when would be a good time to run the marriage license by his apartment. Figuring there was no time like the present, he grabbed his phone.
Please leave comments at the end of part 4b if you wish to leave one. Thank you. :)
Continued Here