This Is The Time -Chapter 2
Title: This Is The Time
User: bluangleyes75
Pairing: Rob and Kristen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when the excitement wears off and reality and hormones set in…
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, I don’t even know them, but a girl can dream. All mistakes are mine.
Previous Chapters: (Chapter 1)
Prying her eyes open, she glanced over her shoulder to assess the time and groaned at the early hour. Exhausted, she wanted nothing more than to than to roll over and fall back to sleep, but Mother Nature called and she knew better than to put her off any longer. Rob was pushed up against her, using her breasts as his pillow. Their legs were scissored together and his hand was splayed open across the exposed skin between her belly button and the top of her boy shorts. Trying not to focus on his new found appreciation of her belly, she tried to untangle herself from his hold. Though unconscious, he fought her as she tried to maneuver away from him and groaned while increasing his hold on her body. The added pressure he placed on her abdomen made her cry out as she swatted and kicked at him, no longer caring if she disturbed him or not. Springing from the bed, she ran to the bathroom on her tiptoes. Bouncing from foot to foot, she slammed the door just before she heard him call out to her.
“You okay, Love?” His deep groggy voice filtered through the closed door.
“Fine,” she snapped back, reaching to lock it before he could burst in.
As her eyes rolled in her head with relief at her quickly emptying bladder, the door shook and the handle rattled. “Love, what’s wrong? Do you need anything? Are you Sick?” He spouted questions through the barrier.
Rolling her eyes she growled and finished her business before moving to the sink to wash her hands, brush her teeth and splash cold water on her face. Just as she was about to turn away from the sink she was struck with a paralyzing roll of nausea. Breathing deeply, in through her nose and out through her mouth, she frowned at herself in the mirror and willed it to pass. The door behind her rattled again and she could see the handle wiggling in the mirror as he tried to break into their bathroom once again.
“For Fuck’s Sake, WHAT?” She snapped as she flicked the lock and ripped the door open, only to find Rob standing in front of her with his hair in complete disarray, his boxers slightly twisted and riding dangerously low on his hips, and his sleepy eyes suddenly growing wide in response to her bark.
“You Okay?” He whispered and swallowed hard, waiting for her to either smack him or answer; he wasn’t quite sure which one to expect.
“Yes, Babe! I’m fine! I had to pee! Is that okay with you?” She snarked, raising her eyebrow at him, daring him to speak again.
Only nodding his response, he stepped out of her way so she could get by him and pad back to their bed. Standing aside, he shoved his hand into his wild hair and tried to tame it as he watched her face plant into the mattress, rip the covers over herself, and nuzzle into her spot with her back towards him. He waited until she was completely settled and still before he dared to move.
****
Emerging from the restroom he could hear her deep breathing as he approached his side of the bed. Carefully, so not to disturb her, he slid between the covers and froze, waiting to make sure that he didn’t wake her before he turned to get comfortable. Just as his eyes were drifting shut again, her body found its way to his. She folded her slight frame against his, tooching her bottom and bending her legs until they fit together seamlessly, her back pressed against his chest. Sighing deeply once she found her perfect niche against the curve of his body she searched for his hand with her own and drug it across her body, under the hem of her shirt, and pressed it gently to her abdomen.
“Love you Kris,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Her deep steady breathing, indicating that she was still very much asleep, was her only reply.
****
Waking for the second time, Kristen didn’t have time to get her bearings before bolting upright and scrambling from the bed. Clenching her hand over her mouth, she tried to breathe deeply through her nose to keep from vomiting as she sprinted to the bathroom and swung the door shut before dropping to her knees in front of the toilet. Discombobulated, Rob followed, throwing the door open and sliding across the floor behind her, gathering her hair in his shaky hands to lift it off her neck and away from her face. As she heaved and cried, he gently rubbed her back and held her hair. Scooting, so his knees were bent on either side of her body, he cringed as she grabbed his bare feet and squeezed tightly with every dry heave that wracked her body and sent her lurching forward.
Once her body had stopped betraying her, she let loose of his feet and reached to flush with her shaky hand before sinking back against him and dissolving into tears. Gently he rocked her body, trying to soothe her, but refrained from speaking. Letting go of the pile of hair he had clenched in his hand, he used his newly free fingers to swipe stray strands away from her face until her cries subsided and she sat crumpled and completely spent against his body.
“Ugh, I fucking hate this so much,” she sniffled and turned to press her face into his chest.
“I’m sorry, Love,” he mumbled behind her.
“Baby, I’m so fucking tired of being sick and I am so exhausted,” she whined as her tears started to fall again.
Having been down this very road with her several times in the past couple of weeks, he thought it best to remain silent and let her vent instead of speaking or trying to fix her problems. He ceased his rocking and just held her against him, giving her time to calm down and catch her breath.
“Say something,” she snapped as she abruptly sat up and turned to look at him.
His eyes went wide and he immediately lifted his hands from around her, raising them in the air to show his surrender. “I’m sorry, Love. Can I do something to make you feel better?” He stumbled over his words as he tried to formulate them in a way that wouldn’t piss her off even more.
“NO, I just want to sleep! Why am I so tired? Why do I have to be so sick?” She grumbled, more to herself that him, and pushed herself up and off of him so she could make her way to the sink to wash her hands and brush her teeth again. He stayed on the floor, but slid to lean his back against the wall.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me it was gonna be like this?” She asked as she eyeballed him in the mirror.
His heart rate increased as he clasped his hands together tightly while he tried to figure out what to say to her. Thankfully, he didn’t have to think too long, or worry about making her even angrier, because she turned on her heel and stalked out of the bathroom before he had to answer.
Sitting still, he waited until he couldn’t hear her moving around any longer. He decided to give her the space she obviously needed and pulled himself from the floor to a standing position so he could stretch. He shed his boxers before closing the door softly and turning to start the shower.
****
He sat at the kitchen counter with a fresh cup of coffee and his laptop open so he could sort through his email. He glanced at the clock for the fifth time in 15 minutes and shook his head. Kristen had gone back to bed after she’d gotten sick, but he hadn’t expected her to sleep so long. Nearly two hours had passed since he’d taken his shower and she’d yet to make an appearance. Turning his attention back to the screen of his computer, he fought the urge to go check on her, knowing that if she was awake and he was hovering, she would probably flip her lid, might even ask him to leave.
He’d barely resumed scrolling through his inbox when he felt her presence behind him. Ducking his head, he turned to glance at her and smiled as she shuffled towards him. She still looked sleepy and disheveled, creases on her flushed cheeks where her face had been pressed against the rumpled sheets were evident. Breaking into a large yawn, she brought one hand to cover her mouth while the other made its way to her untamed mane of hair. As she approached him she offered an apologetic smile, dropping her head and peeking up at him through her lashes demurely. Afraid to make a wrong move, he winked at her and waited for her to make first contact so he could follow her lead. Inching up to him, she pressed her body to his side so she could lay her head on his shoulder.
“Morning,” she croaked with a hoarse voice.
“Morning, Love,” he cooed and deposited a quick kiss on the top of her head.
She bounced beside him and fidgeted with the hem of her nightshirt as if she was nervous, but she didn’t speak. Tentatively he swiveled his barstool towards her. Kristen stepped back just enough to give him the room to maneuver and as soon as there was enough space, she stepped between his slightly parted knees, crushed herself against his body, flung her arms around him, and nuzzled into the crook of his neck.
“I’m sorry, Baby. I am so, so sorry,” she whimpered and kissed his neck repeatedly, pressing herself into him even further.
“Shhh, Kristen, it’s okay,” he assured her and wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to try and keep her from crying again.
“No, it’s not. I‘ve been horrible. Idon’tknowifIcandothis, Rob!” She rushed and squeezed him so hard he thought he wouldn’t be able to breathe.
“What do you mean you don’t know if you can do this?” He pulled away from her and braced his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away just enough to try and look directly into her eyes.
With her head hung and her crazy bed hair falling in her face, he couldn’t see her clearly, so he traced his fingers across her shoulders to her collarbone, along the curve of her neck and onto her cheeks where he applied gentle pressure and lifted her face towards his. She refused to look at him, shame forcing her eyes to stay shut, even when she felt his intense stare burning into her soul.
“Talk to me Kristen,” he said.
She shook her head in his hands and tried to pull away. His patience was starting to wear thin. The push and pull from her was starting to drive him insane. She was giving him whiplash with her back and forth love and hate for him.
“God Damn It, Kristen…Do not shut me out. You said you can’t do this. This?” He asked letting go of her face with one hand so he could move it to her stomach.
With force, she twisted her face out of his hand and snapped her wild eyes open as she covered his hand with her own and tried to throw it from her body.
“This?” he asked rubbing her stomach and glaring at her with a cold flat stare.
“YES! I can’t do this!” She moved her other hand to her abdomen, widened her fingers across the span of her stomach, and threw daggers at him with her fierce glare.
“Okay, Kristen, whatever,” he spoke calmly and shrugged her off, swiveling around in his seat to disentangle himself from her completely, stand, and move away. Leaning back against the breakfast bar, she waited for the chair to snap back into place and for him to respond to her outburst. With complete composure, he reached around her and closed the laptop then gathered his coffee mug. Still waiting, she folded her arms across her chest and huffed loudly, preparing for him to say something. He didn’t speak. Instead, he walked away from her and she couldn’t bring herself to watch him, choosing to study her feet instead of facing his hurt. She heard the sliding glass door moving in its track and then felt the breeze make its way into the house and brush against her skin as he stepped outside. Turning her head, she glanced around her shoulder and saw him leaning against the rail of the balcony, cradling his coffee, and searching the view of LA spread out before him.
Swallowing her fear, she pushed herself off the counter and struggled to get around his newly abandoned barstool so she could go to him. Cautiously she stepped onto the balcony and sidled up to him. He didn’t acknowledge her presence, he merely raised his mug and took a sip before lowering it again, never breaking his intense concentration on the view. Lifting her right foot, she wedged it between the slats of the rails and leaned forward, resting her forearms on the rod iron for support before casting her gaze in the same general direction as his.
The only sound on the patio was of the leaves and palms on the trees rustling as the faint wind whispered through them. As the minutes stretched between them, her knee began to bounce and she started to wring her hands in front of her. Chancing a glance in his peripheral vision, he saw her gearing up to speak, but he did nothing to cajole her. Just as he noticed her mouth open, she snapped it shut again.
Straightening slowly, he turned towards the patio furniture behind them and moved away from her. Placing his mug on the tiled table top, he pivoted to watch her, noting that her nervous jitters had calmed somewhat without him being in such close proximity. Backing into the edge of the table, he shoved his hands into his pockets, propped himself against the piece of furniture, and crossed his legs at the ankles. Sensing his gaze focused on her back, she became antsy again as she fought to find her words and resist the urge to turn towards him.
“I’m so scared, Rob. I just don’t know…” she started weakly before picking up momentum. “I don’t even feel like myself! I’m so tired. I keep throwing up or feeling like I’m on the verge of throwing up. I can’t even think straight! Ugh!!” Her voice cracked as her frustration brought forth fresh tears that she fought to keep at bay.
“You have all these movies coming up and I wonder how much you’ll even be here. I definitely don’t think I can do this on my own, which makes me wonder if it isn’t the right time for this. Not to mention, I’m way too young to be someone’s mother. I can barely take care of myself! Look the messes I’ve made, but hey give me a kid to see if I can do better with someone else’s life? But, what if I can’t? What will happen to him when I fail? This is serious shit!” Her words started to come more rapidly as her thoughts raced and the magnitude of her fears pressed down on her.
Behind her he remained still, observing her closely as she tried to verbalize her thoughts. He recognized her anxiety growing with her increased squirming and her preoccupation with picking at her fingernails as she spoke. Just as he was about to go to her and try to calm her, she raised herself from the railing and turned to face him.
“I don’t want to do this alone. I just can’t… I do want to have kids with you, Babe, but I was thinking way down the road. Waaaaay down the road. I wanted to be married and done acting. I wanted to be older and more settled. I can’t do this! How the hell am I gonna do this?” She rushed out before he saw panic wash over her, her eyes growing wide and a distinct shake settling into her tightly clenched fists.
With lightning speed, he was upright and springing towards her frozen, yet trembling, figure. Drawing his hands out of his pockets, he reached out and enveloped her in his arms.
“Shhh, Love.” He swayed back and forth lightly in an attempt to console her. Deflated and exhausted she drooped against his body. Her arms hung limply at her sides and her knees threatened to buckle, but he held her up and attempted to support her without speaking.
“I really can’t do this,” she sniffled then suddenly tensed in his arms, shoved against his chest, and launched herself away from him. Before he could process her extreme mood swing, she was fleeing through the patio door, back into the house.
“Kristen,” he called as he headed after her, stumbling over his own feet as he tried to catch up.
“Sick, Rob…,” she yelled as she bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, holding her stomach with one hand and covering her mouth with the other. “Don’t follow me, God Damn it! Let me puke in private…” her voice filtered off the further away she went. Just before he heard their bedroom door slam he distinctly heard her call out, “This is fucking ridiculous!”
****
When he heard the shower running upstairs, he made his way back to their bedroom, opened the curtains to let light in, and slid the windows open to let air in. Moving around, he scooped up her discarded clothes, tossed them into the hamper and straightened the bed. Satisfied that the room looked better he sunk into a chair, propped his elbows on his knees, bent his head, and palmed his face in his hands. Worry and frustration from Kristen’s constant mood swings over the past two weeks or longer had left him worried and at a total loss. The nonstop apprehension he felt about what to do for her, what not to say to her, or how he should or shouldn’t look at her was wearing him down and absolutely exhausting him, but he had to keep reminding himself that it would pass and in the interim he needed to be patient and supportive, no matter how hard she made it on him.
Lost in thought and reflection, he didn’t notice when the water shut off, when she’d stepped from the bathroom, or when she approached him hesitantly. She stretched her hand out and tamed his hair with her fingers meekly to get his attention. He peeked through his fingers and offered her a weak smile, moving his hand to cover hers so he could thread their fingers together. Bringing them in front of his face, he brushed his lips against her knuckles.
“Feel better?” He asked.
She nodded and shuffled closer to wrap her free arm around his neck and rub his tense muscles. With a moan of appreciation he released her hand and framed her waist with his arms, pulling her between his legs, close enough that he could duck his head and rest it against her abdomen. Leaning into him, she dipped to place a kiss on the top of his head and raked her fingers through his hair.
“I love you, Baby,” she cooed as her magic fingers massaged his scalp, lulling him.
“Love you too,” he mumbled into her stomach and kneaded her hips lightly in an effort to return the favor of her touch.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a low voice as she dropped another kiss against his head.
“It’s okay,” he mumbled again and lifted his face to trail his nose against her t-shirt, peppering kisses across her belly as he moved.
“No, it’s not okay, but I can’t help myself. I feel so out of control…Like I’m fucking going crazy,” she whined.
“That’s nothing new, Love,” he teased as he tipped his head back more and peered up at her from under his heavy lids, offering her a devious grin to show her that he was only kidding.
“Ha, Ha, Ass,” she chuckled.
“Har, Har,” he vibrated as he fought to hold in his laughter.
“I’m serious, Babe,” she stuck out her bottom lip in an effort to pout and even picked her foot up and stamped it back down, mimicking a petulant child, to prove her point.
Reigning in his laughter, he gripped her hips and leaned back further in order to get a good look at her. Her green eyes were bright and a sly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I do want this…I…um…” she started to speak and fidget, but he interrupted before she could say anything else.
“So, you wanna get married?” He asked and beamed his best “sexiest-man-alive” smile.
“Seriously? How is that gonna…” she started to speak then drug her lip between her teeth to quiet herself before her smart ass remarks could escape and ruin the moment.
“You said you wanted to be married before we have kids, so let’s do it,” he stated and shrugged, applying gentle pressure on her hips with his fingers so he could navigate her body even closer to his own.
Raising an eyebrow, she released her lip and opened her mouth to speak, but closed it rapidly. Watching her intently, he fought to hold in his amusement when she repeated her efforts to speak several times, but only succeeded in looking like a fish out of water.
“And you’re right, I do have three movies lined up, but the last one isn’t set in stone yet and you don’t have anything in the works right now, so…Do you wanna come with me?” He pushed forward with his plan to prove to her they could do this and they’d do it together.
Again, she could only open and close her mouth in response to his suggestions.
“And…” he started again, “yes, you’re young, but not too young. Look at some of our friends, Love. They’re starting families, so we won’t be the first to do it. It’s not impossible and we have the means a lot of them don’t. I’m not going to leave you. I swear to you, Kristen, you will never have to do this alone. Even if you don’t want to come with me while I film, I will come home every chance I get. You could go stay with mum and dad, your mom or dad could come here and stay with you, or you can go stay with one of them,” he brainstormed out loud, trying to cover all their bases. “Hell, I’ll move any or all of your friends into the basement to take shifts if you want me to. I’m willing to do absolutely anything and everything for you, Love.”
Steadily, he searched her features for any signs that he was pushing her too far or that he was freaking her out. He saw only big crocodile tears spill over the edges of her lids and a look of sheer relief settle across her face.
“I know it’s not ideal, Kristen. We didn’t plan it and I’m sorry you’ve been sick, but if I could make it better for you…Hell, I would throw up every hour on the hour if it meant you wouldn’t have to ever do it again! But…maybe this happened now for a reason? Maybe this is the perfect time and we just can’t see it yet,” he sweet-talked rapidly as he looked her eye to eye, hoping she saw his sincerity.
“When you hold her, I swear it’ll be worth it,” he winked before lowering his gaze and leaning to place kisses against her body while his fingers worked on lifting her shirt so he could have direct contact with her skin.
She sighed under his touch then shook her head to clear it before she finally spoke, “Yeah, we’ll see if you still think that when HE is peeing in your face in the middle of the night when all you want to do is sleep!”
“It will all be worth it when SHE is having a sleep on my chest and you’re cuddled up with us,” he smiled against her body and opened his mouth to nip the skin just below her belly button.
Goosebumps erupted across her flesh and her smart-ass rebuttal escaped the tip of her tongue as she moaned and clenched his hair tightly between her fingers. Tracing his tongue across her overheated skin, he trailed his fingers up the sides of her ribs, dragging her shirt with them. Before continuing his exploration he gave her time to protest. When she didn’t flinch or hesitate, he brushed his thumbs across her nipples and gingerly cupped her overly tender breasts in his hands.
“Hmmm, BOOBS,” he growled against her stomach.
“Rob,” she playfully groaned and giggled as she batted at his arm then gripped his face to tip it towards hers so she could dive in and crush her their lips together.
“Mmmm, I love you,” he murmured against her mouth as she assaulted him with her tongue, lips, and teeth.
“I love you too,” she sighed, her breathing growing erratic. Pushing herself against him, she stepped her leg over his knee before sinking down on one of his thighs and scooting forward.
“What do you need, Love? Want me to make love to you?” He half teased, but more than anything wanted her to clarify her desires before he did something to piss her off.
Sure enough, his fears were realized when she groaned and ripped her lips from his mouth, pulling back to glare at him with squinty eyes and her perfect bitch face.
“What? What do you need from me, Love?” He attempted to pacify her.
“I don’t want you to make love to me. I need you, Rob…Now! No Gentle!” She growled and fisted his shirt tightly in her hand as she yanked on it to bring him closer so she could attack his mouth again.
“Ok,” he croaked, trying hard not to laugh. As he stood and lifted her in his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly and nuzzled into his neck. Her frantic kisses melted into sweet and tender pecks as he carried her to their bed. Bending to place her on the edge, she clung to him tighter and refused to be set down.
“I’m sorry. I love you…Can you just hold me?” she whined and burrowed against him, once again struggling to keep fresh tears from wetting her cheeks.
Turning to sit on the edge of the bed, she wiggled in his lap as his fingers moved to lightly ghost his fingers across her back. “Yeah, Love…whatever you want,” he assured her. Toppling back he turned them slightly and adjusted so she would be more comfortable. When she sighed and relaxed against him, he stroked her hair away from her face and leaned to place a kiss against her neck, just below her earlobe.
“This is gonna be the longest seven and a half months of our lives, isn’t it?” He whispered.
“You asked for it, Babe. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” She grinned and reached to pull his hand to rest against her belly again.
“Just wait until you hold her and I can tell you, I told you so!” He tickled his fingers across her stomach.
“HIM.” She narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to chuckle at her stubbornness. Snuggling against his body further she smiled into his slightly vibrating chest.
User: bluangleyes75
Pairing: Rob and Kristen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when the excitement wears off and reality and hormones set in…
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, I don’t even know them, but a girl can dream. All mistakes are mine.
Previous Chapters: (Chapter 1)
Prying her eyes open, she glanced over her shoulder to assess the time and groaned at the early hour. Exhausted, she wanted nothing more than to than to roll over and fall back to sleep, but Mother Nature called and she knew better than to put her off any longer. Rob was pushed up against her, using her breasts as his pillow. Their legs were scissored together and his hand was splayed open across the exposed skin between her belly button and the top of her boy shorts. Trying not to focus on his new found appreciation of her belly, she tried to untangle herself from his hold. Though unconscious, he fought her as she tried to maneuver away from him and groaned while increasing his hold on her body. The added pressure he placed on her abdomen made her cry out as she swatted and kicked at him, no longer caring if she disturbed him or not. Springing from the bed, she ran to the bathroom on her tiptoes. Bouncing from foot to foot, she slammed the door just before she heard him call out to her.
“You okay, Love?” His deep groggy voice filtered through the closed door.
“Fine,” she snapped back, reaching to lock it before he could burst in.
As her eyes rolled in her head with relief at her quickly emptying bladder, the door shook and the handle rattled. “Love, what’s wrong? Do you need anything? Are you Sick?” He spouted questions through the barrier.
Rolling her eyes she growled and finished her business before moving to the sink to wash her hands, brush her teeth and splash cold water on her face. Just as she was about to turn away from the sink she was struck with a paralyzing roll of nausea. Breathing deeply, in through her nose and out through her mouth, she frowned at herself in the mirror and willed it to pass. The door behind her rattled again and she could see the handle wiggling in the mirror as he tried to break into their bathroom once again.
“For Fuck’s Sake, WHAT?” She snapped as she flicked the lock and ripped the door open, only to find Rob standing in front of her with his hair in complete disarray, his boxers slightly twisted and riding dangerously low on his hips, and his sleepy eyes suddenly growing wide in response to her bark.
“You Okay?” He whispered and swallowed hard, waiting for her to either smack him or answer; he wasn’t quite sure which one to expect.
“Yes, Babe! I’m fine! I had to pee! Is that okay with you?” She snarked, raising her eyebrow at him, daring him to speak again.
Only nodding his response, he stepped out of her way so she could get by him and pad back to their bed. Standing aside, he shoved his hand into his wild hair and tried to tame it as he watched her face plant into the mattress, rip the covers over herself, and nuzzle into her spot with her back towards him. He waited until she was completely settled and still before he dared to move.
****
Emerging from the restroom he could hear her deep breathing as he approached his side of the bed. Carefully, so not to disturb her, he slid between the covers and froze, waiting to make sure that he didn’t wake her before he turned to get comfortable. Just as his eyes were drifting shut again, her body found its way to his. She folded her slight frame against his, tooching her bottom and bending her legs until they fit together seamlessly, her back pressed against his chest. Sighing deeply once she found her perfect niche against the curve of his body she searched for his hand with her own and drug it across her body, under the hem of her shirt, and pressed it gently to her abdomen.
“Love you Kris,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Her deep steady breathing, indicating that she was still very much asleep, was her only reply.
****
Waking for the second time, Kristen didn’t have time to get her bearings before bolting upright and scrambling from the bed. Clenching her hand over her mouth, she tried to breathe deeply through her nose to keep from vomiting as she sprinted to the bathroom and swung the door shut before dropping to her knees in front of the toilet. Discombobulated, Rob followed, throwing the door open and sliding across the floor behind her, gathering her hair in his shaky hands to lift it off her neck and away from her face. As she heaved and cried, he gently rubbed her back and held her hair. Scooting, so his knees were bent on either side of her body, he cringed as she grabbed his bare feet and squeezed tightly with every dry heave that wracked her body and sent her lurching forward.
Once her body had stopped betraying her, she let loose of his feet and reached to flush with her shaky hand before sinking back against him and dissolving into tears. Gently he rocked her body, trying to soothe her, but refrained from speaking. Letting go of the pile of hair he had clenched in his hand, he used his newly free fingers to swipe stray strands away from her face until her cries subsided and she sat crumpled and completely spent against his body.
“Ugh, I fucking hate this so much,” she sniffled and turned to press her face into his chest.
“I’m sorry, Love,” he mumbled behind her.
“Baby, I’m so fucking tired of being sick and I am so exhausted,” she whined as her tears started to fall again.
Having been down this very road with her several times in the past couple of weeks, he thought it best to remain silent and let her vent instead of speaking or trying to fix her problems. He ceased his rocking and just held her against him, giving her time to calm down and catch her breath.
“Say something,” she snapped as she abruptly sat up and turned to look at him.
His eyes went wide and he immediately lifted his hands from around her, raising them in the air to show his surrender. “I’m sorry, Love. Can I do something to make you feel better?” He stumbled over his words as he tried to formulate them in a way that wouldn’t piss her off even more.
“NO, I just want to sleep! Why am I so tired? Why do I have to be so sick?” She grumbled, more to herself that him, and pushed herself up and off of him so she could make her way to the sink to wash her hands and brush her teeth again. He stayed on the floor, but slid to lean his back against the wall.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me it was gonna be like this?” She asked as she eyeballed him in the mirror.
His heart rate increased as he clasped his hands together tightly while he tried to figure out what to say to her. Thankfully, he didn’t have to think too long, or worry about making her even angrier, because she turned on her heel and stalked out of the bathroom before he had to answer.
Sitting still, he waited until he couldn’t hear her moving around any longer. He decided to give her the space she obviously needed and pulled himself from the floor to a standing position so he could stretch. He shed his boxers before closing the door softly and turning to start the shower.
****
He sat at the kitchen counter with a fresh cup of coffee and his laptop open so he could sort through his email. He glanced at the clock for the fifth time in 15 minutes and shook his head. Kristen had gone back to bed after she’d gotten sick, but he hadn’t expected her to sleep so long. Nearly two hours had passed since he’d taken his shower and she’d yet to make an appearance. Turning his attention back to the screen of his computer, he fought the urge to go check on her, knowing that if she was awake and he was hovering, she would probably flip her lid, might even ask him to leave.
He’d barely resumed scrolling through his inbox when he felt her presence behind him. Ducking his head, he turned to glance at her and smiled as she shuffled towards him. She still looked sleepy and disheveled, creases on her flushed cheeks where her face had been pressed against the rumpled sheets were evident. Breaking into a large yawn, she brought one hand to cover her mouth while the other made its way to her untamed mane of hair. As she approached him she offered an apologetic smile, dropping her head and peeking up at him through her lashes demurely. Afraid to make a wrong move, he winked at her and waited for her to make first contact so he could follow her lead. Inching up to him, she pressed her body to his side so she could lay her head on his shoulder.
“Morning,” she croaked with a hoarse voice.
“Morning, Love,” he cooed and deposited a quick kiss on the top of her head.
She bounced beside him and fidgeted with the hem of her nightshirt as if she was nervous, but she didn’t speak. Tentatively he swiveled his barstool towards her. Kristen stepped back just enough to give him the room to maneuver and as soon as there was enough space, she stepped between his slightly parted knees, crushed herself against his body, flung her arms around him, and nuzzled into the crook of his neck.
“I’m sorry, Baby. I am so, so sorry,” she whimpered and kissed his neck repeatedly, pressing herself into him even further.
“Shhh, Kristen, it’s okay,” he assured her and wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to try and keep her from crying again.
“No, it’s not. I‘ve been horrible. Idon’tknowifIcandothis, Rob!” She rushed and squeezed him so hard he thought he wouldn’t be able to breathe.
“What do you mean you don’t know if you can do this?” He pulled away from her and braced his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away just enough to try and look directly into her eyes.
With her head hung and her crazy bed hair falling in her face, he couldn’t see her clearly, so he traced his fingers across her shoulders to her collarbone, along the curve of her neck and onto her cheeks where he applied gentle pressure and lifted her face towards his. She refused to look at him, shame forcing her eyes to stay shut, even when she felt his intense stare burning into her soul.
“Talk to me Kristen,” he said.
She shook her head in his hands and tried to pull away. His patience was starting to wear thin. The push and pull from her was starting to drive him insane. She was giving him whiplash with her back and forth love and hate for him.
“God Damn It, Kristen…Do not shut me out. You said you can’t do this. This?” He asked letting go of her face with one hand so he could move it to her stomach.
With force, she twisted her face out of his hand and snapped her wild eyes open as she covered his hand with her own and tried to throw it from her body.
“This?” he asked rubbing her stomach and glaring at her with a cold flat stare.
“YES! I can’t do this!” She moved her other hand to her abdomen, widened her fingers across the span of her stomach, and threw daggers at him with her fierce glare.
“Okay, Kristen, whatever,” he spoke calmly and shrugged her off, swiveling around in his seat to disentangle himself from her completely, stand, and move away. Leaning back against the breakfast bar, she waited for the chair to snap back into place and for him to respond to her outburst. With complete composure, he reached around her and closed the laptop then gathered his coffee mug. Still waiting, she folded her arms across her chest and huffed loudly, preparing for him to say something. He didn’t speak. Instead, he walked away from her and she couldn’t bring herself to watch him, choosing to study her feet instead of facing his hurt. She heard the sliding glass door moving in its track and then felt the breeze make its way into the house and brush against her skin as he stepped outside. Turning her head, she glanced around her shoulder and saw him leaning against the rail of the balcony, cradling his coffee, and searching the view of LA spread out before him.
Swallowing her fear, she pushed herself off the counter and struggled to get around his newly abandoned barstool so she could go to him. Cautiously she stepped onto the balcony and sidled up to him. He didn’t acknowledge her presence, he merely raised his mug and took a sip before lowering it again, never breaking his intense concentration on the view. Lifting her right foot, she wedged it between the slats of the rails and leaned forward, resting her forearms on the rod iron for support before casting her gaze in the same general direction as his.
The only sound on the patio was of the leaves and palms on the trees rustling as the faint wind whispered through them. As the minutes stretched between them, her knee began to bounce and she started to wring her hands in front of her. Chancing a glance in his peripheral vision, he saw her gearing up to speak, but he did nothing to cajole her. Just as he noticed her mouth open, she snapped it shut again.
Straightening slowly, he turned towards the patio furniture behind them and moved away from her. Placing his mug on the tiled table top, he pivoted to watch her, noting that her nervous jitters had calmed somewhat without him being in such close proximity. Backing into the edge of the table, he shoved his hands into his pockets, propped himself against the piece of furniture, and crossed his legs at the ankles. Sensing his gaze focused on her back, she became antsy again as she fought to find her words and resist the urge to turn towards him.
“I’m so scared, Rob. I just don’t know…” she started weakly before picking up momentum. “I don’t even feel like myself! I’m so tired. I keep throwing up or feeling like I’m on the verge of throwing up. I can’t even think straight! Ugh!!” Her voice cracked as her frustration brought forth fresh tears that she fought to keep at bay.
“You have all these movies coming up and I wonder how much you’ll even be here. I definitely don’t think I can do this on my own, which makes me wonder if it isn’t the right time for this. Not to mention, I’m way too young to be someone’s mother. I can barely take care of myself! Look the messes I’ve made, but hey give me a kid to see if I can do better with someone else’s life? But, what if I can’t? What will happen to him when I fail? This is serious shit!” Her words started to come more rapidly as her thoughts raced and the magnitude of her fears pressed down on her.
Behind her he remained still, observing her closely as she tried to verbalize her thoughts. He recognized her anxiety growing with her increased squirming and her preoccupation with picking at her fingernails as she spoke. Just as he was about to go to her and try to calm her, she raised herself from the railing and turned to face him.
“I don’t want to do this alone. I just can’t… I do want to have kids with you, Babe, but I was thinking way down the road. Waaaaay down the road. I wanted to be married and done acting. I wanted to be older and more settled. I can’t do this! How the hell am I gonna do this?” She rushed out before he saw panic wash over her, her eyes growing wide and a distinct shake settling into her tightly clenched fists.
With lightning speed, he was upright and springing towards her frozen, yet trembling, figure. Drawing his hands out of his pockets, he reached out and enveloped her in his arms.
“Shhh, Love.” He swayed back and forth lightly in an attempt to console her. Deflated and exhausted she drooped against his body. Her arms hung limply at her sides and her knees threatened to buckle, but he held her up and attempted to support her without speaking.
“I really can’t do this,” she sniffled then suddenly tensed in his arms, shoved against his chest, and launched herself away from him. Before he could process her extreme mood swing, she was fleeing through the patio door, back into the house.
“Kristen,” he called as he headed after her, stumbling over his own feet as he tried to catch up.
“Sick, Rob…,” she yelled as she bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, holding her stomach with one hand and covering her mouth with the other. “Don’t follow me, God Damn it! Let me puke in private…” her voice filtered off the further away she went. Just before he heard their bedroom door slam he distinctly heard her call out, “This is fucking ridiculous!”
****
When he heard the shower running upstairs, he made his way back to their bedroom, opened the curtains to let light in, and slid the windows open to let air in. Moving around, he scooped up her discarded clothes, tossed them into the hamper and straightened the bed. Satisfied that the room looked better he sunk into a chair, propped his elbows on his knees, bent his head, and palmed his face in his hands. Worry and frustration from Kristen’s constant mood swings over the past two weeks or longer had left him worried and at a total loss. The nonstop apprehension he felt about what to do for her, what not to say to her, or how he should or shouldn’t look at her was wearing him down and absolutely exhausting him, but he had to keep reminding himself that it would pass and in the interim he needed to be patient and supportive, no matter how hard she made it on him.
Lost in thought and reflection, he didn’t notice when the water shut off, when she’d stepped from the bathroom, or when she approached him hesitantly. She stretched her hand out and tamed his hair with her fingers meekly to get his attention. He peeked through his fingers and offered her a weak smile, moving his hand to cover hers so he could thread their fingers together. Bringing them in front of his face, he brushed his lips against her knuckles.
“Feel better?” He asked.
She nodded and shuffled closer to wrap her free arm around his neck and rub his tense muscles. With a moan of appreciation he released her hand and framed her waist with his arms, pulling her between his legs, close enough that he could duck his head and rest it against her abdomen. Leaning into him, she dipped to place a kiss on the top of his head and raked her fingers through his hair.
“I love you, Baby,” she cooed as her magic fingers massaged his scalp, lulling him.
“Love you too,” he mumbled into her stomach and kneaded her hips lightly in an effort to return the favor of her touch.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a low voice as she dropped another kiss against his head.
“It’s okay,” he mumbled again and lifted his face to trail his nose against her t-shirt, peppering kisses across her belly as he moved.
“No, it’s not okay, but I can’t help myself. I feel so out of control…Like I’m fucking going crazy,” she whined.
“That’s nothing new, Love,” he teased as he tipped his head back more and peered up at her from under his heavy lids, offering her a devious grin to show her that he was only kidding.
“Ha, Ha, Ass,” she chuckled.
“Har, Har,” he vibrated as he fought to hold in his laughter.
“I’m serious, Babe,” she stuck out her bottom lip in an effort to pout and even picked her foot up and stamped it back down, mimicking a petulant child, to prove her point.
Reigning in his laughter, he gripped her hips and leaned back further in order to get a good look at her. Her green eyes were bright and a sly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I do want this…I…um…” she started to speak and fidget, but he interrupted before she could say anything else.
“So, you wanna get married?” He asked and beamed his best “sexiest-man-alive” smile.
“Seriously? How is that gonna…” she started to speak then drug her lip between her teeth to quiet herself before her smart ass remarks could escape and ruin the moment.
“You said you wanted to be married before we have kids, so let’s do it,” he stated and shrugged, applying gentle pressure on her hips with his fingers so he could navigate her body even closer to his own.
Raising an eyebrow, she released her lip and opened her mouth to speak, but closed it rapidly. Watching her intently, he fought to hold in his amusement when she repeated her efforts to speak several times, but only succeeded in looking like a fish out of water.
“And you’re right, I do have three movies lined up, but the last one isn’t set in stone yet and you don’t have anything in the works right now, so…Do you wanna come with me?” He pushed forward with his plan to prove to her they could do this and they’d do it together.
Again, she could only open and close her mouth in response to his suggestions.
“And…” he started again, “yes, you’re young, but not too young. Look at some of our friends, Love. They’re starting families, so we won’t be the first to do it. It’s not impossible and we have the means a lot of them don’t. I’m not going to leave you. I swear to you, Kristen, you will never have to do this alone. Even if you don’t want to come with me while I film, I will come home every chance I get. You could go stay with mum and dad, your mom or dad could come here and stay with you, or you can go stay with one of them,” he brainstormed out loud, trying to cover all their bases. “Hell, I’ll move any or all of your friends into the basement to take shifts if you want me to. I’m willing to do absolutely anything and everything for you, Love.”
Steadily, he searched her features for any signs that he was pushing her too far or that he was freaking her out. He saw only big crocodile tears spill over the edges of her lids and a look of sheer relief settle across her face.
“I know it’s not ideal, Kristen. We didn’t plan it and I’m sorry you’ve been sick, but if I could make it better for you…Hell, I would throw up every hour on the hour if it meant you wouldn’t have to ever do it again! But…maybe this happened now for a reason? Maybe this is the perfect time and we just can’t see it yet,” he sweet-talked rapidly as he looked her eye to eye, hoping she saw his sincerity.
“When you hold her, I swear it’ll be worth it,” he winked before lowering his gaze and leaning to place kisses against her body while his fingers worked on lifting her shirt so he could have direct contact with her skin.
She sighed under his touch then shook her head to clear it before she finally spoke, “Yeah, we’ll see if you still think that when HE is peeing in your face in the middle of the night when all you want to do is sleep!”
“It will all be worth it when SHE is having a sleep on my chest and you’re cuddled up with us,” he smiled against her body and opened his mouth to nip the skin just below her belly button.
Goosebumps erupted across her flesh and her smart-ass rebuttal escaped the tip of her tongue as she moaned and clenched his hair tightly between her fingers. Tracing his tongue across her overheated skin, he trailed his fingers up the sides of her ribs, dragging her shirt with them. Before continuing his exploration he gave her time to protest. When she didn’t flinch or hesitate, he brushed his thumbs across her nipples and gingerly cupped her overly tender breasts in his hands.
“Hmmm, BOOBS,” he growled against her stomach.
“Rob,” she playfully groaned and giggled as she batted at his arm then gripped his face to tip it towards hers so she could dive in and crush her their lips together.
“Mmmm, I love you,” he murmured against her mouth as she assaulted him with her tongue, lips, and teeth.
“I love you too,” she sighed, her breathing growing erratic. Pushing herself against him, she stepped her leg over his knee before sinking down on one of his thighs and scooting forward.
“What do you need, Love? Want me to make love to you?” He half teased, but more than anything wanted her to clarify her desires before he did something to piss her off.
Sure enough, his fears were realized when she groaned and ripped her lips from his mouth, pulling back to glare at him with squinty eyes and her perfect bitch face.
“What? What do you need from me, Love?” He attempted to pacify her.
“I don’t want you to make love to me. I need you, Rob…Now! No Gentle!” She growled and fisted his shirt tightly in her hand as she yanked on it to bring him closer so she could attack his mouth again.
“Ok,” he croaked, trying hard not to laugh. As he stood and lifted her in his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly and nuzzled into his neck. Her frantic kisses melted into sweet and tender pecks as he carried her to their bed. Bending to place her on the edge, she clung to him tighter and refused to be set down.
“I’m sorry. I love you…Can you just hold me?” she whined and burrowed against him, once again struggling to keep fresh tears from wetting her cheeks.
Turning to sit on the edge of the bed, she wiggled in his lap as his fingers moved to lightly ghost his fingers across her back. “Yeah, Love…whatever you want,” he assured her. Toppling back he turned them slightly and adjusted so she would be more comfortable. When she sighed and relaxed against him, he stroked her hair away from her face and leaned to place a kiss against her neck, just below her earlobe.
“This is gonna be the longest seven and a half months of our lives, isn’t it?” He whispered.
“You asked for it, Babe. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” She grinned and reached to pull his hand to rest against her belly again.
“Just wait until you hold her and I can tell you, I told you so!” He tickled his fingers across her stomach.
“HIM.” She narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to chuckle at her stubbornness. Snuggling against his body further she smiled into his slightly vibrating chest.