Friends with Benefits - Chapter 8 - Part 2
Friday - July 17th - 8 p.m.
Founder's Festival
The thing about Jim's booth is that it's a lot less showy than the other girls' booths. She doesn't bother with glitter or sparkles or any manner of attention grabbers.
What she does do, however, is label the stand ridiculously with Florence's help.
'Dr. Sweet Kisses'
It makes Jim want to laugh and vomit every time she thinks about it.
Bones just rolls his eyes when he sees what she and Florence keep snickering about. After a while, he grudgingly starts to chuckle too.
When Eleanora and Pauline arrive with baskets upon baskets of muffins, they don't look the least bit surprised at the nature of the sign overhead. They just go about propping the muffins in a orderly and neatly fashion.
Jim snags an apple cinnamon one and eats it, reluctantly sharing when Bones implores her to. He better be lucky that he's her best friend because otherwise she would've just given him the middle finger and stuffed the whole thing in her mouth. Okay, that's something she'd probably still do regardless because she is greedy.
Maybe the best part about all this, outside of the fact that she gets the most customers out of all the other girls, is how uncomfortable and pink Bones gets when the customers return for him rather than the muffins.
Jim doesn't blame any of them because on top of being attractive, Bones has the most kissable lips in the world. It's pretty much unfair but Jim is competitive and she likes to win-even if that means whoring out Bones's lips. She laughs at the scowl Bones sends her way when she tells him this but he only proves her point when he turns and kisses an elderly lady on her cheek.
Bones refuses to kiss anyone on the lips because that's the type of guy he is. He had put his foot down when Jim first brought up the issue and she let it go when she saw he wouldn't be swayed. Sure, they would've made more money, but Bones is already uncomfortable and Jim isn't going to push.
Besides, they're already blowing the other stands out of the water as is with Bones's cheek kisses and Jim's clever mixed-flavor muffins.
Florence sticks around to watch Bones squirms, and also to help Jim pass out muffins to the insatiable crowds. They run out of muffins an hour before the festival shuts down for the night and Eleanora and Pauline have to right down some backorders for the next night because there's such a high demand for them.
Jim is so fucking pleased with herself it's unreal.
Once the booth is cleared out, everyone goes their separate ways for the night.
Jim carpools with Bones and he drives her to the local ice cream parlor. It's undeniably suspicious and Jim refuses to enter the place until Bones explains why they're there in the first place.
"Christ, Jim. Quit bein' so paranoid," Bones complains as Jim leans against his car with her arms crossed. "They're gonna close at midnight, which is a good hour from now. I'd like to get what I came for before then if you don't mind."
Jim's lips twist and she narrows her gaze. "Why do I have to go inside? I don't want any ice cream," she lies.
"What does it matter?" Bones says as he tucks his hands in his pockets and looks at her with raised eyebrows. "You'd rather just sit in the car while I go have my fill?"
"It's too much," Jim blurts and she flushes when he stares at her in confusion. "The whole-you know. It's a cozy setting and, um, it's-you know."
Bones furrows his brow. "I'm not gettin' what you're tryin' to tell me," he says, honestly. "All I know is that after what you put me through tonight, I'd very much like to have some ice cream from my favorite ice cream place while I still can. It's all been rather traumatizin' for me."
Jim feels foolish and she's sure she's got the skin to match. "Oh. Um." She fidgets. "I thought-um, it's not a date?"
Bones looks at her for a long time before his lips start to curl.
Jim suddenly feels mortified by her own behavior.
Bones chuckles and shakes his head as he slides closer and presses her into his car. "So this whole struggle has been because you thought this was some kind of impromptu date?" he reasons.
Jim wants to sink into the ground and shrivel into nothing. "Maybe?"
Bones responds by kissing her, deeply and thoroughly, until she's lightheaded and has no room to feel embarrassed or foolish, just extremely turned on.
Jim comes to her senses after a while and she scowls, shoving at him until he lets up. "I was rightly suspicious," she argues.
"No, you're ridiculous," Bones murmurs against her cheek and, again, it should be an insult but he makes it sound like a compliment. He pulls away with a grin and tangles his fingers with hers. "Now stop wastin' my time with your fallacies and come on."
Jim frowns and lets him drag her inside.
It's pretty empty, and that's probably because it's late.
The walls are lined with small whirring ice cream pods, all separated and labeled in individual flavors.
Jim is too busy studying the layout to complain about the fact that Bones pays the fees for the both of them.
Bones presses a small carton in her hands with a spoon before shoving her towards the pods.
Jim kicks at him before she wanders off to find a flavor that suits her tastes. Turns out it takes the layering of several flavors to quench her cravings. Starting from the bottom, the sequence goes: peanut butter, chocolate, coconut, watermelon, cherry, chocolate (again), and finally, at the very top, apple.
Bones lifts a brow with an amused expression when he's seen the monstrosity she's thrown together. His mix is a lot more simple-banana and vanilla.
"You're boring," Jim remarks as she shoves a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
Bones just shrugs as he watches her. "Your adventurous enough for the both of us," he supposes.
Jim frowns around her spoon and she considers correcting him because there really isn't an 'us' but she lets it go in favor of stuffing her mouth with more ice cream. Besides, he probably didn't mean it how it sounded.
Bones continues watching her eat as they sit across from each other in a vinyl booth.
It doesn't bother Jim when it should, but again, with Bones, she likes that he never acts how she expects him to. "Eat your ice cream boring man," she orders, pointing her wet spoon at him before she dives back into her own.
Bones's lips curl and his hazel eyes twist with something soft and sentimental before he finally looks away with a snort and does what he's told.
Jim gets that warm feeling again. It settles over her shoulders like a cape and compels her to entwine her legs and feet with his under the table. And if that makes Bones look at her with a stupidly fond look of his, well, she pretends not to notice.
They leave the parlor when they finish their ice cream and head back to the house.
Jim falls asleep during the trip and Bones has the audacity to carry her into the house (bridal-style), even when she squirms and assures him she's conscious enough to walk herself. She huffs and glares at him when he drops her down on the bed and disappears into the bathroom. She takes that time to change into some sleepwear and grab her PADD, bringing it back to the bed with her as she settles under the covers.
Bones reappears a good thirty minutes later, rubbing his stomach with a frown.
Jim snickers and says, "Close the door. I don't want to smell whatever you just did in there."
Bones just grunts but he closes the door before he starts to strip down to his underwear and joins her on the bed.
Jim is playing a word phrase game and his near nakedness is distracting. She shoves the PADD at him as she gets up to open the windows. "Solve that," she simply instructs.
Bones huffs and rolls onto his back as he examines the screen with thoughtfulness. Not even five seconds later, her PADD chimes in commission with the correct answer he's managed to figure out.
Jim returns to the bed and curls against him so that she can see the screen too. "What was it? I couldn't figure that one out."
"Led by the nose."
Jim makes a face. "That's stupid."
"It's a phrase."
Jim hums as she throws her leg over his waist and says, "Mixed reviews."
"Would you give me a chance to figure it out?" Bones complains as he types it in.
Jim smiles cheerfully and says, "Nope."
Bones sighs and quickly turns away from her when the next puzzle comes up on the screen.
Jim laughs and kicks him. "Cheater. Let me see."
"No."
"Come on, Bones. Don't be like that. I can help."
"You're a competitive showoff. I don't want your help."
"Oh whatever." Jim straddles his side as she tries to wrestle it out of his hand. "Stop, you-it's my PADD."
"Don't be a brat," Bones grunts as he twists under her and holds the device from her reach. "Let me see it."
"No. Give it here if you can't-stop! I swear to God if you break my stuff."
"I won't break anythin' if you just move."
Jim bites his left shoulder and he jerks with a low curse, accidently dropping her PADD. "See! I told you that-"
Bones rolls and pins Jim onto her back. "That's all your fault, you damn biter."
Jim sticks out her tongue at him and he follows the wet muscle back into her mouth with his own.
The PADD lays forgotten on the floor for the rest of the night.
888
Monday - July 20th - Noon
Treadway Manor
It's much like the introductory brunch, only the opposite.
So maybe more like an exiting brunch?
All Jim knows is that this is the moment that all the ladies having been waiting for. The moment that will name the three finalists to the competition. Jim's keeping a level head about it, mostly because she's too busy thinking about the good luck kiss Bones gave her this morning. And when she says good luck kiss she really means that he performed a fairly enthusiastic (and frankly rather toe-curling) cunnilingus on her.
Jim sighs and crosses her legs, leaning against the arm of the chair as she pops another green grape in her mouth. She's sitting between Serene and Allison as she listens to the idle chit-chat of all the ladies.
There's a growing sense of nausea building up in her gut, unfortunately, because she forgot to take her medicine this morning and she won't be able to take the missed dose until the next morning, otherwise it would throw her body off in a not so good way. Jim hopes she doesn't projectile vomit unexpectedly because that would be beyond mortifying.
Jocelyn finally walks to the middle of the floor and motions for the attention of the room. "Ladies," she says with a sugary sweet tone that Jim doesn't buy for a second. "Firstly, I would like acknowledge our judges and the efforts they've made to make this competition as spectacular as all the others, so please, a round of applause for Reverend Nolan, Ms. Rosemary, and Mrs. Gloria Albright."
Every claps quaintly before the noise settles down.
Reverend Nolan, who's sitting on the other side of the room with the mothers, exclaims, "And a round of applause for the woman who held it all together, our former Ms. Hudson Hill!"
Jocelyn waves him off with a timid smile that's completely insincere as everyone gives her a heavy amount of applause. "Oh stop," she says and grins coyly before she continues, "But really, you young, wonderful, nubile minds, you're the one that deserves the most applause. Without your tenacity and deliberation, there would be no tradition to stand on. So give yourselves a round of applause, you've all been lovely."
Everyone claps again before the noise settles down.
"Now, the moment I'm sure you've all been expecting," Jocelyn goes on to say. "The judges and I have thought long and hard because all of you are unique and special in your own way." She straightens her posture and Jim can't help but to notice the slight bump that protrudes from under her silk blouse. She's beginning to show. "So without further ado, I would like to announce this year's finalists." She pauses for dramatic affect.
Allison grips Jim's wrist anxiously while Serene snorts sardonically.
Jim is just trying to keep her breakfast down.
"Zonta Sihasapa," Jocelyn announces and everyone claps.
Zonta looks notably pleased and she accepts the congratulations of her peers graciously.
"Allison Loftus," Jocelyn announces next and the applause is a little bit more reluctant.
Allison looks both surprised and thrilled. She looks to Jim for confirmation and Jim smiles with a nod. She squeals and hugs Jim around her neck tightly.
Jim pats Allison on the back awkwardly.
Serene even leans over and flicks Allison on the nose as her own way of congratulations.
"And lastly," Jocelyn smile falters slightly. "James Kirk."
Everyone claps and their cheers are pretty genuine, which is surprising to Jim, even though her name being announced isn't. She's worked really hard to get to this point, albeit for a different cause than her original one, but all the same.
Jocelyn lifts a hand and the noise quiets down. She says, "Ladies, from this point on, your main focus will be preparing for the Ms. Hudson Hill Debutante Ball, and your closing speeches, which will be given on the 31st of this month." She makes an indication to the other side of the room. "Mrs. Gloria Albright will be your dancing matron. She will coach you through the Hudson Hill Waltz, which you will be expected to perfect and perform on the day of the ball. Your grace and capability in this front will be just one of the many determining factors that may or may not place you in the position of Ms. Hudson Hill, so I encourage you to take these practice sessions very seriously. Gloria?"
Gloria waddles over and garners the attention of the room. "As Joyce has already explained, I'll be guidin' you through the steps. Now it's a bit different this year since the ball will be held in the Town Square Park. But we'll adjust. All I can say is that, startin' Friday, we'll commence with the sessions at exactly seven p.m. sharp. You and your chosen escort should come to the Rec Center, and we'll go from there. Once again, I want to congratulate you." She nods with a slight wave before she wanders off.
"And to all the ladies," Jocelyn adds. "Thank you for participating. You were all wonderful."
Everyone claps before they all begin to disperse.
Jim can't stick around for the chitchat. She has to pee or vomit or possibly both. It's hard for her to reach the bathroom because different people who want to congratulate her keep stopping her. She manages to get away before she vomits over Reverend Nolan and Caroline McCoy.
When she reaches the bathroom, she grabs a small trashcan, sends up a prayer for forgiveness, and sits down on the toilet so she can pee. She throws up in the trashcan as she empties her bladder at the same time and her stomach twists in a painful way. She gags a bit more but nothing else comes up. She sets the trashcan down and pushes it off to the side with her foot as she starts gathering some tissue in her hand. She flushes the toilet once she's done, goes to the sink to rinse her mouth out and exits the bathroom.
Eleanora and Pauline are on the other side of the dining room and they don't miss the quick signal she gives to them. They excuse themselves and flock to her side.
Jim follows them out to Eleanora's truck and they climb in together, driving into town to a small minimart for her sake.
Eleanora and Pauline promise to return, disappearing in the small shop to purchase some natural stomach soothers for Jim.
Jim takes the time to lift her hips and fish her communicator out the back pocket of her beige dress pants. She comms Bones and says, "I forgot to take my medicine and I'm sick and miserable."
Bones looks concerned, even as Saturn knocks his long nose into the side of his head affectionately. He pets the horse and says, "You alright? You need me to come get you or-"
"Nah," Jim says as she leans back and presses a hand to her forehead. There's a slight migraine building up between her ears. "We're on our way back to the house now. I'm just telling you because I want you to be miserable too."
Bones smiles slightly before he sobers, "What'll make you feel better?"
"Foot rub and a whole lot of attention?"
Bones snorts. "I'll see what I can do with the skills I have."
Jim gives a serious nod and watches through the windshield as Eleanora and Pauline exit the minimart. "I gotta go but I'll see you." She cuts the connection just as they climb into the truck.
Pauline shoves a can of ginger ale in her hands.
Jim drinks it through the ride back to the house and it helps some of the nausea subside.
Eleanora and Pauline tuck away in the kitchen to make some homemade soup for the house.
Jim wanders up to her room and kicks off her heels when she gets there. She climbs into her bed and makes a pile of pillows against the headboard so she can prop herself up against them. She unbuttons her blouse and her dress pants, exposing her bare abdomen so she can see if she spot any differences.
She doesn't.
Her stomach is still as flat as it's always been, giving no indication to the fact that she is pregnant. She wonders when she'll start to show. She's curious to know what she'll look like.
Bones enters her room right when Jim is in the middle of doing the moonwalk with two of her fingers across her stomach. "What are you doin'?"
Jim shrugs. "Bored. Waiting for you. Trying to see if I'm fat yet." She looks up at him and smiles. "I'm not."
"Eager?"
Jim shrugs again. "Come rub my feet."
Bones snorts and says, "I need a shower first. I've been clearin' out the stables."
Jim wrinkles her nose. "Yeah, I wasn't going to say anything. You smell like shit," she comments and laughs when he gives her a look.
"Maybe I oughta give you a hug, roll around in your sheets, how about that?" Bones drawls as he takes a threatening step towards the bed.
Jim throws a pillow at him but he easily dodges it. "Don't you dare, cowboy," she warns but she's grinning. "Go take your fucking shower so you can come back and take care of me."
Bones scoffs but he pulls his tank top over his head, exposing his sweaty chest and toned stomach.
Jim doesn't even care that she's staring.
Bones unbuckles his pants and wanders into her bathroom out of Jim's line of sight.
Jim tries not to pout in disappointment. She grabs her PADD from the nightstand and plays as many rounds of Tetris it takes to wait patiently for Bones to return.
She plays fifteen (two minute) games back to back.
Bones reappears with a towel around his waist while he dries his hair with another.
Jim watches him swagger around the room from over the top of her PADD. She bites her bottom lip when he finally drops the towel from his waist and starts getting dressed in a pair of grey slacks and a black button down. "Why so snazzy?" she asks as he climbs onto the bed and sits down by her feet.
Bones grabs her left foot and rubs it down. "Dixie and Clay are holdin' a funeral for their child this afternoon."
Jim stiffens noticeably. "Today?"
Bones nods and watches her.
"They-there's-" Jim stops because she's not sure what she's trying to say. She's kind of befuddled. "Should I, um, you know?"
Bones shakes his head as he continues to massage her foot. "It's a private funeral. Only close family members and friends."
"I thought I was one," Jim mutters and she winces at her own tone. "Sorry, that's-petty. It's fine. I probably shouldn't go anyway. Don't think I could stomach it."
Bones nods in agreement. "Not really feelin' up to it either, but, can't exactly say no to somethin' like this when I'm asked outright." He sighs and reaches for her other foot.
"Is Eleanora going?"
Bones nods. "Joyce is gonna drop Joanna off here since Pauline volunteered to watch her. So you ain't gonna be here by yourself."
It is slightly comforting.
Jim watches him. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asks because she does wonder.
Bones shrugs. "Hard to say. Guess I'll know when it all comes down to it."
Jim wiggles her mouth thoughtfully. "Well," she says quietly and avoids his gaze. "Jellybean and I will be here when you get back. So, um, remember that." She can feel her face heating up and she's not trying to be sentimental or anything but Bones is her friend, her best friend, and she should try to be supportive and stuff.
Bones crawls up and kisses her and that doesn't help her blush at all but she does feel slightly less stupid. He presses a hand to her lower stomach and his fingers twitch. He doesn't usually touch her stomach, which Jim had found surprising at first, but there are those rare moment where he will.
Jim pulls back a fraction and presses her lips to the corner of his mouth before she shoves him away with a grin. "I didn't say you could stop rubbing," she points out bossily.
Bones huffs but he moves back and pulls her feet into his lap again.
Jim goes back to her game of Tetris and they sit quietly with each other until Eleanora brings up a bowl of soup.
Bones leaves with his mother when she tells him that Jocelyn and Joanna are downstairs waiting for him.
Jim sips away at her soup as she listens to the voices downstairs. She can't make out what they're saying but she knows whom they belong to. A few moments later she feels the house tremble slightly when the front door slams shut, followed by the sound of a car engine starting and driving off. She finishes her soup and sets the empty bowl on her nightstand to settle down for a nap.
She's not sure how long she sleeps for but Joanna climbs in the bed with her, grabbing her cheeks in her small hands. She whispers, "Ms. Jim-you wanna watch a movie with me and Ms. Pauline?"
Jim blinks tiredly before she stretches with a long yawn. "Yeah, sure. Give me a minute okay?"
Joanna nods excitedly and crawls out of the bed to exit the room.
Jim snorts and rubs at her eyes before she sits up. She glances at the digital clock on her nightstand as she buttons up her blouse and it reads seven p.m. in big blocky numbers. She sighs and stretches again as she trudges to her bathroom to pee. After she washes her hands, she exits her room and heads down the hall to Eleanora's room.
Joanna and Pauline are sitting on Eleanora's bed with a bowl of popcorn and M&M's between them.
Jim grabs one of Eleanora's silk body pillows and brings it down to the edge of the bed with her.
They watch Monster's Inc. because that's Joanna's favorite movie.
Jim has to admit that the little girl in the movie reminds her a lot of Joanna, so she can see why Joanna would like it so much. She falls asleep on the part where Sully passes out dramatically for the third time.
When she wakes up, she's back in her own room. She's lying on her back with her blouse riding up around her ribs while Bones presses his left ear to the skin of her lower stomach. She shifts and tangles her finger into his neatly combed hair. "Hey," she rasps, voice still laced heavily with thick exhaustion. "When did you get back?"
"Couple of hours ago," Bones say quietly as he peers up at her from where he's resting his head. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"S'fine," Jim assures and yawns again as she scratches her blunt nails against his scalp. "You okay?"
Bones's mouth shifts down into a scowl. "I couldn't stop thinkin' about you and the baby the whole time I was at the ceremony," he admits. "I wanted to call and check on you, just to-" He stops and his frown deepens. "I'm bein' ridiculous," he supposes.
Jim shakes her head and combs her fingers through his hair. "I think that's normal. It got to me to when I found out."
Bones says nothing to that. Instead, he reports, "Things were fine at first. Dixie was a wreck, but that's to be expected. Then when we went back to the Treadway Manor after the burial for dinner, that's when it all got ugly."
"Tell me about it," Jim says as she continues to comb her fingers through his hair.
"Well, for one, Dixie and Joyce got into a huge fight because she let it slip that she's considerin' an abortion. Dixie didn't take too kindly to that, of course, why would she? After she went through what she did, well, it's no wonder why she startin' raisin' hell about it. She screamed at Joyce and called her selfish and stupid and Joyce yelled right back at her that she can't share in on Dixie's guilt. Then their mother tried to get between them but she was fairly drunk by this point and Dixie turned her anger onto her, callin' her a no good drunk and a pedophile. Chadwick tried to step in but Dixie spit on him and took a swing and Clay had to quickly get between them because it looked like Chadwick was seriously considerin' takin' a swing back. Then Mayor Treadway started shoutin' at all of them about what a disappointment they are and Joyce used curse words I didn't even know she knew and Dixie sobbed her eyes out and told her dad to stick his fist where the sun don't shine cause he's never cared about her and that it's always been about Joyce and Chadwick and she's just the unwanted middle child and her mother tried to calm her down but she ended up vomitin' all over Dixie and passin' out at her feet."
"Oh my God," Jim breathes as she takes it in. She laughs a little disbelievingly. "That is unreasonably dysfunctional."
Bones hums in agreement. "I stuck to the sidelines because I didn't wanna think about what I would've done if I got involved. You can imagine that I'm not too happy with any of them, especially after what you and Florence told me. So I kept my mouth shut and thought about what you told me. That'd you be right here waitin' for me."
Jim gets that warm feeling again. It starts at her toes and spreads up until it reaches the very top of her head. She's not sure what to do with it, so she just says nothing and continues to stroke her fingers through his hair as he closes his eyes and listens. For what, Jim's not sure, but she knows it has something to do with their child.
Bones stays like this for a good hour before he gets up to strip out of his clothes and down to his underwear. He slides back into bed beside her on his stomach and faces the windows.
Jim decides to follow his lead and she climbs out of her clothes and puts on one of his large t-shirts. She crawls back into bed and lies on her side facing the opposite wall. She shifts and tries to get comfortable as she hugs a pillow to her chest. She ends up scooting back until she's got her spine pressed into Bones's side and she smiles slightly when he playfully kicks her.
She prays that night, not for herself, but for Dixie because what else can be done?
888
Wednesday - July 22nd - 3 p.m.
Jim has her second prenatal appointment with Dr. Yolanda Becker. Only difference this time is that Bones is right there with her.
After a few brief basic tests and preliminary questions, Dr. Becker has Jim take off her shirt and lie back on the biobed so they can do an ultrasound.
Jim is nervous and excited. She rests a hand behind her head as the other clasps tightly with Bones's, who's standing to her immediate right looking like he'd prefer to be the one to initiate the procedure.
Dr. Becker puts on a pair of blue latex gloves before she squirts some clear jelly-like liquid on Jim's stomach. She then removes her gloves and grabs her sleek tricorder and points to the bio-function monitors above Jim's head. "You ready?" she asks them.
Jim squeezes Bones's fingers as her heart speeds up in anticipation. She exhales quietly before she nods.
Dr. Becker smiles knowingly before she waves her medical wand over Jim's midsection.
Suddenly, a thudding heartbeat, like the trotting hooves of a horse, fills the vast space of the room.
Jim's breath hitches and tears begin to build up in the corner of her eyes. She exhales shakily and quickly covers her face with her hands as she begins to sob. "Oh God, I'm crying," she moans woefully. "That's extremely lame."
Dr. Becker chuckles and says, "That's completely normal. You're hearin' your baby's heart for the first time. It'll get to you."
Jim nods behind her hands as more tears escape. She shudders when she feels Bones rub her shoulder consolingly. When she peeks out from between her fingers up at him, she sees the utter wonder written in proud lines around his comely face.
"How far along is she?" Bones asks as he glances up at the monitors where the baby's vitals can be seen alongside Jim's.
"Six weeks, I'd say," Dr. Becker says and Jim thinks she's only confirming his suspicions because he doesn't seem any particular way about it. "Ya'll ready to see the little angel?"
Jim swallows and drops her hands as she nods, as does Bones.
Dr. Becker waves her medical wand and presses a few buttons before a virtual ultrasound of the fetus comes to life right above Jim's belly. It spins slowly, like clockwork, showing every fascinating detail.
Jim is so enthralled that she might fucking cry again. She reaches out tentatively and prods at the virtual display and it zooms in on the fetus, showcasing the umbilical chord, the placenta, the arm and leg buds, and all the other developing tissue which looks to be no bigger than a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil.
"Beautiful, right?" Dr. Becker says with a smile.
Jim nods distractedly. She can't take her eyes off of it. "What's the gender?"
"Well, I don't know," Dr. Becker says slyly as she gazes over at Bones. "Would you like to tell her Dr. McCoy?"
Jim frowns and she looks over at Bones, who snorts and looks caught. She lifts an eyebrow expectantly.
Bones fidgets but his lips are twitching with a slightly proud grin and he mutters, "Girl."
"This man has such a soft spot for them," Dr. Becker remarks cheerfully. "He probably prayed for it."
Bones flushes and he scowls. "Don't go makin' assumptions, Yolanda," he gripes.
"Not an assumption, sugah. Facts are facts," Dr. Becker easily counters.
Bones just grumbles but he's easily distracted by the virtual ultrasound hovering over Jim's belly.
"Well, in any case, based on what I can see from these readings, there's a definite chance she'll have her momma's gorgeous blue eyes," Dr. Becker notes.
"We figured as much," Bones remarks but he's grinning slightly.
Dr. Becker nods and goes on to say, "So when should we schedule your next appointment?"
Jim and Bones share a look. She says, "We might want to hold off on that. I, that is, we were talking about relocating to California."
"Ah. Gonna have you a Cali baby, hm?" Dr. Becker supposes with an amused tone. "Well, that's all fine. Just send me pictures if you can. When do you think you'll be leaving?"
"August maybe? Nothing is set in stone yet. We're still playing with dates," Jim says as she sits up with Bones's help.
Dr. Becker hands her some napkins so she can clean her stomach.
Jim pulls on her shirt when she's done. She thanks Dr. Becker and offers a quick goodbye before she follows Bones out the room. She watches as he glances down at his watch with an unhappy frown. "You have to get back to work, don't you?" she guesses.
Bones nods and rubs the back of his neck. "You need me to take off?" he asks, watching her carefully.
"Nah." Jim smiles because she kind of means it. "I'll see you later anyway." She shrugs. "I'm gonna go hang out with Florence. Gorge myself on chocolate things and olives."
"Stay out of trouble," Bones says as he kisses her cheek and heads down the hall to his office.
"Yeah, whatever. Start thinking of names," Jim calls after him. She snorts as she watches him disappear and feels indescribably happy.
888
Friday - July 24th - 7 p.m.
Hudson Hill Rec Center
"This is going to be so awkward," Jim decides as she follows Bones into the building.
"Don't think about it," is Bones's profoundly dumb advice.
"You don't think about it," Jim petulantly replies as they walk down the hall towards the gymnasium.
"Okay," Bones easily counters.
Jim scoffs and throws a light punch into his side.
Bones swats her on the ass and smirks when she glares.
Jim is about to fuss at him for it but the vending machines lining the walls distract her. "I'm hungry," she announces.
"I told you we could've stop," Bones says in a semi-annoyed tone.
"Well I wasn't hungry then. I'm hungry now. Buy me some candy."
"Buy yourself some."
"But I'm pregnant," Jim whines quietly.
"I'm aware." Bones continues on without her.
Jim wants to throw a shoe at his head but she settles for buying his favorite candy (sour gummy worms) and vows not to share any. She joins him in the gymnasium under the bright lights and buzzing scoreboards. She's tempted to grab one of the basketballs and shoot hoops but she just wanders over to where Mrs. Gloria Albright is chatting him up.
Apparently they're the first to arrive.
Jim tears open her box of gummy worms and flocks to Bones's right as he politely nods along to whatever it is Gloria is yammering about. Probably gossip.
Gloria turns her gaze to Jim and says, "Well look at you. Salt of the Earth, you are. You ready to learn the fine art of waltzin'?"
Jim shrugs and shoves a gummy worm in her mouth.
Gloria is unsatisfied by this response and so she takes to just glancing between them. "So Mr. McCoy is your escort. How interestin'. How'd this come about?"
Jim presses away an amused smile as she chews. The woman is obviously fishing for information.
Bones decides to intervene. He indicates to the entrance doors of the gymnasium and says, "I think I see the others comin' in."
Gloria turns with an unhappy frown but she waddles over to where Allison Loftus is entering with a young man that Jim doesn't really recognize.
"Nice save," Jim compliments.
Bones shrugs and makes to grab one of her gummy worms but she pulls it from his reach.
"Nope," Jim says firmly. "You get none."
"Sharin' is carin', darlin'," Bones says in a honeyed tone.
Jim just laughs right in his face and shoves more gummy worms in her mouth. "That's why I'm only sharing with myself," she counters.
"You're so goddamn greedy."
Jim sticks her tongue out at him and moves to join the others as he follows.
Allison beams excitedly at her. "Hey ya'll," she greets. She indicates to her male companion and says, "This is my boyfriend, Rocky. Rocky, this is Jim and her escort, um, I'm sorry, I don't-your name is slippin' my mind."
"Leonard McCoy," Bones offers as he reaches forward and shakes hands with him.
"Oh, are we doin' introductions?" a voice says and they all turn to see Chadwick striding forward with Zonta under his arm. "I'd hate to miss out on that."
Bones stiffens and Jim strangles the gummy worm in her hand.
Allison huffs. "We all know who you are, Chadwick. There's no need."
"Shame," Chadwick says and he flicks his gaze over to Jim.
Bones's jaw gives a noticeable tic.
"Well, um, I'm Rocky," Rocky says, needlessly, but he's basically ignored.
Zonta crosses her arms and shoots quick glances over to Bones.
Jim fidgets and tries not to feel any which way about any of it.
The next moments are spent with them eyeing each other.
Gloria frowns bemusedly and says, "Let's get started, shall we? Ya'll line up. The gentlemen across from the ladies. Arm's length apart."
Jim sucks the sour sugar from her fingers and she jams the small box in her back pocket so she can stand across from Bones.
Allison stands in the middle and Zonta flocks her other side.
Across from them stands Rocky and Chadwick.
Gloria stands at the end where Chadwick and Zonta are and says, "Now the Hudson Hill Waltz is a very old-style dance. It began as a courtly sort of dance, so it's quite intimate. I hope you're with someone who you don't mind sharin' such affections." She waddles down the middle and goes on to say, "The dance is not just about the movement that happens with the feet but the story that goes on between the eyes. While maintainin' a blank expression, you must tell a story with your eyes. Convince the audience of your chemistry and the rest will follow. Now, the ladies will courtesy."
Jim's lips twist amusedly as she shares a look with Bones but she courtesies.
"Very good," Gloria says as she watches them all. "And now the gentlemen will bow."
Bones gives a very graceful bow as he maintains eye contact with Jim.
"Excellent. Keep your eyes on each other," Gloria advises as she walks outside of them. "Step forward-gentlemen, put your left hand on the small of her back. Ladies, put your left hand on their left shoulder, right on that curve. Good. And with your right hands, clasp them together and hold them out just so, make sure it aligns to your chin and the space between your chests. Your chests must never touch, this is a courtly dance. No sex business."
Jim snorts as she follows the instructions and gazes at Bones. "This is too much," she whispers. "I don't dance."
"You'll learn," Bones murmurs back, like he's sure of it. "Now be quiet and listen."
Jim makes a face at him but she does as she's told.
Gloria makes her way over to them and corrects their stance until she's satisfied. "Good," she says. "Remember to keep those faces blank. The story must be with your eyes, which you must always keep connected to your partner. Begin to dance in a clockwise circular motion startin' from the left because the musicians will be placed to the left." She moves back to the sidelines and claps her hands (twice).
Classical music begins to play.
Jim holds Bones gaze and they start to dance. She winces when she steps on his foot. "Sorry," she says with a light blush. It happens again. And again. And two more times. "Sorry!" she mutters. "I'm awful at this."
"No," Bones corrects as they stop for a moment. "You gotta lead me."
Jim frowns. "But I-shouldn't you be the one to do that?"
Bones shakes his head. "Hudson Hill Waltz is different. The women lead. Not the men."
Jim chews on her bottom lip and she nods. "Okay. Let's try again," she decides.
Bones quiets down and his face goes blank but his eyes are-well she doesn't know what they are but she can't look away.
Jim holds his gaze as she moves in triple time and Bones follows her movements easily. She's not sure what she's supposed to be thinking while she looks at him or what kind of story her eyes are supposed to tell but she figures the best thing to do is to wing it. So she concentrates on the warm feeling she gets when he smiles at her or when he kisses her or when he says something that takes her completely by surprise.
"My Lord!" Gloria says, suddenly appearing from nowhere.
Jim jumps, startled, and she breaks eye contact with Bones to look at her. "Is something wrong?" she asks.
"Oh no, not at all. In fact…" Gloria trails off as she fans herself with a slight blush. "You go on and do just like how you were. That was unsettlingly perfect." She waddles away to scold Allison and Rocky, who are giggling away at each other like school children.
"She's so…" Jim tries to find the right words.
"Yeah," Bones says. He must know what she's trying to say. "Though it makes me wonder what we must've looked like." He studies her face considerably.
Jim blushes suddenly and she has to shift away from Bones for a moment to collect herself. She coughs awkwardly. "I, uh-I have to use the bathroom," and she flees because this conversation is so far out of her depth. She tucks away in a restroom and shoves through a stall, slamming the door shut and locking it as she breathes shakily. "What the fuck?" she whispers to herself as she fans away at her burning skin.
She does actually pee but not without muttering curse words under her breath out of frustration and confusion. She moves to the sink and watches her reflection as she washes her hands. She shakes her hands off and chews on her bottom look as she looks at herself. It takes a minute but she finally musters up the courage to try and see the face she made when she danced with Bones.
So she stares into her own eyes and concentrates on that warm feeling again.
What she notices upsets her even more.
She looks like a woman in love.
Jim's mouth wiggles unhappily and she turns away from her reflection. She can't stand what she sees. She pulls free the box of sour gummy worms from her back pocket in an attempt to distract herself and calm down. She presses a hand to her lower stomach when she finishes and exhales.
It's hormones, Jim silently decides. I just-it's all hormones and it'll be fine once I have this baby. I just need to make sure I don't do anything stupid. I wouldn't want to give Bones false hope for something that's never going to happen.
Jim nods sharply once she finishes her mental pep talk and she throws back her shoulders with a wavering certainty. She exits the restrooms and makes her way back to the gymnasium.
Gloria is working with the others on their stances and their movement.
Bones is standing on the sidelines with his hands in his pocket and a thoughtful expression.
Jim smiles but thinks better of it because she knows that's one of her tells. So she just wiggles her mouth as she approaches Bones.
"You alright?" Bones asks quietly and takes a moment to study her before he meets her eyes.
"Yeah. I just had to pee," Jim says, lying partially.
Bones frowns but he doesn't say anything.
"You ready to get back out there? I think I can do it without breaking your feet," Jim jokes and hopes desperately he takes the bait.
Bones snorts and shakes his head. "Just lead. I'll follow," he suggests and presses a large hand to the small of her back, guiding her out onto the floor.
Jim takes a moment to put herself in the right stance and she gets an airtight hold on her emotions before she lifts her blue eyes and meets his gaze. She swallows, begins to dance, and hopes she doesn't look as vulnerable as she feels.
It's the longest two hours she's ever experienced.
Chapter 9
Author's Note: Happy New Year. :)