Fight With Me (Fight and Fall) (27 page)

“No, I just saw yours. It said
Emma Evermore
,” I say curiously.

He turns to his side, fishing around in his pants pocket. He
produces his phone, the screen lighting up as he touches it.

“Take it off and read it, baby,” he says to me, holding the phone light.

I twist the band off of my hand, already hating the loss of it.

I put it under the light, moving it from side to side to see the engraved silver. I smile broadly by its words, still shocked by how in tune Aiden and I are.
Just when I think he can’t get more perfect, he blows my expectations out of the water.

Aiden Always

Those two words are all I need to know that everything will be okay. Nothing can tear us apart. I’ve always known that deep down but it’s nice to have it solidified on my wedding band. It’s something that I will always wear and cherish because I know how much love is behind it.

“Always,” I whisper to him as my eyes start to feel heavy.

I feel him move his arm underneath my head, cradling me against him.

“Always, Emma,” he murmurs as I
close my eyes in relief.

                                                                       One Month Later…

I
empty my stomach into the guest bathroom toilet, trying not to wake Aiden. Jesus Christ! Projectile vomiting two days straight can only mean one thing. I smile through the sickness, excited to tell Aiden about the welcomed news.

The past month has been the best of my life. I’m almost fully healed now, even though Aiden acts like I’m
high-priced porcelain. I can’t say that I mind being taken care of, it’s just that it’s frustrating when it comes to s-e-x. I have to convince Aiden that he won’t be too rough and hurt me. He always caves in, eventually, and I am able to have my way with him. All the positions and places we have sex never gets old. I like mixing it up and obviously my persistence has paid off, because I’m ninety-nine point nine percent positive I’m pregnant.

It’s our one month anniversary tonight (yes we’re one of those couples who celebrates everything!) and I want to surprise him with the news. I’ve convinced him to leave the house without me tonight and buy groceries for our romantic dinner. He’s still worried and paranoid about leaving me alone
, but I told him that he has to let me take care of myself at some point. We still have an alarm system, and he recently took me to the local gun range to teach me how to shoot a gun. I dare someone to try something. This bitch is packing heat. Well, not heat exactly but a nice hand gun that will maim any intruder.

I throw up once more before I wash out my mouth
in the sink with cold water, erasing any traces of what just happened. I brush my now jaw-length hair, ready to make my appearance back in our bedroom. Last time I checked, Aiden was conked out after a long Skype session with his record label partner in Los Angeles.

I walk out into the hall and freeze, seeing Aiden rubbing his eyes in the doorway to our bedroom.

“What are you doing up so early?” he asks yawning.

“
Girl stuff,” I say casually, not wanting him to get suspicious.

“I missed you,” he says walking over to me.

Damn, I hope I don’t smell bad from throwing up. Yeah, that would not be cute if he caught a whiff of that. Plus, my surprise would be blown.

He reaches me, pulling me into his arms. I wrap mine around him, his bare chest pressed up against me. I can feel the heat of him through my t-shirt, so happy that I get to wake up to this every morning.

We hold each other when the phone rings suddenly, an oddity for this early in the morning.

“Fuck! I was just enjoying myself. Whoever is calling, it better be fucking worth the interruption,” he says smirking at me.

“I’ll just be back in bed waiting for you. Hurry,” I say to him sweetly.

Being wrapped up in bed with him sounds so amazing right now. Plus, standing in an upright position is not helping my stomach. I’m starting to feel queasy again
, and I don’t want to alarm him. Maybe if I lay down it will pass.

A few minutes later he returns with a crazed yet elated look on his face. Um, I wonder what that call was
about.

“Emma, I…I guess I’ll just come right out and say it. We’re getting Michael next week. He’s finally going to be with us, baby,” he says coming towards the bed to sit beside me.

Michael? His son? Finally coming to live with us? I can’t even express how happy I am. It took long enough! I was beginning to think we would never get him.

“Aiden, that’s wonderful! It seemed like the custody battle was never ending. I’m so happy and nervous and…” I say.

“I know, me too. I’m overwhelmed but also so fucking relieved that it’s over. Me fighting for him and having to deal with Jessica is finally over. He can have the childhood he deserves, and we can have a son. Our son,” he says looking into my eyes.

“I’m so happy for you, Aiden. I know you love him already. I can just see you spoiling him and having father-son outings. So cute,” I say teasingly.

“More like father-son-mom outings. You’ll be there with us all the way, baby. It will be the three of us,” he says smiling.

More like the four of us, I think silently, grinning at him. I hope it’s a girl. I feel like if we had a girl
, Aiden would freak out. We’d have the ultimate family, the one we all deserve.

“Fuck, I need to make some calls and cancel some appointments. I was going to surprise you with a work-related trip and b
elated honeymoon to California. I was going to tell you that we’re leaving next week but now that Michael’s coming, I’ll just have to postpone it,” he says distracted.

Wow, a real honeymoon? That sounds wonderful. Of course I could do without the work part but I do know that he needs to bring home the bacon. He said that the guy in charge of the record label was doing a good job and that Aiden could just oversee some projects
from home. Hopefully nothing went wrong with that arrangement.

“We can just go on a honeymoon next month. Maybe we could even go to Disneyland and take Michael. I’m sure he would love it and it could be like a family vacation,” I say making suggestions.

“Good idea, baby. As much as I want it to be just you and me, leaving him with a sitter probably wouldn’t be a good thing for him. He needs stability and time to get used to living and being around us. I love you so much for thinking of him. I really did make the best decision of my life when I married you,” he says smiling.

“Um, c
an I ask you something though?” I say worriedly.

“Sure
. What is it?” he says nervously.

“Is everything okay at the studio? I know that you haven’t been down there in a while and
you left Joe in charge…” I say trailing off.

He rubs the back of his neck, obviously distressed by my question. Yeah, something is definitely going on.

“Nothing to worry about. There have just been a few artists that he’s found that I’m not particularly happy with. They’re just not what I want and were not making as much profit from record sales as we could be. But Emma, baby, you don’t have to stress about it. It’s my problem and we’re okay with money, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he says not making eye contact.

“I don’t care about the money, Aiden. It
’s never mattered to me. You could be a bum on the street without a penny to your name, and I would still love you. I just feel responsible for you not doing well. The only reason you haven’t gone to the studio is because of me,” I say ashamed.

“Fuck, Emma. That’s ridiculous! Nothi
ng could ever be your fault. I could’ve left any time I wanted to but I didn’t want to, I
couldn’t
. I’d rather lose everything than lose you. I had to be here to protect you. My main job, my only job really, is to take care of you. You’re everything to me. Don’t ever blame yourself,” he says coming over to me
.

He wraps me in arms, assuring me that everything will be okay. I smile against his chest, believing and knowing that everything will be
fine. I trust him with our life. I know that he will provide for and protect us.

I start to feel sick again, panicking at the thought of him finding out that I might be pregnant. I think I need to lie down again, just to be safe. Wouldn’t want to toss my cookies all over him and ruin the
bombshell.

“Aiden, do you think you could go to the grocery store
now and get the food for dinner?” I say casually as he pulls back from me.

He looks down at me concerned and I pray that he will go along with my suggestion. I can feel the nausea rising up within me. I hope I can make it to the bathroom after and not a minute before he leaves.

“Emma, I know I said I’d think about it but…” he says as I cut him off.

“Please. I’ll be perfectly safe here. We have the alarm set for the house, I have my phone, and the gun right over here,” I say pointing to the nightstand by the bed.

“It’s too soon, baby. I’m not sure…” he says weakening.

“As much as I love you, Aiden, I need to look out for myself. Just ease up on the whole protection thing. I need to feel somewhat independent, you know?” I say firmly.

I try to sound irritated, so hopefully he will follow my wishes, hoping to avoid an argument. As much as he loves protecting me, he loves keeping me happy even more. I may be a bitch, manipulating him like this, but it’s for a good cause. I don’t use my womanly powers for evil, only for good.

“Fuck!” he says under his breath, rubbing his hand over his face in frustration.

He looks up at me and I give him the best puppy dog eyes. I think this does the trick because he starts to crack a smile, relaxing his shoulders in the process.

“
Okay, okay. I get it. You want me to back the fuck off. I’m not okay with it but I’ll budge. At least for today. You won this battle, but there are plenty more to come,” he says smirking.

“Thank you,” I say to him gratefully.

“I guess I’ll get dressed and head out then. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he says gently kissing me.

I return the kiss, smiling at him as he starts rummaging through the drawers for some clothes. I lay back down in bed, closing my eyes, trying to quell the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. Ugh, morning sickness is just the worst!

I run my hand down to my stomach, when I feel a warm calloused one rest on top of them. I open my eyes rapidly, seeing Aiden looking down at me with curiosity in his eyes. Before he can say a word, a kiss him on the mouth, wrapping my arms around his neck. His shocked demeanor turns into one of eager participation, as he moans into my mouth, slipping his tongue inside. Before things get too far, I pull away abruptly, our labored breathing filling the air.

“Goodbye kiss,” I say to him smartly.

“More like goodbye hard-on,” he says chuckling.

I look down at his jeans as he stands up, proud by my fast work.

“Damn, I was wondering why your pants looked shorter. Nice high-waters,” I reply cheekily.

“Real cute, brat,” he says smirking
, trying to adjust himself.

I chuckle louder, feeling cocky as hell.

“I’ll see you soon, Emma. Call me if you need anything, and I’ll call you to let you know when I’m on my way home. Make sure to keep your phone near you and answer it when I call. I need to know that you’re safe,” he says, still bothered by leaving me alone.

“I’ll be fine
, but I will make sure to answer when you call. Have fun, Aiden,” I say to him as he reaches the doorway to our room.

He looks at me, his eyes worrie
d, clouded by distress. I smile at him, trying to reassure him. He nods at me, finally turning away.

I hear the alarm being set
, as the front door slams soon after. I breathe out a long breath, laying back down in bed. My stomach is still in knots but not enough to make a trip to the bathroom. I decide to close my eyes, deciding this is the best way to relax.

As I start to loosen my muscles, I hear a slight noise outside
our bedroom. It sounds like a key being turned into the front door. I hear the beeping start on the alarm and then buttons being pressed, silencing the loud buzzer.

Hmm
m, Aiden must have forgotten something or decided that he
really
didn’t want to leave me alone. That would be just like him.

“Aiden, seriously, I’m fine!” I
laugh, reluctantly getting up out of bed.

It’s so sweet and equally frustrating that he’s back already. It’s been like five minutes! He is going to get an earful from me, that’s for sure.

“Look, I’m all in one piece,” I say as I freeze in the doorway to our room.

Cold, soulless black eyes pierce me, a twisted smirk accompanying them. This can’t be happening. I’m having a nightmare. There is no way this is
real.

“I’m real, Emma.
Did you miss me?” Marcus says to me.

Shit, I must have said that out loud. Oh my
God, this
is
real. Marcus is fucking real and he’s in my house, right in front of me.

My
legs shake, the bones in my knees knocking together. I feel sweat beading down my face, my palms moist with fear. The cause of my nightmares has come to life. He’s finally come to finish what he started. His clothes may be dirty, his hair shaggy and greasy, but this is the same Marcus. The same man who destroyed my life and forced me to pick up the pieces and put them back together.

“Not happy to see me, I guess. I would have wanted a more welcome homecoming. I guess I need to teach you some manners,” he says walking towards me.

I start to bolt back into the bedroom, but I hear his voice boom behind me.

“Stop! Don’t fucking move, you stupid bitch!” he yells.

I freeze in my tracks, hearing a clicking sound behind me, one that I have become accustomed to from being at the shooting range. I pivot around towards him, looking directing into the barrel of a gun. I scream inwardly, knowing that he is in control now, just as he was before. He calls the shots and I have to obey him if I want to survive.