Created bởi ifiwasaguyx
link
(this story was not written bởi me-I don't own)
Tagged: degrassi, babydaddy
Declan.
Before bạn Read: This is important!
If bạn see:
“...” between paragraphs, it means that the scene above is over, but the scene below is in the same day.
“- - - -” between paragraphs, it means that the scene above is over, but the scene below is from a different day.
bạn and Declan sat in his very large, very fancy bedroom. It was wide, and spacey, and decorated with both a manly and sophisticated eye. The room held a king sized bed, a bureau, a walk in closet—which had it's own sofa—a desk, a tình yêu seat, an arm chair, a ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place, and a flat screen television. The tình yêu ghế, chỗ ngồi and arm chair were positioned around the ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place, and the ti vi hung on the tường to the right of the fireplace. He sat on the tình yêu seat, leaning slightly into the right arm. bạn sat tiếp theo to him, leaning your back against the back of the sofa, with your feet stretched to the left. His left arm rested comfortable around your shoulders, half on the hàng đầu, đầu trang of the sofa. Your head rested against the left half of his chest.
The ti vi played some trashy horror flick that you'd been dying to see. While bạn watched the movie, bạn kept your arms around your neck, so that it didn't take too much effort to cover your eyes when someone was brutally murdered. Whenever bạn flinched to cover your eyes, Declan looked down at you, laughed, and rubbed your left arm.
The screen went blank and a loud rock and roll đàn ghi ta, guitar solo blasted from the surround sound. As the end credits rolled up the screen bạn leaned back, resting your head on his lap and looked up at him.
“It's over!” bạn cheered.
He laughed and bent to press his lips against yours.
bạn sat up and turned so that bạn were sitting normally on the sofa. bạn stretched your arms behind your head and sighed. “Now what?”
He walked to the ti vi and turned it off. He turned to face you, with his hands on his hips and a smirk on his lips. “Well, it's getting kind of late.”
“Is it?” bạn looked at the clock hanging above the ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place. “Holy shit, it's midnight. I should probably get going.”
“But it's midnight.”
“Yeah?”
“And bạn live all the way across town.”
“I tình yêu ten phút away.” bạn laughed.
He walked and stood in front of you. “You could just stay here.”
“What about your parents?” bạn looked up at him, your brow bent in interest.
“Mr. and Mrs. Coyne are away for the weekend.” He took your hand and pulled bạn to your feet.
“What about Fiona?”
He pulled bạn into him. “What about her?” He wrapped his arms around your waist.
bạn stood on your toes and wrapped your arms around his neck. “Well then,” bạn sighed. “what did bạn have in mind?”
He smiled down at you, and pressed his lips hungrily against yours.
bạn smiled into the kiss, as he slid his hands up your back. bạn could feel the heat from his skin through your cotton shirt. bạn wrapped your arms tightly around his neck, bounced lightly, and wrapped your legs around his waist.
He moved his hands to your lower back, and held bạn firmly against him. With his lips still connected to yours, he slowly began walking toward the bed.
- - - -
bạn sat in a sturdy plastic chair across from the school counselor. On your lap bạn held a binder, on hàng đầu, đầu trang of which sat a packet of papers and a couple of pamphlets on teen pregnancy. bạn nervously tapped your nails against the side of the binder.
“Whatever bạn decide, bạn can come and talk whenever bạn need. I can help bạn with anything bạn need.” The counselor smiled at bạn from across her cluttered desk.
“Thank you.” bạn stood, shifting the binder to your left arm, and grabbed your bag from the floor beside the chair. bạn slipped it onto your shoulder and exited the office.
As bạn rounded the hall on your way to your locket, bạn stared down at the hàng đầu, đầu trang pamphlet. It was about adoption. bạn were at the corner when bạn collided with another body. The binder and everything on hàng đầu, đầu trang of it fell to the floor.
“Oh!” bạn bent to pick up your stuff. “I'm sorry.” bạn looked up as bạn pulled your binder up, and found Fiona standing in front of you. “Sorry Fi.” bạn smiled at her.
“What's that?” She looked down at the pamphlets.
“Oh, it's nothing.”
“Does Declan know?” She crossed her arms at her chest.
bạn pushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “No, he doesn't know yet.”
“You shouldn't tell him.”
“What?”
“Think about what'll happen when when the press finds out. They'll have a field day, it'll be in every paper bạn can name. My parents will go completely nuts, I'll be a huge mess.”
The chuông, bell rang, signalling the changing of classes.
“I have to get to class.” bạn looked down the hall as everyone rushed down the hall.
Fiona smiled at bạn and started down the hall.
bạn sighed and hurried to your locker. bạn didn't want anyone to see the papers bạn held. bạn got your locker open and shoved the papers in.
Two arms twisted around your waist.
bạn jumped and turned.
Declan pressed his lips against yours. “Hello.”
bạn turned, slammed your locker shut, then turned back to him. “Hey.” bạn sighed.
“What was that?” He laughed.
“Nothing.” bạn smiled nervously up at him.
He stared into your ____ colored eyes. “Are bạn okay?”
bạn looked up into his crystal blue eyes. “Yeah.”
“All right.” He stepped back. “Well, we both have a free period, I thought we'd go and find bạn something special to wear to the bữa tối, bữa ăn tối party tonight.”
“Dinner party?”
“My parent's annual spring party.”
“Oh, right. Sounds good.” bạn smiled up at him. “Let's go.”
He grabbed your hand and led bạn down the hall. “So I was thinking bạn could get something red.”
“Red?” bạn laughed. “Why red?”
“Because no one else will be in red.” He held the passenger side door of his car open for you, then rounded to the driver's side.
“But it's spring, no one wears red in the spring.”
“Lots of people wear red in the spring.”
“Why don't we see what we can find.”
He sighed. “Fine.” He turned the car on and pulled out of the parking spot.
- - - -
bạn and Declan went out and found a beautiful, slimming, strapless red dress. It fit bạn perfectly and accentuated every curve of your body. But unfortunately, bạn never made it to the party.
The time bạn spent with Declan kept your mind off of your situation, and the conversation that bạn and Fiona had shared earlier in the day. But as soon as bạn and Declan parted ways, your focus shifted. bạn thought out every possible scenario. bạn imagined what your life would be like for the tiếp theo ten years if bạn had an abortion, if bạn gave the baby up for adoption, if bạn kept the baby, if bạn kept the baby and told Declan, if bạn kept the baby and didn't tell Declan, everything. In the end, bạn decided that bạn were against having an abortion, but bạn didn't know whether hoặc not bạn wanted to keep the baby, hoặc give it up. But bạn knew that no matter what bạn decided, bạn weren't going to tell Declan.
Telling Declan would cause so much trouble for him and his family. bạn didn't want to be the most gần đây reason that the Coynes were in the tabloids. And bạn didn't want to cause any problems between him and his parents. And bạn certainly did not want to ruin Declan's future.
After returning to school, bạn left early. bạn didn't tell Declan, but bạn called your mom to come pick bạn up. bạn told her that bạn had something urgent to discuss with her, and she agreed to pick bạn up.
In the end, your mom promised to help bạn with whatever bạn decided. bởi the end of your conversation, she was actually a little excited. Through brainstorming, bạn both came up with an easy way for bạn to keep the baby from Declan. bạn were going to di chuyển in with your grandmother in California. She agreed to help bạn with the baby. So bạn went home, packed up your most important possessions—your mom would be sending bạn everything else later—and made one stop before hopping on a plane. bạn wrote Declan a letter, explaining why bạn couldn't attend the party—of course it was some creative lie—it also explained that bạn were leaving for reasons bạn couldn't explain, to a place bạn couldn't name. bạn stopped at his parent's mansion, and gave the letter to the door man.
...
Declan stood in the center of the mansion's dining room. Every room was filled with fancily dressed socialites and their parents, all of which he had no interest in. He had scanned every room, and had yet to find you. The party had started hours ago. He was beginning to become worried. He scanned the dining room, and coming up empty, decided to check with the door man. He pushed through the three rooms between the dining room and the front entrance. He shared a friendly smile with those who recognized him, but ran from conversation.
“William,” he tapped the tall, thickly built man on the shoulder. “have bạn seen _____? She's about five five, ____ colored hair. She should be in a tight red dress.”
“I haven't seen anyone fitting that description, but a lady stopped bởi and asked me to give bạn this.” William held out the sealed red envelope.
“Thank you.” Declan took the envelope and turned back into the house. He pushed his way through the living room, into the hall, and up to his bedroom. He kicked the door shut and locked it. He crossed to the sofa, plopped down, and opened the envelope.
He recognized your handwriting immediately. His tim, trái tim raced as he read your curvy cursive words. Your note read:
“Declan,
I'm sorry to do this to you, but I'm not going to make the party. Something has come up, I can't really explain it, but I'm leaving. I'm moving to live with some family members. My parents think it's what's best, and have happily informed me that I have no say in the matter. It kills me to leave on such a big night, after we went out and picked up the dress. It also kills me to leave bạn at such an amazing part of our relationship. I'm going to miss bạn greatly, but I'm sorry to tell bạn that I will not be able to contact you. It's a long, complicated story that I will spare you. Enjoy the party. Knock 'em dead in red.
I tình yêu You,
_____”
Declan folded the letter natly, and replaced it in the red envelope. He rested his arms on his legs, and held his head in his hands.
There was a knocking on his door.
“Declan? Open up, it's me.” Fiona's muffled voice interrupted him.
He stood and walked to the door. He opened it and let Fiona in.
She took one look at him, and knew something was wrong. “What's up? The party's not that boring.” She plopped down on the sofa. She noticed the red envelope sitting on the cushion tiếp theo to her. “What's this?” She held up the envelope.
“It's from _____.” He sat beside her.
“Where is she? I was dying to see the 'amazing' dress bạn picked out.”
“She's gone.”
“She was here? How long did she stay?”
“No, she's gone, left the city. Left the country.”
Fiona placed the letter on the đi văng and looked at her brother. “Oh.”
- - - -
Declan sat in the spacious living room of his Connecticut apartment. He sat on a large black leather couch. He wore sweat pants and a tee. His laptop sat open on his lap, while the fifty inch flat screen across the room was turned on with the volume on low. He was scrolling through a news story, when a request for a video message from Fiona popped up. He accepted.
“Hey.” He smiled into the camera.
“Hello, what are bạn up to?” Fiona asked.
“Just reading, what about you?”
“The same actually. I called to share something with you.”
“You didn't call, we're video chatting.”
“You know what I mean. Check your email. I sent bạn the link to a story I'm sure you'll want to read.”
“All right.” He opened a new internet tab, and signed into his email. He opened Fiona's email and clicked the link. He was redirected to a news story. The story was titled: Newest Member of the Coyne Family.
“What is this?” He clicked back to the video chat.
“Keep reading.” She answered cheerily.
He skimmed the bài viết in confusion. “This can't be true.” He went back to Fiona. “Where did they get this information?”
“Scroll down to the pictures.”
“Is that _____?”
“It is.”
“That can't be her.”
“I don't know if it is hoặc not, but I think it's very likely that it is. Listen, Declan, I've got to run, I'll call bạn in an giờ hoặc so.”
“Okay, bởi Fi.”
The video chat ended.
He read the bài viết again, making sure he hadn't misread it. “I have to see her.” He grabbed his cell phone from the black coffee bàn in front of him. He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear. “Hello, I'd like to purchase a plane ticket.”
- - - -
bạn stood in the fenced in front yard of your tiny, cozy, brick, three giường roomed house. Your hair was long, it hung past the middle of your back. bạn wore a pair of blue, straight legged jeans with a white tank-top, and a blue plaid button down shirt. bạn held your hands in your back pockets as bạn watched your four năm old daughter play in a tiny square sandbox.
Aurora Coyne _______, sat in a pile of sand. She wore a pair of stained blue jeans with a stained white Dora the Explorer shirt. Her straight, dirty blonde hair hung down her back, stopping an inch past her shoulders.
“Ror, be careful okay? Mommy's gonna go check on dinner.” bạn called.
“Otay.” Aurora answered, as she picked up a shovel full of sand.
bạn smiled and walked into the house. bạn passed through the neatly set up, red living room, stepping over a few Barbies on the way, and walked into the kitchen. Grabbing an oven-mitt, bạn pulled the lò nướng open and checked on the chicken pieces that were baking in barbque sauce. Next, bạn checked on the pot of water on the stove, it was boiling. bạn pulled a box of Parmesan mỳ ống, mì ống mix from the cabinet above the oven, and poured it into the boiling water. After stirring the noodles in, bạn walked to the sink and looked out the tiny window above it.
Your tim, trái tim jumped at the sight of a man dressed in dark washed jeans, a white long sleeved button down, and a black dressy vest. He had shaggy red-ish brown hair, and slightly tanned skin. He was standing at the door of the fence, watching Aurora.
bạn dashed through the living room and out the front door. bạn took a few deep breaths before walking further into the yard. “Can I help you?”
He looked up and fixed his gaze on you. He seemed to be studying you.
bạn noticed his crystal blue eyes, and your tim, trái tim froze as bạn recognized him. “Declan?” bạn whispered.
“_____, hi.” He placed his hands in his pockets.
bạn walked to the fence, taking a long look at your daughter. “Hi, what are bạn doing here?”
“I, uh, guess bạn haven't been online in a few days.”
“No,” bạn crossed your arms at your chest. “I've been...busy. Why?”
“The word on the đường phố, street is that the Coyne family has a new, well kind of new, member.” He looked at Aurora.
bạn pushed a strand of hair behind your ear and avoided his beautiful eyes.
“So is it true?”
“Yes.” bạn looked up at him. “Yes, she's your daughter.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why did bạn leave?”
From where bạn stood, bạn could hear the faint buzzing of the timer in the kitchen.
“I'm in the middle of cooking, would bạn mind if we continued this inside?”
“Not at all.” He smiled faintly at you, and unlocked the gate.
bạn began walking into the house. “Come on Ror, it's almost time for dinner.”
Aurora dropped the màu hồng, hồng bucket she held on a pile of sand. She stood, dusted off her butt, and skipped into the house.
bạn and Declan followed her.
“Go wash off in the bathroom.”
She ran down the hall and into the bathroom.
bạn could hear the scraping of her stood against the tiled floor. bạn smiled and walked to the oven. bạn turned the lò nướng off and pulled the baking sheet of chicken onto the stove. bạn then turned the mỳ ống, mì ống off, and dumped the excess water into the sink. Before bạn mixed in the seasoning, bạn pulled a bag of cải xanh, bông cải xanh from the freezer, poured it in a bowl of water, and shoved it in the microwave.
Declan stood in the doorway of the living room and kitchen. He held his hands in his pockets and studied both rooms. “Cute place.”
bạn looked back at him. “Thanks.” bạn stirred the mỳ ống, mì ống and poured it in a bowl. Then bạn took the chicken off of the cookie sheet, and placed it on a plate. bạn sat both on the four seater phòng bếp, nhà bếp table, which was already set with two plates. “Would bạn like something to eat? There's plenty.”
“Sure.”
bạn walked to the sink, and pulled a plate from the drain board. bạn set a place for Declan, across from bạn and Aurora. “Ror, did bạn wash up?” bạn called into the living room.
“Yes.”
“Did bạn wash your hands?”
“Yes.”
“And your face?”
“Yes.”
“What do bạn want to drink with dinner?”
Aurora ran into the kitchen. Pushing past Declan, she ran to the fridge and pulled it open. Using both hands, she pulled a two liter container of táo, apple nước ép, nước trái cây from the lowest shelf. “Apple jewce.”
“Okay,” bạn grabbed the bottle from her, and shut the fridge. “Go sit down, dinner's ready.”
Aurora pulled her ghế, chỗ ngồi out, and climbed into it.
Declan took the ghế, chỗ ngồi across from your empty place.
bạn pulled the cải xanh, bông cải xanh from the microwave and fixed it up, then bạn poured Aurora a glass of táo, apple juice. “ Declan, can I get bạn something to drink?” bạn replaced the nước ép, nước trái cây in the fridge, and pulled out a pitcher of water.
“Water is fine, thanks.”
Aurora stared at Declan. “Mommy,”
“Yes?”
“Who is he?”
“Why don't bạn ask him yourself.” bạn placed her nước ép, nước trái cây in front of her.
“What's your name?” Aurora folded her hands on the bàn in front of her.
“My name is Declan, what's yours?” He smiled down at her. He noticed her clear blue eyes and smiled.
“My name is Aurora Coyne ________.”
Declan looked up at bạn with a smile as bạn approached the bàn with two glasses of water and a bowl of broccoli.
“All right, bữa tối, bữa ăn tối is served.” bạn took your ghế, chỗ ngồi and unfolded your napkin on your lap. bạn took Aurora's plate and cut up half a chicken breast. Then, bạn scooped cải xanh, bông cải xanh and noodles onto the plate. bạn placed it in front of her, then began filling your own plate.
Aurora picked up a square of chicken with her fingers and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Aurora, use your fork.” bạn took your napkin from your lap and wiped her sauce covered fingers.
She picked up her fork, which was a little too big for her hand, and stabbed at another square of chicken.
Declan watched her intently, smiling.
bạn kept your eyes locked on Declan. He didn't seem nearly as upset as bạn thought he would be.
...
Aurora sat on the cream colored sofa in the living room, her eyes fixed intently on the newest episode of iCarly. bạn stood in the kitchen, gathering the silverware and plates from dinner. Declan helped bởi carrying bowls and plates to the sink.
“You don't have to do that.” bạn stood at the sink, preparing to scrub each utensil.
“I'd like to help.” He handed bạn the last two plates. “Can I dry?”
bạn smiled at him. “Sure.” bạn pulled a disk towel from the handle of the lò nướng and tossed I at him. bạn turned back to the sink and started wetting a sponge. bạn worked quietly for a few minutes.
“Why did bạn leave?” He finally broke the silence.
“I, uh, didn't really know what else to do.”
“You could have told me.” His voice was soft and sincere.
bạn handed him and dish and took the opportunity to look into his eyes. “I did what was best for you.”
“How do bạn know what's best for me?” His tone was still sweet.
“I didn't want to ruin your future.” bạn spoke into the sink.
“I can't hear you.”
bạn continued to scrub a plate, not quite sure what to say.
Declan reached across the sink and pushed the handle, turning the water off.
bạn stood with your hands in the sink, staring down at the escaping water.
“Why did bạn leave without telling me anything?”
bạn looked down at your soapy hands. “I thought it was for the best.”
“Why?”
bạn could feel his eyes on you. bạn turned, grabbed the towel from him, and dried your hands. “Fiona pointed out that if I told you, the tabloids would make something out of nothing.”
“Fiona? She knows.”
“I ran into her as I was leaving the counselor's office. I had a bunch of pamphlets and papers on adoption and everything, and she saw them. She asked me not to tell you,” bạn took a deep breath. “and, I thought it over and found that it was the best option for you.”
“Why would bạn possibly think that the best thing for me was to keep my daughter from me?”
“If I would have told you, bạn would have insisted that we keep the baby, and bạn would have được trao everything up to take care of us.”
“That's what I should have done.”
“I didn't want bạn to sacrifice your future for me hoặc my child.”
“She's my child too.”
“I know,” bạn sighed. “but I didn't even know what I wanted to do at the time.” bạn walked around him and took a ghế, chỗ ngồi at the phòng bếp, nhà bếp table. From where bạn sat, bạn could see Aurora sitting in the living room. “Declan,” bạn looked up at him. “I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. There are days when I look at her, and I see so much of you, and I wish that I could go back and change the way I dealt with things.” bạn looked back at Aurora. “I know this doesn't help, but it hasn't been easy.” bạn turned to look at him. “Since she could talk, it's like she knew bạn were missing. One day, after she first learned to talk, she walked over to me, looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes, and đã đưa ý kiến 'da?'” bạn looked down. “I didn't know what to say, she was so young, barely able to understand words. I ignored her question. Then, she learned how to form sentences. And one day, after I had picked her up from preschool, she đã đưa ý kiến 'Mommy? Where's my daddy?' What do bạn tell a three năm old when they ask where their father is? I couldn't tell her that her father didn't know that she existed.”
“What did bạn tell her?”
“I told her that her daddy couldn't be with us right now.”
Declan took the ghế, chỗ ngồi across from you. “I'd like to get to know her.”
bạn leaned your elbows on the table. “I think that's a great idea, but bạn can't tell her who bạn are, at least not right away.”
“Who I am?”
“That you're her father. She's too young, and she won't understand it. And if bạn decide that it's not what bạn want,”
“I'm not going to change my mind.”
“Okay, but if bạn do, hoặc something happens that pulls bạn away, it'll hurt her a lot thêm if she knows that you're her father.”
bạn both stared into each other's eyes.
“All right.” He sighed.
“Thank you.” bạn stood. “There's another giờ until her giường time, so bạn can start bonding now.”
“Will do.” He stood and walked into the living room. He sat down beside her. “What're bạn watching?”
“ICarly.”
“Oh yeah, what's it about?”
“Carly and her friend Sam and Freddy have a web show.”
“What's happening now?”
“Carly and Sam are fwilling a watermewwon with air.”
bạn stood at the sink, listening to Aurora and Declan, and smiled.
...
“She is asleep.” bạn plopped down on the sofa beside Declan.
“She's adorable.” He smiled at you.
“Thank you, but I'm not the only one who had a part in making her.” bạn laughed. “I really am sorry about everything.” bạn nervously pushed a strand of hair behind your ear.
“It's all right,” he placed his hand on your leg. “everything is working itself out.”
“You're serious about this right? About being a part of her life. I don't want your money, I just want bạn to be a father. That includes hiển thị up at dance recitals and bóng đá games, and being there on holidays, and taking her out every once in a while. And so much more. bạn need to be fully committed, she doesn't need a part time father.”
“I don't plan on disappointing you.”
bạn smiled at him. “Oh! I have some stuff to hiển thị you.” bạn stood and walked down the hall and into your bedroom. bạn returned a một phút later with a big box. bạn sat it down on the flood in front of Declan, and sat behind it. bạn pulled out a giant màu hồng, hồng scrapbook, and various các bài viết of clothing.
“What's all this?” He scooted down to the floor across from you.
“This is a bunch of things I saved from when Aurora was little.” bạn showed him a tiny màu hồng, hồng dress with ruffles. “This is what she wore when she came home.” bạn laughed.
“It's adorable.”
“My mom picked it out.” bạn rolled your eyes and folded it on the floor beside you. bạn pulled out a couple thêm outfits, explaining their significance, before putting all of them back in the box, and picking up the bức ảnh album. “Okay, here's the good stuff.” bạn scooted over so that bạn were sitting tiếp theo to him, and positioned the book so that it was sitting half on your lap, and half on his.
He turned to the first page.
“This was taken after she was born.” bạn looked down at the pictures. “She weighed six pounds even, and was thirteen inches long.”
“Is that small?”
“Yeah, it's on the smaller side. She's always been small for her age.”
He turned the page.
bạn both sat there for two hours flipping through the scrapbook. bạn explained every picture to him, often stopping to tell a funny story that goes along with one, hoặc a few, pictures.
“I've missed a lot.” Declan closed the book and placed it in the box.
“Nah, the really important stuff hasn't happened yet. Luckily she won't remember much from before she was three.” bạn could feel Declan's eyes on you. bạn turned to look at him, and locked eyes with him.
There was silence for a few moments as bạn both just stared at each other.
Finally, bạn tore your eyes away from his and stood to put the box away.
“_____,” Declan watched bạn move.
bạn squatted behind the box and looked at him.
“I've missed you.” He blushed.
“I've missed bạn too.”
“I haven't Mất tích my feelings for you.”
bạn looked down at the box. “Declan, don't say that.”
“It's true. Every relationship I've had since bạn ended soon after it began.”
bạn looked up at him, your eyes flooded. “It's too soon to say that.”
He read your eyes and nodded. “I do tình yêu you.”
bạn nodded. “And I'll always tình yêu you, bạn gave me Aurora.”
“Maybe one ngày we can tình yêu each other for thêm than our daughter.”
“Maybe.” bạn smiled at him before standing and taking the box back into your bedroom. The tears that were threatening to spill from your eyes quickly dried up, and were replaced bởi a smile.
Declan watched bạn walk, and smiled. He was happy to have bạn back in his life.
link
(this story was not written bởi me-I don't own)
Tagged: degrassi, babydaddy
Declan.
Before bạn Read: This is important!
If bạn see:
“...” between paragraphs, it means that the scene above is over, but the scene below is in the same day.
“- - - -” between paragraphs, it means that the scene above is over, but the scene below is from a different day.
bạn and Declan sat in his very large, very fancy bedroom. It was wide, and spacey, and decorated with both a manly and sophisticated eye. The room held a king sized bed, a bureau, a walk in closet—which had it's own sofa—a desk, a tình yêu seat, an arm chair, a ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place, and a flat screen television. The tình yêu ghế, chỗ ngồi and arm chair were positioned around the ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place, and the ti vi hung on the tường to the right of the fireplace. He sat on the tình yêu seat, leaning slightly into the right arm. bạn sat tiếp theo to him, leaning your back against the back of the sofa, with your feet stretched to the left. His left arm rested comfortable around your shoulders, half on the hàng đầu, đầu trang of the sofa. Your head rested against the left half of his chest.
The ti vi played some trashy horror flick that you'd been dying to see. While bạn watched the movie, bạn kept your arms around your neck, so that it didn't take too much effort to cover your eyes when someone was brutally murdered. Whenever bạn flinched to cover your eyes, Declan looked down at you, laughed, and rubbed your left arm.
The screen went blank and a loud rock and roll đàn ghi ta, guitar solo blasted from the surround sound. As the end credits rolled up the screen bạn leaned back, resting your head on his lap and looked up at him.
“It's over!” bạn cheered.
He laughed and bent to press his lips against yours.
bạn sat up and turned so that bạn were sitting normally on the sofa. bạn stretched your arms behind your head and sighed. “Now what?”
He walked to the ti vi and turned it off. He turned to face you, with his hands on his hips and a smirk on his lips. “Well, it's getting kind of late.”
“Is it?” bạn looked at the clock hanging above the ngọn lửa, chữa cháy place. “Holy shit, it's midnight. I should probably get going.”
“But it's midnight.”
“Yeah?”
“And bạn live all the way across town.”
“I tình yêu ten phút away.” bạn laughed.
He walked and stood in front of you. “You could just stay here.”
“What about your parents?” bạn looked up at him, your brow bent in interest.
“Mr. and Mrs. Coyne are away for the weekend.” He took your hand and pulled bạn to your feet.
“What about Fiona?”
He pulled bạn into him. “What about her?” He wrapped his arms around your waist.
bạn stood on your toes and wrapped your arms around his neck. “Well then,” bạn sighed. “what did bạn have in mind?”
He smiled down at you, and pressed his lips hungrily against yours.
bạn smiled into the kiss, as he slid his hands up your back. bạn could feel the heat from his skin through your cotton shirt. bạn wrapped your arms tightly around his neck, bounced lightly, and wrapped your legs around his waist.
He moved his hands to your lower back, and held bạn firmly against him. With his lips still connected to yours, he slowly began walking toward the bed.
- - - -
bạn sat in a sturdy plastic chair across from the school counselor. On your lap bạn held a binder, on hàng đầu, đầu trang of which sat a packet of papers and a couple of pamphlets on teen pregnancy. bạn nervously tapped your nails against the side of the binder.
“Whatever bạn decide, bạn can come and talk whenever bạn need. I can help bạn with anything bạn need.” The counselor smiled at bạn from across her cluttered desk.
“Thank you.” bạn stood, shifting the binder to your left arm, and grabbed your bag from the floor beside the chair. bạn slipped it onto your shoulder and exited the office.
As bạn rounded the hall on your way to your locket, bạn stared down at the hàng đầu, đầu trang pamphlet. It was about adoption. bạn were at the corner when bạn collided with another body. The binder and everything on hàng đầu, đầu trang of it fell to the floor.
“Oh!” bạn bent to pick up your stuff. “I'm sorry.” bạn looked up as bạn pulled your binder up, and found Fiona standing in front of you. “Sorry Fi.” bạn smiled at her.
“What's that?” She looked down at the pamphlets.
“Oh, it's nothing.”
“Does Declan know?” She crossed her arms at her chest.
bạn pushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “No, he doesn't know yet.”
“You shouldn't tell him.”
“What?”
“Think about what'll happen when when the press finds out. They'll have a field day, it'll be in every paper bạn can name. My parents will go completely nuts, I'll be a huge mess.”
The chuông, bell rang, signalling the changing of classes.
“I have to get to class.” bạn looked down the hall as everyone rushed down the hall.
Fiona smiled at bạn and started down the hall.
bạn sighed and hurried to your locker. bạn didn't want anyone to see the papers bạn held. bạn got your locker open and shoved the papers in.
Two arms twisted around your waist.
bạn jumped and turned.
Declan pressed his lips against yours. “Hello.”
bạn turned, slammed your locker shut, then turned back to him. “Hey.” bạn sighed.
“What was that?” He laughed.
“Nothing.” bạn smiled nervously up at him.
He stared into your ____ colored eyes. “Are bạn okay?”
bạn looked up into his crystal blue eyes. “Yeah.”
“All right.” He stepped back. “Well, we both have a free period, I thought we'd go and find bạn something special to wear to the bữa tối, bữa ăn tối party tonight.”
“Dinner party?”
“My parent's annual spring party.”
“Oh, right. Sounds good.” bạn smiled up at him. “Let's go.”
He grabbed your hand and led bạn down the hall. “So I was thinking bạn could get something red.”
“Red?” bạn laughed. “Why red?”
“Because no one else will be in red.” He held the passenger side door of his car open for you, then rounded to the driver's side.
“But it's spring, no one wears red in the spring.”
“Lots of people wear red in the spring.”
“Why don't we see what we can find.”
He sighed. “Fine.” He turned the car on and pulled out of the parking spot.
- - - -
bạn and Declan went out and found a beautiful, slimming, strapless red dress. It fit bạn perfectly and accentuated every curve of your body. But unfortunately, bạn never made it to the party.
The time bạn spent with Declan kept your mind off of your situation, and the conversation that bạn and Fiona had shared earlier in the day. But as soon as bạn and Declan parted ways, your focus shifted. bạn thought out every possible scenario. bạn imagined what your life would be like for the tiếp theo ten years if bạn had an abortion, if bạn gave the baby up for adoption, if bạn kept the baby, if bạn kept the baby and told Declan, if bạn kept the baby and didn't tell Declan, everything. In the end, bạn decided that bạn were against having an abortion, but bạn didn't know whether hoặc not bạn wanted to keep the baby, hoặc give it up. But bạn knew that no matter what bạn decided, bạn weren't going to tell Declan.
Telling Declan would cause so much trouble for him and his family. bạn didn't want to be the most gần đây reason that the Coynes were in the tabloids. And bạn didn't want to cause any problems between him and his parents. And bạn certainly did not want to ruin Declan's future.
After returning to school, bạn left early. bạn didn't tell Declan, but bạn called your mom to come pick bạn up. bạn told her that bạn had something urgent to discuss with her, and she agreed to pick bạn up.
In the end, your mom promised to help bạn with whatever bạn decided. bởi the end of your conversation, she was actually a little excited. Through brainstorming, bạn both came up with an easy way for bạn to keep the baby from Declan. bạn were going to di chuyển in with your grandmother in California. She agreed to help bạn with the baby. So bạn went home, packed up your most important possessions—your mom would be sending bạn everything else later—and made one stop before hopping on a plane. bạn wrote Declan a letter, explaining why bạn couldn't attend the party—of course it was some creative lie—it also explained that bạn were leaving for reasons bạn couldn't explain, to a place bạn couldn't name. bạn stopped at his parent's mansion, and gave the letter to the door man.
...
Declan stood in the center of the mansion's dining room. Every room was filled with fancily dressed socialites and their parents, all of which he had no interest in. He had scanned every room, and had yet to find you. The party had started hours ago. He was beginning to become worried. He scanned the dining room, and coming up empty, decided to check with the door man. He pushed through the three rooms between the dining room and the front entrance. He shared a friendly smile with those who recognized him, but ran from conversation.
“William,” he tapped the tall, thickly built man on the shoulder. “have bạn seen _____? She's about five five, ____ colored hair. She should be in a tight red dress.”
“I haven't seen anyone fitting that description, but a lady stopped bởi and asked me to give bạn this.” William held out the sealed red envelope.
“Thank you.” Declan took the envelope and turned back into the house. He pushed his way through the living room, into the hall, and up to his bedroom. He kicked the door shut and locked it. He crossed to the sofa, plopped down, and opened the envelope.
He recognized your handwriting immediately. His tim, trái tim raced as he read your curvy cursive words. Your note read:
“Declan,
I'm sorry to do this to you, but I'm not going to make the party. Something has come up, I can't really explain it, but I'm leaving. I'm moving to live with some family members. My parents think it's what's best, and have happily informed me that I have no say in the matter. It kills me to leave on such a big night, after we went out and picked up the dress. It also kills me to leave bạn at such an amazing part of our relationship. I'm going to miss bạn greatly, but I'm sorry to tell bạn that I will not be able to contact you. It's a long, complicated story that I will spare you. Enjoy the party. Knock 'em dead in red.
I tình yêu You,
_____”
Declan folded the letter natly, and replaced it in the red envelope. He rested his arms on his legs, and held his head in his hands.
There was a knocking on his door.
“Declan? Open up, it's me.” Fiona's muffled voice interrupted him.
He stood and walked to the door. He opened it and let Fiona in.
She took one look at him, and knew something was wrong. “What's up? The party's not that boring.” She plopped down on the sofa. She noticed the red envelope sitting on the cushion tiếp theo to her. “What's this?” She held up the envelope.
“It's from _____.” He sat beside her.
“Where is she? I was dying to see the 'amazing' dress bạn picked out.”
“She's gone.”
“She was here? How long did she stay?”
“No, she's gone, left the city. Left the country.”
Fiona placed the letter on the đi văng and looked at her brother. “Oh.”
- - - -
Declan sat in the spacious living room of his Connecticut apartment. He sat on a large black leather couch. He wore sweat pants and a tee. His laptop sat open on his lap, while the fifty inch flat screen across the room was turned on with the volume on low. He was scrolling through a news story, when a request for a video message from Fiona popped up. He accepted.
“Hey.” He smiled into the camera.
“Hello, what are bạn up to?” Fiona asked.
“Just reading, what about you?”
“The same actually. I called to share something with you.”
“You didn't call, we're video chatting.”
“You know what I mean. Check your email. I sent bạn the link to a story I'm sure you'll want to read.”
“All right.” He opened a new internet tab, and signed into his email. He opened Fiona's email and clicked the link. He was redirected to a news story. The story was titled: Newest Member of the Coyne Family.
“What is this?” He clicked back to the video chat.
“Keep reading.” She answered cheerily.
He skimmed the bài viết in confusion. “This can't be true.” He went back to Fiona. “Where did they get this information?”
“Scroll down to the pictures.”
“Is that _____?”
“It is.”
“That can't be her.”
“I don't know if it is hoặc not, but I think it's very likely that it is. Listen, Declan, I've got to run, I'll call bạn in an giờ hoặc so.”
“Okay, bởi Fi.”
The video chat ended.
He read the bài viết again, making sure he hadn't misread it. “I have to see her.” He grabbed his cell phone from the black coffee bàn in front of him. He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear. “Hello, I'd like to purchase a plane ticket.”
- - - -
bạn stood in the fenced in front yard of your tiny, cozy, brick, three giường roomed house. Your hair was long, it hung past the middle of your back. bạn wore a pair of blue, straight legged jeans with a white tank-top, and a blue plaid button down shirt. bạn held your hands in your back pockets as bạn watched your four năm old daughter play in a tiny square sandbox.
Aurora Coyne _______, sat in a pile of sand. She wore a pair of stained blue jeans with a stained white Dora the Explorer shirt. Her straight, dirty blonde hair hung down her back, stopping an inch past her shoulders.
“Ror, be careful okay? Mommy's gonna go check on dinner.” bạn called.
“Otay.” Aurora answered, as she picked up a shovel full of sand.
bạn smiled and walked into the house. bạn passed through the neatly set up, red living room, stepping over a few Barbies on the way, and walked into the kitchen. Grabbing an oven-mitt, bạn pulled the lò nướng open and checked on the chicken pieces that were baking in barbque sauce. Next, bạn checked on the pot of water on the stove, it was boiling. bạn pulled a box of Parmesan mỳ ống, mì ống mix from the cabinet above the oven, and poured it into the boiling water. After stirring the noodles in, bạn walked to the sink and looked out the tiny window above it.
Your tim, trái tim jumped at the sight of a man dressed in dark washed jeans, a white long sleeved button down, and a black dressy vest. He had shaggy red-ish brown hair, and slightly tanned skin. He was standing at the door of the fence, watching Aurora.
bạn dashed through the living room and out the front door. bạn took a few deep breaths before walking further into the yard. “Can I help you?”
He looked up and fixed his gaze on you. He seemed to be studying you.
bạn noticed his crystal blue eyes, and your tim, trái tim froze as bạn recognized him. “Declan?” bạn whispered.
“_____, hi.” He placed his hands in his pockets.
bạn walked to the fence, taking a long look at your daughter. “Hi, what are bạn doing here?”
“I, uh, guess bạn haven't been online in a few days.”
“No,” bạn crossed your arms at your chest. “I've been...busy. Why?”
“The word on the đường phố, street is that the Coyne family has a new, well kind of new, member.” He looked at Aurora.
bạn pushed a strand of hair behind your ear and avoided his beautiful eyes.
“So is it true?”
“Yes.” bạn looked up at him. “Yes, she's your daughter.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why did bạn leave?”
From where bạn stood, bạn could hear the faint buzzing of the timer in the kitchen.
“I'm in the middle of cooking, would bạn mind if we continued this inside?”
“Not at all.” He smiled faintly at you, and unlocked the gate.
bạn began walking into the house. “Come on Ror, it's almost time for dinner.”
Aurora dropped the màu hồng, hồng bucket she held on a pile of sand. She stood, dusted off her butt, and skipped into the house.
bạn and Declan followed her.
“Go wash off in the bathroom.”
She ran down the hall and into the bathroom.
bạn could hear the scraping of her stood against the tiled floor. bạn smiled and walked to the oven. bạn turned the lò nướng off and pulled the baking sheet of chicken onto the stove. bạn then turned the mỳ ống, mì ống off, and dumped the excess water into the sink. Before bạn mixed in the seasoning, bạn pulled a bag of cải xanh, bông cải xanh from the freezer, poured it in a bowl of water, and shoved it in the microwave.
Declan stood in the doorway of the living room and kitchen. He held his hands in his pockets and studied both rooms. “Cute place.”
bạn looked back at him. “Thanks.” bạn stirred the mỳ ống, mì ống and poured it in a bowl. Then bạn took the chicken off of the cookie sheet, and placed it on a plate. bạn sat both on the four seater phòng bếp, nhà bếp table, which was already set with two plates. “Would bạn like something to eat? There's plenty.”
“Sure.”
bạn walked to the sink, and pulled a plate from the drain board. bạn set a place for Declan, across from bạn and Aurora. “Ror, did bạn wash up?” bạn called into the living room.
“Yes.”
“Did bạn wash your hands?”
“Yes.”
“And your face?”
“Yes.”
“What do bạn want to drink with dinner?”
Aurora ran into the kitchen. Pushing past Declan, she ran to the fridge and pulled it open. Using both hands, she pulled a two liter container of táo, apple nước ép, nước trái cây from the lowest shelf. “Apple jewce.”
“Okay,” bạn grabbed the bottle from her, and shut the fridge. “Go sit down, dinner's ready.”
Aurora pulled her ghế, chỗ ngồi out, and climbed into it.
Declan took the ghế, chỗ ngồi across from your empty place.
bạn pulled the cải xanh, bông cải xanh from the microwave and fixed it up, then bạn poured Aurora a glass of táo, apple juice. “ Declan, can I get bạn something to drink?” bạn replaced the nước ép, nước trái cây in the fridge, and pulled out a pitcher of water.
“Water is fine, thanks.”
Aurora stared at Declan. “Mommy,”
“Yes?”
“Who is he?”
“Why don't bạn ask him yourself.” bạn placed her nước ép, nước trái cây in front of her.
“What's your name?” Aurora folded her hands on the bàn in front of her.
“My name is Declan, what's yours?” He smiled down at her. He noticed her clear blue eyes and smiled.
“My name is Aurora Coyne ________.”
Declan looked up at bạn with a smile as bạn approached the bàn with two glasses of water and a bowl of broccoli.
“All right, bữa tối, bữa ăn tối is served.” bạn took your ghế, chỗ ngồi and unfolded your napkin on your lap. bạn took Aurora's plate and cut up half a chicken breast. Then, bạn scooped cải xanh, bông cải xanh and noodles onto the plate. bạn placed it in front of her, then began filling your own plate.
Aurora picked up a square of chicken with her fingers and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Aurora, use your fork.” bạn took your napkin from your lap and wiped her sauce covered fingers.
She picked up her fork, which was a little too big for her hand, and stabbed at another square of chicken.
Declan watched her intently, smiling.
bạn kept your eyes locked on Declan. He didn't seem nearly as upset as bạn thought he would be.
...
Aurora sat on the cream colored sofa in the living room, her eyes fixed intently on the newest episode of iCarly. bạn stood in the kitchen, gathering the silverware and plates from dinner. Declan helped bởi carrying bowls and plates to the sink.
“You don't have to do that.” bạn stood at the sink, preparing to scrub each utensil.
“I'd like to help.” He handed bạn the last two plates. “Can I dry?”
bạn smiled at him. “Sure.” bạn pulled a disk towel from the handle of the lò nướng and tossed I at him. bạn turned back to the sink and started wetting a sponge. bạn worked quietly for a few minutes.
“Why did bạn leave?” He finally broke the silence.
“I, uh, didn't really know what else to do.”
“You could have told me.” His voice was soft and sincere.
bạn handed him and dish and took the opportunity to look into his eyes. “I did what was best for you.”
“How do bạn know what's best for me?” His tone was still sweet.
“I didn't want to ruin your future.” bạn spoke into the sink.
“I can't hear you.”
bạn continued to scrub a plate, not quite sure what to say.
Declan reached across the sink and pushed the handle, turning the water off.
bạn stood with your hands in the sink, staring down at the escaping water.
“Why did bạn leave without telling me anything?”
bạn looked down at your soapy hands. “I thought it was for the best.”
“Why?”
bạn could feel his eyes on you. bạn turned, grabbed the towel from him, and dried your hands. “Fiona pointed out that if I told you, the tabloids would make something out of nothing.”
“Fiona? She knows.”
“I ran into her as I was leaving the counselor's office. I had a bunch of pamphlets and papers on adoption and everything, and she saw them. She asked me not to tell you,” bạn took a deep breath. “and, I thought it over and found that it was the best option for you.”
“Why would bạn possibly think that the best thing for me was to keep my daughter from me?”
“If I would have told you, bạn would have insisted that we keep the baby, and bạn would have được trao everything up to take care of us.”
“That's what I should have done.”
“I didn't want bạn to sacrifice your future for me hoặc my child.”
“She's my child too.”
“I know,” bạn sighed. “but I didn't even know what I wanted to do at the time.” bạn walked around him and took a ghế, chỗ ngồi at the phòng bếp, nhà bếp table. From where bạn sat, bạn could see Aurora sitting in the living room. “Declan,” bạn looked up at him. “I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. There are days when I look at her, and I see so much of you, and I wish that I could go back and change the way I dealt with things.” bạn looked back at Aurora. “I know this doesn't help, but it hasn't been easy.” bạn turned to look at him. “Since she could talk, it's like she knew bạn were missing. One day, after she first learned to talk, she walked over to me, looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes, and đã đưa ý kiến 'da?'” bạn looked down. “I didn't know what to say, she was so young, barely able to understand words. I ignored her question. Then, she learned how to form sentences. And one day, after I had picked her up from preschool, she đã đưa ý kiến 'Mommy? Where's my daddy?' What do bạn tell a three năm old when they ask where their father is? I couldn't tell her that her father didn't know that she existed.”
“What did bạn tell her?”
“I told her that her daddy couldn't be with us right now.”
Declan took the ghế, chỗ ngồi across from you. “I'd like to get to know her.”
bạn leaned your elbows on the table. “I think that's a great idea, but bạn can't tell her who bạn are, at least not right away.”
“Who I am?”
“That you're her father. She's too young, and she won't understand it. And if bạn decide that it's not what bạn want,”
“I'm not going to change my mind.”
“Okay, but if bạn do, hoặc something happens that pulls bạn away, it'll hurt her a lot thêm if she knows that you're her father.”
bạn both stared into each other's eyes.
“All right.” He sighed.
“Thank you.” bạn stood. “There's another giờ until her giường time, so bạn can start bonding now.”
“Will do.” He stood and walked into the living room. He sat down beside her. “What're bạn watching?”
“ICarly.”
“Oh yeah, what's it about?”
“Carly and her friend Sam and Freddy have a web show.”
“What's happening now?”
“Carly and Sam are fwilling a watermewwon with air.”
bạn stood at the sink, listening to Aurora and Declan, and smiled.
...
“She is asleep.” bạn plopped down on the sofa beside Declan.
“She's adorable.” He smiled at you.
“Thank you, but I'm not the only one who had a part in making her.” bạn laughed. “I really am sorry about everything.” bạn nervously pushed a strand of hair behind your ear.
“It's all right,” he placed his hand on your leg. “everything is working itself out.”
“You're serious about this right? About being a part of her life. I don't want your money, I just want bạn to be a father. That includes hiển thị up at dance recitals and bóng đá games, and being there on holidays, and taking her out every once in a while. And so much more. bạn need to be fully committed, she doesn't need a part time father.”
“I don't plan on disappointing you.”
bạn smiled at him. “Oh! I have some stuff to hiển thị you.” bạn stood and walked down the hall and into your bedroom. bạn returned a một phút later with a big box. bạn sat it down on the flood in front of Declan, and sat behind it. bạn pulled out a giant màu hồng, hồng scrapbook, and various các bài viết of clothing.
“What's all this?” He scooted down to the floor across from you.
“This is a bunch of things I saved from when Aurora was little.” bạn showed him a tiny màu hồng, hồng dress with ruffles. “This is what she wore when she came home.” bạn laughed.
“It's adorable.”
“My mom picked it out.” bạn rolled your eyes and folded it on the floor beside you. bạn pulled out a couple thêm outfits, explaining their significance, before putting all of them back in the box, and picking up the bức ảnh album. “Okay, here's the good stuff.” bạn scooted over so that bạn were sitting tiếp theo to him, and positioned the book so that it was sitting half on your lap, and half on his.
He turned to the first page.
“This was taken after she was born.” bạn looked down at the pictures. “She weighed six pounds even, and was thirteen inches long.”
“Is that small?”
“Yeah, it's on the smaller side. She's always been small for her age.”
He turned the page.
bạn both sat there for two hours flipping through the scrapbook. bạn explained every picture to him, often stopping to tell a funny story that goes along with one, hoặc a few, pictures.
“I've missed a lot.” Declan closed the book and placed it in the box.
“Nah, the really important stuff hasn't happened yet. Luckily she won't remember much from before she was three.” bạn could feel Declan's eyes on you. bạn turned to look at him, and locked eyes with him.
There was silence for a few moments as bạn both just stared at each other.
Finally, bạn tore your eyes away from his and stood to put the box away.
“_____,” Declan watched bạn move.
bạn squatted behind the box and looked at him.
“I've missed you.” He blushed.
“I've missed bạn too.”
“I haven't Mất tích my feelings for you.”
bạn looked down at the box. “Declan, don't say that.”
“It's true. Every relationship I've had since bạn ended soon after it began.”
bạn looked up at him, your eyes flooded. “It's too soon to say that.”
He read your eyes and nodded. “I do tình yêu you.”
bạn nodded. “And I'll always tình yêu you, bạn gave me Aurora.”
“Maybe one ngày we can tình yêu each other for thêm than our daughter.”
“Maybe.” bạn smiled at him before standing and taking the box back into your bedroom. The tears that were threatening to spill from your eyes quickly dried up, and were replaced bởi a smile.
Declan watched bạn walk, and smiled. He was happy to have bạn back in his life.
