Premiere

Unexpected 1/2

A request for StefanieArthkamp

Bobby

"Well, I'll give you one thing, you certainly know how to make an entrance," Bobby remarks, as she shows off, does an exaggerated little twirl.

"Always have," she quips with a smirk.

She looks gorgeous. She always does, really, but tonight she's glowing and it's only enhanced by Sarah's make-up; dramatic, heavy lined eyes with a nude lip. Freddie's left her hair down and it's styled in loose, brunette waves. 

But it's the dress that he can't take his eyes off of. Gold and form fitting, flaring out slightly at the waist, with a tight bodice. Elegant. She's premiere ready.

And the tiniest of bumps. Slightly rounded, but enough for anyone to distinguish as exactly what it is. And what it means. 

Everyone is quiet tonight. The usual excited buzz in the hotel room is tapered, subdued. It's not lacking in joy, not by any means, but she's set the tone. She needs serenity and everyone knows it, too. It goes unspoken.

If he'd blinked, he would have missed it. The split second flash of self-doubt. It plays in her eyes and Bobby knows her well enough to discern the fear. 

"Hey," he says softly as Sarah and Freddie clean up, as Ashley sees to finding vases for the numerous arrangements of flowers that fill the room with their heady fragrance. His hand curls gently over her wrist, his face falling into a mask of concern.

"If you're gonna tell me I don't have to do this---" Her eyebrow arches and she slides a hand down over her stomach. "It's a little too late for that."

As long as he'd known her, she had politely listened to his advice, even taking some of it to heart. And then she would go and do whatever it is she wanted in the end. He loved her fierceness, her stubborn will; even if it drove him crazy sometimes. 

She could handle the stares, the talk, the questions. He wasn't worried about that. They'd take care of the rest. 

"Stef," he leads her away to a corner so that they won't be overheard. "It's not that. I just want to make sure you're...prepared for all of this. Not as your manager...forget about that. As someone who loves you."

He is sure to tread carefully because he doesn't want her to think he's anything less than overjoyed. It's a blessing, plain and simple. She's happier than he's seen her in ages and it's a bubble he's willing to put himself in front of, just in case some asshole decides to stick a pin in it.

She nods, making certain to look him in the eyes. "We're done hiding. I know that makes things complicated, but I'm tired, Bobby. I just wanna be happy, you know?"

He did. 

Taking his hands, she smiles. "You've been a fucking prince through this whole thing. All of you...keeping this under wraps. I'll make your job easier tonight. Well," she tenderly runs a hand over her bump again, "easier and harder, I guess." 

She beams at him; a Grecian goddess, an angel, radiant in a way that belies the exhaustion he knew she'd been feeling until she entered the second trimester. "Please don't worry, okay? Try not to, anyway. He's gonna take good care of me out there."

Not what I'm concerned about, either, he replies silently. Bradley had held her hand the entire time and he certainly didn't see that letting up now.

It was all so much, at the same time. The film being released, interviews, press...how the focus would shift to her personal life, instead of on the movie, the public scrutiny her relationship would be under. He'd seen firsthand the way pressure caused pain, how difficult it had been on her and the thought of her crumbling again made him physically ill.