Starting Over 💙

Chapter 18

"Chris?" Ellie opens her eyes and sees Chris with his head laid on the bed next to her. She squeezes his hand, speaking a bit louder. "Chris." Had he been there all night? "Chris. Honey. Wake up."

She finally feels him stir as he sits up. "Ellie?"

"I'm fine Chris." She places her hand on her stomach, "Chris.."

Before she can finish he grabs her hand, "the baby is fine." He runs his fingers lovingly through her hair, "we're having a baby." Now that he knew she was okay he could be happy at the fact they were having a baby. It had been all he wanted for so long. He climbs into the bed the way he did the last time he saw her in hospital, with his head on her shoulder and she held him as he cried. After a few minutes he pulled back to look at her. "I'm getting tired of seeing you in the hospital."

She laughs and wipes the tears from his cheeks. "Well this time it was your fault."

He hangs his head down, "I know it was. I'm so sorry." He feels the tears start to come again, his heart broken at the fact he wasn't able to protect her better.

She presses the button on the remote to make her sit up. "Hey. I was only kidding." She pulls him back to her, looking at her hand. "Where's my ring?"

Chris stands up, pulling her ring and necklace from his pocket. He slides the ring back on her finger where it belonged before replacing the necklace around her neck where it belonged. He grabs the pendant, "I promised I would protect you."

She grabs his hand, "I know. But this time it was my turn to protect you."

Before Chris can reprimand her for putting the baby at risk, they hear a knock as Emily comes into the room. "Hi Auntie Emily."

Chris sits back into a chair, giving Emily time with her sister.

"Oh Ellie. I'm getting tired of being called to Boston because you're in the hospital."

Chris laughs, "that's what I said."

Ellie pats the bed for Emily to sit next to her. "I'm fine. You're not gonna try to convince me to come to New York again are you?"

Emily lets out a small forced laugh and looks at Chris, "not this time, no." She turns her attention back to her sister, "but you need to be taking better care of yourself and your baby. Not throwing yourself in front of bullets." She hears Chris agree behind her.

"Yeah yeah. I know. I'm fine. I'll be fine." She looks at Chris. "Did you happen to grab my phone or my purse?" He grabs her purse from the floor and hands it to her. Ellie rummages through it for a moment and finds her phone, and a small photo that she hands to Chris. "I'm about 10 weeks. I was pretty positive I was pregnant, but I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure." She looks up at Chris as his tears come again, "we're having a baby Chris."

He hands the ultrasound to Emily and kisses Ellie, sitting back next to her. "You thought I didn't notice you were getting sick in the mornings."

Ellie laughs, "I thought I was hiding it well."

~~~

Ellie spends a week in the hospital before Chris comes to take her home. He enters the room as she was trying to get dressed. She hears Chris groan behind her as he enters, "why does this happen when I have to leave for filming soon?"

"I'm fine Chris. I'll figure it out." She tries to put on her shirt but she can't lift her left arm up all the way.

He shakes his head, helping her get dressed. "Who do you want? Scott or Tara? Or you can stay at my mom's house while I'm gone. I'll only be gone for a few weeks."

"Okay, so I'll walk around topless for a few weeks." She laughs as he just lets out an annoyed sigh.

"You don't have to be so fucking stubborn all the time." He starts to aggressively place the rest of her things in a bag.

"Chris, hey." She tries to grab his arm, but he pulls away. "I'm sorry Chris."

He turns back to face her, his face red with anger, "why did you push me out of the way?"

"Chris." She places her hands gently on his chest, "I'm sorry. I couldn't have lived with myself if something had happened to you."

He reciprocates with his hands at her waist, "and what about me?! I have to live with you like this. And what if it had been lower? What if something had happened to the baby?"

"I know. I'm sorry Chris. Take me home? Please." He lets go and doesn't say anything as he grabs her stuff and her hand. "Scott, I guess. Tara has her own family to take care of."

Chris looks down at her, bringing her hand to his lips, "thank you."

~~~

Ellie lays on her bed she shared with Chris, "I missed this bed." She leans up on her elbows, watching Chris put some stuff away. "Chris, can you help me shower?"

Chris turns to face her, he knew she was trying to distract him from being mad at her. "I thought you didn't need help?"

She stands up, able to take off her pants and underwear easily. "Fine, I'll do it alone." She tries to take off her shirt but winces.

"Oh for fucks sake, let me help you." Ellie grins as Chris gently removes her shirt. She walks into the bathroom, turning on the water, watching him undress himself. Chris watches her step cautiously into the shower, letting the water wash over her body. He could see now the hint of the bump where his baby currently was growing. He steps into the shower and places his hand delicately on her stomach. "I'm so happy Ellie."

She places her hand on his, "I know. Me too. I have an appointment next week before you leave for your reshoots."

"I'll be there. I intend to make it to every one that I can." He turns her back towards the water, "come on, let's wash your hair." He takes his time with her hair. She could never get used to how gentle his touch was when he wanted it to be. When he finished with her hair, she watched as he lathered her body with his hands. He motioned for her to sit down on the bench in the shower and he lathered her legs with cream, and shaving them. He knelt in front of her, his hands at her waist. He pulled her to the edge of the seat so he could rest his head on her chest, listening to her heart beat. She held him close to her for a while, thankful to have him. James never would have put himself in such a submissive position. She knew it was because he never truly loved her, not the way Chris did. He submitted himself to her in love. He always made sure that no matter what, that was what was most important; that they loved each other in a way neither of them had ever loved anyone, or been loved by anyone before. And so this seemingly submissive act wasn't really submissive at all, it was simply a surrender. A surrender to her. A surrender to their feelings. A surrender to their love.