Love Is A Battlefield (Alan Wilder x Martin Gore)

14: Will I Always Be Here

A month and a half later, February 2nd, 1994, the stage:

"Five minute break and we're back on for the encore, everyone!" Juli announced as the band retreated the stage. "Last of this debarkle for quite a while, I imagine, so let's give it all we got!"

She watched as Dave speedwalked to his dressing room and decided to catch up with him briefly.

"Hey, slow down, you. You wanna watch it, being pregnant."

"Sorry, Juli, I'm just ready to get this show and tour over with." Dave sighed back, putting a hand to his stomach.

"I certainly don't blame you. You all must be shattered, especially you. I know you're not that far along but even so, it's important to take it easy. Even if that means waddling around like Martin at the end of the Black Celebration tour." She reflected and giggled.

"Well, I'm only four months so I hope I don't start waddling for a little while yet." He too laughed.

Juli was about to reply when suddenly Dave's face dropped and he tightened his grip on his stomach, keeping one hand on the wall for balance.

"Oomf,"

"You okay?" She asked with concern, placing her hand onto his shoulder.

"Yeah, I just got this weird feeling." Dave looked down and then back up at her.

The unfamiliar feeling took hold once again.

"GOD, what is that?"

"I have no clue, mate. What does it feel like?"

"Like... Like, popcorn kernels popping, almost. Kind of." He struggled to describe what he felt. "Wait,"

"What is it?"

"I think- I think it might be the baby moving." He said with a shocked look on his face.

"You really think so?" Juli smiled back.

"Yeah, yeah, I think it is. It feels... Odd. But amazing."

"I can't believe I'll have three little helpers by August; I can barely remember when I had none!" She brought him into a hug.

"It's still baffling to me that I'm growing my own little person. Who I'll get to take home and keep forever. I can't wait."

"I can't wait for you! God, would you look at the time already?" His touring agent exclaimed, checking her watch. Ought to get back onstage."

Together they walked back over to the stage steps, where Martin already stood.

As he and his bandmates awaited their entrance to the stage, Dave looked down a final time at his still quaint but growing baby bump. Each day was one day closer to seeing the face of the child who blossomed inside of him. His child. Now, he knew that they were what he wanted. And they were all he could think about.

~~~~~
Two months later, April 14th, 3:36pm, the house:

Life was grand, having returned to normality almost as though the year long tour had never taken place. In the present time, Poppi and Esme were on their break from school and kindergarten for the Easter season. The family had spent each day taking time to rest and recuperate following the ending of the tour, in each other's serene company.

"That was a lovely film, wasn't it, girls?" Alan reached for the television remote when the end credits of the motion picture they had been watching began to roll.

"Yeah, I really enjoyed it, Daddy!" His seven year old replied with a stretch.

"Can we watch another one?" His four year old added, brushing her hair with her fingers.