Miss You More (A Joey McIntyre/Jordan Knight Fanfiction)

50

"Amber, baby, I've never been so happy to see those gorgeous brown eyes. You really scared the shit out of me. Please don't ever do that again."

Amber gives him a smile. She feels okay, despite everything she's been through. She's tired but not in any pain. "I promise I won't do it again Joe. How's Joey?"

Joe sits next to her on the bed and takes her hand. "Joey's fine, he's with your parents out in the waiting room. He was sleeping when I left him. Babe, I'm so sorry. I should have been there."

"Joe, stop that. This is not your fault and you being home wouldn't have changed anything. How's Sam?"

He can't believe she's asking how Sam's doing, she needs to just worry about herself and getting better. "Sam's fine. How are you feeling? Do you need me to do anything?"

Amber smiles at him. "Can you bring Joey to me? I want him to see that I'm okay. He must have been so scared. I remember his scared little face, then everything went black." Amber begins to cry and Joe pulls her into his arms. He's telling her Joey's fine and stroking her hair when he hears Jordan's voice.

"Amber? Sweetheart?"

Joe and Amber look over at Jordan. He looks like he's about to cry. "Hey Pops. I'm fine, stop looking at me like that." She smiles to reassure him.

"And the baby?"

"Pops, your grandson is doing just fine too. As a matter of fact he started kicking as soon as you came in. I think he knows your voice. Come feel." Jordan smiles and quickly moves over to Amber's side. Joe kisses Amber and heads out to get Joey while she has a moment with her Dad.

Amber's ecstatic to see Joey. He curls up in her arms and falls right back to sleep as Amber quietly sings to him.

Jordan pulls Joe out into the hallway once he knows for sure Amber's okay. "Goddammit Joe what the fuck happened? And where the hell were you?"

Joe begins to tell him everything but as soon as the name Sam escaped his lips Jordan cut him off. "Sam? You were with Sam while your wife nearly bled out at home with your son watching? Are you fucking kidding me? That bitch is going to be the death of your wife and your marriage if you're not careful."

Jordan doesn't wait to hear what Joe has to say, he just turns and goes back to his daughters side. He does start to feel a little bad when he sees how upset Joe is when he comes back into the room.

The doctor comes in and tells them he wants to keep Amber overnight just to make sure everything is good. She reluctantly agrees. When her parents offer to take Joey home with them Amber says, "No. Joe I think you should take Joey home with you."

Joe shakes his head. "No way. I'm staying here with you babe."

"No. Joe he needs to be at home, with his Dad. He needs to be in his own bed. I want him to feel comfortable and not to worry. And if we're both away from again he'll worry. I'll get Pops to stay with me." She looked at Jordan and he nodded. "See, I'll be in good hands tonight. Please take our son home and I'll see you both tomorrow. He needs you tonight babe. I'll be fine."

Joe quietly agrees. Jordan picks Joey up from the bed and moves so Joe can sit next to Amber. He leans down and kisses her gently on the lips. He closes his eyes and rests his forehead against hers. "I love you so much Amber."

Amber kisses him again. "I love you too Joe. I'll see you in the morning. Make sure Joey knows I'm fine okay?"

Joe kisses her once more and takes Joey from Jordan.

Amber's parents leave shortly after Joe. Leaving Amber and Jordan alone.

"Well baby girl you sure do know how to scare the hell out of this old man."

Amber smiles at her Dad, seeing it in his eyes how worried he truly was. "Pops, I'm so sorry for scaring you, but I'm fine now. I was stupid to think I could still pick up Joey or move around heavy luggage. It was really dumb of me to do that without Joe's help."

Jordan shakes his head. "It was more than just that baby girl. It was all the stress Sam has been putting you through. I really wish you'd see that. You don't need so much stress in your life. You need to be relaxed and calm, but with Sam in your lives that's not ever going to happen. Joe needs to see that and cut that bitch loose."

Amber knows her Dad is just trying to look out for her. But he seems to be forgetting one small detail, the baby Sam is carrying. "Look Pops I appreciate you trying to look out for me. But no matter what stress it causes me, she's having Joe's baby too. He can't just cut her loose. You should know better than anyone how kids keep you in situations that aren't necessarily good for you. You've stayed with Evelyn how long because of Dante and Eric? I know you've stayed with her 3 years for those boys, all the time being in love with Andi. How is your situation any different?"

Jordan looks down, "It just is Amber."

"Tell me how it's different Pops!"

Jordan looks her in the eyes now. "Because it's not killing anyone involved. This situation Joe's gotten you into with Sam is literally killing you. It's got to change."

Amber wants to argue with Jordan but maybe he's right. Maybe their situation is causing her too much stress. Amber's mind begins to race, all the times Sam upset her starts running through her mind. And it hits her, like a punch to the gut. Jordan's right. But how could she ever ask Joe to choose? Truth is, she couldn't. She could never do that to him. So it's up to her. She's got to choose for him.

And right then she breaks her own heart.