Fate || BENNIFER

Going So Fast

Jennifer's P.O.V

It was a great end to a great week, but I wasn't just happy about the performance, I had been on a cloud since the release of Live It Up. Not even the thought of it being my last stage in a while could make me feel sad at the moment. But I knew I would miss the feeling, the jitters, the adrenaline. The costume was unbelievably cute, with a short skirt that would only be revealed after removing part of the first outfit, and a pair of boots that had the sexy touch I loved for my shows. I had a little help to get into the tight fabric, but the struggle was worth it because the final look exceeded my expectations.

Ryan was the first to come by and say hi before the last touch-ups. I hadn't seen him since the end of the previous season of American Idol, so it was nice having a moment to catch up with him before going out there. After him, others came in to wish me luck, including Randy, who was so nice to give me a bouquet of flowers. None of them knew the reason why I hadn't come back for the season, and of course they asked, but I still felt like I needed to keep it as private as possible for a little longer. Pitbull was the last person I got to talk to before our performance, and it was right before his cue to go on stage.

I heard his part from my position, where the lights were off and no one could see me. The steps behind the setup took me right under the spotlight just in time to make a grand entrance. I enjoyed every second.

A week after the last performance, I was lying on a picnic blanket in the backyard. The gentle sun of the afternoon warmed my skin, and the soft spring breeze was so relaxing that my mind started to drift away when my eyes closed under the clear blue sky of California. I was comfortable in that moment of utter peace. Only the sudden child squeals and barking could make me come back after what felt like a fleeting second.

I opened my eyes and gazed up into the face of the man I loved. Ben's expression was soft, tender. He stroked his nose against mine, bearing his weight on his elbow as he lay next to me. In the background I heard their laughs, running freely and happily after Lola, their new puppy. It was a magical sound. I had to get onto my elbows to watch them play.

Ben took his phone out of his pocket, and that didn't seem important, until his face changed radically.

"Shit..." He said in a coarse voice.

"What's wrong?" I asked turning to him.

"Don't freak out." He kept a soothing voice.

"You can't tell me not to freak out and actually expect me not to freak out." I sat up on the blanket.

"Page six." He sighed.

"Shit..." I closed my eyes. "What does it say?"

"Headline... 'Jennifer Lopez's suspicious bump amid rumors of reunion and romance rekindling with ex Ben Affleck.'" He read.

"No..." I murmured.

"The possibility of a baby on the way only grew after her performance on American Idol." He continued.

"I should've seen this coming." I said shaking my head.

"It was first rumored when during an outing of the couple, the singer wore a rather tight shirt that turned out to be too revealing. The actor later lent her a plaid shirt to try and cover what had already been seen." He finished.

"So... I guess it's official, the world knows." I said in a defeated tone.

"How does that make you feel?" He asked rubbing my back.

"Like being naked in front of a crowd." I answered. "Exposed and vulnerable."

"I'm here." He said grabbing my hand.

"Good, cause the thought of you leaving is more than I can handle." I gave him a lopsided smile.

"I can't wait to have this baby with you." He rubbed his thumb on my hand.

"I feel like it's going so fast..." My other hand was on my belly. "Could you imagine having another set of twins?"

His jaw dropped open, and after closing his eyes, he pretended to faint on the blanket in a funny way, making me completely forget why I was upset. He took advantage of a moment of distraction to pull my wrist and make me fall next to him. Playfully, he started tickling me. My laugh caught the attention of Emme and Max, and they didn't hesitate to join the party.