Yours Truly, Austin Post - Post Malone

15

Today is another summer day and while Ava is always thankful for summer days, today she has a tight knot in her stomach. Gracie has limited time so they have to speak to and convince Austin that Gracie needs to harvest her eggs. But, she is not looking forward to Austin blowing up which is inevitable. He is not trying to be controlling, he is just scared. Ava also underestimated what Gracie said about not being able to lie or keep something from Austin. Now that they are fully plotting behind his back Gracie is a nervous wreck and the more natural she tries to act the more unnatural she looks. Austin picks up on it almost immediately and instead of asking them what they are planning he gives them both suspicious looks - they make Gracie sweat. "Stop fiddling, you are being too obvious," Ava whispers when Austin steps out of the den for a second. "I can't help it, I hate lying to him," Gracie hisses back. "You would make a terrible spy," Ava says. "Hence the reason I am not a spy, smarty pants," Gracie says. "He knows something is up, why does he not just ask if he knows you will cave?" Ava asks.

"Because he can never fight with me. He knows I drive myself crazy when I try to hide something from him so I fight with myself. That way by the time it's out he has already won the fight and never had to fight with me."

"Sneaky bugger."

"Exactly!"

"Ok, well that makes me feel a little better, no offense, but I was worried about dealing with a fighting Austin after we told him."

"Oh, he will fight with you...not me...but, you will get a tongue lashing...sorry, Ava."

Ava sighs and bites into her peach. Honestly, after seeing what she saw yesterday and Gracie being Gracie she is ready to go to war for the girl. She will gladly take a tongue-lashing from Austin if it means giving this to them. They both need it. But, her stomach does knot though.

"Why don't we just do this now? I don't think you can hold out much longer. Let's just tell him."

"Let's just tell him what?" Austin asks walking back in. Gracie groans and Ava rolls her eyes. They have no choice now. "Ok. Let's just do it," Gracie says standing. "Stay here," she says to Austin then takes Ava's hand and pulls her out. They set up the poster boards they had made then Gracie takes them all down. "This is stupid. He is going to be annoyed that we made poster boards. It is stupid that we made poster boards," Gracy says. "When you have something you want to tell him that's serious what do you normally do?" Ava asks. Gracie is overthinking this whole thing and it's making her lose her mind. "Um...I just...I just talk to him. He is always very understanding and he always listens to me till I am finished. He is a deep thinker, not an interrupter. Maybe we should just go to the doctor and get it done then I can leave a letter after I go."

"That would hurt him. If you guys do this he would want to be part of it. He would feel guilty you felt you had to do this behind his back."

"Oh, you are right. I can't do that to him."

"What if you told him you are doing it even if he says no?"

"I would not be comfortable with that."

"Just...talk to him and when you need me I will step in."

"Ok. Ok, you are right. I am just overthinking this whole thing."

Gracie cleans her face then takes a deep breath and walks back to the den with Ava behind her. Austin is sitting on the couch and looks up at them with an arched brow. "Austin. I need to have a serious conversation with you," Gracie says. Austin frowns but then nods and watches Gracie as she sits down next to her. His eyes flick to Ava then back to Gracie. "With Ava in the room?" he asks. "She is here for moral support," Gracie says then takes Austin's hands in hers.

"Now, don't be mad-"

"Aww, Gracie. What did you do?"

"Just listen...please?"

"Ok, baby...talk, I am listening."

"I told Ava about the egg freezing. I know you said you don't want to do it because you are afraid my body can not cope. But, Ava and I have done a lot of research and I know I can handle it. We have pages and pages of information about this and it's all good stories with women like me even getting pregnant and coping with it. With Ava being here we have a medical professional so we won't do this alone and any complications can be picked up straight away. I can never repay you for even half the stuff you have given me, you have made my life so wonderful. It's short but so full of happiness and love - that comes from you. I know once I am gone you will have so many people around you just loving you and supporting you. You will also have your music and I am so thankful for that. But, this silly tumor has taken so much, it's taken all our plans...all our options so I want to give you an option. You don't have to use it, but I hope you do - even if you don't I know you will find comfort in knowing this tumor did not steal everything from us. I know you are scared and I want to respect your choices as my husband, as the man I am so hopelessly in love with...but, I know you want this and I know you need this. Please let me give this to you, I want this for you with all my heart."

The room is quiet after Gracie speaks. Austin looks like he is about to explode but, he keeps very quiet and very still, his eyes on Gracie as if she just told him the world is about to end. He sucks his lips into his mouth and bites them then nods his head slowly and removes his hands from her. Then he snaps his eyes to Ava and she wishes he had not. Austin is a feelings man, he wears his heart on his sleeve - his love for Gracie pours out of him because that's just who he is but, the anger that is poring out of him towards Ava makes her skin prickle. He is furious and now Ava knows she was right to have her stomach in knots over this conversation.

"I trusted you with her and you go filling her head with this nonsense? I hoped for better from you, Ava," he says his voice in a low growl. It would have been better if he had screamed at her. "You are not very good at your job," he adds.

"Austin Post!" Gracie says and for the first time, Ava sees her brow creased in anger. Austin snaps his head to her. "I love you and thank you for caring so much for me, but, the answer to this is no. I will not put you in jeopardy. We have spoken about this before and my stance on this has not changed. So no, Grace, this will never be an option," he says then stands.

"Oh, but-"

"I need a little time to settle my anger," he says kissing the top of her head then walking out. "I can see what you mean about him not fighting with you," Ava says. Gracie turns her head to look at Ava and wipes the tears that are rolling down her cheeks. "What are you talking about? He called me Grace. That's the equivalent of him screaming at me. Once he has calmed down he will beat himself up for days for fighting with me. I feel terrible," Gracie sniffles. Ava sits down next to her and rubs her arm. "Just because you are sick does not mean he is void of normal emotions - but him calling you Grace is better than him shouting at you so that's a bonus."

"He has never been able to shout at me. Once, about a year after we got married I picked up a second job secretly so he could afford to pay for time at a recording studio. When he found out he called me Grace for the days - it was the worst fight we ever had," Gracie says. Ava pulls her into a hug, she would not be able to shout at Gracie either so she can understand Austin's dilemma. "We will talk to him again when he has calmed down," she says trying to soothe her. "I am afraid not, Ava, it's done now...it just is what it is," Gracie sniffles.

Austin comes in a little while later but is broody and quiet. When Gracie says something to him he speaks to her but, calls her Grace. He's gentle and loving to her but, reserved. He also does not acknowledge Ava for the rest of the day - they are both in his bad books and although Ava had knots in her stomach all morning at the thought of Austin shouting and fighting at her, his silent anger is much worse.