The End

Chapter 55: Unconditional Love

Ellen grabbed her round belly with a wince. From across the room she felt Patrick's eyes on her. She glanced up to his concerned expression. With a small wave she tried to dismiss it. He shook his head, unconvinced.

"Action," the director called.

Meredith walked along side Derek, making her way down the hospital corridor before stopping.  Ellen's words were on the tip of her tongue but it was a beat slower than they'd rehearsed. Patrick caught it.

He watched a flicker of pain cross her eyes. And without second thought, Derek was gone. "Hey guys," he called, breaking the scene,"Can we break for lunch?"

"Patrick," Ellen shot him a look that could kill. "It's fine." She turned to the closest crew around her,  "I'm fine."

He lowered his voice in hopes to keep her Scorpio at bay, "You're not fine. You're 8 1/2 months pregnant. This is a lot..."

The crew nodded and started to move toward putting production on hold. Ellen looked around, "I'm fine." A fire started to burn inside of her. She looked back at him, "I don't need you to set limits for me!" His attempt didn't work.

"I'm not setting a limit," Patrick tried to touch her shoulder, she shrugged him off.

"No?" She eyed him again.

"I'm just trying to take care of you."

"I can take care of myself," her voice was sharp.

Michael popped his head in the conversation, "I do think this is a good stopping point. We'll pick up in an hour."

"Of course," Ellen tossed her hands in the air and stormed off the set.

She made it just outside the soundstage before a PA tried to stop her. "I can drive you." The young PA gestured to the golf cart at the door.

"I can walk," she held up her hand and pushed past her down the alley. The young woman didn't press it any further.

A wave of emotion washed over her. He was right, she was absolutely exhausted. 

The Braxton Hicks contractions were more intense than ever, enough that they were starting  to make her nervous. She was barely sleeping. Constantly hungry yet a few bites of food left her painfully bloated. Everything hurt. Especially her feet which she had opted to overuse in order to save face.

And then there was Chris.

He'd spent the summer chasing bimbos and blowing her hard earned money, leaving her to carry everything else. And no matter how badly she wanted to, she had no right to rely on Patrick.  She was completely alone.

The sound of a golf cart driving up next to her dissolved her self-pity. "Please get in," he hovered next to her. She didn't turn to look at him, "You're right. I should have asked you if you needed a break." his eyes were sincere, "I'm sorry."

She huffed, "Fine."

Ellen sat in the passenger seat beside him. Patrick didn't speak. He simply drove, the breeze challenging the late summer heat, blowing her hair away from her face.

"Where are you going?" Ellen asked him as they passed the trailers.

"Somewhere quiet," he said softly.

He drove to the far end of the parking lot, where the lush greenery seemed spill over the studio fence. A large tree casting a wide shadow over the secluded corner. He parked there in the shade.