Love Is A Crazy Thing

twEnTy SevEN

Tears brim my eyes as my face is buried in my hands. I flinch away from Christian's touch.

"How could you do this to me? To us? Liam is a baby."

He tries to get closer, but I scoot further away from him. My red eyes must match my four month belly because he suddenly looks remorseful of his actions.

"You have to understand--."

"What is there to understand?" I screech, my entire face red. "You kissed another woman at a bar, when drunk, because you thought she was me. It seems simple." Fat tears fall in a constant stream. "No matter how intoxicated I am I would know who my husband is."

"Everyone thought it was you! She had short blonde hair and blue fucking eyes. In the dark place she looked like you. How many times do I have to say I'm sorry? It's been weeks."

I furiously wipe my tears away. "You act like it's not hard to forgive you. It's pretty damn hard when every man I've ever been with has cheated. A kiss is still cheating, CC."

He drops to his knees, a red glaze to his eyes. "No, no. Baby. Don't say that. I'm Christian, please baby--."

Angel, wake up.

Baby, wake up.

WAKE UP!

I jolt to a sitting position. I rub my eyes clear of sleep to see Christian holding Liam. The blanket falls to my lap, exposing the rounding four month belly I now wear.

He chuckles at me. "You okay?" I wipes a piece of hair from my face before dipping in to give me a morning kiss. "Did you have a bad dream?" I run a hand through my hair.

"Yeah, again." He pouts at my frown. Liam gurgles, snapping me right out of my sadness. "Hi, my love!" I take Liam from my husband's arms and press several kisses to his cheeks. "Did you give Daddy a rough time?"

Christian scoffs. The bed shakes when he flops down beside me. "Rough isn't the word for what he did to me. He peed on my shirt again." Liam grasps my finger while I rock him.

"You have to be quick, babe," I giggle and place a small kiss on his cheek. "Did you eat?" His hopeful eyes defiantly mean no. "Would you like pancakes?" A smile curves his lips. With a smile of my own I slowly get up. I set Liam in his bassinet beside the couch. While I mix the batter for the breakfast, Christian wraps a robe around my naked body. I look back. "Thank you."

He then opens the door to his friends. I don't know why he insists I cover up anymore. Those guys have walked in on me naked hundreds of times.

Good thing I made too much batter. Liam gurgles while Ashley holds him. While the pancakes cook the doorbell rings. Since everyone else is playing some game I answer it.

A girl with black hair and very familiar brown eyes stands before me. Her hands are shaky and her eyes widen when she sees me. "Uh-Oh-Um-Gah--."

"Hi, I'm Angel," I cut off her stutters. She shakes my out stretched hand, gazing at it like it's God himself. I cross my arms over my chest, suddenly self conscious. "Do you need something?"

"I-I-I'm Chloe Masterson." This time I look at her like she's a supernatural being. "L-Liam's birther." Christian stands behind me, equally astonished. "I just came by to say you're welcome. I'm happy he's with you."

"I thought--." Christian stops himself from asking the question we're both thinking. Didn't you kill yourself?

"I couldn't do it." And that's when the waterworks start. I pull the stranger teenage girl for a hug. "I'm moving to Belgium, my aunt lives there. I got emancipated yesterday. It's just too hard being in California. When people asked where my baby was the bullying got worse and--."

"I get it," I soothe. "It's hard being bullied. So here's what I have to say to you, Chloe--." I pull back so I can look her in the eye. "You moving to Belgium isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of bravery. Instead of staying and keeping this sadness pent up you are being responsible. You telling your grandparents about everything going on and moving to keep yourself save is pretty damn brave. Wait a second."

I slip past Christian to the living room. I grab a paper and pen before scribbling what I need down and grab Liam. Chloe's eyes bug out when she sees Liam. "Here, hold him for the last time." I slip the wide awake baby into her unsure arms. "And this is a check for two thousand dollars. No need to be with your aunt. Rent an apartment of your own. Get that job you promised to the judge and just be happy."

She shakes her head and passes Liam back. "I could never take from you--."

"It's the least I could do. You gave me a baby." My smile causes her to smile. Her shaky hands grab the check. She glances at it before bursting into teats again.

"Thank you so much!" She wails, wrapping her arms around herself. "Not for the money, well yeah for the money, but also for taking Liam. He'll love you so much, just do one thing for me."

"Anything," Christian says in a heartbeat.

Chloe wipes her tears before locking eyes with me. "Tell him I didn't give him away, I just handed him over to his rightful parents." I bite my bottom lip, trying to hold back tears of my own.

Christian rubs my arms as I lean against his chest. "Can do." A car honking has the three of us looking to the street. A similar looking boy sits at the drivers seat.

I hold Liam to my chest in the cool December air. Chloe steps forward and bravely pulls me in for a hug. She places a lingering kiss on Liam's forehead. "T-That's my brother. I have to go. . ."

So she goes.

➖✖➖

The air is thick as the guys watch me sob into my hands. I shouldn't be crying, I've been through this before. It's only for a few months. When the baby is born he'll be back.

Christian pries my hands away from my sticky face. "Baby, going on tour now will ensure I get back for the birth. I had to beg management to let us tour now instead of summer. Please don't cry. I promise to be back in four months." He presses a long kiss to my puckered lips. "I love you."

"I love you." Liam wails in the other room. Andy excuses himself to get my son for me while I pull Christian into a death gripped hug. "I'm going to miss you so much, baby."

He pulls back so he can push the hair from my face. He leans in and places one final kiss on my lips.

"I'm going to miss you even more, Angel. Take care of Liam and yourself while I'm gone, okay?"

Andy sets Liam The Red Faced Baby in my arms as everyone collects their baggage. My tearful eyes watch my husband leave for four months.