Newsies One Shots

Ben Cook { Don't Leave }

"SO THAT'S IT." I screamed, starting at my boyfriend, Ben, stand next to the door with 2 suitcases, "YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE?"

He ruffled through his hair, pacing back and forth, "Nicole, what do you want from me?

Tears stung the back of my eyes, "I want you to stay. I want you to look at me the way you used to. I want you to tell me that you l-love me." Silently, he put on his jacket, "Ben, please stay."

Placing his hand on the doorknob, he sighed, "We've been together for 8 years. We both know this wasn't going to last forever.

I sat down, the tears streaming out of eyes as I twisted my engagement ring around my finger, "No, Ben. I thought this was going to last. You told me that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me!"

Ben's voice rose, "Well some things change." He took a glimpse at me, avoiding making eye contact with me.

"Ben, please. Don't leave." I begged, grabbing onto his hand. He brushed me away, a single tear leaving his eye. The door opened, and he paused. Shaking his head, it slammed shut.

I slid down the door, placing a hand on my stomach. I should've told him, but if he didn't love me anymore, then I wouldn't want to use the baby as a way to make him stay. He'll find out someday.

Calling my best friend, Ali, I cried into the phone, "Can you please come over? Ben just left."

There was a knock on our apartment door 20 minutes later.

"Ali, I'm pregnant."

A hand shot over her mouth, "Nicole, are you serious?!" Ali smiled sympathetically, engulfing me in a much needed hug.

Soon after, I erupted into tears again. I guess this is going to become a regular thing for me now. I'm a 24 year old, single, pregnant loser in New York City, who's ex-fiancé is flying to London to be in the West End Production of The Book Of Mormon.

"Are you going to tell him?" Ali asked as I ate away my sorrows with Chinese food.

Shaking my head, I said, "No. I can't tell him. He doesn't love me, so the last thing he would want is a baby."

"You can't just keep something like this from him."

"Yes I can."

"Nicole, this isn't the best idea."

I sighed, "Why exactly should I tell him, Ali? He broke my heart, and I don't want him to break our kid's too."

~ ~ ~

"Congratulations." The doctor said, handing me my little girl, "You're a mom.

A tear slid down my cheek as I looked at my sleeping daughter. She was the most beautiful human being I have ever seen; if only Ben could be here to meet her.

Stephanie came in with a huge smile on her lips, "Nicole! She is so beautiful, congrats! What's her name?"

I smiled, "Stephanie, meet Ellie."

She held Ellie for a while, sitting next to my bed. I was exhausted; I was fast asleep as soon as I laid my head back.

Stephanie rubbed my shoulder, "Nicole, I have to get to rehearsal."

I nodded, "Ok, see ya. Thanks for coming." She placed my little girl into my arms, and I stared at her for what felt like hours. I can't believe that she is finally here.

Looking up, I saw Ben standing limp in the doorway of my hospital room. His eyes were red and puffy, and his cheeks stained with tears.

"Ben? What are you doing here?"

He walked slowly over to the bed, and looked at his daughter, tears escaping freely from his eyes, "Josh called. I got on the next flight back here."

Reluctantly, I handed her to Ben after he sat down, "Ellie, this is your daddy."

"Ellie?" He smiled, kissing her forehead, still crying. I nodded, "I told you that I wanted a daughter named Ellie."

"I remember." I sighed happily.

After holding her for a while, Ben put her in the small crib they left next to my bed.

Blankly, he stared at the floor, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Ben, I don't really want to ta-" I started.

He cut me off, "Nicole, we need to talk about this. I can't believe you would keep this from me!"

"Why can't you believe it, Ben?" I started to get worked up again. He left, not me. This wasn't my fault. "You called off our wedding, and moved to London without me! What part of that would make me think you wanted to have anything to do with her?"

"She's my daughter too!"

"Why should I let you have any custody?" I shot back at him, causing his eyes to fall.

"Nicole, I love you."

What did he just say. Shaking my head, I turned away from him, "No, Ben. No fucking way. You cannot just come back saying that you love me after I don't hear from you for 8 months. You left, and you're just going to have to deal with that."

He stood up, pacing.

"C-can you please leave?" I stuttered.

He looked back at me, his eyes watery, "I'm sorry, Nicole. I wish I could've been there for you."