Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 63 - Forever

Sorry it took me so long to update - chaotic life! This is a longer chapter than normal to make up for my absence! Let me know in your comments if it was worth the wait!

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Bam placed the last of the groceries in the back of October's truck and closed the tail gate. He returned the shopping cart to the corral and headed back to where October was picking up a few things from the pharmacy. She met him outside the front doors. She shielded her eyes from the sun and flashed him a smile that nearly made his heart stop. He took the shopping bag from her and linked his hand with hers. "Are you hungry?"
She laughed and rubbed her stomach with her free hand. "I'm starving. How did you know?"
Bam grinned as the sun glinted off his glasses. "Just a hunch." He teased. "Come on. I'll take you out for dinner."
October moved both her hands up to hug around his bicep. "You mean like a date?" She said as they fell instep together down the sidewalk.
Bam shrugged. "Yeah, sure. Like a date." He replied, pleased at her happiness.
"You know," she said thoughtfully. "You've never taken me on a date before."
Bam chuckled and pulled her closer to his side. "Well I guess this will be our first date then."
They agreed on Vietnamese restaurant October knew about in the area. There was a bit of a wait for a table but October promised it was worth the time. The low autumn sun still shone warm and they waited on a bench outside the front doors of the restaurant to be called. "Oh, I almost forgot." October exclaimed and reached inside her purse for something. She produced a white envelope and pressed it into his chest. "This is for you." Then she closed her bag and stood up. "I have to go find the washroom. Be right back." She disappeared into the building.
Bam opened the envelope she had given him and caught his breath. Inside was a copy of the sonogram from earlier that afternoon.  He held it close to his face to study it. No cloven hooves or horns growing out the forehead. No forked tongue or spaded tail. Proof that his baby wasn't demon spawn, as October had claimed to him that morning.
An elderly gentleman took the empty seat beside him. "Yours?" He asked as he pointed to the photo. Bam nodded, still not used to the idea. "Congratulations!" He chuckled. "You are in for one hell of a ride." Bam turned away from the photo to look at the man. He had kind eyes that crinkled in the corners and a grandfatherly smile. "Your first?" Bam nodded again. The old man leaned back against the bench and sighed. "My first baby was born thirty six years ago." He gestured towards a blonde woman walking towards their bench. "That one is just like her mother, she is." Then he held his hand out to Bam. "Name's Reggie."
"I'm Bam." He smiled and accepted his handshake. "Is your wife here, too?"
"No." Reggie shook his head. "Lost my Emily-Anne four years ago last summer."
"I'm sorry."
"Ah, we had many good years together. How long you been married?"
Bam dropped his gaze. "We're not married."
The man chuckled and leaned in closer. "Said no, did she?" Bam looked up in surprise. He expected to see judgment in the old man's eyes. It wasn't there.
"I didn't ask her." Bam confided.
Reggie's eyebrows shot up. "What are you waiting for? Some kind of sign?" Bam shrugged. Reggie picked the photo up off Bam's lap and waved it in front of him. "Here's your sign, boy!"
"Dad!" The blonde woman sat down on the other side of the man and scoffed at him. She looked at Bam and smiled. "Is my father bothering you?"
Bam laughed heartily. "No Ma'am. We were just talking."
Just then a little girl with braids ran up to them very excited. "Momma!" She exclaimed, short of breath. "There's a lady on the floor in the washroom!"
Bam was off the bench and tearing down the hall before her sentence was finished. Not even caring if anyone else was inside, he burst into the ladies' room and yelled October's name.
"I'm here." She answered weakly. She held onto the wall with both hands for support. 
Bam strode over to her and slid his arms around her waist. He pulled her in close to his body so that her cheek rested against his chest. She turned her face up to his and leaned against him for support. "I fainted again." She murmured, her eyes unfocused.
"Again?" He questioned, the alarm in his voice apparent. "This has happened before?"
She closed her eyes and took a tremulous breath. "Yes, last week, at home." She replied. "I just need something to eat and maybe some tea."
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, trying to quell his temper. Her quiet answer cut him to the bone. "You weren't here."
Bam's guilt re-doubled. She was right. He hadn't been there for her at all. He bent down to slip one arm under her knees and picked her up fully into his arms. He carried her out of the washroom, out of the restaurant and sat down on the nearest bench.

"I'm okay." She whispered, a little embarrassed that he had carried her down the street.

He left her briefly to get her something to eat, then watched her carefully as she ate every bite in silence.  October felt very self-conscious as she consumed her meal under his watchful eye. She could see a storm brewing in his blue depths, but she didn't say anything.

On a bench across the way, Bam saw Reggie with his granddaughter. "Grandpa, can we go for ice cream?" Reggie stole a glance from his daughter and sighed. "What did your momma say?"

The little girl pouted. "Momma said it would spoil my dinner."

Reggie pulled the little girl closer and whispered loudly. "In that case, I say yes, let's go for ice cream."

"Dad!" Reggie's daughter admonished. "What about your diabetes?"

He lovingly scowled at her. "Aw, I'll only have one scoop." He bent his head to whisper loudly to the little girl "Of each flavor!" The little girl giggled and clapped her hands. 

He turned his attention back to October. "Feeling better?" He asked, his voice strained.

"Yes, much. Thank you." She gave him a small smile. "Shall we go?" Bam slid across the bench closer to link his arms around her.

"I'm fine, Bam. I can walk." Her comments fell on deaf ears as she felt herself being lifted off the bench and carried towards her truck. He didn't bother to open the passenger side for her, instead he opened the driver's side door and lifted her into the truck. She moved over enough for him to get in and close the door. He slid one arm around her waist while he started the motor. "That was unnecessary." she blurted. "You can let me go."

Bam's grip tightened around her waist and he set his mouth in a straight line. "No." He said simply. "This has gone on far too long. I'm never letting you go again."

October swung her gaze around to look at his face. It was full of determination and tenderness. Bam slipped his hand up to the back of her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. "I've been stupid. I've been an ass and I've been acting exactly like my father." October's eyes widened, yet she said nothing. "I don't want to control you. I don't like that I can't control my temper." he continued. "I don't like that I haven't been here for you through everything." He continued. "I don't want that."

October nodded and found her voice. "What do you want?" The hope that had been locked deep inside her heart for the past six months began to blossom in her chest.

"I want show you and the baby how much I love you in the right way. I want to be a good man and a good father. I want to be here for you and the baby." His eyes filled with tears. "I want you, October." He moved his hands down to caress her burgeoning stomach. "And everything that comes with you."

A little nagging voice of skepticism reared it's ugly head and October gave voice to it. "For how long, Bam? Are you going to leave me, leave us, as soon as the next TV contract is offered?"

Bam closed his eyes, causing a few tears to spill onto his cheeks. He shook his head. "For as long as you'll have me. You and baby are now and always will be my first priority. I'm sorry it took me too long to figure it out. I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you - and our child - how much I love you. Please just don't go away from me. My heart couldn't take it again."

"Forever, Bam." she put her hand up to brush away his tears. "I, we want you forever."

October slid her hand to the nape of his neck and he covered her mouth with his. In all the world, there had never been a sweeter kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue and a small sigh escaped her mouth. She broke away from him to bury her face into his neck only to whisper huskily in his ear. "Bam, take me home." Bam pulled away far enough to look into her eyes. They shone at him with love and unshed tears. Over her shoulder he saw a movement that caught his attention. Reggie stood on the corner ice cream in one hand giving Bam a thumbs up with the other. Bam grinned and waved, then turned back to October. "Let's go home."