Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 106 - Thirteen

This chapter is dedicated to @jdollar
I can't make the Wattpad dedication thingy work this week.
_____________________

Bam let himself into the main cabin as quietly as he could. He moved swiftly through the living room to the kitchen where he filled the kettle at the sink and set it on the burner to heat. As he busied himself finding tea bags and tea cups, he didn't notice Amber descend the stairs and rest her hip against the island. He leaned back against the counter, facing the stove and waited for the water. She watched him with his back to her for a moment before she spoke.
"A watched pot never boils." She murmured.
Bam turned his head to glance over his shoulder. "That's an old wive's tale." He scoffed good-naturedly.
"October feeling badly this morning?" She asked in a hushed tone. Bam nodded. "Was she like this with Isabella?"
"So she told me. I wasn't there for it. I only witnessed it once." He replied.
"Still beating yourself up over that?"
"Nah, I've got new reasons now."
"You're very hard on yourself. Do you realize that you hold yourself to a higher standard than those around you? A standard that is impossible to achieve."
"Nothing's impossible." Bam interjected.
"You speak as if you know of such things."
"Thirteen percent isn't impossible." Bam volunteered.
Amber let out a small gasp. "How did this conversation so quickly become about me?" She and Matt had had another argument last night. He wanted to go ahead with the wedding and she was digging in her heels. It broke her heart every time he brought the subject up. How could she ever look him in the eye again knowing that he had given up his dream of having children just to be with her? If she truly cared that much about him, she really should leave. Leave Browntown, leave the island. Perhaps even leave Alaska all together. Let Matt find somebody else who can give him the babies that he wants and the family that he deserves.
Yet, the thought of Matt even looking at another woman the way he looked at her was akin to putting her heart in an iron fist and squeezing until she couldn't breathe. If she left him to return to Seattle, Matt's blue eyes would haunt her with every step she took further away from him.
Last night she went so far as to try to give him his ring back, which he'd refused and then made love to her until they both cried.
Bam turned to lean his elbows on the countertop and looked at her. "It's easier than talking about me."
Amber shrugged, unconvinced. "If you could just share some of that magic you have with me."
Bam's lips twitched. "Well geez Amber, you're really not my type." He cracked.
Amber rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean that kind of magic." She smacked him on the shoulder. "Perv." Bam chuckled.
A comfortable silence befell them. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly, Bam stood abruptly, causing the teacups before him to rattle on their saucers. He reached behind his neck and unfastened the corded necklace October had gifted him. He held it out for Amber. "I want you to have this."
Amber stared at the smooth bone pendant laying across his palm and then up at his face. "Why?" She replied simply.
Bam raised his chin and cast her a sidelong glance. "It's for good luck and fertility." He then proceeded to recite the Maori legend that October had told him two Christmases ago when she first gave it to him.
Amber accepted he necklace, put it over head and dropped the pendant inside the front of her tshirt.
"Thank you, Bam. I hope it works." She said softly, then added. "For Matt's sake."
Bam shook his head. "For yours." He replied. "For both of you."
She pointed at the stove over his shoulder. "Your kettle is boiling."
Bam swiped the kettle off the stove-top and poured boiling water into an insulated carafe. He tucked a handful of tea bags into his pocket, picked up the carafe in one hand and the stack of tea mugs in the other. He walked over to the door and stuffed his feet into his unlaced boots. "Open the door please, will you?" He nodded his head at Amber.
Amber smiled. "Thanks Bam." She called after him as he hurried down the steps to the trapper shack.
Back inside the main cabin she refilled the kettle and set it back on the heat. The soft click of the door opening and closing again at the top of the stairs alerted her that someone else was up. Since Rainy didn't usually emerge from her bedroom until at least eight, Amber knew that it must be Matt. 
She could tell by the sound of his feet hitting the rough-hewn treads that he was barefoot. She kept her head down, concentrating on wiping the water spots off the counter and refusing to look straight at him. Out of the corner of her eye she could see he was shirtless. His jeans were slung low on his waist and not even done up. He obviously had nothing on underneath. His hair was such a tousled mess that she had to suppress a smile.
"Hey, I woke up alone. What are you doing out of bed?" He asked softly.
She shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. I thought I'd get started on breakfast. Bam was just in to make tea so everyone else will probably be up soon."
Matt padded across the floor to stand on the opposite side of the island that stood between them. He watched her as she busied herself with gathering the makings of the meal, all the while refusing to turn her eyes his way. He never said a word as she placed a bowl on the counter and began to peel potatoes. Finally, he walked around the side of the kitchen and laid his hand gently on her arm, stopping her ministrations. "Please," he begged. "Will you just look at me?"
She did. She knew her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from her crying the night before. When she looked up at him, his eyes mirrored her own.
"I can't give you what you want, Matt." She whispered. Hot tears pricked the back of her eyes again. Matt took the knife from her hand and set it in the sink.
"Maybe so, but you can give me what I need." He cradled her face between his hands. "I need you, Amber." His voice broke.
A tear slid down her cheek before he wiped it away with his fingertip. "It's hopeless Matt. I can't get pregnant."
Matt rested his forehead against hers. "It's not hopeless. Without you, I have nothing. Together, we have thirteen percent."

_____________________
My Dear Lovelies,

So I got two part-time jobs that start next week: YAY!
Because the current economy sucks: BOO!
My story is starting to get pretty intense: YAY!
And now I won't have as much time to write because of work: BOO!
But I will never abandon you, my Lovelies and I will do my best to update once a week: YAY!

XOX -PC