Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold)

There's nothing here for me on this barren road

Natalie couldn't help but feel nervous as she led Brian up the stairs to her condo, hoping to god her nosey neighbor, Mrs. Greely wasn't home but no such luck. Right as they walked past her door it shot open, Natalie swore the woman stood at the peep hole all day just watching and waiting. "Well, well, well you have a male visitor" she stated, her voice harsh and ragged from years of smoking "What happened to what's his name?" Natalie cringed and secretly thought about telling Mrs. Greely to shut the fuck up. "His name is Sam...and him and I are no longer a couple Mrs. Greely, we haven't been for a while" she stated, looking at Brian to make sure he understood...Brian seemed to have a slightly amused look on his face. "Well that's good then because I'd hate to see pretty boy here get his nose broken." Brian had to bite back laughter, he was neither a pretty boy or one who loses fights but this old lady looked as loony as they came so he just brushed it off. "It was nice to see you Mrs. Greely!" Natalie called out over her shoulder, pulling Brian along by the hand towards her front door.

"I'm sorry about that" she apologized as she kicked the front door shut "She's a nosey old biddy and I'm afraid you're going to be the newest gossip around here for a while." Brian just chuckled as he kicked off his boots and tossed his sunglasses onto the entry table "Well maybe we should give her something to gossip about" he teased with a wink, enjoying the look of shock on Natalie's face. "Um...I'm gonna go lay Bryleigh down but then I can show you to your room...or you can just look around if you want" Natalie's stammering was a cute attribute he thought as he watched her walk down the hall towards what he assumed was the bedrooms. He wasn't sure what had possessed him to say that to her but he had a feeling that the longer they were around each other, the more flirtatious he was going to get and right now he couldn't decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He walked over to a large frame she had hanging on the wall and began inspecting all the photographs inside, realizing that the majority of them were Bryleigh, and why wouldn't they be? He found himself staring at one in particular of Natalie lying in a hospital bed holding Bryleigh with Ava by her side, smiling. It was obviously taken after Bryleigh was born due to the worn out look on Natalie's face and Brian felt a twinge of guilt sneak up his back. Had he known about her before hand he would have been in that picture...or would he? He continued scanning the frame, watching Bryleigh grow in various pictures and realizing that even from the start she looked just like him...he had been so stupid to even think he could deny her. Brian's eyes landed on a group shot of him and the band with the girl dancers and he felt a twinge of sadness, Natalie was standing to his right, her hand on his stomach as she pressed against him while Jimmy stood to his left, his arm around Brian's shoulder. He had completely forgotten about that picture till now and he couldn't take his eyes off it, even after he heard her descend the stairs and make her way over to him. "Brian...are you okay?" she asked softly from somewhere behind him.

Brian tore his eyes away from the picture, turned and plastered a fake smile on his face. "I'll feel better once I get a shower in me." Natalie smiled at him and nodded her head "Follow me, I'll show you your room and then you can take a shower and whatnot." Brian grabbed his suitcases and followed her down the hallway, stopping a few feet away from what he assumed was her bedroom.

Natalie did a quick once over of the room as she fluffed the pillows up a little bit on the guest bed and smoothed the comforter down. "It's nothing fancy but I hope it will be okay." Brian gave her a relieved smile, happy to finally be able to settle in and kicked his suitcases into a corner. "It's perfect" he stated evenly, pulling open one bag and grabbing his toiletries. "Bathroom is behind that door" she stated, pointing to a door to his right. "Towels and everything are in there so I'll just leave you to it." He could almost sense her shyness returning and debated on if he wanted to play on that or not but the door closing quietly answered his question for him, Natalie was still making herself off limits...but for how long?

Brian took his time in the shower, pleasantly surprised by the hot, forceful water jets that hit his back as he washed up, thinking about everything from going to the doctor with Natalie to Natalie herself. Would he be wrong to put the moves on her again? After all she was the mother of his child and they had once had a hot and steamy affair. Brian scowled at that as he finished washing up, cursing his body for waking up at the memories. Maybe it had just been too long since he got laid he thought, stepping out of the shower and pulling on a fresh set of shorts and muscle shirt.

While Brian was finishing up in the bathroom, Natalie was in the kitchen, whispering furiously on the phone to Ava. "No Ava...he's staying with me!" Natalie rolled her eyes lovingly at her best friend's warning of watching herself around Brian. "You're in your territory and it's kind of an intimate setting now!" she hissed to Natalie, not sure why she was whispering herself other than she was at the office and didn't need Todd or worse, her dad hearing her on the phone. "I hardly think it's intimate!" Natalie hissed back, looking over her shoulder to see if she could hear Brian approach, the shower had shut off a few minutes ago and she knew it was only a matter of time before he appeared. "Silly woman of course it's intimate!" Ava whispered back "He's with his daughter and his baby momma. I don't care what you say, I saw the  spark there between you two so just watch yourself. I know you're kind of addled in the brain when it comes to men."

If any other person had said that to Natalie she would have blown up but this was Ava, her best friend for life and she loved her for not only looking out for her but being brutally honest when needed. "Ava I think I hear him coming" she whispered, cupping her hand over the receiver "I'llcallyoulaterloveyoubye!" Natalie didn't give Ava time to respond before ending the call, dropping the phone into the cradle and making herself look busy with dinner preparations as Brian appeared from down the hall, looking considerably more awake. "Feel better?" she asked over her shoulder as she chopped carrots, potatoes and celery for the roast she was preparing. "Like a new man" he teased, coming into the kitchen and stealing a piece of carrot off the cutting board as he stood behind her, his body so close she could feel the heat radiating off his body.

Natalie silently cursed herself for letting her body react, she was getting way too far ahead of herself. Taking a deep breath she turned to say something to Brian only to have him right behind her and in such close proximity that their chests were within an inch away. "Um...dinner will be done in a few hours but you can make a sandwich if you're super hungry." Natalie's voice sounded funny to her and why shouldn't it? Here was Brian...Synyster Gates, aka ladies man a mere inch from her and giving her a look she couldn't read. "I'm hungry alright" he groaned out hoarsely, stepping closer which effectively pinned Natalie between him and the counter. Brian wasn't sure what possessed him to press close to her but here he was, her eyes wide with wonder as he leaned in slowly and touched his lips to hers, giving her plenty of opportunity to shove him away.

Natalie knew she shouldn't kiss Brian but as soon as his lips brushed hers, all reasoning flew out the door. She stood up on tip-toe and kissed him back, keeping her hands on his chest for leverage. His lips were as soft and warm as she remembered, feeling giddy as his tongue just barely touched hers, a teasing...enticing...promising touch. She knew he was giving her the reigns to either continue the kiss or break it off and she honestly didn't know what she wanted to do but before she could react, she heard Bryleigh calling out for her. "MOMMAAAAA!" she wailed from her crib. Natalie rocked back down onto her feet, her face flush as she looked up at Brian almost apologetically.

"Better go grab her before she really lets loose" he teased softly, his voice still thick with lust as he stepped back. He watched silently as Natalie scurried away, sighing heavily. What the hell had he been thinking?!

P.S. Thank you for all the votes and comments you guys are giving me! Just starting out is sometimes frustrating so I truly appreciate every vote, read and comment! :)