Without You

forty-six.

'I'm sorry.' Wilmer says softly as he watches Demi gently pull a hat onto Charlotte's head.

'I'm going out.' She replies completely ignoring his apology.

'What? Why? I want to spend as much time with you and Charlotte before I leave.' He says.

'My life doesn't revolve around you and your stupid fucking work schedule. I have a life, Wilmer. Believe or not I do actually have my own life that doesn't revolve around you.' She replies as he takes a step back. He's completely shocked by the sudden anger in her voice; he knew that him going back to New York for a few weeks wouldn't be easy and after their argument earlier he thought he'd give her some time to cool off but it seems to just have made things worse.

'I don't know what you expect me to do. Do you want me to stay at home all day, every day? I've always supported your career so why don't you stop being such a selfish cow and actually support mine.' He says causing her to bite her bottom lip. Almost instantly he regrets the words that have just left his mouth but he can't take them back now, can he?

'Fuck you, Wilmer Valderrama.' She says sharply. Lifting Charlotte off the changing table she quickly leaves the room and makes her way downstairs.

'Demi, I-' He begins and she shakes her head.

'Just stop. I don't want to hear about how you think I'm being a selfish cow or how you're doing this all for me and Charlotte because guess what? I'm a grown fucking woman who can actually take care of herself.' She says strapping Charlotte into her carseat.

'Where are you going?' He asks as she grabs the diaper bag and makes her way towards the front door.

'Out.' She replies slamming the door behind her.

_____

Sitting in the car tears stream down her cheeks as she rests her head against the steering wheel. Charlotte is fast asleep in her carseat and she's been sitting in a Target car park for just over an hour. Taking a deep breath she glances down at her phone as it begins to ring and one of her best friend's names flashes up on the screen.

'Hello?' She says holding the phone to her ear.

'Demi? Where are you? I've had Wilmer on the phone worried sick about you.' Joe says.

'If I tell you where I am then you'll tell him and I don't want to see him right now.'

'You've been crying... Has he hurt you? I am your friend before I'm his, Demi. If you don't want me tell him where you are, I won't.'

'I'm in Target carpark; the one just round from your house.'

'I'll be there in a few minutes.' They both hang up and she runs her hands over her face. Within minutes Joe is climbing into the passenger side of her seat causing her to smile slightly.

'What's going on, Demi?' He asks.

'I don't want him to go but I don't want to go with him. I don't want to be left in a state that isn't home with no one that I know while he works all day. I want to be in my nice comfy bed whilst I'm getting up every four hours to feed Charlotte. I want to be able to contact and go to the doctor's if something happens. I don't feel comfortable going to New York at the moment; I don't think that makes me a selfish cow.' She says as tears stream down her cheeks.

'Of course it doesn't. You had a baby right weeks ago, Demi. That's a big change and I think it's perfectly reasonable that you'd want to be in familiar surroundings.' Joe replies.

'Wilmer said he's always supported my career so I should stop being a selfish cow and support his... I've always supported him I just don't want to travel to another state.' She says.

'I think you're both pretty sleep deprived, Demi. Maybe you both just need to calm down before sitting down and properly talking about this.' He suggests.

'He said he had months off after I had Charlotte, I didn't realise he only meant two months. I'm not ready for him to be gone for four weeks. I'm not ready to be completely on my own. He doesn't care.' She says quietly.

'You know that's not true. Wilmer loves you and that's never going to change. You need to speak to him or else he's never going to know how you're feeling. Isn't lack of communication what got you two into trouble in the first place.' He replies.

'I guess...' She mumbles.

'Come here.' He says. Leaning over he pulls her into his arms and sighs as she instantly begins to sob into his shoulder.

'You'll both get through this. You've been through a lot worse together, haven't you?' He says.