Ever After

Chapter 6: Anxiety Meds

"Teagan please I'm sorry..." I delete the voicemail as I wipe my eyes softly sitting in a diner eating something I ordered for lunch. My feet were tired from walking and god only knows how far from home I am. My phone rings and I see it's him. I don't answer it. I mute it before take another bite off my food. "Can I get you more to drink sweetie?"

I nod softly. "Please?" She takes my cup returning shortly after with it refilled. "Let me know if you need anything else." I stop her. "Can you bring me the most chocolate filled thing you have?" She smiles. "Breakup?" I scuff. "I hope not." She smiles. "I have just the thing. I'll be right back." I nod softly. She comes back with this giant brownie with ice cream cookies and melted chocolate on it." She hums. "This ones on the house sweetie." I smile softly. "Thank you." She nods before leaving. I take a bite rolling my eyes at how good it is before seeing Jackson's calling me again. I huff. "Leave me alone Jackson!" I say pressing the phone to my ear.

"Oh baby girl I've been so worried!" I scuff. "Yeah sure. You know I'm okay now stop calling!" "Teagan wait!" I sigh. "What?" He pauses. "Where are you?" I take another bite of food. "I'm drowning my sorrows in pure bliss Jackie." I say hanging up. "Can I have another of this?" The waitress nods before hurrying to the back to make me another. Once I finished them I started out on my walk again. I don't know where I'm going but eventually I'm in a taxi heading towards the one place that I hold dear to me. "Here we go little lady. Central Park in Santa Monica." I smile. "Thanks." I get out of the taxi stepping into the park sitting in the soft grass. I remember when Jackson brought me out here. He had the candles all lit up spelling out the question that started this whole mess. I wonder why I even agreed to be his girlfriend. I cup my face softly thinking to myself. He was kind and charming.

He made these butterflies in my stomach that I couldn't fight. He still does but what's changed? I huff picking a small flower. He's become this big CEO and now nothing else matters. Funny. I pushed him along and it ended up punching me in the face at the end. I don't regret a thing. I just wanted him to be happy.

"Teagan..." I turn sharply wiping my face and I hadn't realized I had been crying. "H-how'd you find me?" He sighs. "You used your credit card in the taxi. It told me where you were going." I nod softly. "So you found me. What now?" He sits next to me. "Don't say something that's gonna make me fall in love again." He sighs. "No I came here to tell you that you were right. About everything. I am a horrible fiancée and I am a horrible father. I can't remember the things I've missed out on that I would never have dreamed of wanting to. With you and with the kids. I can't fix the past. I can't get those memories back Teagan but I can make new ones with all of you. The kids and you. I got so busy and so frustrated about what I was missing that I used sex as an escape because you make me feel so calm. Every time I turned to you it did it with love. I promise. But I made it about me instead of you and that's another promise I broke. Teagan I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not the man you fell in love with and I'm sorry you gave up everything for someone who treats you like crap. I'm so sorry but I love you and I want to fix this."

I huff. "I love you too Jackie but this sappy apology isn't gonna fix things because no offense you've broken to many promises for me to believe this one." He takes my hand. "Baby I know but please just come home with me and I'll prove it. If I break my promise. You can leave. I won't come looking. I won't even call." I huff. "How long Jackie?" He gets really happy. "You decide. Balls in your court. You call the shots." I nod.

"Okay. Take me home." He jumps up pulling me to my feet before embracing me. I hug him back before pulling away and heading for the car. I climb in and he does too staring at me with this huge smile on his face. "I'm so happy you're home." He says kissing the back of my hand. I pull my hand lightly from his. "Yeah Jackie but things have to change. Don't think I won't leave again. And know that if I do those kids are coming with me." He huffs. "I know baby...I know."

He says and it's almost like there are tears in his eyes. He clears his throat starting the car. I huff to myself curling up in the seat. I shut my eyes and then I hear it. "Teagan I'm so sorry..." He whispers sobbing. "Please don't leave. I can fix this. I'll sell the damn company. I'll quiet just please don't take my world from me." I take his hand. I've never seen him cry. Except maybe good tears when Emma was born but I was so out of it I couldn't tell you. "Jackie pull over."

He does parking and I get out pulling him from the driver seat. He latches on to me pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry..." He whispers. "Say sold and it's done." I shake my head. "Jackson I don't want you to give up your dreams for me. I want to be apart of them." He wipes his face. "You are baby you are." I huff. "I'm driving home. Go get in the car." He cups my face kissing me. I feel this warm sensation run through me.

"Teagan I don't know how to change. Please help me. I don't want to lose the best thing that has ever happened to me." I look up at him. "Get in the car Jackie." He frowns nodding. He gets in and I huff getting in as well before driving off.

*

"I need to shower and then I'm gonna rest." He nods. "Of course you've been gone for so long." I reach my hand out. "Give me your keys. I don't want you driving. You can become reckless." He hands them to me without a fight. "Thank you." He sighs. "Um babe...Teagan?" I smile as he catches himself. "Yes?"

He looks down at his feet. "Maybe now isn't the time but there's a banquet tonight. Not for work. It's just a banquet for rich people so to speak. I don't have to go but I was wondering if you would join me if I did go?" I sigh. "I'll think on it Jackie." He nods with a fake smile. "Of course." He turns to leave and I grab my clothes jumping in the shower. I get out wrapping the towel around me.

I get dressed and climb into bed sighing softly. I look over into my trash can seeing the pills laying scattered. I pick one up searching around before I find the bottle. I jump up heading downstairs. Jackson's sitting on the couch. "Get up! Now!" He stands immediately. "What's this?!" He swallows. "I-I don't know..." "Don't! Jackie you haven't been taking you anxiety medicine!" He shakes his head. "I thought I didn't need them anymore."

I bring him into a hug. "You're not a horrible fiancée or father Jackie. You just need to keep taking your medicine. You know what happens when you get too stressed." He huffs. "So the reason I've been so horrible is because I stopped taking my medicine?" I nod softly looking up at him. "Come on." I take his hand leading him to the kitchen pouring him something to drink before handing him the cup and the pill. "Take it." He does easily and I take a sip from the cup before pouring it out. He pulls me into a hug.

"Yes Jackie." He pulls back some. "Yes I'd like to join you for the banquet. If you're going of course." He nods. "I'll make arrangements for the kids than." I huff. "I'd really like to keep them here. They would hate to be away from you." He hums. "Try Zane. Maybe he can come watch them. They haven't seen him in a bit." He nods.

"I'm gonna go rest now Jackie. I'll make an appointment to get your new anxiety meds later. And Jackie no more throwing it away." He pecks my head. "You got it Teagan. I promise." I pull away heading upstairs to the bedroom where I fall into a deep sleep.

Enjoy!