In My Daughter's Eyes

Two Sides to Every Story

Sharna walked into Panera Bread Company ten minutes until 12, to find Artem sitting there already.

"Hello." She said quietly as she sat down.

"Sharna, listen. I'm sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen! I mean, you were at rehearsals, I had a few drinks down the street with a few of the troupe and one thing led to another and...." Artem rambled on.

"Why'd it happen multiple times then? I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that none of those nights you spent cheating on me means anything to you." Sharna said, coldly.

"I..." He stuttered.

"Did or didn't they mean anything to you?!" Sharna exclaimed and let her hands hit the table.

"Sharna," Artem began, only to be cut off.

"No! Save it!" Tears filled the Aussie's eyes. "If you can't look at me and tell me they were meaningless, then you don't deserve me to take you back! I was going to come here, hear your story, tell you my news and maybe take you back! Now that's gone! I'm not taking you back, ever!" Sharna stood up and grabbed her belongings. "Now it is your fault that our baby is going to grow up without her real father figure in her life! It's your fault that she's going to spend her whole life wondering where you are! You shattered our future, and built what was supposed to be our future home on a rotting foundation of lies!" She took a deep breath. "Goodbye, Artem. See you never."

"Wait, Babe." He stopped her. "You're...you're pregnant?" Tears of his own filled his eyes.

"Biologically, yes, she's yours, but family wise, she's only mine." And with that, the redhead left.

Artem slumped back down into his booth and thought. He imagined Sharna and himself raising this beautiful daughter in a beautiful home. But that would never happen. Not anymore at least. All because of his stupid decision.

His phone chiming brought him from his fictional land where everything worked out between the two.

A text from the one and only Sharna May Burgess.

Shar - You're lucky Val hasn't hunted you down. He might after this, though.

~~~~~

Sharna got back to Maks and Peta's in tears. She thankfully got up the stairs and into the nursery with nobody seeing her.

"Hi, Baby." Sharna whispered to Shai and sniffled quietly.

"Shar-a sad?" Shai asked. He had just started talking a while ago, and the way he pronounced "Sharna" made her heart melt every time.

"Yeah, I'm a little sad. But I'll be okay." Sharna coaxed.

"Kissy make Shar-a feel betwer?" Shai tilted his head and looked into Sharna's piercing blue eyes. He leaned in and kissed Sharna's nose. "Betwer?"

"Yes, Baby. I feel much better now." She chuckled and let a few more tears drip down her cheeks.

"Babe?" Val's accent startled her. "Sorry to scare you." He wrapped his arms around her stomach.

"You're okay." Sharna laid Shai back down in his crib and Val took her hand, leading her to another room.

"Did you tell him?"

Sharna nodded. "He couldn't tell me that the nights he cheated on me were meaningless, so...I kind of told him that she's only mine now and that he doesn't deserve to be part of the family." She touched her tiny baby bump.

Val leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I'll tell you what, if Artem doesn't get his act together or shape himself up by your next ultrasound appointment, I'll step in and be your daughter's step father."

"You would do that for me?" More tears started to fall.

"Of course." Val said.

45 days. Artem had 45 days to get his act together.

"Shar-a!" Shai cried out from down the hallway. Sharna smiled and Val followed her to the nursery.

"What's up, Little Man?" Sharna asked.

"Momma said that my couin is in Shar-a's tummy?" He asked the Australian.

Sharna chuckled lightly. "Yeah. There's a baby in my tummy, and in a little while, you'll get to meet her! You two will be best friends!" Sharna smiled.

"Yay!" Shai cheered.

"But now it is naptime, Baby." Sharna laid Shai down for the second time. "Goodnight." Sharna closed the door.

"Shar, you're great with Shai. You'll be an amazing mother." Val said, kissing her cheek.

45 days and counting.