Trepidation || j. g ||

| b a b y |

ATHENA STARED AT Jake with glossy eyes through the kitchen window. She couldn't help it anymore. She couldn't hold it in. It's been three hours since she and Dawson made it back to their isolated cabin in the woods, yet it feels like she had been standing there staring at Jake for years. The tears fell from her eyes as he doubled over the sink, her sobs ricocheting off the sullen cream-colored walls as her heart physically ached. What the fuck was she going to do? She can't start a family this way-she couldn't bring a child into this word...not like this.

"Woah...you a'right, curls?" Dawson called seriously, his footsteps drowned out from Athena's cries as she physically couldn't control herself.

Dawson carefully reached out and pressed his hands upon her shoulders, bringing her up as she just heaved.

"No, no, Dawson, please-" she cried as the man in front of her didn't know what to do. He felt so sad for his friend but wasn't sure of how to comfort her. What happened that made her so upset?

"Hey, Athena. It's alright-you okay? Here, sit down-" he tries softly over her sobs but it wasn't until Jake made a rushed appearance in the kitchen that Athena's cries had subsided slightly.

Dawson gave a worried glance to Jake, who didn't acknowledge it as his eyes were locked on Athena's red-rimmed ones. He made his way forward, his calloused hands reached out and caressing Athena's supple cheeks as she unraveled upon him.

The pair hadn't even noticed Dawson's departure, as they slunk to the floor of the kitchen filled with dread. Jake could feel how desperate Athena felt-her anguish was worn on her sleeve as her tears painted saddened portraits upon his hot skin.

"Thee...come on, baby. What's wrong? Tell me," he spoke in her ear, his fingers softly weaving through her curls as she tugged at his shirt. A silent action but the loudest in her mind.

You. You're what's wrong.

"I want a family, Jake. I want a normal life." She cried, her eyelids twisting shut as she tried to calm herself down.

"Well, that's what you'll have. I promise. I'm going to give you the best life I can give-"

"-no, you can't. We can't! Jake what you do isn't okay...we hurt people." She sobs, Jake, turning his head to look down at her red face.

"We can do whatever we want. Why can't we have a family?"

Athena became angry then, pushing Jake away as she tried to stand to her feet. Her hand reaching down briskly to touch the fabric covering her stomach before turning to a confused Jake Abbey on the ground. His back pressed against the wood of the cabinet as his legs lay sprawled out in front of him, his brows strung together in thought as he tried to read Athena.

"We aren't normal." She stated simply, hiccuping after as Jake frowned.

"What isn't normal about us?" Jake states, his tone cold as he clearly was offended by Athena's comment.