The Gambler

Gestures

I stared out of the window, watching the moon rise.
My hand hadn't left my stomach.

"Elizabeth?" Olivia knocked on the door, quietly stepping in.

I looked over my shoulder at her, smiling weakly.

"I told him it was my idea" she appeared next to me, touching my shoulder.

"I don't blame him for the way he reacted." I sighed, staring back towards the sky.

"Grayson has come such a long way since he met you. You really changed him for the better. The place that he's in right now.." she trailed off and I nodded.

"This is the Grayson he never wanted me to meet. The cold hearted killer that doesn't care about anything" I whispered and she frowned.

"He cares about you, still. Even without his memories." I held back my tears again, simply nodding along.

"I don't think he's going to forgive me." My voice trembled and she smiled, shaking her head.

"He just needs time to process it. There's been so much unloaded on him in the past week." She sighed, turning away.

"He asked questions, you know." She sat on the edge of the bed and I turned around.

"Like what?" I whispered, too afraid

"How far along you are, how finding out went, and he has continually asked about the baby itself. How it's doing, if it's healthy." She smiled lightly and I nodded, the sadness was too much.

I could feel him in the castle now, I sighed a breath of relief. He had left for a few hours.

"I actually came in here because he wants to speak to you, but he wanted to make sure you were awake." She stood up and I nodded quickly.

She smiled back and left the room. I sighed, adjusting my hair.

A few minutes later there was another knock at the door, Grayson was leaning on the door frame.

His eyes went to my stomach immediately, I wasn't wearing the jacket anymore.

"Mind if I come in?" He tilted his head at me and I shook my head, watching him shut the door and walk over to me he stopped a few feet before me.

"You don't have anything to apologize for" I blurted out and he smirked, shaking his head.

"I do, I could've handled that better." He muttered and I sighed, walking over and sitting on the bed.

"I forgive you." I looked up at him and he walked over, touching my chin lightly.

"We can skip this part now, okay?" I continued and he nodded, sitting next to me. We sat in a comfortable silence, though I was itching for him to speak.

"You knew before I did" I whispered anyways, looking at him.

He laughed a little and nodded.

"Yeah, Olivia told me how that went down." He muttered, handing me the bag he held.

"What's this?" I looked at him in confusion and he rubbed his head.

"I spoke with jewel briefly. She said your baby shower was coming up, and I can't remember if I had gotten you anything..if I did I probably hid it somewhere only I'd know so..." he trailed off and I opened the bag, pulling out many sets of onesies and small stuffed animals. My eyes widened and I looked at him, tears gathering in my eyes.

"That's where you went?.." I trailed off and he nodded.

"When we were speaking to Rebecca you said that she took me away from you. That's not true.. I know I'm not the same but I'm still here." He smiled at me weakly and I nodded, smiling.

"I just need you to be honest with me. I'm relying on your openness. Even if you think it's too much." He spoke firmly now and I grabbed his hand lightly, he flinched under the contact.

"Sorry still not used to that." He muttered and I rolled my eyes.

"You're going to have to get used to it then" I laughed and leaned back, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you want to feel? You're the only one that can actually feel it's mind." I spoke slowly and he hesitated. He reached over, gently placing it on my stomach. His eyes lit up and he smiled. He hummed to himself in satisfaction, then suddenly his eyebrows furrowed together.

"What? What do you feel?" I panicked slightly and he tilted his head, closing his eyes.

"Sorrow..it..missed me" he muttered and my eyes widened.

"He feels..your sadness" he spoke quietly, opening his eyes.

I looked down at my stomach, bursting out crying.

Grayson looked at me in panic, pulling his hand back.

"I tell you he feels sadness and you decide to cry?" He laughed sadly and I counted my breaths, trying to calm down.

"It's just been so much and now it's effecting bean!" My voice trembled. He frowned and reached over, cupping my face. I looked at him and he wiped my tears away.

"I'm already being a horrible mother" I whispered and Grayson shook his head quickly.

"You're definitely not Elizabeth. From what Olivia told me you've done nothing but put him first. You can't control what's going to happen in life, to us, or him. All we can do is push through it and let nothing break us." He spoke firmly and I nodded, he was right.

I laid on my back with a sigh, rubbing my eyes.

"You should sleep" Grayson muttered, watching me intently.

He leaned back, resting on his elbow he placed his hand back on my stomach.

"What's it like when you do that?" I whispered sleepily and he smiled, laughing lightly.

"I feel like I can picture how it responds to our voices. I feel a strong presence. Words..not quite. Feelings is a better description." His eyes widened when I felt the bean kick and I giggled.

"Did you feel that?" I whispered excitedly and he nodded

"Going to be a handful aren't you little one" He muttered to my stomach, leaning down and kissing it.

For a second I saw the Grayson I knew.