Can't Fall in Love Without You (Christian Yelich)

37

Elizabeth could see how stressed Christian was, but he wouldn't open up to her at all.

"Christian? Do you want to go shopping for baby boy?" she asked quietly, gently running her hand through his hair. Their baby boy was growing more everyday and it was the only thing that made Christian smile anymore.

"No. You can, though. Take my card. I'm going to the gym," he shrugged. No dice. She lost that, too. Her boyfriend wanted nothing to do with her and it hurt.

"Christian..." she sighed softly, running a hand over her bump. She was working 8-4 every day, so she was far better rested on her weekends off.

"Elizabeth, I said no," he snapped and shoved her off of him gently, going to shower.

It hurt, but she knew he was hurting. She would shop for the baby after work and maybe the tiny clothes would help him smile again.

***

I love you, Christian. Have a great day at work.

She always texted him, and he usually texted her back.

Not this time. In fact, he hadn't said he loved her in days. It hurt so much, and she didn't even know what she did wrong. She just wanted to know what she did wrong so that he loved her again.

Instead, she stayed at work, hiding from Kaitlin. She wasn't doing anything stressful - paperwork, research, some writing - but she couldn't go back to Christian's place. She wasn't wanted there.

Christian calling.

Elizabeth furrowed her brow, looked at the time, and swore under her breath - it was nearly midnight.

"Hi, baby. I'm okay," she said softly, snacking on some hummus and pita bread.

"Get home now, Elizabeth," his voice was a harsh snap. There was no love. No warmth. He gave her an order and hung up.

Elizabeth sighed and gently pat her tummy. "Alright, baby boy. Let's go deal with daddy."

She just needed to calm him down and talk to him. She needed to get into his head.

They were in love, she was sure she could do it.

***

Elizabeth unlocked Christian's door and placed the pizza down, gently wrapping her arms around him. "Hi, sweetie."

"Don't touch me," he snapped and pulled out of her arms.

"Christian..."

"I had to pay the nanny for 7 extra hours today, Elizabeth. The nanny. My daughter is being raised by a nanny!" he snapped, pain and anger in his eyes.

"Christian... I just got caught up with my work..."

"Sloane would've scoffed at the idea of even having a nanny! Sloane would've been there to support me. Sloane was there to support me. Sloane was excited to have our baby and raise her! You care more about your stupid fucking job. Sloane would've never risked our baby's life like you are," Christian's chest was heaving, eyes purely angry.

"I'm not Sloane," Elizabeth whispered. During his tirade, Elizabeth backed against the wall, hands protecting her belly. "I'm not Sloane and I never will be, Christian. I love my 'fucking job,' just like you love yours. I was sitting in my office. I was reading. I would've been doing the same stuff as I would've been doing at home. I'm sorry that I have a job, but I love Ivy with all of my heart, it wasn't fair of you to say that." Elizabeth didn't look at him, tears running freely down her cheeks.

"Eli-"

"Save it," she whispered and went into the bedroom, tears running down her cheeks. She was hurt. She thought Christian loved her. It was clear that he didn't, now. And now she was bringing their baby into the world, and she was already disappointing him. Because she wasn't Sloane.

How was she supposed to compete with the perfection that was Sloane. Sloane was prettier. Sloane was nicer. Sloane was his wife. Sloane was a better mother than Elizabeth, because she was willing to give her life up and Elizabeth wasn't.

As the clock ticked, Elizabeth could feel her heart cracking in her chest.

***

Christian took a deep breath and looked up at the clock. 3:42. He should go to bed. He rinsed out his glass and went to lay down with his sweet Elizabeth. He knew he hurt her, and he regretted it. He was stressed and afraid, and he took it out on his beautiful Elizabeth without telling her why he was so stressed and afraid.

He knew from the hitch in her breathing that she was awake.

He laid behind her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "I love you," he whispered, insanely turned on by her belly. He  moved his hand down and pulled her shorts down, gently rubbing her clit.

"I'm not in the mood," Elizabeth whispered, pushing his hand away.

"Goddammit, Elizabeth. Sloane always welcomed it because it showed I love her," he just stuck his foot in his mouth. Again. Fuck.

"Find someone else, then," she snapped and got up. Too quickly, but she pushed through it. "Fuck you, Christian," she whispered and went to her apartment.

Thank god she kept it.