He Who Conquers Others Is Strong, He Who Conquers Himself Is Mighty

Goodbyes, Tears and A Hope of A Good Night

"babe....Penny..."

"huh?" I mumbled, cracking my eye open a little bit. I was totally unaware of my surroundings when I got woken up, and it took me a second. "I have to go sweetheart" Julian whispered. I brought my hand up and rubbed my eyes and blinked a few times. "what time is it?" I asked him, shuffling to awkwardly sit up in our bed. "it's a little after 8." he said softly, giving me a cute smile. "oh god. I have to be at work in an hour" I whined as well, making him chuckle. "Just relax. You know you don't have any appoinments now. Just take it easy- go in when you're ready. Nick won't be on your ass about it." My husband smiled at me, brushing his fingers through my hair. "you had a pretty rough night huh" he pointed out and I sighed. "crap, I didn't want to wake you. I tried to be quiet" I dropped my shoulders in disappointment. It was the night before his game, and I knew how much he needed his rest. 

"I know baby, but it's okay. You can't help it if the little guy was restless." he smiled, "probably too excited about his old man's game" he grinned widely. I giggled but rolled my eyes at him. "but seriously babe, you feeling alright?" he asked me, concern etched across his features. But I smiled and nodded. "I'm fine. He was moving so much last night- and the heartburn wasn't helping me go to sleep either." I explained. "I ended up napping in the rocking chair in the nursery" I said. Julian gave me a sympathetic smile and leaned over to kiss my forehead, "not too much longer babe. You're doing an awesome job already" he whispered. "and I'll be back as soon as I can after the game to take care of you okay?" he added. I smiled at him and opened my eyes to look up at him. "Don't worry J, honestly we'll be fine. Concentrate on what you have to do. We'll be watching" I smiled at him, making him grin. "can't wait to have the two of you come along with me" he grinned even more and I giggled. "he's gonna be throwing a football before he can even walk isn't he" I stated with an eye roll and J winked at me. "Love you baby." he leaned closer once again and pressed a firm kiss to my lips. "I love you too." I smiled as I watched him get up off the carpet and turn towards the door. "I'm proud of ya" I added, causing him to pause and turn to look at me. He sent me a wide smile as he subconsciously puffed his chest out a little. Then, with a wink, he was gone through the door. Leaving me to lounge back in the fluffy pillows on our bed, wondering how the hell I was going to get through a day at work with as little sleep as I had gotten last night. I was exhausted- and Baby Edelman wasn't even here yet... 

.................

"you look positively glowing this morning little sis" Nick crossed paths with me as I stepped inside the office building. I shot a glare at him and started across the reception area towards the lifts as I heard my dear brother chuckling. "when you've woken up a little bit, get your arse into my office, we've got Amelia's paper work to go through, and we need to start going through your work load." he said. I yawned and nodded at him, "you're working too hard Pen." he said, gently as he squeezed my shoulder. "But you've reduced my work load once already" I told him and he rolled his eyes. "You're everything in this office when I'm here or out of town, but you really need to ease it up. More than you are already. I love you, and my little nephew. I want you resting. Not worrying about all this- cause I know you, and you've always taken your work home. It's about time you didn't." he told me with a stern look. The kind of look he gave me when he had his 'older brother look' about him. I just nodded at him and smiled. "You want anything from the deli? I'm just going to grab some coffee. I forgot, the machine's out up there" He offered, but I shook my head no. Nick nodded, "I'll see you in a little while" he smiled and turned away to head out "oh" he stopped and looked back to me. "I've not been to our floor yet, but Malcolm said Jamie is already up there..." he mentioned with concern. I frowned at him and sighed. "okay, See you in a little bit" I said, before turning to go push the call button to go up to our floor. Now why in the world was Jamie here so bloody early on game day?

........

10 minutes after telling Jamie she needed to get her behind into my office, my cell phone rang out and up popped Julian's face, filling my screen. I smiled to myself and grabbed it quickly. "you've only been gone 2 hours." I grinned, "what have you forgotten?" I giggled. "nah babe" he said, sounding a little confused. "it's Danny...he's like totally worried about Jamie. Has she said anything to you? Cause Danny sure has he thinks something's up" he breathed out, almost all in one breath. I frowned and glanced at my door, hoping Jamie would walk in this very second...nah... "actually it's funny you say that. I bumped into Nick on my way into the building and he said Malcolm- in the security booth- he told him that Jamie had been here stupid early this morning. And when I quizzed her about it, she just gave me some bullshit about not sleeping." I told him. "I've told her she needs to come to my office when she's up to it. Her eyes were all red and puffy J, something's not right" I pondered. "hmm, well Dola ain't got his head in the game just yet. And we need him thinking clear. Not to mention that our friends need us too. That's plain obvious right now." he mumbled, "let me know if you get anything out of her" He said, "okay" I sighed as I nodded. "Love you bubs" 
"love you too" I said before the line went dead. 

Now, to go and drag that girl into my office...

...........

"care to explain why I've just gotten off the phone and he's complaining about a worried Dola?" I asked her as I kicked my heels off under my desk. I still chose to wear my heels to work, but God it felt good to walk around my office barefoot. She looked at me with a pointed look and gave me some cryptic shit that I honestly couldn't care about right now. I just wanted to get to the bottom of it. 

"what did Danny do now?" I asked with a small sigh. My hormones settling down when I realised how sharp my tone had been to start on this conversation. "I...I think Danny is going to break up with me!" she declared with tearful eyes. I felt like I had to pick my jaw up off my desk as I blinked back at her. Why the hell would he be thinking of breaking up with her?! This was news to me... "Danny was asleep so I quietly crawled into bed. He pulled me into his arms and said...he-he said...'I love you Olivia'...I-I...He's going to leave me to go back to Olivia" she practically sobbed.  

"He what?!" I snapped in frustration. "he called you Olivia?!" I shrieked. "I can't believe he'd do that! have you talked to him at all?!" I asked her, completely sideswiped by this revelation. But Jamie shook her head, "He still loves her! And he would clearly rather be in bed with her than me! It's clear, Penny" she cried but I shook my head, "No Jame, was he asleep? Did he know what he was saying?!" I asked, desperately trying to figure this whole thing out. I could not believe that Danny would do something like this. Not Danny. I got up and move over to sit beside her. "Danny wouldn't leave you. You have my word. He loves you more than anything in this world." I tried my best to reassure her. "Sure he had strong feelings for Liv, she was his first real girlfriend. First love...everyone has that...but what you share with Danny- that's completely different. Nothing can touch that" I promised her. And I meant every word I said. She took a breath and looked back at me through her dark lashes. "You think so?"

"Yes...now, it's lunch time. We should get Strawberry Milkshakes! I've been dying for a strawberry milkshake!" 

.............

Later that day, I was making my way home- first stopping by our local supermarket to grab a couple of things for later tonight. I was planning on warming up some Beef stew Danny had put in my freezer a few days ago, but I needed to get some snacks in for when the game was on. Even though we were married and 'he had me' as J put it, he still was always desperate for me to watch him play. Not that I wouldn't have watched the game, but I had to take note of everything, nevertheless. So, that being said, I was walking around the shop with my basket, throwing in a couple bottles of Lemon and Lime Gatorade; a box of sugar cookies and of course some Milk Duds. The novelty still hadn't worn off since I'd been living here, so I still had a stash of them in the kitchen cupboard. I mentally checked the cupboard and would stake my life on there being a huge family pack of Lays in there too, so I was pretty much set. So I headed on over to the till to pay for everything. Tonight was just what I needed. A quiet, chilled night in with Winnie; watching our man play on the tv whilst I slobbed out in my sweats eating crap. 

Perfect.