I Dream Of You

Chapter Twenty {Part Two}

Cher was in the backyard as she looked at the man down on his knee in front of her. They silently looked at each as he waited for her answer. She was silent for another moment before she spoke, "I'm so sorry Andy."

Andy stood up and faced the woman he loved as she spoke again, "I can't marry you. At least not right now. You're only asking me to marry you because I'm pregnant and I don't want you to be forced into anything. If I wasn't, you wouldn't have asked me to marry you this soon after we got back together."

Cher placed her hand on his cheek and ran her thumb across. She said, "I still love you."

He understood where Cher was coming from. Though he was a little heartbroken that she had said no, but looked into her eyes and smiled.

She could tell how much she hurt him even though he smiled at her. She turned away and sadly walked towards the house. She walked inside where Pauly and Meryl were waiting for her. As soon as she was inside she heard Pauly speak, "You told him no? Why would you do that?"

With tears in her eyes that were threatening to spill over, she turned to her and said, "Now's not the time Paulette. How can I be so stupid? The man I love hates me and it's my fault. He couldn't even bring himself to lie and say he still loves me. I ruined everything."

Cher sadly walked off and sat down on the couch. She rested her hand on her bump and brought her feet up on the couch with her knees bent. She rested her head on her other hand as her tears started to flow freely. Pauly and Meryl glanced between the two heartbroken lovers. They both knew they had to do something as they looked back at each other. They walked into the other room before Pauly said, "We have to do something."

Meryl nodded, "I agree. We need to divide and conquer this. We need to get them to talk, but make sure they are okay. They just barely got back together a little over six weeks ago. They can't let go of their relationship, especially when she is just over twenty-eight weeks pregnant."

Pauly nodded, she agreed with Meryl. She said, "I'll go try to get Cher to stop crying and get her to talk."

The blonde said, "And I'll get Andy to talk."

The two women looked at each other one more time before they made their way out of the room. Pauly went and sat with Cher on the couch. She got her to move, that way she was able to have her lean on her. She rested her head gently on top of Cher's as she wrapped her arm around her. She spoke softly, "I'm here when you're ready to talk."

Meanwhile, Meryl made her way to the backdoor, quietly sliding the door shut behind her. Seeing that Andy had moved since she last looked outside, she quickly glanced around for him. She found him sitting on the steps that led to the lawn. She went and sat down next to him. It was silent for a moment before either one of them spoke.

Without looking to see who it was, Andy spoke, "Why did I think proposing to her was a good idea?"

Meryl spoke, "Because you love her and she loves you."

He nodded, "I love her so much, but I messed everything up by rushing into something she wasn't ready for."

She shook her head, "She is ready Andy. It's just her hormones that got the best of her and made it so she believed that you were only asking her to marry you because she's carrying your child."

He nodded, understanding what Meryl was saying. He spoke, "So I should wait longer, maybe until after our daughter is born?"

Meryl nodded. It was silent for a moment before he said, "Should I go in there and talk to her?"

She shook her head, knowing it was still too soon for him to go in there. She spoke, "Give her more time. She needs to calm down, she thinks she ruined everything. But it's still too early for you to go in there. Let Pauly and I take care of her."

He nodded. She gave him a one armed hug to reassure him that everything was going to be alright. She stood up and walked back inside. She went over to where Pauly was still comforting Cher and sat down.

Andy spent most of the rest of the evening outside, coming in when it got dark and chilly. Still not wanting to push her, he made his way to the kitchen and sat down in there.

Feeling better, but still hurting, Cher thanks Pauly and Meryl for all of their support. She spoke softly, "I think I'm going to head to bed. I'm getting tired."

They nodded and hugged her good night. After Cher left the room, the women made their way to the kitchen where Andy was. They both knew that Cher was probably going to take a while to fall asleep, if she even could because she was used to Andy being with her. They talked for a while and told Andy when it would be a great time for him to make his move.

They were right, Cher couldn't sleep. She tried being completely relaxed, just laying there with her eyes closed, hoping to fall asleep, but nothing worked. She just laid there, thinking, rubbing a hand gently over her bump. She smiled slightly, feeling their daughter move against her hand. She spoke to their unborn daughter, "Get some rest baby girl."

She eventually got completely tired and was almost asleep when she felt someone get into bed. She knew it was him when she felt an arm wrap around her waist and the smell of her favorite cologne of his entering her nose. She slightly smiles without him seeing. Neither of them react or say a word, they just lay with each other in comfortable silence. She finally turned to him when she felt him kiss her head. She said, "You still love me?"

He smiled at her and said, "Who said I ever stopped?"

They shared a sweet and tender kiss before she drifted off to sleep in his arms.