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

Cagney And Lacey

"I wanted to be further along than this" I sighed as I (very) ungracefully slid back into the passenger seat of my car. "Pen, we've been on the road for 8 hours already. It's Nine thirty at night and we still have to find a hotel for the night." Amelia replied, the engine already rumbling as she waited for me to get comfortable. "I mean, if you and your pregnant bladder didn't have to pee for like the 1000th time already, we'd probably be in Minnesota by now" she smirked before slamming her foot down and getting back on the road.

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

"Man, I'm soo glad you grabbed all of this stuff when I was having a pee" I sighed in delight as my mouth watered at the sight of the food that surrounded us on the bed. "Yeah me too, and I didn't know what you would be craving so I grabbed two of everything" she said, emptying out the third plastic bag of food out onto the mattress. My eyes were wide with gluttony as I internally debated what I would pick first. But when I spotted the pack of Twinkies, I was done.

"Have you heard from anyone yet?" Amelia asked me as she pulled open a share size bag of Lays. I moaned out a little in satisfaction at my little treat but nodded at her. "G, Jamie and Allie have all messaged me. I've sent a short reply back, so as not to rouse suspicion." I told her, but she pulled an apprehensive face. "What the hell will Jules say though when the excitement has worn off and he realises just what we have done?"

"What I have done. Meils, you're not gonna get shit for this, this was all me-"

"but I am meant to look after you, not actually drive you half way across the country when you could give birth any minute!" she cried. I shook my head and patted her knee. "listen, it's all down to me, I will deal with it. I know the risks, and sure, it is pretty stupid. Reckless even, but I know my body. I was prepared to do this." I stated over confidently. "but if he does try and make an appearance before we get there- I'll just cross my legs" I winked before taking a bite out of my second Twinkie.

"Jules is gonna kill us" Melia muttered for the millionth time this evening.

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

When Meila was in the bathroom brushing her teeth before we went to bed for the night, I was polishing off my last mini donut and catching up with an episode of EastEnders on my phone. I missed my English telly like you'd never believe. Anyway, the screen froze and then a picture of Julian's cheesy smiling face popped up to say that he was calling me. I momentarily panicked, but I tapped the little green circle to answer his call.

"baby!" his excited voice bellowed down the phone before I even had a chance to open my mouth. "Hey J" I smiled back, hearing his voice. "how ya doin?" he asked. "good" I nodded, "yeah, good. We're just about to go to bed-"

"oh babe, I love it when you refer to you both as we" he gushed, interrupting me, and I tried so hard to hold back a giggle. "J, I mean me and Melia" I snorted in amusement. "uh, oh, my bad..." he chuckled. "I hope she ain't gettin' too cosy there in my place" he said, making me smile, "I think she's more than ready to get back to Rob" I laughed, "I think the feelin's mutual babe...gettin' a little taste of what I must have been like when I met you" he grinned, making my heart flutter. "Dola's at it too, well, he was from the moment we left Boston" he snorted. "Dudes whipped" he chuckled, "and you're not?" I questioned with a smile, "totally different babe." he shut me down, but I sat giggling to myself. "so, have you missed me?" he asked happily, like a little kid and I laughed loudly. "I only spoke to you earlier today" I answered him, but he was having none of it, "but do ya miss me? I miss you short stack" he whispered excitedly. "yes, yes! I miss you!" I laughed at him, "the baby misses you too..." I said, knowing how that would make him react. A little growl came down the phone line into my ear and I bit my lip as I grinned, "I'm so fucking desperate to see you both" he whispered. "I've never in my life wanted a game to go by so fast" he admitted, "we'll be with you soon" I promised him. "I know babe" he said, not actually knowing it was sooner than he thought. A yawn followed his reply and I sighed, "come on J, you gotta get some sleep" I told him, making him hum. "I guess...Just wanted to hear your voice before my head hits the pillow" he said, "that way I get to dream about ya too" he said. My butterflies came alive once again and I wanted to curse him for his insane cuteness, especially when he was still so far away. "sounds perfect" I told him, looking down at my wedding rings as I rubbed my belly. It was the closest thing I had to him right now. But it was enough. "I love you Pen" he said calmly. "I love you too J."

"call you tomorrow?" he asked me, making me smile, "of course. talk to you then"
"night babe"

"Night J" and I hung up the phone.

"so he had no idea?" Amelia asked, turning to me from the foot of the bed. She'd come out half way through the call but made as little noise as possible. I shook my head with wide eyes, and then gave a relieved sigh. "he really would have lost his mind"

........

The next morning we were on the road bright and ridiculously early. We left the motel after picking up some things from the deli across the street for breakfast and then we were gone. Hurtling down the freeway like Cagney and Lacey, "Jesus Pen, I know you wanna get there, but they don't play til tomorrow" Amelia mumbled beside me. I shot her a glance and focused back on the road. "I'm not even hitting the speed limit!" I defended, double checking I actually wasn't. "and anyway, I can't drive as I would usually do- with this belly I can barely touch the pedals" I said, pointing down the large round mound that was brushing the steering wheel. Amelia grinned at me before checking Google maps. "I'm amazed we haven't got lost already though" she said, making me roll my eyes, "see, now you've put it out there, it's gonna happen" I said, looking back at her. "no it won't. If we're gonna get lost, we're gonna get lost" she stated. "but with me at the helm-"

"no, I'm at the helm" I corrected her, nodding to the wheel, "you're navigator" I added, "well with me navigating, we'll get there in one piece" She nodded. But I rose my eyes to the skies, "fuck sake, we're gonna get lost"