Something To Believe In - Jack Hughes [New Jersey Devils]

9: Love Me Anyway

I had no other choice. I needed to get out of Jack's place and out of his hair. From the way he reacted to the shocking news and the way he bolted out of his own place awkwardly, it was clear things weren't ok anymore.

When Quinn returned my phone call, I was quick to find out if the offer to stay with him was still on the table. I decided to be completely honest with him and tell him everything, every little detail.

"Wait, he did what?" Quinn asked from the other end of the line.

"I don't even know where he went" I said sadly.

"He can be an idiot, we both know this" Quinn tried to comfort.

"It's not his fault" I said quietly.

"He shouldn't have left like he did, but of course you can come stay here. For as long as you want. I don't want you driving that far by yourself though, just fly out and we'll figure everything else out later"

Hearing his words made me breathe a sigh of relief. At least I had a plan, that was one weight off my shoulders.

"I love you bro, I hope you know that" I smiled.

"Love you too sis" he chuckled.

"I'll let you know as soon as I have more details"

We said our goodbyes and ended the call. I decided it was probably a good time to start packing my things up so it was all ready to go for the earliest flight I would be able to book.

I put my suitcase on the bed and started organizing my stuff in it when the front door opened. I ignored it and went on packing, hoping to avoid any kind of awkward confrontation with Jack until everything was all set in place and I was ready to tell him that I was going to stay with Quinn.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked, confused as he stood in the doorway.

"Packing" I said matter of factly and kept packing without even a glance his way.

"Why?" He asked, making his way to me.

"I was going to wait to tell you until I had it all in place but....I'm going to stay with Quinn. I'm going to get the first flight I can get out and I'll figure everything else out later" I explained, still not glancing up at him.

"Stop" he reached out and grabbed my hands to stop me from packing. "Why are you doing this?"

"I have to" I said, avoiding eye contact with him any way that I could.

"Baby, why?" He asked, grabbing my face gently and bringing my eyes to his.

"Because I'm pregnant, Jack. That's a major change, one that you're clearly not comfortable with and I don't blame you but I-" I started before he cut me off.

"Wait, what do you mean not comfortable?" His confusion making itself apparent again.

"You couldn't get out of this place fast enough" I went to move away from him.

"Because I had to hurry up and get this" he put his finger up to tell me to hold on and walked quickly out of the room.

Within a matter of seconds, he was back with a small bag in his hands.

"What is that?" I motioned to the bag in his hand.

"Why don't you open it and find out?" He handed out the bag to me.

I shot him an almost annoyed look and took the bag from his hands.

"I don't...I don't understand" I looked up at him as I pulled out a baby onsie that was designed like a tiny Devil's jersey.

"It's my way of saying I'm in" he closed the distance between us and rubbed my shoulders.

"What do you mean?" I looked at him with wide eyes.

"I mean" he started as he flipped the onesie around in my hands to show the 'HUGHES' across the back with his number. "I'm in''

"Jack, I'm pregnant...with someone else's baby. I can't ask you to take on something like that"

"You're not asking me" he gave a small smile.

"But-" he cut me off.

"Listen, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, that's my baby" he ran the back of his index finger over my stomach slightly. "I know I won't be their biological father but...I will try my best to always be the best daddy to them. If that's something you would want of course"

Tears welled in my eyes as I ran my fingers over his last name on the back of the onsie.

"You don't have to do this" I said, holding back my tears.

"I want to, I want to be there for everything. I want to be there for you, and for them. Every step of the way" he looked at me seriously.

"Biology doesn't matter, being there matters. You'll be their daddy in every way that matters" I flattened his hand against my stomach.

"I love you so much" he said barely above a whisper.

"I can't tell if you're talking to me...or to the baby" I giggled lightly through a breath.

"Both of you" a smile grew on his face.

"I love you too" I smiled widely, kissing him slowly. "And I'm 100% sure that little peanut will love their daddy just as much as I do" He pulled me to him again for a few soft kisses. "Oh, Quinn" I stopped him when I came to the sudden realization that I would have to inform Quinn that plans had changed.

"I'll call my brother, you get ready. If you're up for it, I would still like to take you to dinner" he placed a hand on the side of my face.

"I would like that very much" I gave him a wide smile.

"How does the little peanut feel about burgers?" He grinned over at me.

"Little peanut is totally on board for burgers" I giggled as he grabbed my hand and placed a kiss to the back of it with a smile. "We can head out whenever you're ready. I'll go call Quinn"

With a kiss to my forehead he was out of the room.

I let my fingers roam over the letters of his last name on the onesie one more time. A last name that would, in a few short months, be my child's last name. Jack had never failed me the entire part of my life that I've known him, I had no doubt that he would never let this baby down either.

We were both the luckiest humans on the planet.