The Start of Something Beautiful [Hadley]

[hadleyfraser]

"Shit!"

Hunter's exclamation had brought Hadley out of her reverie, and she watched silently as he rushed to close the curtains and bolt the door.

"What are you doing, Haddles?" Hadley didn't answer. She didn't really have anything to say. She just shrugged her shoulders and continued to stare at her feet. Maybe this had been a bit impulsive, but boy, her wings felt better. The relief was almost palpable.

"Give me a little warning next time?" Hadley cracked a small smile and nodded. "Sorry," she said, finally looking at Hunter again. "My back has been killing me. Wings especially," she explained. "No idea why though. I just had to get more comfortable. Sorry."

"Is everything okay?" Hunter's face was full of concern, and Hadley felt a rush of affection toward him at that moment, loving him infinitely for his show of worry. She saw his eyes flick from her face, to her bra, to her face again, and then to her wings, which twitched a little at the unfamiliar sensation of freedom.

Hunter moved toward her and took her arms gently in his hands, running his fingers up and down them. His touch raised goosebumps on her shoulders, but not because his hands were cold. They were quite warm indeed, she noted.

"C'mon, tell me what's wrong." His voice was so soft and tender, and Hadley knew that he didn't want to upset her.

Without warning, Hadley's arms were wrapped around Hunter's waist and she had pulled him in close, burying her face in his smokey t-shirt. She breathed deep, inhaling the familiar smell of his cologne and his cigarettes. She had to fight back tears as she clutched him to her, and she imagined the surprised look on his face. It made her smile a little, though Hunter wouldn't see her face, buried as it was in his chest.

Hadley just clung to Hunter for several minutes, cherishing the silence and the closeness of her best friend. She allowed herself to imagine for a brief moment that he felt for her what she did for him, and for that short instant she felt perfectly safe, warm and happy. She knew Kit would never hold her this way, and thinking about Kit made something click in her mind.

Oh, God. Oh... oh dear.

Hadley gasped at her realization and disengaged from Hunter's embrace, stepping back until her legs hit the bed and she collapsed onto it, one hand on her forehead and the other finding its way to her belly. She was suddenly nauseated- at least, more that usual these days- and she understood why.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

Hunter was taken aback when Hadley wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. He stood there awkwardly before he draped his arms around his good friend, trying nervously not to mess with the wings that protruded out from her back. His eyes fell on them as her face nuzzled into his shirt. He couldn't help but let his mind wander to her wings. He wondered what it would be like to have them. To be able to fly and just get away from the world? It sounded pretty awesome to him.

His hand went up to the back of her head and smoothed her hair down trying his best to be caring and supportive. Only he didn't know why. Why was this girl who he had such deep feelings for standing there half naked with her face buried in his chest? Hunter didn't have the slightest clue and before he could repeat his request for her to tell him what was wrong she was already pulling away from him. It had seem like only seconds that she'd been in his arms although he knew that wasn't true.

The sudden emptiness tore him inside, wanting to just grab hold of Hadley and pull her into his arms once more. But Hunter wasn't that type of guy. At least not on the outside. He masked his feelings in sarcasm and witty remarks. Although every now and then, especially around Hadley, that fragile mask would slip off and true concern would seep through.

When Hadley moved to his bed he just didn't understand what was going on. But then her hands went to her forehead and her stomach, and that's when Hunter knew something was definitely wrong. "What aren't you telling me? Spill." He demanded in his deep voice, keeping his tone low as he usually did. Yelling just wasn't Hunter's style. He needed to know what was wrong with this girl that he cared so deeply for, and she wasn't coughing up the information!

Was she sick? Did he do something to upset her? If that was the case then why did she take off her shirt? The questions buzzed around in his head as he waited for an explanation. At least he hoped she'd give him one.

Hunter moved closer and got down on his knees in front of Hadley, his hands falling on her knees as he looked up at her. He wanted her to pay attention to him and if he had to get in her face to get it that was what he was going to do. "C'mon.." He pressed gently and rubbed her legs just above the knees to try and console her for whatever it was that she was so distraught over.

[hadleyfraser]

Hadley let Hunter comfort her in his own way, knowing that he didn't do the whole "comforter" thing for many people. In fact, she wondered if she was the only one. She'd never seen him get very personal with anyone else. As he rubbed her knees (which felt really good, oddly enough), she took a couple of deep, calming breaths and tried to focus her thoughts.

How long had it been since her wild night at the Jack Kit? Let's see, that had been... four? No, five weeks ago. Okay. So she should have had her period between then and now, right? She counted mentally, closing her eyes and doing the mental math. Yes, she should have had a cycle by now. Three weeks ago, in fact. Oh, bother.

And how long had she been repulsed by the sight and smell of food? That had started around two weeks ago, when she'd gone to work at Sunshine, Too and had to throw up at the smell of a strawberry smoothie. This had particularly upset her, because she loved those smoothies...

And then this whole business with her back hurting? What was that about? Her wings had felt cramped and constricted for a while now, but she'd never heard of that being associated with anything like this before. Not that she'd known many other Avisailles... or any others, really.

When she trusted herself to hold it together, she took Hunter's hands in her own and looked down at him. "I need you to look something up for me, and I need you to not freak out when I tell you, okay?" She was keeping her voice as calm as possible, but on the inside she was howling. She was freaking scared of what she might be about to discover.

She took another deep breath and said to Hunter, "I need you to google 'Avisaille pregnancy symtoms, okay? And rememberyoupromisednottofreakout."

[/b] She let the last sentence pour out quickly, words tumbling over one another in a rush to be said. She squeezed Hunter's hands, trying to be reassuring. She didn't think it was working very well, but hey, it was the thought that counted, right?
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[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

Usually when someone told you not to freak out that's when you knew it was time to freak out! Hunter felt himself getting panicky when she told him not to freak, still kneeling in front of her and looking up at his friend. What was she going to say that she found it necessary to tell him not to freak out?! He tried to keep himself calm and collected but then when she explained he felt like himself internally fall apart.

"I need you to google 'Avisaille pregnancy symptoms, okay? And rememberyoupromisednottofreakout."

Hunter swallowed a hard lump that was forming in the back of his throat and struggled to keep his face calm and neutral. Was she trying to say that she was pregnant? Who was the father? His mind swam trying to see if he could remember her ever talking about a guy she'd met. His eyes stayed fixated on her as he tried to find the right thing to say. Except words escaped him in that moment and all he could do is stare at her.

Finally, he seemed to regain his voice and he blinked several times as if he were trying to snap out of some trance he'd been put in. More like he was trying to come back to reality. "Y-you're pregnant..?" His voice trailed off, cracking a bit and he found himself clearing his throat.

Hunter stood up and took a seat beside Hadley and his attention went down to her bare abdomen. Was there something in there growing inside of this girl who he'd fallen for? Was it too late for him? He felt a knot in his stomach and the sudden urge to hurl overcame him. He reached for the girl and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He didn't know what to say and he certainly couldn't let her see how hurt he was over this. He wouldn't be that selfish. There was a place and time for everything and now wasn't the time for him to act like some brokenhearted sap.

He needed to be there for Hadley.

"Haddles..." His voice trailed off for a moment and he glared at the wall behind her, trying to find the words. "...I'm here for you. Always. You know that don't you?"

The boy held his breath and mustered up the courage to ask his next question. The curiosity was going to make him burst if he didn't know! "Who's the.. father?"

[hadleyfraser]

"I'm really scared about this, Hunter," Hadley confessed, her voice quiet and rather shaky. She could tell by his reaction that Hunter was not thrilled at her news, not that she'd expected him to be. But there was something in his face that she couldn't identify. Fear? Sadness? She didn't know, and she was too distracted to focus on it much right now.

"What if I'm a bad mom?"

"You know I'm here for you. Always."

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for what felt like an age before Hunter wrapped his arms around Hadley's shoulders, and that did her in for sure. She couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and she let her head roll to the side to rest of Hunter's shoulder. The tears came fast and free, but thankfully quietly.

"Who's the... father?" Hunter's voice sounded different, and again, Hadley couldn't identify what it was that had changed. It bothered her, though. She sat up and sighed.

"Don't be mad?" She knew that was a pretty big request, but she took a deep breath and confessed. "Kit, from that cowboy bar downtown." She braced herself for the blowup.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

Hunter held Hadley close to him until she pulled away when he asked who the father was. Again, she asked that he didn't get mad and he just remained silent and stared at her. Who was he to judge? He was a reckless screw up who did drugs and stole. It wasn't like he was any better and he listened, waiting for her to tell him who the father was to her unborn child.

That's when he nearly lost it.

Of all the men that Hadley could have slept with she decided to sleep with a drunk! He didn't know Kit on a personal level but he'd gone in there from time to time and had gotten served. He was only twenty, still too young to legally drink, but he had enough fake I.D.'s to get in anywhere. And sure, he'd been carded but he'd always gotten away with it. He knew Kit as the owner and had been served by him personally. He didn't seem like the friendly type but more of a jerk off, at least to him anyway. But he'd apparently charmed the pants right off of his friend.

The feeling.. it was gut wrenching.

Hunter shot up to his feet like he had when Hadley had taken her top off and he shook his head as he looked down at her. Almost as if he were pleading with her for that not to be true. "You.. you are not serious." He asked her and tried to chuckle to lighten up the mood but it wasn't doing anything other than making it even more uncomfortable. At least for him.

"Haddles.. he.. he's a drunk!" His hand shot up and gestured out the window as if he were pointing at Kit even though he wasn't there. In this moment he couldn't believe her. It must have been one night when she'd been out drinking. "Did he take advantage of you?" Hunter's features darkened as his brows lowered over his eyes in anger, feeling hatred for the drunk bar owner. As if there were anyone lower than him.

He knew he was making a mistake though. If he shouted at her it would only push her away. He licked his lips and tried to calm himself but knew that there was only one vice that would help him in that moment. He grabbed the pack of cigarettes and pulled another out and lit it. This time he didn't care if the smoke got in the room but then had a change of heart, realizing that if Hadley really was pregnant then it could make her sick. So he stuck his arm out the window and blew the smoke out into the fresh air. "..what are you going to do?"

[hadleyfraser]

Hunter was taking things remarkably well, Hadley thought, considering the nature of all that was happening. Or at least, he was taking them well until she revealed that Kit Rathbone was the father.

You... you can't be serious." Hunter had jumped to his feet, and laughed. The laugh sounded a little mad, almost crazed, although Hadley was certain he was trying to keep things light. Regardless, she could tell he was pissed. Pissed, and hurt.

"Hadley... he... he's a drunk!" Hunter's hands flew into the air and Hadley let her head droop, feeling properly ashamed of herself. "Look, Hunter, I know," she said, looking back up at him.

"Did he take advantage of you?"

"Wha- no!" Hadley was thrown by the question, and realized too late that maybe she shouldn't have answered it. By saying no, she was essentially saying to Hunter that she had made the choice to sleep with Kit, had found him desirable enough to have sex with. But if she'd lied and said yes, Hunter would have walked out the door right then and murdered Kit, so she should have just avoided the question all together. Oops.

Hadley knew Hunter was mad, but she didn't realize just how mad until he lit a cigarette right in front of her face. He usually only did that when he was playing, or when he wanted to make her angry. She highly doubted it was the first one this time. He blew out a long trail of smoke before
taking a deep breath and saying, "so what are you going to do?"

Hadley sighed and looked at him, not commenting on the smoke. At least he had opened a window. Hunter wasn't an idiot, and she gave him at least a little credit for not blowing the smoke in her face.

"I don't know, Hunt," she said, using her own nickname for him. "I mean... Gah. I really have no idea what to do from here. I guess I should probably tell him. Kit, I mean..." She let her voice trail off, dreading that particular conversation. How would that go, really? Hey, remember me? I passed out in your bar that one night, and then we went upstairs to your apartment and screwed. Now I'm pregnant. How's business?

Hadley fell back onto the bed, laying there on her back with her legs hanging off the mattress, bent at the knee.She still had her shirt off, and she looked down at her belly, which was usually very flat and fairly well-muscled. Hadley liked to exercise, she she prided herself of her six pack, even if it wasn't as chiseled as some. She realized that she couldn't see the toned muscles at all, and while she didn't have a bulge by any stretch of the imagination, she definitely had a distinct curve where there did not used to be one.

"There's a person in there," she mused, unsure how she felt about this realization. "What should I do, do you think? Do I tell him? I mean, it's not like I see him on any kind of regular basis. But these things have a way of becoming obvious after a while." She tried to make a joke, but it didn't really work very well.

"I'm scared, Hunt," Hadley confessed.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

Hunter felt himself growing angrier and angrier the more he thought about Hadley's situation. She couldn't possibly think that this would be a good idea, could she? He tried to picture a baby with wings just like Hadley's and her beautiful eyes. Hadley would make a beautiful baby, but he didn't like the idea of it being tainted by that drunk! What if her child became a total jackass also? Hunter knew that if she decided to have this baby, no matter how much he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to hate it. Oh, but how he wanted to.

He pursed his lips around the butt of the cigarette and kept it secured there as he inhaled then exhaled the smoke through his nostrils like a bull. His eyes kept roaming back to her stomach and a part of him wanted to actually touch it. He wanted to feel her stomach and see if he could feel a little person inside of her. Of course he wouldn't be able to, and he felt that it wouldn't truly sink in until he actually could. He didn't know how he was going to cope with this, to idly watch as his best friend, the girl who he'd had such deep feelings for so long for had the child of another man growing inside of her.

It's your fault, idiot. He mentally scolded himself and he shut his eyes for a moment. Why was he being this selfish? Hadley was the one who was scared, she said so herself! He inhaled the sweet nicotine once more and this time he blew it out his mouth in the direction of the window. The ashes that were piling high broke from the stick when he moved his head and went flying all over the place. He waved his hand in the air to try and make sure they didn't go near Hadley and even let out a little "sorry" quietly before he set the cigarette on top of an opened beer can. It was his redneck ashtray.

Letting out a heavy sigh he settled down beside her on the bed with his body turned sideways so he could face her. His fingers moved to the side of her face and he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face. "I'm here. There's nothing to be afraid of because I won't let anything happen to you." He tried to assure her but he didn't know just how well he was doing. This wasn't exactly his problem but he sure as hell was going to make it his problem. He was loyal to those who were close to him. Hadley was no exception and if anything she was one of the very few that he would risk his own life for.

"You're going to have to tell him though Haddles. I know if it were mine I'd want to know. It wouldn't be fair for either of you if you didn't say something. Want me to go with you?" Hunter really didn't want to be there with her when she went, but at the same time if he tried anything then at least he'd be there to protect her.

"If he gives you any trouble I could burn the place down." Hunter offered although a weak smile was planted on his lips, trying his best to lighten the mood for her. And with slight hesitation he reached his hand for her stomach and allowed it to move across the smooth skin. Her skin was so soft yet firm at the same time. It was perfect. It wasn't as if he could notice any change in her body. But he knew that as the months progressed her stomach would swell and get bigger as the baby grew. He'd still think she were the most beautiful woman in the world.

[hadleyfraser]

Hadley let her eyes fall lazily closed, allowing herself a brief moment of relaxation as Hunter's hand moved gently across her faintly rounded belly. "That feels nice," she said, her voice sleepy. Exhaustion had definitely already set in.

Hadley vaguely heard Hunter make a comment about burning the bar down if Kit didn't take the news well, but Hadley was already drifting off to sleep, thoroughly relaxed by Hunter's tummy-rubbing.

In her sleep, Hadley rolled over toward Hunter, snuggling up next to him as she dreamed of her little nudger, who was slowly growing inside her. Even in sleep, her mind was blown by the whole idea of pregnancy. Hadley dreamed of a beautiful infant, laughing and cooing up at her, with fat little cheeks and tiny fingers and toes.

The dream changed after a while, and Hadley saw her child, beautiful still, but in a horrible, dangerous way. It had wings, like her, but they were black and weak and bloody, and as she watched the child seemed to fade and deteriorate before her very eyes. Hadley woke up screaming, tangled in the sheet from Hunter's bed, her hands clenched so tightly into fists that her nails had torn crescent shaped cuts in her palms.

It took several minutes before Hadley realized she'd been asleep, and that it was only a nightmare. Still, she was panting with terror at what she'd seen. She tried to calm her breathing down, but found that she just needed to shake for a minute before she could try to calm down.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

Hunter wasn't really sure what happened. He watched as Hadley drifted off into what seemed to be a light sleep and when she did such he moved up against the headboard and sat on it. He yanked a fresh cigarette out of the pack and put it between his lips. This time he didn't bother to get a lighter. He just mumbled a little incantation under his breath and the cigarette lit on its own. Well, not on its own. It was lit by magic.

Inhaling he felt the smoke filling his lungs and then he blew it silently out the window. He stared out as the sun began to fall behind the buildings. It was going to get dark soon and he had no idea what to do. Maybe he'd go see Harley tonight. He could use something stronger than cigarettes after the news he heard and he knew that Harley would have it for him if he called her in advance.

He looked over to Hadley and watched her for a moment. He couldn't believe this. Hunter wanted to march right down to the Jack Kit and punch that arrogant cowboy right in the face. But he'd probably get his ass kicked and that wasn't the best of ideas. He realized there was something.. off about Hadley. She seemed to be tensing and he watched as the muscles in her arms tensed as if she were making tight fists.

He polished off his cigarette and tossed it out the window before plopping down beside her just as her eyes shot open. "Whoa, are you okay?" The concern was back in his voice and he reached out to try and take her in his arms. He wanted to comfort her any way he could, even though there was a part of him that was selfish.. he wanted to just leave her there. He was jealous, angry, and definitely a whole lot of hurt. He wanted to be the one that got her pregnant.

But he wasn't.

He'd have to just keep a stiff upper lip and be there, no matter what. He loved her enough. "Why don't you stay here tonight? O-or I could walk you home? I just want to be sure you're going to be fine."

[hadleyfraser]

Hadley tried to catch her breath as Hunter slid down to sit beside her on the bed. "Whoa. Are you okay?" He brought her gently into his embrace and held her close. "I'm f-fine," she said, her voice shaking as much as the rest of her body.

If Hadley hadn't been so upset from her nightmare, she would have noticed how upset Hunter was by everything that had transpired that afternoon. As it was, she didn't notice, and she just buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of tobacco and cologne.

"Why don't you stay here tonight? O-or I could walk you home? I just want to be sure you're going to be fine."

Hadley, who had calmed down somewhat, looked up at Hunter through her eyelashes. "Could... I stay here?" She didn't want to be alone, that was certain. "I just really need you right now. You know I hate being the needy one, but..." Hadley let her voice trail off.

How could she articulate how she wished this baby growing inside of her was Hunter's, and not some stranger's? How could she explain that to him without scaring him off? She pondered for a few moments what it would be like, how things would be different, if she had been with Hunter than night rather than Kit.

They might be sitting here together, talking about the beautiful life they'd created, rather than Hunter comforting her from a horrifying nightmare.

"I wish it had been you," she heard herself say, as though from a hundred yards away.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

"I just really need you right now. You know I hate being the needy one, but..."

Of course Hunter was going to let her stay there in his dorm. He'd just tell Evan he'd have to bunk with one of his little nerd friends if he had any that night. Not that Hunter was going to use Evan's bed at all, but he didn't want him laying there wheezing all night like he usually did. Not with Hadley there. Hunter would sleep on the floor, that would be good enough for him.

"I'm here Haddles. I'm not going anywhere." He told her gently and began to rub her back to try and ease her worries. Hunter didn't know what else to do. He wasn't the comforting type and found that it was harder than he expected it to be. Sure, he saw the way people comforted each other in movies, but this wasn't a movie. This was a real life problem that his friend had on her hands and she needed someone to be there for her. He wanted to be that someone.

"I wish it had been you,"

He.. fell silent. Hunter wasn't sure if he heard her right or if his ears were playing tricks on him. She couldn't have possibly said.. that! Right?

But Hunter was positive that he heard Hadley say that she wished it had been him to get her pregnant. It sounded both foreign and just.. weird. He didn't know how to take it at first, but the very thought of her wishing that made him feel an inkling of hope that maybe she actually felt for him the way he felt for her.

"Hadly.." He trailed off, unsure what he really wanted to say. Hunter was dumbfounded! He wrapped his arms around his best friend, careful not to crush her wings in the process and rested his head on her shoulder. It was a sideways embrace since he was seated beside her, and his lips found the soft flesh of her shoulder. He planted the softest kiss that he could on her shoulder before he pulled away a bit to try and catch her eye with his.

"I like you. I always have and maybe this isn't the opportunity I've been waiting for to tell you but it'll have to do. Who cares about that drunk? I want to be with you." Hunter poured out his heart in the best way he knew how and he waited to hear what Hadley had to say about it. He might not have been the greatest at explaining his feelings but at least he was giving it a shot.

[hadleyfraser]

It was Hadley's turn to be dumbfounded. As Hunter wrapped his arms around her in a tender embrace, she moved in closer to him, allowing herself to melt into the safe circle of his arms. She smiled and blushed as he planted an oh-so-gentle kiss on her shoulder. His lips were warm and soft and dry, and Hadley had to fight to keep a little shiver from running down her spine.

"Hadley..."

His voice sounded uncertain, like he hadn't known what he was going to say next. The sound of her name on his lips made Hadley overflow with some emotion she couldn't identify, but it felt foreign and wonderful all at the same time. She wanted to hear Hunter say her name a thousand times more.

"I like you. I always have and maybe this isn't the opportunity I've been waiting for to tell you but it'll have to do. Who cares about that drunk? I want to be with you."

Hadley felt hot, happy tears spring to her eyes, and she buried her face in Hunter's chest to keep him from seeing the emotion there. She wrapped her arms around his waist, discovering that she fit perfectly against him this way, like a puzzle piece that had been placed against its match.

When she was certain she'd regained control of her tear ducts, she pulled back just enough from his embrace to look up at him, meeting his eyes.

"If I said I loved you..." Her voice was laced with emotion, even though her eyes had dried. "...That all this time, I've loved you..." She was choosing her words carefully and deliberately, wanting to communicate just the right thing. "Would I be crossing a line? Would it send you screaming in the opposite direction?" She laughed her musical little laugh, feeling so overwhelmed by joy at his confession of affection that she could hardly think straight.

"I mean... after all of this-" she took his hand in her own and guided it down to her belly, where her child was growing "-is it even possible for us to be together? I want to be with you, Hunter. More than anything. But I'm so afraid that you'll look at me and this baby and see him." She was, of course, referring to Kit, whom she knew Hunter loathed now, even without knowing him at all, simply by virtue of the fact that Kit had done this to her. Hadley also knew she was rambling, and she desperately wanted to shut up.

[HUNTER BLACKTHORNE]

"If I said I loved you..."

Hunter felt as if his heart was going to stop in his chest. He didn't know where this was going and the last thing he wanted was for it to be a game.

"...That all this time, I've loved you..."

But Hunter soon realized that this wasn't a game at all. Hadley was trying to open herself and confess to feelings that she clearly had. This wasn't some joke with a twisted little punch line. Her words were true and they seemed so surreal to him. Was he dreaming? Should he pinch himself?

"Would I be crossing a line? Would it send you screaming in the opposite direction?"

Her laugh was sweet. Something that Hunter always loved about her. No matter how dark he would go her laughter always brought him back into the light. And even he had to give a little laugh at what she said and shook his head. "I don't think the line is even in sight Haddles. I wouldn't go anywhere, you mean too much for me to even think about running." His words were true and even shocked him that he was able to be so kind.

When Hadley moved his hand down to her stomach his eyes broke away from hers and he found himself staring at the spot his hand was touching. Although he found himself elated with this news that the feelings were mutual between them, the high began to wear off once more as he realized that there was another man's offspring growing inside of her.

Was this something that he could handle? Did he want to be with someone who was going to have another man's child? Was he ready for that kind of responsibility? He was younger than Hadley was. Much younger. He knew that her kind aged slower and she'd been around longer than he'd been alive. She might not have wanted it but she was more mature and could handle that kind of responsibility. But Hunter didn't know if he could. Even if he thought he was ready, saying he was and actually being ready were two different things. And in the end he knew that he wasn't mature enough to raise a kid. He was just some riff raff that happened to be lucky enough to know someone as great as Hadley.

"So you're.. you're going to go through with it? You're going to have it?" Hunter realized that the answer hadn't really been clear, whether or not she was going to keep it or not. And maybe he didn't answer her question, but he needed to know the answer to his first.

[hadleyfraser]

Hadley couldn't keep the smile from her face when Hunter answered her. "I don't think the line is even in sight Haddles. I wouldn't go anywhere, you mean too much for me to even think about running." She gave him a little squeeze and grinned up at him, elated by his evident desire to be with her.

His next question, though, brought her down a notch. "So you're.. you're going to go through with it? You're going to have it?"

Hadley sighed. She hadn't given the subject any thought, really, mostly because the idea of doing anything other than keeping the baby had never crossed her mind. She had just assumed that this was something that she was going to have to go through with. The thought of terminating the pregnancy hadn't crossed her mind until now.

Could she live with herself if she didn't have this child? How could she cope with the knowledge that she'd been given the opportunity to give life to something, but had thrown that chance away? No... she would have the baby, and she would love it and raise it as best she could.

"Yeah," Hadley said after a long silence. "I'm going to have the baby." The words sounded so final, so decisive. Hadley was surprised by how sure of herself she sounded. "I know it's asking a lot, asking you to join this circus that I have going. And if you don't want to do it, I will understand. I'll always understand. But... Jesus, hunter, just know that I can't think of anyone I would rather have by my side than you."

She reached up with one hand and touched his face, her fingers soft against his stubbled cheek. Hunter was beautiful to her. Yes, handsome might have been the more manly term, but to Hadley, he was exquisite. She knew that she had never loved him more than she did at that moment.

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