Fic: May It Be (Veronica, Trina, L/V) PG-13, 11/?
Title: May It Be (11/?)
Author: Jasmine
Characters/Pairing: Veronica, Trina, L/V
Word Count: 3,832
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Up to 2x12, Rashard & Wallace Go To White Castle
Summary: Trina asks Veronica for a small…okay - large, favor. Future fic
Disclaimer: Title and lyrics from May It Be, by Celtic Woman.
Author’s Note: Sorry for the delay in posting. My beta was on a much deserved vacation last week. The good news - I'm done with my comprehensive exams. The bad news - I'm out of chapters. So we'll see if I can write in a timely manner to keep posting.
I want to thank lapdogdesign for her help, it was good to know I wasn't too far off base with my own research.
Also, thanks as always to my wonderful beta, sarah_p, and to everyone who has taken the time to leave feedback.
Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / Chapter Eight / Chapter Nine / Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Veronica couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed and out of place. She rubbed her stomach self consciously, as if trying to remind herself that she did belong there. But she couldn’t help but feel like a fish out of water watching all the women in the room chattering excitedly with each other. Logan squeezed her hand, and she was grateful for his presence. She knew he felt as awkward as she did, and she found comfort in that, even though she felt sorry for him at the same time.
They weren’t teenagers anymore, but she still felt that way standing amidst the room full of expecting couples, most of them older than them and probably married. She and Logan might have been old enough to have children of their own, but that didn’t make her feel any better. Veronica felt like she was a little girl playing in her mother’s clothing, trying to be a grown up, even though it was all for show. Yeah, she was an adult, but she certainly didn’t feel like one. She’s pregnant, but it’s not her child. And Logan is her boyfriend, but he’s not the father. They’re not as excited and anxious as everyone else at the meeting because it’s not their place to be.
Tugging on his hand, she started walking toward the edge of the room, away from the crowd. She wasn’t ready to talk with the other women, and was pretty certain that Logan didn’t want to talk with the men. They stopped in front of a table set up with brochures and a model, with posters lining the wall behind it. She focused on the colorful plastic anatomical model of a womb. It showed a baby at week thirty-eight, its head pointing down, neatly filling up the small space.
Her stomach clenched, seeing her future before her. Sure, it had been her choice to do this, but it didn’t mean she was looking forward to the upcoming months. Soon, the baby would push her everything in her stomach out of the way, kick her in the ribs, and tuck its head so close to her bladder that she knew she’d be living in the bathroom all day. It was going to be uncomfortable, that much was certain.
She moved her eyes upward and looked over the poster directly behind the table. It was divided into four sections, each one showing one of the four stages of delivery. Head engaged, head crowning, birth, and caught. Logan squeezed her hand harder, and she mentally squirmed at the images and the truth behind them. She’d seen the movies where women screamed in pain during labor, and read all the material, but suddenly, it seemed more real than ever. The image of the baby’s head being pushed out of her body sent a flash of pain through her, and she recalled all the jokes about pushing a watermelon through an opening the size of an orange. It was-
“…unnatural.”
Veronica snapped her head up and glanced at Logan, his horrified expression mirroring her own. “What?”
“That is unnatural,” he repeated, waving his hand at the poster.
She looked at it again and couldn’t help but agree. It did look unnatural - and so very, very painful.
“Couldn't you always have a C-section or something?” he asked, as if he could hear her thoughts.
Shaking her head, she turned and faced him with a grim smile. “No, I can do it. What’s one day of pain compared with a lifetime of joy, right?”
He quirked an eyebrow and chuckled at her. “But you realize that you don’t get to keep the baby, right?”
Veronica rolled her eyes and started perusing the pamphlets on the table. “I was joking, Logan. But it doesn’t change my decision - no C-section.”
“Please tell me you’re not going for the whole natural childbirth without drugs thing… because I don’t even think I could handle that.”
She laughed out loud, clamping a hand over her mouth so people wouldn’t stare at them. Slapping him on the arm, she glared and hissed. “Yes, I’m going to have drugs. I’m not that crazy. But either way, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Logan grinned and shrugged his shoulders. Dropping her hand, he turned around and she followed his move. “So, ready to head back into the jungle?”
Nodding at the table filled with beverages and snacks, she replied, “Aim for the food. Maybe we can get there without being attacked.”
Logan shuddered as he eyed the women scattered throughout the room. “Let’s hurry. I never knew a hoard of pregnant women could be so scary.”
*****
They were quiet on the ride home, and the silence only magnified the buzzing that was going on in her head. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute, and she couldn’t seem to turn them off. Veronica and Logan had successfully managed to get through the first childbirth class without having to stumble through their awkward history or raise any suspicion that they weren’t exactly the typical expecting couple. Thankfully, only her name had been recorded on the registration, and no one seemed to recognize Logan.
At the beginning of class, everyone had gone around introducing themselves. Like Logan and Veronica had planned, they told everyone simply that they were expecting their first child. There was no need to get too complicated or raise any questions. It was better for people to assume Logan was the father, even if his name was leaked, than for there to be any suspicion that it was Trina’s baby. Even though the celebrity baby craze had died down a few years earlier, the paparazzi would eat Trina’s story up. It had it all - fame, heartbreak, and a very unusual surrogate situation. Given all the players involved, and their history with each other, the press would be all over them. And unlike Angelina Jolie, Veronica couldn’t fly off to Africa for privacy.
“You scared?”
Veronica glanced over at Logan and smiled cheerfully. “Why should I be? I’m only going to push an eight pound baby out of me and have one of the most painful experiences of my life.” She leaned her head against the window and stared out forlornly. Truth be told, she was scared. No matter how many times she told her father, and Trina, and even Logan that she could handle it, she was still trying to convince herself that it was true.
She could stand up to the PCHers without breaking a sweat and wake up for an 8 AM class after staying up until 4 in the morning on a stakeout - no problem. But when it came to pain or the fear of pain? She always had relied on others to help her out, be it her father or Logan, whether she was in real or imagined danger. This time, though, she had to do it all on her own. No one could step in and take the fall for her or push away the bad guy at the very last second. All of the responsibility rested on her shoulders.
Logan’s hand came to rest on hers and she looked up, startled. He looked at her reassuringly.
Okay, so maybe she could do it. After all, just because her family and friends couldn’t take her place didn’t mean they wouldn’t be there to support her. That’s all that really mattered.
*****
Veronica flipped through the channels rapidly, noting with displeasure that Logan’s expensive cable package wasn’t any better than her own. She eyed his Playstation and pondered playing something while she waited for him to come home. Just as she turned off the TV to find a game that hopefully didn’t involve massive bloodshed, she heard a key in the front door. Grinning to herself, she stood up and made her way over when he walked in and dumped his backpack on the floor.
His eyes shot up when he noticed her, and she jumped playfully into his arms. He groaned, teasingly stumbling backwards under her weight. She swatted him. “I’m not that big yet!”
“Yet being the key word,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes. “Hi, Logan, nice to see you, too.”
“Hey,” he replied, shifting her slightly in his embrace to get a better grip on her, kissing her softly. “I see your lock-picking skills haven’t gotten rusty.”
“Nope! They’ve had plenty of practice over the years.” At his raised eyebrow, she reassured him. “But don’t worry, they all deserved it. Bad men, criminals, vagrants. The usual. No booty calls.”
“Ah, so this is a booty call?” he asked, moving them toward his bedroom.
She tilted her head and looked at him, amused. “I warned you, remember? Pregnant women? Raging hormones? Ringing any bells here?”
Logan hung his head, looking defeated. “I knew you were only in this for my body.”
Veronica laughed and squeezed legs tighter, giving him a playful tap on the ass. “And what a great body it is.”
He deposited her on his bed without warning, causing her to squeal. She watched him pull his shirt off before crawling over to her on the bed and commented, “You know, I was thinking of you all afternoon.”
Peering down at her, he smirked. “Oh, really?”
She nodded. “Yep. In class today, we talked about sexual deviants.”
“And of course you thought of me,” he murmured as he bent down, kissing a trail up her neck.
“Well, that and sex.” She felt him laugh, his chest shaking lightly against her, the sound muffled due to the fact that his mouth was still attached to her neck, alternating between gently kissing and sucking her skin.
“I think I like you pregnant.”
Veronica ran a hand down his back and stopped to dip her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans. “I bet. Too bad we missed out of most of the second trimester. Things are about to get-” She gasped as his lips closed over a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. “-uncomfortable.”
“Well, we’ll just have to make up for lost time now, won’t we?”
*****
“You hungry?” She grinned and he shook his head. “Stupid question. What do you want for dinner?”
“Chinese.”
He nodded and got out of bed, pulling on his pants before turning back to her. “Chinese it is. What are you in the mood for?”
“Everything.”
“I should have known.”
He left the room, and she rolled over to look at the clock. Crawling over, she picked the remote up from the nightstand and turned on the TV, flipping until she got to the channel she was looking for.
A few minutes later, Logan’s form blocked the light coming into the room, and she looked up.
“Bored already?” He asked, walking over and plopping down next to her. He watched the program for a few moments, frowning. “Is this a subtle hint?”
She glanced over, confused. “What?”
He pointed towards the TV. “Are you plotting to kill me? Did I do something wrong? I mean, sure, death by lobster would be a creative way to go, but I’d prefer something a little more noble.”
She laughed and shook her head, watching the screen briefly before turning back to him. “Please. First of all - I’d never take the time to make lobster. It’s too hard, and I’m still learning the basics. And second - if I was planning to kill you, I wouldn’t be the one doing the cooking. Too obvious. It would have to be an accident - maybe at a restaurant.”
“Wow. The fact that you’ve given this some actual thought just warms my heart,” he said, holding a hand up to his chest dramatically.
Veronica grabbed a pillow and smacked him on the head. “Jackass. Like I’m going to kill you.”
“You say that now, but one day you’re going to be so pissed off with me over something stupid…and probably because of your hormones, you’ll want to kill me. And then you’ll remember this conversation and know exactly how to do it.”
“Just watch the stupid show until the food comes, idiot.”
Logan wisely shut up and they sat quietly, watching Good Eats - one of the more unusual shows the Food Network offered - as the host, Alton Brown, demonstrated how to kill a lobster - humanely, of course - and then prepare it.
“So why watch the show if you’re not going to make lobster?”
“Because I like the show. Alton Brown is hilarious. It’s more for entertainment than learning, really. Although I have picked up a few good tips.”
His eyes twinkled and he smiled. “Really? Then how come I haven’t seen any evidence of your budding culinary skill?”
Her jaw dropped. “If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been kind of busy lately. I can’t believe you!” Before she could chuck the pillow at him again, a knock echoed through the apartment and Logan jumped off the bed. “I’ll get you later!” she called out as he ran to get the door.
Shaking her head, she grabbed his shirt off the floor and pulled it on, waiting to hear the front door close before she headed out of the bedroom. She found Logan in the kitchen, opening various cartons of food. Peering into them, she noted the contents, then pouted.
“No shrimp?”
“Very funny.”
She grinned at him and grabbed some plates from the cupboard. “I meant for me.”
“Beef, chicken, and pork aren’t enough?”
“Nope.” She handed him a plate.
Logan reached around her and pulled two forks from the drawer in front of her. He gave her one, and they both started working on filling their plates. “Fine. The next time you have shrimp, you’re not allowed to kiss me for at least twenty-four hours.”
Veronica paused and glanced at him, exasperated. “Oh, come on. You’re being a little ridiculous.”
“I am not! People have died from a kiss!”
“They had peanut allergies,” she replied dryly, once again concentrating on the food in front of her.
“So? I’m not risking it.”
She rolled her eyes at him and sighed. “Oh, you big baby. Pass me the kungpao chicken, please.”
He pushed it over to her, and they worked quietly for a few minutes until Veronica noticed something. She peeked in all the cartons one more time, then turned to him questioningly. “Where are the egg rolls?”
Logan didn’t look up as he answered. “I didn’t order any.”
“Excuse me?”
He moved to face her slowly, as if preparing for the fight he knew would happen. “You don’t need them.”
Veronica blinked and stared at him incredulously. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. “Do explain. Please.”
He sighed and leaned back on the counter. “Oh come on, Veronica. You’re smart. I don’t think I need to explain.”
She raised an eyebrow pointedly.
“You won’t eat just one. I know you - you’ll eat five. And now’s not exactly the time you should be overdosing on egg rolls.”
“Are you implying that I’m fat?”
Logan groaned and raked a hand through his hair. “No. I’m just saying you should watch what you eat - not only for your sake, but the baby’s. You don’t have to eat brussel sprouts or whatever. I just read somewhere that you…you might want to cut back. Make sure you’re eating well. For the baby, I mean.”
Veronica counted to ten slowly in her head and let out a deep breath. Logan looked at her hopefully and she shook her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“You’re lucky you’re cute, or else I’d kick you out on your ass.”
He chuckled and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. “And you’re lucky that I’m willing to put up with you and your crazy hormones.” Brushing a strand of hair off of her forehead, he kissed her softly. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“I know.” She rested her head on his chest, and they stood still for a few moments before he stepped back.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold.” He picked up both of their plates and carried them to the table while Veronica got them drinks.
They ate in silence, until halfway through dinner, she looked up at him. Veronica chewed her lip nervously for a few seconds before blurting out, “Thanksgiving’s in a couple weeks. Are you ready to go home?”
Logan stopped chewing. “We’re staying with Trina, and she lives in LA.”
“Semantics. You can still visit Neptune.”
“I’ll pass.” He speared another piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth.
Veronica had known it would be hard to bring this up. Logan avoided talking about Neptune entirely. When she first mentioned going home for Thanksgiving a few weeks earlier, he had quickly put up his own walls and tried to get out of it until she told him that Trina had invited them. Soon after, he was cracking jokes about his sister, and they hadn’t brought it up since.
She cocked her head and tried for a light, teasing voice in hopes of getting him to open up. “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad. What are you going to do during Christmas break? You can’t stay here all alone. I’m sure Trina would let you stay with her.” She paused for a moment. “Of course, I doubt you’d last more than a few days without strangling her.”
Logan sighed and put him fork down. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” She turned to him, smiling widely. “I want you there.”
*****
“In 2006, the courts ruled that if one spouse consents to the search, but the other does not, police are not allowed to search. What does that mean if…”
Veronica fought to stay awake, blinking furiously in an attempt to focus on her professor, who, at the moment, was quite blurry. Her cheek was numb as she leaned on her hand, her arm propped up on the table, hoping to appear alert in case she really did fall asleep. It wasn’t the lecture that was boring her. No, she and Logan had stayed up a little too late having fun. She hadn’t been able to get out of bed after he got up to get ready for his morning class, and she certainly hadn’t appreciated his coffee-flavored lips when he kissed her goodbye. He was the lucky one. It had been six months and counting since her last cup of coffee…and it would be three more months until her next one. There would be no caffeine to help her stay awake during class.
She jerked when she felt a sudden sharp sensation in her stomach. Sitting up, she rested a hand on her stomach. When Adrianne looked at her with concern, Veronica smiled and shook her head, indicating that she was fine, and now wide awake. It seemed she had a co-conspirator that would keep her from falling asleep during class from now on.
He was finally kicking.
*****
Veronica stared at the shelves in utter disbelief. Rows upon rows of bottles of creams, lotions, and moisturizers screamed at her with their proclamations of anti-aging, wrinkle-free, and SPF miracle cures. She was surprised and disappointed at the same time that there wasn’t one claiming to cure stretch marks. After all, that’s what she was looking for.
That morning she had been horrified to see pale pink lines spreading across her stomach. After showering, she had immediately gone to her pregnancy books and read everything there was concerning stretch marks. She’d known they were inevitable, but had hoped to prevent them, or at least postpone them, for as long as she could. For the past few months she’d been using lotion, but apparently, it hadn’t done the trick. So now she had to look for something that was nearly 100% pure cocoa butter, because - according to the books - it wouldn’t harm the baby.
Sighing, she resigned herself to a long hunt and randomly picked up a box. As she scanned the ingredient list and exchanged the package for another, she noticed someone come up beside her. Veronica scooted over, to give the woman some room, when a box was held out in front of her.
“I’d go with this one.”
Veronica glanced up, surprised to see the lady smiling at her knowingly. There was a child seat strapped in her shopping cart, as well as several baby items.
“I take it this is your first?” She asked. Veronica nodded numbly. “Don’t worry too much about the stretch marks. They’ll fade after the baby is born. But if you use this and don’t gain too much weight too fast, they won’t be too bad.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“No problem.”
The woman smiled and continued down the aisle, leaving Veronica dumbfounded. She dumped the proffered cream into the basket at her feet and stared down at her stomach. Was it that obvious already? At six months along, she wasn’t huge, but she noticed that her stomach was slowly filling in on the sides, giving her the proper round pregnant look. But still - that was only obvious when she looked at herself without clothes on. Tugging on her shirt, she ran a hand over the curve of her stomach and looked down once again, only to stop short.
She couldn’t see her feet.
No. That wasn’t possible. Not yet. She wasn’t that big. She couldn’t be.
Hurriedly she dug her phone out of her purse and hit the speed dial. When someone picked up on the other end, she heard the distant sounds of male laughter behind the one voice she needed to hear.
“Veronica? What’s up?”
“Am I fat?”
She heard him move away from the people he was with as his voice became clearer. “What?”
“I can’t see my feet.”
“You have tiny feet.”
Veronica shifted, leaning her weight to one side, the hand not holding the phone resting on her hip. “You know, you’re not very good at this.”
“What do you expect me to say? Do you want me to lie and say you’re rail thin? Come on, Veronica. You’re six months pregnant! What did you expect?”
Her mouth gaped open and she frowned. Glancing quickly from side to side to make sure the aisle was clear, she hissed, “That’s it. No sex for you tonight.”
He chuckled. “That’s fine. I actually have some reading I need to catch up on…”
“What?” she screeched. “You’re saying no to sex?”
“Hey, it’ll hurt you more than it’ll hurt me. Remember, you’re the horny one right now.”
“I can’t believe you!” she sputtered, hearing him laugh again. She pulled the phone away from her ear and made a face at it. Bringing it back up, she threatened him. “I’m staying one night with my dad over Thanksgiving break. I could make it more and leave you to deal with Trina all by yourself…”
Veronica grinned as she was greeted with silence.
Author: Jasmine
Characters/Pairing: Veronica, Trina, L/V
Word Count: 3,832
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Up to 2x12, Rashard & Wallace Go To White Castle
Summary: Trina asks Veronica for a small…okay - large, favor. Future fic
Disclaimer: Title and lyrics from May It Be, by Celtic Woman.
Author’s Note: Sorry for the delay in posting. My beta was on a much deserved vacation last week. The good news - I'm done with my comprehensive exams. The bad news - I'm out of chapters. So we'll see if I can write in a timely manner to keep posting.
I want to thank lapdogdesign for her help, it was good to know I wasn't too far off base with my own research.
Also, thanks as always to my wonderful beta, sarah_p, and to everyone who has taken the time to leave feedback.
Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / Chapter Eight / Chapter Nine / Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Veronica couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed and out of place. She rubbed her stomach self consciously, as if trying to remind herself that she did belong there. But she couldn’t help but feel like a fish out of water watching all the women in the room chattering excitedly with each other. Logan squeezed her hand, and she was grateful for his presence. She knew he felt as awkward as she did, and she found comfort in that, even though she felt sorry for him at the same time.
They weren’t teenagers anymore, but she still felt that way standing amidst the room full of expecting couples, most of them older than them and probably married. She and Logan might have been old enough to have children of their own, but that didn’t make her feel any better. Veronica felt like she was a little girl playing in her mother’s clothing, trying to be a grown up, even though it was all for show. Yeah, she was an adult, but she certainly didn’t feel like one. She’s pregnant, but it’s not her child. And Logan is her boyfriend, but he’s not the father. They’re not as excited and anxious as everyone else at the meeting because it’s not their place to be.
Tugging on his hand, she started walking toward the edge of the room, away from the crowd. She wasn’t ready to talk with the other women, and was pretty certain that Logan didn’t want to talk with the men. They stopped in front of a table set up with brochures and a model, with posters lining the wall behind it. She focused on the colorful plastic anatomical model of a womb. It showed a baby at week thirty-eight, its head pointing down, neatly filling up the small space.
Her stomach clenched, seeing her future before her. Sure, it had been her choice to do this, but it didn’t mean she was looking forward to the upcoming months. Soon, the baby would push her everything in her stomach out of the way, kick her in the ribs, and tuck its head so close to her bladder that she knew she’d be living in the bathroom all day. It was going to be uncomfortable, that much was certain.
She moved her eyes upward and looked over the poster directly behind the table. It was divided into four sections, each one showing one of the four stages of delivery. Head engaged, head crowning, birth, and caught. Logan squeezed her hand harder, and she mentally squirmed at the images and the truth behind them. She’d seen the movies where women screamed in pain during labor, and read all the material, but suddenly, it seemed more real than ever. The image of the baby’s head being pushed out of her body sent a flash of pain through her, and she recalled all the jokes about pushing a watermelon through an opening the size of an orange. It was-
“…unnatural.”
Veronica snapped her head up and glanced at Logan, his horrified expression mirroring her own. “What?”
“That is unnatural,” he repeated, waving his hand at the poster.
She looked at it again and couldn’t help but agree. It did look unnatural - and so very, very painful.
“Couldn't you always have a C-section or something?” he asked, as if he could hear her thoughts.
Shaking her head, she turned and faced him with a grim smile. “No, I can do it. What’s one day of pain compared with a lifetime of joy, right?”
He quirked an eyebrow and chuckled at her. “But you realize that you don’t get to keep the baby, right?”
Veronica rolled her eyes and started perusing the pamphlets on the table. “I was joking, Logan. But it doesn’t change my decision - no C-section.”
“Please tell me you’re not going for the whole natural childbirth without drugs thing… because I don’t even think I could handle that.”
She laughed out loud, clamping a hand over her mouth so people wouldn’t stare at them. Slapping him on the arm, she glared and hissed. “Yes, I’m going to have drugs. I’m not that crazy. But either way, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Logan grinned and shrugged his shoulders. Dropping her hand, he turned around and she followed his move. “So, ready to head back into the jungle?”
Nodding at the table filled with beverages and snacks, she replied, “Aim for the food. Maybe we can get there without being attacked.”
Logan shuddered as he eyed the women scattered throughout the room. “Let’s hurry. I never knew a hoard of pregnant women could be so scary.”
*****
They were quiet on the ride home, and the silence only magnified the buzzing that was going on in her head. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute, and she couldn’t seem to turn them off. Veronica and Logan had successfully managed to get through the first childbirth class without having to stumble through their awkward history or raise any suspicion that they weren’t exactly the typical expecting couple. Thankfully, only her name had been recorded on the registration, and no one seemed to recognize Logan.
At the beginning of class, everyone had gone around introducing themselves. Like Logan and Veronica had planned, they told everyone simply that they were expecting their first child. There was no need to get too complicated or raise any questions. It was better for people to assume Logan was the father, even if his name was leaked, than for there to be any suspicion that it was Trina’s baby. Even though the celebrity baby craze had died down a few years earlier, the paparazzi would eat Trina’s story up. It had it all - fame, heartbreak, and a very unusual surrogate situation. Given all the players involved, and their history with each other, the press would be all over them. And unlike Angelina Jolie, Veronica couldn’t fly off to Africa for privacy.
“You scared?”
Veronica glanced over at Logan and smiled cheerfully. “Why should I be? I’m only going to push an eight pound baby out of me and have one of the most painful experiences of my life.” She leaned her head against the window and stared out forlornly. Truth be told, she was scared. No matter how many times she told her father, and Trina, and even Logan that she could handle it, she was still trying to convince herself that it was true.
She could stand up to the PCHers without breaking a sweat and wake up for an 8 AM class after staying up until 4 in the morning on a stakeout - no problem. But when it came to pain or the fear of pain? She always had relied on others to help her out, be it her father or Logan, whether she was in real or imagined danger. This time, though, she had to do it all on her own. No one could step in and take the fall for her or push away the bad guy at the very last second. All of the responsibility rested on her shoulders.
Logan’s hand came to rest on hers and she looked up, startled. He looked at her reassuringly.
Okay, so maybe she could do it. After all, just because her family and friends couldn’t take her place didn’t mean they wouldn’t be there to support her. That’s all that really mattered.
*****
Veronica flipped through the channels rapidly, noting with displeasure that Logan’s expensive cable package wasn’t any better than her own. She eyed his Playstation and pondered playing something while she waited for him to come home. Just as she turned off the TV to find a game that hopefully didn’t involve massive bloodshed, she heard a key in the front door. Grinning to herself, she stood up and made her way over when he walked in and dumped his backpack on the floor.
His eyes shot up when he noticed her, and she jumped playfully into his arms. He groaned, teasingly stumbling backwards under her weight. She swatted him. “I’m not that big yet!”
“Yet being the key word,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes. “Hi, Logan, nice to see you, too.”
“Hey,” he replied, shifting her slightly in his embrace to get a better grip on her, kissing her softly. “I see your lock-picking skills haven’t gotten rusty.”
“Nope! They’ve had plenty of practice over the years.” At his raised eyebrow, she reassured him. “But don’t worry, they all deserved it. Bad men, criminals, vagrants. The usual. No booty calls.”
“Ah, so this is a booty call?” he asked, moving them toward his bedroom.
She tilted her head and looked at him, amused. “I warned you, remember? Pregnant women? Raging hormones? Ringing any bells here?”
Logan hung his head, looking defeated. “I knew you were only in this for my body.”
Veronica laughed and squeezed legs tighter, giving him a playful tap on the ass. “And what a great body it is.”
He deposited her on his bed without warning, causing her to squeal. She watched him pull his shirt off before crawling over to her on the bed and commented, “You know, I was thinking of you all afternoon.”
Peering down at her, he smirked. “Oh, really?”
She nodded. “Yep. In class today, we talked about sexual deviants.”
“And of course you thought of me,” he murmured as he bent down, kissing a trail up her neck.
“Well, that and sex.” She felt him laugh, his chest shaking lightly against her, the sound muffled due to the fact that his mouth was still attached to her neck, alternating between gently kissing and sucking her skin.
“I think I like you pregnant.”
Veronica ran a hand down his back and stopped to dip her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans. “I bet. Too bad we missed out of most of the second trimester. Things are about to get-” She gasped as his lips closed over a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. “-uncomfortable.”
“Well, we’ll just have to make up for lost time now, won’t we?”
*****
“You hungry?” She grinned and he shook his head. “Stupid question. What do you want for dinner?”
“Chinese.”
He nodded and got out of bed, pulling on his pants before turning back to her. “Chinese it is. What are you in the mood for?”
“Everything.”
“I should have known.”
He left the room, and she rolled over to look at the clock. Crawling over, she picked the remote up from the nightstand and turned on the TV, flipping until she got to the channel she was looking for.
A few minutes later, Logan’s form blocked the light coming into the room, and she looked up.
“Bored already?” He asked, walking over and plopping down next to her. He watched the program for a few moments, frowning. “Is this a subtle hint?”
She glanced over, confused. “What?”
He pointed towards the TV. “Are you plotting to kill me? Did I do something wrong? I mean, sure, death by lobster would be a creative way to go, but I’d prefer something a little more noble.”
She laughed and shook her head, watching the screen briefly before turning back to him. “Please. First of all - I’d never take the time to make lobster. It’s too hard, and I’m still learning the basics. And second - if I was planning to kill you, I wouldn’t be the one doing the cooking. Too obvious. It would have to be an accident - maybe at a restaurant.”
“Wow. The fact that you’ve given this some actual thought just warms my heart,” he said, holding a hand up to his chest dramatically.
Veronica grabbed a pillow and smacked him on the head. “Jackass. Like I’m going to kill you.”
“You say that now, but one day you’re going to be so pissed off with me over something stupid…and probably because of your hormones, you’ll want to kill me. And then you’ll remember this conversation and know exactly how to do it.”
“Just watch the stupid show until the food comes, idiot.”
Logan wisely shut up and they sat quietly, watching Good Eats - one of the more unusual shows the Food Network offered - as the host, Alton Brown, demonstrated how to kill a lobster - humanely, of course - and then prepare it.
“So why watch the show if you’re not going to make lobster?”
“Because I like the show. Alton Brown is hilarious. It’s more for entertainment than learning, really. Although I have picked up a few good tips.”
His eyes twinkled and he smiled. “Really? Then how come I haven’t seen any evidence of your budding culinary skill?”
Her jaw dropped. “If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been kind of busy lately. I can’t believe you!” Before she could chuck the pillow at him again, a knock echoed through the apartment and Logan jumped off the bed. “I’ll get you later!” she called out as he ran to get the door.
Shaking her head, she grabbed his shirt off the floor and pulled it on, waiting to hear the front door close before she headed out of the bedroom. She found Logan in the kitchen, opening various cartons of food. Peering into them, she noted the contents, then pouted.
“No shrimp?”
“Very funny.”
She grinned at him and grabbed some plates from the cupboard. “I meant for me.”
“Beef, chicken, and pork aren’t enough?”
“Nope.” She handed him a plate.
Logan reached around her and pulled two forks from the drawer in front of her. He gave her one, and they both started working on filling their plates. “Fine. The next time you have shrimp, you’re not allowed to kiss me for at least twenty-four hours.”
Veronica paused and glanced at him, exasperated. “Oh, come on. You’re being a little ridiculous.”
“I am not! People have died from a kiss!”
“They had peanut allergies,” she replied dryly, once again concentrating on the food in front of her.
“So? I’m not risking it.”
She rolled her eyes at him and sighed. “Oh, you big baby. Pass me the kungpao chicken, please.”
He pushed it over to her, and they worked quietly for a few minutes until Veronica noticed something. She peeked in all the cartons one more time, then turned to him questioningly. “Where are the egg rolls?”
Logan didn’t look up as he answered. “I didn’t order any.”
“Excuse me?”
He moved to face her slowly, as if preparing for the fight he knew would happen. “You don’t need them.”
Veronica blinked and stared at him incredulously. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. “Do explain. Please.”
He sighed and leaned back on the counter. “Oh come on, Veronica. You’re smart. I don’t think I need to explain.”
She raised an eyebrow pointedly.
“You won’t eat just one. I know you - you’ll eat five. And now’s not exactly the time you should be overdosing on egg rolls.”
“Are you implying that I’m fat?”
Logan groaned and raked a hand through his hair. “No. I’m just saying you should watch what you eat - not only for your sake, but the baby’s. You don’t have to eat brussel sprouts or whatever. I just read somewhere that you…you might want to cut back. Make sure you’re eating well. For the baby, I mean.”
Veronica counted to ten slowly in her head and let out a deep breath. Logan looked at her hopefully and she shook her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“You’re lucky you’re cute, or else I’d kick you out on your ass.”
He chuckled and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. “And you’re lucky that I’m willing to put up with you and your crazy hormones.” Brushing a strand of hair off of her forehead, he kissed her softly. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“I know.” She rested her head on his chest, and they stood still for a few moments before he stepped back.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold.” He picked up both of their plates and carried them to the table while Veronica got them drinks.
They ate in silence, until halfway through dinner, she looked up at him. Veronica chewed her lip nervously for a few seconds before blurting out, “Thanksgiving’s in a couple weeks. Are you ready to go home?”
Logan stopped chewing. “We’re staying with Trina, and she lives in LA.”
“Semantics. You can still visit Neptune.”
“I’ll pass.” He speared another piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth.
Veronica had known it would be hard to bring this up. Logan avoided talking about Neptune entirely. When she first mentioned going home for Thanksgiving a few weeks earlier, he had quickly put up his own walls and tried to get out of it until she told him that Trina had invited them. Soon after, he was cracking jokes about his sister, and they hadn’t brought it up since.
She cocked her head and tried for a light, teasing voice in hopes of getting him to open up. “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad. What are you going to do during Christmas break? You can’t stay here all alone. I’m sure Trina would let you stay with her.” She paused for a moment. “Of course, I doubt you’d last more than a few days without strangling her.”
Logan sighed and put him fork down. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” She turned to him, smiling widely. “I want you there.”
*****
“In 2006, the courts ruled that if one spouse consents to the search, but the other does not, police are not allowed to search. What does that mean if…”
Veronica fought to stay awake, blinking furiously in an attempt to focus on her professor, who, at the moment, was quite blurry. Her cheek was numb as she leaned on her hand, her arm propped up on the table, hoping to appear alert in case she really did fall asleep. It wasn’t the lecture that was boring her. No, she and Logan had stayed up a little too late having fun. She hadn’t been able to get out of bed after he got up to get ready for his morning class, and she certainly hadn’t appreciated his coffee-flavored lips when he kissed her goodbye. He was the lucky one. It had been six months and counting since her last cup of coffee…and it would be three more months until her next one. There would be no caffeine to help her stay awake during class.
She jerked when she felt a sudden sharp sensation in her stomach. Sitting up, she rested a hand on her stomach. When Adrianne looked at her with concern, Veronica smiled and shook her head, indicating that she was fine, and now wide awake. It seemed she had a co-conspirator that would keep her from falling asleep during class from now on.
He was finally kicking.
*****
Veronica stared at the shelves in utter disbelief. Rows upon rows of bottles of creams, lotions, and moisturizers screamed at her with their proclamations of anti-aging, wrinkle-free, and SPF miracle cures. She was surprised and disappointed at the same time that there wasn’t one claiming to cure stretch marks. After all, that’s what she was looking for.
That morning she had been horrified to see pale pink lines spreading across her stomach. After showering, she had immediately gone to her pregnancy books and read everything there was concerning stretch marks. She’d known they were inevitable, but had hoped to prevent them, or at least postpone them, for as long as she could. For the past few months she’d been using lotion, but apparently, it hadn’t done the trick. So now she had to look for something that was nearly 100% pure cocoa butter, because - according to the books - it wouldn’t harm the baby.
Sighing, she resigned herself to a long hunt and randomly picked up a box. As she scanned the ingredient list and exchanged the package for another, she noticed someone come up beside her. Veronica scooted over, to give the woman some room, when a box was held out in front of her.
“I’d go with this one.”
Veronica glanced up, surprised to see the lady smiling at her knowingly. There was a child seat strapped in her shopping cart, as well as several baby items.
“I take it this is your first?” She asked. Veronica nodded numbly. “Don’t worry too much about the stretch marks. They’ll fade after the baby is born. But if you use this and don’t gain too much weight too fast, they won’t be too bad.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“No problem.”
The woman smiled and continued down the aisle, leaving Veronica dumbfounded. She dumped the proffered cream into the basket at her feet and stared down at her stomach. Was it that obvious already? At six months along, she wasn’t huge, but she noticed that her stomach was slowly filling in on the sides, giving her the proper round pregnant look. But still - that was only obvious when she looked at herself without clothes on. Tugging on her shirt, she ran a hand over the curve of her stomach and looked down once again, only to stop short.
She couldn’t see her feet.
No. That wasn’t possible. Not yet. She wasn’t that big. She couldn’t be.
Hurriedly she dug her phone out of her purse and hit the speed dial. When someone picked up on the other end, she heard the distant sounds of male laughter behind the one voice she needed to hear.
“Veronica? What’s up?”
“Am I fat?”
She heard him move away from the people he was with as his voice became clearer. “What?”
“I can’t see my feet.”
“You have tiny feet.”
Veronica shifted, leaning her weight to one side, the hand not holding the phone resting on her hip. “You know, you’re not very good at this.”
“What do you expect me to say? Do you want me to lie and say you’re rail thin? Come on, Veronica. You’re six months pregnant! What did you expect?”
Her mouth gaped open and she frowned. Glancing quickly from side to side to make sure the aisle was clear, she hissed, “That’s it. No sex for you tonight.”
He chuckled. “That’s fine. I actually have some reading I need to catch up on…”
“What?” she screeched. “You’re saying no to sex?”
“Hey, it’ll hurt you more than it’ll hurt me. Remember, you’re the horny one right now.”
“I can’t believe you!” she sputtered, hearing him laugh again. She pulled the phone away from her ear and made a face at it. Bringing it back up, she threatened him. “I’m staying one night with my dad over Thanksgiving break. I could make it more and leave you to deal with Trina all by yourself…”
Veronica grinned as she was greeted with silence.