Great, Jane was here to protect her helpless little precious baby, she thought. The last thing she wanted to deal with was someone trying to come in and take over and she had heard enough about Jane from others and Nick to know the woman was not accustomed to letting someone else control the reins. She didn't even notice James until he was in her face.
"What's wrong?" Just the fact that her daughter was in the hospital fighting for her life should have been reason enough for her to look upset what more did he need?
"Nothing." He sighed and looked around,
"Do you want to come home with me tonight?" She really didn't want to be bothered with anyone. All she really wanted to do was be with Mac but she had been neglecting her relationship with James and she knew she after all the support he had given her that she needed him to know how much she appreciated him,
"Yes, I want to." There was a silence and she stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his waist,
"I love you Jay." His hands rubbed her back sending chills through her body as her eyes closed,
"I love you too baby." She could feel that they were no longer alone and she looked over to see that AJ had joined them,
"Hey there. How's the baby doing?" She sighed,
"No change." She wasn't thrilled about his band mates being there. Nick was bad enough, they would just bring even more attention. This wasn't some business venture for the group, this was a personal matter that only involved Nick. He stood there and it didn't dawn on her that he had never met James before,
"James, this is AJ-" He pulled her back and held her hand,
"We met in the waiting room. I met them all." By the tone of his voice she could tell he didn't think highly of them. They were guilty by association. They knew Nick and that was enough for them to not be on James' good side. She looked around as she heard James mutter,
"Weakass punk." and saw Nick walking by them. She instantly looked over to see if AJ had heard that and from the glare he gave James it was clear that he did. Before AJ could look her in the eyes she looked down.
"What was that supposed to mean?" She looked up to see AJ looking at James and when she looked at James he was doing the same,
"Babe, why don't we go-" James was not one to back down from a fight. He was more than willing to defend his position on anything, even at the expense of making people uncomfortable. He just didn't have any control and couldn't keep his opinions to himself,
That means he is weak and he's a punk." She tried to subtly pull him away but James was itching to cut Nick down again. AJ looked at her probably expecting her to defend him but she couldn't she wouldn't, he didn't deserve it, at least not from her. Once he realized she wasn't going to be stand up for Nick he shook his head and turned his attention back to James,
"Don't talk about him like that." She could hear it in his voice, it was strained, he was definitely holding back but James didn't care about AJ, his attempt at control or his loyalty to Nick,
"Don't talk about the truth? It's hard hearing your friend won't step up and be a man." She pulled on James' shirt,
"I want to go see Mac." James didn't hear her or he simply ignored her because he was concentrating on his debate with AJ,
"He's here, right now. He's been here. He left a tour, he left a crap load of money that you can't even imagine to be here for his daughter and Quinn." When he said her name he looked at her and she cringed. Was that some dig at James? Was he trying to make him angry? Or was it some attempt to make her feel guilty.
"I didn't grow up with my dad. Nick has been more apart of Mac's life than my father has ever been apart of mine. He's doing the right thing. I didn't know what it was like to have a dad. Nick knows how much that affected me and his dad means everything to him, he wouldn't hurt his kid. Give him a chance." She could feel James' hand tighten around her own and hoped they would continue to keep it cordial and not bring attention to their argument.
"Give him a chance? At Mac's expense? And what happens when he decides he doesn't want to be there anymore? She's the one that has to suffer, the one who ends up hurt." AJ looked at her and she knew what he was thinking. He was wondering why she was allowing James to say such things about Nick. She only looked down at her hand in his, he was there for her, he was there for Mac and they were about to be a family. It wasn't like she disagreed with James. Sure, she wished it weren't true, she wished she and Mac could be a family with Nick but that wasn't going to happen; it just wasn't possible.
"Why are you harping on the past? He's here now. He's doing what he's supposed to do. It's like he has to prove himself to you and that's not fair." He stepped a little closer to Quinn and his voice was a bit calmer,
"He should only have to prove himself to you. It's your decision whether or not Nick is in Mac's life." She sighed and looked down at her feet. He was right, she wasn't so stubborn that she couldn't at least admit it in her head. It was wrong, maybe even a little degrading to make Nick prove himself and his intentions towards his own daughter to another man. James released her hand and for the first time he completely faced AJ,
"This isn't about Nick. This is about Mac. She needs stability she needs a family a father who will always be there. Not traveling around the world playing around." She watched as AJ nodded his head and licked his lips as he seemed to gather himself and his thoughts,
"And you? You're always going to be around?" That was something she never questioned. James would always be there.
"What happens if you and Quinn get divorced?" Now that was something she hadn't thought of. Divorce was not something that she ever thought would happen. Her parents, her grandparents, her aunts and uncles no one ever got divorced in her family. But what if they did? Would he still be there for Mac? She isn't his daughter; he wouldn't be responsible for her.
"What makes you think you are more of a man than Nick? Since he was thirteen Nick has supported his family his parents, a bother and three sisters. He has always been there for his brother and sisters, always a means of emotional support for them. He loves family, it means everything to him and he would want to give that to his daughter." James shrugged,
"Well, I'm glad you have faith in him, we don't. And for the record, our upcoming marriage is none of your business." He pulled Quinn and she couldn't bring herself to look at AJ as they walked off.
Chapter 63a