Chapter 21
�So, are you ever going to deal with this? Or are you just going to keep avoiding it like you have been for the past two weeks?�
�D, I see no good that could possibly come of it.� Violet said, putting the vase down on the table with the new bouquet of flowers. Once again Danni had brought up the thing Violet really did not want to discuss. Blaire. Yes, Violet knew she had to do something, but she wasn�t sure if she really wanted to know who the father was.
�How about, one; you�re best friend of, what? Fourteen years will know you�re still alive. And two; you would finally know who the freaking father is!�
�You forget one very important fact though, D.�
�Oh?� Danni said, putting her hand on her hip as though she were her mother wanting to know where she had been all night. �And what exactly is that?�
�It�ll open an entirely new slew of drama! One that I don�t need in my life right now.�
�He has to know, Violet.�
�And he will. I just need to figure out how to do it. So, please. Drop it?� Violet begged. She didn�t want to discuss this any longer.
�Ok. Ok, fine. Consider it dropped.�
�Thank you.� Going into her bedroom, Violet put Blaire�s jacket on and strapped her in the stroller. Grabbing her purse and the diaper bag, Violet strolled back into the living room.
�Where are you going?�
�For a walk. I need to clear my head.�
�Ok. I might not be here when you get back. I�m meeting Joey and Kelly for dinner.�
�Ok. I�ll see you later then.�
�Yeah. Bye.� Danni sighed when Violet was out in the hallway. �Please tell him before it�s too late.�
~*~
Looking up at the large gray building, Violet sighed. A million thoughts ran through her mind, and yet she couldn�t stop thinking about one thing - Justin. She still could not wrap her head around how to tell him everything. Of everyone, he was the one she had been most worried about. Would he ever speak to her again? She hoped so.
Wrapping her sweater tighter around herself, Violet took in a long calming breath. She needed to relax so she decided to just let it go for now. She�d make that jump when she came to it.
�Come here often?� Violet jumped at the voice that was suddenly beside her. Laughing, she looked back up at the building.
�Nah. Only when I need to clear my head. But I haven�t been able to for a long time.�
�Yeah? Me too. Like right now. I need to sort my thoughts.�
�Looking disbelievingly at the man beside her, Violet asked, �you come here?� Shock was evident in her eyes. She hadn�t known anyone came here anymore, especially since it had closed.
�Yes. All the time.� Grasping Violet�s small hands in his larger ones, he whispered, �do you want me to show you something?�
Unable to speak at the sudden contact that heated her every nerve, Violet just nodded and allowed herself to be pulled around to the back of the building. Where was he taking her? Then she saw the single window that wasn�t boarded up.
�Watch your head.� He told her as they crawled through what had to be the smallest window ever made.
Just as she thought, they had ended up in the storage room where all the alcohol was once kept, Going through the open door, Violet went to the middle of what use to be the dance floor. Closing her eyes, Violet went back to easier times in her life. To when this club was full of people looking for a good time. The music, the noise, even the smells came rushing back over her, and she couldn�t stop the smile that spread over her lips.
�So, why�d you come here today?�
Opening her eyes, Violet remembered she wasn�t by herself. �Sorry I forgot I wasn�t alone in here.�
Shaking his head, his blue eyes bore into hers. �You�re not alone, not anymore.�
Smiling at him, Violet looked away and cleared her throat. �I came here to remember.�
�Remember what?�
�Everything. My friends, my job, my life. What about you? What brought you here?�
�This place always seemed to help me think just a little bit easier.�
�And what did you need to think about?�
�You and Blaire.�
�Oh.�
Looking around the place, his eyes fell back upon her. �Speaking of, where is Blaire?�
�I dropped her off at a friend�s house.�
�Oh. Danni�s not watching her?�
�No. She�s meeting Joey and Kelly for dinner.�
�Oh.� They were quiet for a minute before JC had to say it. He couldn�t hold back any longer. �I need to know Violet. It�s killing me inside. All this time I�ve felt as though something important has been missing from my life. I felt like if I had waited long enough for it, it would come back to me. I never expected to just wake up one morning and find out I was right. Please, don�t keep her from me.�
�Jc, I had to intention of doing that. I�ll get the test done, I promise.�
�Ok.�
Not wanting to dwell o the subject anymore, Violet walked towards the twisted staircase and. �You know, I think I�m going to re-open this place.�
�Seriously?�
�Yeah. Why not? I mean, two years ago The was the hottest club on the LA strip. It could be again. All it needs is a little work.�
�I can help if you want.�
Looking down at JC from the Dj�s booth, Violet smiled. �I�d like that. Then she continued to look through all the music. �Oh man. I definitely need to update the music too. It�s funny how fast music becomes unpopular lately. Hey, how did this get in here? It just came out, what? Last February?�
�What�s that?� JC made his way through what was once the VIP section and joined Violet in the booth.
�Your Schizophrenic album.�
�Oh yeah. Uh, whenever a new CD came out that one of us thought was club material or one that you�d like, we added it to the collection. This was all D�s idea.�
Smiling warmly at JC, Violet opened the CD case. �It�s autographed and everything.� Looking at the cd, Violet read aloud. �To the love of my life, this was for you. The next one will be even better. Love always, JC.�
�I wanted you to have the first one. Autograph and all.�
He looked so adorable when he was embarrassed. Violet went over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Whispering in his ear, Violet told him, �I�m honored.� Not wanting the embrace to end just yet, Violet found herself moving her face towards his, and finally, their lips met in a soft kiss.
Knowing that wasn�t enough, JC pulled Violet�s body closer to his. It had been far too long, two years too long since he last felt her touch, her every curve pressed up against his body. And too long of a time since he lat tasted her sweet kisses. But it was definitely worth the wait.
Their kisses became more urgent and needy. Violet felt like she couldn�t get close enough to him. She needed to feel him, every part of him. Pulling him closer to herself, she caused them to back up into the soundboard. Violet�s hand flew down to the board to steady herself, hitting a switch in the process. Music blared through the place, startling both Violet and JC.
Laughing, Violet hit a switch and turned the volume down. �I�m surprised this still works.�
�Well, you always got the best.�
Looking back at JC, Violet responded, �Yeah, I guess I did, huh?� And JC knew there was a deeper meaning behind that. Just as he was about to take the dive and ask her what she meant, although he was pretty sure he knew, they heard giggling and saw two people run into the main area, where they had been minutes earlier. Wanting to know who the hell was coming here, Violet look down over the railing and almost fainted. Seeing Violet turn rigid and completely pale as though she had seen a ghost, JC went over to her. �Are you ok?� Then he looked down to where Violet�s eyes were fixated and felt as though he were going to be sick. Why now? And why did he have to bring her here?
Chapter 22
Looking down upon the one man she had been so afraid to see, Violet felt more anger than fear at this point. How could he even think to bring her here? And for what it looked like they had come here for? She knew Justin and Cameron had hooked up a while ago, but seeing them together did something to her, it made her feel upset and completely pissed off. But again, that could be because had brought her to his dead best friend�s old club. Ok, so maybe she wasn�t really dead, but he didn�t know that now did he? Is this what she really meant to him? Nothing? Just someone who gave him a place to bring his girlfriends for a quick screw?
Looking over at Violet, JC could see the fury in her eyes. It didn�t take a genius to know she wanted to beat the crap out of him. She did it twice before, why not again? Turning away from the balcony, Violet was ready to go down the stairs and confront Justin Timberlake. Whether he knew she was alive or not. Stepping in front of her, JC tried his best to stop her. Yes, she was a powerful woman and he knew she could move him if she really wanted to, but he couldn�t let Justin find out this way. They may not have seen each other in a while, but he was still a good friend.
�No! I can�t let you go down there.�
�Fine. I can say what I need to from here.�
�Damn it Vi!� JC realized his mistake as soon as it left his mouth. One, he had spoken too loudly, two, he said her name.
�Who�s up there?� They heard Justin�s voice and without a doubt he was probably ready to come up the stairs to investigate. JC couldn�t let him see Violet. She had to tell him in her own way.
Going to the opening on the balcony, JC showed himself. �It�s just me, J.�
�JC? Man, what you doing here?�
�I could ask you the same thing. I didn�t know you came here anymore.�
�You either. Still adding to the collection?� Justin walked over to the staircase, as did JC. Walking down it, he answered, �Occasionally. What about you? It doesn�t look like you came here to add anything.� He said, eyeing Cameron.
�That�s none of your business!�
�And why I�m here is none of yours.�
�I heard you talking to someone. On the phone like always, or did you bring someone here too?� Justin inquired.
�I didn�t bring her here. She was outside looking in, so I showed her what I do when I need to get away for a while. That�s all.�
�You little hypocrite.�
�I�m a hypocrite?�
�Yes! You say you can�t believe I�d do this when here you are doing the same damn thing! You�re unbelievable, you know that?�
�With me it�s different.�
�How the hell is it different?�
�Let�s count the ways, shall we? One; I didn�t bring her here just to fuck her in a new place. Two; I could never do that to my best friend. Three��
�This place use to belong to her!� Before JC could finish, they heard the voice echo over the loudspeakers. Feeling the chills run down his spine, Justin felt as though he just heard a ghost. He knew that voice. He grew up hearing that voice. He spent two years missing and wishing he could hear it once again. Looking to the stairs, he saw her descending them slowly and gracefully, how she always had. Watching her approach him, Justin couldn�t focus. He didn�t hear a word she said. He became dizzy and lightheaded, and before he knew it, all he saw was black.
Going over to the limp body of Justin, Violet crouched down to look at his face. She hadn�t seen it in person is two long years. He looked so different. His head was shaved, he was all scruffy, and Violet thought he looked worn down�and unattractive if you can believe it. And yet, he still held a power over her. Catching herself reaching out to touch his face, Violet pulled back and stood up, a little too fast. She lost her balance and JC caught her.
�You ok?�
�I�m fine. I have to go.�
�Vi, wait!�
�I have to go, I�m sorry. I have to get Blaire. I�ll see you later. It was nice seeing you again Cameron.� Running to the old storage room, Violet climbed back out of the window and took off running down the street, tears streaming down her face.
�I think he�s coming to.�
�Is he? Justin! Justin, you ok buddy?�
Trying to open his eyes, Justin tried to figure out what just happened. �Wha�.what happened? Where am I?�
�You�re in the Neon Blade.� JC said, looking down at the man he hadn�t seen in about a year. Crouching down, he helped Justin sit up. �Take it easy man. You fainted.�
�Why did I faint?� Grabbing his head and wincing in pain, Justin closed his eyes. �Oh man. Did I hit my head on ground or something?�
�Probably. I wouldn�t doubt it. You just fell over.�
�So, tell me again why I passed out?� Looking up to JC and Cameron, he looked back and forth to Cameron�s face and then JC�s. They were looking at each other as though to say �you want to tell him?� Then it hit him just like a bus during rush hour on the Vegas strip. �Please tell me everything that has happened within the last ten minutes or so was a bad fucked up dream?�
Justin didn�t even need either of them to answer him. Their blank faces and the �uhh�� coming from JC�s opened mouth was enough to inform him he was in fact awake and not dreaming. �She�s alive?� He whispered to no one in particular. �And you knew?� Standing up, JC pointed an accusing finger at the man he has once called his friend. �Two years. Two god damn years and you knew all this time that she was alive!�
�Calm down Justin! I knew for two weeks!�
�You are such a liar.�
�Don�t even think about turning this around on me! I found out by accident. I went to pick up Danni for the breakfast the guys and I were having since it was two years exactly, and she was watching a little girl! And then in walks Violet fucking Emerson so excuse the fuck out of me for not running directly to you when I found out she was indeed alive and not a walking ghost!�
�You still could have told me that my best friend of fourteen fucking years is in fact alive!�
�It wasn�t my place to tell you! She has a lot of shit going on right now and she has more than just the news that she�s not dead to tell you about! So stop feeling like the god damn victim here because she was going to tell you on her own damn time! I imagine it is kind of hard telling your best friend that the two years we all though she was dead she was actually alive and well in Georgia!�
Getting up in JC�s face, Justin readied himself for a fight. �You called me your friend.�
�I haven�t called you my friend in a long time!� This is why they only were together for the Challenge For the Children. Every time they were together, they fought. It was a never ending cycle, and quite frankly, Cameron was getting sick of it. Stepping between the feuding men, no, not even men, boys, she spoke up.
�Enough! I�m sick of this shit! Every second you two are together all you are is at one another�s throats! It�s not JC�s fault why he didn�t tell you. I�m sure he was just respecting Violet�s wishes because she wanted to tell you on her own time when she was good and ready to. A fourteen year friendship is not something you can easily forget. There�s no use in fighting about it.�
�Whatever. I�m done with this.� Looking at JC, Justin pointed to him. �We�re through.�
�That�s just fine.� Turning around, JC went back to the storage room and crawled out of the old club. It felt as though he was losing everything. But one very important person just came back to him, maybe things were beginning to look up. But with Justin, things would always be bad.
Driving down the street, JC focused more on his thoughts than the road and where he was going. Looking around him, he realized he was stopped, parked in an apartment building parking lot. Violet�s apartment building�s parking lot. Turning off the car, JC got out and went up to her apartment. Knocking on the door, he hadn�t even expected her to answer.
�Hey JC.� She said, opening the door wide enough so he could get in. He couldn�t help but notice how sad she looked. She was pale, her eyes were bloodshot, and she had tear stains on her cheeks.
�Come here.� JC put his arms out and pulled her in for a tight hug, one she obviously needed since she saw Justin earlier that day.
Falling into JC�s chest, Violet felt herself begin to cry once again. Something she hadn�t been able to stop doing since she had run out of the club. Seeing him again was harder than she had thought it would be. He was different now, and there was an obvious tension between him and JC. Something she couldn�t help but to feel responsible for. �I am so sorry. This is all my fault.�
�What, Vi?�
Pulling away from JC, Violet wiped away her tears that seemed to be never ending. �Everything! I made a mess of everything. And you and Justin aren�t friends anymore and that�s all my fault.�
Taking her face in her hands, JC looked her right in the eyes. �Don�t you dare blame this on yourself. Things haven�t been the same between Justin and me for a long time. Ever since��
�I slept with him. I made a mess of everything by doing that, and I am so sorry.�
She was beginning to get upset again and JC couldn�t take it. �Don�t worry about that. That night everything went down, I was going to see you, to tell you how much I loved you and couldn�t live without it. We could have gotten through it then, and we can get through it now. So stop blaming yourself. Our friendship had been diminishing for a long time.�
�I still feel terrible about it, JC. I always will.� She said, looking down and closing her eyes, her hands covering his on her face.
�You don�t have to. It�s a thing of the past. It doesn�t matter anymore.� He assured her. Kissing Violet�s forehead, JC moved them to sit on the couch. Looking at the little girl on the floor with her pillows and toys watching Barney, JC couldn�t help but think of how badly he hoped she was his child. Then maybe, just maybe, he could feel whole.
Violet and JC just sat in the apartment and enjoyed one another�s company all night. JC was going to leave around nine o�clock, but Violet had asked him to stay. She didn�t want to be alone and god knows when Danni was going to return home, if she even did. Looking down to where the quiet child was, Violet saw her sound asleep, curled up with her stuffed bear. Picking her up, Violet was ready to take her into the bedroom to lay her in the crib when JC stopped her.
Giving him a confused look, she smiled when he asked, �Can I do it?�
�Yeah.� JC took the small girl from Violet�s arms and carried her back to the bedroom. Laying her in the crib, JC couldn�t fight the urge to kiss her forehead before tucking her in and shutting the light off and going back out to the living room. Stretching, JC made that low growl noise Violet had always loved.
�Well, I guess I should get going.� Standing up, Violet went over to him.
�You don�t have to go now. I don�t want you to go.�
�You don�t?�
�No. I like being with you. And unless you need to be somewhere, I�d like it if you stayed with me here.�
�Well, I definitely have nowhere else to be.�
�Good.� Violet smiled at him, going into the kitchen. �You hungry at all?�
�Actually, yeah. I am. Didn�t have anything for dinner.�
�I�ve been craving pasta. Want me to make some?�
�Sure. Need any help?�
�Nope. Just sit there and keep me company.� Again, that smile. JC could look at her all night, and he planned to.
They ate their late dinner around nine forty-five and then went into the living room to watch some TV. After settling on reruns of Saved by the Bell, Violet laid on the couch wrapped in JC�s arms. She was so comfortable, it was nearly impossible to stay awake, so she didn�t, they had both drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Around eleven-thirty, They were awoken by a pounding on the door. Figuring it was Danni to drunk to remember her key was actually in her purse, Violet just walked over to the door, mumbling �I�m gonna kill her.� Not thinking twice, Violet opened the apartment door completely surprised to see a pissed off Justin in the hallway instead of her roommate.
�Hello Violet. Long time, no see, huh?� The glare in his eyes reminded her so much of the look in Ben�s eyes the night he had tried to kill her, and for the first time ever, Violet Emerson was scared of her best friend.
�What are you doing here?�
CHAPTER 23
�Did you expect me to just let it go?� Justin pushed Violet out of his way and into the apartment.. �I mean two years, Vi. I went two whole damn years thinking you were dead. But not just me, everyone who cared about you. Why would you puts through that?�
�I had no choice Justin!� Violet�s voice was shaky as her eyes pleaded with him to know the truth about the past two years. The fire burning in his eyes that seemed to be dark now, anger and betrayal were held where love and care were once held for her. And she put them there. Now she wasn�t sure if there was anything she could do to take the last two years away, or if she even wanted to. All she did know if that for the first time in her life, she was scared to look into Justin�s eyes because of what she might see within them.
�Bullshit! You were scared of Ben and picked the easy way out like always.�
�Fuck you, Justin!� Violet didn�t even feel it. One minute she stood there hearing Justin�s accusations toward her, and the next, he was laying on the floor, clutching the side of his face.
�What the fuck, Vi?�
�You have no right, Justin! This is my home. How dare you barge in here and accuse me of faking my own death when you know good and well what the police wanted to do if Ben ever came back so how dare you say this to me!� Violet could feel the tears burn in the back of her eyelids and she hastily wiped them away before they had the chance to fall in front of Justin. He didn�t deserve her tears. He was an asshole, and she wasn�t so sure she wanted to know him anymore. �You know what? I�m glad I wasn�t around you these past two years. You might not be here talking this way to me if I witnessed first-hand the type of arrogant son of a bitch you were becoming.�
The shouting finally penetrating his deep barrier of sleep, JC began waking up. What was going on? Then he realized Violet wasn�t beside him on the couch anymore. Sitting up, he took a look around and saw Justin on the floor, a red mark on his chin. He secretly hope she had punched him, he needed the sense knocked back into him. The way Violet was towering over him and the fire was burning in her eyes, he had no doubt about that.
Standing up, Justin inched closer to Violet�s face. �And I�m glad I wasn�t around to see what a dishonest, heartless bitch you�ve become.�
�Are you kidding me?� Laughing incredulously at Justin, Violet shook her head. �Heartless? What about you taking Cameron to my club for a fuck?�
�That is not why I had taken her there.�
�Oh that�s bullshit and you know it.�
�Guys!� JC tried to get in between them but they ignored him, or just didn�t hear him. Either way the fighting kept going on.
�Bullshit? What about you telling everyone you were alive before me? I was suppose to be your best friend, Vi.�
�You were!�
�If I was your best friend you would have told me!�
�Guys!� JC shouted as loud as he could, finally getting both of them to look in his direction.
�WHAT?� They both yelled at him.
�What the hell is going on here?�
Justin immediately rolled his eyes at JC. �I guess things are back to normal.�
�Too much shit had happened these past two years for anything to ever be normal with us again.�
�What the hell is that?� Justin asked, looking around the room.
�Shit, we woke her up.�
�I�ll go get her, Vi.� JC said playing a hand on her shoulder.
�No, that�s ok. I�ll be right back. Try not to kill one another while I�m gone.� Violet said looking between JC and Justin before going to the back bedroom to get Blaire.
�Who?� Justin asked JC confusedly.
�The baby.� JC said simply, going back to the room leaving Justin to sit there and think or follow him back. He decided he needed to know more, so of course he followed him back.
Justin�s breath caught in his throat when he saw Violet cradling a small child, rocking her gently back to sleep. Looking to his left, he took in JC�s face. There was a smile. One he couldn�t explain. It was the look of a loving�father. Turning his attention back to Violet, he saw that she was looking at him. Their eyes met briefly before she turned her attention back to the little girl in her arms.
Not sure of what to do, Justin turned and went back to the living room to sit down. Suddenly he wasn�t feeling so well.
Laying Blaire back down in the crib, Violet turned to JC. She didn�t know what to say. Luckily he spoke first.
�You two need to talk. So I�m gonna go home.�
Nodding, Violet agreed that was probably best. �Ok. I�ll call you tomorrow.�
�Ok.� Planting a kiss on her forehead, JC turned to leave. Violet said good bye to him one last time before shutting the apartment door. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and went back in to the living room. She was not ready for this conversation to happen just yet, but it need to.
Hearing Violet re-enter the room, Justin didn�t look at her. He simply asked, �How old Is she?�
Hearing Justin speak so softly, Violet looked up at him. He looked so sad sitting there. He was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his head bent down, and his hands were twisting themselves in one another, something he did when he was nervous.
Hoping her voice wouldn�t fail her, she said, �She�ll be sixteen months next week.� As she sat on the couch.
�She JC�s?� Looking away from him, Violet felt the tears pool in her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day. She didn�t want to cry, she didn�t want him to see her cry.
�I don�t know.�
Finally meeting Violet�s eyes, he didn�t hide the fact that his was killing him inside. Violet was the only person he had ever shown emotion in front of, besides his mother of course. His eyes were all glazed over and Violet prayed to God he wouldn�t cry. She could never handle it when he cried in front of her.
�Were you ever going to tell me?� His voice was a whisper now, and it was so shaky. Violet felt like complete and total crap for him finding out this way,. Maybe she should have just sucked it up and told him when everyone else found out. Maybe he would have reacted better.
�Of course I was going to tell you, Justin.�
�Then why didn�t you? Why did everyone have to find out before me?�
�Not everyone knows Justin. Only Danni, Joey, Kelly, JC, my mom, and Marissa know. Nobody else.�
�But why couldn�t you tell me?�
�I was scared.�
�Of what?�
�How you�d react when you found out your old best friend has been alive all this time raising a little girl that could quite possibly be yours. You don�t know how hard it was for me to actually see you earlier. I about wanted to die when I saw you at the blade with Cameron. And I am so sorry you had to find out like that. I wish I could change it, but I can�t.�
�How long have you been back?�
�A couple weeks.� Violet didn�t know what else to say. Nothing seemed to be right. So she just sat there, looking at him. He seemed to be thinking things over. Could they ever be friends again? For Blaire�s sake, if she did turn out to be Justin�s daughter, she hoped they would be able to be.
After a long silence, Justin spoke up again. �What�s her name?�
�Julianna Blaire. But I call her Blaire.�
�Why?�
�Because I had wanted it to be her first name but Blaire Julianna didn�t sound right to me.�
�I don�t get it, Vi. Ben was shot and killed last year. Why didn�t you ever come back?�
�I felt like too much time had passed. Everyone thought I was gone and in a better place. I didn�t think I could come back into your lives.�
�Violet, you were my life. God, I was such a mess after we thought you died, you have no idea. A part of me never wanted to believe you were dead, but I had to accept it. I buried all memories, all thoughts of you in that grave. If you weren�t alive and living life with me, I didn�t want to be either.�
�I�m sorry, J. I didn�t mean to put you through that. Any of you.�
�I know you didn�t. It�s just, I was drinking earlier. I couldn�t handle seeing you again so I went to the first bar I found and tried to drown my thoughts away with a bottle of JD. I know, dumb. But it was helping at first, but then it just got worse and worse until finally the nice bartender told me to get off my ass and make amends with you. I�m sorry for acting like a total asshole .But I swear I did not take Cameron to the club just to have sex with her. I never would do that to you.�
�I should know you would never do that to me. But you know how I get sometimes. I think the worst at first and I know should have some faith in you. But I mean, we haven�t been together in two years. A lot can happen I that amount of time.�
�I know, I�m sorry, Violet. Do you think we can be friends again?�
Justin had moved over next to Violet on the couch, and they were now holding hands facing each other. Its been two years. A lot has happened in her life, and she was sure just as much, if not more had happened in his. Could they really pretend they hadn�t happened and go back to the way things were? Before all the confusion happened in the little love triangle?
�I really hope so, Justin. I really hope so.�
CHAPTER 24
It�s strange. One month you�re all alone in the world raising a child who has never known a father figure. Then the next month, just like that, she has two. Blaire was getting quite comfortable with the fact that she had two men who cared so much about her. Of course she was too young to actually know what was going with those men and her mommy, but all she knew was she loved the attention.
Her mommy on the other hand didn�t so much. Violet was so happy that everyone now knew she was alive and back living in LA and that her daughter would finally know who her daddy was. But at the same time, she was so nervous. It was so easy to tell how attached Justin and JC were getting to Blaire, she just dreaded the day that was soon to come and she�d have to tell one of these wonderful men that he wasn�t the father of the little girl they�ve come to love as their own. That would be a bad day, one that she dreaded. Although Violet was sure whichever turned out to not be the father, he would probably still be in her life just as much as he was now.
�So, have you gotten the package yet?�
�No, not yet.� Thirteen days earlier they had all gone to the lab to get the test done. Justin seemed to be the only one who really wanted to know so badly. He called Violet every day or went over to the apartment as often as possible to see Blaire and ask if she had received anything yet. �Justin, she said at least two weeks. We have a little while to wait.�
�I know, I just want to find out if it�s me or JC, you know?�
�I know.� Violet looked at Justin. But this time, she really saw him, who he was and how he was feeling about this whole situation. Of course it had been two years, but he was still the same man she had known all of her life. A few things had changed, but the more they were together, the more those things seemed to disappear. And the Justin Violet had fallen in love with so many years ago came back. Sure, she didn�t know if she could just fall back into their old routine and they could be best buddies again, but that�s what was happening. She was seeing more of him than JC the past couple of weeks, mainly because JC was busy working on the new album and Justin wasn�t really doing much of anything. But Violet was becoming attached to Justin again. They were getting to know one another on so many levels once again, and Violet found herself sort of hoping for Blaire to be his. She had forgotten along the way what it had been that made her find Justin so irresistible, why she had loved him so much to jeopardize her relationship with JC. She was slowly beginning to remember all those things now though as she spent more time with him and Blaire. Which could turn out to be a completely horrible thing. JC and Justin were finally starting to be civil to one another after the way she had left things.
Now they were at the park watching Blaire as she played on the playground. She was having the time of her life, and Justin felt like a proud parent. He may not have been her biological father, but he felt like it. Sure, JC had more of a connection with the little girl, but he also had a connection with her. He wasn�t sure what it was, but something inside him told him that what he had wanted for so long was about to come to him. He didn�t want to get his hopes up either though. So he was going to try and wait out the next week or so patiently, and wait for the call from Violet saying she had gotten the package. Until then, he would just spend as much time with the little girl as he possibly could.
�Mommy! Mommy!� Justin and Violet�s attention was steered toward the little girl running towards them repeating the word.
�What�s wrong Blaire?� Violet immediately began looking the child over for a cut or any injury that would have made her come screaming for her so loudly.
�I hungy.�
�You�re hungry? How about we go get some lunch then?� Justin picked Blaire up and they walked over to the car so they could leave the park and get the toddler some lunch.
After they had eaten their lunch at the little caf� by the park, Justin took the girls back to their apartment and went to meet up with Trace. He promised to meet him because he needed to talk to him about something.
Almost as soon as Violet had entered her home, Danni seemed to be all over her. She didn�t really catch everything the woman was saying, but caught some of it, like package, doctor, and didn�t know if. �D! calm down. What�d going on?�
�Sorry, I�m just a little excited. You got a package from your doctor today. I didn�t know if you wanted me to call you and tell you, so I was just waiting until you got back.�
�And let me guess, it is killing you wanting to know what�s inside, right?�
�You have no idea! So come on! Open it!�
Looking at the envelope she held in her hands, Violet contemplated opening it. Shaking her head, Violet set it down on the end table. �I can�t.�
�What? Why? You want to know don�t you?�
�Of course I do. It just seems wrong to open it without Justin and JC being here.� Violet explained. They had every right to be present when the bomb was dropped and they finally found out who the real father of the child was.
Danni groaned audibly as she rolled her eyes. �Come on! You�re killing me here!�
�Excuse me, but wasn�t it you who said you knew who the father was? What do you need this piece of paper for?�
�I just want to know if I�m right.� Danni said as she crossed her arms stubbornly. She wasn�t going to be happy until that envelope was opened.
�Alright, um, I am going to go put Blaire down for her nap. I�ll be right back so do not touch that!� Violet said, pointing to the package.
�Oh please, I�ve lasted this long with resisting, it won�t be that hard.�
�Mhmm.� Violet sounded before disappearing down the hallway with Blaire in her arms.
Laying her in the crib, Violet kissed her head and tucked her in before telling her nighty night and turning out the light. Going back down the hallway to the living room, Violet grabbed the cordless phone and plopped down on the couch. She couldn�t believe how nervous she was.
Dialing the familiar number, Violet listened to the ringing on the other end. Expecting to get his voicemail, Violet was a little surprised when JC picked up.
�JC, hi. I was expecting to get your voice mail. Shouldn�t you be recording?�
�Nah, I do get a little break every so often.� He chuckled softly and Violet felt herself smile.
�Yeah. They can�t work you to death like I know they want to so badly.�
�Hey, they kill me, they can�t get my work anymore.�
Violet laughed a little, swallowing the urge to come back with some sarcastic reply. Her face fell when she remembered why she had called him in the first place. �Hey, you alright? You seem a little too quiet.�
�Huh? Oh, yeah I�m fine. I just�um. The reason I called you was to tell you that I got the results in the mail today.� There, she got it out. Now she just had too wait to see what his reaction would be.
�Oh, you did?�
�I did.� Violet could tell he had been dreading this as much as she had been. He loved that little girl, and if the tests showed Justin to be the father, he would be crushed, because that would give Justin all the leverage he needed to get back into Violet�s life and take her away from him once again. But violet had told JC she had chosen him that night, so that should count for something, right?
�Alright, well, I get done here about eight tonight. Would Justin be free then?�
�I�m not sure. He�s out with Trace right now, but he hadn�t said anything to me about later. So I�ll call him and ask him.�
�Alright. Look, they need me back in there. Call me back and let me know, alright?�
�Of course. Bye.�
�Bye.� JC said then quickly hung up the phone. Violet gazed down at her hands and tried to get them to stop shaking. It�s not like she was reading the results now, why was she so nervous?
Not thinking about it too much, Violet dialed Justin�s number and told him the same thing. Of course he seemed ecstatic about learning this. He said he would be there at nine so they could read them.
�Alright, since they are coming over tonight, do you want me gone? I don�t want to get in the way or make you guys feel uncomfortable while your reading them.�
Violet just smiled at Danni and hugged her tightly. �Just stay in your room, that way if I need you you�re here.�
�You can bet on it.� Danni said, hugging her back just as tightly. She was there for her, no matter what that piece of paper told them.
The rest of the day, waiting for the dreaded time to come, Violet and Danni just hung out around the apartment. Mainly cleaning up a bit. About five-thirty Danni had ordered the three of them pizza because Blaire was complaining about being hungry and if Violet didn�t have something to eat, Danni was afraid she�d pass out. So after eating their pizza, they decided to put in Barney for the little girl. She had seen it one time at the babysitters and was completely obsessed ever since, much to Violet�s dismay. She couldn�t stand the large purple dinosaur.
Looking to her left, Violet inwardly groaned at the time. It had only been an hour since they had finished eating, leaving about an hour and a half before the guys showed up. She was completely dreading it. Why oh why did they have to find out who the father was?
Finally deciding she couldn�t keep worrying about what was to come later, Violet took a deep breath and sat on the couch beside Danni and Blaire and tried to calm down watching �The Little Mermaid.�
The end of the movie came faster than Violet ever remembered and as she was pressing stop, there was a knock on the door. She froze almost instantly as she realized who it must be on the other side. Straightening up, Violet looked over to Danni.
�Do you want me to get it?� She offered, noticing how scared and nervous Violet really was.
�Umm�� Violet fidgeted with her hands on her shirt for a moment. Hearing the knock again brought her back into the reality of the situation. �No, I can get it, thanks.� She slowly walked to the apartment door and opened it to find JC standing there, not looking any less nervous than herself. �Hey, Jace. Come on in.�
JC passed Violet and stood in the little hallway. �Is J here yet?�
�No not yet, but you�re a little early.�
�Yeah, I know. I just had nothing else to do to pass the time when I got out of the studio so I figured I�d come here.� Violet shook her head in understanding. She probably would have done the same thing had she been in his position.
�Well, are you hungry or thirsty or anything? Being at the studio all day, you couldn�t have had time to eat.�
�Actually, yeah. I am a little hungry.� JC just realized. He was trying to busy himself with work so he didn�t think about what happens after he got out he completely forgot about eating.
�Alright, well we have some left over pizza from earlier. Is that alright?�
�Yeah, that�s perfect.� JC followed Violet into the kitchen and they just made idle chit chat as they heated up the pizza, while JC ate, and for the next twenty minutes that they had to wait for Justin to get there.
�Hey, I�m sorry it took me so long. Traffic was horrible and my mom wouldn�t let me go.� Justin said, entering the apartment after Violet had let him in.
�It�s alright, J. We were just talking a little and you gave JC a chance to eat something.�
�Cool.� Was the only thing Justin could think of to say. How long had JC been there without him? What exactly were they talking about? Had they peeked in the envelops already and knew he wasn�t the father? All these thoughts and worries plagued Justin�s mind until he heard JC speak quietly.
�Alright, so uh�.should we do this then?�
�Well, I don�t see any reason to delay the inevitable any longer.� Justin nodded in agreement as he sat down at the kitchen table with Violet and JC. Violet held the large white envelope in her shaky hands and debated on whether or not she really wanted to do this. Looking up from JC to Justin and back to JC, Violet realized she had no choice. Yes, she wanted to know, it was killing Justin to know, and JC couldn�t help but to think of how crushed he would be if Blaire turned out to be his best friend�s daughter instead of his own.
�Well, here goes.� Violet said almost inaudibly as she ripped open the envelope. Pulling out the sheets of paper, she looked over the results. She wasn�t a doctor so she didn�t really understand what all of the letters and number meant. But she understand one thing typed on there. And that was which of these two men shared her daughter�s DNA.
Violet looked up from the paperwork and stared directly into Justin�s beautiful blue eyes. �Justin, I�� She stammered, trying to find the words to say. What would one say in a situation like this? It only took one look into Violet�s eyes for JC to completely break down.
CHAPTER 25
�You don�t have to leave, you know. You can stay for a while.�
�Yeah, I know. I just think it would be better if I left you two alone to figure out what you�re going to do about this. Plus I have a few phone calls I need to make.�
�Ok. If you�re sure.�
�I�m sure.�
�Alright.� Violet wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a tight hug. �Call me when you get home, alright?�
�I will. I love you, Vi.�
�Love you too.� Violet waved one last time as he walked down the hallway, and she shut the door before going back into the living room. �So.�
�So.� They both said, unable to think of anything else to say. They just found out he was the father of that beautiful little girl, what was there really to say?
�Do you want to go kiss your daughter goodnight?�
Looking up at Violet, his breath caught in his throat. His daughter. She was his little girl, and nothing was going to take her from him again. �I would love to kiss our daughter goodnight.� He followed Violet back to the bedroom Blaire was staying in. She opened the door and he walked passed her. Kneeling next to the tiny girl�s bed, he slowly let his fingers comb through her dark curls. �Goodnight baby girl.� He said quietly, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on her little forehead. Standing up, he left the bedroom with Violet.
They sat down on the couch in the living room once again in silence, both trying to think of what to say. �So, uh�� Violet cleared her throat before trying to speak again. �We should tell her tomorrow, I guess.�
�Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.�
Looking into his blue eyes, Violet told him, �Don�t get to upset if she doesn�t have a big reaction. She�s not even two yet so she might not understand. She does know what a daddy is, but she also knows she doesn�t have one.�
�Don�t worry, Vi. I know now that I�m going to be in her life for the rest of mine. And I will be there as long as it takes for her to understand who I really am in her life.� Looking over at the man who had stolen her heart so long ago, Violet really saw everything he had been through over the years. He had worry lines and bags under his eyes to indicate he hadn�t been sleeping all that well. He looked as though he were at least ten years older than what he really was and that scared her. Was he going through all of this because of her? Because she had faked her death to get away from Ben once again? Or was it all from her re-entering his life and dropping a big bombshell on him that he has a daughter that he missed the first year and three months of her life? Everything welled up inside her stomach in a tight knot and Violet didn�t know what to do exactly. Did she cry, did she apologize and beg for his forgiveness? What could she do to rectify her actions?
�Are you ok, Vi?�
�Huh?�
The man chuckled at her startled expression and repeated, �Are you alright? You looked so deep in thought, like you�re about to explode or something.� He looked so worried about her, but he shouldn�t be. The only things he needs to worry about are himself and his daughter. He shouldn�t worry about the woman who had broken his heart and strayed away from him for so long. He deserved better than her. He deserved someone who would always be there for him no matter what. Someone who didn�t hide things from him like she always had. She was a bad person. And knowing that she quite possibly could never be with this amazing man again tore her heart out. She literally felt an ache in her chest where the love she had held for him and love he had shown her had once been. Now it was full of black nothingness�.a feeling of want and need. And those feelings of want and need and complete desperation showed Violet something. She was in love with this man.
She was STILL in love with this man. Had she ever really stopped?
�Violet?� The worry. It was still there, but it was so much stronger than before. He had moved from the arm chair over to the couch so he was closer to her. His hand had somehow found it�s way to her back and he was rubbing small circles just like he always had to calm her down. But this time, it had the opposite effect on her. She couldn�t calm down. So she busts right down into tears. She let her head fall to her knees as she sobbed uncontrollably. Everything she had been holding in from the day she was sent to Georgia was now coming out�full force and through tears.
�Hey, hey Violet, what�s wrong? Why are you crying?� His voice was so soft, so worried, so�soothing. And yet somehow, it was still sexy as hell like it had always been. She didn�t deserve him being so nice to her. And that made her cry even harder.
�I am so sorry.� She choked out through her tears and sobs.
�For what? You have nothing to be sorry for.�
�I have everything to be sorry for! I�m sorry for making you think I was dead, I�m sorry for not coming home when Ben was found dead, I�m sorry I never called you to let you know what was going on, I�m sorry I never contacted you in anyway to tell you I was pregnant, and I am so sorry I kept your daughter away from you for so long. I am just�.I�m so sorry for everything.�
Violet wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into him. She held on for dear life, she never wanted to let go. And he held her just as tight, allowing her to cry into his neck for as long as she needed, whispering soothing words to her. �Shh, it�s alright. We�re all together now, and I�m not going anywhere.�
�I don�t deserve you.� Violet whispered into his neck.
�What?� He couldn�t really hear her. Through her sobs and her talking into his neck, he couldn�t make out what she had just said to him.
Pulling away, Violet�s tear filled eyes stared right into his beautiful blue ones. �I don�t deserve you. I love you so much, JC. And I don�t deserve to.�
She hugged onto him again, and he couldn�t believe what she had just told him. She loves him. Still. After all this time, she had never stopped. But why shouldn�t she deserve to? She had his beautiful baby girl. She was everything he ever wanted and he would want her until the day he died, if even then. When they were told she was dead, part of his heart was torn to pieces. He never thought he could be whole again. But here she was, expressing her love to him, something he had never thought possible anymore. And he was never happier.
�I love you too, Violet. Until the day I die.�