NEW YORK CITY, NY – KIRSTIN’S LOFT – FEB. 16TH, 2002 – SATURDAY

     Kirstin got up around 7:30 am. She got dressed, drank a glass of milk and ran out of the door.

     “Man… I’m gonna fail this year. I never go to my classes anymore. It’s Saturday and I think I haven’t been there once this week.” she said getting into her car and going somewhere far from NYU.

NEW YORK CITY, NY – HOTEL

     Ashley also got up early. It was 8:05 am when he opened his eyes and stared at the clock on the nightstand. He stretched and got up, heading to the bathroom.

     He changed into some decent clothes, which consisted of a black t-shirt and a pair of light blue jeans, and headed to the elevator.

     When he was heading to the exit, he stopped. He saw a familiar figure at the check-in counter. He headed that way.

     “Kirstin?” Ashley asked from behind her.

     “Oh, you scared me!” Kirstin placed her hand on her chest “Hi.” she half-smiled.

     “Hey.” Ashley had a frown on.

     “I’m sorry to get here so early. You’re not… leaving, are you?”

     “Actually… I was just leaving to go to your apartment.” Ashley shoved his hands down his pockets.

     “Oh…” Kirstin looked down “Can we… I don’t know, go somewhere to talk?”

     “Yeah, sure. Let’s go up to my room.” Ashley and Kirstin headed to the elevator.

    

     Nothing was said between the couple until they were both inside Ashley’s room. And it was Kirstin that started it.

     “Listen, Ashley, I just wanted to explain to you what really happened yesterday at the restaurant. I…”

     “Kirstin, I also wanted to explain why I exploded like that in the car. It wasn’t your…”

     “Ok. We both have something to say. So… who’s gonna start?” Kirstin grinned at him.

     “I… I guess you can start, that’s fine.” Ashley said and motioned for Kirstin to sit on a chair. He sat on another one right in front of hers.

     “So… As I was saying… I think you got the wrong idea yesterday. I never meant to get back with Tom or anything. Ever. He’s completely out of my love life. But he can’t be out of my baby’s life. This may be hard for you to understand, but he is the father and I want him to be around. It will do so much good for the baby. And you don’t have to worry about him being around. Nothing will happen. That I can promise you. I can’t accept Tom back. Not after what he did and not now when everything is so great… well, not so much right now… but when everything is great between us. I can’t.” Kirstin looked down and played with her fingers “I don’t wanna loose you again.” Ashley grabbed her hands, causing her to stop playing with her fingers.

     “Kirstin, you don’t have to worry. You’re not loosing me, because I don’t wanna loose you either. I know I over reacted last night. Too much. But, when you left to go to the restroom, Tom said some stuff to me that kinda… got to me, you know? Made me think and I didn’t like where my thoughts were leading me.”

     “What? He told you stuff? What did he say?” Kirstin frowned. She didn’t know Tom had said disturbing things to Ashley while she was in the restroom.

     “Oh, stuff like… this baby will never see me as a father if he was around. That I’ll always be mommy’s boyfriend to the baby.” Ashley looked down “And it got to me. I really don’t want that to happen. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna love this baby and I want him to see me as a parent. And then there was that flirtation going on. Of course, he was just trying to tease me, I know, with the ultrasound talk, but it also got to me. I am jealous, Kirstin, and you know it. So I couldn’t take that anymore. And I decided to take this out on you. And it wasn’t your fault. And I’m so sorry. I really am. I just want you to understand where I was coming from.” Ashley looked deeply into her eyes. Kirstin wasn’t crying. She didn’t feel like it at that moment. Maybe it was because she had cried too much the day before.

     “Ash, I had no idea Tom had said all that stupid stuff to you. And you don’t have to worry about it. Of course the baby will love you! Come on! Its heart won’t be made of stone! You’ll always be there, helping me raise it, being around, loving this baby. Do you really think that if you love it, it won’t love you back? Come on! That is not the kind of education he’ll get from us!” Kirstin joked and grinned “Don’t worry, baby. This baby will love you! Probably even more then Tom.”

     “Yeah… if we can teach it anything, that’ll be it! For it to love me more then Tom.” Ashley chuckled and Kirstin giggled.

     “See? Don’t worry. Everything will be fine! We’ll work it out.”

     “Yeah…” Ashley said and smiled tenderly at her.

     “Our love is just too strong. We’ll go through everything together. But we gotta stay together for that to happen.”

     “I know. And that’s what I intend to do. I won’t let you go. Never. Love you too much.”

     “Love you too, Ash.” Kirstin kissed him lightly on the lips. Things would be good. Again.