AJ sat down at the edge of Dawn’s bed. He knew they needed to talk, he just didn’t think it should be now. He didn’t like the way the conversation was starting. He took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself for what was about to come out of Dawn’s mouth.
"Alex, look at me, please,” Dawn said to him.
He didn’t want to look at her, he was afraid he would lose it and cry or something, then he would feel stupid. She couldn’t marry Anthony, she just couldn’t.
"Just tell me one thing,” he said in a low voice. He looked her directly in the eye. "Tell me you’re not marrying that monster".
There was an uncomfortable silence as he waited for her answer. It was killing him. She held up her left hand, there was no ring on her finger.
"Did you really think I could do something like that?"
AJ closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t even put into words how relieved he was that she turned Anthony down.
"Thank god,” he said as he grabbed her and hugged her tightly.
She hugged him back, it felt so good to be in his arms. He finally let her go.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
Dawn sighed.
"Us".
"Are you sure this is a conversation you want to be having right now?" He asked, worried.
"I’m positive. I need to get this off my chest. I can’t keep things bottled up any longer. That’s part of why I’m so stressed out. I want you to just listen to me and not say a word until I’m done. This is hard enough for me and if I’m interrupted, I may not find the guts to finish."
AJ looked at her surprised, he didn’t know what she was going to say, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know either, but good or bad, he had to hear it sooner or later.
"Okay,” he said, almost whispering.
"I’m not good at these kind of things, so if something comes out wrong, I’m sorry. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about everything in my life and have made some decisions, but haven’t had too much time to figure out how to say it".
"Just say what’s on your mind. No sense beating around the bush now,” AJ replied.
Dawn was taken aback by his attitude, but she understood it and she deserved it, so she let it go.
"I’m sorry that, in the past few months, I’ve been such a pain in the ass. I never meant to hurt you, I was trying to protect you. I felt that you didn’t really think about what you were offering me. You were prepared to give up everything for me, and I didn’t want you to do that. I didn’t think I was being fair to you".
She paused for a minute and looked out the window.
"I know exactly what I’m doing,” AJ said quickly. "I wish you’d quit acting like I’m some sort of stupid kid". He got up and walked over to the window.
"I never said that. I don’t think you’re a stupid kid. I think you’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. I just don’t want you to realize later on down the road that you made a big mistake and took on too much responsibility unnecessarily. You have so much going for you right now and I don’t want you to resent me or the baby any time down the road..." Her voice trailed off.
AJ looked over at her, he saw the tears in her eyes. He sat back down on the bed and looked her directly in the eye.
"Listen to me. When I thought something may happen to you or the baby, I was a mess. I couldn’t believe how upset I was. Then, when I was standing there, listening to the baby’s heartbeat and watching the little bleeps on the screen, I realized that there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING more important to me in this world that you and that baby. I could care less that it’s not mine".
"I know, and that’s what I wanted to talk about. This is where things might start sounding really weird".
AJ laughed. "Things have sounded really weird for some time now".
"Shut up,” Dawn laughed, glad that the mood seemed a little lighter now.
"I want to tell you that I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through, I was just scared. I sincerely hope I haven’t done anything to scar our relationship. I love you and I want you to be in my life. I want your help with raising this baby, " her voice trailed off as she looked down at her hands.
“Wait, are you saying that you do want to be with me? You’ll let me help you?” He asked, shocked. He thought me might fall off the edge of the bed, he was so surprised.
“Yeah, I do,” she whispered. “As long as you still want to help me, that is..”
"Are you kidding??" He exclaimed, as he practically jumped through the ceiling. "There is nothing I want more in this world!" He said, pulling her to him and giving her a tight hug.
"It feels so good to get all that out in the open finally,” Dawn said, wrapping her arms around AJ’s neck.
"I don’t know why you couldn’t tell me all that before. You’ve never had a problem in the past talking to me".
"I know, but this was different, and I had to be sure.”
AJ leaned down and gave Dawn a tender kiss on the lips.
"I love you so much,” he whispered.
"I love you, too," she replied after their lips parted. "I’m just sorry it took something like this to make me realize how much".
"Let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s just concentrate on the future, OUR future, together. We have so much to think about and plan."
"We sure do, but more importantly, the not too distant future has me homeless".
"I already told you what I think you should do".
Dawn sighed. "I just hate to be a burden on anyone".
“Alex, it almost sounds ridiculous. Just this morning, I was considering going back to Anthony. You and I weren’t even talking. Now, here we are talking about moving in together”.
“It’s not ridiculous. Sure, we’ve been through a lot in the last few weeks, but we got through it and we want to be together. We love each other," he looked over at Dawn as she looked down at her hands. “Oh yeah, and you’re homeless,” he teased.
“Alex, that was not the least bit funny,” Dawn chuckled then tried to be serious.
"I don’t want to be a burden on anyone”.
“I told you, you wouldn’t be a burden. I WANT to take care of you. Please, do it for me, if nothing else, to shut me up," he joked. "I have plenty of room, we can set up a room for the baby and everything".
It was so touching to see how excited he was when he talked about the baby. Dawn couldn’t say no. She had to admit, she DID need help.
"Well, I haven’t signed my lease yet.." her voice trailed off.
"So, does that mean you’ll move in with me?" He asked excitedly.
Dawn thought for a minute.
"Boy, that sounds so..."
"Committed?" He finished.
"Yeah,” she replied softly.
"It’s supposed to,” he said as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You’re stuck with me now, Angel".
A slight twinge of fear shot through Dawn’s body when she heard him say that, but the feeling soon passed when she looked deep into his eyes, she knew in her heart that she didn’t belong with anyone else.


Chapter 35
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