A couple days later, Dawn got the okay to go home. She was still worried about moving in with AJ and having to depend on him so much, especially since he was so busy and would soon be going out of town for a promotional tour. Denise reassured her that she would be more than happy to stay with her while AJ was out of town. While Dawn appreciated it, she still didn’t like the fact that she was disrupting do many people’s lives.
AJ, Denise, and Marcus, AJ’s bodyguard, came to the hospital to take her home. As they were leaving the hospital, there were reporters and media waiting for them outside.
"This place is a damn circus,” AJ scoffed. “This is ridiculous".
The car was already waiting for them at the door, all they needed to do was get through the crowd. Marcus opened the door and paved the way for them as best he could. There were cameras flashing in their eyes as well as reporters yelling questions at them.
"Get out of the way people!" Marcus yelled as a few reporters shoved microphones and tape recorders in Dawn’s face. Marcus pushed their hands away. He and AJ tried their best to shelter her.
AJ wheeled Dawn to the car and helped her in. After she was safely in the car, he turned around as more reporters shouted questions at him and pushed tape recorders in his face. Denise stood next to him.
"You people are sick,” he said as he pushed the tape recorder out of his face then turned and got in the car.
"You guys really do need a few lessons on human decency," Denise commented as she got in the car, then they drove away.
Dawn lay her head on AJ’s shoulder.
"Are you okay, baby?" He asked her softly.
"Just tell me that’s not what we’re gonna have to deal with every day,” she said taking her sunglasses off.
"Usually, it’s not that bad,” he replied. "Those people were vultures".
The whole way back to AJ’s house, Dawn was very quiet. All she could do was think about what she was going to do sitting home, all day, every day, unable to work or leave the house. She knew she would go crazy.
Once they got to AJ’s house, they went inside. AJ took Dawn’s things and put them in the bedroom he set up for her. He was hoping she would share his room, but he didn’t want to pressure her. He figured she would want her space.
Dawn had to admit, she was surprised that AJ set her up in her own room. Part of her wanted her space, but a bigger part of her wanted to be with him and fall asleep in his arms every night. Sex wasn’t even important to her. Maybe it was more important to him and if they couldn’t be intimate he didn’t want to share the same bed with her.
He came out into the living room and sat down next to her.
"You have your own bathroom and everything", he said, taking her hand in his. “I even got you a bed,” he chuckled.
Dawn gave him a half smile, she felt like she had some sort of disease and no one wanted to be around her.
"Excuse me,” she said, fighting back tears as she ran out of the room.
AJ and Denise looked at each other with puzzled looks. AJ got up and followed Dawn. He saw that the door to her room was closed. He knocked lightly.
"Can I come in?"
There was no answer. He opened the door slowly and saw Dawn laying on the bed with her face buried in the pillow. He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hand along her back.
"Baby, what’s wrong?" He asked, confused, when he realized that she was crying.
"Do I have a disease or something?" She asked, lifting her head from the pillow.
"What are you talking about?" He questioned wit ha puzzled look on his face.
"You just stuck me in here all by myself like you don’t want to be around me. Is it because we can’t have sex?" She asked, looking at him.
"Is that what’s bothering you?" He chuckled. "Come here and listen to me," he pulled her to a sitting position.
"The only reason I gave you your own room was because I thought you would want your space, I didn’t want to pressure you or assume anything by thinking that you would just move into my room. I was trying to take things slowly".
He took her face in his hands and made her look at him.
“And I don’t care that we can’t have sex, that’s not that important to me…although, after the baby’s born, you will be in some severe trouble, but we’ll talk about that another time", he joked.
Dawn laughed.
"You really, honestly thought that I didn’t want to be near you?" He asked.
"I don’t know. My hormones are all out of control. I’ve been getting emotional over everything lately. When I was outside the other day, I accidentally stepped on an ant and almost started to cry when I thought about that poor ants’ family that would be waiting for him to come home".
AJ laughed and pulled her to him.
"So, you want to move your stuff into my room?"
"If you don’t mind. I mean, we can leave most of my stuff here and everything, if you want. I just want to be close to you, I want to fall asleep next to you every night and see your face first thing every morning".
"Nothing would make me happier,” AJ said as he kissed her lips. "But, if you’re gonna move into my room, we’re moving EVERYTHING. I want you to feel like this is your place, too".
Dawn looked around and laughed.
"So, does that mean while I’m home every day I can make some changes around here?" She joked.
AJ looked at her, scared.
"Um, sure, but can you just please refrain from putting foofoo things all over the place? No potpourri or flowers sitting in every room," he teased.
They laughed. "I’m gonna be so bored home by myself every day doing nothing. Just when I was starting to get my career moving again…" her face fell.
AJ thought for a minute.
"I have an idea,” he said as a big smile spread across his face. "But I’m not telling you what it is, it’s a surprise."
Just then the phone rang. After a few rings it stopped and Denise came to the door.
"I don’t mean to interrupt, but Kevin just called and said that he and Jessica were on their way over."
AJ picked up some of Dawn’s things and opened the door.
"Thanks Mom,” he said as he headed towards his bedroom.
"I’m gonna get going kids. I have a lot to do today and I know you guys want to be alone at least for a little while".
She came over and hugged Dawn. "You take care of yourself and that baby. If you need anything, you make sure you call me, understand?"
"Yes, Ma’am,” Dawn answered.
Then there was a knock at the door. Figuring it was Kevin, Dawn went to the door and opened it.
"Well, well, well,” the voice said.
Dawn's heart almost stopped when she saw who was standing in front of her, it was Anthony.

Chapter 36
Back