While Dawn sat looking out the window, contemplating what she was going to do about the letter, the door opened and AJ burst through the door. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the site of him balancing a million things in his arms. He held the door open with his foot as he attempted to get through the door without dropping anything. He finally made his way over to the bed and dropped everything at the foot of the bed.
"My God, what did you buy?" Dawn asked, laughing.
"Hold on, there’s more."
Dawn looked at him puzzled.
"Leave it up to Alex to overdue things," she thought to herself.
He opened the door and suddenly Kevin, Brian and Howie appeared.
"Omigod!" Dawn exclaimed. "What are you guys doing here??"
"Where did you think we would be? We wanted to make sure you and D were okay," Brian answered.
Kevin walked over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"How are ya doing, Princess?"
"I hurt all over," she complained.
"How’s Jess?"
"Ugh, Don’t ask."
"Oh no, did something happen?"
"Yeah, you could say that. I’m sick of her shit, I broke up with her. Let’s not talk about that right now, though."
"Um, okay. I’m sorry."
The other guys all hugged her and sat down. AJ plunked down on the bed next to Dawn, out of breath. He saw the flowers that Noah had brought her.
"Who are those from?"
"Oh, they’re from Noah. He stopped by, wanted to see how I was."
"I see," he said quietly.
He glanced around the room at everyone’s eyes on him. He didn’t want to ruin the day by talking about Noah or getting upset. Soon, Dawn would be home and away from Noah, then things would be as they should be and he wouldn’t have to worry. He tried to change the subject.
"I went a little overboard," he chuckled, looking at the stuff he had bought.
There were stuffed animals, flowers and a card.
"So I see," Dawn looked at him.
"Angel, what’s wrong?" He asked, worried.
"Nothing," she answered, turning towards the other guys.
AJ knew something was wrong with her, but
he didn’t know what. He figured she was probably overwhelmed by everything that had
happened. He tried to brighten the mood.
"Hey guys, we have some great news."
He took Dawn’s hand and she looked up at him surprised. She knew what he was going to say and she wished she could stop him, but she knew she couldn’t. Everyone looked at him, waiting for his announcement.
"I don’t know how to say it…."
"Oh my God, AJ, Mr. Motormouth, is at a loss for words??" Brian teased.
AJ rolled his eyes.
"Very funny, Rok."
"Just come out with it, Bone," Kevin insisted.
The rest of the guys all looked at him in anticipation.
"You set a date?" Kevin asked.
"Well, no, not yet. We’re working on it, though."
"What then, dude?" Brian asked impatiently.
He felt like he was going to burst, he couldn’t hold it in any longer, he didn’t care how it came out.
"We’re gonna have another baby!" AJ gushed.
They all just sat looking at them for a second in shock.
"You mean, you’re pregnant?" Howie asked, looking at Dawn.
"Um yeah, that’s what that would mean," she laughed.
"Oh wow," Kevin said as he walked over and hugged them both.
"Congratulations!"
"But I thought…"
"Don’t ask, no one seems to be able to explain it," Dawn chuckled.
"So, I get to be a godfather again, huh?" he smiled.
"Dude, lay off. You already have Arianna, this one is mine," Nick said as he walked into the room.
"Hi Nicky!" Dawn said, happily.
"Hi sweetie, how are ya feeling?" He kissed her forehead.
"I’ve been better," she chuckled.
"I hear a congratulations are in order, Mommy," he smiled and gave her a hug.
"Thank you! I’m still in shock. It was such a surprise," she turned and smiled at AJ.
"How’s D? Is she alright? Is she awake?"
"She’s awake, at least she was. She’ll be fine, but it’s gonna take some time."
They sat and talked for awhile. AJ noticed something was still bothering Dawn. She had barely said two words to him.
"Hey guys, do you mind if I talk to Dawn for a minute?"
"Sure, we were gonna go visit D anyway. We’ll come back later," Kevin said.
They all gave Dawn a hug and piled out the door. AJ turned to Dawn.
"Are you gonna tell me what’s wrong? Don’t tell me ‘nothing’ either, I know you better then that."
She looked away from him, she didn’t know how to bring it up, she hated to ruin what should be a happy time, but she had to confront him about it.
"Alex, have you ever cheated on me?"
She turned and looked him in the eye. He looked at her surprised.
"Why would you ask something like that?"
"Please, just answer the question."
"No, I’ve never cheated on you. What’s going on?"
She turned away from him and looked out the window.
"Are you going to tell me?" He asked, getting irritated.
He had no idea what this was all about, but he was willing to bet Noah had something to do with it.
"Alex, I got a letter….."
"From who?"
"Stephanie."
She turned to see his reaction.
"Stephanie? Who’s tha….."
Suddenly, it hit him. He remembered who she was. It had been awhile since he heard the name. He had met her on one of his tours back when he and Dawn broke up when she was pregnant with Arianna.
"So, you do know who she is?"
He ran his hands through his hair and sighed.
"Do we have to talk about this now?"
"Yes Alex, we do. When did you sleep with her?"
He took a deep breath. As much as he didn’t want this to be an issue, he realized that it was, even though he slept with her while he and Dawn were broken up.
"Remember when you went to go stay with your mother for that little while when you were pregnant with Arianna?"
"Yes".
"Well, that tour right after that I was all fucked up. I was miserable, I missed you. I was lost. I did a lot of things during that period that I’m not proud of."
"You mean there were others??"
"No, nothing like that. I just didn’t care about anything."
"So, you did sleep with her," she looked at him, waiting for an answer.
AJ knew he had to be honest with her, she deserved to know the truth. He just didn’t want it to affect their relationship. They had been through too much, especially recently. They had always gotten through it. But would she understand this?
"Alex?"
Dawn’s voice brought him back to the moment. He looked at her and could see that she was upset. What he wouldn’t give to be able to deny it.
"Yes, I slept with her," he answered quietly.
Dawn turned and looked out the window. Tears immediately started to spill down her cheeks.
"But, it was while you and I were apart. It didn’t mean anything, I swear. I didn’t cheat on you…."
He tried to make it all sound better, but he was just making things worse.
"What about last tour?" She asked as she turned to him again.
"What about it?"
"Well, she said that the two of you slept together a few months ago on the last tour. When you were in Louisiana."
"Angel, I swear, I didn’t sleep with her then. I slept with her that one time, years ago. When you left me. I haven’t seen her since."
"The letter was so detailed, Alex! It made me sick! How could she make something like that up?"
"I never denied that I slept with her
once, a long time ago, but I didn’t on the last tour."
"Why would she say you did then??"
"I don’t know! Why is she saying anything at all??"
Dawn was silent.
He desperately wanted her to say something, anything. At this point, he didn’t care what it was, but her silence was killing him.
"Angel, please talk to me," he choked back tears as he tried to get her to look at him.
"I want you to leave," she whispered, tears still falling down her face.
"Baby, please don’t do this. We can get through this…."
He placed his hands on hers as a teardrop fell down his face.
"Alex, please. I need to be alone. I need to think about what I’m going to do and what’s best for my baby."
"No, our baby. We made that baby together," he took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
"Please don’t do this. We can work this out. We always do," he pleaded.
"You never cheated on me before."
"Angel, I’m so sorry. I feel terrible, but you have to understand what I was going through at the time."
"What you were going through?? While I was racking my brain trying to figure out our future, you were off fucking some stripper??!" She raised her voice.
"Baby, please don’t yell. Take it easy. Think about the baby…"
"Will you please…………just get out."
She stared out the window as AJ looked at her, hoping she would look at him, so she could see the truth in his face, but it was no use.
"Please don’t do this," he begged.
"Alex, please. If you love me at all, you’ll leave. You’ll let me think things through on my own."
He stared at her, wishing he could do
something. Wishing he could convince her, or at least make her understand, but he knew
there was nothing he could do or say to make things better. He stood up and started to walk away. He turned to her
one last time.
"Angel, I love you with all my heart, we’re soul mates. I know what I did was
wrong, but you have to know that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.
You’re my whole world."
Dawn still refused to look at him, she
stared out the window while tears spilled down her face.
With that, he turned and
walked out the door.
Dawn looked back towards the door, wanting to call after him, but she didn’t. She felt betrayed….by the one person who swore he would never hurt her….by the one person she trusted with her life. She turned on her side, buried her face in her pillow and sobbed.