September 1, 2001 – Darlington Speedway

Junior sat in his coach and watched Noelle feed the baby. She looked exhausted and her eyes kept drifting shut and then opening to move the baby.

“Can I help with something?” Junior asked. Noelle raised an eyebrow at him. “Anything?”

“Unless you can breastfeed, you’re really not much help.” Noelle said with a yawn. It was four in the morning and Lee had been up since one thirty when he woke up fussing. Junior had heard him from where he had been sleeping on the couch and went into the bedroom to get him before he woke up Noelle.

“When you’re done, I’ll take him and you can go back to bed.” Junior offered. Noelle nodded, silently thanking him. He moved next to Noelle and smiled as she rested her head against his shoulder. He reached up and smoothed her hair. “Thank you for coming out here with me.”

“I’m just wondering if it was a good idea to bring him out here. He’s only a week old.” Noelle looked down at Lee. “I hope its ok.”

“The doctor said it was fine. It’s not like I’m strapping his car seat into the car and taking him around the track. I’ll wait until he’s six weeks old for that one. Gotta start him off early, ya know.”

“Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr! If I ever catch you or even hear about….” Noelle started. Junior held his finger up to her lips.

“I was kidding, baby. Only kidding.” Junior laughed. “You have to admit, it’s in his blood. His great-grand-daddy, his grand-daddy and his daddy were all drivers.”

“Not to mention his aunt and uncle.” Noelle thought out loud. “Thankfully Taylor doesn’t seem to want to race.”

“Not yet…but I’ll get her in a car one way or another.” Junior laughed as Noelle sat up and tried to burp Lee. He watched and sighed. Being with her almost felt like they were together again, but he knew they weren’t. He was trying his hardest to behave and not just push her against the wall and kiss her. He knew nothing could happen between them for six weeks at the most. But he longed to hold her and kiss her. The most physical contact he had received from her was a hug and that was the day they had left the hospital and brought Lee home. It wasn’t even home, really. It was Noelle’s house. They wouldn’t have a home until Noelle came back.

“You need to go to bed.” Noelle glanced at the clock. “You have to race in a few hours.” Junior shook his head. “Junior, don’t argue with me. I’m not in the mood.”

“I’ll be fine. Let me take him and you go back to bed. When he falls back to sleep, I’ll bring him into you and then I’ll sleep until someone drags my ass to the driver’s meeting.” Junior took Lee from her and cradled him in his arms. “We need father-son bonding time anyway. No scoot your cute ass back to bed.” Noelle sighed and handed Junior the rag she had been using in case the baby spit up. She hesitated a minute and then went back to the bedroom and crawled in bed. It didn’t even take her five minutes before she fell asleep.

Junior sat in the living room looking at his son. Lee was wide awake and looking back at him. Junior smiled and bent down and kissed his head.

“Your grandpa would have a field day with you.” Junior said softly. “First grandson and all. You’d be spoiled rotten. Hell, you’re probably going to be spoiled anyway.” He shifted a bit and looked at the baby again. “I had always said that I didn’t want a baby until I was much older. But I’m glad you’re here.” Lee made a fussing noise and Junior moved him up to his shoulder and patted his back. “It’s amazing how everything comes naturally. Probably a lot more natural for your mom though.” Junior was grew quiet as he sat and listened to Lee making little noises. “She’s an amazing woman, you know. We’re both extremely lucky to have her. Sad thing is, I almost lost both of you because I was stupid.” He kissed his son’s head again and closed his eyes. “But I’m going to fix it if it’s the last thing I do. We’re going to be a family again.”

******

Noelle woke up a few hours later and sat up, her heart racing. Lee wasn’t in his bassinet at the foot of the bed. She jumped out of bed and hurried to the front of the coach and sighed with relief when she saw him. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was only six thirty. Junior was laying on the couch sound asleep with Lee on his chest. He had a blanket over the two of them and Junior’s arm was wrapped protectively over him. Noelle sat across from them and watched her husband and son sleep. A feeling of content ness washed over her.

“Junior.” She whispered kneeling down next to him. She nudged his arm a little and he opened his eyes and looked at him. “Let me take him so you can get some sleep.”

“He’s ok.” Junior said quietly. “We’re bonding.” Junior muffled a yawn and closed his eyes again. “Go back to bed.” Noelle bit her lip and looked them over again. Junior couldn’t be comfortable sleeping on the couch like that.

“C’mon and come to bed.” Noelle offered standing up. She reached down and picked Lee up off of Junior’s chest and kissed his cheek as she started walking toward the bedroom. Junior sat up and watched her. She stopped at the doorway and looked back at him. “Going once.”

“I’m coming.” Junior flipped off the light in the kitchen area and followed her into the bedroom. Noelle laid Lee down in the middle of the bed and got on one side, while Junior laid down on the other. Noelle curled on her side, facing the baby and watched as Junior did the same. “I can sleep on the couch, you know.”

“Shut up and go to sleep. He’s going to be up in a few hours.” Noelle groaned. Junior said nothing and watched his wife drift back to sleep before he went back to sleep as well.

******

Junior walked through the garage area carrying Lee with a blanket over him. Fans were snapping pictures left and right of Junior with his newborn son. Noelle sat in the Bud garage and looked out, watching and Junior proudly showed off Lee to the other drivers.

“You brought a baby to the garage?” one woman asked Noelle when she had run over to the hauler to pick something up for Tony Sr. “Are you insane? What kind of mother are you? He could get hit by a car!”

“It’s not like he’s lying in the middle of the road, lady.” Noelle said to her and pushed past her.

“I would have thought that Junior would have married a woman with more sense!” The lady huffed and walked away. Noelle shook her head and kept walking to the hauler.

When she got back, Junior was still showing Lee off to the drivers. Noelle saw him down at Gordon’s garage and walked down to retrieve her son after giving Tony Sr. what he needed.

 

“You’re looking good.” Jimmie Johnson said to Noelle when she walked up to Junior. “Doesn’t even look like you had a baby.” Noelle looked down and started laughing.

“Believe me…it does.” She patted her stomach. “This needs to go away.” Junior looked her over and shook his head. “Shut up, Junior.”

“Damn, she’s got you on a short leash.” Jeff said with a laugh. “Hi Noelle.”

“Hey.” She smiled at him then looked at her husband. “I’m going to take him, if that’s ok. It’s about time for him to eat.”

“He’s not crying.” Junior looked at him. “How do you know if it’s time for him to eat?” Noelle raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m not done with him!”

“Junior, he’s not a toy!” Noelle laughed. “And if he was…you have to learn to share.” Jimmie and Jeff watched Noelle and Junior bicker back and forth and they both started laughing. Noelle turned her attention back to them. “Got a problem?”

“You two sure you’re not together anymore?” Jeff asked. “You sure act like you’re a married couple.”

“We’re still married, just separated.” Junior handed Lee over to Noelle. “Is Teresa taking him during the race?” Noelle nodded. “So where are you going to be?”

“Either with her or in the pits. I don’t know yet. I haven’t really thought about it.” Noelle shifted Lee to her shoulder and threw the blanket over top of him. “I’m going to go feed him and take him up to Teresa.” Junior nodded and moved to kiss her, but Noelle moved away before he could. She looked at him and shook her head. Junior sighed and watched her walk away.

“Still trouble in paradise?” Jeff leaned against a tool box and crossed his arms. “Marriage isn’t fun, is it?”

“It was until I fucked it up.” Junior sighed. “Oh well…if it’s gonna work, it’ll take time.”

“Now you see why I’m not married.” Jimmie laughed. “I gotta get back to my pit. See you guys out on the track.”

*****

Noelle left Lee with Teresa who started showing him off to the people in the suite immediately. Noelle made sure that she’d have enough diapers and a bottle of formula in case he got hungry again.

“Just go.” Teresa laughed. “I’m a grandma. I know how to handle a baby.” Noelle sighed and headed back down to the pits.

Noelle waved to the security guard as she passed through the Busch garage and into the Winston Cup garage.

“Where you going?” Jeff Gordon asked running to catch up with her. Noelle stopped to wait for him.

“Junior’s pit to watch the race. Why aren’t you at your car?”

“I’m headed back there now.” Jeff said. They walked to pit row and then separated. “Catch you later?”

“Sure.” Noelle shrugged and headed toward her husband’s pit. She walked up behind Tony Jr. and saw Junior talking to a leggy blonde. He seemed to be deep in conversation with her. The woman was flirting and leaning into Junior. Noelle noticed that Junior kept his arms crossed and his left hand was hidden so that the woman couldn’t see his wedding ring.

“Ahem.” Noelle cleared her throat as she walked up to them. “Honey, your son is now with Teresa.” Junior’s look of shock was more than Noelle wanted to see. “Want to introduce me to your friend?”

“I’m Kristina, Junior’s girlfriend.” She held her hand out and Noelle refused to shake it. The woman pulled her hand back quickly. “Who are you?”

“Ohh…no one special. Just his wife and mother of his week old son.” Noelle said nonchalantly.

“His wife?” Kristina asked confused. Junior was avoiding the glares from both women. “You didn’t tell me you were married!”

“Yeah, he didn’t tell me he had a girlfriend the first time we fucked either.” Noelle said with a sigh. “Commitment phobe, aren’t ya, baby?” She patted his shoulder and leaned in to him. “Any chance of us getting back together was just shattered. Hope you’re happy.” She had to restrain herself from slapping him across the face. Noelle turned her attention to Kristina. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you’re happy ruining a marriage.” Noelle turned on her heel and left the pit area, fuming.

She ended up in Tony’s pit, crying to her sister over what Junior was doing.

“What do you mean she said she was his girlfriend?” Tony asked overhearing what Noelle had just said. “Junior hasn’t been seeing anyone!”

“How do you know?” Noelle asked wiping the tears from her eyes. “Are you with him all the time?”

“We hang out when we’re at the tracks. I can swear on a Bible that he hasn’t been with anyone.” Tony hugged her. “Just talk to him and see. Don’t get all Harvicky on us.” Noelle had to laugh. That’s what Tony and Hollie had named the Harvick incident and whenever either Junior or Noelle would get upset, they’d throw that at them. “Seriously, just talk to him after the race.”

“So do you know who Kristina is?” Noelle crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Tony as he grabbed his helmet. She walked with him and Hollie to the car. “Tall, leggy blonde chick?”

“Kristina Helton?” Tony asked. Noelle shrugged. “That’s who you think is his girlfriend?”

“That’s how she introduced herself to me. Junior didn’t stop her.” Noelle nodded. Tony leaned against his car and laughed. Hollie raised an eyebrow at her husband and then looked at Noelle. “What is so funny, Tony?”

“Kristina has been saying that she’s Junior’s girlfriend for years. They dated a couple years ago before Junior started racing in the Busch series. Believe me; you have nothing to worry about.” Tony put on his helmet as Zippy walked toward them.

“Noelle, someone wants to talk to you.” Zippy motioned over his shoulder. Noelle looked behind him to see Junior. “Go talk to him, he looks upset and if Pops sees that Junior is upset before a race, all hell is going to break loose.” Noelle groaned and walked away from Tony and Hollie.

“What?” She asked as she walked up to him. He grabbed her hand and led her away from the group of people in Tony’s pit.

“I want to talk about Kristina.”

“Oh…you mean your girlfriend?” Noelle asked tilting her head to the side. “I guess you couldn’t wait to see if we’d get back together or the fact that your wife was pregnant with your son.” She looked away from him so that he couldn’t see the hurt in her eyes.

“She’s an ex-girlfriend, Noelle. We dated a few years ago.” Junior dropped Noelle’s hand. “She always tells everyone that she meets that she’s my girlfriend.”

“So why didn’t she know that you were married?” Noelle glanced at him. “Not to mention the fact you were hiding your wedding ring.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Junior held up his hand so that she could see it was still on. “I haven’t taken it off, nor will I.” He pulled Noelle against him and hugged her. “I love you and want to be with you. Not anyone else.” He looked over at Tony as he hugged Noelle and saw Tony watching and shaking his head at him. “That better?”

“Not really because I’m going to kick her ass.” Noelle pulled away from Junior. “Good luck in the race. I’m going up to sit with Teresa and take care of Lee. We’ll see you on the plane.” Noelle walked away, tears still streaming down her face. Junior had no other option but to go back to his car and get ready to head out on the track.

Chapters: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30