April 12th 2008

The table was packed. It was covered with punch, chips, dip, cookies, crackers, tiny triangle ham and cheese sandwiches, a vegetable platter and plastic cups.

"Check." Emilie turned away from the table and looked around the house.

The house was clean. The living room was vacuumed, the coffee tables were clean and tidy, the couches and chairs were straight and it was all dust free. In the kitchen, the counters were wiped down and organized. The kitchen was free of moldy and rotten food. The stove was sparkling. The floor was spotless and gleaming. The trash was taken out and the table wasn't trashed with mail and candy wrappers.

"Bobby how in the world did you let your house get that dirty?" Emilie asked, walking into the kitchen where Bobby sat at the table. He looked up from his plate of cookies and shrugged casually.

"I'm not a housekeeper, Em. You know that." he picked up another cookie and took a bite. "This is a really good cookie, Em." he said, shaking the cookie at her. She grinned at him and reached over to grab it.

"I know. I made it." Bobby barked out a laugh and pushed the plate over to her when she reached for another one. "So when is everyone getting here?" she asked through a mouth full of cookie. A piece dropped on her shirt and she scooped it up, ate it and looked over at Bobby. He was looking at her with the oddest look in his eyes.

"What?" she asked nervously. He shook his head and smiled a little. He looked sad. "What is it Bobby?" She walked over to him and hooked an arm through one of his.

"Ma would be so happy." he whispered, his voice cracking ever so slightly. Tears filled Emilie's eyes instantly. She hugged his arm to her and buried his face in his shoulder.

"God, she would be thrilled, huh?" she laughed a little. "Abigail would be too. They'd already be shopping or knitting by now." He chuckled with her for a second but the air fell silent after that. The two of them stood there, holding one another, letting the thought of their deceased mother's cloud their minds.

Then, Bobby's fist shot out from his free arm and hit the wooden table. Not once, not twice but repeatedly he hit it. Emilie jumped away from him on the first hit and she thought abouts topping him but, honestly, she was too afraid. So she watched him tear his knuckles up and hoped that he wouldn't break anything.

Bobby was angry. He had every right to be angry too. He was angry with Jack for leaving Emilie alone and pregnant. He wan angry with Emilie for taking his departure so calmly. He was angry with life for putting Emilie through such a hard time. He was angry with God, or whoever was sitting up there, for taking his mother away.

Most of all though, he wans angry with himself for being so angry and not being strong for Emilie.

His fist stopped moving and he could feel Emilie move forward. She laid her hand on his shoulder and kissed his bicep. "It'll be okay, Bobby." She assured him in a whisper. He started to shake his head but she squeezed his arm. "I'm okay. I promise."

"You might think this is okay but it's not, Em. It's not right." he growled, feeling the urge to hit something again. "What Jack is doing, isn't right and it will never he right. No matter how much happened to him in his past. None of your excuses for him will make this any less wrong than it already is."

Needing some time alone, he moved out from under her touch and walked out the kitchen.

Emilie watched him go and felt the familiar sting of tears forming behind her eyes. She blinked the away and looked down at the table. It wasn't damaged but she could see faint indents from his knuckles scattering the area he hit. There was also some blood and a little skin. He'd torn his hand open.

"Oh, Bobby." She sighed and walked over to the sink. She grabbed the dish sponge and wiped the table off again. She sat back down after she was done and picked at her nails. There was nothing else to do. Bobby and her had set everything up already and now all there was to do was wait for everyone to get here. No one knew what the impromptu get together was for but Emilie got the feeling that they knew something was going on. She wondered how they would react when she told them about the baby.

The thought made her groan. She dropped her head onto the table. Hard. She winced but didn't bring her head back up.

"I think the table has had enough beatings today." Bobby said as he walked back in. Emilie picked her head up to look at him. He'd changed into a long sleeved shirt. Emilie noticed that the sleeves covered his raw knuckles. "My hand's fine. How about your head?" He brushed her hair out of the way and looked at the tiny red spot on her forehead.

"It's fine." she told him. He dropped his hand and sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry I went off like that. I just got-" he ran his hands through his hair roughly and squeezed his eyes shut. Emilie stood up from the chair and wrapped her fingers around his wrists. Bobby let her pull his hands away from his head and wrap them around her shoulders. It took him a minute to realize what she wanted but by the time her arms circled his waist, he was hugging her back.

Emilie buried her face in his chest and hugged him tightly. She felt his nose and lips nuzzle into her hair and she smiled.

"I just got angry, Em." he whispered, turning his face and resting his cheek on the top of her head. "I was just so angry." She tightened her arms and looked up at him.

"I understand, Bobby." she assured him. "This isn't just a lot for me to deal with. It's a lot for you to deal with too." A frown spread across her face and moved away from him. "I should have thought about that before-"

Bobby cut her off by slapping a hand over her mouth. She looked at him and he was glaring at her. "If you dare say that you are sorry you called me, I will pinch you so hard the bruise will stay for months." He felt her lips curve in his hand and he moved it away.

"Thanks, Bobby." He was about to say something else but a knock on the door stopped him. Emilie blanched and he chuckled.

"It's time." he sang and left to go answer the door. Emilie took a few minutes to compose herself. She heard the voices and knew that everyone was here at once. Just her luck. After a few deep breaths, Emilie walked through the kitchen and out into the living room.

"Diddle!" Angel exclaimed happily. He took a few long strides to her and crushed her to his body in a big hug. "I've missed you! We need to hang out some more." he swung her around a little and Emilie laughed heartily.

She was actually excited to see everyone now. For days she'd been keeping low with Bobby, trying to keep everything a secret. Today would change that though. Everyone would know about the baby and that'd be one less thing off her mind. The problem with them knowing though was Jack. Would they know that Jack left her? What will they say when they realize Jack left with the band? Would they ask if he even knew?

Those questions brought her down a little and she looked over at Bobby. He was talking with Jerry and eating more cookies. She left Angel and on her way over to Bobby, she greeted everyone else.

Sofi. Camille. Paisley. Daniella. Amelia.

"Hey, Jer." Emilie hugged him tightly and pulled back. "Can I borrow Bobby for a sec?"

"Yes, please. He's annoying me already." Jerry joked and walked over to help Amelia fill her cup up with punch. Emilie pulled Bobby to the side and gave him a panicked look.

"What do we do when they ask about Jack? You know they are going to find it odd that he left to tour after I find out I'm pregnant." Her voice was hushed and harsh. Bobby looked around to see if anyone was close.

"Let me handle that. Okay?" he said. "When and if it comes to that, let me handle it."

Half an hour later, the guests were getting antsy.

"So way are we here Bobby?" Camille asked, sitting between the girls on the couch. Bobby looked over at Emilie and nodded.

"Um it's actually for me." she spoke. Everyone turned their attention on her and her stomach twisted. "My place wasn't big enough so I asked Bobby to let me use his house."

"Is everything okay?" Angel asked, automatically thinking the worst even though it was a party. Emilie smiled sweetly and nodded her head.

"Yes, Ang. It's perfect actually." She could see that she caught their attention and she inhaled as deeply as she could. "I have an announcement to make. I um, have been holding this in for a few days and I don't think I can anymore." She gripped her tiny plastic cup as tightly as she could and looked over at Bobby again. "I'm not sure what I should say to lead up to what I'm about to tell you and I don't think there is anything that can prepare you for it so I'm just going to say it."

Everyone's else watched her. Some were filled with fear, some with hesitation. Most were curious.

"I'm pregnant."

A gasp from Camille. Two confused sounds from the girls. A short squeak from Paisley. A growl from Angel. A chuckle from Sofi. Silence from Jerry. He just looked shell shocked.

Emilie stood before them as they processed what she said. Bobby stood off to her right, gnawing on his bottom lip but looking intently at Angel. After a few moments of still silence, Emilie started to tear up.

"Oh God, I knew this was a bad idea." she cried and started to bolt from the room. Camille grabbed her before she could get out though. She forced Emilie to look at her.

"Are you sure?" Camille asked softly. Emilie nodded her head and felt a few tears fall. Slowly, a bright smile filled Camille's face. "Aw, Em!" Arms hugged Emilie's neck gently and Emilie started to cry openly. "I am so happy for you."

Bobby watched as everyone stood up and walked over to Emilie and Camille. Everyone, that is, except Angel. The big Marine sat on the couch, looking down into his cup of punch. He didn't look upset anymore. He looked disappointed. When Bobby started to walk over to him, he realized that Emilie noticed Angels demeanor as well.

"Ang?" She approached him hesitantly. He lifted his head after releasing a shaking sigh.

"Yeah, I'm happy for you too." He put on a fake smile but Emilie didn't buy it. Sofi walked back over and sat down next to him.

"What's wrong, baby?" she cooed and rubbed his shoulder. He shrugged his shoulders and stood up. He was about to leave but Emilie grabbed his arm as he passed her.

"Angel Mercer." she growled, tears still falling. "Tell me what is wrong with you. Don't tell me you're happy for me and not act like it." She tugged him toward her and he shook his head.

"I am happy for you, Diddle." he told her softly. His eyes flitted over to Bobby and his frown increased. Emilie noticed this.

"Then what is it?" she asked him, worry filling her voice. Angel was silent for a minute.

"Bobby knew about this?" he finally asked. Emilie furrowed her brows together and nodded. Angel sighed again and Bobby broke the short silence with a loud laugh. Emilie turned to him and frowned.

"This is not the time, Bobby." she warned and turned back to Angel.

"No, no." Bobby laughed and walked up to Emilie and Angel. "I know what it is." Angel glared at him but Bobby ignored it. "He's jealous." Emilie gave him a dirty look and started to pull Angel away. She stopped when she heard Jerry snickering. Then she thought that Bobby might be right. She looked up at Angel and gave him a questioning look.

"Is it true?" she asked when he didn't respond. He mumbled something under his breath and Bobby laughed harder. "Shut it, Robert!" she snapped, poking a finger in his chest. The room froze and stared at her as Bobby shut up quickly.

"Hormones." Someone whispered.

Emilie looked back at Angel and smiled. "Is is true?" she asked again. He reluctantly nodded his head and Emilie started to giggle. "Aw, Angel. That's sweet." She hugged his neck and Angel couldn't help but smile.

"I was just bummed that you told Bobby before me." he admitted, hugging her back. "I thought I was your number one." he teased as she pulled back. She grinned up at him and patted his cheek.

"You are but you can't keep a secret for shit." Everyone burst out laughing and when they calmed down Paisley asked the question that Emilie was dreading.

"So have you told Jack?" she asked, sitting down on the arm of the couch. Emilie's breath started to quicken and she looked over at Bobby. He cleared his throat and stepped forward.

"Of course, she did." he replied casually. Emilie looked at everyone's faces for any look that said they didn't believe him. Luckily, no one looked that way but a few were confused.

"Then why did he up and leave to go tour?" Camille asked, pulling Amelia into her lap. Emilie looked at Bobby again and prayed he thought fast under pressure.

"He knew that he wouldn't be able to do much touring after the baby was here and he didn't want to leave Emilie alone when she got further along in the pregnancy." He spoke clearly and confidently. For a second, Emilie actually believed his words but she knew better.

"Oh, well that's sweet of him." Camille winked at Emilie and everyone started chatting among themselves. Emilie felt Bobby's hand sneak into hers and she smiled.

"Thank you." she whispered.

Jack sat in the tiny hotel room and stared at the snowing television. There was a bad storm raging outside and the hotel wasn't getting signal from the cable company. It had gone out over an hour ago but he still hadn't touched it. He didn't want to move. He was afraid of moving If he got up, he was afraid, he'd start hitting things again. The lamp beside his bed was broken. The door to the bathroom has a dent in it. And he smashed the remote when the TV started getting fuzzy.

So there he sat, on the uncomfortable and very lonely bed, waiting. Waiting for James and Troy to come busting through his door. He knew that they would come. James told him they would. They wanted to know and by tonight, at this very hour, everyone else would know. Jack didn't blame them for wanting to know. He was all too aware of how he was acting.

Angry. Upset. Depressed. Joy.

But the joy only lasted while they were on stage. They'd gotten lucky and had a show every night so far but Jack knew that it would get tougher as the weeks and towns went by. It's hard to grab a free night when you walk in that same day. Under different circumstances, Jack would have called and set up every night at least a month before but not this time. Everything was different this time.

A loud knocking sounded to his right and he barely looked over to see the door shaking under one of his friends fist. "Jack, we're coming in!" James yelled. The door knob jiggled and Jack heard the key slide. Beep. Then they were inside and staring him down.

"Talk." Troy demanded, sitting down in the chair across from Jack. James opted to stand and glare. Jack could see a black eye in his future and he damn well deserved it. He drug both of his friends away from home, without warning, because he was scared. He drug them into this and didn't tell them what was going on even though they knew something was up.

"Has Emilie called?" Jack asked, looking up at James. Jack knew the calls James and Emilie shared. Jack listened in on a couple just to hear her voice. Other time,s he stayed away from James completely. It killed him to know that Emilie was still trying to check up on him after all that he had done to her.

She's too good for you, Jack's inner voice told him sadly.

"Not yet. I told her I'd call her tonight." James replied cooly. "She knows that I want to know and she said she'd tell me if you didn't." Jack nodded and ran his hands through his hair.

"I'm no sure how to say it." he mumbled. Troy looked sympathetic but James didn't.

"How about spit it out?" James suggested sarcastically. Troy hit him in the shin and looked at Jack.

"We know it's nothing good so don't try to prepare us. Just say it." He basically repeated James' words but he said them nicely. Jack took a deep breath and looked between the both of them.

"The night before we left..." he sighed and chuckled humorlessly. "Emilie's pregnant. She told me the day before we left."

There was silence thinker than any of the three men had ever experienced in their lives. Then, Jack saw it. It was coming from his right side but he didn't move. He knew it would hurt like hell but he didn't dare move. He didn't dare deprive his long time friend of this.

James' fist swung out and connected with Jack's jaw, causing a sickening, crunching sound when it hit home.