I didn't expect the tea to cure me but god I'm so over this feeling sick already. I wake up running for the bathroom. I don't hurl this time which I guess is a little better. Dante of course runs in after me to hold my hair.
Rylee: Babe you really don't have to do this every time I'm going to be sick.
Dante: But I want to. I can't do much anything else. I can't make the sickness go away, I can't make you magically better. So please if holding your hair and making you tea is all I can do then let me have that.
He kisses my temple as I get up from the toilet and move to the sink to wash my face and brush my teeth.
Dante: I'll get some tea ready and maybe some toast.
I smile and nod at his reflection in the mirror as he steps backwards out of the bathroom. For the first time all week the feeling of being punched turns to butterflies. I place my hand on my belly and say a silent prayer before joining Dante in the kitchen. He has a plate of toast and a mug of tea waiting for me. He leans against the counter in his gray sweat pants hanging way below his perfectly muscular V leading up his pussy clenching wash board abs. His arms are crossed over his chiseled chest so my eyes jump to his smoldering gaze. His lips twist up into a sexy grin.
Dante: You want something else for breakfast.
I blush as if it where the first time I had ever ogled him and been caught. I stride over to him kissing his cheek before waltzing over to the counter and siping some tea and taking a bite of toast. He comes up from behind sliding his hands around to my belly and hangs his head over my shoulder.
Dante: The guys are all worried about you. Especially James. You want to tell them now?
Rylee: Let's wait. Until after just to be sure we know what we're telling them.
There's a knock on the front door.
Rylee: Ok we can let James know what's going on.
He chuckles against my ear and heads for the door. I run back in the bed room to toss on some pajama pants and a bra. When I go back to the kitchen Dante is walking back in with James behind him. He looks like he hasn't slept at all.
Rylee: James would you like some coffee.
James: I would thanks Emma. How are you this morning.
Rylee: Much better.
I poor him some coffee, straight black like he likes it. Dante knows neither James nor I would ever betray him but his jealousy still peeks when any man is too friendly with me. He pulls me in a possessive hold as James sips his coffee on the far side of the counter. He looks between us waiting. Wondering.
Rylee: There's a chance I might be pregnant.
I hold up a hand before he has a chance to say anything causing his smile to drop.
Rylee: I'm having some tests done today to confirm. But....
I look down at my feet and take a deep breath. Other than Dr. Lynn, Grams and Dante are the only two that know about my condition. Dante gives me a squeeze.
Rylee: I have a condition that may cause complications so we would like to keep this as quiet as possible for now.
He nods with understanding.
James: What time you want us ready.
Dante: I'll be taking her. Noah will be there.
James sets his mug on the counter and hold his hand out palm up. I place mine in his as he places his other over mine and offers a warm smile. Dante Stands tall and I can practically here him growl. But James ignores him. He's older and is of no threat. He's really a lot like Gram.
A couple hours later I'm laying on the table
In Dr. Lynn's practice. She's already drawn some blood which I know is a risk but. At this point the baby is more important than my identity. She squirts the wet cold jell on my belly and starts rubbing the probe from side to side. Dante is glued to my side holding my arms with my hand to his chin. There's a faded white oval with a tiny little kidney bean resting at the bottom.
Dr.Lynn: I would say your about 4 weeks along.
Tears fill my eyes as Dante kisses my hand.
Dr. Lynn: I'm going to re run the tests we did previously to check your cell counts but from the ultrasound the fetus looks good.
She points at the kidney bean but then circles her finger around the faded circle.
Dr.Lynn: This is what I'm more concerned about. The Cervix wall is still weak. As the baby grows this will stretch and it may not hold.
Dante: What at does that mean?
Dr.Lynn: If it tears she could bleed out.
Rylee: What about the medicine you told me about.
Dr. Lynn: since you are obviously already pregnant that won't work now. But there are some natural herbs that can help strengthen the cervix wall. I ran into China town this morning and picked you up a tea blend that has all the herbs needed. You can get more in bulk through Amazon. Drink one to two cups of this a day.
Rylee: Along with the other tea for the nausea.
Dr. Lynn: That same herb is in this tea as well so you probably won't need both.
Dante: What about physical activity?
Dr.Lynn turns her nose down at Dante with a raised brow.
Dr.Lynn: Are you referring to sex Mr. Santino?
Un ashamed he smiles at her.
Dr. Lynn: Emma you can continue doing as you normally do, except any heavy lifting or extreme exercise. Anything too vigorous can put strain on the wall and could cause a tear.
I nod leaning on Dante's arm as he rests his head on mine. We watch as she presses a button and prints out a picture. To anyone else it may look like nothing. To Dante and it is a sliver of hope, and for a moment in time we are content. Dr. Lynn leaves the room so I can get dressed. When we head back out in the lobby Gram is there with his arms wrapped around the Dr. he towers over her as they share a passionate kiss. I couldn't be more happy than I am right now.
Gram finally pulls away sensing us staring at them. He focuses on me and smiles as I hold up the picture. With out a word he takes me into a hug. Sometime later we pull up outside St. Francis, our old school.
Rylee: It's a bit soon to enroll him into school don't you think?
I laugh. He laughs back and gets out walking over to my side and helps me out. It's Sunday so there's no school. Just a grounds keeper who after a few minutes let's us in. We walk down the halls reminiscing in our past. The first time he came to my rescue. The first time we both cried after his mom. We wind up in the band room and instantly I am drawn to the old Wooden piano I once played. Unable to resist I lifted the lid and strummed a few keys. I haven't played in ten years, but I could feel the pull it has on me.
Dante: Go ahead.
Dante encourages me.
It felt natural as if I never stopped playing. I sat down and my fingers melted into the ivory. I hadn't even given it a thought to what I was playing until the tears where streaming down my cheeks. I felt Dante's arm over my shoulder as his finger wiped at my cheeks.
Dante: Babe what is it.
I was playing the very Beethoven song the moment my mom and brother were killed. (Moonlight Sonata) I fumbled the keys and found my self unable to breath as the images became to real. To recent. The sound of gun shots has me cowering under the piano for cover. My panic attack didn't last long when the sound of Dante's soothing voice drew me from the memory. His gentle touch pulled me from under the piano. His eyes bore into mine and silence fell. I found my breath and cling to his chest.
Rylee: I don't know why I played that song.
Dante cupped my face wiping my tears with his thumbs.
Dante: Maybe you needed too. Maybe finishing it will help give you closure.
Maybe he was right. But I hadn't finished. I stopped at the same spot I had that day. After a long needed hold Dante un wrapped his arms from around me, taking my hand and guided me to a more peaceful place. The last best memory I had of him. It all looked the same from outside the huge green house in the back of the school where we shared our first kiss. The left overs of my panic were now replaced with nostalgia as we walked through the thick flowers and herbs to the very back near the work bench he had leaned me against when he kissed me.
Plucking a small deep red rose bud from a near by bush, Dante tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear along with the bud. With out a word he grabs the back of my neck with one hand pulling my lips up to his while his other roams down my back pulling me into his erection.
Dante: Had it not been for the bell you would have felt this ten years ago.
He thrusts his hips pressing his hard tip against my mound. The form of his erection fitting perfectly against me through his jeans. The friction causing me to shiver with pleasure as the moister spread through my thin capris and panties. His tongue thrusts mimicking his cock through my parted lips. Raging with lust and need Dante quickly pulls my pants down and lifts me up on the work bench. I give his belt a tug and pop open the button. His hand yanks at the zipper as mine fish their way through the waist band of his boxer briefs and push them down releasing his pre moistened eager member.
My body tingles in waves of ecstasy as he plummets deep into my center teetering me on the edge of the bench. I twist one leg behind his the other hooked over his hip while one hand holds the back of his neck and the other against the cold tile top. Dante's hands hold my hips and ass in place as his mouth devours my neck down to my collar bone. Throwing my head back I allow my self to let go not caring if the grounds keeper could hear us. I scream my release while Dante grunts out his before resting his head on my chest.
He pulled out and cleaned us with a handkerchief before pulling my pants up and helping me stand. After adjusting himself he drops to a knee. I thought at first he was tying his shoes but when he looked up at me taking one hand in his, the butterflies multiplied in my belly. He spoke so casually of us being together, getting married and having kids, it felt natural. But the thought of this moment of him actually proposing. It had my heart fluttering, my mind drifting in the clouds. A little black velvet box perched in his other hand as his smile barred those sweet dimples.
Dante's perspective:
There was never any doubt that I would do this. I would have done it sooner had it not been for the need to keep up the appearance of a new couple to protect Rylees identity. But no matter how casual I've been about marring her and having kids I was finding myself speechless. Her blue eyes full of love and compassion gazed into mine causing my heart to skip a beat. I could read it in her face she was already saying yes. I felt my own eyes gloss over as I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.
Dante: I knew from the very first day I saw you, you were special. An angel sent from heaven to keep me grounded. You were my light in my darkness. My calm in any storm. My conscience of good that always prevailed over evil. When I thought I had lost you I lost everything that mattered. Avenging your death was the only thing that kept me going. Till the day my angel returned. The day I knew you were alive I felt my own life restored. Like I could breath for the first time. The years we were apart changed nothing. It was only a matter of time before I would find my self here proclaiming my love for you. I know it's not the grand proposal Mrs. Marcelo wanted but I couldn't wait any longer and I had to ask you as you not as Emma.
Rylee Rose Bane will you mary me.
She scrunched her nose with tears in her eyes.
Rylee: Yes
She whispered. I jumped to my feet scooping her up in my arms riddled with unimaginable happiness. I always new it would happen but, the confirmation of her yes solidified it. I would mary her right now if I could, but since I couldn't give her the proposal she deserved, I'll be damned if I don't give her the wedding she wants. It will have to wait till her uncle and my father meet their end and Rylee can reclaim her identity. Even if it means she'll be waddling down the isle ready to pop out our first born. She would be Rylee Bane when we say I do.