7 comments/ 20346 views/ 8 favorites Waiting All Along Ch. 02 By: moytalkstou For one week he continued this ritual of watching Grace's arrivals and departures, he got a good feel of her routines. Friday evening he went to his son's basket ball game for the first time, he watched in appreciation of the kid's skills, the red head was there too and they both owned the court, he found out that the red head's name was Tommy and was Josh's best friend. When the game ended most people left, Grace and Tommy's parents were outside discussing the game among other things, while the boys were in the locker rooms. When they came out, Paul approached them. "Good game guys" he said staring at Josh, he could definitely see the resemblance. "Hey thanks," Josh offered to the stranger "it was a team effort, and a team win." 'Good values' Paul thought, of course being Laura's son he already knew that. Unsure of what else to say "Well, I hope the rest of your season turns out exactly like this game." "Us too," this time it was Tommy who answered "OK well, good night Mister." "Goodnight guys," Paul answered as he watched them walk away and over to their parents, he faded to the shadows just in case Laura, now Grace, glanced over to where he was. They all spoke about the game for a while, parents ushering their congratulations, then a silver Mercedes pulled up right beside them and parked, and a man in an Armani suit stepped out, "Uncle Nick!" Josh shouted and ran into his arms. Nick stood at 6 feet, dark mocha skinned and extremely well build, an all round handsome package. "Hey Josh, great game! I heard all about it when I was on my way here. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it in time." Nick said while he still hugged Josh. "That's alright," Josh replied, "you're here now, so we can celebrate." "Yep, that will be awesome." Nick said releasing Josh from the hug but still keeping an arm around his shoulder, he walked over to Grace and laid a kiss on her cheek. Paul stared in awe and anger at the exchange, even after they all jumped in their cars and left he still stood wondering who the fuck this guy was and why the hell was he important to his family? His family he thought, even though it had taken him ten years to get here, he was there now and he wanted them. ++++++++++ He drove back to Grace's apartment, it wasn't until 7 the next day that he saw the Mercedes drive from the apartment's underground garage, with Josh in the front seat. His anger could not be contained, Nick had spent the night, doing God knows what to his Grace. He told himself to calm down and think rationally, that he had no claims on her but even that could not and would not quail the anger he felt with himself and with her for giving herself and his child to another man. He got out of his car and marched into her apartment building and straight to her apartment door and started knocking relentlessly. ++++++++++ Frightened at what could have made the boys come back so soon, Grace ran out of her shower, body still wet and slick with soap, she grabbed a towel on her way out the bathroom, wrapping it around her body as she reached the door, she began to unlock the locks and shout through the door at the same time. "Oh come on guys, it's just grocery shoppi..." the rest of her comments froze on her lips when she yanked the door opened and saw the last person she ever expected to see, ever again. All the feelings that she thought was gone came rushing back to her all at once. 'Damn, he still looked so good and absolutely edible; the years have not been bad to him at all.' His eyes were stormy and his mouth set in anger, 'what the hell was he doing here?' she thought, there was a stub on his chin from not shaving but that only added to his roguish appeal. God she could feel her juices stirring, he was even more muscular than before. She put all that out of her mind and tried to concentrate on the anger she saw in his eyes. How could he stay angry with her when she was standing naked in front of him, save for a towel. She looked like an angel, and he wanted her now! My gosh, it's been so long since he'd had her and the memories failed in comparison with the vision he had in front of him. He took two steps forward, she took two steps back and he slammed the door behind him. She was watching him intensely and saw the anger in his eyes change to heat. Shit after all this time to be so aware of him, he glanced around taking in his surroundings. She felt trapped somehow and she didn't know how to react or what he wanted. Finally she walked to the other side of her sofa to place the sofa between them. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she hissed at him trying hard to separate her turbulent feelings. He tore his eyes from her body and stared at her his mind slowly clearing, then he remembered that Mr. Armani had spent the night with her and had done to her all the things that he only dreamed of doing at late. "He spent the night!" he blasted unable to hold back any longer. "What the hell are you talking about?" she asked, slowly understanding etched in her face, "are you stalking me? How the hell do you know that?" She tossed back furious. His eyes still on her, watching her every move, he ask softly "are you fucking him?" and watched the anger surge in her eyes and cheeks. "That's none of your business." She said trying hard to not lose control, "I think you should leave before I call the cops and report you for stalking; I'll get a restraining order against you." "Is that a yes or no, at least this time I'm asking!" he spat at her and watched her anger turn into rage. "You fucking bastard!"Within the blink of an eye, she watched him cross the distance between the couch and her; soon she was on her back on the couch, the towel in his hand. She struggled for her balance while she laid there looking as his eyes went wild roving her body. "Are you out of your mind?" she asked while attempting to sit up, only to be flung back into the couch. His hands were on both of her wrists and his body pressed into hers. He found her lips with his and brought her arms above her head, there was panic and shock in her kiss and something that was always present when he touched her, the irresistible urge that made her so pliant and needy for him. She felt her heart pounding, God the unexpected was so exciting, she wanted him, hot and angry and hard just like this. But she wouldn't give in. He forced his tongue into her mouth and she was tempted to bite him but resisted and decided to fight but hold on for the ride, just to see how far he could/would take it. He brought her hands together above her head so he was able to have one hand free, it had been so long since she was under him, never mind that this time it was by force, the outcome was still the same, she was naked under him and he would have a feel of her perfectly sculpted body. His free hand roamed to her neck and applied pressure there, and heard her whimper, he reveled in it, never letting her lips go while coaxing it to participation. His hand slid down to her small rounded breast, he rubbed his palm against it, applied pressure, then released it and began the process over again, finally he pinched her nipples and heard her low moan, fuck he wanted her, he pictured their first time together after such a long time a bit different than it was now, but he was too far gone in her to stop now, she started moving her body beneath his, he wanted to taste her pointy chocolate nipples, but didn't dare release her hands for the fear of rejection, his hand tightened on her wrists and he released her lips, to gaze in her angry but dazed eyes, brought his lips down to her nipple and pulled her nipple into his mouth, she gasped and arched herself into his mouth, it felt so good to have him on her again, she'd almost forgotten what it was like to have a man touch her with such reckless abandon. She looked down at his head on her body and almost came at the sight and the sensations his fallen hair was evoking on her skin, she caught herself and trying to clear her mind and realize where the situation was taking her. "So you've come here to rape me, is that it?" she asked breathlessly. He stopped his assault then and gazed up at her, clearly desire clouded her eyes as well, she wanted this. "Well your answer here today will determine how far I'll take this," his gaze traveled back to her breasts now, his hand still slowly rubbing it, "are you fucking him or anyone for that matter?" He brought his gaze back to her eyes and waited for her answer. "I don't owe you shit" she spat him "That may be but I still want to know" he said coolly and returned to his oral assault of her breasts, he sucked and licked them, while she writhed beneath him, "tell me, do you have lovers Laura?" he called her by her former name, she refused to answer, he whispered "tell me, do they compare to me?" while he flicked his tongue back and forth, he bit her nipple and she screamed, "not the answer I was looking for, so tell me do you?" his hand travelled slowly across her abdomen, dipping into her navel, then traveled onwards, she felt it inching closer to her heat source, he placed one knee between her legs and pushed them apart, "tell me" he kept whispering, he parted her folds, 'damn she was wet' he founded her clit and started rubbing it, hearing her moaning from his administrations, he loved it. He asked again, this time he knew she wanted to cum, so he stopped completely. Realizing that he had, she opened her eyes and stared into his blue ones, every impulse wanted her to answer so he could continue but her pride told her no, so she kept her mouth shut. "You were always so damned stubborn" he chided, "but I see the answer in your eyes, even when you refuse to say it out loud." With that, he slid a finger into her waiting pussy and felt her muscles grip it and milked it, "shit, you pussy's so tight" he began to slide it in and out, "come for me baby, I know this is my pussy, come for daddy" he whispered in her ear while nibbling on her earlobes, only now daring to release her hands, he heard her breathing become labored and knew she was close, he rubbed his crotch with his free hand now, while undoing his belt, the grip tightened on his finger and he felt her coming, heard her cry of release. He withdrew his finger and sucked on it before he hopped off of her and discarded his cloths as fast as was humanly possible, she laid there in a trance coming down from a high that she never thought could be achieved from a mere finger. Now naked, he climbed upon her body, spreading her legs wider to accommodate his hips as he stroked his dick in anticipation, he rubbed the head of his dick along her vagina opening, she felt the pressure and her eyes flung open, he had one hand on her hips and the other leading his 8 inches of hard white meat to her opening, she felt him there and pushed her body up along the sofa crawling back, before his rod could penetrate her. "Look Paul, we really need to talk about this, before we do anything we might regret here." She said while she tried to push his body from hers, she was still slightly breathless but her cloudy mind was clearing. "Are you fucking kidding me Laura, really are you even looking at me now?" he replied sitting back on his heels. Her gaze moved from his face, to his broad muscular chest, small speckling of bland hair covered it, she gazed lower to his abdomen, where the hair surrounded his navel and went ever so seductively lower. Her eyes appraised his white protrusion longingly, the purple head seeming to look right back at her, she saw the pre cum at the top and her mouth watered, she licked her lips, but dragged her gaze back to his face. "I really don't care about looking at you now." She said annoyed, with herself and by her body's own betrayal to the man who disowned her so easily. "Yeah, but you weren't complaining about anything I did a minute ago." He said calmly, his hands stroking his cock, while his eyes roamed her sweat covered body. He saw the look in her eyes while she looked at him. "I never told you to do anything, nor did I force me on my couch to have sex with me." She retorted. He looked into her eyes then and smiled wickedly "your right, you didn't force yourself here, so you can't stop me" he said crawling slowly back towards her. She began inching back as he moved forward, uttering words of protests, but he was having none of that. She hit the handle of the sofa which meant her retreat had come to an end. He saw this and grabbed her legs, dragging them towards him and pulling them apart. He placed his hands on her hips and dragged her back to him. This time he didn't rub his head against her opening, he just slid in, "Jesus" she cried, her eyes widening from the sheer friction, the shock, the pain, the excitement, it was all so overwhelming. His growl came from the back of his throat, his memory was lying to him, this felt much better than anything he could have remembered, with her or anyone else. "You're a lot bigger than I remembered" she whispered in his ear as he laid on top of her, she voice was clouded and rasped from the erotic feelings his cock evoked, he laid still giving her body time to get used to his invading member before he moved. When she spoke, he withdrew half way then brought his body back inside her, she moaned at the sensations, he closed his eyes and begged himself not to come just yet. He drew in his breath and rose on his elbows so he could look in her eyes while he took her, he started moving slowly, and he watched her try to contain the ecstasy of having him moving inside her, she bit her lips hard to keep in the moans of pleasure as they rocked. "Don't do that baby, your lips are gonna start bleeding. Just let it out." He encouraged, "We're the only ones here, nobody'll hear it, and besides I always knew how this white cock could get you screaming, and leave you wanting more. Come on baby let it out." He tried to cajoled. She was in a world of pleasure and her orgasm was approaching but too stubborn to let go completely, and he saw that when the first trickle of blood came from her lower lip,"My god, your stubborn, I know just how to fix that." He withdrew from her and got to his knees, then brought both her legs to his shoulders and started pounding into her mercilessly, "Damn your pussy is so tight, shit!" he started shouting through the pounding, she could hold back no threatened to take her breath away, the strongest and most fierce she's ever had. "Oh shit oh shit, ohhhh fuck!" she shouted. He realized that he now had her talking, started pounding harder than before "yeah you like that?" "Yes I love it" "Yeah you love this white cock don't you?" "Yes, Yes I love it, give it to me. Fuck my black pussy" "It's my pussy now, always has been hasn't it?" "Oh God, Yeah" "Tell me that it's my pussy" "Fuck Paul, it's yours, my pussy is yours. Oh yeah fuck me!" He felt her muscles clamp on his cock and squeeze him, "I'm coming Paul, I'm gonna come" he already knew since his cock was getting milked for all it's worth he still kept the pace and her juices began to flow around his cock. "Damn it, Laura you're so hot, so tight and so wet." He made the mistake of glancing down to where their bodies met and was just lost, watching his vanilla cock disappear into her chocolate cove then emerge again. He felt his balls tighten then and his dick grew bigger, while he started fucking her so hard it felt like his life depended on it. Then he came in her, the hardest he could remember, did he really have that much sperms inside? He wondered, he let her feet fall from his shoulders them fell right on top of her. His breathing labored, just as hers. After a few minutes, they started coming down from the sexual high. "So since we've got the most pressing matter out of the way, maybe now we can discuss the small matter of why you're here." Grace said breaking the silence that was between them. "Could you give me a minute Laura; I need time to come back from the best sex of my life." He said now irritated with her for bringing him back to the present and with himself for not having greater control over himself for their first meeting, he should have spoken to her. Tried having a civilized conversation, but instead he attacked her like some Neanderthal, staking claim to what was rightfully his. But could you blame him, who answers the door wearing nothing but a towel if they don't want to be fucked senseless. and what a fuck that was, she writhing beneath me, her body begging for me even when her mouth wouldn't, and she's just as stubborn now as she was back then and that was a quality that turned him on. How could a man say no to her, and when he slid inside her tight, wet, hot, slippery cunt and her muscles squeezed him like a vice and sh... "Hey hey hey, change your chain of thought!" Grace said to him while pushing at his shoulders. "What are you talking about?" he asked innocently. "Don't play dumb with me, I can feel you getting hard again against my stomach." This time he blushed then rose above her, "well can you blame me? Your body is so smooth and hot and tight, I can't help but want you again and again." At that she really did push him away, he didn't resist knowing that he'd already crossed the line and didn't want to push too much. He sat and just stared at the wall in front of him, not daring to look at her, she stayed laid back against the sofa, her eyes closed, hoping that when she opened them, she'd wake from an awkward dream. Instead, when her eyes opened she saw Paul's extremely toned body, he was staring at the wall before him intensely, she glanced over to see what he might be looking at, but it all seemed ordinary to her, she realized then that his fists were clenched and his knuckles were white, thinking about it he did seem like he was concentrating immensely. "Paul?" she called, when he turned to look at her, she saw the heat and desire in his eyes, just then her eyes went to his crotch, he was fully erect she looked back at his face in time to catch his gaze roving lazily down her body, then stopping just below her waist. She could have sworn she saw his dick twitch, oh so that's why the concentration was needed, she realized, but one thing she knew about Paul was that if he wanted something he'd get it and he'd never deny himself. So she rolled off the couch and retreated to the bathroom, "Look, I'm gonna finish my shower, so get your clothes back on when I'm done we'll talk, then you can leave." She said and closed the bathroom door behind her. All the hot water had ran out so the shower was cold but she didn't mind, it felt great against her heated skin. He sat there on the couch for a few more minutes after she disappeared into the bathroom, trying to organize a speech in his head. But all he could think about was her back and her ass as she walked away. He tried to keep his mind from that, but he kept seeing images of water flowing down her body and it was too much for him to bear. When did he become such a sex dog? He wondered. He got up and went to the bathroom door, slowly turned the knob, when it opened he gentle pushed it open, unsure of whether it would squeak or not. He could hear the water running, but couldn't feel any heat which only meant she was taking a cold shower, that made him more determined. He walked into the room and headed over to the shower stall, he watched the water flow down her body through the transparent screen, her back to him so she had no idea that she was being watched. He opened the screen door and stepped in right behind her and closed the door again. She still had no idea he was behind her and he said and did nothing to betray his presence. The bar of soap that she had fell to the ground and as she bent to retrieve it her ass bump into him, she jumped, screamed and whirled around ready to pounce her attacker only to see his amused eyes staring back at her. Waiting All Along Ch. 02 "Damn Paul, you could have at least let me know you were there instead of scaring me half to death" she said while holding a hand over her frantically beating heart. She turned around her back to him once more "look I'm almost done here, you can have a shower when I'm through." "What's wrong with the present?" he asked. "You know I've been thinking about fucking you from the back." He said and watched her back go tense. He slapped her ass then which stung a bit because it was wet "I wanna hold you by the hips, and smack this firm ass of yours, while we do it doggy style" he said his mouth just centimeters away from her ear now, as he cupped her ass and squeezed. "The sad thing is that I this is a little stall and it might be a little difficult especially with you being so short" he teased, knowing how she always felt about her height. "I'm not short" she countered, "I've still got a few inches yet to grow, it'll come" "Yeah? But I can't wait for those inches to come when I want you right now." He whispered then turned her around, grabbed her arms and placed them over his shoulders, he pushed her back against the wall and lifted her so that their bodies were aligned, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his narrow hips, he needed no further incentive he plunged right into her, he threw his head back at the sheer pleasure being administered to his member. He heard her hiss and opened his eyes to look at her, there was pain etched on her face, he remained immobile, "Laura, are you OK?" he asked worry in his voice at the thought that he might be hurting her. She opened her eyes as well and he saw the worry in her eyes "yeah, I'm fine, just a little sore from earlier is all." Shit he thought, what a jerk he was, a selfish jerk at that. He watched her face as he began to withdraw from her body, he saw the discomfort he was causing her. When he made no attempt to reenter her, she opened her eyes again "what's wrong?" she asked confused. He released her ass then, thinking that she would release him from the confines of her legs. "Look I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so rough. We'll go into the kitchen have a snack and talk about it." She looked at him with disbelief then she said "So you've started this and you have no intention of finishing it? Come on Paul, I'm fine just put that dick back inside of me, please don't make me beg." He looked startled by her request, "But I don't want to hurt you". "Paul if you don't put yourself back into me you're going to hurt me greatly," he was about to make another protest but she stopped him by placing a finger on his lips before he spoke, "I don't wanna hear it, it's either you want to fuck me or not." She watched the concern being replaced by desire in his eyes. "Am I not good enough for that monster cock of yours" she tempted. Then reached between their bodies and grabbed his penis, his eyes went instantly cloudy, she placed him at her opening and propelled her hips forward, taking him back into her sheath. His face contorted as the sensations rocked him, the pain would eventually lessen while she rotated her hips, Paul had more than he could take and seized her hips, going extremely slow, he started move in and out of her body. She moaned and uttered her approval, his pace increased as he felt her tighten around him and rode her through an orgasm. His mouth on her exposed neck, while her head went back against the wall. Her body now limp depends only on his for support. When she regain momentum, he withdrew and sets her down, turns her around, she spreads her legs, while he bends his knees and positions himself to take her from behinds. His hands brace her hips for the onslaught and he fucks her like a man driven mad by good pussy. She comes again but he's still driving hard, she braces her hands against the wall while they're both screaming profanity and she starts coming again, he gives her ass a few slaps and that makes her come harder. His balls tighten and he feels himself ready to explode and comes right into her waiting pussy. "Damn that was awesome" he says more to himself. She didn't have the energy to move much less agree. Fifteen minutes later they emerged from the bathroom, he went back to the living room to find his clothes and she went to her room to get some on. When she came from her room she wore red sandals, a red tank top and blue denim, looking hot even when she dressed down. "Would you like some coffee?" she asked as she passed him and headed for the kitchen. He got up from the couch where he had started watching TV and followed her, "Yes, please." He answered. She handed him the mug of coffee with cream just the way she knew he liked and said "spill it." His eyes dazzled above the mug as he took a sip, "oh come now, why would I spill it, when you just gave it to me?" The side of her lips twitched, humorous, one of the reasons she'd fallen in love with him. "Not the coffee jackass, why are you here?" She hated herself for feeling so attached to him even now and the sense of familiarity that he brought, somehow it felt like she hadn't seen him in one week than the ten years that was more accurate, she realized then that whatever he'd say she'd listen and she'd embrace the outcome, she loved him way too much not to. He took another sip of the coffee, a much bigger sip this time around and swallowed it in one big gulp, just to feel it burn on the way down. "I'll tell you but you've gotta promise me no interruptions until I'm done." Waiting All Along Ch. 03 "OK, no interruptions" "I mean it Laura, you'll let me have my say until I'm through" "It's Grace now, and I said OK, I'll let you talk no interruptions, but let me say that me doing that is more than you had given me." "You're right, I deserved that. Maybe we should have a seat" he led her to the round table and they sat. "My dad passed away about five months ago." He said and stopped to look at her he could see the sympathy in her eyes and waited for her to say something, when nothing came he continued "the shock of it sent my mom straight to the hospital as well, she was in a coma for two weeks, when she finally woke she had amnesia, the doctors said she would recover from it and that her brain was only blocking the shock. When she came back around she was so depressed, so weak nothing that we said or did helped her. They kept her there at the hospital, we visited as often as we could. Until one night I was sitting with her talking about the past, you know when I was a boy and all that stuff. It really did cheer her up, I saw it in her eyes. Then she just started crying hysterically, she said she just couldn't live with me not knowing and that the guilt was killing her. Of course, I had to ask her what she meant, she said she realizes now that I had been most happy when we were together, and she was right, she said that she should had no idea and would have stood up to dad and made him leave me alone to make my own choices, if she only knew that he could have been so devious. I asked her what she did, she said it's what she didn't do that was most important and told me that the video was fake and photo-shopped. She said that dad hired someone and had her go around with all those guys and that he used some of the videos that we took when we went on our trip. So after nearly ten years I just came to apologize for everything I said and did back then and I want to let you know that I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you and I want to be a part of your life and Josh's." he said sincerely, now he just waited for her response. They sat there for several minutes, then Grace asked "are you done?" he nodded his head "see I just wanted to make sure cause when I make a promise I keep it and I told you that I wouldn't say anything till you were done. So since you are, then let me ask you, did you think after ten years all you'd come here and do was fuck me then say you're sorry and everything would be alright from there?" That stung, it was much better to think about her rejection than actually having her say it out loud. "No, I didn't think that an apology would solve everything and I never meant to pounce on you the way I did earlier. But I promise Laura ___" "Grace" she corrected. "OK, well Grace I know it will be very difficult and highly unlikely that I'll make it up to you, but I've got to try" She rose from the table then and walked to the sink, "Tell me Paul, is it only because you've found out that your family lied to you that you've come looking for me? Why have you never come before?" He stared at his mug unsure how to answer that question, unsure what to say completely, "fear" he began "I was afraid that you'd never take me back, afraid that if you did a part of me would never trust you enough to not do the same thing to me again, I love you too much to have you endure a life a suspicion from me, you would know that you're giving me your all but I'd still have mistrust for you even though I wouldn't want to." That would be true enough, she thought, she wouldn't be able to live a half life with mistrust, but she still would have given anything to have him "So then no matter what I said, you'd never believe me right?" "What do you want me to say? There was a video tape and all, Laura, they had concrete evidence when you went missing and no one knew where you were. The guys said it was you, what was I supposed to believe? Really, what would you believe had it been me caught on tape screwing some other chick?" He asked, frustration clearly edged in his voice, he rose from the table and walked to where she was standing by the sink and gazed into her eyes. He was unaware of what she was thinking just now because he could not read her expression. "I guess you're right, I wouldn't hear what you said so easily, of course I loved you too much to leave you but then you wouldn't have all of me no matter how hard I tried." She said and exhaled, wow, I guess he can come and just apologize and have me take him back. Damn I still love him so much, how is that possible after his betrayal all these years. "Tell me then, what is your course of action in setting out to become a part of my life again? Oh, I almost forgot, how is your mom doing now?" "Mom's OK I got reports from Jenna and Michael that she's fine." His brother and sister, " Meanwhile, I thought I'd become your willing slave and earn your forgiveness a little at a time." He said with a smile. "I hope you know it's been a while and I have changed considerably, I also do feel that life's a little too short to try living without you again." He felt his heart breaking at her admission, there was still hope for them yet and she was willing to give him another chance. "Far be it for me to keep Josh away from getting to know his father. How did you know Josh was your son? You know he could have been someone else's." Before he could answer she heard the front door slammed and smiled, "Mom, we're back!" she heard Josh shout, he and Nick was approaching the kitchen and were bickering about cereals and not buying the right thing's on Grace's list, Grace muttered "I really hope you mean that, willing slave." Before the kitchen door was opened and the men walked in. They each realized that there was a visitor in their midst but it was Josh who spoke up first, once his gaze left from his mom to the man. "Hey, Tommy and I saw you last night at the game, right." "Yep" Paul replied, "that was me indeed just thought I'd see how the first game of the season would go." Nick placed the bags that he brought in on the table, then stretched a hand out to Paul, "I'm Nick, and you are?" Paul shook his hand and said "I'm Paul Tate" he released, Nick's hand and stretched the same arm to Josh after Josh's load was also placed on the table; Josh gave him the firmest hand shake he had. At that moment Josh introduced himself, then they all stood in silence, waiting to see what would happen next, Josh and Nick wondering who the hell Paul was and why he was there, so sick of the silence, Grace walked over to Josh and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Hey Josh, you know how you've always been asking me, well I'll let you know, Paul is your father." She blurted out and three pair of eyes went to Paul, all color drained from his cheeks, he stared at Grace in disbelief that she would just blurt it out like that. He should have known that there'd be no beating around the bushes with her but damn, the least she could do was prepare the little guy. +++++++++++++++++ "Dad, do you think she'll like me?" Josh asked Paul "I don't want to lie to you but I don't know" he answered truthfully. "In that case, do you think you should have brought me along on her birthday party?" Josh asked genuinely anxious and wishing they didn't have to make this journey, but he would do it and be brave for his dad. Paul pulled into the drive way of his childhood home and noticed that Jenna and Michael's cars were already there. He shut the engine off and exhaled. "Are you ready?" he turned to Josh and asked. "No, but what choice do we have?" Josh responded. They both emerged from the vehicle and Josh stared in awe, "this is where you grew up dad?" he asked "Yep, and it was hell, I'd never live here again only visits." He said honestly, reaching out for his son's hand to lead him to the entrance of what could only be described as a castle to Josh. Paul swung his arms around Josh's shoulder and rang the doorbell. Paul heard his sister, Jenna, advice that she would answer the door. The door swung opened. "Paul!" Jenna shouted and jumped into his arms, he released Josh then to embrace his sister "Jenna, you look great" he told her, the minute they untwined from the hug, his arm was back to Josh's shoulder, "oh Jenna this is Joshua, Josh this is your aunt Jenna." Jenna stared down at the mixed boy, he really looked exotic, gold skin curly hair and those big green eyes, she reached out and gave him a hug as well, she'd definitely consider having mixed kids if they all looked like this. "Hi Josh, welcome to our home." "It's nice to meet you too Aunt Jenna, thanks for having me.' He replied coolly, she was impressed. Jenna ushered them into the house and Josh met his father's brother Michael, they all we sitting in the room filled with other guests, and friends, when finally it was announced that the birthday girl would be making her entry. Paul's mother scanned the crowd gathered at the foot of her stairs while she made her descent, all eyes on her as the applause echoed. She spent a rather enjoyable evening getting reacquainted with friends, playing the self important socialite. Until she eyed her children all three of them laughing genuinely happy, even Paul who seemed like he could never smile was laughing and she felt a string pull at her heart, she wished her husband had been here and could have witnessed the moment with her. She slowly approached them and realized that there was a boy in the midst of the conversation as well. A little dark boy, but she walked over anyways to find out what was happening. As she approached she said "there they are, the three Musketeers. How do you do young man?" she asked the dark boy while appraising all her kids. "I'm fine, thank you for asking. I've heard that it was your birthday and I want to wish you a very happy birthday" Josh said "Yeah," Michael chimed in, "that reminds me mommy, happy birthday" then he leaned in to kiss her cheeks "Happy birthday mom" Jenna said and proceeded to kiss her cheeks as well. "Happy birthday" Paul finished and placed kissed on her cheeks as well "the gift is still in the car, we'll add it to the stock before we leave, I just remember you hadn't met Joshua. Josh, this is my mom and mom this is my son." She stopped shock in her face, "what?" was all she could say. "Let me guess dad, you forgot to tell her." Josh said looking up at Paul a smile on his face as he tried to easily diffuse the situation. 'Damn,' Paul thought, 'at nine years old I wasn't even this smart, he must get it from his momma' Paul was extremely proud. "No, how could I forget to tell my mom something as important as that?" Paul reasoned with Josh "But look at her dad, all the color's drained from her cheeks." At the mention of her appearance, she brightened up and took control again "Well, I'm sorry about that, it not every day you find out that your unmarried son has adopted a child" she said lightening the air of tension that was buzzing around them, she smiled warmly at the Josh though. "Aw mom" Paul said bringing his mother's attention back to him he raised his left hand to show her that there was a wedding band present "I am married to Laura and this is my biological son." "But he's black." She said, Michael and Jenna had gotten ready to do damage control if she went on a rage, but that never happened, she threw her head back in a hearty laugh and screamed "I'm a grandma" she dragged Josh into a bear hug until he nearly passed out from the lack of oxygen. She released him but still held on to his wrist, she looked around at Jenna and Michael and said to the "what are you two waiting on, get me some grand kids already." They both looked at her then each other, never expecting this behavior. She turned back to Paul and brought her free hand to his cheek, "look I am sorry for what happened, if it's any consolation, I never had a problem with you and Laura, but your father was adamant about you two not being together, in truth he never told me about the scam video until he was on his deathbed, by then I'd have gone with him too. I really am sorry about that." "It's OK mom, I'm happy now" Paul told her Her face lit up "good, now if you'll excuse me, I have a grandson that needs to be introduced to everyone in this party. We'll talk about you keeping a secret of a marriage and a grandchild from me later." She said and walked off dragging Josh behind her. 'Maybe I should have told her that we have another one on the way' he thought, 'but it can wait.' Waiting All Along Ch. 04 "I think my water just broke!" Grace screamed while she took her time climbing down the steps of her and Paul's new home. They decided to leave the apartment on Paul's request the day that she decided she would marry him. They went house shopping she fell in love with this one, built in the suburb, there was adequate space surrounding the house to fit a football field, their nearest neighbor was far away. She wobbled her way down the stairs knowing it would be crazy to holler to either Josh or Paul because they were all the way on the other side of this house and she was already so close to the door. She went right to the closet where they had a neatly packed bag inside arranged just in case of an emergency like this one. She felt the starting of a contraction and held herself immobile while she breathed through it, and even though she took calm even breaths, when the contraction passed she sighed relief. She dragged herself out the door with the overnight bag and didn't even close it back. When she got in the car, she exhaled in relief. 'At least this one hurdle is complete" she thought. She picked up the Onstar phone and punched in the number for her husband, she forced a smile on her face because she knew he would be able to hear the smile in her voice. She wondered then if the pain she was feeling was anything she should smile about, but ignored the negativity her mind spewed while she listen to the phone ringing, finally he answered. "Hello?" the smile was evident in his voice as well, Josh's voice could be heard in the background and from the sound out of it so were some other persons. "Hey honey, can I borrow you for a sec?" she asked politely but feeling anything but, then another contraction made its ascent, the smile she had on dropped then and her facial features contorted to show that she was feeling some real pain. "Oh baby couldn't it wait until the game's done, it's almost half ..." he started protesting, but she cut him off "Now listen to me white boy, you're gonna haul you ass, to this fucking car and your gonna drive me to the damn hospital, if you're not here in 30 seconds I swear I'm gonna start this car and drive it right into the lake since obviously we're just a bother to your life." She hissed as the contraction held her in its grasp when it let go and she felt normal again, she started talking back to Paul, "sorry about that honey," she said but no response, "honey? You there?" She looked up to see Paul racing from the house, his favourite team jersey on, a shorts and he was holding his sneakers in his hand, while running towards the car. To him her threat sounded sincere and after he heard her say she'd drive herself into the lake he dropped the phone and ran, because he didn't know whether she meant 30 seconds from the start of the call or from the issued threat or the time when they would hang up. He really didn't want to know, so he moved his ass and got to her. She looked at him incredulously, "I was only kidding you know?" she asked. "but since you're here, my water broke and you need to get me to the hospital." He stared at her incredulously, the tone in her voice before was one that he'd heard only when she meant to do what she said, but to be out here now and see her smiling at him was another thing. "You can't just threaten to take my life away and be smiling with me." He said finally moving hurriedly to open the door to the driver's side. "Oh come on," she said shrugging now, all the while timing her contractions, it's been almost three minutes since the last one, "I didn't threaten you." She finished as he put the car into drive. "Yes you did." He replied trying to adopt the calm that she had, even though on the inside he was bubbling over with anxiety but she spoke so calmly he didn't want to be the anxious first time dad, afterall, this was their second child together. "You threatening to take your life is as good a threat as any." He glanced at her, to see a huge smile on her face once his words were spoken. She was aware of how much he loved her because she saw it there in his eyes that he would give his life for her. Her smile began to falter suddenly, she looked at her watch, six minutes, her face contorted as she braced herself for the onslaught of the pain. His heart accelerated then to a hundred beats per minute as he watched his wife as the pain rocked her body and he was unable to do anything but drive. When he got to the hospital, she was rushed to the emergency room, while they were ushering her in, the doctor advised him to get his shoes on, which he doubled back to do in haste, in the short time that he left her to return they advised him that she had passed out and was having some complications, trying to stabilize her while preparing her for a c-section. He stood at the back of the private room conversing with the doctor, when he heard it. His head whirled around to his wife, then back to the doctor, who needed no prompt then that he should do something, her heart rate monitor flat lined, he ran over and began barking orders to the nurses in the room, while the call for a cardiologist went out. Grace in her semi conscious could hear the busy chatter around her, slowly she felt herself begin to rise, she looked around the room and spotted Paul immediately he was extremely pale as he gazed at her in horror, she looked down and realized that her spirit had been separated from her body, she looked down at her lifeless face as she rose, then she looked to her stomach where her unborn baby was still nestled in her body as doctors tried frantically to remove the her. She noticed too that the baby's spirit was split, it was half way out of her daughter's body and half way in. The baby then stretched an arm to her, she knew her daughter wanted to go with her, but she couldn't let that happen. Her surroundings began to blur, until it was no more and she was nowhere, it was white and extended as far as the eye could see in all directions, she turned around several times. Was it possible that this was it? She asked herself. She sat for a second trying to figure out what her next move would be, but even a few seconds sitting felt like eternity in a place like this. So she rose, and as she was rising she noticed that a figure come to stand in front of her, she waited until she was up right before she glanced up and there stood Adam Tate. "I never thought you'd be here so soon." He said to her with a malicious smile. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, turning her back to walk away from him, "I have dead relatives that I actually liked and on my death day I get saddled with you?" He strolled behind her, smiling at her predicament, "I know right, but I had to see you to talk to you." "So am I dead or not?" she turned sharpely asking, he almost collided with her due to the abrupt stop. "Well now, you are not but this is the common ground where the dead and living can converse, there are millions of people here now, this place has no beginning or end." He answered. "People converse here? why didn't you just go to a medium if you needed to talk and besides, couldn't you have gotten one of your kids, why are you trying to make my life a living hell, even when I'm this close to the grave." "I didn't want to talk with my children, I wanted you." She just looked at him now, he looked exactly like she remembered, his green eyes piercing into her soul, his auburn hair cropped. His nose crocked and his mouth stubborn just like Paul's. "Why'd you do it?" she asked out of nowhere, and he knew exactly what she spoke of. His gaze fell to the ground unable to look at her anymore. "Why would you do that to me when I really didn't know you? You never took the time to know me, why would you do that to your own son?" "Your right, I never knew you and I never wanted to." He replied after several seconds of silence, his gaze finally rising he met her steady glare, "I knew your mother." He confessed, watching the shock move across her face, she said nothing and waited for him to continue. "I met her back when we were teens, I was smitten but Bernice wouldn't give me the time of day." He started pacing now as he remembered his life "I had money, cars, all the things that they said women wanted and she still wouldn't even say hi. What can I say when you've got it all and spoiled rotten, anything you want you could get and I never got her. I found out later just how racist she was. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you were the daughter of my woman, you could have very well been my daughter, why was it that my son could have it all, everything that I wanted and that I should have had." He exhaled, then coming to a stop, she shook his head, "Even in my old days I've been petty and childish and just plain stupid, I knew you had a child for my son, but my pride couldn't let me let it go enough to admit what I did was wrong and that the boy should have his father in his life. I've been to a couple of Josh's baseball matches and as a grandfather, I was extremely proud. How could one mistake have the ability to hurt so many people for so long?" He asked more to himself than her. "Listen if you've brought me here to justify your petty jealousy, it's not going to work so you can just go to h..., well since your dead already then I won't say hell, but just leave the living alone and rest your ass in damn peace." Grace replied with an unsympathetic face. "My my, you've definitely gotten more vocal, I like it. Just as feisty as Bernice. One of the reasons I loved her. Don't get me wrong I do or did love my wife and children ..." he was about to explain when she held up her hands. "Please," she said, "no more explanations, I could careless about them." "Your right, I had the ability to make right and I didn't when I could, which is why I made the sacrifice for you." "What are you talking about now, do, do I even want to know?" she stuttered, a disbelieving smile on her face. "You were going to die today," he states simply, that got her attention "Why didn't I?" "I did my inquiries, I'm still in limbo, I'm afraid to stand judgment and I intercepted before you left your body, as we speak both you and the baby should have been in limbo, but the baby's alive and she's the one holding a grounding your soul between the two planes, you see, death should have gotten both of you, and since it would have gotten only one, the contract is null until next time." He finished, he saw just how confused she was, "Look I've been there over a year now and I still won't pretend to know how everything works, but I do know there are loopholes and that I want my grandchildren to have their mother. Look you really have to be heading back, so bye." He said walking off and becoming transparent. "Wait!" she shout startling even herself, he stopped in mid stride and turned around, "you'll not answer any questions about death for me will you?" he smiled and shook his head indicating no, she figured, "tell me this, do you think you helping me now will help you get a better judgment when you do decide to leave limbo?" "I hope it will." He said fading away completely, in that same instant she felt herself forcefully being pushed back into her body, to the sounds of her crying daughter. She wondered just how long she had been gone, before she allowed the pain to seep through her consciousness she wondered if that little show from Adam was really or if she allowed her over active imagination to take hold of her.