Dahlia hadn’t been feeling herself lately, she had been feeling kind of bloated, moody, and she wasn’t feeling up to sex the way that she usually was. She couldn’t tell if Cash could tell that she was feeling like crap lately, but when she woke up that morning, she had been violently sick, and that’s when it hit her. She was late. She had known deep down that something was off, but the fact that she didn’t want to be pregnant had made her blind to just how late her period was. But now that she was throwing up...she knew that she had to go and take a test. She had to at least find out if she was having a baby, so her and Cash could discuss...options. Whatever they may be in this screwed up world.
She heard the front door open, and she looked up, a gun in her hand. She was planning on going to steal a test alone, but when she saw Nate standing there, she frowned, knowing that he wouldn’t let her go out on her own. He would never ‘betray’ Cash that way. “Hey,” she greeted, like it was every day that he walked in on her and the gun Cash gave her.
Summary: Dahlia in her attempt to not be caught ends up finding out she’s pregnant with Nate right there by her side.
Dahlia:
Dahlia hadn’t been feeling herself lately, she had been feeling kind of bloated, moody, and she wasn’t feeling up to sex the way that she usually was. She couldn’t tell if Cash could tell that she was feeling like crap lately, but when she woke up that morning, she had been violently sick, and that’s when it hit her. She was late. She had known deep down that something was off, but the fact that she didn’t want to be pregnant had made her blind to just how late her period was. But now that she was throwing up…she knew that she had to go and take a test. She had to at least find out if she was having a baby, so her and Cash could discuss…options. Whatever they may be in this screwed up world.
She heard the front door open, and she looked up, a gun in her hand. She was planning on going to steal a test alone, but when she saw Nate standing there, she frowned, knowing that he wouldn’t let her go out on her own. He would never ‘betray’ Cash that way. “Hey,” she greeted, like it was every day that he walked in on her and the gun Cash gave her.
Nate:
Nate hadn’t spent much time at the flat since his last encounter with Dahlia. If he wasn’t dealing with Cash, Nate had found himself wandering more and more. It seemed the sense of balance among friends were off, and Nate was sick of living in Cash’s shadow. He’d still do anything for the two, but for the first time Nate was finding an identity for himself and it felt good to finally do it. He wasn’t anyone but himself for once.
Nate had just gotten back from another week long stand as he called them, he got the taste of the girl and than quit it. Never sticking around long enough to actually care. “Hey, you planning on shooting me? If you wanted me out of the flat you just had to say so.” He said motioning to the visible gun. “Tip for trade, if you are planning on carrying at least cover it with your shirt, people are more likely to shoot you if you show off that you are packing.” He teased her as he crossed his arms over his chest amused.
Dahlia:
Dahlia honestly couldn’t remember the last time that Nate had been a part of the group the way that he used to be. It was something that had confused her, she didn’t know why he had disappeared, but he had and it didn’t seem like he was going to come back to the way that things were supposed to be. And honestly…Dahlia was missing it. She missed the way that it used to be the three of them against everyone else, and now…Nate wasn’t around as much.
It had been a week since he had shown up in the flat, so really…she wasn’t expecting to see him walk in the door. “I might be,” She said, with a teasing smile on her lips before she put the gun away. “Wasn’t planning on using it on you, just…can’t leave without it. Cash will kill me,” she shrugged with a sigh. “And you’re barely around lately…can’t say i’m mad about you being here. Jimmy wants to steal your room, Cash told him hell no,” she said with a shrug. “Thanks for the tip,” she said with a small laugh. “I just…have to run out. Get something.”
Nate:
Nate always closed off around the time his parents were publicly murdered. The fact still stung, that King Phillip and his father had grown up together brothers, and that his own blood had cast him away and made him watch his parents die. Nate never told half the story to Dahlia, Cash was the only one the horrific things he had seen or who his parents truly had been. He felt bad for keeping that information from her, but it had been easier if everyone just saw him as Nate. As a regular guy whose parents were killed like the rest of them.
“Well than your hesitation on the matter tells me otherwise.” He teased back, but hearing Cash’s name he nodded his head. “That man probably would, no matter how much he loves you he can go a bit mad.” He admitted he had known Cash forever though to know deep down he was a good guy. “Jimmy can go to hell on that one, but don’t worry I will be around, till my next flavor of the week as Cash puts it that is.” Nate shrugged his shoulders. “Well don’t be long, it’s almost dark and the streets get a bit….wild at night.”
Dahlia:
It seemed to be like clockwork–around the same time of year, Nate always closed up and stopped being himself around this time of year and she never knew why. It was strange, she had once thought that they told each other everything but there were still secrets. Secrets that she didn’t know and understand. And it always…bothered her to not know what was happening, but she would never push. Because they all had their secrets and they were allowed to have them. She didn’t think it would be fair to push him to talk if he didn’t want to. She didn’t think it was fair to push any of them to talk.
“Maybe i’m just lulling you into a false sense of security,” she shot back. “Then i’ll whip the gun out and shoot you when you’re least expecting it,” she laughed, shaking her head. The thought was laughable. She would never even think to shoot him. “Yeah…you’re right. Which is why he would want me to have the gun if I must go out at all,” she said. “Make sure to pass along the message, i’m sure he would appreciate it,” she teased. “But good. I’ve missed having you around,” she shrugged. Dahlia bit her lip and looked uncertaintly at him. “How long do you think I have?”
Nate:
There had been many times Nate had thought of telling Dahlia, however he always stopped himself. It was just something he couldn’t be open about, he had no idea if she’d see him differently, than this man he created. The man that had always been a friend. He knew it bothered her but he never could bring himself to just tell her his story, maybe one day he assumed.
Nate couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Yeah you’d never kill me, Cash told me you were a choke so I think I am safe.” He teased her as he shook his head, his features were lighthearted as he looked over at her. “Yeah, you got that right.” Nate made a mental note to remind Jimmy his place was on the couch not stealing his bed. “Well you will get sick of me soon enough.” He assumed at least. “Twenty minutes top than it’s dark, the sun was already getting pretty low when I walked in the door.”
Dahlia:
Dahlia had felt like she knew Nate forever–he was the first one she had met, the one who had brought her to Cash, and she would always be grateful for his role in getting her with him. But lately…she felt like there was an edge to him, one that she couldn’t get past. It was like he was guarding some secret and no matter how hard she tried, there was no getting through to him.
She rolled her eyes at him and grabbed a pillow, tossing it at him. “Oh, shut up,” She grumbled. “I can’t believe he told you that,” she said, feeling embarrassed and slightly annoyed that Cash was going around and telling people about what she couldn’t do. But she had to admit that it was nice to see a smile on Nate’s face. “Good,” she said. “Then you’ll disappear again for a few weeks,” she teased. She frowned. “Cash will kill me if I go out alone. Will… you come with me?” She knew it was risky, but she needed to know tonight.
Nate:
There were some things he knew that people didn’t have to know, the secret he harbored was one of those. The last thing he needed was for their gang to find out about it.
Nate caught the pillow laughing. “He’s my brother he tells me everything.” Nate admitted as he played with the pillow a bit. He let out a heavy sigh, knowing she wouldn’t know where his mind was at. Putting on the best smile he could muster his dark hues looked up at her. “Just until I get bored with whatever broad I have that week, you know me I always crawl back to this sorry shit hole.” He told her as he made a face. “As long as we make it quick yeah sure why not. Where are we going anyways?” He asked her as he tossed the pillow back onto the couch and motioned for her to follow as they went to the door.
Dahlia:
Dahlia rolled her eyes when he caught the pillow. “That was supposed to hit your face,” she told him, shaking her head. “Good to know,” she said, like it wasn’t something that she already knew about them. “But I would have done it,” she lied, shaking her head. She saw something in his smile–it wasn’t telling the truth. There was just something that he was hiding deep down but she wasn’t about to ask him to talk about it. Not now. “Of course,” she said. “You love us that’s why,” she said with a laugh. “You’d never leave us for good,” she said. Dahlia nodded her head. “Just the store,” she said evasively. “I just need to grab something,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t push and ask questions. She moved over to him so she could follow him out the door.
Nate:
“You are going to have to not throw like a girl if you want to hit this face.” He said in good jest his mood starting to brighten again slightly. “Bullshit, you suck a lying by the way, always have.” He told her shaking his head, one thing he could always tell about Dahlia was when she lied she had a tick or something that always gave her away. “Yeah yeah, I love you guys go tell the press eh?” He teased as he nodded. “Sure whatever lets go.” He led her out to the streets before he just let her lead the way to whatever store she had to go too.
Dahlia:
“I do not throw like a girl!” She exclaimed, rolling her eyes, but it was nice to see him brightening up. She shot him a look when he said that she sucked at lying, rolling her eyes. “Oh, shut up. Like you’re any better,” she said, although she knew that he was a hell of a lot better than she was when it came to lying. But it drove her crazy. She crossed her arms over her chest and laughed. “I knew it, i’m going to go and tell them right now. It’ll be all over London by morning,” she grinned. She was glad that he came with her and she brought them to a drugstore. “Stay out here,” she instructed, not wanting him to follow her as she went into the store and immediately went to the pregnancy test aisle and started comparing tests.
Nate:
“You do too throw like a girl, I mean its expected being a girl and all.” Nate loved to tease her over the fact that she was a girl. “I have a brilliant poker face mind you.” Nate really did if he was able to not tell her all these years later. “Well hell, I just love my face in the press you know.” He teased her as he walked with her until they got to a drug store. He nodded but he wasn’t about to listen. He slid into the store as he spotted her but his jaw dropped when he got closer. “What the fuck Dahlia?”
Dahlia:
“Gee, thanks for acknowledging that i’m a girl,” she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t know that before you just said it,” she said, frowning. She shook her head. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, frowning. “I’ll have to learn from you,” she said sarcastically. “Oh, I knew it!” She exclaimed, grinning at him. “I’ll have to get your face plastered all over,” she replied easily. When she heard his voice, she froze. “I told you to stay outside,” She snapped, the test in her hand. She wasn’t going to admit it to him. Nate was ruining her plans. This was not happening.
Nate:
“Thought I should remind you is all.” He teased, not that he minded that she was a girl. “Don’t give me that.” He rolled his eyes, sometimes she was so sarcastic he wondered why they were friends, however he knew he could give it back just as much. “Yeah well I was fuckin curious with damn good reason. I mean shit I should have seen it coming, but still fuck. Pregnant? That’s what you wanted to go out to know about? Why the hell didn’t you just tell me.” There was part of Nate that was crestfallen, he was going to lose this girl for good if she was actually pregnant, a thought that just ripped his bleeding heart a little more.
Dahlia:
Dahlia looked at him and rolled her eyes. “Thanks,” she said sarcastically. She crossed her arms over him and just looked at him, the test still in her hand. “I didn’t want to tell anyone! I don’t want to tell anyone. Because i’m not pregnant Nate. I just need to know that i’m not so I can get over this mood or whatever I’m in. And then we can all move on from this and forget that I ever thought that I was pregnant,” she snapped. She was scared. She was so scared of bringing a child into this world. Into their lives. What would Cash do if she was pregnant? She couldn’t see him being particularly thrilled about having a child. Hell…she didn’t think that she was all that thrilled about the prospect of becoming a mother. It was something she had never thought about…ever. Because who was going to bring a child into this cruel world?
Nate:
“Fine than don’t tell anyone, take the test go home and talk to Cash like you always do. You know what, sorry for wanting to make sure you were okay, you know what sorry for ever giving a damn about you at all. You want to know why I never come home? Because its always you and Cash, I am cut out of the fucking picture again.” Nate was tired of being the third wheel. He wanted more than just that. “Snap all you want, take the test and lets get the hell out of here or walk home on your own I don’t care anymore Dahlia.” He shook his head as he just held up his hands and walked out of the drug store waiting outside like she had wanted, but now he was restless, he shouldn’t have slid out of that girls bed he was with.
Dahlia:
Dahlia was shocked when Nate snapped. It wasn’t something that she was expecting. Hell, he had never so much as raised his voice at her before and she just…didn’t know how to handle it. So when he stormed off, she felt tears threaten to fall. Instead of letting them, she walked out of the store with the tests, not caring who saw and started to walk over to him. She opened her mouth to say something to him and then closed it. She had never realized how her and Cash’s relationship affected Nate. It was selfish of her to never think of him. “We love you,” she finally said, not looking at him. “Both of us. I’m sorry we made you feel cut out. You’re not.” She said. “And…” she trailed off, finally feeling a few tears fall down her cheeks, knowing he couldn’t see in the dark. “I’m just scared. I shouldn’t have snapped.”
Nate:
Nate just had enough of life taking the shit on him, he was always the good guy and it got him no where. No it left him with his heart stomped on and that was about it. He laid his head against the brick as he then looked over at her when she walked out. “Yeah I know.” He said softly. “You guys never come up for air anymore how would you know? It’s just Nate on his own like usual.” Nate usually didn’t mind but he missed when it was the three of them before her and Cash had fallen in love. “It’s fine.” He reached out and pulled her to his chest as he hugged her tightly. “Whatever happens I am there for you, but I suppose I should find another flat than? If you are pregnant you will want my room for a nursery.” He just saw this baby as another way to get rid of him maybe thats what they had been doing all along. Nate just pulled his hood up so she couldn’t see the few tears that escaped his eyes, before he coughed softly. “lets get you home then you shouldn’t be out here.” Nate told her as he led her back to the apartment safely. He just wiped his face so all would be normal and put on his best poker face.
Dahlia:
She listened to him talk and nodded her head after a moment. “I know,” she admitted. It wasn’t like they had intentionally pushed him out, it had just… happened. Between everything that happened, whenever Cash was free she took advantage of it. But never stopped to think about Nate, and how he probably would have enjoyed being with Cash too…or with her, even. She frowned and nodded her head. “I’m sorry. Things…are going to be different now.” Because deep down, she knew. She was pregnant. There was no way that she wasn’t pregnant. It explained everything. The test was truly just a formality now. To tell her the truth. Dahlia shot him a look. “Absolutely not,” she said. “You don’t have to go anywhere. Hell, you’re not. We’ll figure it out, okay?” She said, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. “This baby…it won’t replace you,” she said. Dahlia got quiet when he pulled his hood up and he told her they should get home. “Okay,” she said softly, walking silently besides him as they got home. Her nerves were getting so…intense. She was scare to know the truth.
Nate:
Nate shrugged his shoulders, he knew that one day things would have changed. “It’s fine Dahlia.” He didn’t mention how he’d fade away from the group but his mind already planned it out. There wasn’t a place for him anymore among the ranks, they weren’t the kids they once were, hell she was having a kid. By the way she was acting he knew she wasn’t herself and just needed confirmation more than anything. “I can find somewhere, I am quite resourceful, you and Cash can forget that at times.” He just shook his head. “I was replaced a long time ago, it just took me until now to realize it. Cash replaced me as his friend when he fell in love with you, and you replaced me with him. I wish you the best truly.” Nate said softly, as he just walked into their flat and made his way to his room laying on his bed as he stared at the ceiling.
Dahlia:
Dahlia couldn’t help but blame herself for all of this. She felt like it was all of her fault. That now that she was pregnant, it was pushing Nate away, when all she wanted was to hold him back and make him come back to her and Cash. For things to go back to how they used to be. She had never realized how unhappy Nate was lately, and she felt like she was a horrible friend, that she had been terrible to him, and it was all her fault. “You don’t have to,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re always going to be with us,” she argued, grabbing his hand. But then he was saying that they had replaced him, and she felt tears build in her eyes. “You’re not replaced, Nate…” but then he was gone, and she was left standing there, the test in her hand, feeling all alone.
Nate:
Nate was just feeling sorry for himself it was making it all worse. He hadn’t meant to make anyone feel bad considering that he should be out there comforting Dahlia. so he allowed himself to feel sorry for himself for only a few more moments. Picking himself up he went out to her and than bit his lip. “Go take the test, confirm what you know. I will be here.” He said softly knowing that she still had a friend in him, that would be all he’d ever be, her friend.
Dahlia:
Dahlia was honestly beyond scared to take the test, especially because she had to do it alone. She knew that she had to. So when Nate came out and told her to take the test, she just looked at him for a moment, surprise written on her face. She didn’t think that he would come back out after everything that had been said. “Okay,” she said, though, looking up at him. “Thank you, Nate.” She walked into the bathroom and took the test out, biting her lip, she took a deep breath and then took the test. She came out a few minutes later. “It says to wait.”
Nate:
Nate saw how surprised she looked. “Oh don’t give me that, I am still your friend regardless, you can’t get rid of me that easily.” He waited outside the bathroom until she came out again. “To wait? What the hell kind of test makes you wait. So what shall we do to kill time, I’d say shots but in your….possible state that’s not a smart idea.”
Dahlia:
Dahlia looked at him and shrugged. “I would have deserved it,” she said, softly. “If you didn’t want to be there for me anymore. I’ve been a terrible friend.” She frowned and looked at him when he said that “I don’t know, I guess it just…takes time to figure it out if i’m pregnant,” she frowned. “I don’t know…” She gave him a look and sighed. “No drinking is going to suck massively,” she frowned.
Nate:
Nate faltered a bit, was she just telling him to not be her friend anymore? Was that what she truly wanted. He just decided to not respond but instead to nod his head in acknowledgment. “I guess it does.” He leaned back against the wall as he looked over at her. “Even if you are, you’d make a brilliant mum. You take care of us lot as it is.” He said softly. He couldn’t help but snort at her words. “Well if you stuck to sucking you wouldn’t be here.” He teased.
Dahlia:
Dahlia didn’t mean it that she didn’t want to be friends with him, but more so that she had been nothing but horrible to him lately…so if he had decided to not be her friend? Well she wouldn’t hold it against him. She gave him a faint smile. “I don’t think so. I think i’ll be a shit mom,” she frowned. “No…I know that I will be,” she frowned with a shrug. “There’s…no way that I would be a good mum. Ever,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re sweet to say that,” she said. She shot him a look and nudged him. “Ass,” she said, but she smiled for the first time.
Nate:
“Right well since you know, and all that there should be no waiting.” He was a bit perplexed but his mother always had told him to not question a pregnant woman, words that he was now putting to use. “You know how to cook, and how to do laundry, all you need to learn is how to wipe an ass or two, and I am pretty sure babys are quite easy, stick em on your breast and their content.” Nate was absolutely clueless at times this one of those times. He laughed softly. “You love me.” He said nudging her back.
Dahlia:
Dahlia shook her head and frowned. “You don’t just do that. There’s more to having a kid than that, Nate. There’s being up all night, and the crying…and diapers and money that we don’t have,” she said, feeling a little bit panicked about it all. There was just so much that babies needed, and she just…didn’t know if she could do it. “But…thanks. I think,” she said. Dahlia laughed and rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go to your head, it’s already big enough.” But then she realized enough time had passed. She could check it. She took a few deep breaths and went into the bathroom. Staring up at her was a bright positive test–there was no doubt about it. A few tears fell down her cheeks. “Oh god.”
Nate:
“We can steal all the shit we need, this place is our playground.” Nate reminded her, Cash would have done it for her. “My head is perfectly sized thank you very much.” He said as he stuck out his chest. Sighing he heard her and looked over at her. Nate went to the kitchen and grabbed two shot glasses filling them with an amber liqour. Bringing one to Dahlia. “One shot won’t kill you, down it. You are going to need the liquid courage to tell cash.” Nate downed his before setting his glass onto the sink, his face looked a bit crest fallen as he kissed her head and hugged her for a moment before he pulled back. “You will be okay, I just have one of those feelings.” Nate whispered, before he retreated to his room, it wasn’t his place nor did he want to deal with the mess his friends made.
