Never My Love

"If you say so," I chuckled, "But I'm right here if you need me."

"Aw, that's sweet, my love," she softly replied, "But then again, that's one of the many reasons I love you, Jake..."

~~~~~~

I was awakened around six o'clock the next morning by a God awful retching sound emanating from the master bathroom, and when I looked over and saw that I was alone in bed, I automatically panicked and jumped up and made a mad dash to the bathroom...

~~~~~~

I opened the bathroom door just in time to not only hear the retching sound that awoke me to start with, but also to be able to see Ashlyn lean over the toilet as something terrible looking issued forth from her mouth.

"Oh, my God, Ash," I worriedly said, "Are you alright, baby?"

"Get out," she almost growled, "I don't want you to see me like this," and then she leaned back over the toilet to puke some more.

I immediately backed off and left her alone. I did, however, wait for her outside of the now closed bathroom door until she was finished throwing up. I waited for a good twenty minutes until, after hearing the toilet flush, followed by the sound of the water being run in the sink, Ashlyn reappeared in the doorway looking a little flushed in the face, but still no worse for the wear.

"What's wrong, my love?" I again asked, "I hope it's nothing serious."

"It's not, baby," she softly smiled, placing her arm around my neck and hugging me, "I promise you it's not."

"It can't be too good," I replied pulling her slightly away from me so that I could look into her eyes, "Anything that made you do what I just saw you do can't be good at all."

"Relax, baby," she smiled, "This is not as bad as you think."

"Horse manure," I ardently replied, "If it's not that bad, then why did I see you puking your guts out just a few minutes ago?"

"Let me see," Ash knowingly grinned, "My period is a little over ten days late, and I'm getting morning sickness so; I'm fairly sure that I'm pregnant, Jake," and then the next thing I knew, everything went black...

~~~~~~

"Jake," I heard, as my vision began to slowly clear, "Jake, honey, are you alright?"

When my eyes were finally open, I realized that I was looking up at Ashlyn above me because of my head being in her lap; joined with the fact that I was laid out in the middle of the floor, further indicating that I'd fainted.

"Shit," I chuckled, sitting up to look at Ashlyn, "I passed out just now, didn't I, Ashlyn?"

"Yes," she quietly giggled, kissing my lips, "But it's okay, Jake, honey I swear it is."

All of a sudden I remembered what she'd told me right before I fell out, and in doing so, I knowingly grinned as I looked at her and asked, "Did I, or did I not hear you tell me a few moments ago that you were pregnant?"

"Yeah," she laughed, "You sure did...Daddy."

All at once I was suddenly and so deeply moved that I simply just couldn't speak. Hell, it was all I could do to put my arms around my beautiful Ashlyn and hold her tightly against me. And while we sat there in the floor saying nothing, I could feel my wife's heart telling mine how much she loved me.

"I take it that you're happy that I'm pregnant, Jake?"

"Oh, Ashlyn," I softly smiled, my lips on her soft throat as I held her, "I love you so much...so very much."

"I love you, too, baby," she, began to cry, "But you and I still need to go see the Obstetrician/Gynecologist just to be certain."

"Good," I happily grinned, as I stood and helped her off of the floor, "How soon can we get in to see one. Is there anything I can do? Oh, and I need to call Mom and Dad and the rest of the band in order to..."

"Easy, Jake," Ash giggled, "I'm only pregnant, baby, it's not like its something important."

"It is something important, baby," I softly replied, pulling her back into my arms, "It's something very important."

"Uh-oh," she teased, "You're not going to be one of those doting husbands that shadow their wife's every move while she's pregnant, are you, Jake?"

"I most certainly am," I laughed, leaning over and quickly kissing her lips, "I know you're not going to have a problem with it either so; don't even kid me about something like that."

"Mmm," she purred into my ear smiling, "Right answer, Jake...I love you so much..."

~~~~~~

Ashlyn called and made an appointment the next morning to see her OB/GYN doctor because we had band practice that afternoon and wouldn't be able to see her until the next day.

All throughout practice that afternoon, my mind was occupied with the thoughts of being a father, but moreso with the thoughts of how much I loved my wife. I smiled at how my parents were going to react when we told them that they were going to be grandparents in nine months, not to mention how my sisters were going to say when they found out that they were finally going to have a niece or nephew, and I knew that...

"Jake," Camryn scolded, breaking me from me reverie, "That's the second time you've messed up today; are you alright?"

"I'm sorry, you guys," I said, apologizing to my band mates, "I normally don't mess up at all, but I've got a lot on my mind right now."

"Oh, really," Joanie knowing smiled, winking at Ashlyn, "It wouldn't by chance be because of Ashlyn being pregnant, now would it?"

"Oh, my God," Camryn excitedly grinned, her eyes dancing like candles as she looked aver at Ashlyn who was sitting nearby in a chair watching us, "How far along are you, Ash?"

"We're not really sure," Ash gently replied, smiling warmly at me as she stood and walked over to sit next to me behind my keyboards, "We'll know after we see the doctor in the morning."

Suddenly we were surrounded by all of my band mates, congratulating us with hugs from the guys and hugs accompanied by kisses from the girls for me, and hugs and kissed from everyone for Ashlyn, me included.

"I'm really happy for you two," Rob smiled, "I'll bet your family went batshit when they found out. I know that Laura all Laura talks about is being an Aunt."

"We're going to hold off from telling them until after we've spoken to the Doctor," Ashlyn smiled, "So please don't say anything to Laura, Rob, okay?"

"My lips are sealed," he proudly smiled, "But whatever you do, don't tell her that I knew about this before she did, or it will be my ass...okay?"

"I second that motion," Keith grinned, "The same thing goes for Leah, too."

"Not a problem, my brothers," I knowingly laughed, "If anyone can understand Laura's and Leah's wrath, it's me. But still, I wouldn't worry too much of I were you guys, because I've got your backs covered where either of my sisters are involved."

"Maybe so," Keith lightly warned, "And I'm sorry for what I'm about to say, Jake, because I mean no disrespect; but Leah can be a real bitch when she wants to and I have a gut feeling that she's still going to go off on me either way."

"Oh no she won't," I replied with a stern glare at the though of such a thing, "And if she does, I want you to let me know about it...I mean it, Keith."

"If you say so," he sheepishly replied...

~~~~~~

"It looks like you're right at seven weeks along the way, Ash," smiled Dr. Evelyn Welch, one of Ash's oldest friends, "Congratulations, you two."

"Thanks, Evie," Ashlyn smiled, as the two women hugged, "I really appreciate this."

"Don't worry about it, girl," Dr. Evie smiled, returning Ashlyn's hug, "My only regret is not being able to be here when you two got married, but now that I'm your Obstetrician, it looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of one another, huh?"

"Yes, it does," Ash happily replied, "And I'm very happy about that."

"So tell me," Evie knowingly grinned, "Is that really good looking guy out in the waiting room your husband, and if so; when do I get to meet him?"

"Shit girl are you kidding me?" Ashlyn girlishly giggled, "Tell one of your Nurse to bring him in here..."

~~~~~~

I was sitting out in the waiting room while Ashlyn went back to see the Doctor. I was a little upset that I didn't get to go back with her, but after she explained that she wanted to talk to the Doctor alone on the first visit; and while I still didn't like it, I swallowed my pride and told her that I understood.

I'd been sitting there for a good thirty minutes when I heard my name being called, making me rise to my feet and reply, "I'm Jake Benson. What can I do for you?"

"Your wife want to see you," the pretty receptionist smiled, opening the door to the exam rooms, "Would you follow me, please?"

~~~~~~

Chapter Thirty

I was led into the examination room to find Ashlyn dressed in an exam robe, with a very pretty and nicely built lady with long blonde hair and green eyes standing next to her.

"Hi, baby," Ash grinned, reaching over and taking my hand, "I'd like you to meet Doctor Evelyn Welch. Not only is she my OB/GYN, but she and I went to medical school together," and then she smiled at the doctor lady and said, "Evie, this is my husband, Jake. Isn't he gorgeous?"

"Hi," I smiled, extending my hand, "It's nice to meet you, Doctor Welch."

"It's nice to meet you, too, Jake," she warmly replied, shaking my hand as she looked at Ash and said, "Yes, he is gorgeous, Ashlyn; way to go girl."

"So, how is my wife doing, Doctor Welch," I smiled, the heat of embarrassment creeping up the back of my neck, "And can you tell us when the baby is due?"

"She's perfect, Jake," Dr. Welch smiled, "And I would really like it if you called me Evelyn, or just plain old Evie, please."

"Alright then, thank you, Evie," I cordially smiled, "But you still haven't answered my question."

"It's the first week of April right now," she smiled, "So; I would say that the baby will be here on or about the seventh of January. How does that sound?"

"That sounds perfect to us," Ashlyn sweetly replied, taking my hand as tears began to fill her beautiful blue eyes, "What do you think, Jake?"

"It doesn't matter what I think," I softly replied smiling, leaning down and tenderly kissing her soft lips, "The only things that matter to me now are you and our baby...I love you, Ashlyn Benson."

"I love you, too, Jake Benson," Ash sniffled, placing her arms around my neck and then looking at Evie, "I told you that he was one of the good ones, didn't I, Evie?"

"You sure did, Ash," Evie warmly smiled, patting her hand, "I'm really happy for both of you."

"Thank you Evie," I happily told her, "And you're going to be the one who will be delivering our baby, aren't you?"

"You're damned right Skippy," she girlishly giggled, as she and Ash gave one another a high five slap on the hand, "Us Doctors like to take care of our own, don't we, Ashlyn?"

"Hell yeah," Ash laughed, "Besides, you would've never made it through Organic Chemistry if I hadn't been there, Evelyn Renee Welch, Miss Head Cheerleader for The University of Virginia."

"Screw you, Miss Ashlyn Leigh Matthews...ooppss, I mean Benson," Evie began to giggle, "Don't forget to tell your husband that it was me who made you realize that not all blondes are a bunch of dumb asses."

"She's right, Jake," Ash mischievously giggled, "Evie is the first blonde I've ever met that didn't use her twat to get her degree...well, maybe she flashed her tits to a couple of professors, but she kept her legs completely closed."

"You are such a liar," Evie replied, both women laughing by this time, "I only allowed my boyfriend to see my body."

"Yeah, but you had what, ten boyfriends?" Ash giggled, poking Evie in her right breast, "So that gave these puppies a lot of air time, wouldn't you say?"

"Come on, Ash," Evie grinned, playfully slapping Ash's hand, "Jake is going to think I was some kind of slut while we were in Medical School."

"Actually, Evie was a great student, honey," Ash told me, taking my hand again, "And I learned as much, if not more from her than she ever learned from me."

"I'm glad that you had someone there who cared about you while you were in college," I warmly replied, as I kissed her hand, "If anybody knows how that feels, I sure do."

"Oh, my God, what a sweetie," Evie softly said, "Are there any more like him at home, Ash?"

"Nope, he's all mine," she proudly smiled, "So, be sure to tell all of our bitchy friends to keep their hands to themselves when I bring him to the reunion next month."

"Girl, gimme a break," Evie grinned, "Anyone can plainly see that Jake is totally in love with you, Ashlyn, you lucky bitch..."

~~~~~~

"I like Evie," I smiled, my hand on Ash's thigh as I drove us home, "She seems like a really nice person."

"She and I have been friends for a long time," Ash sweetly smiled, at the memory of her friend, "And yes, we used to chase boys together."

"Is that right?" I teased her, "I had the feeling that you two did more than just study while you were in college."

"Oh, really," she playfully giggled, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing, not really," I laughed, "Why do you ask? Is there something you're not telling me?

"I believe you know better than that," she laughed, "But I think it might've been kind of fun to have a little bit of a naughty past. It's too late now though because I'm married."

"Don't let that stop you," I suggestively commented, "It's never too late to be a little naughty ya know."

"Oh really," Ashlyn excitedly smiled, suddenly sitting up straight in the passenger seat of my car to look me in the eyes, "And just what exactly did you have in mind, my beautiful husband?"

"Oh, I don't know," I smiled, "Give me a little time to think about that one."

"Don't take too long," she seductively purred, "I want to do this before I start showing, if you know what I mean."

"I won't, trust me," I lecherously grinned, sliding my hand beneath her dress to fine out the she wasn't wearing any panties, and her hot little pussy was soaking wet, "Mmm, why don't we go to the house for a quickie before we go see Mom and Dad, okay?"

"Oh, my God, Jake," she groaned, the moment my fingers reached her clit, "Please hurry, baby, before I cum right here in the car."

"Go right ahead," I told her, "I know that I can make you cum over and over again..."

~~~~~~

When Ashlyn and I made love that first time that day after finding out that we were going to be parents, we both noticed that there seemed to be something very special that was happening between the two of us. Granted, I'd always thought that there was something special about every time she and I gave our selves to one another. However, this time there was something there, and while I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, I did find that it was singularly unique.

Maybe it was in the way we held and/or touched one another, or perhaps it was the fact that I loved Ashlyn more than I'd ever loved any one or any thing in my life. Either way, I knew in my heart of hearts that we were on the threshold of something so wonderful that only time could tell us what it was, because neither of us knew, or at least that's what I thought...until we got to Mom and Dad's house that night...

~~~~~~

I'd called Mom after Ashlyn and I got home from the doctor's office and instructed her to make sure that Dad and the girls were going to be home that night, because Ashlyn and I had something that we wanted to discuss with the four of them.

"It sounds pretty serious, baby," Mom warmly smiled, just as she had always done with me every time we'd ever spoken on the phone, "Would you care to give your old Mom a hint?"

"No hints, Mom," I chuckled, "And you're not old..."

~~~~~~

"So, how far along are you, Ashlyn?" Mom sweetly asked, when we broke the news to my family about Ash's pregnancy, "And have they given you a due date yet?"

"The doctor told me that I was just under seven weeks pregnant," Ash proudly replied, her hand on her tummy, "And my due date is January the seventh."

"What about you, Jake?" Dad grinned, as he gently patted me on the back, "How do you feel about all of this?"

"Are you kidding me?" I excitedly grinned, reaching over and placing my hand on Ash's tummy, "I'm so excited that I'm trying my damnedest to keep from bouncing off of the walls around here."

"It's too bad the girls couldn't be here," Ashlyn disappointedly replied, "I was looking forward to seeing their reaction to the news."

"We both talked our boss into letting us have the rest of the night off," Leah announced, as she and Laura suddenly appeared in the den of Mom and Dad's house still wearing the shirts with the logo of the restaurant where they worked over the lefty breast pocket, "What news are you talking about, Ash?"

"I think the two of you ought to sit down first," I suggested, a stupid grin plastered across my face.

I immediately discovered exactly how intelligent my sisters were when Laura, her eyes dancing like big blue candles, began hopping up and down, and asked, "Ashlyn is pregnant; isn't she?"

Before I could answer Laura, Ash simply nodded her head as my sisters began to excitedly hop up and dance all over the room, reaching down and taking Ashlyn with them.

"Congratulations, Ash," Leah happily wept, as she hugged Ashlyn, "I'm so happy, for you and Jake."

"Aw, thank you Baby Sister," Ashlyn tenderly replied, as she returned the hug, "I'm going to be counting on you and Laura because this baby is going to need both of its beautiful Aunts to help guide it along life's road."

"She's right, sis," Laura softly smiled, replacing Leah in Ashlyn's arms, "Besides, we volunteer to keep our niece for as long as you need us to."

"Whoa, wait just a minute, young lady," I laughed, "What makes you think that Ashlyn's going to have a girl?"

"Nothing really," Leah giggled, "Call it female intuition, Jake," and then she and Laura, along with Mom, all three took Ash into the kitchen to talk about God only knows what...a bunch of girl stuff I'd imagine"

"It sounds to me like this new baby is going to be spoiled rotten," Dad smirked.

"Going to be spoiled?" I asked, "Hell, it's already spoiled rotten and it hasn't even been born yet."

"Don't worry about it, son," Dad kindly replied, reaching over and gently patting my shoulder, "Now you know how things were around here when your Mom was pregnant with you."

"Is that right?" I smiled, "So, how does she feel about being a grandmother at such a young age?"

"Gimme a break," Dad chuckled, "That's all your mother's been able to talk about ever since you and Ash got married, which, by the way; if you do have a girl, she's going to be the prettiest little thing that God ever put a breath in. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah," I quietly, yet proudly smiled, "I know..."

~~~~~~

When we got home later that night Ash and I went straight to bed, because we were both dead tired and felt like we were going to drop at any second.

"I really enjoyed going to your Mom and Dad's tonight," Ashlyn softly told me, as we climbed into bed, "I love your family very much, Jake."

"They love you, too," I tenderly replied, "But not neatly as much as I do though."

"Mmm, C'mere," she softly purred, pulling me against her, "I love the way our bodies feel against each other."

"So do I, my love," I quietly yawned, nuzzling my lips into her neck, "So do I..."

~~~~~~

LATER THAT NIGHT

Herb Albert and Jerry Moss were still at their rented office going over some last minute details before traveling back out to Los Angeles for Covenant's debut gig.

"Are we ready," Herb asked Jerry, "And are you sure that everyone is in place?"

"I told you not to worry about it," Jerry replied, "We wait until these kids are on stage and playing their music, and that's when we'll make our move. I've hired the best in the business to keep the band occupied so; they won't know what's happening until it's over...and besides; Bill Sanders is really gonna love us for this."