The Awakening of Love Ch. 17

Trevor sat in the chair at the side of the bed, refusing to leave Sunshine's side; afraid that if he left, she'd be gone. He looked up as she began thrashing in the bed and crying out. Trevor put a gentle hand on Sunshine's shoulder and she awoke with a scream.

Shaking, she looked at him and smiled. "You look terrible," Sunshine managed to say, drinking him in. His eyes appeared darker; she could see the dark circles under his eyes, revealing his exhaustion to her. Trevor grinned before leaning in for a gentle kiss.

"You look beautiful," he murmured. She shook her head. "Don't argue with me," Trevor cautioned. They both looked up when someone knocked on the door. "Come in Shira," Trevor said, seeing his friend leaning on the frame of the door. He stood up and let her have his seat and took the crutches from her as she sat down. One long look at Ashira told Trevor that she was no longer pregnant and he opened his mouth to ask what happened but Sunshine shook her head. Ashira looked at Trevor, and saw the unasked question in his eyes.

"I haven't even told Jake, I need time," Ashira said softly. She looked at her friend lying in the bed, hardly able to believe that Sunshine was alive. Trevor gave Ashira a gentle hug. "I owe you so much," Trevor whispered, ignoring the tears that trailed down his face. Ashira felt his tears as they dropped onto her neck. "That's my wife you're hugging," Jake joked from the doorway. Trevor and Ashira laughed as Trevor pulled away. Jake gave Sunshine a gentle hug as Trevor helped Ashira stand. "You're a sight for sore eyes kid," Jake told Sunshine. She smiled. "I missed you too Jake," Sunshine said.

She looked past her friend and saw Melinda and Mark standing in the doorway with the kids. "We pulled some strings," Melinda said. "Aunt Sunny!" Serenity shouted, running towards the bed. Trevor grinned and lifted Serenity onto the bed. Melinda stood back holding Dylan on her hip while Mark stood next to her with Allyson gripping his neck tightly. Ashira didn't miss the look Mark gave her friend but bit on her tongue to keep from asking him about it. "There are too many people here," a nurse said, walking in with the bassinet. Jake grinned a little. "We'll be leaving shortly, we just had to see for ourselves that this wasn't a dream," Jake promised.

The nurse nodded and wheeled the bassinet up next to Sunshine's bed. "Baby!" Allyson exclaimed. Jake laughed and reached out for his daughter. Allyson went to her father eagerly until she saw Ashira. She struggled to get out of her father's arms and into Ashira's. Ashira wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her close. Jake pulled Serenity off of Sunshine's bed as the nurse lifted the baby out of the bassinet and into Sunshine's arms.

Jake saw the look on Trevor's face and grinned. "Guys, give them a few alone," Jake said softly. Ashira gave Trevor a quick hug and smiled warmly at Sunshine. "The panic will go away," she promised, passing Allyson back to Mark and taking the crutches back from Trevor and following everyone out the door.

-Two weeks later-

Ashira stood at the sink and rinsed off an apple before handing it to Melinda to core and slice. "What's going on between you and Mark?" Ashira asked suddenly as Melinda layered the apples in the bottom of the pie tin.

Melinda dropped the last few pieces of apple. "What do you mean?" Melinda asked nervously. Ashira studied her friend and sighed. "You slept with him didn't you?" Ashira said gently. Melinda avoided her friend's eyes. "Melinda, I know you did," Ashira said gently.

Melinda sighed and nodded. Ashira grinned at the look on her friend's face. "You like him," Ashira observed. Melinda nodded. "How was it?" Ashira asked. Melinda blushed and Ashira laughed. "That good huh?" Ashira teased. Melinda smiled. "I remember," Ashira told her friend as Jake stormed into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" Ashira asked without turning around. "Mark is going through with the custody battle," Jake answered. The color drained from Ashira's face. "He'll lose, he signed over rights," Ashira said as calmly as she could. Melinda looked between her two friends and sighed. Melinda put the finishing touches on the pie and popped it into the oven before leaving the kitchen.

"I'm going to kill him," Jake growled. Ashira sighed and shook her head. "Like that will help," she said sarcastically. Jake ran his hand through his hair.

"I can't believe he's doing this," Jake grumbled. Ashira smiled sadly. "Jake, if you were Serenity's biological father, what would you do?" Ashira asked, trying to see both sides. Jake turned and faced Ashira. "I wouldn't have walked out on you," Jake answered. The look in his eyes was so intense that Ashira shivered.

"I know," she said softly. Ashira looked away with a sigh. "I'm going to find Mel, then I'll go talk to Mark," Ashira told him.

Jake nodded and watched Ashira walk out of the room. Ashira found Melinda out by the pool, dragging her foot through the water. "Mel? Are you okay?" Ashira asked. Melinda shrugged. "You're falling in love with him," Ashira observed. Melinda nodded. "He's so cute, I was so jealous of you guys," Melinda whispered. Ashira gave her friend a hug.

"Go after him; after of course, I rip him a new one," Ashira encouraged Melinda with a grin. "Don't forget about your pie," she added before getting up and walking away.

Ashira walked into the tanning salon, her face red with anger. "Mark Pederson, you have some explaining to do!" she shouted. Mark looked up from the new security desk and sighed. "Ashira, I'm not in the mood," Mark warned.

"I don't give a flying fuck about your mood! We need to talk!" Ashira shouted. One of the other security guards made a move to grab Ashira by the arm and she shoved her employee badge in his face. "Don't even think about touching me," she hissed.

Mark sighed. "Watch the lobby John," Mark said, leading Ashira to the security office. "What's up your ass?" Mark asked, leaning across the desk, his arms folded over his chest. Ashira's eyes narrowed as he focused his hazel eyes on her. "First you tell me you don't want to be a father to your daughter and you let Jake adopt her, then you change your mind and do want to be a father to your daughter then you sleep with my best friend!" Ashira shouted. Mark winced, knowing everyone in the salon could hear her. "Shira," Mark warned.

Ashira took a deep breath to calm herself down. "How'd you know about Mel?" Mark wanted to know. Ashira rolled her eyes. "Her face is too expressive," Ashira answered. Mark chuckled. "Leave Serenity be, she loves Jake and he adores her," Ashira murmured. Mark's face hardened. "She's my daughter. We made her," Mark said. Ashira clenched her hands into fists. "And you abandoned us both," Ashira hissed. Mark sighed. "I have regretted that decision. I know you're happy with Jake. I'm glad for you, but the baby we made, Shira, she's beautiful," Mark said.

Ashira smiled at that and nodded. "Yes, she is, but it isn't your name on the birth certificate; it's Jake's. We will tell her when she's older, but don't do this. Jake loves her so much, he's been there through everything," Ashira pleaded. Mark sighed. "I want my daughter Ashira," Mark stated, his voice taking on a hardness that surprised her.

"Where the fuck were you at three am when she was hungry? Needed her diaper changed? Had a bad dream? You weren't there for any of it, Jake was!" Ashira shouted. Mark sighed when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"I know Jake loves Serenity, but I need my daughter," Mark said gently. He looked up as the door opened.

"You don't need her, you just want her, like she's a commodity," Ashira whispered.

"That's enough," Jake said gently from behind her. He put his hands on Ashira's shoulders and pulled her away from Mark. "Go to the bathroom and wash your face," Jake said softly. Mark and Jake watched her go and Jake turned back to Mark. "You do what you have to, but you're going to destroy any relationship you already have with Serenity," Jake told Mark, his voice low, controlled but angry. "Just make sure you're doing what's best for Serenity," Jake added before walking away.

-Two days later-

"You've been avoiding me," Mark said from the doorway, making Melinda jump.

"No, I've just been busy," she denied.

"Bull," Mark hissed.

Melinda sighed. "I want to be with you, but you're hurting two of my friends," Melinda said softly. She folded the last teeshirt and put it in the drawer. Mark walked into the room and pulled Melinda to him.

"Forget what's happening between Ashira, Jake and I. This is about us," Mark said, reaching a hand up under Melinda's shirt. He fumbled with the clasp of her bra before he finally managed to unhook it and slid the garment down Melinda's arms. "You're beautiful," Mark said softly, pressing a kiss to Melinda's forehead.

Melinda backed away. "We can't do this," she told him. Mark growled and took a step forward. "I mean it," Melinda said sternly. Mark stepped back over to her and she backed into the dresser. "Mark ..." Melinda's words faded away as he lowered his lips to hers.

Melinda was lost; she hardly felt him remove her clothes or his and she gasped in surprise when he pushed his way into her. "We shouldn't do this, not without ..." Mark kissed her again and all doubts faded away as she gave her body to him. At some point, they managed to move to the bed and lay together, in each other's arms.

"Did I hurt you?" Mark asked, seeing tears in her eyes. Melinda shook her head. "Then why the tears?" Mark asked with a frown.

Before Melinda could answer, the door opened and Ashira stepped inside. She stopped dead as she saw her best friend and ex-boyfriend in bed together. Ashira blushed a little as she noticed Mark hadn't changed much. "I'll come back later," Ashira said, backing out of the room.

Mark growled when he noticed Melinda had sat up and was pulling on her clothes. "Mel, don't," Mark said, reaching out for her. She pulled away and shook her head. "I want you to leave Mark. I can't keep doing this, someone is just going to get hurt," Melinda said.

Mark stood up and walked up to her. "Mel, we can work this out, just give us a chance," Mark pleaded. The look in Melinda's eyes told Mark she wanted to try, but she shook her head and looked away.

"We can't be together. I want you to leave, and don't come back,"Melinda told him firmly. Mark opened his mouth to protest again. "Go Mark, get your clothes on and just go!" Melinda exclaimed. Mark sighed, pulled his clothes on and headed for the door.

"This is what you want?" Mark asked, turning to look at Melinda one last time. Melinda nodded. "Good-bye Mark," she whispered as he walked out of the room and down the stairs.