The Awakening of Love Ch. 18

This is the final chapter in Awakening. I am working on Melinda and Mark's story. Thanks for reading.

Ashira

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

-Months later-

"Stop fiddling with your tie," Ashira said, batting at Jake's hand.

"I can't help it," he grumbled. Ashira sighed and looked up as Mark and his lawyer walked into the court room. "I want him to just ..." Jake jumped as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jeez Trevor, you gave me a heart attack," Jake groused. Trevor laughed.

"Where's Sunny?" Ashira asked. Trevor grinned.

"She's home, Crystal got here last night," Trevor answered.

Ashira smiled. "How's Sunny feeling?" Jake asked, stealing glances at Mark. Trevor smiled and Ashira laughed at the look in his eyes. "Finally over the morning sickness huh?" Ashira giggled. Trevor nodded and Jake chuckled. "Just go easy on her, you don't want to break her," he joked.

Trevor rolled his eyes. "She's tougher than she looks," Trevor reminded his friend.

Jake nodded. "But you're not used to having sex with a pregnant woman, it's a lot different. And more fun," Jake said with a grin.

Ashira laughed and shifted uneasily, feeling Mark's eyes on her. He ignored his attorny and walked over to them. "How's Sunny doing?" Mark asked. Ashira looked at him coldly.

"Have you talked to Mel?" she countered. Mark sighed.

"Sunny's fine," Trevor answered Mark, hoping to avoid a fight.

"Mel hasn't talked to me in months; she told me to leave and not come back," Mark admitted. Jake and Ashira exchanged glances as their lawyer stepped up.

"You need to go back to your side," the lawyer told Mark. Mark nodded and turned to Ashira. "Tell Mel that I miss her," Mark said softly before returning to his side of the court room.

Both Mark and Jake looked at each other as Ashira haltingly talked about the rape and the events that followed. They hated the pain in her eyes as she talked about it. Mark mouthed, "I'm sorry," to her and she looked away from him. This was one of the only thing Mark and Jake had in common; they hated that Ashira had gone through this and Mark felt a twinge of guilt for making her relive it. "What happened after you were released from the hospital?" Ashira's lawyer asked gently.

Ashira hesitated. "Mark and I broke up," she answered finally.

"Why?"

"I wouldn't sleep with Mark, I was too scared." The lawyer paused to let Ashira try and regain a bit of her composure as Mark's lawyer objected. The judge told the lawyer to sit down and nodded to Ashira's lawyer to continue.

"Did you know you were pregnant?"

"Not then, no."

"And when you found out you were expecting?" Ashira looked at Jake who smiled warmly, lovingly.

"I was a wreck. I didn't know if it was Mark's or his," Ashira answered.

"His?" the lawyer asked.

"My attacker's," Ashira clarified. She was shaking visibly and Trevor had to put an arm on Jake's shoulder to keep him in his seat.

"Did you tell Mark you were pregnant?" Ashira nodded. "And?"

"He said that he hoped it wasn't because of the rape and to let him know," Ashira answered.

"And who fathered your child?" Ashira brightened a little.

"Mark," she answered.

"And what did he say?" the lawyer asked. Ashira looked at Mark who looked very ashamed.

"That I was on my own," she answered. Her lawyer nodded and sat back down as Mark's lawyer stood up.

"Did Mark ever say he wanted the baby?" he asked. Ashira shook her head.

"He said that he would help financially as much as he could, but that he wasn't ready to be a father," Ashira answered.

"But you were engaged, surely you discussed having children."

Ashira sighed and wished she could curl up under a rock. "We did discuss it," she agreed. "We had planned on waiting a few years at least," Ashira added.

"So Serenity was rather unexpected?" Ashira chuckled at that.

"That's putting it mildly," she said. Mark's lawyer smiled.

"Who was at the birth?" he asked.

"Nobody, it was an emergency C-Section," Ashira answered. "But they were both there when I came out," she added.

"I see. Did you and Mark discuss anything about custody?" he asked.

"Yes. Mark knew that Jake and I were getting close. Jake had offered to step in and be a father to Serenity. Mark agreed to sign over his parental rights and let Jake adopt her, as long as he could still see Serenity," Ashira answered.

Mark's lawyer paused and Ashira's lawyer stood up for a moment. "May I ask a small question your honor?" she asked. The judge's eyes narrowed but he nodded. "Ashira, did Mark go to any of your prenatal appointments?"

Ashira shook her head, and focused on Jake. "Jake went to every single one. He was there for all the blood draws, and even the ultra sound. And he was there when the cops arrested the man who raped me and kidnapped me. He's been my hero," Ashira said softly. Jake smiled at her and Mark sighed.

Mark's laywer opened his mouth to speak but the judge stopped him. "I'd like to meet this young lady, how old is she?" the judge asked. He looked at Mark for the answer, giving Ashira a look telling her to keep quiet. "Serenity just turned four your honor," Jake answered. "Three days ago as a matter of fact," he added. Ashira smiled and rubbed her forehead lightly.

"Are you alright Mrs. Barnes?" the judge asked. Ashira nodded slowly. "Just a headache your honor," she said softly.

The judge turned back to the lawyers. "We'll recess for an hour, will someone please bring the little girl?" he announced. Jake nodded and waited for Ashira to return to their seats. "That isn't just a headache," Mark observed. Jake growled at Mark then turned his attention to Ashira. Jake studied Ashira and grinned. "Are we ..." Jake stopped talking when she nodded and pulled Ashira in for a gentle hug. "You okay?" Jake asked. Ashira nodded.

"I need the bathroom," she said softly. Jake chuckled a little and led Ashira out of the court room. While he waited for Ashira, Jake turned to Trevor. "Will you get Seren?" he asked. Trevor nodded and quickly walked away.

Back in the court room, Ashira fiddled with a pen as Jake set a glass of water in front of her. "Thanks," Ashira murmured. Jake squeezed her hand as the lawyer walked back into the room. Jake sat down next to Ashira and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to him. "You okay?" Jake asked softly. Ashira nodded. "I just want this to be over," she admitted as Jake was called to the stand.

"Good afternoon Mr. Barnes," his attorny greeted. Jake nodded to her.

"Hello Ms. Davis," he replied. "Can you walk us through the nine months of Ashira's pregnancy with Serenity?" Ms. Davis asked. Jake nodded and sighed before launching into the story. Jake watched Mark flinch when he mentioned Ashira's suicidalness.

"She was scared when she found out. She had nightmares for months," Jake said.

"What about?" Ms. Davis asked gently. Jake hesitated.

"I can't talk about that," he said finally. Mark's lawyer objected. "It isn't my place to tell people about my wife's nightmares," Jake added. He looked at Ashira; he could see how pale she was. Before she could say anything, Ashira bolted from the court room. Jake tried to get up to follow her, but the judge stopped him. "Is she ill?" Jake gave a small smile.

"Not technically," Jake answered. The judge gave him an annoyed look and Jake growled softly. "Last time I checked, pregnancy wasn't considered an illness," Jake said in a sarcastic tone that he regretted instantly. He turned back towards the door as Ashira slipped back inside. She caught his gaze and smiled a little. He was relieved to see some color back in her cheeks. "Trevor's here," Ashira said quietly.

"I take it he's a friend," the judge said, choosing to ignore the tone of voice Jake had used to address him. Ashira nodded. The judge looked at Jake and at Mark. "I'd like to hear from Mark for a moment, you can stay where you are. Did the description Mrs. Barnes give us about your reaction and your actions, were they accurate?" the judge asked.

Mark sighed. "Yes your honor," Mark answered. "You did give up your rights to the child then?" Mark nodded. "I did your honor, but it's something I regret very much," Mark answered. The judge looked at the three young people before him.

"How does the child know you?" he asked Mark. Mark sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "She calls me Uncle Mark," Mark said. Both Mark and Jake turned and looked at Ashira who was going pale again. The bayliff handed her a small garbage pail and led her to the judge's chambers. "Why don't we wait for the rest of this until Shira's done puking her guts out," Mark grumbled.

Jake chuckled a little. "Because neither one of us want to live with this for another four months," Jake retorted. Mark's eyes widened a little. "Months?" he echoed.

Jake nodded. "Morning sickness, it's a bitch and lasts for about four months; this is something you should know about, except you weren't there," Jake sneered.

Ashira stepped back into the room, wiping her mouth on a piece of paper towel. "That's enough Jake," she said gently. The judge watched as Ashira took her seat then turned back and cleared his throat. "I'd like to bring in the child. From the reports I have here in front of me, she's been spending two weekends a month with Mark. I want to see how she reacts. We'll let her see Mark first, then her mother, and then Jake," the judge announced. Jake's heart was pounding as the bayliff opened the door. He watched Trevor lead his daughter down the center aisle and come to a stop in front of Mark. The look on Trevor's face would have killed Mark if looks could kill.

"Uncle Mark, where's my mommy and daddy?" Serenity asked, looking around nervously. Mark closed his eyes and stepped aside. He knew he'd lost. "Mommy? Where's Daddy? Daddy promised to take me to the zoo to see the new babies!" Serenity exclaimed, seeing Ashira and running over to her. Ashira smiled and hugged her daughter tightly. Serenity looked around until her eyes zeroed in on Jake. Her eyes lit up and she ran towards him. "Daddy, daddy, the elephants had their babies!" Serenity exclaimed, jumping into Jake's arms.

Ashira glanced at Mark. She saw the dejected look on Mark's face and stepped up to him. "Mark, she loves you, just not as a father. I promise, we'll tell her everything when she's older," Ashira promised. She turned back and smiled when she saw her husband and daughter. Mark stepped forward. "Your honor, I'm prepared to go along with the agreement I made with Ashira four years ago. I love Serenity, and I realize now, that if I take her from Jake, that I'll just hurt her, and I don't want that," Mark began. He turned to Jake. "Just let me see her," he pleaded.

Jake grinned and swallowed over the lump in his throat. "You'll probably regret that when she turns sixteen," Jake joked. Everyone laughed and the judge dismissed the case.

Ashira knocked on the door of the beach house and waited for Melinda or Crystal to answer the door. She hadn't seen her friend in months, since before the trial and she was dying for her friend to know what had happened.

Cyrstal opened the door and was relieved to see Ashira standing there. "It's over, Mark agreed to stick to the original agreement," Ashira said softly. Crystal gave Ashira a hug. "You're glowing," Crystal observed. Ashira smiled and shrugged. "Can't Jake keep his hands off you?" Crystal teased, letting her friend into the room.

Ashira shook her head. "Thankfully, no," she joked. Crystal laughed.

"He is a good looking man," Crystal agreed. Ashira sighed. "And he's all mine," Ashira reminded Crystal who laughed. Her laugh turned into a sigh.

"You have to do something about Mel," Crystal whispered. Ashira looked at her friend in surprise. "She's in the kitchen," Crystal added. Ashira looked at Crystal before walking into the kitchen.

"Mel?" Ashira asked. Melinda turned around and Ashira sighed. "Have you told Mark?" Ashira asked. Melinda shook her head. "I told him I didn't want to see him any more. I didn't want any part of what he was doing to you and Jake. I thought if I was in a relationship with him, that it could work in his favor," Melinda sniffled. Ashira gave her friend a tight hug. "You're not just four or five months pregnant," she accused. Melinda shook her head. "Oh my G-d, that night that Sunny and I got back ... in the panic room ..." Ashira sank into a kitchen chair. Melinda sat down and nodded. "He needs to be told Mel, you need to tell him," Ashira said gently. Melinda shook her head.

"Mel, it's over; Mark's agreed to go back to the way things were in regards to Serenity, but you need to tell him he's going to be a father, he has that right," Ashira said, holding her friend while she cried.

When Melinda's tears stopped, Ashira picked up the phone and dialed Mark's number and handed the receiver to Melinda before Mark answered.

"Hello Mark, it's Mel. We need to talk," Melinda said.

As I said above, this is the final chapter of Awakening of Love. I am considering a sequel; would you prefer it to be about Mel and Mark or Trevor and Sunshine? Thanks for the feedback and thanks for reading!

Ashira