Oh, Baby!

I was sat up in bed in a post-sex haze. Brian’s head was against my bump as he stroked it gently. Baby Gates was wriggling nonstop and Brian was grinning up at me in amazement.
“Isn’t it crazy? He’s kicking me in the face,” he gushed in wonder. “Only Jimmy has ever kicked me in the face.”
“Why does that not take me by surprise?” I quipped lightly, with a small smile.
He chuckled, “The Kung Fu master doesn’t handle his Sambuca well."
I shivered, "Ugh, does anyone handle that shit well?"
"Oh fuck, I completely forgot. I haven’t called him yet,” Brian made an exasperated noise.
“What do you need to call him for?” I asked, putting a hand over his and guiding it to more Baby Gates movement.
“Don’t you remember him on the bus? Geez, I think he’s more invested in our relationship than we are,” he joked, sitting up. “He’ll want to know how everything’s going.”
I followed his lead and sat forwards, “Speaking of things going, when do you have to leave?”
He sighed and looked away. I hated that he had to go again, but at least this time he would be coming back home to me before long.
“I have to leave this evening. We start back tomorrow,” he hung his head. We didn’t have long together. I was determined to make the most of it, starting with food. Brian’s groceries were calling me from the kitchen. I dragged myself from bed and pulled on sweats and a baggy t-shirt. Brian grabbed his phone and punched in Jimmy’s number. He cradled it between his neck and shoulder as he got dressed.
“I’ll start breakfast,” I called softly from the door way. He mouthed his thanks. As I made for the kitchen, I heard Jimmy answer and start talking at a million miles an hour. I smiled to myself imagining the phone call. Jimmy would go up like a very ecstatic rocket when Brian told him the news. It felt good to have someone rooting for us. I dug through the bags that Brian had abandoned unpacking halfway through. I’d not had so much choice in ages, he’d really gone to town. I settled for bacon with pancakes and started on the batter. I’d just added the first splodge of batter to the pan when Brian strolled in. He looked like the cat who’d got the cream.
“How’d it go?” I asked, a smile playing across my lips.
“How’d you think?” Brian beamed back at me. “He’s fucking overjoyed. I couldn’t shut him up about it. Also, he’s put in a name request for Baby Gates.”
“I think I know exactly what that will be,” I smirked.
“Yep, he wants a baby Jimmy,” he let out a snort. I giggled, attempting to flip a pancake. It landed half folded over.
“If those are your pancakes, I’ll take over,” he said, stifling a laugh. I flipped him the bird but stood aside, knowing that I’d never hear the end of it if I served him pancakes à la Aubrey.
“Have you thought of any names?” I asked, watching him with envy as he expertly flipping a pancake over. He paused in thought for a minute and then shrugged.
“Nope, I got nothing,” he replied, returning to cooking.
“I like Cole,” I suggested, gauging his reaction. He pulled a face. “Or not.”
“How about Frankie?” he shot back.
I grimaced, “Ew. No.”
“I like Baby Gates,” he shrugged, bringing a plate loaded with pancakes and bacon over to the table.
“He can’t be Baby Gates forever,” I laughed, taking a seat. We quibbled over names as we ate breakfast, our suggestions getting more and more outrageous until we’d reached the heights of ‘Fedora’ and ‘Quinoa’ which had had us rolling with laughter. When our giggles had subsided, Brian took my hand from across the table.
“Let’s go out today,” he suggested. I gave him a nod.
“Let me get showered then,” I said, standing from the table.
“Need company?” He smirked devilishly, an eyebrow raised.
I rolled my eyes, “Do you want to leave this house or not, Gates? You know we won't make it out if you join me.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender and started clearing the plates.
It felt good to shower, rinsing the sweat of last night’s arguments away. I stepped out when I was done, wrapped myself in a towel and headed for the bedroom. My phone was lit up on the bedside table. Two messages awaited. I toweled my hair and slipped into some casual clothes before sitting on the bed to check them
The first was Jimmy and simply said:

Fucking yes.

I smiled to myself, imagining him celebrating. He was so good-natured, he and Brian really did only want the best for each other and that was a solid quality in their friendship. The second message was from Adam.

I hope things worked out ok last night. Maybe I’ll see you sometime when I get to HB. Adam.

I didn’t reply. It wouldn’t just rock the boat if I did, it would completely overturn it. I didn’t think it would be wise to pursue a friendship with Adam any time soon after the small spark there had been between us.
“Aubrey, are you fucking ready yet? I’d like to go before the baby gets here,” Brian called from the kitchen. I shouted an expletive back at him and set to work raking a brush through my hair. Once I was satisfied that it was detangled, I made my way to the kitchen.
“Finally! Jesus, what took you so long?” he said, theatrically.
“Shut up,” I swatted at him, “let’s go.”
“Well I’ve been trying to for the last 30 minutes,” he muttered as I booted him towards the door.

We spent a perfect few hours at the beach. Our reunion in the bedroom had raised our spirits considerably and we behaved like love-struck teenagers. Once we’d tired of frolicking in the cold ocean, we laid out on the sand, letting the sun’s rays warm us back up again.
“Fuck, I love it here,” Brian murmured, his hands behind his head. “I don’t want to leave again.”
“You’ll be back before you know it,” I smiled, sympathetically. “18th December, right?”
“Yeah, that’s so far away though. That’s like two months,” he sighed, then looked at me and shifted his tone. “How ever will you survive without me?”
I rolled my eyes, “Quite well, thanks.”
“I know you’ll be forlorn, really,” he said, smirking. "You'll be wearing black every day and wailing 'come back, Brian' at the ocean."
“Can you tell your ego to pipe down, please?” I laughed, pulling my sunglasses down over my eyes. “How long do we have left?”
“3 hours,” Brian replied, glumly. My face fell. Soon he’d be going back to wherever they were at the moment and I’d be alone for another two months. Seeing my face, he wrapped his arms around me.
“It sucks, I know. Stick with it though, someone’s gotta keep my ego in check, Jimmy just blows it up” he winked. I shoved him off of me, playfully.
“I think you're past saving at this point,” I joked. He gave me a push, starting off a play fight. It was short lived as his phone rang, interrupting us.
“What?” he answered, not bothering with pleasantries. He grunted his way through the conversation and then hung up. He looked out towards the ocean, avoiding my questioning look.
“What’s going on?” I asked, quietly. He heaved a sigh.
“Larry wants me back, we're moving earlier. I have to leave,” he replied, reluctantly.
I looked down and drew pictures in the sand with my finger as spoke, “Right now?”
He nodded and we just sat quietly for a moment, both lost in thought.
“I will call you every day,” he reassured me, breaking me out of my disappointment.
“You better.”

We headed back for my apartment so Brian could gather his things. I leaned against the doorway, watching him check his pockets one last time. With a small nod to himself, he cast one last look around my apartment.
“This place is tiny,” he remarked, screwing his face up.
“Thanks for your observation,” I laughed weakly, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m being serious, Aubrey. You can’t raise a baby here,” he retorted.
“And just where else would you like me to do it? I don’t have much of a choice,” I reminded him.
“Move into my place. There’s more than enough room for the three of us there,” He blurted, quickly. He sensed my hesitation. “Just think about it, Aubrey. Please?”
“Of course I will,” I assured him. He checked the time and pulled a face.
“In the meantime, I’ll wire you some money for this place," he said, waving me away as I opened my mouth to protest. "Don’t argue, I’m not going to let you go without,” he insisted, sternly. He checked his phone again. “I have to go,” he murmured, sadly. I pulled him into an embrace.
“I’ll be here when you get back,” I smiled through my tears. He put his hands on either side of my face and pulled me into a long kiss that made my heart burst. He took one last look into my eyes and whispered his goodbyes. I watched him go until he was out of sight. I was sad to see him leave, but I knew he’d be back and I held on to that.

.......

The weather had turned cool but the air was warmed with festivities. I admired the Christmas lights as I waddled home to my apartment. Puffing my way up the stairs, I checked my phone. Brian would be calling any minute. I let myself into my apartment, which I had yet to give up. Baby Gates stuck a foot into my ribs, making me double over with a gasp.
“Watch where you put those things, mister,” I scolded him. I was two weeks away from my due date and the size of a fucking house at this point. I rubbed my bump in an effort to get him to shift to a more comfortable position. Just as I was arguing with Baby Gates about his positioning, my phone rang out, making me dive for it. I answered the video call and then positioned the phone on my kitchen counter. A chorus of cheers rang out from it as I could see the Avenged boys all grouped around Brian’s phone.
“Baby Gates update!” Jimmy demanded before even saying hello. I giggled at his eagerness.
“Good day to you too,” I replied, playfully. “Alright, ready?”
I stood back from the phone, letting it capture my baby bump from the side. More cheering resounded from the boys.
“Aubrey, you’re fucking massive,” Zacky sputtered.
“Gee, how kind of you,” I joked, not really minding his foot-in-mouth moment.
“Alright, you lot. Get outta here,” Brian commanded them, giving Christ a shove.
“Poor Johnny,” I giggled. “Leave him be, Bri.”
“Yeah Bri, leave me be,” I heard Johnny laugh as Brian aimed a kick in his direction.
“So,” Brian began, turning his attention to me. “How’re things?”

The past two months, we had spoken on the phone every day. Once a week we video called so that he could see how Baby Gates (and my tummy) was growing – something the rest of Avenged had started joining him for. I’d update him on all the aches and pains of pregnancy, the Christmas spirit in Huntington Beach and any news that came my way. Then he’d take his turn to regale me with his tales of tour, which shows had been the best and who’d drank the most and made a fool of themselves – never him of course. It was wonderful to keep up with each other but it sometimes made us miss each other even more than we already did. I was counting down the days until he was home.

“Not long now, huh?” he grinned as we discussed Baby Gates. I pulled a face.
“I was hoping he’d be out by now, he could come any time apparently. Officially, there’s two weeks left. I’m so uncomfortable that I want him out now though,” I replied with a grimace.
“Don’t be too hasty, wait until I’m back at least,” he laughed his divine laugh, making me melt.
I pouted, “Well, hurry up and come home then.”
“Just one week to go,” he reminded me.
“And I can’t wait,” I smiled.We said our goodbyes and after a racket of what I think was 'goodbye' from the rest of the boys - who were obviously very excited about coming home, we hung up. There was a fluttering in my stomach, and his time it wasn’t Baby Gates. The next time we saw each other wouldn’t be a video call, it would be when he came home to me…

Notes

Aww, the calm before the storm...