Chapter 14
Over the past week, Lucy had realized her marriage was on the rocks. Misty had moved in and seemed to be taking all of Brock's attention, though she couldn't figure out for the life of her why he would rather pay attention to her.
Sure, Misty was pregnant with her now gay husband's child, but did he have to hover over her like that? It was really starting to put off Lucy and she walked around the house shooting Misty's mean glares.
But the battle lines weren't as clearly drawn as Lucy had thought.
Then again, it was just Brock's nature to take care of people. And that's why Lucy couldn't wait to get home from her gynecologist appointment. She had huge news for him and normally, under any other circumstances, this news would have her racing down the road in a fit of rage.
The doctor had just informed her that she was pregnant as well. It was the one thing that she needed right now to get his mind off Misty. There was just one problem. She wasn't quite positive Brock was the father.
Of course, statistically he should be. She had only slept with Ash Ketchum once, in which afterward he quickly gathered his clothes and went running out of the room like a scared little boy. She supposed that's when he realized he really was gay and that's why he came out to everyone.
Besides, even if the child wasn't Brock's, he didn't have to know. Ash wasn't going to claim the child and he wouldn't even know she's pregnant, at least not for a couple of weeks. The timing couldn't be more perfect.
It was Brock's day off from the hospital and she quickly rushed in to see him. He was busy preparing dinner and Misty sat at the kitchen table. Both of them seemed awkwardly normal.
"Brock…" Lucy walked towards him and gave Misty a challenging look.
"Hey, Honey." He greeted her uncomfortable and watched Misty squirm in her seat. "How did your appointment with the doctor go."
"Great." She smiled and slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder and smiling.
Misty clenched her fists but kept quiet. It was so hard to watch her have her hands on him like that. When she wasn't around, at least she could pretend Brock was hers.
"I have some big news. I'm glad Misty's around so she can hear it to…" Lucy peered over at her for a second, then back at Brock who she wasn't sure was paying attention.
"What is it?"
"I'm pregnant."
Misty stiffened in her chair and gave a wide-eyed glance towards Brock. She felt her heart sink down in the pit of her stomach and she even forgot to breath. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for her.
Brock was quiet. He had become speechless and Lucy folded her arms. "Well, I thought for a man who wanted children so badly you would have at least have a reaction."
"No, I do. I'm just…s-shocked." He scratched the back of his head and pulled her into his embrace. "I thought you were on the pill. I thought that you didn't want to be a mother."
She grinned and kissed his cheek then leered over at Misty. "Well, since Misty's pregnant as well. It won't be so bad. Our children will be playmates. Their birthdays will be close together. They'll be just like siblings."
Brock found it hard to swallow. They will be siblings. He exchanged a knowing look with Misty and hated himself for not telling Lucy it was over sooner. "How far along are you?"
"A month." She answered, pulling him in for a kiss, making sure Misty was watching. She was going to make it clear that Brock was hers and he was off limits.
He resisted her though and turned his attention back to cooking. "Same as Misty." Brock stated uncomfortably.
"Yea, I just feel bad for your baby, Misty. Do you think Ash will claim it? Or do you think he's too wrapped up in Tracy Sketchit?" Lucy sat down at the table across from her and Misty froze. She wasn't sure how to answer that.
"The baby's not Ash's." Brock's voice came as a surprise and Misty shot him a look. What was he doing? What was he saying? Didn't he know that kind of information could blow his cover? Is that what he was trying to do.
No, he wouldn't do that now that he knows Lucy is pregnant as well. Even if he was planning to leave her, he had waited too long. Misty rubbed her still flat stomach and felt like crying.
Would he love Lucy's child more?
She fought like hell to keep from crying.
"Oh," Lucy's shock was portrayed in her voice. "Then who's is it?"
Misty swallowed the lump in her throat. "Uh, it's…it's…"
"Lucy, that's of our business." Brock spoke up again and she began to relax. "Stop being nosy."
"Oh, you're such a party pooper." Lucy rolled her eyes and stood up. "I'm going to freshen up before dinner."
Misty waited until she heard her loud, clogging heels disappear up the stairs and then she looked over at Brock. He was looking at her, too and she felt a rush. That same rush she got every time he made even the most negligible glance her way.
He was the first to speak. "I'm…I'm sorry."
"Don't bother, Brock." She replied, shaking her head and standing up. "I'm not really that hungry. I'm going to bed early."
"Misty, wait…" Rushing after her, she tried to grab her wrist but she jerked her arm out of his grasp and never looked back at him. Clearly, she didn't want to be touched.
Sighing, he leaned against the wall and buried his face in his hands. This time, he had really messed up and there was no going back.
Barbara Joplin had been married for almost eight years. She loved her older sister Lucy, though she couldn't help but have a deep, everlasting hate for her brother-in-law. She had kept her mouth closed about what she had seen that night at Capricorn, but she wasn't sure how long she could keep that up.
She knew, more than anyone, that Lucy was completely infatuated with Brock and his money. She always wore the latest trends, the most expensive shoes, the most desired designer dresses. Nothing on the planet could ever make her leave Brock, and Barbara knew if she told her sister what she had seen that night at Capricorn, it would just result in her denying the accusation and telling her to get out of her face about it.
Lucy Harrison gave a whole new meaning to the term 'stand by your man'. She really meant it!
That was why, for the life of her, Barbara Joplin couldn't understand why they were having the conversation they were having. Her older sister had called her for an emergency shopping trip and they had hit three stores before Lucy got around to telling her why she had made her come along.
"So," Lucy began as they stood in separate stalls. "I went in for an annual checkup yesterday at the gynecologist and I find out that I'm pregnant." Her voice echoed and she heard a loud thump in the stall next to her.
Had Barbara fallen over from shock.
"You're pregnant?"
"Yes. That's not even the worst part." Lucy continued. "Not only am I going to lose my beautiful figure and have spit-up in my hair, but…" She opened the door dressed in the garment she had chosen to try on, knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to wear it in three months at most.
"But what?" Barbara walked out, fixing her short blond hair and straightening out her own outfit.
"I'm not entirely sure who the father is." She said, almost inaudible.
"Oh my God. Lucy! Are you serious?"
"Sh!" Lucy held a hand over her mouth. "Don't be so loud."
"Sorry." Barbara retreated back into the stall, got dressed and walked out, then pressed herself against the door Lucy was behind. "You mean, you slept with another man? What happened? I thought Brock was supposed to be some kind of sex maniac."
"I thought that to. Why do you think I married him?" She replied, opening the door with a few garments slung over her arm. "He's been acting like a total asshole lately anyway. You know Misty Waterflower is pregnant don't you?"
"No way!"
"Yes way! And she's living with us!" Lucy placed her clothes on the checkout counter. "Can you believe Brock actually let that little bitch move in? She's totally taking all of his attention away from me just because she's got a brat on the way. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him we had one on the way too."
Barbara thought back to what she had seen at Lilly's party. She would have brought it up, but she was having too much of a good time with her big sister to ruin it with an argument over that pig-headed slime ball she called a husband.
Lucy gathered her bags after paying a ridiculous amount of money and walked out of the store, realizing she was hungry. "Want to stop for some food?"
"Sure." Her little sister agreed and they headed towards the food court. "So, who's the other potential father?"
"I'm not sure if I want to tell." She said, running a hand through her long black hair uncomfortably. "It's kind of embarrassing. I'm not proud of it…especially now since he's come out of the closet."
"You slept with a gay guy? How did you pull that one off?" Barbara asked in almost disbelief.
"I was drunk, he was drunk and trying to deny who he really was. It was a huge mistake and it's probably not even his child, but it is a possibility."
"You know you can always tell your sister. I'm curious. And I swear, what is said in Landview Mall stays in Landview mall."
"Promise?" Lucy asked, holding out his pinky.
"Pinky promise." Barbara agreed with a smile, linking her pinky with hers.
"It was Ash Ketchum."
She gasped and clasped both her hands over her mouth to keep from shouting out in utter shock. "Oh my…Ash Ketchum?"
"I had this crazy, drunken idea I could turn him straight." Lucy rolled her eyes. "I was stupid to ever think that. As soon as he finished he started looking like he was going to throw up or something. Then, he just grabbed his clothes and took off out of the bedroom like a bat out of hell."
"He didn't even watch you get dressed?" asked Barbara.
Her sister shook her head. "He stood outside in the hall begging me to get dressed and get out. He barely even looked at me the whole time we were having sex, but I didn't care at the time. Brock left me hanging, so I took off to Roady's to see what I could get and I found Ash."
"Wow." Barbara couldn't resist a giggle. "So are you going to get a paternity test done?"
"No way! Why would I do that? I'm going to pass it off as Brock's child anyway." Lucy stood in line at the Pretzel Shop, reminding herself not to overdo it on the salt.
"Well, you know, if you find out it's Ash's kid, that would really stick it to that little stuck up Misty." Barbara grinned deviously. "And if it is Brock's child, I bet that would piss her off even more."
"Why would that bother her?" Lucy asked, clueless.
"Oh, c'mon Lucy. Don't tell me you're that stupid. Misty totally has the hots for your husband. I'd watch him closely if I were you. He doesn't exactly have a reputation for being faithful."
Lucy laughed and shook her head. "Please, if he was going to cheat on me, it would have to be with someone prettier than me. And honestly, who is?"
"Me, but I'm married. " Barbara joked with a laugh. "Well, it's definitely not Misty."
"Exactly. Should I get cheese or mustard? I don't want to gain too much weight with this baby…" Lucy asked, rubbing her stomach thinking about how disgustingly huge she was going to be by the time this whole thing was over. Then, she thought about the paternity test she could get done. It would be discrete and even if it didn't come out the way she wanted it to, Brock didn't have to know.
It was just before sunset as Brock arrived home from his shift at the hospital. He didn't bother announcing his presents since he knew Lucy was gone and Misty was angry wit him. He did, however, find Misty sitting at the table nibbling on crackers and sipping ginger ale.
He stripped off his jacket and loosened his tie. "Hey…"
"Hey…" She spoke to him, but she didn't look too thrilled to see him.
"You…feeling OK?"
"I'm fine." She assured him, taking a sip out of the soda can. "Just a little nauseous because I'm pregnant…" Her tone was almost resentful and guilt washed over him again.
"Misty, listen, I don't want you to get upset--"
"It's too late for that!" She exclaimed, standing up for her chair, trying to ignore the terrible nauseous feeling that rolled around inside her belly. She stormed out of the kitchen and headed through the living room towards the staircase.
"Hey!" Brock chased after her and stopped her just as she put her foot onto the first step to make her escape. "You know if you get too upset and you lose the baby."
"Why do you care? You have another one with Lucy." Misty questioned him jerking her hand away. It was almost as if she was disgusted that he touched her and he thought about when she couldn't wait for him to touch her, to love her. He had her. She was so close to becoming his and even though she was carrying his child, she was more far away than ever.
"C'mon, you don't really think that I can just disregard one of my children, do you?" Brock looked up at her as she slowly climbed the stairs, backwards and still facing him.
"You disregard me!" She reasoned, her voice was unsteady with the treat of tears. She hated how she could never seem to hide her emotions that well. And he always seemed so emotionless and strong. Misty envied him.
"No, I haven't!"
"Yes you have! You think you can just have sex with me and Lucy at the same time and there be no consequences?" Her eyes welled up with tears. "I guess having my husband tell me he's gay after he marries me wasn't enough for you, was it? You had to go and make me fall in love with you and then do this, didn't you?"
"Misty, it wasn't like that."
"Just shut up and leave me alone! I'm going to look for a job."
"Oh no you're not."
"You can't tell me what to do!"
"You're staying right here with me." He gave her a heated look and pinned her against the wall, kissing her.
Misty hated herself for it, but she allowed herself to enjoy it. It had been building up for weeks. That desire, that sexual hunger. They had both been craving it but rarely had the opportunity to pursue it.
She unbuttoned his shirt as he kissed her. She didn't want to do it, but it was like he had taken control over her body. "I'm still mad at you…"
"That's the best time…" He pulled her up the stairs and led her into his bedroom, pushing her down on his bed and locking the door. She pulled him towards her with her eyes and he lifted her shirt up over her head and kissed every inch of skin he could reach.
Her skin tingled, her heart did back-flips and her entire body just quivered at the feel of his lips. "God, you don't know how bad I've wanted to do this." She felt him tug off her shorts.
"Oh, I think I do." He winked at her and left a trail of kisses down her legs and her scent intoxicated him.
Then, she heard his belt hit the floor and reality sank in. "Isn't this where you sleep with Lucy?"
"Yea." Brock replied, shrugging. "So?"
"So?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I can't have sex with you here. It's weird."
"Do you want to go running across the hall naked into your room then?"
"No."
He chuckled and leaned down to her. "Alright then."
This time, she resisted. "That doesn't mean I want to do it with you in here."
"Misty, c'mon…that's just wrong!" He let her sit up. "Your killing me! You get me all worked up and then you just walk away?"
"I'm not going to be used." She tugged her shirt from the bed and prepared to put it over her head, but he stopped her.
"You're not…" His dark eyes sparkled and she let her arms fall, letting her shirt fall to the bedroom floor. "I love you and…I have something to show you."
She stared back at him in bewilderment. "What?"
Brock dragged her back over to the bed and sat her down, then opened the drawer on his nightstand and pulled out the little black box. "Open it."
Misty hesitated for a moment. What was he up to this time? Was this just another ploy to get her to give into him? If curiosity hadn't gotten the best of her she would have slapped the box away and told him to go to hell, but she was intrigued by what he had planned.
He had always been such a fascinating man.
She was faintly aware she was sitting in front of him in just her skimpy lingerie.
Slowly, she opened the velvet box and looked in awe at what was inside. "Oh my God…"
"You like it?" He questioned, though he had already knew the answer by the way her eyes sparkled.
"I love it! It's beautiful!" Misty could hardly believe her eyes. Did he buy this for her? Surely, he could afford it but what was he planning to do with it? Ask her to marry him? No, you can't ask someone to marry you if you're already married, could you? So what was he up to?
She gave him a suspicious look. "Where did you get this?"
"Some jewelry store that probably isn't even in business anymore." Brock replied, leaning back against the headboard. "I bought it back before we graduated. For you."
Looking up at him, she shook her head in disbelief. "Don't lie."
"I'm not!"
"This is probably Lucy's."
"Look at the engraving."
"What?"
"Look at the engraving!" He repeated and she realized he was serious. She pulled the ring out of the box and looked at the inside of the band. Her name was beautiful handwritten, along with the word Forever and the year 1999.
She looked up at him. "You're…not lying."
"Remember what I told you that night at the beach? When you asked me if I loved you?" He took the ring from her and held her hand. "When I said I've always loved you…and I always will?"
Nodding, she watched him as he slipped the ring on her finger. It had slid right into place, right where her wedding ring used to be when she was married to Ash Ketchum just a few short months before. But this time, it felt right. It looked right. She felt a shiver creep down her spine.
"I meant it. And this is your proof." He leaned in closer to her and she felt his hands on her skin. She believed she had never been more in love with him than she was right now and she knew she just wanted to make love to him. No matter where it was at.
This time, she kissed him and pushed him backwards onto the bed, tugging down his boxer shorts and taking control of him like she had that first night they were together.
The closing of the front door caused them to jump apart.
"Shit!" Brock cursed and scrambled for his clothes. "Lucy's home."
"What do I do?"
"Go in the bathroom and get dressed. Don't come out until I tell you to, OK?" He ordered her and unlocked the door. He was almost dressed by the time Lucy appeared in the hallway.
She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hey, Sexy. I had a great time shopping with Barbara. I missed you though."
"I…I missed you too." He stammered a little and sat nervously on the bed. "Uh…you hungry?"
"I'm starved!" Lucy squealed happily. "Is that a hint you want to take me to dinner?"
"It sure is." He replied in mock happiness. "Hey, why don't you go start the car and I'll…I have to shave."
"Alright. Oh, but let me take a quick shower first…" Lucy headed towards the bathroom, but Brock quickly jumped in front of her.
He laughed. "Oh, no, you don't want to go in there."
"Why not?"
"I got a little hungry on the way home. You know how much I love gas station burritos….just trust me. You don't want to go in there."
Misty sat leaned against the door, grinning. He was such a bad liar.
"Oh, well, alright. I'll just take a shower when I get home then." She walked away from the door and Brock slumped his shoulders in relief, only to have his heart race even faster.
Just before she reached the door, something caught her eye and she stopped. "What's this?" She picked up a pair of light pink lance panties and dangled them in the air. "These aren't mine."
"Uh…uh…they're not?" He asked, his mouth suddenly went dry. "They…they look like yours."
"Ugh! Give me a break! Like I'd ever wear a size six…and this style! Ew! So last year!" She thought about what Barbara had said. Even though, at the mall, it had seemed ridiculously off the wall that Brock would ever cheat on her, especially with Misty, it didn't seem so farfetched now.
Misty tried hard to hold her anger in. Lucy could be such a snob sometimes.
"Oh, uh…well they might be mine." He tried his lame shot at comedy, but failed miserably.
"Don't be cute, Brock. They're Misty's aren't they?" She placed her hand on her hips and tapped her foot.
His entire body felt like it was on fire and he eyed the doorway. He could make a run for it if he wanted to. She wouldn't be able catch him. He could beg for forgiveness, but that would just make Misty angry with him all over again.
Brock soon realized he was pretty much out of options. "OK…yes. But I can explain."
"Tell her she needs to do her own laundry. She shouldn't make you do all the housework."
His mouth fell open. "Uh…OK. But…you make me do all the housework."
"That's different. I'm your wife."
"She's pregnant…"
"I am too!" She reminded him sourly. "Ugh! I'm so sick of you taking up for her! Forget dinner. I'm going out." Lucy grabbed her purse from the nightstand and fluffed her hair in the mirror.
"What?" Brock chased her out into the hall. "Lucy, c'mon! Don't…"
Lucy raced down the staircase and slammed the front door again, causing one of her priceless French paintings to slam against the wall. He walked back into the bedroom and Misty slowly creaked the door open.
"I'm sorry, Brock. That was all my fault."
"No, no. It wasn't, Sweetheart." He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Lucy overreacts like this all the time. Any excuse to fight with me she takes it."
"I'm still sorry…" Misty told him, looking up at him, then at the ring on her hand. It was beautiful and she almost felt undeserving of it. He must have worked really hard to buy this for her and all she could think about was Ash Ketchum all this time.
"Don't be." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Hey, that offer for dinner is still on the table. You want to go?"
"It was Lucy's offer not mine…"
"Well, I was going to take you along!" He told her with a laugh. "I wasn't going to let you starve. Besides, I'd much rather take a girl out who will actually eat her dinner, instead of pick it apart."
Come to think of it, she was starving. And come to think of it, she had been dying to go out on an actual date with Brock Harrison.
"I'd love to."
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