Chapters 3 & 4

 

 

Chapter 3 Stars In their Eyes Moons On their Faces

 

"This is what you were talkin' about?" Lois' voice carries through the
night air.

Ned smiles, the sound of her voice warming him more then he wanted it
to. "Do you have a problem with that?"

She turns to him and smiles. "Nah. No problem."

They wait in line at "Nathan's" hot dog stand, still selling the best
hot dogs on the Boardwalk at Coney Island. The lights of the park glow
around them. From the white lights strung through the trees to the
colored lights glowing from the Cyclone, an air of contentment surrounds
them. The screams of the Cyclone's passengers is comforting, adding to
the illusion that this was a different place the rest of the world, a
magic place. A place where dreams could come true.

"So, what'll it be?" Ned waits patiently while she makes up her mind.

"One dog, with everythin'," she pronounces finally.

Ned places the order along with two large orders of fries, and two
cokes. After the order is paid for, he sits with Lois and Brooke on the
edge of the Boardwalk, watching the people walk by in the night. He
hands her a hot dog, and Brooke a few fries to munch on. "One dog, with
everything, hold the onions."

She looks amazed at him. "You remembered? I thought I was gonna have to
eat onions tonight 'cause I forgot."

"Some things, you don't forget. I've found the little things tend to
linger more than the big things." The sadness in his voice pulls at her
heart.

They sit in a silence that's neither comfortable, or unpleasant. While
they eat, Brooke babbles nonsensical things between them. Ned finishes
off the last of his hot dog, carrying the plate to the trash, then
moving to sit by her again. "Look at those people over there."

Lois' head snaps up and she focuses where he indicates. Two people, a
man and a woman, sit side by side with their fingers laced together.
Nothing's outwardly provocative about their position, yet there's an
implied intimacy surrounding them, nonetheless. An air of "This person
is mine" clearly attached. "What about 'em?"

"They just look happy. Really happy. Like they don't have a care in the
world. I just find that fascinating." The sadness in his voice is
obvious.

"Maybe they are happy. I remember the emotion vaguely." She picks
absently at her fries, not even aware of exactly what she's saying, or
what it gives away. "Maybe they're madly in love with one another,
planning a future, that sure nothing and no one could ever tear apart.
Maybe they'll be able to stop the ride at the top, and just stay up in
the clouds. Maybe they'll be able to keep that starry-eyed look in their
eyes, and the moonlight shining down on their faces.." Her eyes meet his
over Brooke. "Who knows, maybe nothing ever will touch them."

The suspicious moisture in her eyes makes Ned want to wrap his arms
around her. But he knows it won't help. It would simply complicate an
already impossibly tangled situation. So instead he maneuvers Brooke's
stroller and offers his hand to Lois. She hesitates, and he sighs.
"C'mon Lois. Trust me."

"Uh-oh." Her tone is only half kidding. She takes his hand, and he pulls
her up, leading them all towards a small booth in the middle of the
Boardwalk. "What's this?"

He smiled slightly at her. "It's a face painting booth. I always wanted
to get this done when I was a kid but I never had the guts, because any
mark on your body at any time was strictly prohibited at St. Swithens. "
He walks up to the woman sitting behind the booth.

"Hello." Her smile encompasses them all. "What can I do for you
tonight?"

"I'd like to give this lovely lady the moon and the stars." He turns to
face Lois, eyes twinkling.

She wants to say no. She wants to pretend this isn't happening. She
knows she shouldn't let it happen. But what the hell. It was only a
night. One night. Brooke's birthday. And she wants is to get her face
painted.

"A very generous gift indeed." The woman behind the booth stands,
pointing to the various paints on a little table. "Would the lady like
silver moons and stars, or white moons and stars?"

Lois smiles mischievously. "Well, the lady would like whateva' the
gentleman is having."

Ned's eyes snap around to her. "Oh no. This is your--"

"No nothin' Ashton. You don't do it, I don't do it." Her eyes hold a
challenge. "C'mon Ashton. Loosen up. Live the life you want for once."

Ned knew her words referred to more then having his face painted. But
perhaps this was a first start. He reluctantly breaks eye contact with
her, facing the woman in the booth again. "Silver."

Lois smiles as Ned tucks Brooke into her crib. He brushes his fingers
lightly down her forehead, taking the most exquisite care of her. The
peacefulness, the beauty of the moment brings tears to Lois' eyes.
Tearing her eyes away from the scene, she walks quickly to her own room,
leaving the door open so Ned could find her. It doesn't take him long.

"God Lois, she's such an angel. She fell asleep almost immediately." He
smiles joyfully at her.

She walks over to the doorway, a few feet between them. "I know. It's
amazin' sometimes. She's just " a long thoughtful pause. "She's just
perfect." Both laugh a little ruefully.

"She had to be perfect you know." Ned states the fact blandly.

"That so?" Lois picks at imaginary lint on her clothes.

"That's so." His eyes are boring into her.

"Why?" She faces him, gasping at the look in his eyes. It's like he can
see her soul. He probably could.

Ned moves so that he's only a few inches from her body. "She's your
daughter, isn't she?" Smiling, he brings his hand up, lightly brushing
the hair from her face. He notices the little intricate moons and stars
drawn along her hair line, down her jaw, one crescent moon on her chin.
He traces the path with his fingers.

Lois lets out a shuddering breath. "Ned " She licks her lips. "I feel
like I'm sixteen years old again." She giggles a little self
consciously.

Ned brings his forehead to rest against hers. "Me too." Neither can stop
smiling, nor can they keep the joyful, childlike tone from their voices.
"Except I never felt this alive when I was sixteen."

"I think you're holdin' me too close," Lois whispers.

"How close is too close, Lois?" Ned's lips brush her jaw.

"Ned, you know what I mean ." His mouth places soft butterfly kisses on
her eyelids, his breath moves across her hairline, over the moons and
stars, not making contact, just stimulating the skin.

"No, I don't." He pulls her body firmly against his, his lips inches
from hers. "You see Lois, I can never hold you close enough. Never."

"But you're holdin' me too close for my sanity right now. I mean it."
She bites her bottom lip.

"Don't do that." His thumb moves to her lower lip, gently releasing it
from her teeth, then rubbing softly against it. Lois' eyes flutter shut.
Ned places his lips to her jaw, then to each corner of her mouth.
Without thinking, Lois' hands run through his hair, causing him to
shiver. Then they tighten their arms around the other, almost
instinctively. Ned brings his head back around to face her, and sees her
bottom lip is between her teeth again. "I said don't do that." His voice
takes on a harsh, almost primal tone. "I can't think straight when you
do that."

Before Lois speaks, his lips are on hers. Gentle, passionate,
persuasive. And God help her, she kisses him back. She doesn't stop him
when the kiss deepens, and goes on and on. She doesn't stop him when he
begins to strip her clothes off, piece by piece, in fact, she helps him,
with her clothes and his. And she doesn't stop him as he presses her
against the cool sheets, covering her body with his, and soaring with
her into the stars.

 

Chapter 4: A Promise Made To Be Broken

 

"Ahhhh!" Lois' scream gravitates down the hallway.

Ned wipes her forehead with a cold damp wash cloth, trying to soothe her
as best he could. "Sweetheart, breathe. Just breathe in and out, deep
cleansing bre--"

"You breath!" Lois snaps angrily. "I just wanna go home. "The anger
leaves as quickly as it came, to be replaced by fear and exhaustion. "I
just ." She pants softly, and closes her eyes. "I just wanna go home
now. It's been .."

"Seven hours," Ned replies helpfully.

"Seven hours." Lois looks at him in disbelief. "Just seven hours?"

Smiling slightly, Ned helps her roll to her side, gently rubbing her
lower back. "Yes. Seven excruciating hours, for you. I know it seems
like longer Baby. But it's only been seven hours."

"Damn straight it seems like lo--Ohhhh." Lois moans blissfully. "That
feels so good."

Ned kisses her shoulder lightly, then continues to rub her back. "Would
you like me to go on with my story?"

Lois smiles, despite the pain. "Ya, I'm dyin' to hear what happens
next."

"Well, I'm afraid it just gets worse. You see, the next morning, the
beautiful but frightened Queen threw the King out of her bedroom,
claiming all that happened the night before was a mistake, something
never to be repeated." Ned pauses, awaiting some response from her.

"Stupid woman," Lois mutters.

A grin breaks out across Ned's face. "I wouldn't say stupid. Just
scared." He places another loving kiss between her shoulder blades. "But
that's not all. The Queen makes the King promise to sign their divorce
papers, ending the marriage. She says they'll be ready in six weeks.
Just sign them."

"And does the King agree?" Lois' voice is whimsical, at the same time
it's sad.

"He does." Ned tilts his head slightly, as if only arriving at his next
conclusion this very moment. "He promises her because he wants her to be
happy, and he believes, at the time, it's best that he leave her be." A
rakish grin breaks out over his face. "But, it appeared this promise was
made to be broken ."

7 1/2 Months Earlier

Lois sits at her Mother's kitchen table. Gloria holds her hand tightly,
staring into her eyes. "Baby you know whatever you decide, I'll support
you. But he has a right to know." Gloria gets up, placing a kiss on
Lois' forehead as she walks away. Lois sighs deeply.

She has to tell him. God knows she doesn't want to, but there's no other
way around it. He has a right to know. And, a small voice inside of her
chimes in, you want him to know. You want to share this with him, for it
to be different. You want him to be different.

Lois ruthlessly pushes all thoughts of happily ever after to the back of
her mind. She can't have faith or hope right now. Those emotions are far
too risky. Nothing has changed. He's still a Quartermaine. All her
reasons for leaving in the first place are still firmly in place. She
blinks away the moisture in her eyes and steels herself to call him.



Ned sits at the gatehouse, staring down at the desk. Staring at the
divorce papers. He fights an internal battle with himself. He doesn't
want to sign them. He doesn't want his marriage to be over. He doesn't
want to close the book on Lois and Ned. He knows he has to though.
Because it's what she wants. It's what will make her happy.

Ned Ashton has finally learned the meaning of true love. Her happiness
and her life, are more important than his. And if Lois wants a divorce,
Lois gets a divorce. Besides, he's tired of fighting, tired of hoping,
tired of living a fantasy. He isn't Eddie Maine. He will never be Eddie
Maine. He is Ned Ashton, and he has to start acting like it. He has to
let go of these fanciful notions, and get his mind back on business.

Emotionally exhausted, Ned takes his pen out. With a hand that shakes
only slightly, he signs his name to the papers. He'll have Alexis file
them first thing in the morning. The ringing of the phone rips him from
his thoughts.

"Ashton." He answers a bit sharper then is normal.

"Ned, it's me." Lois' voice on the other end sounds small and scared.

"Lois what is it? What's wrong?" Ned feels the hair on the back of his
neck stand on end.

"Um, I don't know how to say this." She sounds ready to cry.

"Lois, did something happen to Brooke?" Ned tries to keep his voice
calm, trying not let the blind terror that has just seized him come
through.

"Brooke's fine." Lois seems to take control of herself. "This isn't
about Brooke. This is about what happened to us. Six weeks ago."

Ned's eyebrows draw together in confusion. "You mean Brooke's birthday?"

"What happened after " Lois can't bring herself to even say it out loud.
So far, she's almost been able to pretend it never happened. Saying out
loud would shatter that illusion.

"You mean when we made love." Ned tries to figure out where she's going
with this.

"Ya, that." Lois' tone is hurried, trying to move past the obvious.
"Somethin' I mean What I'm tryin' to say, is "

"Lois, just spit it out." Ned is growing exasperated. He wants to know
what the hell's wrong.

"I'm pregnant." Lois bites her lip as the silence across the other end
of the line stretches out. "Ned?"

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Ned's voice is unsure and shocked.

"I'm pregnant. I'm six weeks along. I went to the Doctor's today, after
I took one of those home pregnancy things. He says everything's
progressing normally, that I'm fine, and the baby's fine." Lois knows
she's rambling, but can't seem to stop. "It's yours. Obviously. There,
um, hasn't been anyone else ."

The cordless phone rests crooked on Ned's shoulder, his hand scrubbing
over his eyes, through his hair, back down his face, as he tries to
process this. She's pregnant. Lois is having his baby. Again. A small
smile plays along the edge of his mouth. His entire world shifts and
clarifies in that brief moment. A definitive moment. "Lois, I'll be
there tomorrow morning. I just have a few loose ends to tie up here."

Lois' eyes get wide. No, it can't happen. He can't be here. She can't
see him. "Ned, no. You promised "

"Promised what?" His face reflects his confusion.

"You promised you'd sign those papers and that you'd leave me alone."
She grasps onto the flimsy excuse like a drowning woman.

Ned sighs, understanding where she was coming from, but hating it
nonetheless. "Well I'm sorry but all bets are off Sweetheart."

Lois begins to panic again. "But you promised--"

"Lois, listen to me." Ned pauses, ensuring he has her complete attention
first. "The rules of the game have changed drastically since I made that
promise."

"Nothing's changed," Lois counters. "We will simply be raising two
children apart, instead of one."

"No." Ned shakes his head, a stubborn tilt to his chin. "This is a sign.
If you could see me right now.." Ned chuckles as he stares down at the
freshly signed divorce papers. "It's a sign, Lois." The words are spoken
more confidently this time. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Ned hangs up on her protests. He can't listen to them right now. He has
more important things to do. He picks up the divorce papers, lightly
tracing his fingers over her signature. Smiling slightly, he places his
fingers at the top, and prepares to rip the documents.

They don't rip. Puzzled, he looks at them. Ah. Too thick, not to mention
the carbon paper. Ned, never one to be detoured once his mind is set on
a goal, lifts up the waste basket and drops the papers in it. He
produces a match box from the top desk drawer and strikes one match.
Holding the basket in front of him, he drops the match in, his smile
widening as the papers burn.

This too is a sign. A sign that while winning his wife back won't be
easy, with a little ingenuity, it can be done.