Chapter 105: Home At Last

Hath was glad to be home. She loved Lucy and Richie, but it’d been a tough few days. Whenever Richie came into the room, if Hath was by herself, she’d make some excuse to leave. She didn’t feel comfortable being alone in the room with him. She felt sure that he could tell he had some effect on her, because he wasn’t razzing her about it , and she didn’t want to deal with that. He was being so polite and kind and accommodating, and it made her sick to her stomach. She felt like such a fraud. She wasn’t overtly rude, but she knew that Lucy noticed something was wrong. Hath was grateful her friend chalked it up to pregnancy hormones.

The whole plane ride home, she was subdued, and actually slept most of the flight. David looked over at her several times, all curled up against the wall of the plane. When he tried to gather her into his arms, she stiffened, so he let her go. She feigned sleep in the car on the way home, so she wouldn’t have to talk about what was bothering her. “This is what depression feels like,” she thought.

When they got home Saturday afternoon, Hath wanted nothing to do with anything. Not even David. No amount of coaxing, joking, or cajoling could get a smile from her. David was distraught. He didn’t know what was wrong, and she wouldn’t tell him. She told him she was tired, and he wanted to believe her, but there was no light in her eyes.

That night, she curled up and went to sleep before David even came into the room. He sat on the side of the bed and stroked her hair back from her face. He loved her so much, and it was killing him that she wouldn’t talk to him about what was bothering her.

He got on the boards for a little while and talked to the girls. Stephanie asked if he had plans for Mother’s Day for Hath. David smiled, thinking about the jewelry he had purchased.

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
I've actually got a plan for her. Breakfast in bed (yeah, I can do eggs, and she likes eggs so....) I got her beautiful diamond pave earrings. They're white gold hearts, four of them cascading in a line. They're really pretty. She's having a leisurely day if it kills her.

NINERGIRL:
That sounds like you planned the perfect day for her and the earrings sound lovely. I'm sure she'll love it!

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
Christ I hope so. She hasn't been herself for a couple days. I think the
stuff with Jon and Richie overwhelmed her a little. Did she tell you about that?

NINERGIRL:
Oh she told me. I thought the prank was hysterical. I just didn't figure it would get to her like it did. Was she okay for the rest of your visit?

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
Lucy and I thought so, too, and Hath came around, but she wouldn't look at Richie the whole day after the prank. She avoided him like the plague. Like, if he came in the room, she "wasn't feeling well" and had to go lie down.

She was never so happy to get on a plane as she was today.

NINERGIRL:
Must come from her being a long-time Richie girl and now she's with you and her dear friend is engaged to him. That's the only reason I can think why it would have bothered her so much. She'll be okay. Just give her some time.

David’s heart stopped. Is this what it was all about? She was a RichieGirl (the thought turned his stomach; his beautiful Hath with his friend) and she maybe thought she was “settling”? He never thought about that before. Shit, he wanted to cry.

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
Do you think she regrets that? That it's me and not him she's with??

NINERGIRL:
Not at all and I didn't mean to insinuate that. I'm sorry. Hath loves you fiercely, don't ever doubt that.

Do you remember when we met backstage last November and Richie kissed her? She said it was more "oh my god Richie Sambora kissed me" feeling but then there was nothing after that. With you, something just "clicked". She feels that "oh my god" thing, all the time.

He felt a little better, hearing, well seeing, Stephanie say that. He smiled, remembering back to that night in November.

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
Yeah, I remember that night. Rich doesn't let me forget he got to kiss her first. It was an "oh my god" thing for me, too. Do you know I badgered Rich for like an hour to get Hath's room number? I just kept calling him until he told me just to shut me up. Lucy was ready to slaughter me. *sigh*

OK, I choose to believe you, because the alternative is just too scary to think about. I just hope you're right...

NINERGIRL:
I know I'm right. She loves you David, don't ever doubt that. You can see it every time she looks at you.

An hour, really? I didn't know that. I'm surprised Richie didn't kill you himself.

I_HEART_THE_GIANTS:
Ha ha ha, yeah, he was NOT happy with me, but I wasn't leaving him alone until he told me. Best thing I ever did.

Stephanie, as usual, was very helpful and wonderful, and David wanted to do something really nice for her. She listened to all his shit, even back before he and Hath were engaged. She listened to him whine and complain and gave great advice, and never once made him feel like an idiot. She was a very special woman, and wanted to figure out a way to repay her generosity of spirit. He’d have to think on that one.

A little after midnight, David crept into their bedroom. Hath was sleeping, huddled on the edge of the bed. Whatever was bothering her, was even plaguing her in her sleep. She was a cuddler, and usually, if she fell asleep before he came to bed, she’d be curled up with his pillow. Not tonight. Sighing, David shucked his clothes and climbed into bed next to his almost-bride.

He stroked her hair, smoothing it down her back and murmured to her, “Hath, my love, I wish you’d talk to me.” He wrapped an arm around her expanding waist, cradling his children, and sighed. Unseen by him, tears leaked from Hath’s eyes. A few minutes later, Hath felt David gently shake her. “Sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.

“Mmmm?” Hath said, glad her tears had dried.

“Happy Mother’s Day, my love,” he said, and nuzzled her neck.

Hath turned, fresh tears shining in her eyes. “Thank you, baby,” she said, and kissed him tenderly. The electricity from his kiss went through her body, and she sighed. David slowly and gently made love to this mom-to-be, and when his name slipped from her lips on a breath as she came, he kissed her lovingly as he exploded inside her.

“I love you so much,” David said to her, brushing the hair back from her face.

“I love you more,” Hath said with a sad smile.

“Are you okay?” David asked.

Hath nodded. “I’m fine, baby.” She laid a hand on David’s cheek. “I love you.”

David smiled, then ruined it by yawning. Hath giggled, and David’s heart lightened. He knew his girl was in there somewhere, he just had to draw her out again.

Hours later, Hath woke to the smell of coffee and eggs. She opened her eyes and saw David standing there in the doorway with a tray laden with breakfast things. Hath hadn’t been hungry much lately, but seeing David standing there with that goofy grin, and the lone rose in a bud vase tucked in between the eggs and fruit, she found herself suddenly ravenous.

“What is all this?” Hath asked.

“This, my dear, is breakfast,” he answered. He cocked his head. “Why, what does it look like?”

Hath smiled. “It looks wonderful. Come here, you.”

David came into the room and set the tray down on the night stand. He sat next to Hath on the bed and gathered her into his arms. She went willingly, and he cradled her head against his heart. “Hear that?” he asked her. When he felt her nod against him, he said, “That’s for you. My heart. It beats only for you. I love you.”

Hath’s arms tightened around his waist, and she turned her head to kiss his heart. “I love you too. More than anything in this world.” At that moment, the babies kicked, making them laugh. “Well, maybe not more than the LJs.”

David rubbed Hath’s abdomen, saying good morning to his children. He took a small box out of his pocket and handed to Hath.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” she said.

“I wanted to. Open it.”

Hath opened the box. Inside were diamond earrings, nestled in a bed of white satin. The earrings were four hearts strung together with delicate links. The top and bottom heart were covered in pave diamonds. “They’re gorgeous!” she exclaimed and immediately put them on.

“They’re for us,” David said. “The two big hearts, the one on the top and bottom, that’s us. The little ones in the middle are the LJs.”

Hath’s eyes teared up, and she wrapped her arms around David’s neck. “How on Earth do I deserve you?” she said, sobbing.

“Hey now, no crying,” David said, rubbing small circles on Hath’s back. “You are a wonderful person. I have no idea what I did right to deserve you, but I thank the stars every day that you’re here.”

They kissed tenderly, then David laid Hath’s breakfast tray across her lap. She suddenly wasn’t hungry anymore.