Chapter 23: Chapter 23

On the drive back to Lunar's dorm, I try to think of all the right things to say.

How to let her know how sorry I am...I truly am.

I feel guilty...terrible.

By the time I park my car and head into the building, I'm positive of what to say to her but before I can knock on the door, it swings open and she's standing there with her roommate.

"Nathan."

"Lu." I say and she stares at me blankly.

"What are you doing here?" She asks and I suddenly can't remember a single word of the perfect apology I had.

LUNAR'S P.O.V

"What are you doing here?" I ask Nathan, still in shock.

It took all the willpower I had not to hug him.

Not to throw myself on him and tell him I was just glad to see him and I didn't care about the argument.

My stupid hormones were playing tricks on me and I have to remind myself I'm angry at him.

"Lunar, I'm so sorry." He says sincerely, his eyes fixed on mine and I don't say anything.

Why did he have to feel remorseful so soon?

Why couldn't he let me stay mad at him.

"Please, Lu. I shouldn't have said what I said--"

"But you said it and that's that. At least I know how you feel about--"

"Lunar, please. I know I said stupid things but I didn't mean them, I swear. That's not how I feel about you and the baby, I just said that because I was acting out and I panicked."

"You think I wasn't panicking too?" I say, surprised at how soft and sad I sound.

I was tired of fighting.

"I was scared and I didn't know the first thing to do....I just needed you to be there but--"

"But I was being an asshole. I know. I know I was being selfish and I didn't think of what you went through. I know I said the wrong things and I didn't act like I care. But I care, baby." He says and my lip quivers.

"You said I was a handful and...You yelled at me."

"I know baby, I'm so sorry." He says softly and I shake my head.

"But this doesn't even change anything. You're not ready Nathan and I'm not going to guilt trip you to do what you don't want. No matter how much I need you. You don't even want the baby---"

"I do, I do, of course I do." He takes my hands in his.

"I want the baby and I want you. I said I wasn't ready because I let the panic get the best of me. I know I have no idea how to go about it but I'd rather go through this with you. I want to hold your hand and stick with you every step of the way." He says and I blink back my tears.

"You do?"

"Yes, Lu. I do. That's why I want you to come back. Please. Come and live with me so I can properly take care of you, be with you, for you." He says.

"You...You want me to move in?" I ask and he nods.

"Yes."

"But Nathan, I...I don't even know where to start. We've just dated for two months and this is all happening so fast and I don't know what I'm doing---"

"Hey."

"I don't know how to handle this---"

"Hey, look at me." He says calmly and lifts my chin to look at him.

"It is happening fast, I know. And we never planned for this and we're going to be winging this along the way but you know what? I may not know how to completely deal with this but I want to deal with this with you. I want you next to me. I want to hold your hair up when you have morning sickness and put the pillow below your feet when they start to get swollen. I want to watch your baby bump grow and help you down the stairs. I want to hold your hand during the ultrasound and be with you when we know the gender. I want to make you all sorts of breakfast and massage your feet till you sleep. And I'll let you eat all the pickles you want." He says and I sniffle a chuckle.

"I want to be there for you, Lu. It's our baby. You're not alone, so long as you have me. You're never alone. Okay?" He asks and I nod.

"Okay." I say.

"So will you come stay with me? Please?" He asks, his pleading eyes on me.

I turn to Tess and she shrugs, smiling.

"You were already technically living there, Lu. Besides, you can't resist all that." She says and I turn back to Nathan.

"Okay. I'll move in."

"Okay?"

"Okay." I confirm and he pulls me into a hug.

"I love you so much." He says and I relax against the comfort of him.

"I love you too."

We stay in the position for a while, with Nathan breathing into my hair when Tess clears her throat.

"I'm really sorry to break this up,  but if we don't hurry, we are gonna miss our appointment." She says and I move away now.

"Oh my God, that's true." I say and Nathan looks confused.

"Where are you going?" He asks and I smile at him.

"Prenatal care. I have to do a scan and some tests and...well, you'll find out if you come." I say and he chuckles.

"Like you have to ask."

*****

It was almost hard to believe Nathan was the one that drove us to the hospital and registered my name for the prenatal care.

Held my hand during ultrasound.

Took all the nutrition and pregnancy pamphlets...even bought the book 'pregnancy for dummies'.

The same Nathan that said he wasn't ready for the annoying late night cries of a baby....And maybe he still wasn't.

But he was trying.

And that's all that mattered.

"When are we going to get the rest of my stuff?" I ask after Tess leaves and he helps me into his apartment.

"Tomorrow. But, I don't want to stress you today. Today is about you, Lu. Just you." He says and opens the door for me, with his hand gently around my waist as he helps me inside.

"Nathan I'm just 6 weeks pregnant, you are acting like I'm already in labour." I joke as I turn around in his arms to face him.

"I just want to show you that---"

"I know." I say and he smiles, then leans down a little to kiss me.

His kisses that I've missed so much. I pull him close and accept all of him, letting a blanket of emotions and feelings for him consume me.

"Lu..." he whispers my name and I sigh as I kiss him more, passion climbing with need.

Nathan's hands go lower below my waist and I take off my jacket, suddenly feeling hot.

Every touch from him burned in the best way.

"Wait..wait." he pants as he pulls away a little to rest his forehead on mine.

"No?" I ask and he smiles, staring into my eyes.

"Not now. Not yet." He says then tucks a lock of hair behind my ear.

"How about we go out to dinner first. I'll take you somewhere fancy and nice with an amazing buffet, so I can spend some quality time staring at your beautiful eyes. You're still my girlfriend, not just my baby mama." He says and I smile brightly.

A date.

Tonight?

"I would love to." I say and he pecks me on my forehead.

"Good. I'll call to make the reservation." He says and heads into the bedroom and I sit on the couch.

I needed something very attractive to wear. It has been a while since Nathan and I went out and the past couple of days had too much tension.

With that thought in mind, I call Tess.

If sexy was the mission, Tess was the person I could rely on.

*****

"Lu?" I hear Nathan call from the living room where I told him to stay put as I uncurl my hair and brush out the bouncy locks.

"Lunar, are you ready?" He calls again and I move back to stare at myself in the mirror.

The purple gown was handless and clung to my waist and breasts very provocatively, exposing my voluptuous cleavage. And the rest of the tight gown went from my waist to my calves, with a slit drawing up the right side and  stopping mid-thigh.

Tess was a genius.

"You know, making me wait out here while you get ready is not exactly fa---" Nathan abruptly stops and stares at me when I walk out of his room.

"Oh my God." He says and I giggle.

His jaw was hanging open and he gaped openly at me, making me unable to hide my blush.

I thought I was being too extra with the hair and the makeup and the gown....but his expression is worth it.

Nathan walks closer to me now.

"Lu, you...." he trails off, his eyes on mine.

"What?" I ask.

"You take my breath away every time." He says and I smile.

"Are you ready?" He asks, linking my arm around his and I nod.

"Yeah."

NATHAN'S P.O.V

If Lunar was dressed like this for a mission then she had definitely accomplished it.

Seeing her in that clingy, velvety smooth purple gown was all it took to have my mind frazzled.

And my thoughts corrupted.

Now all I can think of is her.

Her without that dress.

When had she gotten this sexy? Was it the pregnancy?

I try to focus on the road but it's hard to do that when she's caressing my other hand with her soft fingers and her cleavage moving with every sway of the car.

Dammit Lu.

"You're awfully quiet, is everything okay?" She asks and I turn to smile at her briefly.

"It couldn't be better." I say and she smiles, her eyes sparkling.

I successfully get to the restaurant and stop in front, where I hand the key to a valet and help Lunar out of the car.

She stares in awe at the restaurant.

"You got a reservation here?" She asks as we walk into the Italian restaurant and hands her coat to the lady at the door.

"I wanted the best for you." I say to her just as we approach the receptionist.

"Jackson. Private booth." I say to the lady and she smiles.

"Of course, Mr. Jackson. Right this way." She says and leads us pass the numerous tables into an elevator.

Then to the 3rd floor where it opens to the VIP booth, with the roof and the walls completely glass and the table decorated just as I requested, with the lights in the room dimmed to perfection and the flowers arranged in order around the room.

I watch Lunar walk ahead, taking it all in as we head to our table.

There are four waiters at the corners of the room and the minute we sit down, they pour champagne for me and glass of sparkling water for Lunar.

Then they place the complimentary appetizers.

"Pecorino tortas con salsa di pomodoro." The waiter announces the appetizer and Lunar giggles out loud.

"Grazie. Lo apprezziamo veramente." She says to him, shocking me and the waiter instantly. The man smiles at her, suddenly pleased.

"Prego." He says and leaves.

I turn to her.

"Wait...how did you....?"

"I took Italian lessons as a kid and they just stuck." She says as she slices the pecorino and dips it in the salsa before putting it in her mouth.

"Oh, its so good." She says and I give her a teasing look.

"I'm beginning to think I'll have to challenge that waiter to brawl in winning your heart." I tease and she laughs.

"Thank you, Nathan. This is all so amazing." She says and I hold her hand across the table.

"I'm glad you love it." I say to her.

We eat the amazing appetizer and the rest of the dinner with Lunar taking extras and defensively saying she is eating for two.

Watching her eat, laugh, joke under the stars, with the dim candlelight reflecting on her face submerged me with feelings of the moment.

With her.

My beautiful Lunar.

As the slowmusic plays in the background, I watch her wipe her mouth after dessert and I get up and walk over to her.

She blinks at me.

"Are we leaving already?" She asks sincerely and I chuckle and reach out my hand for her.

"May I have this dance?" I ask.

"Nathan, the waiters are watching us." She whispers shyly, taking my hand and I gently lift her up and close to me.

"Let them look." I say to her, enjoying the feel of her soft, curvy body on mine and her eyes fixed on mine.

"I'm so glad you're here. With me." She says softly as we sway in gentle harmony across the room.

"Where else would I be?"  I mutter softly and watch her cheeks go red as she leans up a bit and plants a kiss on my lips.

"Thank you." She whispers and rests her head on my shoulders, sweeping her arms around my neck and I place my hands around her waist, feeling every bit of her.

LUNAR'S P.O.V

I let Nathan guide us across the room according to the soft music and I surrender completely to the moment and the feeling.

It was amazing. Being here with him, close to him.

We dance like that, me pressed up against him, breathing him in and letting the feel of him stir needs within me.

I hear Nathan make that deep, guttural groan after a while just as I feel him pressing against my lower abdomen...firm and prominent and I bite my lip.

Oh how I need him.

How I want this. Now.

To be alone with him and feel him within me.

"Lu..." Nathan says my name in that low, deep voice of his and I look up at him.

His eyes are dark and fixed on mine...sending me one message.

He leans close.

"We have to go." He says. The intensity of his voice drawing up needs.

I nod, unable to speak. Within minutes he settles the bill and we head back to the apartment.