CHAMPION

Leave Me Misunderstood

"Are you excited?" Erika asked him, "For...?" Jake asked keeping his eyes on the road, "The spa! We should go to dinner afterwards" Erika suggested, Jake shrugged, "As long as were home before late," He said, Erika frowned, thinking of how he'd been leaving so much lately, "Why, are you working?" Erika asked, "No, I want to be at the house before late" Jake answered bluntly, Erika paused herself instead of pressing, instead deciding to try and figure where she was taking him for his birthday.

"Wouldn't you like to vacation on the beaches sometime?" Erika asked, as Jake turned on the street the beauty spa, "The beach?" Jake questioned frowning, "We're in LA, the beach is everywhere" He pointed out, "Hmm, somewhere cold then? A change if secenary?" Erika suggested, Jake shrugged as he manuvered to park the car.

It wasn't much, but she felt like she'd somewhat pinned down a spot, if she took him where the snow was, they could snow board, ski, cuddle by the fire...Erika hopped out of the car quickly getting beside Jake grabbing his hand before he went in the spa, Jake looked down at her noticing her hand, Erika smiled back at him, before getting shocked when Jake leaned down leaving a warm kiss on her cheek, making her blush a bit; It was their dating days all over again, and she couldn't pin what Jake must have been feeling, he was so distant, yet now doing small affectionate things like that, she just wasn't expecting.

"Welcome! What can we-" One of the lady's spoke coming over to greet the costumers, she got a bit startled seeing Jake standing there, with his serious icy demenor, but she tried to brush it off, "Couples spa and massage treatment?" Erika told the lady, noticing the discomfort and rushing to speak before Jake opened his mouth and began tormenting the lady, "Right this way," The Lady spoke guiding them further in the classy little place.

Jake and Erika had gotten through their date of the spa and dinner together, it was pretty pleasant to Erika for the most part, she enjoyed spending time with Jake, and she knew he liked being with her- even if he had a awkward way of showing it, but still, her heart was throwing up warnings...

Erika sat at her white vainty, most of the lights were out now leaving the mansion softly lit, Erika had her pyjama's on now; cloth frilly booty shorts, along with a matching silk tanktop, and slippers on her feet.

Erika sighed softly as she guided her brush bristles through her hair,

smoothing it out, it was time for bed, and again Jake was gone, when night fell, in always reminded her that they had problems, even if they tried to hide from them, they were there...And if Jake didn't want to address them, she would have to help him get it out, like only she could do...

With a soft click, the lights were dead on her vanity, and Erika was heading from their bathroom back to the empty bed, she flopped down on it looking up at the ceiling, she was prepared to fall asleep along again, craving Jake's touch...But just as she was fluttering her eyes closed, a thought came to her head 'If she wanted to help Jake, shouldn't she figure out what was wrong first?'

With her own encouragement Erika was on her feet again, goosebumps running along her arms as she made her way out of the bedroom in search of her husband. Erika wasn't fully convinced what she'd saw a night ago was real, but half of that was just her hoping it wasn't...

Again, the dead silence of the dark mansion was sliced through when Erika heard music again, by the same room designed like a nursery, only this time, what left a pit in her stomach, was the familiar sound that went along with with the usual music.

Erika got closer, the sound was pulling her in, even though her body was warning her to stop, she crept closer and closer, placing her hands on the door once more, her chest heating and stomach churning, she placed her ear against the ajar door, hear the song.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are..."

 Erika heard the hushed voice go along to the tune, she brought one hand to her heart, as her eyes mist with tears.

Erika had heard Jake sing before, but it was always party or aggressive music, only for entertainment and show- but somehow, the way he did it now sounded so different, so pure, she'd never really heard him sound so calm and gentle, after everything they'd been through, and really getting to know him, she couldn't help but get emotional hearing this side of him, she almost forgot existed.

All her pressing trying to hear more of his voice, she accidentally pushed the door open too far, she gasped a bit as she was taken out of the bittersweet blissful state.

Jake and Erika soon locked eyes, Erika's wide and nervous, while Jake's eyes looked tired but a bit surpised, as he looked up from the blanket he was looking down into.

"Erika?" Jake whispered sending shudders through her.

Even with the quiet music playing in the charming little nursery, the room felt eerie, dimly lit, with the sounds of Erika's gentle nervous breathing filling it as her and Jake stared at each other...Something about the calmness on his face made her and the rest of the room feel uneasy.

"Did he wake you up?" Jake whispered leaning towards Erika a little, getting her out of her daze, "He? Who...?" Erika questioned, Jake arched an eyebrow before chuckling quietly, "Jax" Jake responded making a cold shudder rip through Erika's body, from the sound of her departed son's name, Jax's name was one she kept close in her heart but out of her mouth, she'd made her peace with the situation being a firm believer that everything happened for a reason...

But now, being up so late, Jake staring at her with the words that left his mouth, and the look of her face, she knew for a fact something was horribly wrong...