Phoenix Falling

Chapter 8

I jerked awake to the sound of a loud banging.  Someone was pounding on the front door and I had a horrible feeling that I knew exactly who it was.  Confirming my fears I heard Connor’s voice. 

“Get out here you piece of s**t!”

Liam jumped up unwrapping himself from me and threw his jeans on.  He leaned over kissed me on the forehead and whispered,

“Go back to sleep Love, this will be over in a minute.” I jumped up as soon as he was out the door.  To hell I was staying here.  I needed to make sure that Liam wasn’t getting his ass tossed into jail for murder.  I ran quickly down the stairs after him and when I burst out onto the deck Connor had his fist in Liam’s face.  Chuck burst out behind me.  Connor was beat red and angry and when I came into sight onto the deck his eyes turned to me.  He took in my sight and turned back to Liam who stood topless and shoeless on the driveway.  Tim, my mom and Harry all standing behind Connor begging him to calm down.  Mom? Harry? When did they get here? Connor turned to them, 

“Why don’t the three of you shut up?” He asked of my family.  

“After all you are the one’s that raised that tramp!” He shouted at them.  I couldn’t really argue with that.  Here I was technically still his girlfriend but standing in my ex boyfriends driveway in nothing but his t-shirt and a pair of panties.  I lowered my head in shame.  I am a dirty slut.  

“You can say whatever you want to me.” I heard Liam growl, 

“But if you think for one minute I am going to stand here and let you talk to her family that way or about her that way then you are sorely mistaken.” He barked it out like an order and I jumped at the tone in his voice.  Holy s**t, commander Liam was scary.  Connor however laughed, He hadn’t seen what Liam could do with someone’s face.  

“You think you scare me army boy? You want her that bad? She’s all yours obviously she came crawling into your bed last night after getting dumped by me.”  He was still laughing.  Wait? What? He dumped me? So I didn’t need to feel guilty about being with Liam last night after all? 

“With the bruises you left on her I don’t think that you should be calling anyone names woman beater.” Liam retorted.  Connor’s face screwed up. I heard my parents gasp from behind Connor.  Tim’s fists balled, Harry stepped in to stop my mom from running at Connor her hand’s in fists while the three of them screamed curses in his direction.  When connor pulled his arm back to hit Liam I went running to stop them.  Connor’s fist connected with my nose as I stepped between the two trying my best to stop anyone from getting hurt.  I felt the pain and I gasped.  Connor yelled at me,

“Why are you always protecting him you w***e!” Liam eased me to the side where Tim wrapped his arms around me to hold me out of the way.  I couldn’t believe that my family was going to let his happen.  Liam stood in front of Connor while Connor took swing after swing at him.  His fist connecting with Liam’s arms, his stomach, his face.  He was hitting Liam with everything that he had.  I knew how bad it hurt to get hit but why wasn’t Liam fighting back? So I yelled.

“Liam!” Liam looked at me, smiled and then obliged what he had promised me.  His first punch connecting with Connor’s face and knocking him straight onto his back on the hard concrete.  I heard the air escaping him and I remembered everytime he spanked me or pushed me or slapped me.  How his hand connecting with my body had forced the air from my lungs.  He struggled to his feet and he run at Liam wrapping his arms around his waist.  His nose bleeding onto Liam’s hard abs.  He tried with all his might to knock Liam over, succeeding in moving him backwards a few feet.  I watched the warrior that I loved so much defend my honor.  He brought his arms up in front of him and wacked Connor right in the middle of the back.  The breath leaving Connor’s body again he relaxed his arms giving Liam enough movement to bring his knee up into Connor’s face.  I saw the primal instinct to protect in Liam’s face as he reached down and wrapped his huge strong hand around Connor’s neck picking him up off the ground. 

“You hurt the woman I love you piece of shit.” He snarled into Connor’s face.  Chuck stepped in to Liam. 

“Liam man, I know you are mad but make sure you stop before this goes too far ok man?” He said to him.  I was glad that someone was stepping in a bit.  Trying to stall the murder at least. Liam nodded at Chuck.

“I told her that I was going to give you two bruises for everyone that you gave her but you know what you scum?” He asked but I knew that it was a rhetorical question. 

“You are not worth it!” He spit at Connor.  Giving him one last smack he let him go.  The sound from their skin still resounding in the air.  His hand’s lowering to his side.  

“Get the f**k off my property.” He shouted at Connor.  Connor stood, backing towards his car.  He shouted a few curses my direction but I wasn’t paying attention. I noticed that there were a few neighbours watching the show but I didn’t care.  I was rushing towards Liam, I threw myself into his arms.  He lifted me off the ground spinning me around setting me down he brought his lips to mine kissing me in a soft and loving way that I hadn’t felt since he left.  It was over far too quickly.  Holding me still in his arms he spoke to my family. 

“I’m really sorry about that.”  He said, Mom was smiling at him, Tim too.  I ran over to them hugging mom and Harry. 

“I didn’t know you were coming today!”  I said, smiling at them.  Mom kissed me on the head. 

“Baby girl! We missed you!”  She said smiling at me.  

“I was just making breakfast. Would you guys like some?” She said asking all three of us.  We nodded.  Liam turned with me under his arm walking me to his house.  When we walked through the door of his bedroom I tried latching onto him. I wanted to make love to him right there on the floor.  But he simply kissed me and turned me away from him.  He tossed my clothes at me from across the room.  I wondered what the hurry was. He disappeared into the bathroom and came back with the blood washed off of him.  When he threw a shirt on I found myself disappointed that he had covered his beautiful body.  I didn’t bother to hide myself as I dressed.  I took his shirt off and tossed it onto the bed.  Topless I slid my jeans on turning so that he could watch as my jeans shrugged over my bottom.  I slid my bra on over my arms and knowing full well that I could do it up myself I turned to him. 

“Do me up?” I asked, trying to seduce him into taking it off of me.  I was quite disappointed when his thumbs brushed against me while he hooked the eye hooks together and then he turned and walked back into the bathroom to brush his teeth.  I worried that he didn’t want me because of the fact that I was pregnant.  When he came out of the bathroom he said. 

“Let’s eat, a good brawl always makes me hungry.”  I followed him down the stairs.  Chuck was waiting on the couch for us.  It was in that moment I noticed someone was still missing. 

“Liam, where is Joe?”  I asked him quietly afraid of the answer that I might get.  He lowered his head and shook it. 

“Joe was injured in the same blast as Chuck.  He didn’t make it.”  He said sadly.  I gasped and brought my hand to my mouth.  

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry.”  I pulled him into a hug, and sneakily wiped my tears away.  Being a soldier Liam didn’t give me much time to adjust to the news.  

“Well let’s get going then?” Asking a question rather than telling me that we were going.  It felt nice to have my own will and I nodded but questioned him. I could hear the somber talk coming from the kitchen. Great they were talking about me.  I had noticed on the way in that the table hadn’t been cleaned up on the deck.  I kissed Heather on the cheek. My god how she had grown. Liam squatted in front of her kissing her hand and saying.

“Madame.”  She smiled at him and reached out to grab his dog tags.  While they were becoming acquainted I grabbed the broom and headed out to clean up the glass. It felt great as I swept up the shards of glass.  It was like sweeping up the ashes of the wreck I had made of my life.  I could hear the happy sounds from the house coming out to meet my ears.  I smiled.  I knew that there was a lot of work for Liam and I to become what we had been.  But I also knew that I wanted it.  I came into the dining room to see Liam holding Heather.  She was smiling at him brightly.  My hand instinctly reached to my tummy.  He would be a great daddy.  Then my heart sank.  Except this baby isn’t his and he hasn’t officially restarted your relationship you fool. After Breakfast Liam told me to go get dressed for the lake. Then he told my family he was stealing me for the afternoon. They all happily told us to have fun and we headed off the boat. 

I was sitting on the lake in the sun, my legs over him

“Liam.” I said, wanting to ask a serious question. 

“Hmmm.” He answered watching where he was backing up to. 

"I'm glad you're my friend." I said, hoping he would give me a hint of what we were. Hoping it was more than just friends. He looked at me for a minute. 

"If you need help with this baby Olivia. I am here for you." He said,

“Are you really going to help me with the newest adventure?” I asked, He smiled.  

“Olivia, I am here for you if you want me.  If you want we can tell people it’s my baby.  I don’t mind.” I gaped at him astounded and suddenly the tears poured from my eyes.  I wiped angrily at them but they continued to flow.  

“Yes Liam, please.” I squeaked out at him.  He smiled and wiped at a tear on my cheek.  

“Olivia why are you crying love?” He asked me.  

“Because Liam, this should be your baby.  I wish this was your baby.  I didn’t want this to happen.  Why am I so stupid? How am I going to tell my parents? Oh my god what about school?”

To my surmise he giggled.  What? This isn't funny. I shot him a glowering look.

            “Liam! I protested. 

             “This isn't funny dammit.” I said.  He took my hand bringing it to his mouth and kissed it. His eyes looked uncannily happy.  

             “Love this is my baby. If you will let me be it's father. We can tell your parents in a few weeks so that they assume it's mine and you can move in with me.  As for school it's up to you. Whatever you want is yours.” He said happily. I smiled at him.why was it that his selfishness always surprised me.  I knew what I wanted to do.  I wanted to move in with him but it just felt so fast. 

“Does this mean that we are a we again?”  I asked him quickly.  Praying to god that he would say yes.  

“Olivia, if you will have me I would love to be your we again.”  He answered happily.  I nodded my head. 

“Yes please!”  I said cheerily.  Today had actually been a decent day. Minus the fight that is. 

           “I don't know that we should lie about who the father is though. That would feel wrong. I think I'll tell my parents but let's not tell the baby. That is unless you think I should go after Connor for child support?” I questioned him. He shook his head. 

           “No Olivia I don’t think you should.  I have no problem supporting you and this baby completely.  Maybe one day we can add a few more brats to the mix but I would like to cut him out completely. If you go for child support he might go for visitation rights.” He finished. More babies? what! But I knew he was right about Connor. I nodded in agreement. Then sighed when I thought of just how expensive a baby was going to be.  

“Liam this is going to be expensive!” I gasped. He laughed at me again.