"I think so honey. Johnny and Dot have been back and forth for a while. With the baby coming it's time for him to decide how he really feels about her."
Tears were streaming down Ashley's face. "I know but why does it feel so damn wrong to let him go?"
"Cause you are thinking with your heart and not your head girl. He is in a big ol mess with Dot and you shouldn't be caught up in the middle of their shit storm."
"He told me I could be his child's second Mom!"
"Oh my God!" He said that?"
"Yes and I don't want to be a Mom of any kind. Especially to Dorothea Hurley's baby."
"I know exactly what you mean."
Richie broke the silence in the beach apartment. "You okay?" He asked but he already knew the answer from the look on John's face.
"No Ash just broke up with me." He spoke softly and began to dab at the tears in his eyes with his fingertips.
"Sorry man. I was afraid she would react like that."
"I need to go over there. I have to make her understand that we can get through this."
"It's none of my business Johnny, but I think she just needs some time to process this. I mean it's a shock for me to know you are going to be a Dad. I can imagine how it is for her."
"I know, but I just can't leave it like this! I can't lose her!"
"I have to ask. How can you just take Dot's word for it? How do you know for sure it's your baby? I mean she did fuck around on you."
"She swears it's mine and that I'm the only one she didn't use protection with. And her due date matches to when we were together. Dot wouldn't lie about something this important."
"I would at least go with her to her next appointment and make sure what she is telling you is the truth about the due date and everything.
"Okay yeah, that's a good idea. I need to know for sure."
"So if you know for sure, is that going to change anything?"
John jumped up pacing the floor. "It's not going to make me fall back in love with her or want to be with her! If that's what your asking."
"I know you and her always fought a lot, but now she's going to be the Mother of your kid. Can you handle her being in your life all the time again?"
"Don't say that shit out loud! I don't want her in my life at all! Being with her is the biggest mistake I ever made! And now this mistake is coming back to bite me in the ass! But worst of all, it is going the cost me Ashley. I just don't know if I can live with that."
"You don't think, maybe she would get used to the idea?"
"No she told me she didn't want to have kids or get married or anything. I guess her childhood sucked and she blamed her parents.
"Well damn she's not like most chicks then, the first date and they are sizing you up for a husband."
"I know, that's why I can't lose her. She's not like anybody I have ever known. The truth is she is the only girl I could ever imagine myself settling down with."
"Damn and she's the one that's dead set against it!" He chuckled. "You always did like a challenge though!" He continued to laugh.
"I've got to see her and talk to her face to face. She can't just blow me off! I won't let her."
"Well it's late. Let's just sleep on it tonight and I'll go over there with you tomorrow."
"Okay man. I'm wiped out." Richie sprawled out on the couch and John went in his room and laid down on his bed and closed his eyes but all he could think of was Ashley's last words to him. "It can't end like this." He mumbled as he drifted off to sleep.
Ashley woke up to the morning sun shining through her window and stinging her eyes. For a moment she had forgotten what was hurting her heart so much.
Stacey walked in from the bathroom.
"Are you okay? You cried yourself to sleep last night."
"Yeah I guess so. It's just we went through hell and high water to be together and now it's over. It's just hard to believe."
"Well you are doing the right thing. That child deserves to have both parents and Johnny needs to step up and be responsible."
Richie woke up to John angry that he couldn't find his keys. "Where the fuck are they?" He yelled tearing cushions off the love seat looking for them.
"Are you going over there now?"
"Yeah I ain't going to get many chances with her and I want her to know just how damn sorry I am."
"I get it, but she may not be ready to hear it."
"She has to. Cause I can't lose her. She's every damn thing to me."
"Let's go but watch yourself around her brother and that asshole Jake. He'd love to fuck you up."
"Yeah I know. He better stay the fuck out of my damn face!"
They made their way down to the Mustang. They both jumped in and headed up Ocean Avenue. John went over everything in his head he wanted to say to her. He just hoped it was going to be enough to keep her.
He pulled on to Robinhood Drive and caught the tail lights of the Charger headed up the road. "There the assholes go!"
"Good maybe she's alone." Richie replied looking over toward Ashley's house.
John got out and walked up to the door. He started to knock but reached down and turned the knob. It was unlocked so he opened it and walked in with Richie.
Stacey walked out of the kitchen. "Nope you just turn the hell around and get out of here Johnny! She doesn't want to talk to you! This is what is best for now! So respect her wishes and leave her alone!"
"I can't do that Stacey! She means the world to me! This can't be the end!"
"Don't you understand how hard this is for her! It's breaking her heart!"
"Not half as much as it's breaking mine!"
"John!" Ashley called out stunned to see him standing in her living room.
"Baby please I have to talk to you!"
"I told you everything I needed to say last night. You have to put your baby and the child's mother first! I can't be in the middle of that!"
"What happened to you loved me and nothing could ever come between us?"
"I just never even thought about you getting somebody else pregnant! I have to draw the line somewhere! I'm sorry but my mind is made up!"
"I'll never get back with her! You can breakup with me but you can't remove yourself out of my heart!"
"But I can remove myself out of your life! Now get out!"
"You don't mean that!" He yelled. "You love me! I see it all over your face!"
"Just leave John! Please! I just can't do this!"
"I'll go, if you tell me you don't love me! I'll be out of here so fast your head will spin!"
"You know I can't say that!"
"Then how the hell can you push me away so damn easily? You know Dorothea doesn't mean shit to me!"
"She should John! She's the Mother of your child!"
"That wasn't my choice! I never wanted to knock her up! Hell having a kid with that bitch is the last damn thing I ever wanted! She lied to me and stopped taking her damn pills! It wasn't my fault!"
"Well it certainly isn't mine! I feel like I'm in the middle of the perfect little life you could be having with her!"
"No I love you damn it! Please don't let her come in between us! It's exactly what she wants!"
"I'm sorry, but I just can't see you right now."
"You're breaking up with me over this bullshit that isn't even my fault!" John yelled with hurt showing on his face.
"I'm just trying to do the right thing here! A child needs both of their parents and it just makes sense for y'all to try to work it out if you can."
"No it makes sense for me to be with the only girl I love and like it or not, that's you!"
"I just can't! Please go now!"
A familiar car driven by Dot drove down the street. Pausing in front of Ashley's house right beside John's car, before turning into the Bongiovi driveway.
John saw her through the window. His face growing with rage. This was all her fault after all. John walked out the door with the others following behind him. He stomped over toward the car with Ashley watching from her driveway.
"What the fuck are you doing here!" He demanded to know.
"Look I'm not looking for trouble from you Johnny. I just came over to talk to your Mom."
"Well you are going to find plenty of trouble from me if you think you are busting up in my fucking house to tell Ma I knocked you up!"
"Would you stop calling it that? It sounds so cheap!"
"I call it like I see it!" He yelled with hatred in his eyes and heart.
"You never used to talk to me like that, before that bleach blonde whore moved in next door!" She pointed over at Ashley.
"Watch your fucking mouth! I only see one whore standing out here and it sure the fuck ain't Ashley!"
Everyone looked up when a loud voice called out from John's front porch. "Johnny!" Carol yelled standing there listening to the big uproar going on in her front yard. "What is going on out here!"
"Nothing Ma go back inside!" John yelled and looked back at Dot. "Get the fuck out of here!" He demanded through his gritted teeth.
Dot turned toward Carol with a smile. "Good morning Mrs. Bongiovi. I am so glad you could see me today."
"Well it sounded urgent on the phone. Come on in dear."
"Dot don't you fucking do this! I don't need her to find out like this!" John spoke in a breathy whisper but his anger was still very present.
"She has to know." She looked at John and started walking toward the house.
John ran up behind her. "Ma don't talk to her, she is just starting crap like usual!"
"Johnny calm down!" Carol insisted turning to Dot with a slight grin on her face. "How can I help you dear?"
"Well I just thought you needed to know." Dot started but John interrupted and blurted out, "nothing it's all lies Ma!"
"What in heavens name are you talking about?" Carol looked at both of them very confused.
"I wanted to be the one to tell you, that you are going to be a Grandmother next year." Dot smiled and looked over at Ashley who was still standing there watching and listening as tears rolled down her face.
"What?" Carol asked shocked. She sat down in a rocking chair like her wind had been knocked right out of her.
"Me and Johnny are going to be parents!" Dot exclaimed all smiles showing her total jubilation as John put his hand on his head and rolled his eyes in disgust.
He looked up to see Ashley's tear stained face as she turned around and walked back inside with Stacey.
Carol was stunned. "Johnny why didn't you tell me?" Carol asked still trying to let the news sink in.
"Ma I just found out and I wasn't sure how you would take it."
Carol smiled. "I'm going to be a Grandmother! I don't think there is a bad way to take that."
She stood up. "Come inside. We have a lot of things to talk about."
Carol opened up the door and John and Dorothea followed her inside.
"Here Dorothea let me fix you a drink." Carol disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a drink for her and one for John.
"Thanks." Dot accepted the drink and took a sip.
"Wow Johnny, a Daddy you are really going to be someone's Daddy!" Carol smiled looking at John but she sensed his unhappiness. "What's wrong dear?"
Dot blurted out. "Oh don't pay any attention to him. He's just upset that blondie kicked him to the curb when she found out I'm expecting a little baby Bongiovi." She placed her hand on her belly to showcase the little bump that was visible.
"Oh my Lord Dot you are already showing a little and you are absolutely glowing. Well it's for the best that John has decided to forget about Ashley and stand by the Mother of his child."
"I didn't decide anything. She broke it off with me. She couldn't handle someone else being pregnant with my baby! I didn't want to lose her, but somehow I just keep hurting her." He started running his hands through his hair.
"Look Johnny it is your responsibility to be there for Dot and the baby. You don't see it but you and Ashley are all wrong for each other and Dorothea being pregnant just proves that you two should be together.
"The hell it does!" John yelled out.
"Johnny you better watch your mouth!" Carol raised her voice and gave him a stern look.
She turned back to Dot. "Have you told your parents yet?"
"Yes they are still adjusting to the news." Dot replied.
"Well I will have to have them over for dinner sometime soon. Do you need anything? Johnny is working and he will buy whatever you need!"
"No I won't!" John turned to Dot. "Don't listen to her. You have your own job and until the baby actually gets here I ain't paying nothing!"
"Johnny that is very rude!" Carol gave John a harsh look to show her disapproval.
"It's okay Mrs. B I am working and looking for my own place to live. I just can't be at my parents house with a little one."
"Well that's just nonsense. Why can't you move in with Johnny?"
"Oh hell no! No damn way is she moving in my apartment!"
"No I really couldn't. It wouldn't look right us just shacking up with a baby on the way. My Father would kill me!" She laughed.
"Oh I'd probably kill you first! John blurted out as his mother rolled her eyes not thinking it was very funny.
"Well I am just loving the idea of being a Grandma already. We will have to plan a shower and pick out some names do you have any ideas for the name yet?"
"Well for a girl maybe Dorothy after my Mom or Stephanie after my Granma. Maybe Carol after you for her middle name and we can call her Dottie. For a boy John Francis Bongiovi III and we will call him Johnny Jr. for sure.
"I love those names. What do you think Johnny?" Carol looked at John, who was off in his own little world thinking of Ashley.
"Huh?" He looked up.
"The names, do you like the baby names we were just discussing?" Carol rolled her eyes at him.
"I don't care what she names it."
"Gosh John it is a child not a puppy." Carol was surprised by his poor attitude.
"Well I really need to go. I have to get to work. Dot stood up. "I'm so glad you are happy for us."
"Of course dear let me walk you out. Are you coming Johnny?"
"Nah Dot knows where the door is." He said casually.
"God Dot I am sorry for his behavior. I would snatch a knot on his head if I thought it would do any good." She laughed.
"Oh I'm used to it." Dot sighed.
They walked outside together.
"Don't worry about Johnny. He will come around. He is going to be a great Daddy to this baby." Carol looked into her eyes and smiled. Dorothea tried to smile but looked kind of sad.
"Oh Dorothea what is wrong honey?"
"Johnny doesn't love me and he doesn't want this baby!"
"Don't say that. He still loves you, I am sure of it. He just needs a little reminding. You leave him up to me. He will be ready to be a Daddy when that baby gets here and I'll have him ready to be a good husband to you." Carol winked at her.
"Mrs. B he will never marry me. He practically hates me!"
"Don't you worry, I think I know my son and he will step up when it counts."
"God I hope so. I love Johnny and I really want us to be a family."
"And the three of you will be, I will make sure of it for my Grandchild."
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