Chapter Text
Six days. That’s how long they have been apart. Just short enough to pack Keiki’s things, have an evening layover in Vegas, and head home. A small reprieve from guardianship plans - a fight Bryce’s parents won’t make an easy road; Unlimited money verses an over-worked, under-paid surgical resident. Two kids that have each other and want nothing to do with their felon parents.
Becca steps off the elevator to see Ethan standing in the doorway of their apartment, a small smile he only reserves for her at home on his lips as his partner of two years saunters towards him, her suitcase clicking behind her. Her heavy lids and make up-less face brightens as soon as she lays eyes on him, her steps become a joyous skip down the hall. Her arms fling around his neck leaving her things to pile at their feet. The kiss they share in the doorway is light, tender, pure muscle memory.
Becca can’t help but feel a pit forming in her stomach, something is far from alright she’s sure.
“How was your trip?” Ethan asks, guiding her into the condo they have shared the last ten months.
“Fine. Thanks.” Becca plops her bags down unceremoniously, happy to be rid of the weight. With a cheeky little smirk she asks, “Miss me much?”
The look on his beautiful face has her insides stirring as he responds, “Always.”
His tone is far from lighthearted. Becca can see the splinters of worry in his face. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk.”
Panic seeds itself in every fiber of her being. Thinks he already knows what she’s done. But how? Only three people know and she’s one of them. Keiki and Bryce would never - this sham was for them anyway. Just until Bryce gets custody of Keiki.
If this is going to lead to a fight to the death she wants to savor these last few hours.
Artfully deflecting, Becca begins to shed her travel soaked clothes. Her sweater glides to the floor and her fingers work the hooks of her bra.
“Let me shower first?”
Even through the weight of his feelings, she feels Ethan’s gaze stuck on her half naked form. He crosses the little distance between them to grab her hand and lets Becca tug him along with her.
Clean, satisfied and clad in her favorite oversized shirt of his, Becca is perched on a stool at their island countertop freshly cooked sustenance made with love dangling from her fork. Ethan sits besides her in modest pajamas, pushing the pasta around the plate and glancing at her with a heavy gaze.
“I’ve had lunch with Harper,” Ethan says, his fork stops moving as he begins to broach the subject of his current moral torment. “Something came up. I’ve been thinking... I want-”
He’s not saying anything - not getting to the point quick enough - and Becca’s had a very long 36 hours.
“Ethan, spit it out already,” she pushes, mouth full.
His cheeks are turning pink, Adam’s apple bobbing, and eyes she loves so much batting away the clouds pooling in. For another second her stomach drops with the thought that he knows, that somehow Harper found out, though her partners in crime kept very tight lips. Becca swallows, rotates on the stool to give him her full attention.
Ethan is nervous, that much is clear by the subtle cues she’s learned over the years. Yet he’s the picture of calm - straight back, impassively intent features, hands resting in his lap, voice soft as he speaks.
“Harper wants to have a baby.”
“Okay...”
“She’d like me to... donate.”
Nothing happens. He expects some sort of chide or loud dismissal, some sort of reaction to words that have been haunting him for days. Instead, Becca is looking at him with the blankest of stares, ever unmoving. So Ethan waits. And waits. And waits minutes more for her to collect all her thoughts. She’s never this quiet.
“Rebecca,” he says, urging her back to the present.
Color flushes over her face and for a brief moment Ethan is relieved.
“I’m sorry, what!?”
“She wants to use my sample.”
“Yeah I got that,” she scoffs. “So... you’ll just have a kid with Harper?” Just like that! she wants to scream. One request from his ex and longest relationship he’s ever had and he’s considering it, but when Becca brings up the topic it’s a no-go... It’s a slew of ‘our lifestyle isn’t conducive to children’. It’s the shattering of hopes and dreams that she pushes aside because they’re in love.
“Biologically, yes. I’d waive all paternal rights. It would be Harper and Sasha’s child.”
“That’s... I can’t believe this.” Her head falls into her hands with defeat, fingers tugging at the damp locks as she tries to rationalize what’s happening between them. She feels gaze prickling her skin and all it instills is guilt. Horrible, terrible guilt.
They’re apart for six days and both have seemed to cause irreparable damage. Just because they don’t think - didn’t bother to check in before doing something so...
“I...” she began. God, the words are getting caught in Becca’s throat. She hadn’t planned on telling him so soon - a few weeks or months, maybe, just enough time for them to figure things out. It’s no use. Ethan told her one sin, now it’s time for Becca to confess...
“I married Bryce.”
“You what!”
Ethan’s sprung to his feet, every torrent emotion building like a deadly tsunami. And Becca follows suit.
It’s a face-off now. Heads raised in the ring they’ve created out of their home. Words thrown like fists, bodies dodging and retaliating with their own strong jabs. A dance of ill-placed moral high-ground.