Chapter 5 ENCOUNTER.

Present...

"You are making a grave mistake Ian," Diana's tone of voice was one of complete indignation.

"Yes, it's true and it's totally mine," he mumbled.

"Then all the more reason why you can't force me to go with you. This isn't the middle ages where men force women to be with them," she expressed putting clenched fists on each side.

Ian paced the small room back and forth like a caged lion. He was surveying the place, not caring about being obvious.

"Let me get this straight," he was trying to calm himself, bringing a hand up to his forehead, to massage his temple, "You think I'm going to let you have my son away from me? Where I can't take care of him and protect him from any eventuality?"

"I'm not keeping you out of anyone's life, Ian. "For Diana things were getting out of hand.

"No?" he clicked her teeth.

"I'm not going to deny to you that I'm thrilled at the idea of you taking responsibility, but I think you're taking this too far!" retorted Diana.

"Ah, taking it to heart, you mean," he snapped angrily.

"There's no need for me to go with you," Diana spoke in a soft voice, and held up a hand to try to calm the atmosphere.

"It's so hard for you to understand, I don't want to miss any of the details of your pregnancy. Besides, you're alone in this town, and you don't have a job to support yourself comfortably either."

She opened her mouth to say something. But at that moment it was he who raised his hand, to stop her from speaking.

"Don't interrupt me by saying I'm not right. Because I know that you've just opened your website and that, although you've already been called for several projects with none of them you've closed any kind of deal." he continued walking restlessly. "That's not bad though, because you're just starting out, but the situation makes me wonder, " she pointed to her belly. "What will you do when the pregnancy is further along, and then when the baby is born?"

"I will go on with my life. This baby that's about to arrive is what makes me want to live, and get ahead. Why do you think anything would change?" she caressed her still-flat belly.

Ian gave a lopsided smile, he really liked her answer. He was bombarding her with logic. Everything he was saying was true. So she had no reason to object, and it made her grind her teeth.

"You know that's not good enough, and it doesn't answer my questions," he was pressing her, as he always did when she didn't want to talk.

"What do you suggest I do then?" he questioned, shaking his arms in exasperation.

"The most logical thing. That you live with me," he replied confidently. "At least until he or she is born."

That statement made her put her hand over her mouth, to muffle her groan of surprise. She shook her head, so Ian wouldn't notice the effect it had had on her.

"Me do what thing? That's absurd, Ian. Have you gone mad," she complained, sitting down on the couch, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Absurd are the ideas you have in your head lately. You can't take away my right to my son, let alone to look after him. He is not yours alone," she smiled as she remembered how it had happened. "I remind you that, for his conception, we both participated."

"You're making decisions for me, Ian. That I will not allow," she retorted a little furiously, not at him, but at herself, for images came to mind of Ian plunging mercilessly into her sex, and her begging for more.

"Isn't that what you did when you ran away from my house, without at least saying goodbye to me? You just walked away and left me. Without caring what I had to say - in that instant weren't you the one who made a decision for me?"

"I left because at the time, that was the right thing to do. Us was just a fluke," Diana replied in a soft, low voice, looking down at the ground.

He walked over to her and leaned down to grab her gently by the shoulders.

"Diana, we've known each other for a long time," he shook his head. "I can't believe you did this to me. You didn't think about me, you left me stranded as if I meant nothing to you. Do you have any idea how bad I felt when I came out of the bathroom, and realized you had left?"

"Don't talk like that," she demanded. "You make me feel like I did something wrong. You know I care about you," it was better to say that than to tell him she loved him even more than before.

He shook his head and looked into her eyes, leaned a little closer and pressed his forehead to hers, and sighing he said:

"Ay Diana. If you had not run away that night from me. If you had stayed... you would know that you are in this trouble because of me."

"Because of you? Why do you say that? As you just said you're not in this alone," Diana was frowning in confusion.

Ian sighed, and confessed:

"It's totally my fault. Because by some divine chance. That night the condom I used, it broke."

"And you're telling me this until now?" she shouted, getting up suddenly and walking away from him, "You had the chance, Ian, to do it. You had a chance, Ian to do it, why the hell didn't you, why did you wait until now to tell me?"

"Fuck Diana! I didn't... because you denied me the chance to do it. By leaving the way you did."

"I hadn't told you, because it was never my intention to get pregnant. And I also didn't want you to think I was doing it with ulterior motives, to get a benefit from you."

"I would never think that of you. You are not alone. You're my responsibility now."

"You won't be able to understand, I didn't leave town solely for you," Diana walked a few steps, but came back into the living room and sat down on the couch. "It's also for my family," the voice was broken. "I don't want toxic people around my baby, I wouldn't stand for it."

With those words Ian knew that Diana would take good care of his son.

"Tomorrow we're leaving for Miami," he informed her without a right to reply.

"I can't..., "the sound of her voice was apologetic. "At least not yet. I need time, I remind you that you can't force me either."

"Then come with me, for a few days. You'll like another environment."

"Where to?" she asked curiously.

"To Italy," he replied with a shrug.

"To Italy? Definitely Ian, you've lost your mind."

"Come with me," he repeated, "while we sort out whatever it is that's going on between us" his words made her think of a future with him.

"It's better Miami, then" Diana resolved, running her hand over her head.

Ian let out a self-mocking laugh.

"You're amazing, Diana," he spoke wryly, "We've known each other for many years. We've shared many nights, including one of passion. You carry my child in your womb, and you still treat me as if I were a stranger. I can't believe it!"

She blushed, and shook her head.

"Whew," he snorted, "Always so blunt. You should be a little more understanding of me, Ethan," she briefly patted his belly.

He squatted down in front of her and cupped her chin with his hand.

"There are a lot of things we need to talk about. Have you been to the doctor," although his tone of voice was soft it had a hint of concern in it.

She nodded.

"Two days ago I went to the doctor's office. Apparently everything is in order for the first trimester of pregnancy," she shrugged.

"I'm glad to hear that," he expressed in relief.

"I can't leave here for now," she insisted again.

Ian stood up and put his hands in his pockets.

"Diana... It's really important that I go to Italy. It might be three days or maybe a week. I don't want to go away and leave this half done. I want to leave you in a safe place and environment."

"The last thing I want to do is hold you back," she rose from the couch determined to face all her logic. "Go wherever it is you have to go. I assure you everything will be fine. "

"You still don't get it, do you? I don't want to let you out of my sight."

"If by that you mean I'm going to run away from you..." he pouted and shook his head. "That's impossible, you always find me."

It had been like that since they were in college. When she accepted that she was attracted to him. She put distance between them and avoided him at all costs, which didn't bring good results, because he always hit on her. It didn't matter where or with whom he was, and he would make scenes reproaching her for abandoning him.

"We used to get along very well in the past," Ian reminded her in a captivating voice.

"You're right," she sighed.

"What happened to us, Diana," was a question he always asked himself.

"The circumstances of life, Ian. Everything can't always go our way, "he walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She turned and looked at Ian shrugged her shoulders "Sorry, I'm hungry."

"Oh for goodness, Diana!It's ten thirty at night."

"But I'm hungry." She grumbled and closed the refrigerator again.

Ian scowled at her.

"What's the matter, why aren't you eating," he wanted to know.

"Mmm no ... Nothing... I'll do it when you leave," she replied as if it was no big deal.

He took a few steps toward her, squinting his eyes, moved her a little to open the refrigerator door. She clicked her teeth, already knowing what she imagined. There was no food.

"Don't look at me like that," she said pointing her finger at him.

"Do you have any fast food numbers," she asked, squinting.

"Yeah, sure," she grinned at him from ear to ear.