Undercover Superstar - 17

 | Half Hour Later |

    They danced to KBs record and had a couple of drinks. Janine had loosened up considerably and it was what she needed. All it really meant was she didn't want to shoot him in the face with the shotgun she had but hadn't touched since she moved. They stopped momentarily and leaned on the railing. She thought about telling him to call her but wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. She didn't know what she wanted at all. She stood there trying to figure it out and blurted out, "ever come to Texas?"

    "Only twice in my entire life ..." he scooted closer to her, "should i ..... Go to Texas?"

    She shrugged, "we have one season. Hot. I can't trust you." Janine frowned, her own response didn't even make sense to her.

    He laughed, "me either, I'm too unreliable, i fuck shit up for myself all the time."

    "At some point, trust will not be optional."

    "I know that... Trust me i know."

    "I'm here until Sunday afternoon. We should talk somewhere that isn't a club." Janine looked around the club ... Anywhere but at him.

    "You name the place and the time."

    "Tomorrow. Central Park Zoo at noon? No ... Too public. We could eat lunch at Extra Virgin on 4th."

    "Ok, I'll cancel my meetings..." Maddox smiled.

    "You don't have to do that."

    "I know, but I'm going to."

    "Ok ... Then. I'll see you tomorrow," smiling a little, "i better get back ... To KB."

    He nodded, "ok..." He then leaned into her and kissed her temple.

    After that, they went their separate ways. Janine looked around and found KB in the middle of some folks, and Tarin off to the side taking pictures. She got 2 drinks, then joined Tarin and handed her one. "What was that all about?" Tarin smirked, "he trying to win his spot back?"

    "Yes," Janine sighed, "and doing a really good job at it. I really hate that." Despite the fact that Janine gave no details as to why they broke up, she let whoever run rampant with their own opinions.

    "Make him work hard, at least, girl."

    Janine agreed, "I live in Texas anyhow. It's not like things will be like they were before."

| The Next Day - Noon |

    Janine was sitting in a booth towards the back of the restaurant when she saw a flock of people moving around the window. Camera flashes followed and she knew Maddox had shown up. He walked in the place and Janine held her hand up when she stood. He smiled and pulled her into a hug, "how are you?"

    "I'm good," she rubbed his back and then sat down. "How is your day? You had to move around a lot of stuff?"

    "3 meetings, but its fine. Just music stuff. New record coming out at the beginning of the year."

    "So about ... Us. What do you want to do? Cause i don't know."

    "Well, I'll get a house in texas, so i can properly court you."

    Right then she laughed, "you're going to court me. My grandmother is going to love you."

    "Absolutely, you think i dont know how to work for mine?" He paused, "but your father already hates me ... Dammit."

    "My mom will love you. She doesn't know anything so my dad will have to suck it up."

    "Well that's the plan..."  He smiled.

    "Okay then. We start over ... Sort of."

| 2 months later |

    Maddox ended up buying a nice condo, somewhere in Dallas that had two bedrooms. One was his and another was for Janine whenever she decided too come over. He stocked it with: clothes, jewelry, shoes, a vanity, a chaise, and basically any girly thing she'd need to be comfy at his house. In his new Texas surroundings, it humbled him so he wore jean shorts, Jordan's and polo's a lot, but never sacrificed his grooming, always had a tight fade, and pearly write teeth  Janine was on her way up in the elevator to check out his new place.

    She'd just left school and therefore was dressed teacher appropriate in khaki Capri's, flats, and a blue button up with the school logo on it. She'd planned on changing when she got there anyway. He opened the door and she whistled, "first time Ive been in The W. Well, I came once to get waxed at the spa downstairs but never been up here."

    "Welcome..." He pecked her on the lips.

    "You look comfortable," she walked in further.

    "I am, I use to dress like this all the time." He looked down, "look good?"

    "I love it. And don't be alarmed when you see me in cowboy boots. I wear them often."

    "So, does your dad know i live here? That we're, back together?"

    She nodded and looked around, "I told him. He yelled at me and I gave him a piece of lemon pie."

    He laughed, "distraction, i love it," he wrapped his arms around her from behind and began to kiss her neck.

    "You have plans today?" She smiled, "that's not Adidas you're wearing. What is that?"

    "Gucci ..." Maddox brought his teeth to her ears, "I just got turned on.." The wind could blow and Maddox could get turned on.

    Janine chuckled, "stop messing around." She gently slapped his leg, "at least let me get a shower and change before you get going."

    "Naw, i want you dirty..." He turned her around, and put her over his shoulder.

    "Oh wow ..." She laughed again as he took her to the bedroom.

Later |

     When they were done and showered and changed, Janine sat in her favorite spot, with her legs laid across his lap, "is this like Tennessee?"

    "Tennessee is more country, more green too."

    "Smaller ..." She nodded. "I can see that. How long are you here this trip?"

    A week," he massaged her feet.

    "Would you mind if I needed to grade papers while I'm here? Or you want me to do that at home before i get here. It's math. It will take a bit."

    "You can do it here, of course.."

    "What a sweet pea. How is your family? Especially your extra sweet grandma."

    "Great, ya-ya keeps asking about you... She asked when we were getting married, i told her next fall," he snickered.

    She smiled and shook her head, "how old is she? She probably does want to see you married soon since you're already in your mid thirties."

    "She's 84."

    "Doesn't look it. My grandmother doesn't look her age either. At least we'll be very good looking in our old age."

    "Get old? I'm staying right where i am. 36 agrees with me."

Second Chance - 2

"He's not here," Janine lied. She couldn't stand Jeremiah. He was always getting Maddox into some shit. Sometimes, Janine had to get them both of out jail and sometimes someone went to the hospital. Then there was the one time he got Maddox fired from his job. So hell no. Jeremiah was not getting in.

"His car is right there!" Jeremiah waved in the general direction of the driveway.

"He's not here!" Janine said a little bit louder and then started to close the door in his face.

"Yo! Open that door for my boy," Maddox reached over her head and pulled the door open, "whats good man? "

"Aye!" Jeremiah hugged Maddox.

Janine rolled her eyes, extra hard, and then shut the door, then walked away. 

"What you got going on today?" He asked Maddox. "Cause I got something big happening and I need a plus 1."

"Nothing really, what is it?"

"A Party. Put on a suit and I'll send a car for you. We're gonna talk business so i need your math whiz brain."

"Who are these muthafuckas at the party? Janine specifically told me, 'if you get into some shit with jeremiah, you'll homeless' i can't piss her off again."

"No no no no," Jeremiah shook his head, "its just business. A few drinks, some big money men... It'll be simple. I promise."

"Alright, im in."

"Cool. I’ll send a car around 7:30." Jeremiah gave him a big smile and then let himself out.

Maddox went to lock the door, but before turning around, he felt a presence, "look, I’ll eat your pussy so good you forget about how irritated you are with me. C’mon ..." he patted a table top in the foyer.

Janine remained standing with her arms folded across her chest. "I'm not going to tell you to not go," she started, "and i appreciate you thinking of me kicking you out WHEN something happens," she approached him, "but he is bad news and you know it."

"Baby, listen, that is my brother, known him all my life. Even before you. I cant stop the train from rolling. I love you more than life itself, however, he is my family. Now... table? Im talkin good to the point you can’t unravel your legs from around my head. You passin?"

"Yes. I'm passing until you come home unharmed and not in any kind of trouble ... Tonight... Not tomorrow." She started walking up the other room.

"Hey, cmere ..." Maddox walked up a few stairs and grabbbed her hand, bringing her back down. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple, "I love you and i will be home by 1 at the latest."

"You better," she rubbed his back, "or I'm calling the cavalry." She meant his uncles.

"Look, i hear you." He walked off to shower.

+++

| 1 Week Later |

"What the hell did you do to yourself?" Sasha, Maddox's ex-girlfriend, questioned while she rubbed his head. They were long broken up and weren't even on good terms and yet she came to see him. Beginning to cry she laid her head on his chest.

+++

Maddox and Janine were sitting at a table looking through their menus and talking kids. They both wanted to grow their family but we're just trying to discuss details, "we need to figure a way to have a boy first."

Janine frowned, "gender selection is a thing. Celebrities do it." Although Janine wasn't a fan of jacking with whatever God decided. And this was doing exactly that.

"Let's do it," he smirked, truth was, he'd be happy with whatever they got.

She nodded, "okay." Then she smiled, "our first baby. I'm ... Excited already. He's going to look just like you."

Grabbing her hand he winked when they heard a clearing of someone's throat. Janine followed the noise and saw Sasha, Maddox’s ex-girlfriend, standing by the table. Janine wanted to roll her eyes so badly but instead, kept holding on to Maddox's hand and looking at her, waiting for her to tell them what the fuck she wanted.

"Maddox ..." Sasha greeted him, then glanced at Janine briefly, "hello."

"Uh huh," Janine responded.

"Just saw you two and decided to say hi.." she smiled warmly at the both of them even though she knew Janine didn't like her and she didn't care.

"How you doin girl?" He didn't dare get up and hug her, Janine would tear him a new one.

"Great. Just opened my third boutique downtown. Grabbing a late dinner after closing now." she smiled, "what are you two having?" 

'Married couple time,' Janine said to herself, then answered, "trying the sea bass."

Sasha nodded, feeling the ice from the table. "Well I better get going, have a good night."

"You too, Sash." Maddox watched her walk off and then looked to Janine, "yeah he I traded up." He said knowing she was watching him stare.

"Do you know why my claws come out when she shows up?" Janine finally let go of Maddox's hand and leaned back in her chair, then started picking over her food.

"No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me." He listened.

Janine chuckled, "because despite how different she and I are ... We're both your type," she paused, "you've always made me crazy."

"So you wanted to be crazy for life huh. Lucky us ..." He chuckled again, "she is so far in my past, baby, I'm over her." Sasha broke his heart. She was Maddox’s first real heart break experience; sleeping with and leaving him for his best friend, Cordell.

"I know. But I can't help it. It's instinctual I think. I know what she was to you and at the time you and I met ... I didn't think I was your type at all." Smiling, "there you were in your nice big office ... Young ... Good looking ... I mean you're still young and good looking ... But it made sense that you'd gotten that far so fast while I was coming in as an intern."

"Yeah but she broke my heart. Why would I ever go back to that. Love is winning over here. LET IT WIN!"

"It's winning ... It's winning." She shook her head and went back to eating her food.

+++

Jeremiah came back to see Maddox before he was supposed to leave town. He left flowers, told a couple of dirty jokes and then promised to come again next week when he had some downtime from work. When he left, Janine passed him on her way in. She did NOT want to go. But shit, the boss was making her, "hi Maddox," she said in a cheery tone. "I don't have any Game of Thrones updates for you but I may have a spoiler for The Walking Dead." Once Janine told him and put some flowers down, she looked around the cold hospital room and sighed. She hated hospital rooms and hated even more the fact that a man this fine was destroyed for life. She missed her chance if she ever had one. She gently pulled the sheet up over his torso, "it's cold in here," then patted his hand, "goodnight."

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Second Chance - 1

"How much can you really hear?"Janine Hines looked at a doctor while asking the question. She'd come straight from work in a black knee-length dress and heels. Her hair, usually in a mass of natural curls, was straightened and falling to the middle of her back. With such brown skin, her blue eyes were almost a shock to people and always drew their attention. Now her eyes were trained on the hospital bed in front of her. A guy she barely knew was in a hospital bed; in a coma. They'd only met a couple of weeks ago at work, never gone out, but their boss insisted everyone from the office take the time to stop by and take a flower or something. The hospital room wasn't big, but it was clean and the open window had a nice view of the city below. The man in bed still had scars. If Janine remembered correctly, he'd been drunk driving and wrapped his car around a tree trunk.

"Everything," the doctor responded. "Of course ... When they come out of the coma, they may not remember, but they hear you. And sometimes they remember. Usually someone will say a phrase that stuck with them while they were in the coma, and it will jog a small piece of memory." The doctor wouldn't give the co-worker any details. Definitely wouldn't tell her that he wasn't getting any better, but maintained that the man in bed, Maddox Ames, was comfortable.

"Okay ..." Janine took a seat in a nearby chair. She really had no interest in staying long but she felt bad for the guy, "since you watch Game of Thrones ... and you missed the last episode, I'll fill you in." She started to talk, giving him a run down of what happened. When she was finished, she picked up her purse, "good luck," she gently squeezed his hand and left.


+++
Yea. You could really hear things while you were in a coma. Maddox didn't realize that along with hearing her, he could actually feel her if she touched him. It was gentle and seemed far away but she definitely touched him before she left. As soon as the feeling brushed across his subconscious, he dipped further into his coma.

Every day after she left, Maddox had a recurring dream. The bulk of the dream was always the same, but the end of it would be just a little different each time. He and his wife, Janine, were sitting on a back porch. Calming waves rushing the shore not far from the beach house they lived in. He had his hand resting on hers, that she squeezed gently when he touched her. He smiled softly, realizing the voice he'd heard speaking to him in that hospital room belonged to the woman sitting next to him on that porch. 

Maddox had been in that bed going on 2 weeks at that point, 3 weeks total. All because of a stupid mistake.The car wreck resulted in the coma, a broken neck and legs. His family was going to kill him, he knew that due to the constant reminders they gave him when visiting. Until then, he'd be milking this coma. It was all he could do at that point anyway.

"I'm thinking I should probably learn how to swim ..." In the dream, Janine was sitting next to him on that porch. She was absently drawing a circle on Maddox's hand with her middle fingertip. "Every time I go a certain distance out to the water, I think I'm going to get knocked over and BOOM ... I'm dead ... Dead in paradise." She glanced at him, catching the side of his face.

"I dont know I believe thats how it would go down. For someone who is as amazing as you are, amazing never dies. I have a feeling that if you died, youd live on by haunting all of us mortals."

Janine inhaled deeply through her teeth and leaned back further in her chair, "I could see myself doing that. My ghost would be decked out in dress made of gold. I'd have big braids piled up high on my head and a gold sheen all over my body. Who wouldn't want to get haunted by that?" She smiled and closed her eyes, "wouldn't you want to? I'd even be extra bitchy to the women you date after my death."

He nodded, "haunt me all you want, get all that gold shit all over my body. I insist. Hell, i wouldnt be mad."

"You're so easy to please."
+++


Inside Maddox's hospital room was his mother, Lynn. The family decided to pull the plug but didn't know when they'd do it. Lynn was a wreck. Doc convinced her that this was better for Maddox than continuing to be a non responsive vegetable for however much longer he had in that bed. "Oh honey ..." Lynn rubbed Maddox's forehead, "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. You can't be happy like this ... but ..." She'd take care of him. It's not like they were strapped for cash. Lynn started to consider moving Maddox back home and having a room outfitted with the hospital grade equipment. She'd take care of him until he passed away on his own. "You should have gotten married like I told you to," she forced a laugh but it came out strained. After a long silence, Lynn leaned back in the recliner next to the hospital bed, and drifted to sleep.


+++
| Days Later |

"Hey! I said put that down!" Janine walked towards Maddox, who had a butter knife in his hand and walking towards a warm pie. Janine was holding a spoon that had cake batter on it. "It's not ready yet and I told your mother she'd get first crack at it. You cutting a piece will make it look ... Less than stellar."

"Why would you lie to her? You know old people hold grudges. You fucked up.." he continued going for it.

"Don't ... You ..." She watched Maddox get ready to dip a knife into the pie, "I will ..." Then she slung cake batter at him, hitting him in the face, "warned you." She smiled, proud of herself.

"For real? Cake batter on my new fade? Thats really how you feel? You want a whoopin?" He began to remove his belt. At 6'4'', it looked like Maddox was stalking his 5'2'' wife. Janine often thought that Maddox's blonde hair glowed in the sun and his blue eyes sparkled like the ocean. God, was the man good looking. He knew it, and used it to his advantage.

"Don't you take that shit off! You watch too much Narcos," then snatched the pie and walked off.

"Yeah, and in a minute, you're about to be callin me narcos.." Walking behind her and pulling the belt completely out of the loops, Maddox watched her sit the pie down and then snatched her by her wrist, "you could take this standing or over my knee, you choose?"

Janine heaved a sigh and then motioned to the chair for Maddox to sit. When he did, she draped herself over his lap and laughed, "I can't stand you. Cake on your face and you're starting something."

"Yeah, fuck yeah. When you feel whats coming to you, just remember it was your doing." He lifted the long dress she was wearing above her butt and then pulled her panties to her mid thigh, "any last minute requests? "

"Be gentle ... Unless it's with your hand, then I want you to leave a print," she winked at him.
+++


| 1 Week Later |

Jeremiah Tanner was Maddox's best friend growing up. He stood 6'1'' and more brawny than Maddox. With brown hair and brown eyes, Jeremiah was just as handsome but had a much easier smile than Maddox. They hadn't seen each other in a few years but still kept in general contact. He flew into the city on business but stopped by to see him. The nurse was on her way out as he was coming in, "how long will he be like this?"

"Hard to say," she answered. "He's comfortable," she assured him, "but he is paralyzed from the neck down." 

"The neck down?!" Jeremiah looked at her in disbelief, then at Maddox, "how the fuck did you do this to yourself?"

+++
"Can I borrow him for a minute?" Jeremiah was hanging on the inside of the doorframe to Maddox and Janine's beach house. He was smiling all slick at Janine and then looked around behind her. Jeremiah was in a simple pair of jeans, Lebron's on his feet, and a clean white t-shirt.

Undercover Superstar - 16

Days Later |

Janine was dead serious about moving. The same day she was set free, she started packing and now had an apartment full of boxes. She opened her door to take some downstairs when Ricardo stood just on the door. Janine stood frozen for a moment, not out of shock or fear, but annoyance. She handed him a box, then another and picked up one, walking past him, "MY patience is non existent so tell me why you didn't say anything that would have helped."

"We had a cover to keep, at your fathers orders. He didnt want to do anything to piss Doc off so he had a certain way he wanted us to do this. I'm sorry, Janine." He followed her with the boxes in hand.

"He failed and you suck at undercover work," they left the apartment and started down the stairs, "had me scared to death ... Well, near death. Scared to death after dude got to me."

Ricardo, followed Janine downstairs, to Maddox standing next to her car, in jeans, a plaid shirt and sneakers. Ricardo dropped the boxes he was holding and pulled a gun on him, and Maddox held his hands up, "put your gun away Ricky, I'm not here to fight, i just want to say a few things to Janine, and I'll go."

Janine sucked her teeth and deliberately kept her eyes off of his, "its fine," she told Ricardo, then unlocked her car and opened the door.

Ricardo just walked a little ways away putting his gun down but not away. Maddox walked to her, "can i get your attention real quick? Just look me in my eyes while i tell you what i have to tell you.."

She huffed and put the boxes in the car, then closed the door and looked at him, "yes?"

"I didn't come down here expecting a damn thing from you. I just knew that if I let you leave without telling you how i really feel I'd regret it..." He sighed, "you changed me."

She gave him that look like 'nigga please.'

"Not a total 180, but you just made me want to have love and a family. I told you that you were never my girlfriend for a reason because you were always wifey material. That's why i fought through the awkward times. I didn't have to spend time with you in order to hold you for ransom. I could've done it from jump, but my attraction to you took control. My dad is the one that got me to kick shit into gear, but i should've listened to my heart."

"You should have." She agreed, "i would have ..." She groped the air with her hands to find the right words, "... Worked with you? You could have said something but instead you put your hands on me and threatened me and i can't trust you at all anymore," she sighed, "but ... You did say this was your priority so ... No need to say anything at all about any of this anymore ..."

"Well, just know that I'll never choose this shit over you again. If i ever could be so lucky baby..." He sighed again, as he stepped closer to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, "good luck Janine..." His hand slid off her shoulder, and down her arms, "love you..." He said under his breath and began to walk away.

Janine watched him leave, trying not to let what he said get to her. She waited until he got in his car and left, then looked at Ricardo, "are you a cop?"

"Not even close, why?"

"Curious ... Liars are common place in my life these days. You're probably not even a lawyer." She walked past him and back into her apartment.

He laughed, "right..."

Months Later |

Janine moved back to Texas and chewed out her dad royally. She took a job teaching 5th grade math at a private school, and during the summer months, she worked as a personal trainer. Keith had called her with info for his album release party that Janine wouldn't miss, but that meant going back to New York. She borrowed Tarin's couch while there, then got dressed with her and went to a club where KBs party was held.

"ive never even been to this place, better be good.." Tarin stood 40 lbs lighter and loving herself. She wore a tight white knee length, body hugging dress and some nude stilettos.

"Robin Thicke had his here. It's pretty nice," Janine nodded as they walked through. KB had their names put on 'the list' which gave them no problems getting in anywhere they wanted. They went to the VIP after KB got up and said a few words about his album and took a seat, on both sides of him, between himself and some random groupies. Janine smiled at him.

"I'm so happy my girls are here.." He put his arms around Janine and Tarin.

"I'm excited. You wouldn't even let me sample anything."

"And you didn't tell me shit the last time I saw you," Tarin raised an eyebrow.

"Well i gotta have some sense of mystery, guys..." He cheesed.

"Yea yea ... It's sounding good so far. I expect all the perks when you go on tour," Janine told him.

"Even that merchandise stuff. I will rock the hell out of a shirt with your face on it," Tarin chuckled.

He laughed, "that's what I'm talking about," he squeezed them as he looked up to see a familiar face; Maddox, "Maddox, how are you man?" Kb shook his hand.

"how are you? Thought I'd come and congratulate you."

"Thank you, man. That means a lot." 

While KB accepted his congrats from Maddox, Janine sighed on the inside. That stupid nigga standing up there looked so good. She missed him.

"Of course.." He looked to Janine, "hey beautiful..." He grinned down at Janine.

"Hi there," she looked everywhere but at him, then finally in his eyes, gave him a tight smile and then to her hands in her lap.

"We're thirsty ..." KB grabbed Tarin by the hand, "oh look. There's the bar. We'll be right back."

Maddox continued smiling as they left and then slid in next to Janine, "you look amazing, baby."

"Thank you. Don't wear this stuff anymore so it was fun to dress up. How are things?" She turned her head only slightly and looked at him.

"Quiet... Lonely... And very busy. What's new with you?"he put an arm around her.

"Just work. I'm very much a normal now."

"You're anything but normal. Extraordinary is more like it. Tarin looks good by the way. Good for her."

Janine nodded, "and did it all by herself." Ignoring the rest of what he'd said. She'd relaxed a little.

"Thats good..." He sighed, "can i get a dance with you?"

'Sneaky bastard,' she thought and nodded, then stood up, "no feeling on my booty," she grinned and walked ahead of him to the small VIP dance floor.

"no promises..." He winked.

Undercover Superstar - 15

"Maddox!" Janine yelled and beat on the door, "what is going on right now?"

Maddox didn't hear shit. The room, on top of all the security, was sound proofed. He headed downstairs where his uncles and father were. Carmine stepped to him, "Maddox don't you kill that girl, it wasn't in the plan."

Maddox looked at his uncle, "by any means necessary, unc. Shit's business, not personal."

"But you really like this woman-"

"Carmine, put a sock in it," Doc Sr growled, "that bitches father is a problem for the business. My son is making a wise choice."

"You want him single forever like you. I know differently. Call and negotiate with her father. Maybe her life can be sparred." Carmine handed Maddox a cell phone.

Constantine shook his head, "take her the phone and make her call him. Knowing she's been caught will make him cooperate."

Maddox went back upstairs, unlocked the door to see her crying her eyes out, "Janine ... I get this is a hard pill to swallow, but I'm gonna call your father, and the only shit i want you to say is 'dad they have me.' He's very familiar who THEY are. No names. If you say otherwise, id be forced to act accordingly and kill you. I'm no nonsense, you know that. This is nothing personal. About 80% of the shit i told you is true, but this shit was always a priority. You understand? Yes or no?"

She nodded but didn't look at him, keeping her head down. She wouldn't look at him again after this if she made it out of there. Maddox handed her the phone and she dialed her dads number. Her mother answered, "mom ... Where's Daddy?"

"You get a new phone?" Caroline asked off handedly.

"Quick, mom."

"Ok!"

Janine heard shuffling and then William took the line, "hi sweet heart."

She sighed, "they have me." She heard him start to say something but then Maddox snatched the phone from her.

Maddox grabbed the phone from her and walked out of the room locking it up, "William. I've been very patient with you and treated your daughter with respect. You defied me so you have 3 hours to get to City Lake Park with all the bullshit you have collected over time about me. I wont let your precious Angelica go until i have all documents and other pieces of evidence in hand. Better not be any police. Do know i have connections down there and shit will go down if this isnt a straight, easy breezy connect. No wires, no police just you and the items,  we clear?"

"Yes," he huffed and hung up.

Maddox walked downstairs, "start the clock ... Unc, contact Geno and tell him its on, to head to the spot now."

Geno was told to get to city lake park where William would be waiting with the papers. He was holding a box with a top on it that had documents, pictures and voice recordings. All, he handed over when he meet the guy. After the stuff was gone, Geno told them he had it all and drove on to the airport to bring it to the Ames'.

Maddox hung up the phone after speaking to Geno and walked up the stairs to the room he had janine in. He shut the door behind him, "do you understand why i did what i did?"

She nodded, still not looking at him. She really did understand even though she hated him for it.

"I had to protect my family, but i really do care about you, make no mistake. I know how this is already going to play out, i know how you feel about everything so tell me what you want from the business you started. Do you want it all or do you want to leave it? Either way i wont fight you."

"Leave it. When i get out of here, i'm getting the hell out of New York. I'll keep your secrets. They're not mine to tell. But i'm leaving." Scooting into the bed, she pulled her knees up to her chest and turned her head towards the bathroom door.

He nodded, "ok, are you hungry?"

"No. Thank you."

He left the room and locked it behind him. Going downstairs, he walked to his patio and pulled a cigar out and began to smoke it.

"Now what, nephew?" Carmine took a seat next to where he was standing. Then smirked, "you're going to miss that one, aren't you?"

Maddox nodded, "yeah, pretty sure she was the one."

"This could have been handled differently. You could have gotten what you needed and kept her too ... Had you thought it out more like me and not like your father."

"You're right ... I just didn't think the girl would get me like she did. I just didn't even plan for it."

"Give her some time and then lie your way back in," he smirked.

"I don't know if that will work."

What felt like an entire day went by. Geno had to travel from Texas to New York so Maddox had to wait for Geno to get back with the contents of the box before he let Janine go. When Geno arrived, they meticulously went through the contents of the box. When they were satisfied, Maddox hit a button that unlocked the room. Janine popped up from the bed and went straight for the door. When she opened it, she crept out into the hallway and downthe stairs.She saw the men sitting in the living room, except Maddox had his back turned looking out of the window. She shuffled through quickly, ignoring the stares from his family, got her purse and dipped out.

Doc's Little Girl - 12

| Days Later |

"Your dad is gonna give me away ..." Janine said to Maddox. They were out shopping and Janine was looking at baby things. "I'd like him to."

"If you want him to, you should."

"And when will you fix it?"

"Fix what?"

"Your relationship."

"Ok. Pause, Janine. What you're not gonna do is try to convince me to make amends with my father. You have your relationship and I'll have mine the way i want and I'll move things on my own damn terms."

"I'm going to try and convince you because it just makes sense. He's asking to be let back in. Please. I have not asked you for anything at all. Just this one thing." Janine picked up a small piece of clothing.

"Janine!" He yelled, "my relationship with my father is fuckin non-negotiable! Don't ask anymore or you WILL cause problems between us!"

A man walked up to them, "is there a problem over here?"

"Who the fuck invited you over here?! Is anyone bleeding or crying over here? No! Did she ask for your gotdamn help? No! Get the FUCK out of my face!"

Janine had frozen as soon as he yelled at her like that. Her eye twitched a bit and she wanted so badly to lash out. But she had to remember who this was to her, that she was pregnant, and she needed to calm down. But unfortunately, now she was incredibly angry. She balled up the tiny piece of clothing she was holding, held her breath and stared at him as the shop worker walked up to them. After Maddox yelled at him, Janine roughly dropped the shit she was holding to the ground, then turned around and stormed her ass out of the store.

Maddox followed Janine and stopped her from getting in the car, "don't even fucking act like I'm in the wrong right now. Its you who is butting into shit you shouldn't."

Janine didn't even look at him. She tilted her head to the side, snatched the car door open and sat inside.

"Alright we can do this," he walked away to go catch a cab.

| Later |

Janine took her sweet time getting home. She went to the gun range and unloaded for two hours, walked the pier, then went and picked up a giant fruit platter from the organic food store. When she got home, she went to the kitchen, opened the platter and dumped all the cantaloupe, pineapples and mangoes into a bowl, then walked around eating it.

Maddox however hadn't gone home and was at his mother's house, "I'm just so damn pissed, Ma."

"I understand honey. But ... With marriage comes compromise. There isn't anything you can take from this?" She was in the kitchen, working on a pie, "hmm? I compromised with your father and let him come over here once a day to grovel, then he leaves."

"The speed i move with my father is not for her to decide. I already told him i would be open to working on our relationship, but at my own pace, and she should respect that."

"She should," Lynn agreed.

"What makes me more mad is she doesn't see that because she is my father's drone. He's everything to her and i get it, but for most of my life. My dad has been too busy for me."

"That is true but he loves you. So much, baby. Now he has the opportunity to make it right when YOU are ready. Tell Janine to cool it."

"Tried, maybe i told her the wrong way but I'm that angry."

"I think ... You told her the wrong way." Lynn patted his hand.

"I know but i said it regular to begin with and then she kept pushing it."

"Alright. Honey. I hope everything is okay by morning."

"Yeah, well, i better get out of here," he kissed his mother on the head.

"Love you.." lynn hugged him

"I love you too mama," he smiled and left to go home.

| Later |

Maddox got home. Janine knew he'd arrived and didn't give a shit. She was in their bedroom, sitting on the loveseat with her legs up and folded, kindle in one hand reading a book about babies, and almonds in the other hand, popping some into her mouth as she read.

Maddox walked in to their bedroom, "lets talk."

"No thank you." She responded without looking up from her book.

"Well, I'm talking. Sorry, for talking to you like I did, however, i am not sorry for what i said. You need to respect my wishes. If this is gonna work, you have to respect my feelings." he looked to her.

"If this is going to work?" She looked up at him, "if this is going to work? What the fuck?"

"Yes, generally speaking, you respect me and i respect you."

"You respect me by not yelling at me in my fucking face like I'm some random who pissed you off. I need to respect your wishes but you don't need to respect mine ... right?"

"You miss everything i said. I started with sorry and i just said we both need to respect each other. Why would i expect you to respect me and i wouldn't give you any in return? You forget i spoke in a completely tamed tone until you kept pressing the issue."

"Whether I press or not ... you don't need to talk to me like that. Walk away." She went back to reading her book.

"Right ... we'll ignore the fact that i just apologized. Cool, lets keep this up, lets stay mad. Because that's what you want to do. Remember, i came to you, trying to talk, but every time we get in a damn argument, you always want to keep it going and even if you are wrong, you never apologize. I'm stubborn, but baby you take the damn cake. When you're ready to talk, you know where ill be," he walked off, intending on a spare room.

"I'm not wrong and therefore can't apologize." She said loud enough for him to hear. Janine would have apologized for nothing had he not said 'if this is going to work' because that made her anger worse. At least now, she didn't have to tell him to leave, he went on his own and she was fine with that. Maddox was exhausted,this is why they were always on and off, her stubbornness. She also always read into things incorrectly.

| Morning |

Maddox got up and made breakfast for the both of them. He put hers on the table and went to the bedroom, "your breakfast is ready..." he announced to her and then walked off.

Janine sighed and turned over. She just wanted to sleep but she was starving. She got up and brushed her teeth, combed her hair into a ponytail and went downstairs. "Thanks ... I'm so hungry." She sat down and took a moment to rub her stomach.

"You're welcome..." he nodded and drank some orange juice.

"When you get off, can we try the registry again?" She started eating.

"Yeah ..." he agreed.

"Great." They finished eating in silence. No, things were not okay. Nothing magically fixed itself overnight. Maddox was right, she's as stubborn as they come and could become irrational with it. Then again, Janine had learn everything about normal life in only a few years time. When they finished, a maid cleaned off the table and Janine went back up to bed. Maddox left to work, trying his hardest to change his attitude the whole day.

| Later |

Janine spent her afternoon crying to Doc about Maddox yelling at her, "stubborn or not. I'm not apologizing and I did nothing wrong."

"Why wouldn't you? Didn't you say he apologized?"

"Yes. So ..." blinking as tears fell, "I'm supposed to when he does?" She was confused.

"My question is why wouldn't you? He told you cool it and you continued to press it. I appreciate you, i do, but i dont want you to fight because of me."

"I've always done what you said to do. It's all I was doing." She wiped her face.

"But don't risk your relationship."

"Jesus!" She leaned back on her couch, "Okay. I'll fix this. Okay. I don't know how but okay."

"Remember, your man comes first. Dont jeopardize that for anyone," he rubbed her hand.

She sighed, "Okay. You won't stop coming around will you?"

"Of course not," he smiled.

And just like that, Janine felt better. Doc always fixed everything.

| That Evening |

Janine waited for Maddox at home. When he got there, she was cooking, but went to greet him. She only gave him a tight hug and stood on her toes and kissed him, then went back to the kitchen.

"Hello ..." he smiled as she walked off.

"Hi. Hold on," she rushed back to check the halibut.

"Holding," he took off his coat.

She turned it down low, then went back to him, "I'm sorry. I was an idiot. I was thinking like Doc's protege and still taking orders like they're the bible. You're my number 1 now. I didn't forget, but it was like my mechanics override that if Doc asks me to do something. Won't happen again." Yet she still felt like she wasn't wrong. Go figure. Either way, she was still doing what Doc told her to do.

He smiled and just kissed her, "i love you."

"I love you too." Smiling, she rushed back to the kitchen. "YOUR MOM IS COMING OVER FOR DINNER."

"Good! Im gonna hop in the shower really quick..." he ran off to do so.

By the time Maddox showered, Janine was putting food on the table and Maddox's mother was brought in by the butler. "Hi Ms Lynn." Janine went to greet her.

"Hey sweetie, how are you and my grand baby?!" She hugged her.

"We're good. Growing too fast. Come sit. Dinner is ready and Maddox will be down in a minute."

"How is everything?"

"Fine! And you?"

"Im great, just miss having kids in the house," she pouted as Maddox came down, "baby," she jumped up to hug him.

"Hey mama," he leaned down and hugged her tightly.

"I was just telling Janine I wanted a baby in the house. Trent's son got too big too fast," she sat back down.

"I asked her over," Janine told them, "just so I can get some talk time in since Lynn knows everything about babies. I've read books but I know books don't really prepare you."

"Oh no, experience is where its at, baby," Lynn smiled, "I'm always here to assist though."

"I'll need the help. Honestly. It's a little scary."

"Thats normal. You have a good guy helping you. Maddox is great with kids."

"That's what he says," Janine winked at him.

"I do... ma, how are you and dad?" Maddox sipped his wine and looked at his mother.

"Um i can look at him without being angry.." she admitted. Maddox nodded and went back to eating. "Well... what about you?" Lynn grinned.

"Uhh we got together for lunch today. He showed up, i didnt say no."

Janine gasped and nearly coughed up her juice, "and ..." She calmed herself, "How did it go?"

"Fine.. it went fine."

"That's ... That's ... nice." Grinning too hard. From then on, everything would be fine. Doc is always right.




The End