Irrevocably HERS

Chapter Fifteen

The trip to NY was long but manageable. The whole time all I could think about was getting back to her. This wasn't something I could tell her through a phone call. I needed to tell her to her face, see her beautiful eyes again, absorb all her glory and this time, I vowed to myself to never let her go. We could finally begin our lives together. I mean, I know it won't be an easy, snap of your fingers back together kind of thing, but I will make damn certain that I keep my promise to make her the queen she so rightfully is.

How that idea plummeted rapidly.

"Amber!" I yell once I realize what the hell is happening. I watch as whoever the f**k was in her dorm automatically grab her and, shockingly, manages to catch her before she hits her head off the ground. I watch as he cradles her in his arms, moving her hair back, checking her pulse to assess if she is breathing or not. He gently puts her down and immediately dials 911. He speaks so fast but all I can hear is my heart beating so hard against my chest. I look on helplessly and get pulled back to the here and now when a body comes crashing into me.

"The f**k did you to her?!" Reeve roars while throwing me against the wall. He does catch me off guard so now that I am brought back to reality, I manage to punch him in the face to get him to back the f**k off of me so I could get to where Amber is lying on the ground, but the fucker doesn't allow it. His facial expression is deadly right now as he stands between me and Amber, while Chrissy is on the floor sobbing her eyes out next to her. Reeve swipes the blood that is on his lip away with the back of his hand and glares daggers at me. My chest is rising and falling, my insides burning with rage but all I want to do right now is make sure Amber is okay. Why don't they understand that? I am not the bad guy here. Everyone has come out of their dorms to see what the big deal is and when they see Amber on the floor, there are gasps heard all around.

"911 is on their way okay? Meet me at Langone and tell them to page Dr. Richard's. I'm his shadow so I will be with him and know what is wrong with her." The guy says to Chrissy before running so fast out of the hallway.

"Is she breathing Chrissy?" Reeve asks while still remaining as a blockade between me and my girl.

"Ye....yeah. I feel a pulse. Where are the paramedics Reeve?!" She cries out and not even a second later are the paramedics beside her, carefully moving Chrissy aside to get to Amber.

"Reeve I swear to f**k you better get out of my way or I will pummel you so far into the ground that you'll need a whole new face by the time I am done with you." I spit but Reeve doesn't back down.

"f**k you Hunter." He barks back but turns around to see what is going on with Amber. I watch as the paramedics wrap an oxygen mask around her face, lifting her body up and on a stretcher. They carry her out and I immediately move to follow only to once again be halted.

"Why the hell are you here Hunter? Couldn't bear to stay away and let Amber live a life without your s**t dragging her down?" Chrissy rages at me and I just glare at the both of them.

"I came for a reason and that reason is none of your f*****g concern. Yell and b***h at me later. Right now, I am going to see where Amber is being sent and making f*****g sure that she is okay!" I yell out and make my way out of the area only to quickly type out Langone on my phone and see the hospital is close by. I follow the directions and make it there, running towards the front desk to ask for her.

"Yeah, a patient came through maybe about ten fifteen minutes ago. I need to know the status. I'm going out of my mind." I say in one breath and the worker just eyes me with suspicion.

"Name of the patient?" She asks.

"Amber Scott." I say instantly.

"Are you a family member?" She says and I have to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from lashing out. All I want to know is if she is okay. For f*****g sakes.

"I'm sorry sir but if you are not family then I cannot provide patient information." She says dismissively and turns to do other tasks and it takes everything in me to not cause a scene. I make my way to the waiting room figuring Reeve and Chrissy will be here shortly and they will find out everything.

What feels like an eternity passes by the time Reeve walks in with a red eyed Chrissy tucked under his arm. He sees me but doesn't say a word, immediately going to the worker behind the desk. He speaks to her and she nods and f*****g smiles at him, calling someone on the phone. I am more than irate at this point but if I want to know how she is I will just keep my damn mouth shut.

"Reeve." The same guy who walked out of Ambers dorm comes out from behind the doors and my legs have me rising out of my chair so damn fast. Before Reeve can even ask him a damn thing I intervene.

"Is she okay?" I bite out which only garners me a narrow eyed look.

"Look, I'm not sure who the hell you are but I don't need to tell you anything about my patient." He says to me and I feel my hands balling into fists beside me.

"You do need to tell me something because that girl in there is my future wife so for the last f*****g time, is she okay?" I grit out and the mention of her being my future wife has his eyes widen. His shock soon wears off and a look of superiority mars his face, which I want to punch so badly right now.

"Ah, the one and only Hunter I presume. Amber has mentioned you. Wouldn't say that any of what she said about you was good, but you were spoken about. From what I can gather, she wants nothing to do with you anymore so I suggest you leave before I call security." He says and I am simply at my wits end. I could really care less the opinions of this asshole right now. To prove a point, I make a break for the doors and immediately run through them, searching everywhere for my girl. I can hear yelling behind me but I don't stop. A flash of black hair comes into view and the minute my eyes land on her, I feel relieved. Her eyes are closed but she is no longer wearing an oxygen mask. She is hooked up to an IV and the minute I step closer to her, her eyes shoot open. I pull the curtain across to give us some privacy and I move the chair in there closer to her bed.

"For f**k sakes. Why are you here Hunter?" She says in such a defeated tone that my heart cracks.

"Never mind that. How are you feeling?" I ask softly, wanting nothing more than to put my hand on hers.

"Besides embarrassed? I think I'm okay. They have me hooked up to this damn thing. God I hate needles." She says before I hear the chatter of a few pissed off personnel. Amber looks from the closed curtain to me and closes her eyes.

"What did you do?" She asks.

"What I had to in order to see you because nobody would tell me a god damn thing. Not even the punk who came out of your room this morning who claims to be your "doctor". I asked sort of nicely for information about you but all he did was piss me off further." I say, knowing I sound on edge.

"Mason. The guy you were asking is Mason. He works here as part of his medical program and a really good friend Hunter. Don't give him any grief." She says and I become infuriated how quick she is to defend him.

"I don't give a s**t. It could have been the Pope and I still would have done the same thing to get to see you." I say and she rolls her eyes at me. The curtain opens and in walks Mason. f*****g asshole.

"Do you need me to get security in here Amber?" Mason says looking directly at my girl, bypassing my presence I know he notices as if I were f*****g transparent.

"No. Everything is fine. Am I good to go home now? I am feeling much better. I was probably just dehydrated from being sick. I was never good with stomach bugs." She says and it is then that Mason actually looks my way and what a shocker, I can finally be seen.

"Amber, uhh, we need to talk." He says and she manages to sit up more on the bed, face filled with dread.

"Well, speak Mason. What is wrong with Amber?" I say and he just glares at me.

"I am not sure you realize that I am her doctor and she is my patient and there is a thing called doctor patient confidentiality. What I need to discuss with my patient is none of your concern so I suggest you remove yourself from this area. Security is already looking for you." He says and I have had just about enough. I step directly in front of his face.

"Let me tell you something about your patient. I had spent a long time living with Amber, and I know just about everything I need to know about the woman I f*****g love. She is five foot five, hundred twenty pounds. She is Type O blood and is in the donor registry god forbid anything happens to her, because she is a selfless person like that and her parents were also donors who saved quite a few people with their generosity. She is allergic to dogs but still loves them and wants them more than anything when she settles into a house of her own. She hates fish, loves cheeseburgers with French fries but if the cook dares to put tomatoes on it, she'll wind up wasting it since she will never send her food back. She carries an inhaler with her wherever she goes because she once had an asthma attack when her parents took her to a carnival when she was a little girl, and wound up hyperventilating on a ride. She is scared of the dark. She loves music. She hates documentaries. Loves Jane Austen. She lacks Vitamin D but I always made sure she had multivitamin gummies when we lived together in our foster home and didn't mind one f*****g bit robbing them from the local pharmacy. Does that qualify me to remain here knowing pretty much everything about her?" I say. Mason just looks from me to her and she simply nods. That was all she would do for him to relay whatever is wrong with her.

"Amber, umm, yes you were dehydrated but you were also lacking key nutrition for you and your, umm, baby. We had taken a sample of your blood and noticed you were a bit anemic also." He says, looking almost depressed, and I swear the wind gets knocked right out of me. Did he just say baby? As in she has a baby growing inside of her right now? If the pain in my chest is any indication of the unbearable heartbreak I am experiencing right now, anything like what she experienced when Vicky lied to her face about me becoming a father, then maybe it is karma getting back at me.

"Baby? What do you mean baby? I can't be pregnant. The last time I even did anything was." She gasps and looks over to me. I am still caught up in my heart shattering that I need to rewind her words in my head. I look at her instantly and I can see the truth in her eyes.

The last time I even did anything was....

"No no no this can't be happening. No. No. No. I think I'm going to be sick again." She says as her face becomes paler. I grab the trash can and hurl it towards her. The moment she sees it in front of her, she pukes. I rub circles along her back to try and calm her. It does the opposite.

"Ok, I think this reunion is over. Hunter, you need to leave. I need to make sure my patient is stable." Masons says, pushing me out of the room. I don't move away from the area though. I linger. I'm not leaving my girl or my baby. I wait till Mason leaves the area and make my way back inside. I was expecting a distant look on her face or even rage. What I wasn't expecting were tears. s**t.

"Baby, don't cry. Everything will be okay. I'm here. I will be here for you and the baby. Whatever you need I will get it." I say and she just bawls more. I wait till she is at sniffle whimper level before I consider even approaching her.

"Do you want me to get you anything?" I ask as she turns her head to look at me.

"I can't do this Hunter. I've become the other woman. The mistress! The slut mistress who is now carrying your baby. Oh god!" She says and I just look at her wondering what the hell she is even talking about. Oh. Right. She doesn't know the truth yet.

"You need to go home Hunter. This is my problem to solve. Not yours. Go home to your fiancée and baby and forget all about me. I won't be the other woman. You know what? You can just sign over your rights and we'll forget this whole thing. I'll take care of the baby myself. I won't ask for any child support. This doesn't even have to get back to your fiancé. Yes. Yes. That's what we'll do. I'll ask Mason to help me out." She says and when I hear Mason and help in the same sentence along with give up my parental rights, I just about lose it.

"You are not keeping me from my baby Amber. Over my dead body will I allow Mason to help you raise him or her when I am right f*****g here!" I say in a tone void of emotion. She doesn't even bother looking at me. It is like I evaporated into thin air.

"Okay dear, the doctor sent over your discharge papers. Please follow up with a gyno. Do you have any questions?" The nurse says sweetly even though I know she can sense the tension between us.

"No. Thank you. I just want to go home." She says and goes to rise from the bed but falters slightly. I manage to help her with her balance and tell her to hold onto me. She isn't thrilled with me helping but too bad for her. I lead her out and straight into the waiting room where Chrissy and Reeve are still waiting.

"Amber!!" Chrissy shrieks coming to her side within a split second and giving me the look get your filthy hands off of her so I let Amber go reluctantly.

"Come on. Let's get you home." Reeve says, throwing me another hateful look, and I watch as they all head out without giving me the time of day. I'll give them all tonight but come tomorrow, Amber and I are having a chat. Nothing or no one will come between me and my family.

I toss and turn the whole night, opting to rent a hotel room close to the campus. It definitely isn't the Ritz Carlton, nor would I ever have the luxury of paying that kind of price in my life for a room with a five star rating, but it will suffice. Thoughts jumble my mind between being held captive with the potential possibility of having a baby with Vicky, meanwhile, Amber has been pregnant and I would have never known if I hadn't come down here. Would she have even told me?

I was away from her for weeks. Weeks. I was the good guy to a woman I had no connection with, thinking I could have been her baby's father even though it was only a slim chance, and the entire time, my girl has been carrying my child. The thought of her having s*x and getting knocked up my someone else would have been my point of no return. It would have damaged and broken me in ways I honestly fear to even think about.

Morning comes and I literally jump out of my bed and take a half fast shower, throw clothes on, and rush out of the room so fast that I nearly trip over myself going down the stairs. I need to get a grip but what I need even more is to talk to Amber. I make a quick pit stop at the local pharmacy and pick up prenatal gummies because if she even sees an actual vitamin, pill form that is, she'll toss the whole bottle at my head. I also pick up other odds and ends to make sure she is most relaxed and make my way to her dormitory. I definitely look like the odd man out on this campus. Students are dressed more proper while I stand out like a sore thumb with a black leather jacket, band t-shirt, and ripped black jeans accompanied by my black steel toed boots.

I take the stairs two at a time and once in front of her room, I knock gently. I wait patiently and when I feel my patience wearing thin, I go to knock again when the door opens to reveal Chrissy. She looks like she hadn't slept a wink either, but still ready to go somewhere, and the way her face turns into a scowl, I know she isn't thrilled to see me. She looks behind her to make sure Amber is okay and nudges me backward so she could come outside and speak with me so not to disturb her.

"You simply can't take a hint can you Hunter?" She says completely irked at my presence and I really don't need this holier than thou crap she is emanating.

"We both know that I haven't been the best person to her and I have owned up to my fuckups but I will not allow Amber to push me away now that we have a child on the way. You know just as well as me that I have loved that girl and have wanted a family with her for so long. Now is my chance to show her that I can be the man she needs, the father she needs for our baby, and the husband she deserves." I confess but it is like talking to a steel wall.

"What happens when s**t hits the fan again? What happens when everything is going smoothly one moment and then everything falls apart again the next? Are you going to be running away? Are you going to abandon her again like you have been over and over? I never imagined that you could hurt her again Hunter. Sure we were stupid teens back then when I found you in bed with that new girl but now? We are adults Hunter and for you to have put her through the ringer again is unacceptable." She says and I nod in agreement.

"What happened between us wasn't what you are thinking. Did she even tell you what happened?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"Reeve and I both tried to find out what had happened. She was always silent on the subject. She threw herself into studying and school that she forgot how to be a person who lives life. She didn't want to go out. She didn't want to be bothered with anything and do you know how concerning that was? Amber had finally come back to us once we got here. Sure she was still heartbroken but she managed to pull herself up from drowning. I was so scared that we were going to lose her once again until, until she met Mason." She says and I cringe.

"My truth for your truth. This is how it is going to work. If you want anything to do with her and that baby, you will hear what I have to say to you and you will show me the same respect. Now. Mason came into her life and picked up the pieces you left scattered on the floor. He brought her humor back. He brought her smile back. He basically saved her from herself and I'm sorry, but I would take seeing my sister smiling over depression any day." She states with certainty and I honestly can't blame her. Mason was there when I wasn't or couldn't. Any guy would be lucky to be with such an amazing woman.

"Now what precisely happened?" Chrissy asks and I take a deep breath in and hope for the best.

"The night she ran out of the dinner, I found her at my garage. She was freezing to death so I brought her inside, where we went at it the moment she felt warmer. Shouting, yelling, practically lashing out at one another until we succumbed to the pull we both felt for each other. You know, one thing led to another and I thought we were good, that we were starting new. Turns out, while I was sleeping, Amber ran into Vicky and she told Amber that she was pregnant with my child and to never go near me again." I say to which her face becomes full of rage.

"You fucking....." She grits out but before she can lash out at me, I continue.

"It was a huge lie Chrissy! Vicky had me believing I was the child's father and made me wait for a paternity test because I knew in my heart and gut that that baby wasn't mine. She was jealous Chrissy. Jealous of the woman who has had my heart for years and wanted nothing more than to crush our happily ever after. Turns out, the true father to her baby wanted nothing to do with her so her next option was to tie me down." I say and Chrissy's face is no longer full of rage. Now it has morphed into pity.

"Well, s**t. I was not expecting that. I take it Amber doesn't know the truth?" She asks and I nod my head.

"No wonder she was freaking out last night. God. We need to fix this and we need to fix this now. She cannot be under any stress because that can harm her and the baby." She says to which I am in full agreement.

"Listen, let her hear you out but whatever she chooses to do, is her choice. I mean, whether she chooses you to remain in her life or to have you co-parent with no attachments, is all on her. You can't declare that you are going to marry her and all that. I know this is going to suck hearing, but, she isn't going to give up Mason just because you are the baby daddy and are no longer a possible father to another child. Mason is a part of her life now." She says and I know it isn't my place to tell her who to be friends with, but from what it sounds like, she might have feelings for this guy and that is something I can't take lightly.

"Chrissy?" Ambers soft voice pulls me from my thoughts.

"I'm here Amber. Having a little chat with Hunter." Chrissy says as Amber looks from her to me with a worried expression.

"I'm going to leave you two to talk and whatnot. Just going to go make myself useful and annoy Reeve as a distraction from him running over here and kicking your ass Hunter." She says and I can't help the laugh that escapes me.

"Definitely will be appreciated. Probably wants to deck me for the busted lip I gave him yesterday anyway." I say to which she just shrugs like it's nothing.

"Oh he will get you back for that one. Just not today or right now. I'll see you later Amber. Call me if you need me okay?" Chrissy says before leaving us alone.

"Can I come in?" I ask Amber in my most gentlest tone as she looks at me with puffy eyes.

"Uh, yeah. May as well. It's not just about you and me anymore." She says as she heads into the room, waiting for me to come in. She heads to sit on her bed and I just stand in the room not knowing what to do with myself.

"Just come and sit Hunter. The quicker we get to talking, the quicker you can leave to your other life." She says and her words are like a kick to the gut. Little does she know that I will do anything to remain here by her side and make that dumbass Mason cease to exist, because there is no way in hell he is ever going to be daddy figure to my child.