Chapter 74 - I Don't Need No Lessons

Monica decided to let the fact that her and Dorothea looked a lot alike go.  She wasn't going to worry, she had nothing to worry about.  Her and Jon were together and they were having a baby, that was all the security that she needed. 

With Dorothea, they all went over the video concept and she agreed to give it a try.  She had been out of acting for so long that she wasn't sure she could do it, but she would love the opportunity.  The three of them talked for a while longer when Monica decided the visit was over, she said, "Dorothea, as soon as we talk with the other band members about the idea, we will contact you to sort it all out.  I need to find a venue for them to play and a few other things.  Is it okay if I call you, or would you rather that Richie or Jon did?"

Dorothea smiles, "Please call me Dot, and yes, that's fine if you call me.  Do you have my number?"

"No, I don't."  Monica hands her the sketch pad and Dot jots down her number and hands it back.  Monica takes it, smiles and says, "Thank you.  I'll call you in the next couple of days."  Everyone gives the social goodbye hug and they leave.  Dot is left in a daze, trying to figure out what really happened.

Jon, Monica and Richie are heading now to the bank so they can pay the band and plan what needs to happen next. 

They all are in agreement with Monica's story line and would love to play a small venue close to home.  It's been a while since they have done that.  She's thinking she'll go down and check out Seaside Heights and see if she can get them to play on the boardwalk.

The business part of their day is behind them, making Monica very happy.  She's hungry and tired and wants to lay down.  They drop Richie off back at home and go home themselves.  As they pull in the driveway, Monica says, "I'm glad to be home, what a long day."

"We got alot done."

"We did.  Which is great.  Now maybe a little alone time, for mommy and daddy?"  He looks at her and raises an eyebrow.  She smiles at him and gets out of the car.

"Wanna take a bath with me?" she asks as she reaches for his had.  They walk up the driveway and in the house hand in hand and very much in love.  "I don't even remember the last bath I took."

"I would love to!" he says as he wraps their arms around her neck and he pulls her to him.  On her lips, he plants a gentle but yet kiss and adds, "There is nothing I would rather do, actually.  How are you feeling?"

"I'm tired."

"I know you are.  How about tomorrow we do nothing but hang out at home."  He opens the side door, pushing it open for her to go in.  In the kitchen they both kick off their shoes. She drops her bag and they work their way into the living room.  Monica manages to get her butt on the couch of  before she hears Jon says, "Whoa whoa whoa, we're taking a bath."

Rubbing her belly, she looks up at him and says, "We need a minute.  Come here, feel this."  HE smiles as he walks toward her, and she smiles back.  She kicks her feet up on the ottoman, Jon sits next to her and places his hand on her belly.  He's still for a few moments and then he feels a gentle kick.  He feels the life that they made and the life that he can't wait to meet.  

Holding his breath, he looks up at Monica and at that moment, Monica melts.  The look that she sees in his eyes is a look that she has never seen before, it's soft, inviting, warm and 100% pure.  She can see that he loves her and that even though they are young and not yet ready, he's in love with the idea of being a father.  She reaches up, throws off his baseball cap and brushes some of his frosted bangs out of his face and tells him, "You're going to be an amazing father."

He rests his head on her shoulder and says, "I'm going to be an amazing dad and you're going to be a wonderful mom."  His hand rubbing her belly the whole time.  Together, they sit there in silence, watching the little flutters that they can see and feeling the ones that they can feel.  Both of them are facing the fact that there is a life growing inside of Monica and they were responsible for it.  Jon doesn't let the silence last too long.  "I say in the morning we go to Vegas and get married.  Just me and you."

Monica had hoped that the subject of marriage wouldn't come up again for a while.  She knows that she loves him and that he loves her, and that they are in it for the long haul - but a Vegas wedding is not what she visioned for her life as she was growing up.  She pictured her father walking her down the aisle, with hundreds of family and friends surrounding her.  She never gave thought to getting married at a place so far away from home without anyone but he husband at her side.  "Jon, I can't do that.  My family would kill me once they found out."

"So we don't tell anyone."

"Go to Vegas, get married and keep it a secret?" she questions.

"Yeah, I want you to be my wife."  He slides his head down her arm, with his lips stopping on her belly.  With many kisses he continues, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I want the baby to have my last name."

Monica chuckles a little bit, "The baby will have your last name and marriage won't keep us together for ever, it's us that does that."

He laughs at himself, "I know that."

"Okay," she starts to run his fingers through his hair, he rests his head on her belly, "Why the rush then?"

"Because it feels right, that's all I can say.  I just know in my heart that it feels right."

Monica can't argue with that.  She feels the same way.