Always & Forever

✨Chapter Twenty✨

Brynlee's POV

            JJ and I held hands as we walked around the carnival. We had separated from TJ and Arabella as soon as we got here. I stopped, JJ tugging on my hand just a little because he didn't realize, when I saw a football tossing game. You had to throw the football through 3 rings and you won a stuffed toy.

            "You want me to win you a bear?" JJ asked and I nodded my head quickly. I smiled as I looked up at him.

            "It's for me and the baby." I told him, causing JJ to chuckle softly. I knew he was excited to be a dad. I knew he would have won me a bear, even if I wasn't pregnant, but it helped to sweeten the deal. We walked over to the booth and JJ paid a couple dollars for the game. He threw the football and it went through the first loop. The second football went through the second loop. When he tried to throw it towards the smallest, last loop, he missed. He took a deep breath and he looked down at me. I puffed my bottom lip out and he paid for another ball. This time, he nailed all three loops.

            "For the lady." The man behind the counter handed me the cutest teddy bear. I knew it was probably just the hormones, but I started crying.

            "It's so cute. The baby is going to love this." I tried wiping my eyes quickly. JJ brushed some of my hair back from my face.

            "I'm sure you're right. Let's go get you some funnel cake and lemonade." He smiled as he intertwined his fingers with mine. We went to the food area and JJ got me funnel cake, deep fried oreos, cotton candy, and lemonade. We split everything and I sat with the bear on my lap. "What do you want to do now?" He asked me and I thought about it while chewing.

            "The ferris wheel. I've always wanted to kiss on top of the ferris wheel. Can we do that?" I hoped he didn't think I was being annoying. He smiled and nodded his head, collecting our trash.

            "Of course, we can. Whatever you want." JJ walked with me to the line for the ferris wheel. My eyes scanned the carnival for TJ and Arabella. They were playing the ring toss with Lucas. They had taken him to take a picture with Santa earlier. JJ and I got onto the ferris wheel when it was our turn and we waited until we got up to the top. I looked out at the whole carnival and I couldn't help but smile. It was so beautiful up here. I looked over at JJ and he was looking at me with an expression of nothing but love. "I'm so happy to have met you." He whispered and I couldn't stop smiling. We leaned in, sharing a sweet kiss. He gave me so many butterflies with a single touch. The ferris wheel lurched, taking us back down to the bottom.

            "Thank you for coming with me. This was a lot of fun." We got off the ride and walked over to our meeting spot to say goodbye to Arabella and TJ before we left. TJ was holding a sleeping Lucas, Lucas' face smeared with chocolate. TJ had a Hungry Hungry Caterpillar plushy hanging from his fingertips. They had probably won it together for Lucas.

            "Are you guys ready to go?" Arabella asked, standing close to TJ's side. She looked so small when standing next to him.

            "Yeah, we are." I smiled at her and JJ held my hand while we started walking, TJ and Arabella walking behind us. When we got out to the large field where the cars were parked, we were surrounded by the paparazzi. TJ switched which arm Lucas was in so that he was in between him and Arabella and not on the edge. JJ let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I was starting to have a hard time breathing. The flashing lights and the yelling were all a lot. I knew I was going into sensory overload. JJ noticed my breathing and kissed my forehead, trying to get me to the car as quickly as he could.

            "Breathe, Brynlee. In, out. In, out." JJ held my hand once we were both safely in the car. "What was your favorite Disney movie growing up? What was your favorite memory about your mom? Do you want the baby to be a boy or a girl?" Even though he was asking me a million questions at once, it was actually starting to help me feel better.

            "Um, the Lion King was my favorite movie. I'm happy with either a boy or a girl as long as they're healthy. My favorite memory about my mom was when I would get out of a bath and she would brush all the tangles out of my hair. It was very comforting for me. We had a special soft-bristled brush. It reminded me of the ones the princesses in the movies would have." I told him, looking at the dashboard as I remembered the smell of my mom's perfume and her movements as she gently brushed my hair. I realized that I could breathe again as JJ pulled up to the house. My memory of my mom helped with my anxiety attack. JJ helped me get out and held my hand tightly. He didn't turn on any of the lights as we walked up the stairs, he just held my hand and guided me to the bedroom.

            "Stand here." His voice was quiet and soft. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat while standing still. I heard JJ rifling around in the dresser and then he was back in front of me. My eyes started adjusting to the darkness and I could see his tall figure standing in front of me. He unclipped my belt and I felt my shorts sliding down my legs. "Is this okay?" He asked me and I nodded my head, adding an "uh-huh" just in case he couldn't see me. He put my arms over my head carefully and pulled my shirt up above my head, grazing my hips and sides while taking it off. He unclipped my strapless bra and then kissed my collarbone ever so carefully, it was just a graze. This intimacy was nice. Really nice. It wasn't about sex or pleasure. He was so careful and loving. He slid an oversize t-shirt over my head. "Okay, you can get comfortable now." He made sure I sat down on the bed without falling. He turned on the TV and started lighting candles. One was lavender scented, the rest were unscented. I didn't realize that I was still sitting on the edge of the bed until JJ had gotten into bed with me. He pulled me down carefully until I was laying with my head in his lap. He turned on The Lion King on the TV and I smiled slightly. He brushed his fingers through my hair and I felt my eyes starting to drift closed. I felt very comfortable in JJ's lap when I finally fell asleep.

            I rolled over in bed, thinking the sun had just come up. It was almost 10AM. I rubbed my eyes and looked down at the teddy bear that JJ had won me the night before. I smiled, running my fingers over the soft, fake fur.

            "Good morning pretty girl." JJ came into the bedroom, a breakfast tray in his arms. He had made me an omelet and fresh squeezed orange juice. There was a little fruit bowl next to the plate. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he perched himself on the edge of the bed.

            "Good. Thank you for last night. You helped me a lot." I sipped my juice and tucked some hair behind my ear.

            "It's my job to help you." He ran his fingers through my hair gently, tucking it behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek and I smiled slightly. "Finish your breakfast and we'll go for a walk around the park, okay? Stretch your legs." He kissed my forehead and got up to go take a shower. I smiled and picked up my fork. It was honestly a better morning than I was expecting.