Stained Red

Chapter Nine

When Isaac admitted to sleeping with someone else Natalie felt like she had been punched in the gut. Yes he had filed for divorce but she had just gotten the papers yesterday. He would be turning those in tomorrow so technically they were still married. "S..should have a been a stranger?" she asked picking up on his last words and seeing the guilt on his face. Had the person he slept with turned out to be someone he knew?

"I found out tonight that the woman I slept with was Nikki," Isaac confessed feeling even more guilty as he said that part. "I slept with my brother's fiancée."

Natalie's mouth dropped open at Isaac's revelation, especially when he called Nikki, Taylor's fiancée. She had known that Taylor was thinking of asking Nikki, he had just been over this morning asking for advice but she really hadn't expected it would be this soon. "And are you going to tell Taylor or is Nikki going to out you?"

Isaac shook his head no at her question, "Nikki said if I told Taylor that she would tell him about Theodore maybe being his. She also threatened to tell Kate and Zac as well," he whispered feeling horrible that he had let Nikki know so much when he had been drunk."

Swallowing hard Natalie lifted her glass to her lips, taking another big gulp. "You told her?" she asked as she shook her head, not sure whether to feel pissed off at him or feel bad that Nikki was taking advantage of the situation.

"I wasn't thinking properly," Isaac reasoned knowing it still wasn't an excuse to let something like that slip. "I'm sorry," he apologized not blaming Natalie if she was mad.

Shaking her head Natalie drank some more of the water almost wishing it was alcohol though the lush in this marriage had always been Isaac. "I'm not mad...well okay maybe I am but what right do I have to get mad at you when I have made my own fair share of mistakes, especially concerning what Nikki is holding over your head."

Isaac nodded at Natalie's words, "I just don't know what to do Nata," he confessed as he looked at her hoping that she had answers that could help him. She had always been one who could find a solution when things got rough. That was one of the things he had liked in their early years of marriage when it had been just them and Theodore. They hadn't always had it easy yet Natalie had been so optimistic and coming up with things to fix their current situation.

Frowning Natalie moved from the chair, going to sit down beside Isaac. "We'll think of something," she reassured him as she put her glass on the counter before reaching for his hand. "We're still a team even if things are bad right now for us."

"I don't think there is anything to think of," Isaac shrugged wishing he could believe Natalie's words. "Nikki has me where she wants me. In silence that I never tell Taylor about her little indiscretion on the side."

"We can get the DNA test done sooner," Natalie suggested as she shrugged. "If Theo comes back as your son then she really has nothing to hold over you and you can show her the proof," she nodded hoping that this idea worked, hoping that her faith in Isaac being Theo's father biologically was right.

Isaac smiled sadly at Natalie's suggestion, "And what if he isn't mine?" he asked her crossing his arms.

"Then I tell every one of my mistakes and she still has nothing to hold over you," Natalie answered without even thinking. "I don't want to hurt Kate but if Theo is Zac's I will tell her everything," she shrugged. "As for Taylor, he may not be ready to be a father but if Theo is his then I'll tell him too and you can tell him about Nikki," she said knowing she didn't want Isaac to be blackmailed because of her failures.

Isaac couldn't help but feel a bit better hearing that Natalie said she planned to be honest if it came back otherwise, "Thank you," he said before squeezing her hand softly.

"For what?" Natalie asked when Isaac thanked her. Letting go of his hand she stood up. She knew it was getting late and he would probably head back to the hotel.

"Listening," Isaac said watching as she stood up.

Natalie shrugged, "It was nothing," she said before grabbing her glass and turning to take it into the kitchen. "I'm sure you'd have done the same for me," she said as she kept walking. To be honest she wasn't so sure he would have because of the anger he had towards her after the fight about Theodore.

Putting her glass in the sink, Natalie turned to leave, surprised to see Isaac still in the living room though he was now standing. "I figured you would have went back to the hotel," she spoke when she walked over to where he was.

"I...I was kind of hoping I could stay here tonight," Isaac blushed. "Those damn hotel beds don't compare to the beds here."

Natalie couldn't help but laugh, "You can stay. I can sleep in the guest room," she told him before turning to head upstairs. She could feel Isaac following behind her and before she could turn to head to the guest room she felt him grab her hand, leading her to their bedroom.

Raising an eyebrow when they reached their bedroom she watched as he shut the door all the way.

"You don't have to sleep in the guest room Nata," Isaac told her seeing her confused expression. "We're still married, we can share a bed," he nodded as he undid the buttons on his button down shirt, throwing it to the floor before slipping out of his pants.

Natalie listened to him before slowly getting in the bed, watching as he undressed down to his underwear. A blush crept on her cheeks as she looked him over before he climbed in the bed beside her. Turning her back to him she closed her eyes almost shooting them open when she felt his arm go around her as he pulled her closer.

She really couldn't help freaking out inside, they hadn't slept like this for a while. Even before their big argument. Trying to relax she kept her eyes closed, listening as Isaac's breathing soon settled down. Moving into him just a bit more she let his breathing lull her to sleep. The best sleep she had, had since he left the house last month.