"Steve. Please... I need more hours, you can't just cut me like this!" Aiera pleaded softly. Her face looked almost ghostly under the lights of the club.

"Look babe... I know, but you're gonna be gone for a while, and we got some new girls in who need to get some practice in. And You might not be back at all. Not everyone can get rid of the extra you know."

Aiera glared at the man and stopped short of smacking him only because he was her boss. "You can't mean that! I'll be back, even if I keep a few pounds, you know there are guys who come just for me. Look, my fiance's having troubles getting hours at work and with the baby on the way, we need the extra money. If I can't work later, I'll need these hours even more. Please, I only have three months max before I start to show and can't do this anymore." She didn't know if she was about to scream or to cry. Part of her wanted to give him a few good punches, the other wanted to beg.

That was just the hormones talking though probably.

"Look... I'll see what I can do. Even after, maybe I can give you some time serving, even behind the bar if you can learn to make a few drinks okay?" He said trying to reassure her. But seeing as that was all she'd be offered at the moment Aiera nodded and sighed. "Yeah... Okay, thanks." She said softly, turning away. It was the end of her rather early shift, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to go home... Aaron wouldn't be...

He was never home anymore... They hardly ever saw each other and when they did... He was just cold. Distant...

Thinking about it made her face twist with pain. Well... If she ever got up the nerve to tell him she was pregnant, maybe he'd come around. But the 'what ifs' scared her...

Jerome stood outside the club wearing a nice white button up shirt buttoned most of the way down so one could see the muscles beneath and baggy jeans that were two sizes too big... as per usual. At least he was wearing a belt.

Cigarette in hand, he leaned against the wall and took a long drag before letting it out, causing a large puff of smoke to form above his head before it drifted away with the breeze. Another drag and he put the cigarette out against the wall before heading inside.

Jerome took a seat at the bar and ordered a white russian, while he looked around for the man he was supposed to be meeting. It was loud and dark and there were half naked girls walking around so no one would pay attention to two men talking casually. It really was a perfect place to arrange a meeting. Not to mention that Jerome had been rather cozy with the owner- gave him a cut- to use his club as a place of business. It kept him safe from anyone that was nosing around.

Jerome sighed as he sipped at his drink. His guy still wasn't here. He hated waiting. The club was crowded with cheating husbands and lonely men that oggled the girls as they danced on stage. It wasn't generally a place Jerome would choose to go. Not that he didn't appreciate the work of art that was a woman's body, but he didn't have to come here to do so. But since he was here... well he might as well enjoy it.

[sorry for the short post. It might take me a minute to get back into the swing of things. I have to get back into my characters mind and it's hard. But I'll get there.]

She wanted a drink... But she knew that wasn't a good idea and could hurt the baby. What she really wanted was Aaron... Well rather someone who could tell her that everything would be alright, told her not to worry.

But she didn't have anyone like that... Sure the girls at work were all nice enough, but none of them would really understand. Most were just vain and self-centered. She kind of wanted to talk to Luci, but she didn't have the other woman's cell number, just the home and she wasn't answering it.

With a sigh Aiera made her way to the bar and slid in at the end, next to the wall where she leaned against it. "Hey girl... You want your usual Midori?" The bartender asked. "No... Can I just get some water? Touch of sweet and sour for flavor maybe?" She asked with a forced smile.

Aiera knew she had options at the moment... She could tell Aaron... She could leave him maybe... Go back to her parents... No. That wasn't an option. She couldn't leave him, couldn't go back to her parents. They probably wouldn't take her anyway. She hadn't seen them or even heard from them in years. And she knew they'd never forgive her for running away.

She put her hand over her stomach for a moment, knowing that stress wasn't good for her or the baby, but it was so hard not to think about this. What... What if Aaron left her? What if he really had another girl and wanted nothing to do with their child? Aiera could feel the panic setting in, and tried to breath slowly to calm herself. He wouldn't leave, she told herself again and again. Once he found out that he'd be a father, he'd snap right out of it all.

Looking around for the first time she saw a man about her age, with long dark hair. She hadn't seen him around here before that she could remember, but that just meant he wasn't one of the usual customers of hers. Maybe he was someone else's. "You here for someone handsome?" She asked with a smile. She was always polite really, even if she wasn't on the clock, like now. After all, he might not be one of hers now, but he could be.

Jerome ran a hand through his hair, an anxious gesture really. He really hated waiting. Especially when he wasn't making money. Time was money. He'd like to say life isn't about money. He'd like to be optimistic and all that but life was about money. At least according to the rest of the world. And he'd be the first to admit that his life was a little about money too. He had nothing else at the moment and he wasn't going to try to deny that fact. He was utterly alone. But it wasn't depressing, not for him. Money couldn't buy happiness... no... but it sure helped. He wasn't a selfish man... but he took care of his own. And his own right now was himself. And maybe his home boys. The few that were real anyway.

His eyes unconsciously followed a young woman that sat down next to him. She was good looking and he thought he may have recognized her from the few other times he came to the club- but his mind wasn't on women at the moment. His mind was on the money. He did another quick search of the club with his eyes and let out a sigh. He finished the last of his drink and tipped the bartender well, thinking he might just leave when the pretty young lady spoke to him.

"You here for someone, handsome?"

He turned to look at her, gave her a small grin, "You could say that baby girl. But it seems as if I've been stood up this time."

As he thought about it, he began to frown. His connect was late sometimes but not usually by this much. Besides Jerome had made sure to show up late this time, to avoid this waiting part. He wondered what sort of trouble his friend had gotten into now. He'd wait it out a while longer, talk to the pretty lady, and then he'd take off. If shit was gonna go down he wanted to be on the other side of town by the time it happened.

"What's your name pretty lady?" He grinned at her, that boyish grin of his, deciding for the moment to try and enjoy himself.

"Stood up huh?" Aiera asked with a smile. "You sure she's working tonight? Maybe she just got in or got off?" She had to say he was a cutie, a real baby-face with his innocent smile. But of course he was anything but innocent.

"I could go look for her if you want..." She offered. "Or... If she won't get mad... Maybe I could keep you company for a while." Aiera slid to his lap, straddling him to face him. "I'm off the clock, but I wouldn't mind spending some time with you." After all, he might come back for her, and maybe even bring friends. Always good for business, even if she didn't get paid for the time she spent with him.

"I'm Aiera... hard to think a cutie like you can't find a girl though." She said as she slipped her arms around his neck. "Or do you just like to have a little alone time?" She grinned almost wickedly. That was one thing she couldn't stand. The guys who came here even though they were in serious relationships and claimed to love the woman they were with.

Jerome grinned and shook his head, "It's nobody that works here, baby doll. Just a friend of some sort."

But he didn't protest as she slid into his lap and instead put a hand on her thigh and one on her waist. He wasn't one to turn down a gorgeous woman when she fell, or rather, climbed into his lap. He knew now that he had seen her before. One of the dancers here. Though he hadn't seen her as much as of late.

"To be honest I don't come here for the women," then he frowned realizing how it sounded, "More like... moral support for a buddy. Not that I don't mind watching. I do have a few favorites."

So it wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't a lie either. He told her just enough without telling her too much.

"Aeria, pretty name." He resisted the urge to give her a movie line like, "Not as pretty as you though," knowing how it would come off. Instead he reached up and pushed a bit of her dark hair away from her face.

"I like my time alone," he admitted, answering her question. He didn't have a steady girl. Never had, not that he could remember. He was picky. He wanted someone pure. Perhaps because he was the exact opposite. He wanted someone good in his life because everything else had been so bad. Maybe she could influence him to do something good too. But he just hadn't met her yet. So for the time being he enjoyed women, respected the ones that deserved it and tossed away the ones that didn't. It was probably a little cruel in some respects. Life had been hard on him, just as it had probably been hard on some of those women- which is how they ended up the way they were. But he wasn't the type to rescue. He needed to be rescued and if that made him an asshole, then so be it. Though he would certainly never admit it.

"As much as I enjoy your company, angel, don't you have somewhere to be? I don't want you spending all your time with me when you probably have a home to go to after a long, hard day of work."

"Oh, well that clears some things up then." She said as her smile brightened slightly. Maybe he could be a new client of hers. "Well you know, if you do come here, for whatever reason... You could always look me up to keep you company. I'm here a good deal." Well maybe she wouldn't be much longer, but even then, maybe she could keep him as a client at the bar if she moved. If he didn't come for the women, he'd have to enjoy the alcohol. It was really the only other option.

Aiera tilted her face into his hand as he brushed the hair away, smiling slightly.

"Well... not really at the moment..." She admitted with a half-smile trying to keep the pain out of her face. "And unfortunately the night hasn't been that long for me... Short hours for some reason." She rolled her eyes. A few stools over a man lit a cigarette and the stench wafted over towards them.

It made her stomach twist for a second and then she'd slid away from him, her face even paler than it had been before. Stupid! Stupid stupid stupid! She couldn't really work here! Not with all the smoke! Sure there wasn't a whole lot of it and the building was fairly large... But still... It made her gag.

As she fought back the urge to throw up she also had to fight back tears. So much for a new client... So much for the job... Nothing was going right anymore.

"I... I'm sorry..." She stammered as she pushed the nausea back. "I've got a bit of a medical condition... Cigarette smoke makes me sick..." She muttered stupidly as she grabbed her bag, not looking at him as she headed towards the door trying to discreetly wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Okay, well next time I'm here I'll remember that," he replied to her offer of company. He motioned the bartender, ordering another drink before turning his attention back to her.

"Well that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You're the prettiest one in here." He couldn't help but notice the pain in her eyes. He was good at that, figuring people out. It was his job. You had to know who was a liar and who wasn't and she was certainly lying about something. But he wouldn't pry. Afterall, it wasn't his business.

He might have said something else to her, when she slid away from him, looking rather pale. He frowned. If she was allergic to cigarette smoke then she would have been out of this place a lot sooner. Looking around he could see the way the smoke from various clients made parts of the room a bit hazy. Now he was sure something was wrong. Plus if he didn't know better he thought he had seen tears in her eyes. Jerome hesitated. She seemed like a good woman. Not a liar, not a slut- but he didn't see how he could help in anyway. He could have let her walk away and maybe he would have, but he didn't have anything better to do... and he did love to see a pretty girl smile. He couldn't let her walk off without at least trying to make her night a little better.

He paid the bartender and quickly got up, following her towards the door. As she reached it he grabbed her arm and gently guided her outside and a few feet away from the building where the air was fresh.

"Hey I know a lie when I see one, it's my job to know. Tell me, why do I see so much hurt in those pretty eyes?" He gave her an encouraging grin, "It's not right for a woman such as yourself to have to keep so much pain to herself. Let me buy you something to eat and you can talk to me. Then after if you never want to see me again, it would be okay. But I'd like to think I tried to help. If you don't do it for yourself, do it for me. I can't go through the night thinking about the look I saw in your eyes and knowing I did nothing to help."

She frowned and pulled away from his grip as they made it outside. "Don't worry about me. You don't have to pretend like you care. I know that well enough. I was just trying to get a client because I have to prove that I have worth here now." She said quietly, bitterness in her voice.

Normally she wouldn't say anything, but it was like her world was crashing down on her now.

"You were telling me to leave you a few minutes ago. Now you want to buy me dinner?" What was with people wanting to buy her dinner? Well it was a good thing since these days she seemed to be always hungry. The doctor said it was normal, but she still shouldn't overindulge. Aiera shook her head. "I'm sorry... It's just been a stressful day is all..." She murmured.

She rubbed her face with her hands and sighed.

"I should probably just go home... Get some sleep. If you want you could walk me home." She said with a smile. "And if you're hungry I could make you something. It's been a while since I've cooked for anyone but me."

Jerome's face fell. He didn't know what to tell her. He did care. He didn't know why, but he guessed it was because he found her interesting. He might not have thought as much had the night continued on the way it had begun, but the look in her eyes... well he had seen that look before. Just once. And it had a bit of a pull on him.

"I do care," he told her softly, "Tell me why you have to prove anything at all. Someone like me... now I've got to prove myself to the world, but you- you don't. You shouldn't. The world hasn't been fair to you and you've still been kind. I admire that."

She wasn't a killer. She wasn't him. Maybe that's why he followed her out there. To see what it was like to be around the corrupt but to remain uncorrupted as she seemed to do. The world had reached out to her, tried to draw her in and she still constantly pushed against it, looking for a way out but seeing none. He could relate. Except he had let it drown him. He had become a part of it all.

"I told you to leave because I thought you had something to go home to. A good girl like you... well you should have something to go home to." His tone had changed, though it was still kind. Yet the playful confidence from before had returned, "But since you offered, I'd love to walk you home."

"Because in a few months I'll be useless to them. Well at least on the floor. And well if I can't be around the smoke either now, I'll probably have to quit outright and the way things are going, I won't be able to go back. And seeing how that makes up almost three-fourths of my income... Well I'm sure you can see how that's going to be a problem..." She murmured.

Aiera had to keep a laugh back as he called her a 'good girl'... She wasn't one of those at all. But she shook her head with a frown. "No... not really. Don't freak or anything, but I'm engaged... My fiance though has been acting strange, I haven't seen him more than a half hour this past week. And that's not helping the whole job loss thing either, and-" She stopped. Telling him she was pregnant would only freaking him out even more.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be swarming you with this stupid stuff. You have your own things to worry about." She shook her head. Opening the door to the converted apartments she lead them up to the loft that she and Aaron shared.

Of course he wasn't home... She knew he wouldn't be.

"See? Nothing to worry about. It's usually like this... Too quiet.." She murmured as she moved to the kitchen area and started clearing off the table of the books and articles she'd been reading earlier. "Sorry it's a mess though. I've been trying to put in as many hours as possible. So it's been neglected a bit." And also she'd been hoping that Aaron would have seen the baby books and the articles and asked her or figured it out... But not yet.

"Uh, is there anything you'd like in particular? Just not chicken, been messing with my stomach lately."

Jerome was silent for a few moments, thinking over what she said. In a few months she'd be useless on the floor and cigarette smoke bothered her. But he was distracted from his thoughts as she said she was engaged.

"Why would that bother me?" he asked with a grin, "We all have to make a living somehow and if he doesn't mind that you're a stripper then why should I?" He could only assume that was what she was referring to.

"My fiance though has been acting strange..."

"Well if I had someone like you around I don't think I'd ever leave," he told her with a wink, "Maybe you should ask him what's up next time you see him. Don't beat around the bush because he won't get it. That's the way guys are. Just ask him flat out what's going on. If he cares about you he'll let you know what's up. And I'm sure he cares about you. Maybe he's as worried about your money situation as you are and he's trying to work it out."

Jerome shrugged. He wasn't one to give advice. He had a lot of street smarts but when it came to relationships he was lost.

"Don't worry about it baby girl," he said in response to her worrying, "I'd rather listen to someone else's problems. Takes me away from my own and that's always a good thing. I just wish I could be more help."

It was by this point that they reached her apartment and he nodded as she opened the door.

"Nice. I like the quiet. Though I guess at times I can see how it can be overwhelming. But you gotta nice place here." He knew how work could take over a person's mind so he didn't mind the mess. Well, if you could call it that. It really wasn't that bad. He had seen places much worse in his line of work.

And though her fiance might not have noticed the baby books, Jerome did as she shuffled the papers around. Not to mention she said that chicken made her sick.

"You're pregnant," he told her, somewhat quietly, "And your fiance, he doesn't know does he? You shouldn't keep it from him, you know. That's something he should definately know right away."

"Well, Aaron's okay with it. I've always made sure about that, and he knows that I'd quit if he wanted me too. But the money's good, and I've never even been tempted to cheat." She said with a shrug as she gathered the last of the books, turning away.

She froze as he stated, not asked, that she was pregnant. And even more that Aaron didn't know. Even the way he stated the question wasn't really a question...

Her throat went dry as he told her to tell him, that he needed to know. "No... He... He doesn't." She whispered, but it was as loud as she could speak. If only Aaron was that insightful... That attentive... The man she'd loved almost half her life didn't even know or care to notice the differences in her, yet a total stranger figured it out.

"I want to tell him. You have no idea how much I want to." She said quietly, moving to put the books on a side table, no need to hide them now, just to get them out of the way would be fine. "But... I'm just so afraid of him just leaving me." The pain on her face was too hard to hide. "It's... It's been like he's got someone else, like he's not even in love with me anymore and I never even noticed us growing apart. It was like one day he just woke up and decided he wasn't interested in me anymore..." She murmured, slipping onto the couch. "It's not as easy as it sounds... I wish it was though..."

Jerome moved to sit next to her, shaking his head.

"He won't leave you because you're pregnant. He wouldn't be able to call himself a man if he did. Most men can't just walk away from something like that. They've got their pride and if he's loved you for as long as you say he has then he'll want to be a part of that child's life. Or at least he'll want to make the decision for himself. You can't hide it forever."

He paused, unsure if he was the right person to be giving advice, "Besides if you feel that he doesn't love you anymore you need to talk to him. If you can't be honest with him then he won't feel like he can be honest with you. Maybe there is something that is bothering him so he's been distant. You can't let yourself suffer daily when you really don't know what is going on. It's only a sure way to stress yourself out and you being pregnant, well that's not what you need."

He stood up, "Don't take it from me though. This is your life and you should do what needs to be done. That's what life is all about. It's about whether or not you have the guts to actually live it... to make the choices you need to make to do just that."

He knew all about making choices to decide your path in life and maybe it wasn't always the best decision but he knew one thing... he wasn't a coward. And he never let anyone else control his life. He didn't want to spend his whole life being afraid. And she shouldn't either. Right now she was stuck and she needed to find a way to move on.

"The only way you can move on is to tell him. To figure out what you both need. Look, do you want me to make you some tea? For your stomach. All I need is a bit of peppermint of ginger."

He felt so out of the normal here. Trying to console this girl- not that he minded that part- but it was just so unlike him. Right now he'd normally be home alone not minding that he had no one to keep him company. Why was he trying so hard to make one person happy when he didn't know anything about her or her situation? When he only ever looked out for number one... well maybe it was about time he changed. Seeing the way she so sad... he didn't want to leave her alone.

((sorry I was so distracted so I hope this post isn't as bad as I think it is.))

"You don't know that... You can't say that Jerome..." She murmured. "You don't know if he has some little tart in the wings and he's just looking for a way out." Saying that out loud made her stomach twist with worry and agony.

"Besides... I hardly ever see him... Maybe a few minutes a day now..." She whispered.

Aiera fell silent as he spoke though, knowing he was right. She needed to talk to him, it was the only way... The only chance that she'd ever learn what the truth would be.

"Tea? No. I'm okay... It's just nerves mostly." She stood up reluctantly, wanting to just lay there for a while. She wanted Aaron... Wanted him to hold her close and promise her that everything was going to be okay.

"Do you mind BLT's? I've been liking bacon recently, and it's feeling like a BLT night to me..." She said as she moved towards the kitchen area. Distractions were the way she tended to function now. Distractions from one thing to the next... One thing at a time until she just passed out at night. Free time was bad, it made her think and thinking wasn't good for her. Not right now.

"I... I'm sorry. I don't mean to throw everything on you. I just don't have anyone to really talk to. It's hard."

[sorry I haven't posted. I've been getting ready for navy stuff. I'm going to be leaving for about three weeks here soon, though it's classified exactly when... at least I can't post it online. But it's soon and I'll find some way to let you know the day I leave, but until then... gonna go see a sneak preview of Harry Potter and I've gotta be up at 0300 so I'll post tomorrow evening if that's alright.]

Jerome said nothing for a moment. She was right. He didn't know if her fiance had some "little tart" in the wings or not. But he did know it would be better for her to find out one way or another. Then she could move on with her life... with or without him.

"BLT's? Sure. One of my favorites."


He followed her toward the kitchen, unsure of what to say for the moment. He wanted to help her feel better... he hadn't meant to bring up things she didn't want to talk about- especially with a stranger.

"Look girl, I don't mind. Really. Just wish I could help more is all."

He shrugged. At least there was something he could help her with if she needed it. The cooking.

"Is there anything I can help you with in here?"

He wanted to ask her more about her life. About how she met him and how long they'd been together. At least she had one thing he'd never had. And that was love. He wasn't a sappy romantic... but he had to admit... every guy wants to settle down eventually. No one wants to be alone.

Looking up as she pulled out a package of bacon, a tomato and a head of lettuce from the refrigerator, Aiera shrugged. "You don't really have to I mean it's not complicated." She smiled.

"Besides, you're the first guest we've had over in a while... And you're helping me as is. It's the least I could do." She said truthfully. She liked cooking, it was something familiar, comforting. Even if it was just cutting up a tomato and frying up some bacon.

Cutting a third of the package off she put the rest back into the fridge before moving to the stove where the pan was heating. "So do you like your bacon chewy or extra crispy?" She said as she turned to him with a smile. He was rather cute, and especially now that she saw him in better lighting, she had to admit it looked like he'd had a rough life too...

"So... Why don't you tell me about yourself Jerome? I mean, I've been doing all the talking it seems. "It doesn't look like life's been too gentle with you either."