Fan Fiction |
by YukLing
She was finally beginning to look like she was truly pregnant which was only expected considering that she had been eating nonstop for the last few weeks. She has gained more weight in the last 3 weeks than her first four months altogether. Although she was happy with her body change, but she somewhat disappointed because it was not a good timing to be looking so-pregnant at the wedding, which was coming up this weekend. Since Michelle had a few last minute preparations to do, she had asked Qian to baby-sit Michael for her.
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{Setting : At the playground below Qian's apartment}
"Michael, don't swing up too high. Michael, are you listening to me?" Qian yelled from the top of her lung as she tried t to walk through the sandy playground. She never realized how much an extra 15 lbs could be so painful for her feet.
"But Auntie, I wanta go higher!!"
"No! It's too dangerous." Qian exclaimed.
"But I wanta go higher!!!" Michael yelled.
"Sorry Michael. I'm quite worn out today. Come on, let's go home." Qian replied as she placed one hand behind her back to support the new heavy weight she was carrying.
"But Auntie I don't want go back inside yet!" Michael cried.
Qian knew that after months of being separated with Michael, it seemed that he no longer was afraid of her -- that and the fact that she was heavily pregnant. Qian was having a difficult time keeping up with Michael's excessive energy. "Michael!"
"You need a hand with him?" A man asked from behind Qian.
Qian turned around to find Ray behind her.
"Ray? What are you doing here? It’s Wednesday . Aren’t you supposed to be at work?" Qian asked.
"I'm done for the day." Ray replied. After that night at Qian's house, Ray had decided to stay away from her for the time being. He didn't know if he could control his urges and desires if he continued to visit her every week. And so he had tried to not see her as often as before. Qian's stomach had definitely gotten much bigger in the last few weeks. But along with it, Qian had also developed a natural beautiful glow on her face. Even though she looked quite distressed and frustrated under the hot glaring sun, Qian looked even much lovelier than Ray had remembered. The extra tan-ness to her skin she had acquired from the summer sun also complemented her brown eyes quite well, Ray noticed. He thought that maybe his physical attraction for her would have been lessened over the period of her absent, but he realized he was totally wrong – it only has increased more.
"Can you help me with Michael? I think I need a quick rest." Qian pleaded.
After leaving Ray to attend to Michael, Qian went back to her sitting place at a bench nearby. Qian could not overhear their conversations from where she was sitting, but it seemed that somehow Ray got Michael to obey him. Ray stood behind Michael and pushed the swing for him, but he did not push it too high of course. Michael didn't seem to mind not being pushed higher as he laughed with joy and excitement. Then both "men" climbed up onto the ladder and slid down the slide together -- with Michael sitting in front of Ray. Although Ray did look awkward and out of place with his overgrown height, he seemed to adapt to the playground environment naturally. Qian's face formed a smile unexpectedly as she sat and watched the two "men" play.
It was almost time for Michelle to pick Michael when Qian looked at her watch.
"Come on guys, let's get back inside. Michael, your Mommy will be here to pick you up any minute now."
"Oh Momie is coming!! Yeah!!!! She's taking me to Mickey-D later on." Michael said to Ray.
"Oh? Really?" Ray grabbed hold of Michael's hand and started heading towards Qian.
"Uh Huh...You wanta come with us to Mickey-D? I'll let you have my toy."
Ray laughed, "How thoughtful of you."
"What are you two laughing about?" Qian asked curiously.
"Uncle Ray is gonna come with me to Mickey-D." Michael bragged.
Qian looked across Ray and gave him a HOW-DID-YOU-GET-HIM-TO-LIKE-YOU look.
Ray shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
All three people were disrupted with a loud honk from a car in the parking lot.
"It's Momie!!! She's here!!! Come on Uncle Ray, let's go to Mickey-D." Michael grabbed onto Ray's hand and started to pull him towards the car.
"Wait." Ray said and stopped Michael from pulling him. "Aren’t you gonna invite your Auntie too?"
"Auntie Qian is mean to me. She can only come if you want her to. But I don't want her to sit next to me, because she has cooties! Look at her stomach…ewww…….it’s so big!" Michael said then stuck out his tongue at Qian.
Qian shook her head with disapproval, but then couldn't help but smiled at the silly boy. She knew Michelle has spoiled him too much.
Ray gave a small laughed then said, "Well, I want her to come too."
"Then you can hold her hand because I don't want get her cooties." Michael exclaimed.
Both Qian and Ray laughed at Michael's silliness. Then with his free hand, Ray took Qian's hand and pulled her along with them.
Michelle had a smile on her face while sitting in the car watching Ray, Qian and Michael heading her way. They looked like a married couple walking hand-in-hand, Michelle thought. It's just a shame they haven't realized what a perfect couple they'd make.
"Is everything ready and set for the wedding?" Qian ask while munching on her Big Whopper.
"Yup, I think so. I'm so nervous, Qian. I can't believe it's finally here. Ahhhh I'm so excited." Michelle said with great enthusiasm. "You will bring Ray to the wedding too, right?"
Qian directed her eyes towards Ray, who was sitting with Michael three tables away from where she and Michelle were sitting. Michael didn't want to get Qian's cooties so he didn't want to sit near her.
"What for?" Qian asked. "He might be busy this weekend since he’s been busy the last few weekends too."
"Just ask him would you? Well, if you're not going to, then I will invite him myself." Michelle said with determination.
"Ok, Ok. I'll ask him. But if he's busy, then there's nothing I can do."
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{Saturday - Michelle's Wedding Day}
Ray straighten up his tie and ran his hand thru his hair one more time, making sure everything was perfectly in place before pressing on the doorbell. He was very surprised when Qian had invited him the other day to Michelle's wedding. His first reaction, was to decline and use the same excuse about being busy this weekend too. But instead, he ended up accepting her invitation. It wasn't every day that Qian asked for him to do something for her, much less escort her to a wedding. So Ray was very happy alas to see some progress of their "relationship". It was probably nothing of big deal, he thought. She probably just didn't want to go by herself to the wedding of course. But he was glad to be going with her anyways. It has been along time since he felt this nervous coming to pick a girl up for a "date", he realized. Standing in front of Qian's front door and holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, Ray felt like an 18-year-old teenager again. He pressed the doorbell once more when no one answered the door.
"I'm coming...I'm coming..."
Qian opened the door to let Ray inside. She was still busy putting on her earrings and had missed the admiring look in Ray's eyes when he saw her in a red, velvet halter-top dress. Qian had curled her hair and pulled it halfway up with small diamond clip, leaving a few strand of hair on the side and back, which draped over her oval face and neck.
"I'm almost done. Give me a few minute. I just need to put a necklace then I'm done." Qian said as she walked back to her room.
Ray followed Qian to her room and stuck his head halfway thru the door and asked, "Need any help with that necklace."
Qian looked up thru her makeup dresser mirror and saw Ray standing in her bedroom door.
"Yes, can you put this necklace on for me." She handed him a small white-gold necklace with small heart-shape pendant.
Ray stood behind Qian as he placed the necklace on her neck. She felt a tingling sensation on her collar bone and the back of her neck as Ray moved his hands across her skin while trying to latch the hook.
What is taking him so long, Qian thought, as she felt her heart began to beat rapidly. Then she saw herself and Ray in the mirror. She didn't realize how intimate they looked from where Ray was standing with his hand still on her neck, even though he had already finished latching the hook. Ray too, looked up to find himself starring back at both of them. Their eyes locked as they stood motionless for a full minute before Qian blinked and stepped away from Ray.
"Thanks." Qian murmured. "OK, let's go before we're late." Qian left her room without waiting for Ray to follow her.
"Wait." Ray said before they exited the door. "These flowers are for you." He grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the kitchen table and handed to Qian.
Qian looked at the bouquet of white lilies in her hands. It was the most simple, yet beautiful, bouquet of flowers she had ever received from anyone. Truthfully speaking, no one had actually given her flowers. Not even Ron -- because he never had reason to.
Ray was surprised to see so much emotion on Qian's face as she accepted the white lilies. He has given dozens of flowers in his lifetime to many of his dates before, but none had ever had glimmering tears in her eyes.
"Qian? Are you OK?"
"I...I.." Qian tried to control her emotion that was going thru inside of her. She didn't want to cry in front of Ray. She didn't want him to know how special it meant for her. "Thank You, Ray."
"You're welcome." Ray smiled.
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Michelle's wedding was very simply decorated, yet it was beautiful because it was filled with a different kind of decoration -- love. Qian found herself in great spirit as she witness the marriage of her long time friend. At least now, of the two orphan girls -- one of them would be having a happy life. Michelle would have a family she and Qian had always wanted. Qian envied Michelle very much.
"Awwww, Qian don't cry...you're making me cry too." Michelle said as she gave her friend a big hug when she came to sit down next to Qian during the reception dinner.
"I can't believe you're actually married, Mich. I'm so happy for you."
"After this, then it's your turn." Michelle whispered next to Qian's ears. Since Ray was sitting right next to Qian, Michelle had to be secretive about her hint.
Qian understood what Michelle was trying to imply. She turned sideway and looked at Ray, thankfully he was not paying attention to hers and Michelle’s conversation.
“You know, he glances at you every 5 minutes.” Michelle whispered.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Mich! Stop paying attention so much to us and go back and enjoy your wedding.” Qian exclaimed and rushed Michelle away from her table.
After dinner, the newly wed couple invited everyone onto the dance floor. Ray invited Qian for a slow dance with him too, but she refused blaming on her sore feet as an excuse for being unable to dance.
"No, you go ahead and dance. I'm sure there are plenty of available single girls who are also looking for a handsome bachelor to dance with." Qian teased. She had accidentally let her thought slipped out loud, hopefully Ray did not notice that she has just called him handsome.
But Ray knew, after all -- when it came to compliments from women, Ray's 6th sense could not have missed such an obvious statement. At least now he knew, she too thought he was handsome. Coming from Qian, it meant more than any other compliments he had received from other ladies through the entire night.
Ray left to dance with several ladies at the wedding, while Qian stay seated at her table.
"Qian!! Why aren't you dancing? And why did you let Ray go dancing with other girls?" Michelle asked when she came back to the table after seeing Qian sitting by herself.
"Mich. I know what you're trying to do. Please just enjoy your wedding and stop worrying about me, OK?"
"Well, if you're not going to dance with Ray. At least come up and join me and the others." Michelle quickly pulled Qian out into the center of the room with her. It was a good thing the music they were playing was a happy (non-slow) song, so most people just gathered around and danced in groups.
But as soon as the music started to play slow song again, Qian sneaked away from the group to go back to her seat.
"Oh no...not so fast." Ray said as he grabbed onto her hand and held her back onto the dance floor. "You're having this dance with me."
"Ray, let me go." Qian said in a low whisper while trying to break free from his grip.
"Only after this dance." Ray said. Then he placed one hand behind her waist and the other one holding her hand and started to dance to the melody of "I Can't Help Falling With You" (Elvis Presley).
"Ray...please don't make me do this." Qian begged as she tried to push him away. "I...I..I can't dance." She finally admitted.
"Is that all? Most people in this room can’t dance either. Come on, just follow my lead." Ray kept a tight hold of Qian as he guided each step of the song. "See? It's not so bad. You just move back and forth. Then sideway to sideway. If you really want to play it off in slow songs all you need to do is..." Ray removed Qian's arms and placed both of them on his shoulders, then placed his around her waist. "...just sway to sound of the music."
Qian kept eyes down at her feet throughout the entire song, not because she was trying to learn the steps. But because she was afraid to look into Ray's eyes. Why had he all of a sudden giving her this extra attention today? She was not used to him being all-this-romantic. It was making it much more difficult for her to just ignore him.
"Qian, would you stop looking at your feet and look at me?" Ray demanded and lifted her chin up with his hand.
Qian looked up and for the first time that night noticed another thing different with Ray – his eyes. They seem to be filled with…with desires. What was he trying to do to her? Was he trying to woo her? She wouldn't know what to do if he did. Her heart began to beat faster and faster. She wished the song would end soon.
As soon as the music stopped, Qian stepped away from Ray and excused herself.
Ray watched as Qian walked away, he knew she felt it too.
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They drove in silence from the wedding all the way back to Qian's apartment.
Ray wanted to find out tonight if everything that he was feeling today and the previous weeks was just pure lust and desire or....
He didn't think he could wait any longer without knowing the truth.
"Can I come in, Qian?" Ray asked in a low husky voice as they both stood in front of her door.
"It's late, Ray. I think you should go home." Qian said while facing away from him as she unlocked the door.
But Ray couldn't control himself any longer, so he turned Qian around away from the door. He held her close to him then bend down to kiss her. Qian resisted his kiss at first as she tried to push him away with her hands, but soon she stopped resisting him and let him kissed her. Her hands were no longer pushing him away but were wrapped around his neck as she tried to bend his head down closer to her lips. Ray pushed Qian towards the house and into the living room.
"Ray......"Qian weakly murmured as he laid her down the couch.
"Sshh....just let me kiss you...you wont have to do anything." Ray replied hoarsely as he unpin her hair and let it flow down to her shoulders. "Did I tell you, how beautiful you look tonight?"
Qian's eyes were beginning to fill with tears because she was touched by his words.
"Don't cry, I'm not going to hurt you..." Ray said in a soothing, caring voice.
"I know..." Qian replied and closed her eyes to let Ray kiss her again. He kissed away the salty tear drops on her face, then kissed her closed eyelids. Then he moved down further to kiss her soft lips. He allowed himself enough time to enjoy the contour of her mouth as he traced the inside of her lips then slipped his tongue inside her mouth.
Qian has never felt so much emotion, hunger and passion all at once. The feeling that Ray was giving her was not of anything she had experienced before. She wanted him to keep on kissing her until she ran out of breath. Qian ran her fingers through his hair and pulled his head down closer.
“Qian, slow down.” Ray moaned in a slow whisper.
She opened her eyes again and saw Ray looking at her. Was this what happened on the night of Ron and Myolie's wedding too, Qian wondered. She did not recall that night at all. And now she regretted that she was too drunk to have remembered their love making.
Ray could read her thought and knew exactly what she was thinking. He too wanted to make love to her tonight, but he knew it was impossible with Qian being so pregnant as she was. Besides, Ray was confident there would still be other chances for them in the future. His thought caught him by surprised – did he just realize what he was thinking? Was he already making plans to have Qian in his future? Ray looked into Qian’s eyes and found his answer. He could already envision the images of her and their baby in his future.
“Not tonight, Qian. Tonight I just want to kiss you …will you be settling for that instead?” Ray asked as he touched her face softly.
Qian nodded and lifted her head to let him to kiss her again…
Much much later, they both fell asleep in the living room couch with Qian sleeping peacefully on Ray's arm.
Ray had wakened up first. Slowly, he pulled his arm from underneath Qian's head, trying to not wake her up. Then he went into the bathroom and washed his face. He couldn’t believe he had spent the entire night with a woman without having sex or making love to her. Ray looked at himself in the mirror. The old Ray would have never been foolish enough to settle just for that. No, the guy staring back from the mirror was definitely not the same Ray. The guy staring back from the mirror was an image a man who has fallen helpless in love with the woman carrying his baby. Ray smiled proudly back at the mirror and thought “I must be a fool then, because only fools fall in love.”
===========AUTHOR'S NOTE ============
aaaaahhhhhhh..........this chapter is soooooooo long.......
i hope it was worth it :-D