Living On A Prayer

Eloise sat cross legged on her bedroom floor, humming along with Bing Crosby as she wrapped the Christmas presents. Brian was off in Europe touring, due back two days before Christmas. Her hand drifted down to her fourteen and half week barely there stomach. Eloise could see the changes in her body while everyone else couldn’t notice. She had heard a few of her students wondering if she was pregnant because of the times she had morning sickness. Brian and Eloise had yet to tell anyone besides their parents and siblings. They hadn’t explained it to James knowing he wouldn’t understand until Eloise’s belly grew.

“Ellie! I brought some food for you!” Isaac yelled as he made his way into the kitchen. Eloise smiled as she pulled herself up from the floor.

“You didn’t get her something from the Stinking Rose did you?” Jane asked as she carried James into the room.

“Of course I did! Roasted garlic potato onion soup, she’s been craving it.” Isaac smiled as his daughter kissed his cheek taking the dish from him. Eloise took James from her mom and made her way to her bedroom. “It’s okay for her to have Jane.” He pulled another carton from the bag with a smile. “I got you the Chicken and Asparagus dish that you love.” Jane smiled as she took the dish. “Like mother like daughter.” Isaac chuckled as he watched his wife take a seat and dig into her favorite dish.

“So how’d your lunch with Brian go?” Jane asked knowing the two fathers were up to something.

“Good, just discussed the kids and what’s going on around Christmas.” He answered vaguely.

“You guys talked about something and you’re not telling me.” Jane said pointing her fork at her husband. He just gave her a smile and made a zipping motion over his lips. “I’ll figure it out,”

“No you won’t . . . oh the Haner clan will be there Sunday night sermon on Christmas.” Isaac told his wife with a smile before he got up and made his way to Eloise’s room. Knocking on her door he heard her telling him to come in. Opening the door he saw he was sitting on her bed with James, her food container on the nightstand. A pile of presents were all wrapped sitting in the corner of her room.

“Hey dad, did you need something?” Eloise asked as she sent her text to Brian. Isaac sat on the edge of her bed and smiled. “What?”

“I was just wondering how you and Bri were doing.”

“We’re good dad.” She told him as her hand rested on her stomach. “He actually wants James and I to move in with him. He keeps talking about which room could be James’ and how we’d decorate it and then the baby’s room.”

“Well honey, you two are starting a family together. I know we raised you to be married before you lived with your significant other but you’re an adult with her own family.” Isaac told her as James crawled over and sat on his lap. “Plus, I know this little guy calls Brian, dad.”

“Dada!” James shouted with a smile while clapping his hands together. Eloise smiled at James as her dad chuckled.

“Just make sure it’s what you want. You know you’re welcomed here anytime for as long as you need.”

“Thanks dad,” Eloise leaned forward kissing his cheek. “I hope Bri is as great of dad as you are.”

“He will be sweetie,” Isaac told her as he moved James to the bed. “You get some sleep alright? I know you have a long day ahead of you.” He kissed the top of her head then took her food container and left. Eloise sighed and pulled James up her letting him lay down in the empty spot next to her.

Brian held a scowl on his face as he pulled his luggage behind him up his drive way. Their flight back from Europe got delayed when they landed in New York because of a winter storm. They would’ve gotten in at some point in the afternoon but now it was near ten at night. Brian was mad because he knew it was too late to go over to Eloise’s house. He wanted to see them before Christmas Eve but it wasn’t going that way. Brian noticed that his porch light was on; shaking his head he knew his dad or Suzy probably came by and turned it on for when he got home.

Once he got inside and closed the front door, he left his luggage like usual at the bottom of the stairs. He went into the kitchen and opened the fridge, not paying attention to what was in it, he grabbed a water bottle and closed the door. Taking a swig of his water, Brian capped the bottle and grabbed his stuff and lugged it upstairs. Still not paying much attention, Brian left his luggage by the bathroom door then pulled off his shirt as he flipped on the light. Pausing, Brian backed up slowly into the bedroom and turned around.

“What are you doing here?” He asked quietly when he spotted her on the bed. A smirk spread across her face as she sat up more. Walking right over to her, Brian climbed onto the bed and pulled Eloise into a deep kiss. He quickly pulled her shirt over here and noted she wasn’t wearing a bra. Eloise let out a moan as Brian cupped her breast giving them a light squeeze. He knew they were still tender from the changes her body was going through.

Eloise quickly undid Brian’s jeans and pushed them down with some help from him. They both knew where this was going, before Eloise could process it, Brian pulled down her pajama pants and panties. He slipped his briefs off before he slowly buried himself inside her. Eloise let out a moan as Brian made strong quick thrust bringing her closer to an orgasm. Brian grunted as her walls clamped around him and her back arched off the bed. His pants became heavier, his thrust sloppier as his body tightened, releasing his seed.

Eloise let out a heavy sigh as she felt Brian slowly stop his thrusting. He kept himself balanced on his shaking arms so he wouldn’t crush her or the baby. Brian slipped out of her and rolled onto the bed next her. He brushed the hair that was sticking to her forehead out of her face and gave her a soft kiss.

“I can see you missed me.” Eloise said quietly as she ran her fingers through his hair. Brian kissed her wrist and smiled.

“Of course, I was surprised to see you here,” He murmured pulling her into another kiss. Pulling away he noticed things in his room that weren’t before. “Why . . . what’s going on?” Eloise just smiled not giving him an answer. Getting out of bed, Brian walked through his bathroom and into the closet. Flipping the light on, he looked around and noticed that the side of the closet that was empty now held her clothes, shoes, and bags. Flipping the light off he looked at the counter and in the shower noting her things were there too. Going into his room, he picked up his briefs and pulled them on and left the bedroom, ignoring Eloise’s laugh.

Walking down to the room he had discussed with Eloise, Brian flipped the light on, his jaw dropped. James’ crib was set up underneath the window like he thought out; the changing table slash dresser was on the adjoining wall. The glider chair in the corner, his toy box on the same wall. Everything was where he thought of it being, the walls were even painted just the way he imagined. Brian slowly walked over to the crib and saw James lying perfectly asleep in it. He jumped when he felt arms wrap around his waist, turning he gave a watery eyed smile to Eloise.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held tight, kissing the side of her head repeatedly. Glancing over his shoulder, Eloise saw James was still sleeping. She led Brian back to the bedroom that was now considered theirs. They sat on the bed in silence for a few minutes.

“You’re moving in?” Brian asked barely above a whisper. He could barely contain the happiness that was bubbling inside of him.

“Marry Christmas,” Eloise told him. Brian pulled them back to the center of the bed and climbed under the covers. Lying down he rubbed his hand over her stomach. Brows pulling down, he rolled her shirt up noticing a small bump already forming. Leaning down he kissed the bump and then sighed. “Are you happy?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Brian told her and looked up at her. “Do you have all your things here?”

“No just all of James things and the stuff I had at my parents.” Eloise answered as she ran her hand down his chiseled cheek.

“Well then after Christmas we’ll have to go to your storage unit and get your stuff.” He said as he moved her shirt back down. Scooting up he pulled her into his arms. As they laid there Brian let the conversations he’s had with his father, her father, and his band mates run through his mind. Kissing her cheek, he rolled out of bed, earning a confused look from Eloise. She sat up and watched as Brian tore through his many bags.

“Bri what are you doing?”

“I was going to save this for later,” He told her as he climbed back on the bed. Kneeling on the bed, he grabbed her hand and kissed it. “I was going to give you this when we went on the vacation I was going to surprise you with for New Years but,”

“But what Brian? What vacation are you talking about?” Eloise asked sitting up straighter looking at him confused. She watched as he let out a deep breath and moved his left hand to hers. Looking down at her hand as he uncovered it and gasped. “Brian . . .”

“Will you marry me?” Tears coming to her eyes, her right hand rested on her stomach where their baby was growing. Eloise nodded her head quickly and pulled him into a tight hug, burying his face into his neck. “Thank God,” Brian muttered as he held her tight. Pulling away, Brian wiped the tears away from her eyes.

“What—What is this vacation you mentioned?” She asked glancing down at the ring. Her eyes widening when she noticed the cut and size of the three diamonds. “Goodness Brian this ring . . .”

“I thought it was perfect for you, James helped picked it out.” He told her with a smile. Eloise nodded letting out a happy laugh. “I planned a vacation to St. Barts,” Brian admitted.

“St. Barts? How’d you know that’s been a place I’ve always wanted to visit?”

“Your parents mentioned it . . . but I had planned to ask you when we were down there. I’ve rented a villa, God it’s, amazing El.” Brian enthused with a huge smile. “Its six bedrooms, six bathrooms—”

“Who all is going?” Eloise asked confused.

“My parents, McKenna, your parents, Zacky and Gena, Johnny and Lacey, Matt and Val and they said they’re bringing Owen. Of course we’ll have James with us . . .”

“How much is this costing you Brian?” Eloise asked concerned he was spending an outlandish amount of money.

“My dad and the guys are all going in on it. Consider it a wedding gift . . .” Brain watched her, afraid she might push off the idea because of the money. “Baby you’ll love this place. It’s ocean front, has a drop off pool with this cool looking deck in it. Matt, Val, and Owen will be out in the cottage with Zacky and Gena and with Johnny and Lacey. My parents will have the second bedroom, yours the third. There’s a pull out couch in the living room that’ll be Kenna’s.” Eloise smiled as Brian rambled on. “And the room we’ll have, has the bathroom that comes with a rain shower.”

“Brian that sounds so amazing.”

“It really is! We’ll have a private beach and I was thinking that while we’re down there we could get married.” Eloise froze looking wide eyed at Brian. “Unless you want a church wedding.”

“No, no I like the idea . . . we could always do a reception when we get home. When would we get home?”

“Uh we leave the twenty seventh, we’ll stay in Miami over night then fly in on the twenty eighth,” She ran her hand soothingly over his hands knowing that day will be hard for the guys and even the girls. “And we’ll have the place till the tenth and I know you go back to work on the ninth but . . . a few days wouldn’t hurt right?”

“I can take the week off, it’s the first week, and I just planned to show a couple videos with questions going along with it.” Brian smirked as he pulled her to him. They settled in the bed finally as it was past midnight already.

“So, St. Barts we’ll get married?” Brian asked as she snuggled into his chest and nodded. “What day? Not New Years day, don’t want to overlap your birthday.” Brian told her.

“The day after then,” She mumbled tiredly.

“January second it is then,” He looked down to see Eloise was asleep. Smiling he couldn’t help but feel relieved that she accepted his proposal. She was his fiancée and in a little over a week, his wife. Swallowing he glanced out their bedroom door and thought of the baby boy down the hall and the child growing in her belly.