On My Own -A Jemi Story- Episode 31

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Paul led the way upstairs again and into the family bathroom, there was only a toilet downstairs. Paul shut the door once they were both inside and he saw how tense Demi was that they were closed in, but he kept as far away from her as possible to make her feel safe and he turned on the shower as hot as it would go.
“Here, sit down.” Paul offered, motioning towards the floor by the bathtub and Demi held Cody close to her chest as she slowly lowered herself down on the floor, leaning back against it. Paul followed her example in doing the same, but he made sure that there was a gap between them. “You should take his clothes off, he’ll get too hot otherwise.” Paul advised softly and although hesitant, Demi did as he was told. She had it ingrained in her to do as men said, otherwise they’d hurt her. Demi laid her son on her legs, pulling his clothes off of him carefully. Cody was whining as he coughed and from the loss of contact with his Mom.
“How do you know this works?” Demi asked, looking over at Paul as she lifted Cody back against her chest, rocking him gently.
“I used to do this all the time when Joe and Kristen were babies… Denise would give them a warm bath before bed, then I’d take over and read their bedtime stories but instead of being in their rooms, I’d do it in here so they’d be nice and calm… then pajamas and bed.” Paul said and Demi wanted to smile at the thought, but she was still hesitant and wary of him. “I’m sorry, Demi… for everything. I… I don’t want you to go.” Paul said, the room slowly starting to become steamy and Demi laid Cody in her arms instead so that he would be more exposed to the steam- she was desperate for him to get better. If he was sick, Claire might use it as an excuse to take him from her.
“Why not? This is the most you’ve spoken to me… I’ve heard you say you think I’m going to rob you when you’re sleeping.” Demi said, her eyes on Cody but she looked up at Paul again when he sighed deeply.
“I find it difficult to be around babies.” Paul admitted and Demi’s eyebrows creased, confused how he could be struggling around babies after the story he’d told her about creating steam rooms for his sick children when they were babies themselves. “Before Kristen and then Joe came into our lives, Denise and I were trying for a baby for a very long time… happiest day of my life was when we finally got the news that she was pregnant and I… I worshipped her.” Paul breathed and Demi felt her eyes burning with tears already. Joe and Kristen had never mentioned having another sibling, so she could guess how the story ended. “Our son was born very sick and Denise had a traumatic labor- everything had to be removed to stop internal bleeding… Denise was still under anaesthetic from the operation when our son… when he died… she never got to see him alive, but she held him after…” Paul sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he looked over at Cody, the little boy’s whines becoming slower as he started to settle- the steam was already working.
“W-Was his name Noah?” Demi asked and Paul slowly nodded his head.
“How did you know that?”
“It’s spelled out on the fridge, i-in the magnets.” Demi explained and Paul nodded again, silently telling her that he’d forgotten about that. He was used to seeing it every day.
“It’s why I’ve been… distancing myself from you and I guess I told myself anything to make the distance easier- that you were bad people and it would be a good thing if the baby was taken away… but I don’t want that to happen. You’re a good kid, nobody deserves to feel the pain we felt after Noah passed and if Cody is taken away, that’s exactly what you’ll feel…” Paul sighed. “I’ve been a bad person to my kids, too… I don’t want them to be scared to talk to me, we used to be close… things changed when Joe’s ex got pregnant, seeing everybody get so excited about it… I started lashing out and things have gone too far.” Paul explained.
“They still love you.” Demi said softly.
“I highly doubt that.”
“They wouldn’t want you to change so much if they didn’t love you.” Demi said and Paul thought about her words for a moment before nodding once.
“I have a lot of making up to do… not just to you and Samantha, but my family too.” He said and Demi caressed her son’s skin, helping him to settle more.
“They’ll forgive you when you prove to them that you don’t wanna be that version of you anymore.” Demi said and Paul couldn’t help but crack a smile- even after all he’d done and said, she was still trying to help him.
“I don’t even know yours and Samantha’s surnames.” He said and Demi bit her lip.
“Samantha Barks, Demi… Lovato.” She said hesitantly, seeing the instant recognition on his face at the surname.
“You mean you’re…?” He trailed off.
“Yeah… that Lovato.” She said, sighing and Paul wrapped an arm around her shoulders as tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t pull away from him.

He felt like Joe. Strong, safe.

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I’ll post tomorrow if I get AT LEAST six comments!