"Pop Life"
Chapter 33
Britney sat on the edge of the bed staring at her sleeping daughter. She was so beautiful and looked so at peace right now. She just hoped she could stay this youthful and peaceful for awhile. She hoped the business didn't overwhelm her like it did to her once upon a time.
She shouldn't wake her. She had a show and an after-party the night before and arrived in Philadelphia only a few hours ago. Britney kicked off her shoes and walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed on top of it. She stretched out and lay down beside Adriana.
But she wasn't tired. She began to daydream about when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.
She looked at the stick. It was a plus sign. Suddenly she felt sick to her stomach and she didn't think it was morning sickness.
God, how could this happen? She was on the pill. She hadn't missed a day taking it.
Here she was at the beginning of a world tour and she was pregnant.
This wasn't supposed to happen like this. This wasn't in her plans. She was going to enjoy spending more time with her husband…alone before she and Justin started having children.
"Brit?"
"I'm in here," she yelled from the bathroom.
Now is as good a time as any to tell him.
He slowly opened the door.
"What's going on? You okay?" he asked. She was sitting on the lid of the toilet leaning over with her arms on her knees.
"You might want to sit down. We have to talk."
He looked around. "Why don't we go into the bedroom where there actually is a place to sit."
She kept the pregnancy test stick in her hand and let him pull her up by her other one. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.
"Hi," he said.
She smiled at him. How could she not when she was looking into his eyes?
"Hi."
He walked into the bedroom, pulling her behind him and sat down on the bed.
She stood there for a second before he took her hand again.
"Sit."
She sat down so close to him that their legs were almost molded together.
"What's wrong?" he asked rubbing her back.
She took a deep breath and held the stick out for him to see. He gave her a questioning look and took it. He examined it and it took him a few seconds to realize what it was.
"You…you're pregnant?"
She nodded and let her head fall onto his shoulder.
"I've been feeling nauseous and I've missed my period so I had Fe get me a kit today. I really didn't think it would show up positive." Suddenly she lifted her head up and stared at her husband's profile. "I haven't missed taking the pill, Justin."
He kept staring at the stick, not saying a word.
"I know this isn't what we had planned. I don't even know if I'm ready for this," she said placing her hand on her stomach.
"I'm going to be a daddy?"
She cringed.
"I know, I'm sorry this happened now…"
"Wait a minute…sorry?"
He finally turned to face her.
"What are you sorry about?"
"Well…I guess I didn't mean sorry…I…"
"This is a wonderful thing," he said cupping her cheek in his hand. "Whether it was planned or not. This is you and me."
She looked down at her lap as her eyes began to water.
"It's going to change so much. It's just that we had the next couple of years planned out with our careers…"
"Shhhh," he said. She looked back up at him. "We'll deal with it. Right now you don't need to worry about anything, do you hear me?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Okay…daddy."
He smiled and leaned in closer. "I'm being serious…mommy."
She leaned in closer to close the distance between their lips. She slightly parted her lips and gently nibbled on his lower lip as he nibbled on her upper lip. Soon the kiss began to heat up and her tongue darted out in between her lips to meet his. She brought her leg up on the bed and placed it on the other side of him so she could scoot in closer to him. He tugged at her waist to pull her closer.
"What time is it?" she asked in between kisses.
"Almost noon."
"Good," she said pulling off his shirt.
"Don't you need to save your energy for the show tonight?" he asked against her neck.
She giggled. "That hasn't stopped us before."
"Mama?" I whisper.
I thought I could feel someone lying beside me and even though I'm completely exhausted, I had to see if I was right…and I was. But she's lying there with a strange look on her face.
"Mama?" I whisper a little louder.
Her eyes flicker open and she smiles at me.
"Hey sweetie. What time is it? I wonder if I've been sleeping for long."
"It's ten."
She stretches a little bit. "Still early…go back to sleep," she said rubbing my arm.
I smile. "I'll try. What were you dreaming about? You had a funny look on your face."
She smiled. "I did?"
I nod.
"I was thinking about when I found out I was pregnant with you."
"Oh. Why?"
She shrugs. "I was just looking at my beautiful daughter and was thinking back."
"Were you and daddy happy?"
"Of course we were. We were a little surprised but once that shock wore off we were very happy." She laughs. "It's really amazing how happy we were. You would have thought we were the first parents-to-be ever."
I giggle. "You acted like that with Ashleigh too."
She leaned back a little. "You think so?"
I nod. "Yeah. You were always so happy and glowing…just like they say pregnant women are. I was too young to remember what you were like when you were pregnant with Cody."
"I'm sure I was the same," she laughs. Suddenly she got serious. "I thought I was pregnant a few weeks ago."
My mouth falls open. "Really? But you're not?"
She shakes her head. "No. My periods have been irregular and spotty and I went to the doctor but he ruled out pregnancy."
"You seem disappointed," I whisper. "Wouldn't there have been some risk?"
She nodded and ran a hand through my hair.
"There would have been some…I hadn't looked into it enough yet to know how much."
"So what's wrong?"
"The doctor said it was stress of some kind. He gave me rules I have to follow now."
"I'm glad you're okay."
She leaned over and kissed my nose.
"Me too."
"Did you tell daddy?"
She nods.
"What was his reaction?"
"Well I told him after I had the pregnancy test done and he was a little disappointed. It was so cute to see his face light up like that for a few seconds before I told him I wasn't pregnant."
"He probably wants another son," I say rolling my eyes.
Mama laughs. "Now, you know you and Ashleigh are daddy's little girls."
I nod.
"How did your show go last night?"
"It went well," I yawned.
"And the after-party?"
My eyes slowly start to shut.
"It was interesting."
"Interesting huh?"
I nod.
Britney pushes a strand of Adriana's hair off of her shoulder.
"When do you want to tell everyone?" Britney whispered.
She was lying in Justin's arms after they made love.
"Maybe you should make a doctor's appointment first. You'll need to find out how much you can tour and stuff."
She started to trace a line on his bare chest.
"Maybe we should at least tell our parents…and Fe, she'll have to know since she'll be the one setting up the appointment."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Okay. Do we need to take another test to make sure it's right? I hate to tell them this and then find out the test was incorrect."
She shakes her head. "I've read somewhere that there can be false negatives but never false positives."
He smiles. "So that settles it."
"Are you really happy about this or are you just acting like you are so you make me feel better?"
He shifted a little so he could look into her eyes better.
"I'm very happy about this. I know it's a shock but we have to look at this as a blessing. We have to remember that."
She takes his hand and moves it down to her stomach.
"Just think…in less than nine months, we'll be holding what's growing inside here."
He stares down at their hands for a few seconds.
"It is a miracle isn't it?"
She nods. "What do you want…a boy or a girl?"
"I haven't thought about it. I don't care really. As long as he or she is healthy."
"Yeah, me too. I wonder if twins run in either of our families."
"Twins?" he gulped.
She giggled. "You never know."
Britney's cell phone rang so she leaned over and picked her purse up and got the phone out as quickly as she could so she didn't wake Adriana up.
"Hello?" she whispered.
"Brit?"
"Hi sweetie."
"Why are you whispering?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Adriana's sleeping. Hold on, I'll go to the sitting room."
"Okay."
She got up and walked into the other room and sat down on the couch.
"This better?"
He laughed. "Much. I just wanted to make sure you arrived safely."
She sighed. "I did and I miss you already."
"Don't start that…you'll make me miss you more. So what are you doing while Adriana is sleeping?" he asked, looking at his watch to see what time it was there.
"I laid down next to her for a little bit and I started thinking back to when we found out we were pregnant with her."
"Oh yeah…I kind of feel silly looking back now. We were a little scared, huh?"
"Yeah a little. Most new parents are. I was just scared about how much our life was going to change. This wasn't in my control and I didn't like that."
"But you took control didn't you?"
"Yeah, we showed them," she laughed.
"Johnny, aren't you going to say anything?" Justin asked as he held on to Britney's hand.
"Well I'll start with congratulations and best wishes and all that," he said standing up and walking to the other side of the desk. Both Britney and Justin stood up and hugged him.
They sat back down.
"There's a but in there," Justin added.
"But was this planned?"
Britney shook her head. "No, trust me I wouldn't have planned a world tour knowing that we were trying to have a baby. We're one of those couples that beat the odds while on the pill."
He holds up his hands. "Okay I don't need too many details."
They laughed.
"This is going to change a lot of things. We're going to talk to Larry tomorrow so he can figure out what this means with me and Jive," Britney said.
He nods. "That's a good idea. No matter what happens, though. I don't want you to stress or worry about anything."
Justin rubbed her back. "Don't worry, I'm making sure that doesn't happen."
"I haven't decided anything yet but I'm sure I'll want some time off after I have the baby."
"Well of course, most women take about six or eight weeks…"
"No, I'm talking a few months. I want to be a mom…and a wife," she said looking at Justin. "We've both been so busy I haven't had time to enjoy that part of my life."
Johnny nodded. "Justin, what will this mean for you?"
Justin tore his eyes from Britney to look at the man addressing him from across the desk.
"Of course I'd like to spend time with her before and after the baby is born. I don't want to be traveling the last couple of months of her pregnancy. I'll be a nervous wreck and no good to anyone."
"Okay…talk to Larry tomorrow and he'll look into the contract. I can't promise you how Jive will react to this. I mean they think of you both as family but they have a business to run."
Britney nodded. "I'm aware of that."
He smiled back at them.
"Wow…mom and dad Timberlake. Who have you told?"
Justin glanced at Britney before saying, "Our immediate families know and the guys know. A handful of people in Britney's camp..."
"Have you made a doctor's appointment yet?"
Britney shifted in her chair a little bit. "Yes, I actually saw a doctor a few days ago."
"What did the doctor say about you doing your shows right now?"
"She just wants to keep an eye on me at first…more than with normal pregnant women in this stage, just to make sure my routine isn't too strenuous. She doesn't think there will be a problem. I might have to take a couple more breaks during the show though…we might have to work that in."
He nods. "Whatever it takes."
"You took on so much of the burden of that for me."
"No I didn't," Justin replied.
"Yes you did. I never realized how many meetings with the lawyers and Jive you went through until after Adriana was born."
"I didn't want you to be stressed…you know that."
"Well, it just made me love you even more. I didn't feel any stress from it."
"Good then my mission was complete."
"In more ways than one," Britney laughed.
He sighed. "And look where we're at today. Our baby is all grown up and she's starting off just like you did. You know what this means?"
Britney leaned back on the couch and propped up her feet.
"What?"
"She'll be meeting her Mr. Right soon."
Her mouth fell open. "I never thought I'd hear you say that."
"Well, look at her. She looks so much like you and she's already got two guys panting after her."
Britney started to rub her forehead. "I don't believe you. They're not panting. Don't rush it Timberlake," she laughed.
"Trust me…I don't want to."
"Who's panting?" I asked as I walked into the sitting area.
Mama turned her head to look at me and bit her lower lip…