Hey Baby....Mama

[Elliot Hunter]

An IV of coffee, that was something that Elliot found himself thinking about as he walked into the entrance of Cool Beans, his savior in times of exams and stressful parental encounters. He wondered if he could live on coffee, the bitter aroma alone awakened his veins and put a little pep in his step. It also may not have helped that he was a teensy bit hungover from a party that he and Scott had thrown that was up there in the top ten chart of epic parties. He'd woken up, naked, with a pair of antlers on his head and a clown nose...somewhere else. Pictures had been taken, of that he was certain, but he didn't know who had taken them or what they had done with them. Soon enough they would show up.

With dark rings under his eyes, beneath the sunglasses that he was reluctant to remove, Elliot hoped fervently that he wouldn't run into any hotties while he looked less than his best. Even this jawline of steel couldn't cut through the paleness of his face and the bruises beneath his eyes. He pulled the sunglasses down and hooked it in his shirt as he stepped forward to the counter. Looking up, he almost asked God to smite him out loud in front of the gorgeous redhead that stood before him. This would happen to him.

Elliot graced his face with a smile and hoped that his pearly whites would draw the attention away from the haggardness of his eyes, "Hello, gorgeous. Mind helpin' me out with a little java? A large coffee, black, please." He was not on his game today. Perhaps he would have made a joke, something that actually had some swagger behind it, but he was drawing a blank and the throbbing in his head was not helping in the slightest bit.

She looked new. And with as often as he found himself getting coffee, he'd have recognized this one.

[Marcey Langston]

"Thank you! Come again!"

Marcey had to hold back her giggles and restrain herself from saying that line in an accent. She'd been watching far too much Simpsons to be imitating Apu while she was working. Besides, if she ran into a real indian she was bound to get in trouble. Although fortunately enough her shift was almost over so she could go pick up Angie. Although Angie always seemed happy at the daycare and reluctant to leave, so maybe she wouldn't mind Marcey being a little late. She smiled fondly thinking about her daughter, a tad caught up in her thoughts. It likely explained why she didn't notice a new customer had stepped up to the counter.

"Whoops! Sorry!" She quickly finished the coffee she was making and handed it out to the last customer before returning. "Hello! May-"

The whole world seemed to freeze. Every sound seemed to stop. One thing was for sure: all the blood suddenly fled from Marcey's face as her gaze fell upon the boy. A boy was was etched into her memory from one night. Only one question was running through Marcey's mind over and over: How? However it seemed like the boy hadn't recognized her. Maybe she could brush it off and he'd leave. Holding onto that small hope, Marcey quickly nodded.

"Ah ok sir." She almost winced at how weak her voice sounded at that moment. "How are you paying?"

[Elliot Hunter]

Her expression was something that Elliot was struggling to read. She either was frozen by his beauty (as most were) or she was frightened by the colorless pallor of his skin. Did he really look that bad? Arching an eyebrow, Elliot cleared his throat and tried to keep his smile from faltering, "Save the sir for later," He winked and then nearly face palmed. God that was awful. He was disheveled, off his game and something about her was just throwing him off completely. Was it the cheekbones? Her eyes? That fiery mane she had that might as well have been blowing in the wind like some kind of goddess.

Shit she was cute, and familiar. The familiarity was dawning on him now that he'd heard her voice. For a guy who remembered almost every single girl he'd ever slept with in his life (which was an absurd amount), he couldn't figure out why he was struggling to place how he knew her. Then again, if he'd met her on a night like the one he had last night, he wouldn't be surprised if he'd forgotten completely. But he had to know her, somehow.

"Card. Hey, do I know you from somewhere? I'm like severely hungover and off my name game, but I swear we've met," He said sort of brashly. Beating around the bush wasn't something that he'd learned from a young age. It was the Hunter way to speak their mind and worry about consequences later on. If he had forgotten her, to call or whatever, he'd likely be smacked, but that was still the least of his problems. As long as she didn't throw hot coffee on him, he supposed he'd be okay.

[Marcey Langston]

"Save the sir for later."

Despite everything, Marcey couldn't help but give him a look and then desperately try not to crack up. She was fairly certain she was failing since she could feel the edge of her mouth tugging, which mean she was probably smiling a little. Still, she figured that was good since it would bring the blood back to her face. It also made Elliot a little more human in her eyes, as strange as that sounded. She'd essentially been building him up to be this big enigma over the years. Now her expectations were met with someone who looked in sore need of a shower and a few days of solid sleep. Not exactly what Marcey had been picturing in her head.

"Card. Hey, do I know you from somewhere? I'm like severely hungover and off my name game, but I swear we've met."

Marcey paused and averted her eyes for a moment. She wasn't too sure what she should say. She doubted saying, "Hey I'm some girl you slept with four years ago and did you know you have a baby," was a very good idea. So after a few seconds of biting her lip she sighed and held out her hand.

"Look, I'm off my shift in a couple of minutes so we can talk then. Yes, we've," She paused, "'Met.' Anyways I need your card to swipe, please."

[Elliot Hunter]

She was smiling, kind of, sort of, maybe? Okay it looked more like she was forcing back a laugh, but that was something! Honestly he had expected a grimace or maybe an upturned nose at how funny he could be. Girls were unpredictable at times and he never knew what lines to use on which ones when he first met someone. So he tested the waters with something a little light-hearted, not quite what he'd started with on this one, but something a little easier to digest. She had taken his joke well though and he was happy to see she had a bit of a sense of humor. It made her more approachable and believe it or not, a lot more attractive to him. It was refreshing coming across a girl who wouldn't hit him for that kind of thing.

Elliot studied her as she averted her eyes and he wondered how bad it could be. He knew it wasn't the sex. Maybe he'd just been a sleazy, asshat or forgot to call the next day that made her want to pretend like they hadn't ever met before. Honestly if it was something along those lines, Eli would have happily taken this encounter over their first and just altogether forgotten he knew her prior to this. Still, he felt like it was something deeper. She was seriously shaken by something from the looks of it and he wasn't sure how to feel.

"Yeah, sure. I'll just sit in that corner, dwelling on the fact that I probably did something horribly lame or douchey until you get off, yeah?" Elliot laughed and fished out his credit card to hand over to her. Insecurity was not a Hunter trait that was shown, it was buried far, deep down within him because of the way his parents were. Attractive, yes. A nice guy....maybe not? He tried to be as thoughtful and considerate as possible, but sometimes the way he spoke came off much more brash and a little harsh even.

[Marcey Langston]

"Yeah, sure. I'll just sit in that corner, dwelling on the fact that I probably did something horribly lame or douchey until you get off, yeah?”

This time Marcey actually did laugh a little bit at his remark as she took his card. She even managed to crack a little bit of a smile as she charged him.

”Oh come on, the corner’s not that bad. We just cleaned it.” She paused to glance over at the area. ”I think.”

The fact Marcey was somehow joking around with Elliot was truly a mystery even to her. Here was the boy who’d changed her life forever in a single night meeting her in a coffee shop. If this wasn’t the most anticlimactic scene ever, Marcey had no idea what was. Still, she mainly focused on gathering herself again so that when her shift was over she’d be prepared. She still had no idea what exactly to say. However after their tiny interaction, Elliot hadn’t seemed too bad. Maybe Marcey could tell him after all? For the next few minutes Marcey mulled over a hundred different possible conversations in her head until her shift ended. She wasn’t looking to cause a scene- especially at the place she worked- so she decided they’d head outside.

”Hey let’s take a walk, ok?” Marcey offered once she got to his table. ”Oh names would probably be a good start too. Um I’m Marcey.”

[Elliot Hunter]

Elliot nodded and laughed, "You think, oh that makes me feel tons better. Thanks, gorgeous." With that he took his card back from her as well as the coffee once it was handed to him. The corner was a little dank, dusty and colder than he had expected...or rather he was imagining it that way because he couldn't help but worry what he could have done to this girl or why he'd forgotten who she was and how he knew her. She was gorgeous, surely he wouldn't have forgotten such a beautiful girl unless he had a reason to. Or maybe he really had just been way too drunk to remember that night and only remembered her face and voice because she was in front of him.

Calm down Elliot, you're gripping me really tight and I don't think that crushing your phone is going to make you remember!

Elliot ran his hand through his hair and shook his head, "Yeah, right, sorry buddy. God what if she plans on beating the shit out of me after this? I think she could, man."

Probably, but I don't think she's going to. Not here anyway, I'd be worried if she suggested going somewhere else. Now shut up, she's coming.

Clearing his throat, Eli looked up and smiled as she approached. Immediately it vanished when she offered for them to take a walk. He gripped his phone tighter before releasing it and standing up, "Yeah, sure, walk. Right." He cleared his throat again and shoved his hands in his pockets. Nerves had settled in and he turned to look at her when she gave him her name. Marcey. It was again vaguely familiar, but nothing had sparked a full image or memory for him. "Names, yeah, names are good. Nice to meet ya...er, again, Marcey. I'm Elliot."

[Marcey Langston]

"You think, oh that makes me feel tons better. Thanks, gorgeous.”

Again, Marcey found herself laughing a little. She kept having to ask herself; Why? How had she gone from being completely frozen from only looking at him to actually laughing at his jokes? Somehow Marcey was pulling courage out of thin air, or at least it appeared that way to her. Maybe it was the fact Elliot seemed oddly “dorkier” than she imagined. Even as she was on shift she’d glance his way and he almost appeared nervous. As if Marcey were the scary one! She saw it vanish once she approached him, but the fact it had been there oddly comforted her.

"Yeah, sure, walk. Right.”

She couldn’t help but feel the corner of her lips quirk up. It was obvious to her that Elliot wasn’t exactly at his suavest.

"Names, yeah, names are good. Nice to meet ya...er, again, Marcey. I'm Elliot.”

Marcey had to giggle a little and shake her head before moving towards the door.

”Well come on then Elliot! You’re acting even more nervous than I thought I’d be, and I’m the one who remembers stuff.” She commented before holding the door for him. ”I swear I’m not going to bite or anything. I stopped doing that when I was six.”

[Elliot Hunter]

The hangover, that's what Elliot would blame his current jumpy and nervous state on. It was from the splitting headache (that had subsided while he was drinking the coffee) and the twisting in his stomach (that was actually just the nerves he was feeling). Obviously if he wasn't hungover, he would have been smooth as silk and just as classy. Okay, more like trashy, but that's only because of the jokes he had. She had caught him on a day that he didn't even look his best, so he didn't see how he could be at his best. A hungover Hunter was not a hot Hunter, despite what they would all say. Er rather what him and Cash would say.

"Hey, cut me a break, babe. I'm hungover as fuck," Elliot laughed and walked through the door, a little perturbed that she had been the one to hold it open. Trashy as Elliot was, he still believed in holding doors open for women and paying on dates. It was the Hunter way, even if his parents' marriage didn't quite show the acts of chivalry because they were just that...an act. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head with a laugh. Okay so she wasn't going to bite, oh what he would have said to that if he was feeling himself. The thoughts that went through his mind were a little bit more than he'd expected. More vivid, as if they'd actually happened or something, but then no, he would have remembered having sex with her and her biting him....

Clearing his throat he looked down at the ground to avoid those same images in his head if he looked at her, "So okay, I'm nervous for exactly that reason, I don't remember anything. And I don't forget pretty girls, of that I can assure you." He glanced up and offered a charming smile.

[Marcey Langston]

"Hey, cut me a break, babe. I'm hungover as fuck.”

Marcey actually cracked a smile at that. She’d already guessed that considering he looked so disheveled. Although she still didn’t know all that much about Elliot. Marcey found herself curious now about what kind of person Elliot was. However from their limited interaction and the fact he’d been with her all those years ago at some random party, she had an idea at least.

”Yeah I kind of figured.”

She walked for a bit until they were a decent bit away from the coffee shop. With each step Marcey felt some of her nerves return. She really couldn’t help it. She still wasn’t all too sure what to say to Elliot.

"So okay, I'm nervous for exactly that reason, I don't remember anything. And I don't forget pretty girls, of that I can assure you.”

Marcey glanced up, a little surprised that Elliot said he was nervous. Somehow that made her laugh and shake her head. It also helped her calm down again seeming as the feeling was somehow mutual. The smile only made her relax a little more.

”Well I guess you might’ve this time. Although I kind of,” She paused and bit her lip, ”Left before we really talked or anything.” She shifted on her feet, trying to gather up enough courage. ”Ah so um,” She started, wincing at the hesitance in her voice, ”I guess we could start from the beginning. A few years there was this party I went to. I’ll admit I was drinking and probably shouldn’t have. Somewhere along the line we,” She hesitated, color rising to her cheeks, ”Ended up hooking up. I woke up before you and sort of panicked. So I left.” She admitted, fiddling with her hands and looking down. ”I figured it wouldn’t matter, you know? Stuff like that happens. Only-“

Marcey felt herself freezing up. Her throat closed and she found it hard to speak. Did she really want to tell Elliot about this? Marcey’s feelings and her logic were at war with one another. While she wasn’t sure about how Elliot would react, he deserved to at least know. Even if he didn’t do anything about it, Marcey figured he should at least know he had a daughter.

”-It mattered a few months later.” Marcey dared to glance up at Elliot and meet his eyes for a second. ”You’re ah kind of a father.”

[Elliot Hunter]

She had left before they talked? Had he really done it that fast? Usually Elliot had to charm is way into a girl's pants, so they must have been heavily intoxicated already. His hand ran through his hair and the nerves only intensified as her own started showing. She was hesitant and he began to worry more about what he'd done and why this was so hard for her to get out. Had he puked mid-bang? Had she? Did he have trouble with his...er...performance? No. No, no, no. That was most definitely not it. He was good no matter how drunk he got. Cough.

A few years ago, how could she remember that far back? He could hardly remember what he'd done yesterday, let alone after a drunken night of who knows what. The way his stomach turned at each pause was sickening. He almost wanted to shake the answer out of her. Cute as she was, she was driving him mad with the suspense of it all. What had he done that was so wrong? He couldn't even come up with the worst thing that could have happened!

Until she alluded at exactly the worst thing that could have happened. A few months later.... His whole body went cold. His feet stopped and he wasn't sure if he was going to black out or puke or what. The word rang in the air and echoed in his head like a death sentence. How had he been so reckless? So stupid? How had he forgotten the most basic thing? It had to have been that. The condom. Or maybe she lied about birth control...but only girls who wanted a kid did that. And she didn't seem the type. Or maybe he was reading way too much into this.

Elliot had to take a moment. A long moment at that. His breathing was hitched and uneven. Freaking out. He was freaking out. Not because he didn't want it, but because he didn't think it was fair. It wasn't fair that he'd just found out. It wasn't fair that his child had gone this long without a father. And it wasn't fair that his child had to have him as a father! Based on his own family, his own relationship with his father, he couldn't imagine it.

"W...." He paused and took a deep breath, he couldn't even look at her. "When? I want to know....how long you've been keeping this from me."

[Marcey Langston]

His whole body went cold. His feet stopped and he wasn't sure if he was going to black out or puke or what. Elliot had to take a moment. A long moment at that.

Marcey saw him stop, and flinched. This was what she had feared; she could see the shock on his face. Marcey stopped as well and gave him his moment. She wasn't about to speak until he did. It didn't take a genius to know this subject was touchy, and Marcey wanted to avoid yelling as much as she could. Instead she stood there and wrung her hands, staring at the ground.

"W....When? I want to know....how long you've been keeping this from me."

Marcey's gaze snapped up sharply. For a moment she was going to frown and comment on his word choice. The reply died on her lips and she sighed wearily instead. She didn't want to fight unless she had to or Elliot started yelling at her. More than anything Marcey wished her sister were there to support her through this. She was trembling slightly now, and he wasn't meeting her eyes. it was clear to Marcey he was angry, as she feared.

"She's four now. Her name is Angela but everyone calls her Angie."

[Elliot Hunter]

His word choice was very much intentional. He was angry. Despite it being a silly hookup, a meaningless fling, had she told him from the beginning, he would have done anything. He would have been anything that his child needed, everything that he hadn't had growing up in his own family. Having two younger brothers, Elliot knew how to take care of kids, he'd always been there with Cash and his youngest brother while they were growing up, helping the nannies take care of them when he was old enough to contribute. The last thing he'd wanted for his own child (something he never thought he'd have) was for them to grow up the way that he had.

Elliot ran his hands through his hair, attempting to calm his shaking fingers. This was nuts. Angela. Her name was Angela. Angie. It took every ounce of control he had not to be angrier that he'd had no say in her name. That she didn't even know about him. That he existed. What made this little girl believe that he hadn't left her? How could she know how much he'd have wanted her from the very start? Elliot was a stupid guy, he did dumb things and he made horrible mistakes. But if there was one thing about him that would shock anyone, it was the level of commitment that he was capable of achieving. And for his daughter, he'd do anything.

"Four...She's...she's four?" His voice cracked and he turned around, away from her and took a few pacing steps. Four years. He'd missed four years of her life. Her first smile, her first giggle, her first word...sentence...steps...it all just piled on in his mind and he shook his head. All of the firsts that meant something and he hadn't been there. Elliot couldn't shake the feeling of following after his own father. Unintentional as it was, he still didn't know who to put blame on. He was angry with her for keeping it...her, from him. He was angry at himself for being so dense and not knowing.

"Why? Four years, Marcey..." He said weakly as he finally looked at her. How had she kept it to herself for so long?

[Marcey Langston]

"Four...She's...she's four?"

The sheer emotion in Elliot's voice surprised Marcey. She didn't know what she'd expected exactly, but this certainly wasn't it. Elliot seemed genuinely upset and suddenly Marcey didn't think it was over the fact that Angie had been born at all. He started pacing and Marcey just stood there while watching. The turmoil was so evident in his body language that Marcey couldn't help but feel guilty.

"Why? Four years, Marcey..."

Now it was her turn to look away. Marcey felt tears start coming to her eyes and she had to hug herself. He sounded so weak and she felt so weak now. She hadn't thought he would've cared at all, but now it seemed the exact opposite. Marcey held her silence for a few seconds before she finally found the air to talk.

"I didn't know what you would do." She finally responded with a shaky voice. "I had no idea what kind of person you were. I was so scared and then suddenly having a baby-" Marcey wiped her eyes and sniffled, feeling so small. "I didn't know if you would be angry. If you would yell at me for having her. I didn't know how to find you again either. I didn't even know your name." She was wiping her eyes in a vain attempt to stop them. "I guess as time passed I just imagined you as some monster or something. This big intimidating thing that I wasn't sure how to approach." She hated how wobbly and weak her voice sounded. "I never knew if I'd see you gain, or if you'd even care if I told you. Or if you'd do the opposite and hate me. Or even worse hate her." Finally Marcey looked up again and met his eyes for an instance. "I-" She choked out. "For what it's worth I'm sorry. If you want to meet her, you can."

[Elliot Hunter]

Elliot's hands gripped his hair and slid down his face as she spoke. She had judged him just by a stupid night of drunken foolishness that they both had partaken in. She may not have meant to, but by keeping this from him, she must have drawn her own conclusions based on what? The fact that he had allowed them to have sex? That he hadn't stopped her from taking her clothes off as well? It wasn't fair for her to have made him out to be a bad person because she didn't know. She didn't know his name, she didn't know what he was like and she didn't know anything about him. Maybe he was irresponsible and maybe he partied too much, but he had only been twenty-one!

She was crying and shaky, as if she was playing at his own guilt. Did she expect him to feel bad for her? He did, as much as he didn't want to, he felt guilty for being apart of the act that had put them in this position. But he knew it wasn't all on him. And she wasn't the only one who was going to be put through hell because of this. She had already dealt with it, was probably on the upswing of life now that she had adapted. Elliot had a lot of catching up to do and a lot of criticism coming his way. Once his family found out...he couldn't imagine what he was going to do. How he was going to tell his parents. His father was going to kill him, this would be the only time in Elliot's life that the man even paid any attention to his son's life. Because he'd made a mistake and that mistake was now knocking at his door to change his whole life.

He laughed shortly at her last words and shook his head, "You make it sound like I wouldn't want to know my own kid. You're right, you didn't know me. You didn't know my name, but you could have easily gotten it and the moment you found out who I was, you should have sought me out. You don't know what kind of person I am, or what I've done with my life. You didn't have any right to make me out as a bad person, when you were the one who didn't come to me to even ask. What's the worst that would have happened? You already thought I was awful and hateful and a monster. If I'd have proved you right at that moment, nothing would have changed for you. But I would have proved you wrong, Marcey. You just never gave me the chance to."

Elliot didn't know what to do, where to go, how to continue on with this conversation. Where did they go from here? He wanted to meet his daughter more than anything, but how did they introduce a new man into that little girl's life as her father? He didn't even know what she thought of him, what she knew of her father.