A short while later Prince was fast asleep on the couch, he head leaned over to the side, resting comfortably against the back of the couch. Quietly extracting myself from his sleeping grip I left him there, covering him with a plush white throw from the back of the sofa. While he slept off his Thanksgiving food coma, I began the task of putting away the leftovers and generally cleaning up from a day of cooking. The apartment quickly filled with the subtle sounds of dish cleaning and his muffled, heavy sleeping breath.  As I passed between the kitchen and the kitchen table I glanced his way, noting how gentle and childlike he appeared snuggled under the fuzzy white blanket and curled into the couch.  The soft lines of his face, not a worry in the world showed on his face while he slept, and as beautiful as that sight was, it still made me think back to how I'd found him earlier today. It had been so painfully obvious he had been upset this morning and I'm still not sure if he had lied to me for his sake or mine.  Thick lips mumbled through his sleep, his forehead furrowing, I couldn't make out a single word, but the worry and lines starting to show on his sleeping features told me his sleeping conversation wasn't any fun.  After a few more minutes he quieted and appeared to be in a peaceful rest again. As I finally turned away from the sight before me the piercing sound of the phone ringing cut through the room and rushed to grab it, hoping not to wake him. Dragging the phone into my apartment I glanced his way, finding him still asleep as I shut my door and finally answered the caller.

"Hello?"

"Um, Hi, is this Sydney?" The very deep voice rang from the other side of the line only causing my features to tense up in question.

"Yes and who is this?" The mans voice wasn't completely foreign, but I was completely unable to place it.

"Oh, hi, this is John." His smile was evident in his large voice, but I still couldn't find that voice in my memory.

"I'm sorry, um, I don't know any John."

"Yeah, we met briefly, in Minneapolis, I'm dating your friend Meg."

"Oh John, I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize your voice at all." My fingers twirled around the phone cord as I happily recalled that trip and everything it entailed; it was the first time in a while that memories of that trip had made me do anything besides grimace. "So what's up John," my smile faltering slightly, "is everything alright with Meg?"

"She's fine actually," the nervousness in his voice was evident now as he drew an uncertain breath, "this is gonna sound crazy."

"Well I've got a lot of crazy going on in my life right now, so what's a little more." Laughing through my words. "Lay it on me John."

"Ok, you remember I work security for The Artist?" None of these words sounded comfortable coming out of his mouth for whatever reason.

"Hhhmmmm." Nodding to my empty bedroom.

"Alright here it is. He left for a 'trip' over the weekend and didn't tell any of us where exactly. Now is wife is concerned because she hasn't been able to reach him since they last spoke this morning. He left a few people to contact in case we needed him, and, well, you're on that list." My mind was spinning as his rushed words finally ended and I could vaguely tell he was hoping I wouldn't actually think he was crazy. "I've called everyone else, so this is my hail marry sort of. Hoping you have some idea where he might me. I just want to make sure he's alright. He didn't want us coming on his trip and wouldn't. . . "

"John," interrupting his hasty rambling, "take a deep breath and relax." My heart sped up as the words started to form on my lips. "I know where he is and he's fine.'' John obviously didn't have a clue, and while my tone revealed nothing specific, I knew by the end of the call he would know.

"Oh." His voice quiet and surprised sounding. "I didn't know you two had kept in touch or spoken at all after your visit." A silence came through the line for a few moments. "She was just really freaking out and I started to worry." I swear I felt the sting of bile raising in the back of my throat as I composed my next sentence.

"Does she need to speak to him? I can get him."

"You can get him? You mean he's there?" Just when I thought the level of surprise in Johns voice couldn't get any  worse, he proved me wrong.

"He's asleep on my couch, but if you need him. . ."

"No, let him sleep. He doesn't sleep much anyways, and ever since. . .well, he's had an even worse time sleeping since February." The truth that came from that deep voice, nearly whispered like a secret between caretakers, caused my heart to feel like it sank into the depths of my chest. "So he's staying there? With you?" His voice held no judgement of the situation, which he very clearly understood.

"Please don't give her this. . ."

"I never would. I just want to know for my peace of mind. She has his cell and he'll answer when he's ready."

"Thanks." Relief clear in my voice as I gave careful thought to the delicate question that wanted to push its way past my lips, but I was ultimately distracted as my ears caught the soft sound of footsteps in the living room. "Hey John, don't tell Meg. She wouldn't approve of all this."

"It's not my place to tell her about this, so don't worry about me. I just hope you know what you're doing and that you're looking out for yourself in this whole mess." The clanking of plates in the kitchen filled the apartment.

"Thanks John, I've got to go."

"Bye Sydney." The line went dead and I without waiting another second I stepped out into the living room, where Prince was setting a plate with a large piece of apple pie on the coffee table, next to the spray bottle of whipped topping.

"I was just about to come get you." He smiled brightly up from where he sat, watching me walk over to the couch, taking a seat next to him. For a moment I considered not telling him about the call, but as I studied his solid frame sitting next to me it just didn't feel right to keep that from him.

"John called," his gaze curious as he watched me, "looking for you." The confusion lifted as he appeared to understand now who I was talking about. His pretty pink lips opening to release a completely silent "oh" as he looked away. His tense shoulders shifted under the soft fabric of his white sweater.

"He was worried because she said she couldn't reach you." His head flew towards me, the look on his face a jumbled mess of confusion and anger. Reaching my hand out to his which were entwined together, resting on his legs. "What happened this morning?" Fingertips slipping over the smooth skin on the back of his hand as I try to engulf his large hand with my much smaller one.  His eyes left mine, glancing around the room, avoiding me at all costs.

"I heard she was fucking some guy at my house." The anger in his words was clear as his voice rang through clenched teeth.  I tried to control my face, but I know I failed. From everything he'd told me I never imagined he'd care if she was seeing someone else and his reaction made me wonder if I really knew where I stood with him.

"Oh, well, aren't you sort of seeing someone else besides her. . ." My words trailed off not really sure what to do with that question or thought in general. His head slowly turned back, bottomless hazel eyes capturing mine.

"Yes, and I didn't mean it like that. Her and I aren't together like that, but she was fucking him in my bed and I won't be disrespected like that." Glancing down at our now entwined fingers I nod gently in understanding. "I tried to talk to her about it, but she. . ."

"Prince? She what?" Looking up to him again to find his gaze also intently focused on our hands, holding onto each other as if we depended on it.

"She started shooting off at the mouth, told me how it doesn't matter what I think because I'll be a horrible father. How she thinks I'll abandon my child after I fuck them up, just like my parents did." Red was creeping up his neck as he became more agitated, mentally reliving that conversation. "How I'll set a bad example for them with the way I've chosen to live my life and how she wished she'd gotten an abortion because this baby will be just as damaged and useless as its father." His fingers squeezed around my hand tight and I watched as the tears started to build just at his lower lashes.

"She's an idiot." The words started to pour over my lips without me really giving them a second thought. "She's jealous that you married her for that baby and you don't love her. She's jealous that you're not there with her right now. What she's doing is horrible." Gripping his jaw with my free hand and turning his face to mine. "You will be an amazing father. I can honestly tell you I wish she wasn't pregnant or that we at least knew who the father is, but I know for sure if that baby is yours, you will be incredible." A sad smile started to lift his lips. "She just wants to upset you, but you can't let her. She's not your main concern in all this." His head nodded a barely visible nod as his lungs slowly filled with a deep, resounding breath. Leaning forward he brought his forehead to rest against mine as he let a few more breaths flow through his body, resetting the anger he'd felt boiling beneath the surface.

"I wish it was you instead. . ." His words stopped short as he looked square into my now wide eyes as my mind raced with what those six small words really meant.