TIMEWARP: Are you sure about that?!

[Zachary LaRousse]

Set in 17^th of July 2022.

Had someone told him about such a future ten years ago, Zac would’ve laughed – even snorted – in derision. Not only does he think he’s far too young to get married (he has this image of him when he was young as the most sought-after bachelor until his late thirties to early forties), never in his wildest dreams did he think that he’d be the most busy individual regarding his own wedding. Then again, Zac couldn’t have foreseen that he’d end up with the shy, albino girl he’d been treating akin to a ward ten years before.


When it comes to planning for parties and other social events, Zac almost always leaves everything in Stella’s capable hands. From logistics to budgeting, the mimic simply tells Stella of what the event is, a few initial (usually trivial) information about it, gives her an initial guest list and lets his girlfriend fiancée go crazy. And it’s not just because he thinks she has way more time in her hands than him: Stella’s organizing skills are a whole lot more refined than his he says – that even if he tries for a hundred years, he could never organize something as wonderful as Stella can.

But for their wedding, he decided to switch it up. He insists that this’ll be his chance to thank his soon-to-be-wife (he still gets jitters whenever that crosses his mind) as well as prove to himself that he’s really deserving of her hand in marriage. (He’s just thankful she gave him another chance, considering how he blew her off seven years ago).


And true to his word, Zac has been hands on the wedding preparations starting day one. Very much unlike his normal cramming self (high school habits die hard after all), within just three months, he’s already managed to throw together an arrangement that would’ve been extravagant in the masses’ standard.

This however is Zac we’re talking about, and extravagant is never enough.

While he’s managed to keep Stella at bay with all the preparations, the menu is something he doesn’t really trust himself with. He can deal with décor and locations, but his taste buds are simply subpar compared to Stella’s. The fact that he can’t recreate Stella’s creations even with the recipe and all in front of him is proof enough for him. (Then again he never really had skill in the kitchen).

“You ok Glowworm?” he asked lovingly as they sat a conference room of a hotel, waiting for their potential caterer, “Something on your mind?” He’s not that sharp when it comes to reading Stella’s mind yet – he can tell when she’s distressed but usually has trouble pinpointing it. He says it’ll improve with time. Hopefully. “Don’t worry. I promise after this, you won’t have anything to worry about. It’s just that I don’t trust my tongue as much as I trust yours,” he grinned, holding her hand tight to assure her. He perked up when the doors opened and their contact person walked in, standing up to greet the said man and introduce Stella.

“This is my fiancée, Stella. She’d ultimately have the final say on the menu, so be careful. She knows her food and if she’s not pleased, she may insist on cooking for the whole wedding.”

[Stella Pinyin]

When Zac had said he was taking charge of the wedding planning, Stella had been... concerned. Not that she didn’t trust him, it was just... it was a lot of responsibility and while Zac had shown himself more than capable of handling the ever expanding LaRousse empire, did he know where to find a florist that could deliver Lilly of the Valley out of season? Or where you could find 700 bone white (not ivory) chair covers on short notice?

But, when he’d said ‘beach wedding’ she had expected that he had in mind something small. After her last marriage, the idea struck Stella as a good one, though very un Zac like....

It appeared that when Zac said beach wedding though, he planned on outdoing the royal family. Stella hadn’t known it was possible to book out an entire island.

But, right now, the privatization of an island was not the issue she was concerned with. There was something else, and it was hard to miss the unease on her face. But when Zac brought it up, she smiled and shook her head. ”I’m fine,” she said, as reassuringly as possible. ”Just a bit, ah, tired,”

That was a lie, and as soon as Zac looked away her hand clutched at her stomach briefly. Still, she knew well enough to nudge the mimic in the ribs and laugh slightly. ”Other senses heighten when one is weaker. But that’s nonsense, you could give yourself an anteater’s taste buds, or something. A jellyfish, if it’s really unpleasant.”

Nodding her head at the chef, Stella looked subtly at his fingernails. They were clean, which was always a good sign. Her colouring, or lack thereof, earned a slight widening of the heavy man’s eyes, but he was well trained enough to leave it at that. Zac’s threat earned another laugh, and she rested her hand at his and squeezed. The overly large diamond on her ring finger sparkled. ”Not true, not true,” she insisted, ”only for the bridal party.”

The happy couple were invited into the dinning room, cold canapés already set out. ”Lovely,” the albino murmured happily, then walked past a plate of water crackers with smoked salmon, creme fresh and caviar. The smell was strong, very strong, and her hand flew to her mouth as a wave of nausea hit her, moving back quickly.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Despite deflating considerably as he grew older, Zac’s ego is still a force to be reckoned with, and is one of the main reasons why the boy is as dense as he is. Unless he’s consciously trying to manipulate someone (be it in a business deal or just so he can get something done faster), his aim is anything but accurate. And it’s even worse when it comes to the people closest to him.

“See? This is why I told you that you don’t need to stay up with me when I have some paperwork to do late at night,” he said, his tone playful and teasing but with enough firmness to say that he’s rather serious about it. “It’s nothing new to me anyway. I’ve been cramming since I was in high school remember?” His arms promptly snaked their way around Stella’s waist as he pulled her closer, tapping her head slightly so she’d put it over his (still defined) shoulders. “It’s mighty sweet of you though. Thanks.”

Stella’s statement about the weakening and the senses did make Zac just a tad bit aware, but not in the way the light manipulator expects it. “Wait, your sight’s deteriorating already?” he asked promptly, trying to hide the alarm in his face, “I’ll have you checked by a doctor first thing tomorrow morning then.” Ever since they’ve gone back together, he’s been (secretly) working on something to help bring back her vision, or even make it better at that. “You silly goose. You want the food we serve to taste like insects then?”

His fiancée’s remark about the preliminary hors d’oeuvre he’s chosen gave his ego enough of a boost to make his grin turn into a more smug one. Seems he wasn’t so hopeless around food after all.

Oblivious to Stella’s plight, Zac took in a good dose of the scents, even puffing his chest in an exaggerated manner in an effort to show his wife-to-be how excited he is for the whole menu-choosing. “Don’t you just love-Stella?” He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, worry rather evident in his face. “You sure you’re alright?” Nope, no fever or anything, he thought as he put his hands on her forehead. “We can always do this next time if you’re too tired.”

[Stella Pinyin]

"I would not be sleeping anyway," Stella happily tucked her head under Zac's chin, hearing his voice rumble through his chest. "Between that and the wedding, when else do I get to talk to you?" And that was the problem, really. He was just so busy, and she had (finally) gotten the nerve to ask to do a course on business and public relations so she could help. Zac had agreed happily, and chided her on not asking sooner.

But between his late nights at the office or at home and her classes, she hadn't had time to really talk to him. So this would have to be it....

Well, maybe in a few minutes. Her eyesight was the least of their problems. "What? No, no, it's good!" she said hastily, shaking her head at her own folly. "Dont be so worrisome, I haven't used my cane in years, have I?" She'd need glasses to read the menu but that wasn't the issue. "Honestly, you're the goose," she tapped his nose with one white finger, but quickly took her hand away and smiled apologetically. "I mean, you're not silly, not really..."

She still was scared, sometimes. Not of Zac, well, maybe a bit of Zac, but scared she'd do something stupid that would make him see her as truly silly or stupid, like her first husband had. But when she brought it up with Zac he called her silly so really it seemed like a no win situation...

And as for the smoked salmon.... She took his hand in hers and removed it from her forehead, face still pale(er then usual) as she overcame the nauesea. "Just, just a bit off," the albino muttered, but forced a smile. "What's next?"

It seemed that the fates had decided not to wait until stella was ready however, as glasses of champagne were whisked towards them. The thought of drinking alcohol though was enough to have her swallowing thickly. "No champagne for me," the woman said faintly, then shook her head. "Bathroom. I'll be back in a moment,"

Low heels clacking over the polished wooden floorboards, Stella dashed into the ladies room and was sick as quietly as she could manage. It wasn't even the morning, which made it seem rather unfair. Pushing her long hair back behind her ears, watering lilac eyes blinked back at herself from the mirror. With deft hands she fixed her makeup, then turned quickly. "Zac, it's the ladies room!" she exclaimed. "You can't come in here!"

(ooc: sorry for crap, and godmoding, it just struck me as funny. I can get rid of it though )

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac knew Stella meant no harm in her words but he still found himself stung by what she just said. It was in jest, yes, and she was smiling, but he knows very well that such things were are true. He chastised his father for working too much, to the point of neglecting him, upon his mother’s death; the indifference he felt, though brief, is something he’d never wish on anyone.

“I-I…” he trailed off, not really knowing what to say anymore. His voice left him, allowing him to do nothing but brush his fiancée’s hair lovingly as they listened to the chef about the entrees to be served. He swore he would never turn into someone like that, and as it seems, he’s failed.

He simply buried himself in her hair and whispered softly, “Sorry.”

A sigh of relief escaped the man when Stella assured her that her sight’s still good. He can still remember how helpless she was at night when he first met her. If he could even remember things right, he tried to tease her with the whole cane innuendo back then, something he thought was very witty, but she totally did not respond to it. How clueless and fragile she seemed back then. “The goose? Why me? Am I missing something here?”

Had Zac heard of such musing, he’d immediately scold Stella for even thinking about it. While she could always look stupid or silly in his eyes, he’d argue that she should know better than to think he’d be taking that against her. She could never do anything wrong in his eyes, nothing grave at least. He’s already lost her once, he’d rather not make the same mistake again (and have her suffer under someone else’s).

The billionaire made no effort to hide his delight as the chef walked them through the appetizer choices, a number of Mmmms and Yum!s escaping his mouth after almost every bite. He could truly say that such dishes were top notch. Too focused was he in all the sensations his mouth was feeling that he had unintentionally ignored Stella’s plight, oblivious to her discomfort until the champagnes were brought in and she had to excuse herself.

“Stella! Hey Glowworm wait up!” Normally he’d let her be and just continue on with the whole sampling, but his animal senses tingled when she ran out for some odd reason so he just had to know what’s up with her.

He followed her to the washroom, grinning widely as he passed an old lady who stared at him with a rather piercing gaze. “And you’re sick. We’re going home,” said Zac in a firm tone, rubbing Stella’s back to help ease her discomfort, “I’ll just tell Chef Mariano we’ll be checking the rest on a later date. Wonder what’s gotten into you though.”

Oh Zac, if only you knew.

[Stella Pinyin]

He had changed so much. Stella clasped his hand warmly in hers and smiled her reassurance. ”No, no, don’t be sorry,” she insisted, and though she was now practically fluent in English, her accent still was present. ”I’m so proud of you. You handle so many things so well. I am just a bit, ah,” the phrase she was thinking of did not translate as well as it could; being wife-minded did not sound the same as it did in Mandarin. ”I am being a selfish partner, wanting more to myself.” That still didn’t sound right, but it was better.

But if he wanted to see her more, the ladies room was not the place.

”I am so sorry,” Stella stammered slightly to the prune of a woman who was looking utterly scandalized. Grasping her fiancee firmly, but without a great deal of strength, she lead him out of the bathroom. He was misunderstanding, of course he was. In a sub conscience reflex, the meta woman wound a lock of hair around one white finger as she bit into her lower lip. ”No, Zac, I went to a doctor a few days ago,” she started, but then stopped short. He wanted to go home? But then he’d have to reschedule and manage to fit even more into his already busy days. ”Zac, it is normal” she stressed, trying to make him understand.

Of all the places to announce such news, a busy hotel was not one she would have preferred. But then, she had not expected to react so strongly to smells, to food... no one had really explained how this was supposed to work. ”It is not unexpected, I just... I just...”

It would be so much easier to say this in chinese, where she wouldn’t have to translate all her thoughts.

”I did not want to say, not until later because you have had so much to do,” she started again, wringing her hands. ”But, I’m not sick. I mean, it is not a bad thing. It’s normal when you are, ah,” in English it was an ugly word, it did not roll off the tongue well at all. ”Expecting?”

[Zachary LaRousse]

Of course Zac changed. He needed to. If he didn’t, Stella would most likely be more hurt now that she ever was with her first husband (Zac refuses to acknowledge that the creep even has a name). Considering how much of a womanizer he was back in high school, how he didn’t mind waking up on a different bed each time about half a decade ago, he’d wound Stella within moments. And breaking Stella’s heart is the last thing he’d wish to do. He’s done it once, he’d do anything to prevent from himself doing it ever again.

“You’re not a selfish partner. Don’t ever tell yourself that,” he chastised her, holding her hand firmly as he kissed her forehead. And no, it didn’t cross his mind that Stella was translating such words from Mandarin to English in her head. He tried learning it once before, but between work and, well, work, he just didn’t have the time. “If anything, it’s me. I mean, I’ve been totally isolating myself from you and yet I expect so much from you. Sorry.” Just another proof that Zac has changed; the Prince ten years ago would’ve gagged in derision the moment he hears such words being uttered.

He allowed himself to be led out by Stella (totally ignoring the old woman’s scowl) and promptly sat on one of the couches, his hands not once leaving his fiancée’s own. “Normal? Since when is vomiting all of a sudden normal?” Seems he needs to have a word with whichever doctor she met with.

He doesn’t even know who her doctor is. He has a few ideas, but he’s not sure. What a good husband he’ll make.

Now’s not the time for his self-doubt anyway. Not when Stella’s sick and she doesn’t seem too alarmed by it. “You’re expecting this?” he asked, his tone a mix of worry, surprise and a tinge of anger. It didn’t help that Stella told him she’d been putting off telling him; in his mind the situation’s so grave that it’s like a matter of life and death already.

“Please tell me you’re not dying.” Who knew Zac could be so melodramatic?

[Stella Pinyin]

”Impossible man,” Unable to stop herself laughing softly, Stella thwacked Zac with her handbag gently. ”I am very lucky. And you are lucky. And if you talk like this when we are married I will cook brown rice every night!” That was as good a threat as any, in her mind, as brown rice was healthy but not at all tasty. To make sure he understood how serious she was, Stella pressed pale lips to his cheek as her arms circled his neck, white against tan.

Her cheerful demeanor faded slightly at the worry in her fiancee’s eyes. She had made it clear, but he still looked so worried! What if... what if he didn’t want it? Shouldn’t he sound excited? Not... not angry. Why was he angry? Drawing back, the pale woman raised a hand to her mouth. She couldn’t imagine a worse reaction until...

He still didn’t get it. He thought she might be dying?

A mildly hysterical giggle burst from her, only slightly muffled by her hand. ”Dying?” she managed to force out, then flung her arms around Zac and buried her face in his neck. ”You stupid, wonderful man,” she managed to get out when she’d smothered the last of her laughter against his skin. ”I’m not dying. I’m pregnant.”

Taking a reluctant step back and clasping her hands behind her back, Stella watched with clear eyes for a reaction, some sort of... hint to show her how he felt. A smile, a frown, a laugh, disbelief.... ”I’m, well, we’re having a baby,” she said again, quietly. ”I mean, I hope you, I hope you want to, because I,” a thread of steel entered her voice, as well as a hint of desperation. “I wont get rid of it, Zac.”

Misguided fear, almost undoubtably, but the anger she had heard in his voice had shaken her.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Stella’s laughter has managed to put the man’s nerves at ease, visibly erasing all lines of worry and stress that formed on his forehead. Her jesting put Zac even more at peace, reassuring him that his wife-to-be is anything but upset about anything. “Hey, that hurts you know,” chuckled the mimic, rubbing his arm to feign pain then quickly pulling her close for a hug, “Fine. No more talk like that. Just don’t use the brown rice threat ever again, ok?” Heaven knows he can’t survive a day on such stuff. So gummy and sticky and makes him feel bloated fast. “Even a goat would refuse to eat that.”

“But still, I’m taking a week off,” he nodded, leaning down to ask for another one, now on the lips, “I’m way too stressed to think straight right now. Right after my birthday we’re going to Singapore. Or HongKong.” To shop and relax. For at least a day or two anyway. Then the man would get bored and fly elsewhere. If Stella agrees anyway.

His joy was replaced by utter confusion when Stella began laughing once more when he asked about her possibly dying. While he was glad that he heard her chuckle earlier regarding the whole I-don’t-have-time-for-you scenario, listening to her seemingly take such a matter lightly was getting on his nerves just for a bit. “Stella, you dying is no laughing matter,” he said with such a stern voice, desperately trying to hide his worry and sadness, as she buried herself in his neck (a hard thing to do, considering he’s rather ticklish around that area), “Are you going insane?”

Pregnant.

Zac couldn’t believe his ears. If Stella hadn’t followed it up, he would’ve thought that he’s only hearing things. For a moment or two, he just looked at her, less than a step away, frail and searching, waiting for a go-signal to go near him. And for a while, he can’t understand. Why?

Why does she seem so scared?

“Oh you’re getting rid of something alright,” answered Zac in an emotionless voice, hastily holding Stella’s wrist and leading her back to the room with a firm grip, not once looking back. “Chef Mariano,” called Zac, his voice booming as he opened the door, “I’m afraid I’d have to reschedule. My fiancée’s pregnant, so the smells are making her queasy. Would Friday be a good day for you? Same time?” With the chef agreeing, Zac bowed and politely took his leave.

He didn’t speak or look at her on their way out, his grip changing from her wrist to her hand the only contact they had during that time. Only when they were out of the lobby and in front of their car did Zac stop and turn, his seemingly rigid face turning into one of sheer delight. “When did you learn about this? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Oh my god!” he said in rapid succession, kissing Stella on the lips as he hugged her tight, “Dad will be so happy!”

[Stella Pinyin]

He couldn’t mean it.... The lights in the hall started to dim as Stella looked at her fiancee in horror. ”Zac,” she started to protest, and instinctively tugged away as he took ehr wrist, but no. This was Zac. He would never hurt her. He could be angry, he could be furious, he might even call off the wedding (not that, oh not that) but he wouldn’t hurt her.

Still, even as Stella told herself this and felt it ring true, it felt wrong to be led like a child, and she could not help but blush as Zac led her past the chef. Starting to stammer an apology, the large man (too much of his own cooking no doubt) merely shrugged and started to congratulate her, but Mr LaRousse was slowing down for no man, no matter how skilled he was with pastry.

Finally, they were outside and the pale woman drew back her wrist and rubbed at it. ”Zac, I..” she started, finding the tiles outside so very interesting, then he begun to speak and she looked up quickly, apprehension giving way to relief giving way to a sort of joyful annoyance. Kissing him back, her arms around his neck, she was tempted to kiss him again, and slap him for scaring her all at the same time.

But then, no doubt this was his way of paying her back for making him think she was dying. The thought made her giggle, and she was suddenly so happy it took all her self restraint not to glow so brightly she’d blind him. ”I was worried,” she confessed finally, after a little more kissing, ”when the doctor told me, I wanted to call straight away but, you were at a conference and I lost my nerve when we were talking about Ann’s twins and you said you weren’t ready....” looking up through her white lashes, Stella widened her amethyst eyes dramatically (one could not date Zac LaRousse for over four years and not pick up at least a little of his flair for the dramatic). ”Please forgive me,” she smiled again, with a hint of cheekiness. ”Between you and your father, I know they’ll be spoilt rotten.”

[Zachary LaRousse]

Indeed, childish as it may be, the whole stern and angry mood was just a façade, a ruse, that Zac used t get back at his fiancée. She made him worry so much, almost to the point that he’d cry out of concern and hopelessness (he thought she was dying after all), that he figures it’s just fair to make her just a bit scared too. Already the flickering lights told him that Stella was on the edge; thank goodness she didn’t go overboard and blast him here and there.

It was hard keeping a poker face though, especially when tears of joy just keep clawing at the sides of your eyes. To walk in such a rigid and hurried fashion, when all you want to do is just stop and smother the one beside you will all your love. He could feel him letting a thing or two go as they walked out the hotel really, but he had to tell himself to keep it together at least until they’re in front of his car.

“Worried? About what?” he asked as he pulled Stella to a tight embrace, forcing her head on the crook of his neck and shoulder as he gently caressed her hair. “If this is about me hitting you then I’m hurt. Didn’t I tell you I’m not like that Rocklen guy?” After that incident, Zac took baby steps – really, really small steps – in his advances with Stella. Considering the trauma that jerk caused to his Glowworm, he needed to be really careful, to show his then-‘special friend’ (as he told the media) that not all guys hit and torture their partners.

Up to this date, he still blames himself for that. If he hadn’t broken up with her, or at least if they went away on decent terms, she wouldn’t have ended up with him. No she wouldn’t.

Ann’s twins. Oh. “Stella, of course I’m not ready. Who is anyway?” he said with a chuckle, releasing her from his death grip hug and tucking a wayward strand behind her ear, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want him.” He gently rubbed Stella’s abdomen and grinned, “In a few months, my lithe and slim Glowworm will be a plump and beautiful Firefly. Or should I aptly call you Cocoon by then?”

They’re already a minute or so in when he remembered he hasn’t told his father yet. “I’m calling Dad. I think he’s in a conference right now, but who cares?” laughed the mimic as he turned the Bluetooth-interface. “You be the one to tell him, ok?” he asked, gently squeezing Stella’s hand.

[Stella Pinyin]

Stella did not even flinch when Zac mentioned him. Even so, one of her hands grasped a handle of material from his shirt and she closed her eyes tight as he held her. ”You are nothing like him,” she murmured into his shirt, taking a breath to convince her fingers to release their rather tight grip. ”I just, I just got, I was nervous.”

He wasn’t mentioned, at least, he was not mentioned lightly. Stella knew Zac occasionally saw him due to business but there had been no trial, and while the settlement had left the white woman wealthy in her own right, it was no secret the animal mimic felt the man had gotten off practically scot free. But, at least to her knowledge, he had agreed to her request to just let the matter die.

”I’m ready,” Stella insisted, half jokingly, half serious. All trace of seriousness fled though as she huffed a laugh at Zac’s presumption. ”Already thinking it’s a boy? You don’t know that! It might be a girl.” Her own hands rested over her partner’s and she smiled down at her still flat stomach. Even the prospect of becoming a ‘plump firefly’ didn’t phase her. ”Don’t worry, even if it’s a girl, we can have another one. We can have several. A big family.” She was glowing, literally, and not in the normal healthy way that pregnant women were so famous for.

Even telling the news to his father, who Stella both adored and held in awe, was not dampening it. ”I’ll talk to him in the car,” she assured him, clasping his hand tight, ”but then, you need to cancel your appointments today. Or for several days.” Pressing his hand to her mouth, she kissed his wrist, then his cheek, then twisted her fingers in his hair and kissed his mouth. ”I can’t have champagne, but we can still celebrate.”

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac almost always insists that he doesn’t hate Rocklen. That while he did hate him upon knowing the fraction of what he did to his precious Glowworm, after a while he realized that such jerks do not deserve his hate. Hating him means feeling something for him. It might be ill will, but it still meant they evoke some kind of emotional spike from him. And he’s definitely not worth it.

So after a while, he’s managed to convince himself not to hate the man but be apathetic towards him. To blame the hostile takeover he did with the man’s company a purely objective and profit-driven move. He got off so easy with Stella’s divorce settlement after all. And Stella was too kind (and fragile) that she preferred not to push charges against him. If he can’t make the man rot in jail, might as well take away the things precious to him.

And besides, once the takeover was complete, LaRousse Media did more than 6.7% better annually than Rocklen Productions, even with the supposed recession.

“I know you are. You’ve always been anyway. Why’d you think I picked you out of all the possible choices anyway?” he teased, rubbing his nose on her forehead. “N’aww. It’ll be a boy. I just know it.” While he knows for certain that he’d love their baby equally if he turns out to be a girl or a boy, he just figured taking care of a guy first would be easier, since he’s one himself (he wouldn’t feel that incapable). “Hey, hey, hey. We get there when we get there, ok? Let’s make sure he gets born properly first, ok?” he laughed, kneeling down and putting his ear on Stella’s inexistent baby bump. Growing up as an only child, he did have dreams of having siblings. But now that he’s a soon-to-be-parent, well, he’s having doubts. Having a big brood sounds fantastic, but it also seems rather hard. He doesn’t want to put all the responsibility on their mother after all.

Zac loveds Stella’s glow. From the moment he first noticed it, to that surprising moment after they first made love, to the one she had during their wedding and up to this moment – it never seems to lose that joy that it always imbibes on the mimic. “Hopefully he hasn’t seen this one before though. I hate how we can never surprise him.” He gave her a wink as he finally started the car, steering them out of the parking lot and to the main road. “Done and done. Though we’d have to go to JD’s party tomorrow. I have to break the news to him and Robbie. We had a bet after all, and I won.”

ooc:
Crappy, I know. Sorreh. Please forgive me. >.<
And it's a wrap, right?
- Jam