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L.A Connection; Part 4: Sequel to A London Extra. Ray, Hannah,James, Lemmy Kilmister,Castor, Lilly, Francesca and Cali
Topic Started: July 1, 2012, 2:02 am (22,599 Views)
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Castor called his mother nervously. He had not spoken to her in the two months since he had moved to USC in LA. He hoped now that she had calmed down since their last argument when he had left home for college. She had accepted that he was leaving home, but didn’t approve of him taking a football scholarship. He had done well enough in his final year to apply for business school and he’d got into a competitive program at UC Irvine. But despite her efforts to persuade him, Castor had still chosen the football scholarship to the University of Southern California. She had been lucky, she supposed, that he had not chosen the University of Texas at Austin who had also offered him a top football scholarship. Then she would be even further from her only son. The Hetfield’s house was much emptier these days: Cali had already left for Stanford the year before, and Marcella would be leaving the following year for Harvard. Soon, she would be on her own. James was away in L.A recording the band’s next album, and he was only home on the weekends. After that, he would be touring on and off for two years so she would never see him. For the first time in her life, she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Her final argument with Castor had been as he was leaving and packing the car for the airport. Her 18 year old son was an adult now and there was nothing she could do to convince him of her opinion other than plead with him. She had tried, but she just didn’t want to see him make the same mistakes as his father. She didn’t want Castor to fail to make it in the harsh world of professional football to then not have a college degree that would offer him a career elsewhere. In her opinion, a business degree was his best shot at a future. She had always supported his boyhood dream of being a football star, but hoped privately that it might wear off, that by the time he applied for college that dream would not become a reality. Francesca knew James had once hoped for the same thing—before the band, he was desperate to play for the Oakland Raiders himself, and she worried that Castor was doing it for the wrong reasons: to get his father’s love and attention. She knew the years he had spent apart from his dad in Argentina had wrecked his confidence and she wanted to protect him and not see his chance at college go down the drain.

She suspected the fame and the pay check may have been a motivating factor for her son. She knew he idolised professional players who earned millions of dollars per season. The posters had been plastered across his bedroom wall for years. She had challenged him on it and he had yelled back in frustration: ‘Mom! Let me live my life! It’s like you don’t want me to succeed or to be happy!’

‘You don’t want the paparazzi after you, Castor! You have a choice! You don’t have to be your father’s famous son all your life—you can be your own person, live life the way you want now!’

‘I AM LIVING THE WAY I WANT, MOM!’ he shouted. James had come downstairs hearing his wife and son arguing loudly.

‘I’m going to college to play football whether you like it or not!’ Castor shouted back. He slammed the boot of the car down roughly. James intervened.

‘Let him go’ he said plainly to Francesca. His mother’s face was strewn with tears.

‘Castor!’ she called after him, but he was already in the car. He didn’t want to hear anything more from his mother: he didn’t want to hear any more of her telling him he shouldn’t follow his dream. He had driven away regretting their argument, crying until he couldn’t see as he was driving. Maybe it would be enough that his dad supported him.

But now, it had been too long. Castor needed her, he loved his mother and he knew she wanted the best for him. He hoped she had at least seen his college football games on tv, that she might realise that he had real potential as a player. More than anything, he just wanted her to come to a game and see him play for herself. As the phone rang and rang without answer he thought of their empty house back home. He knew his Dad would be in LA in a hotel alone, that his older sister was at college and Marcella might be the only one home if his mother was not. Finally, he got the answering machine. It was his mother's pre-recorded voice.

You’ve reached James, Francesca and Marcella please leave us a message. Castor cleared his throat after the beep.

‘Mom, it’s me. Please call me, I really want to talk to you’ he finished. He hung up, wiping his eyes. He wanted to share everything with her. He wanted her to know how much he was loving USC, how great the games were going, how they’d won every single match since he had been on the team. He felt pathetic crying to himself in his dorm room, but his mother’s support was the only thing missing from his life.
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In the morning I took myself for an early 6am run before breakfast. I had spent the whole afternoon and evening in bed recovery from feeling ill the day before and I wanted my body to get back into its normal rhythm. The run seemed to have cured the sick feeling in my stomach—I ate the baked pears and apples that Ray had made for dessert the night before and continued with my day. Anthony slept until nearly 8am and Ray and Lemmy left for the studio by 10am. I showered shortly after, today I was expecting James at midday. But shortly before he arrived I ran to the bathroom with the same sudden urge to vomit in my stomach. It surprised me, I was hardly ever sick. It was the same feeling I had felt on the beach yesterday. I knelt on the bathroom floor, registered that my chest ached. I wretched again, and this time I felt it: a deep ache in my abdomen that felt familiar. The acute thought made me vomit again.

I thought of James and every afternoon that we’d spent together in my bedroom for nearly three months. It was completely clear to me now. I stood slowly to my feet and splashed my face with water in the bathroom sink. I inspected my own eyes as though they might tell me my fate. I saw the fear written across my own face. I had no time alone to process my thoughts—James would be here any minute. I didn’t know whether to tell him my suspicions or wait until I had taken a pregnancy test. The more I thought about it, the more this felt like how my pregnancy with Anthony had begun. I took a deep breath to steady myself, my nausea hit me in waves.

I had not slept with Ray for the entire three months we had been in California. We were falling apart terribly. Not only did he not trust me, he never spoke to me, never allowed me any affection. I felt as though he had finally come to the realisation that he could never have a relationship with a call girl—past or present. He never felt enough for me. There was no doubt in my mind that James was the father of my baby.

I sharp knock at the door made me jump. I checked the time: it was 12:10pm, James was here and I had to decide what to do. I gargled water to clean my mouth before heading downstairs to welcome him in. I opened the door to his loving face: he stepped into the foyer and offered me a kiss. I accepted softly, shying away. His face read my hesitation.

‘Hannah—how are you feeling today?’ he asked. I knew he had been concerned about me yesterday.

‘James, can you do me a favour?’ I asked. His face fell blank in concern.

‘Of course—what’s wrong?’ he asked. I lead him to the lounge and he sat with me, squeezing my hand as I took him.

‘James, I think I’m pregnant’ I announced. His face grew slowly from shock, to surprise to utter delight.

‘Really?! Are you serious?!’ he yelped.

‘I am!’ I cried happily. ‘I need to take a test’ I explained. He had pulled me into the tightest hug he had ever given me. His teeth grinned as he hugged me with a hard smile. He pulled his car keys from his pocket, ready to get back into the car he had just arrived in. He was immediately energised with joy.

‘Shall I take you to the drug store?’ he offered eagerly.

‘Yes, please’ I nodded. Anthony sat silently drawing at the table across the lounge.

‘I’ll get him in the car’ James kissed. He held my hand tightly, not wanting to let go. This is what he had wanted for the two of us years ago. James had wanted to try for a baby, but I had not been ready. But now, Anthony was older and he and I were reconnecting—it felt much more achievable than it once had. The problem was that Ray—loving or not-- was still my husband. We parked outside the Malibu Mall, James holding my hand tightly. I noticed his forehead perspiring much more than normal.

‘I think you should go in’ he said after a moment’s thought. I agreed—the paparazzi catching James Hetfield purchasing pregnancy tests would not be ideal. I nodded. I returned twenty minutes later with two tests tucked inside my handbag. I returned to the car and James’ nervous face greeted me.

‘Got them?’ he asked. I nodded, offering him a cautious kiss.

‘Okay, shall we head back?’ he checked.

‘Yeah’ I exhaled nervously. I turned to see Anthony sitting in the back seat: his spiderman jersey was covered in chocolate icecream. I grinned at James, his treat for Anthony in my absence was given away.

‘Nice try!’ I kissed, and James laughed.

At home, James waited for me as I took the tests in the bathroom. If I was honest, I didn’t feel the need –I was fairly sure I was pregnant. I had known this feeling before. The first of the two tests showed a pink plus sign, the second took thirty seconds longer before delivering the same unanimous verdict. I gulped, my heart was racing like a teen. The thought raced in my head: I’m pregnant!! I’m pregnant!! I ran down the tall spiral staircase to James, he was nervously waiting for news. Anthony sat in his lap as they read a story: my son’s face lifted from his storybook to see mine.

‘Hi Mummy!’ he grinned.

‘Hello sweetheart!’ I smiled. James’ eyes looked at mine with desperate longing. I swallowed my heart in my mouth with a hard gulp.

‘It’s positive!’ I said, and James gasped happily with certainty that he would be a father once more.
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Auluna Raie
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Ohhhh shit. *disappears into bunker leaving behind shark-shaped smoke outline*
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Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 4:26 am
Ohhhh shit. *disappears into bunker leaving behind shark-shaped smoke outline*
James is gonna be a daddy again!! :heart:

But yeah--a few storms are coming their way! Wait till Francesca and Ray find out! :ugh:
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James wiped the happy tears from his eyes as he took in the news. I settled with him and Anthony on the couch and he beamed a proud smile at me with a splitting grin.

‘I love you so much, Hannah!’ he confessed. A few more tears spilled from his eyes and he let out a big exhaling breath. Anthony looked back and forth between us in confusion.

‘What’s happening Mummy?’ he asked.

‘Nothing, darling—it’s alright’ I reassured my son. It was not news that he could process. It would be difficult to keep the news from Ray for too much longer, though. He would notice my morning sickness and my body changing for sure. Anthony slid off the couch between us and ran to fetch his toy trucks. He had lost interest in the story James was reading him. I moved into James’ arms and he held me in a long contemplative hug.

‘Wow’ he said softly. His lips kissed me gently in thought.

‘I can’t wait to see your beautiful pregnant body’ he whispered. I turned to him and smiled, it was not what I expected him to say. I realised he hadn’t seen me during my first pregnancy. I loved that he would appreciate my body changing.

‘I’ll have to tell Ray’ I said, my eyes staring into the distance. My mind was whirring. James nodded, perhaps he was thinking of Francesca back home and breaking the news to her.

‘Can I ask you something, James?’ I turned to face him, needing his honest reply. He gulped thinking he knew what was coming.

‘Are you and Francesca still together? I know you said you didn’t remarry—but you’re here with me, and we’re doing this now, are things still there with her?’ I asked. He took a long deep breath while he formed his answer. He began nervously.

‘I…uh, yeah, not really…I mean….we live in the same house’ he said badly.

‘But do you still sleep in the same bed?’ I asked. James frowned and shook his head.

‘I’m afraid not, no’ he admitted. I nodded, it was good news to me.

‘She came back for the kids’ he explained. ‘We tried, things worked out okay for a little while, but I just…I wasn’t over you…I never wanted you to go’ he admitted quietly. He stroked my arm softly remembering the painful break-up of our engagement. It had been over an argument about whether or not to try for a baby and get married. Three years ago, I was not ready for a second child. But now, things were different.

‘Maybe I left too soon’ I suggested. James turned his face to me in amazement, it was the first time I confessed it.

‘I wish you’d have stayed so we could’ve tried—even if we didn’t get married’ he lamented. I kissed him kindly, I had often thought the same.

‘Things just never picked up for Ray and I’ I said. ‘He’s struggling with his recovery so much. And he just lost faith in me after I left him for you’ I confessed. James nodded, it all made sense.

‘We haven’t had a relationship at all for the past year’ I said. ‘In fact, I didn’t even come out here last summer things were so bad between us’ I admitted.

‘He’s never felt like he’s good enough for me’ I explained. I had tried so much to boost his confidence over the years, but the reality was our marriage had fallen apart.

‘And there is no question this is your baby’ I confirmed to James. His eyes widened a little. ‘I’ve not had sex with Ray for over 6 months’ I said. James smiled.

‘Alright’ he said, understanding. We were both silent for a long moment while we thought.

‘Stay here with me’ James said suddenly. ‘You and Anthony—stay here with me…I’ve been thinking about moving to L.A for a while’ he explained.

‘James—you’d be leaving Francesca?’ I asked in surprise.

‘You don’t think I’d walk away from you, do you?’ he said. ‘This is everything I have always wanted with you. Francesca and I have had our family, she won’t marry me again, we’re not intimate anymore, we only co-exist. I want to start things with you Hannah—like we tried years ago’ he pleaded. It was certainly easier for me to agree with him now that I was pregnant. My pregnancy had given me an out from Ray and I’s deteriorating relationship.

‘Okay—I think we should’ I agreed. James’ face it up with excitement.

‘Just tell me when you’re ready’ he said, knowing I would have to choose my timing carefully. We had a little bit of time before my pregnancy would show. He kissed me warmly and his warm, large hand paused to smooth my abdomen.

‘Congratulations my darling’ he kissed lovingly.
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Auluna Raie
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*digs deeper into bunker, sets up satellite communications with the surface* Nope, not coming out. Besides, I'm close to my "Emergency Ocean Exit" here ^_~
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Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 5:54 am
*digs deeper into bunker, sets up satellite communications with the surface* Nope, not coming out. Besides, I'm close to my "Emergency Ocean Exit" here ^_~
:lol: I assure you, it's only just starting!
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Auluna Raie
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kirks_wife
July 3, 2012, 5:59 am
Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 5:54 am
*digs deeper into bunker, sets up satellite communications with the surface* Nope, not coming out. Besides, I'm close to my "Emergency Ocean Exit" here ^_~
:lol: I assure you, it's only just starting!
*splash* :biggrin
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Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 6:00 am
kirks_wife
July 3, 2012, 5:59 am
Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 5:54 am
*digs deeper into bunker, sets up satellite communications with the surface* Nope, not coming out. Besides, I'm close to my "Emergency Ocean Exit" here ^_~
:lol: I assure you, it's only just starting!
*splash* :biggrin
Seriously--anyone see that coming? :o
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Auluna Raie
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kirks_wife
July 3, 2012, 6:03 am
Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 6:00 am
kirks_wife
July 3, 2012, 5:59 am

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep
*splash* :biggrin
Seriously--anyone see that coming? :o
Oh we see it coming. We're just like animals before a tsunami, we get the frack out the way and watch from a distance :lol:
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Castor Hetfield—the USC’s Trojan’s star runner was making all the papers. The tabloids were in full force printing photos of him walking on campus, in training, signing autographs,—they couldn’t get enough of him. But more than anything, they sought the identity of his mystery girlfriend. Lilly Hammond had not changed one bit despite her boyfriend’s fame. She continued her own college degree as an ordinary anonymous girl, studying hard for pre-med. The next game of the season was an away game in Denver against the Colorado Buffaloes. This time she gave in, taking the private jet from San Francisco with James, Cali and Marcella to Denver. Francesca had not yet spoken to Castor –she had decided to surprise him instead. She joined the others on the private jet as they made the flight there. Francesca’s parents—resident in Denver—would this weekend be there too. Finally, three months into the season, Castor would have his family there for a game.

James thought morosely of Hannah and their new baby—it was not at all clear to him yet how he might make the move to L.A to be with her. This time, he was the one biding his time just waiting to get out. He had withdrawn himself from Francesca, and he sat alone on the private jet jotting his stray thoughts into his iphone. He had to think where in L.A he might live, he’d have to buy them a house and make it their home. He thought of Anthony, he would start school in a year, where would he want Anthony and his new son or daughter to grow up? And which would it be: a boy or a girl? He started wistfully out the plane window—the clouds stealing his thoughts. For some reason, he could only think of girl’s names: Lucy, Anne, Bethany, Chelsea…for some reason the last name stuck in his head. Chelsea! It was where they had met. He had known Hannah for almost eight years. He breathed deeply to calm himself, it was difficult keeping these thoughts to himself. He wanted air: he couldn’t think of Hannah and their new young family while Francesca sat only a few seats away. It still hurt him deeply that she hadn’t wanted to renew her vows with him when she returned from living in Argentina.

To James’ pleasure, Francesca had decided on her own to come to Denver this weekend to surprise Castor. She still had reservations about his choices to play college football and aiming for the pro-league, but she had now decided that she wanted to see him play. She owed him that much. Hearing his sad voice on the answer machine a few days earlier had made her realise that their silly fight was over and her son needed her. Francesca smiled warmly at Lilly, she thought she seemed different from when she last saw her—her eyes were brighter, there was a spring in her step and her face glowed warm at talk of Castor.

At the stadium, the master of puppets chant had followed Castor to Denver. The USC fans were as loud as ever, chanting his name: ‘Obey you master, CASTOR!’ every time he came near the USC touchline. James sat with his daughters: it had been months since he had seen Cali while she was away at Stanford. She was nearing her 20th birthday and she was tall and beautiful, emulating her mother’s body. As far as James knew, she didn’t have a boyfriend, and it pleased him very much to know it. James wore his son’s crimson and gold Trojan colours with pride. He leapt to his feet whenever his son’s team scored, and even Francesca joined in yelling with pride. Castor was yet to score a touchdown in this game, he was slower off the mark for the first away game of the season.

Finally, in the third quarter he got the ball in a long pass and darted through the opposition’s wall to the touchline. Francesca’s eyes widened in surprise: not only was he a fast runner but he deftly avoided the strong offence that threatened him. He was a master at this game and clearly a gifted player. She cheered for her son in surprise and James was pleased to see it. The final quarter was tight, the Buffaloes came back strong and the game was close with only minutes to go. The crowd chanted their star runner’s name over and over again: ‘CASTOR! CASTOR!’ and James joined in, leading the crowd. The teams’ victory was up to his son. This time, Castor could unmistakably hear the crowd calling his name, his head turned urgently from side to side looking for the ball and a moment’s escape. Finally, his opportunity came. It was a quick side pass that came so quickly the commentators missed the transfer. It wasn’t until he was sprinting fast towards the touchline that the crowd picked up. Before he knew it, 40,000 people were yelling his name. Castor was the star of the team. He had quickly gone from college hero to professional league material in the course of half a season. James leant across Marcella to tell Francesca what he knew.

‘His first game in L.A there were two Raiders scouts there. They want him next season!' he shouted over the noisy crowd. 'All he has to do is keep playing like this!’ James revealed. Francesca’s eyes opened wide.

‘They want him to play pro, already?!’ she exclaimed.

‘Yep!’ James nodded.

After the game the Hetfield’s headed to the player’s lounge, this time, ready to surprise Castor with his mother’s presence. When he arrived freshly showered he found Lilly’s face first in the crowd, taking her into a long embrace and offering her a warm, deep kiss. Francesca’s face had realised at that exact moment just as James had a few months earlier that Castor was now in a serious relationship with Lilly. Her motherly instinct had been right. Lilly appeared to have whispered the news, as his face grew in delight searching the sea of faces in the busy room to find his mother. Francesca opened her arms to her son with pride, her face was as apologetic as it could be.

‘Castor! Honey—I’m so proud of you!’ she said. Her honest words in his ear threatened to make him cry. She pulled back from the hug checking her son’s eyes. She apologised with her gentle blue gaze and he knew how sorry she was.

‘Your sisters and your Dad and grandparents are here too!’ she said leading Castor through the crowd. Castor was congratulated by everyone in turn. James watched, his mind drifting to Hannah and the baby for a moment as his mind withdrew from the crowd around him. Finally, Castor had a moment alone with his father.

‘Thanks for coming Dad!’ he grinned. He took a few steps away from his mother to talk to his father more discreetly.

‘You didn’t bring Hannah this time?’ Castor inquired. James’ eyes twinkled, he knew his son was cleverly asking if he was seeing Hannah once more. So far, Castor had not said anything about her attending the home games each weekend with his father.

‘Not this time, she’s in L.A’ James began, trying not to give too much away.

‘Does Mom know?’ Castor asked with a grin.

‘Does she know what?’ James teased back.

‘Does she know you’re back with Hannah?’ Castor pursued. It was friendly banter, he enjoyed teasing his father.

‘No, not at the moment’ James admitted. Castor sculled the last of the alcoholic fruit punch in front of his father.

‘Probably just as well!’ he joked. James gave his son a sideways glance, realising he had taught him the playboy lifestyle he lead himself.

‘Listen, your old man’s a screw up, but you be good to her alright?’ James said seriously pointing at Lilly through the crowd.

‘I will, Dad’ Castor agreed. He took in his girlfriend’s beautiful features, she stood out beyond other women her age in the room.

‘If I come to Oakland next year to play for the Raiders, I want her to come and live with me’ Castor confessed. James’ eyes opened wide—the thought scared him, but he nodded knowing his son would soon be 19.

‘I’m glad you’re happy, son’ James admitted, patting Castor emphatically on the shoulder.

‘I really am, Dad’ he said with a contented smile.
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Auluna Raie
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I believe zis eez what ze call ze "calm before ze storm", ya? :biggrin
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Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 9:05 am
I believe zis eez what ze call ze "calm before ze storm", ya? :biggrin
James has been a bit silly parading Hannah in front of Castor, yes. At least Castor's not threatening to tell his mom about Hannah.

James is now thinking more and more about how to get out and set up his new life with Hannah. He's gonna need a good plan pretty soon, because Hannah's gonna start looking pregnant before long... :ugh:
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Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 9:05 am
I believe zis eez what ze call ze "calm before ze storm", ya? :biggrin
Si, tis it is...EVERYBODY PREPARE FOR FIRE! *may I join you in your bunker friend?*
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Auluna Raie
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usmcjahusmc8762
July 3, 2012, 12:44 pm
Auluna Raie
July 3, 2012, 9:05 am
I believe zis eez what ze call ze "calm before ze storm", ya? :biggrin
Si, tis it is...EVERYBODY PREPARE FOR FIRE! *may I join you in your bunker friend?*
*gives helmet* We got plenty of room ^^
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