Demi

I woke up the next morning on my stomach, Nicko sleeping in a similar position next to me with one arm slung carelessly across my back. I went to sit up, then groaned at the sudden soreness and the overall sensation that my body had turned into jelly.

"Are you okay?"

I looked down at Nicko, his eyes squinty as he looked up at me, "I'm fine."

He eyes trailed down my body and his jaw locked, "Okay."

I looked down too and sucked in a breath at the sight of the hickeys in a line down my neck, "Oh shit." I laughed, and stretched out again, stifling another groan as my joint cracked, "I'm just a little sore."

Nicko rolled out of bed and pulled on his boxers. When he turned around I gasped and laughed loudly, "Babe, your back."

He looked over his shoulder and ran a hand over the deep scratches my nails had obviously made, "I barely feel it."

I furrowed my brow as he went to walk out of the room, "Hey, come here."

Nicko sighed and walked over to my side of the bed, "Yes?"

I beckoned him closer with one finger, "Are we okay?"

He lifted one hand and stroked my cheek like it was made of glass, "Yes. I think a fresh start is in order."

I leaned closer but he quickly pecked my lips and straightened up again, "Mia will be awake soon."

I sighed and got up, groaning to myself as I stood and walked into the bathroom. I gasped at my reflection in the mirror. Bruises laced my hips and inner thighs, ones that would match exactly to Nicko's hands and fingertips. I turned around and examined the ones on my back and ass. I didn't remember Nicko hurting me last night. Last night was anything but painful.

I sighed and dressed as best as I could, thanking the heavens his mom was staying in an assisted living home for the time being in the city until she could move here. I walked down to the kitchen, where I could hear Nicko beginning to cook breakfast. Mia was in her highchair, and she squealed when she saw me, throwing a toy in my direction.

"MAMA!"

I smiled and went over, kissing her forehead, "Hey baby girl! Good morning princess!"

Nicko turned around, "How many eggs do you want?"

I bit my lip, "Two."

He nodded and turned back around not saying anything else. I sighed and gave Mia another toy, then walked over, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind.

"I love you."

He was tense, "I love you too."

I lifted his tank top up, and gently traced the patterns that my nails had made in his back, whistling, "Holy crap, are you sure this doesn't hurt?"

Nicko shook his head, "Not at all."

I glanced at Mia to make sure she was still preoccupied, "What's wrong with you?"

He shook his head, "I'm fine Dems. Just a little tired."

It was a lie that I could see right through. So I grabbed his hand and pulled him down so I could whisper in his ear, "I know you're lying to me. So when you stop being stubborn please tell me what is wrong with you. We're supposed to be having a fresh start."

Nicko flexed his jaw and glanced at Mia, "Last night was a mistake okay? Just leave it at that. Angelina will be here soon so can we not be fighting when she gets here?"

I narrowed my eyes, "Don't think I'll forget about this."

He sighed, "I don't expect you to."

~*~

All day it was hard to concentrate. I had some press to do with Labrinth in New York, but my mind wasn't in the interviews and he did most of the talking. Of course the rumors were flying that it was because of my secret rendezvous with Wilmer but I just wanted to know what the hell his problem was.

I kept my promise though, and didn't bring it up again until after we had put Mia to bed and we were getting dressed. He walked into the closet as I was changing and stiffened when he looked me over, then announced he was showering. I followed him into the bathroom and slipped in the shower door.

"What are you doing?" Nicko asked, once he turned around and saw me.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what the hell is wrong with you."

He tilted his head back under the water then leaned forward, shaking out his wet hair, "I hurt you last night."

I screwed up my face, "What?"

Nicko sighed and turned me around to face the mirror that was starting to get fogged up, then matched his hand to the bruises on my hips, then my butt, then my back.

"I hurt you." He whispered, looking at me with such intensity I wanted to burst into tears and never let go of him, "You have bruises." He emphasized. "I lost control. That's not supposed to happen. I don't know what you do to me it's just-" He cut off and shook his head, "Demi you need to be afraid of me sometimes. Last night can't ever happen again. I physically hurt you."

I shook my head, "Nicko you didn't-"

"Don't even say I didn't." He hissed, running a frustrated hand through his hair, "Demi it's not even a question. Bruises hurt. I bruised you."

Now I was getting angry, "Can you stop with the self-loathing for like two seconds?" I hissed, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at me, "Look, I decide what does and does not hurt me. Okay? I decide. You don't get to decide this shit for me. I am telling you that it doesn't hurt okay? Last night was amazing, at least it was for me. I get it if you didn't enjoy yourself but I liked it. I like when you lose control sometimes. Yes I was sore in the morning but it was a good sore. I've been sore after we've had sex before. Nicko you didn't hurt me last night. It was in the heat of the moment and we had rough, hate-sex to get out frustration and it was amazing just like every other time. Please don't feel guilty or like a monster. I enticed you. I didn't let you leave the room. I wanted that to happen just as much as you did. And if we're going by bruises, I hurt you way worse than you hurt me. I cheated on you and tried to defend Wilmer. I was pushing every button I knew you had and kept pushing. Not to mention your back. Can you please, please, please, let this go?"

Nicko squeezed his eyes shut, "Demi it's not the same thing."

"Yes it is." I cut him off, "It's exactly the same thing. I was pissed at you and you were pissed at me. We were both angry. It's what we do best; piss each other off. Instead of having a screaming match we had sex and in my opinion? It was way more productive."

Nicko sighed and shook his head, but I could see he was finally seeing sense, "It does seem like a better alternative to a screaming match."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my chin on his chest to look up at him, "Do you want to have a less violent encore?"

Nicko smiled and leaned down, kissing me gently, the most careful he ever had, "So you want me to go gentle? And slow?"

I nodded, already starting to breath heavier as Nicko lifted me up to wrap my legs around his waist. The second I settled though, a sharp pain went through my stomach and Nicko gasped, blood was dripping fast from between my legs. He dropped me to my feet and I leaned into him, crying out when another stab of pain went through my abdomen.

"Demi?!"

I clutched at my stomach, "I need to go to the hospital Nicko."

He shook his head, "What?! Demi what's happening?!"

I held back another scream and he was suddenly holding all of my weight, my eyes opened and filled with tears as I met Nicko's panicked gaze, "I think I'm having a miscarriage."

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