T H U N D E R S T R U C K
adjective [thuhn-der-struhk]

Overcome with consternation; confounded; astounded.

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TING!

You opened the door into the Starbucks on your way to your part-time job and sighed when you saw the line at the counter. You huffed then stood in line, your impatience growing by the minute.

After a pain-staking five minutes, the barista greeted you. You smiled and narrated your order, something chilled since you wanted to wake yourself up.

You waited by the counter until they called out your name, which was another pain-staking five minutes later. You forcefully smiled then headed for the door, while counting the change of money in your hand since you felt a vibe that you didn't get the correct-

THUMP!

You gasped a bit, almost dropping your drink when you bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry I-"

You looked up to the person and widened your eyes. He stood there, as clear as day or your senses were fooling you at 8:30 in the morning.

"James?" You mumbled and he smiled widely, "Oh my lord what are you doing here?"

You both went for an awkward hug then you ran a hand through your hair. "I'm just... getting coffee, like you," He responded happily, "What about you?"

"Same actually," You raised your drink and he nodded his head. You sighed quietly and stared at his facial features, smoking softly.

When you're not doing a part-time job, you're an actress and you had appeared with James in a film a couple years ago. It was brilliant, the film did amazing at the box office and you both had amazing chemistry. You guys even had an off-screen thing going on though it sort of drifted away after the film got over. You talked over the phone and continued to message each other for a couple of months but then... your life changed and his, not so-

"W-We should meet sometime, catch up and stuff," James suggested and you bit your lip.

"Um I don't think-"

"Come on [y/n], I've missed you. I was just thinking about you yesterday love," He said and touched your hand. You clenched your jaw then glanced over his shoulder.

"Uh... fine. Message me the details, I have to get to work," You said in a hurry then shoved past him after giving him a quick smile.

"Alright [y/n], see you... later?" James watched you walk away then frowned. Something was up with you and it confused him.

*****

Two days later...

You stood by the entrance of the restaurant awkwardly, looking around for any sign of James but being rather unsuccessful. Your son started to become a little restless and you bounced him slowly while rubbing his back. You clothed him in the most cutest thing from his wardrobe, a black dresshirt and a colourful bowtie with jeans shorts and small sneakers that squeaked when he walked.

You could put him down so that he could keep himself busy but holding him in your arms lowered your anxiety. You grew nervous by the second and it made you feel horrible.

"Ma'am are you waiting for someone?" A restaurant waiter asked and you nodded your head, "Why don't you have a seat? Did you make a reservation?"

"The other party did," You told, "It's probably under the name James."

"James McAvoy?"

"Y-Yes," You mumbled and she smiled while guiding you to the table. It was by the window and the view was breathtaking. The sun was in the process of setting over the skyline, the sky was the colours like of a sorbet.

One of the waiters brought over a highchair for your son and he resisted at first but once you gave him a breakstick he happily listened to any-

"[y/n]?"

You turned around in surprise and found your dinner-date looking spiffy in a full-sleeved maroon shirt with dark blue jeans, with hair that was probably combed in the morning and hands did the rest of it before coming for the dinner. It's his 'thing', he used to do it on the film set too.

"Hi James!" You gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hello love," He said with a smile, "You look beautiful."

"You too!" You pulled away and scanned his clothes, "I remember this shirt. It's one of my favourites."

He winked at you, "Why do you think I wore it?"

*****

It surprised you. He didn't acknowledge the presence of your son at all... well not 'at all', he did interact and play with him but he didn't ask about him. He didn't seem curious to know.

Though you could sense a feeling of detachment from his side, compared to when you met him at the coffee shop and at the beginning in the restaurant. James probably thought that being a married woman, you don't want to make things complicated.

You both ate your meals quietly. You didn't favour the silence at all. The only person making a sound of attempted talking was your son [y/s/n].

James huffed then suddenly placed his cutlery on his plate. "I'm sorry, I tried to avoid thinking about it but I can't," He says flatly then took in a slow breath, "Y-Y-You have a son?"

You shut your eyes and sighed, "Y-Yeah."

He raised an eyebrow and gestured his hands with confusion. "You didn't tell me about your son or your husband? I didn't even know you got married [y/n]!" He whispered furiously, while your son watched him intently.

You leaned forward and placed your elbows on the table, "What was I supposed to do huh? We grew distant James, I couldn't just..."

"Why not?! I thought we had a thing-"

"Yeah, 'had' a thing and now we don't! If it was really there we would have kept contact with each other!" You argued.

"Hey you didn't call too. Am I expected to be the first since I'm the man?!"

"No... of course not James-"

"Then why didn't you call?!"

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE?!" You shouted a little louder than you would have in a public place. Your eyes darted around at the many faces that turned your way.

You sat back in your chair and picked up the toy car your son had dropped onto the floor, giving it to him then fixing his bow tie.

James sighed and rubbed his face, a look of despair washed over it. "[y/n] I'm... sorry, love. I didn't-I wanted to call you everyday but it just-" He stuttered, "I should have called anyways and I shouldn't have left you. I know you asked me to come with you to California and I should have. I regret it so much..."

You folded your arms and sat in silence, refusing to reply to him. He broke your heart when he refused to tag along on a trip with you. You were going to meet a friend then have a holiday with family. He wasn't doing anything else and he anyways had work there too after a month.

"I thought it would be p-perfect," Your eyes started to tear up, "That you and I could be h-happy together b-but..."

He held your hand tightly and shook his head, "Please don't feel like this is on you alone, I had my share in it too." He kissed your knuckles then sighed, looking at your son for a brief moment and smiling.

"How's his father?" He asked you and you gulped.

"Feeling sad, but he's probably going to be a little pissed off."

"What, why?"

"Because he's about to find out that he has a son he never knew about... that I didn't tell him about."

James almost spat out the sip of drink in his mouth. You chuckled but he looked completely far from laughing at the thought.

"WHAT?"

You looked at your baby boy and kissed him on the cheek. "Now hang on a minute, what the hell?! When in the world did this happen?" He asked, clearly pissed as you predicted.

You rolled your eyes, "Seriosuly James you know how it works-"

He stared at you flatly, "I know how sex bloody works [y/n]. I just can't-HOLY, OH MY LORD."

He had a look of realisation, of that night, and you raised your eyebrows. He held his forehead and sighed, "Ugh love I'm so sorry. You-I mean, we have a child, and I just ruined your life and I wasn't even there-"

"James I'm so happy with him, [y/s/n] is a wonderful boy... just like his father and I can't imagine life without him... But I'd always imagine life with you in the picture," You frowned and he looked to you with heartbreak. You could have sworn that he was going to cry.

James turned to face your son and smiled through his teary eyes. He picked him up from the high chair and made him stand on his legs.

Your son looked at his new-found father with curiousity, his blue eyes observing his every feature.

"H-Hi sweetheart," He said and placed him on his side, "Are you happy to see your daddy?"

Your son didn't react at first but then reached out to touch the stubble-covered sides of his father's face, smiling. You laughed and stared at them in awe, then wiped a tear off your cheek. It was a moment you longed to witness ever since you found out you were pregnant.

"Remind me why you didn't tell me about this?" A complete change in his excitement to the situation appeared in his body language.

You took a deep breath and sighed as he walked over and placed [y/s/n] back in his seat. "I think we should order dessert for that part of the story," You said and while he remained bent over to put his son down, he turned around and kissed you on the lips. You were shocked at first but then once you realised what was happening, you kissed him back with as much passion as you had to give.

It was all finally happening. The life you wished to have could finally come true.