Off Screen: Waiting In The Wings Part 3

Emma leaned in and placed a kiss on Addison's cheek. "You know, I'm lucky to have you."

Addison chuckled. "Dense as the fog, and you still love me."

"Pretty much," Emma answered playfully. Addison laughed.

It was true. Addison sometimes created questions where there didn't need to be any. She didn't mean to. Emma had grown to realize that many of Addison's quirks and insecurities stemmed from losing her mother. People didn't think of death as abandonment. Emma imagined that was because death was not a choice. It was just something that happened when it decided to. In some ways, that made it the worst way to be abandoned. You were given no choice. That was a reality that Emma had never experienced in the same way as Addison had. Addison possessed an underlying need to stay in control. She wasn't controlling, but she remained fearful of loss. And, Emma did know that what Addison feared the most was somehow losing Emma. That sometimes clouded Addison's judgment. Dense as the fog was an accurate description. But, the fog was momentary. It always lifted. Emma sometimes needed to remind Addison of that fact.

"I think we all lose sight of the sun in the sky from time to time," Emma mused. "We know it's there; we just get lost in all the clouds."

"You sure you're not the writer?" Addison asked.

"No. I've learned a lot from loving one, though."

"Em?"

"Yeah?"

"If you asked me to give it all up, I would."

Emma nestled against Addison. "I know that," she said. "You never have to, Addy."

Addison closed her eyes and breathed Emma in. "Lavender," she mumbled.

"What?"

"I like that name-Lavender."

Emma giggled. "We are not calling a child Lavender... or Magenta for that matter."

"Like you," Addison mused happily.

"I'm not sure I want to know what you are talking about."

Addison pulled Emma closer. "You smell like lavender."

"You are silly, Addy. And, we're still not naming any child Lavender."

"Lilac?" Addison suggested. Emma remained silent. "Orchid?" Addison offered.

"Well, I'm sure he will thank you when he gets to kindergarten."

"Ahh... You think it's a boy."

"Maybe."

"Really?" Addison asked. Emma tried not to laugh. "Em? Do you think it's a boy? Emma?" Emma's body began to quake with laughter. "Come on; you have a weird sense about this stuff."

"What does that mean?" Emma kept laughing.

"You knew the munchkin was going to be a girl."

"I thought so, yes."

"So?"

"Does it matter?" Emma wondered.

"Nope, but I'd hate to name a girl, King."

Emma smacked Addison lightly. "The only thing you'll ever name King in this family is a dog."

"Are we getting a dog?"

"Go to sleep," Emma said.

"Em? Maybe we should."

"Maybe we should what?"

"Get a dog."

"No."

"It can protect you when I'm working," Addison said.

"No."

"It will teach the kids responsibility."

"No."

"It will keep you company when I travel," Addison argued.

"It will keep me dealing with more p.o.o.p. No."

"I think we should."

"You would."

"Em?"

"Addy, I swear if you don't go to sleep, we will be getting a dog house-for you."

Addison laughed. "Thanks, Em."

"You're welcome."

"King is a good name."

"Addy...."

Addison let her eyes fall shut. Emma made her laugh unlike anyone she had ever known. She had been gently suggesting to Emma that they get a dog for more than a year. Emma had once told Addison that if Addison could birth it, she could have it. Addison chuckled at the memory.

"I love you, Em," Addison whispered. Emma had already fallen asleep. "King is a good name," she mused one last time as she drifted into dreaming. "King."

Chapter Three.

"So?" Jeff began.

Addison leaned back in her chair and smiled. "So what?" she returned.

"What did Emma think about the project?"

"Emma thinks that a reboot of Off Screen is a great idea," Addison replied honestly.

"Seriously? That's fantastic! Bellson will green light us before he even sees your script now that Emma's on board."

Addison nodded. "Well, Em is definitely on board with the idea of me writing a screenplay, possibly even leading to a reboot of the series."

"I knew she missed it," Jeff gloated.

"She does-miss it," Addison agreed. Jeff smiled broadly, and Addison continued. "But, Emma has no intention of signing on to play Genevieve."

Jeff's mouth dropped open. "You just said..."

"I said that Em supports the idea of me writing a new screenplay."

"Addison, Genevieve is Off Screen."

"She certainly was its original centerpiece," Addison agreed.

"You lost me. Was its centerpiece? Addison, come on. I don't get it. Why would she want you to write Off Screen without her?"

"I told you when you brought this to me the other day-the only role that Emma is interested in right now is Mom."

"Yeah? So, what? Tons of actors bring their kids on set. h.e.l.l, she had Vicki with her the entire last season," Jeff reminded Addison.

"True."

"So? We can make that work again."

Addison smirked. "I don't think so, Jeff."

"Why on earth not?"

"Emma's pregnant," Addison explained with a smile. Jeff collapsed into a chair that sat on the far side of the office. Addison chuckled. "You okay there?" she asked him. "You look a bit pale."

"Emma's pregnant? Again?"

Addison laughed. "Well, I certainly hope she hasn't been pregnant for three years."

"Funny," Jeff replied gruffly.

"Look, I know you are disappointed," Addison said.

Jeff looked across the room at his friend and sighed. His reaction evidently hurt Addison. "Aw s.h.i.t, Addison, I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"No, it isn't. I guess this was planned," he tried to smooth things over.

Addison couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, well... It sort of works that way with us. As much as I am willing to try...."

Jeff held up his hand. "Okay, I got it. I guess, I am a little slow on the uptake today, huh? I take it Emma is happy?" he surmised. Addison smiled. "And you?" he asked cautiously.

"We're both happy."

"But?" Jeff prodded.

"No. No but. I was surprised is all."

"Why? I mean, why would you be surprised if you planned it? Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?" he asked.

Emma had posed that same question to Addison. Addison had been giving it a great deal of thought over the last forty-eight hours. She'd been honest with Emma. Addison was afraid. And, she'd begun to realize that part of her simply did not want to reboot Off Screen without Emma. The entire concept had been born as a love letter to Emma. Addison wasn't sure that she wanted to create something new on that front without Emma.

On the other hand, Emma's idea to write a show from Jack's perspective intrigued Addison. She'd fallen in love with the character of Jack over the years. Jack was a.s.sertive and aloof on the surface, but underneath she was an immensely romantic and sensitive soul-and, she loved Genevieve. In many ways, Jack mirrored Addison. And, Addison was beginning to realize that was part of the problem. Immersing herself in Jack's life without Genevieve meant embarking on an emotional journey that in many ways would entail Addison contemplating life without Emma and Vicki. That was not an adventure she felt a burning desire to take.

Addison sighed heavily. "I should have told you. I know. I should have. I didn't know if Em wanted me to tell anyone. We haven't even told her folks yet; I mean, that we've been trying. I didn't know about the baby until I got home the other night," she explained.

"You okay?" Jeff asked. "You seem kind of-I don't know? Quiet?"

"I'm okay," Addison promised. "I just blew it. I should never have even suggested the idea to her."

"I thought you said she supported you writing it?"

"Yeah, for Jack. I don't think she planned on telling me about this baby that way. You know? Like she was breaking the news instead of giving me this great surprise."

"Uh-oh."

"That's an understatement," Addison said.