Time to Get Over Myself ; Emma

[Harmony]

Why Couldn't You Just Be a Bitch?

As she pounded away at the punching bag she could feel all her issues fly out through her fists. She was upset, confused, mad, and just exhausted. Dean was so certain he was going to jail. She was stressing over having to work and take care of the kids. Not to mention she was pregnant...again. There was no way she was going to be able to have another child is Dean was going to be put in jail. There was no changing it now, what's done is done. Just the thought of the death of someone like Kandy being the reason for Dean going away made Harmony's fist hit the bag a little harder.

By the time she was sone wailing on the defenseless bag a treadmill had become open. It was so hard in this small active gym to get a hold of one, so Harmony took the opening and grabbed her water bottle and rag and jogged to it before another house mom took it from her. She sat her watter in the cup holder and set up the machine the way she normally did. Before she even had time to react she looked up at the treadmill next to hers and watched a brunette trot away with no short breaths or anything.

Beginning with her slow walk she found her eyes lingering on the brunette, not in a creepy way, but in a 'I know this person' kind of way. And just as she had expected, there she was, in all her glory, Emma. Of course of all the days Harmony had needed a stree relieving workout, Emma...would be there. Harmony held in the scoff she wanted to release at that moment and bumped up the speed on her treadmill. She could run just as fast as Emma, and look just as graceful.

It took her about one minute to realize being pregnant and still kind of out of shape that she couldn't do what Emma was doing at the moment. Just one more thing Dean probably liked about her. She shook the thought and looked back at the graceful mother of two. Harmony was a mother of two, soon to be mother of three... why couldn't she be as graceful and percise as Emma? What did Emma have that she didn't? Bigger boobs? A better physique? Big beautiful brown eyes?

Trying to avoid eye contact, Harmony slowed down her pace and felt herself looking down. She did not really need an encounted with Emma at the moment. But knowing her luck, there was no way around it.

[Emma Lawrence]

Work It Out

Pressing her fore and middle fingers to her neck, she timed her pulse as the seconds ticked by out of rhythm with her rapid feet. She watched the ticker pass forty-five minutes, and she mentally gave herself a pat on the back for going steady for this long. Normally she liked to do something around an hour an a half at a decent pace, but each fifteen minute milestone was always a reason for self appreciation. Sweat trickled down the sides of her face, under her arms, along the indent of the center of her back, between her breasts. Feeling the pounding of her weight on her knees kept her muscles tight and ready for action, dopamine being forced into her system as she let her eyes light up with gratitude that she was still able to be in shape. The electronic screen on her treadmill continued to wind up. Speed: 6.7, Miles: 5.6, Calories: 600, Time Left: 00:44:34.

Letting herself sweat out the tenseness she had accumulated the past couple of days was euphoric. Her mind started to think up different ways to release all this pent-up energy, and she quickly went about formulating a plan to gather a bunch of the guys who went to the gym for an impromptu outdoor soccer match. She had been a fair player in high school, and it was always more fun when shirtless, sweaty, smelling-of-grass men were involved. Being married would never make her stop appreciating the works of art that could come from soccer dudes.

But soon after, she found herself distracted by a newcomer on the treadmill beside her. She didn't consciously become aware that it was Harmony, but she knew she didn't have to worry about the woman watching her or getting into those crazy competitions to run faster or harder. Emma liked to keep her own pace, and she thought she was doing well enough to let the woman go at her own speed as well. But when she heard the machine crank up so suddenly that it actually disturbed her, she jerked her head to make sure the lady was going to be all right. That kind of pace without starting slow could be dangerous. But she seemed to fare all right for now...

Her face flushed red with worry until Harmony took the speed down a few notches. "Things are lethal," she breathed out with a grin, keeping whatever steady inhale-exhale pattern she had gotten used to. Knowing there was still tension between them, and seeing how she had immediately ducked her chin to her chest, she turned back to mind her own business.

The clock ticked at 55 minutes passing. She could make it to an hour. She could do it.

But her face was hot and she was getting light-headed. Pushing to make it, determined to get to either one hour or six miles, she battened down and turned up the speed.

[Harmony]

As if it wasn't already embarassing that she couldn't keep up, but Emma just so happened to notice. Of course she had to comment on it. Harmony knew she wasn't trying to be snarky, but it really felt that way as soon as those three words left her mouth. "Things are lethal," Nodding she blew out a bunch of hot air starting with a slow jog. "Yeah, I guess they are."

It was hard trying to talk to Emma. Emma had been the reasons for so many bumps in her marriage with Dean, but she had also been alot of help with the kids. It was hard to hate someone who helped your family out on a regular basis. Shaking the thought she tried to focus all her attention on the treadmill. As she began to steady her breathing she was starting to feel better about coming to the gym.

For a mother of two small children it was hard to keep in shape. Sure, you had all the times chasing them around the house and rushing to get them in the bath and into bed before they could protest, but that was nothing like the way Harmony used to train. After all she did use to be an Anti-mutant after all. The anti's had to train extra hard just to be able to compete with the mutants and their abilities. But that was all in her past, and now she was struggling to jog half a mile.

Just as she beginning to feel the struggle of the constant jog she was hit with a wave of morning sickness. That was a under statement, it was more like a tsunami of morning sickness. Before she could hit the stop button on the treadmill she stepped on off the side barely steadying herself before she began to heave. She heard a few 'ewws' from the college girls that were across the room on the workout balls. The gagging had began to bring tears to her eyes and she could barely see.

All she wanted to do was find the bathroom in the locker room in peace, but she had people looking at her from the minute she began to heave. She needed help, and if anyone was going to help it would be Emma. Even if she didn't want to, she looked up her teary eyes landing on Emma. Before she had another heaving spell she let the words "Help, please." slip from her lips.

[Emma Lawrence]

An immediate awkwardness filled the air when Harmony replied, and suddenly Emma regretted saying anything at all. For one, Harmony probably wanted to avoid all communication, having said nothing when she boarded the treadmill in the first place. She wasn't an idiot--she knew there was still tons of unresolved tension between them, and she sensed all of it coming off of Harmony, even more now that she was sweating right alongside her. Her rage came off in waves of purple and red and black, sparking like firecrackers at the tips. Though her Empathy was foggy from exertion, Emma tried to tune it in as she kept a steady beat with her legs.

Time passed as they tried to keep their own paces separate. Before she had realized that she was past both her mile and minute mark, something was happening beside her. Harmony stumbled uneasily off of the treadmill, ignoring the stop plug and the fact that the belt was still rotating. Emma knew that look anywhere. It had been strewn across her face all too often during her own pregnancies, and although she wasn't in any position to make guesses or accusations or scold Harmony for doing this to her body, she knew she had to say something. It wasn't safe; she was putting her child in danger--and herself.

Then Harmony doubled over, starting to dry heave. "Harm!" she breathed out sharply, pulling her own stop plug and dashing off the machine. "Jesus. Okay, you're okay. Harm, breathe." Putting her hand on Harmony's back, the other gripping her hand, she began to run her to the bathroom. "Move!" she yelled at staring athletes in their way.

They burst through the locker room door and Emma brought Harmony to the bathroom, where she kicked open a stall with her knee and let her crouch in front of the toilet. Now it was just a waiting game until everything came up. She winced in anticipation.

[Harmony]

There was a loud ringing in her ears, and now she realized how stupid she was for trying to push herself. It was healthy to workout a little when you are pregnant, but not to push yourself past your immeadiate limit. It was a danger to herself and her unborn child. She couldn't help, but blame her stupid anger for doing something so reckless.

Emma came down off her treadmill like a knight in shining armour. It was hard not to admire her swift ability to help someone so quickly in this moment. "Harm!" she breathed out sharply, pulling her own stop plug and dashing off the machine. "Jesus. Okay, you're okay. Harm, breathe." The causal use of her nickname let her know that Dean had talked about her just enough for Emma to feel comfortable enough to call her by it.

Harmony felt herself leaning against Emma and depending on her as she guided her to the bathroom. The authority in Emma's voice as she hearded through the people made Harmony feel stupid for ever feeling like this woman could have an evil bone in her body. Sure, she had made a few mistakes in her life that had come with consequences...but so had Harmony. Emma's voice was loud and calm as she called to the crowd. "Move!" And with that they were in the locker room, and in a stall.

The feel of the cold tile on her knees made another wave of nausea flow inside her. She gagged again nothing coming up quite yet. All she could think about was how dirty this floor must be. She felt herself starting to heave again this time letting a few out here and there. When she thought it was safe enough she pulled her head away from the bowl taking slow deep breaths. She placed her elbow on the seat and rested her head in her hand. She felt horrible for all the thoughts she had ever had about Emma, because in all honesty she was always there for her and her family whether Harmony asked for her or Dean did.

"I'm so stupid." She blurted out shaking her head her throat sore from all the acid that had just come up. "I'm such a bitch to you and you still jumped at the moment to help me. Emma you must be a saint, because there is no other woman out there like you."

[Emma Lawrence]

WIth her main concern invested in Harmony's health, Emma watched over her carefully, even shaking a little in fright. She had almost tumbled off of the machine, and now here she was, helpless against the cold tile of a public bathroom floor, leaning on a toilet. Wringing her hands together, she kept a vigilant eye, waiting for her to finally upchuck so Emma would be occupied with holding her body up, or her hair back, or rubbing her shoulders telling her to let it all out now. She swallowed the lump of panic in her throat, glad that she had the innate ability to keep calm under pressure. She seldom left the side of logic in those kinds of situations, but afterwards was like a mental meltdown. She was reaching her limit.

Harmony recovered without throwing up too much, and they met eyes for however short of a split second. She didn't know what made her jump to her rescue. Maybe it was because Dean talked about her with such endearing adoration that she couldn't help but feel obligation to help her out. Maybe she knew what it was like to be pregnant and scared. Maybe it was because she just wanted to finally make a peace offering. She didn't know, and she knew she wouldn't be able to figure it out. Emma squatted down beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You okay? You're warm. Maybe you should lie down. I'll drive you home."

Pushing her eyebrows together, Emma shook her head with certainty. "You're not stupid. You got sick." She chuckled, putting her head down for a moment. "Well there better not be, otherwise my marriage will be in serious trouble." She allowed the smile to fade, watching Harmony's bleary eyes move around. "Don't call yourself a bitch. You're far from it. Any anger you've ever had toward me is justified. Any woman who could go through what you have deserves a little leeway when it comes to her emotions. You've tolerated a lot of bullshit."

[Harmony]

There it was. There they were. Harmony could feel some sort of weight being lifted from her. It had to have been all that hankered up anger she had for Emma. It was dissolving from her as if it had been a gray cloud that followed her around everyday. Sure, Emma had one her wrong a few times here and there, but Harmony had her moments too. Just like that with a few sentences that seemed to carry enough concern for her in them, her anger was gone.

"You okay? You're warm. Maybe you should lie down. I'll drive you home."

Harmony just looked at her in awe. How could she be so calm and collected with someone who had practically blamed her for killing her husband? It must have been a power Harmony never knew about. Wiping the tears that came from the throwing up she had just done she managed to find herself wanting to apologize, and cry...and just be near another one who has gone through almost the same things as her. "I think I just want to stay here a moment. I'm sure if I stand up I'll only be crashing right back down."

It was like Emma knew what to say no matter what came out of Harmony's mouth. She was sure that was why she had such a problem with her in the first place. Someone who is always so together just made Harmony look like such a mess. It just came with ther territory. "You're not stupid. You got sick." Harmony shook her head. "I am, Emma. I knew I shouldn't have tried to push myself like that. I could have hurt the baby." She began to tear up. "Dean..he would be so upset if he knew about this." Harmony felt sick again, but this time for the pain Dean would have felt if she would have hurt the baby in any way.

"Well there better not be, otherwise my marriage will be in serious trouble."

Harmony tried to smile, but another wave of sickness hit her and she heaved over the toilet again. Nothing came out. It was the pain of morning sickness. You can't ust expect nothing because it will come whether you are ready for it or not. "Don't call yourself a bitch. You're far from it. Any anger you've ever had toward me is justified. Any woman who could go through what you have deserves a little leeway when it comes to her emotions. You've tolerated a lot of bullshit."

"That may be true. But you help me and my family out in more ways than one all the time. I could be a little more thankful for your help. After all, there aren't many young mom's that I know of." That's when it really hit her. Her and Emma were so alike. They were both mother's at young ages, had two children around the same time, and were in great marriages. It was a shame they weren't more close. Harmony could change that if she finally got rid of her grudge against her.

"Though I believe this is probably one of the worst places to admit this...I only hated you because I was intimidated. You are so together and graceful. Great with kids, caring....talented. I could go on. There was nothing stopping Dean...or even my children from falling in love with you." She paused looking into Emma's eyes holding nothing but honesty in them. "I always felt like I was competing with you. Even if it was only in my mind..." It was so silent in that bathroom. She had revealed so much, and the more she spoke the better she felt.

[Emma Lawrence]

Nodding in understanding, Emma let them stay there in silence for a moment, not wanting to force her to do anything she didn't think she could. Standing was an option, just like talking. But more and more Harmony seemed to be opening herself up, prying open the hinges painfully until she was likely to burst out. Keeping a close eye on her, she rubbed her back in soothing circles, hearing her stomach churn beside her. "Sounds rough in there," she said gently, eyeing her belly; the barely-there bump that was growing. "I'll bring you over some tonic water or ginger ale if you want?" She knew that her stomach when ballistic when too many hormones were dumped into her system.

Her eyes softened. "I'm sure Dean will understand. But it's up to you to tell him. I won't say a word." Her heart ached to spend time with Dean. It had been a while since they'd seen each other, and now that he was running from the authorities... Well, any time might be their last time. She wanted her chance to be with him. Jarring her out of her thought, Harmony pitched forward and dry heaved again, and Emma clung to her hand, inching closer. "Breathe through it."

Then the shockwave of Harmony's confession hit her like a ton of bricks. Her eyes moved up to meet hers, tearing up only so much to crystallize on her bottom lashes. It took her a few seconds to get her breath back. Then, slowly, she began, "I...never wanted you to feel that way. If I had known... I wouldn't do that to your family. Dean has never been in love with me, Harmony. If you could hear the way he talks about you, you'd know without a doubt that he is entirely devoted to you. And the kids..." She trailed off, losing her verbal footing. "Kids will be kids. I'm not graceful, I'm not talented, and you can't devalue yourself based on someone else." She cracked a smile. "Truth be told, I was always jealous of you. I mean, you had everything I wanted. A beautiful and loving husband, a great family, surrounded by people who adored you. When I was a kid there were times I was convinced I was in love with Dean just to get you jealous of me for once. Let's be serious, Dean isn't hard to look at. But we're past that now, okay? It's over, we have our own lives. I haven't felt that kind of competition with you since I was seventeen."

[Harmony]

Her body was aching. All of these pains didn't feel normal, but then again it had been a little while since she had been pregnant. Emma rubbing small circles on her back made the ache dull a bit. "Sounds rough in there," she said gently, eyeing her belly; the barely-there bump that was growing. "I'll bring you over some tonic water or ginger ale if you want?" Harmony nodded. "It's really rough in there." Placing her hand on her stomach she felt howw hot her skin really was. "I think I could probably use a glass of water."

Looking up she felt herself calming down a bit. Her stomach was still rumbling, but talking seem to soothe her bit by bit. "I'm sure Dean will understand. But it's up to you to tell him. I won't say a word." Harmony closed her eyes trying to imagine Dean's reaction. "I know he will, but I'm sure I will be banned from any vigorous phsical activity for a while." He would be running himself rabid trying to do everything she did in a day while she sat on the couch. It was almost a comical thought, but her stomach was still too upset for a smile. That and she was still getting use to talking to Emma civilly.

Once she got through with her dry heaving and Emma rubbing her back trying to help her through it. She confessed to Emma why she was always so defensive towards her. It was in that moment they really and truly connected. "I...never wanted you to feel that way. If I had known... I wouldn't do that to your family. Dean has never been in love with me, Harmony. If you could hear the way he talks about you, you'd know without a doubt that he is entirely devoted to you. And the kids..."

Just hearing that ccome from her lips brought a slight smile to her lips. Dean showed his love to her everyday, but to show his love for her to other people... it just meant that what they both felt was real. She continued talking lifting almost all her fears about her. "Kids will be kids. I'm not graceful, I'm not talented, and you can't devalue yourself based on someone else." Harmony nodded. She was right, and it was logical. If she hadn't been so blinded with anger she could have seen that.

"Truth be told, I was always jealous of you. I mean, you had everything I wanted. A beautiful and loving husband, a great family, surrounded by people who adored you. When I was a kid there were times I was convinced I was in love with Dean just to get you jealous of me for once. Let's be serious, Dean isn't hard to look at. But we're past that now, okay? It's over, we have our own lives. I haven't felt that kind of competition with you since I was seventeen."

The lump that formed in her throat had grown smaller. Her nausea was fading a bit. Emma had been jealous of her? They had both formed perfect versions of each other that the other was jealous of. It was an anger that had no purpose. Harmony just looked at Emma and smiled. "You know. You're really not so bad after all. I think I could actually make you one of my best friends." She paused and almost felt herself laugh. "God knows I don't have many 'girlfriends'.." She gave a sarcastic wink.

Her stomach began to calm down and she could actually take a deep breath without getting sick. "I think this is exactly what I needed...minus the vomit." She smirked.

[Emma Lawrence]

Trying on the faintest of smile when Harmony agreed that things were getting rough on the inside, she nodded. "I know how you feel. Cian and I are trying to have our third, too." She took two bobby pins from her own hair and strung up loose ends of Harmony's to keep it away from her face in case she was going to reject the water she planned on giving her. "I'll be right back." She didn't want to use her own water bottle and use tap water (her bottle was all but empty anyway), so she quickly ran to the vending machine to get an unopened bottle. Hopefully this would calm down her internal churning a bit.

When Emma brought it back, she knelt beside Harmony again, opening up the bottle and handing it to her. "Slow," she advised, keeping a sharp eye. She liked this. She liked knowing the only spark of jealousy left she had for Harmony was that she was lucky enough to already be pregnant. The year she and Cian had agreed on had passed, the timing was right, everything was set. She only prayed she wouldn't have complications again. Death and all that.

A wide smile broke her face, and Emma continued to rub her back in circles. "The best friends we'll be. Girldates and everything. Chocolate and chick flicks. We'll discuss sex and diet techniques. Kids and stretch marks. Menopause and wrinkles." But right now she needed to get her to the comfort of her own home where Dean could take care of her. And Emma? She wanted to get home to the arms of her own husband, to settle down, maybe burn off a little more sweat in the process.

"Think you'll be able to get up soon? I think you'll do better at home."

[/b][/blockquote]

[Harmony]

"I know how you feel. Cian and I are trying to have our third, too."

Harmony looked at her feeling her stomach rumbling under her hand. "Well good luck. I'm sure I will not have anymore after this one." She tried to make an attempt to smile. Harmony could feel the knot in her stomach loosening up. "I'll be right back." She watched as Emma ran off going to get her a water. Maybe Emma would be pregnant soon and then they could just lounge around being fat and pregnant together. Maybe this friendship would be one of the best things to happen to her.

It didn't take long for Emma to return with a bottle of water from the vending machine. Emma uncapped the bottle and handed it to her. She took the cold water in her hand and took a small sip trying it out on her stomach before she started to down it. It felt cool going down her throat. She figured it was fine since she wasn't gagging yet. She tilted her head back and started to drink. "Slow," Harmony took her suggestion and slowed down only letting a small amount to flow down her throat.

She was starting to see that Emma was none of the things Harmony had wished she was. She was the farthest thing from a selfish caniving bitch. "The best friends we'll be. Girldates and everything. Chocolate and chick flicks. We'll discuss sex and diet techniques. Kids and stretch marks. Menopause and wrinkles." That was when she let out a laugh. A real hardy laugh that shook her whole body. "That sounds like a plan. And don't think I won't take you up on it." She grinned feeling a whole lot better now that she had water and a good laugh.

"Think you'll be able to get up soon? I think you'll do better at home."

Takink a deep breath, she tried to see if there was any trace nausea left in her system. After a good few seconds she concluded she would be okay to stand. "I think I can get up now." She pushed herself up only tottering a bit as she steadied herself. She felt only a little light headed as she grinned over at Emma. "I'm so glad you were here to help me. I don't know what I would have done without you."

A soft smile on her face she placed her hand on Emma's shoulder. "Thanks for not being the selfish bitch I always wished you were." She grinned and shook her head. "I was so childish for so long. If I would have known you were this amazing I would have stopped hating you alot sooner."