Chapter 1 - Choosing Their Lives; Engaged

Kellan's P.O.V.

-phone conversation-

"Nikki? I was wondering if we could get together?" I ask Nikki.

"Um, sure. Why?" she replies, curiously.

"I just want to talk, we haven't seen each other lately," I tell her.

"Kellan. We just went out last night," she sighs.

"Oh, well if you don't want to, it's okay," I say with a sad tone.

"No, no. I want to go," Nikki replies.

"Okay, meet me at Starbucks, love you," I say.

"Love you too," she hangs up.

-at Starbucks-

"So, what's the occasion?" Nikki asks.

I sigh, then take a deep breath. Then I get out of my chair & kneel next to Nikki's chair. She gasps so loudly that some people look over.

"Nicole Houston Reed. Will you marry me?"

My stomach ached. I was nervous. Did I really ask that? What if she says no?She cupped her hands over her mouth in shock, and nodded yes. I put the ring on her finger, and stood up from the ground. She wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.

"I love you," she whispered in my ear.

I kissed her, romantically on the lips. "I love you too."

Nikki's P.O.V.

Surprisingly, when I called my mother to tell her I was getting married, she seemed happy. After being emancipated from her we didn't talk at all. I went off with my own life & she went with hers. Now we are actually talking some. But I didn't expect her to show up at my house.

Two months after Kellan proposed, we had chosen the venue for our wedding, the date, he had already gotten my ring & I his. We had sent out invitations, given the fact the wedding was only a month away. Plus the cake, flowers, catering, almost everything. So I was now cleaning the Kellan's house (yes I lived with him now) for my wedding shower, & all of a sudden the doorbell rings. I drop the rag & Windex to go open the door, expecting some of my friends.

"MOM?!" I ask, bewildered.

"Hello, Nicole," she replies with a little sniff.

"Why are you here?"

"Well it's your wedding shower, isn't it?" she starts to look around.

"Um, yeah, but-," she cuts me off.

"But nothing. So, when will everyone be here?" she asks as the doorbell rings.

"Now."

Time passed slower then you could ever imagine. But finally, it was 9:00 p.m. and this was done. I held the door open, for the guests, to exit. Once they were all out, I cleaned up the house, & waited for Kellan to get home. I sat at the kitchen table for several hours. I stared at the clock, and rested my head down on the table. About 10 minutes later, I heard a car door slam shut. Kellan must be home. I sat up, impatiently waiting for him to arrive through the door. He came in and stood, staring at me.

"Hey," he smiled from ear to ear.

I couldn't help but giggle. "Hey"

"How was the party?"

"Boring. Nothing's fun without you, ya know," I insisted.

He seemed a tad bit surprised. "Really?" he asked.

"Most definitely."

"So, Nikki. I was thinking about this, since we are getting married ...," he trailed off.

"Yes," I said almost breathlessly.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah ...," I say. Before I can really finish, Kellan picks me up & carries me to our room. He sets me down on the bed so he can go change. I lay down, then decide to go get some of that lingerie that I bought the week after Kellan proposed, knowing this would come. I picked out the skimpiest one & pulled off my other clothes to put it on. Then when Kellan came out, the look on his face was half surprised & half excited. Slowly, he walked towards me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely positive." As I say that, he lifts up the covers & gets under them. Then it all starts. It started slow, but then it got MUCH better. Wow. Who knew he was so fucking good! Then as fast as it started, it ended.

"Whew."

"You okay?" Kellan asks.

"Oh yes. That, wow," I say breathlessly.

-three weeks later-

Ugh. I had stomach pains, cramps, morning sickness. It was horrible. Probably the flu! Sucks. Wait, could it be? COULD I BE PREGNANT?! Holy crap. Must go to doctor's.

-later that day-

As I sat in the living room, on the couch. I though about everything that went on at the doctor's. Yes, I was pregnant. & I needed to come in again, for a check up. As those thoughts raced through my head, I heard the slam of a car door. He's home.

The door opens. "Hey babe." Kellan comes over to kiss me but then sees the scared look on my face. "What's wrong?" he asks.

"Kellan. We need to talk. I'm-" I try to tell him but he cuts me off.

"Are you backing out of the marriage? No, please don't Nikki, I love you!" he exclaims.

"No. I'm not backing out ... I'm pregnant," I exhale, waiting for his reaction. I folded my hands across my lap. He nervously tapped his foot on the ground. He finally broke the silence and looked up.

"Is it mine?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course it is!"

He nodded, and gulped. "Okay. But Nikki ... I'm so sorry you must think I'm ...-"

"Kellan. Look at the bright side of this. We're getting married in one week, and ... were having a child."

My voice spoke as I trembled those exact words. I burst into tears.

He rushed to my side, and put his arm around me. "Nikki, it's going to be fine. I promise you that," He kissed me on the top of my head.

"You promise?"

He nodded. "Yes. I promise."

-one week later ... the wedding-

"You ready, Nik?" my dad asks as we get ready to walk down the aisle. I was that much pregnant yet, so no one else knew except me, Kellan & my best friend Ashley Greene.

"Yes, let's go," I reply. As I speak, we are walking down the aisle towards my true love, Kellan. & my baby's father. Ah. My baby. Before I know it, I'm in Kellan's arms & the guy who is declaring us married is speaking. Then I finally need to speak the binding words.

"Do you, Nicole, take Kellan to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the man asks.

"I do." Then Kellan spoke the same words & we were declared husband & wife. All of a sudden Kellan sweeps me up & kisses me. But I whisper to him "Be careful, don't wanna hurt our baby". Our baby, he whispers back.

-at the reception ... during dinner-

I clink my spoon against my glass. I look at Kellan giving him a look like 'I'm telling them, back me up'.

"Um, can I have everyone's attention please? We have an announcement," I call out, hopefully loud enough for everyone to hear. When I feel I have everyone's attention I continue.

"I just found this out two weeks ago, but thought this was a good time to tell my whole family ... I am ... pregnant." Everyone became silent, then you heard a clink of a fork hitting a plate.

"WHAT?!" I hear my mom scream. Kellan grabbed my hand, and massaged it, nervously. Everyone applauded and congratulated me, except for my mother, of course. We sat back down, and began talking with the guests. Ashley ran over to me.

"Not a good move ...," she shook her head, no.

"What?"

"Maybe you ...," She scringed her face. "Should've told them ... after the wedding."

"Why?"

"I overheard your mom in the bathroom."

Kellan met my glance.

"What'd she say now?" I sighed.

Ashley shrugged. "Well she said a lot of things ...,"

"Like what?"

"Well ... I can't remember EVERYTHING she said but the word 'slut' was tossed around quite a few times."

Oh, damn.

hope you enjoyed,
tay&miles