All The Things You Said

Chapter One

-Mama, Papa, Forgive Me-

With one big breath, Addison forced herself to stop crying. She wiped her face, blew her nose and smoothed her hair with her fingers. There was a knock on the door, and her brother entered.

"How are you?"

Addison shrugged. "Like five hours ago when you last asked me."

Archer gave her a sympathetic smile. "You'll feel better after a hot shower." he told her.

"A hot shower may be magic, but it certainly can't solve my problems, Archie. Not the ones I have now."

Archer nodded. "I came up to tell you something, though. Bizzy and the Captain are starting to notice you're acting strange. So, well, you should tell them. It'll be worse if you keep pulling it off."

She sighed heavily, looking down. "How do I tell them, Archie? Ho do I tell Bizzy and the Captain that I am freaking pregnant!"

"Addie, if you don't lower your voice they'll know without you actually telling them."

Addison looked at him sadly. "What do I do?"

Archer protectively put his arm around her shoulders. "Now we go downstairs and you eat something. Lisa made brownies. Then we get our parents, sit them down and tell them together."

"Okay."

This time, Addison's voice was so feeble that her brother barely heard her answer.

They did as he said. Addison let him lead her downstairs, and she ate two brownies as slowly as possible, with some tea. When she was done she sat on the brown couch, wrapping her arms around her own waist. She was scared, afraid of her parents' reaction. She knew they'd get mad, they'd yell. It wasn't what she needed; she needed comfort, like the one Archer was giving her. She needed love. She needed her baby, although she didn't know how to take care of it. Protectively, Addison placed her hands on her abdomen, conscious of the fact that there was someone inside of her. It was scary, of course, but magical.

"What is going on?" Addison heard Bizzy asked as she and Michael entered the room, confused.

"What's wrong, Addison?" her father took place in front of her and looked at her waiting for an answer.

Addison swallowed, unable to talk. She looked at Archer, who immediately went to sit beside her.

"We're waiting, Archer and Addison." Bizzy's voice was cold and unwelcoming for Addison. She thought it was better to stay silent.

"Addison. Come one." this time it was Archer who talked, gently.

She inhaled deeply, deciding to just rip the band-aid off. A few seconds, five short words and then it would be over. She could do it. She had to.

"I am having a baby."

There was a pregnant silent, that invested her like cold water and made her feel even more scared.

"Is it a joke? Because it isn't funny."

Addison didn't talk.

"Addison Adrienne Forbes Montgomery!" her mother exclaimed, still shocked enough to not show the anger she was feeling inside.

"Sorry." she whispered, tears in her eyes once again.

"Sorry? You're sorry?" Michael Montgomery yelled, causing Addison to wince.

"Calm down..."

"Archer, shut your mouth."

"It was an accident! She didn't mean to get pregnant!"

Bizzy glared at her son, the turned back to Addison. "What were you thinking?"

"I don't know. It just happened."

"It just happened?"

"I thought I was ready. It was stupid."

"You're not keeping it." Bizzy informed her daughter.

"You can't force her to have an abortion!"

"I didn't say abortion. The choice is hers, she can choose adoption. But I won't stand here watching my only daughter give up her studies and her career for a baby."

"But it's my baby." Addison weakly protested.

"You've just turned nineteen, young lady. Where do you think you can go with a baby? What about college, Addison?"

"I can be both. Both a mother and a college student."

"No you can't, Addison." the Captain said, rising to his feet. "If you want to have this baby, you have to know we won't give you any money. Not even a nickel. And you won't live here, that is for sure. You'll have to find a job, and a place to live, and study, and be a single mother – since I assume your little boyfriend isn't in the picture. Does it still sound appealing, Addison? Uh?"

Archer looked at his parents angrily, ready to defend his sister. "Legally, you can't force her to do anything."

"You're right." Michael answered him. "We can't. Your sister can raise her baby, if she wants, but not in this house and not with our money."

Bizzy, not having anything else to add, stood up to leave.

"Mother!"

"Don't, Archer. I have nothing to say. I have enough of your sister's stupidity. I'll see you later."

Addison bit her lip, trying not to cry. She didn't want her father to see her. Archer squeezed her hand and gave her a smile. He wanted to tell her she could do it anyway, but he knew Addison couldn't have a child without Bizzy and the Captain's financial support.

"You have plans for your future, Addison. What about med school, and becoming a surgeon?"

Addison answered defeated. "Alright, I'm okay with the adoption."

x

Addison woke up in the middle of the night feeling sharp pains on her abdomen. She glanced at her alarm clock. It was four am. It was too soon. She wasn't ready to give up on her son or daughter. She was hurting, both physically and emotionally.

"Archer!" she screamed, though knowing he wasn't there, clinging to her belly.

The door opened soon after her yelp. Bizzy burst into the room. She appeared different in her night gown and with messy hair. "Are you having contractions?"

"I don't know! I don't want to." Addison cried.

Bizzy put her hand on Addison's sweaty forehead. "It's okay. It's okay. Let's go to the hospital. Calm down." she did her best to have a soothing tone, but Addison couldn't stop crying.

"It's my baby, Bizzy."

"It's okay, Addison. You'll hold it for a while."

"I want to hold it forever."

Bizzy sighed. "Addison, are you changing your mind?"

"I never wanted this! I want to keep it. You made me choose this, you gave me no choice! Bizzy, help me! Please!"

"Get up. I need to get you to the hospital before you give birth here on this damn bed."

Addison cried for the whole drive, caressing her bump and talking to the baby through her sobs.

Bizzy kept glancing at her daughter as she drove, feeling the guilt rise. She knew she wouldn't give in, though. A baby wasn't in the picture for the future she wanted for Addison, although it hurt her to see her that distraught.

"My daughter is forty weeks pregnant, she's having contractions." she told the nurse when they arrived.

"How far apart are they?"

"Addison, honey, how far apart are they?"

"I don't know." she sobbed.

"Alright, we'll check. Come with me, sweetie, come on. Don't be scared."

"Do you want me to call Archer, Addison?"

She nodded. "Will he come?"

"I'm sure he'll be here as soon as he can."

Archer was in New York for college, but Bizzy knew he'd find the fastest way to see his sister.

"You're already seven centimeters dilated. You should be done in a few hours."

"Only a few hours?" Addison asked frantically. "Not more?"

The nurse looked at her. "You can't really predict these things. I'll check on you in an hour; you could still be dilated of seven centimeters, or more."

Addison nodded. She didn't want to give birth just yet, but she knew it was inevitable.

It lasted four hours. Four hours of contractions, of crying, of feelings her heart break. Her father didn't show up. Archer arrived just as she started to push.

"You can do this, Addison." Archer took her right hand; Bizzy was holding her left one. He kissed the top of her head. "Push and you'll see your baby, Addie."

And she pushed. It hurt her, deeply, both physically and emotionally, but she kept pushing.

"Alright, Addison, I can see the head, your baby is almost here."

With one last scream, Addison pushed out the newborn, her crying mixed with the baby's.

"It's a girl!"

"A girl, Addie..." Archer whispered, amazed.

Addison turned her face away, burying it in her brother's chest.

"Don't you want to hold her?" the doctor, or maybe a nurse, asked, not able to fully hide her surprise.

"Take it away." Addison said in a hoarse voice.

"She's not keeping her. She decided for adoption." Bizzy explained, earning herself a disgusted look from her son.

"Okay. If you don't want to hold her I'll bring her to the nursery, then. You can come to see her later, you can still change your mind."

Addison shook her head firmly. It was over. The baby was no longer hers.