Chapter 2

The next morning, Bridget was woken by the sun's rays coming through the living room window. She opened her eyes and looked at the clock hanging on the wall: 7:00. She stood up, careful not to wake Soda, and stretched before going into the kitchen to fix a pot of coffee. She had never been much of a coffee drinker before moving to her dad's, but he got her hooked.

She poured herself a cup and took a sip, smiling as the hot liquid made its way down her throat. She put it down and opened the refrigerator to see what she could make for breakfast. She took out the eggs and jam. The jam she placed on the table; the eggs she cracked into a frying pan and started scrambling. Then she went through the cabinets looking for bread. After finding it, she placed pieces into the toaster until she had enough for the four of them. When everything was cooked, she placed it on four plates and put them on the table. She went to the fridge to get the juice.

"Mommy," Melody said as Bee was putting the last glass of juice on the table.

"In here, honey." Melody was standing in the doorway, smiling. "Come sit and eat." She climbed onto a chair and sat on her knees so she could reach the table. Bridget sat down beside her and started eating.

Shortly after, she heard movement in the living room. A moment later, a yawning Soda came into the kitchen. "Man, you two are early risers," he said, kissing them both on the cheek.

"Well, I'm used to being up early now. Melly never sleeps long." Melly smiled guiltily. Soda grinned and sat down next to her.

"Greg still sleeping?"

"Yup. Unlike us, he's a late sleeper. We'll have to go wake him up after we're done eating," Bee said to her daughter, who smiled with a mouthful. Both Bridget and Soda laughed.

"You visiting your mom today?"

"Yeah, let's see how they handle my homecoming."

"Two-Bit's gonna flip."

"Probably, but if he didn't, then he wouldn't be Two-Bit now, would he?"

"I guess not."

"Okay, honey, as soon as I do the dishes, we'll go get ready and visit Nana and Uncle."

"Don't worry 'bout the dishes. I'll do 'em," Soda said.

"You sure?"

"Go get ready."

"Alright," she said smiling. "C'mon Mel." They both got up and headed upstairs, stopping at Greg's door. Bridget opened it and motioned to Melody to go in.

She ran and jumped on the bed, yelling, "Greg, Greg! Wake up! It's morning!"

He rolled over onto is back and pulled the little girl down on top of him. "What're you doin' up so early?" he said.

"Eating. Mommy made food."

"Oh, is that right? I didn't know Mommy could cook." Bridget stuck her tongue out at him.

"There's scrambled eggs and toast on the table. Me and her are gonna go visit my mom and Two-Bit."

"You want me to come?"

"No, I think I gotta do this on my own. Walk around town if you want. Just be careful. I don't know what people will take you as."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

She nodded. "Can you watch her for, like, ten minutes, so I can go shower?"

"Yeah, it's about time. You were starting to smell." She made a face at him and walked out, going to the bathroom to shower.

When done, she dried off and put her bathrobe on. She went back to Greg's room to get Melody. "Okay, c'mon hun. Bath time."

They walked into the bathroom and Bridget turned on the water. Melody undressed and climbed in. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go get your toys."

Bridget went back to their room and grabbed a few bath toys, as well as her makeup bag, hairbrush, and toothbrush.

She went into the bathroom and put the toys in the tub with her daughter. Then she went over to the sink to brush her teeth. She brushed her hair and clipped it back. Then she went on to do her makeup.

"Alright, huh, time to finish up." She pulled the plug on the drain and switched the shower on so Melody could rinse off. She turned the water off and held out a towel for her. She then picked up the dripping girl and went back to their room.

Bridget placed her on the bed and went over to the bureau, taking out underwear, red tights, a jean skirt, and a red long-sleeved shirt. She got her daughter dressed and her hair done in braids before going to work on herself.

She took out a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt, putting them on, before slipping on her socks and shoes. She put Melody's Mary Jane's on and they went downstairs.

"We're off," Bridget said to the two guys.

"Okay. Good luck," Soda said.

"Thanks, I'm gonna need it."

"Bye Uncle Soda and Greg," Melody said.

"Bye sweetie."

They stepped outside and Bridget took Melody's hand. Her old house wasn't that far away, just a few blocks. They began walking.

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When they reached the house, they stood outside on the sidewalk for a moment, all the nervousness returning to Bridget.

"C'mon Mommy," Melody said after a while. She smiled at her daughter's eagerness. They walked up the steps and Bridget knocked on the door.

"Keith, can you get that?" she heard from inside. Good, Bridget thought, her mother was home.

Two-Bit was mumbling to himself as he opened the door. "Bridget!" he said shocked and pulled her into a bear hug.

"Hey Two-Bit. Can we come in?" she said, grinning.

He laughed. "Of course," he said, ushering them inside. "Who's the kid? I knew you always liked 'em, but that's no reason to be stealing 'em off the street," he joked.

"Two-Bit, this is your niece, Melody."

His jaw dropped. "My, my what?"

"Your niece," she said more unsurely.

"You had a kid and didn't tell me!" he yelled angrily, finally over his initial shock.

"Please calm down and let me explain."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

"Keith, c'mon!"

"You got knocked up and didn't let anyone know!"

"Mom wouldn't let me!" she yelled back, finally getting angry.

"What?"

She took a deep breath, calming herself down. "That's why I moved to Dad's. Me and Tim got a little careless and I got pregnant. Mom didn't want me to tell anyone. She made me break up with Tim and shipped me off to Dad's on the next train there."

"Whoa," he said, sinking down onto the couch.

"I know," she said, sitting next to him. Mel sat in the armchair across from them.

"Why didn't you tell me anyway?"

"I didn't want you to hate Mom for sending me away. You were all she had left."

He sighed and pulled his sister into a tight hug. When he pulled away, he looked over at his niece. "Should've known she was a Shepard. Look at her."

"I know. She looks just like him."

"Come over here," he said to Melody. She went over and he lifted her onto his lap. "So I guess I'm your Uncle Two-Bit."

"I know," she said.

"How do you know?"

"Mommy showed me pictures." He looked over at Bridget and she shrugged.

"Keith, what was all the yelling about?" Mrs. Matthews asked, coming into the living room. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Hi Mom," Bridget said.

"B-Bridget, what are you doing here?"

"I came for a visit. Thought you might like to meet your granddaughter."

The older woman's eyes fell on the youngest one. "Hi Nana," she said.

"What's your name, sweetie?" she asked.

"Melody Jane Shepard."

Mrs. Matthews looked at her daughter. Bridget averted her eyes.

"How could you not tell me?" Two-Bit said calmly and seriously.

"Honey, Nana's got some chocolate chip cookies on the table. Why don't you go get one."

"Okay." Melody got off her uncle's lap and disappeared.

"Now, Keith…"

"No, don't 'Keith' me! How could you not let her tell me?" he said, getting angry.

"It wasn't the right time. I didn't have time to help her raise a baby, and I knew her and Timothy couldn't raise her."

"But how could you not tell me! This is my sister and niece we're talking about!"

"If others knew, it would've been harder for her to leave."

"Actually, other people did know," Bridget chimed in. Her family looked at her. "I told Soda before I left and he told Pony a few months after."

"I told you not to tell anyone!" her mother yelled.

"I couldn't not tell anyone! It was hard enough lying to Two-Bit and Tim. I couldn't lie to Soda too. He's my best friend. I had to tell him if I couldn't tell the others."

Her mother shook her head. "I can't believe you disobeyed me."

"Mom, I wouldn't have had to disobey you if you hadn't decided to ship me off to be someone else's burden! If you would've just let me stay, this conversation wouldn't be happening right now!"

Mrs. Matthews placed her fingers to her temples and closed her eyes. "Bridget, I only did what I thought was right."

"But that wasn't necessarily right for me. As much as I enjoyed Dad's, I much rather would've been here with you guys, the gang…Tim."

The older woman pulled her to her in an embrace. "I'm glad you're home, darling."

Bridget smiled and leaned into her mother. "And Keith, I'm sorry for not telling you." She opened one of her arms, welcoming him to join in. He was reluctant at first, but soon gave in.

"Ain't this one hell of a family reunion," he mumbled. The others laughed.

"Mommy, can I come back in yet?" a frightened Melody asked from the doorway.

"Of course, honey. Come here." She ran to her mother's arms and Bee lifted her up.

"How 'bout we all go have some milk and cookies?" the eldest said. The rest smiled and they went into the kitchen. They sat down at the table in front of a plate of cookies and glasses of milk.

"So how old are you, Melody?" Mrs. Matthews asked.

"Tree," she answered, dipping her cookie into the milk.

"Three? Wow, you're getting old. Pretty soon you'll be in school."

Melody looked at her mother. "I not that old, right, Mommy?" she said in a knowing tone.

"Right babe." Two-Bit laughed at the look on his niece's face. She smiled, proud of herself.

"So where are you staying?"

"Soda's. My friend, Greg, came with us, so he's staying in a room there, too."

"Are you seeing this, friend?"

Bridget shook her head quickly. "We're just friends. Two of my other friends were supposed to come, but they had things to do, so they'll be here next week."

"Lemme guess. Bella and Maria?" Two-Bit said. His sister nodded.

"How do you know her friends' names?" their mother asked.

"We kept in touch."

"Yeah, we wrote letters and talked on the phone."

"Which is why I'm surprised you've been able to keep this daughter of yours a secret from me for so long."

"Guess I just got used to it. After a while, I didn't have to remind myself not to bring her up. It just sorta registered who I could and couldn't talk to after awhile."

"Are you back for good?"

"I don't know. I haven't really decided. I still have some stuff back at Dad's."

"What'll make you change your mind?"

"Um, I guess it depends how everything goes here."

"Oh, everything here will go fine. You better call those friends and tell 'em to bring the rest of your stuff."

Bridget laughed. "Easier said than done. I gotta wait for everyone's reaction before I decide."

"They'll all be…Oh," he said, realization dawning on him. "Tim?"

She nodded slowly. "Tim."

"He'll get used to it. It'll take him some time, but he'll eventually get used to the idea of being a father," their mother piped in.

"I hope so."

"Why don't you two stay for dinner?" her mother said, changing the subject. "I'm sure Greg and Soda can manage on their own."

"All right. I just gotta call them and let them know."

"Go ahead. You know where the phone is, right? Or have you forgotten in the years being away?" Two-Bit joked.

"I think I can manage to find it," Bee said, smiling. It felt good to be joking around with her brother again. She just hoped she'd be here for it to continue.

She walked out to the hall and called Soda from the phone, which was right where she remembered it being.

"Hey Soda," she said when he answered. "We won't be home for a while. We're staying for dinner." She was silent as she waited for his response. "Okay, see you later." She hung up and went back to the kitchen.

"So what're we havin'?" Two-Bit asked.

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After a meal of chicken and potatoes, and much conversation, it was time for Bridget and Melody to return to Soda's. The youngest had already been sleeping in her mother's arms while they were in the living room talking.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride? Keith can drive you," Mrs. Matthews was saying.

"No, I can manage."

"You sure? You never know who's going to be out on the streets at this time."

"I'm sure. We'll be fine," Bridget assured her worried mother. "You're coming to Soda's in the morning, right?"

"I'll be there," Two-Bit said. "Dal's gonna blow when he sees you with a kid."

She laughed. "I know. Darry, too."

"See ya, sis." He kissed her cheek and then Melody's head.

"Bye Big Brother. Good bye, Mom."

"Bye sweetie." She kissed both girls on the head, and, with that, they left.