A/n: Soooo, this is set in the near future. I warned you it wouldn't be about teenage pregnancy!

Thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter. Awkward Alex, I am so glad you gave this story another try and enjoyed it; I hope this chapter didn't disappoint. I really appreciate the feedback from all of you.

Also, I have a job and I'm starting university very soon, and I many not always be able to update as quickly as I have for Chapter 1, but I'll try my best, okay?

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Switched at Birth. You don't have to keep reminding me *pouts*

Again (It will probably be this way for the whole story, but I'll keep putting this reminder if you'd like):
Bold=sign language only
"Bold in quotation marks"=sign and spoken
"Just quotes"=only speaking


The Voice Within

Chapter 1

'If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile,
the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand' - Unknown


5 years & 10 months later...

Ty was sitting at his usual table in the small family-owned diner that he came to every Wednesday around 1 for lunch, after the lunch rush, when he saw...

Ty sat up straighter from his slouched position in the plastic chair. He saw a familiar, if a bit older, curly brunette. She was across the street and down the road a bit.

He watched her through the window of the art supply store she was in. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her in shock.

She looked happy. He could see her profile as she talked and laughed with the cashier, whom she seemed familiar with. Bay seemed to see something out of the window, which made her pick up a cloth tote laying on the counter and exiting the shop. Ty ducked instinctually, fearing that she'd seen him. He held his breath as she crossed to his side of the street and headed toward the small diner Ty was at. He worried for nothing, because she stopped before reaching the diner. Ty straightened back up.

Bay had stopped to meet a red headed man whose back was to Ty and who was holding a young child's hand. Bay started gesturing wildly- wait, no, she was signing. It had been awhile since he'd seen sign, ever since he'd lost touch with Daphne and Regina. Well, they had been close to Bay, and he hadn't wanted to risk a run-in.

The kid was signing back and the man soon joined in. Bay signed something else before the man leaned in gave Bay a quick kiss on the lips, and another kiss on the cheek. Ty didn't really know how to feel about that. He wasn't really jealous, it had been almost six years, and he hadn't exactly been a monk. He was probably feeling just that normal uncomfortable sense at seeing his ex with someone else.

The trio turned around and headed back up the sidewalk, approaching the diner. Bay was holding hands with the man. Ty scanned his face thoughtfully. It looked like Daphne's friend- Eddie- Emery- no Emmett! What, were they like together now or something? And who was the kid-?

His eyes turned to the boy who was walking in front of the other two. He had black hair and a slightly similar nose to Ty himself. Shit, no way no freaking way.

Ty stood up quickly and called the waitress over to ask for the bill, ready to get the hell out of that diner. He saw the trio stop just short of the diner door. Ty pulled down his Royals cap lower over his eyes as the waitress brought his check. He nearly snatched it out of the startled woman's hands and strode purposefully to the cashier up front, right by the hostess' stand. He made sure to keep his back to the door as he heard the tinkle of the bells announcing the entrance of a customer. Ty held his breath as he saw the three walk in out of the corner of his eye.

Ty accepted his change from the woman who smiled and said kindly, "Have a nice day, dear," for she knew he was one of her regulars. Ty nodded and turned to leave trying to stay turned away from the three who were being walked to a booth with a window view by a hostess. Ty pulled open the glass door and made sure not to walk in front of the window, but taking off in the opposite direction- headed to a nearby park.

So Bay had kept it, him, instead of putting it- him, up for adoption. The boy looked far more like Bay than himself. When Ty had found out 6 years ago that his girlfriend was pregnant, it had seemed surreal and a part of him could never picture the actual child after all these years. And now he seemed all too tangible. Why was he using sign language, was his son deaf? Or had he learned because Emmett was pretending Ty's kid was his? Did the boy call him dad? What was his son's name? Ty's heart ached at the thought that he didn't even know what to call his own son.

Ty didn't know how he could possibly change that. And his son was all he could think about as he crossed the park, full of joyful playing kids, to his car.


Bay chatted amicably with Jillian, the co-owner of her favourite local art supply. She spotted a flash of red and black hair across the street, headed her way.

She thanked Jill for ordering a few certain brushes as well as ordering a specific shade of blue that she had needed. And then she grabbed her purchases before leaving the shop.

Bay smiled as she saw Emmett and Sammy walking on the opposite side of the street. Emmett was hanging on to the 5 year-old's hand to make sure that he didn't dart out into the street. Sam was signing quickly with his free hand and talking just as fast. He was talking non-stop to Emmett who nodded absentmindedly time to time, sometimes adding his input as well. She grinned at her unlikely family. Though it hadn't seemed like it at the time: getting pregnant with Sammy was a blessing. She couldn't imagine her life without him. And Emmett was amazing with Sam. The two of them made up her world.

Bay swiftly crossed the street to get to her two boys. Emmett noticed her first and nudged little Sammy and pointed to Bay as they met in the middle of the sidewalk.

"So, I see you two got a lot of shopping done," Bay stated sarcastically in sign and with her voice. Neither had a shopping bag to speak of.

"Well, I couldn't decide on which backpack I wanted cuz there are so many, mom! And dad said that we could go play in the park while we waited for-"

Actually, interrupted Emmett trying to look sternly at his son, though Bay say his eyes twinkling with amusement. I said that we would find mom and then maybe we could go the park after we get some school supplies. Sam rolled his eyes, eyes that were the exact same shade as his mother's at his dad's technicalities.

"Do we have to shop more?" Sam whined to his parents. He hated shopping it was SO boring! Except for the back packs, but his mom was going to make him choose just one when he wanted like five different colours and characters!

"Let's get some food and then after we get what's on your school list maybe we can go to the park," Sam huffed, but agreed because he was hungry! "Have fun?" Bay asked her husband.

Yeah, tons, he rolled his eyes much like Sam had just done. Bay smiled at the habit those two shared. Emmett leaned in and kissed her quickly on the lips. Sam stuck out his tongue.

"Ewww, gross, dad!" Emmett smirked at his son, and kissed his wife's cheek. This earned them another grossed-out face.

"Let's go get some lunch," Bay stated shaking her head at their antics. She linked hands with Emmett as their son rushed ahead of them to this small diner they'd been to a few times.


It wasn't until past five in the evening that the small family entered the house in a flurry of activity.

"Go to you room, Sam, and unpack all you school supplies before dinner-"

"Is Aunt Daphne still coming for dinner?" He asked excitedly.

Yes, Emmett answered, but you have to do as your mom says or you won't get to see her, he warned the boy. Without further ado Sam sprinted up the stairs to his room.

Bay and Emmett went to work on their dinner of homemade pizzas, which ended in more flour being on the two of them then on the crust. They made a supreme and a cheese pizza. The cheese was for Daphne, who was still a scarred vegetarian, and for Sammy, who was five and refused to eat pizza with toppings.

Bay had just put in the pizzas and set the timer when she saw the doorbell flash and heard the chime a second later.

Emmett went to answer the door, Bay hard on his heels.

"Hey, guys, it's so good to see you!" she then hugged them each in turn. "Now where is my adorably mischievous nephew?" Daphne asked as she walked further in the house.

"I'm here" exclaimed Sammy as he darted into the room, and ran up to Daphne, who caught him up in her embrace.

"Wow, you are getting sooo big," Daphne said after she set the five year old down.

"Mom and Dad say they every time one of them picks me up too," Sammy told her as he walked Daphne to the table.

"Maybe, but you know that I'm a lot stronger than your dad," she said as she started flexing her imaginary muscles, making Sam giggle uncontrollably.

Hey! Emmett said with an outraged look on his face.

"It's okay, baby, I still love you even if my female best friend could totally beat you up," Bay teased.

I would only lose because I won't hurt a girl, Emmett pouted.

"Sure, sure, that's why you would lose," Daphne said before winking at Sammy who was trying to stifle his giggles to avoid hurting his dad's feelings.

Bay heard the timer ringing in the other room, "The pizza's are done," she told them. "Emmett and Sam set the table and I'll get the pizzas."

"I'll help you, Bay," Daphne volunteered as she followed Bay into the small kitchen.

"Is it weird being back here?" asked Bay as she turned off the beeping and flashing timer and pulled out an oven mitt.

The small family was living in the Kinnish's guest house for a year before they moved to their house. They were living there to save up money as it was Emmett's first year at his job, which was teaching photography and history at the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe (about a 30 minute drive from Mission Hills, which wasn't that bad of a drive, but it was a commute none-the-less). They were saving up money for a down payment on a house in Olathe or Lenexa so that they could be closer to Emmett's job.

"It is a bit weird," Daphne answered as she got out the pizza cutter and started cutting up the pizza pies. "But not in a bad way or anything. I mean, this is kinda your house too. This is where we became friends and where you and Emmett became friends. There's good and not-so-good memories here."

Bay supposed that Daphne was right to some extent, and I mean, sure, it technically belonged to her parents.

"So, how's school going?" Bay asked before they each picked up a pizza and carried it to the set table were Emmett and Sammy were arm-wrestling and Emmett was faking a spectacular loss to the five year old. Bay sighed in mock annoyance while Daphne chuckled at them, making Sam look up and Emmett to as well. Sam was smiling triumphantly while Emmett grinned sheepishly at his wife and best friend. The boys stopped their contest when they saw the food being carried in.

Once they were settled down and everyone was happily eating their own preferred pizza , then Daphne answered Bay's earlier question.

"School's going great," Daphne said. "I know this is what I want to do; help people, but I still have four more years left until I can actually help anyone," she groused.

I know it's frustrating now, Daph, Emmett said, but you're going to be the best therapist, he assured her.

"Totally," agreed Bay, "And if you every need a translator than I'm there for you." Bay was an artist, and not a horrible one. She'd been in a lot of local art shows and had sold quite a few paintings (not all of them were to her parents' friends either). She was a fairly well known artist locally. But of course she still had a side job, well two, actually, she worked on the side as an ASL interpreter and she also wrote closed-captions for TV shows.

"Thanks, guys," Daphne said, smiling at her friends.

"I wanna help you too, Aunt Daphne!" exclaimed Sammy, feeling left out and wanting to help her as well.

"Of course, Sammy, if I ever need someone to practice some questions on, then you'll be first on the list," she assured him. Sam nodded happily that he could help her, before taking a big bite of his cheese pizza, making his cheeks puffed out.

And we'll all be there with all the parents to see you walk down that hill, Emmett stated.

"Of course you'll be there, I'd kick all of your butts if you didn't come!" Daphne stated playfully. She was going to the University of Kansas, and though she had earned her Bachelor's degree, she had elected not to walk at graduation until she graduated with her doctorate in psychology with an emphasis in child psychology.

"Are you ready for Kindergarten?" Daphne asked her godson, effectively changing the subject. Dinner passed by with pleasant conversation between the three friends and a talkative five-year-old. By the time Daphne went home it was dark and time for Sam to go to bed.

"Dad, can you tell me a story tonight?" asked Sam eagerly. Emmett hesitated.

It's your mom's turn, don't you want her-

"It's fine, Emmett," Bay said, rolling her eyes at his worry, but still finding it kind of sweet at the same time.

"See, she's fine with it, please?" Sam pouting, drawing out the last syllable of 'please', and used his puppy-dog eyes that he knew reminded his dad of mom's.

Fine, fine, Emmett conceded, wipe off that puppy look before your face sticks like that. Sam grinned and his face brightened up immediately.

He quickly signed Thanks, Dad! Before giving him a hug and racing upstairs to his temporary room to get ready for bed.

"He loves your stories," Bay told Emmett unnecessarily; as she rinsed off the dinner dishes, and placed them in the dishwasher. But it was true nonetheless. Emmett had been telling stories to Sam far before he could understand talking or sign. Even before he could walk. Bay hadn't ever seen the stories, she didn't want to intrude, though neither would probably mind her presence.

That's because they always star a beautiful brunette with big brown eyes and a strange similarity to my wife. Emmett said, wrapping his arms around his wife.

"Smooth," stated Bay sarcastically, though she couldn't deny that her heartbeat didn't speed up. After four years of being together (romantically)- he still managed to do that to her

Emmett grinned impishly at her and responded by placing warm kisses along her neck. She shivered as his breath ghosted over her ear. She quickly pulled away.

"We can finish this," she gave him a quickly kiss on the lips, "after you're done telling our son a story, or we'll never hear the end of it."

Fine, Emmett pouted, but you'll owe me for lost time.

"Put it on my tab," Bay said, giving him one more lingering kiss before shooing him up the stairs.

Alright, I'll hold you to that, Emmett said, grinning, before heading upstairs.

Bay smiled after him, wondering how on Earth she was so lucky to have an amazing husband and such a great kid. She wished that she could go back in time and tell that scared sixteen year old who was pacing in front of her boyfriend's house that it was all going to be okay. Not that past-Bay would believe future-Bay, because being pregnant that young is not really that great of an accomplishment.

But Bay was thankful, so thankful that she had Sam, and that she grew so close to both the boy she would come to fall in love with and marry as well as her almost-sister, whom she was switched at birth with.

Emmett walked into their bedroom as Bay sat simply thinking over all of her wonderful blessings and sketching absent-mindedly. She looked up as he entered.

He loved the story, as always, and he's always asking for more. That ornery kid, trying to use his cuteness for more story time…

I love you, Bay signed suddenly as he was rambling. You know that, don't you?

Of course, Emmett signed. I mean how could you not love this, he gestured to his body, his patented smirk in place.

"Way to ruin a moment, James Dean," Bay huffed. Emmett kneeled on the edge of the bed.

You know I love you too, he said, looking at her seriously.

Well, yeah, how could you not love, Bay gestured to herself mockingly, this?

Damn right, Emmett answered before leaning over and kissing his wife with the same amount of passion and love that was in their first kiss.


A/n 2: Ty left in early October- when Bay was about 1 1/2 months along. Samuel John Kinnish just had his 5 year old birthday in June. Also to make this clear to you guys: Emmett and Bay have been together-together for four years. After two Emmett proposed and they've been married for a year and a half.

Also, there really is a Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe, KS.

I liked this chapter with gooey fluff. Because some drama is coming this family's way. And aren't they just too cute of a family? I think so... But that's partially because cute little Sammy is mine!

On a side note (unrelated to Switched at Birth): I just happened to FINALLY got a laptop that I've been waiting for, for too many years. So, yeah, I'm overjoyed and had to share that tidbit with you lovely people.

Anyways, please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter!