Can I say wow? You guys never cease to amaze me. By the time I got back from film class not even 4 hours later, I had 239 unread emails. By the time I finished sorting out the reviews and reading them and moving them into the folder I have for them I had 83 review. 4 & half hours and I had 83 reviews. And at moment I have 92 reviews, so wow thanks! And I'm sooooo sorry about the underlining thing. I forgot that I had to edit the chapters in the document editor before posting them because ff automatically underlines and italicizes in weird places. Not uploaidng anything in 4 weeks kinda did that too me. Anyway, I hope chapter 2 meets your standards.


Chapter 2:

Shane woke me up out of my day dream, or should I say nightmare, to tell me we were at his parents. It had never seemed so unwelcoming before Nicky took to hating my unborn child. That had been two weeks ago already and it was painful to think about. I was surprised to find Nicky out of her room when we entered the house as Mrs. Grey was imposing her grounding very seriously.

"Nicky, why aren't you in your room?" Shane asked cautiously. Nicky gave him a blank look and returned her attention to her TV show. "Nicole." Shane stressed her name. I saw her flinch slightly.

"Mom ungrounded me." She said simply.

Shane scoffed. "I find that hard to believe. Does that mean you're going to apologize now?"

She smirked. "Nope." Her eyes never left the TV in front of her.

"Then why did Mom unground you?" He demanded, stepping in front of her view.

Now annoyed, Nicky looked up at him with that same blank look. Only her voice gave away her irritation. "She realized it was a loosing battle. I'm not going to apologize for having an opinion."

"You don't have an opinion." Shane replied, slightly confused. "That's the point. You have yet to properly articulate to me what your problem with my wife being pregnant is."

"Oooh. Shane's using big fancy words. Must be getting them from your collegiate wife, huh?" Nicky teased, side stepping the question.

"Nicky." Shane was loosing his patience. For the last two weeks, not only had Nicky refused to apologize, she also refused to explain herself.

"Shane…" I sighed, placing my hand on his arm. My other hand was resting unconsciously on my stomach. "Come on. Obviously Nicky's still not ready to share why she hates me and the baby so much. It's not worth getting worked up over. You know she's as stubborn as you are." I tried to placate him.

For a moment, uncertainty crossed Nicky's features, but she said nothing. "Fine. I really thought you'd be ecstatic to be an aunt, Nix." Shane sighed sadly and followed me out of the room.

Just before we exited, Nicky softly exclaimed, "Shay,"

Shane paused and waited for her to continue, but she didn't. He sighed and left again. I glanced back at Nicky once more before heading upstairs as well. Shane didn't see the look on her face, but I had.

Shane was fuming, pacing the bedroom as he mouthed off about his sister. "Where does she get off? Honestly, what is her problem?"

Though his question was rhetorical, I couldn't help but answer. "Neglect, Shane." I said softly.

Shane stopped dead in his tracks and looked back at me quickly. "What?" He asked slightly confused.

"She's feeling neglected. It's easy to juggle your time between your wife who is at school and your siblings you still live with. But, once there's a baby involved… you're going to be so preoccupied with the baby you won't have much time for her. And you'll be moving out for good because it won't just be you and me anymore."

"Wha- where did you get that from?" He asked thoroughly confused.

I scoffed and headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed while still speaking. "It was easy to read her face when I said she hated me. She doesn't. She resents me. Just like she did two years ago. I'm taking her brother away. And she resents the baby even more because that's not something that's ever going to change. Even if, God forbid, you and I split, you'll always have the baby in your life as your main priority." I paused, trying to keep my emotions at bay as I reentered the bedroom. "And when she called you Shay… she just misses you." I whispered softly.

"She's being an immature selfish brat." Shane argued.

I sighed. "Maybe." I agreed still speaking softly.

While Shane went into the bathroom to get ready, I curled up on the bed with Jacob. "Jake, off the bed." Shane scolded the dog when he came back.

"Leave him. You're going to alienate our dog, now, too." I teased, laying my head on Jacob's back and petting his soft curls.

Shane rolled his eyes at me. "I'm going to take a shower." He mumbled, kissing me gently.

"Okay." I was asleep before he came back, though my mind was wandering again.

With all of the stress that is school and Shane's career, I had been hoping for the full support of our families. Instead, I ostracized my sister-in-law by taking her brother from her. I didn't want Shane's full attention. I was happy he was spending so much time with his family. Ever since Nicky and I had come to understand one another and became friends, eventually sisters, I was always careful to make sure I didn't monopolize Shane's time. I didn't want her to hate me again. Instead, by the grace of God, I did anyway. Because now she won't even speak to me and that puts a rift between brother and sister.

Sleep came quickly, but not easily. My dreams were tormented by thoughts of Nicky hating her niece or nephew and it broke my heart. I woke up many times, thankful for Shane's arms holding me tightly.

The next morning, I met up with Anastasia and Caitlyn for breakfast. We were at a small café discussing wedding plans. Caitlyn seemed really uncomfortable, but I wasn't sure why. Anastasia had been all too excited to finally sit down and start planning her July wedding.

"Hmm… I can't decide." Anastasia pouted.

Caitlyn and I sighed. "Fine, let's make a pro and con list for each okay?" I offered, taking her notebook from her. "Pro's of an 'American' wedding?"

"Easier." Anastasia sighed. "Cheaper for Jason and me." Caitlyn and I shot her a look. "Okay, that doesn't matter much, but still." She argued slightly. "It will be more us and not just me."

"Okay, cons of an American wedding?" Caitlyn asked.

Anastasia sighed, "My family will be highly disappointed for not getting a traditional Serbian wedding. They hate America almost as much as they hate Kosovo for separating."

"Pro's of traditional Serbian wedding?" I asked.

A small smile found its way to her face. "It'll be beautiful." Her voice suddenly had a slight accent to it as she was no doubt thinking back to weddings she'd attended in Serbia herself. "My family will be happy." She added somberly. "But it's not fair to Jason's family." She sighed again.

"I think you should just find a way to compromise and make it both. Make it unique. I mean, you already don't fit your normal Serbian stereotype. You look remarkably Irish for being Serbian." Caitlyn commented.

Anastasia chuckled at that. "I do, don't I? I think there's some Irish in the Dragomir line. Like, a tiny, itty bitty part that my genes pulled out." She turned serious again, though, thinking about what Caitlyn suggested. "You're right. I can compromise them. I mean, I am going to be a celebrity's wife. I can do as I please. Thanks, Cait." Her tone had become teasing toward the end, ensuring she wasn't serious.

Caitlyn just shrugged nonchalantly. I giggled. "Okay, now's the bigger question." I said sobering up slightly. "Where?"

Anastasia groaned and dropped her head into her hands. "I don't know. I want to have it here, but Serbia can be just so, beautiful…" She sighed, thinking of her beautiful native country.

"Well, we've seen pictures of the Cvetojevics' home and of the Dragomir's home. They're pretty big. You could easily house guests there." I shrugged. "And I think an overseas wedding might keep a lot of the press away. As well as make your family a little happier about the compromises."

Anastasia thought for a bit longer. "Hmmm… it's a possibility. Otherwise I have to rent out a hotel or two for both our families to come here." She laughed softly.

"So, does this mean we're going to Serbia this summer?" Caitlyn asked tentatively.

The smile that broke across Anastasia's face was enormous. "I think it does. Of course, that's if Jason and Mrs. Bishop don't mind. I mean, it's her first wedding, and all. Jason's older sister hasn't gotten married yet-"

I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Stas, it's your wedding. Remember that. Only your opinion and Jason's opinion matters. Not ours, not his parents, not your parents, no one else but the two of you."

She took a deep calming breath. "I know. I just don't want to be that horrible daughter-in-law."

"Well, she needs to not be a horrible mother-in-law. Mrs. Grey is amazing, I got lucky. Mrs. Bishop will be fine. And if she's not, talk to Mrs. Grey. She'll help make her back off." I promised.

"Okay, let's talk more wedding later. It's giving me a headache. Let's talk baby, now." Anastasia changed the subject. "How is Baby Grey?"

"Perfectly fine." I smiled resting my hand on my stomach. "I can't wait. I really can't. 4 months to go. I can hardly believe it."

Caitlyn and Anastasia each placed a hand on my stomach as well. "I know. We're going to be aunts!" Caitlyn cooed.

"I'm glad someone's happy about that." I said softly, thinking of Nicky.

Caitlyn sighed, immediately apologetic. "She'll come around, I'm sure. No one can resist a new born." She promised.

"I hope so. I hate the looks my uncle's wife gives me when I see them, I'd hate for Nicky to ever do that to my little one." I sighed, thinking of how my aunt often looks down on me because of my father.

Anastasia took my hands in hers, forcing me to look at her. "Even if she does, it won't matter, Mitchie. You'll always have Cait and myself to fill that gap. Always. That baby will never feel unloved between all of their aunts and uncles that aren't even biologically related. And then there's Kevin, and hopefully Nicky, but if not, her loss."

"I know. I don't know who to pick as godparents." I changed the subject slightly.

"I was Maid of Honor, I'm perfectly content with whatever you choose." Caitlyn assured me.

I smiled at her. "That's good. Cause if the baby is born on your birthday, Stas, I really want you to be their god mother." Anastasia got really teary eyed and hugged me.

"What about the boys?" Caitlyn asked, smiling at us.

I shrugged. "Well, we were thinking Jason because of Justin, if it's a boy, but I was also leaning toward Kevin because he's been such a great brother while Shane was gone. And then, there's Nate…"

"I'm officially taking my boyfriend's name out of the drawing!" Caitlyn replied, slightly horrified by the thought of trusting Nate with a baby. "I love him and all, but I think it would overwhelm him."

I shrugged again, "I don't know, Cait. He seems to be really keen on the idea of you two having kids." I laughed softly to myself, "Besides he could use the practice in handling a baby." I teased.

Caitlyn flushed red almost instantly. "N-not yet, he doesn't!" She stuttered.

Anastasia laughed whole heartedly. "It's okay, Cait. You can be the one to wait a while to get married. Mitchie and I have both rushed it a bit. Feel free to take forever if you wish."

A pained look crossed her features, but we weren't sure why. I just shrugged and changed the subject. "Back to wedding stuff, that's why we're here!"

Anastasia groaned slightly. "Yeah, yeah. Well, I love you both, and I can't possibly pick between you for Maid of Honor… so I'm going to ask Jason's sister Sophia. Then it will be you two and E. And my cousin Natasa is going to be the flower girl." I dutifully scribbled everything down as she said it.

"Sounds good. Who's Jason going to choose?" Caitlyn asked, peering over my shoulder at what was being written down so far.

Anastasia thought for a moment before answering. "John is going to be his best man, since he can't choose either. And Shane and Nate, obviously, and I think his cousin Brian. We agreed on my cousin Petar is going to be the ring bearer."

"We didn't have those." I said thoughtfully. "We just had the bridesmaids and groomsmen."

Smirking at Caitlyn, Anastasia shrugged. "Well, maybe by the time Cait and Nate get married the little one will be able to walk." Caitlyn glared in response.

"Oh, that'd be adorable." I replied, rubbing my stomach.

"Who said we'd take that long to get married? That'd be at least 3 or 4 years before they'd be old enough to walk, much less be able to walk in a straight line down an altar." Caitlyn replied, glaring slightly still.

"Oh, sorry, Cait." Anastasia apologized. "Didn't mean to offend you or anything."

Caitlyn sighed. "It's fine. I'm just… sensitive about all of the baby and wedding stuff. He's standing on the edge waiting to dive in and I'm as far back as I can possible be from it holding on for dear life."

I rubbed her arm soothingly. There wasn't much we could say to her to make her feel better.

"I can't believe I'm getting married in college." Anastasia sighed, burying her face in her hands. "Am I insane?" She asked.

"Am I?" I retorted.

She laughed slightly. "You and Shane are like… Mickey Mouse and Minnie. You're meant to be together. That's why your pregnant. Because it's just meant to be. I don't know about me and Jason. We haven't been together as long as you guys have."

"By six months, Stas." Caitlyn laughed. "We've been with Nate and Shane since August of 08. You've been with Jason since February of 09. There's not that much of a time difference. Stop worry. If your heart is telling you this is right, don't worry about how insane you might think you're being."

"You're right. I'm still not having kids any time, soon. We'll leave that to Mitchie and Shane." Anastasia smiled.

"Oh, please, this ones going to have a good three years at least on all of their siblings." I replied, having already discussed that with Shane.

"Uh huh. Riiiiiiight. Cause Shane can totally keep his… hands… to himself." Anastasia smirked.

"So, have you thought of any themes for the wedding?" I asked, blushing profusely at her implications.

Anastasia and Caitlyn laughed, but went back to wedding planning anyway.

I was thoroughly happy for Jason and Anastasia, but I couldn't help but feel like Caitlyn was hiding something from me. She seemed entirely too uptight about the Janastasiawedding. Yet, I couldn't place my finger on it so I simply let it go. I wasn't going to concern myself with stress things that I might just be imagining. Stress is bad for the baby and Shane would lecture me if he knew I was thinking such things.

My main priorities was my baby and my school work. Sadly, my marriage came second to both.


I'm off to bed now. Hopefully I'll have more assume reviews when I wake up? Please? I love you guys! =) Oh, and I fixed the first chapter for anyone who wants to reread it because they were distracted by the horrid underlining.