Chapter 7

It had been a month since Maddy had moved in. She was 20 weeks, and absolutely beautiful. Maddy had chose to finish high school on line, that way she could help Ryan and Lacey by watching Abby while they had classes at university. It helped them save money on daycare and gave Maddy and I experience.

It was my birthday, and I was taking Maddy out to a movie and lunch, before we had our first parenting class.

We were standing in line to get popcorn when Maddy jumped and grabbed her stomach. "Are you okay? " I ask panic stricken. "I'm fine! " she said taking my hand and placing it over her stomach. "He kicked! I felt my boy kick!" I exclaim. Maddy smiled.

"My boy?" a voice questioned from behind me. I turned to see Bianca and Fitz. "Hey." I said nervously. "So, what were just saying Milligan?" Bianca asked in her bitchy, vindictive tone. Maddy was looking at me with confusion. We had decided to keep the pregnancy under the radar. We both thought it would be best for both us. "Bianca, Fitz meet my girlfriend Maddy and baby boy Milligan." I say putting my hand on her stomach.

"Wow! I always thought I'd be the first to be saddled with a kid." Bianca says. "I could have a few, I've never stayed around long enough after banging a chic." Fitz laughs. I give him a glare, Maddy squeezes my hand uncomfortably, Bianca smacks him upside the head, "shut up dummy! "

"You're really having a baby? Are you keeping it?" Bianca questions. "Yeah, were keeping him." I answer, kissing Maddy on the cheek. "So, no parties, no more football, no more life." Fitz comments. "I still get to play football and hockey, it's key for me getting into university to take care of my family. I'm not big on parties, but I'm sure we can make the occasional party. As for a life, I'm happy spending time with Maddy, and excited to meet my son." I retort. "What about you Maddy? Are you going to be able to finish school, and have a social life?" Bianca asks. "Yeah, I'm doing high school online. I'm fast tracking so I should finish in 3 years instead of 4. Owen's mom is insisting I go back to dance classes after the baby's born. I want to be a dance teacher. I love dance and working with kids." Maddy answeres.

They both nod. "Are you guys getting married? " Fitz asks. Maddy looks at the ground, and I don't know what to say. That was something we'd never discussed. I knew I wanted to, but right now we had a lot to deal with, living together, having a baby, high school. I squeezed Maddy's hand, and answer, "one day, I hope she'll marry me." Maddy smiles.

That evening as we were getting ready for bed Maddy asked me about our encounter with Bianca and Fitz. "Did you really mean that, you want to marry me some day?" she asks. I pull her down on the bed, and start kissing her softly. "Of course I do, I love you." I answer in between kisses. I start roll away from her, because I was getting really turned on and I knew she didn't want to go any farther. To my surprise she rolled over into me and started kissing my neck, "please don't stop." she whispers. Making me extremely happy. I deepened our kisses, a ended up having an amazing birthday. ;)

Christmas

24 weeks pregnant.

We were leaving Christmas morning mass, Maddy's belly had really popped in the last month, there was no more concealing our baby. Sometimes we'd get weird looks from the older parishioners, but we'd both just smile politely and go on.

"Ahhh." Maddy cried doubling over holding her belly. "Is everything alright? " I ask rubbing her back. "He's just kicking. Who knew a tiny baby could be so strong." she replied taking a deep breath and standing up. I started to rub her belly to try and calm him down. "Milligan boys are strong. I thought Owen was going to kick his way out of my belly button." mom laughed.

Back home to open gifts and have Christmas dinner with all my family. I sat and watched Maddy play with Abby. She was so good with her, I knew she'd make an amazing mother. I just hoped I'd make a good father.

"Time for gifts!" Tris announced, and everyone hurded into the family room.

"Owen." grandpa Charlie called as I was walking in. "Hey grandpa." I say as I get to where he was sitting. "Owen, I like your girlfriend very much. The good ones are not easy to find, but us Milligan's have a knack for finding them. I see the way she looks at you, and the way you look at her… that's true love. I know because that's the same look your father and mother give each other, and your grandmother and I give each other. I wasn't much older than you when I married your grandmother. Have you thought about marriage? I don't mean right now, but in the future." he states. "I have been thinking a lot about it over the last month." I answer. "What is there to think about? Do you love her?" he questions. "Of course I do, I've loved her since we were 8 years old." I reply. "You love her, she obviously loves you, she having your son. See there's no thinking when it comes to love, there's only do." he tells me as he reaches into his pocket and hands me a small box. "This was my mother's ring, now tonight after the Christmas celebration, let her know you plan on making an honest women out of her, again I dont mean rush out and get married tomorrow, but promise her when the time is right You will." he says with a smile.

After all the family had left Maddy and I were in our room going through all the gifts we'd received for the baby. "He should be set for quite a while." Maddy said taking the tag off of the last sleeper, and putting it into the hamper to be washed. "Yeah, baby boy made out like a bandit." I replied. Maddy comes over and sits by me on our bed, she looks exhausted.

"Are you swollen? " I ask. "Not too bad today." she replies grabbing my hand and placing on her belly, so I can feel him kick. I sit there for a while just feeling him move around, he was always very active this time of the evening. "Merry Christmas Owen. " Maddy says leaning her head into my chest. "Merry Christmas! " I reply kissing the top of her head.

Grandpa Charlie's words filled my head, and great grandma Milligan's ring burned a hole in my pocket. I just wanted to find the perfect way to ask. A thought popped into my head. I put my head down to her belly and softly start talking to my son. It was something I did every evening, ever since we read it was good to talk to the baby in utero. I start talking to him about our day, and that so many family members were waiting to meet him. Maddy closed her eyes as I spoke to my son. I slipped my hand into my pocket. "Well, son today was almost perfect, there's only one thing that could make it better... I need you to do me a favor, I want your permission to ask your mommy to marry me." I say, Maddy's eyes pop wide open when I finish my sentence. The baby starts kicking like crazy. "I'll take that as an approval." I say and kiss her belly. I get down on one knee at the side of the bed. "Madison Dennett Miller, you are my bestfriend, each day grow more in love with you than I was the day before, you are going to be an amazing mother to our son, I can't imagine my life without you in it. I promise that will do everything I can to prove to you that I am worthy of you. Will you do me the honor of someday becoming my wife?"