~ Family Friction & Turtles ~

-February 6th -

Deena switches the phone from her left ear to the right. After a while, she starts back talking after being placed on hold.

"Sorry about that, Ron needed to know where something was. So he's there now, how long has he been there?"

Deena, "Yeah, he's out getting some snacks for this always hungry little person inside me. It'll sort of be his second week here."

Sammi, "Is he staying for the birth?"

Deena responds, "Yeah. I'm leaving it at that, I didn't really go into his schedule."

She replies, "Yeah, I wouldn't either if I were you. You need to focus on getting that baby here safe and sound."

Deena, "Are you going to make it to the Hospital when I deliver?"

Sammi, "I'll try. If I don't, you can definitely count on me coming to the house to see you guys."

Deena tries not to get upset.

Deena, "It may be my hormones but you all suck."

Sammi, "Don't be that way Dee'. You caught everyone around Valentine's Day. Ron and I have been planning something special for each other and I don't want to disappoint him. You know how he gets."

Deena smiling, "Just him…?"

Sammi laughs into the phone, "Well give me a little credit. We don't smush much but when it's time, it's time."

Deena looks around and continues.

"Oh my God, I've wanted to smush Pauly since he got here."

Sammi laughs again.

Deena, "I'm so serious. This freakin' pregnancy has me like a stark-raging bull in heat…(sighing) Don't do it, don't have kids Sam."

Sammi, "I'm sure you're over exaggerating."

Deena, "Okay, try every time that I laugh-I pee."

Deena couldn't even get anything else out before Sammi cracks up over the phone. She then goes into describing how her legs swell up off and on and how her once cute small feet, look like hot pockets with little chubby Vienna sausages attached to them.

Sammi cannot even hold the phone at this point and when she calms down she gives Deena words of encouragement.

After making things a little better for her, Deena gets off the phone to start her day…well, whatever that may consist of having to stay bed-ridden.

Pauly has been great. Running the errands for her that Nicole used to do, making sure she eats when she is supposed to, taking care of her chores when he went to GTL, and most importantly keeping her company.

He is on a food run now up the street, this time for chocolate turtles and beef jerky. Weird. As he rounds the corner away from the store, his phone plays and he talks to Biggie on his way back to Deena's.

Biggie, "So this is only like my second time talkin to you my man. What's goin on, is the mother-to-be keepin you busy?"

Pauly, "You have no idea. It's not somethin I'm used to but would I be?"

Biggie responds, "You're gonna have a lot of things to get used to and you probably never will."

Pauly watches the road and places him on speaker.

"I'm not gonna say all that. I know things won't be perfect but being who I am, I'm going to do the best damn job I can to come close."

Biggie, "Wow. Listen to you. Is Pauly trading in his Ladies Card for Fatherhood?"

Pauly smiles, "I neva said that."

Biggie, "Well, there's not gonna be much time for nightlife in the club with a baby at home."

Pauly, "There is when the nightlife comes with the job. That's where I'm lucky. I don't know…I can't see myself choosing some ho' over my Kid though. Family always comes first in my book."

Biggie agrees. "That's good thinkin bro."

Pauly nods and continues.

"Have you talked to Ryan?"

Biggie, "Yeah, he's not up to much. Last time we spoke he was still goin on about how he can't believe you're stayin in Jersey instead of us takin back off to Vegas."

Pauly, "Well he can go. No one's stoppin him."

Biggie, "Okay but come on. No one's going to just put him up in a suite like if the whole crew is there."

Pauly has no comment as Biggie continues.

"Ryan just talks a lot of shit. Don't worry about him."

Pauly kind of laughs, "Believe me I'm not. I didn't break a sweat when he left New York, and the same now. I've got enough on my head and Deena will have my head if I miss this delivery."

Biggie, "…and why would you want to? This isn't like your Grandparent's birthday or some shit, this is your child being born."

Pauly shakes his head, "He doesn't get it but that's Ryan. What are you gonna do..."

Biggie, "Absolutely nothing."

Pauly, "Exactly."

Pauly now pulls up into the driveway and says goodbye to Biggie and that he would call him later, most likely when Deena goes to sleep.

Pauly uses Deena's house keys to get in. Upon entering, Pauly hears voices so he doesn't make himself known right away because whoever is talking, it sounds intense. He stays back in the kitchen.

"You're being ridiculous."

The man answers, Jersey accent thick, "Joann, how am I the one that's crazy here?"

"…because he's here ain't he? If he didn't care, he wouldn't be here for Deena."

He continues, "You know that's the problem with these young guys now, when they get a big head about 'em. They think they can pop into town for a few seconds and toss a few c-notes here and there. Yeah, he may be makin money, but money doesn't buy happiness for your family. Especially not my daughter's happiness."

Joann, "Deena's fine. She has her own income and she has us regardless of what happens."

It gets quiet and Pauly goes back to open and close to the door so they know he's there now. He doesn't want to risk running into that conversation or letting them know he heard it.

Joann soon appears in the kitchen.

Trying to act normal, "Pauly. You just get in?"

Pauly, "Yeah, just now."

Joann is not sure if he heard them or not but the way he's smiling, he most likely didn't.

Pauly heard every word but he chooses to ignore it. It's not important to him right now, so he smiles and acts none the wiser.

Joann nods and responds, "Dinner will be ready soon. I suppose Deena will be able to hold off until then. Did she send you out again?"

Pauly, "Yep but it's cool."

Joann smacks her lips. "I don't get that girl. With all my pregnancies, I neva ate as much as her. She'll deliver a ten-pounder for sure."

Pauly laughs and makes his way out of the kitchen to the downstairs area. He never did see who he is sure was Deena's Father but that's only a good thing.

Pauly places his coat neatly on the couch downstairs and makes his way to the back room. Like blood in water to a shark, Deena turns at the sound of a bag rustling.

She responds, "Did you get them?"

Pauly, "Yeah Dee'. They had two size boxes but I figured I'd save myself the trip by gettin you the bigger one."

Deena smiles and reaches out for the treats. Pauly wastes no time emptying the contents on the bed for her.

First Deena breaks the box open, and then she takes one out. Pauly sits and watches. Every time he is fascinated.

Deena smashes one side of the chocolate turtle with her fingers making the caramel ooze out. Then, she stuffs half of it in her mouth. After licking the caramel residue off her finger, she goes for the jerky.

She opens one stick and then bites a piece of it off barely swallowing her turtle bite. The mixture makes her eyes cross with pleasure but the whole thing makes Pauly's stomach churn.

Pauly shakes his head, "Ew… I don't question you girl, but that is so nasty."

Deena talks with her mouth half full, "It's 'ood."

Pauly turns away and gets up off the bed.

"Well, your Mother is makin dinner. I'm guessing you'll be too full to partake in that?"

Deena, "Are you kidding me? What part of go to the store and get me a snack didn't you get?"

Pauly laughs thinking about her Mother's comment about Deena delivering a ten-pound baby.

"Holy…I think maybe she's right."

Deena looks at him, "Right about what? What are you talkin about?"

Pauly shakes his head. "Nothing of importance. Go back to your odd combination of foods."

Deena shrugs and does just that while shaking her little fat feet, which Pauly sweetly calls happy feet.

Hopefully this time goes quick, he doesn't know how much more his stomach can take.

A/N: It was sooo hard for me not to comment on the last Chap. It was just one of my faves to write. N-e-wayz, thanx again to all the readers out there! As long as you continue to support, I will continue to pump out the Chaps in good time. The next Chap is short so I may post two in one day or one day after the next...u help me decide ;-) Comment and have a winning weekend!