Hi, everybody! Finally updating! SORRY I took so long, this time it was due to writer's block. Thank you so much to all those that reviewed and followed: DCTNFG, HermoineandMarcus, NALEY23alwaysforever, Natascha2Tata, M39151, Ms. Isabella and TheIrishShipperholic! Be sure to check out their stories, they are quite awesome! I thought it would be fun to have Real Housewives of Chicago, so if you have any unique taglines please let me know! :)

I'm finally back again! Hope you're all doing well. It's been kind of rough for me lately, not going to lie. It seems to be just as rough for Lola, too :/. I'll be posting a list of actors on my profile that I have in mind for my OC's, but here's a couple for now. Harry Hamlin and Andie MacDowell are Lola's parents Dudley and Evangeline while Michelle Monaghan and Alyssa Milano are her older sisters Samantha and Tamara (Pronounced Tam-ra). I didn't think of Harry Hamlin for Kirkland until AFTER I wrote his parts out (it was between Richard Gere and Jack Nicholson), he would have been perfect considering his part as Amanda Rollins' former boss on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, but I ultimately decided to go with Richard Gere, I could see him playing this part. Kathleen Robertson is Tawny Rae, Anny Bakhierva is Paisley.

Please enjoy, review and spread the word!

Chapter Eleven: Birthday Highs and Lows, Part One

FOUR YEARS AGO

Lola let out an agonizing scream, her face in a sheen of sweat, grabbing onto the bars of the hospital bed. She had lost count of how long she had actually been in labor for, she'd have to ask Will later, but it felt like an eternity. Now she knew what her sisters and Erin had gone through, having done this a total of nine times.

"You're almost there, Lola! I can see the head! Push!"

She frantically shook her head. "No, this isn't working! More drugs!"

"We can't give you anymore drugs, Mrs. Halstead, you're halfway through this." The nurse said.

"Babe, don't panic. You're so close, but you gotta keep pushing!" Will wiped the perspiration off her, clad in scrubs. "Don't you want to meet our baby?"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up! There's not a human head about to come out of your nether regions, you stupid ass!" Lola began to sob. "Will, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean any of that. I love you more than anything."

"I love you, too, Lolly. Come on, you can do this! One more big push!"

Lola gripped Will's hand so hard it nearly brought him to his knees as she let out a scream. Shrill crying filled the room following that final push.

"It's a girl!" The doctor said, holding up the squirming baby. "Do you want to cut the umbilical cord, Dad?"

Will nodded with a smile. "Absolutely."

As he made his way over to the table where the baby was being cleaned off, Lola tried to get a good look, but the over exertion had wracked her entire mind, body and soul.

Maybe if I just close my eyes for a second...

Lola awoke to be back in her private hospital room, which was placed with floral arrangements, balloons and stuffed animals in an array of colors. She looked up to see Will on the bed with his arms wrapped around her.

"Will?"

He smiled down at her, having been waiting for her to wake up. "Hi there. How'd you sleep?"

"Fine. God, I can't believe this actually happened and that it took almost a year. For as tedious as it felt, it also flew by, huh?"

"In a way, but I'm so proud of you. We did it, hon." Will kissed her cheek as Lola nestled into his touch.

"I feel a lot lighter, too. Have you seen her yet? I don't even think I got a glimpse before passing out."

"Only when I cut the umbilical cord and again in the nursery, but she's perfect. Six pounds, eight ounces, and she wasn't bloody at all. She should be up here any minute now."

"I can't wait to see her. Who's out there?"

"Pfft, everybody. Jay, Erin, Ryder, my dad, Tawny Rae, your parents, your sisters, Hank, Justin, Kelly. It's more like who isn't out there."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Come in." Will said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Halstead, I have your baby girl." The nurse said as she brought in a swaddled pink bundle. Lola beamed as she held her arms out, where her newborn was placed.

"Thank you."

The baby was sleeping soundly with a smile on her face. From what Lola could see from underneath her pink beanie, her hair color was a cross between her's and Will's.

"And that's not gas, her smile. Have we decided on a name yet?" The nurse asked.

"Paisley Jacqueline Halstead." Lola answered before Will could speak, looking up at him. "After your mother."

She felt that it was her duty to commemorate her late mother-in-law somehow. Even though they had never met, Will had adored her dearly. On their honeymoon, they had stayed in the Paisley Islet in Australia off of the coast of Kangaroo Island, and she had fallen in love with the name.

Will nodded, tears in his eyes. "It's perfect."

"You can start bringing family members in if you'd like."

He shook his head. "Not just yet. Maybe in about ten minutes if that's alright."

"Take all the time you want."

Will snuggled up to Lola as soon as the nurse left, looking down on Paisley as she opened her eyes. "Hey, pretty girl."

When Lola first became pregnant, she and Will knew that their lives had changed forever, but seeing their daughter for the first time was an entirely different story. He was no longer just a lothario athlete and she was no longer the feisty cheerleader, they were now parents to a precious bundle of joy.

Paisley blinked a couple of times, slowly stretching her arms out of the blanket, spreading her tiny fingers, looking at Will and Lola.

"She's so beautiful. Just like you, babe."

Lola glanced at her husband, tears in her eyes. "Will, I know you wanted a boy, and I'm-"

Will shook his head. "No, you have nothing to apologize for. I know we'll have more than one child, and right now it's the furthest thing on my mind. I couldn't be happier than I am right now at this moment."

He leaned down, giving Paisley a kiss on the forehead, taking her little hand in his big one as he kissed his wife. "I love you so much, both of you. My two girls."

Lola watched Will interacting with Paisley, and nothing else mattered but the new family she had right now. Hopefully things would continue to be so blissful...

"I think I hear her waking up." Lola said, her ear pressed against Paisley's bedroom door. "I still can't believe what you got her. Are you sure that thing is even legal?"

Will nodded. "Yes, it's perfectly legal, I heard that something like forty percent of Americans have them for pets."

"Alright, I'm taking your word for it."

Lola was about to open Paisley's door when Will took her by the shoulders. "Hey."

"What's up?"

"Don't forget that this is your day also, and I've got a little surprise for you." He smiled down at her.

"Ooo, what is it?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"You'll have to wait and find out." Will leaned in and kissed his wife, wrapping his arms around her. "Thank you so much for giving me the greatest gift a man could ever want, being a father."

What was sad was that Lola didn't know how sincere that statement was. "I know, and thank you for giving me that same gift by being a mother."

"It won't be the last time, either. Although, I'm getting concerned about your ovulation. When was the last time you had your period? Maybe we should get your fertility checked, we might have to look into IVF."

"Mmhmm, we'll discuss it later."

Right now was really not the right time to discuss this, it was all about Paisley today.

Lola took Will by the hand as she opened the door, seeing their daughter slowly open her eyes.

"Good morning, sweet pea. Rise and shine."

"Mommy? Daddy?"

Paisley sat up in her bed as her parents walked in.

"Did you forget today was your birthday, silly girl?" Will asked, he and Lola sitting on the edge of the bed.

She shook her head. "No. It's my birthday party with Tripp, too! I'm so excited!" Paisley smiled with a yawn, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"So are we, cutie pie. Daddy and I have a little surprise for you before the party." Lola turned to Will. "Ready?"

"Uh huh."

Will put the box that he was carrying in Paisley's lap, Cinderella sniffing at it. Lola took the dog and held her as they watched Paisley unwrap the bow. Their little girl gasped as the lid popped off and a beige kitten with black spots and stripes meowed, it's little paws dangling over the sides of the box.

"A kitty!" Paisley squealed, taking the kitten out of the box. "It looks just like a leopard!"

"It's a Bengal kitten, all the way from the United Kingdom." Will said. "What are you going to name him?"

"Mowgli!" Paisley beamed. "Just like in The Jungle Book."

"Good name, I like it."

"But what's this on Mowgli's collar?" Lola asked, turning around the kitten's diamond collar until the robin egg shell blue Tiffany box was in the front.

"Another present!"

Will and Lola watched Paisley carefully untie and set the white ribbon down before opening the box and pulling out the necklace. It was a beautiful heart shaped diamond and pink sapphire pendant on a sterling silver chain. The diamonds were for Paisley's birthstone and the sapphires represented her favorite color.

"Wow! It's so pretty! Will you put it on me, Mommy? Please?"

"Of course, PJ." Lola undid the necklace as Paisley lifted her hair up. "Mommy picked this out especially for you. They're your first diamonds."

The little girl looked down at the dazzling pendant. "I'll be extra careful, I promise. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mommy and Daddy! I love you so much." She reached up, giving her parents big hugs and kisses.

"We love you, too. You're our little angel, Paize." Will said.

"Psst, Will, Lola."

They looked over to see one of the producers and cameramen from Real Housewives of Chicago sticking their head in the door.

"What's up, guys?" Lola asked.

"We need to reshoot this."

Lola was about to speak when Will cut her off. "Sure, not a problem." He turned to look at her. "What? It'll be an "Awww" moment."

She shrugged. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Lola had sold her soul willingly, and as of now filming had been easy, she just hoped that they wouldn't pressure her to start a fight or something.

"Mom! Dad! Hi!" Lola grabbed Will by the hand as soon as she saw her parents.

The party was at Kirkland's house in his massive backyard. The theme was Cars and Disney Princesses, with vintage cars on display and actresses in costume to pose and play with the kids, a race car driving simulator, interactive castles and bouncy houses, Kirkland had even sprung for an elephant and camel. Most of the kids were playing in the pool or the castles while the adults ate and drank merrily, it was a gorgeous sunny spring day in Chicago.

"Hi, darling." Lola's father Dudley gave her a kiss on the cheek and shook Will's hand. "Will, it's been a while since we've seen you at the club. Golfing hasn't been the same."

Her father had been considered by many to be handsome with his broad features and strapping physique. Dudley had originally been a promising football player in Atlanta with a full ride scholarship to Georgetown, but a hamstring injury ended his dreams, which is how he decided to pursue a career in law.

"Yes, it has. I've been preoccupied with other things if you get what I mean."

The men laughed. "Oh, believe me I do. Maybe you'll luck out and get the boy I never had. Lola was actually supposed to be Linus."

Will bit his lip. "Linus?! That's hilarious! I'm glad she's not, though. My life wouldn't be the same without my Lolly."

"Daddy, stop. Not now." Lola bowed her head down. Will's burning desire for a boy wasn't the first she had endured. Dudley had tried everything to turn his three princesses into little sluggers, enrolling them all in sports and teaching them how to take apart and fix a car.

"Mom, it's so good to see you." Lola hugged her mother. Evangeline was a true Texas belle, tall and slender with pale skin and black curly hair, she had been a local beauty queen and model in between raising her three girls.

"You look beautiful, Lola. Where's Paisley?"

"She's in the pool with the kids."

"Baby sister!"

The four of them looked over to see Lola's two older sisters walking up. All three girls had their mother's dark hair, but only Lola had gold and blue cat eyes. Samantha had green eyes and their father's chin with dark hair while Tamara had brown eyes and weaved brown-blonde hair, she and Lola both having heart shaped face.

"Hi!" Lola squealed, giving her sisters a huge group hug. The girls were all seven years apart in age, they were still very close, but not as much recently since they were all busy with their own lives. Lola hoped that one day they could fix that. "Sammie, Tammy, where are Nick, Jesse and the kids?"

"At the buffet, the kids went wild over that elephant. Nice job, Will." Samantha gave Will's shoulder an affectionate shove.

"Thanks."

"Will, we're going out to California next week for Jesse' vacation, I was wondering if there was any chance you could score us tickets for the Paramount studio tour?"

"Tamara!" Lola's mouth flew open, but all her middle sister did was shrug.

"What?" She innocently asked, but all Will did was nod.

"Of course, I'll mention it to Mouse and have him call you."

Tamara smiled. "Thanks, Will. You're such a doll." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You two are so cute I can't stand it!"

Samantha nodded. "Seriously, you're like the perfect couple."

"Well, that's because I married the perfect girl." Will laughed, wrapping his arm around Lola.

"When are we going to get another grandchild?" Evangeline asked.

"Isn't eight enough?"

All this pressure to have a baby, I'm losing my mind.

"Hopefully soon." Will replied. "My schedule the past couple of years has been a mess. Jay and I have to jump on a plane to race in Richmond tomorrow, and we have to stay longer since we both have a cameo in the new Sharknado movie."

"Oh, God," Samantha rolled her eyes. "Nick is obsessed with that over dramatic crap."

"There's no rush. My girls have seven years between them and they're all incredibly close." Dudley said.

They all turned around at the sound of Paisley squealing in the pool.

"Cooper! J.J.! Cooper!"

She jumped out of the pool and slipped on the steps, scraping her knee. Lola gasped when she saw it.

"Paisley!"

She was about to make her way over but Will held her back.

"Lola, don't overreact, she's fine."

"How could you say that?! Our daughter just fell, I have to go check on her."

"Then she's going to turn into a nervous wreck hypochondriac. See, she's up and running already."

The group watched as Paisley was hanging on Cooper's neck as Kelly and J.J. watched. J.J. was Kelly's second son from Renee, who decided she could no longer handle being a mother of two boys and ditched them. Until last week, J.J. had been visiting his aunt Mary in California, but he was every much a part of the Chicago NASCAR family.

Dudley patted Lola on the shoulder. "He's right, honey. You can't treat them all like a broken leg."

Evangeline nudged her husband and two elder daughters. "Come on, let's go say hello."

"I'll see you around in a while."

Lola watched her family walk away, glad to have seen them but still felt empty. Was there anybody in the world that believed in her? It seemed like there wasn't.

Her grimace faded into a smile when a familiar dark haired, blue eyed couple approached them, while her dashing flame haired husband's smile evolved into a scowl.