A/N: Alright, here's a little pick me up for the week...considering I updated on time. Ha ha, I'm horrible with deadlines. My teacher always says there's some people who work hard, deadline or none, then there are those who won't do squat if a clock isn't riding their back...then there are the special few who don't do crap no matter what! ;)

So here you go...some drama, some fighting, some tears (maybe), some more drama, surprises, and FLUFF!! (BEWARE THE KILLER FLUFF!!) Also, this chapter's title is based on the song Gunnin' by Hedley. It's a great song, y'all should check it out.

Disclaimer: I only own Riley, anyone in Riley's family, all of her friends, and everyone who works at Desert Palms, though I don't own Desert Palms or Nick, his family, his work associates (that sounds so official), and anyone who belongs to CBS...and I don't own Olive Garden...it was the first restaurant that popped into my head.

Chapter 13
Las Vegas, Nevada

Olive Garden

Garden Dinning

Saturday

September 23, 2006

7:02 p.m.

Nick had called his parents the night he found out that Riley was pregnant, and let them know the good news. Riley was reluctant to call hers, and silently relieved when she got the voicemail on her mother's phone. She left a quick and relatively emotionless message on the phone (which actually made Nick a little disappointed). They had decided to wait to tell their friends, but since Riley's blood family had yet to contact her, she told Kiersten just to let someone know who would be excited for her.

Emma was the next to know, and the brunette was mildly shocked, and both women (and Deven) were all sworn to secrecy.

A little surprise had arrived for them early that morning when Nick had woken up early to make Riley breakfast in bed and get her prenatal vitamins ready. He had returned to find her sitting up in bed, a sick look on her face. By the time she had gotten past the morning sickness and actually got to the breakfast, a knock sounded on the door.

And low and behold, Nick's entire family stood there, open arms and surprised faces. They had come to congratulate the kids in person and had taken it upon themselves to rent out the entire third floor of the Belagio.

Now, Riley, Nick, and his family were all seated in the Olive Garden, taking up the entire courtyard. There was tons of food and never ending hugs and kisses and tales of how adorable, mischievous, and all around Southern-sweet Nick's childhood had been.

About half way through dinner Riley squeezed Nick's hand and stood. "I uh, I have to go to the lady's room." She whispered in his ear and slipped away from her chair.

"You ain't leavin' me here." Nick replied, knowing she just wanted to get away.

She chuckled and they ducked into the back hallway inside the building, both laughing and shaking their heads. "Oh my God, are they always like this?"

"Loud, embarrassing, and loving?"

"Yes."

"Yes." Nick answered and she smiled.

"I'm just glad we still have your house to ourselves."

"Ahhh..." He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her nose softly. "So you're not running out on me? Going to live in that man-filled house that's oh-so far away?"

She laughed. "No...who'd hold my hair back while I puke in the mornings?" Nick laughed and she paled and made a dash for the bathroom, him trailing close behind. She burst through the doors and tore into a stall just in time before emptying her stomach again into the toilet.

As she had said, Nick held her hair back as she threw up what she had eaten of her meal, rubbing her back as she slowly stood and sighed. She turned passed him and pulled a toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste from her purse (something she had learned came in handy when traveling with her pregnant sisters) and began to wash the taste from her mouth.

"I don't know why they call it morning sickness...I get it all friggin' day." She snapped tiredly and dabbed her forehead with the paper towel Nick handed her.

"I'm sorry, Baby..."

She laughed. "You should be...you knocked me up."

"Hey, it takes two to tango." He reminded her and she smirked and winked.

"We better get out there before your family sends the search party out for us."

"You go ahead, I have to go to the front and talk to the waiter for a minute." Nick said and Riley nodded and went passed him towards the hallway they had come from. Nick went the opposite direction and she smiled as she watched him go. She went to turn the corner when the familiar voices of Nick's sisters stopped her.

"I can't believe Nicky knocked her up." Riley identified the voice as Shannon Flynn, Nick's second oldest sister.

"Yeah, I thought it was bad when he was slummin' it with that hooker Kayla or whatever...but this?" Maggie McGrath, Nick's oldest sister, scoffed. "At least the hooker admitted to her profession. This girl..." Riley could picture her shaking her long dyed, bleach blonde hair. "She's actin' all innocent and shy." They snickered.

"Hate 'ta tell ya Sweetie, but gettin' knocked up ain't that sweet..." Catherine Stokes (Brian's wife) spat.

"And how old is she? Like, twenty?" Maggie replied.

"Are her boobs real?" Shannon questioned.

"No way...she looks like a hooker. What does she do?" Catherine snapped.

"I heard Mama tellin' Daddy that she got fired from her job as a nurse or whatever-"

Maggie's laugh interrupted Shannon. "You know what they say about nurses..."

"And now she had to take a full time job as bar tender or somethin'."

"She's drinkin' while she's pregnant? God, what was goin' through Nick's head?"

"Well, I can tell you this much, he wasn't usin' the right head." Catherine snarled and the women chuckled viciously again. "And Mama was tellin' Daddy 'bout how Lil' Miss Fornication hasn't spoken to her family in a while, and apparently her family made a whirlwind of gossip back in Houston."

"She's actually from Texas? I thought the twang was fake." Shannon asked.

"It may be, but all I know is that Jonathan was doin' business in Houston over the weekend, and he apparently knew her oldest brother, Russell, from a police bust a few years back-"

"Oh great, a degenerate in the family." Shannon rolled her eyes.

"An' he met up with him again and turns out, Lil' Miss Sweet Southern Charm has a laundry list of family issues...her parents are gettin' a divorce, her entire family's in the gossip mill, and they won't even speak to her...I doubt they even know she's pregnant." Maggie finished.

Catherine shook her head and sighed. "Oh Nick, Nick, Nick...what were you thinkin'?"

Having all she could take, Riley came from around the corner and stood staring at the three gossip girls, who ten minutes ago, had been sweet as honey to her. They looked over in horror and their eyes widened. "I don't know what Nick was thinkin'...ya might wanna ask him that." Riley said softly and turned quickly on her heel and left the building.

Her hands were shaking and her throat started burning, as did her eyes for the threat of tears. She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her palm, and bit her lip while wiping her smeared mascara with the back of her hand. She wanted to cuss and scream and throw things at them, or at the very least come back with a brilliantly witty comment that would shut their duplicitous mouths...but nothing came.

She was in such shock, and was so angry she couldn't even yell at them. Good God I've lost the will to fight... She thought internally and shook her head and wiped her tears again, not letting the water works fully start 'til she was safe. She realized Nick would be looking at her, and she was so ashamed and hurt, she didn't even want to rat his sisters out, though God knew they deserved it.

She pulled her cell out of her bag and hit speed dial one. "Hello?" Kiersten's busy voice came over the line.

"Kit?" Riley took in a shaky breath to steady her voice, though it didn't work. "Are you busy?"

She heard all the commotion stop. "What's wrong? What happened? Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"Yes...um..." She thought about it. "No...no, no I'm not. Can you come get me?"

"Oh, God, Riley...what happened? Is the baby okay? Are you alright?"

"The baby and I are fine...physically anyway. Just uh..." She covered her face with her hand and gave up trying to sound calm. "Can you come get me? I'm at the Olive Garden out by I95..." Riley replied and she could practically see Kiersten nodding and sliding into her jacket.

"God yes, Honey...I'll be there in a few. Just hang on, okay? I'm comin'."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sweetie."

She hung up the phone and looked at the building she was standing in front of. She sighed and quickly darted inside, thankful that she wouldn't be seen because the garden was out back and she was at the seating hosts' station. The man looked up and smiled. "Welcome to Olive Garden. Party of how many?"

"Actually, I'm already with a party," Though I'm ready to kill a few of 'em. "Can I leave a message here if they come lookin' for me?"

The man gave her a skeptical look, and she figured she must look like Hell. Much to her relief he nodded. "What's the message?"

"...Um...if a guy named Nick Stokes comes looking for me, Riley Turner, just uh." She sighed and dragged her hand through her hair. "Just tell him that Kiersten came to pick me up and uh...stay and enjoy his dinner and I'll talk to him later."

"Alright Ma'am. Is there anything else we can get for you?"

"No, I...uh...that's it."

"Alright, I'll deliver the message if he comes by."

"Thank you." Riley replied and left the building as Kiersten was pulling up.

Las Vegas, Nevada

The Universal House

Living Room

Saturday

September 23, 2006

10:18 p.m.

"They did not." Kiersten said in disbelief and Riley pursed her lips and nodded slowly.

"Yep." She wiped her eyes again, having cried off all her makeup. "God, I hate this. I'm so damn emotional and I'm barely three weeks along..."

"Honey, you have every right to cry. And you know what, screw them. They're just cold hearted, back stabbing, two faced bitches that don't realize what a good friend they're missing out on."

Riley sighed and leaned her head back. "It still sucks."

"Yeah, I know."

There was a knock at the door and Kiersten called for whoever it was to come in. Michael poked his head in and was surprised to find Riley curled up on Kiersten's bed, hugging a pillow as both girls munched on snacks and had a chick flick going on in the background. "Oh, hello Riley. How are you?" He asked pleasantly. Now Michael, being a guy, was completely oblivious to the fact that she had been crying for three hours and was not the happiest person in the world.

"I'm an emotional wreck and pregnant. How about you?"

He looked surprised and glanced between the two girls. "Oh...um, con-"

"Don't say congratulations." Kiersten quickly interjected.

"Oh, then uh...good luck." He replied and Riley nodded slowly. The three of them stood there in awkward silence for a while.

"What do you need, Sweetie?" Kiersten asked and Michael shook his head.

"Oh, yeah...uh, Nick is here...he's down stairs and looking pretty anxious." Michael nodded towards the stairs and Riley looked over at Kiersten.

"Thanks, Baby." Kiersten said as Michael shut the door. Kiersten looked back over to Riley. "Well...are you going to see him?"

She nodded. "Yes...I'm not mad at him. It's his bitch sisters that have me all teary-eyed." Riley drawled and Kiersten nodded her head towards the door.

"So go tell him." She said softly and Riley looked at the door and sighed.

:-:-:-:-:

She walked down the steps slowly, looking at him pacing nervously, then jumping and running to her side when he saw her. "God, what happened? Have you been crying? Why did you leave?" He fired off the questions like a cannon in a war, and she held up her hand.

"I'm sorry I left you there and left the host to tell you where I went...I just had to get out of there."

"Riley, what happened?"

She sighed. "Just...your sisters can't stand me."

"What...? Nonsense, they love you."

"No, Nick...I know three of them don't. They think I'm a hooker that's too young for you..." She sighed and shook her head as the tears started to involuntarily fall again. "And right now I have to agree, 'cause I'm acting pretty childish."

Nick took her in his arms and shook his head. "No...no, you're just...hormonal."

She groaned and pushed away and dabbed her eyes with the tissue she had brought with her, and then tried to wipe his shirt free of tears. "Oh yeah, a hormonal, knocked-up, slut girlfriend...that's better."

"Baby, you're not a slut. I don't know where you got that idea-"

"From your sisters, Nick. Your sisters gave me that idea."

"Honey, you've got it all wrong."

"Oh, and you know this 'cause you're psychic?" She replied in a frustrated drawl.

"You probably misheard them Baby. You know how you get when you're flustered."

I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that. "I heard them loud and clear, Nick. They think my job as a bartender is a joke and that I'm drinkin' while I'm pregnant...they think I'm one big, fat, fake, joke that you're slummin' it with...Nick, they know all about my problems with my family and how they won't even speak to me..." She shook her head. "They called me a friggin' degenerate and didn't seem all too happy about having a 'half degenerate' baby in the family..."

Nick shook his head and frowned. "Riley this is my family you're talking about. They adore you and our baby. They told me so-"

"Well then they lied."

Nick became stone-faced. "My family doesn't lie to each other."

"Well obviously, y'all spend enough time lyin' to yourselves." She snapped and Nick stepped away.

"Riley, stop it. I don't know who you heard talking about you, or why you're trying to blame my sisters, who have been nothing but sweet and attentive to you since they've gotten here, and frankly I don't care. This is my family you're trashing, and I won't stand for it."

Well what about me?! They friggin' trashed my to Canada and back and you haven't said shit about that! "I wouldn't be telling you this if it wasn't true, Nick. I understand it's hard for you believe or even want to believe that your sisters would say that but-"

"Stop it Riley." Nick ordered firmly. "My family doesn't trash each other and the ones we love, alright? My family actually loves one another." Nick snapped angrily, and immediately regretted it. He stopped at the look on her face.

Her morning blue eyes were wet and wide, and was her mouth as it turned down into a frown and closed. She pursed her lips to stop the onset of tears, then looked away and licked her lips. "My family loves me."

Nick stood staring in much the same way she had been. He slowly nodded his head, desperate to do and say as less as possible, to keep from screwing up more. "Yes."

"My family does care about me...they just...they just haven't got my message yet." She looked up at him and he nodded.

"Yes. I know...I just-"

"My family may be fucked up and dysfunctional, but you know what...they're mine. And we don't go back-biting about the people who are loved by the people we love...even if we can't stand them. My family may not be as high classed and formal as yours, but we do have manners, Nick. And when it comes right down to it, we'd do anything for each other. My family may be crazy, but at least my family knows me and where I stand!" She snapped and stormed up the steps, not caring if she hurt him with her words...

...That's what she set out to do...

...And she did it.

Houston, Texas

Turner Residence

Living Room

Monday

September 25, 2006

1:34 p.m.

The loud knocking on the maple door became louder and more frantic as Hope hurried towards the door. "I'm comin'! I'm comin'! Hold yer horses!" Hope drawled and opened the front door, then gasped in surprise at who was standing there.

"Why won't you answer my calls?"

"...Bryn." She said in shock, and pulled her youngest into a tight and loving hug.

"Mama, why won't you return my calls? Are you still mad at me? 'Cause I need you not to be mad at me. I need you right now. I'm scared and I need help and I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

She released her daughter and swiped the tears away from her frantic face. "Baby Girl, calm down...Honey, what's wrong?"

Riley sniffled and burst out in tears. "Mama...I messed up so bad..." She replied and Hope pulled her into the house.

"Honey, breathe Honey. Tell me what's wrong."

Riley sat on the couch and buried her head in her hands. "Oh God...it was so bad...I just..." She looked up and sighed, quickly getting control of her emotions. "I'm pregnant." She said in a shaky voice, not meeting her mother's eyes. "It's Nick's. And he knows..."

"Well, what's the problem?"

She sighed. "Well, we decided not to tell a lot of people, just our family. But since I couldn't get a hold of you or Paige or anyone else, I told Kiersten and Emma..." She sighed. "Anyway, he told his family and then they decided to come surprise us and ended up taking us to dinner."

"Doesn't his family live in Texas?" She drawled.

"They flew out to see us."

"How many of them are there...?"

"Same size as us...only his parents, five sisters, and brother and their families flew out though..."

"Is he the baby?" Hope asked and Riley nodded, making Hope smile at how similar, yet opposite the relationship between them was. "A'right, so go on..."

"And then three of his sisters...they just..." She shook her head. "They didn't know I could hear them, but they completely trashed me and dragged me and our family through the mud."

She scoffed. "Wha' do they know 'bout us?"

"Everything." Riley replied solemnly, finally looking her in the eye. "They all hold government jobs. They know people..."

Hope sighed and sat down. "Damn filthy politicians...makes me sick. Us 'lessers' may be corrupt, but 'least we're honest about it."

"Which is kind of what I told Nick...he said there was no way his sisters could have said that about me. Apparently they adore me, and this is all in my head."

"Is it?"

"No!" Riley denied again, hating having to be second guessed.

"A'right, a'right, calm down now." She drawled. "I just wanna make sure I have the whole story..."

So Riley sighed and leaned back against the couch and began to tell her everything that happened, in detail. She explained exactly what the women said, and Nick's reaction to her news, then how badly she had handled the reaction. When she had gone to apologize he wasn't home, and refused to answer her calls.

The second time she tried to physically locate him, he told her bluntly to go away. He'd 'deal with her' when he was ready. That had only pissed her off, so she spouted off a few 'choice words' (something along the lines of where he could stick it, how he could do it, and how that was for 'dealing with it later') at his door, and turned to leave it at that.

He stormed out of his house and they began a verbal sparring match on his front lawn, each of them fuming and not caring about the crowd that had formed. She called him a long string of names, non of which flattered his mother or family, and he did the same. Which only pissed her off, so she tore him a new one.

And just when they thought she was done, she backed him up against his door and let him have it again, screaming every sin the boy had ever done. When she was done she turned around, told him to 'kiss this', got in her car, flipped him the bird and drove off.

"...Then I hopped the first plane here..."

"Does anyone know yer here?"

"Not besides the credit card company and you..." She looked around. "Who else is here by the way?"

"Just me." He mother answered and Riley turned to look at her, shocked that her mother was alone, and feeling guilty for having caused it. And you went and fucked up another relationship with your big mouth...good job, Turner. God, don't you learn anything?

"Mom, what do I do? He wanted to be involved with the baby, and then I had to go and fuck things up."

"Bryn, language."

"Sorry."

"He wanted the baby?" Riley nodded. "Do you think he wouldn't want it just because y'all fought?"

"And broke up."

"Again?" Riley sighed and nodded. "Bryn, how do you expect to raise a baby if ya cain't even keep a stable relationship with yer boyfriend? Or did ya thank that havin' a baby would bring y'all closer together?"

"No...I'm not that delusional. This is why I didn't want kids."

"No, you didn't want kids because you don't like 'em." Hope drawled and brushed the hair from her baby's eyes, who wasn't a baby anymore.

"Thanks Mama, yer really instillin' the faith in me." Riley drawled; her accent already thicker from hearing her mother talk.

"Gotta keep a level head, Sugar."

She sighed. "What do I do?"

"Honey, yer gonna be a mother...yer not gonna have me around forever. You'll have to be strong for this baby...so right now, with this," She shook her head slowly and sighed. "I can't be strong for you...you have to be strong for yerself."

Riley looked her mother in the eye again, but only for a short second, just like before. She quickly dropped her eyes again, but Hope caught Riley's chin in her hand, and pulled her gaze up to meet her own soft green one. "I'm afraid I won't be able to do it." Riley admitted.

"Bryn, you may have been my most..." She looked for the right word. "Challenging child. You were one of the hardest to deal with, because you always seemed so fickle...but now, as you're growing and becoming a woman and a mother, I can see it wasn't fickle behavior, and it wasn't rebellion...it was you. It was independence. It was bravery to be different. You were never one to follow the grain, and I don't expect you to now. You can't ask someone how to deal with these types of problems, 'cause I'm tellin' you; everyone who's in yer position ain't gonna give you advice you'll like. It won't be how you'll wanna raise this baby.

I'll admit...out of all my children, you are definitely the least domesticated. You couldn't do household works if yer life depended on it..." Riley dropped her gaze again, but Hope caught her face with both hands and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes and let a soft tear trickle down her cheek and land on Riley's.

"But out of all my children...you were the one I never worried about. Despite all the things you couldn't do...you found a way around it, you challenged yerself, and you made it out. You were the first to break outta Texas, the first to head to college, the first to do so many wonderful things...and I never worried. Well, I worried as much as any normal mother would...you were my baby. But I didn't worry about whether or not you'd find a job, or a house, or make a good life for yerself...because you always made yer way through life, buckin' and bittin', grabbin' life by the horns and demandin' the bull go which way you wanted...and if ever you got lost..." She grabbed her hand, indicating her current position. "You always found yer way back home." She smiled a watery smile and pushed another piece of hair from her daughter's face. "Even if it did take a whole lotta leather bittin' to gecha' back here."

Riley hugged her mother tight as they both wept and sobbed, pouring out their emotions and 'I love you' as well as 'I'm sorry'. When the crying/love fest was over they both pulled away and wiped their eyes.

"I love you so much Mama...and I'm so sorry for all that I put this family through and-"

Hope raised a hand to silence her. "Bryn, stop. What happened wasn't your fault...it was a ticking time bomb that we all nurtured and made ready to explode...we're all responsible." Riley looked at her mother, who smiled at her. But Riley could see the pain behind her mother's eyes...she always could. "Now why don't you go on upstairs and take a nap? You've gotta be beat. I'll call ya when dinner's ready."

"I'm fine, Mama."

"Go on, Bryn." Her mother replied, leaving no room for argument.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Stokes Residence

Front Lawn

September 25, 2006

4:02 p.m.

"Nicholas Garret Stokes! You get your ass out here now!" Kiersten demanded as she stood defiantly on his front lawn, shouting to the closed up house.

"Go away!" He called from the house.

"Get out of that damn house and face me like a man!"

"Kiersten, you've got three seconds to get off the property or I'm turning on the sprinklers!" He warned.

"Bring it! I'm not leaving!"

Sure enough, the sprinklers turned on, and Kiersten stood on the yard, her hip jutted out to the side, arms folded across her chest because she was wearing a white shirt and was currently getting soaked to the bone. A few seconds later the sprinklers stopped and Nick's front door opened and he walked out, threw her a towel and pulled her inside quickly. "I am not about to get my ass chewed out in front of my neighbors two days in a row."

"What?"

"Riley, is what. She reamed my ass in front of everyone, so I tore her a new one too. We yelled more, she flipped me the bird and left."

"Where'd she leave to? 'Cause I haven't seen her, no one has. And as far as anyone knows you were the last person she talked to."

"Did you try her cell?" Nick snapped demeaning and Kiersten chucked the towel knotted into a ball at his head.

"First thing I tried, Jackass."

"Why the Hell are you getting mad at me?! She's the one who started all this shit by trashin' my family-"

"Because they were trashing her!"

"Uh, excuse me, were you there?"

"No! Were you?" She countered and Nick stopped, and then shook his head.

"I believe what my family told me."

"So do I." She snapped angrily and shook her head. "This is fuckin' great, my best friend and the mother of your child is gone and you don't even give a damn."

"I give a damn, I'm just pissed as fuck." Nick snapped. "I love my family and I don't like havin' them bashed."

"Yeah? You love Riley. She's having your child. She's your family too isn't she? So how do you feel when people trash her?"

"That's different-"

"Why?! Has she ever given you a reason to doubt her?! She trusts you, she cares about you, and she loves you." Nick's eyes widened slightly at this and Kiersten rolled her eyes internally. It's about damn time someone told him. "She's scared and confused because you don't trust her. She doesn't trust easily. She trusts you. You've earned that much and more, so don't go and fuck it all up when you haven't even heard both sides of the story."

"You haven't heard both sides of the story; you already chose your side..."

"That's because I didn't have to choose a side. My choice was clear." She countered softly and Nick sighed.

"So you're saying I should always side with Riley?"

"No, I'm saying you should always listen to Riley."

Nick put his hands on his hips and looked around his apartment, thinking tiredly. He dragged a hand over his face and sighed. "What exactly did she say happened...?"

Houston, Texas

Turner Residence

Kitchen

September 25, 2006

7:31 p.m.

"And she hasn't come out of her room since?" Logan asked worriedly and Hope sighed and shook her head.

"No. I called for dinner, but she said she wasn't hungry." Logan gaped at his mother. Riley not being hungry was a very rare occasion.

"Well that's just not right...that can't be good for the baby can it?"

Hope shook her head. "It's not good to skip meals at all, I'm just shocked. I haven't heard her crying, and I know she's awake."

"She's thinkin'." Logan realized and Hope nodded. "Want me to see if I can get her to come out?"

Hope nodded. "Please, and here," She handed him crackers and water. "Give her these. If she gets hungry they'll fill her up quickly and settle any nausea she'll be feeling."

Ten minutes later Logan returned down the stairs, after having been refused entry or conversation by his baby sister. Hope sighed and shook her head as Logan sat the crackers and bottled water back on the café table in the kitchen.

"I don't understand. When she went up there she was fine...and now..." She sighed.

"You think it's just now hitting her...? I mean, all the emotional stress and shock?"

Hope sighed and shrugged tiredly while dragging a hand over her face. "I don't even know."

Houston, Texas

Turner Residence

Master Bedroom

Thursday

September 28, 2007

8:25 a.m.

Hope's well rested eyes fluttered open and allowed the morning sun to enter. It filtered into the room through her sheer curtains blowing in the breeze created by the small opening in her second story window. She could hear the birds chirping in the branches outside her window and the dogs wrestling playfully in the backyard.

Ahh...my crazy Dukes. She thought about her four Blood Hounds, affectionately named Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Jesse (all of the names had been picked out by Riley, the Dukes of Hazard fanatic of the family). She had been obsessed with the show The Dukes of Hazard for as long as Hope could remember, and it didn't come as much of a shock when her first car was an exact replica of the General Lee...however; it was a surprise when she totaled it three times.

Riley had come out of her room the next morning and apologized for childish behavior, she just wasn't feeling well. Hope knew she was lying through her teeth, but faked a smile and nodded; informing Riley that she herself was nauseas frequently while she was pregnant.

They spent the next two days shopping and visiting old faces and places, telling stories and having mother-daughter conversations, however; both steered clear of the sensitive subjects that threatened to ruin their beautiful days.

The weather had been cool and relaxing (September in Texas was a wonderful time). No rain and not a cloud in the sky as the women walked around town and completed their activities. It had been a good few days for Hope, the best few she had in a while. She stretched like a cat once again in her bed, enjoying the early morning sun and peace...

...Until a knock sounded on her front door.

She opened her eyes and groaned, rolling over and pulling the pillow over her head. "Go away." She instructed whoever was there.

They were apparently hard of hearing, for they knocked on the door yet again. It proved impossible that Hope would get anymore sleep that day, and that Riley was in no hurry to get the door herself. So Hope rolled out of bed and threw on her satin ruby robe and synched it tightly closed as she tip toed out of her room so as not to disturb Riley, and crept down the stairs to the front door.

She opened it and was in for the second shock of her week. "Kiersten!?" She gasped and smiled, pulling the woman she considered a daughter into a hug.

"Hey Mama Turner. You're looking lovely this morning."

"Well you do too Darlin'." She said and shook her head in confusion. "What're ya doin' here?"

"Oh, not much...just came to see my favorite sister."

"Kendra will be upset she's second to a preggers woman."

"So she told you."

"You thought she wouldn't?" Hope half laughed and Kiersten smirked; Riley always did have a problem when it came to hiding things from her mother. "How'd you know she was here? She said she didn't tell anyone."

Kiersten grinned and shrugged. "Riley comes equipped with her own personal investigator."

"Is she here?" Nick called as he jogged up the driveway timidly. "Hello Mrs.-" He stopped himself before he said Mrs. Turner. "Miss Hope."

"Hello Nicholas, and yes; she's here."

Nick sighed in relief and shook his head. "She slips under your radar pretty quick doesn't she?"

Hope chuckled. "One of the most interestin' traits about her as a teenager..."

"I'll bet..." Nick said, glancing around, tired of small talk. He wanted to see Riley. "Um...is she...can I...?"

Hope moved away from the door. "Come in." She drawled and the two of them stepped inside. "Do y'all want somethin' 'ta drink or eat?"

Nick shook his head. "I'm good, thank you. Is Riley awake?"

She smirked. "It's only eight thirty, Nick...what do you think...?"

"Can um...can I...?" He nodded towards the stairs and Hope nodded.

"Have at it."

"Will you arm me with coffee?" Nick asked, knowing Riley was a bear if she was woken up without coffee near her.

"No Dear, pregnant women can't drink coffee." Hope replied and Nick gaped at her.

Kiersten laughed as she poured herself a cup and toasted to Nick. "Good luck, Buddy." She buried her face in the mug and took a sip.

Nick winced and began climbing the stairs, then climbed back down. "Is there anything else I should steer clear of?"

"Chocolate, cigarettes, and alcohol."

"Oh Holy Hell..." Nick muttered as he climbed the stairs, leaving Hope and Kiersten chuckling.

Houston, Texas

Turner Residence

Riley's Bedroom

September 28, 2007

8:45 a.m.

Riley felt something gently prodding her shoulder, and a familiar scent fill her nostrils. She opened her eyes as she realized who it was and gasped. "What're you doin' here?" She asked in shock and Nick shrugged.

"I missed you..."

"How'd you find me?"

"I traced your credit cards."

"Isn't that illegal or somethin'?"

He shook his head. "Not for me." He sat on the bed next to her. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you when you tried to tell me what was going on."

She sighed. "I'm sorry I bitched you out...in front of your neighbors."

"I'm sorry Kiersten bitched me out because I'm a slow learner."

"I'm sorry I'm a slow learner."

"I'm sorry I said all those mean things."

"I'm sorry I called your sisters sluts..." She winced. "Behind your back."

He sighed and clenched his jaw, not liking what she said, but knowing that she was sorry. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"I'm sorry I ran out on you...I'm pregnant, I'm gonna be a mother. I can't act childish anymore."

"I'm sorry I didn't chase you."

"I'm sorry it took you so long." She replied with a smirk on her face.

"Come out with me tonight."

"What? That's not an 'I'm sorry'."

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm sorry I can be such a douche bag, will you please go out with me tonight?"

She laughed at his unconventional approach and nodded. "I'm sorry I can be a total bitch. And yes."

"I'm sorry my sisters said that horrible and completely untrue stuff about you, and I'll meet you at the front door at six."

"I'm sorry some of what they said is true, and you're not gonna hang out with me today?"

"I'm sorry you think that's true, 'cause it's not...and no."

"I'm sorry I couldn't win over all your family like you did with mine...and why?"

"I'm sorry they're so damn stubborn...and I have to take care of some things."

"What things?"

"That's not an 'I'm sorry'."

"Oh...I'm sorry I messed that up."

He smiled and stood up. "I'm sorry...I have to go." He replied and kissed the back of her hand as he walked out of her room and left the house.

A/N: What oh WHAT could Nicky Boy have planned for Riley? Well...you'll just have to wait and see...next chapter will be GOOD, I can promise you THAT! Ha! (Don't you just love my BIG LETTERS!??!!?)

-Futuremisscsi60

PS: I'm such a Goob...but that has nothing to do with this story, so never mind.