A/N: Alright, so school starts up in a few short days (ew) and I still have summer assignments to finish (-_-) so after I update this, I'm going to get working on those.

August 10th I went to see Max Schneider live in Boston :) and I did get to meet him! (if you've seen my twitter, then you already know). He is absolutely sweet and his hugs are amazing! I gave him several sketches of mine and he was absolutely stunned beyond words (made me really happy haha).

For those of you that have met him, you understand how much I miss him already and those of you who haven't met him—1. Don't give up hope. I didn't think I'd ever meet him! And 2. You deserve to meet him! He is the sweetest person ever, and although we didn't talk long, it was amazing :)

I got to meet Daniel Durston too (his bassist if you don't know), he wasn't supposed to be walking around the music hall, but he was xD and although I couldn't get a picture with him, I did talk to him and get a hug. So Saturday was just a great night!

Enough of that, onto the replies:

KingdomKeyblade: Aww! Thank you, that means a lot to me that you look forward to my updates! :)

Misskikimarie: In the words of David Israel… be afraid. I have this story planned out entirely and this plot twist is so obvious that it's not! xD I can promise you all, THERE WON'T BE A MISCARRIAGE. So, cross that off your list! :)

Onto the chapter!

~Chapter 13~

~A Lie Unravels~

STEVIE's POV

I get ready for dinner with my family, and I have my bags packed for the last flight out tonight. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is seeing Ashton there tonight. He's going to try and make tonight a living hell. My parents still don't know what Zander did to me. I couldn't tell them. But Ashton will definitely let it slip tonight.

I can feel it.

I finish my makeup—the same as last night; mascara and lip gloss—and then I make sure my dress looks like nice and then my hair. I smile slightly at my reflection. Despite what may or may not happen tonight, it's going to be good. I grab my two bags filled with some clothes and anything else I'll need for the next week and a half, I lock up the apartment and then go out to the lot where my car is. I throw the bags in the backseat and then get in the driver's side and start the car.

The drive to my parents' house is somewhat long—an hour and a half or even longer. I can't quite remember. It's been years since I've driven from Zander's apartment back to my parents', but I was either lying about being at Kacey's or sneaking back in early in the morning, so my parents never suspected anything.

My brothers caught me a couple times though—blackmailed me every time. It was awful, but it didn't stop me from sneaking out. Zander and I were really in love—I was just too stubborn for the last seven years to talk things out.

I'll never stop kicking myself over that.

When I get to my parents' house, I see that the rest of the family is already there. Part of me is nervous of walking in those doors. Ash's car is already here. . . he hasn't said anything has he? I don't plan on telling my family yet about being pregnant. I need time to explain things.

And Ash will probably be a jerk the whole time I'm trying to explain.

I park the car and take a deep breath to calm myself. I'm making a huge deal out of nothing probably. I lock the car after getting out and then I make sure I look okay—might have to look real pretty in case Ash decides to break the news early. Just to torment me.

Our fall-out was rough. I understand why he threw me out of my—er, his apartment. . . but I think his reaction was a bit too much. I place my hand on the front door handle and turn it.

Here goes, I absently think.

As I open the door, I hear everyone is already sitting down to eat.

I got here in time I guess. I shut the door behind me and walk into the kitchen. I see my mother standing by the stove, probably finishing one of the meals—I have a huge family.

"Hey, Mom," I greet, leaning against the island in the middle of the kitchen. I clasp my fingers together nervously.

She looks back and then smiles, "Stevie! I was wondering when you would be here!" She walks around the island and then hugs me tightly.

I hug back lightly and that's when my mother asks, "Everything alright, darling? You seem a bit on-edge?"

"Er. . .yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I reply, dismissing her concern with a small wave of my hand.

"Alright, well food's served. Everyone's in the dining room. Better hurry before cousin Terry eats it all on you," my mom laughs. I laugh with her.

My cousin Terrance, or Terry, is the skinniest boy you could ever met. He eats like a trucker though. My stomach grumbles loudly and I bite my lip, embarrassed.

"That was loud!" My mom says, looking at my stomach. "It's like you've got a mouth in there." I could swear that she gave me a look, but if she did, she masked it quickly.

I pale slightly—has Ash already said something? But I didn't tell him I'm pregnant. . . so he can't have said anything right?

Maybe he made up some lie. . . I take a deep breath to calm myself down

I nod my head and then walk into the dining room. Everyone greets me at once and quickly gets back to their meals. I grab a seat in front of an empty plate and then quickly put some food onto it and I eat pretty quickly, but hopefully no one notices.

I can feel Ashton watching me, but I don't make eye contact with him—I'm in too good of a mood to let him ruin it.

Multiple conversations take place as dinner progresses and then there's a knock on the door.

"Stevie, would you grab that please?" my mother asks, taking a sip of her drink.

"Sure," I respond, getting up and walking to the door. The family continues to talk amongst themselves—loudly—as I grab the door. I see Ashton's wife as I open the front door and my eyebrows raise slightly.

"Uh, hi," she says softly. She and I haven't spoken much, but we get along. And after hearing Ash's story about hitting her. . . well, I feel like I know her, and how she must feel coming here. "I'm here to drop the kids off so Ash can take them for the night."

"Oh, well hello," I greet, opening the door wider. The kids stand behind her, not saying anything—in fact, they're so well composed I swear they're not the kids Ash would bring over all the time—when I lived in Ash's apartment.

"Amber has a bit of a cold, so if you could just let Ash know—"

"—Er," I begin uneasily, "Ash and I aren't really are speaking terms, but I guess I could let him know." I watch as the kids walk past me and into the dining room and then I turn back to Ash's ex-wife.

"Are you okay? I mean, since you two split up. . . I know it's none of my business, but I think I know how you feel. . . and I'm sorry that it had to happen to you."

She seems a little lost and then replies, "Oh. . . I didn't realize you were divorced."

"I'm not," I say quickly. "I haven't been married. . . I was talking about why you two split up—I know it's none of my business, and Ash probably didn't mean to hit you—"

"—Wait, wait. . . hit me? What are you talking about?" she asks, really confused now.

"What do you mean 'what am I talking about?'" I demand, lowering my voice so the whole dining room won't hear us. "Ash told me the reason you two split up is because he hit you in an argument?"

Her eyebrows knit together, angered now. "Ash never hit me. I know what happened to you, Stevie, but not every guy is like. Ash and I just had our differences. I can't believe you'd accuse your own brother of lying about something that serious."

I find myself speechless. What is she talking about? Was what Ash told me a lie?

I clear my throat and say, "Right. . . sorry, you probably have to go now. . ."

She mumbles something and then takes off to her car. I shut the door and lean back against the wood, thoughts racing through my mind. Ash lied to me? And for what? So I would doubt Zander, and leave him again?

I exhale slowly and then stand up tall—Ash is going to get it now, and I don't even care that family is here. I storm into the dining room and yell, "Ash? Why the hell did you lie to me!?"

"Stevie!" My mother cries, appalled at my language. My father gawks at me, astonished. I'm always a classy girl when it comes to family gatherings, but this time, I've had enough of Ash.

Ash looks around as all eyes focus on him. His kids are sitting in my parents' laps, and so—embarrassed enough—I demand to talk to him outside. We go out onto the back porch and for a minute, I stalk around the porch thinking of where to begin.

"You lied to me, Ash!" I cry, hot tears stinging my eyes—I'm embarrassed. Embarrassed because his ex-wife accused me of lying because of my past; embarrassed because my family is appalled at my sudden behavior; embarrassed because I'll have to tell my family about my ex-boyfriend being the father of my child and that I was kicked out of my own apartment—by my brother!

"About?" he says, raising an eyebrow.

I sigh angrily, "You never hit your ex-wife, Ash! She told me when I tried to talk to her about it!"

"Well, that wasn't any of your business, now was it?"

"I was trying to tell her I knew how she felt, but she told me that I shouldn't think all guys are the same and it's horrible that I would think you'd do the same thing Zander did! You tricked me, and I made a fool of myself, Ash. A lot of times tonight, and I haven't even been here a half hour, so are you happy now?"

"I just don't want you to come crying back when Zander hits you—"

"—Ash, you moron! Zander's not going to hit me again! Alright, and if he does, I sure as hell won't come crying to you. You're an insensitive jerk, and you lied to me!"

"I don't want you going back to that jerk, Stevie. When you snuck home the next night, I remember you coming to me. . . because I was the only one that wouldn't run off to tell mom and dad about what he did to you—even though I wanted to. I don't like him, Stevie. He hurt you. . . I'm your big brother, and I was supposed to protect you."

I sigh, annoyed, "Didn't we discuss this already? You can't be around to save me 24/7, Ash! But I know Zander, okay? He's not going to hit me again. . . and I can't pull away from him now. . ."

"Yes, you can, Stevie. I know you don't want to, but. . . you have to get away from him—"

"—no, Ash! I really can't!" I scream angrily.

"Why not?" he screams back.

"I'm pregnant, okay?" I hiss, crossing my arms over my chest. I huff, annoyed. "I'm pregnant, Zander's the father—this is what we wanted. I want Zander in my life, Ash. . ."

He stands before me, completely frozen. His jaw is somewhat slack, but he shuts it quickly. He laughs a bit and it sounds bitter, "Unbelievable—un-fucking-believable," he spits, running his fingers through his hair.

"You're making a huge mistake, Stevie, and I hope you realize that hard away—because apparently you didn't seven years ago," he says harshly, stalking off into the house. He slams the sliding glass door and the hot tears in the corners of my eyes trail down my face.

I wipe at them furiously and go back into the house. Upon entering the dining room, everyone's gone silent, but their eyes are on me.

"Ash left," my mother says quietly, watching me. I can't read her expression—everyone looks like they're made of stone.

"Way to go, Stevie," my youngest brother, Caleb says. "Everything was going fine until you two left to argue. Why can't you two ever get along anymore? Christmas is a time for family, and you two are too selfish to put aside whatever it is you have going on!"

"I'm sorry, I just—"

"—Doesn't even matter," Caleb spits, looking away from me. My family doesn't look at me, they keep their attention elsewhere.

"Fine, I'll just show myself out. I'm going to New York tonight. . . my boyfriend's there. You know, when I got here, I thought I could enjoy myself and see everyone again. . . give you all the good news. None of this is my fault. . . if Ash hadn't lied in the first place, we could have avoided all this."

I feel a surge of adrenaline run through me suddenly, and I may as well make an exit rather than regret it later.

"I'm sorry that I've ruined a lot of things lately," I begin, more tears falling down my cheeks. I'm embarrassed about this whole night. "Oh yeah, the good news? Well, maybe it won't be good news to any of you. . . I'm having a baby, alright?"

I shrug my shoulders, and I'm angry now. Angry that suddenly everyone is pinning everything wrong on me. I'm angry that, just because of what happened seven years ago, suddenly everyone knows what I'm always thinking about.

Well, I've pushed aside that incident. I don't want to dwell on it anymore.

"Mom? Dad? Remember how much you loved my ex-boyfriend Zander? Yeah well, I never told you why we broke up, did I? Seven years ago, we got into an argument. . . and he hit me. Right across the face—" I'm crying now, but I'm ranting because I'm sick of everyone stepping on me these last few weeks.

"—and he's the father of this baby," I continue, gesturing to my stomach. Mouths have gone slack, but I'm not ready to stop yet. I wipe my eyes and continue, "He's the one I'm going to New York for. I don't care what he did to me. . . I'm sick of people saying he'll just do it again—he won't! I know Zander, and. . . I'm still in love with him.

"I'm done being stepped on—that's all that's happened to me lately, and I just need someone right now that isn't going to hurt me anymore. So, Merry Christmas, everyone. You've all made me feel terrible, and I bet you didn't expect it back. . ."

Before I can get any harsher, I storm out the front door, slamming it behind me. When I get to my car, I sit in the driver's seat for a minute and rest my forehead against the steering wheel. I'm shaking and all I want to do is cry—tonight was awful, and honestly, I'd expected it to be perfect.

I love my family, but they turned against me so easily tonight. . . I just snapped.

I look at my bags in the backseat and figure it's time to leave before I miss my plane. I just need Zander right now. . . just several hours and you'll see him, I think to myself encouragingly.

A/N: Alright, so that's that chapter! I've been a little annoyed today (my grandma keeps yelling at me and getting annoyed) so I've sort of put that into writing, but Stevie has a lot more problems than I do xD so yeah. . . that's that. Anyway, sorry for the lack of updates lately! I'll try to get back into a rhythm soon! Leave your thoughts and comments please :)