On the plane I sat in between Tony and Hanna. I rested my head on my husband's shoulder and held my best friend's hand. "I'm glad that I have you guys. I don't know what I would have done without you." I informed them with a sigh. I wish that Spencer and Emily could have been here, they wanted to come, but after they dropped everything and left without notice when I was in the hospital they were unable to come. I don't think they liked the idea of coming back to Rosewood anyway. I know that they would have if they could have though.
Hanna squeezed my hand, "Hey, I'll always be there for you. Always have, always will. I love you, Ar." she reassured me as she leaned in closer to me. "There is nowhere that I would rather be than with my best friend." she added with a smile.
Tony gave my forehead a kiss, "It's all over, babe. Now we can look forward to having our baby. You're going to be an amazing mom." he told me as he moved his hand to where it was resting on top of my abdomen. I can feel the smile of excitement on his face.
I sighed, "But what about when the baby is born? I want to be able to go back to work. As much as I love our baby and what to spent time with him or her I also want to be able to work. I love my job." I stressed. There are still so many worries floating around in my head that I'm still freaking out about, well, everything. I've been through so much during this pregnancy that I am terrified that something will happen to this baby. Hanna had a miscarriage for no reason last year, I certainly have plenty of reasons.
Hanna rolled her eyes at me, "Please, Aria. I'm here to stay. My modeling jobs are only during nights and weekends. If I can't take care of the kids, then I'm sure that Caleb will. You have nothing to worry about with child care. Besides, you live less than twenty minutes away from your office, you will be close by if you want or need anything" she told me like I was being silly.
Well, there is one thing that I feel better about. At least I have someone here that I trust about child care. I just hope that there will be times where Tony and I can repay the favor by taking Ryder every so often. Then there is the matter of mom, "What are we going to do about mom? It isn't fair to Mike to have to be her sole caregiver because I live far enough away that I can't be there every weekend." I started to stress about more things that have been on my mind.
Tony sighed, "We'll talk to Mike about that. You know they are going to graduate soon, they may not want to stay in Rosewood either. Once we get settled in at home again we'll Skype him And discuss all of your concerns. I know that you've enjoyed spending time with your brother over the last little bit and that you wish that you were closer to him. He's going to be a personal trainer and Hillary is going to be a nutritionist, those are jobs that they could have just about anywhere." Unlike ours, which have to be in D.C.
I nodded my head, this can wait until later. I've got the weekend to rest before going back to work for three days, so I guess we can talk about it in that time. "Okay. That sounds good." I replied as I snuggled in deeper into his embrace. The flight is less than an hour long, but I've got enough time for a cat nap.
By the time we got home I went straight to bed leaving Tony to bring things in and to put everything away. I'm not sure when he joined me in bed, but I know that I was able to sleep just a little bit easier with him but my side.
The next day Tony disappeared to NCIS giving me orders to stay at home and rest. I wanted to argue, but I also wanted to get in touch with Spencer and Emily. I walked into the living room where Hanna is reading Ryder a book, not that he is paying any attention. She is wearing a necklace and he is intent on getting it into his mouth. "Hey. Do you want to Skype the girls with me?" I asked her as I sat down next to her.
She smiled and nodded her head, "I'd love to. I don't think this little one was really into his book anyway. I guess he's just like his mommy in that respect." she agreed as she set the book to the side and opened her laptop that was sitting on the coffee table.
We invited both of them to talk, and I couldn't help but smile when I saw their faces on the screen. "Hey guys! I missed you this week!" I greeted them.
"I really wish that I could have been there, but my boss was kind of mad that I just dropped everything and left. That meant that he actually had to work." Spencer replied, rolling her eyes at her boss.
Hanna raised her eyebrows, "Spence, I thought you work for yourself?" she called Spencer out jokingly.
"I might as well! And I do, most of the time. It just that whenever I have time off, he has to cover for me, and he hates to actually work." she explained herself.
Emily laughed, "Well I would have been able to come if it weren't for the fact that we have got assemblies next week that I'm helping put together and if I had taken any more time off before then I'm pretty sure that I would have been fired. I really wish that I could have been there for you, Ar." she explained, yet again. As soon as she got back to Texas she called me telling me about how this was the first year that they made it that far, period. She had to have apologised at least ten times during the phone call.
If I had been with Em, I would have given her a hug. "Guys, I understand. I was fine, sure it wasn't the easiest thing that I've done, but I've done harder. I was more emotional about my mother than anything. I'm afraid that I may not be able to see her again without her freaking out and accusing me of killing him." I explained why it really wasn't that big of a deal. Sure it would have been nice for them to have been there for me because they actually knew my mother, unlike my team.
Spencer drew her eyebrows together, "Yeah, Hanna was telling me about that, but can you give us some details on that? I'm still fuzzy as to what is going on." she inquired for explanation on the details of what is going on with my mother.
I gave her an uneasy laugh, "I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is going on with my mother. When we got to Rosewood she picked Tony and I up and took us to the Brew so I could get some coffee. While we were there we ran into someone who gave their condolences to me on Byron's cancer finally getting him. I corrected her as to what actually happened and my mom freaked out. She was accusing me of murdering him, telling me that he never did anything wrong. She had a full blown panic attack. So, we called an ambulance. At the hospital I learned that she's been having these problems for about a year now, she's got dementia. It got bad enough though that the doctors decided that the best place for her would be Radley, for the time being at least. She was admitted there yesterday after the funeral. After I talk with you guys I'm going to talk with Mike to see how she is settling in there." I updated them on my mother's situated.
"That is so crazy. I didn't think that you could get that so young. So is Mike going to watch over her?" Emily questioned after she heard everything that happened with mom this past week. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and gave me a look of curiosity.
I nodded my head, "At least until he graduates this year. After that I'm not sure what is going to happen. If Mike decides to move away then we'll discuss moving mom either here, or with him wherever he goes." I answered with a sigh. So many things to figure out, at least we have plenty of time though.
Spencer gave me a sympathetic look, "Well, my mom has been freaking out over the fact that you put Melissa is jail! I, on the other hand, am happy that she is in there. She was apart of that all along!" she smiled angrily. I almost forgot that her sister was a part of this, after everything with Byron and my mother, and finding out that I'm pregnant, I've had a lot of other things to think about.
Hanna nodded her head, "I'm happy that all of that is over and every one who was a part of it are either dead or in jail, and away from us." she agreed with Spencer, then kissed the top of Ryder's head, "I would hate to have my baby boy in the middle of all of that. He's already been through enough in his life." she added as she cuddled him.
Both Emily and Spencer smiled, "He is the sweetest! I hate that I'm not going to be able to get off any time soon so I can see him again! How am I supposed to be the cool aunt if I never get to see him?" Emily complained as she looked at Ryder lying in Hanna's arms.
"Don't worry, Em. I'll be the cool aunt for you!" I joked with her. I love that I'm going to get to be close with him, but I do feel bad for Spencer and Emily not being able to stay close with Ryder, or my baby when he or she is born, but I am so happy that I get the chance to. Just a month ago none of this seemed possible, but this is our new normal. "But why don't you two come up for Thanksgiving. It's a day that we've all got off, it would be perfect for us to spend some time together!"I suggested wanting to see them sometime soon.
Spencer grinned, "I'd love that, and I'm sure Toby would too. We miss you guys! Then we'll have to come back when you have the baby!" she nearly squealed at the thought of my baby being born.
Emily nodded her head, "That sounds great. I'm getting tired of this Texas heat, it'll be nice to have a change of scenery."
When we finished talking Hanna made us lunch while I kept Ryder entertained, then I called Mike.
"Hey, Aria." he answered.
"Hey, little bro. How're you doing?" I greeted him.
"I'd say I'm doing okay considering the week we've had. Better this morning. Hilary and I decided the date for our wedding." he informed me with a rather excited voice.
I squealed in excitement for my little brother, "Mike! That's great! When is it going to be?" I inquired knowing that I'm going to need to go ahead and take the time off of work. I've missed so much work I'm not sure if I'll be able to take off again until the baby is born.
"January 2. We figure that is the perfect day so that we don't have to wait very long, and so that we won't miss any school." he informed me of his wedding plans.
"Where are you planning on having it? Back in Rosewood?" I inquired. I hate that town, but I'll go back any day to see my baby brother get married. My wedding day was the happiest day of my life, I want my brother to have the same experience.
"Actually, we were talking about it and we want to get married at the place that I proposed to her, there in D.C. We want to move out there after graduation. We both had such a good time there, it's so different from Rosewood, in the best ways possible. Also, we'll be able to be closer to you and our niece or nephew, we'll move mom out here so that we can both be close with her. We're really looking forward for all of it." Mike informed me with pure excitement in his voice.
I could have screamed with excitement when Mike told me that they wanted to move here after they graduated. I had hoped that they would be closer, but I never thought that they would have wanted to move here! "Mike, you have no idea how happy that makes me! Trust me, you are going to love it here. There is so much to do, so much to see! Unlike Rosewood, you can actually have some privacy in your life." I squealed with excitement.
He laughed, "We are too. Well, I've got to get to my next class. We'll talk again soon." he bid me farewell for the time being.
A/N So they are back home in D.C. after the funeral, and Mike's wedding date is set! How did you like this chapter? Please review and tell me what you think :)
XOXO ~ TotalCowGirl