Title: In Trusting Eyes
Chapter: Fourteen
Summary: Caroline finds out the results of a drug store pregnancy test.
A/N: I'm sorry that this story has been so slow. I just haven't had much time to work on it. I have been swarmed with stuff to do this month.
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Airport, read the sign in metallic gold lettering. Ryo shook his head, realizing that he had spent way too much time in and around this building. He had decided to bring Caroline with him to the airport. The poor woman was nervous and needed a little drive. "Do you see your kid?" she asked, as they pulled in front of the airport, at the terminal Bikky was supposed to be coming from.
He shook his head. "No I don't." But the instant the words came from him, he found his son and Cal standing by a large stone memorial. He honked the car's horn, too delighted to see both of them there.
Bikky opened the door, allowing the girl to slide further into the backseat, and then he followed. Ryo found himself marveling at his son's grownup look, even though the last time he'd seen him was little over a week before.
"Hey," Bikky said, smiling. Cal found herself suppressing a giggle to see Bikky's macho behavior interfering with his delight at seeing his father. It was just the cutest thing in the world. She found herself slinking in the back, just watching.
"That's for sure," Ryo said, looking about as if he were having trouble keeping his eyes on the traffic around him. At that moment, everyone realized just how sentimental he really was. He laughed off the feeling of vulnerability by forcing his eyes ahead of him. "It's great that everything went all right. And I might add… it's a little shocking to see two of you here."
Cal just about hit the roof of the car as she bounced out of her seat in defense. "Sorry if I'm intruding on your family… I'll get a hotel room or something, but I just didn't want Bikky going all by himself!"
"That's fine." Ryo twisted his head just enough to glance at the young couple. "I'm happy to know someone was keeping him out of trouble. Plus, you're as good as family young lady."
Caroline laughed, amazed at the adorable family sitting in the veichle with her. "You're all perfectly welcome to stay at my mother's home. It's large and Mother loves having people around." She could not help the soft laughter exiting her. Ryo was such a family man!
Ryo sprung to life, realizing that he was talking very rapidly. Dee had once called him out on that. "You talk really fast when you're nervous," Dee had said winking. "Why is that?"
Ryo grinned, just thinking about that. "Sorry you guys…. Sorry so much. This is Caroline, she's a friend of my family's. She's just another member of it, to be exact."
Caroline laughed, an amused look coming on her young face. "Hi kids," she said with a nervous giggle. "Like he said, I'm Caroline and I'm along for the ride."
Introductions all around him, Ryo leaned back into his seat and moved to get home as quickly as possible. Dee, Evelen and Arianne were waiting for them to arrive. 'This is really, really nice,' he thought. 'And all of this time I was convinced I didn't have a family.'
To nobody's surprise, they were greeted by three anxious people on the front porch. Dee practically jumped from where he was sitting the moment the car pulled in. This made Ryo laugh. When Bikky got out of the car, Evelen clasped her hands over her mouth.
"Ryo!" she said in shock. "Don't tell me that this young man is the 'little boy' you've talked so much about!"
Ryo laughed, and Bikky took it humorously, which made Ryo grin helplessly. "Bikky, this is Evelen."
The old woman shook Bikky's hand, and smiled like she had a deep dark secret.
"What is it mom?" Caroline asked, watching as her mother stood there beaming. Sometimes Evelen had the oddest of reactions. "You look ecstatic over something…"
"Look at this Caroline!" she yelled, her voice escalating with excitement. "This is a beautiful family… it's just amazing sweetheart. It proves to me that there is hope for us all."
Just as the final hopeful word was said, the little girl who had been patiently watching ran into Ryo's arms. She was babbling something about her Ryo. This made him chuckle. Dee had said it so often in the last week, that "My Ryo," was a new part of Arianne's vocabulary. As embarrassing as he claimed, Ryo loved every second of it.
"Look who we have here," Dee said quietly, admiring his handiwork on the girl's vocabulary. "Well, well… it's a good thing you're back. Your little princess has been waiting – very impatiently I might add."
"I guess she got her patience from her daddy," Caroline said, stepping gingerly. She seemed to shudder with each step, nerves over her impending problems touching her behavior.
When Cal finally gathered the bag she was holding, which was falling apart, the young woman stepped out of the car. Dee smiled, and Cal immediately rushed and hugged him. She dropped her broken baggage on the floor.
"Told you I was gonna take good care of him." She smiled smugly, and Dee couldn't help but smile stupidly.
"Good job?" he asked, an amused smile on his face.
"Yeah, she did all right I guess." Bikky, from the corner spoke sarcastically, but his attention turned immediately back to Ryo. "So, when do we wipe the smug look off of that rich slimeball?"
"Bikky!" Cal from the other side of the lawn shook her head. "Don't be an idiot already!"
"Soon." Ryo's statement was innocent enough, but it gave Bikky a big rush of protectiveness. He came very close to his son, wanting to speak more privately. "Things go okay down there?"
Bikky nodded. "Oh my god, Ryo, you'll never guess," Bikky said, his eyes wide. "She got the witch to apologize to me."
"You mean her aunt?"
"Of course I do."
"Okay then, that's great." Ryo smiled, speaking to his son like he was still the ten year old he had picked up so long ago, but with so much more respect. "Told you she wasn't so bad. You're with an amazing girl though, that is no doubt."
Bikky nodded, sticking outside with Ryo as the others moved inside of the building. He decided that now was the best time to say something that sounded good. "Um… so that's the kid, right?" he asked uncomfortably.
"Yeah."
"Wow… I guess I kind of … don't say a word about this, but I like kids," Bikky cringed, looking at his dad. "I'll do anything to help you take care of her."
Ryo felt a surge of happiness, and he relished it. It would be short lived, but Bikky knew that everything just had to be calm for a few more days. In two days, all hell would break loose.
When they entered the large building, Evelen was in the front room, speaking to Caroline in hushed tones. Caroline noticed them, quieted herself, and spoke to them. "Well , Ryo, you have the most beautiful family I've ever seen in my entire life. Dee and that lovely young girl took Arianne upstairs to play for a little while."
"Dee's too much…" Ryo said.
"That man of yours sure likes kids," giggled Caroline. "But he won't let anyone know of course."
Bikky and Ryo exchanged a glance, and headed up to the room, allowing Caroline and Evelen the respective privacy.
"Wow, this is huge," Bikky stated as they entered the child's room. Arianne was showing Dee some toys from a bucket, probably ones she'd had for all of her life. Children tended to take the oddest interests, but Dee was staring intently.
"Hey guys," Cal said, watching as Dee was holding up some figurines. "Oh my gosh, Bikky, she's just the most adorable thing ever."
He nodded, not objecting. For awhile he just watched with Ryo, as the game went on. It was the cutest thing he had ever seen. But time couldn't be frozen forever.
"Hey," Ryo said, touching Bikky on the shoulder. "Do you want to come with me? I've got to go into the city and pick up a packet of paper from my lawyer. Now that you're added into this fiasco, there's a lot more to deal with."
"Sure thing," Bikky said, and headed downstairs behind his father.
Caroline and Evelen were standing together once again, but this time, they both seemed on edge. "Oh are you leaving Ryo?" Caroline said with a shaky voice. Her hands were trembling as well.
"I was going to go pick some papers up from Miss Hansen," Ryo said. "Why? Caroline, are you okay?"
"Do you have to go right away?"
"No, just before five." Ryo was serious as he reached for his friend's hand. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing serious!" Caroline raised her hands in defense. "I know I look like death, and it's only been about a minute. I just want you to stick with me until the results show."
"I keep telling you baby," Evelen said, her voice soothing. "You are probably pregnant, and if you are then it is the gift you and Steven have been waiting for."
"It could bring so much peace to our hectic lives," Caroline consented. "But what if Steve hates the idea of having three children?"
"Steven will not."
Ryo moved silently to Caroline's side, and held her, moving to the sofa. "I think you having a baby would be a wonderful thing," he told her, whispering each word. "I think we all would benefit from you bringing us something beautiful."
"Ryo…"
"And we'll support you like you've supported us. You'll have me and Dee on your side as well."
"Thanks," Caroline leaned into Ryo, and without words, stood again and entered the bathroom. Nobody said a word. Ryo stared at Bikky, trying to distract himself.
Caroline returned, and her hands weren't shaking anymore. Her eyes were wide and her face was plastered with a tiny smile. "Well Mom," she said softly, embracing Evelen with all of her strength. "You know how you thought you were never going to see a grandchild born… Well mom, you were wrong."
The woman's demeanor had changed in an instant. Horrible nerves had given way to a softer, bouncier Caroline. "I… I can't believe it!" Evelen stammered and Caroline moved to the others.
"I'm very, very happy about this," she told Ryo, containing her excitement. "Oh my, this is wonderful."
"I am so happy for you," he told the woman, thrilled at her new delight. "What brought on this change of outlook?"
"No more fear," the woman stated, smiling at him. "I'm not feeling any anxiety of all. And I'm anticipating Steve's reaction – oh Ryo, he's gonna be thrilled!"
For a moment, Ryo just watched as Caroline spoke rapidly, stating her obvious delight. "Oh my gosh Ryo, I've got to go upstairs and tell Dee! Is Ari up there too? Oh good, I'll be back!"
He looked at her, and felt that she was a different woman. "I've got to go pick up a packet of paperwork," he said, getting his first words in five minutes.
"Hurry back!" she called, halting halfway up the staircase. "My baby and I will be waiting for you!"
Pulling his son to follow him, Ryo walked out of the house, laughing at the dramatic Caroline. Seeing his friend as an excited first time mother was a beautiful sight, but he had to get to his lawyer's offices before something else in her busy schedule conflicted.
"You're late." Leila Hansen's first statements to Ryo were less that comforting. He appreciated his lawyer's hard work and devotion to her cases, but Leila Hansen was stern and punctual. She believed that without exact, proper care, Ryo's case would fail.
Bikky gave Ryo a quick glance of concern, but Ryo just smiled pleasantly as always. "I'm so sorry Miss Hansen," he said respectfully. "There was a personal announcement in my family, and I was delayed."
"You're going to be delayed when you lose this custody battle," she said in an overly pleasant tone. "Please, Mister Maclean, refrain from being late again. I run things differently then most… on my terms."
"Sorry ma'am…" he said, somewhat subdued. "Now what did you need me to take?"
The lawyer nodded quickly, pulling a red folder out from beneath her. "The process of these forms is simple," she said curtly. "Take these to the man contesting you and get him to sign the first form. Then you fill out the rest with the required information on him. Any questions?"
"When do I need to have them to you?" he asked her.
"Tonight."
He nodded again, feeling once again intimidated by the disciplined woman. He tapped Bikky on the shoulder, leading the young man out of the room.
"Gorilla Lady!" Bikky burst out, the moment they'd exited the building. "She's on your side?"
"I know, she's horrible," Ryo said, laughing nervously. "But she's incredibly cunning and sometimes a bit underhanded. She's incredibly intelligent."
"Still something out of a horror movie."
"Yeah."
"So," Bikky said, as the car began to move. "Are you going to get that paper signed?"
Ryo nodded. "You don't mind?"
"No." 'I want to size him up,' Bikky thought angrily. 'No different than any other jerk trying to push someone around.'
AN: Yes, an annoying cliffhanger. But I'm really trying to plan what I want to do from here… so bear with me! I'd rather have a short good chapter than a long one that has no purpose.