Chapter 12: Is It Reunion Time Already?
The Whole Family's Here

"Hey, Hey, calm down. We're almost there." Troy looked at me in the rear-view mirror.

We were on our way to my house from the hospital, and I was ecstatic, and a little scared.

Chad was throwing me a 'Welcome Home' party. It was a small party, or at least I hope so. Chad told me he had only invited Taylor and Ryan.

I was happy that I was going to see them for the first time in weeks, but I was a little worried.

This was the first time anyone, except Chad, would meet Troy and it worried me.

What if they see that somethings not right? What if they notice how big Troy is? What if they figure it out?

I had asked my questions and vented my worries with Troy earlier when we were laying down in the hospital bed.

'Don't worry,' Troy had said. 'They won't know a thing unless you, or Chad,' he had sneered Chad's name. 'Tell them. But I'm sure neither of you will, and they won't see it, ok?" I had agreed and then he kissed me.

But I was still a little anxious. We had just drove into my drive way. Ryan's car was parked in front of the house.

They were here!

Troy got out and walked around the car and opened the door for me. I took his hand and he helped me out the seat, then I grabbed the baby carrier.

We walked to the front door and I hesitated with the door knob. I looked up at Troy, uncertain.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. "Don't worry." He whispered in my ear. "It's all gonna go fine."

I nodded against his chest and pulled away. He kissed me for a minute, before pulling away.

I took a deep breath before turning and opening the door.

As soon as I stepped through the door, a chorus of 'Welcome Home's rung through the house.

I had to shush them before the woke the baby.

The only people there was Chad, Ryan, and Taylor. Just how I wanted it. All I wanted.

Taylor was the first one to come over to me. She hugged me for a long time until she noticed the baby carrier in my hand. "Is this her?" She asked tentatively. I nodded. "Can I hold her?"

"Wait, lets sit down first." She nodded and we went and sat down.

Ryan and Taylor took the love seat, Ivan took the recliner, and Troy and me took the couch, Anna's carrier in-front of us.

I looked around. There was a few decorations put up, but not much.

"Can I hold her now?"

"No. Usually I'd let you, but she's sleep. I don't want to wake her up."

"Oh, so how old is she?"

"Two weeks. She was actually suppose to be born today, but she was two weeks early. I guess she wanted to see me as much as I wanted to see her."

"Oh." A strange silence entered the room. I fidgeted with my hands in my lap.

I hated these types of silences.

Troy saw my actions and wrapped an arm around my waist. He pulled me closer to him and kissed the side of my head. This action caught Taylor's eye and she looked at us.

"So," She started. "is this Anna's father?" She pointed at Troy.

"Mhm. Troy, this is Taylor and Ryan, my friends. Taylor and Ryan, this is Troy, my-my boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, man." Ryan reached across the small place and shook Troy's hand.

"Yes, nice to finally meet you." Taylor said and shook his hand. I saw her eye him then look at me. The look in her eyes reminded me of that day in the bathroom. I remembered it clearly. She had called him nasty, cruel, and a monster. She even had accused him of being like Donny.

I had to look away from her eyes. He was not at all like Donny, anymore. Instead, I looked down at Anna. She was moving around, starting to wake up. I saw her open her eyes and blink a few times before she started to cry.

Everyone's head turned in her direction.

I leaned down and picked her up and started to sway her.

"Is she hungry?" Troy asked.

"No, she's just crying. Or she probably just wants attention." I cooed and smiled as she grabbed my pinky and started to suck on it. I was amazed that this stopped her crying. I sat back in the couch and sighed as Troy's arm tightened around me.

Taylor came over and sat on the other side of me. She reached over my arm and touched her cheek. "Shes beautiful." Taylor cooed. "Ryan come over and look." Ryan walked over and leaned and looked over Taylor's shoulder.

"She's a beauty. She looks so much like you, Shar." Ryan smiled at me and winked.

"You should see her eyes. They are lovely." I said smiling up at Troy. He rolled his eyes but smiled back.

I looked back down at Anna and saw her open her eyes. "Oh my. You're right. Her eyes are magnificent." Taylor said.

"Yep. She has her father's pretty gray-blue eyes."

"Yep. That's the only new thing she has. The only asset you don't." Ryan said.

"Yet shes absolutely perfect." Troy said. I could hear the smile in his voice. When I looked up, there it was. He was smiling down at me. I smiled back.

"Beware guys. They're about to start kissing." Again he was right. Troy used his free hand to cup my cheek and leaned his face down to kiss me. The arm around my waist tightened as he deepened the kiss. My arms didn't move because of the reason that I had my two week old baby in them. I heard someone say something, but I couldn't concentrate on it. Every time Troy would kiss me I would lose full concentration off everything else. Then I heard it louder. "STOP! Damn." I broke away from Troy, since he wasn't going to, and blushed. "We should keep it PG you guys. There is a baby in the room." Chad said. I blushed deeper and looked down at Anna. She was asleep again. I kissed her forehead and laid her back in the carrier. Then I yawned. "Ok, I think its time for the new mother to go to sleep, cause she'll need it. Trust me." Chad said and got up. Taylor and Ryan did the same.

"Hes right. We'll be going now." Ryan said.

"I'll be back tomorrow." Taylor said.

They all waved and left. I yawned again.

"He's right, as much as I hate to say it. It is time for you to go to bed. Come on." Troy pulled me off the couch, picked up the carrier, and walked upstairs. When we got there, I was surprise.

Beside the crib from two weeks earlier was a changing table. The changing table matched the crib and was exactly right. On top of the changing table was a whole bunch of baby clothes for girls. The crib was filled with toys and stuffed animals. And on the floor in front of the crib and changing table was a whole lot of bags diapers, pacifiers, and other stuff.

"Oh my gosh!" I breathed. "Look at all this stuff."

"Yea. Taylor, Ryan, and Chad decided to buy you stuff since you didn't have a baby shower."

"They brought all of this?"

"Yea, but most of the clothes are from Taylor. The stuff in the crib is from Ryan, and everything on the floor is from Chad."

"Then who is the changing table from?"

"Its from me."

I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at all the stuff. I saw Troy bend over and scoop Anna out the carrier. He moved all the toys and bears out the crib and laid Anna in the crib. I walked over to the crib and kissed Anna on her tiny forehead.

I pulled back and smiled down at her. She looked so peaceful and serene. I yawned again.

"Its time for mommy to go to bed." He grabbed my hand and lead me to my bed. He laid me down on my bed and kissed me on my forehead. He was about to stand up, but he wasn't getting away that easily. I pulled his face back down and put my lips over his. I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled his body on top of mine.

We stayed like that for a while, until he decided to break away. "You should really get some sleep."

"Ok."

"And I should go." He said as he got up. I grabbed his arm before he could walk away from the bed. He looked down at me.

"Stay." I mumbled.

"No. I should go. You won't get any sleep with me here."

"Yes I will, now lay down." I scooted over to make room for him. He laid down next to me and I snuggled into his side. He wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled his face into my hair.

A feeling of comfort swept over me and I was under in twenty seconds.

Ten Weeks Later

I was woke to a start by a cry. I kicked my legs off the bed and, almost automatically, walked over to the crib to pick Anna up.

This had been the routine for me for the past two and a half months.

It was very tiring.

I hadn't had a good nights sleep in months, but this was motherhood and I had no problem with it.

So I bent down to scoop Anna up in my arms, but she wasn't there.

I stood up, alert, and looked around until my eyes landed on one corner of my room. Troy was sitting in the rocking chair with Anna in his arms. He looked up and smiled at me.

"What are you doing here? I thought you left."

"I did, but then I figured: You've been doing this alone for almost three months. I should at least help you out ad give you a good nights rest." I yawned.

"Oh, thank you." I said and laid back in my bed.

"But I think shes hungry." I signed and got right back up. "I know, I know." I heard Troy's voice right beside me now. "I'll get her next time, because there's nothing I can do when shes hungry."

"Its ok. Hand me her." He put her in my arms. I pulled down the straps of my shirt and pulled down my bra. I started to feed her. I sat back against the head board and waited. Anna was three months now and she was getting big. She had been sleeping a tad bit longer and ate more often and longer. She usually woke me up in the middle of the night to feed, then slept for about five or six hours, then woke up and was hungry again or she need to be changed.

I guess I dozed off because next thing I knew Anna was out of my arms and I was being tucked in.

I woke up, I'm not sure how many hours later, and sat up in my bed. I looked around.

By the amount of light coming in the room that it was probably noon.

I felt weird, something special was happening today. I just can't remember. I knew it was July 16th, but that didn't ring any bells.

I swung my legs off the bed and went over to the crib. She wasn't there again. I looked around my room, but I didn't see anything.

"Maybe my mom has her downstairs." I mumbled to myself.

Flashback

My mom had been a little mad when she found out about Anna. Anna had been home about two weeks and had woke up my mom with her crying. My mom came into the room to tell me to stop the racket, but then she noticed the infant. She woke me up instantly and demanded that I hush that baby.

As I put Anna back to sleep, I had gave her my finger to suck on, she had asked me for an explanation. I explained to her that Anna was me and Troy's daughter. I could tell she was surprised. All she could say was, 'You were pregnant for 8 1/2 months and I didn't notice?' I nodded. She was sad and apologized for not being there. She said that she was just trying to keep a roof over our heads and give me the best life possible. I nodded in understanding, the told her it was alright. 'I don't blame you.' I had said. She sighed and stroked Anna's head.

'I guess I'll be supporting you and my beautiful grandchild now.' She said and smiled at Anna, who was still sucking on my finger.

End of Flashback

She was very helpful with Anna, buying Anna bottles she would need very soon, in a matter of months, and a play pen.

I walked out my room and started down the stairs. It was very quiet, I wonder...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" A chorus of voices greeted me when I got to the bottom of the stairs.

I screamed and jumped a little, startled and surprised by the people there.

There was my mom, Troy, Anna (Troy was holding her), Ryan, Taylor, Chad, and my older sister, Gabriella. The living room was decorated in ribbons, streamers, balloons, and...presents?

I was knocked out of my thoughts by a voice.

"Happy 17th Birthday! How do you feel?" Taylor asked as she grabbed my hand and led me deeper into the room

"I'm surprised. I had totally forgot that it was my birthday."

"Well we didn't!" Ryan said as he hugged me, a little too tight. Once he pulled away, my mother came over and hugged me.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart."

"Thank you mom."

"You're welcome."

I hugged Gabriella next.

"I'm so glad to see you."

"Me too, and I can't wait for your explanation and the story of my baby niece later." She whispered in my ear. I sighed and pulled away.

"Will do." I told her. I noticed all the presents then looked at Troy. "Its present time!" I said.

Everybody nodded and I walked up to Troy and smiled.

"Kissing Time." I heard Chad whisper to someone.

"Thank you." I said to Troy.

"Anything for you." He smiled and leaned down to kiss me. I heard Chad say 'I told you so' to someone. The kiss lasted a few seconds until someone cleared their throat. My mother.

We pulled away, me blushing a little, and went into the living room with everyone else.

I sat on the couch, Troy beside me, and was handed a gift from Chad. I opened up the present and it made me smile. "A bracelet?" I asked him.

"Yep, the one you said you wanted a few months ago. Its from me and my mom."

"Thank you." Since he was sitting right next to me, I hugged him.

I pulled away and looked around. "Whose next?" I looked around.

When I turned toward Troy, I saw a look in his eyes. It was the same look from in the hospital months ago and it scared and worried me. I looked away from him and grabbed the first present insight.

By the end of the day, both me and Anna had gotten something for my birthday.

It was time for the cake, my favorite, when Anna started to cry.

"Give her to me. Shes hungry." I said as I got her from Troy's arms. "I'll be in the kitchen, enjoy the cake." I excused myself.

I sat at the table and started to feed her. She was done after 15 minutes, and I burped her then started to put her to sleep. She was sucking on my finger again.

"Shes beautiful." I heard a voice, and looked up to see Gabriella walking over to us. I pulled up my shirt.

"Thank you." She pulled a seat and sat in front of me.

"She looks so much like you, well except her eyes."

"I know, she has her father's eyes."

"Who I suppose is the man I saw you kiss?"

"Yep."

"To tell you the truth, I was quite surprised when mom told me that you had a baby."

"I know. Who would have expected that I'd get knocked up at sixteen?" I said and laughed, no humor what-so-ever.

"That too, but I wasn't speaking of that. I was always under the influence that we were close as sisters."

"We are." I was really confused at where she was going.

"So why didn't you tell me?" Oh! "Why didn't you tell me when you found out that you were pregnant? We use to tell each other everything."

I shrugged. "I just didn't think I could tell anyone."

"You could have told me! Do you know how it felt not to know that I had a new niece? That you were pregnant? That you were even having sex!" I just sat there listening. She needed to vent.

I let her calm down before I spoke. She took a deep breath. "Ok, now listen. I'm very sorry for not telling you. It just...didn't cross my mind at the time. But you got to understand why. I was under a lot of...pressure. I was really stressed. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."

"Tell me how it happened."

I shifted Anna, who was sleeping in my arms, and looked at Gabriella. "Its a long story."

"Well, I won't make you tell me today, but tomorrow. The full story."

"Of course."

"Lets go get some cake." Gabriella said and got up. I followed her.

It was later in the day, about nine at night, when everybody had left, and now I was closing the door behind them.

"That was great." I said. I turned around and was surprised when I ran right into Troy's arms.

"You loved it?"

"Yea, it was amazing and the presents were great. But I didn't get yours...?"

"Thats because I have to give you your present alone," He leaned down and kissed me. "upstairs," he kissed me again. "in your room," again."on your bed." He pulled me into a long and deep kiss.

"Guys! Save it for later, when you're alone." Gabby said when the kiss got deeper. I pulled away.

"Sorry Gabby." Then I turned back to Troy and whispered. "What about Anna?"

"Gabby says she'll keep her for a while."

"But what if she gets hungry?"

"You just fed her. She won't be hungry for a long time."

"Well, okay. Lets go upstairs." I smiled as Troy pulled me in up the stairs.

"Make sure you keep it down." Gabby said.

Troy pulled me in the room, locked the door, and started undressing us. He laid me on the bed and started to kiss me.

The next day was very awkward.

I was finishing up changing Anna when Gabby came and asked me if I was ready to explain. I nodded.

I put Anna in her crib then went and sat by Gabby on the bed. "I'm listening."

I was gonna have to improvise. "Well, me and Troy met at the mall one day, and though you might not believe it, it was love at first sight. He asked me out and we went out. After about a month, we became real serious. So one night, after me, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor came from the movies, I invited Troy over. We were hanging out in my room, just talking, when he kissed me."

"So he pressured you?"

"No, he pulled away but I pulled him back. The kissing intensified and I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him on top of me. He pulled away when I pulled off his shirt and asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this. I told him I did. We started to take off each others clothes and he started kissing and touching me everywhere. Everywhere he touched me it felt like fire."

"And how was it? Was it everything you wanted?"

"Everything I wanted and more. Amazing even. So after we had finished we were lying on my bed. He turned to me and asked me what I thought. I told him that it was great and that I didn't want to stop and that I was okay." Gabby shot me a confused look. "He was worried because I had started bleeding while he was moving in and out of me. He thought that he had hurt me while we were having sex, and I had to inform him that it usually happened during a girl's first time. Anyways, so after that we continued to have sex, always here because his parents were always home and he didn't want them walking in on us. So a few months later, I started to feel sick all the time and a bunch of other things and I automatically knew I was pregnant."

"So you two never used a condom?"

"No, and here we are."

"Thats a story. Now I somewhat understand. So what was he like when you told him?"

"He was very understanding. More than I ever thought he would be. He helped out, brought my maternity clothes, and scheduled my doctor's appointment. He even got the crib and the changing table."

"Wow."

"Yea, I was surprised he took it well. I thought he would seriously leave me." Before Gabby could respond there was another voice in the room.

"Ouch, I'm hurt you think of me that way." I turned to the door and Troy was there, smiling widely at us. He came over and sat beside me. He wrapped an arm around me and kissed me.

"Hi Troy."`

"What are we talking about?"

"Pay was just telling me how helpful you were when you found out that she was pregnant."

"Oh yeah."

"How did you find out?"

"We were up here in her room and she was real fidgety so I kissed her. We started to pull off each others clothes, and when I took off her shirt, I noticed her baby bump. I asked her and she admitted it." As he said this, he started to rub my stomach.

"How did you feel about that?"

"I was ecstatic. I was extremely happy that I got her pregnant. But I didn't get her pregnant on purpose, it was merely an accident. Even though we are young, it was amazing to know she was carrying apart of both of us, our little angel, inside of her."

"How old are you by the way? Pay never told us." We both looked at Troy, curious as to what he was going to say.

"I'm gonna be twenty tomorrow."

Gabby took the question right out my mouth. "Really?" His birthday was tomorrow? "You're 19?"

"Yep."

"Wow. That's an age difference."

"No, its not. Three years is nothing. Remember that guy that was thirty and you were nineteen?" I asked her.

"I know, and its been two years, so you can forget about it."

"Not likely."

"I should've known he was older, you always liked older boys." She turned to Troy and smiled then started to talk to him. "All her boyfriends have been older then her: when she was five she held hands with eight year olds. When she was seven, ten year olds gave her valentine cards. And when she was fourteen she dated the seventeen year old named Donny. He..." She trailed off and stopped when she saw the pained expression on my face.

I had felt a pang of hurt and anger run through my body when she said his name.

Troy looked from my expression to Gabby's. "He what?"

"Nothing."

"What? I really want to know." I turned to him and gave him a peck on the lips.

"Seriously, its nothing. He was just a bad choice on my part."

"A very bad choice." I heard Gabby whisper and glared at her.

"Can you please tell me? I really want to know." He begged. I looked at him and searched his eyes. After a few minutes he smiled and kissed me. "I won't get mad. I promise.''

I sighed. "Go ahead." I said and laid my head against his chest.

"Well when Pay was 14, she had just gotten to high school. One day she runs into this boy named Donny and they started to talk. He asked her out. They were the cutest thing for the first few months, but then they got really serious. I noticed that the way they touched and kissed each other was very sensual and sexual. Once, I was walking around the hallways at school, I was in my senior year at the same high school, and saw them skipping class to make out. They were in the part of the school that nobody, not even the teachers, went in, and I was glad. He had her up against a locker, like him and her body were so close you wouldn't be able to stick one sheet of paper to them, with his lips kissing, more like sucking, on her neck. She had one hand in his hair, the other up his shirt- or that's where I hope it was, I don't want to think about where else it might have been-her eyes closed, biting her lip, and one leg wrapped around his waist. He stood in between her legs with one of his hands was holding her leg up on his side while the other was gripping her waist, slowly moving under her shirt. The hand on her leg was slipped under her skirt doing God knows what. He was also moving, this slow, steady movement, and I could see him rubbing up against her. It looked too sexual to me, and I got worried. Especially when she moaned like they were having sex right there in the hallway." I looked down in my lap and blushed. I remembered that day, but didn't know that Gabby had seen the whole thing. That was one of the very private moments that Donny and I had shared."I asked Shar and she assured me that they weren't having sex and that she was still a virgin. She told me that they were just in love. I didn't believe that. What does a fourteen year old know about love? So one Friday night they had went on a date and were walking in the park when...um... I don't remember everything. Shar, you tell him." I rolled my eyes then glared at her.

"Sure, so one day...hold up." I turned back to Gabby. "If I'm telling him the story, why are you here?" She playfully pushed me then walked out the room. I smiled as the door closed then frowned back at Troy. "I really don't want to tell you this story."

"Then why did you tell her you would?"

"I wanted her to leave so that we could be alone." I ran my hands down his chest. Though he tried to hide it, I felt him shudder lightly.

"Well...okay, but I want to hear about it before I leave."

"Sure." I smiled, not really intending on telling him anything. "You're going to be twenty tomorrow?"

He smiled and pulled me closer to him on his lap. "Thats a few years off, but its close enough."

"So your birthday really is tomorrow?"

"Yep."

"You're gonna be the double two right?" He nodded as he started to trail kisses down my neck. "Are you gonna celebrate it?"

"Mhm. I'm going to my mom's and dads." He mumbled, still kissing my neck.

"Oh. So I have to give you your present now no?"

"Absolutely, I would love an early birthday present." He smiled and kissed me.

Later that evening, I was up thinking. There was something wrong about the conversation that was between Gabriella, Troy, and I, but I couldn't figure out. A certain...undertone to her words that I hadn't noticed before. I don't know what made it pop into my head and make me think of it, but it was there now and I wanted to know what. I looked at Troy sleeping perfectly calm and peaceful beside me with me wrapped up in him, and decided that it was nothing. I was just getting ahead of myself. I wasn't going to worry about anything. I was at home, sleeping in my own bed, the man I loved was sleeping right beside me, and my family- my little girl Anna, my mom, Chad, Taylor, and even Ryan- was surrounding and covering me with love and support.

Nope, I wasn't going to worry about a darn old thing.

R&R Please.
Bre