Hello and welcome to Chapter 20 of Why Wait! Hope everyone is enjoying this story. Reviews are amazing :) Trying to finish both this story up! :D Disclaimer... I own only original characters... (Zoey Natalie, Jaymie Jennifer, Michael, Thomas etc) If the person is living, they own themselves and I'm just borrowing them for the purpose of this FICTIONAL story :)

August 17th, 2012

"Mama, wake up, wake up!"

The sound of my daughter's voice infiltrated the room and I groaned as I rolled over.

"MAMA," She screamed, before starting to sob hysterically. My eyes shot open and I sat up quickly, looking over at my daughter who was sitting in the doorway.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked, getting up and going over to her.

"Daddy left without saying goodbye," She sobbed. I rushed out of the room and checked all of the rooms upstairs.

"Harry?" I called out. After hearing no reply, I felt my breathing pick up.

"Baby?" I yelled louder as I made my way downstairs. I ran through the bottom of the house and couldn't find him anywhere. The final place I checked was his study and I saw that it had been emptied out.

"Harry?" I said quietly, stepping forward into the room. There was nothing there and I ran back upstairs into my bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and saw his clothes were gone. I started crying and went over to the dresser opening it to see nothing in there either. Finally, my eyes caught onto something on the top of the dresser and I stared at it shocked, noticing how his wedding ring was resting on top. The top of the letter stated clearly that this was a 'Bill of Divorcement' and I started sobbing as I picked up the sticky note which said nothing but 'I met somebody else, someone who isn't damaged,'

"HARRY," I screamed before collapsing on the ground.

"Beth, wake up sweetheart, everything is okay,"

My eyes jolted open as I heard the familiar voice and I jumped out of the bed. I ran over to the dresser and opened it to see all of Harry's clothes neatly folded.

"Beth," He said but I ignored him as I started crying. I went over to the wardrobe and was relieved to see all his clothes their too, even the shirts that were scrunched up on the floor. Finally, I exited the room and went down to his study, seeing everything still there from the action figures, the laptop and the piles of paper.

"He's still here," I sighed, calming myself down.

"Baby, what's going on," Harry asked as he walked into his study. I froze when his hand pressed against my back and he rubbed it softly. I heard him sigh as he moved his hand from my bare back and he walked around to sit in his huge chair.

"What was your nightmare about?" He asked. I shook my head and slowly stepped over so I was next to the chair.

"When… after Dad passed away… Georgia started having nightmares. One time… I wasn't home. I'd gone out to just think. Every time she'd had a nightmare I was there to wake her up and make her realise it was just a dream. That night, I wasn't there," He said. I looked up at him closely and moved so I was sitting on the desk in front of him.

"I was stupid… I – I thought that getting drunk would help me with the pain. I… TJ ended up calling me and I could hear Georgia in the background screaming for me. I tried to speak but I was slurring. I passed out while I was on the phone to him. When I woke up, I was in hospital. I'd drank too much, they had to pump it out of me. Georgia was curled up by my side She'd had a nightmare that I'd died that night and when I wasn't there to comfort her, she thought it was true. Every night after then it killed me when she'd start screaming my name. Her nightmare was always that I'd died. That she'd lost both her brother and her Daddy," Harry said. I moved over so I was in his lap and started playing with his wedding band.

"Nix, you were screaming my name tonight," Harry said quietly.

"No I wasn't," I said, as I rotated his wedding band around his finger.

"Elizabeth Jean, do not even try to deny it," Harry said, making me frown.

"Ugh, I hate when you use my full name." I whispered.

"Well Elizabeth Jean, I think I might be using it until you start speaking," He said. I leant forward to press my lips against his and he moved his face so that I missed his lips. I settled at his ear and started nibbling on his lobe, smirking when he tried to get out of the predicament.

"Stop calling me Elizabeth Jean, Harry Francis." I whispered.

"Not until you open up to me and tell me what your nightmare was about El-Elizabeth Jean," He replied.

"I don't want to relive it," I said, avoiding his gaze.

"Baby," He said, sighing and resting his forehead against my shoulder. I knew he was upset at me and I shakily ran my hand through his hair.

"Zoey woke me up… she said you'd gone without saying goodbye. I looked everywhere for you… and you were gone. When I got down here… to your study… nothing was in here. I ran back upstairs… to the bedroom… your clothes were gone too. Then I saw… divorce papers and your wedding band… you'd left me for good," I whispered. Harry's hand rubbed up and down my thigh and I sniffed.

"I… I, I know it's stupid but it… it felt so real," I said, starting to tear up. Harry pressed his lips against mine and then he pulled back, allowing me to curl up in his lap with his huge arms wrapping around me protectively.

"This ring is never coming off baby. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Get some sleep beautiful," He said. I closed my eyes automatically at his request and within a few minutes, I had managed to go back into a relaxed sleep, the sound of Harry's heartbeat comforting me.

I woke up a few hours later, feeling small kicks from inside my stomach.

"Mama is trying to sleep," I whispered, sliding off of Harry's lap. I looked at the time and saw that it was six in the morning. Groaning, I made my way into the kitchen to finish cooking the cupcakes for today.

"Why are you up so early?" Harry's voice asked behind me, making me jump in surprise.

"These have to be done before everyone gets here," I said, hiding a yawn behind my hand.

"You want me to help?" Harry asked.

"By help do you mean do everything?" I chuckled.

"Sure baby," He said stretching slightly. I smiled softly as the babies started kicking again and I rubbed my belly.

"Stop it now," I gently scolded, smiling down at my belly. Harry bounded over to feel the kicks and he grinned when he felt them.

"I reckon it's two boys," He said.

"Do ya?" I asked.

"Yeah," He replied, rubbing my belly softly.

"Dr O'Malley thinks I might have to go on bed rest next month. Although he says that I'm still relatively small for a woman with twins inside of her," I said, as he started making the cupcakes.

"Mama, Daddy where are you?" Zoey screamed. I looked over at the clock to see it was now seven and then I looked at Harry.

"You go get her; I'll try and hide all the cupcakes. Harry said. I nodded and pressed my lips against his before heading out of the kitchen, seeing Zoey standing at the top of the stairs.

"Happy birthday Princess Zoey," I said, smiling at her softly. She grinned and bounded the stairs, hugging around my legs.

"Thank you Mama," She giggled, snuggling into me as much as she could.

"How old are you turning today?" I asked her.

"This many," She exclaimed holding out five fingers.

"No, only this many," I replied, showing her four fingers. She giggled and fixed up her fingers and I nodded my head.

"Auntie Nattie and Uncy Teejy coming todays," Zoey said, clapping her hands. I smiled and Harry walked out of the kitchen.

"There's my baby girl!" He said. Zoey let go of me instantly to run over to Harry and he lifted her up easily.

"Daddy I'm this many today," She said, holding four fingers out proudly.

"Happy Birthday to the most beautiful girl in the entire world," He said, leaning forward to pepper kisses all over her face, causing her to squeal excitedly.

"Presents, presents," She squealed pointing to the living room.

After Zoey had finally finished opening all her presents – a bicycle, a dollhouse and some dollies – we had managed to convince her to get ready for the little party that was happening at the house. It was nearly eleven o'clock by the time she was ready and the majority of the guests had arrived. I was finalising things in the kitchen when I realised something was missing… candles.

"Baby," I said, turning to face Harry.

"Hmm," Harry said.

"Do we have candles anywhere?" I asked. Harry thought about it for a moment and then shook his head.

"Nope, we don't have any," He replied.

"Dammit… I'm gonna quickly go to the store to get some. I'll be right back babe," I said. Harry nodded and leant over to kiss me, slipping his tongue into my mouth to prolong it. I smirked and pulled away, kissing his nose. I pulled his wallet out of his front pocket and took a twenty dollar bill from it.

"I don't want to use my card," I said, handing him back the wallet.

"You don't have to explain why you're taking the money Beth, it's your money too," Harry said. I smiled and kissed him again.

"I'll be back in five minutes," I said, before leaving the house.

Once I got to the shop, I walked – or rather waddled now that my belly made it feel that way – into the store and straight to the aisle that I knew the candles were in. I grabbed ones with love hears and butterflies patterned on them and I started walking down the end of the aisle.

"Hello there Elizabeth," A familiar voice said, before the person that I'd dreaded seeing ever again stepped in front of me.

"... Michael?" I whispered, taking a step backwards. He grinned as he stepped forward to me and his hand rested on my belly.

"So a congratulations is in order hmm?" He said, smirking up at me. I pushed his hand away and he grabbed my wrist, gripping it tightly.

"No need to make a scene Elizabeth," He said. I frowned and tried to pull away again.

"When are you due?" He said.

"Leave me alone," I responded, pushing him away.

"Tell my daughter Daddy said Happy Birthday and she'll be back home soon," Michael said.

"Her Daddy already told her Happy Birthday this morning," I shot back. Michael glared at me and ran his hand over my belly. I pushed away from him and walked towards the checkouts.

"I'll see you real soon sweetheart," Michael called out. I ignored him and didn't look back, wanting to get out of here as quickly as I possibly could.

When I got home, I was still visibly shaken from what happened at the store but I was hoping and praying that Harry wouldn't notice. I made my way back into the kitchen and my eyes connected with his instantly.

"What happened?" He asked automatically. I shook my head and trained my eyes down toward the floor.

"Beth… what happened?" He repeated.

"No-nothing," I said. Nattie walked in at that moment and Harry tilted me head upwards.
"Tell me what happened," He said seriously. I shook my head and took a step backward.

"Please… just drop it," I whispered, looking up at him and trying to silently plead with him.

"I'm not dropping it until you tell me!" He exclaimed, stepping forward to slide his fingers through mine. I shook my head again and exited the kitchen, hoping that Harry would just forget about it, so I could too.

Uh oh! Michael is back in the picture! That could only mean trouble! Part II of Zoey's birthday will be up soon. Please read and review :D :D