(A/N: How will Shenzi and Chuckie's friends and families take the news of them moving? Find out below!)

Forever and Always

Ch. 20

Shenzi paced back and forth in her bedroom, as she waited for her and Chuckie's friends and her in-laws to come. She wondered how they would break the news of moving cross country to them. She hoped that they understand, and take it well. Chuckie managed to find an apartment building close to the Tripp HQ with good lofts, so they ultimately decided on it. It was going to be tough, but they'd pull through soon. "Shenzi?" Chuckie peeked in the room, holding 2-month-old Maya. "You okay, babe?"

"I'm just nervous about how we'll tell everyone we're moving in just 2 years," She replied.

"I know," He kissed her cheek, unable to hold her closer, "But it'll be fine. I'm sure they'll understand. And I'll be there with you, telling them as well. You're not alone."

She sighed, then nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Chuck." She kissed his lips.

"Anytime, Shen."

"Maya!" She cooed. "You want to see Grandma, Grandpa, and your uncles and aunties, huh?" She kissed Maya's cheek, as the infant giggled. She was wearing one of the Ariel onesies from the baby shower, complimenting her dark red hair. She also had Chuckie's beautiful brown eyes, his freckles already sprinkled on her cheeks, his ears, and his skin color. Although she inherited her grey skin tint, round black nose, and large eye shape from her mother, and her hair color was both of her parents' mixed together. She was the perfect combination of the loving couple. "It's gonna be a fun day!- I hope."

"We'll be alright," He assured her, "Let's wait downstairs." They joined her parents, who were unaware of the plans, in the living room to wait for their friends and his folks to come. Chuckie set Maya in the black and pink Alice in Wonderland play yard in the middle of the floor, then joined his in-laws and nervous wife on the couch.

"You alright, honey?" Felicia asked her, after breaking her gaze from her precious granddaughter.

"I'm fine," She replied, "I'm just... nervous about telling you what Chuckie and I will tell everyone else as well."

"We'll understand," Friar Tuck assured her, "You're both married now, and old enough to make your own decisions. We're not going to hold you back."

"Thanks, Dad, Mom." Her heart jumped in her throat when the doorbell rang. "Oh boy, everyone's here."

"I'll get it," Chuckie stood up, and answered the door, "Hey, guys. Come on in." He stepped aside, and the gang filed in. "We'll talk in the living room. You all can settle in, and see Maya first." He led them in, where they sat around the play yard.

"Hey, Maya!" Kira knelt down by the play yard.

"How's my favorite granddaughter?" Chaz joined her.

"She's looking great in that little onesie!" Kimi remarked. "How's she been doing?"

"G-good," Shenzi stammered.

"You alright?" Tommy asked her.

"Um, yeah," She nodded, "Just a little nervous about the news we have for you guys."

"Well, since it's hard on you, we'll let you just get it over with," Frankie suggested, "So it's not building up inside of you for too long." The gang sat by the furniture. "We're listening."

"Well... o-okay." She stammered, and Chuckie sat next to her for support. "Um... the thing is... uh... this is hard to say, but... Chuckie feels that we need more financial support, so... we decided to move to New Jersey," She made herself say.

"New Jersey?" Frankie stood up in surprise. "That's cross country."

"I know!" Shenzi almost cried. "That's why it's so hard!"

"Okay, I'm sorry," Frankie hugged her, "I didn't mean to make this harder for you. I was just surprised."

"How come you specifically picked New Jersey?" Kimi asked the couple. "Just out of curiosity."

"Because that's where the Tripp NYC headquarters are," Chuckie explained, "They have a job opening for a seamstress."

"Tripp NYC? Wow!" Frankie remarked. "Shen, that should be fun! You love that company!"

"Mm hmm," Shenzi nodded, "It's just going to be really difficult without you all close by." She hugged Frankie again. "And boys, we hate to leave the nursery vacant after all that hard work you did on it." Chuckie nodded in agreement.

"Don't give it another thought," Tommy assured them, "We were happy to do it."

"When are you guys leaving?" Dil asked them.

"A couple years," Shenzi replied.

"Well, we respect your decision," Felicia assured her.

"And Dad, we hate to quit our jobs at the Java Lava, but..." Chuckie said to Chaz.

"It's fine, son. I understand you two need to earn more money. What will you do?"

"Well, if Shenzi doesn't have much off time, I'll be a stay-at-home dad for Maya."

"Good for you. If she has enough off time, would you get a part-time job somewhere?"

"Absolutely," He nodded, "I want to be financially supportive too. I'd rather not make Shenzi do all the work."

"Well, I hope you both have good luck where you end up."

"Thanks, Dad." They shared a hug.

"At least we won't miss Maya's 1st birthday," Kimi brought up.

"Mm hmm," Shenzi nodded, "We don't want to make you guys drive 4 to 5 days just for the one day, so we're waiting until after. Maybe even after her 2nd birthday."

"Do you have an idea of a theme for her 1st?" Phil asked them.

"We're still talking about a mermaid theme," Chuckie replied.

"That sounds great!" Lil smiled. "I can't wait for that day!"

"Yeah, you're all invited," Shenzi brought up with a head nod, "I was thinking of using lilac and teal colors."

"That sounds beautiful," Felicia remarked, "I can make the cakes. One for us guests, and one for the birthday girl to smash up."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Anytime, honey. I can't wait for that day, although we have... 10 months to go."

"Yep," She nodded, "They'll fly by, I know it."

"Yes they will," Her mother agreed, "Your little baby is growing up." She turned to Maya, who was smiling at Kira from her laying place. She wasn't strong enough to sit up on her own just yet. "She's as beautiful as you, sweetie. The perfect combination of you two lovebirds."

"Thanks. She has Chuckie's beautiful eyes, and adorable freckles."

Kira prodded at the dangling toys, so they caught Maya's attention. "You like the White Rabbit, huh? You like the cute rabbit, Maya?" She drew back when the baby started crying. "Oh my!"

"Here, I got her," Chuckie rushed over, and lifted her out of the play yard, "What's the matter, Mayflower? Are you hungry?" He sniffed her diaper. "You seem clean. I bet you're hungry. Come on, let's get you a bottle. Shen, can you help?"

"Sure thing," She stood up, and followed him to the kitchen, "What should I do?"

"Can you hold Maya, while I prepare a bottle for her?"

"'Kay," She took the crying baby in her arms, "Shh, it's okay, baby. Daddy's going to get your bottle ready soon. I hope she doesn't end up being lactose entolerant like me."

"I'm sure she's alright." He finished after a few minutes, then gave her the bottle. "Here you go."

"Thanks. Here, Maya." She let the baby grip the bottle as she drank out of it. "There you go, sweetie." The couple walked back in the living room, where their families and friends were talking amongst themselves. "Hey, we're back."

"Sorry we took so long," Chuckie sat with his wife on the couch, "I had to make a bottle for her."

"It's okay," Felicia assured them.

"How did having her start on bottles go?" Kimi asked them.

"It was a little tough at first, but she pulled through," Shenzi replied.

"Soon, she'll start eating solids," Chuckie remarked, then sighed, "I can't believe it's already been 2 months since she came in this world."

"Me neither," Shenzi agreed, "Well um, I'm glad you guys respect our decision to move."

"Like I said earlier, we won't hold you back," Friar Tuck repeated, "You two go on and find your place in the world when you're ready. We won't stop you."

"Thanks Dad," Shenzi shared a hug with him, "I'm terrified, though."

"You'll be alright, sweetheart. You won't be alone out there."

"I, I know, but still."

"If you ever feel nervous, just come find me," Chuckie suggested, "But if in some rare occurrence where I'm not available, then call either of your parents."

"Okay," She nodded. "And plus it's not for another two years. We have plenty of time."

"Mm," She nodded.

That night, everyone had gone back to their homes, while Felicia and Friar Tuck were in bed. The young couple were in bed as well, but were the only ones awake in the house. Even Maya was asleep. "You okay, Shen?" Chuckie asked his wife.

"Yeah," She replied, "I'm just still nervous about moving."

"We'll be okay," He caressed her hair, "I'm sure it'll be hard at first, but we'll pull through. And remember the positives?"

"Mm hmm," She nodded, "We'll have more snow, and more money from new jobs."

"Exactly. And... I'm scared too, babe. I'm scared of being away from my parents, Kimi, your parents, Frankie, and all our friends. But... I'll have you there, and Maya too. You'll have me there with you, and Maya too." She let out a little giggle at his rhyme. "We'll be alright, and we have plenty of time before we go."

"O-okay," She nodded, "Thanks."

"Anytime," He kissed her lips, "Let's get some sleep."

"'Kaykay," She yawned, "G'night."

"G'night, babe." They shared an eskimo kiss, then fell asleep in each others' arms.

(A/N: Yeah, this was a bit of a boring chapter. XD You know the disclaimer. In at least 2 chapters, Maya will turn a year old!)