Falling Fast
Disclaimer
I only own Hannah Montana in my dreams. However, I do own everything that you don't recognize. Tee hee.
Chapter #20B
We're Both in this Together
"You'll be a really good mom Miley, I can tell." I felt a hot blush taking over my face. "You calmed Michelle down in a second and look how much she trusts you! She cries in Lily's arms, but she's fine with you. If you can do that, then you're definitely a great mom in the making."
"Thanks." I said, hefting Michelle higher on my hip. She gave a big yawn and wrapped her tiny arms around my neck, snuggling into the curve of my neck. As her breathing slowed I patted her back, letting her fall asleep on my shoulder. Maybe, hopefully, it would be this easy.
FALLING FAST B
Four days later, it was the Truscott's last day in Malibu, and my birthday. Dad let me sleep in until noon and have a lazy day until five that night, at which time her ordered me to "get up, get dressed, and get moving" so I did. I pulled on a cute maternity dress, roped my hair into a low pony, and slid my feet into my favorite pair of sparkly flip flops. Just as I sat in the car he placed a pink blindfold across my face.
"Dad!" I squealed in protest. "Not cool!"
"Just for a little bit." He promised.
"Dad!" I squealed again, "this can't be good for the baby!"
"How can blindfolding you be bad for the baby?" he scoffed.
"It causes stress!" I proclaimed, "Duh!"
"Oh really." He said skeptically.
"Yeah, really."
"If you're calm enough to put up that sensible an argument then you're not under stress."
"Maybe I'm just good under pressure!" That made him laugh, but I didn't see what was so funny. Before I could respond he put on my favorite Top 40 station for the rest of the ride.
FALLING FAST B
When we arrived at our destination someone opened my door and took my hand, helping me out of the van.
"Can I take the blindfold off now?" I asked.
"No." Heather answered, taking me in one hand.
"Not far to go." Lily assured me, taking my other hand. I let them lead me, complaining the whole way. Finally, they told me to pull of the blindfold. I pulled it away to see a crowd of people. I was at a local bowling alley, and in front of me was a table of some of my very favorite people in the world, and one of my least. All of the Truscott's I'd ever met were there in party hats with big smiles. Jackson, Oliver, and Owen were standing off to the side, smiling at me. With them were three of my relatives, Aunt Dolly, Uncle Bobby Ray, and his daughter, the evil of all evils, my cousin Luann.
"Hey darling." Owen whispered, stepping forward. He placed one tentative hand on my stomach, the other on my waist. He leaned in and I inhaled his scent, one that I hadn't smelt in more than a month. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before moving to stand behind me. He let the hand on my stomach lazily move across the expanse to my waist while moving his other hand to my other side. I leaned into him and he held me close. "Happy Birthday." He whispered, pecking my cheek again.
"Thanks" I whispered, blushing. Everyone was still right in front of us and I was embarrassed.
"Let's get this party started!" Heather exclaimed, breaking apart the awkward silence, for which I was grateful. "Let's start that first game!"
We took three lanes and I was put into a group with Lily, Jackson, Oliver, Owen, and (sigh) Luann. It was pretty fun, until my first turn came up.
"Wait!" Owen stopped me, just as I was about to pick up my 8-pound bowling ball. He took the metal thing that kids use to bowl straight out and pushed it in front of our lane. Next, he took the ball I was about to grab and set it on top so that all I had to do was push it down.
"Owen!" I sighed.
"Miley, I read about all this online." He said proudly, "your center of gravity is off and the ball could set you even more off-balance. This way's easier, okay? For me?"
"Fine." I muttered, walking up to the ball. Carefully, I straightened the contraption and placed my palm on the back of the ball. Suddenly, I pushed it forward in a surprise attack. The bowl rolled away and down the lane, going for a dead-on strike.
"Bravo!" Owen cried as they all cheered. But it didn't feel the same. How could I earn my score when something else had straightened out my throw? It didn't make any sense. Trying not to show my disappointment, I sat beside Owen and leaned my back on top of him. He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me and cradling my head in the curve of his neck. Sighing, I turned a bit and lifted my legs onto the vacated chairs in front of me so that I was lying down.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing." I answered, pulling a stray clump of material off of my dress.
"It's not nothing." He said, "tell me."
"I'm fine, Owen!" I muttered, turning further into him so that I could smell his neck better. He smelled sooo good.
"Miley, I-" but he was cut short.
"Just drop it, son." I heard my dad tell him.
"I just want to know what's bothering her." Owen said, a little whine in his voice.
"Owen, she's pregnant. What's bothering her could be as trivial as the fact that the pizza's extra cheese instead of extra sauce, even though she normal hates sauce. What the problem is isn't important. It's that you're there for her. Right?"
"Exactly." I heard Danny, I guessed it was Uncle Danny, reply. Owen sighed and gripped me a little tighter.
"Trust me, if she wants you to know, she'll tell you."
"Owen, it's your turn." Lily announced.
"Skip it." He told her. Then he stroked one of his hands down my back, stopping to rub the small of it before starting at my shoulders again. Each time he moved a little slower, letting me enjoy us being together. We stayed like that, just the two of us, until the first game ended and our pizza arrived. Then, he carefully helped me stand and guided me easily over to our table, where everyone else was waiting. He moved our seats so that we were right beside each other, and let me lean on him all through dinner. I laughed and joked with everyone, but it was nice to have him there, beside me. It was a feeling of security I didn't get much these days with dad's strict rules. I was surprised he was letting us spend so much time together, flagrantly disregarding all but his most important rules. We weren't kissing, making out, or having sex, but I was always touching him, always next to him, always thinking of him. Yet dad didn't seem to be bothered by it at all.
FALLING FAST B
I decided to skip out on the second game; the metal thing was just too annoying. Instead, I sat beside Owen, leaning my head on his shoulder and watching Stephanie and Alex in the next lane over. They were fighting over the lightest bowling, and Steph was obviously winning over the little toddler. As I watched, she pulled the ball from his tiny hands and marched triumphantly over to the lane. Rebecca scooped up her son and started to soothe him, wiping his baby tears away. Sookie was with Stephanie, kneeling in front of her and scolding her for being mean to her baby cousin. Could I ever do that? Could I make my baby's tears stop, or scold her for hurting someone else? I started to doubt my ability, and soon tears of my own were mapping out trails down my cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Owen whispered, holding me tight.
"Nothing." I muttered, wiggling out of his grip and walking quickly to a deserted corner by the emergency exit. I settled myself into the corner, turning away from everyone else as much as possible. A moment later, he was beside me, supporting me.
"Tell me what's wrong, baby." He requested. He ran his fingers down my back in a soothing pattern like my mom had when I'd had a bad dream.
"I'm scared." I told him. He cupped my chin and looked straight into my eyes.
"Of what?"
"That I'll be a bad mother." I answered before jerking my chin out of his hands. He leaned against the wall with me, wrapping his arm around my neck and letting his other hand rub my stomach.
"That's imposibible, Miley."
"Impossibible?" I asked, letting a small chuckle escape.
"Yes, imposibible. Because someone as sweet, and caring, and headstrong as you can never get something wrong that they're really working for. And I know that you'd do anything for our baby. You'll get this right, Miley. If there was a mom test, you'd passed with flying colors. You'll be a great mom. Even if you stumble at first, we'll all be there to catch you. Think about how many great people are here to help you raise this baby. Our baby. We're all in this together, Miley. Just like that stupid song. 'We're all in this together'" he sang, sounding a little stupid, but very sweet. "'Once we know that we are, we're all stars, and we see that. We're all in this together and it shows when we stand hand in hand and make our dream come true.'"
I laughed. "You're such a dork."
"But you love me for it."
"That I do." I agreed.
"I love you." He told me.
"I love you too." I agreed, smiling.
"And I love this baby."
"Stopping saying what I'm gonna say!" I accused playfully.
"You know," he proposed, "this baby's gonna need a name."
"Not know, Owen." I sighed, "Can't we talk about this another time?"
"Any time you want." He agreed.
Author's Note
Okay, enough "I miss mommy" and "I'm not gonna be good at this" I think I'm as sick of it as you guys probably are. There will be a little hint of it next chapter, but I think that's it. Things are kind of coming to a close now that there are only five more chapters left. I hope you're enjoying this ride, because the end is in sight. Oh, and I changed the story plan again. But I'm more interested in this one so chapters should come more quickly! Yay!
Summer rules! Goin' on vacation – I'll update again tomorrow morning, but I don't know if I'll have internet access after that. In case I do, I'll e-mail myself two chapters to update, ok? But don't expect anything until July 6th or 7th!