New Years Eve was almost the exact opposite of Christmas in the Kennish household. Where Christmas was a close, family affair, New Years Eve was celebrated with a part. Mom always invited several people, only a few of which I actually knew.

This year, with the combining of families, there were even more people. Regina and Daphne had invited a few people, as had Emmett.

It was an hour to midnight when I broke away from the party, going up to my room. There were only so many belly touches and coos I could take. I could handle even less 'what about your future's and looks of pity.

They did have me thinking about my future, though. In less than an hour, it was going to be 2013. 2013 was also the year that my baby would be born in. Anytime I wrote down his birth date, it would be 2013. What was I going to do, just keep living at home? Emmett and I were 17 and still in high school.

At some point, though, we would have to get a place of our own. We would need to be able to support ourselves, and our baby. And I had no idea how we were going to do that.

Trying to get my mind off of it, I turned to my schoolwork. I was determined to be done with the year by April. Having a baby was a serious motivator. And so far, I was doing pretty well, already a couple weeks ahead.

I fell into the work easily, glancing up now and again. Before I knew it, it was 11:53. Sighing slightly, I finished up and made my way back out and downstairs. It was easy to find Emmett, just following the flash of the camera. He was snapping a picture of a group of his friends when I found him.

He had introduced them to me before. There was Natalie, a girl I had seen a time or two before, and a few others whose names I couldn't remember. The only reason I remembered her's was probably because of my doctor. And of course, there was Travis.

When I came up beside him, he instantly turned and took a picture. 'Did you enjoy your alone time?'

I shrugged slightly. "I did schoolwork. It's almost midnight."

He nodded and I took his hand, pulling him outside. We had set up a large white screen and a projector. Past that, I don't know what John and Toby had done, but either way we were watching the ball on a screen large enough that everyone could see.

With a couple minutes to still spare, Emmett was getting as many pictures as he could. I reached out and tapped his shoulder, and he turned to me. I turned and looked to the left toward him.

"Get a picture of the bump."

I didn't have to ask him twice. With a wide smile, he snapped several pictures.

People started getting more excited around us, and I looked back at the screen. Under a minute until the new year. I pointed and Emmett turned, abandoning his pictures for a moment. As the counter dwindled down, I found my excitement rising. I would be leaving behind a rocky year, and entering into motherhood.

"10, 9, 8..." The people around me chanted, and Emmett had thrust his hand into the air to count.

2013 was going to be a good year. I could feel it.

"3, 2, 1! Happy new year!"

Emmett pulled me close and kissed me. I felt the baby stir, seeming to always sense when Emmett was touching me.

Emmett pulled back quickly, his eyes wide and staring down. He slowly put his hand on my stomach and smiled widely when the baby moved again. He looked up and kissed me again.

I pulled back slightly. "Did you feel him?"

'I felt her. I felt our baby.'

I smiled softly and covered his hand with mine. "Happy new year."

'Happy new year.'

...

Within the next hour, people were already leaving, and I took that as an excuse to dismiss myself from the party. I went upstairs to my room, changing into my pajamas and quickly laying down, sighing softly.

It wasn't long until Emmett joined me. He grabbed his pajamas and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

I propped myself up slightly and pulled up my shirt so I could look down at my stomach. It was still weird to see my belly button sticking out. "You're going to be born this year. You know that? In four months. April. Can I tell you a secret? I didn't know if I wanted you. I thought about giving you up. Not anymore, though. I love you. I'll make sure you have a good life."

I heard the bathroom door shut and I looked up.

'What are you doing?'

"I'm talking to him. If he's hearing, then when he's born he'll recognize my voice. It's supposed to help calm him."

He grinned and sat on the bed, resting his hand on my stomach. The baby nearly instantly kicked, and Emmett smiled widely.

"He likes you."

'Well, I would hope so.' He turned his head and stared down at my belly for a moment. Before I could quite register what he was doing, he bent down and pressed a kiss to my belly. Before I heard anything, I felt the soft breath against my skin. And then he was saying, "Happy... new... year..."

I felt my heart swell and tears sting my eyes. I reached up to wipe them away before they could spill.

Emmett moved up the bed and laid beside me. 'What do you think of Emma?'

"Emma's a nice name... I also like Oliver."

'Oliver? Like the orphan from that musical?'

I snorted and shook my head. "Ok, fine, not Oliver."

'We need to start making lists. And we haven't even started on middle names. The only thing we know is Kennish.'

"Kennish?"

'Yeah, her last name. What, were you thinking Vasquez?'

I shook my head. "No. I was thinking Bledsoe."

He smiled widely. 'Really?'

"Well... Yeah. I happen to know a Bledsoe pretty well, and he's pretty great. I love my current Bledsoe, so it only makes sense to make it my baby's last name."

'You love your current Bledsoe, huh?'

Had I said that? I had said that, hadn't I? Pregnancy had muddled my brain, and it was late, I wasn't thinking through what I said.

"So what if I do?"

He kissed me softly. 'I love you, too.'

Yep, 2013 was already a pretty fantastic year.

These last couple chapters were hard to write. I'm not a holiday person, and don't really celebrate anything outside of Halloween. So now that New Year's is done, hopefully chapters will start coming up earlier again.