Glad you guys are into the Mr. H storyline. Poor Miles :( I'm trying to balance the Hollingsworth drama with baby stuff and Mola.. Some more twists coming up later. As always, please leave a review! xx

Just Give Me a Reason

That Sunday night, Miles and Lola gave Hope a bath in the sink. Lola sang to the baby as she bathed her, trying to keep her happy. She was still so tiny. "Can you pass me the soapy?" she said to Miles, making a silly face at Hope.

"Um, the what?" Miles laughed, handing her the baby soap.

Lola's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "Ugh, sorry," she muttered. "I've been talking baby talk all day." She scrubbed Hope with the bar of soap. "Isn't that right?" she cooed.

Miles couldn't help but grin as he watched Lola tend to Hope. She was so in her element, so good with the baby. She was a natural at being a mom, even if she didn't know it yet.

"There," Lola said, lifting Hope out of the sink and wrapping her in her little towel. She kissed her forehead. "All done!" She nestled the baby against her shoulder, cradling her gently.

Miles gave Hope a little smile, then turned to clean out the sink. He hadn't said much all evening.

"You're quiet tonight," Lola said to Miles, still cradling Hope on her shoulder. She looked at him worriedly. "Everything okay?"

Miles sighed. He hadn't told Lola much about the situation with his dad-- he didn't want to worry her, especially when she was still adjusting to taking care of a newborn. "Yeah, it's just... my dad."

"Yeah," Lola said quietly. She bit her lip. "When's the trial?"

Miles tugged at his collar nervously. "A couple weeks," he muttered.

Lola nodded, drying Hope off. "Are you okay? We haven't really... well, you haven't really told me anything."

Miles just sighed, eyes fixated on Hope. "It's nothing you need to worry about," he said, his face pale. "I don't want you to get caught up in my stupid family drama."

Lola frowned. "Miles, I am part of your family," she said, looking over at the baby. Hope let out a little cooing noise, waving her tiny fingers towards Miles.

Miles took Hope into his arms. "That's not what I meant," he muttered. "Look, I just don't feel like talking about it, okay?"

Lola didn't look at him. "Why do you always do this?"

"What do you mean?" Miles asked.

"Shut me out," Lola sighed. "You keep everything bottled up. You never let me in all the way."

Hope started to get fussy again. Miles bounced her up and down gently. "That's not true," Miles snapped instinctively, even though he had to admit Lola had a point.

Lola sighed and took Hope back and started walking towards the bedroom. "You know it is," Lola muttered, changing the baby into her pajamas. "You should be able to trust me. I mean we have a baby together, for godssakes."

Miles took a seat on Lola's bed, his hands shaking. He looked at the baby and sighed. He needed to do whatever it took to protect her. "There's drugs involved," he finally said. "With.. with my dad. He was using the funds to pay for coke." He shook his head, still not looking at Lola. "Guess that's where I get my issues from," he muttered.

Lola put Hope in her bassinet and sat down next to Miles. "Whoa," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry Miles, that's... that's really intense." She leaned into his chest.

Miles put his arm around her. "My parents want me to lie under oath," he said, barely getting the words out. "They want me to say the drugs are mine. So my dad can get a lesser sentence."

Lola looked up at him. "No," she said immediately, a horrified look on her face. "No way!"

"I know, I know," Miles groaned. He took a deep breath. "But my dad... he's threatening to come after our family if I don't. He's already hurt my mom. He could come after me or the twins or you or... or Hope." He slumped his head down. "I don't know how to protect us," he admitted, almost tearing up.

Lola held him in her arms, trying to process all of this. "No," she said again. "No, we can't let him get away with this. Miles, you've got to tell the truth. You've got to tell the court who your dad really is."

"Who would believe me?" Miles sighed.

"I would," Lola said. "So would Frankie. And Hunter. And anyone who knows you." She sighed deeply. "Look, it's not fair for your mom to just throw you under the bus like that. I get that you want to protect her, but I won't let this happen." She grabbed his hands and looked into his eyes. "We've got to fight this. Together."

Miles leaned into her. "I'd rather me get hurt than the baby," he murmured.

"Nobody is going to get hurt, okay?" Lola said. "Your dad doesn't even know where I live. He's never even met Hope. And besides... I need you. I can't let you take the fall for this. I can't do this alone, Miles. Hope and I need you."

Miles looked up, nodding quietly. "You really think we can fight this?" he said.

"We have to," Lola insisted. She leaned in and kissed him hard.

Just then, the baby started to cry again. Lola groaned, starting to get up.

"I got her," Miles said before Lola had time to stand up. He held the crying baby in his arms, rocking her back and forth gently. "Shh, it's okay," he whispered. "Daddy's got you."

Lola smiled watching the two of them. Nothing made her happier than seeing Miles and Hope bond like this. "You're such a good dad," she said softly to him.

Miles smiled back as the baby stopped crying. He brought Hope over to Lola on the bed and sat down next to them.

"Oh-- I almost forgot," Lola said suddenly, taking the baby into her arms. "Hope's got her first doctor's appointment next week." She held the baby against her chest. "Hard to believe our little girl is already almost a month old."

Miles sat up. "Already?" he said, eyes wide.

"Well, she's three weeks today," Lola smiled, rubbing her back gently. She laughed softly. "Crazy, huh?"

Miles shook his head laughing. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around us being parents," he said. "I was just starting to get used to you being pregnant," he laughed.

Lola slugged him playfully. "Well, I'm certainly glad that part is over," she said, carrying Hope to her basinnet. "As cute as Hope is... I don't want to have to go through that again until I'm like, 30. At least."

"No kidding," Miles said. He laid down as Lola joined him on the bed. He climbed on top of her slowly, kissing her neck. "I do miss doing this, though," he whispered, smirking.

Lola rolled her eyes, but let him keep kissing her neck. "Don't even think about coming near me without a condom," she laughed.

Miles raised his eyebrows. "Well, you know... Hope's down for the night and your dad's still not home." He winked at her.

Lola sat up, shaking her head but smiling. "I need to shower," she said. She smirked at him. "But if you promise to change the next diaper, maybe I'll let you join me."

Miles grinned, getting up to join her. "Who could say no to that offer?"