Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm just playing

As always thank you to my wonderful Beta Heather (Txbabefan).

Chapter 16

more angst

Steph POV:

When she said the baby was Carlos's my heart stopped. With how far along she was claiming to be, it would be around the time we got together. He said they hadn't been together for almost a year before we met.

"I haven't slept with you in months Rachel!" Carlos growled.

"You slept with me the weekend before the Bar-B-Q!" she yelled.

"I remember seeing you at the bar, but I didn't go home with you."

"Yes, you did. I was gone before you got up. You told me I was the best you ever had." She smirked. I took a deep breath. I hadn't known him until a few days later.

"What did you do to me that night Rachel? I would have never gone home with you."

"I didn't do anything!" she yelled like a petulant child.

"I want a paternity test."

"The doctor just needs your sample. They already have one from the baby," she said.

"Send me the info," he growled. He was so tense. My mind was all over the place. What were we going to do? Carlos was a noble man. Would he be leaving me for her, so that the baby would be born in wedlock?

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Carlos asked.

She rubbed her stomach with a smile. "It's a girl," she said. She turned and walked away; Jeanne Ellen however stayed behind. She grinned at him.

"Something might have ended up in your drink that night. It's too late now." She cackled before walking away.

Carlos took a step forward and I grabbed his arm. "We need to talk," I said softly. "You can deal with those two later."

"Babe," he said softly. His voice was raspy, his eyes filled with panic, fear, and sadness. I started walking back towards the condo, holding my head high. He walked next to me, watching me but not trying to touch me. To say the elevator ride was tense was an understatement.

Letting Mag off the leash, he ran to the couch and sat next to my spot. I sat on the couch next to him and he laid his head on my lap. Carlos sat on the coffee table, our knees almost touching.

"Babe, will you believe me when I tell you, I don't remember sleeping with her the week before I met you?"

"You don't have to make excuses for something that happened before we were together," I said. "But I do believe you. After what Jeanne Ellen said, I think she did something."

He let out a breath. "If the baby is mine..."

"You need to decide now what you want to do," I broke in. "I'm putting my foot down on that. I know you're a noble guy; you would marry her to give the baby your name. If that's what you want to do, I support you. But if you do, we're over. I will not be the side chick. I can't do that.

"If you want to co-parent with her, I'll be there to help however I can. I don't want to lose you. I really don't; I know we have a future but if you want to be with Rachel to give the baby your name and be there all the time, I will support that." I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes. "Damnit, Carlos, I love you."

His hand found mine, and he leaned forward. I closed my eyes against the tears. He was going to leave, I knew it. I would take this like a grown woman and deal with it. Hold my head up high and watch him leave. His finger found the underside of my chin lifting my head.

"Open those beautiful blue eyes, Babe. Let me see them," he whispered.

I opened them, staring into his beautiful chocolate ones. "I'm not leaving you, Babe. I couldn't do that to us. We're different, we're us, we fit like two pieces of a puzzle, and I can't imagine my life without you anymore." He paused with a smile. "I love you too, Babe. I love you so much."

I launched myself at him. He caught me, as I wrapped my body around his. I let out a shuddering breath against his neck. I pulled back to look at him and he kissed me.

The kiss was possessive, full of passion and love. It slowly worked down to a gentle slow kiss. "Carlos, make love to me," I said softly against his lips. He stood, my legs wrapping around his waist. He carried me upstairs, laying me on the bed.

We stripped each other of our clothing. We moved slow, touching each other, savoring the feelings. His lips found mine, his hands wrapping my legs around his waist. He turned us, resting his back against the headboard. His hands found my hips and I pulled myself up and sheathed himself inside me.

This wasn't going to be hurried, this was to reassure ourselves we were still together. To reinforce our feelings. I kissed him again, one of my hands tangling in his hair.

He rocked up into me, as I lowered my body into his. He stroked my walls slowly, grinding against my g-spot with each thrust. His hands roamed over my body, touching me.

"Babe," He moaned softly against my neck. His lips roamed over my skin.

"Carlos," I answered in response. I pulled him closer.

I need to get more of him pressed against me. I needed to get as close as possible, skin on skin. Our chest brushed together with each slow thrust. His lips brushed over mine, roaming over my jaw and my neck. One had found my hips moving us together in a rhythm. His other hand found the space between my shoulder blades pushing us even closer.

"Come for me," He said softly. "Let me love you."

I was already on edge but that sent me over. My orgasm shook through me, Carlos continued to thrust steadily until he came inside me, causing another rolling orgasm. I kissed him, trying to convey all of the feeling that had been stirred up.

He laid us down, my body still wrapped around his. His arms tight around me like bands. I buried my face in his neck, as our breathing leveled out. His hand traced patterns over the small of my back.

"I want to go tomorrow and have the paternity test done," He said softly against my ear. I nodded.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"Yes."

"Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you still come to meet my family?"

I looked up at him. "If you still want me to. Don't you think Rachel should be going home with you because she's pregnant?"

"I don't love her," he said. "She can meet the family some other time."

"Carlos..."

"I've made my mind up. You're my woman, you deserve to meet my family," he said before kissing me.

XXXXXX

I sat next to Carlos, holding his hand as they took a blood sample. The nurse wrapped his arm before taking the samples and leaving. Carlos kissed the back of my hand, and we walked out to the car where Tank and Mag were waiting. Tank was dropping the three of us at the airport.

Carlos slid into the back seat with me and kissed me. "What are you going to tell your parents about Rachel?" I asked him.

"That I got her pregnant and will be taking care of the baby," he said. He kissed me softly. "And that I'm marrying you."

I froze, as Carlos pulled a ring from his pocket. He held it between us. "I love you, Steph. I know we said that we didn't have to get married to prove our loyalty to us, but I want to prove to you. I want you forever."

I smiled softly. "Yes," I grinned. He kissed me long and hard. I felt him slip the ring onto my finger. It was gorgeous; a two-carat diamond sat in the center, with two black one-carat diamonds on either side. I smiled and kissed him again.

XXXXXX

Arriving at the Newark airport we rented a car. We would be staying in a hotel; Carlos insisted, even though his mother wanted us staying with them. I think it's because of the bomb he's going to drop on them.

He kissed the back of my hand. "Today it's just my parents. I told them we had to talk about something important and I didn't want my siblings there."

I nodded. He squeezed it again. We made the ride in silence, the both of us thinking about what was going to happen. Carlos walked around the car and got Mag out, attaching his leash. He wrapped his arm around me, and we walked to the door. After knocking, his mother answered.

"Carlito!" she grinned, she pulled him into a hug. "And this must be your Novia."

"Yes," Carlos said, as she pulled me into a hug. Looking at Mag she grinned and scratched behind his ears.

"Estephania, call me Maria, my husband is Ricardo."

I nodded and she smiled. "Let us get inside," she said.

We walked into the house; an older version of Carlos came to greet us. His hair was cut short, he stood a few inches taller than his son, he had most of the same facial structure and air of confidence. He grinned the same grin as his smile as he hugged the both of us.

We settled into the living room. "What was the big thing you had to talk to us about?" his mother asked.

"I've been with Stephanie for about six months now. About a year ago I picked up a woman in a bar," he said. His parents shook their heads.

"Carlito!" his mother scolded. I squeezed Carlos's hand.

"The week before I met Steph, I was drugged," he said. "The same woman, and a friend of hers, ruffied me. She took me home and took advantage of me, I'm still not sure of the full story."

His mother gasped and started praying. His father wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Carlos?"

"She's pregnant. Six months pregnant with a little girl," Carlos said. His father looked upset and his mother heartbroken.

"What are you going to do?" his mother asked.

"I'm not leaving Steph," he said, his voice full of conviction. "I can't prove that they drugged me. Right now, we're waiting on the paternity test. From there we'll see. I'll pay child support and have visitation, but we'll probably have to go to court."

"Estephania," Maria broke in. "How do you feel about this situation?"

"I know your son," I started. "I love him, and I know he wouldn't cheat on me. I'll stick by him and support his decisions."

Carlos kissed me softly grinning. His parents grinned at us. "We'll support your decisions, Carlos," Ricardo said.

He nodded and grinned at his parents. "Now what is the other good news?" Ricardo asked. He had caught sight of my ring earlier.

"Steph and I are engaged." Carlos grinned.

His mother pulled the both of us into a hug. "Welcome to the family, Estephania."

A week later we walked into the condo. I tossed my bag next to the couch and sprawled out across it. Carlos chuckled. "I love your family, but I'm tired," I said. He chuckled.

Walking into the kitchen he grabbed the mail off the counter. I heard him take a deep breath before walking into the living room. He held up a packet, and I sat up. He sat next to me and handed it to me.

"I want you to open it," he said.

"Carlos..."

"Babe, this is our future together. I want you to open it," he said, pulling me to him and kissing me softly. I nodded and took a deep breath, opening the flap.

Look a cliffhanger...