CHAPTER SIX

"Zo, come here," Robbie said as he saw Zoey walk past the living room.

Zoey back tracked and stood at the doorway of the living room. "Am I in trouble?"

"No. I wanna talk to you."

"Oh... What did I do?" she asked, sitting on the couch next to him.

"Nothing," Robbie laughed. "It's about your mom."

"Is she okay? Where is she?"

"She's at the studio. She's fine. I wanted to ask you a question."

"Oh. Like what?"

"Well... I really love your mom. And you too. I want you guys to be part of my life for good."

"As opposed to for bad?"

Robbie ruffled her hair. "Let me finish," he said. "I love you guys more than anything and I want to spend the rest of my life with both of you. So, my question for you is... Zoey Jade Micelli... would you give me permission to marry our mom?"

Zoey's eyes got wide. "Shut up! Really?!"

"Yeah, really. Nothing would make me happier than to make her my wife."

"Oh my god! She's gonna flip!"

"So, I can marry your mom?"

"Yes!" Zoey said, jumping up and hugging him. "She deserves it, she deserves the world, to be happy, to be loved," her voice cracked.

Robbie wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head. "And I'll make sure all of that happens. For both of you."

"She's gonna be so happy Robbie, you're the best, I love you."

"I love you too, kiddo. If I never get the chance to have kids of my own, you're the best I could ever hope for."

Zoey sniffled and sat back down on the couch. "You're gonna be the best stepdad ever."

"I'll try my very best. I know I'm not your dad, but I'll be here when he can't be. Even when he can be, I'll be here. Always."

"Where do I find a guy like you?" Zoey's voice cracked.

"Why are you crying?" Cat asked as she appeared in the doorway, making Zoey and Robbie jump.

"I'm not," Zoey sniffled, wiping her face.

"You are."

"No, I'm not."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I'm going to my room," Zoey said, running out of the living room.

Cat looked at Robbie for a few seconds before sitting on the couch. "Why was she crying?"

"We were just talking," Robbie said. "Nothing bad. She's okay. You'll find out what it was about later."

"Robbie, if something is going on with my daughter, I should know about it."

"You will. It's nothing bad, it's not about her. She's just happy and emotional."

"About what?"

"You'll see later. It's good, I promise."

"I don't like secrets."

"It's not a secret. It's just something that's happening later."

"You promise she's okay?"

"I promise if something was wrong, I'd tell you. Nothing is wrong."

"Okay... I'm gonna go start dinner."

"Don't bother. I ordered out."

"Oh? What's the occasion?"

"You'll find out later."

"You'll find out later," Cat muttered. "It's later and he still hasn't told me," she said, scrolling through her phone. "How important could it be if he's making me wait? Is it good? Is it bad? Is he proposing?" Cat gasped and sat up on her bed. "What if he's breaking up with me? Would he plan that?"

"Mommy, dinner's here!" Zoey called out.

Cat walked out of her room, biting her lip the whole way downstairs. When she got to the kitchen, Robbie and Zoey were whispering but quickly broke apart when they noticed her.

They were both dressed up in nice clothes, which made her look at what she was wearing. It was a cute, simple sundress, but was it as nice as what Zoey and Robbie were wearing?

"Why didn't you tell me this was a dress up thing?" Cat asked.

"You look fine, Mommy," Zoey said, gesturing for her mother to sit down.

"What's going on?" She asked as she sat down.

"You'll see," Zoey said, shuffling over to the counter and bringing a plate back, sitting it in front of her mother. "I already put your favorites together."

Cat raised an eyebrow. "Thank you... why the special treatment?"

"You'll see."

"I'm a little tired of hearing that."

"Well then stop asking, it's simple math, Mother."

"You smart ass..." Cat said, swatting Zoey's butt as she rushed past her.

"I'm gonna tell Aunt Jade you smacked her baby."

"Can someone just tell me what's going on?"

"I don't wanna experience the wrath of Cat," Robbie said, looking at Zoey. "Maybe I should just do it now."

"Do what?"

Robbie let out a deep breath. "Cat... we've been together for a while now. We've had a lot of fun and a lot of good times, but I-"

"Hold on!" Cat interrupted. "Robert Shapiro, did you set up a dinner and get all dressed up just to break up with me?"

"Mom!" Zoey said.

"Look, if you wanna break up, then just tell me. We can be over in the snap of a finger. I should have known something was going on," Cat's voice cracked. "You've been acting really weird and suspicious all day."

"That's not-"

"I mean, it was too good to me true, right? That something finally goes right for me, all for it to just end unexpectedly and shatter my hea-"

"Marry me!" Robbie said quickly.

"And I-" Cat paused, looking at him for a few seconds. "What?"

"Will you marry me?"

"Marry you..."

"I love you more than anything. I'd do anything for you and Zoey. I want to be part of your life for the rest of mine. I can't imagine my life without you. I never want a life that doesn't have you and Zoey in it. I want us to be a family. You're my person and there's no one else I'd rather spend my life with. So, Caterina Hannah Valentine..." Robbie said, pulling a box out of his pocket and getting on one knee. "Will you marry me?" He asked, opening the box to reveal a ring.

Cat's eyes watered and she covered her mouth. "Oh god, Robbie," her voice cracked.

"Mommy, answer him," Zoey said.

"I... yes! Yes, a hundred times yes," she said, hugging him.

After they pulled apart, Robbie slid the ring on her finger. "I had it engraved, too."

"What's it say?"

"Look at it."

Cat took the ring off her finger and looked at the engraving with a smile. "I think you're swell."

"I do still think you're pretty swell."

"I think you're swell as ever."

"I love you wholeheartedly. I want nothing more than to be your husband."

"I love you," Cat's voice cracked as she hugged him.

"I love you too," Robbie said, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hey, I love you guys too, let me in," Zoey said, squeezing herself between them.

Cat kissed her heard. "Did you know about this?"

"Yeah. He asked my permission."

"You did that?" Cat asked, looking at Robbie.

"Yeah," he nodded. "If it wasn't okay with her, I wouldn't have asked. Her opinion matters too."

"God, where did I find you? No one else would have done that."

"He's special, Mommy," Zoey said. "We snagged us a good one.

"Don't look in my direction," Cat said with an annoyed tone as she sat on the couch in Jade's trailer. She was visiting the set of Jade's show, but it hadn't gone the way she expected when Jade vomited all over her shoes.

"I said I'm sorry, you insufferable bitch," Jade said.

"You threw up on me!"

"You threw up on me when you were pregnant with Zoey and the baby!"

"I was pregnant."

"So? You still puked on me. Get over it. It's an easy fix. Your shoes are being cleaned."

"Should have worn flats," Cat muttered. When Jade walked by her, she did a double take. "Hold on! Turn to your side."

Jade raised an eyebrow but turned. "Why?"

"You have a belly."

"Thanks?"

"You're pregnant."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. You are, aren't you?"

"No."

"Liar."

"Sh! Shut up, no one knows," Jade said, sitting next to her.

"I'm your best friend, I have dibs on knowing before you start showing."

"I found out a week ago, I didn't know I was this far along."

"You should have told me a week ago."

"Well, I didn't, get over it. Answer your phone," she said as Cat's phone rang.

"Bossy," Cat muttered before answering her phone. "Caterina Valentine, how can I help you?"

"Hi, my name is Marnie Taylor with the Department of Childrens Serveces. You said this is Caterina Valentine?"

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"Are you the biological mother of Shelby Wexler?"

"I am..."

"I need you to come to my office. It's about Shelby."

"What - did something happen? Is she okay?"

"I'll talk to you when you get here. How soon can you be here?"

"I'll leave as soon as I get shoes on. What's the address?"

"501 Ernest Avenue, Suite 73."

"I'm on my way," Cat said hanging up. "I need your shoes, I have an emergency."

"Is everything okay?" Jade asked, handing her sneakers to Cat.

"It's about Shelby. That was DCS. She wouldn't tell me what happened."

"Why didn't she contact her parents?"

"I feel like it probably has to do with her parents. I'll keep you updated. Congratulations, I'm happy for you, I'm just stressing," Cat said, kissing Jade's cheek before rushing out of the trailer.

"I need to speak with Marnie Taylor, she said it was an emergency," Cat said breathlessly as she ran to a secretary's desk. "Caterina Valentine."

"I'll page her," the secretary said before pressing a button. "Miss Taylor, Caterina Valentine is here to see you."

"Send her in," Marnie said.

"Follow me," she said, getting up from her desk and leading Cat to an office. "Caterina Valentine, Miss Taylor."

"Thank you," Marnie said as she stood up, walking to Cat and shaking her hand. "Please have a seat."

Cat sat down in a chair, pushing her hair out of her face. "Is Shelby okay? Why didn't you call her parents?"

"Her parents are the reason we called you," she said, sitting across from Cat. "They were in a car accident. The Wexlers died on impact. Shelby has some minor cuts, but she'll make a full recover. She's fine, but... Their deaths is why I contacted you. Being her biological mother, you're her next of kin."

"I thought that would be the family of the Wexlers."

"They have no extended family."

"Jesus..."

"It's extremely rare that this happens... but if you want custody of her, we can set up the paperwork to reinstate your parental rights."

"It's that easy? Just... sign and she's mine again?"

"That's only if you want her. If we put her in the foster system, chances are she'll be adopted pretty quickly because she's a baby."

"Um..."

"Miss Valentine, I don't want you to feel pressured, this is just our protocol."

"No, I know, I just... I didn't think about this happening. I've regretted giving her up for so long, I just didn't think it was possible to get her back. I definitely didn't think it would be under such unfortunate circumstances."

"You can take a few days to think about it if you need the time."

"I don't. I'll take her."

"Okay. I'll have you sign the paperwork now and get it processed. In the meantime, if you're up to it, I'd be happy to take you to the hospital so you can see her."

"I can do that?"

"If you want to, yes. The paperwork you sign give you immediate temporary right until it's processed and official. Depending on her condition, you might be able to take her home with you today."

"I don't... I don't have a car seat; I don't have anything for her at home."

"You'll be provided a car seat for her."

"No the one from the wreck though, right?"

"No, Ma'am. As far as everything else, we'll supply a few packs of diapers and wipes, bottles, clothes. She's able to eat the same food you eat, so there's nothing special to get food wise right away."

"Okay... Can we go see her now?"

"Absolutely. Let me get the paperwork to sign and we'll leave. Congratulations, momma."

"It's okay, you're alright," Cat cooed as she took a crying Shelby out of her car seat. "It's tough being a baby, huh? Can't talk, can't tell me what you need. It's all a guessing game," she said, running her hand over the one-year-old's back. As Shelby laid her head on her mother's shoulder, Cat grabbed the bag of items Marnie had gathered for her and she made her way into the house. "Zoey? Robbie?" She called out.

"Living room," Robbie said.

"We're home," she said as she made her way to the living room, sitting on the couch and putting the bag down.

"So this is the infamous Shelby," Robbie said.

"Yeah... I'm sorry this got sprung on you."

"You're just doing what you need to for your baby."

"You didn't sign up for it."

"I signed up for whatever you go through when I proposed."

Cat smiled as she rocked Shelby side to side gently. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"You didn't have to do anything."

"Did I hear a baby crying a minute ago?" Zoey asked as she walked into the living room before gasping and covering her mouth when she saw Shelby cuddled into Cat's chest. "Oh my god."

"Come here," Cat said, patting the seat beside her.

"Did you steal a baby?" She asked as she sat next to her mother.

Cat laughed. "No."

"Whose baby is she?"

"Mine."

"What?"

"This is Shelby."

Zoey stared at the baby for a few seconds. "Like... Shelby?"

"Yeah."

"You adopted her back?"

"No. Her parents died in a car accident, and I was asked if I wanted her."

"This is my baby sister?" Zoey's voice cracked.

"This is your baby sister."

"And you're gonna keep her this time?"

"I got my rights back."

"Mommy!" Zoey said, hugging her mother. "I've been dying to meet her."

"Me too, baby," Cat said, kissing her head.

"Can I hold her?"

Cat gently placed Shelby in Zoey's lap so she was facing her big sister.

"Hi," Zoey said. "I'm your sister."

Shelby grinned, immediately playing with the necklace around Zoey's neck.

"Maybe in a little bit you can go to your room and see if there's anything she can play with," Cat said. "I haven't had a chance to go to the store."

"I have a ball and stuffed animals."

"Those will work for now. We'll go to the store after lunch and get her some stuff. I'm gonna get a pack-n-play for he to sleep in tonight, but tomorrow I'll get a crib, maybe you can set it up?" Cat suggested, looking at Robbie.

"Yeah, I can do that," Robbie said.

"We'll have to move the dresser away from the wall and put it on the other wall. And get that bed out of there."

"THat won't take long. We can probably get it done in an hour."

"We have all day anyways, so it'll be fine. I need to call my manager and tell her I'm taking off until we find someone to watch Shelby. I can take her to the studio, but it'll be hard to take her with me to interviews unless someone there is willing to keep her occupied."

"If it's Uncle Zach, you know Stacy will keep her," Zoey said.

"That's only with Zach though. You got her? I'm gonna call Terri."

"Yeah, we'll be fine. I'll put on T.O.T.S. or something. No one can resist a cute penguin and flamingo delivering babies to their parents."

"You can't just cancel," Terri said.

Cat raised an eyebrow. "I can, though. That's exactly what I'm doing."

"This is unprofessional and irresponsible."

"I just brought a baby home. I need to adjust to a new routine. I'm canceling my appearances and rescheduling. I need to make sure my child has what she needs before I jump back into it. There's no negotiation here."

"Cat, this is going to affect your popularity."

"No, it's not. Popularity isn't what I care about. My kids having what they need is more important."

"You're throwing your career away for a decision you made on a whim."

"I'm not throwing my career away, but even if I was, it would be for my child. Not just some stupid decision. My baby! The little girl I gave birth to!"

"The little girl that you threw away to another family!"

Cat stared at her for a few seconds, her face turning red. "You know what? Fuck you, you're fired!" She said, grabbing her purse from a table.

"You can't fire me."

"I just did! Find another client!" Cat shouted before walking out of Terri's office and slamming the door behind her.