We've Got A Lot Of Catching Up To Do ~ Chapter 5

I pulled into the driveway and took Chris out of the car and walked up to the front door. "This is it, Belle, you're about to change the lives of everyone around you," I said as I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

"Just a minute," came a manly voice from behind the door.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal a handsome man with wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist. "Hey, Belle! What are you two doing here?" Shawn said as he ran a finger from Chris's forehead to the tip of his nose.

"We just came by to see you. Sorry about not calling before we came," I apologized.

"That's all right. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable. I'll be down in just a minute," Shawn said, leading us into the living room and then turning to leave.

I sat down on the couch with Chris in my arms. "Christopher, honey, that handsome man is very important to you. You see, he's your dad," I said as I smiled down at him.

"I'm his what?" Shawn questioned.

"Shawn, how long have you been there?" I asked.

"Just a minute, but it was long enough for me to hear that I'm his dad?" he said as his statement turned into a question of disbelief.

"That's right," I said, looking at him.

"And you didn't tell me? How?"

"Do you remember those two days we spent together when you came to Texas?" Shawn only nodded. "That's when."

"But how do you know he's mine and not Mark's?" Shawn questioned as he sat down in a chair to keep from passing out.

"Mark and I haven't slept in the same bed in over ten months. He's hardly ever home anyway. Between 'business trips', as we like to call them for Chelsey's sake, and his working late every night, when he did come home at night, he slept on the couch and left before anyone woke up," I said, making quotation marks with my fingers as I said business trips. "We've gone a month without even seeing each other."

"This is really a lot for me to take right now," Shawn said, putting his hand on his forehead.

"Shawn, the only reason I told you was because we are moving back here and..." I said as Shawn interrupted me.

"Whoa! The only reason you told me?!" Shawn yelled. "You weren't going to tell me?"

"I didn't want to hurt you by taking Chris away from you when we moved back to Texas."

"And you'd rather me live my life without knowing that I had a son?" he questioned.

"No, I didn't want to hurt you like I did when I left for Texas. Philip told me how you took it when I left, but I just couldn't forgive you and come running back to you," I cried. I took my hand and wiped the tears from my face. "I didn't want you to get hurt again. I wanted you to know, believe me, I did. But I just couldn't stand to hurt you again. Shawn, when I realized my marriage was falling apart, you magically appeared, that's when I realized that you're the only man for me. The only man I will ever love. I love you, Shawn Brady, even if you don't love me," I cried, this time I didn't bother to wipe away the tears.

I didn't even notice Shawn had come to sit beside me until he wiped the free falling tears from my cheeks. He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head so I could see his face. "I love you too. I always have. That's why I've never moved on with my life. Well, actually I tried to move on with my life, I even stood at the alter once, but I couldn't get through it without thinking of you. I remember that day because it made me realize how much I do love you. I was getting ready to say my vows and I blurted out your name. It was then I realized that I loved you and I ran out of the church and boarded a plane to go see you. I wasn't in Texas on business, I was there because of you. I love you," Shawn finished as he placed his lips on my lips and kissed me.

The moment was broken by Christopher's crying.

"I didn't even realize he was awake," I said, pulling away from Shawn. "He's a little cranking when he first wakes up."

"Here, let me hold him," Shawn said, reaching out his arms.

I put Chris, who was still crying, in Shawn's awaiting arms. He almost immediately stopped crying when Shawn held him.

I looked at them. It was almost as if Chris knew that Shawn was his father. He lay in Shawn's arms and smiled at him.

"He's smiling at me," Shawn said surprised.

"I noticed that. I think he knows that you're his father," I said, smiling at them. We sat there for a few more minutes, with Shawn's arm around me until Chris and I fell asleep in Shawn's arms.

"Belle, wake up," Shawn said as he kissed my cheek. "Your brother's on the phone."

"Hello," I said as I took the phone from Shawn.

"Hey, Belle. What's Shawn doing picking up your cellphone?" Brady asked, a little confused.

"Oh, I just came over to visit him and I must've fallen asleep," I replied.

"Well, I thought you were gonna meet us at the airport," Brady said, a little annoyed.

"Oh my goodness, I totally forgot about that. Are you still there? I can be there in a couple minutes."

"No, Belle, it's okay. We're at Mom and Dad's house," Brady replied.

"Oh, Chris and I will be over in a minute. I can't wait to see Kirsten."

"Shawn can come over if he wants."

"I'll ask him. We'll be right over," I answered.

"Okay. Well, I'll let you go. See ya soon, Tink," Brady said.

"Bye," I said as I hung up the phone. "Shawn, we're gonna leave and go over to Mom and Dad's house. Do you wanna come?" I asked, hoping that he would say yes.

"Sure," Shawn answered. "I'll drive if you want me too."

"Yes, please. I don't like to drive until I'm completely awake."

"Well, I think I can find a way to wake you up," Shawn said as he bent down and kissed my lips.

"Now, I'm awake," I smiled, breaking from the kiss. "But you can still drive."

We headed out the door and Shawn put Chris in his carseat and we were on our way to my parents's house.

"Belle," Shawn said, breaking the silence in the car.

"Yes," I replied.

"Are you gonna tell everyone about me being Chris's father?" Shawn asked, glancing at me and then looking back at the road.

"Shawn, I want them to know, but I don't know how to tell them. It's bad enough that Mark and I are getting a divorce, but to tell them that WE had a child. I don't know about that," I said looking at him.

"It doesn't matter, Perfect Girl, as long as Chris knows that I'm his father, but we do need to tell everyone," Shawn said, placing a hand on my knee.

"I know, and we will tell them, as soon as I get up enough courage," I said, placing my hand over his.

"Anytime, I'll be there for you when you tell them," Shawn said, smiling over at me.

"Thanks," I said, smiling back at him.

We had finally arrived at my parents's house and were greeted by Brady and Mimi and their new little girl, Kirsten. We all headed into the house and Dad took Chris from my arms. As Shawn and I sat on the couch across from Mom, Dad, and Chris, Shawn placed his hand on mine and then pulled it back, not wanting anyone to see us. I grabbed his hand with both of my smaller hands and held it on my leg. He scooted closer to me and placed his arm around me. Chelsey saw this and immediately ran over to us.

"Shawn, do you wuv my mommy?" she asked innocently.

"Why do you ask that?" Shawn questioned, surprised at her question.

"'Cause when Daddy wuved Mommy he put his arm around her too, but Daddy doesn't wuv Mommy anymore," Chelsey answered, still wanting to know the answer to her question. "Well, do you?!" Chelsey said as her voice got louder, bringing everyone's attention to her.

"It's okay, tell her the truth," I whispered into Shawn's ear.

"As a matter of fact, I do love your Mommy," Shawn answered, smiling at me.

"And I love him too," I answered, smiling at my daughter and Shawn.

"How did you know I was gonna ask you?" Chelsey asked.

"I just know how you work little girl. Now come up here and give your Mommy a hug," I said as I picked her up.

I looked around the room at everyone's stunned looks. Mimi and Brady were sitting in a chair with their mouths wide opened, and Kirsten whining in Mimi's lap. Mom and Dad were sitting across from us smiling, holding Chris who was wide awake, looking around.

"Yes, you heard us right, and you can close your mouths now," I said, smiling over at Mimi and Brady who immediately closed their mouths and Mimi started rocking Kirsten in her arms. "We also have something else that's very important to tell you, but we'll tell you after this little one goes to bed," I said, looking down at Chelsey who had fallen asleep. She had barely gotten a nap today because when she finally went to sleep, Mom and Dad had came over and awoke her. "Mom, can I put her down somewhere?"

"Yeah, just go put her down in the guest bed," Mom replied.

"I'll be right back," I said as I stood up and walked down the hallway.

TO BE CONTINUED....

Please review! Once again, ideas are welcome because I haven't written the next chapter yet.