Chapter Thirty-One

(Back in Salem - One Week Later)

Chloe trudged up the stairs towards Brady's bedroom. Her bedroom. Chloe paused and grinned to herself. No, THEIR bedroom. She walked into the room and threw the hangers she was holding on to the bed. Belle was standing at the closet trying to organize it to make room for Chloe's belongings.

"Hangers... I brought more hangers."

Belle turned and grinned at her. "Great... I'm almost done actually."

"You know, I *can* help. I'm not completely without talent or skills."

"Don't worry, Chloe. Leave it to the expert."

Chloe laughed and perched herself on the edge of the bed. "I never would have pegged you to be an expert at organizing closets, but you are damn good at it."

Belle shrugged innocently and continued working as they conversed. "Well, when you have as much clothes and shoes as I do... Sometimes you have to find creative ways to fit it all into one closet."

"Or you could just get rid of the things you don't wear anymore."

"Ha ha... Getting rid of a pair of shoes would be like giving up one of my children. They are that special to me."

Chloe giggled and rolled her eyes. "You are the most shopping addicted person I have ever known, and probably ever will know."

Belle nodded proudly. "I would have to agree. So, how do you think you're going to like living here?"

"I don't know yet. It's different. No parents or guardians. It's... Well, it'll be kind of nice actually. Right now though, it still kind of feels like its 'Brady's place', not 'our' place."

"Well, that's understandable. But, before you know it, you'll have your little Chloe touches all over the place and it will feel just like home."

Chloe smiled sweetly. "At the risk of sounding like a greeting card... Wherever Brady is feels like my home."

Belle sighed and made a sappy face. "Awwww... that's so sweet."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's weird, Belle... If you had told me four months ago that all of this would be happening, I would have gotten you committed. It just all sounds so unbelievable. Brady's coma, us *finally* admitting our feelings, him going to California, finding out about the baby and now we're living together... It still feels kind of unreal."

"Tell me about it. It took you almost two years to finally get together, and then when you do, it's like everything happens so quickly. So tell me... Are you happy? Really happy?"

Chloe smiled without hesitation and nodded. "I am. I really am. I've never been this happy in my entire life."

Belle hung up one of Chloe's dresses and sat on the bed next to her. "Good. You are my best friend, and all I want is for you to be happy. And, if it just so happens to make my brother happy in the process, well... it's a very good thing."

"Do you think Brady is as happy as I am?"

"I know he is. He may not say it out loud, but I know my brother, and he is. You have no reason to doubt that." Belle paused and then looked at Chloe curiously. "By the way... Are you two going to get married?"

Chloe bit her lower lip and shrugged. "I don't know. He hasn't actually mentioned it or anything. Which is okay, and all. We do live in a time where its more acceptable to have a child out of wedlock. So, it's no big deal. And, with Phillip's trial coming up, it's too stressful to worry about having a wedding. If he asked, I would say yes. But, I don't think we can have a big traditional ceremony until after the baby is born. There's just too much going on right now to plan it."

Belle nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Besides, by the time the whole thing got off the ground, you'd have to walk down the aisle with a pregnant tummy."

"True. I know Brady's mom did it, but I don't want to go into labor at the church like she did."

"I know, my dad used to tell Brady that story all the time when we were kids. Isabella was insistent on being married that day, so as soon she popped out Brady, they wheeled her gurney down the aisle and finished their vows."

Chloe nodded sadly, thinking of the grandmother their baby would never know, a mother that Brady did not even remember. She sighed softly and then continued. "Well, I'd like to be married... Even just for the legal reasons, it makes everything so much easier. But, if it doesn't happen, I don't care. I'm with Brady, and we love each other, that's all that matters."

Both girls turned their heads at the sound of the door downstairs sliding open. They anxiously jumped up and ran down the stairs to greet Brady and Shawn. The boys were carrying armfuls of food from the Brady Pub, and began laying it on the kitchen counter.

Chloe leaned over the counter and gave Brady a quick kiss. "Hey... What did you bring me?"

Brady grinned at her and handed her a styrofoam to-go box. "One of the usual. Stack of pancakes. So, did you two get everything in the closet?"

"Oh yeah. We had to get rid of most of your stuff, so I hope none of it was important to you."

"Chloe..."

She giggled girlishly and shook her head. "Just kidding. Your sister happens to be an organizational wizard, and everything fit perfectly."

Belle and Chloe situated themselves on the barstools, while the guys stood around the corner, and everyone began digging in to their lunches.

Chloe sighed through a mouthful of pancakes and looked at Brady thoughtfully. "Of course, I don't know why we were so worried. In a very short time, I won't be able to wear half of those clothes anyway."

Belle winked at her and nodded. "Then you'll just have to buy more."

Shawn rolled his eyes at his girlfriend. "You would say that, Belle. By the way, Chloe... My grandmother sends her love, and said to tell you congratulations."

"Thank you, please tell her I said thanks. Everybody has been so supportive of us, it's amazing."

"So, Brady... When are you going back to work?"

Brady took a sip of his drink, then replied. "In a few days, actually. My dad's been complaining about how much they miss me over there. Besides, somebody has to take care of this family."

Chloe smiled slightly, saying the word softly. "Family... Wow. For so long, that's all I wished for. Little did I know, that all I had to do was move to Salem to find it."

Belle grinned at her and nodded. "You've got so much, Chloe. You have parents and friends who love you, a hus... err, Brady, a baby on the way. The whole nine yards."

Brady smiled and interjected, perhaps not noticing that Belle had almost called him a 'husband'. "Now all you need is to be singing at the Met. And, you will. I know you will."

"Only time will tell... And what's really weird, is that for once I have something else to focus on besides my music. Something that is so much bigger than that."

The room went quiet, and Chloe went back to her pancakes. But, her eyes searched the room around her as she ate, three people she loved were surrounding her, and she was home. She felt safe and complete here. Everything in her past, the good and the bad, had led her here to this place, and now she understood how each event was integral in bringing her here.

***

(Just a very short little insert chapter to lead into the next part of the story. A transition, if you will.

Sheesh, I think this is now officially the longest fic I've written and I have NO clue when it will ever end. LOL. It just keeps getting longer and longer, like it has a mind of it's own.)

-Hope Grace-