Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of the characters, no matter how much I WISH I did. They belong whoever owns DAYS and/or NBC ~ Plans have changed, though this will EVENTUALLY be a Phimi story, I'm going to add some twists. That's the bad news, the good news is that the Shimi fans will be happy for awhile . . . once I decide to bring him back. Hey, here's a question, do you think I should have Brandon and Belle run off to Vegas with Mimi and Philip and have Brandon and Belle elope? ~ Life's Lessons By Jules Chapter 4 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Mimi lay on Philips muscular chest, as he languidly played with her drying curls. Both were drowsy, but too awake to sleep. "What was that Philip?" Mimi finally uttered. "I don't know." He admitted honestly. "What it a pity-fuck? Is that why you did me?" Mimi questioned harshly, tears in her eyes, her insecurities rearing their ugly heads once more. "God no Meems. I just don't know what it was either . . . I care about you Mimi, and I've never felt this way before . . . . It's just that, I'm confused Mimi." "So am I." She murmured, "So what are we going to do? I mean, Chloe already hates me . . . . ." "You just want to for get about it?" Philip questioned. "I don't want to . . . ." She told him getting up, putting on his shirt, her underwear and shorts, which were still damp, "But I suppose it would be for the best. I'm sorry Philip." She slipped on her sandals, and ran out the door before he could say anything. ~*~ ** Brandon's place ** ** A couple days later ** Brandon had invited Belle over for dinner. She had accepted, wanting to see him again. But Belle now pushed the food around on her plate. Wondering if this was what it was going to be like when they got married, an uncomfortable silence constantly between them. And what about other things, like bedroom and otherwise. She already was falling for Brandon harder than ever, but what if he didn't feel the same way. Would she be stuck in a one-sided marriage for, only god knows how long, with no affection? And what about a divorce, she didn't want to get a divorce after the baby was born, she'd never wanted to ever be divorced, but what if Brandon did want a divorce. He'd been the one to suggest it. Brandon had noticed Belle's silence, and that she was picking at her food. He craved to know what she was thinking, but her face was unreadable. After 30 minutes, he finally broke down. "Belle, is something wrong? You're so quiet. And from my experience, you're never quiet." He teased. "Hey!" Belle protested, then smiled when she noticed he was joking, "I don't know . . ." "About what?" "If something is wrong." She told him sighing, setting down her fork, "We need to talk Brandon." Brandon froze, talk about what? Had she changed her mind about them getting married? What if she had? Could he change her mind back again? He didn't want to lose her. "What do we need to talk about exactly?" He asked, swallowing. The food went down roughly, and felt like it was moving slowly and painfully down his throat. Belle knew this was a time she couldn't skirt around the issue, this was her life they were talking about, "Being married, the specifics of our being married. what do we tell people. Do we pretend to be in love in front of everyone, and then just never talk when we're alone, kind of like now? I hate this. I don't want this if we get married. Brandon could tell how upset she was, and felt very guilty, he got up and kneeled down by her chair, taking her hands into his, "Belle, baby, calm down. Breath, take a few deep breaths, and talk slowly." Belle closed her eyes, and did as he instructed, "Brandon, I mean, I know we're getting married to protect the baby . . . but I don't want to just get married because I'm having a baby . . . . I want to be loved Brandon. I need to be loved . . . . I hate divorce, I have never really believed in it, and I don't want to get divorced after I'm married, I want to stay married, and . . . . And what about the whole bedroom situation, and are we going to share one. Do you even want to share one? Do you even like me? Do you even want to marry me? I don't want to be this burden to you, and that's what I'll be." Brandon sighed in relief, smiling, figuring out exactly what she wasn't saying, "Is this what this is all about? If I really want to marry you?" "Well, yes." She admitted blushing. "Oh God Belle, you have no idea how much. The truth is . . . . the truth is that I . . . I . . ." "Yes?" She looked at him searchingly, trying to decipher what he was trying to say. Brandon took a deep breath, and just said it; "I'm falling in love with you." Belle stared at him in bewilderment for a long time, trying to make her brain comprehend what her ears just heard. "You're falling in love with me?" She asked, her voice shaking. Brandon could just nod his head, unable to speak to any further extent. His entire existence hung upon her reaction to his declaration. A few tears ran down Belle's face, but she was unaware of them. She gazed into his eyes, getting lost in the dark brown which mirrored his soul. "I'm falling in love with you too." She finally whispered. Brandon's face lit up in the biggest smile Belle had ever seen, and he breathed the biggest sigh of relief in the history of the world. "I got something for you today." He told her, a secretive smile on his face. "What?" Belle demanded, feeling more at peace than she had been in months. "I didn't exactly do this right the first time, and I need to do this properly, because you deserve nothing but the best." Brandon got in the proper one-knee position, and took the velvet box out of his pocket, "Belle, ever since that night at the bar, I have not been able to stop thinking about you. Every night, my dreams were filled with you, and when I was awake, I was constantly distracted because my thoughts always strayed to you. When you told me you were pregnant, I was scared, but when I thought about you and me, raising our child together . . . . I have never wanted anything more than this baby your having, or having you as my wife. Isabella Black, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened the box and revealed pulled out the ring. "Oh my gosh . . ." Belle gasped at the ring, "OH MY GOSH!!! It's so beautiful Brandon!" "Is that a yes?" He teased. "You know it is!" Belle hit him with her right hand, holding out her left, "Put it on me." Brandon laughed, "Yes ma'am." He slipped the ring on her finger, watching Belle's face the whole time. He'd never seen anything more beautiful then the smile on her face at that moment. She looked like the sun. Brandon knew at that moment, he most definitely wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He watched her admire her ring happily for a moment. Then she surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck, and kissing him. Brandon was frozen in shock for a moment, and then he eagerly responded, kissing her back. Exploring her mouth for the first time that he would remember. An inferno was spreading through his body from her kiss. Belle's head spun, and she felt herself melting into him. She had no power anymore; everything she did was controlled by want and passion. Brandon's arms tightly encircled her tiny waist, as her legs went around his muscular torso. Brandon stood up, spinning her around, pushing her against the wall, trying to get as much contact as possible. In the back of her mind, something was nagging Belle, then it suddenly hit her with a flash, and she pushed Brandon away. "Hope!" Brandon panted, needing air, "What?" "Oh my gosh, I completely forgot. I have to go Brandon. Bo and Hope expect me home by 12." Brandon groaned in protest, but let her down, "But I don't want you to go." He whined, leaning his forehead down against hers. Belle smiled up at him, "I don't either, but I have to. It was part of the rules laid out when they let me move in. And until you find us an apartment, and we get married, I have to play by the rules." She kissed him tenderly, then once more. "Good night Brandon." "Good night Bella." "I promise, I'll come back tomorrow and," She flashed him a coy smile as she opened the door, "And we'll finish what we started." Then she left. Leaving a suffering Brandon behind. "That girl's going to be the end of me . . ." he muttered as he blew out the candles, and then went to go take a cold shower, "But what a hell of a way to go . . . ." ~*~ ** The Brady house ** Bo and Hope sat in the living room, pretending to watch TV, though they were really waiting up for Belle. Their heads shot to the door as soon as they heard it open. Both raised their eyebrows in amusement at the sight. She was practically walking on air. Belle closed the door behind her, and had the biggest grin on her face. "What happened to you?" Bo asked grinning. "He loves me." She said blissfully, practically missing their presence. "What?" Hope pressed, getting up and going over to the girl, "Belle, what's going on?" "He told me that he's falling in love with me!" She cried, "And he asked me to marry him." Belle held out her hand for Hope to see. Hope grabbed it and brought it close to her face. "Oh my . . . that's quite a ring!" "Isn't it beautiful?" Belle asked dreamily. "Very." Hope agreed. "Will you tell us who "he" is now?" Bo pressed, hoping to catch her off guard in this moment of happiness. Belle shook her head, "No, not yet. I'm still not ready." "That's fine." Hope quickly said before Bo could press Belle more, "Belle, how would you and your friends like to go back to school shopping on Monday with me?" "I'd love to . . . but I'd feel bad buying lots of things in front of Mimi." "Oh, you don't' have to worry about that. Mrs. Wesley, Alice, John, Bo and I have but a bit of money aside all summer so she could buy herself new clothes for school and things. She will have plenty of money to shop with. And once the Lockhart's new house is built, she'll have a laptop waiting for her in her new room as a housewarming present." Belle was hesitant. "Mimi doesn't like charity . . ." "We know, that's why we're calling it a birthday present!" "That's a great idea! Thanks Hope." She gave Hope a hug, then hurried off to bed. ** The next morning ** Belle was taking her prenatal vitamins when Hope came into the kitchen to make breakfast." "Oh, good morning Belle!" "Hey Hope. I made coffee. I can't drink it, but I figured you and Bo would like some when you got up." "Why thank you sweetie! So what can your stomach handle in the mornings?" "Not much. I'll just stick to fruit and get dressed while you and Bo make and eat breakfast." "Alright sweetie. But don't forget to eat. You and the baby need the need the nutrients." "I won't. Do you mind if Chloe, Mimi, and Philip come by this morning? I think it's time I told them about everything." Belle explained, leaning against the counter. "Of course not. Why don't you go call them now? Oh, and when you're dressed, will you mind go checking on JT?" "Sure Hope, I could use the practice." Hope watched the girl leave the kitchen, relived to see the transformation in her. Hope was thankful to see Belle was slowly returning to her normal self. She had a feeling it was partially because the girl was back in a loving environment, where people cared about her, and looked out for her. Belle called Mimi and invited her and Chloe come at nine. Then she called Philip and told him the same thing, because she only wanted to go through this once with her friends. Once she was finished making her calls, she jogged up to her room where she changed into low-rise, white, Capri's, and a light blue handkerchief top. She wanted to wear all the clothes she had like this as much as she could before she began to show. Belle pinned her hair back with two butterfly clips, slipped on her white platform tennis shoes, and put on a light application of makeup. She checked her appearance in the mirror, and then tiptoed into JT's room. Belle found the baby boy awake and happily sucking on his big toe. "Well good morning big guy!" She cheerily greeted the baby, who smiled up at her, "What are you doin'? What are you doin'? Are you sucking on your toes?" Belle picked JT up out of the crib, "Ooh, you're getting heavy baby cakes! Let's get you dressed." Belle looked through JT's things and decided on a white t-shirt, blue and yellow-stripped overalls, and a pair of baby Nikes for him. She changed his diaper, dressed him, and put his socks and shoes on, tickling the bottoms of JT's feet as she did so, making him laugh and coo at her. Belle picked him back up and brought him downstairs into the living room. She laid him down on his blanket, with his play mobile over him, to keep him occupied, while she read through some of Hope's old baby books. Bo rushed around, getting ready for work. He was running late again. He nearly ran right into Mimi and Chloe on his way out the door. "Oh, morning girls." He greeted in surprise. "Good morning Mr. Brady." They chorused on their way inside. And when Bo was backing out of the driveway, Philip was pulling in, driving his new car. "Damn this place is Grand Central Station this morning." Bo muttered as he went on his way to work. Belle's closest friends, minus Shawn, were all gathered before her in the Brady living room. None of them had seen her much that summer, and all wondered what was up. "Thanks for coming bay this early." Belle wrung her hands nervously, "I bet you all want to know what's going on, don't you?" "It would be nice. I've barely seen you all summer Belle." Mimi pointed out, trying to ignore Philip's presence, whom she hadn't seen since she'd left his house after they'd made love, "Practically the only times I saw you were at the construction site." "Well a lot has been going on." Belle justified, "The whole thing with Hope and my dad caused some major problems at home. My mom and dad separated. My dad moved out, and my mom's drinking. With Shawn taking off, and you guys having your own lives to deal with, I had nobody to talk to. I kind of felt betrayed by my dad, and neglected by both of them . . . so I started going out to bars at night and getting smashed." Philip was floored, "Oh my God." "Oh Belle." Mimi whimpered. Chloe remained silent, waiting for Belle to continue. "Anyway, about eight weeks ago, I got really, really drunk at a bar, and I went home with someone. We had sex, and now I'm pregnant." The other three teens were stunned silent. Belle was the last person they'd ever expected to get in a situation like that. "Wha-what are you going to do?" Mimi finally managed to ask. "We're going to keep the baby." Belle answered firmly. "We?" Philip pressed. "Yeah, he and I are getting married, as soon as possible, in case something happens to me, so we can protect the baby." Chloe finally spoke, "Who?" "Brandon Walker." Belle rushed out. "Oh my God, Belle, are you sure about getting married to him?" Mimi questioned, remembering Belle's un-forgotten crush on him. "Yes." Belle looked down at JT and played with the baby's tiny hands, "Mimi, it's not just because of the baby . . . well, it is . . . I mean, we probably never would have gotten together if I wasn't pregnant because of what we thought was going to be a one-night-stand . . . . But we're falling in love." "Belle . . ." Philip was silent for a few moments, collecting his thoughts, "are you sure this is what you want?" "Yes." Belle told them firmly. "Does he make you happy?" "Very." "And your prepared for the repercussions your relationship will have nd to take care of the baby." "Yes Philip. Guys, trust me, I've gone through this in my head a million different ways. But this is the only option where I might actually come out on top of things. With my head above water." Philip sighed, and then nodded his head, his demeanor absolutely sincere, "Then you have my full support. And what ever I can do to help, I'm here for you." "Me too." Mimi immediately agreed. "Same here." Chloe nodded. Belle blinked rapidly, to hold the quickly mounting tears back, "Thank you guys. You have now idea how much that means to me." She hugged all three of them, "You are the best friends anyone could ever dream of having." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Please, I want replies, I know it sounds pathetic, but I live for feedback, good or bad! I need to know what you think so I know where to go with this. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~