No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: More parents with dialog, more names to assign:
Nancy Bianco - Melina's mom
Thomas Onasis - Lanny's dad
Vanessa Onasis - Lanny's mom
`
Chapter 46
Plans and Moves
`
To say the rest of the day was interesting for Lanny and Melina's parents would be to severely understate it.
When Nancy and Melina Bianco reached the Onasis home, both teens seemed calmer. At least, it seemed that way until Nancy disapproved of them going off to his room talk. The look Lanny gave her made her very glad the boy's father, who was built like a linebacker, was in the room. Melina, however, had recovered enough from the first shock a few days ago to have her biting humor back, and in rare form. "What do you think he's gonna do, mom, knock me up?"
It took a moment for the surprise of Melina's remark to wear off. This was the first time since all this trouble began that Nancy could remember her daughter using her sarcastic humor. However, she knew better than to let Melina know how happy she was to have that sign of normality back. "Melina, if you should someday have a daughter, I hope she has your sense of humor." While Melina made a face, she turned to Lanny's parents. "I don't mind if you didn't."
"You WILL leave your door half open, clear?" Thomas Onasis growled to his son. Lanny nodded. "Go on, then, you do need to talk."
`
As the teens left, all three parents knew that they were going to work on some kind of plan for the meeting to come. But they also knew they needed to talk out some things, too, so that they didn't unintentionally blind-side each other. A half hour later, the young couple returned. While Lanny wore a look of determination, Nancy was surprised by her daughter's face. It looked something like her 'I will have my way' face, but it seemed . . . older.
The next two hours were a . . . lively exchange, including one nose-to-nose shouting match between Lanny and his father. In the end, however, they all agreed on a course of action that included going shopping to find the things they wanted for the child, but no purchases until after a doctor declares Melina pregnant.
During the discussion, the parents got some answers to the question of how the teens would handle the apparent reality of their situation. While they knew Melina well enough to know she'd try to direct the meeting right from the start, the parents found themselves pushed out of any sort of control of the meeting by the duo's combined efforts. Melina's domineering nature, her position as possible mother-to-be, and her and Lanny's absolute determination to have everything ready for the child, put the parents into read-and-react mode. Consternation aside, the parents were impressed by how well the kids were handling things. Almost everything they talked about was for the baby, except when Lanny pushed for things for Melina's stay. Even the resolution of the shouting match ended up impressing them.
It started when Lanny suddenly got a new idea, and started telling the other's about it with the unfortunate phrase "if Melina and me share a bed". This predictably set off his already stressed father, and they were quickly in each other's faces. The three women separated them before any fists flew. After Mrs. Onasis silenced her husband with some well-chosen words in his ear, Melina asked Lanny to explain what he meant in another way. He sat there for a minute, clearly calming himself, then spoke. "I was thinking that it might be better for the baby if he or she had both parents in the room. None of the rooms in this house are big to house two single beds, a crib, and everything else the baby should have near by. So, unless we do some major work on the house, they only we could do that is if we got a bed large enough for Melina and me to share." He looked directly at his father. "I know we're not ready for one child, I'm not stupid enough to try for a second already."
His father was still skeptical, but turned to his wife, who had always been better at reading their son than he was. "Do you believe him, Vanessa?"
She had been watching her son from the moment they had separated them. Without turning away from him, she answered her husband. "I believe his reasons are what he says. But that won't be necessary."
It was now Lanny's turn to be skeptical. "How's that?"
"You forget, we've already raised a baby. While it sounds great to have the baby with you, trust our experience when I say it probably won't work for long. But I've already thought about this, and I have a solution that should work for everyone. Thomas was already going to move his books into the downstairs office. That leaves the three side-by-side rooms upstairs, the library, your room, and the guest room, available. We can put doors in the walls between the two end rooms and the middle room. Then the baby can have the middle room, and you two can each have one of the rooms on either end."
Melina was smiling by the time she was finished. "It figures it'd take a woman to have this all figured out." She than punched Lanny's shoulder. "Why couldn't you be more like her?" Lanny gave her a look that almost anyone could read, and which earned him another punch. "THAT'S not what I meant!"
~~~~~~~~
Sunday was the day that all four Craft and Saunders parents were available. Susan Craft had never met Kate's parents before, but it didn't take her long to understand why Kate had been the person she was now trying to change from. While they seemed to love her, they apparently believed that it was good for Kate for them NOT to be directly involved in her life. Character building, they called it. It was a song she knew all too well. It was all she could do not to tear into them for it. But she didn't want them angry when they found out Kate might be pregnant, so she held her tongue.
She needn't have bothered. When the couple explained to the three who didn't already know that Kate might be pregnant, and how they believe it happened, the Saunders' reaction was, to Susan, unforgivable. They told Kate that since she was going to act like a grown woman, she had no reason to live with her parents anymore, so she was to be out by the end of the week.
When they finished, all Kate could do was stare at them, stunned. The only thing she could think of was Clair's taunt last week.
Susan, however, wasn't silent. She BLEW UP. The thirty minute tongue-lashing she gave them was classic. When she was finished, however, the only concession they made was to give Kate more time to move. Susan also offered to take Kate in, in a voice that made it clear to Mr. Craft that he would be wise not to challenge her on this.
She needn't have worried. While nobody would confuse him for someone who was always there for his son, he was as appalled as she was by the Crafts' reaction, and wasn't going to challenge her about this decision at all.
~~~~~~~~
When Miranda arrived at the McGuire's after dinner that evening, she was surprised to see Gordo in the living room with the McGuire family. Before she could ask anything, Matt said toward the middle of the room "Miranda just arrived."
It was then she saw the speaker phone, which Matt and Miranda had agreed should be at whichever house they were staying at that night, had been positioned on the coffee table. Just as she saw this, she heard Ethan's voice reply "Hello, Miranda." He was speaking softly, as if trying not to be heard by someone nearby.
"Ethan?" She looked at Matt. "What's going on?"
"He only just called, so we don't know yet."
"It's Katie. We told our folks she might be pregnant." This was news to Jo and Sam, but they had enough sense to let Ethan have his say before asking any questions. It was in the silence that followed that they noticed what sounded like lite sobbing in the background. "Her folks kicked her out." The pain he had been trying to mask was now coming through.
"WHAT?!?" Miranda reacted. "I remember her parents were cold, but that?"
"They acted like they couldn't deal with the idea that she wasn't their idea of the perfect little princess. Of course, I think they were a little too eager to get rid of her." You would have had to have been deaf to not hear the hate in those words.
"Oh my god, that's awful. What's she gonna do?" Lizzie asked.
His tone changed. "Thanks to mom, she's moving into our guest rooms." He chuckled. "You should have heard her give it to Kate's folks when they told her she was out. I knew Susan could swear when she's mad, but this was more than I've heard from any adult before. I only wish I'd had the nerve to say that to them. The best part is, it helped. They didn't move on kicking her out, but they've given her more time to get her stuff, and an allowance."
"So, you two will be living together?" Gordo remarked, earning a swat on the shoulder. He had been invited for dinner, and was waiting for his parent's to come get him when Ethan called.
"Not like that. Kate's rooms and my room are on opposite ends of the house, and Susan's threatened bed checks if we can't behave. But that part of the house was made big enough for a visit from a whole family, so if she is pregnant, we can live there until we can be out on our own."
"Ethan," Jo finally asked, "While the news that Kate might be pregnant is a surprise to me, I'm glad you feel connected with us enough to tell us this. Is there any way we can help?"
"Thanks, Mrs. M. I hate to ask this, but I was wondering if any of you would be able to help move Kate's stuff. We already have furniture in there, and we can wait until the pros dad hired come on Thursday for most of her things, but she needs at least some of her clothes. I wanted to get them tomorrow, but I'm not able to be much help yet. Susan wants to help, but if Kate's mom shows up . . ."
"Yeah, that could get really bad." Lizzie finished for him. "I'd come to help, but I won't be much use right now, either."
"If I can get mom to drive," Miranda said, "I can be there."
"Are you sure about that, Miranda?" Ethan sounded surprised. From the looks in the room, he wasn't the only one.
"Yes, I'm sure. After the way she jumped in with Clair, it's the least I can do."
"We can do, you mean." Matt cut in. "You ladies can pack, and I'll carry."
"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Miranda," Gordo interrupted her, "would you rather have him packing Kate's clothes?"
She got his point quickly. "No."
~~~~~~~~
Later, Matt and Miranda were in the den, arranged much as the lay after a nightmare. Matt could tell something was bothering her, he could feel the tension in her back as she lay against him. "You're all in knots. Sit up for a minute."
"Oh, it's nothing." She said automatically, not realizing he hadn't asked what's wrong yet.
"No way, you haven't been this tight since the first meeting with Kate. Come on, sit up." She reluctantly did it. As he began rubbing her shoulders, he asked "What's bothering you? Is it what's going on with Kate?"
She would have continued to deny it, but she felt herself melt into his hands, and had to tell him. "That's part of it. To be thrown out of your home like that . . . no matter what I have against her, she doesn't deserve that."
"I can't imagine what it would be like. I'm glad we've had all those talk with our folks."
"First Melina, now Kate. As if we didn't have enough reason to wait . . . Have you heard anything from her lately?"
"No. I was thinking about writing her." Even through the talk about Kate and Melina, he got the feeling that this wasn't the biggest weight on her. "You said Kate's situation was part of it. What else is there?"
"Compared to that, it's nothing."
"Like hell. If it were nothing, you wouldn't be holding back." He stopped his rubbing, which had moved to the middle of her back, and gently turned her head to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"Why do I need mom to drive?" The look on his face told her he wasn't getting it. "It's been nearly a month since the crash, and I haven't even TRIED to drive yet."
"Do you think you're ready?"
"I don't know. But I need to try, Matt, ready or not."
"If you want to, then I'm with you on it. But will you make sure the doc's okay with this?"
"I guess that makes sense. I'll tell him in my meeting tomorrow."
"Thanks."
"If you want to thank me, then get back to that rub down. I was enjoying that."
"Yes, ma'am."
~~~~~~~~
The next morning, when Daniella Sanchez came to pick up her daughter, they told her about Kate. After getting over her indignation over the reaction of Kate's parents, she quickly agreed to help. Lizzie would watch Lily while Matt, Miranda, and Daniella helped Kate and Ethan. Ethan called a little after 10:00 to make sure they were able to go. The half-buried anger in his voice was explained when he told them that he had just finished making arrangements with Mrs. Saunders, and they could start packing at noon.
~~~~~~~~
To the relief of everyone there, the packing of Kate's clothes went smoothly. Her mother making sure to stay away for the entire afternoon helped. Kate went through most of the day on autopilot, still in shock over her parents.
~~~~~~~~
While they took care of that, Mr. Craft did his part by calling their family doctor, as while as the Saunders' doctor, to arrange for the transfer of Kate's care and records. He then arranged two appointments for Kate. The first was for the blood to be drawn for the pregnancy test. The second was for the next day, when the results would be delivered, and, if a positive result comes back, an ultra-sound to confirm it. On the doctor's advice, they were set for a week from Tuesday, and the next day.
`
Which, as it happened, would be the same days as Melina's.
~~~~~~~~
At her meeting with Dr. Gordon, Miranda mentioned her interest in driving again. While the doctor told her that it was good that she felt ready for this step, he suggested waiting until Friday, so that, if it didn't work out, they'd all have all weekend to work though it. She agreed on a condition of her own, to which he reluctantly agreed. When she went for her drive, HE would be a passenger.
There was more to it than he told her, but he didn't want her to be more nervous about this than she was already going to be. He remembered that her nightmares began with her guilt over the crash. By doing as she suggests, she'll be attacking the root of her problems, and that may be key to bringing this to resolution.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Next chapter, things start to get back to normal for our main couple, but is that just an illusion? Stay tuned.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
A/N: More parents with dialog, more names to assign:
Nancy Bianco - Melina's mom
Thomas Onasis - Lanny's dad
Vanessa Onasis - Lanny's mom
`
Chapter 46
Plans and Moves
`
To say the rest of the day was interesting for Lanny and Melina's parents would be to severely understate it.
When Nancy and Melina Bianco reached the Onasis home, both teens seemed calmer. At least, it seemed that way until Nancy disapproved of them going off to his room talk. The look Lanny gave her made her very glad the boy's father, who was built like a linebacker, was in the room. Melina, however, had recovered enough from the first shock a few days ago to have her biting humor back, and in rare form. "What do you think he's gonna do, mom, knock me up?"
It took a moment for the surprise of Melina's remark to wear off. This was the first time since all this trouble began that Nancy could remember her daughter using her sarcastic humor. However, she knew better than to let Melina know how happy she was to have that sign of normality back. "Melina, if you should someday have a daughter, I hope she has your sense of humor." While Melina made a face, she turned to Lanny's parents. "I don't mind if you didn't."
"You WILL leave your door half open, clear?" Thomas Onasis growled to his son. Lanny nodded. "Go on, then, you do need to talk."
`
As the teens left, all three parents knew that they were going to work on some kind of plan for the meeting to come. But they also knew they needed to talk out some things, too, so that they didn't unintentionally blind-side each other. A half hour later, the young couple returned. While Lanny wore a look of determination, Nancy was surprised by her daughter's face. It looked something like her 'I will have my way' face, but it seemed . . . older.
The next two hours were a . . . lively exchange, including one nose-to-nose shouting match between Lanny and his father. In the end, however, they all agreed on a course of action that included going shopping to find the things they wanted for the child, but no purchases until after a doctor declares Melina pregnant.
During the discussion, the parents got some answers to the question of how the teens would handle the apparent reality of their situation. While they knew Melina well enough to know she'd try to direct the meeting right from the start, the parents found themselves pushed out of any sort of control of the meeting by the duo's combined efforts. Melina's domineering nature, her position as possible mother-to-be, and her and Lanny's absolute determination to have everything ready for the child, put the parents into read-and-react mode. Consternation aside, the parents were impressed by how well the kids were handling things. Almost everything they talked about was for the baby, except when Lanny pushed for things for Melina's stay. Even the resolution of the shouting match ended up impressing them.
It started when Lanny suddenly got a new idea, and started telling the other's about it with the unfortunate phrase "if Melina and me share a bed". This predictably set off his already stressed father, and they were quickly in each other's faces. The three women separated them before any fists flew. After Mrs. Onasis silenced her husband with some well-chosen words in his ear, Melina asked Lanny to explain what he meant in another way. He sat there for a minute, clearly calming himself, then spoke. "I was thinking that it might be better for the baby if he or she had both parents in the room. None of the rooms in this house are big to house two single beds, a crib, and everything else the baby should have near by. So, unless we do some major work on the house, they only we could do that is if we got a bed large enough for Melina and me to share." He looked directly at his father. "I know we're not ready for one child, I'm not stupid enough to try for a second already."
His father was still skeptical, but turned to his wife, who had always been better at reading their son than he was. "Do you believe him, Vanessa?"
She had been watching her son from the moment they had separated them. Without turning away from him, she answered her husband. "I believe his reasons are what he says. But that won't be necessary."
It was now Lanny's turn to be skeptical. "How's that?"
"You forget, we've already raised a baby. While it sounds great to have the baby with you, trust our experience when I say it probably won't work for long. But I've already thought about this, and I have a solution that should work for everyone. Thomas was already going to move his books into the downstairs office. That leaves the three side-by-side rooms upstairs, the library, your room, and the guest room, available. We can put doors in the walls between the two end rooms and the middle room. Then the baby can have the middle room, and you two can each have one of the rooms on either end."
Melina was smiling by the time she was finished. "It figures it'd take a woman to have this all figured out." She than punched Lanny's shoulder. "Why couldn't you be more like her?" Lanny gave her a look that almost anyone could read, and which earned him another punch. "THAT'S not what I meant!"
~~~~~~~~
Sunday was the day that all four Craft and Saunders parents were available. Susan Craft had never met Kate's parents before, but it didn't take her long to understand why Kate had been the person she was now trying to change from. While they seemed to love her, they apparently believed that it was good for Kate for them NOT to be directly involved in her life. Character building, they called it. It was a song she knew all too well. It was all she could do not to tear into them for it. But she didn't want them angry when they found out Kate might be pregnant, so she held her tongue.
She needn't have bothered. When the couple explained to the three who didn't already know that Kate might be pregnant, and how they believe it happened, the Saunders' reaction was, to Susan, unforgivable. They told Kate that since she was going to act like a grown woman, she had no reason to live with her parents anymore, so she was to be out by the end of the week.
When they finished, all Kate could do was stare at them, stunned. The only thing she could think of was Clair's taunt last week.
Susan, however, wasn't silent. She BLEW UP. The thirty minute tongue-lashing she gave them was classic. When she was finished, however, the only concession they made was to give Kate more time to move. Susan also offered to take Kate in, in a voice that made it clear to Mr. Craft that he would be wise not to challenge her on this.
She needn't have worried. While nobody would confuse him for someone who was always there for his son, he was as appalled as she was by the Crafts' reaction, and wasn't going to challenge her about this decision at all.
~~~~~~~~
When Miranda arrived at the McGuire's after dinner that evening, she was surprised to see Gordo in the living room with the McGuire family. Before she could ask anything, Matt said toward the middle of the room "Miranda just arrived."
It was then she saw the speaker phone, which Matt and Miranda had agreed should be at whichever house they were staying at that night, had been positioned on the coffee table. Just as she saw this, she heard Ethan's voice reply "Hello, Miranda." He was speaking softly, as if trying not to be heard by someone nearby.
"Ethan?" She looked at Matt. "What's going on?"
"He only just called, so we don't know yet."
"It's Katie. We told our folks she might be pregnant." This was news to Jo and Sam, but they had enough sense to let Ethan have his say before asking any questions. It was in the silence that followed that they noticed what sounded like lite sobbing in the background. "Her folks kicked her out." The pain he had been trying to mask was now coming through.
"WHAT?!?" Miranda reacted. "I remember her parents were cold, but that?"
"They acted like they couldn't deal with the idea that she wasn't their idea of the perfect little princess. Of course, I think they were a little too eager to get rid of her." You would have had to have been deaf to not hear the hate in those words.
"Oh my god, that's awful. What's she gonna do?" Lizzie asked.
His tone changed. "Thanks to mom, she's moving into our guest rooms." He chuckled. "You should have heard her give it to Kate's folks when they told her she was out. I knew Susan could swear when she's mad, but this was more than I've heard from any adult before. I only wish I'd had the nerve to say that to them. The best part is, it helped. They didn't move on kicking her out, but they've given her more time to get her stuff, and an allowance."
"So, you two will be living together?" Gordo remarked, earning a swat on the shoulder. He had been invited for dinner, and was waiting for his parent's to come get him when Ethan called.
"Not like that. Kate's rooms and my room are on opposite ends of the house, and Susan's threatened bed checks if we can't behave. But that part of the house was made big enough for a visit from a whole family, so if she is pregnant, we can live there until we can be out on our own."
"Ethan," Jo finally asked, "While the news that Kate might be pregnant is a surprise to me, I'm glad you feel connected with us enough to tell us this. Is there any way we can help?"
"Thanks, Mrs. M. I hate to ask this, but I was wondering if any of you would be able to help move Kate's stuff. We already have furniture in there, and we can wait until the pros dad hired come on Thursday for most of her things, but she needs at least some of her clothes. I wanted to get them tomorrow, but I'm not able to be much help yet. Susan wants to help, but if Kate's mom shows up . . ."
"Yeah, that could get really bad." Lizzie finished for him. "I'd come to help, but I won't be much use right now, either."
"If I can get mom to drive," Miranda said, "I can be there."
"Are you sure about that, Miranda?" Ethan sounded surprised. From the looks in the room, he wasn't the only one.
"Yes, I'm sure. After the way she jumped in with Clair, it's the least I can do."
"We can do, you mean." Matt cut in. "You ladies can pack, and I'll carry."
"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Miranda," Gordo interrupted her, "would you rather have him packing Kate's clothes?"
She got his point quickly. "No."
~~~~~~~~
Later, Matt and Miranda were in the den, arranged much as the lay after a nightmare. Matt could tell something was bothering her, he could feel the tension in her back as she lay against him. "You're all in knots. Sit up for a minute."
"Oh, it's nothing." She said automatically, not realizing he hadn't asked what's wrong yet.
"No way, you haven't been this tight since the first meeting with Kate. Come on, sit up." She reluctantly did it. As he began rubbing her shoulders, he asked "What's bothering you? Is it what's going on with Kate?"
She would have continued to deny it, but she felt herself melt into his hands, and had to tell him. "That's part of it. To be thrown out of your home like that . . . no matter what I have against her, she doesn't deserve that."
"I can't imagine what it would be like. I'm glad we've had all those talk with our folks."
"First Melina, now Kate. As if we didn't have enough reason to wait . . . Have you heard anything from her lately?"
"No. I was thinking about writing her." Even through the talk about Kate and Melina, he got the feeling that this wasn't the biggest weight on her. "You said Kate's situation was part of it. What else is there?"
"Compared to that, it's nothing."
"Like hell. If it were nothing, you wouldn't be holding back." He stopped his rubbing, which had moved to the middle of her back, and gently turned her head to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"Why do I need mom to drive?" The look on his face told her he wasn't getting it. "It's been nearly a month since the crash, and I haven't even TRIED to drive yet."
"Do you think you're ready?"
"I don't know. But I need to try, Matt, ready or not."
"If you want to, then I'm with you on it. But will you make sure the doc's okay with this?"
"I guess that makes sense. I'll tell him in my meeting tomorrow."
"Thanks."
"If you want to thank me, then get back to that rub down. I was enjoying that."
"Yes, ma'am."
~~~~~~~~
The next morning, when Daniella Sanchez came to pick up her daughter, they told her about Kate. After getting over her indignation over the reaction of Kate's parents, she quickly agreed to help. Lizzie would watch Lily while Matt, Miranda, and Daniella helped Kate and Ethan. Ethan called a little after 10:00 to make sure they were able to go. The half-buried anger in his voice was explained when he told them that he had just finished making arrangements with Mrs. Saunders, and they could start packing at noon.
~~~~~~~~
To the relief of everyone there, the packing of Kate's clothes went smoothly. Her mother making sure to stay away for the entire afternoon helped. Kate went through most of the day on autopilot, still in shock over her parents.
~~~~~~~~
While they took care of that, Mr. Craft did his part by calling their family doctor, as while as the Saunders' doctor, to arrange for the transfer of Kate's care and records. He then arranged two appointments for Kate. The first was for the blood to be drawn for the pregnancy test. The second was for the next day, when the results would be delivered, and, if a positive result comes back, an ultra-sound to confirm it. On the doctor's advice, they were set for a week from Tuesday, and the next day.
`
Which, as it happened, would be the same days as Melina's.
~~~~~~~~
At her meeting with Dr. Gordon, Miranda mentioned her interest in driving again. While the doctor told her that it was good that she felt ready for this step, he suggested waiting until Friday, so that, if it didn't work out, they'd all have all weekend to work though it. She agreed on a condition of her own, to which he reluctantly agreed. When she went for her drive, HE would be a passenger.
There was more to it than he told her, but he didn't want her to be more nervous about this than she was already going to be. He remembered that her nightmares began with her guilt over the crash. By doing as she suggests, she'll be attacking the root of her problems, and that may be key to bringing this to resolution.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Next chapter, things start to get back to normal for our main couple, but is that just an illusion? Stay tuned.