What's that thing I usually say? Oh yeah, I own nothing bar the idea for this fic. I tried to edit as best as I could and most likely forgot something, so, don't pay that much attention to the crappy errors I'm bound to have missed.

Sorry for not being around so much, I've tried my hardest to work on this fic while I've been offline, but I barely got much done. Here's a hopefully decent chapter to make up for it.

Doctor's appointments, family meals, and secrecy.

Time Jump. 8Mth Preg.

I sighed as I swung my legs, waiting for the doctor to enter the room. My mother and Jade were sitting in the chairs off to the side discussing school and the baby.

Every time the baby was brought up, my mother would try to be discreet, but I saw the longing look she sent towards the bump.

I hadn't really given her an answer about whether or not she was taking it, and I could tell it was weighing heavily on her mind.

Mine too, but it was a hard decision for me. Do I want this child growing up thinking I'm it's sister and then having it hate me when it finds out I'm actually it's mother?

A hand on my shoulder had me looking up to see Jade, smiling with a questioning eyebrow.

"You okay there, Vega? We were talking to you."

"Oh, sorry. What's up?"

"We're just talking… but are you okay?"

I nodded, leaning closer, smiling when she kissed me. "I'm okay. Just lost in thought."

"How's little peanut today?" Jade asked, stroking a hand over any stomach.

"Active."

My mother stood and moved closer and I smiled up at her. "They're active? Can I…?"

I nodded and lifted my shirt slightly, letting her hand rest on my stomach before I guided it to the spot the baby was kicking.

Tears sprung into her eyes and I looked to Jade, but before I could say anything, the door opened and both of them took a step away from me to let the doctor over to me.

"Tori, how're you feeling this morning?"

"Tired, but that's not unusual. The baby is very active today so I've been up since four."

The doctor nodded, a sympathetic look on his face. "Jade, nice to see you again. And who's this pretty lady?"

"My mother," I said as I smiled over at mum, a light blush on her cheeks.

"Alright, let's see how the baby is doing, we'll take a blood test to make sure everything's okay with that too. I'll send a nurse in when I'm done. But first," he gestured to the bed and I laid back, adjusting my shirt so it tucked under my breasts.

"You're still small- if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were only five instead of eight months along."

"Mum was small with my sister and me, too."

The doctor nodded, putting some gel and then the ultrasound wand onto my lower stomach, pushing the gel around before he focused on the baby.

"There it is, little peanut," Jade said.

"Big peanut," I said, grinning as I looked at the monitor.

"The baby is doing well by the looks of it, and, if you want, I can tell you the gen-"

"No… I don't want to know. I want to be surprised," I said quickly, cutting the doctor off. He nodded.

"Well, if you change your mind, I can put it in an envelope," he said.

I shook my head and the doctor nodded before clicking a few items on the computer and looked at me again. "Alright, you know where the bathroom is," he said. "I'll send the nurse to come take your blood in a minute."

"Thanks Doctor Whale," I said in time with Jade.

I wiped the excess gel off my stomach with a few pieces of paper towel before standing. "Be right back, gotta go pee," I said, stepping out of the room.

I waited outside for the doctor and grabbed his wrist as he shut the door. "Everything okay?" He asked.

I nodded and gestured my head down the hall further. "Yeah, is there a way you can still put the gender in an envelope? I want to surprise them both."

The doctor smiled and nodded. "Of course. I'll give it to you on your way out, okay?"

Smiling, I thanked him once more before heading to the bathroom.

— — — —

"Tori, wait!" I stopped and turned, looking at the doctor as he gestured me over. "I've written a few things to help with that back pain, a few stretches," the doctor said, handing me a sealed envelope.

"Thanks, doc. See you in a few weeks?"

"Take it easy, okay? Baby will be moving into position soon enough."

I thanked him again before moving outside to where Jade and my mother were waiting. "All good?"

I smiled, taking Jade's hand. "Yup. He just gave me some stretches that should help with the back pain."

"That was nice of him," my mother said as she unlocked her car. "Thank you for inviting me, will I see you two for dinner?" She asked.

"My mothers due home tonight, so I'll probably not make it, Holly. Sorry. But another night, for sure."

"If she's not too tired from her work trip, bring her, Riley and Rose. We can have a family dinner," my mother said and I looked at Jade.

"She could also want a break from me, mum," I joked, and playfully nudged Jade.

She rolled her eyes and smiled as she shook her head. "Never, Vega. You're stuck with me."

I turned my attention to my mother and grinned. "I'll be back by six at the latest, but eat without me if it's ready sooner, okay?"

My mother nodded and Jade and I waved goodbye as she got in her car and drove off.

We moved over to her car, a few parks away before we got in and I slid across the seat and wrapped my arms around Jade. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"Being amazing, and caring, and for loving me."

"Oh… I'll always love you, Tori. I couldn't stop even if I wanted to."

I leaned up, kissing her softly.

— — — —

Jade and I paused from our snack making as Riley and Alice came into the kitchen, I crouched and pulled him into a hug as he ran over to me, a beaming smile on both our faces.

"Hey, buddy," I said, signing carefully on one hand as I spoke the words.

"Hey, Tori. How was your appointment?" Alice asked as Riley waved hello to me before dragging Jade from the kitchen to show her something.

"Not too bad, how was your trip?"

"Not as stressful as others. But I'm glad to be home."

"Enjoy it, you deserve it."

I looked out the doorway briefly before beckoning her closer.

Alice raised an eyebrow but moved around the bench to me. I pulled the envelope from my pocket and handed it to her. "I need your help with something."

"You do?"

I nodded. "I don't want to know what the word inside this envelope means, but I need your help planning a baby party for the colour inside. I don't want Jade or my mother to know the colour either. We'll just say it's a baby shower."

"Okay, yeah.. I can do that," she folded the envelope and tucked it into her pocket. "I'll keep you in the loop for dates, and ideas though, yes?"

"If you'd like, sure. But date, yes. Obviously we need to make sure everyone's available."

"Who would you like to invite?"

"You, Riley, rose… Jade, my parents, I guess my sister if she's pulled her head out of her ass… Cat, Andre, Beck… I suppose Robbie… just don't tell them either, I only want you and the baker to know the gender."

"Wow, I feel so secret mission-esque," she laughed and I nodded, laughing as well.

"Uh oh, someone's having a good time," Jade said as she entered the kitchen and rounded the counter to stand beside me once more, her arm wrapping around my waist. "What're you two giggling about?"

"Weed!" We both said before laughing again.

Jade rolled her eyes and smiled. "My little stoner."

I grinned and shook my head. "Alice, my mother invited you, Riley and Rose to dinner. If you're not too tired, would you like to come?"

"A night I don't have to do anything as soon as I get home? I'm in. I was just going to order pizza."

"Hey, we still can have pizza, surely. I'll just say it's a craving."

Alice laughed again and patted my cheek. "Not much longer now before you can't say that. Use it while you can."

Jade groaned. "Don't encourage her. Last night she was poking me at three in the morning for a pickle dipped in peanut butter, and then at four it was carrots and peanut butter… oh, you need more peanut butter by the way, Vega."

"Yeah, I'll pick some up tomorrow. Now I want pizza," I said as I pulled my phone out of Jade's pocket and texted my mother about a dinner request for pizza. And popcorn chicken. "What do you want for dinner, babe?"

"Whatever, I don't mind." I nodded and added another pizza to the list, and then looked at Alice.

"Pizza preference."

"Teriyaki Chicken," Jade and Alice said at the same time.

— — — —

Sitting outside near the pool with my family, I looked around at everyone. Jade, Alice, my parents, Rose and Riley. They were all talking about what they'd done throughout the week, and Riley was playing on his pear pad.

Jade's hand was on my thigh, tracing small patterns with her fingers across my skin as she listened to the other people talk.

"I have an announcement," Alice said. "I'm going to plan Tori a baby shower, I know we don't know the sex of the baby, but it will still be very loved in this family. Gender neutral things won't matter, it's all about the family."

"Oh, Alice. That's very sweet of you." My mother spoke up.

"Family? Who are you, Dom Toretto?" I snorted a laugh and nudged Jade for the comment.

"I'm booked through until the eighteenth with work, but anytime after that I'm free," my dad said.

"Holly?"

"Oh? I'm free anytime. Can I help?"

"Sure. Would you mind if we have it here? It's where this family started, it's where it should be," Alice said.

"I have no worries about it being here. Just let me know when."

"I actually cannot attend from next weekend until the nineteenth of next month, Alice," Rose said with a sad smile.

"Oh, your sister's wedding and your vacation, that's right," Jade smacked herself in the forehead for forgetting. "I forgot that's why mum was taking such a long break from work."

I chuckled and shook my head. "Don't worry, Rose. We'll have a party with you included when you get back. Just cause we'll miss you so much."

Rose smiled softly and leaned over, rubbing my hand. "You are precious, Ms Vega. Jade, if you ever think about leaving this one, I will never make you food again."

Jade rolled her eyes, smiling. "If I ever think about leaving her, it will only be so that I can go to the store and bring her back food. I could never leave Tori."

I smiled, tears prickling in my eyes. "Sap," I said softly.