Chapter Five

Kendall looked up at her husband. "I take it Reese spoke to you," she said in a bitter tone. She spat out Reese's name as if it had left a bad taste in her mouth. How she loathed her sister-in-law.

Zach nodded, looking at his beautiful wife as he reached across the desk to take her hand into his. "Yes, I spoke to Reese... and I also spoke to Bianca," he said as he gazed at her with love and concern.

"Those two love each other so much, Kendall. All they want is another chance to bring a new baby into this world. Why can't we help them in their dream?" Zach asked.. "Bianca doesn't just want anyone to be the baby's donor. She wants someone she can trust; someone who is family. And she knows I wouldn't refuse. I already helped her and Reese have Gabrielle. I don't regret that decision. I know that girl has two parents who adore her and would do anything for her. The only thing that makes me hesitate in this is you. I love you, Kendall, but you need to tell me why you won't agree to this. I know you dislike Reese, but whatever happened with me and Reese; it's in the past. I never loved her. Yes, I was attracted to her. I admit that. She's an amazing and beautiful woman, plus she's my best friend."

"But when I kissed her, I KNEW it was a mistake. She's happy with Bianca... and I LOVE you," Zach said imploringly. "Don't make Bianca and Reese pay for a mistake I made then, all those years ago."

"This is only an excuse for Reese to get closer to you. Why can't you see that?" Kendall asked in frustration. "This is just one more thing to bond you to her. And there will ALWAYS be just one more thing with her. I know you're going to do this anyway so you might as well."

"This wasn't Reese's idea, Kendall. It was Bianca's. You were upset last time, and it was Bianca who carried the baby. I understand why you were upset then, because I didn't tell you until after-the-fact, but this time we are coming to you before the procedure has been done, asking for your consent. I am thinking that since Bianca and Reese will raise this baby together, it will bond the TWO OF THEM together... not Reese to me. I personally don't care who carries the baby, Reese or Bianca. It's their baby," Zach tried explaining. "I am providing the sperm to facilitate the pregnancy, but I won't think of the child as mine. Just as I am to Gabrielle, I will be the baby's uncle. Nothing will change for you and me. That's a promise."

"And no, I'm not doing this without your consent," Zach stated. "I love you, Kendall. And as much as I love Bianca and adore Reese, and I'd like to help them in their dream to have another child, you are my wife... and you come first."

"So if you say no, I will have to politely decline... and they will have to find another donor," Zach went on to say.

"If it'll make them happy, I'll allow it," Kendall said with a heavy sigh. "But if anything does change, I'm telling you right now... I already had my objections and I told you why, and you promised nothing would change, so you had better remember that."

Xxxxxxxxx

The door to Aj's house was opened by their butler, Miranda and Aj stepped into the house and she was immediately in awe. They passed a game room as they were headed up the stairs.

"We have two kitchens, a pool, a game room as you saw, dinning room, and family room," Aj explained as they reached the top of the stairs.

They walked down the hall to his room and he pushed the door to the room open. They had changed back into their street clothes after a day at the beach.

As Miranda entered Aj's room, she began to look around. She discovered that AJ had an extra-large room that was filled with items any ordinary teenage boy might have. "I love your room, AJ," Miranda said. "Your bed looks so warm and comfy."

"Would you like to cuddle on it?" AJ heard himself asking.

He bit his tongue, thinking how that must have sounded. "Ummmm... what I mean to say is, would you like to sit down on my bed with me? I'd like to hold you and comfort you. I know you're really upset after what happened with those assholes when we were on the beach."

"Sure, I'd love that," Miranda agreed, wanting to go into his arms. She just seemed to fit there perfectly. And when he held her, it was so soothing.

AJ climbed into bed first, then reached out for Miranda who went willingly into his warm embrace. She lay her head upon his shoulder as AJ began to lightly caress her back. "I can see you're really upset and tense. Do you want to talk? Or would you rather dance?" AJ asked. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to help Miranda feel better.

"Would you just hold me and cuddle me, Ace? Please?"

"Sure. It would be my pleasure."

He reached over to his bedside radio, turning on some soft, relaxing music. He pulled Miranda close as they lay their heads back against his pillows. "Miranda," he said softly. "I am so sorry about what happened today at the beach. What those guys said about your mom; it was terrible and wrong."

He continued to try to comfort her with his words while holding her close. Miranda was lulled by the sound of AJ's heartbeat. "AJ, I have never met anyone as kind and as wonderful as you. I am so glad you're my best friend," she said while suddenly hugging him tight. He placed a soft kiss atop her head and told her he'd always be her best friend forever and always and she would never lose him.

"What questions do you want to ask when we talk to your mom?" AJ asked. "What has she told you about your conception? Did she get a donor like she did with your sister Gabrielle?"

Miranda stated, "I really don't know, because my mom has never told me any of the details. I just assumed I was conceived in a fertility lab, in the same method in which my mom had my little sister."

Suddenly Miranda shivered with unease. "I am so scared," she admitted. "I feel as though my mom might be keeping a secret from me... something really BIG...and awful."

Xxxxxxxxxx

Reese put her arms around Bianca. "It'll be okay," she said softly. "Zach will make her understand. She's just scared; that's all. We will have this baby." She wished there was something more she could do or say to make Bianca feel better.

Bianca settled into the comfort of Reese's embrace. "When I was a child, my mom let me have everything I wanted... whenever I wanted it. I am used to instant gratification. Having what I want. Never being told no. I'm a very impatient person, as well you know," Bianca spoke. "And when I had that fight with Miranda, and I realized I was wrong in thinking you want Zach more than you want me and when I came to the decision we should try for another baby, I never thought we would go through this..."

"It never crossed my mind that Zach might say no or that Kendall might disagree. But today when Kendall said she couldn't let Zach donate, my heart just sank. This is one of the things that makes it tough to be a lesbian, Reese. You and I just can't have a baby like other women. We have to find a suitable donor. Somebody we trust..."

"And there's only Zach... and he's Gabrielle's biological dad. He's never going to take the baby from us, as some other guy might decide to do. There's no one like Zach. I love him like my own brother," said Bianca as she looked into Reese's amber eyes. "Do you really think he can get Kendall to change her mind? As much as I want a new baby, I don't want to harm my relationship with my sister."

Reese stroked Bianca's hair with tenderness, her gesture calm and soothing. "This is hard for Kendall; I mean it is her husband- the man she loves. She feels threatened even though she should not. But yes I do believe that Zach can make her see and understand why we are asking him."

Bianca melted further into Reese's embrace, thankful for her presence and her comforting words. "Let's go home," Bianca suggested, taking Reese's hand and getting up from the booth where they had been sitting. "The girls will be home from school soon."

Now that the girls were teens, they often communicated through texting and cellphones, and since Miranda and Gabrielle hadn't contacted her yet about any after school plans, she was sort of expecting to see one or both of them at home.

Xxxxxxxxx

Zach had a half-smile on his face when Kendall said those words. As happy as he was that Kendall was now willing to allow him to help Reese and Bianca, he too was hoping that nothing would happen in this venture to make him regret asking Kendall to put her trust in him with this decision. "Kendall, I just got this crazy idea... how about you and me, having a baby too?" he asked her. He had never really thought of having other children, as he and Kendall had sort of already 'been there, and done that' already. But the thought of Reese and Bianca having a little one had made him start thinking of the when the boys were little and how much fun they had in raising them. Now the boys were teens, all into girls and seldom home. Zach missed those days when they had a little one to spoil.

"Want to have another child with me?" Zach asked Kendall.