Chapter Ten
As the weeks passed, Miranda and AJ grew closer. They were truly best friends in every sense of the word, but their feelings for each other were beginning to blossom. Sadly though, they were unable to tell one another about those budding feelings. Miranda was afraid if she told AJ how she felt, it might somehow harm their amazing friendship.
The Spring Dance was coming up, and Miranda didn't have a date. She wanted to ask AJ, but she couldn't seem to muster up the courage. A dozen times she had practiced asking him in front of the mirror, but everytime she tried to say it out loud in front of him, she had chickened out.
AJ was having similar feelings and thoughts. There was no one he cared more about than Miranda. He wanted to ask her to the dance, but he was worried she may say she wasn't interested in him in that way. Finally, he talked himself out of even asking at all. He couldn't take it if his best friend rejected him, so he decided to go to the dance with someone else.
Heather showed up one day unannounced, wearing a gorgeous, new dress. "Hi, AJ," she said as she stood in the doorway. "How do you like my new dress? I just spent a small fortune on it."
"It looks great on you, Heather," AJ replied.
"That's good, cuz I am planning to wear it to the Spring Dance... and I was wondering, would you be my date?"
AJ was shocked at first, thinking that Heather was out of his league and there was no way she'd ever want to date him, but he gradually got over his surprise. 'Come on, AJ. Do you have a date for the Spring Dance or not?" Heather prompted.
"Uhhh no... I don't," he answered a bit reluctantly.
"Then will you go with me?" Heather said with excitement. "We'll have SO MUCH fun."
At that exact moment, Miranda also arrived at the door, seeing Heather in close proximity to AJ. She felt instant jealousy strike her as Heather seemed to be digging her claws into HER best friend. "What's going on here?" Miranda asked.
"AJ was just going to tell me whether or not he'll be my date for the Spring Dance," Heather stated.
AJ's gaze was locked to Miranda's as he said, "I'll go to the dance with you, Heather. Thank you for asking me."
Miranda immediately felt crushed, but she tried her hardest to conceal her emotions. She was instantly angry at herself, because she hadn't opened up to AJ and asked him sooner. He should be going to the dance with HER, not Heather!
Heather was jumping up and down with excitement and giggling uncontrollably. She hugged AJ awkwardly, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Ohhh I am absolutely thrilled! I am going to the dance with Adam Chandler the Third!"
Before AJ could respond, Heather said she had to leave. "My mom is taking me to get my hair and nails done!" she threw back over her shoulder. "Ta- ta!"
"Bye," AJ said as Heather hurried off.
Standing in the doorway, Miranda looked wounded. "What's wrong?" AJ asked. He hadn't seen her this upset since that awful night she had learned that Michael Cambias was her biological father.
Miranda just shook her head, struggling to find the words. "I didn't know you had a thing for Heather," she said softly.
"I don't have a thing for Heather. I don't even know her that well," AJ admitted.
"Then why did you invite her to the dance?"
"I didn't invite her - she invited me."
"AJ, I don't like her. There's something about her. She's fake and she's... she's..." Miranda couldn't even find the words to describe Heather.
AJ shrugged. "I needed a date to the dance. I'll guess she'll do. What about you? Who are you taking to the dance?"
"No one," Miranda said sullenly.
"There's no one you want to ask?"
"Yes, there is, but he doesn't want me."
AJ wrapped an arm around Miranda, leading her inside. "I know that isn't true. You're a wonderful person and my best friend. Any guy would be lucky to take you to the dance."
"Maybe I don't just want ANY guy."
"Really? Then who is it you want?" AJ asked.
XXXooo
A few weeks had passed since Reese's insemination. Kendall was pregnant. She was due in August.
Zach was standing at the bottom of the staircase calling for his sons. "Ian, Spike, please come downstairs. I need to speak with you!"
Feet thundered on the stairs as the boys appeared. "What is it, Dad?" Spike asked.
"Yeah?" Ian breathed.
"Have a seat on the sofa so we can talk," Zach said leading his sons over to the sofa, where they sat down, staring at him. Zach continued to stand.
"Are we in trouble again?" Spike asked.
"We've been good- honest," Ian said.
"No. you're not in trouble. I just wanted to talk to you. You guys are ungrounded; I think you've done your time. However, your mother is pregnant right now and we don't want to upset her."
"Mom's pregnant?!" Spike gasped. "What in the...?!"
Spike was listening to Zach, but Ian nonchalantly announced, "I'm hungry. I am going into the kitchen for a snack."
"You stay right here," Zach commanded Spike after Ian got up and walked out.
Zach went into the kitchen, finding Ian eating pizza bites. "You're going to clean up every crumb of that mess," Zach said to his son.
"Okay, Dad, I will... but could I go to the football game tonight? Please?" Ian begged. "It's the football game; a school function."
Spike walked into the room. "Can I go, too?" he asked hopefully.
"You'll have to ask your mother," Zach replied. Kendall was newly pregnant and sort of hormonal, so Zach didn't want to say 'yes' and get on her bad-side.
XoooXooo
Kendall was excited about being pregnant. For the time being she still worked, but she knew eventually she'd stay home toward the end of her pregnancy. She got back from work that afternoon to find Zach with the boys.
Zach smiled when he saw his lovely wife walk in. He gave her a hug and kiss in greeting. Then both boys started in on her, begging to go to the football game. "It's okay with me, if you want them to go," Zach spoke up.
"Please, Mom," Ian pleaded. "It IS a school function."
"Yeah," said Spike. "Can we go?"
Kendall was getting a headache from the both of them. "Just get out of my sight. Go," she said. "I'm too tired to listen to all this pleading." A house without the boys might be good for the evening. She was hoping to get over her raging headache.
"Great! Thanks, Mom," Ian called out, running upstairs to call his girlfriend and tell her the good news.
Spike thanked his mom, too. He rushed up the stairs after Ian.
After the boys left the room, Kendall announced to Zach she was hungry and had a terrible headache. "I'm sorry, honey," he said as he kissed her cheek. "Why don't you order us some food while I run up and take a quick shower?"
"That sounds like a plan," Kendall said as she gave her husband a hug.
XoooXooo
About a half hour later, Zach returned downstairs in nothing more than a towel. The boys had already left for the evening. They couldn't wait to finally get out of the house.
"Did you order us something good?" Zach asked his lovely wife as he joined her on the couch. He saw her checking him out in just the towel.
Kendall nodded. "Mhmmm. I did," she said with a smile. "I ordered ALL our favorites."
"Mmmm... sounds good then," said Zach as he held Kendall close. He loved snuggling with her.
Kendall cuddled Zach, her arms around him tightly. It made her heart feel happy. "The house is quiet, I love this. So glad they went out."
Zach liked the house quiet as well. There was no blaring rock music upstairs. There were no teenage boys running downstairs toward the kitchen for various snacks. "Peace and quiet at last..." Zach said with a smile. "Ever since we grounded the boys, there hasn't been much of that at home."
Kendall sighed. "I know. I want the house back. I like this." She leaned in, brushing her lips against Zach's.
"I'm glad we ungrounded them... for now," said Zach as Kendall was giving him soft kisses. "But if they don't follow the rules, we'll slap the cuffs on them again."
"That works for me," Kendall said. "We can just ground them in increments when they misbehave. It's better for our sanity." She kissed him again.
"Sounds like a plan," Zach agreed. "So how's the little one today?" he asked Kendall, placing a gentle hand upon her small baby bump.
Zach smiled as Kendall said the little one was active and hungry. It was a good thing dinner was arriving soon. As if on cue, the doorbell rang. "I'll go get it," said Zach, finding it to be the delivery boy. He returned, carrying the trays of food.
Kendall saw him bringing the food. She knew once she had some dinner that her headache would surely fade. "Yummy food," she said happily. The baby definitely seemed to agree as it gave her a tiny kick.
Zach was all grins as he sat down on the leather couch and handed his beautiful wife her tray of food. It smelled delicious as he opened up his own container and saw the meal.
Kendall opened hers excitedly. She was absolutely starved. She picked up her fork and dug into her food. It was soooo good.
"Have you heard from your sister lately?" Zach asked after having taken a small bite of his dinner.
Kendall frowned. "Actually no," she said. "I haven't heard from Binks in a long while. It's kind of strange. I hope everything is alright with her."
"Neither have I," Zach said a bit worriedly. Last time this had happened, Bianca had showed up at his doorstep nearly nine months pregnant during a tornado, and he had ended up delivering Gabrielle right in the middle of his living room.
"Should we call her?" Kendall asked. She didn't want anything to happen to her sister; she loved her so much.
"Sure, why don't you give her a ring? Just to make sure everything is okay," Zach said, because the curiosity was getting the better of him.
Kendall nodded. She reached for the phone and dialed her sister's number. Then she waited while the phone rang.
Bianca and Reese had been lounging in bed that evening when Bianca's cell phone rang. Bianca reached for her phone which had been lying upon the nightstand. "Hello?" she said, recognizing the call was from her sister Kendall. She couldn't remember the last time she and her sister had talked.
"Binks! Are you okay?" Kendall asked, glad to be hearing her sister's voice.
"Yeah, I am great," Bianca responded, glancing over at her beautiful and sexy wife. "How are you doing, Sis? I haven't talked to you in like ages..."
"I'm good. Pregnant, but good. Is Reese? " she asked. She really wanted her sister to get the baby she had wanted so much.
Once again, Bianca glanced over at her wife and a smile came to her face. "Uh-huh. Very pregnant," Bianca spoke. Up until now, she and Reese had been keeping it a secret. Reese was sleeping peacefully next to Bianca while her wife was on the phone.
"Did you just say you were pregnant, Kendall?!" Bianca asked her sister with excitement as she certainly hadn't been expecting that.
"Oh my gosh! Congrats!" Kendall said happily, glad that Reese was pregnant.
"Uhhh yeah," Kendall said. "I am. Zach and I decided we wanted one more."
"I'm so happy for you and Zach," said Bianca to her sister. "When is your baby due? Ours is due in August. And do you know what you are having yet?"
Kendall laughed at Bianca's eagerness. "Well, here I was worried about you since I hadn't heard from you, but you sound just fine," Kendall said. She was very relieved. "August? That's fantastic! I bet you're looking forward to that! And well, it'll be a double celebration of sorts- I'm due in August, too. I didn't wanna know the sex of the baby yet, but Zach wants to, so we might find out at our next appointment."
"Yep, we are doing good. I think Reese is passed the morning sickness now. She's getting quite a baby bump. I'm so excited, and I'm excited for you, too, Sis. Isn't that kewl, our babies are both due the same month?!" Bianca said happily. "Have you been feeling okay?"
"It's definitely exciting! I've been doing alright; just Spike and Ian are driving me absolutely crazy is all," she told her sister. "I can't wait for both of our babies to get here."
"Really? What have the boys been up to? Mom did mention something about Spike and the boathouse... I must admit, I was rather shocked. Spike? I know Ian has a wild streak... but Spike? That kid always had his nose in a book," said Bianca.
Kendall sighed. "Apparently the books got boring when he met a little tramp. Zach and I came home one day and both boys had girls in their beds. They kept coming in late after their curfews, so we grounded them a long time. But tonight for once, we sent them out because they turn the house upside down when they are home."
"OMG, Kendall, I bet you lost it," Bianca said with a loud gasp. "Wow! I hope the boys straighten up; that can't be easy for you and Zach."
"Straightening up is not anywhere around the corner. They repeatedly break the rules and expect us to look the other way. I don't know what has gotten into them. I was not thrilled at all with their behavior."
"I know you will lay down the law with them. You always do," Bianca said with a little laugh. "But Sis, I gotta go now. Reese is laying here sound asleep... She's so tired now all the time, considering she's pregnant. But I am so happy for you. Tell Zach hello for me and give him my love."
"I will. Same goes for me to Reese and the girls. Take care. Talk to you soon. I love you."
"Love you, too, Sis," Bianca said, before ending the call. She curled up happily with her beautiful wife and settled down to sleep.
After Kendall's phone call had ended, Zach looked at her and summed everything up. "Reese is pregnant, too, huh?" he said as he gazed into Kendall's eyes.
Kendall smiled at Zach. "Uh huh," she said. "She's due August. Binks sends her love."
"Two babies in August. Wow," Zach said a bit overwhelmed by the thought. Biologically he was the father of both of the babies, but in his heart the child Reese carried was hers and Bianca's. He snuggled Kendall closer, very eager to see their new baby.
Kendall rested against Zach. "It will be a busy time," she agreed.
Zach kissed Kendall lightly on the lips, gazing into her eyes. "Let's start thinking of some baby names for our new baby," he suggested. "How about Ashlynn, Kyleigh, or Megan for a little girl?"
"Ashlynn is cute," Kendall said. "I like that name very much. But what if by some weird chance it's another boy?" she asked, making a slight face. It's not that she didn't love her two sons, but their house was already overrun by men.
"If we have another boy, we could always name him Connor, Gavin, or how about Lochlan?" Zach suggested, wondering if Kendall had any certain names in mind. He had named Ian, so it was sort of her turn this time.
"Hmmm. Not sure about a boy's name yet. But I'll think on it. I am kind of hoping for a little girl this time."
Zach nodded. "I'd love to have a little girl," he responded, gently placing a hand on Kendall's tummy and her small baby bump. "But if we have another boy, I'll be happy, too."
Kendall put her hand on top of his. "I'll be happy, too. It's just that I'd love to have a girl. We could use one in the house," she said with a smile.
"When is your next ultrasound?" Zach asked. "We should be able to find out the gender soon."
Kendall told him the date of next ultrasound. "We should find out then," she agreed.
"Kewl," said Zach when Kendall told him the date of her next scheduled ultrasound. He was anxious to learn the gender of the new baby. He really did have a feeling that this time they were having a daughter. The two boys they had been blessed with had proven to be quite a handful.
Kendall yawned, stretching her arms. "I'm feeling tired. Wanna come lay down with me?" she asked.
"That would be my pleasure," replied Zach as he helped Kendall up from the couch. "Meet you upstairs in five minutes." He had to clean up the trays from their take-out food before he headed up.
Kendall went upstairs to the master bedroom. She got ready for bed as she waited for Zach to join her. Zach cleaned up from the meal, then went upstairs with his lovely wife. He entered their bedroom and stripped away the towel he had been wearing.
Kendall lay in bed and smiled when Zach entered. She was laying on her side of the bed, waiting for her husband to join her. Zach lay down with Kendall, holding her close in his embrace. After some kissing and cuddling, they had both fallen into a deep restful sleep.