ETWentHome: Same here and thank you, I thought it was a good way to end the chapter.
sweeet-as-honey: Thanks and me too, I'd like to see that side to her more in the show. His symptoms are going to become worst unfortunately.
Chapter Twenty
"Mum, why couldn't Matilda come to my birthday?" Ava asked, as Lily got her daughter ready for school. "I missed her, she's my best friend." Lily sighed and slipped Ava's t-shirt over her head, not quite knowing what to say. "Mum?" Ava questioned. "Is it because you and Uncle Cal slept with each other?"
"Well..." Lily went to say. "She was probably busy with her daddy, sweetheart. I'm sure that wasn't the reason at all. You had all your little school friends though, didn't you?" Ava nodded, looking disappointed. "Come on," Lily said. "Let's go and have some breakfast."
She took hold of Ava's hand and the two of them headed downstairs to the kitchen. They were greeted by the smell of bacon and Lily saw that Ethan was standing over the cooker frying some bacon and eggs.
"Hey," he said. "I um...I thought that I'd make us all a cooked breakfast.
"Daddy!" Ava squealed and rushed to hug him, remembering what Lily had said at her birthday party.
"Hey princess," Ethan chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Oh my god," Lily said. Her face turned and she suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth before rushing out of the kitchen.
"Lily!" Ethan called. He grabbed hold of the pan, quickly slapped the bacon and eggs onto a couple of plates, turned the cooker off and raced out after Lily. "Back in a second, Ava!" He shouted and hurried into the bathroom where he was met by the sight of Lily throwing up into the toilet. "Lils. Is...Is my cooking really that bad?"
"Sorry," Lily apologised and wiped at her mouth, before wearily flushing the toilet. "The...The smell of bacon just...It made me feel sick."
"That'll be the baby," Ethan sighed. "Do you remember that when you were pregnant with Ava, you...You couldn't stand the smell of coffee."
"Hmm," Lily groaned and gave him a weak smile. "Um...You...You didn't have to cook us breakfast this morning."
"I know," Ethan said. "But I wanted to. Look, we don't have to have bacon so I'll do us some toast yeah?"
"You don't need to do that," Lily laughed and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
"I'm sorry about what I said, okay?" Ethan said. "Especially at Ava's birthday. I don't really want to hate you, you're my wife and I love you. The last thing you need at the moment is stress and I don't want to cause you that. And um...I really didn't want Ava to hear any of that."
"I know you didn't," Lily said. "But I explained it to her the best I could, she's too young to understand properly Ethan and she loves you so much. I want us to be a proper family, I don't want Cal to break us up."
"I don't want that either," Ethan whispered. "I know you're probably angry with me but...Can we try and put this behind us? We have our first scan on Wednesday and I'd really like to come along and see our baby."
"Of course," Lily agreed. "Come on, um...I'll try and hold my breath and pray that the bacon doesn't make me throw up again."
Ethan laughed and placed an arm round her as they headed back to the kitchen. Ava was sat at the table and she'd already demolished the rashers of bacon.
"Well," Lily chuckled and looked to Ethan. "That's sorted then."
"Ethan, where's Lily?" Connie asked, walking over to him at work. "Is she okay? I was hoping to be having a chat with her today."
"She's fine," Ethan sighed. "She's not feeling well again though. I thought that I'd treat her to a cooked breakfast this morning but I didn't realise that the smell of bacon made her throw up. Since then, she...She's just been feeling sick so I suggested that she stayed home. She really did want to come to work though."
"No, I'm sure she did," Connie said. "But maybe you should be at home with her."
"But that would leave you really short staffed," Ethan told her.
"We can spare you," Connie sighed. "We're not that busy today but Lily is pregnant with your child so I think it's a good idea if you stay home and take care of her. She's going to be feeling like crap, don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ethan chuckled.
"Are the two of you on good terms now?" Connie asked and Ethan nodded. "Good, I'm glad to hear it," Connie said and rubbed his arm. "She really does love you and with another baby on the way, you two need to kiss and make up."
"We have done," Ethan said. "Thanks Mrs Beauchamp."
"Go on," Connie said. "I'll see you both tomorrow. Send my love to Lily."
Ethan promised that he would and walked off, bumping into his brother on the way.
"Go away, Cal," Ethan muttered and shoved him to one side.
"This is for Ava," Cal said and handed him a bag with 'Happy Birthday' written all over it, completely ignoring his request. "Her birthday present and card, sorry it's late."
"Keep it," Ethan said.
"Isn't she going to wonder why she hasn't had a present from her own uncle?" Cal asked. "Come on, you wouldn't let me come to her party."
"It was for Ava's friends only," Ethan said.
"Didn't Connie pop by?" Cal asked. "And excuse me but isn't Matilda her friend?"
"School friends!" Ethan corrected him. "Just take the present and go away, I need to get home to Lily."
"So you two are speaking then?" Cal asked.
"Yes," Ethan replied and just walked away without another word.
Lily was curled up on the sofa under a blanket. The TV was on but she was asleep. Ethan sighed and hung his coat up before sitting at one end of the sofa, he moved Lily's head so she was resting against his lap and gave her hair a gentle stroke.
"Is it that time already?" Lily mumbled without opening her eyes.
"No," Ethan sighed. "Connie sent me home early to be with you. How are you feeling?"
"Sick," she said, eventually opening her eyes so that she could look at Ethan. "Thanks for asking."
"Maybe you should get checked out," Ethan said. "You might be able to get a pill or something for the sickness."
"Maybe," Lily sighed, diverting her eyes to the TV.
"I can't wait to see our baby," Ethan said, reaching out and giving Lily's stomach a rub. "Would you like a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know," Lily replied. "Girls are nice because you can dress them in pretty dresses and take them shopping but one of each could be quite nice. How about you?"
"I don't mind," Ethan said. "Just as long as the baby is nice and healthy."
"Everyone says that," Lily laughed. "But they still have a preference."
"Fine, I'd probably like a boy," Ethan said. "Then I'd hope that he turns out like me."
"He'll be very lucky if he does," Lily said. "Can I ask you a question, Ethan? Without causing an argument?"
"What's up?" Ethan asked, continuing to gently massage her stomach.
"Would you mind if we get Ava tested for Huntington's?" Lily asked. "I know we said we would but we haven't really had a proper conversation about it and I'd just like your opinion first. I don't mind that you've got it and I wouldn't mind if Ava did but I'd like to know so I can prepare and work out how to help her."
"No, I'd like to know as well," Ethan whispered. "I suppose it would be a good idea. Look, will you be at work tomorrow?"
"I'm planning to be," Lily said. "I hate having time off."
"Well, I'll give Connie a ring," Ethan said. "And we can see if we can book Ava in for a blood test tomorrow morning or something? She can take the day off school and then I'll take the afternoon off and we can go to the park or something?"
"Whilst I work?" Lily scoffed and said sarcastically, "thanks."
"You just said you hate having time off," Ethan said. "Besides, I want to spend some quality time with my daughter."
"You believe she's yours now then?" Lily asked.
"Yes," Ethan answered after a bit of hesitation.
But honestly, he still wasn't sure.
