Flowersc781: Yep, that is the unwritten rule, lol. And what you said about the guys is totally true. They will realize how stupid they were being this chapter. Thanks for the review and thanks for the baby name vote!

Emador: Glad you liked it and thanks for the review and thoughts on baby names. And I totally understand how school gets. That's why I can't update twice a week anymore. I'm too busy with school work! Also, thanks again for telling me about your new story. I like it so far!

Nelliebly413672: Glad you like the chapter and thanks for the review. Yeah, OC's whipped, lol. I guess it's better for him that the guys think he's whipped instead of Maddie being mad if Jack didn't get the ice cream, lol. You never know when a pregnant woman's hormones will make them crazy!

meadow567: Yeah, the guy's were being a little meaner than necessary. They'll realize they were being stupid. And since they were so mean, they have a special surprise for her! You'll find out Maddie's parents reactions this chapter. Thanks for the review and I'm glad you like the names. What a coincidence about your name being one of the them:)

lien-wan: Pregnancy cravings are tough (on everyone), so I've heard. I bet you're excited to be an aunt though! Maddie is going to tell her parents this chapter! Thanks for the review.

A/N: Like I promised, Maddie tells her parents this chapter! Enjoy and please review.

A/N 2: If you had a preference on the baby's name and didn't tell me in your last review, feel free to this time.

Chapter 16

November 21, 1979

Wednesday night, Maddie arrived in Boston about 10pm. She took a taxi to her house and walked up to the door through the snow. There wasn't much but just enough to enjoy.

Ever since Maddie was young, she loved winter and snow. She thought freshly fallen snow was beautiful and she especially loved the way it glistened in the moonlight. Her happy thoughts were interrupted as the front door opened.

"Maddie! You're finally home," her mother said, hugging her. "I missed you so much."

"Missed you too, mom," Maddie said hugging back.

"Hey Maddie," Rachel said from inside the house.

"Hey Rach. How are you?" Maddie asked her sister.

"Great."

"Let's bring your stuff inside," her mother said, grabbing her bag from the porch.

After they were inside, they sat in the living room and drank hot chocolate. Maddie asked where her dad was, because she hadn't seen him yet. Apparently, he was at the store. That was fine with Maddie, because she wasn't ready to drop the bomb yet.

"So what's new with you, sweetie?" her mother asked.

"Not a lot," Maddie lied.

"Are you wearing different makeup?" Rachel asked.

"No why?"

"Cause you look different. Your face looks brighter, almost like you're tan or something."

"Rachel's right. You're almost like glowing."

"Well, it the same old me," Maddie answered, now desperate to change the subject.

"How's Jack?" Rachel asked, bringing up the somewhat touchy subject.

"He's great," answered Maddie, looking at her mother for some expression of approval. Maddie didn't get the reaction she was hoping for.

"So I take it that means you're still dating him?"

"Yeah, mom. We're still together." At this point, Maddie was really glad she put her engagement ring in her purse. If her family had noticed, it would be a long few days. Maddie wasn't planning on telling her parents anything until just before she left Boston.

"Oh," was all her mother said in response. Before there was an argument, Maddie decided to leave the room.

"Well, I'm really tired, so I'm gonna go upstairs. It's been a long day. I had to be up for work at six this morning," Maddie said, starting to head upstairs. Just after she was halfway up, the baby began kicking. She stopped for a minute and waited for the baby to settle down.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah. My stomach hurts a little. I think I drank too much hot chocolate." As soon as the baby stopped, Maddie hurried up the rest of the stairs and headed to her old room.

Just before Maddie went to sleep, she gave Jack a call. He answered almost right away.

"Hello?"

"Hey, baby."

"Hey, how are you?" Jack asked.

"Good. But I miss you already."

"I miss you too. But you're only gone a few days. And you know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Yes they do," Maddie agreed.

"So, have you told them?"

"Not yet. My dad wasn't home."

"Maddie, the sooner you tell them and get it over with, the better you'll feel."

"I know. But my dad honestly wasn't home. I have to tell everyone at once." Jack and Maddie chatted a little while longer, and then said their good-byes and hung up.

The next morning, Maddie woke up bright and early with kicking from the baby. Lately, the baby had been kicking quite a bit. She hoped the baby would stop when she was with her family. Once Maddie went downstairs, the baby had stopped kicking. She sat on the couch and turned on the Macy's Parade. A minute later, her dad came in the room.

"Hi Maddie. How are you?"

"Good, dad. You?"

"I'm good. What are you doing?"

"Watching the parade. I do every year."

"Yeah. Ever since you were little. I figured you would have stopped by now."

"Nope. I still like watching it." Maddie wondered why her dad was making all the small talk. Eventually, the topic of Jack was bound to come up. She was right.

"So, are you home for good now, or are you going back to Minnesota?" Since her dad asked this with an undertone, Maddie knew what he really meant.

"You really meant to ask if I'm here because I broke up with Jack or if I'm only here visiting, right?"

"I guess. If that's how you want to word it."

"Yeah, dad. I'm going back to Minnesota."

"All right," he said, starting to walk away.

"You'll have to get used to him eventually."

"No. I really don't plan on it. Just like I don't plan on you being together for very long."

Maddie decided not to comment, but thought, Well, then I guess you'll be surprised to hear the vows of "until death do us part."

For the rest of the day, Maddie tried to ignore what her father had said, and spent the day watching the parade with her sister and helping her mother make dinner. At three, her family started coming over. Her grandmother on her mother's side came, as did her aunt, uncle, and cousin Brian, who was four.

All day, Maddie wore sweat pants and a sweat shirt, so she could easily cover up her baby belly. For dinner though, she ended up changing and now she wore a red sweater and jeans. She was pretty sure her pregnancy was obvious, but she still hoped no one would notice. Unfortunately, she wasn't so lucky.

Maddie, Rachel, and Brian were in the living room when Brian ever so casually asked Maddie if she "had a baby growing in there." Maddie was shocked at Brian's comment, after all, he was only four.

"Where did you hear that?" Maddie asked, as Rachel stood next to her, looking at Brian, also shocked.

"My mommy says that's where babies come from. Mommies get fat tummies when they are 'specting a baby," he said, matter-of-factly, proud of himself for knowing the information.

"Do I look fat?" Maddie asked, wondering. She knew if a four-year-old could tell, everyone else would be able to also.

"Your tummy looks like you have a baby in it."

"Oh."

"Do you?" Just then, the three were called out for dinner. Maddie was thankful the conversation was over, and that no one else was around to hear it. Rachel was giving Maddie looks now, as if wondering whether Brian was right, but Maddie did her best to avoid eye contact.

At dinner, things got even more interesting. Maddie's grandmother started asking about Maddie's job in Minnesota. With that subject, the topic of Jack was brought up. Maddie's grandma was the only person in the family to like Jack, other than Brian, who didn't know him, Rachel, who didn't really have an opinion either way, and Maddie herself.

"So how is Jack doing?"

"He's good. Very excited for the Olympics."

"I bet. Are things good with the two of you?"

"Yeah. Everything's great," Maddie said, a smile stretching across her face. Seeing her smile, Maddie's grandmother also smiled, and started making assumptions. She may have been very old, but she was a smart lady.

"Do I hear a proposal in the near future?"

"Maybe," Maddie said, not knowing how to answer. She was still smiling though, and her grandma figured something was up.

"Let me see your left hand, Maddie." Now, Maddie knew she couldn't hide it. Just before dinner, Maddie had put her engagement ring back on. She was hoping to tell her family at least the part about the engagement at dinner, so her grandmother could be there to congratulate her. Maddie brought her left hand out for everyone to see. At first, everyone seemed to be shocked. Her grandma spoke first.

"Oh my goodness! You're engaged!" Her grandma stood up and walked to the other side of the table where Maddie was, wrapping her in a hug. "Congratulations sweetie. I'm so happy for the two of you."

"Congratulations, Maddie," Rachel said, who seemed to still be a little surprised. Maddie's aunt and uncle said congratulations too, even though Maddie knew they didn't like Jack too much. She suspected it was only because Maddie's parents never said a good word about him.

"When did he propose?" Maddie's dad asked sternly.

"October first."

"What?" her grandmother exclaimed. "You've been engaged that long and you didn't even call to tell me."

"I'm sorry, grandma. I just didn't think it would go over too well." Maddie looked at her dad. "And I think I was right."

Maddie never expected a congratulations from her father, but she hoped to at least get by without him making any nasty comments.

"Mom. Are you okay?" Maddie asked, wondering what her mother was thinking. She had been silent.

"Yeah, just surprised. I never thought this would happen so soon."

"Well, they love each other. They can't wait forever. I need great-grandchildren before I die," Maddie's grandmother said with a smile. Maddie just smiled at her comment, trying to remain as unfazed as she could.

"I guess I never knew how serious things were with the two of you."

"Pretty serious, mom."

"Yeah. Well, I am happy. It seems like you really love him."

"I do," Maddie said in agreement. "Does this mean you stopped hating him?"

"Well, I never hated him."

"Yes you did."

"Well, I admit I didn't like him much. But as long as you're happy, I am too. Besides, how could I not be happy. My oldest baby is getting married." As Maddie's mother said this, she came over to hug her daughter. Now it seemed like Maddie only had one more to win over. Her father.

"Dad, are you over hating Jack?"

"You can't be serious about marrying him. I won't allow it."

"What!" Maddie said in disbelief, her voice raised. She couldn't believe her father was doing this. He couldn't tell her who to marry.

"You can't marry him," he said again. "He never even asked me, you know."

"I don't care. Maybe the reason he never asked was because you scare him. He's afraid you might kill him or something."

"You can do so much better than him. Why are you settling for a guy like him?"

"I love him, dad!" Maddie said, half wanting to be pissed off at her father for being an ass, and half wanting to cry because of what he was saying about Jack.

"Does he love you back? Or are you just another notch on his belt?"

"Dad!"

"Don't tell me you haven't had sexual relations with him. Almost every time I called your room in the morning, he answered the phone. That says enough."

Before, Maddie was angry. Now she was embarrassed. Did her father really see a need to start this at the dinner table, in front of the entire family? On Thanksgiving, nonetheless. Couldn't he have waited until everyone left to start this? Well, now he was asking for it.

"Yeah, dad. Jack and I have hot sex all the time," Maddie said, somewhat sarcastically, trying to be funny. Then Maddie continued. "Twice a day, at least. We even did it in the backseat of his car on our first date. Are you happy?" Rachel stifled laughter and got a look from her father.

"Madison, don't get that tone with me," he said seriously. "I just don't think Jack cares about you."

"Doesn't care? You don't think he cares? He loves me! He would have never proposed otherwise. And trust me, if he didn't care, he would have been gone a long time ago!" Maddie said, referring to when she told him about the baby. That being said, Maddie got up and ran upstairs to her room, not being able to hold the tears in anymore. She slammed her door and cried on her bed.

The rest of her family tried to go on having a nice evening, avoiding anything that would get anybody going again. Brian was the only one who had no idea what was going on, but he seemed oblivious to the entire situation anyway. He had absolutely no idea what transpired between Maddie and her father.

Before Maddie's grandma left, she came upstairs to tell Maddie congratulations once again. She assured Maddie that eventually her father would come around. Just having support from one family member made Maddie feel a lot better. It was no surprise though, because from the minute her grandmother met Jack, she liked him.

Maddie visited her grandma one day before she and Jack were even dating. Her grandma thought Jack was so polite and nice, and she always told Maddie that she and Jack would make a cute couple. Her grandma was never wrong, and now, a few years later, they were actually engaged.

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Minnesota . . .

"Hey guys, turkey actually turned out pretty good," Philly commented, his mouth stuffed with food. The team was eating Thanksgiving dinner at Buzz and Gail's apartment.

"Glad you like it. Luckily, two out of the three turned out decent enough," Buzz said.

"It was only because Gail and Laura cooked those two," Bah added, laughing.

"I hope you let them make dessert," Mac said.

"We did," said Rizzo. "But my gravy turned out all right. Don't you think?" he said, asking everyone at the table.

"Yeah, just like your meatballs," Jack said, laughing.

"Better than you could do," Rizzo shot back.

"Well, Maddie thinks I make good pancakes."

"Even I can make pancakes," said Silky.

"Yeah, they're not that hard to make," added Laura.

"Well, they are for some people," said Gail. "Buzz almost started a fire in the kitchen last time he made them."

"How?" Laura asked.

"He forgot to put grease in the pan," Gail said laughing, as everyone else joined in.

"Is that why the other turkey was burnt to a crisp?" asked Pav. "You let Buzz cook it?"

"Yeah. This time he forgot how to read. Apparently, 400 degrees is the same as 450 degrees."

After the team, including Gail and Laura, were done laughing, Rizzo brought up their plans for the next day.

"Does everyone know what we're doing tomorrow?"

"Yeah, we have the groups, right?" Mac asked.

"What are you guys doing?" Gail asked.

"Well, we haven't been too nice to Maddie lately," Rizzo started.

"We heard all about that," said Laura, and Gail nodded in agreement.

"We wanted to do something special for her."

"What's that?" asked Gail.

"Throw a baby shower." Gail and Laura looked at the guys like they were crazy, until Jimmy continued with an explanation.

"We know it's tradition for girls to throw a shower, but considering she's around us all the time, that's not really possible."

"It's the least we can do for her," said Bah.

"When's the shower?" Gail asked.

"Saturday afternoon. Jack's picking up from the airport around noon and we're having the shower right after. It's a surprise," Rizzo said.

"And where might this baby shower be?" asked Gail.

"Here," Buzz said, hoping Gail would be okay with it. Their apartment was bigger than the dorms, and it was the only way they could fit everyone.

"That's fine. I'd be happy to have the shower here."

"How are you doing this?" asked Laura. "I mean, are you getting gifts or baking a cake or anything?"

"Yeah. Some of us are baking the cake tomorrow, some are getting decorations, party favors, and games, and the rest of us are going shopping."

"Shopping? Tomorrow?" said Laura, looking at Gail with disbelief.

"Yeah. Why?" Buzz asked.

"It's black Friday. You can't go shopping," said Gail.

"Why not?"

"It's the biggest shopping day of the year! Everyone goes shopping the day after Thanksgiving," said Laura.

"We'll be fine," said Mac.

"Do you guys need any help?"

"You can come shopping with us if you want," Mac said to Laura.

"Yeah, you might need a chaperone. Knowing you guys, Maddie'll end up with weird baby presents."

"Well, the bakers don't need help. Do we boys?" Buzz said, referring to himself and the other guys that were helping him with the cake.

"You're on cake duty?" Gail asked him, shocked.

"Didn't we just establish that Buzz ruins everything he tries to make?" asked Rammer.

"If you're on cake duty, I better stay with you guys to help. You may need it."

"We are perfectly capable of baking a cake without help from a girl," Buzz said.

"Fine, but you still need supervision. I won't help, but I have to see the disaster."

"Okay. Gail's going to help with the baking aspect and Laura's going to help shop. Who can help the decorating committee?" Jack asked, sort of making fun of his teammates. He thought the baby shower idea was cute, and he knew Maddie would love it, but he also thought the whole thing was pretty funny.

"We don't need help," said Silky. "We'll do a great job without assistance."

"Yeah, how much can decorating be messed up?" asked Laura sarcastically, not expecting a response.

"More than we probably know," Jack whispered to Larua.

After they finished dinner, dessert, making plans for the next day, and playing some football, Jack left the apartment and got back to his room just in time to hear the phone ringing.

"Hey Maddie," he said, picking the phone up.

"Hey. How did you know who it was?" Maddie asked.

"I'm a good guesser," he said, then added, "I knew you'd be calling."

"Yeah." Jack could tell that Maddie was a little upset. He could hear the tears in her voice.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I told them."

"So they didn't take the news well?"

"Nope. Well, not my dad. And I only told them half of it."

"The wedding, I hope."

"Yeah."

"Well, it'll be okay, babe. He'll get over it."

"I hope so. I thought he'd be over hating you by now."

"Well, nothing he says is going to change the fact that I love you."

"Love you too. And I miss you. I wish you could be with me right now."

"I wish I could be there too. What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for bed . . . all alone."

"Oh, now I really wish I could be there," he said suggestively.

"I'm just gonna miss having someone to wake up next to."

"Me too. I'm gonna miss watching you sleep. And I miss that little baby of ours too." Maddie smiled. They continued talking for a little while, until Maddie was ready to fall asleep. They said their good-byes and hung up.

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Friday morning, things were going a little better with Maddie's family. Aside from the night before, Maddie hoped the weekend would be great. She couldn't wait to see Jack again. She missed him so much.

Maddie's dad was being pretty tolerable that morning. She guessed that her mother may have warned him to lay off. As long as her dad wasn't being a jerk, Maddie didn't care why. If he could only continue the nice phase when she told them the rest of the news.

"So, have you decided on the big day?" Maddie's mother asked at breakfast that morning.

"Not really. Sometime in the summer," Maddie answered. "We've been a little busy with something else."

"What's that?"

"Maybe it's the baby Brian insisted you were having," Rachel said joking. "That was so funny."

"What baby?" her dad asked.

"Oh, nothing. Brian just thought Maddie had 'a baby in her tummy'," Rachel said, imitating the way Brian had said it.

"Well, actually . . . Brian was dead on," Maddie said hesitantly.

"You're really pregnant?" Rachel said, her eyes wide in shock. Maddie nodded.

"What?" Maddie's dad exclaimed angrily. "Pregnant! How could you possibly be pregnant?" Maddie's mom still hadn't said anything.

"I think we established that last night at dinner," Maddie said, half under her breath.

"How could you let this happen?" Maddie's mom finally commented. "You were such a responsible girl. Now you go off to Minnesota and get pregnant! I thought you had more common sense."

Now my mom is on me again too, Maddie thought. I thought she would have been at least a little excited.

"Jack and I love each other," Maddie said in Jack's defense. "We're getting married."

"That's not good enough. Engagement is not marriage."

"I can't believe you could be so stupid," her father added. "Did you at least consider other options? Like adoption?"

"Why would I give my baby away? Jack and I are engaged."

"Did he propose before or after your illegitimate child was conceived?" her father questioned.

You just had to throw the 'illegitimate' in there, didn't you, dad? Maddie thought. I really can't take this anymore.

"That's it! I'm sick of you constantly treating me like I'm a child and like I can't make my own decisions. I don't care if you don't like Jack and the fact that we're getting married, or that I'm having a baby. I didn't tell you so you could tell me how stupid and irresponsible I am. I told you because I thought you'd like to know you were going to be grandparents. I guess I was wrong. Jack was wrong. I should have never told you. He was the one insisting you two should know."

"Why, so we can support you when he leaves?" Maddie's dad threw in.

"Forget it. I'm sorry I ever came to visit. Don't worry. I won't bother you guys with the baby again." Maddie got up from the table and went upstairs to get her things. She was going to stay in a hotel until her flight on Saturday morning. Maddie packed everything up while crying and was ready to go when Rachel came into her room.

"Maddie, it's okay," Rachel said, wrapping her sister in a hug. "I'm happy you're having a baby. I get to be an aunt!"

"Well, at least one person in this family can share my excitement."

"Have you picked out names?"

"Yeah." Maddie went on to list the possible baby names, and she talked a little more about the baby. A little later, Rachel helped Maddie with her things and Maddie left. She felt bad not even saying good-bye to her parents, but at this rate, they probably didn't want to see her. Maddie left and promised Rachel that she would se her soon. Even if it meant buying Rachel a plane ticket to Minnesota, or somehow pulling some strings to get her to come to a few games.

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter! And for the record, I totally did what Buzz did the first time I made pancakes. I was like, twelve years old, and my sister, who was six at the time, were trying to make my mom breakfast in bed on Mother's Day and the kitchen started filling with smoke. I ran upstairs to tell my mom, and she had to come down and take care of the smoke filled kitchen. It turns out that I forgot the Crisco. So that's why I made Buzz do that. It was pretty funny when it happened to me, looking back on it. (My mom didn't get breakfast in bed that Mother's Day, lol.)

Anyway, I know there was a lot of drama with Maddie and her family in that chapter. The next one will be a really fun one. We're going to see the guys getting ready for the party. Let's just say, lots can go wrong when college aged guys try to bake, shop, and decorate. It should be up by next Saturday.