Hey everyone! I'm back! Hope you enjoy this one. I had a hard time figuring out how they will tell the others about the baby so I hope you will like this.
As disclaimers go, I only own my imagination.
Changing Us
Chapter 2: Telling
Ryan woke up to find himself alone in bed. Hearing noises in the bathroom, he hurried to the door almost tripping after realizing it was Kelsi whimpering. He opened the door to find his wife emptying the contents of her stomach on the toilet bowl, tears all over her face. Ryan, not comfortable seeing his wife crying, rushed to her side and pulled her hair back and rubbed her back until the vomiting stopped.
"This may not be the most romantic time to say this but, happy anniversary, honey."
"Believe me, I pictured saying this differently in my head as well," Kelsi managed to say in between deep breaths, her eyes closed from exhaustion, "but happy anniversary."
He kissed her forehead and wiped her face with a damp cloth, carried her back to bed. "Are you sure you can manage dinner tonight?"
"It's okay. I'll be fine. It's a good thing we're having that in a restaurant. I don't think I can cook right now. The kitchen makes my stomach turn."
"If I can take the morning sickness away even just for today or alternate with you daily, I would. I'm sorry…"
Kelsi held up her hands to cup his face, "it's okay Ry, it's part of it. I'm carrying your child that more than compensates for the slight inconvenience. Besides, it's only for a couple of weeks, hopefully."
He kissed her again, on the lips this time. "I love you."
"I love you too. But, can you make it up for me with a vanilla milk shake?" she gave him that smile that made it impossible for him to say no.
"Sometimes I'm really wondering if I'm the one getting the short end of this whole experience."
"Let me hear you say that when I'm already in labor. I swear Ryan, I'll grip your hand so tight you won't be able to use it in a choreography for weeks." Kelsi's voice raised a little, surprising them both.
"Sorry…"
"No, I'm sorry. It's just these hormones…" she was starting to cry again.
"I think it's the right time for me to get that milk shake now. Give me a few minutes" He changed from his pajamas to go out to the nearest café to their New York apartment who sells the milk shake Kelsi loved.
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"Do you have the Thank You cards with you?" Kelsi asked her husband as they were getting ready to go out for dinner."
"Yes, I got them on the way to the airport when I picked up your parents." Ryan answered struggling with his tie which Kelsi noticed. She went to his side to help him with it.
"We're all set then. Let's hope my morning sickness won't give us away. It's not even morning anymore and I still feel a bit uneasy." She sighed, but brightened up, looking up at her husband as she worked on his tie. "My, my, Mr. Evans, don't you look handsome tonight. Hot date?"
"Yeah, my parents and in-laws." His answer made them both laugh. "Our moms will open the waterworks once they find out about our surprise."
"Not to mention Sharpay. I bet she will scream so loud the whole restaurant will know." Kelsi smiled as she thought of her sister-in-law. "I hope she's not turning into bridezilla. Poor Zeke."
"Don't worry. I think as long as she's marrying him he wouldn't care. Besides, he's had a lot of practice in high school. Speaking of high school, have you heard from Taylor and Chad?"
"Yup, she sent me a message a while ago saying that they're just dropping off their things at the hotel and heading to the restaurant after."
"Well, it's showtime." Ryan said as he opened the door for his wife.
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The restaurant which Ryan and Kelsi chose for their anniversary dinner is almost full, seeing that it is a Saturday night. They were ushered into the private room which is now filled with their family and friends. It was to be an intimate celebration with them revealing Kelsi's pregnancy in the end. Conversations flowed freely on the big table, with Vance and Zeke taking the opposite ends.
"By the way, congratulations on your latest show Ryan." The ever thoughtful Gabriella smiled at him.
"Thanks, Gabi. But I think for this next year, I'll do more choreography."
"That's great, Ry. But why?" Martha said joining the conversation.
"I think it will do well with my experience, having a mix of both performing and choreographing. Also, I want to be able to have more free time with Kelsi."
"That's so sweet." Gabi said smiling and leaning on Troy's shoulder.
"Where did you leave Alexa?"
"She's with Troy's parents for this weekend. They were more than happy to spend time with their granddaughter that they offered to fly in to California as soon as we mentioned it."
Derby hearing about grandchildren tuned out her husband and turned to Troy and Gabi, "Well, I would too, if I had grandchildren." She said with a warning glare towards Ryan. To which the boy just smiled and shook his head.
"I'm sure they'll get there Derby.'" Patient Katy Nielsen patted Derby's hand, who she was sitting next to and smiled at her daughter. "When that time comes, we'll have to figure out a schedule. It's a good thing we both still live in Albuquerque." Katy and Derby's relationship has grown closer in the past year. They have been having coffee and shopping together whenever the Evans are not out of town.
Ryan and Kelsi shared knowing smiles. Little did the women know that figuring out a schedule will be needed sooner rather than later.
Dessert time came soon enough and Kelsi's dad stood up to propose a toast to the couple. The waiters were instructed ahead by Ryan that Kelsi is to be served with Spakling White Grape Juice and no alcohol. The surprise would be ruined if anyone would notice her not "drinking".
"I'd like to propose a toast for Ryan and Kelsi. Congratulations for a happy first year. May you have many more blessed years to share."
"And children!" Derby shouted from her seat which earned a hearty laugh from everyone. Sharpay shook her head at her mom. They are so much alike in personality. Both impatient and driven, can be quite pushy when they wanted.
When the laughter died down, Ryan stood up and took Kelsi's hand, helping her up. "Thank you so much everyone, and as a special thanks, the chef will be serving you dessert." He nodded to the waiter who took it as a cue to serve. As the covers were opened everyone looked at the small cake with what looked like a small card on top like a flag with a picture of Ryan with Kelsi in front of him, his arm around her, his hands resting on her belly. A text on the side read:
"A heartfelt thanks from all THREE of us."
A few seconds later, understanding dawned and as if in slow motion, everyone looked up from the dessert to Ryan and Kelsi with a shocked look on their faces. Then as if there was a choir conductor in front of them, all the girls shrieked.
"Oh my God, you ARE pregnant! Daniel, our baby is having a baby." Katy said to her husband, near tears and grabbing a napkin. She stood up and hugged her daughter, followed by Derby.
"What do you think of our surprise, Grand-mere?" Kelsi asked her mother-in-law.
"Oh I just love it Kelsi! Thank you, my dear. You make our family so happy." Derby looked lovingly at her daughter-in-law. She had no doubt that Kelsi will be a great mother, knowing how loving and compassionate the petite woman is.
Sharpay came next in the hug line and almost crushed her with the biggest, most enthusiastic hug.
"Hey! Be careful with my wife!" Ryan joked his twin.
Sharpay gave him a playful glare and winked at Kelsi. "I'm gonna spoil your kid rotten. He or she's gonna have everything bright and sparkly!" she said in true Sharpay passion, jumping up and down with her hands clapping.
"Don't you dare --!" Ryan warned.
"Chill, Ry. I'm just kidding. I'm sure the grandparents have the spoiling covered already."
Ryan, in turn, got hand shakes and pats on the back from their fathers and the guys.
"You did good son." Vance looked at his son proudly.
"Take care of them." Daniel continued.
"I will, I will."
"We have no doubt about that."
"Man, good luck on diaper duty. Piece of advice, practice makes perfect. I hope you listened well during Family health class." Troy said.
"Stop scaring him Troy." Gabriella warned her husband. "Don't listen to him, Ryan. You should've seen his first diaper change. He confused the front side from the back. Alexa won't stop crying until I corrected it."
"Well then, I'll make sure not to take lessons from you Troy."
"Good thing you can sing and dance, bro. You'll need those skills at 3am when the baby won't stop crying!" Zeke joined in on the scaring wagon, laughing at Ryan's expense.
Ryan took it lightly though. "Thanks! I'm sure I can handle it. At least I have an advantage over basketball players who don't know how to tell their right foot from the left."
"If you must know," Chad stepped in, "I have babysat Alexa a couple of times. And I survived, thank you very much."
"Of course you did!" Taylor shouted as she smacked him in the head, "I did all the work!"
That got the whole room laughing and everyone had a great night ending with Sharpay suggesting a baby shower and Taylor figuring out the date to fit everyone's schedule.
On their way home, Kelsi sat in the limo they shared with their parents, and squeezed Ryan's hand. He noticed that her eyes looked heavy, almost closed. "Is mommy tired?"
"Very much, daddy."
"Sleep hon, and don't bother about waking up. I'll carry you up the penthouse."
There, there. Everyone knows now. Whew! That was quite a struggle. Writing a story of a group of 14 people in a single room, having dinner at that, is exhausting. I don't know how to include all of them. I certainly missed a few of them but will make sure there'll be some time for them in the next chapters.
Some of the chapters in this story may seem a bit drabble-ish. I will be including some vignettes here and there but I hope you enjoy them. If you have any ideas feel free to suggest. :)