Shaundi's due date was rapidly approaching. She was a week away from being nine months pregnant when Aiden received a call from Derek. Shaundi lay on Aiden's bed, struggling to catch her breath. "I just want to get it out already" she huffed, trying to sit up one morning. The 24 year old Hispanic chuckled, and helped her sit up. As he went downstairs to make breakfast, he noticed his phone buzzing. It stopped just as he picked it up. 10 missed calls from Derek Jones. He raised an eyebrow, wondering what that could have been about. He decided to make breakfast and wait for him to call again.
He had just finished breakfast and brought it to the table when his phone rang again. He picked it up and answered it swiftly. "Hey Derek, what's up?" he questioned. "We need to have a word with you and Shaundi before we sign the papers tomorrow. There's a – uh- problem". Aiden's heart began thumping in his chest for some reason unknowns to him. "Okay, when?" he asked. "As soon as possible. Today though, please". Aiden agreed, then they said their goodbyes and hung up. He called Shaundi down and told her as she munched on her beans on toast. "Wonder what that's about" she said through a full mouth. He shrugged, not knowing himself. He was too busy thinking about why his heart had leapt like that. Was he hoping to keep the baby? He thought all those feelings were gone.
Himself and Shaundi finished their breakfast and got ready. As a matter of fact, they were now living together. Shaundi had given up her small home to live with Aiden. He had been so happy when she agreed to live with him, and she was so happy he asked. She demanded he take off his track pants and put on jeans, and he obeyed. He never imagined himself following anyone else's orders, that is, since he became leader himself. He couldn't deny her, though. She was simply wonderful. He reluctantly got into his dark blue jeans and a black shirt. Shaundi fixed his collar at the door, then straightened her pencil skirt. They then headed outside.
"I'm nervous" Shaundi admitted, wrapping her seat belt around herself carefully. Aiden admitted he was, too. He was still trying to figure out why he wanted The Jones couple to quit on the baby. He pulled away, and they drove to the couple's residence in silence. Once they were parked in the yard, the door swung open to reveal the nervous looking couple. Aiden took Shaundi's hand as they approached the door, squeezing it gently. She gave him a faint smile, before they were invited inside.
Derek made them some tea while Felicity looked awkwardly around the room. Once Derek returned, they thanked him for the hot beverage. He sat down and coughed nervously, looking to his wife. They were obviously wondering where to start. Shaundi grew impatient "can we just cut to the chase?". "Felicity is pregnant" Derek announced. Silence. Aiden's heart leaped in his chest. What did that mean? "WHAT!?" Shaundi snapped, standing up and knocking over her tea. Aiden gently pulled her back down. "What happens now?" he asked calmly. "We are more than willing to take your child. Felicity is only 3 weeks along, we can handle both". "No" Shaundi sighed "you will treat her like an outsider. She's Aiden and I's baby now. Deal with it. Come on, Aiden". She took his hand, and they left, ignoring the couples pleas behind them.
The car was full of silence until they were almost home. "I'm relieved" Aiden admitted "I'm relieved this happened". Shaundi took his hand and smiled "me too...I..I just got frustrated because I know they wouldn't have loved our baby the same as their own". Aiden nodded, agreeing with her completely. They wouldn't have loved her the same. They wouldn't love her as much as Shaundi and himself did already.
When they got home, the ultrasound photos had been slid under their apartment door. Shaundi grinned as she picked them up, and put them on one of the fridges. "I guess this means we will have to go baby shopping" she giggled, turning towards him. He made his way over to her, kneeling down and pressing his lips to her glowing tummy "mhm". She ruffled his hair, before he stood up and brought her back outside. "Where are we going?" she asked him, an eyebrow raised. "Baby shopping. This has to be done now, not later. You could pop any minute now".
So they made their way towards Mothercare, but not before Aiden took a detour. He felt like he had to face his fears. He was going to be a father soon. He made his way to Shivington for the first time since his father's fatal accident. Shaundi looked to him "where are we-". She cut herself off by seeing the sign that read "Shivington". "Why?" she asked him. "I can't be afraid of anything, Shaundi. If I am, who will take care of her?" he said, motioning to her tummy. She laid her head on his shoulder as he drove silently through Shivington, then stopped outside Brown Baggers. He sat there for a while, remembering the incident for the first time in years. He was no longer afraid. He was no longer a Sociopath. Shaundi saved him. He silently thanked the love of his life as he pulled out of the parking lot and made his way towards the baby store.
While inside, Aiden hadn't a clue what they did and didn't need. All he knew they needed was a crib. Shaundi knew exactly what to get, thankfully. They stocked up on clothes, bibs, cute little shoes for when she was walking, a baby grooming kit, a pushchair, a highchair etc. All would be delivered to Aiden's apartment the following morning. He stopped off at a DIY store and picked up some pink paint. When they got home, he began to paint the walls in the downstairs room. He smiled to himself the whole time, never having imagined painting the room for his soon to be newborn daughter. This was going to be a hell of a ride, but it was going to be so worth it.