AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you BluePeacocke, fanficforyou, Anna, Kit Kat, and Guests, for the reviews to the first chapter, and thank you other readers.
Enjoy and reviews are appreciated :)
Chapter 2 - Insecurity
The next morning Denny walked into the kitchen and saw Zac, Oscar, Evie, and Hannah at the table.
"Morning, how are you feeling?" Hannah asked.
Denny gave a nod. "Okay."
"Denny we heard about the news, that's wonderful." Evie said, getting up from the table.
Denny didn't reply and just took a seat next to Oscar at the table.
"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" Hannah asked.
"Just a tea is fine thanks Hannah." Denny replied quietly.
"Denny you really should have something to eat. You need it for your health and the health of your baby." Hannah said.
"No I'm fine." Denny replied and Hannah gave a sigh.
"So what happens now? When do you have to go get checked and find out the sex of the baby and everything like that?" Oscar casually asked.
Denny didn't want to hear everyone's questions and concerns over this baby because it just made it all too real for her and she just could not deal with it right now.
"I don't know! I won't be eating for two, worrying about my health or even thinking about appointments or what sex it is! I don't even know if I want this baby!" Denny snapped and stood up from the table, walking out the door.
"Denny! Denny! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I was just asking." Oscar called out after her.
"Leave her Oscar. She needs time to deal with this on her own." Zac said.
"What do we do?" Evie asked.
"We have to give her some space but also let her know we are there for her." Hannah explained.
"Do you think she meant what she said, about not wanting the baby?" Evie asked.
"I think she's just trying to figure things out. I'm sure she didn't mean what she said." Zac assured.
Denny took a seat at the diner.
"Hello Love, what can I get for you?" Irene asked.
Denny shook herself out of thought. "Oh I'm sorry Irene." Denny replied.
"That's alright Love, is everything alright? You look a little pale." Irene asked.
"Yeah I've just got a lot to think about."
"Can I get you anything?" Irene asked again.
"Um sure, a blueberry muffin and fruit smoothie would be great thanks." Denny requested.
"Be back in a moment." Irene replied with a smile and went back to the counter.
Ricky walked into the diner a moment later.
"Hi Darl, how is everything going?" Irene greeted.
"Hi Irene. As best as it could be, the little one's growing so fast inside me. I can't believe it's already been four months." Ricky explained, rubbing her expanding abdomen.
Irene smiled. "How is Brax holding up?"
Ricky shrugged. "He's still struggling after Casey's death and I understand that but I need him to be here for me too, this is his baby. I had to go to my ultrasound appointment on my own the other week because he'd gone off to clear his head."
"Don't worry Darl, I'm sure he'll be there for you when you really need it. Do you know what sex it is yet?"
"Yeah I found out on my last ultrasound. I'm having a boy." Ricky replied.
Irene smiled. "That's wonderful Darl. Now is there something I can get for you?"
"I would love a chicken and salad sandwich and an orange juice to take away." Ricky requested.
"Coming right up."
Ricky turned and noticed Denny sitting alone and approached her. "Hi Denny how are you?"
Denny looked up at Ricky then down at her abdomen. "What's it like?" Denny asked.
"What's what like?" Ricky replied sitting down opposite Denny.
"Being pregnant and knowing you're going to be having a baby."
Ricky looked at Denny confused for a moment before answering.
"It's wonderful I've always wanted kids."
"Aren't you even scared at how it will turn out or that you won't be any good?" Denny asked.
"Sure, but that's all part of the process...Denny why are you asking these questions? You're not...?"
Denny turned away and Ricky reached her hand out to touch Denny's. "Is it Casey's?"
Denny nodded and looked back to Ricky. "I haven't been with anyone else."
"How far along are you?" Ricky asked quietly.
"I found out yesterday, and Nate told me I'm about four weeks. Ricky I don't know what to do. I mean I'm still dealing with Casey and now this. I don't think I'm ready to be a mother, but part of me doesn't want to give it away either, because I know what it's like growing up not knowing your family. I'm just so confused."
Denny sighed and Ricky squeezed her hand for comfort.
"Hey, Brax and I are here for you and you can always rely on us to help you. Casey was our family and that makes you family too."
"Here ya go Darls." Irene placed Denny's order on the table and gave Ricky hers.
"Thank you." Denny said quietly.
"Thanks Irene." Ricky spoke.
"You're welcome Darls." Irene replied and walked back to the counter.
"I'm serious about what I said Denny, anytime you need us just let Brax or I know, we will support you through this. You're not alone. Just don't give up on what's inside you because remember that is part of Casey too." Ricky said and stood up.
"Look I have to go but think about it." Ricky smiled.
Denny nodded considering Ricky's words, she was right, it was part of Casey inside her. She couldn't let that go after she'd already lost so much.
"Thanks Ricky." Denny said with a weak smile.
Ricky returned the smile and walked out of the diner, leaving Denny to think and have her order.
Ricky walked into the Braxton house and saw Brax sitting on the couch.
"Hi, there's my favourite woman." Brax greeted.
Ricky approached him with a raised eyebrow. "I hope I'm your only woman."
Brax grabbed Ricky's wrist and pulled her to sit next to him, the two sharing a quick kiss.
Pulling away Brax could sense something wasn't quite right.
"Is something wrong Rick?"
Ricky sighed. "We have a problem."
Brax groaned, he was trying to move on from all this and not have to deal with any more trouble around his family.
"When don't us Braxton's have problems? What is it?" Brax asked.
Ricky held Brax's hand in hers. "I ran into Denny at the diner today...she's pregnant Brax, and its Casey's kid."
Brax pulled his hand out from Ricky's and stood up walking towards the door.
"Brax! You can't walk away from this! Brax! Talk to me!" Ricky called, now standing up too.
"What is there to say Ricky? My brother's dead and he's never gonna know he had a baby!" Brax yelled and walked out of the house slamming the door.
After walking along the beach for some time Brax headed back home. Seeing Ricky sitting on the couch Brax approached her and sat down, wrapping his arm around her.
"Rick I'm sorry I walked out on you before." Brax said quietly.
Ricky wrapped her arms around Brax. "It's okay. It's a huge thing for you. All of us...I understand."
"He was gonna be a Dad, Rick. He wanted to have a family one day so much and now...I just wish I could have done more for him."
"Brax you did everything you could for Casey. Don't beat yourself up, it was a tragic accident. Think of this as something Casey left behind to make his memory live on. To make sure his family still had a part of him alive."
Brax listened to Ricky's reasoning then leaned in and gave Ricky a kiss.
"You're a smart woman Rick."
Ricky held Brax tight as the two sat together.
Denny walked back into the farmhouse and saw Evie at the table and Oscar sitting on the couch.
"Hi." She said sheepishly.
"How are you?" Evie asked.
Oscar stood up from the couch and approached Denny. "Look I'm real sorry for what I said."
Denny shook her head. "Oscar it's okay. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I'm just scared over this whole pregnancy thing."
Evie walked over to Denny. "Have you decided anything?"
Denny shrugged. "I think I will be keeping the baby, after all it's what Casey would want and its part of him."
"That's wonderful Denny."
Denny turned to see Hannah come from the hallway.
"Yeah that's great." Oscar said with a smile.
"It'll be lovely having a little niece or nephew running around." Evie added.
Denny gave her family a smile and walked into her room.
"Well I guess this is it Casey. I'm...we're really doing this." Denny said as she looked towards the photo of her and Casey smiling and gently rubbed her abdomen.