Extremely late, I deeply apologize. But I have good news. I'll be posting ALL the chapters left in the story TODAY! Enjoy..
"Michael.." I say.
"Mariana are you serious? You're pregnant? You've been seeing Zack?" He doesn't take his eyes off his twin.
"Mike.. Look. I wanted to tell you. I did! But, I knew you would get mad. I knew you wanted me to stay away from him and he away from me. But.. We couldn't help it."
Whoa, deja vu.. Mia and Luke
"AND NOW YOU'RE KNOCKED UP BY A FUCKING GUY WHO FUCKED FIVE GIRLS IN ONE NIGHT AND MADE A GIRL CRY!"
"WHITNEY WAS JUST MAD HE WOULDN'T SLEEP WITH HER THAT'S WHY SHE CRIED!" Mariana yells back.
"Mari, that's not good you should be getting worked up or even yelling. Michael, please just stop." I beg.
"I'm going to fucking kill him!"
"STOP IT!"
I sigh shaking my head. This is really deja vu.
"What is going on?" Lauren walks in with dad behind. Christian also makes his way over.
"Mom I'm sure you'll be happy to hear your daughter is going to make you a grandmother now. She's been screwing Zack."
Lauren gasps and Mariana tenses up at my side, staying quiet. I can tell she's mad, but does not say anything.
"Is this true?" Lauren asks and Mariana nods.
"You don't seem so surprised." Mariana says.
"I had a hunch. I notice things. How far along are you?"
"About nine weeks now.."
Michael chuckles bitterly. "Is he even in the picture? He may be, well as of now was, my best friend but I'll fucking kill him. But it's not like you're any better. You went behind my back! You knew why I didn't want you with him, you deserved way fucking better. But it seems like don't want any better."
Lauren looks over at her son in shock "Michael that's enough, act your age". She turns to me "Oh my god, Ana, I'm so sorry for this.. Mess. This is your home and it's rude and disrespectful to have such argument here and-"
"Lauren," I interrupt. "It's okay. You guys are like family, don't need to feel guilty." I reassure her. I look over at Mariana and she's fuming.
"Lets go blow off steam," Christian says leading Ray and Michael out to the back.
"Sweetheart.." Lauren starts but Mariana just launches into her and screams. Literally she scream, it have to hold back my laugh when starts calling Michael the spawn of Satan.
"I knew he'd be mad at me. I knew it.." She says. "But he had no right to speak to me like that".
"You know.. This happened with Mia and Luke." I say. "Well not get pregnant but it's a similar situation."
"How so?" She asks wiping her tears.
"When Christian found out-." I'm interrupted by the guys coming back in. Michael visibly seems relaxed.
"Ah, back just in time. It's story time. Christian, you'll love this one. Michael, you know, Christian reacted almost the same way you did when he found out Mia was dating Luke." I say. "He started saying things like Luke was just screwing his sister and how he was mad at Mia for going behind his back." I turn to Mari "and Mia did the same thing you did. Kept the relationship a secret for so long that when things came to light, things went wrong."
Christian sighs. "I was mostly mad at the fact that they didn't tell me, so I attacked them. Tried to say mean and vile things, being angry. I had told Mia to stay away from my employees and Luke should have known better. They dated for months before I found out before Christmas last year. I was being hardheaded, too stubborn to see they were afraid of telling me because they knew I would react badly. They were afraid to approach me because I had given warnings. And I was too mad to see they truly cared and love each other. That's until I started to accept it, and now, I wouldn't want any other man to be with my little sister."
"Now, We're not saying Mia and Luke were right with the choice of keeping it a secret for so long. They should've spoken up, is something Christian deserved to know. Just like Michael had the right to know you're dating his best friend, someone he apparently doesn't think highly of. And even if he reacted badly, it's just another reason for both of you to prove him wrong." I tell her. "And for you Michael, you had no right to treat or even say the things you said to your sister. We understand you're upset but you went too far."
"Exactly," Lauren adds. "We'll have a private conversation home. Don't think I'm letting it slide, you crossed a line Michael and I'm sure I taught you better than that. She's your sister, not some girl. And you Mariana, I'm disappointed in you. I've always told you to own up to your things and what you do." She sighs. "We should get going, Ray.." She looks over at him and he nods.
"Ana, Christian, I really am-"
"I told you not to apologize," I smile and hug her. "Nothing to be sorry for."
"Drive safely," Christian adds as he says goodbye to everyone. I turn to him once they're gone and give him a kiss. "That was interesting."
"Hopefully they'll be able to get over it soon. Now, I think we have an announcement for the kids. They're in their room along with Sophie and Gail, lets go."
"Disney, here we come. Oh this is gonna be intense." I laugh and take my husband hand, walking towards our kids. "You know, I like how we included Sophie. She a part of the family."
"Of course, couldn't let Phoebe's best friend out." He chuckles. "You think she'll like it?"
"I think her and Phoebe would scream so loud Teddy is gonna have second thoughts about this trip."
"My poor boy, they're ganging up on him." I throw my head back and laugh. Oh, how I love our family.
-Two months later-
Ana's birthday.
My feet hurt, my back aches and I'm hungry. Sooooooo hungry! It's Monday afternoon and I'm home since I had an appointment today. The kids started school about two weeks ago, so Luke is on his way to pick them up.
Christian said he's taking us all out for dinner today, since it's my birthday. Holy crap, I'm 23! Still so young but so much has happened in one year I feel older.
Christian and the kids get home at the same time, he said he was getting out early. Wanted to spend the day with me. I was all for it.
Christian and I help the kids change into different clothes and then head out. But they all stop me to give me gifts, all making me cry. I'm extra emotional these days with the pregnancy hormones. I'm seven months along, SEVEN! Time is passing by so quick, soon, I'll give birth to our baby girl, Aleah Delilah Grey. We chose the name just a week ago, and we love it.
Once the gift are all open, we head out to eat. The same restaurant Christian took Phoebe and I for our birthdays. I love that spot, it has become our birthday place.
We order our food, laugh, chat.. We listen to the kids beg us to take them to Disney again. It's all a good time, until Phoebe talks again.
"I have a boyfriend!" She squeals, making Christian choke on his drink.
"Don't you mean a friend, princess?" He asks.
"No, he's my boyfriend. He gives me letters and shares his candy. We even hold hands!" I put my head down and cover my face with my hands trying so hard not to laugh. "He's the same boy that gave me letters in kindergarten."
"His name is Liam and he has cooties." Teddy says.
"Listen to Teddy, princess, he has cooties. You can't be with boys. Girls can't be with boys. No, never. Like ever okay?" Christian's face is priceless.
"But mommy's a girl and she's with you."
"Touché.." He whispers. "Maybe when you're thirty you can have a boyfriend. You don't need one now. I can buy you all the candy in the world, he can't."
"You're right! I have you, daddy." She squeals louder this time, and Christian smile so big, it's heartwarming. She definitely has her daddy, always.
"Daddy, this boy told Teddy he's a stupid and I told him that Teddy is at least pretty. Not him." Christian laughs loud this time shaking his head.
"For the record, never call a boy pretty."
The night goes by great, I get a cake and get happy birthday sung to me. Then we head home. Luckily the kids didn't have any homework today so we just take them a shower and put them to sleep. Once I take a seat on our bed, I relax.
"Baby, there's something I want to talk to you about.. again." Christian says entering the room.
"Again? bout?"
"You taking off from work."
"I go on maternity leave in a month."
"No.. I mean now. Taking off now and not coming back to work.. In a few years."
"WHAT?!" I yell. "I can't do that!"
"But you can, it's not like you need to work." He adds.
"Yes, but I want to."
"And I get that. I know you want to, but I'm trying to tell you, you don't have to. You've been independent for so long and worked so hard for everything, I just want you to relax. I want you enjoy the last few weeks of the pregnancy and then be able to stay home and be with Aleah. I don't want you to worry about anything except her."
"Christian, we agreed on this. I'll go on maternity leave in a month, then return to work after the new year."
He sighs. "Just think about it. You really wouldn't have to worry about anything. You can think about what you really want to do with your future, if you want to stay with GEH or do something else. You won't be exhausted, stressed. You'll be able to enjoy everything."
"No! I don't want to live of your money!"
"Our money, Ana, our money." He runs his fingers through his hair. "I want you to just take a seat. You've worked hard all your life and taking a break a year or two is what you deserve!"
"We're not talking about this anymore. I'm not doing it, for fucks sake." I huff.
"Fine. Whatever. I don't understand why you're so worked up about it. I'd thought you'd like the idea of a break."
"It's not that, I've seen this coming for a while now. The moment you even started bringing up maternity leave last month. I don't want to be useless here. I want to feel productive."
"Alright. Fine." He says. "Have it your way. I'm not going to argue with you on your birthday." He heads into the bathroom to take a shower and I stay seated in bed.
I'm sure he meant no harm, but I don't know. I don't know what I think about the idea of being a stay at home mom. What if people look down on me? What if they think this is all I wanted from him, to live off his money? People will start making rumors, some even worse than this. I don't like it.
I don't know what to do..