A/N Sometimes I think Im done with writing...
"What'd she say?" Jacob asked as I put the phone back on the hook.
I smirked a little and met his baffled gaze. "She wants us to come over today."
He fidgeted a little. "But your mother scares me."
"You're not scared of her. You're just nervous. It'll pass."
"No, Im not nervous. Im serious. Your mother scares me."
"Hmm, you're not the first baby daddy to be scared of his mother-in-law."
He rolled his eyes and flipped the pancake that was black on one side. "You're making me sound like some sixteen year old who knocked you up. I am scared to death of messing up and your mother is looking out for the moment I do."
"You're not gonna mess up. Ok, so you let Baby Doll watch porn! Not your brightest idea but..."
He looked at me, innocence in his stare.
"You're still a good dad to her. She absolutely adores you. Ive never seen her look at anybody the way she looks at you. Not even Seth. Hell, not even me."
He turned red and smirked. "But your mother-"
"Just forget about my mom, alright? So what if she's peeved about Baby Doll? If she doesnt like it, then screw it. We tried."
He was still a little shaky and hesitant. "But every since you guys came back..."
"Yes?"
"I have this constant reminder that we're not married. It bug me knowing we've got a child together and we're not official. Like legally official."
I caressed his copper cheek that was reddening at the thought of marriage. Could I see myself with Jacob for the rest of my life? Honestly, it was scary. The thought of being with someone forever with the risk of hurting them or letting them down. What would happen when Im not good enough for Jacob and he leaves me instead of the other way around? He wouldnt do that to Baby Doll but what if he was so spiteful to leave us to make me suffer and go through my pain he felt when I disappeared? He had every reason to.
"You think we're ready for that? To take that step?" I asked and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I love you," he said simply. "You love me. When two people love each other-"
"They make little Baby Doll's," I teased.
"They unite as one. As in take that leap. Together. I dont see why we're not ready. Sure, youve got to go back to California sometime but for the most part, you're home. You're both home. This is where Baby Doll belongs. She can switch schools and everything."
I dont know if that was an official proposal or not. It was sweet and I'd take it for what it was.
"Switch schools?"
"That way she doesnt have to get tortured and tormented about how she looks. Fuck, she cant help the fact that she looks like a princess."
My smile was wide as Jacob came down and pulled me closer, clashing our hips. "And you, my lady, are the queen. Obviously, Im king."
I chuckled and kissed his nose. "No," I responded shaking my head. "You're the knight in shining armor who saved the queen from herself."
He took that in before leaning down and kissing me hard. I tied our tongues together and just as the kiss deepened, there was a sizzling and burn coming from the stove. The smoke alarm fired off causing Jacob to jump and looked at the burnt disappointment of his pancake. I fanned the smoke around and coughed as he ran cold water over the pan in the sink.
I laughed a little at his frown as he watched his pancake suffer.
"Aww, poor baby. Leah will make her knight some pancakes later, ok?" I came up and hugged him from behind, puckering out a fake pout to sympathize with him. He exhaled deeply and rubbed my hands.
"Let's go see your mom, his voice was strong. It was a turn on.
"You sure?" I asked, face still buried in his defined back.
"Positive."
I squeezed him for a minute to make sure he was real and when I was perfectly certain he was, I ran upstairs to shower and get ready for attempt number two at seeing my mother again.
Ok, you know how before I said Baby Doll adored Jacob?
Yeah, scratch that.
This child was obsessed with him.
Wearing the same black jeans and similar red t-shirt, they passed for perfect twins. When Jacob combed his hair, Baby Doll combed hers. When he brushed his teeth, she brushed hers. When he waited for me at the front door, she waited along with him. It was a struggle getting her to go to bed at night but when Jacob said sleep, she was snoring in seconds.
The ride to Sue's was chill considering we didnt tell Baby Doll where we were going.
She happily sang along to the radio with Jacob while I eyed the two who knew every song, word for word.
When we finally pulled up to my mother's, Baby Doll immediately recognized the place and refused to get out of the car. Jacob tickled it out of her and she caved but was still reluctant.
When we waltzed in, we found Sue in the kitchen, chugging down a bottle of water while Seth was in the living room. Baby Doll recognized the Spongebob theme song immediately and ran for it when she got her glances at Sue.
When she saw us, she put the water bottle down and Jacob's fingers wove through mine and squeezed. I squeezed back as if to reassure him that we would be ok.
"Leah, Jacob. Sit down," she ordered us, her face definitely tired. She had been crying the night before.
We sat on the bar stools and kept our hands locked. Sue opened her mouth to speak but the courage in Jacob stopped her.
"Before you say anything Sue...just," he sighed, slightly frustrated. "-I want you to know that I had sex with Leah that night 'cus I love her. We didnt fuck-" he corrected himself. "-we didnt make love with the intention of having a child. If I had known she was pregnant, I wouldve been here. When she left, she took me with her. If I knew she had my baby inside her, I wouldve been there through everything. So before you just assume that I chased her away, I didnt. Baby Doll's here now and Im not going anywhere. It may not mean much to you anymore but Im Baby Doll's father and Im not gonna quit on Leah. If you could please find it in your heart to forgive me for knocking her up, then-"
A rare smile graced my mother's slick face as she eyes us both. Jacob stopped his speech and glanced at me. I simply shrugged, confused as well.
"Jacob," she started. "Ive already forgiven you. Im the one who should be asking for forgiveness. The way I acted with you and Baby Doll was just...terrible. Most mother wouldve been happy but I was..hurt."
"Why?" I suddenly asked.
"When I found out you couldnt have kids, Lee I was devastated. I wanted grandchildren so bad and when I saw Baby Doll in Seth's arms, I couldnttake it. I wanted to be there right there beside you from the moment you realized you were pregnant to your trimesters to the birth to naming her. And I expected you to be married, least. It truly broke my heart that you kept it from Jacob."
I fiddled with my chipping nail polish. Jacob held my hand to distract me but Sue continued.
"Jacob loves you so much. Hell, maybe even more than your father loved me. Ive never seen a stronger couple," she said this honestly, no sarcasm in her voice.
"Speaking of your father, he left you an inheritance. He left you money, Lee."
This was news to me. She went on.
"I cant hold onto it. It doesnt feel right. Not a dime of it belongs to me. It's all yours."
"Ma, I cant. Im not-"
"No, Lee. Im serious. The money's not mine. It states clearly in his will that the money goes to you."
"At least keep it for when I need it," I pleaded with her and Jacob squeezed my hand tensely.
"Fine," she slurred and eyed Jacob. "You think of that little speech all by yourself?"
He turned pink and nodded. "I just wanted you to know everything that was on my mind."
She nodded. "Well, I need to know about my granddaughter. How old is she?"
"Six," I answered.
"Birthday?"
I opened my mouth to answer again, certain Jacob probably hadnt remembered.
"December 12th, 2005. At six thirty-six in the morning," he quoted me exactly and I looked at him amazed. Sue did as well and he looked at me as he continued.
"A mother never forgets the intense and painful feeling of child birth," we shared moment as we reminisced on that day we were finally united again. He remembered.
For the few hours we were there, Sue, Jacob and I finally found a way to communicate as adults and use our brains. Sue had apologized to Baby Doll but Baby Doll was still a little scared of her.
When it came to new people. Baby Doll was usually very easy to get along with. Sue and Baby Doll clashed a little cus of their opposing personalities. When Baby Doll said right, Sue said left.
Of all things that they could possibly agree on, they had to pick the one little, yellow bastard that lived under the fucking sea and wore pants! Even Sue, mature and sophisticated Sue, watched the idiocy that was Spongebob Squarepants.
Since I didnt wanna ruin a family moment, I sat down and watched it anyway. I found a few laughs but not too many. When we left and I asked Baby Doll on how she liked her grandmother now, she said she'd give her a try.
When we finally arrive home, I had a sick feeling in my stomach. Like the flavor of Jacob's pancakes were coming over the hill of my throat and it was thick. I ignored it till I couldnt fight it anymore and puked into the toilet. It wasnt too much but that doesnt mean it was gross. I took a nap afterwards and felt the same uneasy and queasy feeling rumbling around in the pit of my stomach. I took my temperature to make sure I was really sick and it seemed normal. I ignored the puking till I did it a third time a few hours later. I called it a night at around six and told Jacob not to worry.
I'll bet it was just some stomach flu; it'll pass over in a week.
I was partially correct.
Three weeks had passed and I still got sick and puked up a lot. I was suddenly tired and bitched at everyone, including Baby Doll. Lately rolling up in bed and chillin' with a big old tub of ice cream seemed like the life for me. Not even getting naughty with Jacob was an intriguing idea. I was too lazy to do that!
But every few hours or so, the flu would fade in and out. One minute, I feel like new! Next, Im tired. Insomnia was a bitch.
Besides feeling sick and sleepy all the time, I was enjoying my summer really. Jacob and Baby had drawn closer together which made me happy to see. They had their own little secret handshake and they usually went to go see Sue whenever Jacob had the day off. My mother has finally forgiven me despite the fact I had given her a love child of a granddaughter.
When Baby Doll asked what was wrong all I told her was that Mommy as sick. I was. I was hoping this stomach flu just blew over soon.
Shouldnt this have killed me by now? Ugh, I felt terrible.
Most of my time was spent lounging around the house in sweats. I even rejected going to the beach cus I was so tired. I took medicine and everything but nothing worked. I just thought if I didnt think about it. it'll pass over. But lately it seemed to get worse.
And the odd part was that I had felt like this before. A while ago, like before I ran away. I had the meanest case of déjà vu and it was really fucking with me.
Nighttime had come and it was nearing ten o' clock. Jacob and I developed a pattern for the night time. First we tuck Baby Doll in, we make out a little and then try and fall asleep to a bad movie. I made it through the tucking Baby Doll in part before I drifted off, leaving Jacob to himself.
I heard him chuckle as my eyes drooped and whisper the most sweetest things in my ear.
"I love you, Leah..."
"You are my queen..."
"Never change..."
"Marry me one day..."
That night, I actually felt his arms envelope me into his chest as he held me tighter than ever.
A/N HATERS GON' HATE...READERS GON' REVIEW..that's how the system works...