AN:
I'm jumping forward in time now. Fast forward. Annnnnnnd, ACTION!

Chapter 18

Lizzie was curled up on the couch and realized it was becoming more and more difficult to do so. Her 5 month baby bump was beginning to obstruct her curling abilities and it was bugging her. She was taken from her thoughts as her phone vibrated on the table.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Charlotte." Lizzie stretched and straightened.

"I was wondering," she hesitated, "if you could take Jane for a weekend? I have to go out of town, and she wants to stay with you. Apparently, she still remembers she has to find that secret passage."

Lizzie's heart soared. "I would love to. I have to talk to William, but I think he'll be okay with it. He should be home in 20 minutes so, can I call you later?"

"Thank you. It means a lot." She still sounded hesitant.

"Can I ask why you're going?"

"I'm going to see my publisher." Publisher? What publisher? "I was wondering also, can I use your story as a basis for my next book?"

"What book?"

"I've been writing a series of books. Crime novels, really. And I was wondering if I can use yours as a base line for my next one. You don't have to agree, I have another one I can use, but-"

"Charlotte." She took a breath. "Can I ask, will the names be changed?"

"Of course they would, Lizzie."

Lizzie thought a moment. "You can on one condition."

"Name it."
"You run everything by William and me first." All she heard was silence.

"Of course. Nothing will be used if you don't want it too. But I have to have some freedom in the story, Lizzie. This has been my job since I was shot."

"I didn't know you were shot!" Shot? When? Where? Why? Was it on purpose?

"Dispute gone bad. Nothing too bad. Just took me out of the force. Yours was my last case." There seemed to be more, but Lizzie didn't press the issue.

She heard the door opening and looked to see William dragging his feet. "Hold on. William's home early. I'll ask him now." She put her phone down and went to kiss him on the cheek. He looked tired and annoyed. And angry. Actually, he almost looked furious. "William. If now isn't a good time, just tell me, but Charlotte needs Jane to stay the weekend."

He looked at her like he had shut off his brain and was functioning on auto-pilot. "Yeah. That's actually the only good news I've heard all day. Get back to your call, I'll tell you later." He kissed her on the cheek and went upstairs.

She went back to the phone. "Charlotte?"

"Still here. Is it alright?"

"Its fine."

"Wonderful! Thank you so much."

"It's no problem. We're looking forward to it. Charlotte, if you don't mind, I have to talk to William right now."

"I understand. Goodbye, Lizzie. And thank you."

"See you, Charlotte."

They both hung up and Lizzie slowly worked her way upstairs. She opened the door to the bedroom to find that Will wasn't there. Thats where he always went on Friday when he came home from work. She went up the next flight of stairs and found the door to his office open. She knocked and opened it slowly.

"Hey, Will." She said softly. "What's wrong?" She looked around and saw him sitting on the couch by the window. As she sat next to him, all he did was rest his head on her shoulder.

He sighed. "I don't know what to do. And its been eating at me all day."

She wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Wanna talk about it?"

He put a hand on her stomach. "Not just yet. I still have to say hello to Babies."

And then they just sat like that. Lizzie, hugging William to her shoulder while he rested his hand on her ever growing stomach.

"Please talk to me. I've never see you like this."

"I got a call this morning." He said quietly.

"From who?" She stroked his hair.

"Your parents." She froze, fingers locked in his hair. "Lizzie. What do I do?"

"What did they say?" She could barely hear her own whisper.
"They want to see us. They want to be a part of our lives. And I know you don't want them to, and I don't want them either. But how can I say it to them?" She was still frozen.

"Which one?" She looked anywhere but at Will.

"Your mother is the one that called." Lizzie felt a tear on her face.

"They can't. I can't. I don't want them..." Lizzie broke into a silent sob.

Just as quickly as Lizzie started to cry, Will started to comfort her. "Can I ask why?"

She stopped crying. "Why what?"

"Why don't you want them to be a part of our lives?"

"If my father had called," she took a breath, "I may not have minded as much. My mother is the one who forced me out. Said it would be impossible to marry me. She said," she started crying lightly again, "She said that no rich man would marry me with a kid." She put her face back into Will's chest and start crying again.

When she stopped, Will was still confused. "And you think she thinks... What exactly?"

"Oh Will. To her, you are the jackpot of all son-in-laws. You're young, handsome, and most importantly: you have a large bank account. Thats all that matters to her. The only reason I could go to college was I got a scholarship. My mother had spent all my savings. That was the year she found out she was having twins."

"You have younger siblings?" Will was shocked. He hadn't thought that that was possible.

"Yeah. The miracle children. Apparently, my mother took all my money from my savings account and transferred it to hers for my two younger sisters. I checked at the bank. Since I was still a minor, she had control over it."

"What would you say?" He hugged her to his chest. "If you were to call her."

"I would tell her that if she wants the girls to get to know us, then they can come over by themselves. Otherwise, she can just call."

"Then thats what I'll say. I love you." He kissed her softly.

"I love you too." She kissed him again. "I was wondering..." She released him and looked away.

"Yes?" He pulled her back to his body.

"When should we tell them?" She sighed. She was doing a lot of that lately. She didn't know why either.

"Tell who what?"

"Firstly, Charlotte and Jane."

"But what should we tell them."

"That its twins..."

"When ever you think is best."

"Okay, Mr. Smarty. When should we tell my parents that I'm pregnant. Again. With the next door neighbor. With twins." He was silent. "Did I stump you?"

"No. I was just wondering if we had to tell them." It took a moment, but both burst out into laughter.

"I'll tell them, if the miracle children ever come."

"Why do you call them miracle children? They must have names-"

"I don't even know what gender they are."

"Okay." Will left it at that. "I hate to sound... rude... But whens dinner going to be ready?"

Lizzie punched him in the shoulder and they both started laughing again. "It'll be ready as soon as you call take and bake." She got up, threw his cell at him, and left the room, both of them chuckling.