Chapter Twenty Eight
Miley.
"Look it could have been worse!"
"Are you kidding me? He slammed me up against a brick wall!"
"At least he didn't punch you in the face Nick."
"He like dislocated my shoulder!"'
I rolled my eyes at Nick who rotated his arm grimacing while we stood in my dad's hallway, "How did you get away anyway?" I asked quietly keeping my eyes focused behind Nick down the hallway.
The second after I announced I was pregnant my sister's surrounded me leaving absolutely no room or time to escape. I didn't even have a chance to open my mouth as all three of them let every unmentionable word slip from their lips. The onslaught went on for a good five minutes, all of them yelling at me, none of them stopping to listen to each other while I just stood there waiting for it to end. Honestly it made me half thankful I no longer had to deal with this at work, it was basically a replication of my entire life until I met Nick.
When they brought me into the lounge room and stopped yelling at me things only got worse. They started arguing with each other about what they thought I should do with my baby and life in general. I ended up texting Nick hoping for a miracle, and thankfully the text got through hence our meet up.
"I told your dad I had to make a business call." Nick stated looking at me.
I blinked a few times surprised, "And he believed that?"
Nick laughed, "God no, I bolted before he had a chance to drag me back into another lecture about how we are young and a baby isn't easy to look after. I was about to bring up the fact I already went through it, but then he started talking about condoms and things got awkward." Nick mumbled quietly to me as I groaned completely embarrassed.
"This was such a bad idea Nick, I though they'd help and-"
"How did you get away?" Nick asked me this time, looking at me incredulously, "Last time I saw you was before your dad threw me against the wall then dragged me into his office. You were like surrounded, how did you escape the bitch patrol?"
"I told them I was going to throw up, they're in the lounge room." I responded.
"And they believed that?" He mocked me as I slapped his arm.
"They did thankfully, God Nick they're…" I trailed off trying to find the right word as I leaned against the wall. "I mean I'd made up my mind, but my sister's they seem so against this and-"
"And it's not their decision it's ours Miley." Nick responded calmly taking both my hands in his giving a weak smile, "Plus this is a shock for them too, I watched your dad go from crazy mad to the realization that you aren't a little girl anymore. By the time you text me he was in deep thought about the whole thing, he was just surprised like we were."
"I get that," I nodded sighing, "But initial reactions-"
"Are just that, they're initial Miley, doesn't mean they're the truth."
"They might be and everything we hear and think now is just-"
"If everyone acted on their first instincts we'd be in a constant state of war and chaos Miley, hence why people always say think before you speak. Your sister's are confused, your dad is concerned, I'm worried about you and you are…" He looked at me as I shrugged,
"Feeling decent actually," I pulled one hand away putting it on my stomach, "Physically anyway."
"What about emotionally?" He asked.
I looked at him, "I'm okay, a little relieved, a little worried."
He nodded smiling at me, "Good, now let's go see if we can get through this lunch okay?" Nick suggested as I nodded in agreement.
I moved to walk back down the hallway of my childhood home only for Nick to squeeze my hand. I looked back as he planted a kiss on my lips, "And do not let those bitches run over you Miley, okay? If you disagree with what they are saying then say so, don't let them make decisions for you. It's your body. It's our life."
I looked at him and smiled feeling a little empowered. Nick was right, for so long I'd felt like a lot of my life was completely out of my hands. But this wasn't about anyone else's opinions but ours, and if they weren't going to agree then so be it. I'd wanted their support and help but who was I kidding? Nick and his family were enough. It was my body, my decision and I would live with the consequences.
"Let's do this!" I announced taking his hand.
I walked down the corridor and opened the door facing for the first time a silent room. Dad had now joined my sister's and by the look on his face he'd clearly given them a piece of his mind towards their bickering ways. While my sister's all sat judging me with their evil witch like eyes.
"Look I know you're mad," I started as Brandi snorted shaking her head.
"Mad?" She asked looking at me confused, "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed Miley. I mean first you get married or eloped, or whatever the hell it was behind our backs. Now suddenly your pregnant, I mean we're all thinking it, which one even came first? Was this simply you two tying the knot so your reputation Nick wasn't once again jeopardized by yet another bastard child."
She said it with so much spite I felt everything in me freeze. Did she honestly think that? I opened my mouth trying to respond as Nick scoffed clearly taking the insult to heart.
"Are you serious Brandi? Does she look that Pregnant?" Nick spat walking past me furiously, "We got married and then she got pregnant-"
"You got her pregnant." Emily interrupted.
"Yeah I did," Nick snapped at her, "And honestly I don't see what the big deal is?"
"You're joking right?" Brandi laughed standing up turning to dad,
He just looked at me his face deadly calm, ignoring the argument going on in front of me. Brandi turned instead to Emily and Noah who instantly nodded agreeing with her. "Miley isn't cut out to be a mom, not right now anyway! Look Nick she's our sister we know her better then you do and-"
"You know her better then I do? Are you listening to yourself. I'm her husband."
"You never knew her when mom was alive." Brandi yelled in his face.
"Your mother has nothing to do with this-"
"Of course she does," Emily snapped standing up too, "Because the fights they used to have were unbelievable Nick. You weren't there you didn't understand what happened when the pressure got to Miley, you-"
"I just fucking experienced it." Nick retorted at her furiously. "I have been through a hell of a lot with her and-"
"We aren't saying you haven't Nick, but you missed teenage Miley and the fact is she doesn't deal well with pressure. She won't cope with raising a child when honestly she is barely capable of looking after herself. And let's not get into your work schedule..." Brandi stated through gritted teeth and I just stood there watching feeling sick, because I was standing right here yet I felt like I was miles away.
"This coming from the people who left a whole stack of pressure on her shoulders when you all quit!" Nick retorted smugly,
"We are the ones who have been opening that shop every god damn day because she still hasn't dealt with what ever crap you two have had going on." Emily pressed, "We didn't abandon her."
"Neither did I."
"You did on your first wedding day, remember that?" Noah murmured.
"And whose to say Miley won't become Selena? That you won't just kick her to curb with the kid?" Brandi questioned staring at Nick filled with hatred, something I didn't understand because no matter how mad I got I'd never truly hated him so why was she? "The thing is Miley hasn't got anyone to fall back on, it's just us and honestly I don't want to have to support her emotional ass and a baby because you decided to not use protection."
"I did use protection!" Nick yelled throwing his hands in the air, "And she's your sister you should support her no matter what, we came over for your opinion and help not you condemning us for a mistake that hasn't resulted in something bad."
"Well what did you expect? A round of applause that you knocked up my little sister?" Emily asked shaking her head,
Nick just looked at them in a shock, "You are not the people who I thought you were." He mumbled shaking his head, "Because at the moment I can't tell if you actually will feel like this in the long term or you're just mad because we didn't tell you."
"Oh get over yourself Nick." Emily hissed, "This isn't about you or all the lies you are spinning between the two of you. This is about Miley and the fact we don't think she's ready to be having a baby."
"How do you know she's not ready you-"
Brandi looked at me, "She's not. I'm sure."
Nick closed his mouth for a second shaking his head, "I think you're wrong."
"Well we'll agree to disagree then."
"So you think she should get rid of the baby that's what you're suggesting, just to be clear right?" Nick asked looking at Brandi with arched eyebrows as she nodded without a single doubt.
It took her one second to decide. She decided to kill her nephew or niece rather then ever meeting them and that confused me because I didn't agree with her. Not the slightest.
"I feel like you guys need time to think about this, because you're upsetting your sister right now." Dad whispered as I frowned confused to who was looking upset, and then I realized it was me he was referring too and I guess I was upset. Really upset actually.
"The fact she isn't voicing her opinion is evidence enough Nick." Emily murmured sitting back down.
I took a moment before responding staring at all of them.
"No it's not," I whispered. "I'm silent because I felt like maybe one of you could help me, that you'd want to be an aunt, that you'd be happy for me. I guess I don't even know who any of you are anymore."
There was nothing more to say right now, because I didn't want to hear anymore hurt from their mouths. I didn't know if what my sister's were saying was true, or whether it was just the shock, but I did understand one thing. If nothing this whole situation had made me more sure I wanted to keep my baby, because I'd come here expecting support and received the opposite. Yet it hadn't changed anything, I still wanted the baby, I still wanted to be a mom whether I succeeded well that wasn't the time to question. It was the future, I didn't know what would happen but I still had time to change it.
I turned and walked out of the room and the house in a blank daze. Nick stuck by my side talking to me, putting his hand on my back apologizing for arguing with my sister's. He opened the car door and asked for the fourth time if I was okay, I leaned forward and nodded kissing his lips.
"I need to clear my head, can you take me to the florist?"
He stared at me for a moment then nodded, "Yeah sure, of course, anywhere you want to go I'll take you there. You know I'll always be here." I got in the car nodding.
"I know, my sister's are wrong." I responded closing the door.
Nick.
Miley was making bouquets.
I didn't exactly know if they were for anyone, or if she was just making them for herself but it was good. Miley loved her job and I knew there was nothing more important in her life then creating something that would make others smile. So when she suggested coming here I was confused, but then I realized this was the one place she could think things over and make something out of nothing.
She was going to be okay. Her family on the other hand, I didn't know.
I thought it was an initial reaction, but Brandi and Emily had attacked every fundamental aspect of our relationship. I didn't know why everything had just changed so damn quickly.
"What do you think about Lily?" Miley asked.
I glanced at her holding a bunch of lilies as I nodded, "Yeah I reckon they'll go well in the bouquet with the roses." I responded seeing she'd already arranged the red roses.
Miley gave me a look rolling her eyes, "I meant as a name Nick, maybe Rose is better though?" She murmured looking at the roses contemplative.
I couldn't help but smile because it was the first real moment Miley had acknowledged the fact our baby had a clear future, something we needed to plan for. I moved over to her as she looked at me,
"Who says it's going to be a girl?" I asked smiling.
Miley gave me a look, "It's a girl. I know it is."
"Oh God," I groaned looking at my wife, "Not again, we went through this with Demi remember and look what happened…she was so concerned with boys names she didn't have a clue what to call her baby."
"But she called her Holly."
"Yeah because the first bunch of flowers she got given had holly in them." I responded as Miley laughed looking at me,
"Serious? I didn't know that."
I nodded moving up behind her, "Yep Joe told me at work just yesterday. So can we please look at both sexes until then? We need to book an appointment with a doctor Miley, " She pursed her lips as I put my hands on her hips, "I know you hate hospitals and doctors but this will be a positive thing, I promise."
"Fine, I'll get the details of Demi's doctor and call her."
I kissed her cheek, "Good, and I'll come with you okay?"
She nodded putting the Lilies in smiling, "What about Orchid?"
I snorted shaking my head, "We are not calling our child orchid," I responded giving her a look as she frowned,
"But it's my-"
"Favorite. I know." I kissed her nose as she smiled.
"I suppose we should wait, but I want to know the sex of the baby as soon as we can okay?" She asked me and I nodded, "Because I want to make sure everything is color coordinated, if it's a boy everything is green, if it's a girl everything will be-"
"Pink?" I finished and she shook her head.
"No too mainstream, purple. Like Singapore Orchids."
I nodded, "Okay done deal, but we have a while to work on all this stuff and like I said we probably should go to the doctors first and-"
"Wait you haven't even been to see a doctor yet?"
We both spun hearing the new voice interrupting us as my eyes widened seeing who was standing at the door. Noah looked between us with raised eyebrows as she casually walked in, while both of us stood there looking at her confused. What the hell was she doing here? After everything that just happened?
"How do you even know she's pregnant- wait don't tell me you're just going off a test?" Noah continued staring at us shaking her head like we'd made some rookie mistake, "I learnt at school those things aren't 100% for sure, you might not even be pregnant."
"I am Noah, other things are going on that clearly say I am."
"Like her moods," I whispered.
"And my boobs." Miley added staring at her chest,
"And I suppose the obvious right?" Noah added as Miley nodded awkwardly.
"Why are you even here?" Miley spat at her, "If you've been sent as some sort of secret agent by dad and-"
"I'm here too, was just parking traffic is shocking today isn't it?" Billy announced walking into the room as I instantly tensed. Oh God was this a set up? So Billy could corner me, and Noah could run off with Miley?
"Wow guys, don't look so scared anyone would think you thought we were here to kill you." Noah joked sliding to sit on the bench as I gave an awkward laugh unsure of what to do because honestly I wouldn't have been surprised if Billy tried to kill me.
"So why are you here?" Miley asked looking at her dad.
"Brandi and Emily voiced their opinions, we didn't." Billy responded.
"That would suggest that yours is different."
Billy frowned at me, "I realize this clearly wasn't planned," He turned to Miley as I relaxed a little, "But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't have the baby-"
"Yeah look at me I'm the prime example right dad," Noah announced smiling.
Billy turned looking at Noah sighing, "Noah you weren't a mistake, you were a-"
"Surprise, yeah you told me that before." Noah stated smiling, "And I honestly don't care, I'm here it's clear you love me the most so I'm unfazed by the fact I wasn't planned like the other three."
"Who said Brandi and Emily were planned?" Billy asked smiling at her.
"Wait was I?" Miley asked now nervous.
Billy laughed shaking his head, "We aren't getting into this, but if you're that worried yes you were…Brandi not so much." My eyes widened as I looked at him feeling myself relax more by the second,
"So you were in the same situation as we were that-"
"Exactly the same predicament." Billy responded frowning, "And it was until your sister's were yelling at you that I realized I'd been through this before. I'm sorry Nick I shouldn't have acted that way it was impulse and with everything that has been going on."
"I expected it when I turned up."
"So I still don't understand, you guys are okay with this?"
Miley looked between them both as Noah smiled nodding,
"I want niece." She whispered trying to hide her excitement.
I looked at her in shock because out of all the sisters Noah was probably the last one I thought would approve. Yet here she was grinning and looking at Miley utterly excited at the idea,
"And I'm fine with it honey," Billy stated moving over to Miley as he leaned forward pulling her into his arms, "I know it's late but congratulations, you're going to be fine and your sister's will come around. Brandi is jealous because she wants a baby, and Emily is following Brandi's lead. Just make sure you guys stick together through this I don't want-"
"Trust me," I murmured shaking my head, "I made the mistake once, this time it's like Noah…a surprise but a really welcome one."
Billy looked at me still disgruntled as he sighed and held out his hand,
"Nick I'm still not okay with that fact you didn't follow the traditions I wish you had, but at the end of the day Miley loves you and you're apart of our family now." Billy announced giving a sigh, "And I have no doubt you know Miley better then any of us do now, I just hope you keep that in mind."
I took his hand staring at him a little shocked by this sudden change, but so damn thankful it was happening. Approval didn't mean that much to me, but I knew by the eager look in Miley's eyes it meant the world to her.
"I will, don't even worry about it."
"So now the serious issue, what's going to happen to this place if you've got a kid and we all quit?" Noah asked looking around as I saw Miley's face drop at the idea and suddenly one came to mind,
"You know what, I think I know someone who can help out." I responded grinning.
A/N: Hey guys :) I'm thinking this story should be coming to and end soon maybe two more chapters and epilogue? Or one and an epilogue? If you guys want anything in particular to happen let me know and i'll see if I can get it in somehow but no promises :P