Are You Kidding Me?
Destiny sat in her doctor's office waiting for her doctor to come back in the room. She hadn't been feeling well and that was out of the ordinary because she's as healthy as a horse.
The doctor walked in.
"What's up doc? Give it to me straight. I'm never sick like this. It can't be good... If I didn't know any better I'd say I was pregnant but that's ridiculous." Destiny laughed hard. The doctor just smiled sweetly. "Ok, so what is it really? Why do you have that look on your face?"
"Congratulations Ms. Price. You're with child." The doctor said.
Destiny got really serious and just stared at the doctor as if she was waiting for her to finish a joke.
"That's not funny."
"... It wasn't a joke."
"I'm... pre-pregnant? Let me see that." Destiny had to see the doctor's results for herself. "You're freaking kidding me!"
"I take it, this wasn't planned."
"Hell no! I'm thirty-nine years old, I was so done! Ugh! How did this happen?"
"You see, the sperm fertilizes the egg and-"
"Don't try to be funny doc. I'm on birth control! Oh but I switched my birth control and- How far along am I?"
"Six weeks."
"Oh my God. I cannot believe this, CANNOT believe this. Ugh!"
Destiny was so irritated. She went to the ladies room in the hospital and looked in the mirror. She had a flashback of when she was seventeen, took a pregnancy test and read that it was positive. She was at the hospital because she was visiting Matthew who was at the time. She went to Matthew's room and told him the news even though he was unconscious. She remembered how lonely and afraid she felt at the time.
"Here we go again." Destiny said.
After Destiny left the hospital she picked up DJ from school then headed to the Buchanan mansion. DJ had a rehearsal with the band in the Buchanan garage. The only one downstairs of the mansion was Matthew. They were alone so it was the perfect time to tell him.
"My Destiny has arrived!" Matthew exclaimed happily but Destiny didn't look too psyched. "Oh, my Destiny doesn't look too bright."
"Would you stop with puns with my name?"
"Somebody's cranky today."
Destiny joined Matthew on the couch and she looked annoyed so Matthew decided to stop playing.
"What's up babe?" Matthew asked.
Destiny looked at him for a moment. "... I'm pregnant."
"What?" Matthew got excited. "Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm playing?"
"You don't seem too happy about it."
"I told you I don't want anymore kids. I've been a mother since I was eighteen. DJ is thirteen. In five years, I would finally have time for just me. I could be selfish for a little while but now I'm going to be tied down for another eighteen years. Don't get me wrong, I love Miracle and DJ and I love this baby but I just want some me time."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Are you really? You wanted another baby... For some reason."
"I wanted another baby because I love you and I wanted another child with the love of my life so yes I'm happy about it but I'm sorry you're not. Weren't you on birth control?"
"Yeah but I switched birth control and well here we are, the damn thing isn't full proof. You used condoms though."
"... Well I may have forgotten once or twice... or five times at the most."
"You forgot? Are you kidding me?" Destiny picked up the pillow next to her then beat him with it. "That's why you have all these kids now! You need to get a vasectomy!"
"Come on! You didn't remember either. Besides, you were on birth control, we didn't really need it."
"Obviously we did, besides, it's called being responsible."
"We can't change it now... Aren't you at least a little bit happy?"
"Yeah... Babies are exciting... I'll get over my issues sooner or later."
"We're in this together." Matthew assured her and kissed her forehead but now Destiny looked skeptical.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Be honest with me like you always are."
"... Maybe I'm a little afraid that history will repeat itself. You were there for Miracle but you didn't really give one hundred percent. You didn't really give one hundred percent to any of your kids until recently."
"I've changed Destiny. Trust me completely and I give you my word I will not disappoint you." He touched her stomach and pulled her closer to him. "I can't wait to tell everyone."
"No! Not yet. It's still early, let's just wait until at least the second trimester before we tell everyone. Let's just tell the kids for now, ok?"
"Ok. I'll wait." Destiny had never seen Matthew that excited to find out he had a baby on the way, ever.
Miracle and Nicole then walked into the room.
"Nicole, why are you home? Dad is on his way to pick you, your sisters and brother up from school." Matthew asked.
"She cut school. I saw her at The Palace." Miracle said.
"What? I have someone watching you." Matthew said.
"She found a way around that." Miracle said.
"I can't believe this." Matthew said.
"That's not all. You're not ready for this one. Nicole has been dating a twenty-one year old man. He didn't know how old she was." Miracle explained.
"You have got to be kidding me! You can't be tamed! That's it. Enough is enough. Starting the next semester you're going to be home-schooled."
"Home-schooled?" Nicole echoed.
"Yes! Get out of my face. I don't want to look at you." Matthew said and Nicole went upstairs. Then Matthew called Bo to let him know that Nicole wasn't there for him to pick up. "I just don't know what else to do with her. Even keeping her close isn't working. Anymore suggestions Des?"
"I've got nothing at the moment." Destiny replied.
"The guy now knows how old she is and he said he's going to stay away from her so hopefully that helps. She must've been cutting school to see him this entire time."
"How could I miss this? I'm trying so hard and I'm still failing." Matthew said in frustration. Now that he is giving one hundred percent it seems like he can't get away from the consequences of when he was giving fifty percent. He really blamed himself for the way Nicole had turned out but the rest of the kids turned out alright so why is she such a mess? Sure Drew was on rocky ground before but she turned it around. Maybe this was just Nicole's nature but he had to change her. The situation angered him, he had no idea what to do. Destiny didn't even have a solution and his motto was usually, 'When in doubt, ask Destiny,' so now what?"
-v-
Miracle wanted to check on her horse, Snow before she went to the garage to meet with Infinity. All of Matthew's kids had a their own horse from the time they were old enough to name them and appreciate having one of their own.
When Miracle walked into the stable she saw Ace and Eva leaning in for a kiss.
"Ooh! Y'all have been catching feelings? I didn't see this one coming!" Miracle exclaimed.
"This is awkward." Eva said.
"No, no, no! Continue on with your little puppy love. I'm not too sure John will be too thrilled with his baby girl kissing a boy but hey. I'm just visiting Snow. I won't pay you two any mind but I do need to hear you all rehearse before I pick up Evan from school then I'll be back so you might want to move quickly. Carry on." Miracle went to visit her horse and show her some affection.
Meanwhile, Ace & Eva were still trying to get over the awkwardness of being caught red handed.
"Maybe we should just go back to the garage." Ace said.
"Yeah. I agree." Eva replied.
"Do you think it'd be weird if everyone knew about us?"
"A little... Miry's right though, my dad is not ready to deal with me dating." Ace and Eva went back to the garage.
After Miracle heard Infinity rehearse for a moment she went to pick up Evan. Then she stopped by the Buenas Dias to order something to-go. She talked to Evan about his day while they waited.
"Excuse me, I'm new here. Do you have any recommendations as to what I should try?" A guy who was sitting next to Miracle asked. He was medium brown, tall, and muscular with light brown eyes and fresh hair cut. Miracle couldn't help but quickly study his look before she answered the question.
"You should definitely try the pies. They're the best in town but honestly, everything is delicious here."
"Thanks... Your son is adorable."
"Thank you."
"I'm Irvin by the way."
"Nice to meet you Irvin. I'm Miracle. This is Evan."
"Nice to meet you both. Miracle is a beautiful name."
"Thanks, it was my mom's idea. It represents the miracles of life including life itself."
"Even more beautiful. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."
Miracle blushed. Her order was now ready so it was time to go.
"If you're available and interested, may I have your number?" Irvin asked.
Miracle put her fingers through her big curly, contemplating her answer.
"Sure... Why not?"
-v-
Outside the Buenas Dias was Izzy and her boyfriend, Martin. Izzy had just gotten back from a getaway with her mom. Little did Izzy know, there was an intervention coming up just for her. Even though Izzy had only been back in Llanview a few hours, she quickly got away from Rayan and met up with Martin but already they were in a heated argument, an argument in which Martin was dominating. After many harsh words he pulled back his hand with intention to smack her so hard she'd see stars. Before his hand even met her face, someone had ran over and caught it.
"Liam." Izzy said, surprised he was in town, let alone standing in front of her and stopping what was about to happen.
"Who are you?" Martin asked.
"No. The question is who do you THINK you are? Don't you ever in your life even attempt to put your hands on her again. Do you hear me?" Liam intimidating tone.
"That's my woman." Martin said.
"Izzy is not your property. Hurt her and you'll have to deal with me."
"Fine." Martin punched Liam. Then they got into a fight.
"Oh God." Izzy said then ran into the diner. "They're fighting! Someone, please break them up!"
Irvin and another guy ran out and broke them up.
"If you ever go near Izzy again, I will make your life a living hell. A living hell!" Liam yelled. Martin walked away, heated then Liam went inside the diner along with Irvin and the other guy who broke them up.
"Who was that guy?" Liam asked Izzy.
"My boyfriend." Izzy replied.
"He treats you like that and he's your boyfriend?"
"I don't have time for this right now." Izzy said, annoyed.
"Liam, please try to talk some sense into her." Miracle said.
"Would you mind your business for once?" Izzy asked annoyed.
"No." Miracle replied simply. "It's nice to see you cous." Miracle said goodbye to Irvin then she and Evan left.
-v-
Nicole sneaked out of the house again and got a friend to drive her to Dan's room at the Angel Square Hotel. He opened the door annoyed to see her.
"What the hell are you doing here? I didn't sign up to date a teen in high school, jail bate." Dan said.
"I'm sorry I lied to you but you wouldn't have given me the time of day if you knew I was sixteen from the jump." Nicole replied.
"You're damned right. Go home."
"Please Dan. You like me, I like you. We had fun. I'm still me. You never questioned my maturity before."
"This isn't about what I'm questioning. This about the facts and the fact is I've been dating a child."
"You've committed worst crimes. You commit crimes for a living. This isn't close to being the worst one."
"Yeah but dating a child, that's just perverted. I may be a lot of things but pervert is not on the list."
"You can't let me go that easily." Nicole kissed him passionately and he let her into the apartment. Then Dan stopped the kiss.
"No. We can't do this."
"We've already done this... Just one more time." They kissed again and went all the way.
Fourty-five minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Dan took his time to get to it.
"Dan!" The guy exclaimed when the door opened.
"Kory, what are you doing here?" Dan asked.
"Better me than my mom. What the hell is going on with you? We haven't been hearing good news. You came here to stay out of trouble." Kory replied.
"I came here to getaway from trouble. I never said I'd stay out of it."
"What is wrong with you?"
"Please, you aren't Mr. Goody Two Shoes either."
"Whatever. Are you going to let me in?"
"No. I've got company."
"Oh well, we need to talk." Kory barged in anyway. "Who is this?"
"That's Nicole. Nicole, this is my cousin Kory." Nicole was in Dan's big tee-shirt.
"She looks young." Kory said. This is one time Nicole didn't try to hide her age since it didn't matter anymore. Dan knew the truth now.
"Don't worry about that. Why are you here?" Dan tried to take the attention away from Nicole.
"Wait... How old are you?" Kory asked Nicole.
"Don't worry about how old she is. You're not supposed to be in Llanview."
"I'm trying to keep you out of trouble."
"I'm older than you and I can handle myself. You know that... Too bad we can't chat but I have to get Nicole home so I'll see you... whenever." Nicole went to go get dressed.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying for a while. My bags are in the car." Kory sat down and put his feet up.
Dan was irritated. He did not want his cousin in his business. Soon Nicole came out dressed so Dan could take her home.
-v-
Miracle was riding passed the Angel Square Hotel when she saw Nicole and Dan coming out.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Miracle exclaimed then pulled over so that she could follow them. After following them for a few minutes, she called Matthew on her car phone and let him know that Nicole was with Dan. He couldn't believe it. How does she keep sneaking out without getting caught? They seemed to be going to the Buchanan mansion and they were. Matthew came outside once they arrived. Nicole didn't expect to get caught.
Matthew opened the driver's side door of Dan's car.
"You're still seeing my daughter after you found out how old she is?" Matthew asked.
"She came to see me, alright? I brought her right back. I'm not seeing her again." Dan replied.
"I don't believe you."
"With all due respect SIR, you're just going to have to have to take my word for it." Dan got out the car and looked Matthew in the eyes.
Matthew became inflamed by Dan's audacity to step to him after seeing his underage daughter. He paused for a moment then punched Dan in the face.
"Darn dad, did you have to hit him?" Miracle thought to herself then looked back at Evan. "E, don't move, ok?" Miracle got out of her car. Dan was parked right in front of her so they were fighting just a few steps away from her car. Would you two stop?" Miracle yelled. "Damn, where are big, strong men when you need them? Ugh!"
It wasn't long before the LPD showed up. The neighbors must have heard the commotion and called them. The cops broke up the fight and handcuffed them both.
"Miry, would you let your mom know so she can bail me out and keep an eye on Nicole?" Matthew asked.
"Sorry, Dan." Nicole said.
"Girl, get your ass in the car!" Miracle exclaimed. Miracle and Nicole got in her car so that she could drive it into the garage. They were parked out on the street so they were nowhere near the garage door.
Miracle, Nicole and Evan entered the mansion. Miracle let Destiny know what happened then they went to watch the band and Destiny went to the police station and bailed Matthew out.
"Matthew, did you have to hit that boy?" Destiny asked.
"Hell yeah! He's having relations with my teenaged daughter."
"I know why you did it but come on, you can't afford to keep getting blows to the head. You never even recovered from the blow you got twenty-two years ago. Every time you get into a fight you end up having a problem with your head. Please, don't get into anymore fights."
"I promise I won't, ok?"
"From what I heard, he could have easily taken you but he went easy on you probably because you were Nicole's dad... Maybe because your old too."
"I'm not old."
"You're eighteen years older than him. That's a big difference when you're fighting."
"Well... He did look like he could've taken me but all I was thinking about was this grown ass man with my daughter."
"I know."
"I sued him on charges of statutory rape."
"As you should."
"You know he had a nerve to tell me he would be out in no time and the charges would disappear? He said the case would never even make it to court."
Matthew went upstairs to get himself together. A few minutes later Nicole walked into the living room where Destiny was.
"Oh gosh." Nicole said, annoyed.
"I never did anything to you." Destiny said.
"Whatever." Nicole rolled her eyes.
"When your dad comes back down he's going to want to talk to you."
"He's not here now so don't talk to me. I'm going to my room. I don't want to be around you."
That was the last straw.
"I am so not in the mood today. Get in that chair and have a seat now!"
"You are not my mother."
"I don't think you want to test me right now! Sit!"
Nicole decided not to test her and have a seat.
"Your dad keeps talking to you and it's not working. Your mom won't talk to you so guess what, you're going to listen to me. If you had kept your mouth shut, you wouldn't have to listen to me right now. See where a big mouth get you? Now have you lost your mind, dating a grown man five years older than you? You make bad and immature decisions all the time and you somehow think you're mature enough to date a grown ass man? You're sneaking out of the house, going to parties with people a lot older than you, doing drugs, drinking. What the hell is wrong with you? You are trying to grow up way too fast. You have a father who loves you and you show him no respect. You are a spoiled little brat! You have so many people who love you, don't you get that? There are children in the world who would love to have the family, the love and the money that you have. Now you aren't going anywhere until you reveal to me why you feel the need to be so damn rebellious."
"Daddy's little girlfriend is so concerned about his little rebellious daughter" Nicole said, sarcastically.
"Answer me. I already told you, you don't want to test me."
Destiny's approach was different from any other adult who tried to talk any sense into Nicole and unlike everyone else, she wouldn't just give up after she got tired of her not responding. Frankly, Destiny intimidated her a little even though she knew Destiny was probably one of the nicest people in the world but she also knew she was no joke to mess with. That had a lot to do with why Nicole didn't like Destiny too much, if she actually got close to her she probably wouldn't be able to get away with too much but that wasn't her only problem with Destiny.
"You talk about my dad like he's the best dad in the world. He's hardly been number one dad. He was drunk most of my life so he's hardly given all he could give as a father and why? Because he loved you. That was his excuse for being an alcoholic and a pathetic father, a pathetic person. That's the worst thing I've ever heard. Because he had a stupid broken heart he became worthless to everyone. He even put work before us. What makes it even worst is that not only did he love you like you were God's gift to earth but he never loved my mother. Do you know what it feels like to know that you weren't made out of love, that you were just some accidental result from a one night stand who was never meant to be seen or spoken to again? Miracle was his favorite because she came from you then Ace was second to Miracle because he was the only boy. Now all of a sudden, after being a half-ass father for most of my life he decided he wanted to be there. That's not good enough. He wants to play daddy now, he's going to have to work for it. To top it all off, he got full custody of me and Drew after not being there then kept our mothers away from us. My mother may not have been everyone's idea of a great mother but she was always there. The one person who has always been there for me no matter what, he kept away from me for over a year. I can't get that time back. I will not forgive him. You wonder why I wanted an older guy, the answer is simple. I didn't want a little boy and I wanted someone who was into what I was into and I wanted someone who I felt safe with. End of story."
"...Oh..." Destiny replied. Destiny wasn't going to let her go without an answer but she didn't expect all that. "You're absolutely right about your father not being the best father in the past but he does love you. He's always loved you. Nothing could ever change that and he loves you unconditionally. It may be hard to believe but it's true. He just wants the best for you. I get it, you're hurt but you're not hurting him by doing everything that you've been doing. You're only hurting yourself. If you continue to do this, you're going to suffer the consequences in the long run and it won't be the result of anything your dad or anyone else does to punish you. It will just be the result of your actions. Everything in life has a domino effect and once the first domino falls you won't be able to stop it... Don't you realize that both your sisters feel exactly how you feel, neglected and second to everything? The difference is they're not letting how they feel or felt effect their decisions in life. They also realize that he is trying so hard to be a good, no, great father. It may be late but better later than never. You could lose him one day and you won't have anymore chances to fix your relationship. Here's another lesson for you, if you let the pain that people cause you, no matter who caused it effect what you do in your life, they win and you lose."
".. You got me to reveal my soul, so now what?"
"I'm going to talk to your father then you are going to talk to him and you're going to be honest then you're going suffer the consequences of your actions. Then you're not going to do it again and when you do have a problem, since you want to be so grown you're going to talk to him about it like an adult. Agreed?" Nicole didn't answered. "Agreed?" Destiny yelled.
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. We have an understanding. We've made progress."
Destiny talked to Matthew about Nicole and he felt awful. Then he talked to Nicole and he still was going to have her home-schooled, at least for the rest of this school year and he was going to stick with the punishment that was already in place but he understood her more. He was going to try everything he could to mend his relationship with her and get her back on track.
After all that chaos, Destiny took Eva home and she, Miracle, DJ and Evan went home to their house.
"Now that we're home and things have settled down, I have to talk to y'all."
"What's up mom?" Miracle asked.
"We should all sit." Destiny said. They all gathered in the living room.
"Ok, what I'm about to say is a big deal and it effects all of us."
"...So what is it?" DJ asked. Destiny took a deep breath.
"... I'm... Pregnant."
Miracle and DJ laughed. Evan joined in just so that he didn't feel left out.
"You're joking right?" Miracle asked.
"No." Destiny replied simply.
"Mom! After the talk you've given me about protection and everything, you're pregnant? Hypocrite!"
"Excuse me... Watch the tone... Ok, I know I slipped up. This was not at all what I wanted but in seven and a half months we will have a new edition to our family."
"Are you going to marry Matthew?" DJ asked, hoping he heard the answer he wanted to hear.
"No sweetie, we're not getting married."
"What I don't understand is how you can have another baby with a man who wasn't that great of a co-parent the first time."
"Believe me Miracle, everything running through your head has already run through mine. I am very nervous about this and I was not planning on having anymore children but now there's one coming and I just gave an entire speech about how he's changed and how much he loves his kids but yes, the past runs through my head. I have to deal with this and hope for the best. I'll be right back." Destiny went upstairs.
"Why'd you ask mom if they were getting married?" Miracle asked.
"Because I don't want them to get married." DJ replied.
"Neither do I but I won't tell her that. If marrying him makes her happy then let her get married. She won't marry him if she knows we don't want her to."
"You just grilled her for having another baby with him."
"Yeah but if marriage doesn't work out they could get divorced, if co-parenting doesn't work out she's still stuck with him for another eighteen years."
"Easy for you to say, if they get married you're not the one who has to move."
"I'll tell you what, if they get married I'll move into the Buchanan mansion too."
"...Fine."
"So tell mom that you don't care if they get married so if she ever wants to marry him she doesn't have to stop what makes her happy because of us. Honestly, I don't think she wants to marry him anyway, let's just give her the option."