CHAPTER TWO
(chapter title – Part Two)

Sara, Ally and Trish were at Dress Barn, looking at dresses for prom. Dez had asked Sara, Austin had asked Ally and some boy named Scott from the musical asked Trish.

Sara bought the second dress she tried on. It was a navy blue one-shouldered dress that came mid-calf. She had also bought matching ballet flats and purse.

Ally and Trish bought their dresses, shoes and purses. The girls put their dresses in Sara's car when Sara's phone rang. She rolled her eyes – it was Sheila's number.

"Hello Sheila." Sara greeted her mother.

"Why can't you call me 'mom' like every other girl?" Sheila inquired.

"I've called you Sheila since I can remember. Anyway, what do you want?"

"Eric's out of jail and wants to see you."

Sara felt her stomach drop – Eric was her step-dad and was the monkey butt who abused her and got her pregnant.

"I thought he was in jail for life?" Sara asked, a little confused.

"He got out early for good behavior." Sheila told her. Sara rolled her eyes and told her friends to go ahead.

"I don't want to see him. Where is he?" Sara asked.

"He's on his way to the house. I've packed you a bag and it's at Ally's house. I'm going to have you stay with Ally until Eric leaves."

"When will that be?" Sara inquired.

"He's staying until you graduate high school, so a month. I've talked to Ally's parents – they're fine with you staying with them."

They finished their conversation five minutes later. Sara sighed and found her friends hanging out at Sonic Boom. Sara sat at the piano and played Musetta's Waltz just as Austin and Dez came into the music store.

"Hey. You okay?" Dez asked, rubbing Sara's shoulders. She explained what was happening and that she was staying with Ally for a while. Dez frowned and kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her.

How was I to know at last
That happiness could come so fast?
Trusting me the way you do
I'm so afraid of failing you
Just a boy-child who cannot know
That danger follows where I go
There are shadows everywhere
And memories I cannot share

Prom snuck up on the seniors before they knew it. Austin and Ally were crowned prom king and queen. Dez and Sara danced the night away, ending the night in a hotel room.

Dez and Sara shared a few passionate kisses as Dez unzipped Sara's dress. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they made their way to the bed.

In unison, they removed their shoes and piece by piece of clothing. Dez then undid Sara's hair and it fell to her shoulders.

"That's better," Dez told Sara, getting on top of her. Sara smiled up at him as he removed her glasses and continued kissing her. She kissed him as she felt him place a hand between her legs. "Let me know if I hurt you."

Sara nodded and felt him go even further inside her. He removed his hand and carefully entered her. He kissed her collarbone as he thrust himself further inside her. A moan escaped Sara's lips as he gently massaged her breasts and looked into her lovely eyes.

"You okay?" Dez asked. Sara nodded and sat up, breathing heavily. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm a little tired." Sara told Dez, putting her underwear and bra back on before climbing under the covers.

"Okay. We can stop." Dez told her, holding her in his arms.

A week later was graduation. Sara had applied to Miami Community College, as did Dez, Ally and Trish. Austin had gotten discovered and had dropped out of high school to tour with a famous band.

Sara and Dez smiled as they moved into their apartment near campus.

"I feel so grown-up now!" Sara squealed as she made spaghetti that night.

"You are grown-up." Dez reminded her, coming up behind her, brushing her hair aside and gently kissed her neck. Sara looked over her shoulder at him and turned around.

"What do you want to drink with dinner?" Sara asked, walking to the small refrigerator. She then felt a wave of nausea come over her and she made a mad dash for the bathroom. Dez came up behind her and held her hair back.

"You okay?" Dez asked, looking at Sara's pale face as she cleaned up.

"Yeah. Probably something I ate." She answered, exiting the bathroom.

The following night, Dez asked Sara to marry him. She said 'yes' and nearly cried as a beautiful ring was placed on her left ring finger. He kissed her temple and held her in his arms.

Sara and Dez graduated college and went on to start their careers and lives together. Sara went on to become a social worker, while Dez worked with kids as a Big Buddy.

The two of them married in the summer, with Ally and Austin serving as Maid of Honor and Best Man.

Sara and Dez went to Egypt for their honeymoon. While they were there, Sara discovered she was about four weeks pregnant.

Six months later

"Dez, come here!" Sara whispered, standing in the doorway of the nursery. Dez and Austin looked up from painting the nursery and came over to Sara.

"What's wrong?" Dez asked, looking her up and down.

"Nothing, the babies were kicking." Sara told Dez, placing his hands on her bulging stomach. According to the doctor, Sara was carrying twin girls and was scheduled for a C-Section two weeks before her actual due date.

"Speaking of babies, I better get home to Ally and Joshua." Austin spoke up as he exited the nursery. Joshua was the name of his and Ally's month-old son.

"Tell Ally and Joshua we said hello." Sara told Austin, awkwardly hugging him.

"I will. See you guys later." Austin told his friends as he exited the apartment.

"Honey, I'm going to go lay down – I'm having some really strong Braxton-Hicks contractions." Sara told Dez as she made her way to the master bedroom.

"Okay. Can I get you anything?" Dez asked. Sara shook her head, kissed his cheek and got into a comfortable position.

Three months later

Sara was now getting prepped for her C-Section. She was under anesthesia and would stay under until the girls – Carolyn Sophia and Andrea Rose – were born.

Dez was the only one who could be with her during the C-Section. He was dressed in teal scrubs and stood at Sara's side, holding her hand.

"Dez, come here!" the doctor whispered. Dez kissed Sara's hand and walked over to where the doctor was standing. He smiled down when he saw Carolyn being born. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he cut her cord. She was then cleaned up, weighed and measured before being wrapped in a pink blanket and put in a portable bassinet.

Her sister, Andrea Rose, arrived ten minutes later. She screamed loudly as the nurses cleaned her up, weighed, measured and was wrapped in a yellow blanket before putting her in the other portable bassinet.

"Nevermore alone
Nevermore apart
You have warmed my heart
Like the sun
You have brought me the gift of life
And love so long denied me
Suddenly I see
What I could not see
Something suddenly
Has begun." Dez sang quietly to Carolyn and Andrea. He held each baby for a while as Sara continued to sleep. She was stirring just as Dez put Andrea in her bassinet. Carolyn also stirred as Sara woke up.

"She's probably hungry." Sara told Dez as he brought Carolyn over to her.

"How are you feeling?" Dez asked as he watched Sara nurse the little baby.

"Like I got hit by a train." Sara answered, smiling at Carolyn. Dez kissed the top of Sara's head and wrapped his arms around her.

Carolyn was finished and Sara was nursing Andrea as Austin and Ally entered the room.

"Hey guys!" Austin whispered, going over to his half-sister. Sara was asleep and so was the bundle on her chest. Dez walked over and carefully picked up the bundle.

"Hi you two!" Dez whispered back, looking at the bundle in his arms. "The nurse is about to come in and take them to the nursery. I'm holding Carolyn. Andrea is asleep in her bassinet."

"Can I hold one?" Ally inquired. Dez nodded and handed her Carolyn. Ally smiled and looked over at Austin as he stood behind her.

"How's Sara been doing?" Austin questioned.

"She's pretty tired, but doing okay. The doctor wants her to stay in the hospital for a couple of days." Dez answered, smiling when the night nurse came.

The girls went to the nursery a few minutes later. Dez, Austin and Ally moved to the cafeteria as Sheila and Austin's parents entered Sara's hospital room. Sara was asleep, which the parents couldn't blame her for – she just had major surgery and it was tiring.

"How are your little ones?" Dez wanted to know. Joshua was now a year old and his sister, Jenny, was two months.

"They're doing well. My dad is watching them while we're here." Ally told Dez.

The three of them chatted for a while before Dez wanted to get back to Sara. He kissed the top of her head as he sat in the chair next to the bed. As he closed his eyes, he took Sara's hand and gently squeezed it.

"I love you so much and can't imagine my life without you." Dez whispered in Sara's ear. He swore he saw her smile. He kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand, looking forward to the rest of their lives together.