Previously in "Pages in Between", Carrie reunites with Liam, her former boyfriend from high school. Things get even better when he asks her to marry him.

Chapter Eight

St. Joseph Good Samaritan Memorial Hospital – Two Weeks Later…

Liam and Carrie arrived at the hospital to visit Aubrey. Even though they were in the midst of planning their wedding, they didn't want to forget her. Liam noticed that Carrie had her hand – the hand with the ring on it – tucked into her pocket. "Why are you hiding your hand, love?"

"I just…don't want to show Aubrey," she replied. "I know she's responsible for making this possible, but…"

"All the more reason for you to show her," Liam said. "She's not going to get upset, Carrie. If anything, she'll be happy for us."

Carrie nodded and removed her hand from her pocket. When they arrived at Aubrey's room, they noticed that Riley was there; great, just what this situation didn't need, an awkward moment between exes. Riley saw Carrie with her hand in the crook of Liam's arm. "Well, isn't this a cozy picture?"

"I'd behave yourself if I were you, mate," Liam said. "Wouldn't want to cause a scene, especially not three feet from where your sick sister is."

Riley sneered at the Brit and then looked at Carrie. "You didn't wait too long to replace me, did you?" He noticed the ring on her finger and looked at Liam again. "What the hell did you do?"

"I asked Carrie to marry me, that's what I did," Liam said. "She needs a man, which you obviously are not."

Riley wanted to say something in his defense, but nothing came. Growling, he walked away. He was in the mood for a cigarette, something he went for whenever he was angry or just upset in general.

He called Penny but when she didn't answer, he decided to go find her, knowing that she would be at home.

Penny had been getting ready for work when she heard a loud knock at her door and when she opened it, she saw Riley standing there and when she smiled at him, she saw that he wasn't smiling back, causing her own to fade. "Riley, are you okay?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he replied, his tone rather harsh. "Just let me in."

Penny gulped and opened the door further, letting him in. She didn't know why he was suddenly like this. She closed the door behind him and followed him to the living room, where she gently grabbed his arm, causing him to look at her. "Riley, talk to me," she said. "Did something happen?"

Riley growled and approached her, roughly grabbing her arms and pushing her against the wall. "I said I didn't want to talk about it."

Penny gulped again. "Okay, okay, we don't have to talk about him." She felt his tight grip on her arms. "Riley, let go, you're hurting me."

He felt his anger dissipating and he looked down before letting her go. Riley turned away and began to pace back and forth across the space of the living room, his eyes meeting his girlfriend's on occasion. "Carrie went back to Liam, and now they're engaged," he finally told her.

Penny blinked, not sure what to think about what he just said. "What? I thought Liam was with Aubrey?"

"Not anymore, he's not. As you can tell, I'm not happy about it."

"I can tell, but I'm still her cousin and her friend, Riley," Penny said as she brushed her dark hair out of her eyes as she looked up at him.

Riley nodded. "I know you are, Penny, even though she's not talking to you anymore. I just…had a hard time seeing Carrie and Liam together, you know? You have no idea how much I wanted to punch him, but because I was three feet away from Aubrey's door, I had to force myself to calm down." He ran a hand through his hair. "I know I should be happy, but why the hell am I having a hard time accepting it?"

"You'll accept it if you care about Carrie, Riley. She's still your friend, and I'm sure she'll need you in her life still," Penny told him softly. She walked over to him and stopped him from pacing anymore. "Come on; I know what you need." She pulled him behind her and he trailed reluctantly along, wondering what she could be up to.

St. Joseph Good Samaritan Hospital – That Same Moment…

Aubrey admired Carrie's ring and smiled. Liam had just told her that they were engaged and although she was a bit surprised by the news, she was happy for them. She hadn't been lying when she said that Liam and Carrie had a history together and that they still loved each other. Hearing about their engagement was proof that they were destined to be together all along. "I'm so happy for you guys," she said. "I only wish that I could see you get married."

"You'll be there in spirit, Aubrey," Carrie said. "I overheard you saying to Liam that you'll be our guardian angel." She smiled. "I have an idea. I'd like to make you the baby's godmother."

Liam smiled as well. "That's a great idea, love." He looked at Aubrey. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"I do," Aubrey said. "I'd be honored to be the baby's godmother. And I think it would be great if you make Riley the godfather." Her smile faded. "That is, if he's willing. I heard what he said outside."

"He's in shock, Aubrey," Liam said. "He'll come around eventually, I think."

"I know, but he's still my brother. And as you both know, family comes before/above anything else," Aubrey said. "I'll talk to him and let you both know in a couple of days, okay? Come back and see me!"

Liam nodded. "Sure." He took Carrie's hand. "Come on, love."

Carrie nodded as well, giving Aubrey one final hug before she and Liam walked out of the room.

Later On – The Studio…

Andrea sat on the couch working on some algebra homework while Dante put some of the photos of the clients he'd had earlier in the day. She felt him staring at her and glanced over to see a smile on his face. "What is that smile for?" she asked as she returned it.

"That smile was for you, Andy," Dante said, calling her by the new nickname he had given her last week. "You're beautiful when you're concentrating on your studies." Clearing his throat, he added, "Oh, and I've got some news. It seems that there's going to be another wedding in the works, not just ours."

"There is?" Andrea said. "Whose wedding is it?"

"Liam and Carrie's," Dante said. "My dad called and said he heard from Uncle Damon that Carrie and Liam got engaged two weeks ago."

"They did?" Andrea said. "That's awesome! Though, I don't know why Carrie didn't mention anything about it to me."

"She probably wanted to tell the immediate family first," Dante said. "Though, I can't say that I'm surprised. I mean, Liam and Carrie weren't just high school sweethearts. They've been destined for each other since they were toddlers. Nona even predicted that one day, they'd get married."

She nodded then crooked her finger at him and he gave her a smirk as he finished off what he'd been doing before going over to her and settled in behind her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders in a loose hold, kissing the side of her head affectionately. "And did your Nona predict that we'd be together one day?" she asked as she smiled and snuggled back against him.

"Actually, she did," he replied as his fingers stroked up and down her arms before linking with hers after she set her pencil down within her school book.

Andrea smiled. "Your Nona is a great lady."

Dante nodded. "She is. I love her." He kissed her. "I love you too."

"I love you too, Dante Salvatore," Andrea replied.

They kissed again but were then interrupted by the arrival of Liam and Carrie as they came through the front door of the studio, kissing. "Ahem," Dante said as he cleared his throat to get their attention.

Liam heard Dante clearing his throat and looked at him. "Why did you do that for, mate? I'm trying to kiss my fiancé."

"She may be your fiancé, Liam, but she's also my cousin," Dante said. "If you're going to do any funny stuff, don't do it here."

Carrie rolled her eyes. "We weren't going to do anything here, Dante. Liam and I were going to go to his place."

Liam looked at her. "Don't you mean OUR place, love?"

Carrie took her eyes off Dante when she heard him say that. "Liam, are you asking me to move in with you?"

"That's exactly what I'm asking," Liam said. "In fact, I've started work on the nursery. I figured that if I start now, it'll be ready by the time the baby gets her. I haven't painted it because you're still in your first trimester and the gender usually isn't known until the middle of the second trimester, so…"

Carrie smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Liam Niklaus Mikaelson, you don't have to explain, because my answer is yes." She kissed him and then looked at Dante. "I hope you don't mind that I'm going to be living here, Dante."

"It's no skin off my nose," Dante said. "But only as long as you keep the funny business as far away from the studio as possible."

Andrea playfully punched his arm. "Dante, be nice. They're in love, just like we are."

Dante playfully rolled his eyes then quickly kissed her on the lips. "I know they are. But she is family and so is he," he said.

Andrea smiled and returned his kiss. Before she could say anything, Gavin was seen coming in, Maria on his arm. They had been away on a romantic vacation in Hilton Head Island and had just returned. Maria noticed Carrie with Liam and was a bit confused. "Liam, why is Carrie here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear cousin, you missed so much," he replied with a smile. "You see, Carrie and I got engaged two weeks ago, and I've asked her to move in with me." He placed a hand on her belly. "She's also pregnant, and even though the baby isn't mine, I still love it as if it was mine."

Maria then gave Gavin a stern look. "I told you this was a bad time to go away, but you had to insist on it."

Gavin laughed slightly. "Well, we know about it now, and that's what should really matter, right?"

Andrea looked at her brother and nodded toward the kitchen. He returned her nod and she left the loose embrace that Dante had had around her before they head to the kitchen together. "Gavin, Dante and I have decided that we want you to be the one there when we elope. We don't want a big wedding, and Mom & Dad already know, so would you please be the devoted big brother and give me away?" she asked with a shy smile.

Her brother pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Of course I will, Andrea Grace," he replied as he kissed the top of her head again before pulling back when Maria came into the room.

Maria looked at the others in the room and before she could say anything, she heard the door opening and closing and looked to see Riley walking in. She walked out and was about to say something to him when Liam beat her to it, having noticed the condition that Riley's clothes were in. Carrie had gone up to their apartment to lie down, having told him that she was tired. "Anything you wish to share with the rest of the class, mate?"

Riley gave the Brit a stern look. "Liam, I want to tell you that I may have overreacted when I saw that you proposed to Carrie. I guess that even though she and I broke up for good, I still care about her and it was a bit of a shock for me. I'm sorry if I said or did anything that made me come off as a jerk."

"You did act a bit childish," Liam said. "But, I suppose I could forgive you." He cleared his throat. "Did Aubrey talk to you yet?"

"She called me while I was at Penny's," Riley said. "She told me that you and Carrie spoke with her after I left. Apparently, you guys said something about wanting me to be the godfather to your baby."

"That's right, we did discuss that," Liam said. "Aubrey said she'd talk to you and that she'd get back to us in a couple of days."

He nodded as he tried to get himself in order. Finally, he stood and gestured for Liam to walk over to him, grabbing him in an unexpected hug. "I'm sorry for getting angry at you and Carrie," he said softly to the other man, who nodded.

Liam hugged him back. "It's all right, mate. I know you didn't mean it." He smiled as he got an idea. "How would you like to be my best man?"

Riley smiled back. "I'd like that."

Carrie looked at Andrea. "And I'd love it if you would be my maid of honor," she told the brunette, who grinned and nodded.

Carrie smiled and hugged Andrea. "Thank you, Andrea. You're a great friend. And I wish you and Dante all the happiness in the world."

"The same goes for you and Liam, Carrie," Andrea said as she was rejoined by Dante, sitting up again so he could scoot in behind her.

Carrie was about to answer her when her phone rang. She looked at the ID and saw Penny's number. Curious, she picked it up and pressed SEND. "Hello?"

"Carrie, this is Penny."

"Hi, Penny," Carrie said. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry that our relationship has been a bit strained," Penny said. "I'd like for us to salvage it, if that's all right."

"I'd like that too, Penny," Carrie said. "The baby will like it too."

From outside the studio door, Penny nodded before knocking gently. Carrie heard it through the phone and quickly rushed to answer it, pulling her cousin into an instant hug.

Carrie sniffed as she and Penny hugged. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Carrie," Penny replied as she sniffed.

Liam saw the two girls hugging and went over to them after getting out of the hug he and Riley were in just a few short minutes ago. He joined in the hug by wrapped his arms around Carrie from behind. "It's good to see you back in the fold, Penny. At least the baby will know that it's going to have stability when it's born."

Penny smiled. "I'm glad to be back, Liam; I want to be here for both of the babies," she said with another smile at Andrea and Dante.

Carrie nodded. "And we're glad that you wanted to be there for them, Penny. You're family, and family is the most important thing, for all of us."

Liam nodded as well, kissing Carrie's cheek. "I couldn't have said it better myself, love."

Andrea waved for Penny to come over and waited until she was sitting on the corner of the coffee table. "We would love it if you would be the godmother for our baby, and Gavin can be the godfather," she told the other girl, who nodded eagerly and hugged Andrea gently.

While Penny was talking to Andrea and Gavin, Liam took Carrie up to the apartment, because he wanted to show her the nursery. When they got there, he placed his hand over her eyes so that it wouldn't spoil the surprise. He removed it when he opened the door and said, "What do you think?"

Carrie was in complete awe of the work Liam had done. "Liam, it's perfect! I love it!" She wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing his cheek. "I know that it's not completely done yet, but it's really great so far. Our baby is going to be so comfortable in here."

"Yes," Liam said. "And when we find out the gender in another three months, I'll be able to paint it."

Carrie looked at him curiously. "Liam, what are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?"

"Well, a boy would be great, but I'll also be happy with a girl," Liam said. "Of course, with you as the mother, it doesn't matter. The only thing that does matter is that the baby will be healthy and loved by both of us."

"I think, for names, I'd like to have Alexander or Alexandria," she told him with a smile as she snuggled into his arms.

"Those are great names," Liam said as he kissed the side of her head.

Carrie smiled. "I know you would like them."

"I do like them," he said as they stood there admiring the nursery.

Downstairs, Penny and Riley decided to watch a movie in his part of the studio apartment while Andrea and Dante worked on her homework and Maria and Gavin made dinner for everyone that was gathered.

Gavin looked at Maria as they were cooking. "Have you heard from your brother lately?"

Maria shook her head. "No, I haven't, which is odd, considering how he usually calls me every day. But, I suppose he's busy with Tanya and forgot about it."

As if on cue, her cell phone rings and Gavin answers it but holds it up to her ear so she can talk. "Hi, sis, I'm sorry about not calling," he told her and she smiled.

"Its okay, Colin, but you never miss any days," she said into the phone, smiling at her boyfriend as he took over the cooking so she could take the phone herself.

Colin sighed on the other end. "I know, but there was a bit of a situation with Tanya. She hasn't been feeling well lately and I had to take her to the doctor. She kept telling me that it was nothing, but it became clear when the test results came back."

Maria blinked, confused by her brother's explanation. "Test results? What test results? I don't get it."

"Tanya's pregnant, Maria."

"She's WHAT?" Maria said, her voice volume going up a few notches despite trying not to raise it because Riley and Penny were watching a movie and Liam and Carrie were having some private time. "Who's the father?"

"I don't know, she didn't tell me anything," Colin said. "Maria, I'm thinking of breaking up with her."

"No, Colin, don't," Maria said. "That baby may not be yours, but Tanya is going to need you to be there for her. If you love Tanya, you'll help her raise that child, do you hear me?"

Colin sighs again. "Alright, I'll help her," he said in a reluctant tone.

Maria nodded. "Good. I know that it's not going to be easy for you, or for Tanya, but you know that I'm right."

He lets another sigh pass his lips before he finally ends the call, looking over at his girlfriend curled up beneath the bed covers.

Tanya groaned as she woke up, looking at Colin. "Was that Maria on the phone?"

"Yes, I called her to tell her about the baby," he said softly as he put his cell phone on the nightstand beside him.

Tanya nodded. "Colin, I think I should tell you why this happened. The guy who fathered my baby is the same guy who fathered Carrie's."

"Luke Garrison?" Colin said. "Why?"

"I distracted him so that Carrie could get away from him the morning after she slept with him."

Colin nodded as he reached out and stroked a few strands of her dark hair away from her face. "Maria told me that I should help you raise the baby, even though it isn't mine," he told her as he moved until he pressed his lips to her forehead.

Tanya smiled as she felt him kissing her forehead. "I'd like that." She sighed. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you right away."

"I know. But it doesn't matter now," Colin said. "I'm going to be right her with you." He lifted her chin and then kissed her lips gently. "I love you, Tanya."

"I love you too, Colin."

Meanwhile…

Tatia returned from exercising with some girlfriends from work to find her ex waiting on the doorstep. "This isn't a good time, Tyler," she said as she moved gracefully past him to open the door with the keychain she was jingling in her hands but he blocked her entrance. "I mean it, Tyler; I have a date coming in half an hour."

Tyler gave her his signature smirk. "That gives me more than enough time to do this," he said before capturing her mouth with his.

But Tatia immediately shoved him away. "You're sick, Tyler, and that also makes you a cheater," she spat before shoving him out of the way to get into her apartment.

Tyler wasn't fazed by what Tatia was saying. Instead, he smirked at her as he followed her into the apartment. "That's not what you said when we were together. Besides, Meghan doesn't know I'm here."

"That still doesn't make it okay for you to be here," Tatia said. "Now, before I have to call security, I want you out of here."

She was about to walk away, but Tyler grabbed her and pulled her closer to him, kissing her and moaning against her mouth. However, Tatia wasn't about to take this. She bit his lip and kicked him in the groin, hearing him yell out in pain before tossing him out of the apartment and locking the door so that he wouldn't get in.

Tyler forced his way in after the pain went away, and Tatia had an angry look on her face when he barged into her bedroom and she had nothing on but a towel for her shower. He pushed her back against the wall, his mouth crashing down to hers and his tongue forcing its way past her lips until she went lax in his arms. Then he was tearing the towel away from her body and lifting her until her legs wrapped around his waist and carrying her into the bathroom.

Tatia moaned against Tyler's mouth as they continued to kiss. She knew that she shouldn't be enjoying this, but deep down, she was. Even though Tyler had walked out on her and Tanya, part of her still loved him while another part wished he would die a violent death and be sent to hell for his infidelity.

In the Meantime…

Meghan had just waved her goodbyes to a client from the front door of her home when a car pulled up and out stepped Mason Lockwood. "No. You are not allowed to be here," she spat out at him.

"On the contrary, I have every right to be here," he said as he approached her.

Meghan scowled at him. "If Tyler finds out…"

"Tyler isn't here, so he can't stop me," Mason said. "Now, Meghan, I believe you and I have some unfinished business."

She sighed but allowed him to come into the mansion anyway, because it was the polite thing to do. As soon as she had closed the door, though, her arms were wrapping around Mason's neck and his were going around her waist, their mouths immediately meeting in a hungry, demanding kiss as he backed them into the wall that came just before the foyer turned into the living room.

Back at Donovan Studio, Liam and Carrie laughed as they returned from looking at the nursery. Liam was definitely excited, both about his impending marriage and his impending fatherhood. Calming himself down, he said to his fiancé, "I know this sounds like its last-minute, but my parents are going to be renewing their vows for their anniversary and I was wondering…"

"You were wondering if I'd like to be your date?" she replied. "I'd love to."

"That's great," Liam said. "My siblings and I are going to be involved in the ceremony and it would make it even more enjoyable if I had the woman I love there with me."

Over on the couch, Dante was helping Andrea with her homework still when she looked up at him. "What are your parents doing for your birthday?" she asked him softly.

"They've been going back and forth about having it or not having it," he replied.

Liam overheard their conversation. "I think you should have it. You're only twenty-one once." He saw the look on Andrea's face. "Oh, don't give me that look, love. I wasn't going to suggest getting drunk."

"You better not. I don't want him around me when he comes home," she said with a frown as she got up and moved out of Dante's arms then huffed her way up the stairs to their part of the apartment.

Dante put her school books aside then sent a glare to Liam before following after his girlfriend and finding her upstairs in the bedroom. "Andrea, he didn't mean anything by it, sweetheart," he said as he joined her on the bed.

Andrea turned her back to him, tears stinging her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.

Maria scowled at her cousin after Dante and Andrea left. "Liam, why did you have go and say that for?"

"I didn't mean it," he replied. "I was joking."

"Yes, but she's pregnant," Maria said. "One important thing about pregnant women you need to understand is that they have mood swings, and you have to be careful what you say and do around them." She nodded at Carrie. "So, you might want to take that into consideration so that you don't get into trouble with Carrie."

Liam nodded as he looked at his fiancé, who had gone into the room that Riley and Penny were sitting in. "I'll definitely remember that."

Back upstairs, Andrea turned around until she met Dante's eyes.

Dante smiled at her. "Are you feeling better, baby?"

"A little, yes," she replied. "I just…wasn't amused by what Liam said, that's all. I know he didn't mean it, but he shouldn't have said it."

"Yeah, I know," Dante said, placing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "But, I guess he'll learn that he has to be careful what he says and does around pregnant women." He sighed. "I think we should forgive him, even if he was a little out of line."

Andrea nodded. "I think so too."

"Okay, then let's go back downstairs to apologize," he suggested as he got up then turned his back to her.

"Dante, I'm too old for piggy-back rides!" she protested but climbed onto his back anyway and he carried her down like that.

Liam saw Dante and Andrea, a smile on his face. "Andrea, love, I'm sorry if I did or said anything to upset you."

"It's okay. I'm partially to blame. I am an expectant woman after all. It comes with the territory," Andrea said with a smile as she stayed where she was.

Author's Note: Well, I decided to end it there and express how tormented I am about tonight's Vampire Diaries episode!