Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.
Author Note: I am so sorry this took so long for a while I had trouble getting the chapter going but it's done now. A big thank you to Halawen for co-writing this and editing. Let me know what you all think.
Maya's POV
"That would be the boy's father," I said after putting the phone back in my purse so I wouldn't be looking at the text anymore, while rubbing my tummy and feel the flutters of my boys kicking me as if they already understood there Mommy was in worry.
"Boys?" Owen asked with a smile.
"Forgot to tell you that huh?" As I continue to rub my belly.
"Yep ready for double trouble." Owen said cockily before his face turned serious. "Why'd you run though?"
"Yeah I'm ready to do this on my own." I said then my smile turned into a frown. "I didn't run I wanted to start off away from danger and keep my sons safe."
"What do you mean danger?" Owen asked curious and I can see him clenching his jaw already.
"My ex Shawn, our first year together he was sweet, funny, caring and he got along great with my friends and my parents and Katie loved him. After a year he started to change." I start off as the tears started to slowly come down my face.
"What happened Maya?" Owen asked and grabbed my hand and squeezed it with comfort and had worry and concern in his eyes.
"He became abusive and stuff and beat me for months before anyone one found out in our second year of University, and got thrown in jail but of course got out because of his family having lots of money and he had family in the police force so the restraining order got turned down. They also bribed the Judge so he wouldn't been found not guilty. My family didn't believe me and said I should have stayed with Shawn. Katie said he would be the only person who'd actually love me. He got out and attacked me one night when I was home alone, he broke through the door when I tried to close it, and he beat me raped me and now I'm 5 months pregnant in June still scared." I tell him crying heavily by now and in Owen's arms.
"That fucking bastard if he ever comes around here I'll kill him!" Owen started muttering as I feel him rubbing my back trying to calm me down and my crying.
"You don't have to." I tell him getting out of his arms and wipe away some tears.
"Yes I do and once Baker finds out he will too, he will never go near you again trust me." Owen said and reached over into the glove box and pulled out some napkins. "Now wipe your face of tears and let's get you inside and registered ok."
All I did was nod and take the napkins and start wiping away the tears as Owen got out from his side and came around and opened my door and helped me out and we made our way inside.
Owen's POV
After Maya filled out about twenty pages of paperwork we were shown back to an exam room. I help her onto the exam table and a nurse comes in. She takes Maya's vitals and then tells us the doctor will be in soon. Maya lies back on the table and a doctor comes in. She asks Maya some basic questions and then turns on the ultra sound.
"Whoa they're tiny little squashed people," I remark when I see the image on the ultrasound screen.
"They're a good size for 20 weeks and they look healthy," the doctor says.
She asks Maya some questions and then gives her some basic instructions and makes an appointment for next month.
On our way out the receptionist suggests Maya apply for emergency Medicaid at the welfare office.
"The welfare office is closed now but I can take you in the morning, how about dinner in the meantime?" I ask Maya.
"Dinner sounds great I'm starved," Maya smiles.
"Well you are eating for three now so let's go." I said guiding her by her back out the doors and to my truck and helped her get in before shutting the door and walking around to my side and go in.
"There any good Mexican restaurants around here?" Maya asked looking over at me as I start up the truck.
"I know a good place it's one of my favorites." I said back and headed off in the direction of the restaurant. It only took about 20 minutes to get there with traffic. I found a parking spot and helped Maya out and we made our way into the packed place for dinnertime.
"2 of you?" The hostess asked when we walked up and I nodded and she showed us to our booth and I helped Maya slide in before sitting on the other side.
We spend most of dinner talking about L.A. as I tell her all the places she has to go. After dinner I driver her back to the diner to get her car.
"Thanks Owen it was fun," Maya says as she gets out of my car and she yawns so I know she's tired.
"No problem but you look tired I better follow you home to be safe," I tell her.
She smiled and got in her car, I followed behind and we started going into one of the older lower middle class neighborhoods, not exactly the best place to live. Her building looked pretty old and I had my doubts about Maya living here alone especially when she was pregnant and then in a few months she'd have twins. I parked behind her and got out, she didn't say anything about me following her in but it might have been because she was so tired.
"You live in a pretty sketchy area," I tell her as we go into her apartment.
"I know but its rent controlled and it was the only thing I could afford, L.A. is expensive. Besides the apartment its self is pretty nice and a pretty big two bedroom. See I'm going to turn this into the nursery," she said opening a door to a bedroom with a few boxes in it she had yet to unpack, "I just need to repaint it blue or something."
"Baker and I can paint it some weekend," I offer.
"Oh that'd be great," she smiles and then yawns again.
"I better go and let you get some sleep, do you work tomorrow?" I ask her.
"Yeah noon to eight," she replies.
"Okay I'll come get you at nine to take to get the emergency Medicaid." I tell her.
"Thanks Owen," she smiles and walks me to the door.
I get in my truck and it takes me about thirty minutes to drive home.
"Hey how was dinner with Maya?" Baker asks me.
"Good, you know she's only five moths along and pregnant with twins?" I tell him.
"No wonder she's so big," he replies.
"Yeah but the dad is kind of stalking her, he was abusive and when she finally got away he broke in and raped her, that's how she got pregnant." I tell him and Baker looks shocked.
We spend about an hour talking about it, I tell him everything she told me and we are determined to keep her safe. I also tell him about her apartment and volunteering us to paint the nursery and stuff which he's fine with. Then I shower and go to bed thinking about how different Maya's life turned out from the little niner girl I knew. I get to her apartment at exactly nine and she waddles out, I get out and help her into my truck driving her to the welfare office downtown which takes nearly an hour in Los Angeles traffic. She has to fill out about another twenty pages of paperwork and show them her student visa but she finally gets approved. She thanks me for taking her and I drop her off at her apartment so she can get ready for work.
Maya's POV
"Hey if you guys get thirsty there's lemonade in the fridge and help yourself to any food. I'm gonna go get some of the baby stuff with the little extra I have from this week's pay check plus I need to get out while the fumes are so strong." I tell the guys as they paint the nursery.
"Okay call us if you need help or anything," Owen tells me.
I tell him I will and go out to my car to drive to the Target Zig and I shopped at my first day here. I quickly found a spot to park a little close to the doors and made my way in and grabbed a cart. I made my way towards the baby section and started looking at all the cute baby clothes for the newborns and 0-12 month clothes and since I had to buy double the clothes since I was carrying twins. I look down at my basket and saw it was all full on the bottom with onesies and little outfits that I hoped it would fit the other stuff. I made my way over to where the crib stuff was when I started to walk past where the diapers and wipes where and decided to pick up a box each and put it under the cart so there be some room still at least for the mattress and cribs to be set on top. I found the firmest but softest mattresses' they had and was able to slide them in the cart with no help but I couldn't lift the cribs I wanted after I looked and fund ones I loved they were both dark colored like oak and slid down ones side so I would have easy access to be able to pick the boys up better. So I went to go look for a worker to help me.
"Excuse me I need some help," to the employee I found near the fitting room.
He followed me back over to the cribs and I tell him which one I want and that I needed two. While he's grabbing them both I realize not all this would fit in my car and that I would need help even getting it out of the buggy. So I decided to call Owen like he told me if I needed help and I did. But when I grabbed my phone I noticed I already had a text sent to my phone thinking it was either Owen or Luke since the day after we ran into each other we swapped numbers, but when I clicked on the message I saw it wasn't from either of them but from Shawn again, messaging me saying again he will find me and I'll never be able to get away from him. It made me scared that it could actually happened but I know that Owen and Luke would not let that happen to me or my babies.
"There you go mam' I had to switch around the mattresses so they are on top of the cribs will you be able to get them up front yourself or do you need some assistance?" The employee asked knocking me out of my worry.
"No thank you I was just about to get a hold of a friend." I replied back and bid him goodbye as I slowly made my way towards the front of the store with trying to call Owen and push the now heavier cart.
"Hey Maya everything okay?" Owen asks when he answers.
"I'm fine but I'm at Target and I can't lift everything let alone get it into my car. You think one of you could come down and help?" I ask.
"Me and my truck will be right there," Owen replies and hangs up.
I put my phone in my purse and looked around a bit more on what I want to get next since I know it would take a bit for Owen to get here cause of traffic and I would be able to get the stuff out of the buggy to scan it and get the clothes. I looked around for 20 more minutes before finally heading up to the registers.
As I found a line to get into I just happen to look towards the doors and saw Owen walk in.
"Owen!" I call out and wave him over when I got his attention since I had two people in front of me as they gave me looks for it.
"You better not had lifted all this." Owen said when he stopped next to me and saw how the cart was.
"I didn't I only lifted the mattress the wipes and diapers and clothes, I promise." I tell him.
"Good no heavy lifting for you!" Owen said as we scoot closer to the conveyer belt as one person gets finished.
"How's the painting going?" I ask curious.
"Good we got two walls done and another two to go." Owen said as he started maneuvering the cribs and mattresses so we could grab the other baby things and put them on the belt.
I paid for everything and we went out to his truck he loaded the cribs and mattresses into his truck while I put the bags with wipes and clothes in my car. We drove home with him following me and when we got home I saw that Luke had painted about a third of the next wall on his own.
"It's looking great guys; just put the stuff in the living room for now Owen. Do you mind if I go lay down in my room?" I ask Owen.
"No in fact I insist on it," Owen said.
I smiled at him and went back to my bedroom, the first thing I did was call the phone company to change my number. I talked to the company and told them what was going on and they were able to get me a new number very quick and I hung up. I quickly sent out texts to Tris and them to let them know of the number change and then laid down cause I was worn out. I rested up for about an hour until the boys and my stomach let me know we were all hungry and I looked at my clock and saw it was close to 6 already and wondered if the guys were still here. I pushed myself out of the bed and waddled my way to what would be the nursery and saw the guys were on the last wall.
"Well look who's up." Luke said when he saw me at the door and getting Owen's attention.
"It wasn't that long anyway you guys want to stay for dinner I'm ordering pizza." I said.
"Of course, we are just about done anyway." Owen said as the two began cleaning up all the paint supplies.
"Ok cool I'll order what you guys like on your pizza?" I ask rubbing my belly.
"Pepperoni and Sausage." They both said in unison making me laugh.
"Ok you guys can use the bathroom to go cleanup." I said as Owen walked towards me and I pointed at paint spots on both of them. We all went different directions in the apartment as I went to order pizza and breadsticks and pop and they went to go clean. The guy on the phone said it would take 15 minutes to deliver the food so I set my phone on the counter and went to get plates and stuff set out so we had something to eat on.
"I don't remember putting the plates up this high." I said to myself as I try to reach for them on my tips toes.
"Maya what are you doing?" I heard Luke ask from behind me.
"Trying to reach the plates I don't remember putting them up this high before." I tell him as I look at him quickly before getting on my tiptoes again and try to reach.
"That's because you're pregnant with twins and your stomach is growing more so it's going to get harder for you now to reach for stuff." Luke said coming up behind me and gabbing the plates himself just as Owen walks into the kitchen himself.
They got out drinks and set the table and when the pizza arrived Owen paid before I could get up and stop him.
"Oh I have a new number," I informed them after we began eating.
"Why?" Luke asked.
"I got another text from Shawn and called the phone company to change it so he couldn't find me." I tell them.
"Let me see it," Owen requested.
"My phones still in the room, but Owen it's…" they both hop up before I can even finish my sentence.
"These are bad Maya, I don't like this." Owen says.
"He's dangerous and your 5 months pregnant with twins you can barely walk let alone run." Luke agreed.
"I changed my number he can't harass me anymore. I moved here to move on so drop the subject and enjoy your dinner." I insist.
They don't look happy but they drop it and after dinner they get ready to go home.
"If he does find some other way to contact you we need to hear about it right away." Owen tells me before they leave.
"You will," I assure him.
I hug them each goodbye and despite my nap I'm very tired so I go straight to bed. Just before I fall asleep I remind myself to start looking for a second job.
Owen's POV
I was at my desk in the office going over the budget with Luke when the phone rang.
"Hey it's Maya." Luke said looking at the phone caller i.d. and knocking me out of my concentration of budgets as he clicks on speaker phone. "Hey Maya what's up?"
"Hey guys I hope I'm not bugging you but I need a favor?" Maya's said speaking through the phone.
"You damn well should know by now you're never a bother, what do you need?" I ask tossing my pen to the side.
"Can you guys look up where the nearest bus stop by Cahuenga near Lankershim is please?" Maya asking as both Luke and I both share a look of worry.
"Why?" I ask curious and a little worried.
"I'm at the Babies R' Us and my car broke down and I need away home." Maya explained.
"You are not taking a bus I'll come and get you." I said worried and reaching for my keys.
"You have to work Owen I don't mind taking the bus might be a little hard with the stuff I bought but I can do it." She said through the phone.
"I'm the boss remember I can basically do what I want and in case you forgot it's in the 90s outside you're pregnant with twins so no." I said scolding and finally getting an ok I walked out the door and made my way to my truck.
I made my way to the Babies R' Us and found Maya leaning against her car instead of sitting inside it in this hot weather. I parked next to her in the open spot and made my way over to her.
"Why aren't you at least sitting inside of the car with the door open and not standing on your feet in this hot weather." I scold.
"I felt more comfortable walking a bit more than sitting." Maya said shrugging her shoulder like its nothing.
"What's wrong with the car?" I ask not bothering to try and argue with a pregnant woman as I walk to the hood of her car and pop it open.
"I don't know every time I turn the key it just starts to sputter." She said waddling up next to me.
"Ok go turn the key and let me see if I can figure what it is." I said and continue to look at everything while she made her way to turn the key. "Go ahead and turn it." I tell her and I watch as she turns it I see the carburetor shake and sputter. "Looks like you're carburetor; we'll have to get it towed to a shop." I tell her.
I send Maya in to get us some water while I call AAA; it takes them half an hour to get there. While we're waiting I load all the stuff she bought into my car. When the tow truck shows up I have him tow it to a shop near Maya's apartment. I stop briefly at the shop but it's late in the afternoon so they won't get to Maya's car until tomorrow. I give them my number and then take her home. She goes in while I unload everything she bought.
"How much stuff can two little people need?" I ask when I take the last box into the nursery.
"A lot and I'm going to have to build most of it before they come." Maya says rubbing her belly.
"No you won't build a thing I will. I'll start right now, what do you want to be built first?" I ask her.
"You don't need to Owen I can do it." Maya says as she leans against the wall, my guess her feet were starting to hurt.
"Uhh no your six months pregnant you shouldn't be building anything, you go an rest." I tell her putting my hands on her shoulders and rub them a little.
"I'll be fine really." Maya said and then starts to yawn.
"Go I'll start with the cribs and go from there." I tell her then lightly push her towards the door and I watch her go into her room before I turn and start to get to work.
I work for about an hour, having one crib nearly complete and then I hear Maya scream, dropping my tools and running for the bedroom. I ran into the bedroom and saw Maya was screaming in her sleep and thrashing a little.
I shake her gently calling her name and she bolts up and into my arms.
"It's okay you're safe now," I assure her rubbing her back lightly. "What were you dreaming about?" I ask her after she's calmed a bit.
"The night he raped me," Is all I hear through her tears as she cries on my chest.
I told her he never be able to get to her again and she is safe here in LA and I do anything to protect her and her babies from that asshole until she cried out.
"I know, thanks for being here Owen I feel safe with you," she says.
"Hey you know Baker and I will always make sure you and your boys are safe and so do the others even if there in BC." I tell her.
"I know you guys will, I don't want to talk about it and anyway I'm getting hungry now you want to eat something?" Maya asked.
"Yeah sure." I said and stands up and help her get up and follow her into the kitchen as she begins looking through the fridge and cabinets to make something.
"Mac n cheese ok, it's really the only thing I got left haven't had time to go grocery shopping this week?" Maya asked a few minutes later holding a box of it up as I sit in one of the table chairs.
"Yep its fine." I say and she begins to cook.
"Do you need a ride to work tomorrow since your car will be in the shop a couple days?" I ask her.
"Actually I have tomorrow off but I do have a doctor's appointment I need to get to tomorrow." She tells me.
"I'll take you what times it at?" I tell her leaning back in the chair.
"It's early at 8." She says looking over her shoulder at me.
"No problem I'd like to go anyway so I know what the doctor tells you." I reply picking up a random magazine that was on the table and flipped through it.
"Why would you want to know something?" Maya asked. "Can you grab some plates please?" As I look up and see her turn the stove off and start draining the pot.
I got up and grabbed plates and cups out of the cupboard and grabbed some silverware and filled the cups with some milk as she finished mixing the cheese with the noodles and added them to our plates. Then we sat down and began to eat.
"Next time you're going to go shopping or out at all call me or Luke so we can go with you, I know you have a couple of months yet but I really don't think you should be anywhere alone." I insist.
"Owen I don't want to bother you guys and I don't need a baby sitter," she scolds.
"It's not a bother and I'd rather one of us be with you then getting a call that you're in the hospital because you tried to lift something or you fell." I tell her.
"Ok I get it, next time I need to go anywhere ill phone one of you alight." Maya said agreeing smiling at me.
With that begin eating. When we finish I help her clean everything up. When we finished I went back into the nursery after I saw that Maya went to go mess around on her laptop and laying down on the couch. I finished up both cribs and the changing table when I heard my phone go off and dhow I had a text. I clicked on it and saw it was from Baker asking where I was, and I realized time flew by and it was already 9:30. I got up and head into the living and saw Maya was asleep.
"Maya wake up." I said quietly and watched as she opened her eyes and yawned.
"What time is it?" She asked quietly as she pushed her pregnant self-up as much as she could.
"9:30. why don't you head to bed." I tell her helping her get off the couch.
"Yeah good idea, do you want to stay the night, I mean just in case I have another nightmare." She offers.
"Yeah sure, I'll be on the couch if you need me." I smiles at.
"How about you just share the bed with me it's big enough?" Maya offers.
"You sure." I ask if she be ok with it.
"I trust you." Is al she says before waddling down to her room and I follow her for the night.
Maya's POV
I never did end up having a nightmare last night. We woke up about 7 and got dressed and decided to go out to eat first before the appointment. We stopped at the local ihop and had some pancake special and it was really good.
"So what was it that you were working on last night?" Owen asked as he helped me back into the car and we made our way to the Dr.
"My second job that I got about a week ago." I tell him then jerked forward.
"You what you know how much stress you'll be taking on." Owen said accidently slamming on the brakes, luckily hardly know one was around at the time.
"It's an online job and I need it to make it ends meet." I argue as he pulls up to the OB/GYN office.
He helps me out of the car and we go in, I check in and take a seat then get shown back a few minutes later. Owen helps me onto the exam table and we wait for the doctor. After checking my blood pressure and probing around my stomach with his hands he does an ultra sound.
"The babies look very healthy Maya but at this stage I want to put you on bed rest until you deliver. It's the best thing for you and the babies." The doc says.
"You mean I have to stay in bed?" I whine.
"Yes, you can get up to go the bathroom and walk around a little each day but other than that you need to remain off your feet." He tells me.
I nod and we finish the appointment, when I'm in the car with Owen again I look at him.
"I can't be on bed rest I have to work at the diner and I live alone how is anything going to get done, there's still stuff to buy and the nursery isn't set up."
"I could move in, that way you won't be alone and I can help pay rent and bills. You can still keep your internet job if you insist on it but you won't have a single income. That is just till the babies are born and if you want me to." Owen offers sweetly.
"That would be amazing but are you sure you want to and what about Luke?" I ask.
"Yes I want to and I'm sure Luke will understand," Owen replies.
"Then yes move in I would appreciate it but call Luke first." I tell him and he gets out his phone.
"Hey Maya's doctor put her on bed rest until the babies are born so I'm going to move in, at least until the babies are born…yeah exactly, don't want her to be alone while on bed rest and if anything happens…I thought you would…yeah she got a second job, some internet customer service thing and she'll still have the income from that but not her waitressing job so she'll still fall short every month and I'll make up the difference while I'm living there…Yeah sounds good I'm sure she will…cool see you tonight." Owen says and hangs up then looks at me. "Luke understands and he told me to move in before I even said anything. He's gonna bring over dinner tonight and he'll help me get everything else built and the nursery set up and get the room set up for you to be on bed rest." Owen tells me.