Sorry for the delay in posting.
..
Walking to a house that he hadn't been to in years in a different country, Harry knocks on the door. "So do you want me to get Glitz?"
"Fuck no. I just wanted to say I hate you. I never thought it was possible to hate someone as much as I do you. It's your fault that I can't be as happy as everyone else for Ace and her boyfriend."
"She has a boyfriend?"
"Yes, Audrey, they have never wavered in their love even after you and that man kidnapped her and tried to rape her."
"She belongs to Glitz."
"She belongs to herself. God woman, what made you think my daughter would belong to a man close to my age. I want her to be happy, but for some reason I keep seeing you. You deserve a fate worse than death. I hope you die alone, hopeless and penniless from what you took from our children and for me. That's all." Harry starts to walk around the town he called home for the first 4 years of Ace's life while back at home she is a mere month away from having his granddaughter.
….
"What do you mean doctor," meanwhile Ace is getting news that she doesn't like.
"Your blood pressure is elevated. If we don't get this under control, there could be many complications. We want to avoid that." Doctor Martha Jones smiles at the young woman. "I also have to run a few more tests. Mr. O'Brien, you may want to leave for this."
"I will not be leaving Ace's side."
"He is not leaving, he has been the main saving grace this pregnancy."
"Ok," she preps a cotton swab to swab the area needed for Strep B. "We will get this right to be tested. Results shouldn't take long."
"Doctor?"
"Don't worry, all pregnant women need this test." The doctor leaves, and Ace turns to face Graham.
"What will I be doing on bed rest?"
"We can watch movies together, read books, I'm sure Nyssa and Mel along with Tegan may kick me out of the bed a few times to have time with you."
"Do you think that the fight with my father contributed to this?"
"I don't know; I wish I did. When was the last time you talked to him?"
"The night we left."
"Do you miss him?"
"Yes, since I moved here, I haven't gone more than one day without talking to him. Mom said he was going somewhere this weekend." She rests her head on his shoulder.
"Results are in, you are in the clear for Strep B. I still want you to go on bed rest."
"But I already haven't been doing much of anything the past few weeks. I went back on my word and didn't work for a few weeks for my parents after a fight with my dad."
"What kind of fight?"
"He says he's happy about my daughter, but then he nearly says things that make it seem he isn't happy."
"If it's causing you stress, I don't want you to see him until after the baby is born."
"He's out of town right now. We don't know where he went." The doctor's eyes go up in questioning.
"Well, when he does come back, please limit your contact with him."
"He's my dad, I want to give him a shot."
"I understand, a bond between a father and daughter is important, but as long as you are my patient and that baby is inside of you, until she is out, I want you to reduce all stress."
"He's my dad, until a few years ago, the only parent that loved me."
"Ace, maybe wait until your blood pressure is down. I'm sure we can find something that can make it so I can check it."
"Mr. O'Brien."
"Dr. Jones, I know my girlfriend, when she sets her mind on something, nothing can change it." They finish their appointment and leave.
….
As Ace and Graham walk into their house shared with their friends, "come on this way." He tries to usher her into their bedroom.
"Graham, my doctor said things to reduce stress, I can be on the couch."
"Ace."
"Graham, I love you, but I can't look at the same four walls until Manisha is born. I need these walls too. I am the one pregnant."
"I know, while you were in the bathroom I looked at what high blood pressure can cause, and I don't like it."
Her hand rests on his face, "maybe you need to rest with me. Come a few weeks we will have a healthy baby that will have you wrapped around her finger."
"Just like her mom," he sighs and they move to the couch. "Ace, I am worried, those no help for me not to be. I just want everything to be ok." He kisses her on the forehead as the door opens again.
"How did the appointment go," asks Nyssa as she takes off her shoes, dressed in tight red shorts and a tank top that opens up on the back.
"I was put on bed rest," Ace says while sighing and feeling for movement from Manisha.
"Why?"
"High blood pressure, it sucks, but Manisha needs to be born safe and healthy."
"Well, it's good that Tegan, Mel and I have a surprise for the two of you. If I am honest, the only thing that has brought me any happiness this year. So the three of us whenever the two of you are out we have been working on something. It's in the master."
"Why is it in your room?"
"You and Graham will be needing more room. It will be ready next week."
"We don't want to make anyone move, that's why we offered to move."
"Not until Manisha is older. I think the three of us want to help out; a bigger room for three people. One of which will be a baby. Tegan and I are ok with having a smaller room, if a small family can get some needed space."
"I don't think I can switch rooms right now."
"You have three sisters here, a boyfriend and I'm sure if Mel calls Liam, he'll come by in a drop of a hat." Nyssa smiles at them before getting up ending the conversation.
…..
One week later Ace is on her bed as her bedroom door opens, "happy birthday."
"Go away Graham, it's too fucking hot."
"You are always hot, in multiple ways Dear," he kisses her lightly before setting down some food. "Eat my birthday Queen. Our Princess needs food, so do you. Our roommates are kicking me out for a few hours. Won't tell me why."
"So I can't spend my birthday with the father of my child."
"Some of your birthday, and every birthday for the rest of our lives unless work gets in the way, you and I will be together." He neals on the bed as she sits up.
"Want to have some of my food?" She offers him a bite. "What are you going to do while being kicked out?"
"I don't know, maybe visit Dan."
"Can you see my dad?"
"Of course. Do you want me to tell him anything?"
"I want him in the waiting room with everyone. You of course will be in the room with me. If I am allowed two people in the room, I want Zoe in with us."
"Why don't you call the hospital and ask before Mel, Tegan and Nyssa start celebrating your 19th." He leans over to kiss her, "I'm going to get going. Happy birthday again my love." He leaves and gets in his car to make the drive to visit the one person his pregnant girlfriend can't see.
…..
"Graham, what are you doing here," Zoe asks as she feels something hit her leg. "That will be Steven, he likes crawling and scooting whenever I leave his sight. You and Ace have that to look forward to."
"I can't wait, speaking of Ace, our roommates have kicked me out of the house for her birthday. She has a request for me. Is Harry home?"
"He is, but please don't tell Ace about our guest."
"Who is it," he looks over Zoe's shoulder to see a woman sharing a few of Ace's features. "Please tell me that's not."
"It's Kathleen. Harry went to tell off Audrey last month and before getting on the plane he remembered that Kathleen cut off Audrey before Ace was born."
"She will not be allowed anywhere near Ace. She's already on bed rest."
"I understand that; that is why we haven't told you about it."
"I will carry out the two things Ace asked me, but then I will leave so I can protect my unborn child from anything that could cause her harm."
"What is it?"
"She wants Harry in the waiting room and if possible you in the room with us."
"All of that will be great," Zoe smiles as Kathleen comes up behind her and picks up Steven.
"Who is this gentleman?"
"This is Graham, the one that has been seeing your Granddaughter for 4 years. Graham this is Kathleen; Ace and Liams's maternal Grandmother." He looks at her with no smile growing in his face.
"You're protective of Dorothy."
"She hates her name," with that he turns around and gets back in his car. Calling up the one friend that didn't town.
"Graham," his first friend in town smiles as he walks into the coffee shop.
"Yaz, how are you?"
"Good, met someone, her name is Jamie."
"That's good, finally over that tutor from AVID?"
"It was just a crush like students get on their teachers sometimes. How's Ace; today is her birthday right?"
"It is, Mel, Tegan and Nyssa kicked me out and told me to be gone until 6. I hate not being able to be near Ace as she gets closer to her due date." Yaz smiles.
"So you're excited to meet your daughter?"
"I have been since we found out," he tells the white lie; he's been excited since Ace told him about the dreams when they were in high school. "So this Jamie, what she's like?"
"A bit crazy, always wants to go on an adventure."
"Seems like someone you needed."
"I do, now tell me more about how your life is going?"
"Pretty soon Tegan and Nyssa are making Ace and I move into the master so we can have more room."
"Wow," Yaz sets back, having her cup hit the table, "you two have done a bit in cultivating a family."
"Both Mel and Nyssa are godmothers, all three are going to be aunts. Manisha's middle name will be Melissa, after Tegan."
"Did you ever think any of this could happen when you moved here?"
"Maybe not, but when I saw Ace the first time it was like the world stopped spinning."
…..
"Ace, are you ready to be pampered," Mel says coming into her bedroom.
"Mel, I am big as a house, I can't do anything."
"That's why you are coming with me, the new room is ready." Mel walks to the bed holding out her hands for Ace, once inside the bathroom, Tegan has a chair leaning up against the sink.
"This sink will be perfect for bathing Manisha, and it's also great for a haircut. I have been going to some classes."
"What do you mean," Ace asks, looking at the three there with her.
"We are pampering you. You will feel comfortable in a moment," Nyssa says with a smile on her face.
"I love you guys, but I'm hot one moment, cold the next, want to run my body all over Graham, but he isn't letting me touch him, because of doctor's orders."
"In a short amount of time that will change."
"It won't though, I still can't have sex for at least 6 weeks after Manisha is born."
"You really miss it, don't you," asks Mel.
"Since we had sex for the first time in London, we haven't had more than a week off. It feels amazing."
"Well, the two of you waited for years to do it, you can wait a few more months. Now sit, we are going to make Graham regret not wanting to ravage you regularly."
…..
Hours later Graham arrives back home with dinner for everyone. "I have food." He stops in his tracks as Mel helps Ace stand up. "Ace," he looks to find her hair gently framing her face and a darker shade. "Ace?"
"Do you like, they said a makeover would be nice to have before Manisha," she is stopping in her rambling as he takes her face in his hands after handing the food off to Tegan.
"You look gorgeous, but you always are to me," he lays his lips on hers in a kiss that takes her breath away.