Chapter 25: Hey Little Sister

*AMY'S POV*

My knees are shaking and I don't know what to say, but I know no matter how out of sorts I'm feeling, she has to be feeling much worse.

Looking at her stomach now, I don't know how I missed it.  There's definitely something growing on her normally flat stomach.

"Sis, I'm scared," she says, "I'm not ready for a baby."

I sigh and prepare myself to say that thing that no one really thinks they would ever think about until they're in this situation.  I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I want to let her know that I'm going to support her no matter what her decision is.

"You know, you don't have to have it." I tell her quietly.

She looks up at me astonished, "I could never do that...ever..."

"There's always adoption," I suggest, even though I pretty much know that answer too.

"I don't think I could do that either...I don't know..." she says and starts tearing up again.

Even though I'm surprised she can't hear the shaking in my voice, I make the decision right then to be nothing but supportive.  I know this is going to be difficult, but we'll manage...I'm not sure how, but hell, we brought her back from the dead...how hard can raising a kid be? (Pause for laughter)

"It's going to be okay hon," I tell her, "we'll work it out."

"Do you hate me?" she asks with fear in her voice.

"Of course not," I reply, "why would I hate you?"

"Because I'm young and not ready...and I was so stupid...and..." she rattles off all these things that she's most likely thinking about herself.

"Becca, none of that stuff matters to me - you should know that by now," I reassure her.

I figure she's berating herself more than I ever could.

Suddenly remembering something, she looks at me and asks, "What about Richard?"

"You're going to have to tell him," I say, "this is his baby too."

"He's going to be so mad at me," she says aloud, more to herself than to me.

"If he is, he's an asshole," I reply, "and if he gives you too much crap, we'll sic Kelsey on him."

She laughs.  "Oh, God, what if he wants the baby to have his last name?"

"What is it?" I ask.

"Stouki."

"Eeek...let's stay with Keagan."

To reassure her more, I put my hand on her stomach.

"Aww, Becca, you're a Mama," I say.

"I'm going to have a baby before you," she says.

Even though it cuts a bit because I want to be a mother more than anything and sometimes I fear that it will never happen, I don't say a word.  I know she doesn't intentionally mean to hurt me, and right now is not about me anyway.  If having a baby before me makes her feel a little better about the whole situation, I'll gladly let her have that one.

I look up at her and smile, assuring her once again, "This is a good thing, I'm sure of it."

"Hey sis?" she asks.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you can make spaghetti tonight?  I've kind of been craving it."

"No problem."

I think she walks away feeling a little better about the situation...so at least I've accomplished what I tried to.

Now that she's gone I can focus on worrying.

How are we going to do this?

*KELSEY'S POV*

Something is up.  I don't know what it is, but Amy and Rebecca have been acting weird since I got home from work.  As soon as I walk in the door, Amy tells me not to make plans, that she's making dinner.

"So what's going on?" I ask as I sit down.

"Let's eat and we'll talk then." Amy says.

"Screw you dudes," I tell them, "Secrets don't make friends."

"Yeah, but sisters makes secrets, so sit down and shut the hell up," Rebecca says.

"Damn bossy!" I accuse, but sit down...she seems a little scary today.

"Okay y'all, family meeting," Amy says as we finish up eating, "Bec?"

Bec is still eating and she mumbles something...

"What?" I ask, "Can you speak up?"

She sighs and looks up, "I'm pregnant."

The expression on Zoey's face pretty much says it all.

"You're not serious?" I ask, quite shocked myself.

"Yeah, I am, and thanks for being supportive," Rebecca

"What do you expect me to say?  Who's the daddy?" I ask.

"Richard...he's the only guy I've been with lately...which is more than you can say." Rebecca replies.
"Really?  Well, I didn't get knocked up, did I?"

"Damn Kels, you don't have to be so hard on her," Amy says.
"Whatever," I say, "I'm gonna get a drink."
"Stop being so melodramatic," replies Amy.

*ZOEY'S POV*

After Kelsey leaves for her room...or to go run over a small child or something, I feel bad for Rebecca sitting at the table, obviously upset by what Kelsey was saying.  I'm not particularly thrilled about it all, but what can I do?

"Hey Bec, it's gonna be ok," I try to reassure her.
"Yeah, I know..." she replies, though not very convincingly.

"I have to go," Rebecca says.
"Where are you going?" Amy asks.
"To meet Richard.  I have to tell him..." she answers warily as she leaves.

As Rebecca leaves, I hear Amy behind me...first, she gives out a huge sigh.

"Coffee?" she asks.
"Please," I reply.

Looking at my best friend, I know she's got more on her mind than she's saying.

Zoey: You okay?
Amy: Yeah.
Zoey: Liar.
Amy: I don't guess it really matters.
Zoey: Yes it does.
Amy: Okay, fine.  This is hard.
Zoey: Yeah...I don't know how we're going to handle having a baby in the house.
Amy: I'm sure it'll be fine.

Zoey: That's not it, is it?
Amy: *sigh* I don't know...it's selfish...
Zoey: I don't care if it is.
Amy: I feel stupid feeling this way...but knowing Rebecca is having a kid...I just worry.
Zoey: About what?
Amy: That I'll never have any kids...I know it's stupid...and her having a kid has nothing to do with me...
Zoey: Yeah...
Amy: ...and she didn't do it to hurt me...but I've just been thinking about it...
Zoey: Having kids?
Amy: Yeah...I was thinking...maybe I should try to have one.

Zoey: Um...okay...
Amy: I know it's nuts and I'm not ready...but I'm also not getting any younger...what if I miss my chance?
Zoey: You won't.
Amy: What if I can't have any?  It's not like I haven't been doing the leg work.
Zoey: You are probably more fertile than you realize.
Amy: I don't know...but it just sucks...as soon as I start thinking about seriously having a baby, my sister gets pregnant...it just...really sucks...but either way...she's going to need me, so I know I have to put my feelings on the back burner.
Zoey: Well, consider me your back burner.
Amy: Thanks for being an awesome friend.

Zoey: No problem.

*REBECCA'S POV*

Telling my sisters is cake compared to telling Richard.  I'm so afraid he's going to be mad at me...I call him and tell him to meet me in front of the book store on his part of town.  I figure in a public setting, he can't kill me.

Richard: Hey, someone's getting a little pudgy.
Rebecca: What?
Richard: Maybe it's time to do a little cardio.

Normally that would piss me off, but in my current state...
Rebecca: Um...that's not really it...I have to tell you something...I'm pregnant.
Richard: With who's kid?
Rebecca: Uh...yours.

Richard: What the fuck?!  Is this some ploy?
Rebecca: What?  No!  It just happened...why the hell would this be a ploy?
Richard: To get me to take care of you.  Women do that, ya' know.

Rebecca: Look guy, I don't need you.  If you want to be a part of this child's life, that's fine, but I can do this on my own...and if you don't want to be there for us, than you can just leave.

Richard: Hold on a second.  I'm not that type of guy...that walks out on his kid...
Rebecca: Yeah, well, you can be a part of the kid's life if you want...I won't keep you from it.

Richard: Look...this isn't exactly how I envisioned becoming a father, but maybe we can do this...
Rebecca: We?
Richard: Yeah, maybe we can be a family.
Rebecca: Really?

Richard: Yeah sure, why not.  We can do it, can't we little guy?

I can't help but laugh.
Rebecca: What makes you so sure it's a boy?
Richard: I guess I'm just hoping.

For the first time, I feel a lot better about this whole situation.

Richard goes home, I go inside and buy a baby book, then I decide to head to a store and do some shopping for better maternity clothes.

I also buy a high chair at the thrift store.  Isn't this cute?

Of course, Kelsey has to open her big mouth.
Kelsey: Putting the high chair right next to the bar...nice parenting.
Rebecca: What the hell is wrong with you?  It's not like I got pregnant to piss you off.
Kelsey: Yeah, well, I guess it's just a perk.

Ugh, I don't have time to figure out why she's so pissed off...

We dipped into our savings to work on building a nursery right off my room.

Chapter 24: One's Drinking, One's Smoking, One's Taking Pills

*KELSEY'S POV*

When I get home from work, I go directly to my room and sleep for four hours.  I only wake up when I get a call offering me some money to go dance at the City Cat Club.

I get ready and head downstairs, only to see Zoey and Amy in the living room.  Zoey is reading and Amy is on the computer.

"What's going on?" I ask, "Are we being boring old people tonight?"

Shut your face, whore," Amy says, "Where are you going all dressed up?

"I have to go to the club to dance, anybody want to come?"

"Fuck no!" Amy and Zoey reply in unison.  Damn...

"Okay, I get it.  Where's Bec?  Maybe she'll want to come."

"She got home, said she was sick and went to bed," Zoey replies.

"Well damn," I start, "Guess I'm just going by myself then."

When I get to the club, no one else is here.  I can see why they need to do some promotions.  I better still get paid.

THE NEXT MORNING...

*ZOEY'S POV*

When I wake up, I see Rebecca trying to fix pancakes.

"Okay, these better not burn or I'm going to go off," she is saying to herself.

I raise my eyebrows.

Is she crying?

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Her reply, "Nothing."

Oh-kay.  I just get a cup of coffee and go about my business....have no intention of getting in anyone's way...

Bec comes over with a plate of pancakes when she's done.  

"Pancakes are ready," she says.

"Okay," I reply and continue drinking my coffee.

Ahh, coffee to a writer is like...air to anyone else, I'm pretty sure.

"Are you going to get some pancakes?" Rebecca looks at me like I just stepped on her puppy, "I worked really hard on them."

"Yeah, sure, in just a minute," I tell her as I inhale the wonderful aromas coming from my coffee cup.

"Fine, don't worry about it," she replies...seemingly angrily...did I miss something?

"I'm getting some in just..." I start.

She slams her fork down and looks up, "Don't do it just to make me happy."

Huh?

"Okay," I tell her as I start to get up, "I'll do it because I'm hungry."

As I start to wonder if I have lost my mind or if Rebecca has, Amy walks in.

"Morning all," she greets us groggily.

I get up and get a plate before I'm sacrificed or something.

After I eat, I avert my eyes and make my exit.

I'm about to get on the computer and work on my latest book when I'm hit with massive migraine.

Thank the heavens above for pills.

*REBECCA'S POV*

I feel so sluggish I have to work out...

I know it's obsessive compulsive, but I have to do something to bring my energy up.  I feel like crap.

As I'm working out, Kelsey comes down ready for work.

After I work out, I try to take a nap, but the dog wakes me up and I just can't get comfortable.  I have a lot on my mind lately.  I need to talk to someone.

As if fate is just answering my prayers right there on the spot, Amy walks in.

Amy: Hey babe, what's up?
Rebecca: I need to talk to you.

*AMY'S POV*

My little sister looks so distressed, I don't know what could possibly be bothering her, but if it's that boy, I'm going to kill him.  I don't care if he's older than me, he's certainly not a man if he treats Bec like crap.

Amy: What's going on sweetie?
Rebecca: I don't even know where to begin...
Amy: Honey, don't worry about it, you know you can tell me anything, right?
Rebecca: Yeah...I just...I don't know what to do....
Amy: Okay, just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and blurt it out.

She keeps looking around like a deer caught in headlights....

Amy: Okay, just...

Rebecca: I'm pregnant.

Chapter 23: There are Benefits to Being a Lazy Bum

*KELSEY'S POV*

This spoon keeps getting closer, and closer to my face...what's up with that?

Splash!

Oh...that's it...face right in the cereal bowl...grrrreat.

This is not going to be a good day.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Amy asks.

"That's a negative...did you?" I reply.

"No, but I don't have a day job.  I plan on sleeping all day," she replies.

"Screw you," I answer.

"So angry," Zoey says as she shuffles through.

"We have to stop going out like this...what was it, the third night in a row?" Amy asks.

"We're getting too old for this," Zoey says as her dragging feet make it to her bedroom.  She walks in and shuts the door.

"Where did you go off to last night?" I ask Rebecca as she walks in.

"I told you," she starts, "I was at Richard's."

I just nod.  Amy says nothing.

"And by 'at' I mean banging...just for those of us joining this conversation from the short bus." she continues.

"Point received and understood," Amy says.

"Should I be concerned that Richard made me go home?"  Bec asks.

Without missing a beat, Amy and I say, "Yes."

"So you don't think that maybe he just...?" she starts.

"No."
"Well shit," she says.

We finish eating in silence, then everyone goes to sleep but me.  I honestly have no idea how I'm going to function today.

I have a half an hour before I have to leave for work...just enough time for a power nap.

Just as I get comfy and drift off, something startles me awake.

SQUEAK...SQUEAK...SQUEAK SQUEAK!

SQUEAKSQUEAKSQUEAKSQUEAKSQUEAKSQUEAKSQUEAK!

"What the hell?"

I look down and Asker is staring up at me.  Laying beside her is the culprit...her squeaky bone.  Oooh...I might just go off.  I don't want to, but I might not be able to control myself.

Ugh.  It's a good thing you're so cute.

So since my power nap is a bust, I head into work...Kelsey Keagan, here to serve and protect...and hopefully not pass out.

*REBECCA'S POV*

I wake up thinking about Richard.  Maybe I should call him.  Even though he seems like an asshole, I think he's a really good guy.  He has a good job, he makes good money, and he's hot....surely he can't be that much of an asshole, right?

I really do like him...and he's a lot of fun when he's not being a jerk.  He lives right on the water in a nice house that he pretty much built himself...

Interrupting my thoughts is Asker.  She's whining at the door.

"What is it girl?" I ask.

Crap, I'm losing it, what's she gonna tell me?  'Timmy's caught in a well, Bec!'

Damn.

I follow her downstairs and realize what she wants.  Her food bowl is completely empty.

"Ahh, I see," I say, "No one else could be bothered to feed you this morning, huh?  Just remember I'm the only one who doesn't suck.  Really remember that next time you get a craving for someone's shoes."

Even though I got a little sleep earlier, I lay down on the couch to catch a few more winks...I'm so tired, I don't understand it.

I better not be getting sick...ugh...either way, I head off to work...at least I enjoy what I do...as long as I don't pass out and fall on my bass player or something...

A COUPLE HOURS LATER...

*ZOEY'S POV*

I have every intention of sleeping all day, but unfortunately I have to go to the hospital and entertain sick kids.  I go into Amy's room to look for a clean shirt (laundry day came and went without a notice from me) and my phone rings.

It's the Irish Green - that pub we went to - they want me to pick up a shift for them a few hours one night.  What was that about wanting to back off the nightlife?  Damn it...they keep sucking us in!

Ugh...either way...I'm off to entertain sick kids...how, I don't know...my books aren't exactly kid friendly...unless children want to hear some epic, sometimes tragic love stories with steamy sex scenes in them.  Shit, that's probably exactly what they want to hear...but I better not...I don't need any calls from parents.

A FEW HOURS LATER...

*AMY'S POV*

I wake up to the sound of a bell...or something....what the hell is that?

It's a text message from Zoey:
I'm starving.  I think I know why these children are sick...they don't feed them.  I was expecting a pizza party or something...

I text back:
Eeek...bummer...I'll have dinner ready when u get home, k?

Of course, then I get a call from Rebecca...she's between sets.

"I think I'm getting sick," she says, "I am so tired I can't even think straight, let alone sing.  I think I just accidentally sang "Crazy" to the tune of "Blue"

All I can do is say, "Damn, that's rough."

As soon as I get off the phone with Bec, I get another text...this time from Kelsey:
I'm effin' exhausted...sick of work...

There are definite benefits to waking up at 3 in the afternoon.