The Ways Of Parenting! ~sequel to Count down to Mrs. Styles!..

Chapter nine: The dummies guide for what to do when all hell breaks loose.

(Stephanie's POV)

"Quit being a baby and grow a pair." I said half-hearted to my boyfriend of three-months. Honestly, I understood how worried he was but really? Did he have to stay curled up under the couch in the living room of his apartment watching the Adams Family Values?

He was smarter than me for Pete's sake, so he'd be able to think of something if things got to awkward. I mean what's the worst that could happen?

'Dad wouldn't cut of his big ben would he? I mean if he ever wants grandkids that are highly intelligent then he'd better not...' I thought with a shudder then blushed. Okay, I did NOT just think that. I knew for a fact that not all of my family would be there. I made sure of that, I didn't want to feed him to the wolves yet.

Only Mom, Dad, Darcy, Prim, Baby Carrot, Uncle Louis, Aunt El, Uncle Zayn, Aunt Morgan, Uncle Niall, Aunt Emma, and Uncle Liam were all going to be there. Everyone else was grounded. Baby Carrot was, on probation for saying some vulgar words last night at dinner. Aunt Dani would've come but she's traveling around on tour as a backup dancer with some band for the next year and a half.

After the football game dad had been upset, but after I explained everything he'd been more or less okay with it. Mom on the other hand had been elated. I blamed my grandmas.

I am completely honest with you in this next sentence, with all my heart every time I think about it my heart breaks.

Darcy and I have grown apart because she is green with envy.

I love her with all my heart; she is my sister through thick and thin. Even if she hates me, I can't hate her. I'm not that kind of person, you know?

But she can be a spoiled brat; a self-centered little brat.

The minute I stepped through my door after I had convinced Dad that my dating Jayden was purely innocent (at which he countered, "Steph I was 15 once too. Innocent and pure weren't the things on my mind then!" After that statement he was hit over the head by mom, lectured by Liam, and convinced by mom, Liam, and I that everything would be okay but we agreed that if he hurt me dad got to go at him with the band) and decided that I was doing everything to spite her.

Don't you love the way she acts younger than me sometimes? Isn't it the cutest?

If you didn't notice, I was being sarcastic.

Slowly things were going to hell.

"Steph?" I looked into Jayden's eyes.

Maybe, just maybe life wasn't so bad after all... I knew I loved him, honestly loved him. I had asked my mom, "How did you feel when you knew you loved dad?"

Let's just say that mom talked for hours, I was an avid listener and made a mental check list and pretty much all of her symptoms of the love bug I found myself having.

"Stop worrying about your sister." He said seriously. He, by now was sitting on the couch, and pulled me next to him. I sighed; the simple act of his hug spoke a thousand words. I buried my face in his shoulder and he played with the ends of my hair. Over the years it had become a bit more tame and wavy, but it had its PMS days were it was curly and refused to listen and cooperate with me.

"Thanks Jayden. You stop worrying about this dinner; they'll love you as much as I do. God, the way you make it sound as if you're going to ask for my hand in marriage!" I said while standing up and walking towards his room while he laughed.

"Well, not yet." He joked.

"Of course," I rolled my eyes, but I was blushing crimson he was behind me so he couldn't see. "Anyway my family is just like me so you'll fit in perfectly." I turned and smiled at him.