- TIME HOP! -
***************
*Two months later*
Cassidy's P.O.V.
"I'm not ready to be a dad!"
Jordan yelled after finding out that Journey was pregnant.
"You should've wrapped it up then." I laughed.
"Cassie I'm serious! What the hell am I gonna do?!?!"
"Relax Jordan. You're gonna be a great dad thats what you're gonna do."
"I can barely take care of myself...."
"You'll learn. I promise. Stop freaking out. You have a little sister that you always used to take care of."
"Liliana hates me! She doesn't even talk to me!"
"Well then..... Uh.... Um.... Just stop freaking out you'll be fine." I assured him.
He sat on the couch and put his head in his hands.
"I can't do this."
"J you can't stress yourself out over this. You're gonna be a dad and you're gonna have to accept that. There's no way I'm letting you abandon your kid. Look at me, I'm 6 months pregnant with twins and I'm as happy as can be. Think of it this way, at least our kids can grow up and be as close as we are." I smiled.
He nodded his head and laid back as I laid my head on his shoulder and I wrapped my arm around his. We sat in silence for a while still trying to process everything.
"I can't believe we're growing up so fast." He said. "I honestly didn't think the day we'd be having kids would come so soon."
"I know." I replied. "It seems like just yesterday we were 4 years old and running from Xander, Max, and your brother Joey who were chasing us with water hoses."
"And telling Riley and Madison scary stories then getting in trouble by your mom because they were too afraid to go to sleep."
"Man I miss those days." I laughed.
"Me too. Now we're about to be parents. Everything's about to change for us."
"We'll get through it together." I said. "We've got this. We're not weak bitches."
"We're strong motherfuckers." He added.
We chuckled and continued talking about what things were gonna be like now that we were both about to be parents when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"I got it." J said as he stood up to answer it.
When he opened it, Legend, Max, Lindsay, AJ, Sonny and Ryan walked in.
We'd gotten pretty close with Sonny and Ryan over the past few months and now they basically were part of the group. In fact Ryan was seriously like the gay older brother that I'd always wanted just because they tend to give the best advice on everything ESPECIALLY when it comes to guys.
"Hey future Dad!" Lindsay excitedly hugged J. "Congratulations!"
Max and I told Lindsay a month ago about us having sex. But she wasnt mad, in fact she kinda knew already. She even knows that Max might be the father of my kids. However, we agreed to let the past be the past but that was really hard.
"How are you doing mama?" Ryan asked as he sat next to me and put his hand on my belly that clearly showed I was having more than just one kid. "You look like you're abouta pop already."
"Well I felt Meadow kick for the first time 4 days ago when I was getting my ultrasound."
"How cute." Sonny giggled.
"And Kaiser?" Legend asked.
"I felt Kaiser kick for the first time when I was just two months pregnant. He moves a lot now. Dr. Jenner says that he's a lot more active than a baby should be during this part of my pregnancy to the point where its a bit unbelieveable."
"He's definitely gonna be a handful." Sonny stated.
"So how are you and River?" Lindsay asked with an uneasy expression on her face.
I really didn't wanna answer that but I also didnt want to make it awkward by not answering.
"We're uh... We're still on a break. I havent seen him in two weeks but he calls me every night to check up on me and babies."
Since summer started I hadn't seen River at all. I missed him so much.
"I'm sorry he's doing this to you Cass." Legend apologized. "He really does wanna be with you he just has to work on himself first. I promise he still cares about you."
"Then why wont he even tell me where he is? Whenever I ask he changes the subject."
"He's in southern Minnesota... About 5 hours from here." Max said.
"Why?" Both Lindsay and I asked.
"He can tell you why. Its not my business to tell."
Before the summer started River told me I could come over to his place whenever I wanted. He even gave me a key. So I went over every day to check on Rome and Grayson who were being watched by Maracel while he was gone.
Allison didnt live there anymore. River got the divorce finalized and she moved out two days later. They went to court over Rome but the judge decided that he'd let Rome live with whoever he wanted to. So he chose River.
My dad is still pretty mad at me because I waited so long to tell him that I was pregnant but he'll get over it eventually. Danny and Xander were a bit angry at first too but they've come to terms with it.
Meanwhile Riley can't wait to be an uncle. Its really cute how ready he is. When my parents told him that I was pregnant he said that he already knew because he went through my stuff and found the pregnancy tests the day I bought them. Little twit. He and Xander are supposed to be staying with us for the summer because Xander's job is sending him up to work at the same hospital that River works at for more training to become a lead surgeon.
"So when are you due?" AJ asked.
"Late September/October."
"That's not too far away. Are you ready for this?" Asked Ryan.
"I don't know. But I don't have a choice." I replied.
"Don't worry, you have all of us to help you. We can all be like Co-parents for the twins." Legend joked.
"I'll even babysit for you." Sonny added. "You too Jordan."
"Aww thanks guys." I smiled. It was nice knowing that I had all of them to help me through this.
"Yea you probably shouldn't ever have me babysit your kids." Ryan added.
"Why not?" I asked.
Sonny looked at me with nothing but pure sternness. "Ryan will have your kids calling people hoe ass bitches before they even turn 1."
We all giggled, even Ryan because he knew it was true.
"So when are Riley and Xander supposed to be here?" Asked Max.
"Tomorrow evening. Their plane gets here at 7. Speaking of which, there's something I need to tell you and J."
They both looked at me as if I'd already disappointed them.
And I was sure that look wouldn't change once I actually told them.
"So..." I began. "I told Xander to bring Madison and Liliana too."
Their expressions worsened.
"Why would you do that?!?!" Max yelled.
"Because you two need to develop better relationships with your little sisters!"
"No, we dont!" Jordan argued.
"Guys, you two dont even talk to your sisters. Even when we were in Colorado, Max you only argued with Madison the whole time and Jordan you didn't even talk to Liliana. How do you think they feel? It sucks like hell to think that your big brother doesn't care about you. I should know because that's exactly how I felt with Daniel. He never showed me that he cared about me so I always felt like he wanted nothing to do with me which is why we never got along. Not until he and I opened up to eachother. You two need to show your sisters that you care."
"Maddie knows I care about her. You shouldn't have invited her here Cassidy. Nor should you have invited Riley and Liliana." Max said a with a bit of aggression.
"Why not?"
"Because its not safe here!" He snapped. "Its not safe for any of you! Mark is still out there! Why do you think I've been coming over so much lately?! You think its just because I want to? No! Its because I'm terrified that one day Mark is gonna show up here or at Lindsay's place or at A.J.'s place and hurt one of you! Why do you think River doesn't come over anymore? Why do you think he only calls you late at night? Why do you think he broke up with you in the first place?!"
I stood up and slapped him straight across the face as hard as I could which shocked him more than it hurt him.
He continued staring at the ground in silence with his hand on his cheek. Standing in disbelief.
"Don't bring my relationship with River into this Maxwell." I demanded. "It has nothing to do with what you're talking about."
"Oh yea?" He asked. "River didn't break up with you because you were afraid of him even though that's what he told you. No, he broke up with you because he didn't want you to get hurt. He didn't want Mark to get his hands on you. He doesn't want MARK to know that you even exist. And he doesn't plan on getting back together with you until Mark is dead. But you see, Mark's a smart guy. He's gonna find out about you eventually. And he's gonna come after you. Not just you but Lindsay as well. And Jordan.... And AJ.... And Journey.... Legend.... Allison.... Rome.... Grayson.... Like I said, none of you are safe. River and I can only do so much to protect you guys even if it means giving our own lives. The rest is out of our hands. I don't want Madison in this. I already have to worry about you."
"No you don't. I can keep myself safe. I don't need you worrying about me."
"No, you can't. You don't know the people from Blairwood like we do. The majority of them hold federal positions now. Its hard to keep yourself safe from people that powerful."
I could tell he was becoming irritated but so was I. Why was he acting so weird?
"Max I'm not a kid! You don't have to look after me every second of the day!"
"Yes I do Cassidy!"
"Why??!!"
"Because I still fucking love you!"
That changed the mood extremely fast. Now it was my turn to stare in disbelief.
I looked over at Lindsay who had the same expression on her face.
So did everyone else.
"I still want you. Its ridiculous how crazy I am about you. I would do anything just to be with you. But I know that's not gonna happen because you're still chasing after River. You'd never have to chase after me because I'd never go anywhere. Not without you."
He stepped closer and caressed my cheek in his hand. Then he leaned down, and he kissed me... And I didn't stop him.
I didn't even know what to say. I literally couldn't think of anything.
"Lindsay I'm sorry." He apologized. "I'm sorry you had to hear this. But I can't keep pretending."
She didn't know what to say either. She had the same shocked expression that we all did.
I honestly thought that Max was over me. But his confession made me realize two things...
1.) He wasn't over me.
And
2.)..... I wasn't over him.