A Love from the Past Ch. 12-13

"It hurts though," Shella whimpered.

"I know sweetie," Bill picked up a damp wash cloth and wiped off her face.

"I'm scared, I don't know if I can do this," Shella said nervously.

"You can do this. You have to," Jason said gently.

"And here she is!" the doctor exclaimed as the baby slid into her arms. A loud cry filled the air and Shella closed her eyes in exhaustion and relief.

"Is she okay?" Shella asked.

"She looks perfect," the doctor answered. The baby was handed off to a nurse who cleaned the newborn up and wrapped her in a blanket.

"Would you like to hold her?" the nurse asked. Shella shook her head.

"I'll take her," Billy said. He glanced at Jason, a worried expression on both of their faces as the tiny bundle was placed in his arms.

"She's beautiful," Jason told his sister.

"Are you sure you want to put her up for adoption?" Billy asked.

"I can't take care of a baby, I'm only eighteen," Shella answered.

"Shella, we'll help you if you want to keep her," Jason said.

"She deserves a father and she deserves parents that are in love with each other, not parents that get together out of parental interference," Shella said.

"Shella, this is Josh and Andrea Miller," a social worker introduced a young couple to Shella, Jason and Billy.

"I'm Jason, Shella's brother and this is our friend Billy," Jason told them.

"Where's the father?" Andrea wanted to know.

"He is at his home in Tria. I tried to tell him about the baby, but he refuses to speak to me," Shella said. Everyone turned towards the bassinet when the baby started crying loudly. Shella started to get up out of instinct, but stopped. "Andrea, would you like to get her?" Shella asked. Andrea smiled, walked over to the plastic bassinet and lifted the new baby into her arms.

"She's perfect," Andrea cooed. Shella smiled, even though it felt like her heart was breaking. "Are you sure you want to give her up?" Josh asked.

"I don't want to, but I can't give her the home she deserves. She needs to be taken care of and loved," Shella answered. "I do have two requests before I'll sign away my rights," she added.

"And what might that be?" Paul asked.

"Her paternal grandmother's name was Netalia Rose. I was hoping you would keep the name I chose," Shella began.

"What name did you choose?" Andrea asked.

"Netalia Rosa after her grandmother. She was such a caring woman who was killed before her time. My second request is I will be writing her a letter explaining this. When she is old enough to understand, I would like you to give it to her," Shella said.

"I think we can handle that," Paul agreed.

"Good," Shella murmured. "I'll sign the papers as soon as they are ready," she added.

"Shel, they're ready to go," Jason said gently. Shella nodded, climbed out of bed, pulled her robe around her and lifted the infant out of the bassinet and followed Jason to the hallway. Shella handed the baby off to Andrea and took the forms the social worker handed her. Shella signed the forms and handed them back to the social worker.

"You're all set Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller. You can take your daughter home," the social worker said. Josh and Andrea smiled at each other and Andrea turned to Shella. "Thank you so much," she murmured before securing the baby in an infant car seat and walking away.

Dex and Netalia looked at each other, wide eyed as Jason walked into the living room.

"I see you saw the tape," he murmured.

"I can't believe you recorded all of that," Dex told his friend.

"It's what Shella wanted," Jason said.

"How often did she watch it?" Dex asked.

"Every September thirteenth," Jason answered.

"My birthday," Netalia murmured. Jason nodded.

"Excuse me," Dex said, standing up and leaving the room. He walked into the master bedroom. Shella looked up from her diary, her eyes red and puffy. "I'll see you later kid," Billy said gently. He squeezed her hand and left the room. "I saw the tape," Dex murmured. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone. I should have fought Marty when he called me back to Tria," Dex told her.

"Why? You never wanted to marry me anyway," Shella said bitterly.

"That's because I didn't realize how much I loved you," Dex told her. Shella looked at him, doubt written all over her face. "Get up and get dressed, you and I are going for a walk and we are going to talk. No more hiding behind your job and Paul," Dex said.

"But ..."

"No but. Jason and Billy and Netalia are here. We're going for a walk," Dex said firmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are we doing here?" Shella asked when she saw where they were.

"Talking," Dex answered, sitting down on a swing. "Why did you agree to marry me?" he asked.

"So you didn't have to marry a bitch just after your money," Shella answered.

"Do you feel any affection for me?" Dex asked.

"I've always cared about you Dex. That's why it hurt so much when I couldn't get in touch with you when I found out I was pregnant," Shella answered.

"I wish I had been here," Dex told her.

"But you weren't and we can't change that," Shella said.

"I know." Shella sighed and looked away. "Shel, look at me," Dex murmured.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Shella and Dex looked up to find their old "nemesis" Travis sauntering towards them.

"What do you want Travis?" Dex asked, trying to sound bored but at the same time, he was on full alert.

"It took you an awfully long time to get married, what's the matter Dex, are you unable to satisfy your wife?" Travis sneered.

"That's none of your concern," Dex snapped.

"Are you still a virgin Shella? Do you disgust the Prince that much?" Travis asked.

"No. As a matter of fact, the first time Dex and I made love was on the merry go round over there. And it was earth shattering," Shella interrupted. "And as for what took us so long to get married is that Dex got called back to Tria and I was told I couldn't travel," she added.

"And we would like to continue our pleasant evening," Dex added, standing up and holding his hand out to Shella. She took it and followed him out of the park. "Are you okay?" Dex asked. Shella nodded. "I don't care what he thinks anymore," she answered. Dex grinned, pulled her to him and kissed her gently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How'd you do on your report?" Shella asked Netalia as she came in from school.

"I aced it, thanks to the video," Netalia answered.

"That's great," Shella murmured. "Want to help me with the cookies?" she asked. Netalia nodded and set her book bag down on the chair. Netalia grabbed a round of sugar cookie dough and began rolling it out carefully. "Is something wrong?" Shella asked a few minutes later.

"No, why?" Netalia asked.

"You just seem to be avoiding me," Shella said, setting some cookie cutters down on the counter. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Netalia redistribute her weight. "What's wrong?" Shella wanted to know.

"I keep getting the feeling that you don't want me here," Netalia said finally.

"That isn't true Netalia. I always wanted you. You were my last link, or so I thought at the time to your dad, but I was scared. I'd never had a job, never been made to do anything for myself except my school work," Shella murmured.

"But Jason and his parents were willing to help you," Netalia reminded her mother.

"Netalia, I was seventeen. Things seem so clear now, but when you're going through it, it's cloudy and terrifying. Despite Jason and his parents being there, they had know real way of knowing what I was thinking or feeling. Sure, Bev's had kids, but Bev and Steve had been married for almost five years when they had Jason. I hope you never have to go through what I went through," Shella said softly.

"I can guarantee she won't. I'll believe and trust anything she says, provided she hasn't given me a reason not to trust her," Dex said, walking into the kitchen as Netalia put the last cookie onto the sheet and popped it into the oven.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

-Months later-

"It's almost been a year. Do you have an answer for me?" Dex said as he watched Shella decorate Paul's first birthday cake. Shella nodded, not looking up from her piping bag. "What is it?" Dex asked impatiently.

"I'll tell you tonight after the party," Shella said, adding the final letter to Paul. Dex sighed, grabbed a bottle of water and walked out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"He's out," Dex said, walking into the living room, where he had left Shella nearly a half hour before. Shella wasn't in the living room, but there was a piece of folded paper on the coffee table. Dex picked it up and read it and grinned, dropped the note and hurried out of the room.

"Took you long enough," Shella said, as Dex walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Sorry, the boy didn't want to go to sleep," Dex apologized.

"It's okay," Shella said with a sly smile.

"What are you up to?" he asked. Shella grinned again and slid the covers off of her slowly. "Are you sure?" Dex wanted to know.

"I'm sure." Dex slid into bed next to her and slid a finger deep inside her.

"I'll say," he said with a laugh. Shella rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him as her legs fell apart. She moaned softly as Dex thrust deep inside her. She met him thrust for thrust and moaned again when he suckled a breast gently. They were so in tune with each other that neither of them heard the door open.

"Um, guys?" Netalia asked from the doorway. Dex held himself as still as he could as he reached back to pull the covers over them. "There's a guy here, his name is Sebastian," Netalia said, covering her eyes with her hands. Dex swore loudly and Shella giggled.

"We'll be right out," Dex said finally. "And be nice to him, he's your grandfather," he added.

"He told me to wait for you," Netalia said.

"Netalia, go out and tell him that we will be there in a minute," Shella told her.

"Okay," Netalia said, backing out of the room quickly.

"My father's timing is impeccable," Dex groaned, pulling away from Shella.

"Is it a crime to want to strangle him?" Shella asked with a grin. Dex laughed.

"Normally yes, but at this moment, no," he answered.

"Sebastian, it's good to see you," Shella said when she and Dex walked into the living room.

"So you say for a fact that this girl here is my granddaughter?" Sebastian asked. Shella and Dex glanced at each other.

"I'm know she is," Shella answered. "Netalia, why don't you go start some coffee?" Shella suggested. Netalia nodded and headed off to the kitchen.

"Very blunt dad as usual," Dex said.

"I heard from your dad Shella Lynn. He told us that you were no longer a virgin, and that you were pregnant," Sebastian said.

"Yes, all of that is true, but had my father relayed what I had told him, you would have sent Dex back for a paternity test," Shella argued.

"No I would not have." Shella looked at Sebastian through narrowed eyes. She had always liked Dex's father, found him to be a very patient, understanding and fair man; was she about to be proven wrong? "I have known you since you were a child, and even as a young girl, you never lied about anything. Had your father relayed your message that Dex was the father, I would have asked Dex if it were possible, just to make sure and then I would have kicked his ass back here and had the wedding immediately," Sebastian finished. Shella breathed a sigh of relief as Netalia was hurried back into the living room.

"Nancy told me she'd make the coffee," Netalia said.

"Hello young lady," Sebastian introduced himself.

"Do you believe them?" Netalia asked bluntly. Dex had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.

"Yes, missy, I do. You may look so much like your mother, but you have your father's eyes. He got lucky and got them from his mother," Sebastian said.

"Your name sake," Dex added.

"Your name is Netalia?" Sebastian asked.

"Netalia Rosa," she confirmed. Sebastian smiled at Netalia and then at Shella.

"She would be proud of you," he told Netalia. He turned to Shella. "Get your parents over here, I haven't seen them in fifteen years," Sebastian said.

"I don't talk to my parents," Shella murmured. Netalia faked a yawn.

"I have early band rehearsal tomorrow, good night," she said quickly before practically running out of the room.

"Why don't you speak to your parents?" Sebastian wanted to know.

"They didn't believe me when I said Dex was Netalia's father," Shella answered.

"I'm sure that's not true," Sebastian tried to defend his old friend.

"He threw me out! Literally! I had bruises around my arm for two weeks!" Shella exclaimed.

"I've seen the pictures," Dex confirmed. Shella looked surprise.

"Jason has a big mouth," she said with a sigh.

"I wondered why none of your friends contacted you after you came back from Tria, but Shella, why didn't you call Dex yourself?" Sebastian wanted to know.

"I tried. Marty told me Dex didn't want to talk to me," Shella answered.

"So that's why you made him go with Leena," Sebastian said. Dex nodded. A loud wail filtered through the baby monitor and Shella sighed slightly.

"I'll be right back," she murmured before heading up the stairs.

"I think you'd better tell me what's going on," Sebastian told his son. With a sigh, Dex told his father about what had happened in the last year. He had just finished when Shella returned to the room carrying a cranky Paul.

"He's teething," Shella told Dex.

"Poor kid," Sebastian said.

"How do you know?" Dex asked. Shella held up her hand where small marks were just visible. "Oh."

~~~~~~~~~

"Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you," Shella asked.

"Sure. Oh, this came for you," Dex said, handing Shella a large envelope.

"It's from Harry and Marie," Shella murmured, tearing it open. She gasped when she read the contents.

"What's wrong?" Dex wanted to know.

"They're suing for custody unless I agree to leave you," Shella answered.

"What?" Dex asked.

"They don't believe I waited the proper amount of time before marrying you and they want me to publicly separate from you or they'll take Paul from me," Shella said.

"They can't do that. You aren't putting him in any danger, nor are you required to wait three years before getting into a relationship with someone else! This isn't the 1800s!" Dex exclaimed.

"He's my son Dex, I don't want to risk losing him," Shella murmured. Dex stood up from behind his desk, walked around the desk and grabbed her gently by the arms.

"Listen to me Shella Lynn Hansen Thorne. I love you and I'm not going to lose you because your former in-laws think you should mourn Paul's desk until you wither away and die!" Dex told her. Shella smiled slightly. "That's what I needed to hear," she said.

"Now what did you need to talk to me about?" Dex asked.

"It can wait," Shella said.

"Shel, you know I hate waiting for things," Dex whined.

"Well, you'll just have to learn, won't you," Shella teased. Before Dex could think of a come back, Darius knocked on the door.

"Some of Netalia's old friends are wanting to meet her birth parents," Darius told them.

"I'm about done here anyway," Dex said.

"I'll meet you at the house, I need to use the bathroom," Shella told Darius. Dex glanced back at Shella and frowned when he noticed she had paled quite visibly. "I'm okay Dex," she assured him. Dex nodded and followed Darius to the living quarters, on the other side of the embassy while Shella slipped into the bathroom.

~~~~~~~

"And what is this, a pre-teen invasion?" Dex asked with a grin as he walked into the living room.

"These are my friends. Stacey, Melissa, Carter, Lucy and Stevie," Netalia introduced. Dex's eyes narrowed when he saw the dreaminess of Netalia's voice when she said Carter.

"Are you really a prince?" Lucy asked.

"Yes. I was born in Tria, but I lived here for most of my life," Dex answered.

"Where the hell is Tria?" Stevie asked. Dex's eyes narrowed again and he frowned at the kid. "Sorry," Stevie apologized.

"Tria is a small island near Elba. Most people have never heard of it, but that's okay," Dex answered. Shella walked into the room with a can of Sprite.

"Wow Neta, you look just like her," Melissa blurted out. Shella glanced at Dex and gave him a small smile.

"How old were you when you had Netalia?" Lucy wanted to know.

"Lucy!" Netalia exclaimed.

"It's okay." Shella sat down on the couch. "Seventeen," she answered. Dex sat down next to Shella and the kids plopped down on the floor.

"My sister saw you in an old edition of Seventeen magazine," Melissa told Dex.

"Oh?" Dex asked.

"She pinned it up on her wall and said if you and Shella ever broke up, she'd be there to lick your wounds," Melissa said. Shella and Dex looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"I knew you would be considered a heart throb," Shella teased.

"Hey now, would be?" Dex kidded back.

"They act like they're still kids," Carter whispered.

"I'm only twenty eight," Shella pointed out.

"So how did you kids get here?" Dex wanted to know.

"My sister dropped me off," Melissa answered.

~~~~~~~~~

"Wow who would have thought a group of ten and eleven year old kids could be that hyper," Dex groaned later that night. Shella laughed. "Hey, are you sure you're okay? You've been very quiet today," Dex murmured.

"I'm okay," Shella answered.

"Where did you go this morning?" Dex wanted to know.

"To see Billy." Dex sat up and stared at her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing. I just needed him to confirm something for me," Shella answered.

"What?" Dex asked, growing impatient.

"Let me ask you something first. How many children do you want?" Shella asked.

"Why?" Dex wanted to know.

"Just answer the question," Shella said impatiently.

"I don't know, a few," Dex answered. "Why?"

"Because I'm late," Shella said, stretching out on her side.

"Late?" Dex repeated.

"Late," Shella confirmed.

"Late for what?" Dex asked. Shella slapped her hand against her forehead.

"Late for my monthly visitor," Shella said dryly.

"Really? How late?" Dex asked.

"Nine weeks," Shella answered. Dex sat up and stared at her.

"We're pregnant?" Dex asked.

"There's no we in a pregnancy," Shella reminded him. He gave her a pointed look. "But yes, I am pregnant. Eleven weeks pregnant," Shella added. She studied Dex's face carefully. "Are you okay with this?" she asked, unable to read the look on his face.

"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?" Dex wanted to know.

"We're just getting used to the parent thing with Netalia and we have Paul," Shella murmured.

"What do I have to do to prove to you that I think you're beautiful and that I'm head over heels in love with you?" Dex asked.

"Show me," Shella taunted, her voice quiet. Dex laughed and pulled her to him.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Dex asked. Shella resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Billy said as long as we're not overly rough, everything will be fine," Shella assured him.

-2 weeks later-

"Oh my God, Shella, are you watching tv?" Kara asked.

"No, I just got Paul down for a nap and I was looking forward to some peace and quiet," Shella answered.

"Turn on CBLC!" Kara insisted. Shella reached for the remote and flipped on the suggested channel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is Miriam Lange with Prince Dexter of Tria. Thank you again for joining us your highness," Miriam said.

"It is my pleasure Miriam, and please, call me Dex," he told her.

"Well, Dex, it's been quite a long time since you've been anywhere near the media. What has your life been like in the past decade?" Miriam asked.

"The second to last time I was anywhere near cameras or microphones was when my mother was run down by a drunk driver. I was very angry and said some awful things about society and the man who was driving the car. I've grown up a lot since then. My life has been a wild and crazy roller coaster," Dex said.