Finding a New Life Ch. 02-03

"You know why," Lily said, finding her voice.

"My mother?" Tyler asked. Lily nodded. "She certainly isn't going to accuse you of being after my trust fund now," he said sarcastically. Lily snapped her head back up to meet Tyler's gaze head on.

"I don't need your help Ty, I'm doing just fine on my own," Lily snapped.

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Tyler asked, his eyes narrowing. "You should have told me!"

"So you could do what? Pretend I don't exist? Tell me good luck but no thanks?" Lily tried to keep her voice as quiet as possible, but was unable to keep the tears of frustration from welling in her eyes.

"No you silly goose! So that I could be there and help you," Tyler answered, the look on his face softening.

"I don't need help Ty," Lily repeated, sitting down in her chair, suddenly drained. Tyler frowned as he saw the exhaustion on Lily's face.

"You need a day off," Tyler said.

"I have a major project that I'm working on and I can't possibly take a day off until it's finished," Lily protested.

"You're taking a day off," Tyler insisted.

"Damn it Ty, I don't need a day off!" Lily shouted. Lily whirled around. "What!?" she shouted when someone knocked on the door.

Tyler grinned. "I brought backup," he said as the door opened. Greg and Grace stood in the door way, the same look of surprise on both of their faces.

While Lily wasn't overly large, she had a bulge that made it obvious that she was expecting a child.

"I suspected something like this," Greg said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"So this is why you haven't let me come visit," Grace said, her voice full of hurt.

"Guys, I have a lot of work to do," Lily complained.

"You need a day off, and you're going to take it," Tyler said. Lily growled.

"You are not my boss Tyler Douglas Billings!" Lily snapped. Greg hid his grin behind his hand. The girl had spunk and she'd need it.

"I know that, but will you stop and think about yourself and the baby for two minutes? You look like you haven't slept in weeks," Tyler managed to keep his voice calm.

"Fine, I'll take the day off, and I'll go home," Lily said finally, tired of arguing.

"Good, I'll go with you," Tyler said with a grin.

"The hell you will!" Lily shouted.

"Someone has to make sure you're taking it easy," Tyler pointed out.

Grace rolled her eyes.

"I'll go. You and dad can play substitute," Grace said, giving her brother a look that clearly said, "Don't mess with me."

"Oh no you don't! You're just going to lecture me," Lily said.

"No, I won't, at least not today," Grace promised. Reluctantly, Lily allowed Grace to escort her home.

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

"Hello Caro," Lily said with a sigh, holding the door open for the older woman.

"Greg told me you were pregnant," Caroline said, getting right to the point.

"Something you can see for yourself," Lily pointed out.

"What are you planning on doing about it?" Caroline wanted to know.

"I haven't decided yet," Lily answered, popping the large pill she'd been holding into her mouth and chasing it down with a large drink of water. Caroline looked at Lily questioningly and Lily held up the bottle of prenatal vitamins.

"Have you and Ty talked about this?" Caroline asked, surprisingly calm. Lily looked at Caroline in surprise.

"You don't want Ty and I together, remember?" Lily reminded Caroline.

"No, but I don't want my grandchild to live with a single mother either," Caroline pointed out.

"So what do you want?" Lily wanted to know.

"Help you decide what to do about the baby," Caroline answered.

"I won't sell it or have an abortion," Lily said instantly.

"I wasn't suggesting that! I said some things that day and I regret saying them. You're a smart, beautiful young woman, and I'm sorry," Caroline said in a rush.

"But you still don't want me and Ty together," Lily murmured.

"I'll admit, you aren't my first choice, but I've seen how Ty looks at you. He loves you. Promise that you'll talk to Ty before you decide what to do about the baby," Caroline told Lily gently. Lily sighed but nodded. Caroline studied Lily carefully. "You're what, six months?" she asked.

"Almost," Lily answered.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Caroline wanted to know.

"I don't know, the tech couldn't get a clear view," Lily said. Caroline chuckled.

"Neither did Ty. I thought they were both going to be girls," Caroline said with a grin. Lily laughed a little. "Lily, I'm going to go home now. Expect a call from Ty. He won't believe me when I tell him that I haven't maimed, hurt or killed you," Caroline added. Lily grinned.

"Tell him to come over, he can let himself in," Lily said after hesitating. She handed Caroline the spare key. Caroline nodded and offered Lily a smile before showing herself out.

"Lily?" Tyler called as he opened the door. Lily appeared in the doorway between the dining room and the hallway.

"Hey," Lily said shyly, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

"How are you?" Tyler asked, unsure of how he should act and what he should do.

"I'm okay. Tired a lot," Lily murmured, looking down at her hands. Tyler took a few steps forward and took her hands in his.

"You look great," Tyler said. Lily laughed a little.

"I've gained fifteen pounds," she complained. Tyler grinned.

"From what I understand, you're supposed to," he said, tilting Lily's face towards his. "I hear mom paid you a visit," Tyler added.

"I'm fine Ty. Caroline just wanted to talk," Lily said, anticipating his next question. Tyler chuckled.

"What do you want Ty?" Lily asked, pulling away from his grasp.

"To talk for starters," Tyler answered.

"To talk," Lily repeated, heading into the kitchen.

"Yes to talk. You're carrying my child," Tyler said, following Lily.

"Ty, we've never even gone out on a date," Lily murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"That didn't stop us from having sex. Twice," Tyler pointed out with a wry grin.

"Ty, your mother doesn't approve of me," Lily reminded Tyler.

"So what? When have I ever cared about what my mother thinks?" Tyler snapped.

"Bull shit!" Lily exclaimed.

"When have I cared about what my mother thought?" Tyler asked.

"You're going to Yale aren't you?" Lily asked. Tyler nodded. "Did you tell her you wanted to go to Stanford?" Lily wanted to know. Tyler shook his head. "That's just one example. Go to college Ty, enjoy your life," Lily said softly, turning away from him.

"Damn it Lily, don't shut me out!" Tyler exclaimed.

"I don't need your help Ty. And if I ask you to stay, you'll just resent me," Lily murmured. Tyler turned Lily around to face him.

"Does this feel like resentment?" Tyler asked, lowering his lips to hers. Lily pushed him away.

"Leave Ty," Lily pleaded.

"I'm not leaving you to do this alone," Tyler murmured.

"Why?" Lily wanted to know.

"Because you're carrying my child and he or she will need a father," Tyler answered. "And you'll need someone too," he added. Lily bit her lip and looked away. "What's wrong?" Tyler wanted to know, tilting Lily's face up towards his. "Is there some reason you're trying to push me away? Was there someone else?" his questions came out in a rush and Lily made no attempt to confirm or deny Tyler's accusation. "There was someone else wasn't there!? Is the baby even mine?" Tyler asked, his eyes full of rage. Lily looked away again before turning away.

"Unbelievable. My mother was right, you are just a whore," Tyler snapped before storming out of the house. Lily's body shook with the force of her sobs.