Finding a New Life Ch. 29-30

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

"Ty, are you sure you can handle this?" Lily asked. Three days had past since Lily had received the letter from Emma and Tyler was loading a few duffel bags into the back of Lily's Jeep.

"I can handle the kids and the house and working," Tyler promised.

"Are you sure?" Lily asked again.

"Mia's almost done with school and she and Catie are great with Nasya. Go and help Em for a few days," Tyler assured her. Lily smiled and gave Tyler a tight hug before he captured her lips with his.

"You keep that up and I won't make it out of the driveway," she said with a grin. Tyler chuckled.

"Go. Call me when you get there," Tyler said reluctantly. Lily smiled, kissed him once more, got in the car and drove away.

"Ty." Tyler waited until he could no longer see the Jeep before turning to his brother in law.

"You're a huge pain in the ass, you know that right?" Tyler asked.

"Yes. Where's Lily going? Did you guys have a fight?" Eli wanted to know.

"No, we didn't have a fight. She's going to do what you should be doing. She's going to take care of Emma until she's better," Tyler answered, walking away.

"What does Emma have?" Eli asked.

"Do you care?" Tyler retorted.

"I don't want Emma to die," Eli said.

"What about the baby?" Tyler inquired.

"I'm not such a horrible person that I would want anything bad happen to a baby," Eli reminded his brother in law.

"Then why the fuck are you sitting in my kitchen and my wife is driving to the hospital to make sure the mother of YOUR CHILD is okay?" Tyler growled.

"Because my sister is a better person than I am. And she can't turn off mommy mode," Eli answered. Tyler stared at Eli for a moment before he burst out laughing.

"You're right about both parts of that answer," Tyler said after he managed to quit laughing.

"So what does Emma have?" Eli asked again.

"Toxoplasmosis. She got it from cleaning out the damn cat litter box," Tyler answered.

"How serious is it?" Eli wanted to know.

"Go find out yourself for fucks sake!" Tyler exclaimed.

"Dad, seriously, you're going to teach Nasya bad habits," Mia scolded.

"Your sister is only a year old," Tyler said with a chuckle.

"She's smart," Mia retorted. Tyler grinned.

"Yes, she is. Have you decided what you're going to do about Julliard?" Tyler wanted to know.

"I want to go. John got accepted into NYU so we'll still be able to see each other," Mia answered.

"How close are you and John getting?" Eli asked.

"That's none of your business. But I can say this without any doubt: if I were pregnant, John wouldn't have thrown me out," Mia retorted.

"You'd so better not be pregnant," Tyler warned. Mia giggled.

"I told him I'm waiting for a ring," Mia assured her father.

"You'd better wait until I'm dead," Tyler said. Eli laughed.

"She's her mother's daughter, there's no chance of that," Eli said. Tyler turned and gave Eli a dirty look.

"I'm pissed enough at you right now Eli," Tyler told him.

"You left Lily when she was pregnant with Mia," Eli reminded Tyler.

"She told me that I wasn't the father, and yes, I should have known better, but I was only nineteen," Tyler answered.

"Okay seriously, both of you need to grow up." Mia turned from her father to her uncle. "You're both acting like you're twelve. What dad did happened eighteen years ago, uncle Eli, what you're doing is happening now. You've survived Cancer and so have I. I want children and just because I run the risk of passing on Cancer to my future children doesn't mean that I'm not going to have them some day. Obviously not any time soon, I want to dance, but you, you have a choice and you need to make it now. You love Emma and you're having a baby with her. Now grow up, get the stick up your ass and go make amends or by God, I'll shove that stick so far up your ass that when I pull it out, your prostate and colon will come out with it!" Mia exclaimed, grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and ran out the back door.

Tyler and Eli looked at each other, their faces mirror images, the shock plain to see.

"That is most definitely Lily's daughter," Eli said.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks for coming Lil," Emma said as Lily walked into the hospital room.

"No problem. How are you feeling?" Lily murmured.

"Okay, a lot better since they started me on the antibiotics," Emma answered.

"Good. I told Eli about you being in the hospital, but I don't know what he's going to do," Lily murmured.

"I'll make it easy on him. If he doesn't come to see me in the next few weeks, then we're done, and there's nothing he could say or do to change that," Emma said.

Lily sighed and shook her head. "I swear my brother needs a hit upside the head," Lily grumbled.

"He's worried about passing on the cancer gene, I can't blame him for that," Emma said softly.

"Yeah, well, going about it this way is stupid," Lily groused.

"I agree," Emma sighed.

-2 months later-

"Emma!" Eli called. Emma turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.

"What do you want Eli?" Emma asked tiredly.

"To talk," Eli said. Emma unlocked the door to her apartment and let Eli in. "Cute apartment. Is this where you lived before we got back together?" Eli asked.

"Yes. Is there something I can do for you?" Emma wanted to know, sitting down on the couch.

"We need to talk. I read your letter more times than I can remember, trying to figure out how to talk to you," Eli said.

"So talk," Emma crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm an idiot," Eli began.

"Yes," Emma agreed, pushing herself off the couch.

"You okay?" Eli asked.

"Do you care?" Emma countered, opening up the refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of water.

"Yes. I know it doesn't seem like it, but yes, I do care about you and the baby," Eli said.

"You have a funny way of showing it," Emma commented.

"I know and I'm sorry," Eli said. Emma took a swig of water and as she went to recap the bottle, it tipped and water spilled all over her top.

"Damn it," Emma growled, putting the bottle on the counter. "I'll be right back," she muttered, heading towards her bedroom. Eli stayed where he was sitting, but turned to follow her with his eyes. A loud thump had him standing up. "Em, you okay?" Eli asked, walking back towards the bedroom.

"I'm fine. I just dropped something," Emma answered, pulling on a new tee shirt. "Eli, what are you staring at?" Emma wanted to know.

"You look beautiful," Eli murmured, brushing his thumb over her cheek. He looked around. "Where's Piglet?" he asked, referring to Emma's calico.

"I had to surrender him," Emma answered.

"Because of the toxoplasmosis?" Eli asked.

"Yes." Emma tried to push past him but he stood in her way.

"Emma, I'm sorry," Eli murmured.

"Then prove it, but we aren't rushing this," Emma said firmly.

"How much time before the baby comes?" Eli asked.

"Another three months to my due date, but it could be earlier or later than that," Emma answered. "Now move Eli," she added, trying to push past him again.

"Where do I sleep?" Eli asked. Emma looked at him sharply.

"Not here," Emma said.

"You shouldn't be alone," Eli protested.

"And you aren't moving in here Eli, all you'll do is stress me out," Emma said. Eli could tell from the look in her eyes that she was serious and that there was no changing her mind.

"Can I stay tonight at least? It's kinda late and it's a long drive," Eli asked. Emma sighed but nodded.

"I"ll make up the couch for you," she told him.

~~~~~~~~~

Eli woke up and sat up, listening. He stood up and headed towards Emma's room. "You okay?" he asked after knocking on the door.

"I'm okay," Emma answered. Eli frowned, he could hear the tenseness in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Eli asked.

"I have a cramp in my leg," Emma answered, wincing as she stretched her leg out. Eli walked into the room, sat down and reached for her leg, massaging gently. Emma winced and tried to pull her leg away. "Em, relax," Eli said. Emma sighed and tried to relax. "Close your eyes and imagine you're sitting in your favorite vacation spot," Eli suggested. Emma began to relax and sighed with relief as the cramp faded away. "Better?" Eli asked.

"Much," Emma murmured. Eli moved his hands from her leg but made no attempt to get off of the bed and they sat there in silence for several minutes. "Eli give me your hand," Emma said softly. Eli looked at her puzzled. "Trust me." Eli held his hand out to Emma who scooted closer to him and placed his hand on her abdomen.

His eyes widened and met hers. "Wow," he breathed. They sat there, Eli's hand on her abdomen until Emma's eyes closed. Eli gently pushed her back among the pillows and covered her up with the comforter. He hesitantly placed a kiss to her lips before tiptoeing back to the living room.

"John, where are we going?" Mia wanted to know, struggling to see past the blindfold that rested over her eyes.

"You'll see," John promised with a grin. Mia pouted but allowed him to lead her away. When they finally came to a stop, John pulled off the blindfold. Mia gasped when she saw the waterfall in front of them.

"We're at Tahquamenon Falls?" Mia breathed.

"You said you wanted to come here and that you haven't been able to," John said with a smile. He took her hand and they took the ocean of steps down to the falls where John pulled out a homemade quilt and box of food from his backpack.

"John, it's so beautiful here," Mia breathed. John smiled.

"I see something more beautiful then the falls," John said.

"What?" Mia asked, open a container of apple slices.

"You," John whispered. He leaned across the blanket and covered her lips with his. Mia blushed as she kissed him back. "I love you Mia," he murmured, trailing kisses down her neck before nibbling on her collarbone.

"I love you too," Mia said before pushing him away. John sighed but handed her a sandwich. "So why'd you bring me here?" Mia wanted to know.

"I wanted to take you somewhere special," John answered. Mia smiled and took a bite of the sandwich. When they finished eating, they put the containers back in the bag and settled back, Mia in John's arms and watched the waterfall.

"Mia?" he asked after a few minutes.

"Hmm?" Mia sighed.

John swallowed. "I need to ask you something. Please don't say anything until I ask it." He pulled away from Mia and sat a few inches away. Mia smiled at John and waited for him to ask his question. John cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Mia, I love you, and I know we're both just barely eighteen, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Mia's eyes widened as John's hand fumbled around in the smaller pocket on his back pack and she gasped loudly when he pulled out a small velvet box. "Mia, will you marry me?" John finally asked, cracking open the box to reveal a dainty diamond and sapphire ring.

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

"Eli, can you reach that bowl for me?" Emma asked after struggling for a few moments to grab a large mixing bowl from the top shelf. Eli nodded and reached up on his tip toes and pulled it down.

"What did you do before I started coming every day?" Eli asked.

""Climbed up on the counter," Emma answered with a grin. Eli chuckled and handed her the bowl.

"What are you making?" he wanted to know.

"Cookies," Emma answered.

"Yum," Eli said with a grin. Emma nodded. "How are you feeling?" he wanted to know.

"Pretty good. I have a doctor's appointment later, would you like to come?" Emma murmured.

"I would, but I can't. I have to get back to the office, big meeting," Eli said with a sigh.

Emma kept her face neutral. "I'm sorry Em, I really want to go, but I can't," Eli added.

"I understand," Emma said quietly. She turned to leave the kitchen and he grabbed her arm.

"Em, look at me," Eli said. Emma turned her face towards his. "The board is having a meeting that's been on the books for almost six months. Let me know when your next appointment is and I'll put it on my calender and take the day off," Eli promised. Emma brightened.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Want some help making the cookies before I leave?" Eli asked. Emma nodded and they went to work.

CHAPTER THIRTY

"Mia, what's going on?" Lily wanted to know as she walked back into the living room from putting Nasya down for the night. Catie and David sat on the floor playing a game of monopoly and both looked up curiously at their sister.

"John asked me to marry him," Mia said, her stomach in knots.

"Are you pregnant?" Tyler asked.

"No! We haven't even had sex," Mia answered with a blush.

"I'm glad to hear it," Tyler mumbled.

"What'd you say?" Catie asked.

"I told him yes," Mia said slowly.

"You just turned eighteen, aren't you a little young to be getting married?" Tyler asked.

"You knocked mom up when she was eighteen; wasn't that a little too young to get pregnant?" Mia asked sweetly. Lily had to hide her grin behind her hand.

"That's beside the point young lady," Tyler said warningly. Lily couldn't contain it any longer and she began to laugh. "What's so funny?" Tyler asked, turning to look at his wife.

Lily took a deep breath, hoping to get her laughter under control.

"The fact that you're lecturing your daughter about getting engaged at eighteen when she's right, when I was her age, I was pregnant," Lily said. Tyler rolled his eyes.

"You should be lucky she isn't, I've seen how John looks at Mia," David piped up.

"You aren't helping little brother," Mia growled.

"Besides, he's the love of her life, he's supposed to look at her like that," Catie chimed in.

"I still think you're too young and besides, children usually follow marriage and you're too young for that," Tyler protested.

Mia rolled her eyes and exchanged a look with her mother. "I'm not going to get pregnant dad, not for awhile at least," Mia said.

"Unless you don't have sex until you're ready, you can't promise that," Tyler said.

"I'm on the pill dad," Mia admitted.

Tyler's eyes narrowed. "So you've thought about having sex with John," he said slowly.

"I'm eighteen dad, and I love him, so yes, I've thought about having sex with John, but I haven't. Not because I haven't wanted to, but because I wasn't ready and I didn't want to risk having a baby before I've had a chance to have a dancing career," Mia told her father.

"How long have you been on the pill?" Tyler wanted to know.

"I had Mia's doctor put her on birth control about six months ago, when I saw how serious they were becoming," Lily piped up. The doorbell rang and Mia ran to answer it.

"Good timing," Mia said, pulling John into the living room.

"I hear you want to have sex with my sister," David said.

"David!" Tyler and Lily scolded.

"Umm ..." John stood there like a deer caught in headlights.

"Do you?" Tyler asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Will you kill me if I answered yes to that question?" John wanted to know. Tyler laughed.

"No. I remember what it was like to be eighteen," Tyler said.

"Then, yes, I'd like to, but she's made it perfectly clear that it isn't going to happen any time soon, and that's fine with me," John answered. Mia's face was bright pink and she gave her mother a pleading look.

"That's enough boys. David, your sister is an adult, if she wants to have sex, that's her choice and Ty, she isn't a baby anymore, try to remember that," Lily intervened. She turned to her daughter. "Are you going out tonight?" she asked.

"If that's okay," Mia answered.

"That's fine, just don't be out too late, we have Emma's baby shower tomorrow morning," Lily answered. She gave Mia a hug. "Mia." She turned back around to face her mother. "If you guys do have sex, please use a condom," Lily said. Mia blushed again but nodded and hurried John out of the house.

~~~~~~~~

Eli sat in the chair of the office while Emma sat on the exam table in a gown, waiting for the doctor to come in. "You look nervous," Emma observed.

"I haven't been to a prenatal appointment since Lil was pregnant with Mia and Grace was sick with pneumonia," Eli admitted. "And that was a different scenario, I was just the uncle, not the father to be," he added. "So, what's going to happen today?" he asked. Before Emma could answer, the doctor walked into the room.

"Good afternoon Emma, how are you feeling today?"

"Pretty good Doctor Maslow," Emma answered.

"And who is this?" Doctor Maslow asked.

"This is Eli," Emma said.

"So you're dad," Doctor Maslow said, looking at Eli. He nodded slowly. "Nervous I see," she observed. Emma scooted down towards the end of the table and placed her feet in the stirrups. "I'm going to put you at about 35 weeks, things are looking good; your weight gain is where it should be," Doctor Maslow murmured. She pulled out the fetal doppler, placed a small amount of gel on Emma's abdomen and pressed the wand down; a soft woosh-woosh noise filled the room. "140 beats per minute, sounds great Em. I'll see you next week," Doctor Maslow said, handing Emma a piece of paper towel to wipe off her abdomen with.

Emma sat up and looked at Eli nervously. "Eli?" she asked softly. Eli said nothing, he just looked at Emma, his eyes locked with hers. Finally, Eli smiled. Emma smiled back, words weren't needed, she knew what he was feeling.

~~~~~~~~~

"I can't believe your dad didn't put up more of a fight, especially when I admitted to wanting to have sex with you," John said as they pulled into the parking lot of the movie theater.

Mia laughed. "He wanted to, believe me, but considering he and mom can still bring down the house, he has no room to talk," Mia answered.

John groaned and covered his eyes before laughing. "I don't need that image," he said as they walked hand in hand into the building.

"Damn it Eli, I'm not an invalid!" Emma exclaimed, slamming her hand down on the kitchen counter.

"No, you aren't, but you shouldn't be working," Eli argued.

"I can't go on maternity leave until the baby comes," Emma reminded him.

"Which could be any day now!" Eli exclaimed.

Emma took a deep breath. "Eli, I have to go into work, it's only for a few hours. I have to make sure that the paper work for the auction gets filed. I'll be here by three thirty at the latest. I'll be fine," Emma said, trying to keep her voice within normal decibels.

"Em, you shouldn't push yourself so hard. Let someone else take over," Eli argued.

"Eli, look, we both need some time to ourselves, you've been here every night for nearly the last three months. If we're going to make this work, you need to be more understanding and stop being such a controlling pain in the ass!" Emma snapped.

"Fine," Eli snapped. "Go to work, I have stuff to do anyway," he growled. He pushed past her and headed for the door.

"Wait, Eli, I'm sorry," Emma said.

"Are you?" Eli asked, his hand on the door knob.

"I don't want to fight, but I need to get this auction straightened out," Emma said, her voice softer.

"Okay. I'll see you at four," Eli said.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Damn it Lil, pick up the phone," Emma said through clenched teeth. She groaned and clenched the steering wheel tightly before dialing a different number. "Eli? It's me, where are you right now?" Emma asked.

"I'm just leaving the office, why? Are you okay?" Eli asked.

"I think my water broke," Emma answered. Eli's eyes widened; she could practically see his panic over the phone. "Eli, please say something, I'm scared," Emma said, her voice shaky. She groaned as pain wafted through her.

"Where are you Em?" Eli asked.

"In the parking lot of the auction house," Emma gasped.

"I'm across town, but I'll be there in twenty minutes," Eli promised. He made it in ten.