Paul leaned over and kissed Leigh on the forehead. "Feel better, we'll talk in a few days," he promised before walking out the door. Jack waited for Paul to close the door before he turned to Leigh. "What were you thinking?" he wanted to know. "Why didn't you come to me when you found out you were pregnant? Why did you go through this alone?" Jack asked.
Leigh's eyes filled up with tears. "I was scared, and when Mel got pregnant, mom kicked her out and said she wasn't family anymore," Leigh answered.
Jack sighed. "I'm not your mother Leigh. You know I did not agree with what she did, and I have tried to make up for it, but what you did young lady," Jack shook his head and stopped talking, knowing that if he did not, he would say something he would regret.
Melanie sighed. "Dad, you aren't helping," she said softly.
Jack turned on his oldest daughter. "This is your fault! If you hadn't gotten pregnant, Leigh wouldn't have followed in your footsteps, she wouldn't have made the same mistake," Jack told Melanie. Melanie took a step back.
"You're out of line Jack," Jason growled. Jack shook his head and stormed out of the room. Leigh, Melanie and Jason all exchanged looks and Melanie gave her sister a hug as tears streamed down Leigh's face.
"Leigh, listen to me and listen carefully. You made a mistake, and you know what the mistake was. It is up to you to decide which one was the worst mistake, getting pregnant or having an abortion. Dad has every right to be angry at you, you're only eighteen. He said things he shouldn't have, but you do need to think hard about what you are going to do from here. The choices you make stay with you forever. You will never forget about this, this will stay with you forever, but Leigh, remember this above all else: I'm your sister, and no matter what you do, I'm here for you," Melanie said gently. Leigh sniffled and wiped her face with a tissue. "It wasn't fair of Paul to make you choose like that," Melanie said softly. Leigh shrugged. "Did you want the baby?" Melanie asked.
Leigh shrugged again. "I don't know," Leigh answered honestly.
Melanie gave her sister another hug. "Get some rest and we'll be back later," Melanie promised. Leigh nodded and watched her sister and Jason walk out of the room.
:: Chapter Ten ::
Jason looked up as his cell phone rang and smiled when he saw the number on the caller id. "Hey Mel," Jason said. "Mel, are you there?" Jason asked when Melanie didn't say anything back. "I'm here Jace, can you meet me at the lake? I have something to show you," Melanie replied. Jason glanced at his watch. "I have class in an hour, but yeah, I'll meet you. I'll see you in about twenty minutes," Jason promised, hanging up the phone. Jason gathered his books and stuffed them into his bag then grabbed his jacket and car keys and drove to the lake.
"This looks familiar," Jason said, walking up to Melanie who was sitting on the park bench. Melanie smiled as Jason sat down next to her. "What's going on?" Jason asked after giving Melanie a gentle kiss. Melanie hesitated a moment before handing Jason a picture. "What's this?" Jason asked. Melanie smiled slightly. "Turn it over," Melanie told him. Jason turned the picture over to reveal a fuzzy black and white photograph. "I don't understand," Jason said. "What is this picture of? It looks like a really weird shaped pineapple," Jason commented making Melanie laugh. "What is this Mel?" Jason asked.
Melanie shook her head and sighed. "It's our baby," Melanie answered. Jason dropped the photograph in his lap and stared at Melanie. "I wanted to make sure before I said anything," Melanie said softly. Melanie watched Jason's face closely, remembering all too well the last time they were sitting in this spot. "Jason, say something," Melanie pleaded quietly.
Jason wrapped his arms around Melanie and gave her a gentle hug. "Is everything okay?" Jason asked.
Melanie nodded. "Doctor Keys said the baby looks good, and that I'm about seven weeks along," Melanie answered. "Jason, say something, please, tell me what you're thinking," Melanie whispered.
Jason kissed Melanie gently. "I love you," Jason murmured, resting one of his hands on Melanie's abdomen. Tears came to Melanie's eyes. "What's wrong Mel?" Jason asked, gently wiping the tears from Melanie's face.
"I couldn't help but think about the last time we were here, and for a moment, I thought you were going to have the same reaction," Melanie sniffled.
Jason sighed and mentally cursed himself for being an idiot. "Mel, I love you, and I love Marine, and I'll love this baby too," Jason promised. Melanie sniffled again and melted into Jason's embrace. "Let's go home," Jason murmured, standing up and pulling Melanie with him.
"What about class?" Melanie wanted to know. Jason grinned. "The hell with class, let's go home," Jason said, pulling Melanie to the car. Melanie laughed and shook her head.
"Don't be a bad influence," she teased. Jason grinned and squeezed Melanie's hand.
"Just this once," he promised, speeding towards home. Melanie laid her head back against the head rest and dozed while Jason drove. "Mel, wake up," Jason murmured, his lips on her forehead. Melanie stretched and followed Jason into the house. Jason scooped Melanie into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. "I love you Mel, more than anything," Jason said, laying Melanie on the bed and working on the buttons on Melanie's shirt, kissing Melanie as he popped off the last button. "God you're beautiful," Jason murmured, pulling Melanie's clothing off of her and dropping them to the floor by the bed. Melanie smiled and watched as Jason quickly rid himself of his clothing and gently eased his way inside her. "Jace, slow down," Melanie gasped. Jason frowned and stopped. "Am I hurting you?" Jason asked, toying with a strand of Melanie's hair.
She shook her head. "No, but you don't have to rush this," Melanie answered. Jason smiled and thrust gently, gradually building up intensity. Melanie cried out as she came hard and fast and Jason soon followed.
"Did I hurt you?" Jason asked, shifting so that they were lying facing each other. Melanie shook her head as Jason pulled her a little closer to him. "I'm fine," Melanie assured Jason who smiled and ran his hands down Melanie's body, stopping at Melanie's abdomen which was just barely showing signs of the baby inside. Melanie squirmed and giggled. "That tickles Jace," she murmured. Jason grinned and rolled so that he was on his back and Melanie was on top of him. "I could do this all day," Jason said softly, running his hands down Melanie's back. Melanie sighed contently as Jason began thrusting slowly and gently. He stopped when Melanie winced. "What's wrong?" he asked instantly.
"I'm a little sore," Melanie admitted. Jason reached for Melanie's hand. "Do you want to stop?" he asked. Melanie shook her head. "Not on your life," she answered.
Jason kissed Melanie gently. "Let me know if you need to stop," Jason said before thrusting slowly. Melanie came hard and fast. "You're beautiful," Jason murmured, gently rolling Melanie onto her back and kissing her. Melanie kissed him back and made a noise of protest as Jason stood up. Jason chuckled. "Greedy little thing aren't you?" he asked teasingly. Melanie blushed slightly making Jason laugh again as he pulled Melanie up with him. "We've missed so much," Melanie murmured.
Jason sighed. "We'll make up for that, don't worry about that," Jason promised, leading Melanie into the bathroom. He gave Melanie a kiss on the top of the head before turning on the shower. "And I'd say we have gotten a pretty good head start on that," Jason added, leading Melanie carefully into the tub.
Melanie laughed and nodded. "I'd say we have," she agreed. Jason studied Melanie carefully, looking for tale-tell signs that would reveal the baby. Melanie blushed and backed away. "Mel, you're beautiful," Jason breathed, pulling Melanie to him and giving her a kiss. Melanie stood under the stream of water sighed as the warm water cascaded around her. "What are you thinking about?" Jason asked, watching her carefully.
Melanie shrugged. "I'm just thinking," Melanie answered. They showered in silence and talked little on their way to Jason's parent's house. "Mama! Dada!" Marine exclaimed, running towards her parents.
Melanie smiled and lifted her daughter into her arms. "Were you a good girl?" Melanie asked, looking at Carol who nodded. "Dinner is almost ready," Carol told them as Jason shut the door behind him. Steve looked up as they walked into the living room.
"What do you two look so happy about?" he asked, handing Melanie a glass of wine. Melanie handed it back.
"Thank you, but I can't," Melanie said. Carol looked at Melanie in surprise.
"You've stopped nursing, you can have a glass of wine," Carol told Melanie. Melanie smiled, and exchanged glances with Jason.
"I know I've stopped nursing, but I can't have the wine," Melanie repeated. Jason smiled back and took Marine from Melanie. Carol studied her daughter-in-law closely and shrugged. Melanie rolled her eyes at how forgetful her mother-in-law could be.
"We're having a baby," Jason announced, unable to contain it any longer. Melanie smiled and waited for the fireworks to begin.
Steve gave Jason and Melanie a tight hug. "Congratulations to you both. Another grandchild, how wonderful," Steve said, looking over at his wife. Carol smiled and looked away quickly.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Jason wanted to know.
Carol sighed. "You're both so young, are you sure you should be bringing another baby into the world?" Carol asked as gently as she could. Melanie sighed and felt an instant headache coming on. Jason couldn't believe the words coming out of his mother's mouth.
"Mom, Melanie and I love each other, I thought you wanted me to be happy," Jason said.
"I do want you to be happy, and I know you love Melanie, but do you really think another baby right now will bring you happiness?" Carol asked. Steve put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Enough Carol, what's done is done, it can't be undone," Steve said gently. Steve gave Carol a harsher look when she opened her mouth to speak again.
Melanie rubbed her eyes. "I know you don't like me, you never have and I see now that you never will. Coming for dinner was a mistake," Melanie said before taking Marine from Jason and walking out to the car. Jason sighed and looked at his mother in disbelief.
"Mom, the sooner you realize that I love Melanie, the happier we will all be," Jason said.
Carol put a hand on Jason's shoulder. "I know you think you love Melanie, but you are so young and what you think is love is more likely just lust," Carol told her son.
Jason clenched and unclenched his fists. "I love Melanie, it is not just lust," Jason growled.
Carol sighed. "Jason, I'm done arguing this. I do not want to risk the baby's safety, so I will stay away from you and from Melanie. It's up to you Jason; your father and I or Melanie and the kids," Carol said before leaving the room.
Jason ran a hand through his hair. "Don't worry about your mother, she'll change her mind," Steve told Jason.
Jason shook his head. "I doubt it," Jason said before leaving the house.
Melanie looked up as Jason slammed the car door behind him making Marine cry. Melanie laid a hand on Jason's shoulder. "I'm sorry for causing so much trouble," Melanie murmured.
Jason took Melanie's hand and kissed it gently. "You haven't caused any trouble," Jason assured her. Melanie wiped away a tear that trailed down her cheek and Jason gave her a gentle kiss. "Let's go home and we can celebrate in our own way," Jason suggested. Melanie sniffled and nodded, reaching back to calm Marine. Jason glanced back in the rear view mirror to find his mother standing in the window, a sad expression on her face and sighed.
"What?" Melanie asked.
Jason shook his head. "Mom," was all he said. Melanie looked in the side mirror and took Jason's hand.
:: Chapter Eleven ::
-Several months later-
"Mel? Jason called, walking through the house. "We're out here," Melanie called back. Jason walked to the back patio and smiled at the sight before him. Melanie was sitting near her flower garden pulling weeds and Julie was helping Marine paint a picture.
"What did I do to deserve coming home to such beautiful women?" Jason wanted to know, winking at Melanie.
Melanie laughed and shrugged. "I guess you just got lucky," Melanie teased.
Jason knelt down in front of Melanie and kissed her gently. "Hi there baby," he whispered to Melanie's ever expanding abdomen. "How are you feeling?" Jason asked.
"Better than I was, but still not one hundred percent," Melanie answered, rubbing the small of her back.
"Daddy, look what I drew!" Marine exclaimed, tottering over to her parents. Jason took the picture from Marine, studied it for a moment and then gave his daughter a big kiss.
"It's beautiful Marine, just like you," Jason told his daughter, amazed that she was almost two years old. Jason studied Melanie out of the corner of his eye while he played with Marine and after a moment, Jason turned to Julie. "Can you take Mari inside and clean her up?" he asked. Julie studied Melanie for a moment and nodded. "Come on kiddo, let's go take a bath," Julie said, leading Marine inside.
"Are you alright? You keep rubbing your back," Jason murmured, sitting down next to Melanie. "Yeah, I think so, my back keeps cramping," Melanie answered. Jason frowned and began rubbing Melanie's back gently. Melanie moaned and tensed when he hit a tight knot.
"Hey, don't tense up you'll make it worse," Jason murmured. Melanie sighed and as the tightness of the knot began to subside, she leaned into Jason who wrapped his arms around her.
"So what did you do all day?" Melanie asked. Jason shrugged. "The usual. Worked until I wanted to scream," Jason answered. Jason had graduated just a few weeks earlier and had been lucky enough to get a job in the field he had pursued.
"Dad stopped by to see me, asked us to come to dinner tonight," Jason added after a moment. Melanie tensed up again. "Mel, it sounded kind of urgent, we might want to at least go hear them out," Jason said softly.
Melanie sighed but nodded. "Okay, we'll go, but we're leaving Mari here," Melanie told Jason who nodded in agreement. When they finally got to Steve's and Carol's, Melanie was fiddling with her necklace nervously.
"Stop," Jason said, taking Melanie's hand in his. "It will be fine," he soothed, ringing the doorbell.
Steve answered the door and he smiled. "Wow Mel, pregnancy without the stress really suits you," he joked.
Melanie laughed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I don't want to be reminded of that stress," Melanie said softly. Steve nodded and kissed Melanie on the cheek.
"How are you feeling?" Steve asked.
Melanie shrugged. "Worn out." Steve and Jason shared a look of concern as Jason led Melanie into the living room.
"How far along?" Steve wanted to know.
Jason answered before Melanie could. "We have another six weeks to go." Carol stepped into the living room with Thomas and Helen right behind her. "Grandpa, Grandma!" Jason exclaimed, surprised to see his grandparents. He gave them both a tight hug.
"Stay seated Mel, you don't have to get up to greet us," Helen said, seeing Melanie struggle to stand.
Carol studied her daughter-in-law for a moment. "I hope everything is normal with the pregnancy," she said after a moment.
Melanie relaxed slightly and nodded. "According to Dr. Keys, everything looks picture perfect," Melanie answered. Jason caught Melanie's attention and mouthed, "I want to tell them." Melanie rolled her eyes and nodded.
"Jason Douglas, what has gotten you all excited all of a sudden?" Carol asked, noticing her son's apparent fit.
Jason walked over to his father and showed him the ultrasound photo before walking over to Melanie and taking her hand. Steve caught his son's eye and grinned. "It's a boy," Jason announced as his father passed the photo around the room. Carol smiled at that and everyone sat down. "Jason, there's a spot on the couch here, you don't need to sit on the arm of my chair, that one is an antique," Carol scolded. Jason sighed and sat on the couch.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Jason turned to his mother. "What is this all about? The last time you were here, you told me I had to choose between you and dad or Melanie and the kids. Have you finally decided that I can be with my wife and still be part of your lives, or do you just want to see Mari?" Jason asked. Melanie blanched at the question.
Carol sighed. "We can talk about that after dinner," she said.
"No, mom, we'll talk about it now," Jason told her. "If you aren't willing to accept that I love Melanie and that I refuse to not be part of her life, then we're wasting our time," he added. Melanie closed her eyes and took a deep breath; something not unnoticed by Steve.
"Are you alright Melanie?" Steve asked.
Melanie nodded. "My back has been bothering me today," she answered, willing the twinge of pain in her back to go away.
Carol sighed. "I was wrong to say that Jason, but you're my only child and you fell so quickly for Melanie, and I don't want to see you hurt," Carol told him.
Jason looked at his mother and searched her eyes for signs of lying. "Mom, I love Melanie, and what hurt me the most is that you have done everything you possibly can to break us up, from not telling her about my car accident to giving me the choice: you or her. Melanie has never done a single thing to hurt me, never," Jason said, looking over at Melanie. "Mel, are you sure you're alright?" Jason asked.
Melanie nodded. "Carol, is there Tylenol in the bathroom?" Melanie asked, rubbing her back. Carol nodded and helped Melanie out of the chair.
"Do you need help?" Carol asked, noticing how pale Melanie was. Melanie shook her head and headed for the bathroom. Jason was talking to his grandfather when he heard Melanie cry out. Jason rushed for the bathroom, his father close behind. "Mel, sweetie, what's wrong?" Jason asked, concern written all over his face. Melanie was sitting on the floor, her hands on her abdomen, Tylenol was scattered all over the floor. Melanie reached for one of Jason's hands and when he slipped his hand into hers, Melanie squeezed it. "Mel, you're scaring me," Jason said.
Melanie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I think my water just broke," Melanie said, her voice shaking. Steve and Jason carefully helped Melanie stand.
"Carol, call an ambulance. Jason, help me get Mel over to the couch," Steve instructed. Slowly and carefully, Steve and Jason helped Melanie back into the living room, but they were no more than two steps into the room when Melanie groaned and her knees began to buckle. "Contraction?" Steve asked. Unable to speak, Melanie just nodded. "Breath slowly and evenly; try to relax," Steve coached. Jason's eyes were wide with worry and his face was pale. "Stay with her while I go talk to the operator," Steve told Jason after they got Melanie over to the couch. Helen handed Jason a cool wash cloth and Jason wiped Melanie's face off with it. "How you doing?" Jason asked softly. Melanie looked at Jason and the fear in her eyes scared him.
"It's too soon Jace, I'm only at 34 weeks," Melanie whispered. Jason gave Melanie a gentle hug. As he started to pull away, another contraction gripped Melanie's body more intensely as either of the ones previous and Melanie screamed.
"Don't scream Mel, save your strength," Carol coached, sitting behind Melanie's back on the couch. "That's a girl, breathe slowly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Just keep breathing," Carol said, rubbing Melanie's back. Jason looked at his mother in surprise that she could be that gentle with someone she claimed to hate. The contraction finally subsided and Melanie collapsed weakly against her mother-in-law. The reprieve didn't last long and Melanie was in tears when the contraction finally stopped.
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