Lydia's P.O.V.

"Hurry up," Cassie said grabbing her things, "Let's go before Flynn changes his mind. This is the first time in two months we actually get to go out and shop."

Chuckling I quickly grab my things and follow her out the door, "Slow down Cassie,"

We walked down the stairs where an unfamiliar face was waiting for us, that's probably Echo. Smiling I say good morning to everyone Flora walks over to us, "Lovely now that everyone is here, Lydia and Cassie meet Echo, my niece, and Echo meet Lydia and Cassie."

Echo smiled putting her hand out in front of me, "Nice to meet you two,"

Shaking her hand first, "Nice to meet you too,"

Cassie looks at me warily but I gesture for her to shake her hand, "Don't worry I'm a good guy." She said chuckling, "I will be accompanying the both of you along with Allie to help  protect the Heir of the Knights."

"Right," I say, "My baby."

She looked at me confused, "Right, that's also Flynn's."

Flora noticed the tension build up between us Cassie grabbed my hand to calm me down, "Don't Dia," She whispered

Clenching my jaw I forced a smile on my face, "We should go, I have a lot of things on my list to buy. You know baby essentials."

Echo looked at me suspiciously before looking over at Allie, "Let's go."

Saying goodbye to everyone we stepped outside of the house to the mall, "So have you decided on what to wear for your baby shower?" Allie asked

"Baby shower?" I ask sitting beside Cassie as Echo begins driving, "I'm not sure what you are talking about."

Allie looked back at me, "I thought Mom would have mentioned it to you, we are throwing you a baby shower!" She said excitedly, 

Cassie groaned, "Allie it was supposed to be a surprise," 

Giggling I look over at Cassie, "What's going on?"

"Shit..." Allie said, "Sorry...I am so sorry. I am horrible at keeping secrets,"

Echo chuckled, "I guess you just have to act surprised now Lydia,"

Smiling I nodded, "Don't worry, I will. But when is it?"

"Tomorrow," Cassie sighed, "Flora, Arya, Allie, and I decided that since so much has been going on lately we would throw you a surprise baby shower. Aunt Liza knows too, that's why she was avoiding coming over because she sucks at keeping things a secret too."

That's why she wasn't answering my calls. "I'm sorry Lydia," Allie whispered

I shook my head, "Don't be, it's okay Allie, and call me Dia. Anytime anyone calls me Lydia it feels like I'm in trouble, too Echo."

"Got it," She said pulling into the parking lot, "Do you have a list?"

Pulling it out of my purse I say, "Yep, now let's go."

We piled out of the car walking into The Bay first, "Let's go look at a crib," 

"Yep," Cassie said wandering around the store each of us looked around for a cute crib, it took us a while before we decided on this dark brown wooded crib with a very cute elephant mattress inside of it.

"This is really cute," Echo said, "You could get a matching changing table with it too."

"Good idea!" I say excitedly,

Walking around the mall we picked up essentials, bottles, bibs, clothes, blankets, strollers, and so on.  "I am exhausted," Cassie whined as I slumped down beside her,

"Hey, I'm the pregnant one here," I said bluntly, "My feet are completely swollen."

Allie and Echo chuckled, "You two are babies,"

Smiling I ask, "Can we please get some food? I think we have everything covered so far."

Echo checked her watch, "It has been four hours since we have been walking around, let's go eat. What do you want?"

"Mhm, Poutine!"

Allie shook her head, "Dia, Flynn told me to keep you away from junk food."

Rolling my eyes I say, "It's not as if he cares about us anyway. Can I please just-"

"Wait!" Echo said standing in front of me, "You and Flynn...you two aren't together are you?"

I shook my head, "No." I said firmly, "Flynn and I aren't together. Pineapple here is a result of a very liquored-fueled one-night stand."

Echo raised an eyebrow at me, "Then how did he?"

"I got kidnapped, along with Cassie. Arlo somehow found out about me and Flynn got me to take a DNA test so yeah...here I have been trapped for the past two months. He said he doesn't care for the kid. He said that if I kept my legs shut we wouldn't be in this situation and he called MY baby a bastard."

Allie gasped, "Oh my god,"

"So please stop calling my baby the heir of the Knights." I snapped, "There is nothing between Flynn and I."

Echo sighed, "What he said is messed up and I'm not making any kind of excuses for him, but Dia you don't know half of what he has gone through. Flynn can be a little rough around the edges but once he opens up..."

"I know," I say cutting her off, "Flora has said somethings about Flynn having a tough-'

"Let me finish," Echo snapped, "He is an asshole for hurting you like that and disrespecting you. But there's a side of Flynn that you have left to see, this baby Dia, this baby will be his redemption just give him a chance."

"Flynn and redemption? Please." A girl said cutting into our conversation, she walked around spinning her keys in her hand, Echo's posture changed right away stepping closer to me, "I thought you knew Flynn better than that Echo."

Allie stood up too, "What are you doing here Brielle?"

"What no Hi?" Another girl said coming beside Brielle, "We met after so long,"

Echo crossed her arms, "What are you doing here Anaya?" 

Anaya smirked leaning against Brielle, "Scared? Don't worry we don't touch the precious Lydia Jackson today."

My heart skipped Anaya leaned to the side looking at me, "Move Echo,"

"Leave Anaya,"

Brielle rolled her eyes before pushing Echo to the side but Allie grabbed her arm in a harsh grip taking her grip off of Echo, "Don't touch her,"

Brielle hissed in pain shaking Allie's grip, Echo glared at her, "Don't touch me again if you want your hands and feet still working."

Anaya clenched her jaw, I was out in the open as Echo and Allie both stood beside me, "Lydia...Anaya, Arlo's little sister." She said introducing herself like it was completely normal. "And that's Brielle, from Logan's gang."

"Okay...?" I say confused as to what she wanted, "And what am I supposed to do about that?"

Cassie giggled silently causing Brielle to glare at her, "What do you two want?"

Anaya sighed, "Nothing, just came here to warn you. Keep an eye out for us. Thought that when we get to you, you should know who we are."

"Keep dreaming," I say standing up, I have to be strong if I am going to be here with Flynn and raise this child I need to be strong. "I have a lot of people who are here to take of me and my child. While you two and your brother plot and plan Flynn stays two steps in front of you. My child and I are safe so keep your useless introductions to yourselves." Allie chuckled, "Oh, and don't touch my friends EVER again, because from what I hear, your brothers aren't even worth our attention or our time. Kindly fuck off."

Anaya and Brielle's faces turned bright red in anger, "You will regret this," Brielle snapped, "Come on Anaya."

I give them a little wave, "Bye," I sing a little. 

Echo pulled me into a hug, "You definitely didn't need me around to protect you."

Chuckling, "I only said that thing because I knew I had you three with me. I wouldn't have been able to do that alone."

Pulling out of the hug Echo sighed, "We should get home, Brielle and Echo probably have already called Arlo and Logan."

Allie and Cassie nodded, "We'll just get food on the way back."

Letting out a big breath, "Let's go."

I didn't show it but I was scared, scared of what the outcome of my threat was going to be. Please...please keep the both of us safe.