A Few Days Later
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The Miranda-Soo family and Noah settled into the beach house the night before, after a long travel day. Today was day one aka relaxation day in order to recover from the jet lag.

Everyone sat around in their bathing suits at the backyard breakfast table that was surrounded by tall green hedges that acted like fencing for privacy. Pancakes and fruit plates were passed back and forth in the 85 degree weather that baited the family to jump into the massive pool. "Daddy, can we swim today?" Feather asked, two right answers away from blowing up her floaters. Enzo chuckled as he grabbed a sausage link from one of the serving plates.

"I guess so," he replied, ensuring that he had just made his daughters day. Allie giggled at something Noah whispered in her ear while popping a blueberry into her mouth.

"Oh, mom can we go to the baby boutique in town that we saw yesterday?" She asked. To keep suspicions down Pippa agreed, making Allie unusually happy.

"Can I tag along?" Lesley asked, earning some looks of confusion. "What? I'd like to get out and explore so might as well go while they are out," she covered. Allie shrugged as if you say "whatever".

"What are you two going to get into?" Lin asked, directing his question to Lizzie and Mason. The couple looked to one another and shrugged.

"The girls said they wanted to check out the beach, so I guess we're gonna do that," Mason answered. The twins and Nova high fived each other excitedly. They had never been to a vacation beach before. The one at home didn't count because it was home.

"That leaves you Noah, what are you going to do?" Lin asked. Noah sighed, heavily.

"I have some paper work I need to turn in before I can enjoy anything. I have some housing things to set up for Allie and I next summer and some cases to review. So I'll be working," he sadly answered. While yes, he was on leave, he still had one week left of work to finish before he could truly enjoy home.

"What about you?" Pippa asked. Lin shook his head.

"I'm going to read," he simply answered. "I'm making a mojito and I'm reading a new book." Pippa pecked his cheek and started to really dig into breakfast as her daughters went on and on about some old Netflix show that had the same name as the place they were staying in.

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Pippa and Allie walked down the street in sundresses and shades on their way to the boutique. Lesley had planned to join them, but her morning sickness caught up to her at the last minute, so she stayed back. "I talked to Noah the other night," Allie started. Pippa caught a hitch in her breath.

"That was fast. What did he say?" She questioned, knowing that the infertility conversation was never an easy one.

"You know, the same old, I'm here for you. I love you no matter what stuff. And when I asked him about the baby he had questions, so I said I'd ask you," she answered. Pippa braced herself as they walked into the cold store out of the Carolina heat.

"Shoot."

"Well, he first wanted to know if the adoption would be through a private agent. Would it be virtually impossible to trace any adoption papers at all? If we took the baby and raised it as our own, we don't want the tabloids to expose this for the baby's sake," she asked.

"Oh, yeah umm think of this more a surrogacy. I'm just carrying your baby. You and Noah would go on the birth certificate, he or she would be all yours," Pippa answered. Allie nodded and pulled up her next question.

"Would you be open to hormone therapy which allowed me to breast feed the baby?" Allie continued. Pippa nodded her head as she grazed through the clothing options.

"Absolutely," Pippa answered. Allie checked off the question and scrolled to the next.

"Last one." The 18 year old took a deep breath. "What happens if they find out?" Pippa didn't have an answer for that one. She only had one solution. Make it damn near impossible for them to know. And if that meant the entire cognitive family signs NDA's then that's what would happen.

"Surrogacy. That's what happened. You wanted a child and I carried it for you," Pippa calmly answered. Allie put her list away and sighed. A small grin covered her face as she pulled out the cutest green onesie.

"Well then, I guess Noah and I will be parents," she whispered. A flood of relief hit Pippa's chest. She was grateful that Allie would take the baby. She didn't know what she would do if she wasn't an option and now she didn't have to think about it. Pippa pulled her daughter in for a hug, holding her a little longer than usual.

"Thank you, Al. Seriously you have no idea how much this means to dad and I," she replied at the same volume. Allie pulled away and placed a hand on her mothers concealed bump.

"Hi, little one. This is your mommy " she grinned, before standing up straight. Pippa walked Allie around the store, looking at some furniture pieces and clothes. "So, when do we find out the sex?" Allie excitedly asked. Pippa pulled out her phone to read a calendar reminder that had it set for three weeks from the current date. "That's so close,"

"I know. But, trust me it'll be fun. We can have a party, and tell the family about everything all at once," Pippa suggested. Allie wasn't sure if she could keep a secret like that for 3 more weeks. She was already two seconds away from calling her best friends. But, she knew it would be best to wait it out.

"That would be amazing!" Allie beamed, she went to pick out an outfit when she got a call from Noah. "Hey, babe," she answered, turning the call into a FaceTime.

"Hey, Al, did you get a chance to talk to your mom?" He asked, pushing his glasses up his forehead as he rubbed his face.

"Yeah, the baby is ours," she smiled, panning the camera to Pippa who was picking out outfits for her grandchild.

"Yup," she smiled. "We'll call the lawyers when we get back and sort out the custody and paperwork. We'll rule it a surrogacy and your names will go on the birth certificate," Pippa said. Noah took his glasses off and clasped his thumb and index fingers over the bridge of his nose.

"Noah, are you crying?" Allie smiled, her eyes starting to water up. Noah nodded and took a deep breath.

"I just know how much you wanted this and I wanted this for us too. I'm just—I'm so happy it's gonna happening for us." Allie let her fiancé console himself while she shuffled through the aisles trying to dry her own tears. Thankfully she had used a waterproof mascara that morning.

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On the beach, Mason and Lizzie sat under umbrellas on beach towels watching the girls run and play in the calm waves. "Have you talked to Pippa yet? About the condo?" Lizzie asked. Mason shook the sand off of his hands as he admired the heart he drew next to the colorful towel.

"No. I found a place that was 20 minutes away. I talked to the owners, they are trying to find renters to eventually sell to. It's a 3 bedroom single family in the suburbs," Mason replied taking a swig of his beer. Lizzie smoothed her bikini bottoms over her flat stomach and pushed her sunglasses up.

"Will it be available after the wedding? I don't want to live with Lin and Pip for too long after our honeymoon," she asked. Mason nodded as he rummaged through her bag and pulled out his phone. He showed her pictures of the two year old house and all of its glory.

"This is perfect," she gawked, stunned by all the beautiful pictures of the decorated home. "This will be a perfect place. We'll have our home office and a spare bedroom," she smiled. Without the desire to parent, Mason and Lizzie weren't in need of anything much bigger than that.

"I know and it has a huge backyard so we can finally get the Great Danes we've been eyeing. It's perfect," he agreed. Lizzie laid her head on her fiancés shoulder and watched her soon to be aunts and cousin. A break in her heart started to mend watching them live a normal childhood, far from her reality.

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A little further up the beach, Nova dropped to the water soaked sand first laughing her lungs to capacity, as the twins followed suit. "Okay, truce," she called. AnneMarie and Claudia agreed and laid out in the sun to regain some warmth.

"So, real question," AnneMarie posed, pulling her sunglasses down over her sensitive eyes. "What are your thoughts on Allie getting married?" She asked. Claudia pursed her lips then blew air out.

"If I didn't know about her uterine issues, I'd say she was pregnant. But I know that's not true and she's not abused with us so it's not to run away. She must actually love him," she answered. Nova turned over and laid on her forearms.

"Do you think they will live with us?" Nova asked, trying to scope out an availability in the rooming department. Claudia stitched her eyebrows together and shook her head.

"Impossible. Noah's in the military. Wait! This is so the Notebook coded. Allie. Noah! Its fate! Sorry, back in topic. He can't they have to live on base, until he's fully out. And doesn't he have like two years left or something?" She rambled. AnneMarie pulled her hair into a top knot and sprawled out on the warm beach. 

"Guys can we go to Ruby's tonight?" She asked, dismissing the entire conversation. Claudia splashed her twin and quickly scooted back in fear of retaliation.

"I think Nona wants to have family dinner at Summer Rose, but we can go after," Nova answered. Claudia and AnneMarie let out an identical groan as they got up from the wet sand to meet their nephew. "What? I like all white dinners. They are the one night I get to feel rich and fancy," Nova beamed, excited to wear the white sundress Pippa had bought her for the trip in their special Nona-Nova dates.

"We live in rich and fancy. Sometimes I want White Castle and McDonald's," AnneMarie griped. Claudia chuckled as they reached the beach bag next to Lizzie. As she grabbed her towel and took a seat next to the couple, an eye roll was sent in her twins direction.

"You're a fucking liar. You have never had White Castle and McDonald's isn't even top three of cheap foods you'd go near. You literally had hand cut sushi for breakfast this morning as a special request from Gianna. Face it, princess, you're a rich kid." AnneMarie went to argue, but realized that there was no lie to be found. Those were indeed all facts.

"Damn. Well I still don't want to go,"

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"That's too bad. We have a reservation at 8 on the patio. There will be tiki lights, tequila, and salmon. So be dressed and ready by 7:30," Phillipa groaned, before hanging up the phone. "Husbands," she chuckled at the 37 year old behind the counter, checking her out. As she went to pull her wallet out, Allie sprinted up with one more thing. Gently she laid a crème onesie on the counter with the outline of a white teddy bear embroidered on the chest.

"Okay, mommy. I'm done," she beamed. Pippa nodded, allowing the worker to add the item to her purchases.

"Someone having a baby?" The woman asked, folding the last item and sliding it into a white box to be packaged and sent to the house. Allie nodded as Pippa slid her credit card.

"Yeah. My first. We are very excited," she answered. The woman gave them a warm smile and pouted lips.

"Is this your first grandchild?" She asked. Phillipa shook her head as the woman handed her the receipt.

"Number four, actually," she said. "But at my age, this one and the last one actually feels like being a grandmother. I'm proud of her and can't wait," she said, pecking her daughters head. "My security will be back to pick this up tomorrow. Have a good one," she said, before whisking Allie away.

"You mean it?" Allie asked, as the hit the street, towards their car.

"Every word. I couldn't be more proud to be your mother and your surrogate." The woman got in the car and started towards their next shop.

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Feather floated along the still water, Enzo watching closely by. He had turned on some soft Disney piano tracks and was taking in the ocean view while playing life guard. "Daddy, can you get in yet? I want to swim," Feather asked. Enzo looked at his watch and seen that his timer was going to go off in a few seconds.

"Yes ma'am. I am fully dried and ready to see your tricks," he smiled, getting off of the lounge chair and slipping into four feet. Feather, not so gracefully, flopped off of the floatation device, her arm floats still on and doggy paddled her way to her dad.

"Okay. Watch. You stay right here. I'm going swim under water, there and back. You ready?" She asked. Enzo go to a medium point between for and five feet then gave her a thumbs up. Carefully, Enzo tracked Feathers bright pink swimsuit in the water. His friend at work, Jayla, to him he needed to get a bright swim suit for her when she caught him online shopping during his break. She has been his go-to for everything girl dad. And after the conversation he had with his mom, he made sure to vent to Jayla in private. Feather popped out of the water with a huge smile, before taking a deep breath and diving back under to complete her first "lap."

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On the other side of the fence, just past the gate, Lin was sprawled out in the knitted hammock. An empty cup on the ground and cracked spine on his chest had him in a state of euphoric sleep. Pippa has called to remind him about dinner and make sure he was still aware of the plan. And while he didn't want to go, he would support his wife. It was only one night.

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Upstairs in her bedroom, Lesley laid in her bed on FaceTime with Vedrana. They hadn't seen much of each other since Lesley left the club and they missed one another. "Have you told your family about the baby yet?" Vedrana asked, lighting her blunt and moving to her balcony.

"Just my mom. I want to wait until my first appointment to tell the family. But I have to wait until I'm 9 weeks because Meredith is booked out until then," she answered. It was only two more weeks, but it felt like forever.

"Oh yeah. Well, guess what?" The Australian born smirked. Lesley rose and eyebrow and hummed. "I'm leaving the club!" She beamed. Lesley shot up, regretfully, with shock on her face.

"What? When? Why?" She rapid fired a smile creeping across her face.

"I got a new job. A real job. I'm assisting at a dance academy teaching ballet," she smiled. Lesley gasped. She knew that Vedrana came to New York to dance and fell in with a bad crowd when she got there. But, she was proud that she didn't let that stop her from trying to better her situation.

"What does this mean? Are you moving? Is it still in the Bronx?"

"Manhattan. I'll be in Manhattanville. My boss has an apartment that I can stay in. And soon enough... we might be able to move in together like we've been planning. You, me, Nova, and the baby," she sighed. Lesley liked the idea of that when she was rebelling against her parents, but now that she was finally getting stable, she needed to make sure Vedrana was too.

"Yeah," she simply answered. Before she could change the subject, Nova jogged in to grab something from her bag, when Lesley stopped her. "Novie, Veggie is on the phone," she called. Nova turned to her mom with a small smile. "Come say hi," she said. Nova always loved Vedrana. She would babysit her when Lesley had to work and they were on off schedules. And they would go to Rockefeller Center to see the dancer and Vedrana would tell Nova all about her time as a dancer in Australia and promised that when she had the money she would take her back. And Nova held on to that.

"Hi, Veggie," she smiled, taking the iPhone and sitting next to her mother. 

"Hi, Pup," she beamed. "Are you having fun at the Outer Banks?" She asked, doing her best to hide her blunt as she always did. She believed drugs had no place in a kids life.

"Yeah, I just left the beach. I'm gonna shower and relax before dinner tonight," she replied. Lesley quickly slid out of the bed to let them talk and relieve her stomach. She made her way to the bathroom just in time and kicked the door shut, before dropping to her knees in front of the toilet.

Behind the closed door she could hear her daughter and best friend laughing about some inside joke. Soon her hearing went low and her vision became hazy as another wave of nausea rode through her esophagus. It last only twenty seconds, but burned like nothing before, since she threw up the only food in her system hours ago.

When she got off the floor, Lesley quickly flushed the toilet and brushed her teeth. "Where's my—" she whispered, before realizing Nova still had her phone. She quickly ran back and grabbed the phone from her child's hands. "One second, Novie," she said unlocking the phone and pulling up a text thread with her mom. She requested ginger tea and jolly ranchers, before re-locking and handing the phone back.

"Mom, are you okay?" Nova asked. She could see the sweat dripping from her mothers forehead. Vedrana saw this as an opportunity and forced Lesley's hand.

"Tell her or I will. Someone besides your mom should know," she said before hanging up. She knew Lesley would call her later to rip her a new one, but for now, she could put her on do not disturb to give them some time.

"Mommy, what is she talking about?" Nova asked, letting her brave facade die for the first time in a long time. Lesley took her phone back and opened it to show her daughter the video she took of herself taking a pregnancy test.

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Lesley took a deep breath and hit record on the propped up device. "Okay. I don't know why I'm filming, but just in case," she trailed off. "I am a week sober, because I have missed my period officially by a week.And Veggie has convinced me that I'm pregnant even though, I know I'm not. So this feels like a joke." She waved the unused test in front of the camera with a smirk. "I have to be quiet, because Novie is in the other room and I don't want her getting suspicious. Fingers crossed I'm not pregnant, because this will be the second time of a non-consensual pregnancy and at this point, I might kill myself," she joked to cope with the truth.

A few dead moments went by as she peed in the cup then dunked the test in. "Okay, now we wait three minutes," she sighed. Anxiety welled in her chest, afraid of the idea that this test wasn't going to be a joke. "I don't know what I'll do if this is positive. I'm struggling with my daughter, let alone myself. Adding a baby wouldn't be good. But, then again my mom would or just take this kid, so I won't have to worry about it. But, maybe if it's positive, Novie and I can move back in to my parents and I can get help. I don't know. I don't want it to be positive, because fuck you Ray, but I don't know." Lesley rambled for a few more minutes, before flipping the test over. Her hand shot to her mouth as she immediately started to cry. She threw the test across the room and broke down over the sink in front of her phone.

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"Fuck, man," was the last thing said before the video cut out. Nova sat the phone in her lap and turned to her mother who was in full blown tears at the point.

"Mommy, don't cry it's okay," Nova tried, forcing her own tears back. Lesley dropped her head for a minute, trying her best to calm down, but having no such luck.

"It's not though. And I feel like shit for even doing this like... Im frustrated that I let this happen twice and now you have to suffer too and this baby will have to suffer and it just sucks. I want to do the right thing for both of you, but I can't catch a fucking break," she cried. Nova grabbed her moms hands and kissed the tops like Lesley would do for her as a kid.

"You didn't let this happen. My dad and this kids dad are assholes who take advantage of women. If it wasn't you it would be some other poor girl. And despite everything we've been through, you are doing your best and getting better every day," Nova assured. "It takes a strong person to admit they need help. And even though, we might it have wanted this, we are gonna make it through, because we are a family." Nova pulled her mom in for a hug and pecked her cheeks.

"I love you, Novie."

"I love you too, mommy. And hey, in four years, I'll be an adult and no one will have custody of me," she smiled. Lesley shook her head with a slight grin.

"You're not fucking funny," Lesley chuckled, playfully pushing her kid away before being engulfed in a hug.

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To My Bomb.Com Friends and Supporters,
It's been A MINUTE! The way I used to post like everyday and I have posted in years now... I'm sorry but anywho... LESLEY FINALLY TOLD NOVA?? WILL SHE TELL THE OTHERS??? ALLIE IS GONNA ADOPT HER SIBLING?? Will the new baby's be boys or girls?? Lmk!!!
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