February 1st.

Today Anastasia is 18 weeks pregnant.
It is also Charlotte's 8th birthday.

"Happy Birthday, Charlie!"

"Thank you, Grandma!  Come in!  The presents go over there!" She points.

Jessica giggles.
"Okay, sweetie pie.  Thanks for telling us!
Come on, you two.  Let's go put your gifts for Charlie over here." Jessica says to the twins who each held a gift box.

Danny takes off and the twins follow their mother.

"Here, mommy."

"Thank you, Emerson! Give me yours, Willow."

Willow furrows her brows and holds the box a little tighter. "No I want to keep it!"

"Willow Alexandra, give it to me, it's not yours, it's Charlotte's!"

"I want to keep it, mama!"

"No, we bought it for your niece!  Now give it!" Jessica pulls it from her and sits it on the table.

Willow throws herself on the ground and screams and cries.

"Willow, no ma'am!  Ugh.  Where is your father?"

"He's in the food line, mommy." Emerson points.

"Daniel!"

"What, baby?"

"Come get your daughter before stuffing your face!"

"Willow, baby, come to daddy!"

"Daddyyyyy!" Willow cries as she runs to Danny.

"Mama mean to meeeee!"

Danny picks her up and kisses her cheek.
"Aww!  The poor princess!"

"She MEEEEEAAAAN!"

"Shh, shh, you're okay.  Calm down, chubby.
Want some food?"

Willow sniffles, rubs her eye, and nods her head.
"They have corn?"

"I don't think so.."

"Oh noooo!" She cries.

"No don't cry!  They still have lots of yummy food! And guess what!"

"What?!" She shouts in an irritated tone.

"After you eat you can have ice cream!  You like ice cream, don't you?"

"Daddy!" Willow whines.

"What, baby?"

"I toes n' tolerance!"

"What?"

"I toes n' tolerance!" She says a bit louder.

"Oh! Lactose intolerant!" Danny chuckles.
"Well just a little bit of ice cream will be okay."

"Say that to my tummy!"

"Okay well then never mind. Let's just eat and we'll see what we do later. Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy."

**

An hour later.

"Look at Charlie playing with her friends.. can you guys believe she's eight?" Kenley says to her mother and Jessica.

"No!  Time has gone by so fast!"

"I know!  When will you have another one?" Sarah smiles.

"Hah!  Mom, we're too young for another child!"

"You were too young for her and it didn't stop you then!"

"True! But we're very careful now." Kenley smiles.

"Well try not to be! Jessica has so many grandchildren, and I have one!"

"John is engaged now, Sarah! You'll be getting another grandbaby soon!"

"John is moving to New York! I'll never see the baby! Why do my kids break my heart?"

"Because you deserve it." Jessica smiles.

"Shut up!" Sarah laughs.

"Anyway!" Kenley takes a deep breath and continues. "We're twenty three. That's young! But funny thing is, Charlie said she wants a baby now. She's ready and she's bored!"

"Aw! Then give her one! Screw your ages!"

"Aunt Jessie! No!" Kenley laughs.
"Plus, she said she wants a kitten first, so we're going next week to pick one out."

"Oh great!  A cat with a newborn!" Sarah rolls her eyes.

"Hopefully its a sweet kitty and it doesn't try anything with the little baby!"

"We're not having a baby!" Kenley raises her voice.

"I say yes!" Jessica smiles.

"You're just like a kid!" She laughs.
"We'll see! Just be patient! Maybe tell your son to marry me first!" Kenley smirks.

"Oooh! She's got a point there, hoe!" Sarah says.

"Yep! Ya got me!  But I'll tell him!  I will definitely get on his ass about that!" Jessica smiles.

***

The next day.

Jessica is at home with the kids, and Danny just left to California for a week, so Anastasia is helping her out with the twins.

"Somebody at the door, mama! We got guests!" Emerson says with excitement.

"I'll get it, it's for me." Anastasia chuckles.

She then walks over to the door and opens it.

"Hi!" Ashton says.  He was obviously a little nervous.

"Hi." She smiles.

"HI!" Jessica waves.

"Hello, Mrs. Huston!"

Anastasia rolls her eyes and shuts the door behind her.

"Let's talk out here."

"Okay! You look great." Ashton smiles.

"Thanks.."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel pretty good, thanks! I still have a little morning sickness, but it's nothing too bad."

"Good!
.... Wow.. a baby, huh?"

"Yep!" Anastasia chuckles.

"So how do we do this? Do you wanna.. do you want to get back together?"

"No."

"Okay.. well uh.."

"Not right now at least. I think I need to focus on myself and the baby.   You're almost thirty now and.. I know you probably want to settle down soon but.."

"It's okay, Ana.." Ashton places his hand on her shoulder and softly rubs his thumb back and forth. "We're still friends though.. right?"

"Of course we are! You know I love you, Ash."

"I know.  I love you too.. I'm just happy you're still here.  You have no idea how worried I was.  I was a mess, and I've been a mess without you.  I just want you to be okay. I want you to be happy.  Even if it's not with me."

Anastasia smiles and takes his hand.
"I am happy. And it's because of this little girl." She says placing his hand on her bump.

"Wow.. Cool!" He laughs as he feels his daughter.

Anastasia chuckles. "You feel her?"

"Yeah!  This is crazy!"

Anastasia smiles then takes a deep breath.
"Look, I'm not saying we'll never get back together but.. I need time, okay?"

"Okay." Ashton smiles softly.

".... Are you ready to be a dad?"

"I am! I might have already bought her a few outfits."

"Are you serious?" Anastasia chuckles.

"Yeah! One is a Chucky onesie, another is a Kiss onesie, my favorite band! And another.. daddy's little princess." Ashton blushes.

Anastasia giggles. "Aw! Ashton, that's so sweet!"

"I couldn't resist!"

"How cute.."

"Yeah.. so uh, do you have any names picked out yet?"

"Well I want something really cool!
I love Janis Joplin, so I thought maybe Joplin, and we can call her Joppy!" Anastasia smiles.

"Cute!"

"I know! I kinda like Gypsy too!"

"You're wild." Ashton laughs.

"It's cute! Or do you like Wednesday? After Wednesday Addams?"

"That's pretty badass!"

"I know! I have one more!"

"Okay, then I'll tell you mine!"

"Okay!" Anastasia smiles. "Annabelle!"

"THAT WAS MINE!" Ashton shouts.

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes! Ashton, Anastasia and Annabelle. Pretty cool!"

"That's SO COOL!"

Ashton chuckled at Anastasia's excitement.
He loved her so much, and wanted to get back together with her, but after everything she's been through, he knew he had to give her space.
Hopefully when she's ready, they can start their relationship fresh.

"I think that name is perfect for her, Ash."

"Me too.."

Anastasia looks down and places her hand on her bump.
"What do you think, Annabelle?"

The baby kicks her parents' hands in response.

"I think she likes it!" Ashton chuckles cutely.

"I think so too!  We named our baby!"

"We're so grown up!"

"Yep!"

The two laugh and share a hug.

***

March 29th.
26 weeks pregnant.

"Woah!  Mom!"

"What's wrong, Ana?"

"Look at this!  She's kicking so hard!  I'm only twenty six weeks, why is she so strong?!"

"Oh wow!  It's all that rock music you blare!  She's rockin' out!"

"I think you're right!" Anastasia laughs.

"Wow.. Ow, she's kinda hurting me!"

"That's how you were!  Always trying to hurt me!"

"Oops!  Sorry!" She chuckles.

"It's all worth it I the end." Jessica pats her daughter's tummy.

"Aww!  How sweet."

"Yeah!" Jessica giggles and kisses Anastasia's cheek.

"Momma, Ashton and I were talking and.. we're naming her Annabelle."

"Annabelle?"

"Yeah!  We decided a while ago but-"

"You knew I wouldn't be the biggest fan."

"Exactly!"

"That's why she's hurting you, Anastasia, you want to name her after a demonic doll!"

"Hey!  It's a cute name!"

"I swear, Anastasia Juliet, if you birth a terror, it's your fault!"

"Wow!  Thanks!" Anastasia laughs.