"It's perplexing how family members claim their undying love for us. They can say whatever they choose, but their actions and behaviors don't match their words. There is an imbalance in the relationships with distinct discrepancies, especially in who overpowers the scapegoat."

Morgan Ann Bennett

I spent the whole morning in the room, alone and wondering why I was cursed with a child by a man who wasn't even mine. Cursed, blessed, I couldn't decide which, yet.

Callie called me on FaceTime, bringing a smile to my face after a morning of tears.

"—Can you hear me now?" She talked. Her words were choppy and the screen was pixelated but I could see she was there with Jesse and Quinn.

"Kinda, yeah. How are you guys? I miss you so much, Quinn-y."

"I hope she's not the only one!" Callie smacked her lips.

I giggled. "No, of course not. I miss you, and Jess, too. Is he taking care of you?"

"All too well," Jesse spoke up once the screen went clear.

I smiled, happy for them. Happy for her.

"What are you guys going today, hitting the slopes?" Asked my older sister.

I sighed. "No, not today."

"Good! I still have time to learn how to ski before you get good at it." Callie joked.

I laughed with them. "I have to tell you guys something when I get back."

"So do we!" Callie exclaimed.

"Is it a good something?" Asked Jesse, butting in, his face all in the camera.

"It's pretty good," I replied.

"Tell us now!" Quinn screamed, taking over the phone.

I laughed at her, wishing I was there instead.

"No, I can't. Soon, I promise," I revealed, rolling over onto my stomach.

"Okay," Callie drawled. "Soon."

"Speaking of soon, we have to go to the airport," Jesse sang to his two new favorite girls.

"The airport? For what?"

"Secret!" Callie expressed, grinning because she knew something I didn't.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I didn't even look, knowing it was Chris.

"Have to go, see you soon?" Callie remarked before hanging up.

Sadness, FOMO (fear of missing out) washed over me.

I cuddled up to the pillow and let out a sigh.

If I never left Arizona, what would my life be like now? Would I still be working, doing more bikini contests?

I'd be closer to my parents who I don't even talk to but at least I knew where they were: home, safe, sending us money to keep that little shack afloat. It wasn't much but I was content. I mean, I had to break my back for everything, but at least I worked for it. Felt like I was really providing for Quinn and Callie. Now? Now I feel less independent, like I'm depending on everyone else in Penshaw. Malcolm for his money. Chris for happiness. Mary for my overall well-being, you know? It's like, who am I anymore and what am I even doing here?

I was wrong. Money does not buy happiness. Maybe temporarily, but that's just that: temporary.

I have the money, I can just run somewhere else and start over. Yeah, start over!
California? No, I don't want to raise a baby there.
Washington? Too rainy.
Need something warm, that's for sure.

Chris came and sat on the bed, bringing my feet in his lap.

"Hey," he talked.

"Hi."

"Your feet are cold," he chuckled.

I stole a look at him. "I'm cold."

"I don't know what to say," he exhaled.

"I think you said everything," I huffed, sitting up.

"Alright. Well, now I'm going to listen."

"I don't have anything to say, Chris," I breathed out, walking over to the far window where I watched the snow fall but it no longer had an effect on me.

I folded my arms and worked myself up to speak again.

"I didn't know this would happen, I didn't want it to, but it did. It's still early and I'm not gonna force you to be in this with me. I should've told you, period. I am sorry. That's it."

He vibrated his lips and beckoned me back to the bed. When I sat, he then laid beside me.

I dropped my attitude and put my ear on his heart,  letting out a small breath.

"Chris, why is everything so complicated for us?"

He rubbed down my arm and then squeezed me tightly.

"If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it," Chris cooed, locking our fingers.

"Do you know I meant it when I said I love you?" I sniffled, bringing my leg over his body.

He paused to look at me and I met his gaze.

"What if we leave?" He sat up.

"That did not answer my question." I blew a raspberry.

He picked me up and  squared my shoulders, excitement filling his green eyes.

"No, what if we move? You and me. I mean, I know it's a big jump, but you practically live with me now. Especially if you're gonna have this baby, let's... let's be a family."

I grabbed both sides of his face and put my forehead to his. "Christopher Omar Vaughn, I think that's the sexiest thing you've ever said to me. And there's a long list of sexy things you've said to me; it's how you got this bun in the oven." I giggled.

Chris smiled at me and then it faded away when he realized something, or at least that's what it looked like.

"We need to tell my father," he said. "I don't think Mary did."

"Stop calling her Mary!" I scolded him, rolling off of the bed.

Chris and I held hands as we left the room and made our way downstairs.

Carter was in the kitchen, rubbing Mary's shoulders as she sat at the table, babysitting a mug full of piping hot coffee.

Chris dropped down from the last step and met his father's eyes.

"Morgan's pregnant, say congratulations, and nothing else," he barked, tucking his hands under his armpits.

"She's what— I mean, congratulations, Morgan." Said Carter.

I smiled politely. "Uh, thanks. I didn't exactly want everyone to know so soon but your son is big on transparency all of a sudden." I gritted, elbowing Chris who just smiled and pulled me close.

Not really how I wanted the in-laws to find out, far from a cute reveal, but it'll do.
My parents are lucky if they get a sonogram in the mail or a phone call from me. If Callie wants to, I'll let her tell them.

"Yeah, congratulations," Jabari said, walking up on me. He hugged me and then slapped Chris's hand in a brotherly shake.

I gasped, forgetting he and Jas were there.

Great. Now the whole town knows, I thought.

"Congratulations, Elu, you'll make a wonderful mother," Sherry said to me, bringing my body in for a hug. After her, her husband.

"You better make me the Godmother," Jasmine said to me, crossing her arms.

"Duh, who else?!" I squeaked, wrapping my arms around her.

With all of that going on, all the "congratulations," and warm hugs, my head was spinning. I didn't even want anyone to know so early.

When I stepped away for some air, my phone rang. It was Callie and I answered immediately.

"Hey, Cal, what's up?" I spoke first.

"Morgan, Morgan!" She exclaimed.

I laughed at her energy. "Girl, calm down. What is it?"

"I need you to come home," her voice shuddered.

***

"Chris, you really didn't have to leave your family vacation to take me home. Really," I told him.

Chris drove fast down the mountain, making sure we'd get there on time.

"It's not a family vacation if you and our baby isn't there, is it? Besides, what were you going to do, Uber? Right."

I had no idea what the emergency was but I didn't waste a second.

Callie didn't say much, and if she did I couldn't hear her, I dropped my phone as soon as she told me I needed to come home.

We were less than thirty minutes away from "home." She didn't say if it was the b&b or where, but that's where Chris sped to.

When he put his hand on my thigh, I found it very comforting and felt at ease, but only a little.

"My phone's dead," he commented, reaching for mine that was in the cup holder.

"Password?" He asked.

"For what?" I hummed, patting my thighs to pass time.

"I know my mom's trying to make sure we're alright, I'll call her. Password?" He cleared his throat, shaking my phone for emphasis.

"It's her birthday." I blurted, sinking in the seat.

Chris did a double take at me and then put in the code 0214.

When my phone unlocked, he gave me the side eye.

"What?" I shrugged. "I knew you'd guess it if it was mine, yours, or Quinn's, and I didn't know if it was too soon for us to look through each other's phones yet, or not. And her birthday is cute— Valentine's Day— I told her that's why she's so lovely."

Chris smiled at me and then rolled his eyes. "That's l so cute, I wanna throw up."

I laughed at him, grabbing the assist grip on the ceiling of the truck.

Well, I guess my Safari tab was open because Chris discovered my search history and looked at me with dark, interrogating eyes.

"Morgan, what's this?" He asked me in a growl.

I looked, but quickly.

"Huh?" I used his fake-clueless line against him even though he had the screen right in my face.

"Morgan, don't-" he barked, jaw clenching to stop the rest of his words from flying out and upsetting me.

"Okay," I said with a sigh. "I was just weighing my options."

"But Planned Parenthood, Ann? Abortion?" He called me by my middle name, getting all serious. His tone suddenly settled from angry to concerned and I gulped, trying not to let this turn into an argument.

I sat up and pushed the loose strands of hair behind my ears.

"Don't tell me you're one of those people," I complained, head back on the headrest.

I brought my knees to my chest and held them there, groaning because it seemed like we would never make it to Callie's.

He chuckled, switching hands to steer the wheel with.

"Nah, nah. I'm a feminist."

I had to laugh. "You? A feminist? Since when?"

He playfully acted offended at my shocked reaction.
"Since Mary took me to a protest when I was younger."

I rotated my jaw and then glared out of the window, laughing through my nose. "Of course. Of course she did!"

Just another reason to believe his mother is an absolute angel. I hope one day I can be half the mother she is. . .

"I love her," I exhaled, running my fingers through the locs of hair at the back of his head.

"Yeah, she's alright," he played it off, smiling small.

He wet his lips and then stole a look at me. "Will I ever meet your parents?"

"Probably not," I answered, staring off in the distance. I brushed the hair behind my shoulders and adjusted how I sat in the seat.

"They don't come around. I don't know the last time I saw them. They were supposed to visit a while ago." I paused and looked into the distance.

"They probably don't want to see me anymore."

Chris kissed the back of my hand. "Don't say that, who wouldn't want anything to do with you?"

"Thanks, but you have to say that."

Finally, he parked the car in the lot of Red Sage Bed and Breakfast, and walked around to let me out.
I silently thanked him with a smile and paced to the master suite where Callie called home.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

No answer.

I called Callie.

No answer.

I wandered around the parking lot, being patient to see if she'd call me back within the next minute, or not. But five passed and I was getting worried.

"Where the hell could she be?" Chris asked, flailing his arms in the middle of the parking lot.

*

SLAM! I shut the door and looked at Chris with my teeth gritted and shoulders raised with worry. I didn't mean to close Lenny's — or as he calls her, Precious— doors like that.

Chris rolled his eyes but didn't say anything about the abuse to his precious car.

"Wait, right here," I told Chris, stopping him from getting out of the driver's seat.

He got out anyway, gently pushing me to the side.

Looking down at me, Chris said, "You knew I wouldn't let you go in there alone; It's Malcolm we're talking about."

"She didn't say he was here, and—" I stopped upon seeing a black SUV arrive in the driveway after us.

Chris immediately put his forearm over my stomach and made me get behind his frame.

I eased his arm down and sighed. "It's just Teddy."

Teddy pulled his black jeans up, stomping towards us.

He first gave me a hug and then dapped Chris up.

"What happened?" He was out of breath.

"I don't know, yet. Come on." I bossed, leading the way.

Chris grabbed my arm and I felt a spike in my adrenaline.

"I don't like this," he made clear.

We were yards from the front door. If Malcolm was there, looking, we would've already been caught.

"Christopher..." I exhaled, looking at the hold he had on my wrist.

"We talked about this on the way here. If anything happens, Teddy is there. If we need you, we'll call you. Use your boyfriend instincts." I tried to make him laugh.

Chris didn't smile but he eased up on my arm. "Fine. And I'm comin' in swinging, too."

"We know you will." My voice trailed off as Teddy and I walked towards the front door.

I braced myself once Teddy knocked. Polite of him but we didn't want to just barge in just in case.

There was no answer but the door was unlocked so we let ourselves in and carefully trekked inside.

The place was left how I remembered but it hadn't been that long. Not long enough, actually.

I didn't miss it one bit despite the major upgrade from my twin bed back in Arizona.

Laughter was heard, both alarming and confusing Teddy and myself. We looked at each other then followed the sounds to the dining room area.

Teddy just stood there, dropping his hand from the gun tucked in the back of his pants.

I tilted my head, wondering why there suddenly was no threat or sense of urgency.

"What is it, what's wrong?" I asked, rolling around the corner.

Is it possible to have your heart beat a million times a second and stop at the same time? My stomach dropped in my ass and I felt my throat close.

I'm going to faint.

"Morgan, darling, I'm glad you made it." Malcolm addressed me first.

And I definitely didn't miss that "darling" word, either.

He used a cane now. I guess rehab was doing him well. Although I wished he stayed in that damn wheelchair for life.

I felt words forming in my mouth but when I parted my lips to object, throw up wanted to come out instead.

I swallowed hard and balled my clammy fist.

"Mom... Dad." I spouted, rocking in place.

"Woah!" Everyone exclaimed when I stumbled back into the wall.

Teddy caught me and asked if I was alright, but I ignored him. I shouldn't have, my vision was blurred.

"W-what are you guys doing here?" I stammered, looking around the room.

It was them alright. Same smug suburban look and feel, like they're so content with their middle class lives. My mother hadn't changed her haircut but my father was bald now with a full beard. I don't remember him ever keeping facial hair for long. They looked like they hadn't aged, err, I would've thought that if I didn't look closely enough to see the crow's feet and grey hairs.

"I didn't know how else to get you to come see the surprise," Callie told me as she bounced Quinn in her lap. She was all smiles and that kind of pissed me off because she should be the one queasy at the sight of these people who we hadn't seen in God knows how long.

Malcolm came around the table and grabbed me by the waist. I was too frozen, too stuck, to move a muscle.

He smirked and nestled his nose in my hair.

"I missed you, darling," he breathed deeply in my ear.

"Caleen, Theodore," he spoke loud and clear with the rubbing of his hands, "thanks for bringing her back to me."

I watched my parents flash their teeth and look at Malcolm with such admiration that it made me want to throw the fuck up.

"Morgan, wow," Owen, who donated his sperm in order for me to be born, exhaled.

"You look amazing, you're all grown up."

"Honey, you're practically glowing!" His wife named Kelsey, who also donated her body for me to come out of, added.

"Go to hell, all of you," I seethed, pushing off the wall with what strength I conjured up to run away.

Teddy followed me and grabbed me up in the foyer.

"Get off of me!" I screamed, squirming out of his hold.

"I didn't have anything to do with that shit, alright!? I know what he said but I didn't know nothing about your parents being here. I'm just as lost as you!" Teddy argued, having to raise his voice at me for the first time ever.

I looked up at him with peering eyes that just glossed over his face, trying to read if he was telling the truth or not.

"UGH!" I growled, banging my fist into the wall.

It hurt but I ignored that because the feeling of betrayal was far greater.

I wept, sliding down the wall.

"Why would she do this? W-why does she want anything to do with them?" I cried in my hands.

Teddy rubbed my back and then said, "Come on, let's go before Chris comes in guns blazing."

He held my body up, aiding in getting me to the Dodge truck impatiently parked outside.

I cried, tears burning as they rolled down my cheeks.

How could she? I kept asking myself in my head.

And why? After all this time?

Sunlight was apparent the second we stepped outside of the dark lair and dropped off the last step.

"Up. Okay, here we go," he said, grunting the longer he had to hold me up.

Chris jumped out of the car, throwing his phone on the seat though he was talking to someone on it.

"What happened?!" He roared, taking Teddy's place.

I nearly keeled over but Chris was there.

I stopped hyperventilating in his arms and said, "I'm going to be sick."

***

Later that night, I lied on the couch with a heating pad under me for my back, and a cold rag on my forehead. All Chris's doing, he didn't know what I needed so he got me everything.

Despite the tv playing reruns of The Nanny, I watched the ceiling fan spin on high.

My thoughts came and went, I wasn't sure what or who to be mad at here.

I felt like Callie set me up, taking me from that blissful vacation to bombard me with an unwanted reunion with our makers.

I kept asking myself "how could she," but I remembered this is also the same girl who had eyes for Chris before. The same girl who once made me go on a double date with her, this guy, and his co-worker who thought I was pretty. I was fourteen.

"That was my mom," Chris's voice entered the living room area.

I didn't move or say anything, only blinked and brought the covers over my freezing feet.

"She asked if everything's okay. Of course I didn't know what to tell her, but..."

I sniffled and let my eyes drift to Chris as he sat down with me on the couch.

"Babe, you gotta talk to me-"

I cut him off there.

"I just don't know why they're here. What do they want, and why now? Callie's finally doing better. Or, no, I fucking thought she was. Now they're all buddy-buddy? They kicked us out, left us like we weren't... like we weren't their kids. I was eight, Chris. Eight! And I haven't known them since," I went on.

I sat up and felt a pain in my heart.

Sniffling, I shook my head. "I just don't get it. What, they want to be a family now? And Callie, she's so damn stupid, how could she? They hate her the most."

He just took it all in, letting me vent and I appreciated that because if he said something corny to cheer me up I might've flipped out.

"Maybe they do wanna reconnect?" Chris offered.

I cracked a laugh. "No offense but you don't get to tell me anything about my broken family when you come from two people who absolutely love you. I never had that. Or maybe I did but it was so long ago and completely overshadowed by the fact that they let me go with Callie who was in no position to take care of a child. Still isn't."

"I-"

I cut him off again, ripping the throw blanket off of my body.

My nose was stuffed but I had to get out what was on my chest.

"Sometimes I wonder what my life would've been like if I, um, stayed. You know, like, would we have gone on summer vacations? Maybe I would've turned out like you and Mary - the perfect family. I always knew they didn't push me away, it was my decision, but I was only eight. Why would they let me go with her? And Callie was a monster. I looked up to her because I was a kid and when you're a kid your older sister can do no wrong. But she really did a number on me. I mean, it wasn't me they're mad at. I probably hurt them, too. They never tried to get me back, though. God, I was so mad at them for so many years. Finally... finally I stopped caring. At one point, I started telling people my parents died."

Chris rubbed my back, the only thing he could do to make me feel slightly better, and I let him.

"And now I'm supposed to be someone's mother?" I expressed, laughing it off as I stood in paced.

Chris looked up at me with empathetic eyes, the widest and most glossy I've ever seen them.

His Adam's apple raised in his neck as he gulped and wanted to say something but didn't.

"I don't want to be anything like her."

"You won't." Chris sounded like he promised that. He stood, grabbed my elbows, and looked down at me so sure.

"How do you know? Because you have Mary who used to hold you, and tuck you into bed every night?You have Carter who used to go to all your games and was there for you when you needed him. Well, sometimes. Kelsey and Owen..." I shook my head, pulling my swollen lips into my mouth.

"They're noting like that. And I can't raise a kid knowing there's a part of them in me."

I was finally done, there was nothing else to say that I hadn't already.

I put my hands on the sides of my neck and tossed my head back so I could stare up at the ceiling and blink the tears away.

Then I took a deep breath because I knew Chris was going to tell me to do that next.

"I'm going to bed," I said with a congested voice. Think I got a cold from being in Aspen.

Chris grabbed my hand but I was already on the other side of the couch.

"I don't like seeing you like this," he said low, my back to him in the dark loft.

I relaxed my shoulders and reminded myself to breath through my mouth.
"My parents are here for whatever reason after brainwashing Callie — who they kicked out— that she's okay with it, and there's a baby inside of me. Aheh."

My eyes wandered to the emptiness past the kitchen.

"I'm fine, it's fine."

"Morgan..." Chris sighed.

I left him there so I could go in bed and try to sleep this off. I figured if I tried hard enough, I'd wake up and this will have been a bad dream.

All of the lights were off and I knew the streets were busy but oddly, I tuned them out. After a while, I tuned my own thoughts out. There wasn't a single one behind my eyes anymore.

It was no longer summer, hadn't been for a while, but not yet winter. Chris had changed his thin blankets to winter comforters, anyway.

I lied under them, curled in a ball, feet rubbing together.

Chris walked in tall and cut on only the dim lights over the tub as he maneuvered around to change into some clothes for bed.

He finally removed his socks and jewelry, then made himself comfortable on my left - his side of the bed.

I didn't think he would, wanting to give me space, but Chris pulled my body to his and held me there close.

I melted into his skin and muscles and let the feeling put me at ease. At least for the next eight hours.

"I know it won't make you feel any better right now," Chris's sleepy voice rasped. "but it wasn't just a stupid dream I had; I think you'll be the best mother."

***

A/n: hope you all liked this chapter! Please be sure to vote and I loveeeee comments - for all you silent readers out there lol! I need validation. Oops, I mean feedback🤭
Oh! Also, I will be updating every Thursday and Sunday! See y'all then!
~Nat.