One Month Later

"Ayden!" I sat up quickly in bed and pushed at Ayden's shoulder. "Ayden, wake up!"

He shot up beside me and looked around the room franticly. "What? What's wrong?" 

I glanced down to my extended belly. "I think I need to go to the hospital. I feel something weird." 

He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he tried to wake himself up. "What do you mean? What does it feel like?" 

"I don't know," I said with a shaky voice. "It's like a flutter or something. What if somethings wrong?" 

Ayden had an odd expression on his face as he reached out and placed his hand gently against my belly. "Let me see." 

I placed my hands on either side of my body on the bed and waited anxiously. I really hoped everything was okay with the baby. Ever since Nate woke up, my main focus has been on my unborn son.

I couldn't believe it when Nate woke up. The first few days after it happened, I never left Nate's room. There was a lot of tears and talking. I filled him in on everything that's happened. I also refrained from bitching about him meddling in my love life. He had been through enough, and besides-- I couldn't really get mad at him for bringing Ayden into my life. 

My thoughts came back to the present when I felt that same flutter that scared me the first time. "There! What is that?" 

When Ayden looked at me, his face broke out in the biggest, proudest smile I had ever seen. "Baby, nothing's wrong. Nothing at all."

"Then what is it?" 

His eyes fell to my belly. "He's kicking." 

I gasped when I felt it again. My eyes filled with tears. "He's kicking? Really?"

I put my hand below Ayden's. This time when I felt it, my laugh choked on a sob. I looked at Ayden and he pulled my lips to his for a deep kiss. I was twenty-two weeks along now-- almost six months pregnant. My body was changing in so many different ways. One in particular had me nearly killing the father of my baby one evening when we were going to dinner...

"Do I look fat?" 

Ayden looked up from his cell phone and arched a brow. "No, you look stunning." 

For the past twenty minutes I've tried on multiple outfits. He was taking me to dinner tonight and my normal clothes didn't seem to fit anymore. I was definitely starting to get self conscious about my body. 

"Please! You're just saying that because you're my boyfriend and you don't want to hurt my feelings."

I turned my back to him as I took the now-too-small dress off and threw it into my closet with frustration. I was excited to be having this baby, but I really hated the stretch marks I was starting to see. I knew it was a part of being pregnant, though. 

I fingered through the clothes in my closet; trying to see if there was anything I could wear. I felt Ayden's hands circle my waist from behind and he rested  his chin on my shoulder. 

"Ayden..." I didn't feel like being touched right now. Unfortunately...I felt fat.

"Do you honestly believe that I said you're stunning because I was trying to not hurt your feelings?" 

"Yes," I mumbled under my breath.

"Do you feel this?" he whispered at my ear. 

I gasped in surprise when I felt him press his very hard erection against my backside. 

"Do you?" he asked again when I didn't answer. 

"Yes," I hissed as desire shot through me. 

He slid his hand up my body to cup my breast. "Everything about you is absolutely stunning. You're a goddess. MY goddess. I've never wanted anyone that way I want you." 

He slowly turned me around in his arms and cupped my cheek. "So next time you feel that way, remember that this," he pressed my hand to his hard length, "is for you. Only you."

I pushed the memory aside and I smiled happily at Ayden. "Our baby is kicking! Wow, it's amazing." 

"Yes, it is," he said with a chuckle. He glanced at the clock on the beside table before looking back to me. "What are you're plans today?" 

"I'm supposed to go visit Jaime and Cherise for lunch. Then coming back home. That's about it. What about you?"

"Probably just hang here with Nate." 

Ever since Nate came home and Ayden got his cast off, they've been hanging out a lot. I climbed out of the bed and slipped my robe on.  When I turned towards Ayden, he snapped a picture of me. 

I felt my cheeks heat. "How many pictures are you going to sneak of me, Ayden Sawyer?" 

His smile was wicked. "As many as I can for the rest of my life, Goddess." 

"How are you feeling?" 

"Better today," Cherise said with a smile. "This new chemo treatment seems to be working. It takes a lot out of me, but if it helps me beat this thing, then it's worth it." 

Jaime glanced from her mother back to me. "She's eating a lot better, too." 

"That's because of the pot."

I nearly choked on my tea. "Excuse me?" 

Jaime laughed as Cherise explained, "I started smoking pot. It helps with the nausea and also helps me eat. It's doctor recommended." 

I was completely stunned by her words. I knew a lot of cancer patients tended to use marijuana to help with their situation, but I never thought in a million years that Cherise would try it. She was always against any kind of drugs. She barely took Tylenol, let alone anything else. 

"Is it helping?" I asked curiously. I didn't judge her. On the contrary, I worried about her more than anything. After my parents died, Cherise was always there for me. She stayed with me for two weeks after it happened. She made sure I ate and even helped me through my grief. I owed her a lot. 

"It has been. I was hesitant at first, but my doctor was persistent." Cherise took another bite of the pound cake I made-- well, that Ayden made-- before she reached out and placed her hand on mine. "How is Nate, Lanie? How's he holding up?" 

"He's doing better. He's been home a couple weeks now. He's about to start physical therapy." I glanced away. "They said the infection he had spread down his left leg. They said there was some nerve damage and he has a sixty percent chance of regaining full function."

"Is he talking yet?" Jaime asked quietly. 

After Nate woke up and we were reunited, he went into a deep depression. The doctor warned us it could happen and he ended up not speaking to anyone. It was like he crawled inside himself for weeks. After he was discharged and returned home, he finally started talking. 

"Yeah," I answered. "He's getting better every day. He started seeing the same doctor as Ayden. I think it's really helping both of them." 

"What about you, dear?" Cherise asked. 

"Sorry?" 

She smiled at me and I got nervous. It was the same smile she used when she caught Jaime and I doing something wrong. "Sweetie, you're pregnant and in a new relationship. Plus, Jaime filled me in on every thing that's happened. How are you holding up? Is your new beau taking care of you?" She pointed her finger at me. "If he isn't, I'll have Jaime drive me down there so I can teach him a lesson."

I couldn't hold back my laugh. "I'm okay. I'll admit that it was definitely a lot to handle when I was worrying about the boys. But ever since Nate woke up, I've been feeling a lot more relieved. It's definitely helped with my pregnancy being high risk." 

Cherise beamed at me. "I'm so happy to hear that. When Jaime told me you were pregnant, I was over the moon! My very first grandchild." 

Joy and love filled me. God, I loved this woman. "That's right! Did she tell you it's a boy?" 

Jaime giggled. "No, I didn't. I was going to let you surprise her." 

Cherise had a mischievous glint in her eye. "I bet Jaime fifty bucks that it was a boy! I knew it!" She took the fifty dollar bill from Jaime. "I still got it!" 

All three of us laughed at that before Cherise crossed her legs and clapped her hands together. "Now, tell me all about this soldier of yours." 

I couldn't help the giant smile that covered my face. "He's...amazing, Cherise. He is kind, funny, caring. He really, really loves me." My smile fell as I thought about my ex-asshole. "It's completely different than it was with Adam." 

"Well, of course it is. He was a douchebag," Jaime interjected. 

"True," I said with a laugh. "But it's more than that. I feel like I can really be myself with Ayden. He gets me. Not to mention, I trust him completely." I let out a long breath. "I think deep down, I always knew that Adam was going to cheat on me eventually. But with Ayden-- it's like I know he only wants me." 

"Lanie, that's amazing," Jaime said with a sniffle. 

Cherise dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "He sounds wonderful." She glared at Jaime. "Why can't you find a good man like that? Do I need to set you up with someone?" 

I snickered as Jaime gaped at her mother. "No! Please do NOT set me up, mom. I will start dating someone soo. I promise." 

"Good," Cherise said. "I worry about you, baby. You are young and need to be out there dating and having sex."

Jaime's mouth dropped open. "Mom!" 

"What?" Cherise asked innocently. "It's true. Look at Lanie. I bet she's having amazing sex with her soldier." 

They both looked at me expectantly. "Nice try. I'm not giving either of you any details." 

"Fine," Cherise said with a huff. "At least show me a picture. I'm sure you have one on your cell phone." 

"I do," I said cheerfully and grabbed my phone from the table. I pulled up the picture Ayden took of us. I was sitting on his lap, whispering something into his ear. He had a mischievous smile on his face when he snapped the picture. It was my favorite of us. "Here he is," I said when I handed her the phone. 

Cherise looked at the picture and raised her brows. "Honey, you don't need to tell me you're getting great sex. My answer is right here." She looked at Jaime and I teasingly. "This picture is worth a thousand orgasms."

Even though Jaime's face lit up with embarrassment, the three of us never laughed harder. In that moment, seeing Cherise so happy, I just prayed that she would get better. I couldn't lose her.