33

Christmas came and left along with New Years. Nothing eventful really happened to be completely honest, other than my father showing up early really. There has been one thing on my mind that has really been bothering me.

When my mom finds out the everyone knew before her, there's going to be a problem.

Putting that aside I come back to reality where Maggie, Liz and I are shopping for a Valentine's Day dinner Lucas is taking me on next week and whatever they're doing with their respective partner.

"I have no idea why I had to come with you guys. I have plenty of dresses I could wear."

"I don't understand either. This was supposed to be a family bonding trip." Liz pipes up.

"Well Jess is family and because you have no maternity dresses appropriate for a fancy dinner, hence why we're here." Maggie replies.

"That's true, I've gained like 20lbs these past months, but can we stop soon, I need to sit and my feet are hurting."

"Yeah, let's stop in this store they have some really cute dresses. Then we can go to a maternity store." Maggie says taking my hand.

"I'm sitting in the chairs by the change room with Liz, waiting for Maggie to show us the multiple dresses she picked out.

"I know what you're doing you know. You may have this whole family blinded but I know the truth." Liz says.

"What are you talking about?"

"You. Intentionally getting pregnant, trapping my brother like the gold-digger you are."

"I am not a gold-digger thank you very much. I would never do that to Lucas."

Liz was about to reply when Maggie came out of the change room in a long yellow dress. oblivious to the conversation Liz and I were just having.

"So, what do you guys think?"

"It's a beautiful dress but I'm not quite sure it goes well with your hair." I said smiling. Maggie has recently dyed her hair to a white that ombres into a gorgeous blue.

[Image: Maggie has recently dyed her hair to a white that ombres into a gorgeous blue]

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"I guess that's true." she laughs.

"That wouldn't be a problem if you stopped colouring your hair. I'm surprised it hasn't fallen out at this rate."

Maggie just sighs and goes back into the change room to try on another dress.

"You don't have to be so rude you know."

"Well I'm Just being honest. At the rate she's going, she won't have any hair left to dye."

"You act as if she dyes it every week."

"I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. This is a matter between cousins, not two cousins and a gold-digger." she says leaning back on the chair.

"Look, I didn't come here to fight with you, I'm here because Maggie is my friend and she asked me to come so you can keep your snooty little comments to yourself."

Thankfully Lisa knows how to take a not so subtle hint and stays quiet for the duration of the shopping trip.

Maggie ended up going with a navy blue dress that reaches her knees with a daring low cut. I found a tight medium length red dress with lace quarter sleeves and Lisa got a long mint green dress that clinched at the waist then flowed to the floor.

We stopped at a few other stores before heading home.

Maggie drove me back home because we carpooled and Lisa drove herself. I invited Maggie inside because I knew that Lucas and Brian were hanging out together but she declined because she didn't want Brian to go snooping through her bags and see the dress she bought along with some other stuff from Victoria's Secret. If you know what I mean.

I walk into the penthouse to see Brian and Lucas in football jerseys and poor baby Jake dressed in a brown long sleeved onesie with a football on it along with a football hat and matching socks. They even went as far as putting the little lines under his eyes.

[Image: They even went as far as putting the little lines under his eyes]

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"What the hell are you guys doing." I put my key in the key bowl and put my few bags down.

"Hey Jess." Brian says without actually looking at me.

"Hey babe. It's Superbowl Sunday!" he says as if that's a good enough reason for Jake to be dressed as a football.

"So you put poor Jake in a football onesie?" I ask picking up the frowning child. I would ask where they got the outfit but the less I know the better.

"Well yeah we couldn't decide if he was Panthers or Broncos, so he's a football." Brian explains. Only now do I notice Brian wearing a Panthers jersey and Lucas a Broncos one.

"Why didn't you just put him in a referee costume? Or normal clothes for that matter."

"Because putting him in a football costume was more fun." Brian replies.

"Brian."

"Yeah?"

"Please stop talking."

"Before I forget, Jess you might want to get ready for when people start coming."

"Wait why are people coming over."

"To watch the Superbowl of course."

"Just tell me it's not a lot of people."

"Nah, just mom, John, Maggie, Sean, the twins and Liz."

My heart dropped a little at the thought of having to see Liz again but I didn't say anything. Taking Jake with me I walk upstairs to change myself and his diaper.

I strap Jake onto the changing table so he won't try and roll off. I give him his rattle that looks like a monkey to keep him busy while I change his diaper, praying that it's just pee.

The diaper gods are not on my side this time, although I am happy it didn't end up going up his back this time. After changing Jake I bring him downstairs and put him in his bouncer in the living room with Lucas.

Only now did I notice the little decorations and food in the living room. A banner with footballs on it, there was a chart on the table probably for betting, some sort of dip on the dining room table with chips, chicken wings, things that I didn't realize they had the time to make.

I'm about to go upstairs when there's a knock on the door and seeing as I'm the closest , I answer. I open the door and in walks Maggie with a case of beer, John and Lisa with a cake, Sean with taco/burrito making stuff and Liz with the twins.

Everyone says their hi and hello except Liz who just looked at me with a tight-lipped smile, if you could call it that.

Everyone's here and I still haven't showered or changed and I feel like a mess right now. With a sigh I make my way upstairs and head straight for the shower. After a quick five minute shower I change into a beige knitted sweater and leggings while tying my hair up in a bun and head downstairs to join everyone.

I walk into the living room and sit on Lucas' lap, who is seriously engrossed into the game. I cuddle into his chest and he looks down at me and gives me a sweet kiss on the lips.

"Where'd you go?" he asks me.

"I wanted to take a shower and just relax."

"Oh I'm sorry Jess, I should've asked you about everyone coming over first seeing that this is your home too. It's just that we've been doing this forever and it wasn't even a second thought." he explains.

"It's fine, I'm not mad I just wish there was some sort of warning. Just give me cuddles and food and I'll be fine."

Lucas kissed the top of my head before giving me a squeeze and letting his hands rest on my protruding stomach.

The tacos and burritos were ready for the half-time show of Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Coldplay. At one point Maggie looked at me and said the only reason she's here is for Beyoncé.

I was a long night but it was nice to see everyone with the exception of Liz who hates me and Maggie who I saw only hours before when we were shopping.

Brian looked to be close to tears after the Panthers lost and he lost money while Lucas seemed to be beaming. Jake was put to bed a few hours ago after a bottle of milk and Lisa and John stayed back a little to help tidy up.

"Jess I'm going to be honest with you right now. I'm surprised the press doesn't know about you and Lucas. You'd think one of the richest business moguls having a baby would be big news." Maggie says to me before they leave.

"Well how would they know? I barely go outside." I say laughing.

"True. Well we should get going now, I've got to comfort this big baby on his loss."

I trudged upstairs and changed into some pyjamas while Lucas took a shower. I'm comfortable laying down on my side hugging my pregnancy pillow as I feel Lucas come up behind me trailing kisses down my neck to my shoulder.

I shudder at the sensation, unconsciously tilting my head to give him better access. He starts to kiss my jawline before finally reaching my lips. His tongue trails my bottom lip asking for entrance and I'm about to give it to him until I feel an odd feeling in my stomach.

"Ouch."

"What happened? Did I hurt you? Is the baby okay?"

"Yeah it just felt something really weird just a second a- ouch." I say arching my back.

"Is it contractions? Are you having the baby now?!"

"No. I think one of your children are kicking me in the ribs."

"Oh thank god." he sighs and I give him a look that says seriously.

"Because me getting kicked in the ribs is great. Oh feel." I saw feeling another kick grabbing his hand so he can feel.

The baby kicks his hand and his face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. He kisses the spot where the baby kicked then gives me a kiss before laying in bed with his arms around me.

We fall asleep and I dream of a beautiful future with Lucas and our three children.

"What do you want to do for March Break?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"You already do that though."

"No, I take care of Jake when you're at work. That's something and if you've forgotten I'm carrying your children."

"Alright you win this round. But why don't you want to do anything?"

"First of all it's not like you have work off anyways and I would usually visit my mom if I got time off, but I'm kind of pregnant and she kind of doesn't know. That and I can't travel in the third trimester." I state.

"Wow, you're pregnant? Since when, I haven't noticed." Lucas says sarcastically.

"Your sarcasm is not needed."

"You're not the only one who can be sassy." He replies snapping his fingers.

"You really should leave it to me. I'm sassy, you're bossy." I say with a cheeky smile.

It's currently the middle of March so it's starting to get a little warmer, but not that much. Along with planning for March Break we're preparing for the birth of the twins, who we found out at a recent appointment are doing great even though we still aren't sure whether the second baby is going to be a girl or boy.

"So I've been thinking." Lucas says while holding Jake's hands helping him walk around the apartment.

"Wow, didn't hurt yourself did you?"

"Wow you should be a comedian. No I didn't hurt myself. Thank you very much. I was thinking about some baby names."

"Oh yeah? Okay shoot." I say getting comfortable on the couch with some snacks.

"Okay so if they're both boys I like the names Jasper, David, Tobias and/or Lucas Jr., or L.J. for short. For a girl I like Chloe or Alexandra." he says joining me on the couch with Jake.

"Wow you put a lot of thought into this."

"Why only two for a girl?"

"Because we already know that one baby is a boy, we just don't know what the second one is." Lucas explains

"Oh, that makes sense."

"Yeah, so what do you think?" he asks me

"Well I really like Alexandra for a girl and Jasper or David for a boy."

"What?! No Lucas Jr? I think that is a wonderful name for a child."

"Really Lucas? Of course you would. Wouldn't Jasper be such an adorable name, everyone could have 'J' names. Like I'm Jessica, then there's Jake and the baby Jasper. We could even think of one for the other baby like James or Jade."

"But I would be the only one without a 'J' name."

"Well, I guess you're sh.it out of luck then." I respond.

"Fine, if you won't be serious we can talk about this later."

"Lucas c'mon, I'll be serious I promise."

"Thank you. So about L.J." he starts.

***

"I hate everything.

My feet are swollen, my back aches, Jake is in a sour mood, I feel like I've gained like a gazillion pounds and I swear I have to pee every ten minutes." I complain.

"Aw, don't worry it'll all be worth it once you see your beautiful children." Maggie tries to cheer me up.

"I sure hope so. Enough about me, let's talk about you."

"Oh no you don't I'm not done yet." she counters.

"Why? I'm not even that interesting." I complain slouching into the couch, I feel my phone dig into my back pocket.

"Oh really? Not that interesting? Says the one who is pregnant by twins from the man she literally met the day they were conceived. Not only are you pregnant for him but also engaged."

"Tell my life story, why don't you?" I ask sarcastically.

"Sure, Once upon a time there was a little blonde girl named Jessica who had a sister, a dad and a crazy Catholic lady for a mom-"

"Oh my God Maggie really?" I say laughing a little.

She gasps before responding. "Go wash your mouth out with soap right now young lady!" she mocks.

"Wow, you're so funny."

"Now, back to where I was before I was so rudely interrupted. Anyways, so one day when Jessica is all grown up an assho-, pardon me, a butthole," she corrects herself after realizing Jake is still in my arms, " who she was clearly to good for her,cheated on her. So Jessica went to a bar, got a little drunk and did the nasty with my cousin and get impregnated. After that she met a super cute, hot, generous, amazing girl with awesome hair named Maggie. The rest of the story is irrelevant. Jessica and Lucas fall in love, she gives birth, they get married and the live happily ever after, The end." she ends with jazz hands.

"You should be a writer or something."

"With my skills I could make it to #1 in no time." she says sarcastically.

"Oh I'm sure." I stand up as Jake starts to squirm in my lap, making noises of protest of being stuck in my arms.

I took hold of his hands and let him stand on the carpet and walk around a little. I couldn't do much, seeing as I can't bend down that far, Maggie takes Jakes hand from me to take over helping him.

While Maggie was helping Jake walk around the living room, Lucas came walking down the stairs wearing sweats and a fitted t-shirt, his hair disheveled like he just woke up.

"Hey Maggie." he mumbles wiping his eyes and waving at a smiling Jake. He then makes his way towards me, giving me a sweet kiss on the lips before sitting down next to me putting one arm over my shoulder and the other on my protruding stomach. He lifts my shirt partly over my stomach and kisses it above my navel and mumbles. "Hi, babies."

A few hours later after dinner and after Jake's been fed and put to bed, Maggie leaves saying she's going to visit Brian.

I fall asleep with Lucas by my side, a wonderful end for a wonderful day.

*****

A few days later while I was feeding Jake lunch I get a call from Adriana, unfortunately it wasn't the type of call I was hoping for.

"Hey Adri, what's up?" I ask while making funny faces to Jake, as I finish feeding him his pureed fruits and vegetables in the living room.

"Turn on the T.V. and go to E-Talk!"

Doing as told I find the remote and turn on the television. What I see makes my stomach drop.