Now and Forever novel Chapter 52

"Knock knock," just before I could say 'come in' the door already opened and in came a pajama clad Alexis, "you're still up?" my eyes slightly widened in surprise when I saw what time it was, "yep, couldn't sleep," she whispered and warily eyed Lucas' sleeping body on the bed beside me.

I really need to set up his own room..

"Why is that?" I set the book I was reading down on the bedside table and gently moved Lucas a little closer to me to make enough space for Alexis since he was laying splat in the middle of the bed- didn't want to take any chances with him falling off the bed now would we?

"I'm not tired I guess.. you?" she fell onto the bed and rolled onto her stomach- oh how I wish I could still do that.. "I was waiting for him to fall asleep," I gestured to the little human being, " since someone thought it was a good idea to give him candy at his bedtime-"

"It was the only way to get him to stop crying!" Alexis exclaimed, "you could've brought him to me.."

"You were still talking to Sophie and I -being the good person that I am- didn't want to interrupt you guys so I decided to exterminate the problem the only way I know how: candy," this brought a smile to my face before it quickly disappeared when the little human stirred in his sleep but Alexis didn't seem to notice this, "speaking of Sophie, what did she say about Lucas?"

"She didn't say anything about Lucas apart from the fact that he's a 'cute little munchkin'," what is it with people and cringey pet names for children? I mean- 'munchkin'?? "but she did have some colorful words for his mother.." at the mention of Jessica, Alexis' face hardened- did she do something to her to?

"Sophie and I plan on going shopping tomorrow for Lucas, do you wanna come?" Her face softened at the change of topic and she sat up, crossing her legs in the process, "are you shopping for Cletus the Fetus-"

"I'm sorry- what?"

"Cletus-"

"I suggest you don't complete that sentence if you still have use for your throat- I mean, Cletus the Fetus?" I cringed as I tested the vile words, "what's wrong with-"

"Everything." It was creative I must say but that's a big no, thank you very much, "well I'm going to keep calling her Cletus the Fetus when you're not around," she huffed and crossed her arms, "and what makes you think I'm having a girl?" I copied her gesture and crossed my arms as well, "I- well.. I.." I stared at her in amusement as she tried to come up with an answer, "you..?"

"I can feel it."

"You can feel it?"

"Yep!" she looked so proud of herself I couldn't contain the fit of laughter that escaped my mouth, "shhh! You're going to wake Lucas!" Alexis reached over and lightly slapped my arm, annoyance clearly drawn across her face, "do you want me to come with you tomorrow or not?"

"Alright, alright I'm sorry," I'm not. What? I couldn't help myself.. "I know you're not but I'll let it slide. So, shopping for the baby as well or not?"

"Nope," I took off my robe and climbed under the covers, my silk pajamas keeping me cool under the warm sheets, "what? why not?" her eyebrows drew together as she climbed in as well, reason? I don't know but I definitely didn't mind, it was a change from sleeping alone every night- excluding Lucas of course.

"I don't want to rush into buying everything all at once, I want to take my time. I want everything to be perfect- close to perfect at least," I rolled over and switched the lamp off, "so.. can I still buy things for Starburst?"

"Okay- where in the world are you coming up with these names?"

"Just answer the question, Amelia- and Starburst is my favorite candy so why not name the baby after it?" She rolled over on her side and switched off the lamp, darkness taking over everything in a matter of seconds, "I mean- sure if you want to.." I trailed off, my eyelids getting heavier by the second.. until they were not.

"What're you doing?" I opened my eyes fully and drew my eyebrows together, "I just wanted to know if it felt squishy," Alexis retracted her hand from my stomach and laid back down, "you wanted to know if my stomach was squishy?" she nodded, "and you thought now was the right time to test out your theory?"

"I'm bored-"

"Then sleep-"

"I can't," she groaned and stuffed a pillow over her face, "try," I huffed and closed my eyes.

The last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep was the feeling in my tummy I got when Alexander walked in on me. How embarrassing.

***

"Grey!"

"Blue!"

"But blue's basic!"

"And you think grey's any better?!"

"Guys!" I called and both Alexis and Sophie snapped their heads in my direction, "find something else to argue over because this isn't a discussion. He chose green and that's what we're going with."

"You can't honestly let him pick out such a color.. I mean green? Come on!" Alexis argued, "I agree," Sophie backed up, "grey on the other hand.."

"Now there, I definitely do not agree- blue's superior!"

"That's where you're wrong-"

"How about... we honor the little human's wishes and we move on?" I suggested as I threw a pack of green and white bedsheets into the cart- might as well decorate his room, Jessica doesn't seem to be coming back any time soon..

"No!"

"No!" They both shouted at the same time, "we're doing green and that's that guys."

"But green's so dull," so is grey but you don't see me complaining.. "We're doing green and yellow then," I smiled at the thought of how bright and beautiful Lucas' room was going to be, "yellow?" Alexis asked, as if the word 'yellow' was foreign on her lips, "I like it," Sophie piped in as she held up the color scheme we picked up along the way.

"But-"

"Hold that thought," I held up my finger as I searched for my phone my other hand before pulling it out of my handbag, "keep an eye on Lucas, I'll be a minute," my heart suddenly started beating faster when Alexander's name popped up on the screen.

"Hello?" I pray to god my voice isn't as wobbly as I feel it is...

"Amelia," his voice sounded.. relieved? "yeah..?" I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, why am I so freakin' nervous?? This is not like me at all..

"Where are you?" I could hear him restrain himself from shouting. I think it's that's a good thing..? "At the mall with Sophie and Alexis, why?" he then let out a breath I didn't know he was holding, "okay, what's going on?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were going out today?"

"I didn't see the need to..?" I looked back where I had left Lucas with Sophie and Alexis and sighed in relief when they were still there, "and why is that?" Are we playing twenty questions? It sure does feel like it, "you'd already left for work by the time we woke up and left for the mall and we were supposed to be back home before you- wait a second, are you already at home?" I took his silence as an answer.

"What're you doing home so early?" I asked as I peeped at my watch, "I-"

"Don't tell me you wanted to check up on me?" I joked when he'd been quiet for a solid 20 seconds- silence followed after. I gasped dramatically, "you did want to check up on me, didn't you?" He grumbled a 'whatever' and a grin spread across my lips, "just make sure you'll be back before 5 pm, will you?" It's 2 pm now, I'm sure we'll be done by then, "aye aye captain," I replied but was met with a groan before the line went dead.

"What's wrong with your face?" Sophie asked when I walked back to where I'd left them before, "what's wrong with my face?" I asked and touched around to see if there was anything there, "you look like a kid on Christmas morning," Alexis added on as the both observed me face.

"It's called smiling."

"Yes but why are you smiling?"

"Am I not allowed to smile?" I raised an eyebrow at the both of them, they looked at each other then back at me, "who were you talking to on the phone..?

"Not that it's any of your business, but I was talking to my husband." My husband. He's mine. No one else's. The thought of that made butterflies erupt in the pit of my stomach.

"Alexander?" Sophie asked, "no, the Easter Bunny- of course it was Alexander! Who else?"

"I don't know!" back to the bickering I see..

Not only did Alexander talk to me in more than three sentences today but he was also worried about me and that brought a warm feeling in my body.

"I'm hungry."