In the days after Josh came home, he was still pissed off and annoyed with me for waiting so long to tell him about the baby. I was pissed off and annoyed with him for being such a twat about everything, so needless to say, we barely spoke much. I'd work and things to do, so I wasn't pushed.

Josh, however, was obviously not pissed off and annoyed at me enough to sleep on the couch, because he always came crawling back into bed next to me at shitty hours of the morning. What can I say; I'm irresistible.

---

Despite being pissed off at each other, we did in fact come to a mutual agreement that we'd have to break it to our parents soon. I wanted to leave it as late as possible, but Josh had to be the responsible one in the relationship and say no, we need to do it now. I glared at him, but he brushed it off.

And here we are, sat in Josh's jeep across the road from Mum's, hand in hand while it felt like we're being sent to the guillotine. I was having a major freak out, swearing like there was no tomorrow and getting the shakes when Josh took my hand in his, and sighed loudly.

"Jesus Christ Rachel, calm the hell down, will you? You'll give yourself a heart attack or something." Josh said in minor agitation, running his free hand through his hair. If I do say so myself, he looked quite well today, all stubble and skinny jeans and a Bring Me The Horizon t-shirt ft. a blue plaid flannel shirt and Vans. He always scrubs up when he comes over to Mum's with me. Bless him.

"No, you don't get that I'M the one dealing with my mother being disappointed with me. I don't want that. I never want anyone disappointed with me, yet they always seem to be. Mum'll be disappointed that I've just thrown my life away, Dan'll be disappointed that I've gotten knocked-up so young, and you..you're disappointed that I didn't tell you that you were going to be a dad soon enough. And you know what? It sucks. It sucks having people being disappointed with me." I choked up a small bit and went looking in my bag for a tissue, since I'm going through boxes of them lately. My hormones are horrific.

"Hey, hey, none of that's true. Your mum will be delighted, I know she will. I can sort Dan out myself. As for me, I'm not disappointed in you. Sure, I was annoyed, but it's been a week and I'm over it. I'm telling you now, I couldn't be happier that this baby's on its way." Then, he kissed me. Like, a full-on proper kiss, and we didn't come up for air for ages. I liked it, a lot, and that was one thing that I missed while he was away. "D'you know if it's a boy or a girl yet?"

"No, I was waiting till you came home to find out. I've a scan next week, so we can find out then."

"Right, okay. That's something to look forward to. Hey, is that my shirt?" He pointed to the green and black plaid shirt I had on, and I shrugged. We were dressed the same, except I'd a cropped top on under the shirt, and flip flops instead of Vans, because tying the laces was too much of an effort.

"Yeah. Since you're taller and broader, it was too big for me and covered Bump. I'll take it off after we tell Mum, because I'm roasting." He just shook his head and laughed.

"I can't have nothing with you, honestly. Right, we'd better get a move on before you chicken out any further. It'll be fine, I promise." I glared at him and we both got out of the car, though I wish we hadn't, as someone who I didn't want to pulled up outside Mum's in their car.

Dan.

I was as good as gone.

---

I froze. What the hell was I supposed to do? I literally lost the ability to move or speak, and all I could do was gulp loudly. I mean, I was probably being way overdramatic since I'm a drama queen and I'm feeling all sorts of ways, but still. I eventually managed a small wave, while Josh locked the car and came round next to me. Again, he took my hand in his and we walked across the road to meet Dan, and I felt myself go like jelly.

"How're you feeling now, Rach? Heard your stomach flu was pretty horrendous. I would've called over sooner, but y'know, I didn't want to be sick as shit." Dan said, giving me a tight hug but frowning at the fact that I was slightly further away from him than normal due to Bump. He said nothing about it.

"Oh, yeah, it was nasty. Couldn't even keep water down. I'm fine now, though, so your safe." I answered as convincingly as I could. I didn't even know I had the stomach flu. Imagine.

"Good. It's been a while since I've seen you, what've you been up to?" Carrying your niece or nephew.

"Oh, y'know, just stuff. Work, sleep, Teen Mom marathons, my usual schedule. You?"

"The usual. Mum never mentioned you were coming, I would've picked you up if I'd known."

"Just a last minute decision, I guess. I need to get out of this heat, actually. C'mon, Josh." I led the way up to Mum's front door before ringing the doorbell and doing my best to hide Bump for just a little while longer. That is, if I didn't pass out first.

---

We stood waiting ages for Mum to answer, and when she did, I could tell she didn't expect me and Josh, but hugged us regardless and invited us into the kitchen. I haven't been over in ages, and I miss this place a lot. Funny to think I used to want to leave it so badly when I was growing up.

"So, Rachel, its been a while! Tell me, how've you been? Oh, and anybody want coffee, tea, anything like that?" Mum asked, and I felt a bit shaky. Josh looked perplexed, and Dan looked like Jack Frost. He'd bleached his hair since I last saw him. It looked pretty cool.

"I'll just have a coffee please, Sue." Josh said, taking his phone out of his pocket and flinging it on the table. I'm surprised he hasn't broke that phone yet, since it's fallen everywhere and God knows what else.

"I'm good thanks, Mum." Dan muttered, reading the newspaper that was on the table.

"I've been okay, thanks. Up to my eyes in work, but fine otherwise. I'll pass on tea, but d'you have any blackcurrant jam?" I asked, drumming my fingers on the table.

"Yes, pet, usual cupboard. Why?" Mum looked at me curiously as she made herself and Josh coffee, and I shrugged.

"Hungry." I found the jam and some sweet chili sauce, and mixed them together before sitting down on the chair next to Josh, who copped on why I was eating this mixture like a trashcan like I did at the airport and have been since.

"Right, what the fuck?" Dan looked disgusted. I stuck my tongue out at him. Mum just got this knowing look on her face, and I knew I was fucked.

"Bit of an unusual pairing of foods, dear." She said, and I stared intently at that jam jar. "Tell me, how far along are you?" I choked on my mouthful of jam. Josh froze. Dan dropped the newspaper and looked confused.

"What?" I asked, still with my mouthful of jam.

"I asked how far along you were with your pregnancy. Don't play games, Rachel dear, I noticed the second you walked in that door that your stomach didn't look its normal size. And the fact you're eating some unearthly concoction proves my suspicions." She was so calm that I was scared. Dan, on the other hand, turned a shade of livid I'd never seen before.

"Mum, I-" I began, but she raised an eyebrow. "Nineteen weeks, I think.." I folded my arms on the table and rested my head on them. I didn't want to look up.

"Okay. Why not mention sooner?" Here's that little sliver of anger I was expecting.

"Scared." Here comes little hormonal Rachel with the tears. There goes my nicely done makeup.

"Never, ever be scared to tell me anything, pet, you hear? I would've helped you out, you know. At least now just know why you haven't popped over since May."

"So let me get this straight; you didn't have the stomach flu? You just had a baby bump you didn't want me to see?" Dan wasn't happy. I looked up (looking like a member of that Black Veil Brides band) and nodded.

"Yeah.." I sniffed and took off the shirt I was wearing, therefore exposing Bump to all people present. Mum smiled, Dan got up and pushed past me, before grabbing Josh by his shirt collar.

"You're dead to me, Franceschi. I mean it." He left then, while Mum shook her head.

"Ignore him, he'll be alright. All I can say is congratulations to you both, I'm delighted to be a gran! Still wished you'd told me sooner, Rachel, but we'll leave it there." I sensed the slight disappointment in her tone. That hurt. "Don't cry, love, it'll be okay. Josh'll look after you like the good lad he is, and well, he'd better, since I'm guessing its his baby too." Josh nodded, and I sighed.

"...Yeah. I'd love to stay, but I'm not feeling so good at the minute. Josh, babe, can we just head home?" I was feeling a bit wishy-washy.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Gimme a few minutes and I'll finish off my coffee." I shook my head and took the keys from him, before bolting first to the bathroom and threw up a small bit, and then out to the car (leaving Josh to face my mother on his own. Lord knows he'll get an earful).

This went exactly how I thought it would...awful.

Notes

LIGHTS is a queen and your argument is invalid

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