EXTENDED EPILOGUE - Serena

EXTENDED EPILOGUE - Serena

S

erena stared down at the digital display screen in her shaking left hand incredulously. Shit. How was it possible that eight completely non-offensive letters could change your entire life in the space of one pee just because they were arranged in that order?

PREGNANT.

She blinked.

Nope, still there. Maybe if she stared it down… Nope. The word stayed on the display, unyielding bold black letters extremely prominent.

Her head spun, her hands were clammy and she couldn't feel her extremities. Shit.

How had this happened? Well, of course she knew how it happened, she just didn't know how it had happened to them. She was religious about taking her pill… Although, she'd been sick a while ago, so maybe… Urg! It didn't really matter though, did it? Six positive pregnancy tests weren't wrong. So really, the only thing that mattered now was how she was going to tell Rhys.

They were three weeks away from the wedding. Their perfect beach wedding that she'd been planning for months. And would now be pregnant at. Great.

Realization dawned slowly on her as she wrapped the last pregnancy test in toilet paper, threw it in the trash and washed her hands.

There’s a little part of Rhys growing in me

, she thought.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long minute. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes traveled down her body to her hand that seemed to have instinctively made its way onto her stomach.

There’s a little part of us growing in me. Someone that we made, together…

Despite the shock, a slow smile spread on her face. Rhys loved her. She loved him. They would vow to love one another forever in front of God and their family and their friends in just three short weeks.

He’ll be okay with this, she tried to convince herself. Maybe he'd even be happy.

Sure, they hadn't spoken much about children other than confirming that they'd probably both like to have them someday. Now it seemed that someday was today…

We’ve made a, a person, out of our-

“Love?” Rhys’ voice said the last part of her thought for her. His face had appeared in the reflection next to hers, though she hadn’t noticed him come in. Damn, she really must have been in shock, she'd always been able to feel him approach, his presence near her.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his chest and examining her expression in the reflection of their bathroom mirror.

“What’s wrong, princess?” His voice was tender and loving but his eyes were worried, on edge.

She studied his handsome, chiseled face and reached her hand back to run her fingers through the soft waves of his hair. Sometimes, even though they were going on having been together for two years in a couple of months, she still couldn't believe that he’d chosen her, that she was the one wearing his ring, who got to wake up next to him for the rest of her life…

Carrying his baby,

a voice in the back of my head whispered as her eyes met his in the mirror.

She took a deep breath and then turned to face him, staying in the circle of his arms.

She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. “Rhys,” she breathed as she broke their kiss. “I’ve got some-”

The shrill sound of their front door buzzer cut her off. Rhys’ eyes were still pinned to hers, but the buzzer was sounding incessantly. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. “That’ll be the guys. Great fucking timing as always. You come first though, what’s up, princess?”

The buzzer kept going. This was so not the right time to tell him, so instead she gave him a small smile, quick kiss on the cheek and extricated herself from his embrace.

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you later. Really. Go let those brothers of yours in before they break down our door.” She swatted his firm ass as she turned to leave the bathroom.

He sighed, looking worried, but turned and strode out down the hallway to get the door.

She dressed as quickly as she could, but she was still in a daze. Her fingers kept fluttering to her stomach of their own volition and even though she knew she wouldn’t be able to feel anything yet, she almost kept waiting for some sign or movement… Something to make this feel real. In her mind’s eye, all that she kept seeing was that word on the digital display. Pregnant.

By the time she was finally dressed and exited her walk-in closet, she heard howling laughter, bickering back and forth and someone picking at a guitar.

Yup, Misery was definitely in residence. The thought brought a smile to her face. She'd come to love each and every single one of them, even Anders. They’d become exactly like how she'd imagined it would be to have real brothers.

“Here comes the bride,” Jett crooned as she approached. “All dressed in purple,” Milo chimed in. “Really, Sese… All dressed in purple? What, our Rhysie here leaving you frustrated or something?” he teased. Milo had informed her on the night of their engagement that once they were married, Sese would become Sisi, or better yet as he’d pointed out, just Sis.

She'd learned to take their teasing, come to love it even, and she could now give as good as she got on most days. Today wasn't most days though, so no witty comeback sprung to mind. “Rhys has never left me frustrated like that,” she said protectively and circled her arms around his waist. He shot her another worried look as he pressed a light kiss to her neck, undoubtedly picking up on her lack of lighthearted banter and teasing.

The guys were on the patio under the massive sun umbrellas, spread out across the loungers. Anders and Luc each had a cup of coffee, while the rest were clutching beers.

“So, how’re the feet, almost ready, sis?” Anders asked from his spot closest to the pool.

“Toasty, thanks. Almost ready to kick up and wait for the big day. I can’t believe almost everything’s done!” she replied, leaving out the fact that her feet and ankles would probably be swollen one day quite soon.

Why, oh why, are they actually on time for once?

she thought. As always, when they drove out to their house, they’d planned on coming for the day and staying over. The band’s stylist was coming over later to talk about their suits or something. She swore she knew an hour ago what they were going to talk about, but now, her mind felt like it’d been scrubbed clear except for that one little eight letter word that was etched into it.

“You guys ready? You must be excited if you’re actually on time for once?” She didn’t mean for her comment to come out pouty or disappointed, but it did. She had to tell Rhys, she really wanted him to be happy about this. She kept trying to keep a manic grin off her face, but she was too nervous about his reaction. She needed to tell him for this to feel real, before she could really start processing. Of course, by now they knew her well enough to exchange glances at the tone of her voice, and they did just that.

Rhys studied her carefully, then took her hand as he said, “You guys can deal with things with Liv when she gets here, right?” He didn't wait for an answer before dragging her through the patio doors and back to their bedroom.

Once there, he sat her down gently on the bed and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Serena, love, what’s going on? You’re freaking me the fuck out. Please.” He ran his hands through his hair and then took both of hers, his thumbs rubbing circles on her palms and staring intently into her eyes.

“Uhm… I don’t really know where to begin. I, uh… I think… No, I’m pretty sure actually.” She struggled to find the words, but the anguished look in his eyes at her uncertainty made her push ahead. “I’m pregnant, Rhys.”

He stilled. His jaw dropped, and his eyes shot open wide. She could almost see the gears turning in his head. She didn't think either of them breathed in that moment.

“You’re pregnant?” he whispered disbelievingly. “We’re having a baby?” His expression was completely blank.

“Accordingly to six pregnancy sticks, yes… we are, Rhys.” She squeezed his hands, frozen in hers.

“But we… You…” For the first time since she'd known him, Rhys Grant was at a loss for words. A second later, his face split into the widest smile and he pulled her into him, hugging her tighter than he ever had before and kissed a path from her collarbone to her neck and finally to her lips. He kissed her hard, stealing her breath away and awakening a familiar stirring in her body. He broke the kiss suddenly to exclaim, “We’re having a baby!”

Then he was pulling her into him again and kissing her like his life depended on it. The next thing she knew their clothes were in a heap next to their bed, their bodies entangled and he was sliding into her, building that delicious pressure deep inside her.

When they finally caught their breath, he kissed a trail to her belly and rested his head there. He tapped it lightly with his finger, like he was tapping a microphone to see if it was on. “You there, baby Grant? This is your daddy, reporting for duty.”

It was a simple gesture, but it filled her heart to the bursting point. She could feel tears streaming down her face, but she didn't bother to wipe them away.

“This is real?” he whispered up at her, eyes bright and shining with happiness.

She didn’t know what she had been expecting from him, but this was better. So much better. “I think so, I’ll have to go to the doctor to be sure, but I don’t think six tests were broken,” she whispered back.

“I love you, Serena.” His gaze was brighter than the sun as he fixed her eyes to his, then put his hand to her belly and ducked his head back down to say, “And you, baby Grant” as he stroked her tummy gently with his fingers.

“You’re so careful with your pill, how…” He trailed off.

“I’m not sure, maybe when I was sick when you got back… The antibiotics or something…”

“How’re you feeling? Shit, I should’ve asked that first! I’m so sorry, princess! That should’ve been my first question…”

“No, baby. Really. It’s okay. I get it. This is a huge surprise. And I’m feeling fine anyway. Normal. I took the tests this morning because I’ve never been a week late, but I thought it was just the stress of the wedding planning and school and everything. I just wanted to be sure, but I never really thought…”

“So, what’s the first step here?” Quite possibly the biggest shock of a lifetime, but her Rhys was already back in control. Ready to take care of her, just like he’d promised he would when they'd first gotten together.

“Uh… I think probably going to the doctor.” Her words had barely left her mouth when he was already on the phone, still naked, ordering someone to get him an appointment today.

“Done,” he said, placing his phone back on the bedside table. “Doctor will be here in an hour.” He pulled her close and kissed her again.

“Just like that?” She didn’t think she would ever stop marveling at the power this man had at his fingertips when he chose to wield it. Which wasn’t all that often, but damn… when he did…

“Just like that. Being engaged to a rock star has to have its perks, princess.” He smirked as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Occasionally, we’re good for something more than a roll in the hay and doctors, I think, are used to our demands of immediate house calls. Probably not always for good news though.” He gave her an amused smile as he pulled his underwear back on and handed Serena hers.

“You know we’re going to have to tell them, right? They’ll never let it go until we do.” He shrugged his shoulders and gestured toward the patio, but his eyes were brimming with excitement and he couldn't seem to stop smiling.

They decided it was best to wait for the doctor before they said anything, but neither of them thought they'd be able to keep their mouths shut if they saw them, so Rhys texted Milo to tell him to let the doctor in when she got here and shut off his phone before the reply came through.

She didn’t even want to know what they were thinking right now, so they lay on the bed and browsed the internet for articles on pregnancy and baby care, kissing every so often while they waited for the doctor to arrive.

Rhys’ face was scrunched up a little as he watched a video on YouTube on changing diapers, his fingers fidgeting with her hair, when there was a light tap on the door. “Rhys, Serena, doc’s here.” Milo’s concerned voice drifted through the door, a far cry from his usually boisterous, confident tone.

There was a low murmuring beyond the door before it swung open and a tall, statuesque woman, hair greying at the roots strode in and shut it behind her with a click. Rhys and Serena both stood to meet her as she peered over the rims of her square-framed glasses.

“Mr. Grant, Miss Woods,” she nodded at each of them. “I understand you are in need of an urgent, immediate appointment. What seems to be so pressing that it can’t wait until an appointment at my office tomorrow?” Her lips formed a thin line and the expression she wore was vaguely reminiscent of Serena's high school math teacher when she knew that you hadn’t done your homework.

She shrank a little and tried to hide her head in Rhys’ shoulders and his wavy hair. Rhys, however, met her gaze dead on and then turned on the charm, giving her a wide, excited grin. “Well, my fiancée here took a pregnancy test this morning,” he explained. “Six,” she interjected softly, still hiding in his hair, “I took six”. He chuckled and corrected himself. “She took six pregnancy tests and she wanted an appointment with a doctor to confirm. We’re getting married in a few weeks, so we’re a bit short on time”. He really turned on the charm then, but kept his sure gaze on her eyes. “We really appreciate you taking the time to drive all the way over so suddenly, but I’m afraid this couldn’t wait for an appointment. I’m sure you understand.”

Even the formidable doctor looked mildly flushed from his stare and the undercurrent of his tone. “Well, a happy emergency then,” she declared as she set her bag down and started rummaging through it, questioning Serena about the first day of her last period and pulling who knew what out of her Mary Poppins bag.

An hour later, she shut the door behind her as Rhys and Serena sat stunned on their bed. Silent tears were flowing down her face as his eyes met hers and a strong hand reached up to wipe them away, a slow stunned grin spreading. “This is real? This is really fucking happening! A baby?” He kissed her hard and released her slowly, manic grin firmly in place. He rose off the bed, pumping his fist in the air and started pulling her toward him.

“Two, by the looks of things!” she exclaimed, happy tears still flowing. She jumped into his open arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him deeply, the joy she was feeling reflected back at her from his burning eyes.

“Yeah… Fuck… Two! I know we weren’t planning this, but this has to be the best fucking news ever!” he mused, then smirked at her. “You know, just about on par with you agreeing to be my wife.”

She was farther along than she would have expected. The doctor had put her at about nine weeks, though she had no idea how she had managed to get that far without noticing anything. The doctor had, however, assured her that it wasn't uncommon not to notice right away - especially during busy times, such as planning a wedding and school and keeping up with Misery’s tour and performances and all.

After their new album had released, the band had been obligated to go on tour, but Rhys managed it so that the longest they'd been apart were the three weeks the band had been on the Asian leg of the tour. It had been hell, but they'd spoken numerous times a day, messaged each other constantly and Skyped at least once a day.

When they were together, they'd spent most of their time in bed. She'd been sick just before the band had returned from Asia and had still been finishing off the course of antibiotics she'd been prescribed when they had come home two days earlier than planned, apparently all having decided that one more day in interviews with moody Rhys would kill them. So they’d packed up, bringing her gorgeous almost-husband home to her and claiming that they were never going away with him without her for that long ever again. They’d arranged for the interviews to be conducted via Skype and other electronic means and that’d been the end of it - until now.

Seems like the plague she'd gotten from typhoid Mary - no really, she'd caught it from Mary while Mary had been living with her, refusing to leave her alone while Rhys was away - and the two courses of antibiotics it had taken to clear it up, had left her with a parting gift…

My little miracles

…

Rhys ran his hands through his hair, still grinning like a madman. “Time to face the music, love?”

“Let’s go put them out of their m… Never mind!” He shook his head and chuckled a little. “Milo sounded crazy worried when he let the doctor in, I’d bet they’re all imagining the worst.”

He took her hand and led her back to the patio. Completely out of character, each member of the band was sitting up instead of sprawled out over the furniture, hands running nervously through hair. Anders was clutching his head in his hands, staring at a hole in the deck and Luc was cradling a guitar but wasn't plucking at the strings, more holding onto it like it was keeping him upright.

As soon as they heard them approaching, they leapt to their feet as one man and surrounded them. Milo breathed a sigh of relief as he surveyed Rhys’ face. The others then caught on one by one, they were smiling - not crying or looking devastated. In fact, she was sure that they were radiating joy all the way back to LA.

Anders gave them a long look, his face lighting up. “No way!” he exclaimed. “No fucking way!” His lips spread into a slow grin as Rhys nodded his head. Anders bound forward, hugging them at the same time and slapping Rhys’ back.

“Congratulations bro! Fuck, never thought you’d be first, but you’re going to do so fucking great!”

“What’s happening?” Luc demanded. “Is she okay? Why are you congratulating them?”

“Serena’s pregnant!” Milo boomed as he put it together and joined the hug. Soon she was being pulled into tight hugs by each of them in turn, and having unfrozen from their earlier uncertainty and worry, the familiar bursts of laughter were back and even as they congratulate them, the teasing started.

Jett had made the executive decision when Milo had gotten Rhys’ text about the doctor and had canceled the stylist, rescheduling for the morning and Luc had phoned her sister and Mary to alert them that she might need female moral support.

She was so touched by both gestures that tears sprung to her eyes again. Although, she guessed it could also be the pregnancy hormones…

Rhys cleared his throat as Anders returned with non-alcoholic champagne and six champagne flutes. “Yeah, so Serena is pregnant,” he paused. “With twins!” he announced. “Or at least, the doc is pretty sure that it’s twins.” This earned them another round of congratulations just as the doorbell chimed.

“I’ll get it, I’m sure it’s the girls,” she said as she hurried to the door, reluctantly letting go of Rhys’ hand for the first time since they'd left the bedroom.

Concerned looks met her as she opened the door for her sister and best friend. They both pulled her into a hug at the same time, talking at once. “Whatever is going on Serena, we’re here for you. Every step of the way,” Mary said, still holding onto her.

“What’d the doctor say?” Katie’s voice, verging on tears, said at the same time. She pulled away from them and they both stilled at the huge smile on her face. “I’m pregnant,” she announced, as Rhys approached the door. Two jaws dropped at the same time, then two ear-piercing screams started as they pulled first her, and then Rhys, and then both of them into jump hugs.

“I’m gonna be an auntie!” Katie whooped. “I’m gonna spoil that kid so bad!” Katie had started her first job and seemed to love spending her own money more than she’d loved spending their parents’. Rhys cleared his throat again. “Kids, actually. Two of them.”

“What?” Mary looked completely dumbfounded. “You’re having twins?” Katie’s astonished voice asked.

Then they were both running around, arms in the air and shrieking as loud as they could.

The rest of Misery appeared at the door to the patio, taking in the scene that had now moved to the lounge just off where they had been opening and pouring champagne under the sun umbrellas on the patio.

“Girls, bro,” Jett muttered to Anders as he surveyed the happy dancing that had replaced the running.

“Yeah, girls… Crazy, man,” Luc muttered, before a mischievous look glinted in his eyes and he joined right into the happy dance.

Milo howled with laughter at Luc’s moves and then stepped up. “You think those are moves?” he cocked an eyebrow at them. “I’ll show you moves!”

Jett laughed and moved to turn up the stereo, selecting a pop music station blaring out an upbeat tune as he started wildly gyrating his hips and throwing his arms in the air, mocking the girls’ earlier movements.

Not to be outdone, Milo dropped to the floor, attempting an impromptu breakdance to howls of laughter from everyone else.

She pulled Rhys closer to her and started dancing around him, the electric mood in the room sweeping over her. He cocked an eyebrow with an amused expression, but rocked his hips in time with the rhythm and broke into a spontaneous air guitar solo.

Once their little dance party broke up a few songs later, they collapsed on the couches on the patio,

weak with laughter, accepting glasses of the non-alcoholic champagne Anders passed around.

“Ohmigod!” Katie yelled, “your dress! You have to phone the designer right away! What if you’re huge by then!”

“It’s in three weeks, K. I don’t think it happens that fast,” she answered.

“Still,” she insisted. “You should really let her know.”

“You’re right though, I’ll do it first thing in the morning, when the guys are busy with their suits. Today, we celebrate!”

The guys rolled their eyes at Katie, but were soon putting bets on the genders of the babies and quickly moved on to debating about the implications of babies on a tour bus.

The next few weeks passed in a blur of talk of the wedding and babies - table placements and researching natural versus Caesarean birth, finalizing favors and starting on a nursery. A million more things had to be done before the wedding!

Serena's mother and her had started speaking occasionally since the engagement. Rhys had apparently asked for her father’s permission to marry him even though they hadn't been speaking at the time.

Apparently, Rhys had also informed her father that he was asking her with or without permission, but for the sake of her future happiness and any part they might play in it, he was taking a stab at being granted permission anyway.

Their relationship was still strained and she hadn't seen much of them, but her father had, grudgingly, according to Katie, agreed and they were coming to the wedding. Her father was even giving her away, also Rhys’ doing.

It felt surreal as Katie lowered her veil and Mary did up the back of her dress. Two bridesmaids and four groomsmen, but who cared… she knew she didn't just then. The butterflies in her stomach felt like they were taking turns trying to burst through her stomach lining, but she couldn't stop smiling.

“So, you ready to become Mrs. Grant?” Katie asked, wiping a stray tear from her eye as she took in her dress, and veil. It definitely made it feel real. Her mouth dried up. Mrs. Grant? How? She still marveled at the fact that the most handsome, sexy, fun and amazing man that existed was about to become her husband, was the father of her unborn children.

Katie had made a good call on phoning the designer right away. She was one of the most sought after designers in the industry and had been ecstatic that Serena was at design school. After their first few meetings, she had declared Serena to be her favorite client ever because she really could appreciate her work, but she’d nearly had a hernia at hearing the news of Serena's pregnancy. She’d recovered, though, and had ensured that the dress was absolutely perfect.

A knock at the door drew her attention back to the moment. “It’s time, Serena.” Her father’s anxious voice came through the door.

The photographer clicked away as Mary opened the door and her father got his first look at his little girl in her wedding dress. His eyes welled up with tears and he hugged her. “Oh sweetheart, all I ever wanted for you was to be happy. I can see that you are now.” He murmured into her ear as they hugged, “He’d better take care of you, my baby.”

Tears welled in her eyes at his words, but she bit them back. Rhys was waiting… No wasting time to apply new makeup.

She wrestled her way out of her bedroom doors that led to the beach and she stopped to let Katie and Mary pass her as the music for their walk down the ”aisle” started. Rhys and Serena had decided that their Malibu home was the perfect venue for their intimate beach wedding, and all their furniture had been swept away to make room for the most beautiful aisle down their patio, past their pool and to the beach beyond.

The beach where her husband and future awaited. She gripped her dad’s arm tight as he linked it with hers. She breathed in his familiar scent, combined with the smell of ocean and her home as he led her to Rhys. “I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.

“You too, munchkin, I hope he’ll always make you this happy,” he whispered back as they turned the corner and she could finally see Rhys.

Her stomach bottomed out as she saw him standing with his back to the ocean, in a crisp, light suit. His eyes were wide and bright, his hair waved in the soft breeze. As soon as he saw her, his eyes smoldered, and his whole body stilled. Anders, Milo, Jett and Luc stood by his side, looking dapper and handsome, but her vision narrowed to him. He was all she could see, the only things that existed were the two of them and she suddenly couldn't get to him fast enough. She didn’t spare a thought for anyone else, didn’t see anyone else, until her father was kissing her cheek and placing her hand in Rhys’.

As she looked up into his gleaming eyes, she knew only one thing for sure. She loved this man, she loved him so much her bones hurt and somehow, miraculously, he loved her the same way.