"What are you doing here?"

I don't answer the hiss; in fact, I pretend as if it never happened, waiting expectantly in the silence. I know very well where this is going and I know that a screaming match is waiting for us at the end of the line, full of rude insults, but for once, I feel like I am bigger than my mother. Definitely not as in size, but I feel as if she can't step on me and push me around like she always used to. I'm a bigger and better person now with bigger and better things to do and care about. My mother is not one of them anymore.

My silence only enrages my clearly semi-intoxicated mother and I see anger rush up her face in heat. "Who the fuck gave you the right to be in my house!" She yells, shock still present on her face.

"Not just your house," I state, crossing my arms.

Right as she opens her mouth to speak- or yell- Austin stood up from the couch, making her attention be distracted from me to him. "Who the fuck is this?"

"I'm Austin," Austin's tone isn't as light as it normally is. It's harsh and completely different from when he said those words to introduce himself to me once upon a time.
My mothers bitchy presence leaves the wrong impression on people, and plus, Austin's heard enough stories to not like her.

My mom looked at Austin expectantly, her eyebrow raised as she leaned forward and scoffed rudely, waiting for more of an explanation. I saw Austin's jaw clench from the corner of my eye before he spoke. "Hazel's boyfri-"

"Are you the father of her child?" My mom interrupts him with her eyebrow raised, crossing her arms.

"You know?" Syd pipes in, confused. I didn't take my eyes off my mother to answer Syd, just squinted them and tried to figure out what she might do next.

"Do I know that Hazel here couldn't keep it in her pants and got knocked up? Yep. She couldn't even handle what was happening, so she was even so desperate to come to me for help," my mom had amusement in her voice, smirking at me. She knew that would offend Syd, but I know that Syd wouldn't believe it.

I scoffed back at her, unbelieving how she can be such a compulsive liar. I called to tell my dad about the baby, but she picked up and threatened me so I had to tell her. That only got me her bitching.

I felt Austin's eyes shift down to gaze at me and I only hoped that he knew me well enough to know my mom was lying. I didn't want her help. I in no way wanted to get out of what had happened.

"Are you finished?" I ask, tired of her shit. It's exhausting, really.

"I still don't know if this kid is the father," she jabs her finger out at Austin. "Or if he's just another band slut you picked up."

"Is it really that hard to put the pieces together, mom?" I ask, annoyed. She knows he's the father, I mean why would he not be? If he was just some 'band slut i picked up' he definitely wouldn't stay with me when he found out I was pregnant. She just wanted a reason to call me out on something, even if there is nothing.

My mom laughed viscously, leaning back a bit. "Hazel, being in a relationship, having a family... It's a hard task."

I was confused, my eye brows pulling together at her confusing point. "Yeah, and where are you going with this?"

"You have to have stability. You have to be able to make money to take care of people, especially with hospital bills," her voice his harsh, almost as if she was accusing me of something. "You cannot be some crazy, wild band-whore!" Her voice rose with the anger that compressed her face. "You're nothing but a money-hungry slut, feeding off of her boyfriend!"

Austin took a large step, putting himself defensively in front of my right side while my mother stumbled over her slurs to continue.

"You find the first guy that can make you feel less worthless after getting beat by your last one and suck him dry! And now you're knocked up and your desperate for some type of support to get your ass by now that you can't get that thing out of you!"

If Austin was any angrier, steam would be blowing from his ears. His jaw was clenching and unclenching, along with his fists that were balled.

The first thing someone should know about Austin is that he is very passionate.. He loves so greatly and deeply, and he especially loves his family. And then when it comes down to his childthat he has always dreamed and been excited about... Thats a no no.. And Austin is so kind and rarely livid like he is now that when it happens, it happens.

The protectiveness he was giving off was sending warmth through my body that was trying to fight back the cold my mother's words brought on inside of me.

"Or does he beat you too?" My mom continues, pointing at him. "You always have asked for it, Hazel. You've always been weak."

Austin's mouth opened at the same time he took another step forward, ready to get in my moms face and unleash himself on her, but I grabbed his arm, allowing myself to step in front of him this time. He didn't deserve to get shit from her, this was on me. This was my fight.

"Austin is a better person than you ever were and ever will be," I growl at her, my confidence staying with me this time. "And our baby.. your grandchild.. will know what it's like to grow up with a mother that loves it to death. And that does not make me weak. That makes me fucking strong, unlike you who couldn't even handle sticking around for a more than a few days," I was growling, but with each word I said, I felt better. I was finally opening up to the ups of being a mom and accepting myself in a good way, instead of thinking I was weak like I always had.

"You are no daughter of mine so therefore that kid is no grandchild of mine," she hisses. She is desperate for insults to get back at me at this point, knowing that I was always hurt the most when she said that to me earlier. And I can't deny that it still did. "And don't you start with giving me crap for not being here when this is the first time I've seen your face in years."

"No, mom," I stood up straight. "You don't start," I challenged. "You're the one that kicked me out all those years ago. You're the one that told me to get out and never come back... You're the one that gave me no choice but to do something with my life. You started this. So maybe I should be thanking you? Because not only have I gotten a career I love out of it, but a family."

"Oh, don't give me that bullshit. You were going to leave anyway. And you call this a family?" She pointed to Austin. "Whoring around and getting stuck with a kid is not a blessing. No kid like you is a blessing. And this tattooed freak is no family! You know he's only with you because he got you knocked up! Probably end up beating you like the others."

"You have no right," Austin started suddenly, his voice in a vicious mumble behind me.

"What was that? I have no right?" My mom asks, cutting him off, voice growing louder. "No. You have no right. You have no right to be in this fucking house or to talk to me! This has nothing to do with you!"

"Like hell it doesn't," Austin says, pushing past me to finally come face to face with my mother. "This has everything to do with me when you insult me and my family. That's right, my family," he jabs a finger into his chest and I step behind him, not sure if I should stop him from this upcoming rampage. My moms not worth it. "My child. And my girlfriend. I love them both more than you will ever fucking know and it really makes me sad to know you are too unfortunate to be able to see what that's like. But that gives you no right to be so cruel," his chest is rising and falling with each angry huff. "I would never, and I mean never, lay a hand on Hazel. So you can stop yourself right there and cut all those bullshit lies that you came up with to make yourself feel better because you're so weak. Did you catch that? I said you're weak. Not me. Not Hazel. Not anyone, but you," Austin's finger is now directed right at my mother who is not able to find any words. "You put others down to make yourself feel better because you're so pathetic. You're no mother. You're no family. You have to earn the love of family and you sure as hell didn't. You don't even deserve it. So next time you think to open your mouth, check to make sure what's about to come out isn't as pathetic as you are."

Not only was my mother left speechless, but so was everyone else in the room. Everything Austin just said felt... so damn good. He not only stood up for himself, but he stood up for me. He overcame my mother in minutes when it took me most of my life. And even though he is still furious with rage, I couldn't help the smile that tried to perk up the corners of my lips. Fuck, I love him.

I felt as if we took down the evil monster that was lurking in the deep depths of darkness my whole life. It felt good.

But I think Austin was struggling to feel as good as I was, still trembling a bit from rage as he stared my mother down.

I stepped back over to Austin, gently sliding my hand to lightly grasp onto his arm. "Lets go," I speak softly to him, trying to pull him away but he doesn't budge. He looks like he has so much more to say and I know exactly what he's feeling. "She's not worth it."

I finally get Austin to look down at me, his eyes immediately softening when they met mine. "It's not worth it," I repeat, my voice a soft whisper. I even sent him a small smile which ended up doing the trick, getting him to step away from my mom. She was still frozen, but when we took a few steps away she suddenly moved again, this time grabbing onto my arm.

I gritted my teeth at the contact, trying to pull away.

"You're selfish and weak. That's all you two are," she tried, failing at her attempt to find an insult that would even come close to what we said to her. "Disgraces."

My jaw clenched, but I didn't dare let her get any satisfaction. "You know what, fine," I stood up straight, taking my turn to get in her face. "Call us whatever you want to call us and say whatever you want to say if it makes you feel better. At least I know how pathetic you have to be to put down someone else, especially your daughter, to make your own sad life and mistakes feel a little less bad," I shook my head. "You're the disgrace."

And with that, she let go of my arm, but truly, I'm the one that let go. All these years of obsessing over my mother and the terrible things she's done and the terrible things she's said and how much I hate her... I finally overcame her. I finally put her behind me so I can move on and make things better. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after so, so many years.

Austin and I went hand in hand to the staircase mostly so I could drag him away from going back down there and yelling at her more. But soon my mom grabbed her purse again and stormed down the hallway to the door, slamming it behind her.

Syd and my dad were standing at the opposite end of the hallway and when we made eye contact after watching my mom storm out, a small smile grew on Syd's face before she ran over, tackling both Austin and I in a hug. "I love you guys," she mumbles, squeezing us tight before breaking away and running back to my dad who looked a bit out of it. Yelling wasn't good for him.

I was about to offer to help out with taking care of him, but Syd shook her head, reading my mind. "Daddy and I will finish watching the movie and then I'll put him to bed, you two go relax. You deserve it."

We both smiled over to her with appreciation as we slowly started to go up the stairs after grabbing our bags.
The stairs were a little more tiring this time for me because one: all that yelling and stress wore me out, and two: out of shape and pregnant.

I was thankful when we got to the top, but then realize Austin, who was now leading me, doesn't know which room is mine. I smirked and started to head down the hall, leading Austin to my door that had white paint chipped off at the bottom.

I hesitated a bit when I reached to the door handle, but then with a heavy breath, leaned forward and shoved it open. I haven't been in here in so long, but it is still exactly like it was in high school. Wow.

My room was very simple because I wasn't able to have much as a teenager that only got a job to help pay the medical bills for my dad.
Basically, the only abundance of things I have were on my bookshelf across the wall that my bed was pushed up against. It was stuffed with books and old CD's and records while my bed still had fuzzy blankets and stuffed animals thrown all over it.

A few posters and magazine clippings littered my beige walls that had colored shadows all over them from my multiple dangling lights and lamps while my curtains I failed to hang up properly were draped over the two windows in my room.

Normally, my room would be a mess with clothes lying around everywhere and random stuff I was too lazy to put away sticking out of places, but this time the hardwood floor was all visible.

I detached my hand from Austin's as he set the bags down by the door and walked around my room like it was the first time I have ever been in here. While I did this, Austin made his way to the bed and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees and bowing his head down with a sigh.

I noticed this and turned, making my way over and sitting at the foot of the bed, crossing my legs pretzel style. We stayed like this for a while, neither of us saying anything until Austin sat up and quickly tugged off his shirt, throwing it harshly at the ground. "I can't fucking believe her," Austin mumbled, clearly still very angry.

"I know," I said simply.

"She just.. fuck! She had no right!"

"I know."

"My family. She insults my family and thinks she can get away with it. I don't even care that she insulted me. God, I'm so fucking pissed," he shakes his head.

"I know."

"And- And," he turns his head a bit, catching my expression. "And you're smiling!" He points to my face, but before he can put his hand back down I reach out and grab it with both of mine.

"Because I'm happy," I say truly, looking him in the eye. My words make him hesitate because we both know how miserable I was not too long ago, but I've taken big steps.

"I... I don't understand.. After all those things she said..."

"After all those things she said I realized something," I finished his sentence for him, but started my own point. "I have so many good things in my life and so much great stuff coming for me that my mom can't bring me down anymore. I realized that I'm bigger person than her and she's never going to have all the great things I have. And that really sucks for her!" I chuckled a bit, but then sighed when he still was looking at me slightly confused and still angry. "I moved on, Austin. I moved on and it feels so good!"

Austin's face was lighting up from my smile, but I still wasn't done. "And I realized something else," I bit my lip to hold back my silly smile, getting Austin to quirk an eyebrow curiously at me.

"What?"

"I'm so excited," I whispered, blushing a bit. "I've had so much bad shit happen to me that what's happening now is so... amazing.. and I know that now. And I'm excited," I was smiling, but I realized Austin still doesn't know exactly what I'm talking about. So, to get my point across, I took his hand that I was holding and moved it down to my tiny bump of a stomach. This had him smiling immediately. "I'm excited."

No more fear. I don't need that. No more stupid, unnecessary fear and stress over something that is truly great.

I'm excited for my life with Austin. I'm excited to start a family and have our little Jelly Bean. I'm excited to have a big tummy and to feel my baby kick while Austin's hands run over it. I'm excited to see my Jelly Bean for the first time. I'm excited hold him or her for the first time. I'm excited to see Austin with the baby. I'm excited to play with them. I'm excited to sing lullabies to my Jelly Bean. I'm excited to introduce my baby to Uncle Jake (my brother), to Aunt Sydney, hell, even to Uncle Alan. I'm excited for our future because I know with all the amazing people I have in my life, it will be a good one.

Austin had now forgotten about all his anger, placing both of his hands onto my stomach, smiling at me. "I'm excited to be a mom, Austin," I whisper. "I'm excited to be with you."

Austin didn't hesitate to crash his lips to mine in response, igniting so much between us that I couldn't resist immediately intensifying it. Some much love was held in the action that my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and that is the best feeling ever. "I love you. I love you. I love you," Austin mumbled into the kiss each time he leaned back, only to press his lips harder to mine again.

I couldn't help but break out into a grin as we were kissing, causing our teeth to clank when Austin smiled back. This got us to laugh a bit, breaking away. "I'm excited, too, Haze. This is a not only going to be a new chapter in our lives, but also the best one.. And I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Austin. I never thought I could love someone like this," my words had a grin on his face that had to be as big as mine was. I felt so happy and light and good, despite all the bad that could so easily be hurting me. But I didn't let it. "When I was with Mark," I gulped at the name that brought the taste of vile to my mouth. "There were times, lots actually, when he would constantly tell me I deserve it. Everything that happened and would happen; I deserved it," I took a big breath in, a smile returning. "But I know... the only thing I ever deserved was this.."

Austin smiled big, his tongue even poking out at the side a bit. "That's fucking right," he breathed out, leaning down to connect his lips with mine again. They were soft as they gently caressed mine and even had me reaching up to run my fingers through Austin's hair. The kiss was starting to grow more intense, but then suddenly Austin pulled away, looking deep into my eyes. "This is the first time you've smiled since... a long time."

I only smiled bigger when I realized he was right. I had been in such a bad place after what happened with Ian that smiling was even way too hard for me. But look at me now. It feels good.

Austin's hand reached up from to rest on my cheek, thumb stroking barely under my parted lip right before he quickly pecked my lips once more and hopped off the bed. I watched as he went over to our bags and pulled out some pajamas. So basically a pair of sweatpants for him and one of his tank tops for me.

When I stood up to change into it, Austin helped me out of my clothes, letting his hands linger longer than necessary on my body, making me bite my lip. And soon I was curling under the blankets in my bed as Austin flipped off the lights then dashed to join me, jumping on the bed to get to it faster. This made me laugh aloud as we bounced a bit.

I helped Austin join me under the covers, immediately curling up to his bare, tan chest and wrapping a leg around his waist. I let my hands trail up and down his toned chest while his did over the skin of my leg, inching higher each time. "Austin.." I started, remembering how long it has been since we were intimate.

"Hm, babe?"

I was cut off from my words by a big yawn that took me a while to get out before I could talk, making Austin chuckle. "I want you.." I mumbled. "But I also want to sleep."

Austin laughed, his chest rumbling underneath me. "Get some sleep, babe, we've got all the time in the world tomorrow," he winked down at me. "Plus, I'm not doing anything with these creepy stuffed animals staring at me," he reached over and pulled an old teddy bear with one eye missing and a really creepy face out from the crack between the bed and the wall for an example. This time I laughed, knowing he was right.

"This is such a Hazel room," he said, moving to set the bear back down behind me, but I quickly snatched it and cuddled it to my chest, making him laugh.

"Well, it is my room," I teased in response.

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock."

I flicked Austin's chest, "don't start with me, Mister."

"Oh yeah, or what?" He raised an eyebrow at me and I was about to come back with a really good, tough response, but another yawn stopped me, making Austin laugh and roll his eyes. "Alright, bed time. No more horsing around."

But hours later we still weren't asleep. Instead, we were up all night telling random stories and talking about stupid stuff. And Austin was making me laugh like a crazy person with his stupid sense of humor at 2 in the morning when I was aching to be asleep, but also craving for this moment to never end.

And I can't remember the moment exactly when we both calmed down, curling into each other and starting to doze off. I felt peaceful, happy sleep taking over my tired body.

But I do remember being woken up in the middle of the night from an excruciating pain ripping across my stomach.

My heart rate sky rocketed as I groaned aloud, sitting up and gripping onto my stomach with trembling arms. I panted as I scrambled throw the blanket off of me that was making me sweat, only to feel my heart drop at what I noticed.

I quickly turned and started shaking Austin, only getting tired moans from him while tears came from me. "Austin," I pleaded, still shaking him. "Austin, wake up. I'm bleeding."

Notes

so..... wow

comment and let me know how I did guys, this chapter was kind of a big one I guess, so I'm not too sure! I really want to know what you guys are feeling!

Hazel overcame her struggles with her mom and is finally excited for the baby! But what will happen..? :o

Only one, maybe two chapters left before the sequel!