*Ben’s POV*

It wasn’t soon after Erin got the call that there was a knock on our door. I gave Sally a quick kiss and went to answer it. I knew who was behind it but it still didn’t really prepare me. I felt awkward around Rose or Danielle or mom, whatever or whoever she was. I mean, she had at one point given birth to me, died, then came back. How does someone really deal with that? She stood there, in a new body, not the one that gave birth to me, holding a bag and looking around.

“Hey,” I greeted.
“Hello Ben. I talked to Erin and I came by to bring Tay’s stuff,” she held out a bag and looked at me.
“Thanks,” I said as I took the bag. “So Tay is, Tay?” I asked. Danielle nodded.
“I’m not quite sure what Mitch did but it worked. I could tell she had changed and she was back to her old self. I’m sorry she ever ended up like that in the first place. It broke my heart to hear her say the things she did and act the way that she did,” Danielle confessed.
“It was hard for all of us. She’s the baby of the family. Andy was about ready to kill for her,” I said.
“How’s Cameron and Andy doing?” she asked.
“Cameron is not doing that great. Andy is really excited for this baby. It’s about to get crazy for a while,” I said with a laugh.
“Well if you ever need a break,” she paused and looked me right in the eyes, “My house is always open for you or your brother or sister. I love you guys very much,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Thank you,” I told her, unsure of what else to say. She nodded and gave me a sad smile before she turned and left.

I took Tay’s stuff up to her room. I dropped the bag off on her bed and collapsed on top of her comforter. I took a deep breath and inhaled my sister scent. I missed her, I missed the old her. The one who would joke around with Andy and I, the one who listened to her music too loud and who argue over stupid stuff. I didn’t want my baby sister to grow up. She wasn’t supposed to. She was supposed to stay little forever. She didn’t need boy drama, or sex, or demons. She needed my and Andy and our dad and make up and barbies. I sighed as I laid there, face first on her bed and thought about days before demons and our now living mother and Andy being a dad. I really missed the old days when things were simplier. I knew I wouldn’t give up a new sister or nephew for anything but I wished the road we had taken to get there had been simplier. I heard the door open and felt a dip in the bed.

“You okay?” Sally asked as she ran her fingers through my hair. I nodded and turned my head so I could see her leg.
“Yeah, I just miss Tay and Andy,” I told her.
“Well they should both be here soon,” she said.
“I love you,” I said as I rested my head on her leg.
“I love you too. Things will get better, they always do,” she said as she leaned down and gave me a small kiss.

Before I could respond, I heard the front door open and someone running up the stairs.

*Tay’s POV*

I had managed to keep it together until after we left. The second we got into the car I broke down. I cried and cried. Eventually the car stopped and I looked around. We had pulled off the road and my dad was holding a tissue out for me. I took it and blew my nose and dried my eyes with my jacket sleeves. Finally, I was calmed down enough to talk.

“I am so sorry,” I told my dad. “I did and said such awful things. I’m sure you and Ben hate me.” I felt my dad's arms around me.
“Baby we could never hate you. We were really upset and hurt but never once did we hate you. You weren’t you. We know you didn’t mean anything. Something evil was at work but now we have you back and that’s all that matters. I know I missed you and Erin is dying to see you and Ben and Sally are at the house and Andy will be there soon,” my dad said. I nodded and he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. He pulled away and fished something out of his pocked. “This is for you. Try not to break it,” he joked as he handed me a new phone.
“Thank you,” I told him as I started to set it up.

The rest of the ride was silent. I clicked away on my phone while my dad drove. It had a majority of the numbers I needed already in it. I sent out a few texts to let people know that I had a new phone but other than that, I spent the time putting music on it. Then it beeped to let me know I had a message.

From Rose/Danielle- Hey. I dropped your stuff off at your house. I’m glad you are feeling better. Just know you always have a place with me if you need it xoxo

I stared at the screen, unsure of how to reply but knowing that I needed too. I sighed and finally hit the reply button.

To Rose/Danielle- Thank you 4 taking care of me. I’m sry 4 wut I said 2 u.

I couldn’t bring myself to say much more. I did feel bad for some of what I had said to her but not all. I still hated the fact that she had left and went back to Mitch. He was the reason we had been in this situation in the first place. I pushed it from my mind and focused on the present.
We had made it home. I bolted out of the car and into the house. I ran right up to Erin and gave her, and her giant belly, a hug. She laughed and gave me a kiss before telling me Ben and Sally were upstairs. I took the stairs two at a time and found them in my room.

I didn’t even give them time to react. I pounced on top of my brother and wrapped my arms around him. He laughed and wrestled me off of him and into his grip. I heard Sally laughing but I wanted to cherish the moment for a bit longer. I missed my brother and being in his arms seemed to make things just a little better. Eventually he let me go and messed up my hair.

“He midget. I missed you,” he said. I stuck my tongue out at him.
“I can tell, you’re being a creeper all up in my room,” I joked. He shrugged and threw a pillow at me.

We joked around and threw pillows at each other until the front door opened again and we were joined by Andy.

“You guys are having a pillow fight and I wasn’t invited?”

*Andy’s POV*

I helped Ash get ready and packed to stay at my house. Once everything was ready to go and we promised Mike ten more times we would call him if anything had happened, we were on our way to my house. I was excited and nervous. I hadn’t seen Tay in a while and I was worried that it might just be an act she was putting on. I knew that neither Erin nor Ash could handle the stress at the moment so I hoped things wouldn’t be tense.

Halfway to the house, Ashley got a text from Jaime saying that Cameron was doing better since seeing Tay and that he had joined his first group session. Ash was ecstatic. She wanted him to be around for the birth of our son and he couldn't be if he was still resisting treatment. It felt good to see Ash as happy as she was. She was even starting to glow. To me she always glowed but it was her dad who pointed it out. Her smiled got even bigger and she rubbed her belly. I gave her cheek a quick peck and helped her out of the car and grabbed her bags.

“Remember, if anything happens,” Mike stared.
“Call you. Got it dad. I love you, now go spend some time with Alysha,” Ashley instructed him, gently pushing him to the car. He smiled and gave her one last hug before he drove off.

I helped her inside and to the couch. I gave her some water and made sure she was comfortable before my dad told me that my siblings were upstairs. Ash started talking to Erin and I headed to find my siblings.

I found them in Tay’s room all having a pillow fight. I stood there and watched for a second before I spoke up.

“You guys are having a pillow fight and I wasn’t invited?” Ben, Sally, and Tay’s head all turned to look at me.

Tay’s face lit up and she jumped off the bed and hugged me. I squeezed her and lifted her off the ground, causing her to let out a squeal. Ben jumped up and sandwiching her between the two of us. She pretended she couldn’t breath so we just squeezed harder until Sally jumped in and saved Tay. Then the two girls proceed to pelt my twin and I with pillows and stuffed animals. It was a good idea until they ran out and we were left with all the ammo. We threw them back as the two took cover by the bed. Ben and I jumped over the bed and continued to throw fluffy things at them until they were laughing and begging us to stop. We both dropped the pillows we were holding and helped the two up.

“Ash is downstairs,” I told Sally. She nodded and gave my twin a quick kiss before leaving.

I looked at Tay and Ben and couldn’t help myself. I pulled them both into a hug. We all held onto each other like our life depended on it. None of said anything as we sat there. I wasn’t sure how long we sat like that until our dad came in and joined us. We all sat on Tay’s bed just holding each other and enjoying our family. We hadn’t had a moment like this in what felt like years and we all needed it.

“I love you guys,” dad said. “I know that it’s been rough but we will always have each other. You guys are my world and I love you all to death. I’m sorry it’s been so shitty. Hopefully things are going to get better from here on our,” he said. We all nodded and sat there a bit longer.

None of us wanted to disrupt the moment but hearing footsteps on the stairs, we all turned to the door. Sally was out of breath and her face was red.

“I think the baby is coming.”

Notes

Well it's been a hot minute. I'm still here tho! Been crazy with school and work and some family stuff. Anyway, we're back in business!

The real question here, who's baby is coming?!

~Raz