Paul Lahote's entire life shifts at the sight at Valentina Thurston. Her warmth and kindness effectively forces him to reconsider his bad boy persona he'd put on for so long. Though, she does have her own small, ever-growing, obstacles to overcome...
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Daniela's hands worked carefully as they wove delicate pink and blue flowers into Val's hair. Bella watched intently while Addy was outside, setting up her camera with help from Leah - who was suddenly interested in photography. Paul sat beside Bella, never averting his gaze from the wonders of his imprint's face. He guessed it was true: pregnant women really do glow but an inner thought convinced him that it was simply Valentina.
"And you're sure that this is the way you want to do it?" Addy asked, despite the whole thing having been her idea.
Val grabbed her sister's hand, "I think it's perfect." She meant it, even though she knew how messy the reveal would be.
"I really like it, Addy, I think it's very unique. Very Val," Bella declared with a large grin.
The blonde sighed, "Okay, if you're sure let's get on with it."
Val took her place in front of a large blank canvas, big enough so that it captured her entire frame. Addy snapped a couple shots of her posing, with a few candids to throw in the mix. Valentina turned to her left side, and her sister snapped a quick shot of her from that perspective.
"Okay, you ready guys?" Adelina turned to her parents, who both nodded as they dipped their hands into buckets of paint. "Close your eyes Val!"
Val screwed her eyes shut, mainly to keep paint from tainting her vision but also to keep the surprise. She let out a yelp - and heard gasps of excitement - when she felt the first glob of paint hit her, it didn't hurt but it was surprisingly cold. When she encouraged them to continue, they did, Addy taking pictures of not only Val being hit with the paint, but also of her parents' smiling faces, paint drenching their hands and clothes. She urged Paul and Bella to get in on it as well, even though they were hesitant, feeling it was too private of a moment.
"You guys are important to her too, go ahead!" Val shouted out, also encouraging them so they dipped their hands into the buckets, throwing paint at the teenager. When they were finished, Val stepped away from the canvas, eyes still glued shut. Addy took a place in between her sister and the canvas, wanting to get the raw reaction.
Val opened her eyes excitedly, her hands covering her mouth when she saw the pink paint surrounding a white outline of her body on the canvas. She didn't even seem to notice the entire right side of her body was covered in paint as tears of joy flowed freely from her eyes. Chris and Daniela hugged her tightly, and Addy took advantage of the candid moment.
"Next one!"
They repeated their movements, the only difference being that Val was now turned to the right, and her untouched left side was now being pelted with color. She repeated her previous stance, eyes tightly closed as Addy took her place between her sister and the paint covered board. When Val opened her eyes this time, she began crying again at the sight of another pink covered canvas. Paul and Bella ran up to her this time, hugging her even though she was covered in pink. Val took Paul's face in her hands, kissing him as Addy captured the tender moment. She took some of the paint off of her previously white dress, coating her palms in it, then pressed them to her bare stomach, insisting he lay his hands atop hers. Addy silently thanked her sister for knowing a photogenic moment. When their hands were removed, the blonde took a picture of the imprint of painted hands on her sister's stomach.
"I feel like they're missing something," Addy said, looking at the canvases.
A lightbulb went off in Val's head as she dipped each hand in a paint filled tin. She then walked up to the first canvas, placing her right hand on the untouched part, where her stomach was clear. After she repeated the act on the second board, this time with her left hand, she walked back to where Addy stood, impressed.
"They're perfect."
Bella looked at her friend, "So, what are you gonna do with them?"
"They're going above their cribs!" Val exclaimed as Chris took each canvas off the easels to lay them flat on the grass to avoid drip marks.
"That's a really good idea, Val. Now you have to start thinking about names!"
Looking at her hair she stated, "Well, actually, now I have to wash paint out of my hair for the next five years."
"Not liable!" Addy yelled.
They laughed and followed Val into the house, where Daniela would ask her politely to not get paint on the carpet. She laughed, attempting to follow her mother's order, and failing miserably.
Bella made her way into the bathroom first, cleansing the paint off of her hands. She heard Val calling her name from her room and promised to be back in a minute. When she returned, Paul kissed the younger girl's forehead and walked towards the bathroom.
"I need name ideas, I mean, I'm halfway through my pregnancy and twins almost never make it to full term so I have less time!" Val had slipped into her closet, changing out of the paint covered dress. When she came out, she had on a pair of comfortable shorts and a black tube top. Her body was mainly clear of the pink tink from the baby wipes she had on hand.
"You don't have to name them right away, some people wait a few days before they fill out the birth certificate," Bella pointed out, "besides, now we have to plan a baby shower."
"Oh my god, you're right I completely forgot!" Val fell back onto her bed, where Bella was already sitting on the edge.
"It's okay, it doesn't have to be very big, let's just think of who you want to invite."
Val sighed, "You're right, thank you. Okay, well, I obviously want my mom, dad, and Addy there. Of course you and Paul will be there, and you can bring Jake, and Addy can bring Leah. I think I want Sam and Emily there, I just hope that it won't cause any problems."
"Listen, if you want them there, invite them. Their problems are not your responsibility, and if they start anything - which I doubt - that is not your fault." Bella was firm, and Val knew she was right.
"Oh, I want Sue there, too. She and my mom seem to get along really well."
Paul waltzed back into the room then, taking a spot beside Val, and again gently kissing her forehead, placing his hand overtop hers on her growing stomach.
