Fake It 'Til You Make It - Hamliza

Chapter 29: Self Conscious

Eliza was laying down on the couch with her head in Alexander’s lap as he massaged her waist, and Pip was resting his head on her bump. “I felt her kick again!”, he said excitedly, but then noticed that Eliza winced at the hard kick. “Baby sibling mean…”, he said, frowning. Alexander chuckled and continued to massage Eliza. “You did that when you were in mommy’s tummy too, you know.” 

"How would you know?" Pip asked Alexander quickly. He had been getting snappy ever since he learned that his new dad put the baby in his moms tummy. He hated seeing his mom in pain. "Because all babies do." Alexander tried to explain but it only made Pip more upset. "I'm not a baby!!!"

“Pip, calm down…”, Eliza tried. He jumped off the couch. “I’M.NOT.A.BABY!”, he screamed. Alexander had a guilty look in his eyes as Pip kicked and screamed on the floor. “Daddy is mean!” 

Eliza slowly sat on the floor with him and held his hands together, keeping herself away from his kicking feet. "Daddy didn't mean to, ok? It's completely fine." She cuddled him gently. "Let's go back to the couch and cuddle? Maybe take a nap? You can still feel your sibling kick." She suggested. Pip nodded and cuddled with her again.

Pip fell asleep, and Eliza brought him upstairs to his room. Alexander opened his arms when she walked into the living room, and she immediately leaped into them. “You’re so pretty”, he said, stroking her neck. “No, I am not.” People on the internet said a lot of nice things about her, but she only paid attention to the mean things, especially about her appearance.

"Eliza, maybe you should delete social media. It takes so much stress off." Alexander suggested and rubbed her back. She shook her head. "Its the only way I can talk to most of my family. Long distance stuff…" she sighed. "Most of the negatives are coming from them!" Alex tried to argue.

“Stop Alexander. You just say I’m pretty because you’re my fiancée-“ Alexander cupped her hands into his. “No. I’m saying you’re pretty because it’s true. No offense, but I have met some people in your family and they don’t seem nice.” Eliza nodded at that, probably agreeing with Alexander. “But it’s not just the internet that thinks I’m ugly…” Alexander sighed, and kissed her hands. “Then who else does?” 
“Me. I think I’m ugly. I’m fat and have stretch marks all over my body. My breasts are small and lopsided. I always have bags under my eyes and my thighs are way too big! Admit that I’m a monster, Alexander!” She cried into his chest.

"No… no you're not." He whispered. "I know you won't believe me but you're so beautiful. The scars and stretch marks show you the amazing journey you've been on for years. Your progress, your gifts, your extremely hot thighs. You are worth so much more than some model that hasn't worked a day in her life- I know that doesn't make sense but I'm trying to make a point." He laughed a bit. He looked at her and noticed her crying.

“I’m sorry!”, she cried into his chest. “Why would you be sorry, Eliza?”, he asked. “You don’t deserve a girl like me-“ she was cut off by Alexander flipping them over, making her yelp. He was on top of her, “never say that again, my beautiful princess.” He kissed her nose. “You’re so beautiful. Want me to show you how beautiful you are? The things on your body that make you beautiful other than your personality?” She nodded.

“Your beautiful face”, he whispered, caressing her cheek. He kissed her neck, and stopped at her breasts, massaging them. Eliza looked to the side, blushing. “These are amazing.” She blushed more. He rubbed the stretch marks she had, they were smooth. He rested his hands on her hips, and then pointed to in between her legs, “do I need to say more?” That made her laugh. He rubbed her thighs, before playing with her hair. “Everything about you is beautiful, Eliza. Some people are just really blind.” He smiled and kissed her.

"If you say so…" she sighed and let him kiss her multiple times before he realized she wasn't kissing back. "You wanna go watch a movie? Take a bath? Get food?" He asked, wanting to help the best he could. 
"I don't- actually, yes. Yes I do want food." She got up and walked with him to the kitchen.

“So what do you wanna make?”, he asked her. “Hmm…” she looked in the fridge. She then gasped. “Grilled cheese!”, she smiled. Alexander got the bread off the middle shelf as she bent down to get the cheese, and they started making the sandwiches before they saw Pip standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Momma…" Pip whimpered and held her leg. "What happened, bud?" She asked and set him on the counter, far enough from the stove. "Bad dream… I thought I saw the mean lady in my window…" he whimpered and sniffled. Eliza got worried and looked to Alex.
"She's in jail, love. It was just a nightmare. Not real."

Pip was still having nightmares about Chelsea a lot ever since she kidnapped him. “Are you sure?”, he asked. “She was chasing me down the hallway.” Eliza relaxed a little, now knowing for sure it was a dream, because he definitely would’ve been screaming. Pip looked up at Alexander, “I’m sorry, daddy…”

"Why are you sorry, buddy?" Alexander asked and flipped the grilled cheese. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" Pip asked. Eliza sighed and nodded. She wanted to spend alone time with Alex but her son was more important than any sexual activities.

She looked at Alexander, and whispered in his ear, “Tomorrow night?.” He nodded, and whispered back, “of course, my love.Anytime you’re comfortable.” he whispered, smiling the smile she always loved. She blushed, and looked back at Pip. “Want some grilled cheese?” Pip nodded excitedly.

"Ok, let's eat." She smiled and gave him half of hers. Alexander slipped half of his grilled cheese onto her plate and when she tried to give it back, he told her "you are growing a child. You need nutrition and food." He said and ate his half with Pip. 
Pip smiled and ate happily. "Is baby sibling asleep? I wanna cuddle with your big belly!" Pip said. It was supposed to be sweet but it made Eliza cry.

“Oh…”, Alexander said, immediately hugging her. “I made mommy cry…”, Pip whispered, looking down at his plate. “I’m sorry, Pip! It’s not your fault!”, Eliza said, trying to stop her tears. “I know you didn’t mean it that way…” Alexander continued to hug her, and Pip hugged Eliza’s legs because that was all he could reach. Eliza calmed down, “yes, I’m pretty sure the baby is asleep. C’mon. Let’s go upstairs and we can cuddle!”, she said as her and Alexander were doing the dishes.

"Mommy… I'm sorry! You still sound sad!" Pip said and held her hand. She shook her head and silently brought Pip upstairs. Alex finished the dishes and started to go upstairs when his phone rang. It was John.
"Hey dude? Everything ok? It's late." Alex said when he answered the call.
"Martha hurt Frances and I'm panicking! There's so much going on and Frances is getting taken to the hospital and Martha is being arrested! I really need some support right now-" John begged as he rambled.

“I’ll call you back in a few minutes.” He went into his bedroom. “Eliza, Frances is being taken to the hospital and Martha is being arrested. I’m going over to his house to support him, I’ll be back later.” Eliza nodded, and Alex drove to John’s house, having no idea what would happen that night.