High on Zipping into Love

High on Zipping into Love: Chapter #15

Past: Eight Years Ago

Stiles chuckles seeing Grace practically inhaling the blueberry muffins he made. "Slow down before you choke, Gracie Lou," he says.

She swallows and playfully rolls her eyes with a smile. "I'll be fine. I'm late. Ryan is taking me to a movie tonight."

Stiles checks the time and tilts his head. "So, why are you rushing now?"

"Uh, because I have to get ready. I need to look perfect, Słodki Wilk."

"You always look beautiful, Grace."

Grace smiles at him. "Thanks, Stiles. I just..."

Stiles kisses her cheek and smiles reassuringly, full of understanding. "You love him."

"Yeah," she whispers. "I really do."

"Then I will help you get ready. I can do your hair and if you want, I'll even take you shopping."

Grace snorts. "You will willingly go shopping with me?" she asks skeptically.

Stiles nudges her shoulder with his while putting his hand on his chest in mock offense. "I will have you know that I have an excellent fashion sense." He huffs when she laughs at him. "Just you wait and see. He won't be able to take his eyes off of you."

"All right. I yield to your superior fashion sense of plaid and converse."

"Oh, ha ha. You just wish you could pull this off," he retorts, gesturing to his current outfit.

Grace giggles as she grabs her purse. "Oh absolutely. Show me your ways oh mighty, Stiles, King of All Things Plaid."

Stiles grabs his keys and ushers her out the door, making sure to lock the apartment they share. "I will take ice cream in place of saying I told you so."

They climb into his jeep and head to the mall. Ice cream is indeed bought because Grace can't deny that Stiles does know what he's talking about regardless of the fact that he doesn't dress like he does. She's more confident by the time Ryan comes to pick her up at 8 pm.

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A little before 9 pm, Stiles hears the door unlock and sits up on the couch where he had been watching a movie. "Gracie?" he calls out.

The front door closes and locks. "It's me," she whispers. Her keys go in the bowl by the door and then she walks into the living room.

Stiles takes in her appearance. She's shaking, her mascara is running, and she's been crying. He leaps off the couch and pulls her close. "What happened, Gracie Lou?"

She buries her face in the crook of his neck. "He broke up with me."

"What? Why? Do I need to kick his ass?"

She gives a watery chuckle and sniffles wrapping her arms around Stiles's waist. "No. Maybe. I don't know."

Stiles rubs her back soothingly. "Talk to me. Please, Gracie Lou?"

"I'm pregnant."

She tenses but when Stiles merely holds her tighter, she melts into his arms and breaks down. "Oh, Grace." He guides her to the couch and pulls a blanket around them. "What can I do?"

Grace curls into a ball against him. "I can't ask this of you but—"

"You can ask me anything and if it's in my power to help, you know I will."

"I know," she whispers.

Stiles kisses her forehead. "So, what do you need?"

Grace looks up at him. "Be here for me? Don't leave me. I can't do this by myself."

"Done. I'll be by your side every day. I'm sure we can get some help if we need it. I have a contact at the firm nearby that can help get you full custody when the time comes, and we can probably even force him to pay child support because it's his kid. We'll get one of our cribs out and I'm sure we can get plenty of baby clothes. I have some friends that would be happy to help."

"I'm scared but knowing you're going to be here gives me courage."

Stiles smiles. "You are the bravest person I know. You are so strong, and you are going to be the best mom in the entire world."

Grace lets the tension bleed out of her. "I love you, Słodki Wilk."

"I love you too, Gracie Lou."

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They find out that she's a month along and Stiles immediately gets in touch with his friends. Jackson comes to them first, offering them financial help with the assurance that he wants to do this and is happy to do it. It's Grace after all. Isaac also steps in to help. His foster dad is a lawyer and starts on the paperwork they will need to make sure the father will have no rights to Grace's child.

Stiles goes overboard with baby proofing their apartment and brings Grace's crib out of storage. He's sure the baby is a girl. It's just a feeling and Grace humors him of course. She doesn't have a preference for her baby's gender. As long as they're healthy that's what matters.

When Grace is three months pregnant, her cravings get even stranger, but Stiles gets whatever she asks for no matter what time of day she asks for it. The local grocery store is used to seeing him at all hours including midnight, 4 am, noon, and 10 am.

At six months pregnant, Ryan tries to visit her, and Stiles tells him to get lost because he made his choice, and he can't expect to show up and it'll all be just fine. It's not and he's not welcome. Stiles slams the door in Ryan's face and then goes back to the couch where he was massaging Grace's feet.

It's pretty smooth sailing from then on. Surrounded by the love and support of their friends, they feel safe and excited for the day they'll meet the little angel.

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Olivia Claudia Rose Baldwin is born on July 4th at 3 am. Stiles can't take his eyes off of the little baby angel in the nurse's arms. He starts to cry and when Grace tells the nurse to let him hold her the awe and love on his face is breathtaking. "Hello Angel. I'm your Uncle Stiles."

Olivia stirs and he places the first of many kisses to come on her little forehead. "Stiles?"

Stiles looks at Grace. "Hm?"

"I want you to be her godfather and I want you as the next of kin."

"I—You—We—Really?" he asks, more tears streaming down his cheeks.

Grace beckons him over and puts her hand on his cheek. "Really. I couldn't have done this without you. I love you, Słodki Wilk."

"Love you too, Gracie Lou," he whispers as he places Olivia in her arms. "Olivia Claudia Rose Baldwin."

"After both of our mothers."

Stiles kisses her forehead, Olivia's forehead and then settles into the chair next to Grace's hospital bed, the two of them lapsing into a comfortable silence as their little angel sleeps.

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Polish Translations:

Słodki Wilk
Sweet Wolf