Quiet Like a Ghost

Chapter Thirteen: Baby

Ghost POV:
It's been three months since I got diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctor's prescribed me some meds that help but it's not like cancer just goes away. The band pretty much fired me for my sake. I didn't want to quit, but Opal and them insisted.

Opal's also pregnant on top of everything. I'm stoked but terrified at the same time. What if he or she gets my cancer? What if I die and they are forced to grow up without a father? What is Opal going to do?

Opal disrupts my foul thoughts, walking over to my spot on the couch. "Hey baby." I smile, kissing her before she sat down next to me. She leans against me with my arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Knock, knock, knock. "I'll get it." I grumble, getting up, walking over to the door. "Jesus Christ, he takes forever..." I hear Chris mutter. Of course, tour ended and now they want to see their sick friend. "I do not." I say, opening the door. "Longer than you used to, how you doing?" He chuckles walking in with the guys following. "Fine..." I grumble, walking back to the couch and Opal.

"We haven't ate, mind if we steal some food?" Balz asks. "Do not touch my bagels!" Opal tells them. "Ok..." He mumbles, confused. "She has cravings for bagels." I explain, realizing after we never told them she's pregnant. "Uh. Cravings?" Ricky and Chris say together. "Oh yeah, we didn't tell you. She's pregnant." I tell them.

"OH MY GOD! IMAGINE A BABY OPAL OR DEV! AWE!!!!" Balz smiles, the rest laughing and smiling, all except Ricky. He stays like a statue, almost looking hurt. Opal gets up, walking straight to him, hugging him. She whispers to him something and he nods, more upset by it. What the hell is that about?

"Baby Daddy! Catch!" Chris hollers, throwing unused condom at me. "That's what your supposed to use!" He laughs, "Very funny." I chuckle, throwing it back.

After awhile, we all gather around the living room, talking about the baby. "How far along are you?" Ryan asks Opal. "A little over 3 months." She replies. "So about when Rick walked in on you two?" He chuckles, "Yeah." I nod, Ricky looking down into his lap.

"Thought about baby names?" Chris asks. "No, been too focused on his treatment, those doctors need to go back to school." She sighs. "Well, I feel fine now." I remind her. "Yeah besides for puking every morning you just great." She rolls her eyes at me. She assumes because of my nausea I'm in pain. I'm not, I'm fine. "I am." I persist. "Are not."

"Okay! As much as I enjoy listening to you guys bicker, please, I have a headache." Ricky mutters. "Sorry. Anyway baby names?" I redirect the conversation back. "How about Raven or Blaine?" Chris suggests. "Always gothic as expected..." I pull out a pen and paper, splitting it in two columns, Girl names and Boy names.

By time the end if the discussion, the list was long.

Girls: Raven, Nirvana, Ivory, Paisley, Talia, Sage, Ainsley, Carter, Gianna, Olivia, Danyella, Xana, Zabella, Bellatrix, Seraphine, Alora, Wimberley, Kimber, Khanna, Aura, Jessamine, Ryanne (Courtesy of Ryan), Christina, Richelle, Josha, and Vina (All courtesy of the guys creating their female version of their names)

Boys: Blaine, Zabe, Adam, Corbin, Manson (Chris wanting MM to be honored but deciding Marilyn wasn't manly enough,) Gavin, Hayden, Jaden, Soren, Zak, Phillip, Emet, Maddox, Zane, Knox, Draven, Sawyer, Archer

We had fun thinking of cool names, Opal eventually falling asleep in my lap. This pregnancy even at three months wears her out. "I'm going to put her to bed, I'll be back." I tell them, picking her up, her arms wrap around my neck, helping me balance her as I walk her to our room.

"Are you sure you got her?" Ricky's voice asks behind me. "Yeah, I'm sure." I nod, walking to set her down. She is heavier from the pregnancy and my head is making me slightly dizzy. I pull her favorite blanket over her and kiss her forehead goodnight. Ricky watches and looks jealous and I get it. He loves her.

I've got mixed emotions, anger and frustration of possessiveness and happiness, if I die and she's left with the child, he'll step in. Or at least I hope. I pull him out of the room, holding him so I had his full attention.

"I know you love her." I tell him and he looks away. "It's okay, I'm not mad. But when I die from this fucking time bomb in my brain, I need you to be here for her and my baby." I demand. "Don't think that way. Dude, you are not going to die." He tells me. "Yes I am, it bound to happen and I need to hear you'll be here for my family!" I whisper-yell at him, needing him to say it. "I will, of course I will." He nods and I hug him, a huge weight off my shoulders.

We walk back out to the guys, putting in a movie. "What movie?" Ricky asks. "Nightmare before Christmas." Chris tells him. "You guys want popcorn?" I ask walking into the kitchen. "Sure, but Dev, are you ok? You aren't walking straight." Ryan tells me. "Not surprised, I'm a little dizzy, it happens from time to time." I tell them, getting out packs of popcorn. "Sit down, I'll get it." Ryan says, walking over. "No. I'm fine." I continue. "Sit, I do not want to explain to your kid you killed yourself over popcorn." That makes me laugh, and considering I was dizzy anyway, feel nauseous.

"Help me." I mumble, leaning against the counter. "I feel sick." I whisper as Ryan helps me to the bathroom, holding my hair out of my face while I puke. Chris and Ricky were there too, Chris being mama bear and always watching over me, Ricky was there I guess out of personal guilt for loving my love. Ryan trades with Ricky and disappears, Ricky holding my hair and rubbing my back.

I wait until the nauseous feeling goes away and then they guys help me into bed next to Opal. "Thank you." I mutter, exausted, I hate puking. "No problem, we'll stay the night if you don't mind." Chris tells me. "It's cool." I nod, grabbing hold of Opal before I fell asleep.