The Elementalist Diaries

Part I Ch. 4 Baby and Bridezilla

Ashlynne's POV

I am sick to my stomach.

I threw up three times this morning, and Russell had to hold my hair back. It was gross and draining. And Gwen's been doing the same thing since she hit morning sickness.

Which is why Stella, Gwen, Lilly, Leah, Russell, and I are waiting for the tests from the doctor in the kiddie waiting room. I think I'm pregnant.

The doctor came out with a smile, confirming my suspicions and I just stared at Russell, whom the poor doctor had mistaken for the father.

"Russell," I whispered slowly, "I'm going to have a kid!" I squealed happily. I loved children, I had been planning my family since I learned Seth was my mate. I was excited; ecstatic, even. I hugged and was hugged by everyone in the room. Now I had to go home and tell Seth...

Oh, my gosh, he'll be so excited! Russell dropped me off infront of my Dad's house, where I knew the boys would be. Since Emily's wedding is so soon, her house is a bridal shop in itself and the boys are all too scared to enter. I walked through the door and heard my brother's voice.

"... Do you love her?" He asked.

"With all of my heart," Seth's voice replied happily. I smiled to myself. He was going to be so happy after this.

"Do you want kids with her?" Jake asked curiously. Okay, awkward question..? When he says yes, I'll walk in and announce...

"No."

CHEEP. CHEEP. CHEEP. CHEEP.

I'm sorry, did he just say no? My eyes started tearing up. He didn't want the baby? I backed away slowly and quietly, tears dripping freely down my face. I ran up to my room.

On my bed was my mail. One letter was from Juliard. I picked up, wiping away tears, and opened it.

"Dear Ashlynne Black,

You have recieved a full scholarship to attend our prestigious academy for the length of your education. We hope you accept, and that we get to see you on September 10th.

Sincerely,

the Administrations Office."

Okay, there's another decision to make. I positioned my hand securely on my still-flat stomach.

"Don't worry, baby, Mommy will take care of you," I whispered brokenly. Nothing was going to hurt my baby. Nothing.

*************************************************

"Guys, did you get your letters from Juliard?" I asked the Elementalists when we conference called later on. Each of them said yes.

"But I'm staying here and going to community college so I can stay with Leah," Russell told us. I was happy for him. He was Leah's answered prayer, he couldn't leave.

"And I'm going to be an teacher's assistant at the grammar school until I can get my Master's, so I can be with Embry," Stella told us apologetically. We congratulated her, and then Russell and Stella became as quiet as Luke and Gwen.

"Ashlynne, what happened?" Gwen asked me, concerned. "Did you tell him?"

"Um, no, I didn't," I admitted. "I was walking in to tell him when I heard Jake ask if he wanted kids with me, and he said no."

"Who would ask something like that to their future brother-in-law?" Russell and Stella got really mad, so I had to do some damage control.

"So, I'm taking a full scholarship to Juliard," I told them, hoping to distract them. It worked because they all started yelling at me incomprehensibly, except for Gwen.

"We're going, too," she said in her quiet voice, attracting the attention away from me. Seth came in right then, and sat behind me on the bed. I looked at him through new eyes.

I was going to have to give him up when I leave. Even though he doesn't want kids with me, I still love him. I probably should have seen this coming, though. Everytime we played and I had a doll, he'd hold it out the treehouse window by it's leg. Stupid doll.

"Okay, together then," I told them. I said goodbye, hung up, and lay down so that my head was on Seth's shoulder. "You know I love you, right?" I asked him. His chocolate eyes confirmed that he knew.

"Yes, why?" He asked nervously.

"Don't worry, if something is meant to happen, it's meant to happen," I told him, closing my eyes. He kissed my hair and I fell into dreams of my baby.

*************************************************

I woke up alone, and had to rush to the bathroom to puke. Stupid morning sickness. I finally cleaned myself up and went to go help my dad make breakfast.

"What do you think, baby, pancakes and sausage or eggs with sausage?" My dad asked, his smile bright on his face. Should I tell him everything? How about half of everything?

"Pancakes, hold the sausage," I said, trying to keep the sadness from my voice. But time away from my teachers had taken the edge off of my shell.

"What's wrong, daughter?" Dad asked, wheeling over to sit beside me. I gave him a half smile.

"I got a full scholarship to Juliard," I admitted to him. "And I'm going." Dad looked at me with split pride and sadness. "I'm going to miss everyone."

"What about Seth? He is your mate, after all," Dad asked me, his voice sad. He was going to lose me again, after JUST getting me back.

"It's a long story..." I told him in a whisper. He smiled understandingly.

"You're pregnant," he said smugly. I immediately put up all my guards.

"WHAAAAAATTTT?????" Okay, so I didn't put up my guards. But you gotta admit, it was an awkward moment.

"If it's a boy, name it after your brother," Dad said, turning around, leaving me in shocked silence.

"What kind of dad are you?!" I sputtered, and he laughed at me.

"I'm the cool kind?" He said uncertainly, a smile on his face. I sighed and grinned, then went to sit on my Dad's lap. "Does he know?"

"No," I admitted, "And he's not going to learn it from anyone in La Push." Dad smoothed my hair and sat there with me, just daddy-daughter time. "Okay. I've got to go help Bridezilla get ready for her big day. Pray for me, I love you, NOTHING about it from you, alright?" I said as if I was talking to a child.

Which was answered with a childish smile. "I am an innocent old man, I would do nothing of the sort!" He jested, going to finish making pancakes. "I love you, too, daughter." I shook my head with a smile and walked into the driveway to my truck. Gwen was out with Luke, Stella had been staying with Embry, and Russell was staying with Leah. I was going into a war zone alone. Joy to freakin' world.

*************************************************

"Yo, bride of the year! I'm here to help!" I yelled, walking into Sam and Emily's house. Everything was covered in either dresses, fabric, music or flowers. "Poor Sam," I muttered as I made my way through the room.

"What was that?" Emily asked knowingly with a smile. I grinned at her, pushing my black bangs out of my eyes.

"I feel sorry for Sam. He can't walk around his own house," I teased her. She laughed goodnaturedly.

"No, but he can still make it from the kitchen to the bedroom just fine," Emily replied with a smile in her voice. She was happy. This was what she wanted. I felt my eyes go sad and stubbornly made the happiness come back into them. I didn't go to school for ten years to lose my skills now.

"Well, is there anything you KNOW you need help with, or is it just a bunch of little projects?" I asked her. We worked the entire afternoon, laughing. I only had to hurl twice, but I covered my tracks really well. When I went home, I was really happy. I was confidant that I could make these next three weeks memorable.