Baby Steps

39.

B A B Y S T E P S

[CHAPTER THIRTY NINE]

♡

"Sienna!" The sound of the cries coming from my brother traveled throughout the house, attempting to capture my attention. However, I was too nervous on being 'perfect' for tonight to even speak back.

I smoothed my hands over my hips, tugging at the dress in the process whilst I stood in front of the full length mirror. Turning to the side, I gathered a full view of my body and winced.

"Are you ignoring me on purpose?" Suddenly Noah barged in without knocking on my bedroom door.

"Don't you know how to knock?" I questioned as he cocked his head to the side, placing his hands against his hips.

"What are you wearing?" He demanded, ignoring my question. His tone sounded deadly, yet protective at the same time.

"Clothes?" I answered lazily.

"Looks like you forget to put trousers on." He snapped snarky as a reply. "Why do you want your but cheeks on show?"

"My dress isn't that short!" I defended.

"And my name isn't Noah." He laughed sarcastically.

"What are you even doing here?" I hugged. "Your barged straight into my room without knocking-"

"I'm saying goodbye like a good brother." He smiled with a wink. "Amelia wants me to go out with her tonight to some fancy meal with the rest of her extended family."

"Sounds like a lot of fun." I giggled quietly.

"Much rather be spending time with her family then you." He teased playfully.

"Thank god I'm spending my time with Brad's family then." I joked back as I stepped passed him walking towards my wardrobe. I rummaged through my collection before deciding to wear a black leather jacket.

"Less body on show, is that better?" I asked as I pulled my hair over my shoulders.

"Much!" He answered, zipping the zip right to the top.

"You're so annoying, I'm not a child."

"But you're still my little sister, therefore you do what I say." He heaved with annoyance. "Better be off, don't want to leave the in laws waiting." He said with a large smirk filtered across his lips before rushing out of my room.

I backtracked to my bed and slipped into my shoes before wandering downstairs and out of the door.

"Nice to see you again Sienna!" Anne squealed as she flung the front door open to welcome me. "We've all missed you-"

"I've missed you too!" I admitted as she wrapped her arms around my frame.

"Thank for you coming tonight." She thanked me politely. "Brad really appreciates it, even though he may not show it."

"It's really nothing, I'll always support Brad." I giggled childishly in embarrassment.

"That's true love for you." Anne commented as she slowly walked away. "I need to finish off the preparations for the meal, Brad is in his room still getting ready if you want to see him." I nodded in response and made my way up the familiar spiral staircase to come face to face with his bedroom door. I lifted my hand and knocked my knuckles on the wood, awaiting his reply.

"I TOLD YOU MUM, FIVE MINUTES PLEASE!"

"It's me." I said in a whisper.

"Sienna!" He gasped as he sat down on his bed. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little stressed and mum has been getting on my nerves all afternoon."

"I understand." I reassured him. "I really do-"

"You don't think I'm doing the wrong thing?" He asked rhetorically. "Of course you think I'm wrong. You've made it pretty clear before-"

"Although I may not agree with your decision, I still support you."

"Thank you-"

"Just answer me this one question?"

"Yeah." He said, reaching for his phone.

"Are you sure giving Mils another chance with Arabella is the right thing, I mean, what has dramatically changed in her life to want her baby back?" Brad glanced up from his phone due to my assumption. His eyes trailed across my emotionless face as he sat across from me.

"I don't know Sienna, I just felt it in my gut. It was the right thing to give another chance." He responded. "Arabella deserves a stable life."

"And you deserve to have your daughter with you, you're an amazing father." I commented.

"More than amazing if I'm being truthfully-" I rolled my eyes as he chuckled.

"I might be laughing and smiling about this, but I'm breaking inside." He suddenly whispered which causes me to instantly slump down beside him.

"You don't have to do this." I remind him softly. "We can cancel this whole meal, you can tell Mils that you don't want to hand over Arabella."

"And have Arabella in the future question why I never allowed her to see her mother?" Brad questioned wisely. "I wouldn't be able to lie either, it's not in my nature."

"I know it's hard but-"

"I can get through this with you." He interrupted my sentence. "Promise you won't leave me-"

"Not until you leave me."

"I won't ever leave." I laughed quietly, finding his last remark cheesy as the small hairs on my arms and neck rise. Without a moment to waste, Brad rose his hands up to my face to force me to look at him.

"Arabella will love you even more for this." I tell him what he wants to his.

"She'll have her other dad, I'll be nothing." His dark lashes grin heavy with tears. A single tear traces down his cheek and just like that, his walls come tumbling down. Instantly, I pulled him into my chest as he began to sob unceasingly clutching hold of my waist.

"You will always be her father, nobody can take that away." Brad doesn't responded as he continues to cry. I held him in silence as his tears soaked my body - but I didn't mind.

"I'm only doing what's best for her." He whispered as he brought himself up, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"She can't forget a remarkable person like you."

"Your the remarkable person." He breathes out into my neck.

"Brad-" I said wearily as the tears begin to appear in my eyes and suddenly rush down my cheek.

"No, no, no! I'm not going to let you cry because of me no." He pulled back and quickly wiped away my tears. He leant down and rested his forehead against mine. His eyes studied mine with silent intensity. I swallowed and held my breath as he leaned into me, his lips drawing near and mine parting awaiting to receive them. Slowly, Brad pressed his lips against mine.

"BRAD, SHE'S HERE!"

Oh crap.