Dark Flame - (Liam Payne AU)

Ch. 24

Juliet POV:

It's been three months since I left England, and almost 5 months since I had last seen Liam. I was starting to show now, not exactly a great feeling when you have no one to share it with. I had saved up enough money to go back to England and support myself and the baby for at least a year until I can get a job. Mary has agreed to watch the baby whenever she can, and for free. I felt so blessed to have her to help me through this. My parents have been a big help; my mom helped me learn what to eat, what to do when the baby comes, etc. My dad has been supportive, and he says he cannot wait to be a grandpa. I thought about my birthday, which was coming up in the next week, and I thought of how I could be spending it with Liam. My mom said he will call, but she doesn't know that I got a new number that he doesn't know. 

I want Liam to see the baby, of course, but I'm not sure of how or where. I don't want my child to grow up in that kind of environment, always at risk and in danger. If Liam wanted to be a dad, he had to make sacrifices. 

Or maybe I had to make sacrifices.

I knew that Liam's rival gangs would be all over my tail once I got back, since they were already tracking me before I left. I suddenly got an idea for how I could protect myself, my baby, and the ones around me.

If you can't beat them, join them, right? 

The next day I woke up bright and early and went to the gun range. They told me I couldn't shoot any guns or be in the target practice room, and I said it was fine and that I just wanted to have a look around their shop. I looked at thousands of guns, ones that I had done research the night before on.

"If I go to England, will these brands be there?" I asked one of the workers.

"Oh yeah," he said, "but whatcha wanna go there for? Nothin' but gangs is what I hear."

"Funny how you should say that.." I said silently under my breath.

I had seen all I needed to see, so I waddled my way out of the gun store and went to my 5 PM pregnant yoga. I had just started the class today, since I came up with my plan last night. There were people there with their husbands or boyfriends or just their baby daddies. I was there alone; and it seemed like I was the only one. I seemed really good at it, until we had to do some kind of wierd pose, then I was out of breath and not having it.

I left a little earlier than I should have, and looked up the number  for a dietitian. I decided I would call tomorrow, since they had already closed. 

Once I got home, I was greeted by my mother with a warm hug. 

"I know you've been planning to leave, please don't go, I'll miss you." she smiled.

"I will miss you too, mom. I have to go though.." I said.

"Not yet you don't! We have a surprise for you, sweetheart.." she said, my father emerging from the kitchen. "You wanna go to Florida?" She asked. My heart leaped out out my chest. 

"Of course I do, mom! Where are we going?"

"Key West!" She smiled. I was trying to remember something important about Key West...but it didn't come to mind.

"Mom, will I look okay in my swimsuit?" I asked her.

"Honey, of course. All pregant women look cute in a swim suit!" She laughed.

"When are we going?"

"Tomorrow! We figured we could have a week or so, then you come back for your sonogram, then go back to England before you are in your third trimester!" 

"Oh mom, thank you so much. You too dad." I said, hugging them. They knew exaclty what was needed and when it was needed. 

I went to my room and began to pack. After about 20 minutes of work, I decided I needed a long, over due break. I looked up at the ceiling and began to sing the lyrics to "You Could Be Happy" by Snow Patrol. I began to think about Liam as I sang the words. They reminded me of him.

"Somehow everything I own smells of you..." I sang as I rubbed my tummy. I knew that this baby had to meet Liam, I was just now sure of when. I couldn't hide his child from him forever, could I?

He was the only person I ever really, really loved. I began to feel an aching in my heart; I wasn't sure if it was just heartburn or if I missed Liam that much. I longed for his touch, his kiss, and the gentleness of him just being himself.

After a long, 10 hour car ride, with plenty of bathroom breaks, of course, we finally made it to Key West. We got to our condo and I immediately went to the room I was staying in and changed into my swimsuit. 

"Jules! Ready to go?" My mom hollered from downstairs.

"Just a sec, mom." I said, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked so weird with a baby bump. 

I walked down stairs and my mom gasped and smiled. 

"Sweetie, you look so cute." She said, grabbing her phone to take a picture.

"Please, no flash photography." I said, flipping my hair. 

We walked to the beach and laid out our beach towels. I had a chair because I wouldn't be able to get off the ground without a struggle. I laid out for a while, then took a dip in the water.

"Juliet?" I heard a voice say behind me.

I turned around to see Deb, Liam's mother, smiling at me, and when I turned around, her eyes shot right to my stomach.

"Is that..?" She asked.

"Yes." I said.

"Oh, dear. Where is he?"

"I don't know. I sort of left him.."

"You did? Well, that's understanding..he was very rude last time I saw him."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry about that."

"Oh, honey, it's not your fault. What are you doing here, if you dont mind me asking."

"Family vacation." I laughed.

She smiled, and in her, I saw Liam's smile. "Juliet, I really want to be a part of the baby's life." 

"Of course you can, Deb."

"Thank you so much." She said, hugging me. "Oh so much."

"You're welcome," I said, hugging her back. "How about you go to dinner with us?" 

"I'd love to," she smiled.

I was happy to have Liam's mother in my life, but all I needed now was to get Liam back into my life.

AN: I apologize for the chapter being too short, but I am super swamped this week and I had to update a chapter in my other fanfic...Thanks for 700+ reads by the way. You are all awesome! <3