Pretty Little Liars: 16 & Pregnant (Sequel)

My, How You Have Grown

Aria's Pov

After my car accident a month ago, I thought the next time I'd be dressed in a scratchy hospital gown was when I gave birth to the twins. But now, as I lay in a bed on the third floor of Rosewood General Hospital, I find myself running my fingers along the stiff seam of that same utterly boring gown.

"Mom, Auntie Hanna texted back." Piper says from the chair next to my bed. She hands me my phone from the little table. I read the message, which is a response from Hanna to me asking if she can pick Stella up from school. Thankfully, her answer is yes, along with a rather demanding question on if I'm okay. I wish I could tell her yes, but I don't even know the answer myself. I'm just worried about the babies.

The door of my hospital room opens, Ezra rushing to my bedside. He looks almost shocked to see me in one piece, hugging me gently like he's afraid I'll shatter.

"What happened?" Ezra asks "Are you okay?"

"I don't even really know," I admit "I just got this shooting pain...here," I motion to my lower stomach "And I couldn't really stand it hurt so bad. It was so sudden, and I didn't know what was going on so I got Piper to call an ambulance."

"And the doctor hasn't come in yet?" He frowns.

"No, but on the ambulance the paramedics had a few ideas of what's going on." I say "At first I thought I was going into early labour, and they thought that might've been what was happening too. Thankfully that was ruled out pretty quickly. They think it could be preeclampsia though, but I don't know enough about that to know if I agree. Both babies are okay though, they still picked up two heartbeats."

Ezra just nods as he takes it all in, looking at my baby bump longingly "I guess all we can do is wait until the doctor comes in."

After kissing the top of my head, he pulls up a chair and sits down next to Piper. He just studies her for a second, before placing a soft hand on her upper back.

"How're you doing, Pipes?" Ezra asks his daughter.

"Good." She replies, looking at her lap.

"It's okay if you're not good," He continues "I know it must've been hard to see Mom like that. I'm sure she's very happy you were there for her though, you were very brave."

Piper flinches slightly "Thank you."

A moment later, doctor Walsh comes in. My heart starts to pound nervously in my chest, so much that I can hear it in my ears.

"How are you feeling Aria?" She asks.

"Better," I reply "Just mostly confused now."

"Good thing I have your diagnosis right here." She says optimistically, holding up a piece of paper.

Doctor Walsh checks my blood pressure, then the band around my stomach that's been monitoring the babies.

"Okay, I'll start off by saying that you and the babies are fine, and will continue to be throughout the rest of your pregnancy as long the proper precautions are taken." She explains "There's an increasing amount of pressure being put on your cervix, which is what caused the sudden shooting pain. It's fairly common in twin pregnancies, although unfortunately enough pressure on your cervix will cause you to go into labour, and this early on in your pregnancy we obviously need to do everything we can so that doesn't happen. The only preventative that can really be taken is bedrest, for the simple reason that gravity won't have baby A's head resting on your cervix as hard. Now I'm not putting you on a strict bedrest, but I definitely want you to keep yourself horizontal for as much of the day as you can."

"Okay," I breathe, processing what she said "Will this be for the rest of my pregnancy?"

"Just until you're considered full term," Doctor Walsh replies "But we want to try and keep those babies in utero for as long as possible."

"Yeah," I nod, looking down at my bump "Definitely."

Though I'm kind of bummed out to be put on bedrest, I'm overjoyed that the babies are okay. And to add to the list of things I'm currently positive about, the doctor tells me that I'm discharged from the hospital. I pretty much have to go home and get right back into a bed, but as least it's my bed.

"What do you two say to lunch at The Grille?" Ezra asks Piper and I once we're in the elevator "Stella's not out of school for a few hours, we've got time to kill, and we'll be off our feet in a restaurant." He looks at me for the last part.

The elevator dings as we get to the bottom floor "That sounds great."

"Really great." Piper adds.

We get into the parking lot, Ezra's hand clasped in mine. Although it doesn't last for long, as Piper comes between us, pulls our hands apart, and grabs them with her own two.

"Not too old to hold hands with your ol' Ma and Pa, huh?" Ezra teases. Piper doesn't say anything, and instead just swings both her arms.

"Remember when we used to hold your hands like this and we'd swing you and pretend you were flying?" I ask, reminiscing about the times that suddenly feel so long ago.

"Yeah I remember!" Piper replies.

"You're growing up fast," I say to both her and myself "Every so often it hits me like a wall."

"Next year I'll be a teenager," She informs me, as though I haven't already shed a few tears about it.

"Don't remind us, peanut." Ezra says, almost looking taken aback "Wow, I haven't called you that in years. You know, that's what your Mom and I called you when you were still in her belly, before we knew your gender."

"Little peanut." I smile, remembering those days so clearly. A scared-shitless high school student with a positive pregnancy test. Little did I know, that so-called slip up would become the best damn thing that would ever happen to me.