When We Realize (A Sheo Fanfic)

Chapter Seventeen

*Shailene's POV*

The next day Theo drove us out to the beach house that he had apparently rented. The drive was a couple hours, since his other home wasn't very close to the coast. I slept for some of the time, read for some of the time, and also listened to him sing along to his cd's, because he is an amazing singer. The house he rented is incredibly huge and luxurious; in a private neighborhood. When he said beach house I thought he meant a house in one of the beach towns that is a few blocks away from the ocean, but I could actually stand on the deck and see the water right there from the back of the house.

I used to think that I didn't want to live any other life for a long time, other than the one I am living. I wanted to stay at all of my friend's houses, sleeping on their couches and living a different life every week. I never opposed change, but I also never imagined myself being where I am today. Being with Theo, and near my family right now, is the strongest possible soul-fuel for me. Things won't always be the same. I'm still young, and I still have my whole career in front of me, but now I have somebody I couldn't see myself without anymore.

Finding that one person who you can't let go is the greatest and weirdest thing. You go your whole life being independent, and thinking you have all that there possibly is to have, and then it all changes. Suddenly when you aren't with them, you don't feel quite as whole. It's probably the scariest and most vulnerable thing, having somebody you can't bear to lose, but despite that, you like it.

"Where are we going?" I asked him that night once we had finished eating dinner. We went swimming in the ocean earlier and sat out in the sun nearly all day. Now it's dark, and he is pulling me back outside.

"I just want to go for a walk down the beach,"

"That's rad, okay!" I tell him, running my hands through my hair. I love walks along the beach.

I take off my shoes and follow him outside. I lace my fingers through his and we start walking. This beach looks picture perfect. No trash laying around, no people... Just light sand and the water gleaming underneath the moon and the stars.

"What are we going to do when the baby comes?" He asks me, his accent deep.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we have to start filming soon after, and that takes up most of our time."

I purse my lips, looking down at the way my feet sink into the smooth sand as we walk. "You know when we stayed at my grandma's house a few weeks ago?"

"Yeah,"

"Well she told me that if I wanted her to, she could come with us to the city we film in... You know, get her own apartment and watch the baby when we are filming."

"Really? I'd like that a lot more than a nanny. She wouldn't mind? That would be a lot of work."

"She said she would do it as a thanks to me... Because I've paid for her house since I was financially able to. I told her she didn't owe me anything in return, but she said if she stayed in California she would barely get to see her first grandbaby grow up, and that it would make her sad."

"That's so awesome. That takes a lot off my mind."

"It's not like we aren't ever going to see her or him. A lot of parents work full time. We always have random days off, and sometimes we don't work until really late, or we only film during the morning, stuff like that."

"I don't doubt that we'll never see her. I know we will." He chuckles.

I look up at the stars and rest my head on his shoulder, placing my free hand on my stomach. "I can't believe that this is real. It all feels surreal."

I think back to when I first met Theo, and to filming, and the premieres and all the interviews. That was only a few months ago.

He stops walking and turns to me. He gets down on one knee and I stare at my belly, waiting for him to put his hands over our child like he usually does, but he doesn't. Instead he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny, sparkling ring. My heart starts beating really fast and my eyes dart from the ring between his fingers to his dark eyes. He has a small smile on his face and he puts a hand on my back to pull me a little closer to him.

"Theo..." I whisper.

"Shailene, I know that we kind of went about this all in the wrong order, but you've always told me to let life take its course, and I guess that this is the course that it wanted... I love you so much, and I've known for so long that I want to be with you forever, but I want to make it even more real. I am... so happy, and so lucky to love you. I wouldn't change anything that happened. Will you please marry me?"

A tear falls down my cheek and I laugh once, nodding. "Of course."

He grins goofily and stands up, sliding the ring onto my finger. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. I'm going to marry him. I don't know why I have barely thought about the fact before now, but now that it is here, I realize how much I want it. I want him. I pull away from him and observe the ring fully. In the center is a diamond and then next to it are more tiny ones that get smaller as they fade out. It's not overly flashy; it's humble within its beauty, and I'm glad that he didn't pick out something with just a huge jutting diamond, even though he obviously could afford it.

"I love it so much, I love you."

I fall against his chest, my face against his neck. "I know that you don't want a wedding while you're pregnant. It doesn't have to be anytime soon, it can be a long engagement... I just... wanted to see my ring on your finger so bad, since my baby is already in your stomach. I love you, I don't see why I would wait."

I start to laugh and then I start to cry. He pulls me back to look at me. "He's kicking." I say, taking his hand and putting it over the spot where I can feel a movement. Babies start to kick around four months, and I am three and a half months along. This is the first time I have ever felt him or her move inside me.

Theo starts to laugh, his hand on my stomach. "I can feel it!"

"Are you happy little dude?" I ask. "Are you happy just like your mommy?"

I feel another kick and grin, reaching up to stroke Theo's face and kiss I him again.