Pretty Little Liars: 16 & Pregnant (Sequel)

The Calm Before the Storm

Three Days Later
Aria's Pov

We've been at the cabin for a few days now. We hadn't heard from V until this morning—and even though we felt like sitting ducks, I much preferred that over sheer terror I feel now. The note sits folded on the counter, and I try and resist the urge to read it once again even though I have it completely memorized.

I only want one thing, and I'll stop at nothing to get it. Enjoy your little getaway, though.

-V

I've racked my brain over and over trying to even come up with a guess as to what the one thing V wants is. My mind immediately jumps to worst-case-scenario things, like all of us dead, for example. But logic tells me that if that were the case, he would've done it years ago.

"I thought you were just going to the bathroom," Ezra walks into the room. Everyone's outside swimming or hanging out on the dock, because despite the reason for this impromptu trip, we're all trying to make the best of it. Although there's no doubt that the paranoia is still present.

"I was, but then I kinda just decided to get some water and sit inside for a couple minutes." I reply.

He pulls the chair next to me out and sits down "You worried me."

"I'm okay." I answer quietly, looking down at my bump.

"I know, it's just that I can't help but think how easy it would be for V to do something while you're alone in here."

"I know," I sigh, realizing he's right "As much as I hate that it's true, you're right."

Ezra leans over and kisses my cheek "We can sit in here for a little bit if you want."

"I'd like that," I half-smile "The babies are doing gymnastics in here I think. I feel like I'm being beat up from the inside." I gently rub my belly.

"Are you feeling okay otherwise?" Ezra frowns.

I shrug "I think I've been on my feet too much today, to be honest, baby girls head is really pressing down hard on my cervix. Given the circumstances I've kind of been less strict about my bed rest, but I guess they don't realize the shit-show that's happening out here." I motion to my stomach.

"It's a good thing they don't, then they'd never wanna come out." He half jokes "But yeah, despite all that's happening, your bed rest is still a priority."

I lean my head on his shoulder, silently agreeing with his statement. Just a few days ago my biggest stressor was making sure I laid down enough so I didn't go into early labour. Now, every morning I silently thank the universe for the fact that my family and friends are all still here and uninjured.

"Mommy!" Stella's voice wails down the hall.

"I'm right here," I call back "What's wrong?"

She runs into the room with tears pouring down her face and her hand clutching the opposite elbow "Piper pushed me a-and I fell and cut my elbow!"

"Okay, let's go to the bathroom and take a look," I stand up as gracefully as I can "Why'd she push you?"

"Because," Stella cries, wiping her nose "Because she—"

"Dad!" Piper's voice echos from the hallway. Stella stops talking, scrunching her eyebrows at the sight of her sister walking into the room.

"Mom and Dad before you get mad at me for pushing Stella just let me tell you what really happened." She starts.

"No Piper I can tell them!" Stella whines "Go away butthead."

"Don't call her that," I warn "Now let's go to the bathroom and get a bandaid for you."

"But then Piper's gonna tell Dad what happened but she's not gonna tell it right and then I'm gonna get in trouble!" She cries.

"We'll listen to both sides of the story before we decide anything," I tell her "And considering the fact that you got pushed and now you're bleeding, I can pretty much assure you that if you do get in trouble, you won't be the only one."

Piper huffs "Mom I—"

"Just leave it," Ezra intervenes "We'll talk about it in a minute."

There's little conversation between Stella and I as I bandage the cuts on her elbow and hand. She still sniffles lightly, and although her sobs have subsided, I know she's quite bothered by what happened between her and her sister. Their fights have very rarely turned physical; you always hear about sisters throwing fits and getting into cat-fights, but it's just never been like that for Stella and Piper.

"Alright missy, you're all bandaged up now." I help her down from the counter "Should we go downstairs and talk about what happened with Daddy and Piper?"

She shakes her head "Mommy I just wanna talk to you about it. Piper won't let me talk because she'll just interrupt me the whole time."

"Well you and I can talk about it if you want right now, but we also have to with Piper, and you'll both have a turn to talk with no interruptions." I say as I brush her hair out of her face.

Stella frowns "Okay."

"So do you wanna tell me what happened?" I ask gently.

"Well, we were outside with everyone, and then me and Piper wanted to come inside to get a drink a-and on the way I asked her about V because I just wanted to know more, nobody will tell me anything. I wanted to know the stuff that happened with Piper and V because all I know is that V is bad but that's it, a-and it's not fair that I don't get to know anything." Stella sucks in a sharp breath and wipes a lone tear that falls from her eye "B-but when I kept asking her she kept getting more mad and then she pushed me, but she never does that and I don't know why she did today because all I was doing was asking her something."

Parenting is probably the most controversial topic there is; everyone has a different approach at it, even parents of the same kids. There's no right way to parent, no guidebook with a list of ten foolproof steps to raising perfect little human beings, no checklist of worldwide rules to get you seamlessly from point A to B. Although anyone with multiple children would agree that sibling rivalry is a never-ending annoyance—both for the parents and kids—but not once in my eight years of being a Mom of two has it ever been so heart-wrenching. Stella and Piper bug and annoy each other like all sisters do, although now, instead of my usual job of diffusing the common disagreements between my daughters, I have to find a balance between making them feel better and justifying their behaviour due to the circumstances.

"Okay, we're gonna sit down and talk about this as a family now." I declare as Stella and I rejoin Ezra and Piper in the kitchen "I know things have been hard lately, but V isn't going to drive a wedge between us."

"Mom's right, girls." Ezra nods "We have to be strong and stick together now more than ever."

"Exactly. And I know we all get on each other's nerves sometimes and do or say things we don't mean," I glance between Stella and Piper "But we have to practice forgiveness even more than usual. And that's not saying being mean to one another is suddenly allowed, in fact we should all try to be extra nice and level-headed, but I do understand the stress we're all under and why it may cause some acting-out. Just know we're going to get through this and that it won't last forever, and when you're feeling under a lot of pressure please please don't keep it bottled up, either talk to someone or take some time to go over it with yourself if you prefer. We can't afford to be divided right now, we're so much stronger together."

By the look on my families faces I can tell I got through to them. Piper and Stella no longer seem annoyed, in fact the previous tension in the air has even seemed to change to a feeling of hope. A smile plays on Ezra's lips and there's a soft, reassured look in his eyes.

"Team Fitz," He says confidentially, giving each of us a look to match.

"Team Fitz!" We all shout in unison.