Dream Big (Sequel to Dreamer)

Chapter Eight

Lexie's POV

I could really go for some pickles, cookies and cream ice cream, and salt and vinegar potato chips. I struggle to get off of the couch as my prominent bump tries to weigh me down, listening to Mom, Dad, and  Uncle Shawn yell and scream at each other. I didn't have an issue with it, not since it was funny to listen to. You see, since Mom started watching Harry Potter again she can't yell without a strong British accent coming through. What's worse is that Chandler absolutely hates her accent because it causes him to have certain words come out British. Then there's Shawn. Shawn tried so hard to stay... what accent would he have? Do you call it a Canadian accent? An American accent? What accent would you call that? Shawn tried to keep his accent, but failed. So, three people who aren't from Great Britain all end up arguing in a British accent that all of them try to avoid using, and one of them isn't even yelling in a British accent half the time. "Lexie?" Desiree asks, looking up from her dolls at me. "When will your baby be here?" She asks, and I pause, looking at my phone. I had a scan today in about two hours. " Any time now, Dizzy." I say, gently petting her hair. "Can I hold the baby when it gets here?" She asks excitedly, and I laugh. "Of course you can. You just have to be very, very careful. Do you want me to show you how to hold a baby that has just been born?" I ask, completely forgetting about my strange craving. Desiree nods, and I look around at her makeshift nursery. There were about three baby beds and a toddler's bed for her life size twin doll. I motion over to her doll beds. I waddle closer, and Dizzy crawls over. The doll we were looking at was one of those really floppy ones with the cloth body. I glance up at my little sister, making sure she was paying attention. I slid one hand under the doll's neck and head, then reach across the baby doll, sliding my hand underneath the back of the doll before lifting it up. "That's how you pick up a baby." I tell her, then I guide the doll's head carefully towards my elbow of the opposite arm I was using the cradle its head. Whilst I was doing that I was moving my arm to hold the body closer to my best. "And that is how you hold a baby." I tell you before placing the doll back down. "Now it's your turn." I say, grimacing as the baby kicks. Desiree does almost exactly what I did. "There you go! You'll be a natural when my baby is born." I tell her, and she squeals. I stand up, slowly. Suddenly, I hear a scream from the kitchen. I run in, seeing Uncle Shawn on top of Dad. Mom and I grab his shirt, trying to pry Shawn off of Dad. I let out a yelp as Uncle Shawn's elbow finds my swollen tummy. As soon as I do Shawn stops, seeing my on my butt and holding my bump. "Lexie are you okay?" He asked, getting off Dad. I nod, looking at Dad. He had a bruised face, but other than that he was fine. "Daddy?" Desiree asks, peaking her head in the kitchen. "Yes, my little princess?" Dad asks, sitting up. "What's going on?" She asks meekly, and I feel the color drain from my face. It felt like I peed my pants.

Tia's POV

I watched the color drain from Lexie's face as water pooled around her. "Lexie, stay calm, okay?" I say cautiously. Lexie nods, placing her hands on her bump. "Chandler, I need you to get Lexie's bag in the car. It's in her closet underneath her dresses." I instruct, moving closer to Lexie. Chandler nods, rushing out of the kitchen. "Shawn, I need you to help me get Lexie in the car." I say, helping her to her feet. "Mom, I'm fine. I can walk." Lexie insists, and I just glance around the room.

"And you said her water broke?" The nurse asks in a questioning tone. "Yes, there was a puddle at her feet." I respond, anxious to hear the news. "Ma'am, Alexis' water did not break. She merely had an accident." The nurse explains, and we all relax. "However, it is safe to say that she will be delivering soon." The nurse explains, pointing to the screen. On the screen was clearly a baby. "Your baby's head is down here and the entire baby is turned upside so any day now you'll be ready to deliver." The nurse explains, using hand gestures the entire time she spoke. Then she turned towards Lexie, placing a gentle hand on the baby bump. "Honey, is the father in the picture?" She asks, and I feel anger rise in me. "Because if he is then you can just give me some sort of sign and I can help you." She whispers, or at least attempts to. "The father is in a juvenile detention center!" Lexie snaps, obviously angry. "Well, if that's the case, are you sure you don't want an abortion? Having to take care of this baby could really hurt..." The nurse says, and Lexie completely loses it. "Look, I know it's not normal for a twelve year old to have a baby! I am highly aware of that! I know it's just as unusual for a victim to keep the baby! My birth parents raised me to embrace pain that we cannot control and to never abandon your child. I do not believe in murder, especially that of innocent children. I am supportive of those who would put their child up for adoption, even if I would never do so myself. So, no! I will NOT murder my child because of what his or her FATHER did! My baby had zero control over what happened! I will not punish my baby for something her or she did not do! Even suggesting that I should..." Shawn and I grab Lexie, cutting her off as she begins to sob. The nurse just looks taken back. "I don't know what I said wrong, so you better cut back your attitude, Missy!" The nurse huffs. Chandler storms out of the room, shouting about something I couldn't understand. Lexie's cries become echoes as I feel myself slipping into the darkness...

Beep... Beep... Beep... I hear, and I groan. I gently touch my head, feeling gauze around my head. It was covering my eyes as well. I felt a little lower, feeling a bandage around my nose. I slowly begin to sit up, and I feel strong hands on my shoulders. "Hey, hey... don't sit up... Lay back down..." I recognize the voice, I would know it from anywhere. "Sh-Shawn?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Yeah, yeah, it's me. Chandler's in the cafeteria downstairs." I hear a shuffle, and a small piece of plastic is pressed against my lips. "Here, drink this. It's just water." Shawn instructs, and I begin to sip. Until the cool water touches my dry tongue I do not realize how dry my mouth honestly is. I gulp down the water, and then Shawn sets the cup down. "Where... Where are my kids? Are they with Chandler?" I ask Shawn, and he doesn't respond. "Shawn, where's Carter? Where's Violet? Where's Lexie? Where's Jax? Where's Jackson? Where's Desiree?" I ask again, and then Shawn finally responds. "Tia, you don't have any kids." I feel my heart drop into my stomach. "Shawn, what are you talking about?" I ask him in a demanding tone. "You're seventeen, Tia, why would you have that many kids? You didn't come here with any children, and when I called your parents to tell them what happened they never mentioned it." Shawn explains, and then I slowly begin to sit up despite his protests. "What happened? I was just next to Lexie! We were comforting her! A nurse was yelling at her!" I yell, fumbling around as I tried to take the bandage off. "Tia, stop! You need to keep the bandage on. Your eyes are severely bruised. The light could damage your eyes worse. Please, calm down..." Shawn pleads. "Shawn, what happened?" I whimper as he hugs me close. "The guy who tried to rob you really did a number on you... He actually knocked you out as soon as I got there. I don't think you saw me before you blacked out." Shawn explains, and my heart shatters. "So none of my memories are real..." I whisper, gulping down my tears. "No, Tia, I'm sorry..." I just nod, reflecting on all of the things I wished had happened. "What... What exactly happened... i-in your dream...?" Shawn asked cautiously. I hesitated at first, not really sure where we actually stood in our friendship. "If you don't want to tell me you don't have to." Shawn assures me. "No... no, it's okay... you deserve at least an explanation." I tell him, and then I gulp. I slowly explain everything. I start from as far back as I can, since I'm not really sure where the lines blur. I start from when I got to the restaurant. I tell him about the attack, I tell him about the emancipation, I tell him about going on The Talking Dead, I tell him about Violet, his anxiety, everything. I don't leave out any details. Okay, I hinted about the night at the hotel and all of the kids. I didn't tell him the details of those moments. As I finish telling Shawn everything I hear a door open, and I really focus in. I hear footsteps, I could tell they were light and made with tennis shoes or converse. "Chandler?" I ask, and the footsteps stop. "Tia, you're awake!" Chandler says joyfully, grasping me in a hug. "How did you know it was me?" He asks, and I feel thin fingers grazing the gauze around my eyes. "The footsteps were light and made with a tennis shoe. I could hear that much. A nurse would have knocked and said something." I explain, feeling around to grasp Chandler's hands. Even though I know I won't feel one, I'm still disappointed to find that Chandler isn't wearing a wedding band. I let go of Chandler, and I begin to look for Shawn. "I'm so glad you're awake." Chandler says, and I smile lightly. I was glad that none of the darker times were true, but I did wish the good times were. "Me too." I tell him, finally finding Shawn's hand. I held Shawn's hand in one, and then I held Chandler's in the other.