BE STILL ( andrew bazzi )

ix.

"here?" zion furrowed his eyebrows, looking at his sister with disbelief in his eyes. "we could've went anywhere in l.a. and this is where you wanted to go?"

adeline grinned brightly at her brother, turning her car off. she waved to the sight in front of them. "caleb, i only get you for like another year. let me take you to the park." zion laughed loudly at his sisters words, shaking his head. "what? you never get too old for the park! come on, grumpy." when zion still had a look of disbelief edged on his face, adeline rolled her eyes. "if you need me, i'll be on the swings."

zion watched his sister step out of the car. he had a soft smile on his face as she sent him a funny face. he waited a few moments before he followed suit, following her steps to the swing set in the middle of the park. adeline stared at the sky above her, seemingly deep in thought. zion sat in the swing beside her. the woman's attention peeked at her brothers appearance beside her. a blanket of silence fell between the siblings, both kuwonus finding a comfort in it.

"i have to tell you something." adeline broke the silence. "and i don't know how you'll take it."

zion sent his sister a glance. "you and drew getting married? ooo, my boy finally put a ring on it. does rose kno—"

"no, no." adeline chuckled, shaking her head at his words. the woman took a deep breath, feeling tears brim her eyes. "i'm pregnant."

zion felt his eyes widen significantly, the boy not being able to process the information. he looked down to her stomach before his gaze went back to her now, tear filled eyes. "i'm going to be an uncle? man, i thought being an uncle to one kid was fun, imagine having two."

adeline let out a chocked out laugh before pulling her brother into her arms. she loved him, more than she'd ever loved another human. she had basically raised him, for adeline got not only a brother, but a child at the same time— for while they had their sibling bond, adeline had become the motherly influence to be boy at a very early age when their mother denied them the attention and love they deserved.

"you never fail to lighten up every situation." adeline laughed, wiping at the tears that had fell moments prior. adeline pulled away from the boy. "i love you, caleb."

zion shrugged his shoulders before putting his arm around his big sister. "it's my specialty, i guess. i love you too, ad."

another blanket of silence fell on the siblings. adeline's mind raced, the woman desperately trying to figure out how she was going to tell andrew and rosalia. as if her brother read her mind, he decided to bring up the two.

"you told drew or rose yet?" zion questioned the woman before pulling his arm back. the kuwonu boy pushed off his feet, starting to swing. adeline closed her eyes tightly, ignoring the question. "you haven't?" zion stopped his swing with his feet, sending his sister a confused look.

"i just—" adeline started, but stopped herself. she didn't know why she hadn't told the two. she knew andrew would take it like anything else, calm and enthusiastic. she was just scared. yes, she had basically raised the brother beside her, but the fear of being a replica of her mother haunted her worse than anything else. "i don't want to be our mom. what if i mess the baby up too? what if something happens and i'm not able to be there for them as they grows up— or what if andrew does take it bad? or rose doesn't want another sibling and she doesn't actually want me aroun—"

"she calls you mom now." zion cut off his rambling sister. "and, if andrew can tap it before he wraps it, he should be ready for the consequences." adeline felt her mouth drop before her laugh slipped past her lips. zion laughed along side his sister, swinging to her side and nudging her side. "i'm just saying, rose loves you and so does drew. you're not our mother, adeline. i turned out okay. i know this one will too."