Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 30

"W-Wait, what?" DJ managed to get out through his shock, stopping walking and Kath turned back to look at him, Miles taking Kath's hand to take over comforting her since as DJ was busy on the phone.

"Well, we're technically in Burbank! But surprise! You've always said how much you love it there and JC got transferred to LA for work and we didn't want to be left behind in New York when our boys are across the country, so we packed up and moved and swore JC to secrecy and he decided to surprise you too - I've spoiled his surprise, so act surprised when he turns up at your dorm room later!" Karla laughed and DJ had to remind himself how to breathe, his eyes on Kath and Miles, the two girls hugging each other as Kath cried into her chest. It was clear that no matter how much Kath told herself that she'd be okay moving to New York because it would be for the best, she would struggle to leave her son behind.

"You moved to Burbank?" DJ questioned, Miles's head snapping up and Kath looked back at him too, tears falling still.

"Yeah! Are you mad? Please don't be mad - we just wanted to be with our boys! We were sick of being so far away, especially when you're both getting older and you might be giving us grandchildren!" Karla defended herself.

"Karla!" Rommel warned and DJ couldn't help but chuckle and he sank to his knees in the grass and he reached for Kath, pulling her down gently with him and he kissed the top of her head as he held onto her and Miles sat in the grass too.

"Mom, it's... it's the best news you could ever give me." DJ said honestly and breathlessly and Karla beamed.

"Really?"

"Yes! Yes, of course! But I... I have so much to tell you guys."

"What's going on?" Karla asked.

"Can you put me on speaker? Dad should know too." DJ said and he waited for Rommel to greet him before he started to tell the story of what had been going on from the day Miles gave Kath twenty dollars for a blanket to the moment Amanda called the University. "... and she's pregnant, Mom. Kath's pregnant... Miles and I quit our degrees because the Dean kicked Kath out and she doesn't have anywhere to go, so we were going to get the first flight out to New York and I was going to call you... beg you to let Kath stay with you whilst I try and find a place for us to live." DJ said, kissing the palm of Kath's hand as she wiped away his tears gently.

"Oh, Daniel..." Rommel breathed and DJ could hear sniffles coming from Karla.

"She's pregnant, honey?" Karla choked out.

"With my baby... and she's the best thing that's ever fucking happened to me. We've left our courses now, so Miles and I will share a hotel room somewhere... Miles will use her inheritance to for a deposit like she's always said she would do and I'll use my savings but I want Kath and me to have a place together, a real family home... but I want Kath to have a home somewhere she'll feel safe and Mom, you were a midwife and you're so loving and supportive all the time and Dad, you're who I get my protectiveness from... i-is there room for Kath to stay with you for a little while?" DJ asked, pecking Kath's head as she curled herself more into him. She wasn't used to being around families or having people around who cared about her, she struggled to trust new people but they were DJ's family and that, in return, made them hers because of the baby she was carrying. She'd do anything if meant she didn't have to leave her son. He didn't have anybody to mourn him, to talk to him - she couldn't be a plane ride away from him.

"Oh, sweetheart! Of course she can - we have a spare bedroom here and it's all set up already since as we bought the place furnished! I'll text you the address and I'll tell JC to not bother going to the dorm because we can all have dinner here - bring her! Of course she can stay here, it's not even a question... poor girl." Karla breathed and DJ held Kath tighter to him with his free arm, holding her against him and she kissed his chest, trying to keep herself calm.

"Thank you... I-I'll be packing my stuff with Miles, but we'll be there when we can. I'll text you when we set off for your place." DJ said.

"Okay, sweetheart." Karla breathed, still sniffling.

"Be safe, son, alright? Don't worry about Kath, she's more than welcome here." Rommel said, the protectiveness already clear in his voice.

"Thanks, Dad," DJ said before he hung up the phone and he wrapped both of his arms around Kath, pecking her lips. "You don't have to leave your son, Kathryn... you'll just be twenty minutes away, I promise." DJ breathed, burying himself in her as she relaxed against him - tears soaking into his shirt out of pure relief that she didn't have to leave her boy behind, but she was still terrified to meet new people, even though they were family.

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