Guys My Age ~ Christopher Velez

Our Daughter

"Dios Mio, can your Mom be mine?"

Zoe sighed, her head falling into the crook of Christopher's neck. They'd just gotten off of FaceTime with his mother, father, and older brother. Yenny cried when she heard the news, simply tears of pure joy. Zabdiel had joined them once the call was over, standing awkwardly in the corner. Christopher rubbed Zoe's back up and down, trying to relax her for what was going to happen in the following moments. Next up, they were breaking the news to Zoe's Mom and Dad.

Lovely.

"It'll be alright, Princesa. Zabdiel's gonna be here the whole time and so am I," Christopher kissed the side of her head, moving to the chair beside the couch so he was out of camera view. Zabdiel took his spot, knowing Christopher would join them once Zoe got a little way into the conversation. "Puedes hacerlo," You can do it. He nodded encouragingly, everyone holding their breath when the call came in. Zoe swallowed thickly, moving forward to click the green square. Her parents popped up on the screen, looking at her with already disapproving faces.

"Zobeida," Her mother started, looking Zoe up and down. "Parece que has estado comiendo bien." It seems like you've been eating well. Christopher clenched his jaw, eyes blazing with anger. They turned to Zabdiel, beaming with happiness. "Zabdiel, cómo estás?" How are you? Zoe looked down at the ground, Zabdiel glancing at his little sister with conflicted emotions. He fake smiled at his parents, answering their question with less than usual enthusiasm. She listened, letting them go on for several minutes without a single word in her direction.

"Necesito decir algo," I need to say something. Everyone turned to Zoe, a little surprised by her outburst. "Christopher," She motioned for her boyfriend to come into view, the boy hesitantly sitting down beside her. "Mamá, papá, te acuerdas de Christopher?" Do you remember Christopher? They nodded, smiling at Christopher instead of their daughter. "Nosotros estamos juntos," We're together. The smiles fell to be replaced with glares, this time directed at Zoe. They shook their heads in disappointment, her mother opening her mouth once more.

"¿Por qué debes robar a alguien de tu hermano?" Why must you steal someone from your brother? Christopher and Zabdiel glanced at one another over Zoe's head, unspoken thoughts passing between them. "¿Qué pasa si también arruinas esta relación?" What if you ruin this relationship too? Zoe, Christopher, and Zabdiel all clenched their jaws in unison. 'Too?' Her mother was referring to David, who her parents liked. "No puedo creer-" Her mom was halfway through saying I can't believe when finally someone had had it.

"Eso es suficiente," That's enough, Christopher barked. "No puedes hablar de ella así," You don't get to talk to her like that. Everyone turned to Christopher, his attention solely on his girlfriend. Zoe's eyes watering was the only thing he needed to continue speaking. "Amo a Zoe," I love Zoe. He interlaced their fingers, a heartfelt smile breaking out on Zabdiel's face. Christopher made eye contact with Zoe, silently asking if it was okay to break the news. She nodded once, Christopher facing the camera. "Y amo a nuestra hija,"

And I love our daughter.

Her mother and father took sharp intakes of breath, taking in the news. "¿Hija?" Zoe's mom repeated the word, focusing her sights on her own daughter. "¿Estas embarazada?" You're pregnant? Christopher, Zoe, and Zabdiel all nodded in complete sync. Their mother scoffed in disgust, curling her lip into a snarl. "Estoy avergonzado de ti ¡No eres hija nuestra nunca más!" I'm ashamed of you. You're no daughter of ours anymore! Zoe sucked in a gust of air, Christopher and Zabdiel glaring at the camera. "¿Cómo podrías avergonzar a tu hermano así?" How could you embarrass your brother like this?

"¡Detener!" Zabdiel shouted, Zoe's normally zen brother. Nobody had ever seen Zabdiel as mad as he was at that moment, not even when he found out about Christopher and Zoe. "¡Nunca había estado más orgulloso de llamar a Zobeida mi Hermana!" I've never been prouder to call Zobeida my sister. "Deberían avergonzarse de ustedes mismos. Esta es tu nieta!" You should be ashamed of yourselves. This is your granddaughter! Zabdiel lashed out, his parents staring at him with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "Si has terminado con ella, entonces también has terminado conmigo."

If you're done with her, then you're done with me too.

Before his parents could get a word in edgewise, Zabdiel had pressed the red button and shut Zoe's laptop. The second they disappeared, Zoe stood up and broke down behind her hands. Her chest heaved up and down, one palm sliding down to rest on her stomach while the other tangled in her hair. It broke Zabdiel and Christopher's hearts to see her this way, the latter nodding for the former to go to her. Christopher wanted to, don't get him wrong, but she needed Zabdiel right now. To know that at least someone in her family was still by her side.

Zabdiel blocked the path she'd started pacing, pulling her smaller frame into his arms. "Shh, Pequeña, I'm still here. No voy a ninguna parte," I'm not going anywhere. He rubbed his hands up and down her spine, Christopher slipping back to their bedroom to give them some time alone. "Te amo mucho," I love you so much. "And my sobrina," Zabdiel tapped her stomach, feeling Zoe slowly but surely calming down. "I'm so sorry they said that to you," He apologized, his sister sniffling and pulling away.

"Thank you for standing up for me," Zoe muttered gratefully, rubbing leftover tears from her face. "I love you, Zab," She stared up at her older brother, a small rare smile making its way onto his face. He smoothed a section of hair back that'd fallen from her messy bun, kissing her forehead. "I can't wait for you to meet her," Zoe cradled her stomach, a soft smile on her lips. Zabdiel grinned brightly, even more excited to meet his niece than Zoe and Christopher were. She sighed, staring at her belly.

"She makes everything worth it,"