Unexpected

THIRTY-TWO

Chapter Thirty-TWO

Family Time

"Veggie burgers with salad and watermelon." I smiled widely as I set the salad bowl and plate of burgers on the table, Stiles setting down the watermelon beside me. My dad sat at the head of the table, still in his uniform, with a fake-pained smile on his face. 

He set the fork he was holding down on the table. I pulled my chair out, containing my laughter, knowing that this was not what he expected when I told him I'd cook dinner. "Veggie burgers?" I rolled my eyes, sitting down at the table. "Yes, dad, veggie burgers. The doctor said you need to watch what you eat." 

"A real burger isn't going to kill me," he scoffed slightly shaking his head. Stiles patted dad on the back, "come on dad, eat the veggie burger. You want to be a healthy grandpa right?" A smile was on his face, but mine faded as I noted the way my father's body tensed. 

His shoulders squared and his gaze hardened on the table, the atmosphere around us became thick almost instantly. I cleared my throat, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. "Something wrong, dad?" 

I watched nervously as he ran a hand down his face before smiling and reaching for the food. "Nothing, food looks great." He began plating his food and I forced a smile back at him. It's obvious that this whole thing bothers him, I just wish he wouldn't be so adamant at avoiding the topic altogether. 

I'm pregnant and I'm having twins, ignoring it isn't going to change that fact. I fucked up, and I acknowledged that, I just need him to wake up and be present in this new reality. Quite frankly, I'd rather have him angry and yelling than avoiding me and my pregnant belly. Last night he didn't come home till way after I was asleep, and this morning he left super early. He says the same thing each time; "I have work." But, I know the truth, he's disappointed in me. 

"We can't keep avoiding it, dad." I spoke my mind, watching as he bit into the burger pulling a face as he did so. Stiles cleared his throat, "do we have to do this now?" He asked, obviously not wanting the conflict during our family night. 

Before I could respond, dad sighed, "you're sister's right, I can't avoid it." I nodded, slightly shocked at how quickly he agreed with me. "Since the night I told you, you've said 'not now'. And I know you've gone to appointments, you held my hair back when I was throwing up, and you even went and went to the store last week because I was having a craving for peanut butter... 

"but you don't look at me and you get all tense whenever someone mentions the fact that I'm pregnant." I let out a breath, feeling like a weight was lifted off my shoulders as I released all the emotions I'd had bottled up for a couple weeks now. 

My dad licked his lips before nodding, "I know you're pregnant." He took a moment to gather his thoughts, I suppose, before continuing. "God, I wish your mom were here, she would know what to say to you." 

I began picking at my nails nervously, unsure if I should say something or just let him continue on his train of thought. I went with the latter. "But, you're right. We do need to talk about this, for starters, how do you plan on raising these babies? I won't kick you out, don't worry about that, but I can't financially support two more kids."

"I'm saving up money, so is Scott. I also applied for WIC, which helps with food and stuff. I'm also going to be meeting with my advisor to talk about going on IS after the babies are born. Dad, I'm not taking any of this lightly, I want you to know that. I know how much of a responsibility this is." 

I bit my lip as we looked into each other's eyes, the only sound being the ticking clock in the background and Stiles' eating his watermelon, which sounded quite disgusting if I do say so myself. "Victoria wants to name her kid Novah Jane." Stiles interrupted mine and my dad's staring contest. 

Leave it to my brother to always try and make a situation less tense, he's always been good at that. Even now, with such a serious thing happening in our family, my dad couldn't help but the smile that pulled at his mouth. The best part of my dad's smile is the way his blue eyes crickle in the corners, it always makes me smile. 

He looked at me with raised brows, the tension in the air diminished. "Novah, really?" I rolled my eyes, scoffing with a smile on my face, "hey, look what you named Stiles, you have no room to judge!" My dad shook his head, stabbing some salad with his fork as he did so. "Actually, I named you, your mother is the reason Stiles' name is what it is." 

Stiles laughed at that, while I just began putting food on my plate, "that just goes to show that pregnant women shouldn't be left in charge of naming children." I shot a playful glare at the two boys. "I was actually thinking about naming her Emily or Isabella, if you must know." 

"Isabella Jane has a nice ring to it." My father acknowledged. I felt a sense of glee spread throughout my chest at the simple fact that he wasn't flinching away from the topic of my babies, no, he was inserting himself into the conversation, and giving his own input. I flashed him a smile, showing my appreciation. 

Out of the corner of my eyes, Stiles shook his head, "what about my nephew, are we just going to forget about him?" I rolled my eyes while taking a bite of my salad, which tasted amazing by the way. "Of course not," I mumbled through a mouthful of food, pausing to swallow. "Scott gets to pick his name." 

Stiles pulled a face at that, "you trust him to pick the name of your child? No offense to Scott, but are you sure he can handle that much pressure?" It was my dad's turn to pull a face, he shot a small glare at Stiles, "he better, he's about to be a father to two babies at seventeen. Choosing a name is the least of his worries." 

"Exactly, he'll be fine, Stiles." With that being said, we all went back to our meals. Eating dinner with the occasional comment about school or work. We were finally a family again, with no awkwardness surrounding us. It wasn't until after dinner, when we were all sat at the table, that I decided to bring up another awkward topic: mom's journals. 

I cleared my throat, gaining the attention of my dad and Stiles, who paused the television. "Hey, dad," He nodded for me to continue, "did you ever read mom's journals out in the garage?" I asked. 

His face went straight and, just like that, I couldn't read a single emotion that crossed his mind. He's always been the hardest person to read. I suppose that's what made him a good cop. Dad coughed slightly, turning his blue eyes to me. "No, and I'd prefer it if we stayed out of those boxes. Why do you ask?" 

I met eyes with Stiles, both of us equally confused. Why doesn't he want us to go through them? Is there something else in her stuff? Something I hadn't already found? I smiled, shaking my head. "I was in the garage the other day and saw a box labeled 'journals.' I was just curious... but if you don't want me to read them, I won't."

"Good. We'll go through them eventually, I promise." I nodded, giving Stiles a look before he played the movie, the three of us dissolved into a silence that was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable... it simply was. My mind was unfocused from the Captain America movie playing in front of me though, no I was focused on what else could be in my mom's boxes... Was there something I'm missing? 

A/N: Honestly I forgot I planned on updating today so, I'm posting this very short chapter that is unedited so... there's also that. But, I wanted you guys to have something! I'm sorry I didn't post sooner, I really planned on sitting and writing today... On another note, 1K votes?! OMG I can't believe it!!! Thank you guys so so so much