WEEKS: 14-19

Little Baby Julie had no idea how loved she was going to be. She had a whole set of uncles and aunts that couldn't wait to hold her and spoil her. She was going to be the first baby in our twisted little family, and I knew she was going to be incredibly loved and spoiled rotten. I couldn't wait to spoil her myself!

"It's weird, you know?"

"What is?" Eva smiled, as she browsed through a whole aisle of pink baby clothes.

"How everything just got easier all of the sudden." I shrugged, caressing my swollen belly "I mean, I'm not stressed about the future anymore... I'm actually really excited!"

"Sweetheart, your whole issue was that you love Jordan but didn't know how committed he was to this – to you." Eva assured me, with a sweet smile "From the moment you realized that that man loves you and wants to take care of his family, you just opened up."

"I... I still can't believe that... he actually wants to do this, with me" I admitted, smiling at a tiny white and yellow onesie.

Eva picked a few clothes and tossed them into the shopping cart. She crossed her arm with mine and moved us along the shop.

"I told you he has been crazy about you since day one. You need to give him more credit" She said, patting my hand on hers.

"I know." I smiled, sighing as I saw all the little baby clothes "We're visiting the house this weekend. I'm nervous."

"He'll love it!" Eva was sure "It's gorgeous, and a great location for his family to visit as well!"

"You just love that there are two extra rooms for visits!" I chuckled.

"Well, I do intend to visit my goddaughter quite often!" She winked.

I laughed along with my best friend, as we carried on with our shopping.

"How good was Amelia's wedding, though?!" Eva tossed.

"I know." I shrugged "She wasn't a bridezilla at all which was surprising."

"You know, I think she secretly has a crush on your fiancée." Eva chuckled "I saw her giggling at his jokes plenty of times that evening."

"Jesus, that must've been awkward" I snorted.

"You see, it's the tattoos" Eva shrugged.

"I know." I smiled "He's a tall glass of bad that you just can't look away from."

"And you love him" Eva smiled, patting my lower back as she tossed yet another pink hat to the cart.

"More than anything" I assured her.

"So, when are you checking the house?"

"Tomorrow morning." I sighed "I'm so excited I can't sleep properly!"

"He'll love it." Eva assured me with a wink "It's a gorgeous house, and I can definitely see you guys growing up there."

"Aw, that's the sweetest thing you've ever said!" I mocked, and Eva rolled her eyes "Did you hear that, Julie?"

"Yeah, yeah." She snorted, but I could see a glimpse of a smile "Just don't forget about me when you and Mr. Chocolate Cake start playing houses."

"Never." I chuckled, kissing her cheek "You're my soul mate."

***

The house was your typical white picket fence house in the suburbs. The neighbourhood was nice and there were kids playing outside – always a good sign. Jordan and I arrived on a Saturday morning to check the white house on the kerb. I was in love with it – from the big windows to the family style kitchen, to the lovely backyard with flowers and a big lawn. Everything looked too perfect and cosy and warm, that I didn't even care about the big price tag.

As this house was under our company's management, getting in was easy. The family was away for the weekend in Orlando as they did most of their moving. I took Jordan in and heard him whistle as we got into the foyer.

"The living room is here" I pointed at the big area with tall white windows, a lovely fireplace and archway "Through there is the dining room – it's a good size, we could fit everyone in there."

Jordan took in the spacious room. It was such a nice warm area, with the big window to the front of the house, the fireplace and all the shelves with books covering the same wall. It was a place for a family to spend time together and relax – I could imagine a Christmas tree in the corner and our little Julie opening her first presents.

"Come!" I pulled him through the white hallway with flowers and lovely family photos towards the kitchen in the back "Look at this kitchen!"

The furniture was an outdated taupe colour, the countertops in old white marble, and the appliances were at least ten years old. Jordan walked around, taking in the big space. There was a nice breakfast area next to the tall windows, and I could almost imagine the two of us plus a chubby little baby having a nice morning meal and having a quick chat before the day started.

"Good size." He nodded in approval "But we would need to renovate it. Most of this is a bit outdated."

"I know. That's why I think what I'm hoping to offer will be accepted straight away." I admitted, caressing the countertop "The cabinets are outdated and the marble is scrapped here and there. I would like it black, and the cabinets white."

"Nice space, though." He winked at me "I have some ideas for the kitchen. I'll sketch something, take some measurements and see what we could do with it."

"Anything you want." I grinned, standing on my toes and kissing his chin "Double doors to the yard, right there" I pointed to the right of the breakfast area "and a door to the double garage. There's a toilet downstairs somewhere. Also, there's a good size room I would like to convert into an office."

"We'll put something nice for you, your own little space" He smiled, kissing the top of my head "Laundry room?" He asked at the empty space next to the double doors to the garden.

"Yes, laundry room. Let me show you upstairs" I pulled him to the foyer and up the stairs "There's five bedrooms, two en-suites, and one other bathroom. The biggest room looks out into the garden and it is amazing! There's even a closet! I want that one!"

"You love this house" He smiled, as we got upstairs into the wide space of the hallway and I pointed at every single room.

"I think it's just perfect." I smiled, and showed him the decking on the garden "See, there? I was thinking Jacuzzi and barbecue."

"That's all you need." He winked, caressing my lower back "Do you think this is the house?"

"I do..." I admitted, letting him tuck me in his arms "I really do... It has everything we need, it's warm and cosy. I love the kitchen, I love the living room, the garden, just everything. I... I could see us raising a family here..."

Jordan's side smile was sweet and dreamy. He kissed the tip of my nose, looked around and sighed.

"Ok, here's the deal I'm putting on the table: new kitchen, new toilets, a big ass barbecue and I get to play on the garage with my cars" He crocked a brow at me.

"Deal!" I grinned, shaking his hand as fast as I could.

"So... how fast can we move in?" He smiled.

"Well, they want to be done with their moving by next week – hence the lack of furniture downstairs. I was thinking, everything going well, four weeks and we could move in. Wow..."

"What?" He asked, caressing my arms, as we both stood by the window looking out into what could possibly be our back yard.

"I can't believe that... God, I can't believe that we're actually adulting."

"Is that what the kids call it these days?" His cheeky grin made me chuckle "Alright... Four weeks it is. I'll put my apartment up for sale as well, it will give us all the money – and more – that we need to sort a few bits around here, prepare the baby room and get everything sorted for when Julie arrives. Hopefully, we can get everything done before she decides to pop out, and we'll be able to support all of this for a few weeks. I want to be home for as long as I can with my two favourite girls."

"Are you sure you want to sell your apartment?" I sighed "You love it."

"Yeah, but... It's not home." He shrugged, grabbing my hand and coming down the stairs with me "This is home, now."

"Is it, then?" I chuckled, caressing his arm "Are you up for all of this, Mr. Tall and Mean, tattooed gun dealer?"

"Forgot the most important one: daddy." He winked "I'm well ready, love. Can't wait to get this home ready for my girls. All I ask in return is loads of hugs when I get home every day."

"We'll see what we can do" I chuckled, caressing my big belly.

***

WEEKS: 10-15

"Dad, what did you do?!" I gasped, as my usually grumpy and serious dad stood behind the hugest pile of baby stuff I'd ever seen in my life "What's all this for?!"

"I went a little overboard." He grinned, so proud of the million toys, baby monitors, clothes and God knows what else was on that big pile in my old bedroom back at his house "But we just couldn't decide on one thing!"

Jordan's face was hilarious as he grabbed a huge red Elmo from the pile.

"This is gonna give the kid nightmares" He whispered on my side.

"Oh, C'mon, now!" Jordan's mom snorted, as she came around the proud pile of products and toys "We wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to start!"

Jordan grabbed another product and did an awkward uncomfortable face.

"Seriously, dad?! A breast pump? Did you buy me a breast pump? And adult diapers?!" I grunted, my face was certainly red.

"You're gonna thank us later!" Angela assured me, winking one of her light eyes.

"Ok, then!" Jordan cleared his throat "We'll get a moving van to take all of this back to Violet's flat..."

"When's the house move?" Dad asked as the four of us went back to the living room for some coffee and tea.

"In about three, four weeks' time." Jordan said, as we sat together in one of the sofas "I've got everything ready with some friends to put together the beds and all the appliances. The girls have been great and helping Violet with packing everything else."

"I've got a guy, that did my kitchen a few years ago" Dad started, rubbing his chin "he's great – not cheap, but you'll have the best kitchen that's out there."

"Actually, Jordan is doing it himself" I put in.

"You are?!" Dad frowned "But... why?!"

"Dad..." I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, Jordan is very good at diy." Angela assured dad "He did my bathroom last year – looks lovely!"

"He's pretty good" I grinned, and Jordan winked at me.

"Ok then... My offer still stands, anyway, if you change your mind." Dad shrugged; Benjamin Conrad was not a diy person at all! "So, there's something I've been meaning to ask you two."

Oh, boy...

Even little Julie kicked inside as if she also knew there was trouble.

"When's the wedding?"

"The wedding" I repeated carefully, not daring to look from my tea.

"Yes." Dad pressed, also carefully "Or are we having a baby out of wedlock?"

Jordan's mom cleared her throat and tilted a brow at dad. He actually blushed and pressed his lips together.

"You're not actually asking me to move houses, have a baby and on top of all of it because that's not enough, plan a wedding, are you?" I tossed and heard Jordan smother a laugh next to me.

"I just think..." Dad started, rubbing the back of his neck, as both Angela and I stared at him with dangerous eyes "... that... it would be nice... for Julie!... to have her parents... married when she was born, that's all..."

"Mr. Conrad, we understand and respect what you're saying" Jordan started, before either myself or his mom could scream at my dad "but getting our home ready for Julie is more important to us than anything else – also, Violet would be exhausted if we dared to start another adventure before getting over this one."

"Hum..." Dad grunted, looking down at his coffee; he took a small sip and still didn't dare look up "Fair enough if that's what you think is right. Just... I would like to walk you down the aisle... that's all..."

"Uh, I would like that as well!" Angela whined at her son.

"Mom, that's only the bride's thing" Jordan winced and blushed.

"Oh, but I would love to give you away!" She begged with her lower lip trembling.

"Mom...!" He whined.

"Dad" I called with a side smile "I promise you you'll do that. Just... not now. Give us some time to settle down, have Julie and for things to calm down. We want a proper wedding, with cake and everything."

"I'll hold you up to that" Dad winked at me with a cheeky smile.

***

WEEKS: 6-11

I was humming as I unpacked my clothes in the bedroom. Just like that, we were at the end of the third trimester, and I couldn't understand where the time had gone! The house had gone as quickly as I could pressure, and both Jordan's and my apartment were up for sale – fingers crossed for that to go quickly as well, so we could start working around the house. I had put my maternity leave notice a couple of weeks before, and now I had all the time in the world to plan everything for Julie.

"Fuckin' son of a..." Jordan yelled from the kitchen, and I chuckled.

"Told you my guy would be better..." Dad put in.

I rolled my eyes at that. The two of them had taken as their mission to start renovating the kitchen, and it was turning out to be a much harder job that Jordan had planned at first – dad would not let it go, for sure.

I heard Angela humming from the closet, as she put all our clothes away. I felt blessed for all I had, for everyone around me. I had felt lonely for most of my life, the accomplished daughter of Benjamin Conrad and not much more. Then, that big tattooed man forced himself into my life, refused to let go and here I was today, with our families all around us, helping us move to our family home. Later that evening, we would have our first barbecue around the house – how we were going to manage that without a fully functioning kitchen I didn't dare to ask!

"Violet, do you want us to put Julie's clothes away or do you want to wash them and all that?!" I heard Stella yell from the baby's room.

"Put them away, I already washed them!" I yelled back.

I was folding some baby clothes on my bump – it was something I found useful nowadays, even to eat! -, when I felt a sharp pain on my belly.

It was so bad I actually felt my knees buckle, and I had to sit down by mine and Jordan's bed.

"Oh, shit..." I moaned, and grunted again at the pain "Oh, no! This is too early! Too early!"

I tried taking deep breaths, relax – this was a false alarm, it had to be! She hadn't even turned, the little cheeky bugger!

"Shit, shit, shit!" I whimpered at another sharp contraction "Angela..." I tried calling, without sounding alarmed "Angela?"

"Oh, sorry dear!" My future mother-in-law came from the closet with her face flushed and a sweaty brow "You called me?"

"I'm... not feeling so good" I admitted, and she immediately turned serious "I'm having contractions."

"Ok." She took a deep breath "Nine times out of ten, this early, it's just a false alarm. Either way, let's get you to the hospital, ok?"

She helped me get downstairs and I begged her not to say anything to my friends or my dad. She was great, she was very calm and kept me at ease. She took me to the car and went back inside to call her son. Jordan was smiling as he accompanied his mom outside. I could see the moment she told him we should go to the hospital. Jordan didn't let her finish her sentence and he ran straight to the car.

"What are you feeling?" He asked immediately, caressing my belly and my face.

"Just... pain... contractions. But it's too early!" I whined.

"You should take her to the hospital, just in case." Angela smiled "But I'm sure it's nothing, this happens, it's normal. Go, and call me when you know something, ok? Sweetheart" She spoke to me this time, kneeling in front of me and caressing my hands "Take deep breaths, it's going to be fine, ok?"

Jordan didn't say another word, he ran to the driver's seat, put his seatbelt on and drove as fast as he could to the hospital.