Our Little Recap 1

"Hmm... that sounds like a good idea!" I nodded my agreement. "Then everyone can be on the same page!"

"Exactly!"

So the next day we got everyone into the den for the first time in a week or more. Amanda was on the phone with us and Zack and Katie were next to each other.

I hadn't seen a full room like this since before Mandy was hospitalized.

I sat in Ian's lap again and Mom was sitting by dad who had both of the youngest children in his lap. "Wow, it's pretty packed..." Everyone nodded. Except Elijah. He'd taken it pretty personally that Amanda got sick. It was common knowledge, but he still moped some whenever Amanda was on speakerphone.

"What's going on?" I heard Amanda's voice come, she sounded so tired and her voice was a little bit shaky which made me think that she wasn't feeling well.

"We're making everyone talk." I answered before Mom could.

Zack tapped his foot on the floor, "What are we talking about?"

"Everything that's on your minds. Let's start with Katie." Mom pointed to Katie and Zack seemed to pale.

"E-Everything?" She visibly gulped. "U-Uhm... I don't know where to start... um... I-I'm a little jealous of Ian and A-Andy..." She said, obviously wanting to speak softly but knowing she'd have to repeat it again if she was too soft. "And I'm scared of what's happening to Amanda and I'm scared of... um..." I looked at me, we upset eyes and I smiled comfortingly.

"Go on, sweetie."

"I'm scared of Zack b-because he's been really irritable lately and I'm almost positive it's because of me because I asked him about marriage and I thought everything was alright but I guess it isn't and I'm really scared he doesn't like me anymore!" She was sobbing and I'm pretty sure everyone was staring at her, wide-eyed.

I for one, didn't know what to say at all. Especially since she said she was jealous of me. ME? I looked down at my belly. Surely no one could be jealous of this.

Silence. The whole room was quiet and I was pretty sure that summed up a lot of things. I could hear Amanda breathing and then I could tell that she pulled the phone away, it was probably ominous to her to think that we could all hear her like that. Still, Mandy... I looked at Katie who was crying.

Zack was pale and his hands were shaky.

"Zack." Mom said.

He pulled Katie tight to him and sighed, "Kat... I'm sorry..."

She hugged him back and cried loudly. I didn't know anyone could cry that loud, but apparently Katie could. "No, I'm sorry! I didn't know it'd upset you so much to talk about it! I'm sorry!!"

I frowned. Katie, don't do that... you're blaming yourself again...

Zack was at a loss for words, I could tell by looking at his eyes that he was busy searching for an explanation to what was going on, he wasn't sure what to say though and I could easily tell.

"Kat... don't blame yourself, you know I said I wanted to talk about marriage I just..." He paused and looked away for a minute, I knew he was trying not to give away his surprise and we could all only wonder how long he'd go before proposing.

She hugged him tighter. "J-Just what?" Katie wasn't one to jump to conclusions very quickly which is good for Zack. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay..."

I hurt for her... and she wasn't even allowed to know he was planning a proposal!

Zack looked around at all of us and I could tell he was at a breaking point but part of me could also tell that he wasn't about to drop on one knee either.

"We can talk about marriage... I never said I didn't want to I'm just... not sure how to do it... without.."

"Zack, don't." I shouldn't have spoke up. >___<

Amanda giggled, "You guys are funny, sorry... I know this is serious..." She coughed, "'scuse me..."

Katie stared at the phone. "Amanda... I miss you." She said softly. "Come back soon."

I smiled a little at that and winked to Zack. He was saved for another day.

I pictured Amanda grinning at how she pretty much saved the day for Zack, but only for today... it wouldn't be long until things fired up again probably.

"Whew..." He whispered.

"I'll come home TOMORROW. I bet. I bet I'll..." Amanda took a long breath, she needed to not get so worked up. "I need someone to help me shave off the rest of this mess..."

"Which one of us wants to do a sympathy shave?" I asked loudly. I ran my hands over my own hair and looked at everyone else. I highly doubted the girls would but for some reason I kept looking at Eli.

He looked up sadly and noticed Ian was staring at him. "I will, Amanda. After all, I'm the closest to your age, right? I should do it. When do you want me to come?"

I was surprised. I'd expected him to stay quiet, but he actually spoke up.

"What? I didn't think anyone would really want to do that... I thought Ian was joking." Amanda said tiredly, "Why would you want...?"

Everyone seemed a bit surprised. Even I thought I was joking. 8O Well... not joking perse, sometimes people do that if they have a cancer patient in the family.

I watched him deflate a little. "Oh, well, I didn't know, sorry... I won't do it unless you want me to! Sorry, Amanda!" He was so quick to apologize to her. He was an obvious big brother to her. Aw, Eli... <3

"But I don't want you to do it if you don't WANT to do it. If you want to and it's your free will... that's another story." Amanda said softly, she was so sweet.

I smiled, I'd probably do it and surprise her... but Andy might not like me bald.

He shook his head. "Nope, I'm going to shave it all off. Then, if you want, I'll shave all yours off too!" He seemed to be happier, the more he talked to Amanda. It made me smile. "And I'll bring you a pretty wig! You can choose the color too."

Amanda gave a laugh, "Okay, so are any of you feeling better?" She asked gently and I looked around the room to make sure everyone was smiling.

"I think so."

Zack coughed, "Haha, yeah." He hugged Katie.

I smiled as Elijah nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, little sis." He ran his fingers though his hair. Probably already mourning the impending loss off his hair.

Katie hugged Zack and smiled. "You fix everything, Amanda!" Though it was obvious she was slightly embarrassed from being the only one to pour her heart out.

"I don't think I did... isn't there anyone else who wants to pour their hearts out or do I have to do it? Wait. Wait... Zack? Why don't you?"

"If I do I'll end up spoiling my plans for the next ten years about world domination. Are you sure you want to choose this option? Final answer?"

"No, I'll pass... what about Andy?"

Zack, you cad. ._.

I sighed. "I hate being pregnant and I don't want to share Ian but I really love my baby already and I don't know what to do and I'm scared of the pain and of people looking at my parts when I'm in labor. But that's about it."

I clapped, "Woo!" Then I shut up and turned away whistling, "If she had it her way I'd be the doctor and I'd deliver the baby but I'd probably freak out and then hurt the baby... because I'm probably the only one that she'd let see that..."

Amanda giggled, "Aw..."

"Yeah, aw." Zack sighed, "And yet they decided on a home birth, go figure huh?"

"Ooh really?! I want to be there!"

"No." I sighed, "The door will be locked, Mandy."

"With deadbolts and everything. The windows will all be shut so you can't peek in too! You'll see the baby when it's all over!" I grabbed Ian's hand and squeezed it.

Maybe the day she gives birth is the day I'll be punished for getting her pregnant. I was already feeling it in my hand and we still had two months before that day would come.

"Aw, wow! Sounds like fun!"

Fun was an understatement. I was pretty sure that the hospital was making poor Mandy's mind turn into fluff.

"Yeah... just keep it away from me for the first hour or so so I can sleep..." I said softly. "I will want sleep."