Summer Challenge Story Five

[mkrobinson]

 Title: Frostily [A Triad] 

Fandom: Sweet Valley
Universe: Post Canon [well, technically. It actually takes place during the Elizabeth series, but since it's in SV...]
Genre: Romance, Drama
Rating: T
Word Count: 996
Summary: [Part three of three] Elizabeth's decision to move to England has consequences for those in Sweet Valley.

"Oh, hell, where is Jessica?" I asked, not exactly in the best of moods. "I thought we were going to study for her finals together."

"She's gone to get Liz," Steven replied, staring at me critically. "What's with you?"

"I want the baby out," I whined. "She's over three days late."

"Hey," Steven said softly. "You want a back rub?"

I managed a nod, though it wasn't really my back that was hurting. 

"Come on," he whispered. "That'll probably make you feel better."

I hoped it would, but I doubted it. I had a feeling that the only thing that would make me feel any better was the baby finally coming out, and it seemed like that would never happen. I let Steven carry me into our bedroom, though, and I was glad to cuddle up with him in our comfy bed. He grinned at me.

"I want to cuddle instead," I said quietly. "Please?"

"Of course we can cuddle," he said. "I'm always up to cuddling with you. You're my babe."

He wrapped his arms tightly around me, and he pulled me close. "I know I am," I replied in a whisper. "I know."

"I'm sorry you don't feel well," he added. "I hate that."

"I know," I murmured. "It's okay, though."

He gently rubbed the spot on my belly where the baby was kicking. "She'll be here soon," he whispered. "And you'll feel better."

"I know," I answered. 


***


It wasn't entirely Jessica and Elizabeth's fault that I was in an awful mood when we went to get them from the airport. It wasn't entirely Steven's fault, and it wasn't entirely Alice and Ned's faults either. In fact, I entirely blamed both the baby -- well, to be honest, the contractions I had started to have on our way to the airport, and Max Pennington, Elizabeth's idiotic and noble fiance. 

And all of the idiotic photographers that had been sent to follow the 'scandal' to America. 

So maybe it was Elizabeth's fault too. 

"Make them go away," I said, not entirely sure whether I meant my entirely all too painful false contractions or the idiotic photographers who didn't know why our last name wasn't Bennett."Steven, make them stop." 

I was squeezing his hand awfully tightly, so maybe the false contractions were the ones that were bothering me most. 

"Make what stop?" He asked me softly, stroking my belly with his free hand, completely unawares that that was making everything hurt worse. "Is your back bothering you?"

"Not my back," I whispered, staring at the ground. "It's higher."

"You want a shoulder rub?"

He was so cute when he was oblivious. And he was being oblivious then, since I was squeezing his hand even tighter than before. 

"I guess," I replied, not wanting him to panic. "It's not that, though."

He kissed the top of my head. "You hungry?"

"Steven, please pay attention to what I am..." I trailed off, because even though I strongly suspected that the baby was actually coming, I was hungry. "Can we get an ice cream?"

"Of course. Mint chocolate chip?"

I nodded eagerly, and he helped me up.


***


"I told you Billie got fat," Jessica crowed, and I groaned -- both because of my not-so-false contractions and because of my idiotic sister-in-law -- and I walked over to her and Elizabeth, prepared to give the both of them a lecture. I knew Alice and Ned never would.

"Jessica, shut up," I said, holding my belly with one hand and managing to give Liz a hug with the other arm. "Today really isn't the day."

"Why not? You are."

"Stop it, Jess! I mean it!"

She scoffed. "What's your problem? Don't tell me that you're actually in labor here at the airport?"

I wasn't going to be the one to tell her. I was hoping that no one would notice, except Steven, who was quietly panicking. 

"Jessica, be nice," Elizabeth chided. "Billie must be exhausted."

"You shut up too," I managed, despite the sudden pain I was in. "You leave everyone for months with no contact and you actually think you can fight people's battles for them the second you come back?"

"I was only defending you," Elizabeth said as I pulled away from the hug, not at all thrilled with how poorly I felt.

"Oh my God, you are in labor," Jessica crowed, beaming widely. 

"What do you mean?"

"Look," she said, pointing. "Mom told me it was gross."



***

"I've already seen it," I muttered, batting away the printouts a sheepish Elizabeth handed me. "I really don't want to see it again."

The 'it' in question was -- of course -- the fact that all of the media there had run with variations of "Bennett's Baby Niece Waits For Return of Runaway Aunt" as their lead story -- with photographs. The baby was lucky that I hadn't actually seen most of the pictures, and therefore hadn't died completely of humiliation. Still, I wasn't very happy with Elizabeth.

"How come you aren't happy to see me?" She asked, perching on the edge of my hospital bed. 

"I almost gave birth at the airport!" I shouted, a bit louder than I'd intended. The baby got distracted from her nursing and stared at me, before losing interest. "Forgive me if I'm a little frosty in my reception of you!"

"But you're famous," Liz said. "Steven said you're getting a lot of money from those --"

"That doesn't matter, " I hissed. "You disappeared for months, shacked up with a scandal, and I really don't want to see you right now."

"Can I hold her?"

I rolled my eyes. "No," I muttered. "You can't right now. Maybe some day."

"Why?"

"What did you think was going to happen?" I asked, exhausted from my entire day. "Did you think that you'd get to go back to normal?"

She nodded.

"Get out," I said. "Get out." 

"I'll go back! To England!"

"I really wish you would."