"No biggie... I've felt him kick before"
"It's gonna be a girl Tay" Allison said. I shrugged.
"Whatever! What do you think of these?" I asked, holding up a pair of tiny sneakers. Allisons face melted.
"Awwww, they're so cute! look at how small they are!" She exclaimed, taking the runners from me and turning them over in her hands. I had only just gotten back from a promotional tour for our new album and hadn't seen Allison for three months. She had gotten huge since the last time I saw her and I could tell that she was looking forward to the birth.
"Is this your first child?" A womans voice interupted us. Both Allison and I turned around.
"Yes... it is" Allison said. The woman smiled and patted her own bulging stomach.
"This is number three for me. How far along are you?"
"In my third trimester... only eight weeks to go".
"Ahhh, looking forward to it are you?". If this woman had taken any notice of how old Allison and I actually were, she didn't show it. She was chatting away to Allison like they were old friends. I blanked out of the conversation and scanned the store. "Well, you two make a very lovely couple... good luck honey" I head the woman say.
"We're not a-"
"Oh be quiet Taylor. Don't ruin the ladys day. Who cares if people think we're a couple? It's better that they do anyway." Allison said, lightly hitting my upper arm. I shrugged and decided to keep my mouth shut. Allison looked down at her watch. "We better get going, I've got my ultra sound now, are you coming in with me this time?" She asked, looking up at me hopefully. I sighed.
"I told you Allison, I don't want to get attatched to this baby... I'm not gonna be there for the birth so theres no point in going to see it now." I stoped talking when I noticed Allison's face.
"I thought you would have changed your mind by now about the birth" She said quietly. I shook my head.
"No, I haven't. Besides, we're gonna be just starting the tour when you're due. I'll be in Europe somewhere." I replied. Allison didn't say anything. She just walked past me and made her way out of the store. I sighed again and followed her out. She was standing by the car when I reached her. The drive to the clinic was a silent one. "I'll wait for you here" I said, not looking at her.
"Are you sure you wont come in?"
"Allison..."
"Okay, okay. I wont be long" Allison said, getting out of the car. I winced when she slammed the door closed and walked through the double doors leading into the reception area of the clinic. About five minutes later, I leaned accross and opened the glove compartment to find a CD. I looked down and saw that she had left her purse on the floor of the front passenger seat.
"Shit... damn it!" I cursed. I'd have to go in now. I grabbed the purse and flung open my door. I slammed it shut and ran for the doors, hoping to catch Allison before she went in for her ultra sound. There was no sign of her.
"Can I help you?" A voice said from behind the desk. I turned and saw an elderly woman smiling at me.
"Uh, I'm looking for Allison-"
"Ahh yes, Allison, lovely young lady. Are you the daddy?"
"Uhm, yeah... she left her purse in the car... can you give it to her when she comes out?" I asked.
"Well honey, you can just go right on down to room 314 and give it to her yourself. I'm sure they wouldn't have started yet, there'll be time for you to get down there" The woman said. I sighed, not wanting to argue with her, I walked down a long corridor until I reached room 314. I planned to just go in and right out. I was not going to stay. I knocked on the door and then pushed it open slightly. Allison was lying on her back on what looked like a hospital bed. She had on a hospital gown that was pulled up to expose her stomach. A blanket covered her crotch and legs. She turned her head and smiled when she saw me. I held up her purse
"You left this in the car" I said.
"Oh.. okay. Thanks" Allison said. I put the purse down on a chair that was next to the door and turned to go. "Tay! Wait... you're in here now... please stay... "
"No, Allison... I can't-"
"Okay, are we nearly ready to get started now?" A Woman walked through another door on the other side of the room. She looked at me and smiled. "Are you going to join us today? If so, could you please close the door". I knew I was defeted and walked fully into the room, closing the door behind me. Allisons face lit up.
"Oh thankyou Taylor... you wont regret staying" She said. I knew she would be wrong. The machines needed for the ultra sound were turned on and the woman squirted some clear gel onto Allison's stomach.
"Today, we're just doing a quick check up to make sure everythings going okay. This is your last scan from now to until the baby's born." the woman said, picking up the special wand and placing it onto Allison's gelled stomach. A gentle and fast throbbing sound filled the room instantly and I knew what it was. I had been to enough of these things with my Mom. It was my baby's heartbeat. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I walked closer to Allisons side and smiled down at her.
"It's amazing isn't it?" She asked me quietly, her face held a huge grin. I nodded.
"Yeah..." was all I could manage to get out.
"Well Allison, everything appears okay.". I looked up at the screen and saw it. The baby that was inside Allison. My baby. The little life I had helped to create. I reached over and took Allison's hand in mine, my eye's plastered to the screen. "She's gonna be a perfectly healthy baby"
"She?" I asked.
"Told ya she was gonna be a girl" Allison said.
"You knew already?"
"Yeah, I couldn't wait to find out.". I just nodded. I couldn't look away from the screen. "She's gorgeous ... isn't she? Just think Tay... that little life in there is a part of you... you helped create that.." Allison told me. I smiled. It was like she could read my mind.
"I did.. didn't I? Wow.... aw look Ally, she's kicking!" I exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the screen. I then stopped when I saw tears in Allisons eyes. 'Whats wrong?" I asked, concerned.
"Nothing... you... it's just stupid.... don't worry.." She said, wiping away a tear that was trickling down her left cheek.
"No, tell me... what's got you upset?"
"Thats the thing... I couldn't be happier... Tay... you haven't called me 'Ally' since we broke up." She said quietly. I smiled down at her, squeezing her hand.
"Ok, that's it. Allison, everything looks fine with your baby.." The woman said, breaking the moment. The sound of my little girls heartbeat left my ears. I looked away from the screen. "Ok honey... you can go to the bathroom now.." She smiled. Allison laughed.
"Great! Oh God I can't wait to get there!". Awkwardly getting down off the bed, she looked at me. "I'll be back... in say ten minutes.."
"Ten?"
"Hey! I've got a full bladder here mister.. with a baby playing soccer on top of it.. I rest my case.." Allison walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
"So.. is this your first?" The woman asked me. She was cleaning up and shutting down the various machines. I nodded.
"Yeah.. "
"And I take it it wasn't planned?"
"Yeah.."
"How long have you two been together?"
"A while.." I didn't see the point of delving into my personal life with a complete stranger. The conversation finished then as the woman made a quick exit. A few minutes later, Allison emerged from the bathroom. "Feel lighter?" I asked. Allison poked her tongue out at me.
"No... I've still got this baby inside me... geez, she must weigh a hundred pounds!"
"Nah... I don't think so... you'd be a lot bigger if she did." I pointed out.
"Gee... thanks... but I don't think I could get much bigger than this.. I just wanna have her already!" Allison said, gradually changing into her street clothes. Before long, we were back in the car, on our way to her house.
"So... how's your Mom these days?" I asked.
"Actually... she's getting there... she's even starting to tell people that she's gonna be a Grandma.. although, I don't think she quite believes it herself. She's even been talking about me moving back in after the baby's born..."
"Really? Thats great! ... I still remember Mom and Dads reaction when Ike and I told em... Dad flipped and Mom started crying. All they could think about was how I was ruining my career. But, as you know now.. they're over the moon." I explained.
"Mmmm..."
"What?"
"I was just thinking..... we haven't decided on a name yet... I want to have one all picked out, ready for her when she arrives... I don't want it to be like me... you know, I went for a week and a half without a name because Mom couldn't make up her mind... it was a choice between Allison or Anna."
"Ok... any ideas?" I asked. I couldn't believe I was doing this. Choosing a name. For my baby. This was a name she would have to live with for the rest of her life.
"Umm.. I was thinking either Casey, Cassie, Abbie, Paige or Angela... Angie for short."
"I like all of those. We don't have to decide right now do we? I wanna take sometime to think about this... it's a big step."
"We're just choosing a name for her.."
"I know.. but she has to live with it. My parents didn't take that into consideration when they gave Ike a first name like Clarke. No, we have to take our time with this.". Allison started laughing. "What? What's so funny?" I asked, smiling myself. Allison was one of those people who had an infectious laugh.
"You.... you're so cute when you're serious. And what's wrong with Clarke...I like that name..". I rolled my eyes. Then something suddenly stuck me.
"Ally... what's her last name going to be?"
"Mine.... naturally." She said.
"What? Why should she have yours?" I questioned her, glancing at her then turning my attention back to the road.
"Well, for starters... you said yourself.. you don't want a whole lot to do with this baby.. or me for that matter. If she had your last name, well... thats having a hell of a lot to do with her."
"Well... what if I wanted that." I mumbled. Allison looked at me. Clearly confused.
"What did you just say?" She asked. I pulled over and shut off the engine. What I was about to say needed to be said straight to her face. I couldn't do that while driving.
"I said that I want that. I... after seeing her..... I don't know... something clicked inside.. something changed." I placed a hand on Allisons stomach. "You and I are bound together though this little girl. Nothing is going to change that.". Allison looked deep into my eyes and saw that I was serious.
"You mean that... don't you? ... You knew this would happen and thats why you never wanted to come in with me before... I'm right aren't I?" She asked softly. Bringing a hand up, she lightly ran her fingers though my hair. I nodded.
"Ally... I want to be a part of her life... I want her to grow up with a daddy. I want to be a part of your life.."
"Taylor... what are you saying?" She asked. I took hold of both her hands in mine and turned to face her.
"Ally... will you marry me?"
